Speaking up for yourself is a skill that comes with work and time. Many areas of life require you to: in class when you have a question, at work when you come up with new ideas, and especially when it comes to health care. Healthcare professionals do so much for their communities, from taking care of those who are sick, to performing routine check ups. These days, these professionals are being asked to take on more than ever before. They care for their patients,but with more things added to their plate everyday,it’s easy for things to take priority.
Over the past month I have been in and out of doctor’s offices, dealing with a multitude of appointments, phone calls, and emails. If there is one thing that I have learned through all of this it’s that “the squeaky wheel gets the grease.” This saying might not make much sense at first, but think in terms of a car. If your brakes are not making that wretched grinding noise, are you going to take them to be replaced? Probably not. Sometimes, it feels like I’m nagging my doctor’s office to put through the referrals and orders that I need in a timely fashion. With how understaffed everywhere is right now, everything takes more time. Patience is a virtue, but sometimes it runs low when you are waiting months for a phone call to even be scheduled for an appointment.
Speaking up for yourself comes in beyond getting appointments set and tests done. You know when something is off with your body because you live in it every day. At appointments, don’t let your doctor brush aside your concerns. They are busy, but your appointment time is set aside especially for you. Don’t be afraid to ask for certain blood tests to be run or things to be checked out. I’ve struggled with this for years at the doctor’s office. I’d come in with concerns, only to be told that I’m fine and that nothing is wrong. For years I’ve dealt with this, so I began doing my own research and asked for specific tests to be done. Only then was it discovered that I have an autoimmune disease. That led me to wonder how long would I have kept living the way I do while unknowingly causing harm to my body. Don’t be afraid to ask, because the worst that can be said is no. In my case, asking for a few different blood tests has led me to finding the reason behind my symptoms.
Your health and taking care of yourself should be one of your top priorities. Don’t be afraid to call for follow-ups on appointments, or shoot your doctor an email asking for updates. Doing this will bring you to the front of their mind, and you’ll likely get the answers you need to get and stay healthy. It may feel like you are being annoying, but that is what they are there for: to help you stay healthy. Don’t feel scared about reaching out!