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So my recent medical adventure brought home a lesson that's applicable to human health and pet health, which is... go ahead and say it! That's the lesson. You see...

A few weeks ago, my doctor was telling me that medicine is kind of like putting puzzles together. A doc takes the info the patient gives, measures it against conditions and diseases, and tries to get a match. Getting the best possible diagnosis, he told me, depends on the patient giving the most full and accurate information possible. Without that piece of the puzzle, it's very hard to diagnose properly.

Weeks later, there I sat, with a wrenched knee. Doc gave me a shot for the pain so I could sleep (I hate-hate-hate taking meds but when you need something, you need it). He stepped out, nurse was asking me list of "drug reaction" questions ("are you feeling confused? How about...?"). Didn't  have the symptoms on the list. Was feeling slightly sweaty and a tiny bit nauseous, more "urpy" than "barfing is imminent." So mild I wasn't even going to mention, but remembered what Doc had said before, so said "You know, I do feel a little sweaty and..."

Next thing I'm hooked up to an IV, given another drug to counteract the first one, and being wheeled into ER. Adverse reaction to the shot, a drug I'd never had before. I'm home now, feeling cruddy after my ride on the chemical roller coaster. I'll be okay soon, but when I think how close I came to punching my ticket, I can't believe I almost didn't mention what I was feeling.

So here's the lesson I took away - even if something seems insignificant, mention it. Maybe it is insignificant, but maybe it isn't. Whether it's you talking to your doctor, or you talking to your vet, give the medical person the fullest possible picture of what's going on to give him/ her the best chance at making a correct diagnosis. As my MIL says, "So if you mention it and it's nothing, what are you out?" But if it's Something and you don't mention it, you could be shortchanging yourself, or your pet.

Just Say It!