Living with a Disability
Advocacy

Taking Control of Your Chronic Condition
Ways to get the most out of life and work when you have a chronic condition.

Working with health care providers
Staying active when you have a chronic condition
Advocating for yourself at work
Staying strong physically and emotionally

About 40 percent of American workers have a chronic health condition or a medical problem that has lasted for a year or more. Some people have a disease or injury that affects their ability to perform certain physical tasks. Others suffer from a condition such as depression that makes it harder to manage their emotions. About 20 percent of all workers have two or more conditions that require ongoing care.

If you have a long-term health concern, it's important to take control of your condition. You can do this by staying active, advocating for yourself at work, working with health care providers, and maintaining your strength. This will help you get the most out of life and work.


Working with health care providers
Working closely with health care providers will help you find the support and services you need to do your best with a chronic condition. The quality of your health care will have a direct bearing on your success in taking control of your condition and maintaining your performance at work.
Think of yourself as being part of a team. Your team may include people such as your internist or family practitioner, specialists in your condition, and other professionals, such as a dietician, social worker, mental health therapist, audiologist, and speech, physical, or occupational therapist. Have regular medical checkups, and keep everybody up-to-date on changes in your condition.
Learn how to select good health care providers and evaluate their performance. In addition to your satisfaction with the results of your treatment, consider your providers' ability to communicate medical information to you clearly. Notice each provider's ability to work as part of a team. Do you get enough information to make informed choices about your treatment? Do you get referrals to specialists when you should have them? Are your own suggestions and inquiries treated respectfully? Acquaint yourself with tools such as second opinions and ways to evaluate physician performance in order to maximize the service you receive.
Make the most of medical appointments. Prepare for office visits by making a list of any concerns you want to raise. Bring a list of all the medications you are taking, even if these were prescribed by other physicians. Be sure to include over-the-counter medications, herbal supplements, and vitamins. During appointments, ask questions about anything you don't understand, and find out what you need to do after you leave the office. Ask the doctor to write down any instructions you might forget, or bring a notebook and pencil with you to write them down yourself. Keeping one notebook for all medical appointment notes will help over time.
Have a plan for your care. Work with your health care providers to develop a comprehensive plan for meeting all your health needs. This may include getting checkups, taking medication or vitamins, and following a specific diet or exercise routine. Speak up if you have trouble sticking to the plan. Your health care provider may be able to make adjustments that will make it easier to follow. For example, you may be able to gradually reduce the dosage of a medicine with unpleasant side effects or even switch medications.
Take your medications regularly. Medications are an essential part of the treatment for many chronic conditions. Some medications may have side effects that are unpleasant at first, but will go away on their own after a few weeks. Tell your doctor promptly about any side effects you experience, and ask what you should do about them. Always use the same pharmacy to fill prescriptions so that the pharmacist can monitor for drug interactions between medications, especially if you are seeing multiple medical specialists.
Don't ignore chronic pain. Chronic pain can lead to depression or other difficulties that will make it harder to enjoy life. If your pain medication isn't working, your doctor should be willing to try a different approach, such as prescribing another medication or referring you to a pain management center or clinic. Look for another doctor if yours doesn't take your pain seriously.
Watch for signs of depression. Depression is more common for people with chronic physical conditions than for the general population. Symptoms may include sleep difficulties (sleeping too little or too much), poor concentration, overeating or not eating enough, unexplained weight loss or gain, a lack of interest in favorite activities, or feelings of despair or hopelessness. If you have any of these symptoms for a prolonged period of time, you may be suffering from depression, and you may have trouble managing your chronic condition until you seek treatment for it. Depression is treatable. Contact your health care provider right away if you are experiencing any of the above symptoms.
Be honest. Let your health care providers know if you have a problem that may affect your health, such as difficulty paying for your medications. Your doctor may be able to suggest ways to reduce the cost of your prescriptions. It's also important to tell your health care provider if you are considering, or are already using, an alternative treatment such as seeing a chiropractor or specialist in healing touch or acupuncture or if you are considering taking an herbal remedy or nutritional supplements. Some products may interfere with medications. Also, speak up if you wish to seek a second opinion or care from a specialist.
Know what your insurance plan covers. You can avoid misunderstandings with health care providers by having up-to-date information about your medical insurance plan. Know what it covers, what the deductibles are, and what procedures you need to follow when you have to see a specialist or get a second opinion. Look into getting a supplemental insurance policy if you have gaps in your existing plan. You can learn more about supplemental policies from an insurance agent. You may be able to get additional information from the office of your state health insurance commissioner, listed in the government pages of your phone book. This office may also be helpful if you have trouble getting insurance because you can't afford it or have a condition that some companies won't cover. Your employee assistance program (EAP) can also provide you with information and resources.
Monitor your usage of pain relief medications, and keep in touch with your physician about this. Many people with chronic pain need daily medications to lessen the pain and make it easier to function. Unfortunately, these medications can be addicting, and increasing doses may be needed to achieve the same results in pain reduction. It is important to obtain pain prescriptions from only one physician, and to always use the same pharmacy to fill these prescriptions. This allows health care professionals to monitor your usage of medications, and gives them information if it appears that you are developing a dependence. If you feel that you are becoming addicted, speak to your health care professional and ask for help in working through your addiction. Other means of pain relief, such as relaxation techniques or massage therapy, may also be available.
Be sure to ask your physician if you need a handicapped parking sticker or tag. This may help with transportation issues. You may also find that modifications to your automobile may be available through your car dealer, helping you to be a safer driver.


