Your idea of jotting down notes about reactions, foods, activities with a new illness or meds is such a great idea. And I really do believe it helps when we can give those findings to our doctors. Helps keep us on task in those limited appointments.
I hear you with the dismissal we get sometimes for being a ‘women of age’. I’m saddened that you’re feeling even more-so for being a woman of color. We are all entitled to be heard! And we didn’t get to be this old by being stupid.
I hate feeling patronized or the condescending tones when having a conversation in certain settings. My primary care physician was so dismissive 4 years ago when I went in to her office 3 weeks in a row with worsening symptoms of a horrible cough, weakness, sustained fever of 102. Kept telling me I had nothing more than bronchitis. I finally told her that ‘Look, I’m 65 and have never been this sick in my life…it’s not bronchitis!”
The 3rd appointment my husband literally carried me into the office and insisted on blood work and a chest X-ray. Which I got…pneumonia and a diagnosis that afternoon of acute myeloid leukemia. I was rushed to the hospital and there for 5 weeks the first round. 8 weeks total with subsequent rounds of chemo and then 4 months in Rochester for a bone marrow transplant. I told her I was sick! 😅. What I do wish is that every medical facility could be as respectful and patient oriented as Mayo. They spoil us for anything else.
My new local PCP is great and seems to take me seriously. I hope subsequent generations of women get the respect they deserve…lord knows we’ve tried, huh? ☺️