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I forgot my own doctor's appointment because of caregiving
Title says it all. Had my annual physical scheduled for 3 weeks. Put it in my calendar and everything. Day of? Completely forgot because dad had a bad morning and I spent 2 hours calming him down, then had to rush to pick up his prescription, then my son called from school because he forgot his lunch...
Realized at 4pm that I missed my appointment. Called to reschedule and the next opening is in 6 WEEKS. Meanwhile I've had this weird pain in my side for a month that I keep telling myself is nothing because who has time to be sick??
This is what they mean when they say caregivers neglect their own health. I literally could not see it happening until I was living it. I take better care of my father's health than my own and I KNOW that's not sustainable but knowing and doing are two very different things.
Lisa — please don't wait 6 weeks with unexplained side pain. Go to an urgent care this weekend. It might be nothing, but it might be something, and the only way to know is to get it checked. I'm being a pharmacist right now, not a forum friend: unexplained pain for a month needs evaluation.
Caregiver health neglect is a documented phenomenon. Studies show that caregivers have higher rates of chronic illness, delayed diagnosis, and even increased mortality compared to non-caregivers. The irony is brutal: the person keeping someone else alive is running their own health into the ground.
Please go this weekend. If not for yourself, for your dad and your son. They need you healthy.
Lisa, Diane is right. Go get checked. I put off going to the doctor for over a year during my burnout because "I was fine" and by the time I went, my blood pressure was dangerously high and I had a vitamin D deficiency so bad it was affecting my bones.
You can't take care of anyone if you're in the hospital. I know you know this. Please actually do it.
Practical suggestion: from now on, treat YOUR health appointments the same way you treat your dad's. Put them in the shared calendar, set multiple reminders, and if possible, have someone else be responsible for your dad during that time.
Also — most urgent care centers accept walk-ins. You don't need to wait 6 weeks. Please go this weekend like Diane said. We'll all harass you about it until you do.
Ok ok I'm going today!! You guys are relentless and I love you for it. Taking myself to urgent care this afternoon while my son watches dad. Will report back.
(it's probably nothing. but fine. I'll go.)