Doctor: I would like to preface my question by first saying that I don't want you to think I'm questioning you or being combative - I'm just scared and want to know the answer: You recently told a person that you can't create symptoms like fever and swollen glands, but in 1999 you had the following answer:

"Yes. Symptoms don't just suddenly appear. The stress, fear and guilt of potential exposure are enough to create symptoms, real or imagined. MH "

So you think you can "create" symptoms so to speak - after you've read what they are and are scared and cause them to happen in your body?

There is No inconsistancy between my replies. Most somatization disorders created by people are symptoms like fatigue, headache, muscle aches, anxiety, stress, etc, all of which cannot be objectively measured. Fever, and lymph node swelling are objective physical findings that can be seen and measured.