Way back when I started this blog I repeated the urging to speak up if something doesn’t feel right. If I hadn’t mentioned symptoms to an NP I see for the breast cancer followup – the NET cancer would have been missed for longer than it already had. I still think this is important…

However, now I don’t usually follow my own advice. It feels like I have so many issues – most are minor – easy to ignore. I can list ~10 things I should probably take care of but probably won’t. Anytime something new develops I adopt the ‘wait and see if it gets worse’ or ‘suck it up’ mentality. But how long should I wait? How do I measure ‘worse’? My fear is either it’s something significant or it’s just me crying wolf.

When do I speak up and to whom? Part of the issue is I’m not sure who to tell what, which provider needs to hear about which concern. What is relevant to my oncologist? PCP? Cardiologist? GI doc? …. the list goes on. They all ask the same questions at visits, but I don’t speak up because it’s too complicated. How much do any of them understand the connections between my medical history, treatments, lab values, medications and any new symptoms I mention? Is the issue significant or just me crying wolf?

None of my family or friends, even those closest to me, hear most of the complaints I could verbalize. I don’t tell anyone around me because we all have issues and it sounds like I’m whining. It is easier to stay quiet, which also helps me ignore the need to deal with something. Is it worth telling them or just me crying wolf?

Another glitch in the speaking up plan… my life has become too busy to make time to deal with anything else. It’s too much trouble to make yet another appointment. I don’t want to spend my reduced free time seeking providers. It’s harder to find a time to squeeze in a visit. Does the issue really warrant the need to call – or is it crying wolf?

Do as I say, not as I do – speak up and advocate for your health.