Stroppy

I am a member of many facebook groups relating to birth and parenting and over the years have enjoyed contributing when I felt I had something to offer on a topic. Today I read a post, quite similar to many, many others, where a pregnant woman with two small children was reluctant to go ahead with a recommended scheduled caesarean but was reluctant to explore options with her medical are providers. She was so unsure of herself in discussing her concerns, in fact, that she said she was between a rock and a hard place but admitted she hadn't actually spoken about it.

After reading so many of these kinds of posts and understanding the consequences I have become a different kind of patient.

I attended a check up yesterday, the doctor asked me sit on the bed, remove my boots and lie down. 

I removed the boots but knowing there was no reason to lie down continued to sit up. Briony, who was accompanying me noted my departure from instructions.

"She wants me to be a patient" I said

"you are a patient" came the teacherish response

I had a little epiphany about how to express myself and relied with "No, I am a partner in my own care and you don't ask a partner to lie down" 

When I told my mum the story she said my recovery had made me stroppy but the reality is that my "stroppy" self would still be on an medical roundabout if I hadn't questioned, advocated and negotiated to get answers to the problems I had. I also negotiated to become weight bearing early and so improve my recovery.

I have achieved much by being the active driver of my health care and I only wish that I could teach others to do the same.