I'm gonna send this to one of my good friends (not on lj). She's got chronic pancreatitis. She sees a pain specialist. She's on such heavy duty painkillers that I'm simply astounded she can function on a day to day basis. And of course people are constantly harassing her about the painkillers. Dumbasses. It's not like she's taking the shit to get high. She'd just like to be able to sit down for a day of work without curling up in pain. And unlike some people (like some of her coworkers), I can tell when she's not doing well. I've actually seen it happen--I made her go lie down during her own housewarming party (I was the only guest there at the time, so it was okay).

Re: chronic illness and depression: tons of studies support you. Sadly, it's not only chronic pain but chronic illness. If you haven't read Against Depression yet, you should. I recommend this book like crazy, but it really gives the reader a great understanding of how depression is a physical disease. Also the fact that no matter why you have depression (predisposition for depression for whatever reason, or via a different chronic disease), it looks exactly the same in the brain.

Good luck to you Gwyn. I can't imagine how awful it is, but I know it is from my friend. And here's hoping people stop thinking of themselves and how awful they think you're being first and start realizing what's really going on with you.