Healthcare is such an important topic, and many people have varying opinions about it. The overall healthcare system in your country, the treatments certain doctors recommend, whether the medication benefits outweigh the risk – there are many opinions. But only you know yourself and your health the best. And no one will advocate for you the way you will. That statement also applies to your young children- mama bear will step in when it comes to their baby’s health.
The healthcare world can be scary and overwhelming. And to add to that, you are usually trying to work through it when either yourself or a loved one are not feeling well. So how can you be a good advocate? I’m a nurse and have worked in this environment for over a decade, yet I can still find myself feeling like I’m in a whirlwind of information and decision makingwhen it comes to seeking care. So I want to share some key tips to prepare yourself to face the healthcare world to ensure you understand your options so you can make educated decisions about your health.
Gather your data.
If you are planning to seek medical advice for an issue you are having, it is extremely important to gather your data. Keep track of important details by writing a log of what you are experiencing. This can be a variety of things like symptoms, time it started and frequency, what helps relieve it, recent events you think are relevant, etc. For example, instead of just simply saying ‘my stomach has been hurting’, include more detail such as, ‘I have been getting sharp pains in my upper rightstomach for the past 2 weeks, and it occurs more after dinner time. I tried taking antacid and it did not help’. Now, remembering specifics can be hard, which is why I am stressing to write things down as they occur.
Also pay attention to what you are feeling. It is so easy to just cope with issues and keep going throughout your day without paying mind. Then you forget to even mention certain things to your provider at your appointment, and remember about it again when it randomly happens the next day. Try to be more aware leading up to your scheduled appointment to capture the full picture.
If it doesn’t sound right, question it.
Nurses and doctors are human. Humans make mistakes. It is ok to question something. Some things you may question could include an unfamiliar medication, timing of a procedure, or necessity of a test. Just ask.
A couple of personal examples – my oldest was born with an eye movement that would occur whenever he used his mouth. I have a family member who had recently discussed with me how she had something called “Marcus Gunn Jaw Winking Syndrome” and her description was exactly what I was looking at when I stared at my 1 day old baby. This syndrome is extremely rare, so when I relayed this to the pediatrician he immediately dismissed it. I did my best to ‘gather my data’ and presented it to him. He decided to send him to an eye specialist, and sure enough, he was diagnosed with Marcus Gunn.
Another example is when my youngest was suffering from continuous ear infections. If he wasn’t on an antibiotic he was sick. This was going on for months and he was referred to an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor who recommended tubes for his ears. During pre-surgery paperwork, the anesthesiologist cancelled the case due to my son’s history of constantly being sick with these ear infections.
This was devastating because I knew in my heart this was a vicious cycle. He’s sick because he needs this procedure, but they want him healthy to get it done. Mama bear indeed came out, and after several phone calls to the pediatrician and surgeon, who were both in support of moving forward with the procedure, I asked to speak with the anesthesiologist to review the importance of this case with him. The anesthesiologist agreed to put my son back on the schedule and assess him the day of. The procedure was a success and he was finally feeling better.
Now there will also be times when you question something and the providers stick with their plan. Ask them to explain exactly why that is the plan so you can understand it. Medicine is based off of science and research that the providers use when determining their actions. They can,and will explain that to you. And in the end, they are trying to do what is best.
Write everything down.
As I mentioned earlier, it is important to jot down your data so you can present it to your provider. It is also important to write down what they are telling you during your visits. Some things being saidduring your visit will not be on your paperwork provided to you. Medications and follow up appointments typically are. But as they explain your issues and maybe even provide non-pharmaceutical treatments you can try – write that down.
I also encourage you to write down all the questions you have for your healthcare provider leading up to your visit, and then take out that piece of paper during your appointment and ask. You probably won’t be able to remember them once you are in there. Even if it is 1 or 2 questions. Once that doctor or nurse or whoever is in front of you starts assessing you, asking you questions andbegins to quickly ramble off a ton of information – you will forget your questions. Having your little sheet will definitely come in handy to ensure all your questions are answered.
Stay calm and be respectful.
Working in healthcare can be a physically and mentally demanding job. The people who enter this workforce are committed to serve people and to do no harm. They are part of a profession in which the ‘product’ they deal with are people’s lives. They understand the severity of it. But as I said, they are human, and they can make mistakes. And they are just that – mistakes.
So as I said before, you absolutely should question anything that doesn’t seem right, but do your best to do it respectfully. The communication you receive back by doing it in that manner will be much more effective. And I understand dealing with healthcare issues is extremely stressful, but do your best to remain calm. If you can’t, bring someone with you that can. Again, the communication will be much more effective if you can calmly relay your questions and thoughts, as well as receive what is being said to you in response. If you follow the previous tip to write down your data and questions, thatpaper in front of you, or even a list on your phone, will bring back your focus and help you stay calmer. I know what you’re thinking, easier said than done. But all you can do is try.
If you follow these tips, you will improve your confidence in facing the healthcare world. You will feel prepared for that next doctor visit. And maybe they won’t feel as intimidating going forward so you don’t put them off longer than you should. It’s important. Your health is important. And it is possible to have successful relationships with your healthcare providers to achieve the common goal of maintaining your health.
¡Salud!
Very useful! It’s always good to hear this information; even if you knew it, it helps hearing it again.
Yes because it’s so easy to forget things with our busy lives. Taking a moment to remind ourselves of the important things that will help us in the long run is so key! Thanks for reading!!