Take Charge of Your Medical Care

 

A spinal fusion. Photo © Lloyd Lemons

Don't wait for someone else to make you better.

I’ve been “doctoring” again! Don’t worry, I won’t belabor the point with a description of my ailments, but I will give one fair warning: Don’t trust completely in any healthcare institution or its workers to get the job done correctly and efficiently every time.

Most are dedicated true professionals, and others … maybe not so much. Some are inexperienced, some would rather spend their time elsewhere, and some may simply not be up to the task. Then, of course, there are technology problems. “Our computers are down today!” goes the usual refrain.

I recently had a severe pain in my back that my doctor thought required a CT Scan to ascertain the source. I paid the $200 copay, got the scan, waited four days, and heard nothing. No phone call, no posting on my healthcare portal.

Follow up and follow through

So, I attempted to chase down the answer. This step is often a patient necessity in modern healthcare. It’s just one of the steps in taking charge of your health.

I couldn’t wait any longer, I reached out by phone, started calling the pros, and asking questions. It took a few calls when, eventually, I found someone with the answer: my CT Scan “turned up nothing.”

I still haven’t been able to see the scan on my portal or discuss the pain or CT results with the doctor.

My doctor said the next step is to check in with my neurosurgeon and get an MRI. It’s another scan, but much more comprehensive. I paid another $200 copay, got the MRI, waited a week, and heard nothing from the specialist’s office. No phone call, no text messages, no smoke signals, no posting on my healthcare portal.

So, again, I was forced to chase down the results.

After leaving three messages on the specialist’s phone, I finally got a call back from the surgeon’s assistant. She saw in the MRI progressive signs of aging, but nothing that would require further surgery at this time.

Expensive and often disappointing

So, what is the new source of my chronic pain? I don’t know. Apparently, no one knows. I’m out $400, several hours of my time, and more than two weeks of wondering, and still no closer to discovering the source of my pain.

I received an apology for the process taking so long (I’ve still not heard from the doctor), and a suggestion from the assistant to see “one of the pain management clinics around town.” I was also promised a view of the scan on my portal in a few days. It’s been two weeks, and it’s still not posted.

I learned a long time ago that healthcare is a team effort. Sometimes, when part of the “team” is lacking, you must take it upon yourself to ask questions, make phone calls, do your own reading and research, and sometimes do some legwork.

Why are things like this? And is it like this for everyone in the United States healthcare system? I can’t answer that question. But I know that healthcare relationships have noticeably changed for me in recent years. I’m 72 years old and I believe I have fallen into the category where limits are set by a little-known feature of our system called: Age-Based Healthcare Rationing.

It is important to understand your vital signs, including blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, and temperature, and what they mean for your health. But there’s more to do.

Read the professional literature about your health concerns. Good, solid literature is available on the Internet. Some of the proven sources I use are Johns Hopkins University, Mayo Clinic, the National Institutes of Health, the Cleveland Clinic, and others. You’ll read about clinical trials, cutting-edge research, and the experiences of other patients who have gone through health concerns similar to yours. It will give you a big picture overview, then you can discuss these ideas and remedies with your doctor.

For the best healthcare outcomes, take charge of your health by choosing a healthy lifestyle. And by all means, don’t sit on the sidelines waiting for someone else to make you better. Get involved in the process. Know your family history. Be prepared for medical appointments. Talk to your healthcare team. Ask questions and tell them when you don’t understand and need extra clarification.

I haven’t gotten to the bottom of my dilemma yet, but I promise you, I will.

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For further reading:

I don’t think my doctor is listening to me.

None of my writing is produced by AI.
I occasionally use AI to create a photo, but it’s always noted.