Return to flip book view
Message “My mom was in a lot of pain, but she didn’t want to tell the doctor. She didn’t want to make a fuss...” “Like she thought she was being a burden?’ “Yeah...”“So I had to “Aer the surgury, I wasn’t feeling well, I was puking and it was black. I told the nurse something was wrong, I didn’t feel well, that I wanted to get it checked out.She told me, ‘is is just part of healing process...’,So I actually had to call up my general practitioner and put the nurse on the phone and her whole tone changed. My doc demanded that I get an x-ray done immediately. ey rushed me in. Two stitches had come out from inside. I had been puking up bile.”The myth/assumption that minorities have a higher pain threshold, doctors having 60+ case loads in a week, there are many reasons you may need to help keep your doctor FOCUSED on the care you deserve.Some not so fun facts:It’s only illegal in 10 states to perform pelvic exams on unconsenting, unconscious women (for training doctors.) - NYTimes 2020[These are only the most recent stories I’ve collected. I don’t want anyone else to have shitty experiences nding out the hard way that doctors can be wrong.]More examples of questions people ask doctors:“Can I get those test results before I leave to take with me?*“How can I contact you if I have more questions?” (I mean... I know you don’t want me to look it up myself on webMD...)*“What is the generic version?”(for medications)AND DON’T STOP ASKING QUESTIONS.YOUR INTUITION WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE. [IT’S YOUR BODY; YOU ONLY GET ONE]The doctors oice is not just a place where things happen TO you, it’s TWO experts working together, you and the doctor. Think of it as a COLLABORATION! Accessible readings for how some POC think about nding their confrontational style: [Online Essay]Johanna Hedva’s - “Letter to a Young Doctor” [Book / Audiobook]Sonya Renee Taylor’s - “The Body is Not an Apology”This publication is based on real lived experiences Thank you to everyone that helped provide their stories and advice: Miss Barbie- Q, SolidarityClub.org,and you cansupport Jesse’sbrilliant work onPatreon.com/QueerVengeanceThis is part of an ongoing project: “An ADHD Guide for/by Artists”I’m still gatherng stories, (And this is a rough draft) but do feel free to send them to me viaceedric@gmail.com
How to Advocate for Yourself at the Doctor’s Oice:(From Jesse Meadows, @QueerVengeance)We are taught to see doctors as ultimate authorities on our own bodies, but all too often they are wrong. (and tainted by capitalist motives! And sexist/racist/fatphobic/ableist!!) They see hundreds of patients and often want to give you the quickest fix possible to get the next one in the door.You know your body best and you are the authority on what it needs. You are in charge of your own treatment;Doctors are consultants that you pay for expert advice. If you don’t like their advice, fire them! Ask for a different doctor! I know this may be impossible in some cases due to health insurance bullshit or lack of access, so hopefully these tips can help you finagle what you want out of your doc. 1. Research Knowledge is power. You are in charge of your own treatment and you can only steer the ship if you know what you’re facing. Dig on Google scholar for studies in peer-reviewed journals. Find everything you can about your condition, medications, and possible treatments. Tips on doing researchRead reviews and accounts from other people, but take these with a grain of salt, especially regarding medication. This is anecdotal evidence and everyone’s experience is dierent. 2a. Keep a JournalDocument your symptoms and side eects between visits so you can refer to them. It’s often hard to remember these things in the moment. For mental health conditions, apps like Daylio, Emoods, and Up! Are helpful because they remind you daily to make a journal entry and automatically create charts you can show your doctor. 2b. Make a list (or a few)Compile some facts and stats in case you need to refer to them during your visit. Make a list of questions you don’t want to forget to ask. List out the medications you are willing to try, in order of preference, and any questions or concerns you have about them. 3. Bring an Ally Go over your research and lists with your ally before you go in so they are prepared to support you and can remind you of things you wanted in case you forget, shut down, or need to argue. Make sure they know that you are leading the conversation and they are there to support. --------->Who can speak up for you?- A white, well-spoken friend- Another professional who can vouch for you in “medical” speak- A comic strip that explains your symptoms better than in your own words4. Get DocumentationAsk if you can record your conversation. This will help you remember what was said and can also keep the doctor on their best behavior. If a doctor denies you a treatment that you request, insist that they document that refusal in your chart. Often this can push them to give you what you’re asking for, because they fear potential legal repercussions.5. Practice other ways to say No.“Are there any other options?”“I need some time to research and think about this.” “I would like to try x for now. I will consider your suggestion and we can revisit it at our next appointment.”Or, if you want to compromise:“I will try your suggestion now, but if it doesn’t work for me, can we revisit x next time?”
