I think they do matter.

And getting drugs isn't a diagnosis.

But the OP says 1/4 people who visit a GP have medical conditions that can't be explained. So if you accept that, that's not quite what's happening.

Because if a condition can't be explained, it can't be diagnosed, to my understanding.

"Because a doctor is always going to diagnose and prescribe. That's how they make money."

So I think we can remove 'diagnose' from this.

If you look at the OP, it says that 1/4 people who visit a GP have physical conditions that cannot be explained. Whether you agree with the stats or not, I'm not sure. But that's the post we've met under.

"Less than 1% of patients are determined to be fakers, so your argument doesn't hold up against stats."

Why is this important to you then?

You're arguing with 'stats' but now you're saying don't pay attention to 'stats'.

"For every person with real pain, there are multiple dramatic actors."

You said that in this thread.

Or if you have a legitimate pain and are constantly dismissed and have no option than to keep pressing the issue because you're in unbearable pain, then it's a great shame all your time is wasted having to convince people to believe you.

Some of us hurt more than others.

Often aches and pains do seem worse than others' but there isn't a diagnosis for it.

Here's hoping you never have any number of aches and pains that all kinds of people have with no explanation. Because if the person you reach out to is like you, there's no end to your suffering in sight. In fact, they're going to really emotionally drain you too.

But there are so many stories of people who medical professionals couldn't find anything wrong with for a long time and it took a lot of willpower and mental toughness for the people to keep pursuing a diagnosis, and some eventually get a diagnosis. So it isn't woefully transparent.

Even if that was true, clearly those people need a different kind of help. And if you are a medical professional, I think it's a shame if you assume most people are faking because you've encountered someone 'faking'. So much is incredibly hard to diagnose.

It's what stops a lot of people from going to the doctor in the first place.

You said that a lot of people whine and are hypochondriacs. I made a comment about how important it is not to dismiss people and label them whiners and hypochondriacs.

That's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about how upsetting it can be when someone thinks you're not in pain and you are.

I would imagine you also have times when you're the customer and the person you have to deal with in customer service is too dismissive, or where through no fault of the person in customer service, their options to help the customer are too limited. You may feel that what you need help with is valid.

I think we could be nice to people working in customer service and not dismiss people who say they're in pain at the same time.

There is a lot more to figure out. It's a shame that people in pain are dismissed like this. Causes them unnecessary extra pain.

I don't think any 85 year old gal would be interested in me. I need some hair on my ears.

If I live long enough, I can have my pick of all the women!