Be Your own Advocate

I have spent the past 20 years dealing with doctors, countless tests and months waiting for results.

I am not sure how I learned to be assertive with medical professionals, but it became necessary. The average person can be easily intimidated by those with more knowledge in a specific field, especially when talking about your health.

I armed myself with as much correct information as I could about a certain issue and I always wrote down all of my questions so I wouldn’t forget. I never left the chair until I had all the answers I needed in order to feel as comfortable as I could.

I have been rushed by doctors and didn’t feel secure at times. I actually came home from London, Ontario without having a scheduled procedure done because of the lack of faith I had in a certain physician. Not because I didn’t think he was capable, but because he didn’t have the time or felt the need to put my mind at ease.

Always trust your gut instinct and no matter what, get the answers you need. Just because someone has “Dr.” in front of their name doesn’t mean they are God. Fear of the unknown can be lessened with knowledge.

I have always had the utmost respect for most people with a medical profession. I have had some of the best care in the world from Nova Scotia all the way to California and everywhere in between. Because of my own experiences, I believe that it’s beneficial to your health to always be aware.

You have one body and you have to take the best care of it as you can. That includes not being afraid to ask and learn everything from the people that can tell you, even if you think it may sound stupid.