I’ve heard too many times lately about doctors not listening, explaining their reasonings for actions or acting in ways that are intimidating. Hearing stories like this makes me so upset and sad, for many reasons. One of the biggest is that situations and relationships like this, can lead to you not getting the proper care that you need and deserve. Which isn’t cool in my book.
One of the best ways to prevent negative doctor situations and interactions is to create a partnership right from the beginning. Not only will this set the tone for your doctor-patient relationship, it will express to your doctor that you are an active participant in your medical treatment, and should be treated as part of the team.
There are many doctor rating sites out there these days. When looking for a new doc, take some time, get a list of names from your insurance company and see if they have any reviews. This will give you a good indication of how they practice, how organized they are and how they interact with patients. Sometimes it will take meeting with a doctor and asking them questions like “do you welcome suggestions from your patients” or “how do you handle communication with your patients”. Answers to these questions will be very informational about how they practice.
A doctor who supports you, will welcome your suggestions and ask for them. A doctor that gets frustrated or impatient with your suggestions, isn’t open to hearing them at all.
During the first appointment, communicate clearly that you are an active participant in your own health care. Make sure they are aware that you wish to have an active role in decision making and understand what is going on in treatment. Communicate how much, or how little, you want to know about any new diagnoses, and if you want to be involved in the diagnostic process. Sometimes not having a diagnosis can be scarier than hearing what your doctor is thinking. Make sure they know you’re ok with hearing their thought process and how much, if that is something you want.
Come to each appointment as prepared as possible. Think ahead of time if you have any questions, have experienced new symptoms or need any new medications or refills. The more direct and concise you can be about what’s going on, the better your doc will understand you. Similar situation applies for when you’re recounting your story and past history. There is so much in our stories, it’s easy for us to get off track sometimes. But the more you can be clear and direct about what happened, the easier it will be for your doc.
When a new treatment is offered or a new test suggested, make sure you know why you are getting that recommendation. Asking clarifying questions can be helpful. For example, if you don’t understand why a test is suggested, “I don’t understand why you want this test, can you explain it again?”. This approach can be used with any other part of your treatment as well. This also applies to any language you may not understand. Often when docs are talking with us, they use medical jargon that may be difficult to understand. Asking the same clarifying question can be helpful in this situation as well.
Being your own biggest advocate is the best step you can make in your health journey. This means speaking up when you feel the need to or saying if you agree or disagree with the trajectory of your treatment. Speaking up to a doc (or anyone) can feel uncomfortable sometimes. But having one tough conversation can save a lot of hassle and potentially more uncomfortable conversations down the road.
Another part of being your own advocate is being on top of your health information, like insurance information, billing and records. Keeping your own file of information can be really helpful as well.
Creating these partnerships with your doctor at the start can be beneficial, for both you and your doctor. The more satisfied you are with your doctor and healthcare team, the easier your autoimmune journey will be.
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It’s amazing what taking a few minutes to breathe and reassure yourself can do, ya know??
If you have MS and this gives you an immediate uncomfy feeling in your gut because you never advocate for yourself and your needs,
You need to come to my next Masterclass:
Managing Stress to Manage MS
We’ll be talking about:
* How Stress Works: Discover how your body’s stress response system operates and why it plays such a big role in your overall health.
* Stress and MS: Understand how stress impacts MS symptoms and why it can sometimes make symptom flares worse.
* Building Your Resilience: Get simple, effective strategies to boost your stress resilience and help ease MS symptoms for a healthier, more balanced life.
Happening February 10th at 6pm EST!
Comment NEEDS below and I’ll send you the link to register!
#multiplesclerosis #lissms #nervoussystemregulation #nervoussystemhealing #healingmultiplesclerosis #thisisms
It’s amazing what taking a few minutes to breathe and reassure yourself can do, ya know??
If you have MS and this gives you an immediate uncomfy feeling in your gut because you never advocate for yourself and your needs,
You need to come to my next Masterclass:
Managing Stress to Manage MS
We’ll be talking about:
* How Stress Works: Discover how your body’s stress response system operates and why it plays such a big role in your overall health.
