Comments for Medical Lessons

Comment on Should People With Health Problems Talk About their Conditions? by Carla Mazzone

Carla Mazzone — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:52:16 +0000

Carolyn,
Your comment about discussing your health with your grown children was very pointed. I, too, am careful about what I say. My daughter asks about the state of things frequently whereas my son avoids the topic all together.
I avoid sharing with those not close to me. Too much can be misconstrued and I really don’t enjoy that dance.

Comment on Should People With Health Problems Talk About their Conditions? by Elaine

Elaine — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:58:44 +0000

Hi Carolyn, I think you “get” the issue, well. No easy answers and, of course, it depends on the personalities of the people in the conversation.

Comment on Should People With Health Problems Talk About their Conditions? by Carolyn Thomas

Carolyn Thomas — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:53:53 +0000

Hello Dr. S — such an important topic here. I too am of two minds on this issue.

A friend of mine in Santa Barbara calls it “the organ recital” — that type of conversation among acquaintances when it seems each one is updating the other on their assorted medical conditions, their symptoms, their procedures, their test results, and what their doctors think about all of it, often in fact talking over each other at the same time. Not much listening here, just one-way talking (or waiting for you to take a breath so I can have my turn doing the organ recital!) I wrote about this at “Get Over Yourself: How To Stop Boring Others With Your Heart Attack Story” — http://myheartsisters.org/2009/07/20/get-over-it/

After my own heart attack, I soon learned to stop talking about distressing symptoms or concerns to my grown children, because the distress on their faces was so upsetting to me. What they hear — and see — is “Fine, just fine” no matter what.

It’s a 2-edged sword however. While we don’t want to encourage the self-absorbed to go on and on (and on!) about each over-shared detail of every medical visit or condition, we don’t want to shut down those who really should be sharing relevant details of their condition to appropriate others in their lives — as you describe in your spine surgery story.

Comment on Should People With Health Problems Talk About their Conditions? by Elaine

Elaine — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:38:13 +0000

Hi Carla,
Yes, it does — and that may be affected by the stress and pressures your colleagues face, in terms of time and compensation for their work. If they’re happy and well “covered,” they may behave more generously and kindly, without resentment toward a colleague or employee who needs time off or reduced responsibility for a while.

Comment on Should People With Health Problems Talk About their Conditions? by Carla Mazzone

Carla Mazzone — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:02:14 +0000

I think it truly depends on your relationship with those with whom you work. I was a Clinical Educator for an oncology research group when I was dx with cancer for the 2nd time. My employer went out of their way to keep me on the payroll so I would have insurance as my husband had lost his job. The comment was made to me by the CEO that even if they had to have me alphabetizing index cards to stay on the payroll, they would. I was so totally embraced and supported by everyone and for that I will always be eternally grateful.

Comment on Should People With Health Problems Talk About their Conditions? by Elaine

Elaine — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:43:12 +0000

Hi Joyce, Thanks for writing in. Agree that where you are — on line with strangers, or among friends — matters.

Work gets tricky, though, b/c the bottom line is that most employers want people who work comfortably and for long hours, w/ rare absences and few excuses.

Comment on Should People With Health Problems Talk About their Conditions? by Joyce Lofstrom

Joyce Lofstrom — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:24:43 +0000

I am a cancer survivor (6x — non-invasive) and I have had insulin dependent diabetes for 35 years. I have always talked about my medical condition, when needed (surgery, let’s say or what to do with a low blood sugar). For me, it makes sense to talk about this so people know what is going on. But, there is a difference between sharing information with those you work closely with and focusing on your health issues all the time — say in the check out line at the grocery store. I am also a writer…and maybe everythinig is copy, per Ephron, but is it worthwhile copy of interest?

Comment on Don’t Judge Her! An Essay on Angelina Jolie, BRCA, Cancer Risk and Informed Decision-Making by Elaine

Elaine — Sun, 19 May 2013 13:49:55 +0000

Hi George,
Thanks for writing in. To be clear, I’m not necessarily of the school that everyone with a family history of breast cancer, even a strong one, should be tested for BRCA mutations. Rather, I think it’s a personal decision to be tested in the first place.

Comment on Don’t Judge Her! An Essay on Angelina Jolie, BRCA, Cancer Risk and Informed Decision-Making by George Lewycky

George Lewycky — Sat, 18 May 2013 18:48:47 +0000

Thanks for the OP-ED link, the other articles didn’t include the link.
I think this is an eye-opener and wake up call for women to get have the gene test at least especially with their family history. Hopefully insurance companies and doctors will co-operative in this pro-active step that Angelina did and was open to us about it. I’ve seen her in New York City several times and she is an amazing person.

Comment on Don’t Judge Her! An Essay on Angelina Jolie, BRCA, Cancer Risk and Informed Decision-Making by Dee

Dee — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:18:23 +0000

Angelina’s mother died of ovarian cancer which is also linked to BRCA1/2 mutations.
“As for the future, Angelina’s decision demonstrates that we need better (and not just more) research, to understand what causes cancer in people who have BRCA mutations and otherwise. “
I agree!