You are right, having another person with you when getting treatment is very important. I can recall a couple of times when I remember having a thirty minutes conversation with a doctor, but afterwards I couldn't remember the things we spoke about. When you are the sick person, your body is going through a lot, a your brain is too busy focusing on your body. Thinking clearly and taking decisions is not a priority for the brain at that time.Julie Basil wrote: ↑27 Aug 2023, 21:00 I think that advocating for yourself and getting involved in your own care are both very helpful when seeking medical help. Having another person with you like a parent, spouse, or close friend can also be helpful in situations when you aren't able to advocate for yourself for whatever reason. It can feel scary to bring up something that a medical professional doesn't seem to be considering, but if you don't ask or start the conversation, you'll never know.
I have a cousin who has cancer and one of my aunts, who is not his mother and who works in healthcare, has gotten very involved in his care and advocated for him throughout the time of his diagnosis and treatment. Her presence and advocacy have made a big difference and have helped my cousin to be more at ease in this challenging time in his life.
This also reminds me that we must make friends and strengthen family ties. It is not easy to do nowadays considering our lifestyles, but let's not live lonely lives.