Completely agree, not arguing this in the least.

I never argued that my SO didn't deserve support, patience and/or understanding for his response, I have been very open-minded in this thread to others' observation that he is probably struggling with this too. As for my family, whatever they "think" is going on, it still doesn't give them the right to assume I am a hypochondriac. Whatever mental gymnastics it takes to get there, all I was saying is that I would never make this assumption unless I had a damn good reason. For example, you know the type of person who no matter what you say is wrong with you or has happened to you, they always have to one-up it? To me that is the type of person who deserves the doubt and criticism.

I think you misunderstood what I was trying to say. I never said that you were unempathetic nor did I try to imply it. I meant that me being an empathetic person, I cannot justify any reason for assuming that someone is a hypochondriac because a reason for their symptoms has not been found. Basically I was responding to your hypothetical assessment of my family's feelings: if they truly believe that I'm a hypochondriac because a certain amount of time has passed and no diagnosis or sound reason has been given for the issues I'm having, then something is wrong with their capacity for empathy. I mean that as a daughter, sister, aunt, etc. I would never do that to someone I claim to love and no amount of mental gymnastics will allow me to understand why my family feels that way about me.

I'm not trying to frame this in any particular way, though perhaps my perspective is flawed by the fact that I can only go by my own experiences and opinions, which is why I made this whole post to begin with, to seek outside perspective.