Long-Term Effects

     Long-term effects--the concept, not specific manifestations of my anticonvulsants--are illustrated best by telling you about a specific appointment with my neurologist.
     I went into a routine checkup with my neurologist with no anticipation of any medication changes.  At that point in time, I had no sense of "medical partnership" much less "a healthy, intelligent medical partnership with my neurologist--with any of my health care providers.  The appointment I share was one of many events and circumstances that motivated my desire for a "healthy, intelligent medical partnership" paradigm.
     At my regular neurology checkup, my neurologist said she wanted to take me off of an anticonvulsant I had taken since childhood.  She said she needed to substitute a different anticonvulsant to ensure that I would not have a seizure in the future.  [I was taking a second anticonvulsant that the neurologist had no intent in changing.]  My neurologist threw out the names of a bunch of anticonvulsants, the names of which I had no familiarity, much less knowledge.  She well may have told me the side effects of each option.  All I heard her say after giving the list was, "I would recommend..." after which she gave me the name of the anticonvulsant.  I sat on the examining table and thought, "OK, I trust you.  You know far better than I do.  These drug names are Greek to me."
     Shortly after giving me her recommendation, my ears perked up.  "If you were to go onto this anticonvulsant, I would need to put you onto it slowly.  Starting you at full strength could be lethal."
     Let's see now.  The anticonvulsant I have taken since childhood could cause liver damage, if I were take it too long.  Yet, the medication you are recommending could be lethal, if full-strength levels of it were to be prescribed when I started taking it.
    Hmmm....What are my choices again?
    Clearly, literacy, education, communication, and self-advocacy were missing--were needed--here.  A healthy, intelligent medical partnership depends on it.  Blame--on either side--of what didn't happen, or dismissal--of what did happen--have no place.
    Humor is essential.  Don't be mistaken.  Humor is vital in making this relationship work.  Humor directs both partners to where the needs lie.

Health Care Provider Equation

     My previous articulation of "health care provider" needs to be accompanied by the equation I believe states what the existing understanding of "health care provider" is.  I confess that I have not searched for the starting point that I found in the ADA for the term "disability."
     I want to begin my model with basic statements of my belief, and then develop the more complex expressions of belief and conviction.
     I offer to you an equation to use, in combination with the Health Care Provider entry, to think of and understand the notion of "health care providers."
     Health Care Provider=Any entity that bills for, and/or is remunerated for services rendered to an individual with a need  for medical treatment and/or support.