02/23/2021
Nobody should feel they can’t tell their care provider why they came in for an appointment, or leave an appointment feeling dismissed, ignored – or disrespected.
Unfortunately, it happens all the time. Daily, in fact.
It’s painful and frustrating and also serious - it can keep you from getting the medical help you need. I also know that the only way we can take charge of our health is to become boss about it – which I know is hard if you’re tired and frustrated.
We can no longer accept being medically mistreated. Here are 6 tips for taking control of your medical appointments:
☝🏿Be a client, not a patient: You’re a client hiring a doctor. It’s similar to hiring an interior decorator: if they only do Country French and you like contemporary, you don’t hire them. Find a practitioner with your style.
☝🏾Schedule a specific appointment to focus on the concerns that usually get ignored rather than adding these onto the end of an annual check-up, for example, when they’re likely to get dropped.
☝🏽Prepare ahead: Before the appointment, think through what you’re asking for and what you’d like help with. Write your key points down, and use this as a script. This will keep focused and calm, as well as help you feel prepared.
☝🏼Manage reactions: let your doctor know that you’re learning to be more of an active partner in your own health – and that you really welcome her partnership and advice. Medical professionals are taught to be the authority and if your doctor feels undermined, it can create an adversarial situation.
☝🏻Bring resources: If your doctor won’t order labs,listen to your desire for an alternative, etc., bring resources to your appointment to support your request. I encourage women with Hashimoto’s symptoms to bring a copy of my thyroid book for medical references.
☝️Bring an advocate: Bring a trusted friend with you. Having another woman by your side will help you to feel empowered, help you overcome power dynamics, and help you to speak your mind.
While we should not have to ‘manage’ our care - or care provider - to get the care we need, sometimes it takes taking charge to be both seen and heard. See my article link in bio for more.