Patients Speaking Out Against Dehumanization During Hospitalization Twice this week, I encountered consistent accounts of what it’s like to be a patient in a US hospital. One is linked to above, and the other is available here. Both accounts were from minors, so these patients had even less power than adult (non-elderly) hospitalized patients. These…
I can’t believe that so many people have given my fledgling blog a shot. It’s gratifying beyond belief to hear that my words have made a difference for some of you. Thank you for giving me a reason to write each week.
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about how my partner has been encouraging me to figure out what makes me happy, now that my abilities, opportunities and limitations have all changed thanks to my illness. I was gung-ho about this quest, and thought about little else for over a week. Frustratingly, as I began…
When my primary care doctor found out that I went to the ER two times this week without seeing her first, she was shocked. She knows I understand a lot about American healthcare. She and I both know that when a patient goes to the ER, the primary care team is expected to swoop in,…
Sometimes it Pays to Trust Your Gut re: Diagnoses This article is thought-provoking, and feels similar to my experience this week with a couple trips to the ER because of breathing trouble. I had great doctors both times, but the first doctor didn’t get me very far. I felt like I had three problems going…
This week, my body has been in much worse shape than its new (sick) normal. Lacking the energy and focus to write a Real Blog Post, I’ve instead decided to pull together a checklist to help people with chronic and debilitating pain and/or fatigue (dubbed spoonies because of this article about our lives and limitations)…
Important Study on Living With and Treating Musculoskeletal Pain This UK study looked at the results of 77 studies which have been done on chronic musculoskeletal pain. I’m excited to see genuine interest in scientifically understanding the impact musculoskeletal pain has on those who suffer it. This study has come up with recommendations for patients and…
Before I got sick I was independent, driven, proud of my physical strength, and anxious to be helpful and productive. Suddenly developing a chronic illness that got in the way of all these things was extremely humbling. It’s been more than a year and a half, and I still haven’t made much progress on figuring…
Some Good Advice About Do’s and Don’ts When Your Friend is Chronically Ill and/or Disabled From Petticoat Ruler: don’t expect them to be able to go out on a whim expect them to have lives just like yours expect them to always be available demand details of their illness that they haven’t volunteered, ask them…
The Professional Patient 