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Dear Ann Glanders: Week of 10/3/2011
BE and STAY A PROACTIVE PATIENT…..
One part of being a proactive patient is finding others who have similar situations so I say, “Good for you!” If you are reading this, that means you are utilizing one of your resources by being at DearThyroid.org.
Having a health issue can truly be overwhelming, therefore any help and resources that we can find will be beneficial as we weave our way through it all. I am always stunned when I see patients at their doctor visits without a list of questions that they prepared beforehand. You know, one of those visits when afterwards you find yourself saying, “eh crap, I forgot to ask about…..” Right?
Why tax ourselves any further trying to memorize all the information that we need to know? It’s just too much to recall on a moment’s notice. Write it down and, or print it out so you can keep all the research and information at your fingertips. And, it really is a lot of information!
We have to research everything we can just to learn about our diagnosis. That’s a file in itself. Then there’s finding the correct doctor. This does not need to be taken lightly. It’s like shoes, one size does not fit all. If it’s an uncomfortable fit, keep looking. It is our health at stake and our health is the only thing that is keeping us here on this 3rd rock from the sun with all our loved ones.
Every consider having a checklist on what to ask the office staff? Not to mention the doctor visit checklist. Check out this link to see if these checklists can be useful: Checklists for the Proactive Patient.
Being an informed patient helps us to ask more relevant information, which in turn will get us more detailed answers from the doctor.
From time to time it’s a good idea to revisit information we may have found early on in our research to help remind us of those few steps we might have missed or forgotten. This link is a good reminder of information that is useful for us and to share with others: How to get the most of your care.
I hope this column brings up other questions you may have and when it does, come on over to DearAnnGlanders on facebook to post them.
This is Ann Glanders signing off and asking, “Are you staying proactive?”
Tags: Ann Glanders, Ask Ann Glanders, connecting with other thyroid patients, Dear Thyroid advice column, thyroid communities, Thyroid Forums, Thyroid letters, thyroid support
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2 Responses to “Dear Ann Glanders: Week of 10/3/2011”
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Had my 6 month post surgery appt yesterday . . . .AND had a list of questions with me! Felt good to know all my questions were “there” and answered. Of course, new ones arose as the test results arrived, but I know I would have forgotten my questions if they had not been written down. Thanks for reinforcing the importance of being a prepared patient!
Joanne,
I am so very proud of you! That right there allowed you to concentrate on the lab results questions that popped up unexpectedly. Staying proactive as you are helps to stay in the know with your health. Good job!!