Take charge of your care – Make you own decisions

It took me a long time to learn that not everything handed to me or recommended to me by a doctor was in my best interests.

As an example, I was given Flexeril (cyclobenzoprin) early in my journey. It was prescribed to be taken every night before bed, and so I took it every evening. In the morning, I woke up different than on the days that I had not taken it. There was less pain, and I had slept more soundly. However, it also brought my energy level down & made me feel drugged. I made a decision to keep Flexeril around, but to only take it on days when I hurt very badly and nothing else seemed to help.

Another example deals with antibiotics. I don’t take them unless it is the only thing that will cure whatever I have. I question my doctor in depth before I let her prescribe them for me. Taking antibiotics is like requesting a yeast infection. One follows the other for me.

Some things I do might be regarded as unwise. For example, I’ve refused a mammogram for the last few years. I’ve been suffering with a couple of painful areas under my right arm for about five years. The last time I had a mammogram, those spots flared up during and afterwards to the point where I would rather die than feel that again. If you have fibromyalgia, you know I am not exaggerating. You may also have experienced the point where death seems to be a merciful alternative. So I’m taking a risk by not having a “preventative test.” Someday my pain there will end and I will get a mammogram. Until then, it is my decision, & my risk.

You need to take charge of your care because doctors are trained to follow certain paths. Those paths sometimes lead to places you are better off avoiding. The side effects of some drugs are almost worse than the ailment they are prescribed for.You need to take charge of your care because you are the only one in a position to do the things that will really make a difference for you.

Think of it like being a dog owner who has an allergy to dogs. Your doctor can prescribe drugs to treat the allergy symptoms. Doctors often do just that. The result is that you keep the dog and feel fairly allergy-free, but you are putting drugs in your body and they have side effects whether you are aware of it or not. You are the only one who can make the decision to get rid of the dog, which will eliminate both your allergy symptoms and the need for the drugs. Sometimes your doctor won’t even mention getting rid of the dog. I guess they figure those decisions are yours to make. And they are. Most of the decisions that your fibromyalgia demands of you are just like that. You can feel better and be mostly free of the drugs, but you might have to give up some things that are precious to you.

Promise yourself that you will take responsibility for your own treatment. You can still choose to do what the doctor recommends, but open your eyes, study your options, and be smart about it.