Because I Deserve It
What Chronic Illness Taught Me About Finding My Voice in the Healthcare System
You walk into your doctor's office as one person. You walk out as someone else.
This is a memoir and a guide for taking a real role in your own care. It comes out of my own diagnosis with idiopathic intracranial hypertension, and it's an honest look at what it takes to go from feeling lost to taking charge of your care. Along the way, I give you the tools I needed, shaped by my background in HR and work law.
Add it on GoodreadsTools you can use the next time you walk into an appointment
Advocating for yourself
Push for answers in the exam room, and hold your ground when you're rushed or dismissed.
Getting ready for appointments
Track your symptoms and bring your questions, so you walk into the visit ready.
Building your care team
Find providers who are as invested as you are, and learn why the staff who keep your care moving matter as much as the doctors.
Asking for accommodations
Your job is part of your care too. Know your rights and how to ask.
Finding your footing again
Rebuild your life after a diagnosis turns it upside down.
"You deserve nothing less."
This is for anyone who's ever left a doctor's office without the answers they came for. I wrote it with Black women and other women of color especially in mind, because we run into barriers that come from racial and gender bias in healthcare. But if a doctor has ever minimized your concerns, it's for you.
What reviewers are saying
An essential read for anyone who's ever felt alienated by the health care system.
Kirkus ReviewsDemystifies the healthcare system with clarity.
Foreword Clarion Reviews
Paperback ISBN 978-1-963678-25-3 · eBook ISBN 978-1-963678-26-0
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