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Your Good Health
Take control of your health The tests say you’re fine, but you know better. Stand up for yourself — it’s your health. By Heather Cass
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n the 19th century,
women’s health problems were frequently labeled hysteria. This was especially true if the symptoms were vague, infrequent or included any form of psychological stress. Once diagnosed as hysterical, women were often committed to an asylum for the rest of their lives. We’ve come a long way since then. And, yet, if you talk to any adult woman today, it’s likely that she can recount at least one time that she felt her health concerns were ignored, dismissed or misdiagnosed. Pam Farrell, 44, of Edinboro, Pennsylvania, experienced menorrhagia, abnormally heavy periods, for more than 10 years. “It was so bad that I had to call off work because I couldn’t leave the house,” she said. “All the tests the doctor did came back normal and he suggested a partial hysterectomy. My insurance wouldn’t cover it, though, so I just learned to live with it.” Farrell lived with it for five more years until she saw a new doctor who scheduled an internal sonogram and found a large polyp in her uterus. Two weeks later, she had minor surgery to remove it and her problem was solved — after 15 years. How to be heard Unfortunately, Farrell’s story is not an anomaly. Women are far more likely to live with long-term health issues, suffer from chronic pain and wait longer for a proper diagnosis. The reasons for this are numerous and complicated. Some studies have shown that a gender bias may exist in treating women’s pain, but deeper, cultural issues come into play, too. “Many women are strong champions for their kids, their partner, their parents, their pets, but not themselves,” said Debbie DeAngelo, R.N.C., B.S.N., an Erie, Pennsylvania, holistic health coach. “They
don’t make their needs a priority, and this can delay them from seeking early treatment and prohibit thorough communication with clinicians.” And when it comes to successful treatment, it all boils down to effective communication with healthcare providers. Women must be advocates for their own health. “You cannot take care of someone else or a whole family unless you’re well in terms of mind, body and spirit,” said Danielle Hansen, D.O., geriatrician at LECOM Institute for Successful Aging. Here are some tips for effective appointments with health-care providers: Don’t delay treatment. “I often hear women say they have allowed an issue to persist for weeks or months before coming to my office,” said Dr. Lydia Travnik, a family physician at Allegheny Health Network. It’s understandable. Women have so many time constraints, especially during the middle ages of life. But, Travnik says, “unaddressed issues often compound with time, causing further complications. It’s important for women to be proactive.” Understand how appointments work. “The way appointments are organized fall into several categories, including preventative (physicals), acute (problem-based concerns) or follow-up visits,” Travnik said. “Don’t expect to cover preventive topics and problems in one visit, as it makes it difficult to thoroughly address all aspects of preventative medicine.” As a guideline, Travnik said you can expect to address about three issues during one visit. Ask for the time you need. “When you call your doctor to schedule an appointment, let the office staff know if you have more than one concern or if you have significant medical decisions or options to be discussed, so they can allot more time,” DeAngelo said.
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Bring an extra set of ears. If you’re anxious, overwhelmed, or have difficulty communicating in a healthcare setting, bring a friend or family member with you. Even if you have no trouble talking with your doctor, it can be helpful to have another person
Health tips
FREEPIK
Jot notes about your health in a notebook or online calendar. It can be difficult to remember what happened when or which symptoms appeared first, but if you make a habit of keeping track, you’ll have an easy reference. Did you know that HIPAA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, which safeguards the privacy of medical records) gives you the right to obtain and view copies of all of your medical records? (Providers are allowed to withhold certain types of medical records, including psychotherapy notes.)
there who can help you remember or understand what your provider said. Organize your thoughts. Communicating succinctly requires some pre-appointment work. “Write down pertinent information like specific symptoms, when they began and what aggravates or improves them,” DeAngelo said. “Bring an updated medication and allergy list as well as the names and contact info for other health-care providers who are treating you.” Streamline and prioritize questions. “Show your written list of questions to your doctor at the beginning of the appointment, so he or she understands the nature of your concerns and knows how to address them,” DeAngelo said. Be prepared to write down the answers and ask for educational handouts. Be honest. Share all your symptoms and answer your physician’s questions honestly. “Don’t hide anything, even if you think it doesn’t matter, may not be related, or it makes you uncomfortable to discuss,” Hansen said. Doctors need to know all the details to make an accurate diagnosis. Summarize. “At the end of your appointment, summarize what you think your doctor has told you by saying something like, ‘OK, let me see if I’ve understood you correctly,’ ” DeAngelo said. Get a second opinion. It’s your right and, in many cases, advisable to get a second opinion on any procedures or treatments. Be persistent. If your provider hasn’t gotten back to you, don’t wait. Call, fax or email. It’s your health and your life. Take control.
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