* Stress and MS: Understand how stress impacts MS symptoms and why it can sometimes make symptom flares worse.
* Building Your Resilience: Get simple, effective strategies to boost your stress resilience and help ease MS symptoms for a healthier, more balanced life.
Happening February 10th at 6pm EST!
Comment NEEDS below and I’ll send you the link to register!
#multiplesclerosis #lissms #nervoussystemregulation #nervoussystemhealing #healingmultiplesclerosis #thisisms
This is hard!!
We feel like “we should be able to” still do the cleaning, chores, putting things away etc etc etc..
But in reality- our bodies need and crave rest and recovery first.
If we don’t give our bodies what they need voluntarily, they’ll find a way to make us.
Really struggle with this idea of listening to and caring for your body?
(I get it- it’s not a skill we’re taught)
I’m hosting a (free) masterclass on this and “managing stress” in January, comment CLASS and I’ll send you the link to sign up!!
#multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #nervoussystemhealing #stressmanagement #lissms #thisisms #becausems #seasonaldepression #anxiety
This is hard!!
We feel like “we should be able to” still do the cleaning, chores, putting things away etc etc etc..
But in reality- our bodies need and crave rest and recovery first.
If we don’t give our bodies what they need voluntarily, they’ll find a way to make us.
Really struggle with this idea of listening to and caring for your body?
(I get it- it’s not a skill we’re taught)
I’m hosting a (free) masterclass on this and “managing stress” in January, comment CLASS and I’ll send you the link to sign up!!
#multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #nervoussystemhealing #stressmanagement #lissms #thisisms #becausems #seasonaldepression #anxiety
Being aware and consciously working on nervous system regulation has SO MANY benefits..
✨Waking up with less anxiety
✨Feeling less all/nothing thinking
✨Being able to physically breathe better
✨Reduction of your MS/autoimmune disease symptoms
I could go on and on.
We aren’t gonna be able to fully manage MS symptoms until we acknowledge our very disregulated nervous system.
Embodied Resilience starts you on that path.
And- you’re in luck- it’s on sale till Monday night.
Comment STABLE and I’ll send you the link!!
#lissms #multiplesclerosis #healingmultiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #thisisms #becausems
Being aware and consciously working on nervous system regulation has SO MANY benefits..
✨Waking up with less anxiety
✨Feeling less all/nothing thinking
✨Being able to physically breathe better
✨Reduction of your MS/autoimmune disease symptoms
I could go on and on.
We aren’t gonna be able to fully manage MS symptoms until we acknowledge our very disregulated nervous system.
Embodied Resilience starts you on that path.
And- you’re in luck- it’s on sale till Monday night.
Comment STABLE and I’ll send you the link!!
#lissms #multiplesclerosis #healingmultiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #thisisms #becausems
I get it..
It seems like it would be good.
Because others around you are taken care of..
Because others around you feel good..
Because others around you are happy..
But what about you??
In reality, that’s just making it harder for you to help yourself heal and probs making your MS symptoms worse.
I’ve worked with so many people with MS and autoimmune disease… 1 thing (among many) that they all have in common is a habit of putting others before themselves, saying yes way too much and forgetting about what they want themselves.
Feel a little called out?
Then my course Embodied Resilience is for you.
This is a course all about managing + improving your stress tolerance- since stress is the number 1 trigger of symptom flares and relapses
And- it’s on sale for Black Friday!!
Comment SALE below and I’ll send you the link!!
#lissms #multiplesclerosis #healingmultiplesclerosis #thisisms #becausems
I get it..
It seems like it would be good.
Because others around you are taken care of..
Because others around you feel good..
Because others around you are happy..
But what about you??
In reality, that’s just making it harder for you to help yourself heal and probs making your MS symptoms worse.
I’ve worked with so many people with MS and autoimmune disease… 1 thing (among many) that they all have in common is a habit of putting others before themselves, saying yes way too much and forgetting about what they want themselves.
Feel a little called out?
Then my course Embodied Resilience is for you.
