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Due to the variety of health issues we are likely to have we also are likely to deal with a higher number of medical specialists than many other people. I think it is helpful to try clarify in your own mind what you expect from each health care professional and to share that with them. I expect my internist who I see for general things to handle most of my prescription renewals and to advise me about what general evaluations and procedures I may need. My endocrinologist to handle any diabetic supplies and A1C lab work, my eye doctor to handle eye drops, my rheumatologist to prescribe my maintenance drugs for Wegs and to order my monthly labs to monitor my condition, my Weg expert and other specialists to consult and offer recommendations to my other doctors who will prescribe and order any procedures I need in their opinion but some times things get blurred or messed up. I have had to at times ask my ophthalmologist to order some extra lab work when I feared I might be having an increase in inflammation or an infection as I was seeing her that day, and to ask my internist to order some diabetic equipment when my regular endo moved away with no warning.Originally Posted by annekat
At any appointment I tell the doctor my expectations and desires for our meeting and ask if they have any other topics or issues we need to look at during my appointment. That way they know if my issues have been adequately addressed. And also at end of each visit we discuss when I wish to return and when they think I should return to see them again. I also ask at the beginning if they have received lab results or reports from other specialists i have seen in the interim since our last visit. It takes some work and organization on my part but helps reduce confusion and frustration for both of us so I now view my health care team as being appropriately responsive to my needs.
I didn't do this as well before my diagnosis of Wegs and was too passive in accepting their lack of helpful answers to my concerns. And it almost killed me so I am now a lot more insistent on getting my concerns addressed so I feel comfortable with the answers and recommendations. I feel I have too do this to safeguard my health and life since my doctors have told me I am unlikely to survive another attack of Wegs as serious as the one that finally resulted in my diagnosis of Wegs. Too much complacency can kill us so we need to be own advocate, or else get a good advocate to help us deal with our health care systems. We should all have a back up one in place in case we are too ill to advocate for our self too.
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