My body frequently reminds me that it is there. I am of an age where I have very mild and occasional aches and pains in one or another part of my body. Should I be concerned?
Like most people who are 60 or above, I also have a chronic health condition that needs to be managed on a regular basis. Actually, I have more than one chronic health issue.
I try not to worry about twinges and am mostly successful at that. But when my concerns rise above a threshold level, I take action. Here is what I do that you might consider if you are not already doing them yourself right now.
- When I have a health or wellness concern, I use Google and the Internet to identify questions to ask and terms to use when describing my situation. But I am rarely satisfied enough to leave it there.
- If my issue is urgent, I call the nurse who works with my doctor to get immediate help.
- My health care provider now has an online capability for me to ask questions of and get answers from my family practice physician, generally within a couple of days. I rarely use this capability, but it is terrific when needed.
- I have regular periodic visits to my physician. Before I go, I prepare a list of questions to ask. I give myself plenty of time to brainstorm and prepare the list. Because my time with my physician is short, it is critical that I am well prepared. Sometimes we discuss symptoms and treatments, sometimes I bring in general wellness questions to be answered.
This combination of actions has worked very well for me. It also serves as a model in other parts of my life. Here’s why.
There are a number of other parts of my life that I consider to be very important and that I don’t have the answers for. These include finances, taxes, and various aspects of my work. I can deal with and resolve most of the challenges of these area on my own, and that’s what I do. But if the stakes (time and money) of getting it right are high enough, I will pay to bring in an expert.
I use a process similar to what I do for my health issues. First, I will do some internet research on my own. I will then escalate my search to getting free information from friends and colleagues. If I decide that I need to meet with an expert, I will organize my questions so that I can use the expert’s time as efficiently as possible. If my issue is chronic, I will arrange for periodic help.
This process has worked very well for me. Its biggest challenge is deciding what in my life is not working as I would like it to and if the stakes are high enough to bring in a professional to help me make progress.
What important challenges do you have that would benefit from the help of an expert?