This is a course all about managing + improving your stress tolerance- since stress is the number 1 trigger of symptom flares and relapses
And- it’s on sale for Black Friday!!
Comment SALE below and I’ll send you the link!!
#lissms #multiplesclerosis #healingmultiplesclerosis #thisisms #becausems
✨How to do this✨
First! Like + save this post so you can come back to it for reference
Now, set a few alarms on your phone- ideally in the morning, afternoon and bedtime.
These will serve as your reminders.
Then, when the alarm goes off:
✨Pause, take a few deep breaths
✨Check in with your mind and body- how are you in this moment?
✨What are you thinking?
✨How are you feeling emotionally?
✨Is there a thought that needs to be challenged/reframed?
✨Are you being present in the moment?
✨How are you feeing in my body?
✨How are you breathing?
Some of these questions might not apply to your current situation and that’s fine
This is the first step to interrupting the very unhelpful patterns we often live in that can increase symptoms via heightened stress
This is one of the big things we work on in Holistically Healing MS, which will be on sale this weekend for Black Friday!!
Comment SALE below and I’ll send you the link when it’s ready!!
✨How to do this✨
First! Like + save this post so you can come back to it for reference
Now, set a few alarms on your phone- ideally in the morning, afternoon and bedtime.
These will serve as your reminders.
Then, when the alarm goes off:
✨Pause, take a few deep breaths
✨Check in with your mind and body- how are you in this moment?
✨What are you thinking?
✨How are you feeling emotionally?
✨Is there a thought that needs to be challenged/reframed?
✨Are you being present in the moment?
✨How are you feeing in my body?
✨How are you breathing?
Some of these questions might not apply to your current situation and that’s fine
This is the first step to interrupting the very unhelpful patterns we often live in that can increase symptoms via heightened stress
This is one of the big things we work on in Holistically Healing MS, which will be on sale this weekend for Black Friday!!
Comment SALE below and I’ll send you the link when it’s ready!!
✨Moving your body✨
Notice I didn’t say exercise, although yes that also helps.
Stress hormones can get stuck in our bodies, our cells, our muscle tissue for various reasons.
Making it super easy for us to carry stress around with us- which shows up often as:
Pain
Tension
Trouble breathing
Difficulty with balance
It’s no coincidence that these are often prominent MS symptoms too. Sometimes it’s hard to tell where effects of MS end and effects of stress begin.
Being able to offload accumulated stress is key to being able to improve MS symptoms.
My course Embodied Resilience shows you exactly how to do this, and it’s gonna be on sale for Black Friday.
Comment ME below and I’ll send you the sale link when it’s ready!!
#lissms #multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemhealing #nervoussystemregulation #stressmanagement #thisisms #becausems
✨Moving your body✨
Notice I didn’t say exercise, although yes that also helps.
Stress hormones can get stuck in our bodies, our cells, our muscle tissue for various reasons.
Making it super easy for us to carry stress around with us- which shows up often as:
Pain
Tension
Trouble breathing
Difficulty with balance
It’s no coincidence that these are often prominent MS symptoms too. Sometimes it’s hard to tell where effects of MS end and effects of stress begin.
Being able to offload accumulated stress is key to being able to improve MS symptoms.
My course Embodied Resilience shows you exactly how to do this, and it’s gonna be on sale for Black Friday.
Comment ME below and I’ll send you the sale link when it’s ready!!
#lissms #multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemhealing #nervoussystemregulation #stressmanagement #thisisms #becausems
I’ve seen myself and tons of clients through behavior change to help improve their MS + autoimmune disease symptoms.
There are SO MANY things that can help us.
But the one I’ve seen move the needle the most?
Working on your mindset and stress management tools.
We can change our diet
Change how we move
Change the products we’re using
Change the supplements we take..
But if we’re still in the high stress state that most of us are in.. all those will only go so far.
Stress is my biggest symptom trigger, and 99% of my clients feel the same.
My biggest course sale is coming Black Friday, included is my course Embodied Resilience, all about learning how to actually manage stress- so you’re not constantly battling MS flares too.
My email list is gonna get first dibs..
