I make no apologies

May 19, 2015

Yesterday I wrote about how my entire personality changed because of my need to stand up for myself in medical situations. I want to be clear about one thing: I make no apologies for how I act.

Sometimes I’m wrong. Sometimes I screw up. I’m human, so of course I do things wrong. I try to take ownership and apologize when I’m at fault. Sometimes I screw that up, too, but I do my best. I’m not talking here about any of those things. I’m talking about medical situations where I’m pushy.

Like many of you, I was taught to be apologetic when I push too hard, but I only apologize when I truly cross a line. The rest of the time, I do what I need to do without apology, because if I apologize, then it encourages their low standards.

A couple years ago I had an appointment with a specialist. I waited almost 6 months for the appointment, but it was worth it so that I could see this particular doctor. When I finally showed up, I was taken in 30 minutes late to meet with someone else. My doctor was out and instead of calling and asking if I’d like to reschedule, they had me meet with this one. He was terrible. He said they couldn’t help me and suggested a psychologist. Before I left, I got the name of the person in charge. I called her and expressed my displeasure at the long wait and not being able to see the doctor I had been desperate to see. I was very strong in my expression of displeasure. I was not mean or nasty, I did not swear, but I was strong. Within a week she got me an appointment to see that doctor. Instead of the usual 15 minutes, he spent a full hour with me. Unlike the other, he discussed options, asked my opinion, took my view serious, and ran tests. He found that I had a serious but treatable problem. I called back the woman in charge, told her how well things went, and thanked her profusely. I certainly never apologized.

I asked my doctor to test me for lactose intolerance. He said there was no test for it, but that I should keep a food and symptom journal and he’d send it to a nutritionist. We did that, and he told me that nutritionist said I’m not lactose intolerant and I should just avoid foods that bother me. It didn’t feel right, but I went along with him. After 20 years of frequent diarrhea, nausea, cramping, and pain so bad that I literally wanted to die, I found out that I had Celiac Disease. Last year I was going through old medical records and found the letter the nutritionist had sent back to him. She said that I didn’t appear to be lactose intolerant but that something was definitely wrong and I should see her. I’ve been very sorry about that – sorry that I didn’t push for better treatment.

I have dozens, probably hundreds, of stories like these. I bet you do, too. I regret the times I didn’t stand up for myself but I haven’t once regretted the times that I did. So I’ll make no apologies. And if anyone has a problem with that, too bad for them.

P.S. If I sound defensive and bitter, you can imagine why.

Now it’s your turn. Have you had to be pushy in order to stand up for yourself? Did you regret doing it? Did you regret not doing it? Share one or two of your favorite stories in the comments!

3 Comments | Decisions, Expectations, Frustration, Gastrointestinal, Healthcare, Limitations, Medication, Milestones, Pain, Rants, Raves, Symptoms | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by chronicrants

The real reason I became loud and pushy: self-preservation

May 18, 2015

We’re taught to be polite. We’re taught to be respectful. But what happens when being polite and respectful is killing you?

I mentioned to some friends recently that I didn’t used to be loud and pushy. In fact, I was quiet and rather meek for a long time. They were shocked. If you’re a long time reader, you might be surprised, too. They couldn’t imagine me ever being shy about speaking my mind. But they didn’t know me before.

I was a shy child. When an adult, even a well known friend of my parents, spoke to me, I would hide behind my mother’s legs. I got past that, as children do, but I was always shy about expressing my opinions. I hated raising my hand in class, even when I knew I had the right answer. Bit by bit I started raising my hand and volunteering thoughts and ideas. Still, I was never pushy about it. I would tell my boss what I thought, then go with whatever he decided.

There was no one moment when that changed. It was a gradual thing that snuck up on me over time. Then one day, someone else brought up the need to be pushy with doctors, and I had a sudden flash back to the days when I was timid, and I realized I wasn’t like that any more.

I was a child when I had my first symptoms, so I did what my parents and my doctors said to do. It was always some combination of Advil, heat, ice, support braces, etc. None of it worked. Still, complaining made things worse. I learned early on that if I was too insistent about things, I’d be ignored. I was lucky that my parents never ignored me, but certain doctors and teachers did. Several openly suggested I was making the whole thing up.

