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How do you make sense of multiple diagnoses?

Posted by juliess @juliess, Mar 29, 2023

I am so grateful for the wealth of healthcare expertise that’s available. But must be honest, it’s overwhelming. Not just diagnoses, but treatment options, self care, and relationships (when they understand even less than you do!), let alone work, parenting etc. How do you all do it? My brain is just tired and can’t think anymore. Welcome your thoughts!

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miloandlisa | @miloandlisa | Apr 3, 2023

Thank you for the spooning info. I feel like my time management skills are effective. I just feel like my medical conditions are my life now:(

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Tom Anderson | @ta52 | Apr 10, 2023

I know it's not for everyone but I create distractions. Right now I am still in treatment for Stage IV Non-small Cell Lung Cancer but I am also finishing a Masters degree - it's my "purposeful distraction".

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Apr 11, 2023

@miloandlisa @juliess @spokie, just checking in. How are you doing?

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3 replies
spokie | @spokie | Apr 12, 2023
In reply to @colleenyoung "@miloandlisa @juliess @spokie, just checking in. How are you doing?" + (show)
@colleenyoung

@miloandlisa @juliess @spokie, just checking in. How are you doing?

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Hi Collen.
Thank you for the check-up.

I am well. The IBS have been surprisingly behaving and I am happy.

Last week my psychiatrist reviewed my medication and I am taking less now. That comforted me because it shows that I am doing well in that department.

It is actually a relief that for once I don not have aches and pains. LOL

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juliess | @juliess | Apr 12, 2023
In reply to @colleenyoung "@miloandlisa @juliess @spokie, just checking in. How are you doing?" + (show)
@colleenyoung

@miloandlisa @juliess @spokie, just checking in. How are you doing?

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Hi Colleen, thanks for asking!! Things have been a little challenging, and I've tried to make the best of sometimes contradictory information from some of my MDs, and may I say what I can see as conflicting agendas between patient needs and academic medical centers' goals as research institutions. I would just say to readers to be sure to ask your providers at academic centers to explain what each test is for and what they hope to discover by running it. While I have tons of information now on what's going on in my immune system, and lots of stuff has been ruled out as a problem currently, I'm hypervigilent for 'what next.' Its a hard way to live. Thanks for asking! Hope you are all well.

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Mentor
Becky, Volunteer Mentor | @becsbuddy | Apr 12, 2023
In reply to @californiazebra "@becsbuddy I created a sample Excel task list to give you an idea. You do need..." + (show)
@californiazebra

@becsbuddy I created a sample Excel task list to give you an idea. You do need basic Excel skills for this system to work. I sort in this order: date, sort, priority, type, task. It's important to use the ! in the sort column on each gray filled date header so the date header always stays at the top when you sort. You can then sort by ! alone and use autofill to add a year of dates quickly. These are just some made up tasks for this example. I track everything here. I have all dates listed for a year. Past that, I add single lines for a colonoscopy due in 2 years, the date a CD is maturing in 3 years, a warranty expiring in 5 years, etc. I can also add a lot of detail to the task entry, but don't wrap the text. You just want to view the extra detail up in the formula bar as needed so every line is narrow. I don't normally prioritize for the day until the night before or morning of, but prioritized each day's tasks just to demonstrate. For the daily tasks like take meds, I just change the date to tomorrow once I've completed the task and re-sort. The daily check-in task is because I live alone, so I exchange a morning text each day with a friend who lives alone just to know the other is okay. I have all birthdays on my task list so I don't forget. After I reach out to that person, I just change the date on that entry to next year and it's ready to go. I often don't get through tasks with no set deadline due to fatigue so I just reassign them to another day. I love this system. No more writing out endless task lists each day. It works really well for me. I hope it might be helpful to others who know Excel. I also have tabs to document conversations with doctors after each visit so I don't forget the details later. I hope the photo can be viewed larger than what I'm seeing right now. First time I've added a file.

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@californiazebra How on earth did I miss seeing your spread sheet?! Looks great! With this, you don’t need to keep everything in your head.
And the photo blows up just fine!
Thank you!

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