Comment LIST below and I’ll add you so you’re notified first!!
I’ve seen myself and tons of clients through behavior change to help improve their MS + autoimmune disease symptoms.
There are SO MANY things that can help us.
But the one I’ve seen move the needle the most?
Working on your mindset and stress management tools.
We can change our diet
Change how we move
Change the products we’re using
Change the supplements we take..
But if we’re still in the high stress state that most of us are in.. all those will only go so far.
Stress is my biggest symptom trigger, and 99% of my clients feel the same.
My biggest course sale is coming Black Friday, included is my course Embodied Resilience, all about learning how to actually manage stress- so you’re not constantly battling MS flares too.
My email list is gonna get first dibs..
Comment LIST below and I’ll add you so you’re notified first!!
Changing my diet changed the course of my life.
I want that for you too.
It feels hard, but doesn’t have to be.
PS- keep your eye out for Black Friday.. all my courses will be on sale, your healing journey awaits!
Changing my diet changed the course of my life.
I want that for you too.
It feels hard, but doesn’t have to be.
PS- keep your eye out for Black Friday.. all my courses will be on sale, your healing journey awaits!
And my period started to add to the joy 🙃🙃
We can do hard things y’all,
breathe in, breathe out,
all will be well.
#Electionstress #seasonaldepression #anxiety #multiplesclerosis
And my period started to add to the joy 🙃🙃
We can do hard things y’all,
breathe in, breathe out,
all will be well.
#Electionstress #seasonaldepression #anxiety #multiplesclerosis
Home stretch!!
Do what you need to do today to take care of yourself friends.
#Electionday #Govote #Vote
Home stretch!!
Do what you need to do today to take care of yourself friends.
#Electionday #Govote #Vote
Do you do any form of meal planning?
I think 90% of my clients have talked about already feeling the shift to Fall and Winter hardddd.
They are worried about seasonal depression coming back with a vengeance, feeling sad summer is gone and so many other things.
I know when so many feel the same way, you might too.
I know I feel this way too.
I’m working with them to put habits in place NOW that will support them through the winter months.
Here are 2 small shifts we talked about this week:
1. Get sunlight into your eyeballs as soon as you can in the morning.☀️☀️
Ideally this is outside, there will be many science bro’s out there telling you that anything else “doesn’t count” but I say that’s BS.
Yes, the sunlight will have a greater impact if you’re viewing outside, but even if you’re behind a window it will do something.
2. Move your body!! 💃🏃♀️
The change in seasons to colder weather makes it super easy to hibernate and move wayyy less than we were in the summer.
I know I’ve been guilty of that this week and it’s showing in my sleep.
But moving our bodies can be so helpful for regulating so many things in our bodies.
Ideally you’re moving in the morning, but again- any time of day will do.
These are 2 small shifts that can make it easier for your body to transition to, and live with the Winter months.
Let’s crowdsource… what else helps you in winter??
I know there are many other things that can!!
I think 90% of my clients have talked about already feeling the shift to Fall and Winter hardddd.
They are worried about seasonal depression coming back with a vengeance, feeling sad summer is gone and so many other things.
I know when so many feel the same way, you might too.
I know I feel this way too.
I’m working with them to put habits in place NOW that will support them through the winter months.
Here are 2 small shifts we talked about this week:
1. Get sunlight into your eyeballs as soon as you can in the morning.☀️☀️
Ideally this is outside, there will be many science bro’s out there telling you that anything else “doesn’t count” but I say that’s BS.
Yes, the sunlight will have a greater impact if you’re viewing outside, but even if you’re behind a window it will do something.
2. Move your body!! 💃🏃♀️
The change in seasons to colder weather makes it super easy to hibernate and move wayyy less than we were in the summer.
I know I’ve been guilty of that this week and it’s showing in my sleep.
But moving our bodies can be so helpful for regulating so many things in our bodies.
Ideally you’re moving in the morning, but again- any time of day will do.
These are 2 small shifts that can make it easier for your body to transition to, and live with the Winter months.
Let’s crowdsource… what else helps you in winter??
I know there are many other things that can!!
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