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You can use your story as a way of establishing
caring relationship that you want with your doctor. Here’s how:
Know your story.
You may know doctor’s version of your story. *I have following medical conditions that has been treated by...* While this is an important version, I encourage you to tell your own version of your story. What is your experience of living with this medical condition? What challenges have you faced and what have you learned as a result of going through it? You may have never done this before. You can either record it in a journal or tell it to a friend.
Ask for time you need with your doctor.
Telling your story takes time. So ask for it. When you call to make appointment ask, *How do I schedule a half-hour appointment?* Offer to pay for time your insurance company will not cover.
Understand that you and your doctor tell different stories.
After a brief time of telling your story to doctor, your doctor may interrupt and guide story to a diagnosis. If it's important to tell story your way, say, *I would like just three more minutes to tell my story my way, then you can ask your doctor questions.*
Tell your doctor how you’re feeling.
Your doctor may understand how gastro-intestinal system works, but you are expert on what you feel. Your feelings convey information that is as important as any lab test or x-ray. If your doctor doesn’t understand how important something is to you, speak up! If you tell your doctor about nausea with your new medication and your doctor brushes it off and moves on to next topic, say, *For me, nausea isn’t just a little annoyance. It’s a big deal. Are there other medications that will work?*
Recognize healing power of having someone listen to your story.
Have you ever had experience of simply listening to someone and hearing other person say, *Thanks I feel so much better having told you my story. Thanks for listening.* Some say healing means accepting past as it is, not needing to change it.
Pain and illness are part of human condition. You make choices that determine if pain will lead to suffering. When you’re sick, your goal is to restore quality of your life. You - not your doctor - know what that means for you. After all, you’re one living your story.
Your personal health story, as distinctive as your face, may be most important story you ever tell. Dr. Vicki's Personal Health Journal is a place to store and organize your medical records and your account of your story. http://www.medicalbridges.com/products.html
Copyright © Vicki Rackner MD, 2005
Vicki Rackner, MD, president of Medical Bridges, is a board- certified surgeon who left the operating room to help employees become active participants in their health care. She is a consultant, speaker and author of the *Personal Health Journal*, and author/editor of *Chicken Soup for the Healthy Heart Soul*. Dr. Rackner can be reached at http://www.MedicalBridges.com or (425) 451-3777.
