I see several doctors every two or three months. I give blood, get weighed (and keep gaining), have my blood pressure checked, and am told that nothing has changed. It’s all pretty mundane and boring.
But, I usually have a list of questions to ask – at least a few. I believe it is my job to ask questions – it’s MY life. My doctors likely (at least in their minds) roll their eyes and say, “Oh no, not again.”
Is there anything new in meds or clinical trials?
What’s next when THIS med stops working?
Is it OK if I decide to run a marathon (fantasy thinking)?
What could I be doing that makes the bad cells grow faster?
How am I going to pay for all this?
Do I get answers? Sometimes. Sometimes the doctors ask me what I think. They may or may not listen to my answers.
If I can get them to think about what I’m thinking it just might lead to something in the future (my future).
My lifelong training and education has been to accept that doctors should know the answers and we patients should obediently and quietly listen and obey. Nope.
A friend of mine (who incidentally died of cancer) always said his preferred way to die was to be shot by a jealous husband. I’d prefer to be done in by global warming or even a charging elephant. I’m not sure just what choices I may have at the time.
In the meantime I plan to survive indefinitely and keep asking questions (my doctors may eventually decide on their own way to do me in).
axman
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