Jennifer Powell, an MS patient advocate, discusses how people with multiple sclerosis can communicate their needs, advocate for better care, and seek a second opinion. Read her column, “Silver Linings.”
Transcript
The doctor-patient relationship. I look at it like a partnership. I, myself, through all of this, I get intimidated still, and that’s normal. Be totally kind to yourself.
What I do encourage you to do if you’re unhappy with your provider or the care you’re receiving: change it. If you don’t feel confident in having that dialogue with your provider, that’s OK. Go get a second opinion and be open enough to to say, “I don’t feel confident that my care right now is maximizing the best that it can. It’s not being maximized. I’m not seeing X, Y, and Z.”
I encourage you to have concrete examples of what is disappointing you in your care. “Do you feel like you’re not on the right DMT? Is your doctor not providing enough time? Do you don’t feel you’re getting ancillary needs met? Physical therapy? Mental health?”
When you meet your provider or your new provider with concrete examples of your needs, they’re going to be better able to facilitate meeting your needs with a new provider and with new care.
There’s also people there to help you make these decisions and make these shifts if you feel uncomfortable discussing them with your doctor. But just know that you’re OK to go get a second opinion; you don’t have to let your doctor know.
