I have navigated the rough waters of chronic inflammation several times. One time in particular, it was during my search for answers that led to my endometriosis diagnosis.
My voice, etched with the pain of being dismissed by the very system meant to heal, carries a story that resonates with anyone fighting to be heard in their healthcare journey.
In this episode, I map out the path that led me to a doctor who finally acknowledged my suffering and the critical steps I took to advocate for my health.
I share the goldmine of strategies that will arm you with the tools to document your symptoms and effectively communicate with your medical team.
Stepping into the doctor's office can often feel intimidating and overwhelming, but this episode provides a roadmap that will empower you.
I dissect how to critically appraise medical studies and point you toward the beacons of trustworthy health information online, ensuring you're equipped with the knowledge to take an active role in your treatment plan.
We'll go through the nuts and bolts of preparing for your appointments, from keeping a symptom journal to clarifying your objectives for the visit.
This isn't just about taking notes; it's about transforming the doctor visit into a collaborative mission, where questions about diet and lifestyle are as crucial as any treatment plan or test.
And remember, this is your body—finding a healthcare provider who listens, respects and supports you isn't just important, it's your right. Tune in for an empowering session that will alter how you navigate your healthcare journey.
Rate, Review, and Subscribe! I am honored that you tuned in to today's show and I don't want you to miss a single episode! Make sure you go HERE to hit the subscribe button so you know when the next episode drops.
If you found this episode helpful in any way, please leave me a Rating + Review. When you do, it helps me reach and support other people, just like you, so that they can move toward living a healthier and happier life with RA. Click HERE, scroll down to the bottom, tap to rate with 5 stars, then scroll down and tap 'Write a Review'. Then share what resonated with you in the episode! What did you love the most?
*This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any illness or disease. The information provided herein is for general educational purposes, has not been reviewed nor approved by the FDA and is not intended to take the place of advice from your medical professional, licensed dietitian or nutritionist. You are solely responsible for your health care and activity choices. Your decision to try this formula does not constitute a client-coach relationship. For my full disclaimer, please visit: https://dawnlaflin.com/disclaimer/
I have navigated the rough waters of chronic inflammation several times. One time in particular, it was during my search for answers that led to my endometriosis diagnosis.
My voice, etched with the pain of being dismissed by the very system meant to heal, carries a story that resonates with anyone fighting to be heard in their healthcare journey.
In this episode, I map out the path that led me to a doctor who finally acknowledged my suffering and the critical steps I took to advocate for my health.
I share the goldmine of strategies that will arm you with the tools to document your symptoms and effectively communicate with your medical team.
Stepping into the doctor's office can often feel intimidating and overwhelming, but this episode provides a roadmap that will empower you.
I dissect how to critically appraise medical studies and point you toward the beacons of trustworthy health information online, ensuring you're equipped with the knowledge to take an active role in your treatment plan.
We'll go through the nuts and bolts of preparing for your appointments, from keeping a symptom journal to clarifying your objectives for the visit.
This isn't just about taking notes; it's about transforming the doctor visit into a collaborative mission, where questions about diet and lifestyle are as crucial as any treatment plan or test.
And remember, this is your body—finding a healthcare provider who listens, respects and supports you isn't just important, it's your right. Tune in for an empowering session that will alter how you navigate your healthcare journey.
Rate, Review, and Subscribe! I am honored that you tuned in to today's show and I don't want you to miss a single episode! Make sure you go HERE to hit the subscribe button so you know when the next episode drops.
If you found this episode helpful in any way, please leave me a Rating + Review. When you do, it helps me reach and support other people, just like you, so that they can move toward living a healthier and happier life with RA. Click HERE, scroll down to the bottom, tap to rate with 5 stars, then scroll down and tap 'Write a Review'. Then share what resonated with you in the episode! What did you love the most?
