Re: View on Chronic Conditions:

From: GKING@MYRICKRE.COM
Wed Jul 14 11:35:57 1999


At Wed, 14 Jul 1999, Helen Dynda wrote: >
>(Continued from the message which I previously posted.)
>
>"As chronically ill patients, we have our own set of duties:
>
>1.) We have a duty to learn about our illness and to become partners in
>management.
>
>2.) Once we understand our illness and have chosen a particular
>treatment among options presented, we have a duty either to follow that
>treatment plan or to discuss a change in the plan with our doctor.
>
>3.) We owe our doctors the truth -- if we fail to take our drugs, go off
>our diet, etc., we must admit it; likewise, we must recognize when we
>need help in dealing with the emotional and psychological effects of our
>illness, and we must ask for help."
>
>With easy access on the Internet to information about chronic conditions
>- chronic pain, post-surgical adhesions, or whatever chronic condition -
>patients can truly become active participants in their own
>rehabilitation. Doctors and patients can truly work as partners.
>
>If you have not yet used the Internet to search for information about
>your chronic medical condition, I encourage each one of you to become an
>active partner with your doctor.

Helen,

I find your posts informative and encouraging. Have you found your doctors to be receptive to information you have collected over the internet? I have found that when I make a suggestion as to my condition or mention the word that I have "read" something about my condition, the doctors seem to respond either by ignoring me or rejecting the information off hand as they know best. I'm not sure it's my delivery or my doctors but I have talked to several people who have had the same problem. It seems you have about five minutes worth of their complete attention before they have made up their minds as to what is "wrong" with you. Anything said after that point is "lost". I would appreciate any advice you may have on forming that bond between the patient and doctor. Thanks. Ginny


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