# Two possibilities... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 4, 2002, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-possibilities/140409 "2002-12-04T11:53:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![istara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e79b87/32.png) [@istara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/istara)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2002, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-possibilities/140409/1 "2002-12-04T11:53:29Z")
There are two possibilities right now. (1) I have a normal, common-a-garden very **common cold** (2) I have rare, previously unknown incurable disease, which upon my imminent demise will be known as **istara syndrome** For some reason, (2) is much more reassuring and satisfying. Does anyone else go through this? I think of it as the _Reader’s Digest Medical Manual_ syndrome, from those times in my childhood when I had a headache or suchlike, and the “rare” disease suggestions in that weighty tome were so much more appealing than the “common causes”. ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2002, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-possibilities/140409/2 "2002-12-04T13:52:47Z")
Yeah i go through that - but for some strange reason no one ever seems to believe me when i claim to have a rare disease ☹ ---
**Author:** ![ladycarrie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a3d4f5/32.png) [@ladycarrie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladycarrie)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2002, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-possibilities/140409/3 "2002-12-04T14:18:44Z")
Actually three possibilities. The third being much more reassuring and satisfying to the rest of us . LOL (3) You’re a hypochondriac and there’s nothing wrong at all. Tell Dr. LadyCarrie all your troubles. 😛