Alexandra Sifferlin

And basically, what she means by that, or how I've interpreted it, is...

A diagnosis provides something sort of just beyond the code for insurance coverage, let's say, which is very important.

But it also provides this sort of emotional release, and also it can change the way that

Maybe you see what's happening to yourself because you have some sort of answer.

You know, you have a kind of prognosis, perhaps, ideally.

But also, you know, let's say you were someone who was experiencing chronic pain for a very long time.

And it's gone undiagnosed.

You've gone to physicians.

They don't know what's causing it, etc.

And then finally, you do get a diagnosis.

And it does sort of change things.

I can give a specific example.

So my book is dedicated to my sister, Francesca, who has dealt with undiagnosed conditions of a variety.

But one more recent example was she had complained for years about severe hip pain and that it would keep her up at night.

It was really painful, long airplane rides, things really hurt.

She would go to the doctor and she would never really get any answers.

It would be, can you change your shoes?

Maybe you need these inserts.

Maybe you should sleep with a pillow between your legs.

Maybe you need to exercise more, you know, a variety of things.