*This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any illness or disease. The information provided herein is for general educational purposes, has not been reviewed nor approved by the FDA and is not intended to take the place of advice from your medical professional, licensed dietitian or nutritionist. You are solely responsible for your health care and activity choices. Your decision to try this formula does not constitute a client-coach relationship. For my full disclaimer, please visit: https://dawnlaflin.com/disclaimer/
Speaker 1:
Okay, real quick, before we get going, I want to make sure you know I have a free resource for you to grab down in the show notes below. It's my anti-inflammatory foods checklist and it's yours for free. Think of it as a cheat sheet that will help you take the guesswork out of what to eat. Moving toward an anti-inflammatory diet plays a key role in reducing excess inflammation. The reward More energy and less pain, and who doesn't want more of that? Be sure to see the link in the show notes below to grab your copy.
Speaker 1:
For years I have had tests done to see why I was in so much pain, and every time I was told that everything looked normal. It wasn't until I walked into Dr Mack's office that I heard the words I'll never forget. I believe your pain and we're going to get to the bottom of this. Still today, it strikes an emotional chord for me whenever I think about it. Through laparoscopy, dr Mack discovered that I had a lot of scarring that was causing me all the pain, and it was all due to endometriosis. Talk about feeling validated.
Speaker 1:
I'm Dawn Laughlin, certified health coach and fellow RA warrior. It wasn't all that long ago that I was in this place where I was fearful of the uncertainty of my future, wondering when my next flare would come or wondering when the pain would let up. Fast forward, through many trials, errors and lessons learned, and you'll find a gal who is stronger, healthier and more confident in her future than ever before. Yes, I still have RA, but RA doesn't have me. I believe our lifestyle, food choices and mindset greatly impact the way our bodies handle rheumatoid arthritis. I created the Thrive with RA podcast to explore the science-based ways to realign your health. Through these three pillars and so much more, we'll be navigating both the messy and the blessings that come from living a life with RA. Each week, you'll get a good dose of education, inspiration, encouragement and hope as you take small steps to improve your health and overall life.
Speaker 1:
If you've been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis or are still trying to figure out if the symptoms you're feeling are indeed rheumatoid arthritis, you are in the right place, my friend. Let's get started. Welcome, my friend. We're back for another episode of Thrive with RA. This week, we're diving into a topic that is near and dear to my heart for many reasons, some of which I'll share with you today, and that is advocating for yourself in the doctor's office as a chronic inflammation warrior. More than likely, you've had some doctor's appointments that didn't go the way that you'd hoped they would. You may have felt dismissed, unheard or been told. The symptoms are in your head. Whatever the scenario, you likely left frustrated, confused or maybe even angry. If you can relate to this on any level, I want you to know that you are not alone.
Speaker 1:
Too often, we, as women, have to spend months, years, trying to reach a diagnosis for symptoms that are plaguing us, and it has to stop. The only way that that's going to happen is if we start standing up and speaking for ourselves and for the things that we need. Here's the deal. The doctors bring years of medical knowledge. They know medicines inside and out, they understand how the body works, but they're not the expert in your knowledge. They know medicines inside and out. They understand how the body works, but they're not the expert in your body. You know your body best, the symptoms you're experiencing, the way the medicines are or aren't working. You are the one that can describe what's going on inside of your body, and I say this so passionately because many times, your blood work, your test results, they're going to come back as normal and the doctor's going to say everything checks out, everything's okay, and send you on your way, and yet you're not. That's when you have to take a stand and speak for yourself.
Speaker 1:
This happened for me many times over the years leading up to my diagnosis of endometriosis, a diagnosis that only happened because I kept searching for the doctor who would listen to me. For years, I have had tests done to see why I was in so much pain, and every time I was told that everything looked normal. It wasn't until I walked into Dr Mack's office that I heard the words I'll never forget. I believe your pain and we're going to get to the bottom of this. Still today, it strikes an emotional chord for me whenever I think about it. Through laparoscopy, dr Mack discovered that I had a lot of scarring that was causing me all the pain, and it was all due to endometriosis. Talk about feeling validated. It took me speaking up, switching doctors and standing my ground, requiring further, which is what I want to encourage you with today.
