Taking the fear out of the diagnosis
You were just diagnosed with a life-threatening disease, what do you do?
1- Never say you have anything ex: say you were diagnosed with Cancer, never say “I have Cancer”. “Say I have been diagnosed with Cancer and we are working on it”.
You have a car because you own it you don’t want to own cancer; or any other disease.
2-Research the disease. If you cannot ask a friend or family member to help you with the research. Write down the information you do not understand and make questions for the doctor. Try to limit it to 3-4 questions of real concern.
3- Research the doctor and don’t be afraid to ask him how long he has been treating this diagnosis and ask are there other doctors that you will need to be referred to.
Speaking of referrals find out how long your referral with him is. He can refer you to other doctors as long as it is concerning the same diagnosis.
4-Try to get a 9:00 or 10:00 appointment and show up at 8:30. The doctor has just settled into his day. You will get more medical information and advice and guidance than if you had a 3:00 appointment. Doctors are human and get tired during the day just like regular people. The more tired the more “extra” information gets dropped off.
5-Bring someone with you to take notes. Once the doctor starts speaking on the difficulties or expectations of your diagnosis you won’t really hear much. If no one comes with you and you get home you won’t be able to answer your family’s questions. Then you find yourself calling the doctor’s office back. You might even call back more than once. This is a situation that begins to irritate the staff and the doctor. Now your relationship with the doctor and staff is tainted. Now you won’t receive anymore “extra” about your diagnosis and more possible information that may be helpful. Ask the doctor will you need to be referred to any other doctors bedsides him.
6-Go to the appointment dressed up in some of your finer clothes. You are in a fight for your life show up like a winner. Don’t stroll in looking like you already lost the fight by showing up in rumpled clothes that you been laying around in.
7-If you do not have all your medications printed out for the doctor have a list of your medications on your phone, take a photo And make sure your phone has a strong charge on it so you can pull it up). When the Doctor wants to prescribe you a prescription show him what you are already taking. you certainly don’t need medications clashing and causing new problems. Ask the doctor if he has any sample medication of what he wants to prescribe because medication costs a lot and if the medication doesn’t agree with you; you are out of that money and still need to get another prescription. If he doesn’t have any samples ask him to give you a prescription for about 10 pills to see if your body can handle it. That will make the cost cheaper as well. Also ask if he knows whether the prescription is covered by your insurance. —ask for samples of new prescriptions
8-If additional tests are ordered make sure they are covered by the referral. Also you should know how long the referral is good for.
9-keep a calendar to coordinate your appointments. Also find out where you are at with your deductible so you will know what some of your expenses will be. If you were in the hospital and seen a doctor some of your deductible has already been charged to you. This includes hospital and medical deductible. If you have a Co-Insurance like Aetna, Humana and WellCare, etc. they may have paid it already. So be sure and let the doctor office know this so you are not over charged.
10-keep the criers away. You want people around that believe you will be alright not people who think otherwise.
11-get up and move as much as possible, take small walks. Keep your blood moving. Even if you just go from the bed to the chair. Make yourself move.
12-Bring God into the healing. When you take medicine or a treatment always pray- Dear God let this medicine do no more and no less than what it is prescribed for, for the time that
I need it. Amen. That way you are believing this battle to end with God’s help.
13-Speaking of bringing God into the healing put on some Gospel or Christian music. This helps to bring peace and strength to your inner being. When you hurt or fear tries to creep in play your music and meditate on the glory, the power and the love of God.
14-Read the word of God, memorize Psalm 91. It is full of the gifts, powers, blessings and promises God left us with. There is a book titled “Psalm 91”, it explains the entire Psalm line for line. If you have a smart phone or computer Google Psalm 91 the Message Bible then read it again in the King James Version.
15-When you go to sleep imagine the hand of God resting on the affected area of your body. And rest knowing that you are in God’s hands.
16-When you wake up in the morning thank God for another day. And say though I walk through the valley and the shadow of death I fear no evil for Thy Rod and Thy Staff comforts me. Get dressed and imagine you going forward with your day with God and his army of Angels clearing away all obstacles. Walk in peace, in joy and strength.
17-when you are tired rest and know that God and his angels are still moving forward on your behalf. Put Your Christian or Gospel music on or turn on religious broadcast station to hear the word of God being
reached while you fall asleep with your mind stayed on God.