I have been told by members of my family, doctors at the ER and several friends that I'm faking it. Its all because they can't see the pain. I try to shrug it off most of the time because I know what I have to live with every day. And forget trying to explain it to people. They believe, if they can't see your agony, you don't have any. I think the misconception of no sympathy is because of all the people that don't have it and take it because they are addicted. It makes me mad to know that those people are the reason why I have misbelievers in my life. However, I accepted the fact (like two years ago), that regardless of what you do, there are going to be people that think you're lieing. So I take each situation individually. There was about one time that I got so mad at a doctor in the ER for calling me a liar and making me wait, that I cussed him out. But guess what.. he still gave me something for the pain. So it was a win for me! I'm the only one that knows what I have to go through every day and I'm proud to know that I can!

Depends on who makes the wrong assumptions......I have had a hard time with doctors (mostly male) making that type of comment. Fortunately for me, I can be pretty assertive, and have been known to give those doctors back some choice words, and have no problem reporting them to the AMA licensing board.

Ignore them, i actually have a doctor that will not believe me when i tell him i am in pain, but then i only use him for referrals anyway

Amen. My husband absolutely despises me when I say I need to go to the ER for chest pain. I have it quite frequently, my jaw is now starting to hurt, I have numbness on right side of my face, but won't tell him cuz he'll have a hissy fit cuz every time I go to ER they find nothing. I have actually passed out and quit breathing one time and he did compressions, and then started slapping me in the face and I started to come around. But I have a stent and I am also on low dose nitro called isosorb. But am in constant pain all over. I also have a bad back because I have fibular hemimalia, which means I don't have the fibula bone in either of my legs. I can't stand for very long, can't walk very good. Had my right ankle fused and having to have my left ankle fused in August. Just recently diagnosed with a stiff liver (cirrhosis) because I've been on methotrexate (oral chemo) since 2008. Have to have liver biopsy every 4 years. I'm just a mess. Been married for 38 years to this unsympathetic so and so. Bout ready to call it quits with him. And the ER often thinks I'm faking cuz I go so often.

One is often accused of, 'Faking It.' Price one pays for having a so-called, 'hidden Disability.' My pain affects my every waking moment. Grinds at me all the time. But I see the disbelief in the faces of people who are searching for a parking space and I (well, hubby, since I don't drive) pull into a space marked for the disabled. I get out of the car, and actually stand upright. Some days, that's ALL I CAN do. I have no visible disability: I have no limb missing, or a crooked back etc. But my pain is there constantly, grinding through my lower left back, hip leg & foot. And recently, I developed osteoarthritis in my right thumb.It REALLY HURTS! I know I'm NOT faking anything.I care nothing now for the assumptions of other people. They see what they want to see; believe what they want to believe. It may not be reality, but, STUFF 'em! Let them call me a faker. No concern to me. Because I know the truth. I live with my pain.