Speaker 1:
So let's talk about three things that you can do to prepare yourself for any and all upcoming appointments. Number one keep a diary of your symptoms, track those symptoms and be very specific on what you note, especially if you don't have a diagnosis. You can keep this on a hard copy or on your phone, whatever is going to be the easiest for you to access during an appointment. As I said, you want to be very specific in your notes. You want to note the date and the time, the level of intensity Think on a scale of zero to 10, how long it's lasting you, and are there any connections that you can make in your day that might have triggered the response. It could be that you've had a stressful day, a stressful week. Maybe your diet hasn't been the best. Maybe you haven't been eating as healthy as you normally would. Maybe sleep hasn't been good. Have you not slept well last night or in the last week? The more data that you can gather and note, the easier it's gonna be for the doctor to have a full picture and have a better idea of what's going on. Not only that, you're going to feel more empowered and confident as you are describing what's going on, because you have all that data right next to you to share.
Speaker 1:
So, number two, let's talk about learning and getting clarity. This is something that, if you don't have a diagnosis, learning isn't necessarily going to be something you can do, because I don't. I don't encourage going down the Google search, the Google rabbit hole, searching for symptoms when you don't know what's going on, because that can put you in a rabbit hole that you don't belong in. But if you do have a diagnosis, learning all that you can, whether it's with your RA or it's something else you're investigating. Learn as much as you can about the ins and outs of that condition, what it is, what, what best supports your body and dealing with that condition. Are there modifications that are helpful? Are there some that are not helpful? Look at the latest studies.
Speaker 1:
Now, as I say that, I also want to share a couple of caveats. When, when you're looking into studies, make sure you consider who they are paid, who paid for the study, because unfortunately, there are a lot of biased studies that are put out purely for the point of making sales. So you always want to make sure who's paying for the study. Also want to note how was the study conducted? Is it conducted on animals, in test tubes, on people? All of those little nuances can really determine whether it is a study that is valid and or something that would relate to your specific condition.
Speaker 1:
Now, when you are searching online. Stay with those reputable medical online sources. You want to make sure that you are not going to places that are citing information that can't be backed up and verified. Some of the medical online resources that I use when I'm creating podcasts or trainings or my coursework is MedlinePlusgov, Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic. Those are just three. There are many more, but those are three that I lean to as I'm creating resources. So if you're following somebody, make sure that they are also creating and using resources that come from reputable places, so that you can feel good about the information you're receiving.
Speaker 1:
Now you want to take this list of symptoms that you have noted in your diary and write out any questions or concerns that come up for you. In doing that, then determine what the goal of your appointment is. Are you looking to get a diagnosis? Are you looking to create a plan for further testing so that you can find out what's going on? Maybe you are looking to create a treatment plan for the diagnosis, or maybe you're just there to get a prescription filled. Making note of what your goal is on the same sheet that you can refer to while you're in the meeting is so helpful so that you don't get flustered and walk out of there without the main goal that you're there for being covered.
Speaker 1:
Now, as you're listing these questions, list them in order of importance. The deal is the reality is you have 12 to 18 minutes on average with your doctor. It is very limited. You want to make sure that you are maximizing that time together and, honestly, most of my early rheumatology appointments when I had my first rheumatologist were maybe five minutes, so you don't have a lot of time. You want to make sure that you are specific and concise and that you get your goal met and your questions answered. So practice running through that a couple of times before your appointment so that you feel very well-versed and you feel very confident and empowered that you're going to be able to cover that in the meeting.
Speaker 1:
I'd like to encourage you to add one question to your list, if it's not already there, and that is what can I do to support my body? Are there any diet or lifestyle improvements that you have found to be helpful in this condition? I think too often we go into our doctor's appointments expecting that magic pill, that quick fix, because that's just the nature of our culture these days. Or for the doctor to say do X, y, z. But it's also important that we take an active role in our health. There are so many things that we can do to help improve rheumatoid arthritis or any other chronic illness by taking steps in our diet and our lifestyle. And when we own that and we take an active role in our own health, we're able to team up with our doctor so that we can create our healthiest plan and feel our best in everyday life. Now one thing to think about when you're in your appointment, don't forget to refer to your notes.
Speaker 1:
A lot of times you get in there and again you might feel that time crunch and you don't pull out your phone or you feel weird about having it out, Don't? This is your opportunity to go in and have a conversation with your doctor. I know some people have to wait months to get in to see a specialist, so you wanna make sure that you have everything answered and that you leave there feeling heard and that you feel like you have a good plan for moving forward. If you feel really overwhelmed with everything going on and you feel like it's too much for you to go in and do alone, bring a trusted family member or friend. There is nothing saying that you can't bring a person in with you to your appointment. There might be a session or a point in time that the doctor asks that person to leave, if there's some exams that have to happen, but overall, a person can come in there with you. Be your support while you're working through and asking hard questions, or even take notes for you. Be a second set of ears so that you guys can refer to that later and kind of talk about what you each heard and make sure that you are on the same page.
