When the "perfect storm" of health problems first struck, I understandably had a lot of questions. More than my doctor could answer in one visit, in any case. So I turned to the internet and began to educate myself on my conditions. I was responsible in my research, collecting facts and opinions from a variety of sources. I didn't trust everything I read. I spent a lot of time on message boards and forums, reading what others with the same afflictions were talking about.
I did all this because I realized that I had, to that point, very little idea of what was really going on in my body. The doctors could diagnose and give me the broad strokes, but I needed the facts that would calm my fears, guide my self-care and enable me to ask good questions and understand the answers.
Along the way, something remarkable happened: all this information was putting me in charge of my health care. I had become my own advocate. The questions I asked my doctor indicated that I'd done my homework, and he respected that. I was now his full partner in managing my health issues.
A decade or so later, I feel that I'm better for having been proactive in understanding my conditions and actively discussing issues with my doctors. After all, this is my only body. If I don't speak up for it, who will?
No comments:
Post a Comment