After nearly three decades of chronic pain, I've learned that getting medical care and getting someone to actually listen are two very different experiences.

In this essay, I share what changed when I began assembling a medical team that takes my symptoms seriously, looks beyond the obvious answers, and treats me as a participant in my own care.

The pain hasn't magically disappeared, and the healthcare system certainly hasn't become less ridiculous. But having people in my corner has changed the way I face both.