Be Your Own Healthcare Advocate

Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

“Standing up for yourself doesn’t make you argumentative.”
~ Lori Deschene

I was born at the height of the baby boom, which covers the years from 1946 to 1964. At present, there are roughly 70 million of us n the United States, ages 60 to 78, according to the latest census.

We are the first generation to have defined ourselves as “cool.” Like Fonzie from Happy Days, we want to be young and hip forever. Chronically in denial, we are moving through this aging thing kicking and screaming.

At some point, our mantra changed from “Never trust anyone over 30,” to “Age is just a number.”

The original mantra seems comical now, but the latter is actually beneficial, since how we view aging has a lot to do with how we actually age.

Boomers are redefining what it means to be old, the writer of this article argues: “They are a testament to the fact that aging does not necessarily mean slowing down or becoming less productive or relevant. Instead, they’re showing that it can be a period of activity, growth, and contribution.”

Still, time marches on, and denial can only take us so far.

During a phone chat with a friend the other day, she remarked that when we were younger, we used to talk about topics other than our health. We had a good laugh, but in truth, for my generation, our health does appear to be at the forefront more often these days. It seems that we have times of relative good health (allowing for much more interesting discussions), and times when multiple issues flare up at once and become top of mind.

In part it’s due to the way health issues tend to snowball. A new drug or supplement can irritate our GI system. A different PT exercise can lead to a pulled muscle. Despite our best efforts to stay well, sometimes it seems like we can’t catch a break. The sheer management of our conditions can take up a lot of our time, which gets in the way of more fun pursuits.

Having been a caregiver for both my parents in their later years, I learned some lessons about how to navigate the health care system both efficiently and effectively which are holding me in good stead now. Here are a few of them:

Be proactive. Rather than being a passive recipient of services, it’s important to speak up and ask for what you need at every stage of treatment. Remember that you are a consumer and are paying your providers for their services.

Be your own advocate. Much as we look to our doctors for answers, we know our bodies best. We know when a symptom is growing worse or when a side effect is intolerable. It’s important to find a balance between being generally compliant but also being willing to challenge the advice we’re given when it doesn’t feel right.

Do your research. Who is more motivated than us to figure out the solutions to our own conditions? As frustrating as it can be when our doctors don’t have the answers we need, they only have so much time to do research on each patients’ condition. Try using Google Scholar (scholar.google.com) to curate the search returns of scholarly literature, and share the information with your doctor if it seems relevant.

Ask around. Some people are quite private about their health, but talking with others can be helpful if you feel comfortable doing so. I recently found a very knowledgeable physical therapist through a friend, and through the therapist, I found a competent specialist. Be sure to do your due diligence on the suggestions you are given, of course.

Keep meticulous notes. Whether it’s a physical folder, a notebook, or an online file, documenting your health journey is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure accuracy. It’s easy to forget when symptoms first started or the dates of surgeries or other treatments.

Ask questions. Many of us get nervous in our doctor’s offices, especially when we’re bracing for news. Make a list of your questions before you go and take notes on the responses. If you have remaining questions afterwards, or think of new ones, ask them through the portal or call the nurse.

Follow up. On the one hand, we are increasingly bombarded by providers with texts and emails about appointments. Unfortunately, the communication is not always as good when it comes to receiving test results or information about next steps. Don’t be afraid to clarify anything you are unsure of.

Communicate well. Figure out how your doctors prefer to communicate and use those avenues. For most it’s a healthcare portal, but not all. Remember that medical offices are notoriously understaffed, so be patient, but persistent. It’s up to us to fill in the blanks for our providers and make sure they are sharing relevant information with each other.

Turn to specialists. Trust your gut. If your general physician isn’t sure what’s causing your symptoms or doesn’t have a clear recommendation for treatment, ask if they can refer you a specialist, and do it sooner rather than later. Seeking an opinion from a provider with advanced training may save you a lot of time and trouble.

Think holistically. Increasingly we are understanding the interaction between our physical and mental health. When we address our health concerns, it’s important to look at our whole bodies. Consider the effects of diet, exercise, supplements, and your stress level on your physical and mental well-being and ask your doctors what self-care practices you can initiate to lessen your symptoms.

Maintain a positive outlook. So many studies have shown that our attitudes are central to staying healthy. A Facebook meme I saw this week expressed it well: “Mindset is everything.” While it’s hard not to worry about the possibility of serious health conditions while we’re waiting for test results, it’s important to stay calm and take steps to reduce our stress.

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My wish for all of us as we age is that we have good health and many happy days ahead of us!

Affectionately,

Elaine