Staying active when you have a chronic condition
Staying active will help you feel better physically and emotionally. Staying active begins with talking with your doctor about which activities are safe for you. Don't assume that you can do everything that someone else with your condition can do, or that you will necessarily face the same limitations. Many factors may affect the activities you can pursue safely.
Your condition. Chronic conditions can range from mild to severe. If you have a very mild form of an illness, you may be able to do more than someone who is more seriously ill. You may also be able to become more active if your condition improves. This is an important reason for following carefully any treatment program that is prescribed for you.
Your overall health. If you are otherwise in excellent health, you may be able to do more than if you have many medical concerns in addition to your chronic condition. Talk with your health care provider about steps you can take to improve your overall health, such as quitting smoking, increasing exercise, or reducing your stress. This may make it easier to manage your chronic condition.
The support service available to you. Many kinds of help are available to people with chronic conditions. These may range from nutritional counseling programs to extra accommodations at work or at home. Learn as much as you can about the different kinds of help that are available to you. This may give you many ideas on how you can stay active with a long-term condition.
A positive outlook and attitude. It will be easier to stay active if you take a proactive approach to your illness. Look for ways to solve problems instead of waiting for someone to solve them for you. As you search for solutions, you may have setbacks. This is natural when you are coping with a long-term health condition. So cut yourself some slack. Don't expect to accomplish as much as you used to. Learn to congratulate and maybe even reward yourself on what you do accomplish. If you keep a positive attitude, you will have a head start on meeting the challenges you face.


Advocating for yourself at work
More and more people are working with chronic health conditions such as musculoskeletal impairment, diabetes, and vision or hearing problems. If you have a chronic condition, you may be able to continue to do your job with extra support at work. The best way to get support is to be an advocate for yourself. This means letting people know what you need instead of hoping they'll notice on their own.
Talk with your health care provider. Your doctor may be able to recommend some simple changes that would make it easier for you to do your job. For example, if you have neck or back problems, your physician may suggest that you switch to a certain kind of chair that would provide more support or that you do simple exercises that can strengthen your back and neck muscles. He or she may also refer you for physical therapy or chiropractic care.
Know your strengths and weaknesses. Your manager will need to know the tasks you can perform as well as those you may not be able to perform without extra support. Consider making a list of all the tasks you can do, including those required by your job as well as those needed for other jobs in your organization, so that you don't forget something important.
Ask for help before your condition affects your performance. Most organizations want to help workers who have health conditions. Research has shown that employers believe that 80 percent of the accommodations they make for employees are effective. If you ask for help promptly, your manager may be able to show you how to minimize the effect your condition has on your performance.
Be specific. Let your manager know what would help you do your best work. If you have an eye problem that makes it hard for you to read a computer screen, mention changes that might be helpful, such as using a task lamp instead of overhead lighting. But be open to other ideas, too. Your employer may suggest that you try using a glare guard for your computer monitor or that you move your computer away from a window that lets in strong sunlight.
Work with your supervisor to come up with solutions. Ask your supervisor about scheduling extra breaks if a long workday is difficult for you to manage. Would you be able to have flexible hours, allowing you to do more work at times of the day when you are at your optimal performance? Could you work part time when your condition flares up?
Tell your manager if you have concerns about privacy. You may have valid reasons for not wanting co-workers to know about your condition. But if they can see that you are getting extra support, you may want to give them a brief explanation. This will help to prevent misunderstandings about why you are being treated differently. Your manager can help you decide how to explain any changes to co-workers in a way that doesn't violate your privacy.
Give feedback. Let your manager, human resources (HR) representative, or disability manager know if you have benefited from extra support, or if you still have trouble working efficiently. You may need to try more than one approach to find the one that works best for you.