As I became an adult, I still wasn’t taken seriously. And even when the doctors took me seriously, I still received poor care. I got shuttled between doctors within an insurance-induced maze and continued to get worse and worse. I was told not to come in any more. I learned to speak up for myself in college, where the disability support services were horribly lacking. I pushed for what I needed to succeed in class, but only within the strict bounds of cultural politeness.

In my early 20s I had an unusual ability to see a doctor of my choosing for a short time. I won’t get into the insurance loophole, but I found it and used it. For the first time, I took things into my own hands against the advice of my doctors. And for the first time in 11 years, I got a diagnosis. That was my first taste of how going against the grain could help me.

Somewhere in my late 20s or early 30s, I started to stand up for myself more. When doctors would bend my hand and ask, “Does this hurt?” and I said yes, they would still try to do it again, but unlike a decade before, I pulled away. I argued with insurance representatives, even when it did no good. I tried to get better care. I was still being polite most of the time, but I was pushing that boundary more and more.

Around this time, my health took a dive. The doctors said they couldn’t do anything. I knew I had to take over. If I didn’t, what would become of me? If that wasn’t enough, I was fighting with a disability insurance company and with social security for benefits that I knew I deserved. It felt like my life was falling apart. It was do or die, probably literally. So I did. In an effort for self-preservation, I stood up for myself. When a doctor didn’t want to run a test, I asked why. When they gave a reason, I debated, using the facts I had learned through my own research. When my primary care physician didn’t want to give me a referral to a specialist I suspected could help (and he later did!), I switched doctors. I interviewed doctors at the first appointment to see if I would stay with them. I asked for more tests, more treatments, more of everything that I thought could possibly help me. I was polite when that seemed to be the most likely way to get what I wanted, and I was rude when that seemed the better way to get what I wanted. I argued, pleaded, and even yelled. I stopped short of becoming abusive, but otherwise, I pushed hard.

Pushiness has carried over into other parts of my life. I’m sure some people find it annoying. Others find my forthrightness refreshing. I find it necessary.

I don’t know when being pushy became my default setting, but it did. And it probably saved my life. It’s not the best route for everyone, but for me it was the only way I could find.

3 Comments | Expectations, Frustration, Healthcare, Limitations, Medication, Milestones, Pain, Rants, Support, Symptoms | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by chronicrants

What to do when the medication is gone?

May 13, 2015

Like many people with autoimmune diseases, I have a lot of overlapping conditions and many symptoms. My most limiting and disabling symptom right now is fatigue. The fatigue is caused by several things, among them strained adrenal glands. There have been just two things that have helped the fatigue, and I may lose both. Then what will I do?!

First, I have a form of sleep apnea. I got a CPAP machine that helped a lot!!! I loved that thing! Unfortunately, I 2014-04-23 11.03.16
developed a complication and now I can only use it for about an hour every other night. Don’t even get me started on the frustration with that! I’m still working with my sleep doctor on that, but he admits there are limited options for this particular issue, so I may just be stuck. Treating my sleep apnea would help a lot, and might be good enough that I wouldn’t need the other thing that’s worked.

The other thing is an over-the-counter supplement called Isocort, made to support the adrenal glands. It’s been amazing for me! A tiny pill or two makes me able to function fairly well every day! Sure, I’m not about to go jogging, get a job, or clean the apartment, but I can run errands, socialize, and just feel ok. I love it! Unfortunately, they stopped making it. When they stopped, patient communities online were very upset. It was the go-to nonprescription solution for adrenal insufficiency. The prescription solution is a steroid, which causes all sorts of problems for many of us. When production stopped, everyone floundered. They found alternatives with varying success. I tried a form of the most popular alternative. It helps a bit, but not at all like the Isocort did.

I now have a 4-6 month supply of Isocort left. And then what? Will I have to go back to feeling that constant strain to function?

So now I feel stuck. I have some more options, but they feel unlikely to work at best. If Isocort was still in production I wouldn’t be worried. Sure, I wouldn’t want to be on it for the rest of my life for various reasons, but I’d be glad to use it for a few years if it helped. Oh, if only!

I’ll try more Isocort alternatives. I’ll keep working with the sleep doctor. But what will I do if they all fail?

