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• February 2, 2011 8:28 p.m.

  I always love your care for each one of us, Dr. Creagan. Thanks so much. Yes, we are responsible for our health and it takes a lot of time and effort if one has a disease and there's no one but yourself and your doctors. But I have been blessed with the finest doctors who I know care about the quality of my life. They are geographically not in my back yard so I travel to see them and feel so good when I am with them! One needs to believe their doctor is the Best! However, some of my so called friends don't understand why I travel for medical care but they have never been in my shoes with all kinds of misdiagnoses locally. It does hurt me what they feel about me but it's hard to just give their long term so called friendships up but it seems that's what happens. We need to be with supportive friends and family besides our doctors we have faith in and are supporting us emotionally. Is this typical with friends and family...either the best or the worst comes out it seems? And, sometimes to me there is a bit of jealousy on their part...what do you all experience? Do you feel your friends and family feel we may be feeling closer to the doctors because of their expertise and caring manner than to them that may be causing their non-supportive behavior? Thanks for your comments.

  - Kristina

• January 23, 2011 2:40 p.m.

  A resource for developing the skills in advocating for your own best health with doctors, nurses and the health care system that helped me during my recent long illness is the book: "Sick and Tired of Feeling Sick and Tired- Living with Invisible Chronic Illness" by Paul Donoghue and Mary Siegel. This book offers much information, especially in the area of communication skills with your self, family and doctors-it helped me immeasurably. I am a RN and have worked for 24 years in a clinic system, and I discovered that being a patient required I develop some new skills and strengthen others if I was going to be a successful advocate for my own healthcare. For me it wasn't always easy, although I do think it is important. I would add that when you are not feeling well enough to advocate for yourself, consider asking a spouse, friend or family member to help you: Look for the helpers, and ask for help. It's my opinion that every patient needs an advocate, whether that advocate is yourself or someone who cares about you.

  - Anna Marie

• January 23, 2011 9:28 a.m.

  It sounds like you're saying if we don't like the care at one place, don't try another provider.

  - Mary Ellen

• January 21, 2011 5:38 p.m.

  Great article. I have a story on this, although not as serious as the one you mentioned. I was having allergy issues and needed a nasal spray, but when I tried to convince my internist that it was allergies (which I've dealt with for years), he kept trying to have me take a test for the swine flu. I refused and the nurse happened to mention it wasn't covered by my insurance anyway and it would have cost me $300. Always do your research and know your body!

  - Allison

• January 14, 2011 2:37 p.m.

  My father lived in France for two years. He told me that patients there are given their own medical records, and told to be responsible for them. Patients have enough to deal with when they are sick, trying to hang on to a job, locate a health care professional for a second opinion, go out of town for the second opinion, get their travel arrangements, house, yard, family/pets, finances, etc. in order before they leave. They do not need to add to all this, any additional stress of trying to extract copies of their complete medical records from bureaucracies in my opinion. If my father is correct, the French have the right idea.

  - Big Carol

• January 14, 2011 9:54 a.m.

  We as patients are our own best advocates as well as for those we love. I think the reason for this is the doctor is aware of only as much information as the patient gives him and that is a very small percentage. It helps to have a trusted doctor to help along with this. I think this is primary care vs. specialty care. Sure, mistakes will be made but that is life.

  - carol

• January 14, 2011 7:12 a.m.

  It may not be right but it is true. If you want things done right sometimes you have to do them yourself. In the healthcare system its supposed to be all about the patient. This is the word that go around the organization but when it all comes down to it things fall short. They have 1 person taking a on a work load of about 3 or 4 people. With a system like that something is bound to fall thru the crack. I agree with Dr. Creagan; Take the time to help yourself, because in the end that may be all you get or it may give the people serving you that little extra push to great customer service. It's difficult for them working with the sick public all the time and very few people ever being preparted.

  - Kiesha

• January 13, 2011 9:05 p.m.

  I really think this is not right. If a person goes thru the proper people and that's thier job, the papper work should be in the right place. The problem is we as people give too many EXCUSES for other peoples. JUST DO YOUR JOB.

  - lois