I was in the midst of a wonderful career as a veterinarian, when I became ill.

In those early years of being a chronic patient, I saw where my own and the human medical care struggles to help patients who don’t feel well and yet don’t have any abnormal lab work or physical exam findings from which to develop a treatment plan. 

This experience highlighted the deficits in my own training and deficits that I want to help bridge.

Living with an invisible chronic illness for over 15 years, I’ve experienced deep loneliness, been misunderstood, and grieved the loss of my former athletic, able-bodied self. 

Along the way, I’ve encountered a range of frustrating responses—from disbelief to dismissive comments like, “This sounds like anxiety,” or “It’s all in your head.” Even well-meaning advice, such as “Just rest,” “Exercise,” or “Have you tried eliminating X, Y, or Z from your diet?” reveals how often people—despite good intentions—fail to truly hear and understand what I’m saying.

Living with an invisible chronic illness leaves me feeling unseen, as though my life has been relegated to the feeder road, running parallel to the fast lane of others’ predictable, linear lives.

Conscious Listening

It begins with a conversation in order to connect and learn.

The purpose of my work is to foster greater understanding of how chronic illness shifts life into a lane where time is nonlinear and unpredictable. Offering strategies for this reality to intersect with the more predictable rhythms of health allows for deeper, more meaningful connections—not just to be maintained, but strengthened and cherished.

I’ve spoken with many others living with conditions such as ME/CFS, Long COVID, and Fibromyalgia, and my experience is far from unique.

Although we may look “fine” on the outside—perhaps managing to appear put-together for brief moments like a doctor’s appointment—this effort masks how deeply these conditions affect our daily functioning. 

The frustration, confusion, and isolation we feel are common among the growing population of individuals with invisible chronic conditions, who long to be seen, heard, and valued for who they are, despite their challenges.

After graduating with a biochemistry major at Bowdoin, Dr. Caroline Niederman completed her veterinary degree at the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Niederman was a successful equine dentist for 25 years and is now making it her mission to educate clinicians on the benefit of the “wait and observe,” rather than treat method (for the human patients, of course).

Caroline has been published and featured in…

Caroline’s talk is thought-provoking and insightful. Her medical background gives her a depth of understanding of Physician’s perspectives, and she offers an actionable science-based solution for improving the care of patients with invisible chronic relapse conditions.

Caroline has outlined and paved a path for both Physicians on managing and providing sustained patient support, and for patients like herself that are living with an invisible chronic condition.

Maura Reminga

Somatic Integrative Therapist

Currently Booking for 2025

  • Engaging Pre-Professional Healthcare Students in Understanding Common Experiences of Patients with Chronic Illness + Discussing Strategies of Support in a Tailored Workshop Series

  • Consulting tailored to your Practice and Physicians incorporating Practical, Hands on, Physician-Patient Role Playing Format to dig into/uncover ways to make in-person and virtual office visits more effective and meaningful for both Physicians and Patients.

  • Discover the Fulfillment and Reward of Partnering with Patients: The Cinderella Concept in Chronic Illness Care