How to Advocate for Yourself at the Doctor’s Oice:(From Jesse Meadows, @QueerVengeance)We are taught to see doctors as ultimate authorities on our own bodies, but all too often they are wrong. (and tainted by capitalist motives! And sexist/racist/fatphobic/ableist!!) They see hundreds of patients and often want to give you the quickest fix possible to get the next one in the door.You know your body best and you are the authority on what it needs. You are in charge of your own treatment;Doctors are consultants that you pay for expert advice. If you don’t like their advice, fire them! Ask for a different doctor! I know this may be impossible in some cases due to health insurance bullshit or lack of access, so hopefully these tips can help you finagle what you want out of your doc. 1. Research Knowledge is power. You are in charge of your own treatment and you can only steer the ship if you know what you’re facing. Dig on Google scholar for studies in peer-reviewed journals. Find everything you can about your condition, medications, and possible treatments. Tips on doing researchRead reviews and accounts from other people, but take these with a grain of salt, especially regarding medication. This is anecdotal evidence and everyone’s experience is dierent. 2a. Keep a JournalDocument your symptoms and side eects between visits so you can refer to them. It’s often hard to remember these things in the moment. For mental health conditions, apps like Daylio, Emoods, and Up! Are helpful because they remind you daily to make a journal entry and automatically create charts you can show your doctor. 2b. Make a list (or a few)Compile some facts and stats in case you need to refer to them during your visit. Make a list of questions you don’t want to forget to ask. List out the medications you are willing to try, in order of preference, and any questions or concerns you have about them. 3. Bring an Ally Go over your research and lists with your ally before you go in so they are prepared to support you and can remind you of things you wanted in case you forget, shut down, or need to argue. Make sure they know that you are leading the conversation and they are there to support. --------->Who can speak up for you?- A white, well-spoken friend- Another professional who can vouch for you in “medical” speak- A comic strip that explains your symptoms better than in your own words4. Get DocumentationAsk if you can record your conversation. This will help you remember what was said and can also keep the doctor on their best behavior. If a doctor denies you a treatment that you request, insist that they document that refusal in your chart. Often this can push them to give you what you’re asking for, because they fear potential legal repercussions.5. Practice other ways to say No.“Are there any other options?”“I need some time to research and think about this.” “I would like to try x for now. I will consider your suggestion and we can revisit it at our next appointment.”Or, if you want to compromise:“I will try your suggestion now, but if it doesn’t work for me, can we revisit x next time?”
How to Advocate for Yourself at the Doctor’s Oice:(From Jesse Meadows, @QueerVengeance)We are taught to see doctors as ultimate authorities on our own bodies, but all too often they are wrong. (and tainted by capitalist motives! And sexist/racist/fatphobic/ableist!!) They see hundreds of patients and often want to give you the quickest fix possible to get the next one in the door.You know your body best and you are the authority on what it needs. You are in charge of your own treatment;Doctors are consultants that you pay for expert advice. If you don’t like their advice, fire them! Ask for a different doctor! I know this may be impossible in some cases due to health insurance bullshit or lack of access, so hopefully these tips can help you finagle what you want out of your doc. 1. Research Knowledge is power. You are in charge of your own treatment and you can only steer the ship if you know what you’re facing. Dig on Google scholar for studies in peer-reviewed journals. Find everything you can about your condition, medications, and possible treatments. Tips on doing researchRead reviews and accounts from other people, but take these with a grain of salt, especially regarding medication. This is anecdotal evidence and everyone’s experience is dierent. 2a. Keep a JournalDocument your symptoms and side eects between visits so you can refer to them. It’s often hard to remember these things in the moment. For mental health conditions, apps like Daylio, Emoods, and Up! Are helpful because they remind you daily to make a journal entry and automatically create charts you can show your doctor. 2b. Make a list (or a few)Compile some facts and stats in case you need to refer to them during your visit. Make a list of questions you don’t want to forget to ask. List out the medications you are willing to try, in order of preference, and any questions or concerns you have about them. 3. Bring an Ally Go over your research and lists with your ally before you go in so they are prepared to support you and can remind you of things you wanted in case you forget, shut down, or need to argue. Make sure they know that you are leading the conversation and they are there to support. --------->Who can speak up for you?- A white, well-spoken friend- Another professional who can vouch for you in “medical” speak- A comic strip that explains your symptoms better than in your own words4. Get DocumentationAsk if you can record your conversation. This will help you remember what was said and can also keep the doctor on their best behavior. If a doctor denies you a treatment that you request, insist that they document that refusal in your chart. Often this can push them to give you what you’re asking for, because they fear potential legal repercussions.5. Practice other ways to say No.“Are there any other options?”“I need some time to research and think about this.” “I would like to try x for now. I will consider your suggestion and we can revisit it at our next appointment.”Or, if you want to compromise:“I will try your suggestion now, but if it doesn’t work for me, can we revisit x next time?”
