What are the most effective strategies for managing chronic health conditions?

Having suffered from Endometriosis, a less talked about chronic disease in 2000s, I had to become an expert in understanding my experiences and how to work with health professional who may not be too forthcoming with validating my experiences. I still remember the day when a well-known gynecologist in Pakistan entered the consulting room with a group of students to examine me and told me in less than a minute that I needed a surgery. When I asked what caused the condition, she said to me that she didn't have time to explain it to me... really? I learned my first lesson that unless I am informed about my rights, I wont be treated respectfully and started on a life-long journey of knowing myself.

I have a chronic illness that's relevant to immuno-compromosing. One day, The Medical Consultant under this field advised me to disclose my medical condition to my family. He told me a story based on the clinical research and assessment they have had conducted, with comparison of their income, age, race, other adaptability towards prescribed drugs, and other relevant statuses, divided them onto a different group. After observation, they concluded that, the group with disclosure history with family adapts better, healing stablely. They also found out that a patient with the same condition, proven to adapt better as compared to those without, after disclosure to their family. I encourage such disclose, to increase your chance to heal :)

This is SO IMPORTANT! Having a genuine partnership with your provider built on trust has significantly improved patient outcome time and time again. I see it in practice everyday.

Maintaining a wellness routine is a key to manage chronic conditions. For me personally, it is really critical to sleep early and go for a morning walk or indoor physical activity when weather doesn't permit a walk.

When working with people with chronic health conditions, it is important that health professionals find ways to assist patients to have a self-management approach. This doesn't mean we just give out a nice brochure with some strategies they could try, we need to revisit these strategies multiple times in our discussions to find out which ones they have been able to implement, and what barriers they are facing. The real value in what we can offer is assisting our patients to learn awareness of their symptoms and problem-solving skills to be able to minimise exacerbations of symptoms and address set-backs in their goals without us.

Communication! Living with chronic disease or disability is exhausting, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, physically, financially. Anything that we can do as health care providers to lessen the administrative burden on out clients/patients is gold. Look for providers that will talk to each other and keep everyone on the same page. Find providers that will communicate with you the way you want and need to be communicated with. Knowledge is power, and in all my years of injury management I can safely say that communication between the treating team and the client is key to improving client outcomes and satisfaction.

Chronic disease management takes all the pieces already discussed as well as a team approach. It requires patience, grace as well as tough love. Looking through a holistic lens helps and assessing needs/struggles of caregivers and support systems. Being part of that team can be exhausting and exhilarating! I can say that some of my most memorable health provider memories come from the small victories.

Pilar fundamental, implicar al paciente en el autocuidado de su salud. La información puede ser un gran aliado entendiendo el por qué y para qué.