My theory--if people are suffering, believe them, and address their pain.

If everyone would have shared your belief, life would be much easier for all of those suffering from an invisible illness and not only. In my case, it took me close to 2 years to get diagnosed.

I think one of the flaws in modern medicine is the insistence on meeting strict criteria in order to receive diagnosis of certain illnesses.

I could not agree more with this statement!

doctors lack the courage to go forward with compassionate care.

I have seen over 20 specialists until I got a Lyme diagnose. Then when I got it, my insurance refused to pay my meds because "there was no Lyme disease in Canada".