Why It is Important to Have Annual Doctor Appointments

[ellenw]

Lori - There are multiple good reasons for your sister to be there. I had a lumpectomy a year ago for Stage II breast cancer with micro-metastases to the lymph nodes and no (supportive) family in the area. I have a very close network of good friends (that birthday dinner group a week ago) and I carefully scrutinized each of them for stability, availability, and attention to detail, settled on one and asked her to go with me to ALL my appointments as my advocate. Best thing I could have done as the initial diagnosis conflicted with what they learned later and the treatment plan changed midstream, etc, etc. Having Stacy there with me every step of the way was so reassuring because when I missed something or didn't understand, she did, and vice versa. She took copious notes at each appointment too, so we could sit down and debrief afterwards. That also turned out to be essential to the way I process information and make decisions.

Hugs to Barbara for realizing something you need and stepping in to fill that need. Thank her for all of us!

[AlmostThere]

What a blessing to have your sister with you, and one who is medical/medicine savvy, too!
Will continue with prayers for you and all medical persons reading and determining your course of action.
And of course, adding Dock to that list! Hugs!

[Sandersmr]

I would also advocate keeping a notebook - you can write questions down as you think of them so that you have them in one place when you see the doctor. And have someone keep notes of each appointment in the notebook. Daddy even kept three ring binders with all his lab results and other medical test results. That helped when he wasn't able to communicate well and his cancer was returning. We ended up doing with his stroke as well as the cancer treatments and both my mom and my sister kept notebooks with their cancer treatments.

[rvgrammy1953]

I would also advocate keeping a notebook - you can write questions down as you think of them so that you have them in one place when you see the doctor. And have someone keep notes of each appointment in the notebook. Daddy even kept three ring binders with all his lab results and other medical test results. That helped when he wasn't able to communicate well and his cancer was returning. We ended up doing with his stroke as well as the cancer treatments and both my mom and my sister kept notebooks with their cancer treatments.

Yep, got the notebook...small spiral one...mostly has Drs. addresses & phone numbers....