Article: When Data Renders Invisible Illnesses Visible

I wrote up a new manifesto of sorts about how visualizing health information can help complex patients be heard, seen and believed. It was posted in the Data Viz Society’s publication, Nightingale. Here is a preview:

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Imagine your body starting to fall apart. You have heart palpitations, headaches, recurrent infections, painful fingers and toes, crippling brain fog, and body aches. You’ve become sensitive to light and have started wearing sunglasses indoors. Every day seems to bring a new symptom, and your doctors can’t figure out what’s going on. Worst of all, many doctors — and even some of your close friends and family — act as though you’re just trying to get attention or that it’s all in your head.

When you finally get an appointment with the specialist you’ve been waiting for, you want to be sure to use the time well. How can you tell your complicated story and make sure the doctor understands and believes you?