Be Your Own Advocate

Over the years, I have learned that nobody knows better what a person needs than herself. I learned with my Meneire's disease that if I wanted answers and treatment, I would have to fight to find a physician that would help me. I have a several friends that are struggling with health issues and they haven't gotten any answers. When dealing with physicians, all patients need to remember that physicians are human and don't have all of the answers. My own experience and observing the experiences of my friends have moved me to create a list for chronically ill people to consider when seeking medical advice, answers and just plain relief.
1. Don't accept the answer, "You just have to live with it." Modern medicine makes advances every day and you can bet there is someone out there that understands your illness and has some answers.
2. Don't allow any medical professional to make you feel like it is in your head. Symptoms that can not be seen or "measured" are real.
3. Don't keep going to the same doctor and get the sames answers, prescriptions or endless follow up appointments. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome.
4. Don't devalue yourself and think what you are experiencing is not worth bothering family, friends and health care professionals. If you feel it, it is real to you.
5. Find a support group. Not just spouses, friends, parents and siblings but people that are experiencing similar conditions or can relate to the doctor run-around. The Internet is a great way to find support groups. I have found many blogs and social networks that validate the symptoms and the emotions that go along with my illness.
6. Chronic illness can cause depression so don't dismiss those symptoms. Talk to a doctor you trust and discuss options to combat your depression.
7. If you are the spouse of someone chronically ill, don't dismiss them, give up on them or quit. My husband, Lavoy, is my advocate. If it had not been for his unwillingness to accept "live with it" I wouldn't have gone to Shea Ear clinic for treatment. Family and friends are crucial to the physical and mental well being of someone that has a chronic illness.
8. There are always exceptions to illnesses. Not everyone has textbook symptoms. It is possible for you to be suffering with a known illness but have one quirky symptom that is atypical.
9. Be healthy-eat right and when you can-exercise. Exercise produces endorphins and endorphins make people happy.
10. Cling to the hope that God doesn't put more on us than we can handle. He can use our illness for His glory.

1 Corinthians 10:13 The Message (MSG)

¹³No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have h

ad to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it.