Squamous cell carcinoma? Check. Addison’s disease? Check. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy? Check. No matter how obscure or bizarre the disease is, if you’ve learnt about it in lectures or one the wards, the hypochondriac will have somehow developed it within twenty-four hours. And they will explain to you, in fine detail, how their constellation of vague and non-specific symptoms correlate precisely with the disease state until, frustrated with your lack of empathy and concern, they will seek help from a qualified health professional, only to be laughed out of the GP surgery in the most polite way. The best approach to dealing with the hypochondriac is to humour them and never, never, never suggest that they might be sick. Source
