It is never easy dealing with a chronic condition. Without a cure, it may feel like there is no end in sight. Symptoms of the disease and treatment options are often changing, which can only add to your feelings of fear and bewilderment. If you don’t have family that lives close, it’s common to feel isolated and lonely. But understand that you are not alone.
By hiring a health advocate, like Golden Guardians, you will always have someone by your side to deal with the overwhelming days after a chronic disease diagnosis. In this article, we will explain how you can benefit from a health advocate. We will also share helpful tips on how to cope with your disease.
Know Your Condition
When you have a chronic disease, this means that no medication or vaccine can cure your condition. Chronic diseases do not disappear over time. This means that you will live with the disease for the rest of your life, and while this fact may be frightening, it also shows the importance of understanding your condition.
Learn everything you can about your chronic illness. Ask your doctor specific questions about your condition. Some good questions to ask include:
- What are all the symptoms?
- Is there anything I’m doing that can contribute to my symptoms?
- What are all the treatment options?
- What symptoms will I experience from treatment?
- What can I do to improve my condition and overall health?
Take the time to research your condition on your own. You can buy books or visit your local library. If you are going online to research your condition, make sure that you visit trustworthy, reliable websites. Additionally, it’s a good idea to start journaling how you feel so you have documentation of how the disease and treatment is affecting your body.
This will be useful information for your doctor to review.
One significant benefit of a health advocate is that they come from various backgrounds and many have a history of working in the medical field.
As a result, your health advocate can help you better understand your diagnosis and learn more about your condition. Medical information is often hard to understand, but your health advocate can explain the terminology to you and your family and friends. They will ensure that you are never in the dark about your condition.
Stick with Your Treatment Plan
Chronic diseases can make you feel like you are no longer in control of your body. However, adhering to your treatment plan can restore some of that control. By taking your prescriptions as instructed and making your healthcare appointments, you are working to keep your symptoms in check.
Find out from your doctor other ways to improve your general health. In every situation, light exercise, a nutritious diet, and good sleep can improve symptoms. If you want to improve your attitude, or manage your emotions, find ways to achieve this. Many patients find balance in relaxation techniques, such as yoga and meditation.
Join a Support Group
Sometimes it helps to know that you are not alone. Your struggles may seem unique, but there are others who are facing the exact same challenges. By joining a support group specific to your condition, you can share your story, express your emotions, and essentially cope with your struggles in an environment that is more accepting and understanding.
After all, this group knows what you’re going through because they’re going through it, as well.
A support group can offer emotional support which, in turn, can help reduce stress, grief, rage, anxiety, and any other emotions you may be experiencing because of your diagnosis. If you don’t think you have the time to find a support group, this is another area where health consultants can be of assistance.
In addition to coordinating patient care and helping to educate you on your disease, a health advocate can perform research at your direction. Again, the role of health consultants is to provide the assistance and support specific to you.
Contact Golden Guardians
Golden Guardians is a Medicare Advocacy Service with access to healthcare advocates who specialize in educating and advocating for patient’s healthcare needs. We will do everything we can to ensure your satisfaction. Contact us to learn more about our services.