Advocating for yourself?
\Post01\ 03.17.2023
How do I advocate for myself? Basically, being sick makes me MAD. Like crying, screaming, throwing things mad. I use that energy to make sure my point gets across to doctors who aren’t willing to listen. Here’s a list of things I do/recommend doing when starting on this journey:
1. Make a list of symptoms. My rule of thumb is if something persists for more than 7 days, it’s officially a symptom and I write it down.
1. Make a list of symptoms. My rule of thumb is if something persists for more than 7 days, it’s officially a symptom and I write it down.
2. Make a list of questions, related to those symptoms and otherwise. Never be afraid to ask questions. How can you understand your medical care without knowing about it?
3. Write down what you would like to accomplish at each appointment. This is a big one. This step makes sure that you and your physician are on the same page. If you’re coming into the appointment with one idea and the physician comes into the appointment with another idea there will be a disconnect which makes for an unproductive appointment.
4. Keep track of how you’re feeling – if one day you feel like all you can do lay down because you’re extremely fatigued – keep track of that. Everything is important, especially when you’re undiagnosed.
5. Get mad. Get angry. This is not okay and everything isn’t fine, no matter how many times you tell people that you’re fine. Process those emotions. Go throw some heavy weights around. Talk to a therapist. Lean on friends and family during this time. Do not let your feelings build up until they overflow. (I am terrible at this and of course all my emotions come out at once. No bueno.)
6. DO SOME RESEARCH. Yes – I know. This sounds weird because a lot of us aren’t doctors and do not have a medical background. However, do research on what your doctors tell you about so that you’re able to ask informed questions. I wouldn’t recommend late night googling your symptoms, even if it is tempting sometimes.
7. Please don’t let your doctors belittle you or how you’re feeling. You feel like shit – let them know this is not acceptable and you need their help to get back to normal.
8. FINALLY: keep going. No matter how many times you feel like this fight is hopeless or you feel like there is no end in sight. Take a break, sure. Take the time you need. But once that break is over, pick up right where you left off.
Are these things easy to do? Absolutely not. Will you learn to do them despite it being challenging? HELL YES. Go easy on yourself. This is likely something you never thought you would experience, so take your time.
Take care 💕
3. Write down what you would like to accomplish at each appointment. This is a big one. This step makes sure that you and your physician are on the same page. If you’re coming into the appointment with one idea and the physician comes into the appointment with another idea there will be a disconnect which makes for an unproductive appointment.
4. Keep track of how you’re feeling – if one day you feel like all you can do lay down because you’re extremely fatigued – keep track of that. Everything is important, especially when you’re undiagnosed.
5. Get mad. Get angry. This is not okay and everything isn’t fine, no matter how many times you tell people that you’re fine. Process those emotions. Go throw some heavy weights around. Talk to a therapist. Lean on friends and family during this time. Do not let your feelings build up until they overflow. (I am terrible at this and of course all my emotions come out at once. No bueno.)
6. DO SOME RESEARCH. Yes – I know. This sounds weird because a lot of us aren’t doctors and do not have a medical background. However, do research on what your doctors tell you about so that you’re able to ask informed questions. I wouldn’t recommend late night googling your symptoms, even if it is tempting sometimes.
7. Please don’t let your doctors belittle you or how you’re feeling. You feel like shit – let them know this is not acceptable and you need their help to get back to normal.
8. FINALLY: keep going. No matter how many times you feel like this fight is hopeless or you feel like there is no end in sight. Take a break, sure. Take the time you need. But once that break is over, pick up right where you left off.
Are these things easy to do? Absolutely not. Will you learn to do them despite it being challenging? HELL YES. Go easy on yourself. This is likely something you never thought you would experience, so take your time.
Take care 💕
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