8. Recognize problems both physicians and patients face in dealing with chronic disease.

Unit 3Section 2Exercise 6Living with chronic illnessChronic fatigue syndrome

Clinical correlate 6: Chronic fatigue syndrome
Clinical correlate 7: Fibromyalgia

Read the following essay by best-selling author Laura Hillenbrand (author of Seabiscuit) Answer the study questions below. http://www.cfids-cab.org/MESA/Hillenbrand.html

Study questions

1. What do you make of the author’s description of the onset of the illness? How does the onset of the illness relate to the illness that follows?
2. Below, you will find a section on patient behaviors that are frequently labeled as ‘difficult.’ What are some of the specific doctors’ behaviors in this story? If your were to make a list of do’s and don’ts for doctors, what would they be, based on Hillenbrand’s experiences?
3. What is Hillenbrand’s description of her friend’s reactions? What about her boyfriend—how does he respond? What do you think of him?
4. If you have read May Swander’s essay, “The Fifth Chair,” what does her story have in common with Hillenbrand’s? Can you find a passage in Hillenbrand’s essay that captures the feeling or texture of chronic illness?