3 Comments | Expectations, Fatigue, Frustration, Healthcare, Limitations, Medication, Raves, Symptoms | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by chronicrants

Is it possible to rent an apartment near Boston with a therapy dog?

May 6, 2015

I have always wanted a dog. I grew up with a dog, and ever since he died when I was 11 years old, I’ve wanted another.

3-27-2015 4-01-42 PM

Sometimes I’m lucky enough to get to babysit for this cutie!

In my 20s I knew I didn’t have the right lifestyle for a dog. I worked long hours and traveled a lot and, if I’m being honest, the truth is that I just wasn’t ready for the responsibility. Then when I got so sick I had to leave my job, I was home a lot. I stopped traveling. But I was so sick that I could barely take care of myself, never mind another being.

Now it’s different. I’m still too sick to work, but I’m doing a lot better. I’m more stable. I’m taking care of myself ok. And I really really really want a dog. I ache to have a dog. Literally. When friends talk about their dogs, I ache to be in their shoes. When friends post photos on Facebook of dogs that need adoption, I ache to take those dogs home. I’m so ready to have a dog. And I’ve been mostly sure I could handle taking care of a dog, except for the walking part. Dogs need exercise, but some need more than others. I could get a dog that doesn’t need much exercise. I’ve been working hard at walking most days, and I’m taking short walks about 6 days a week! (Woo hoo! Those of you who’ve been reading this blog for a while know how big this is!) But dogs need to pee and poop more than once a day.

So I felt there were three big obstacles to me getting a dog:
1) Walking.
2) Money.
3) My landlord.

Then something changed. I was talking to a friend this week about how much I want a dog and my concerns about walks, and she suggested training one to use a litter box. Many people have suggested that, but it sounds ridiculous. The thing is, she did it! She had a dog that used a litter box! She also had a friend who did it. So maybe it wasn’t that ridiculous after all? I looked it up online and found some great resources. There’s even special litter for dogs! This totally solves problem #1!!!

Now, let’s assume I can handle the money aspects. Those are a real concern, but I’m working on them.

That leaves my landlord as the final obstacle, and I can’t imagine how I can possibly overcome that problem. You see, Boston is a pricey city. (When I say “Boston” I mean the neighboring towns, too. Just fyi.) There’s also a very low rental vacancy rate. This means that rents are high and landlords have a lot of power. I won’t get into all the details of the effects of the Recession on the housing market, etc. Just believe me when I say this is a tough place to be a renter. And the vast majority of landlords don’t allow dogs. Including mine. (My landlord doesn’t allow cats, either. And I believe birds are also off limits.)

Remember back in February when I said I was looking for an apartment? Well I did. I looked. And I gave up. I’ve been in my current place for many years, and my landlord hasn’t been raising my rent as much as they could. I pay a lot less than new tenants in my building. So even though I was looking in a less expensive area (where I’d rather live anyway) I couldn’t find anyplace as nice as mine. And I wasn’t even looking for a place that allowed dogs!

“Wait, what if it was a therapy dog?” you might ask. A lot of people have asked that. And yes, by law all landlords have to allow therapy pets. I would have no trouble getting my doctor to write the necessary letter. In fact, she has previously said that I should consider getting a pet because it would help me. So let’s assume I got the letter and I had a therapy pet. Now by law my landlord can’t kick me out, right? Sure, but they can “forget” to fix things in a timely manner. And when my lease comes up for renewal, they can raise my rent to what my neighbors pay – $300 a month more! I wouldn’t be able to claim discrimination if others pay that much. And future landlords might be just as difficult…. if I could even find a new place to live! Remember, I already looked at apartments last winter. Yes, there were places, but do I really want to live someplace smaller, darker, and louder just so I can have a dog? I’m not sure.And what if that place didn’t work out either? I really don’t want to move constantly.

So now I’m wondering, what’s the reality of living with a therapy dog when you rent an apartment? Do landlords retaliate? Or do they actually accommodate you the way they should? I know that no one person can speak for all landlords, but I would really love to hear about people’s experiences to find out if this is even possible. If you have a therapy dog and you rent an apartment, how has it been for you?

2 Comments | Expectations, Frustration, Healthcare, Isolation, Medication, Rants, Support | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by chronicrants

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