I have said many times, “Caring for my arthritis is comparable to a full time job.” Dealing with this disease is not something I want to do, but something I have to do. The responsibilities are endless and cannot be avoided. Days are filled with more work than pleasure, demands are high and stressful (don’t get me started!). The routine is nine-to-five with mandatory overtime and the pay is never enough!
Arthritis cannot be ignored! It craves attention daily and interrupts schedules by inflicting pain and stiffness without warning. It’s a demanding disease with it’s own agenda.
Have you ever counted the number of times you visit a doctor’s office or medical care facility per year? For some, the numbers are staggering!
If you have been diagnosed with one of the many forms of arthritis, most likely you are scheduled to see a rheumatologist on a regular basis. Routine office visits are typically scheduled monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly, so right there your dates of service numbers are 12, six or three times per year. In addition, there are lab visits in between, as well as infusion dates.
Then, there are the consultations for treating the additional symptoms caused by arthritis or the secondary illnesses outside of the rheumatologist’s specialty. Orthopedists, radiologists, cardiologists, neurologists, dermatologists and physical and occupational therapists are just a few of the health care providers on my medical team, for which I require regular follow up care.
Add to that routine visits to family physicians and allergists or annual check-ups with optometrists, gynecologists, internists, dentists and the list goes on! (How long is your list of health care providers ending with “ist”?)
For those battling illnesses in addition to arthritis or other chronic illnesses, your dates of service must feel longer than the day is long. My heart goes out to you! (See Blog: Second Illness.)
A quick scan over my calendar revealed I have already had 32 dates of service this year – and its only August! Translated, that means I have spent one month out of this year in medical care facilities. That’s more days than most people get for annual vacation and personal leave from their jobs!
What are your dates of service? How do you deal with the demanding schedules and responsibilities of a chronic illness? Do you think of your illness as a full-time job? Please share your sacrifices, experiences and juggling tips.
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