“My mom was in a lot of pain, but she didn’t want to tell the doctor. She didn’t want to make a fuss...” “Like she thought she was being a burden?’ “Yeah...”“So I had to “Aer the surgury, I wasn’t feeling well, I was puking and it was black. I told the nurse something was wrong, I didn’t feel well, that I wanted to get it checked out.She told me, ‘is is just part of healing process...’,So I actually had to call up my general practitioner and put the nurse on the phone and her whole tone changed. My doc demanded that I get an x-ray done immediately. ey rushed me in. Two stitches had come out from inside. I had been puking up bile.”The myth/assumption that minorities have a higher pain threshold, doctors having 60+ case loads in a week, there are many reasons you may need to help keep your doctor FOCUSED on the care you deserve.Some not so fun facts:It’s only illegal in 10 states to perform pelvic exams on unconsenting, unconscious women (for training doctors.) - NYTimes 2020[These are only the most recent stories I’ve collected. I don’t want anyone else to have shitty experiences nding out the hard way that doctors can be wrong.]More examples of questions people ask doctors:“Can I get those test results before I leave to take with me?*“How can I contact you if I have more questions?” (I mean... I know you don’t want me to look it up myself on webMD...)*“What is the generic version?”(for medications)AND DON’T STOP ASKING QUESTIONS.YOUR INTUITION WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE. [IT’S YOUR BODY; YOU ONLY GET ONE]The doctors oice is not just a place where things happen TO you, it’s TWO experts working together, you and the doctor. Think of it as a COLLABORATION! Accessible readings for how some POC think about nding their confrontational style: [Online Essay]Johanna Hedva’s - “Letter to a Young Doctor” [Book / Audiobook]Sonya Renee Taylor’s - “The Body is Not an Apology”This publication is based on real lived experiences Thank you to everyone that helped provide their stories and advice: Miss Barbie- Q, SolidarityClub.org,and you cansupport Jesse’sbrilliant work onPatreon.com/QueerVengeanceThis is part of an ongoing project: “An ADHD Guide for/by Artists”I’m still gatherng stories, (And this is a rough draft) but do feel free to send them to me viaceedric@gmail.com
“My mom was in a lot of pain, but she didn’t want to tell the doctor. She didn’t want to make a fuss...” “Like she thought she was being a burden?’ “Yeah...”“So I had to “Aer the surgury, I wasn’t feeling well, I was puking and it was black. I told the nurse something was wrong, I didn’t feel well, that I wanted to get it checked out.She told me, ‘is is just part of healing process...’,So I actually had to call up my general practitioner and put the nurse on the phone and her whole tone changed. My doc demanded that I get an x-ray done immediately. ey rushed me in. Two stitches had come out from inside. I had been puking up bile.”The myth/assumption that minorities have a higher pain threshold, doctors having 60+ case loads in a week, there are many reasons you may need to help keep your doctor FOCUSED on the care you deserve.Some not so fun facts:It’s only illegal in 10 states to perform pelvic exams on unconsenting, unconscious women (for training doctors.) - NYTimes 2020[These are only the most recent stories I’ve collected. I don’t want anyone else to have shitty experiences nding out the hard way that doctors can be wrong.]More examples of questions people ask doctors:“Can I get those test results before I leave to take with me?*“How can I contact you if I have more questions?” (I mean... I know you don’t want me to look it up myself on webMD...)*“What is the generic version?”(for medications)AND DON’T STOP ASKING QUESTIONS.YOUR INTUITION WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE. [IT’S YOUR BODY; YOU ONLY GET ONE]The doctors oice is not just a place where things happen TO you, it’s TWO experts working together, you and the doctor. Think of it as a COLLABORATION! Accessible readings for how some POC think about nding their confrontational style: [Online Essay]Johanna Hedva’s - “Letter to a Young Doctor” [Book / Audiobook]Sonya Renee Taylor’s - “The Body is Not an Apology”This publication is based on real lived experiences Thank you to everyone that helped provide their stories and advice: Miss Barbie- Q, SolidarityClub.org,and you cansupport Jesse’sbrilliant work onPatreon.com/QueerVengeanceThis is part of an ongoing project: “An ADHD Guide for/by Artists”I’m still gatherng stories, (And this is a rough draft) but do feel free to send them to me viaceedric@gmail.com