My Dream Team for Optimum Healthcare

Age has its rewards. Now that I’m in my late fifties, I have a wealth of experience to draw on when dealing with new situations—whether a celebration, a job interview, or seeing a doctor for the first time. Each time it gets easier as I learn to draw on my past.

Starting the dialogue

Drawing on our experiences is essential when building a healthcare dream team. It starts with your general practitioner, who plays a central role overseeing all aspects of your medical needs. That’s why I keep my GP informed of any changes in my MS, my prescriptions, and appointments with other doctors.

After diagnosis, that first step into the neurologist’s office takes more courage than you may think you possess. When you enter prepared with questions and a willingness to take charge of your disease, you are already a winner. You, after all, are the reason he or she is there. The neurologist analyzes the tests done by nurses and physical therapists, performs his or her own tests, prescribes medication, asks and answers questions, makes suggestions, and sets the course of your treatment. Maintaining a dialogue with your neurologist is central to building your team.

Nurses–an essential building block

The nurse, who takes your blood pressure and weight, checks your gait, and performs other tests, is another building block. Nurses act as a resource for call-in questions and are a vital communication link between you and your doctors. Starting a dialogue with your nurses gets them on your team. That’s why I always ask them the reason for the tests. If my gait is being tested, for instance, I make sure I understand in advance how far they want me to walk and whether or not to use a cane.

My relationship with nurses became particularly important when bladder control was a concern. When I called for an appointment, she asked me to come in at noon the next day so she and another nurse could check me out. “Drink a full bottle of water, before you arrive,” she advised. I followed her instructions, and while all the rest of the staff were at lunch, the two nurses did an ultrasound test of my bladder. My bladder was full, and when they were pressing on it, we shared a moment of laughter. At my next doctor’s appointment, the nurse suggested that I should go to the bathroom more often rather than wait until the last minute. The time spent with those two nurses proved to have been time well spent.