Stumble it!
July 16, 2008
Anne Glamore’s PSA
Natalie Cole is the latest celebrity to be diagnosed with Hepatitis C. Readers who have been with me since the beginning have read plenty about my own battle with the disease. I probably contracted it in 1980 during my original surgery for scoliosis, although it wasn’t diagnosed until 1997. I underwent a year-long treatment from 1999 through 2000 and, God willing, this August will celebrate eight years of remission.
I don’t know why I’ve been given two diseases to deal with that have very non-specific symptoms and are hard to diagnose. (My mom died of ovarian cancer and I am screened regularly for that disease, which has symptoms that can mimic IBS and a host of other illnesses.)
I’m also still dealing with my spine, and had my most recent spine surgery in 2004 to correct a symptom known as “flatback” caused by the Harrington rods used to prevent the curvature of my spine from increasing. You can read about that here, complete with sexy pictures.
I figure that all my medical problems, combined with my background as a medical malprctice defense lawyer, make me one of the most well-educated health consumers around.
What I’ve learned from all my dealings with the health care system is that you can’t ignore your body when it’s telling you something’s wrong. Second, if you must receive medical treatment, it’s up to you to manage your health care. Ask questions. Make sure all the proper tests have been ordered. When your blood is drawn, ensure that it’s labeled with your name and not the patient’s next to you. Follow up on test results– don’t just rely on the doctor to call you back.
And run, don’t walk, to get a copy of the book I shill from time to time, Jerome Groopman’s Second Opinions: Stories of Intuition and Choice in the Changing World of Medicine
I’m always happy to answer questions about any of these diseases, and you can read more about them by clicking on the link under Categories in the left sidebar that corresponds to the illness you want to know more about. I’ve done enough research and interviewing doctors for all of us– no need for you to reinvent the wheel!
Hope to see you at BlogHer, where you can say, “Damn, you look so good on the outside to be so screwed up internally!” I consider that a compliment.
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Two years ago in My Tiny Kingdom: Atten-shun!
Posted by Anne Glamore @ 12:07 pm • Hepatitis C, Ovarian Cancer, Scoliosis, Spines & Livers & Bones, Oh My! Stumble it!
Stumble it!
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July 16th, 2008 at 10:55 pm, Shawn Says:
Anne! I had no idea you were going to Blogher, I must have missed a post! Email me and let’s see if we can sneak a drink in or something. It’s a long shot, but I’d love to meet ya!
Shawn’s last blog post..Giant Plastic Island of Garbage
July 17th, 2008 at 11:46 am, Cecelia Says:
Excellent Post!
The importance of managing your own health care came to light when my mom was in the hospital. While the care she was receiving was good, it improved greatly once my sister and I stepped in and took over managing it and following up with the doctors, test, etc.
If my mom had listened to her body sooner, or at least been honest with my sister and I about what was going on, I know that she would still be with us today.
Thanks Anne!
Cecelia
July 18th, 2008 at 1:17 am, Esther Brady Crawford Says:
hey Anne!
Great to meet you this evening at the mixer.. I wanted to come check out your site and say hello.
I’m sure we’ll bump into each other again this weekend!
July 18th, 2008 at 4:59 am, Elmo Says:
I don’t know if this is relevant to anything - I cut my finger at work two months ago and went to the Hospital. I opted for “super glue” instead of stitches and the Doctor applied a tube of glue and gave me an finger splint.
Hospital sent me a bill for over $500. I just received another bill from the Doctor for $225. $725 dollars for squeezing a tube of super glue on a cut. Yes- Insurance is paying for most of it - my god - what is wrong here folks ? I apologize again if this veered from Miss Anne’s blog -
July 18th, 2008 at 10:48 am, Vicki Bodwell Says:
Hey girl…Super fun chatting with you last night…sucks about the hepetis however love your candid comments.
Told my ball & chain that our crew would hang with you in NYC.
xo
Vicki
From One Mom
http://www.kidsbeddingblog.com
Vicki Bodwell’s last blog post..Skating through Life
July 19th, 2008 at 8:22 am, mandy Says:
Yeah, great post! Good thing for us to remember.
I hope you are well and have a blast at blogher!
July 20th, 2008 at 11:03 am, Jamie Says:
I had NO idea you had gone through all of this. You are one strong, kick ass woman! I love that photo of you horseback riding.
Speaking of kick ass, I hope you are doing lots of that at BlogHer!
July 21st, 2008 at 10:49 am, Val Says:
Anne,
Love this advice on working the medical system. I already went to Amazon and ordered the book you suggested on second opinions. Have you read the one suggested with it called “How Doctor’s Think?”
Go Blaze!
July 21st, 2008 at 2:40 pm, Busymom.net Says:
BlogHer 2008 - The San Francisco Edition…
I have opened and closed Movable Type several times, not being able to quite organize my thoughts about the weekend at BlogHer. Additionally, I thought about not even writing this because you can find any number of BlogHer 2008 recaps……