August is National Wellness Month, and while many people think of wellness as exercise, nutrition, or stress relief, smoking, etc., there’s another critical piece we can’t overlook: your voice.
Healthcare advocacy should now be a mindset for everyone It is not for one to go into a medical setting and just be told what to do. Studies show that when you are involved, your medical provider is more involved and appreciates when you ask questions. Generally they will always ask if you have any questions before leaving the office visit. That’s when you pull out your paper and start talking and advocating for yourself. Being prepared is everything. It will depend on if you come out feeling like you know what’s going on or if you wonder what happened. It reminds me of a saying that goes, “Some people make things happen, some people watch things happen, and some people wonder what has happened.” Eleanor Roosevelt
Let’s discuss resetting your voice.
Practice what hearing “no” sounds like. It may not appear as just a flat out ‘No”. It may be a not needed, or you don’t need it right now. You wanted it and you would like to know. Then what? How do you work around getting what you are asking for. Knowing what to look for and how to ask will decide on what you get done. If you want a lab done, and you have a reason. Request it. To review more on how to be heard, review the handout for the Emergency Room Pain Prep checklist with pro-tips on how to encorage providers to take a closer look.
Practicing when a provider comes back with you for a reason of why it’s not necessary, is wise. It’s not that they want to ignore your request but you being prepared in helping them understand why you want it is helpful. So many times, I hear that, the medical provider told me that I did not need it right now
Your answer to this could be something like:
- “I haven’t had it done before and I would like to know what my borderline level is.”
- “I have a family history of ______, and I would like to have this “lab” checked.”
- “I haven’t had it done in 6 months and I started on a medication for the abnormal level, and I would like to make sure the level is normal now after the adjustments.
If you would like to know if it is allowed by your insurance, then call them. The phone number is generally on the back of your insurance card. Some insurances provide an app and you can reach out through there. You can ask them if it is covered, and what would be required to get it covered by your insurance.
Preventative Services
Find out what your preventative services are for your age and get them done. Screening is helping you to stay well and is very important in wellness.
Get all of your required screenings done. It is a benefit that you have on your insurance. If you’re not told, ask for them to be completed. Keep a check on what is done and what is still needing done. Know the results and be prepared for your visit.
If you do not have insurance, consider getting the lab checked for your family history. Check what lab your hospital uses. Call them and see if they run labs if you wanted to check to see how some basic labs are. Or look at the labs in your area to get a test completed.
Here’s how to Reset Your Voice in 5 Steps:
Some basic steps for gaining your voice include.
- Schedule your wellness visit.
We have heard the saying, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” over and over through life. That is true. Especially in healthcare.
✅ Action: Call your primary care office or log in to your patient portal today to book your next appointment.
- Prepare your questions for your visit
- “Can you explain that in simpler terms?”
- “I’d like to know the risks and benefits of each option.”
- “What happens if I choose not to treat this right now?”
- Write down your thoughts or questions when you go in for a visit. If you feel comfortable, share it with your advocate so that they can help you advocate for yourself.
- I have seen it happen, still, even with a list, some things may get missed. Take a highlighter to mark things off after asked. Something that is very visible to see.
✅ Action: Write down at least 3 questions to ask your provider, such as:
- Have helpful language to move you along in the visit (Advocacy)
- NOTE: If you don’t know where to start, look at your parents and family. What diseases do they have that you can screen for? More than likely you have had a family member say something like, we have “sugar or high blood pressure” in our family background so you have to watch for that. ✅ Action: Know for certain your family history
- ASK ABOUT LABS YOU WILL BE HAVING
- Ask your provider what labs are you being checked for today.
- Your routine lab should be drawn. Yearly there are a few things you would want to be checked for. Let’s get some basic labs so you have a baseline if you haven’t had them before. Some basic routine labs include include a CBC complete blood count, CMP, HgbA1C, urinalysis. If you have issues, others should be done.
- Keep a track on them before gong in. Take this list with you when you go in. Instead of “I just don’t feel good” Track what it is. Think to be more specific so that your provider can understand. Make sure your provider sees the following logs.
- Blood pressure
- Weight Trends
- Feeling off – exactly what is it and what is going on.
✅ Action: Pick one health number to track this week. Start your “Not feeling good.” Record it daily and bring it to your next appointment.
5. “What are my options?”
This is very important. Generally, some people do not completely understand or will not listen to being told directly what to do. And they know they will not do it. So ask… just ask.
✅ Action: Practice saying, “What are my options?”
Let’s protect!
If you haven’t scheduled your wellness exam today, get it done. Let’s start wellness right there if you have not. By completing and being intentional about the list above, you will be more prepared to use your voice when you are in the doctor’s office.
Know Someone Who Could Use Support?
If you or someone you care about is facing the challenges of navigating the healthcare system, please know that help is available. Sometimes having a compassionate guide can make all the difference in feeling heard, understood, and supported.
As a Health and Wellness Coach, I walk alongside clients to help them prepare for appointments, ask the right questions, and confidently advocate for their needs.
💌 If you or someone you know could benefit from this kind of support, I invite you to book a session with me here. Together, we can make sure your voice truly matters in every step of the healthcare journey.
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