Speaker 1:
Now the third thing I want to talk about is creating a sense of perspective about your appointment. Before your appointment Unless you live in a rural area and you only have one option for a doctor, consider this an opportunity to interview the doctor that you're meeting with. It's so important to find a doctor that you trust and can build a rapport with, one that you have respect with and one that respects you back. You should respect that they're bringing in years of medical expertise and they should respect that the symptoms you're feeling are valid and real and not brush them aside. While it can feel like a lot the idea of seeing multiple specialists until you find one that is a good fit, know that it is worth every ounce of effort. Having somebody who supports you and your goals for health, versus having someone who merely wants to dispense prescriptions, is gold. So those are three tips that I think can help you as you go in and advocate for yourself in the doctor's office.
Speaker 1:
There are things that have helped me over the years. I know everything I went through with. My endometriosis diagnosis era really helped prepare me for when I was going through the beginning stages of rheumatoid arthritis. It helped me be in a better place. The more you practice this, the easier it gets. Now you might be thinking, dawn, I've tried this before.
Speaker 1:
My doctor became offended because I asked too many questions. Well, friend, I've been there too. My rheumatologist my first rheumatologist always commented on how much he wished his other patients no longer relied on the non-soroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like I was. But when it came to that next appointment and I brought information in with me to show him what I was doing, he became offended and short and really kind of shut the communication down between us. You see, he didn't want to know what I was doing, he just wanted to be able to say, yes, she's my patient and she's doing really really well. I don't know about you, but that's not the kind of doctor I want supporting me in a lifelong journey, and sadly there are many more out there just like he is. They have this superiority complex. They get their feathers ruffled when the patient wants to know more about their disease or to share what they're doing when it didn't come from them, and some of them, quite frankly, are just set in their ways and they don't want to bend any other way, even though science is showing and encouraging that we talk more about diet and lifestyle.
Speaker 1:
While I understand the reasons that doctors don't love patients using Dr Google, if it's information that isn't a good fit for the patient, I just see it as a golden opportunity for the doctor to then help the patient better understand what's going on so that they don't go Google. So, knowing that likely you will run into other doctors who are not going to be super excited that you're asking lots of questions, I wanted to give you a couple of suggestions on things that you can consider when you come across these doctors. You can visit another doctor for a second opinion, which I always recommend if you don't feel like you're getting the interaction you need from that first doctor and then make a decision based on whether you'll stay with that first one or move on, or you can simply thank them for their time and just move on to a doctor who will support you. Now, if you live in areas where your options are limited when it comes to specialists, I have a couple of ideas for you as well. You can stay with this doctor simply to utilize the services of having your blood work done, your scans done, your physical checks done, and just know that he's not going to support you in your desire for better health, your diet and lifestyle changes. He's not going to be cheering you along, he's not going to ask you how it is, he's just going to want to see those numbers and make sure everything's in check. So for that extra support, you'll need to look at other professionals, say a health coach or a nutritionist, or a community of like-minded individuals, like the free one I have I'll be sure to link that in the show notes or your family and friends.
Speaker 1:
Lastly, one good thing that came out of the pandemic is the number of doctors that now offer telehealth. There are a lot of options. Just check the directories online for rheumatologists offering either services in-state or tri-state. There's a lot of options out there available now. So there you have it. I hope you found this episode valuable and that encourages you as you prepare for your next doctor appointment. Feel free to send me a DM on Instagram Tell me what you thought of this episode. I'd love to hear from you. All right, sweet friend, I'll see you next week, same time, same place. Bye for now, friends. That's it for today's episode. If you're ready to take a first step toward improving your energy and reducing inflammation, be sure to grab my free RA pain reducing and energizing smoothie guide. You can do that by clicking the link found below in the show notes. Well, until next time, ra thrivers, keep taking those small steps that lead to big impacts on your health.
