I told my hubbie to remain healthy because he might have to push my wheelchair someday, he promptly got rheumatoid!
My primary doc told my mom I am in unbelieveable pain everyday on her last visit, my mom no longer questions that I look okay so what do I have?
As a last resort buy the book "But you look okay", if the person is worth the money.
If I leave the house without makeup, well I am pretty sure that would convince anyone...............its a habit, but I'll keep it in mind!

Those who aren't receptive will have their turn...trust me! I do believe that what goes around will get back to those who bite you! Some I've known who were cruel? I'd had back issues? THEY Got back issues, severe ones...when they'd laughed at my own problems. Same with family deaths and other issues, they got it back on their own with INTEREST! Honestly, now, I don't care about others outside my immediate circles as they just don't care and are not willing to learn to care!
For the medical community tho? We really aren't able to complain constructively to any 'medical association' or the like about insensitivity, lax diagnostic ability nor actually doing harm! Nor can we construtively complement med professionals who DO CARE and DO work for us! This part is truly criminal in my book! There have been times I'd like to go to the first neuro's office and start swinging something heftier than my cane all thru the offices! In essence we are as patients powerless about critising the medical professionals who treat us, and it's worse if you are in a smaller metro area or regional area to boot! Less to choose from, less to seek help from and further to go!
As for 'putting on the face'? I don't have to any more! I've aged over 20 years in less than 10! I do not LIKE IT! And as for going out? I do try and put on make-up? But I really don't care if it's perfect! Because I AM NOT!
I DO WISH Docs could FEEL what we feel for one day, better FIVE DAYS! That'd be the 'appetizer'? You all know what I mean by that! HUGS to all! -j

I despise the "competition" of "I must feel worse than you do because I have (fill it in)."

Why do they do that, for attention? For crying out loud, I don't even want to mention my illness let alone be challenged about it.