#9 After the Diagnosis – Taking Charge of your Medical Care
VOL 9
Table of Contents:
- Shelley Shares: Taking Back Control
- Making Life Easier Tips to Stay in Charge
- Services, Resources, and Products for Handling Healthcare Details
- What's new at Meeting Life's Challenges
- Something Special Just for You – Special Offers and Announcements
- Quotes of the Month
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 1. Shelley Shares – Taking Back Control
No one was more surprised than I was when I was diagnosed with a chronic illness. With that diagnosis, my life changed forever. I was no longer like my friends. My dreams for the future changed and my life was filled with doctors appointments and managing my medical care.
I was not prepared for this new direction my life had taken. Few of us are. I kept thinking this "illness stuff" will go away. Or that I'd take a pill or two and be fine in a few days. Twenty-five years later, this "illness stuff" is still with me. The difference is I've learned not to let managing my healthcare overwhelm me.
In the beginning, I let my doctors make decisions for me because I thought they knew better than I did. I have since become an equal partner in my healthcare, which means I do research and work with all my healthcare professionals to make decisions about my care. Being part of the team gives me back some of the control I have lost and helps the medical people see me as a complete and capable person.
I understand that some people are not comfortable questioning medical decisions or asking questions. If that describes you, I encourage you to have an advocate, friend, or family member with you when healthcare decisions and care plans are being discussed and/or decided.
The bottom line is that we are responsible for our own healthcare and it's in our own best interest to speak up, get involved, and be heard.
2. Making Life Easier Tips
The time spent with your doctor may be brief, so make the most of it.
- Without embarrassment clearly describe problems you are having. Be specific. If you have pain, try to describe how intense it is on a scale of 1 to 10.
- Bring a copy of your symptom diary for him or her to include in your file and prepare questions you want to ask.
- Remind doctors of previous decisions, lab results, or symptoms. Most doctors can't remember everything about you from visit to visit. For example, if your doctor had you get lab tests completed before your visit, ask about the results if the doctor does not mention them.
- If you want to ask about an article you read or a report you heard on television, present as much information about it as possible. Bring a copy of the article. Make notes on the program, channel, and time of the report. With the volume of medical information available today, it is virtually impossible to know everything that is printed or said about your illness.
Ask for an explanation, in language you can understand. Always ask your doctor to explain anything about your illness or your treatment program that you don't understand. Try repeating what you think you heard. If your physician adjusts your treatment program and you don't know why, ask about the reasons for the change. When medication is prescribed, question your doctor as to the best time to take the drug, about possible side effects, and what you should do if unpleasant side effects occur. Request written information for your files.
Immediately after the appointment, go to the waiting room and look over your notes. Then if you are unclear about medication instructions, an upcoming test, or a procedure, you can ask for an explanation from the nurse before leaving the office. A nurse practitioner or physician's assistant may act as a liaison between you and the doctor. He or she can be a valuable resource for information, clarification, referral to community resources, and emotional support. Also ask if your doctor, registered nurse, or certified medical educator can help you get free samples or discounts on medical supplies; they sometimes receive promotional material or coupons.
3. Making Life Easier Resources, and Products
MEDLINEplus is an accurate Internet resource for information
When you do not understand information in your medical records or cannot remember what a prescription is for, the MEDLINEplus health information site, run by the National Institutes of Health, can enlighten you in easy to understand layman's terms.
Go to: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/
Keep medical history and records in one place
Purchase "Your Personal Health and Medical History©," published by Planet Media Group and HealthHistory.com. The organizer is divided into ten categories (such as personal information, medications, hospitalizations, emergency contacts, etc.) and is filled with detailed forms that are easy to fill out. The organizer also contains 18 legal documents (including Power of Attorney, healthcare directives, etc.) that you can fill out as you need. You can purchase the organizer in a 3-ringed binder, a bound workbook or on CD. Cost: $12-$50. Contact Planet Media Group at 13515 Old Dock Road; Orlando, FL 32828; (888) 669-9697; www.HealthHistory.com 4. What's New at Meeting Life's Challenges?
Shelley Speaks
 You know I am a writer but did you know that I also speak to groups, both small and large, about making life easier while living with or working with people with a chronic illness? Recently I was the Keynote Speaker at the annual conference of the Wisconsin Assisted Living Association.
The topic was "Blooming Where you're Planted," based on one of my books. In the words of Jim Murphy, Executive Director of WALA, "…you so energized our opening audience of almost 500 that the entire group jumped to its feet at the end of your presentation in a standing ovation. They loved you!"
If you would like a copy of my book, "Blooming Where You're Planted - Stories from the Heart," you'll find order information at on the books page.
Psst...Pass it on.
If you know of a group or organization that would benefit from an inspirational message on dealing with chronic illness or disability, please feel free to pass a copy of this e-zine along to them.
Now a Word from Our Sponsor
In the coming months our e-zine will include messages and special offers from companies who generously support the mission of Meeting Life's Challenges. We trust you will find the information provided by our partners useful.
5. Something Just for You
And the winner is...
This spring we sent out an electronic survey to see what you thought about our website:
The names of all respondents were entered into a drawing for a free book.
The winner is Nancy Nichols!
Congratulations Nancy! And a great big THANK YOU to all of you for giving us your valuable insight, comments, and suggestions.
Visit our website www.MeetingLifesChallenges.com to see what changes have already occurred (such as a search box to make searching for specific topics easier) and watch for more changes in the coming months, including new tips and products and links to current research and support organizations.
FREE STUFF
If you have a tip, resource, service, or helpful product that makes your life easier, share it with Shelley, at help@MeetingLifesChallenges.com. She will share your information as space permits. Tips may be used in our bi-monthly column, in feature articles, or on WISC-TV. Each month, all contributor's names will go into a drawing for a free gift.
This month's gift is: A pack of inspirational note cards. 6. Quotes of the Month
My son was apprehensive about a long wait when we visited a hospital for tests. Looking around, he commented, "Most waiting rooms have magazines, but this one has novels. Is that a bad sign?
Reader's Digest
People need responsibility. They resist assuming it, but they cannot get along without it.
John Steinbeck
Each of us has a responsibility for being alive: one responsibility to creation, of which we are a part, another to the creator – a debt we repay by trying to extend our areas of comprehension.
Maya Angelou
I am responsible. Although I may not be able to prevent the worst from happening, I am responsible for my attitude toward the inevitable misfortunes that darken life. Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character.
Walter Anderson
Nothing strengthens the judgment and quickens the conscience like individual responsibility.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
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