We aggressively believe that patients shouldn’t have to do a bunch of emotional labor to get their needs met by their healthcare providers, but the reality we live in means this is an important skill to have as a spoonie.

Luckily, we have some new resources for you!

💊 This super long thread on code words to use with doctors [CW exaggerated ableism/use of slurs], kicked off by the Cliff’s Notes on “How To Negotiate Your Disability Without Curling Into A Ball And Weeping More Than Once Or Twice A Week *Or* Murdering The Entire Universe (More Than Once Or Twice A Week).”

Covered topics:

• Getting pain meds without being labeled as a drug-seeker.
  
• Getting mobility devices despite enormous stigma.
  
• Getting a “medibuddy” or advocate in with you when your doctor likes enforced isolation tactics.
  
• Taking notes and being organized without ruffling any feathers.
• Introducing “googled” information with a little fibbing.
  
• Tactical crying.
• …and basically being manipulative as hell, because sometimes that’s really, frustratingly necessary in order to get past ableist gatekeeping.
  
  

💊 This response to a request for help talking to a surgeon and getting him “to take me and my mysterious health issues seriously while still coming off as a ‘good patient.’”

💊 Our archive of advice under the “Dealing with Doctors” tag (yeah, we’re mad this has to exist, too.)

And to those about to enter appointments… we salute you.