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Help Yourself to Healing
Your Questions Answered - 1
Why is it so important to have someone accompany you to all medical visits?
Your Questions Answered - 1
Why is it so important to have someone accompany you to all medical visits?
“Don’t try to go it alone.” That’s what people who have faced serious illness almost invariably advise. While this applies to all aspects of an illness experience, it is, for sure, relevant for your medical appointments. It is better to have someone with you, even in the best-case scenario, when you know and completely trust your doctor, You may also be consulting a number of doctors, and their staff, whom you have never met before, in very unfamiliar offices at a time when you may be feeling very vulnerable.
People generally do want to offer help, and so decide how you would like to involve them! For example, one person might do research for you on the Internet, while another might help you prepare questions to ask at your consultation. Go over this list of questions with the person accompanying you before the visit.
During appointments:
Doctors are very busy people and you have very limited time to get the information you need. You may think you’ll remember all that the doctor says, but you’d be surprised at what you can forget, say, or agree to in such circumstances!
Your companion can be an essential extra set of ears to make sure you are taking in what a doctor says and can help you stay focused so you don’t miss an important detail. Or they can take notes for you so that you are not talking and note-taking at the same time. Sometimes you may not understand the terminology a doctor uses or you may be told something you do NOT want to hear. You may blank out, abdicate your power and agree to treatment a doctor is strongly suggesting without giving yourself time to reflect on whether this or another option is the best for you.
After appointments:
As soon after your appointment as possible, while your memory is still fresh, review with your companion what was said and the course of action suggested by the professional. Refer to his or her notes especially if you did not tape the conversation. A slight difference in what you each remember can more easily be checked immediately as memory for details can fade very fast.
Facing illness, we are under more stress than we generally realize. It is well researched that when we are stressed, our memory is less sharp and we are more likely to “space out”. We may be tempted to give away our power to someone in authority and thus acquiesce prematurely or agree to something we would not choose under normal circumstances. That’s why having an advocate or companion is so important.
For more insightful, practical tips please see the award-winning book AFTER SHOCK: FROM CANCER DIAGNOSIS TO HEALING- a step-by-step guide to help you navigate your way. Look for AFTER SHOCK at your local library or purchase your own copy today- www.AfterShockFromCancer.com/orders.html
If you have questions to ask me, please email me at info@aftershockfromcancer.com. Please see my recent WBAI radio interview as guest of Dr. Majid Ali on "Science, Health and Healing"www.AfterShockFromCancer.com/media.html
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