Staying strong physically and emotionally
Maintaining your physical and emotional strength will help you stay on top of your condition. This will be easier to do if you have support from your family, friends, and others.
Make your family and friends part of your health care team. Share your feelings not just about your challenges but about the joys you experience when you make progress or have an especially good day. Let your family and friends know what kind of support you need to manage your condition.
Be sure to continue to care for other areas of your health. Schedule yearly checkups with your primary care physician so that she can monitor your progress and continue to coordinate your care.
Join a local or national organization related to your condition. Search the Internet or contact your EAP or employee resource program to locate organizations for people with your condition. These organizations may provide many helpful resources -- research, names of contacts in your area, everyday coping strategies, news bulletins on promising treatments, or message boards that let you post a question and get answers from others who have your condition. They may also have local chapters that can provide additional support. Your local librarian can also help you find a local or national organization.
Look into support groups. You can get both practical advice and emotional support from meeting regularly with a small group of people who have your condition. Ask a national organization devoted to your condition how to find a support group in your community. Or join an online support group.
Enroll in a disease management program. Many hospitals, employers, and others offer free or low-cost disease management programs that help people cope with chronic conditions. These programs typically focus on a specific illness, such as diabetes, and offer advice on a variety of topics, including exercise, nutrition, and stress reduction techniques. Ask your doctor how to find a program, or call the department of a local hospital that deals with your concern.
Get help if you have trouble paying your medical bills. If your bills are becoming unmanageable, talk to an accountant, financial planner, or credit counselor. A professional may be able to suggest helpful strategies such as putting money in a tax-deferred medical savings account (MSA). If you have a limited income, find out if you qualify for Medicaid, the government health insurance program. You can learn more from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, http://www.cms.hhs.gov. You can find out about other services by going to http://www.govbenefits.gov, which has a questionnaire that you can fill out to check your eligibility for a wide range of government benefits.
Find out about community resources. Look into free or low-cost health, fitness, and nutrition programs that are offered at local Ys, adult education schools, or the extension service of a nearby college. Your county government may also be able to provide you with resources. These may include nutrition or exercise classes for people who have physical limitations, such as PACE (People with Arthritis Can Exercise) programs. You may also want to find out if you can get home-delivered meals, help with housekeeping chores, free or reduced-cost transportation, or help with errands from a volunteer group at a house of worship or other community organization.
Stay active. It may take time to figure out how much you can do with a chronic condition. But, in general, it's a good idea to stay as active as you can. This will help you keep your condition from becoming the focus of your life. If you make an effort to stay active and involved, you will stay connected to the people who can provide the support you need to continue to enjoy life. Over time, you may also discover ways to adapt your routines to make them easier to maintain.
Keep learning about your condition. New treatments may someday make it possible for you to do much more than you imagine now. Here are three helpful Web sites for people with chronic conditions that have practical advice and up-to-date information on a variety of conditions:
http://www.healthfinder.gov (the gateway to U.S. government health sites)
http://www.cdc.gov (the site for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
http://www.fda.gov (the site for the Food and Drug Administration, which provides up-to-date information on medications)


Finally, always take good care of yourself. Eat a healthy diet, get enough sleep, and follow the exercise program your doctor advises. You may also need to take some extra steps when you have a chronic condition. But don't neglect the basics. They are the building blocks of good health. If you learn to manage your everyday health, you'll have taken a big step toward managing your chronic condition.



This information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician or mental health professional and is not to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health or mental health professional if you have questions about a medical condition or plan of treatment.

Written with the help of Deborah Borchers, M.D., and human resources consultant Lynne Gaines, B.A., and Advanced Human Resources Certificate, Boston College Graduate School of Management/Bentley College.

© 2005 Ceridian Corporation. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | About Us | Accessibility
© 2001-2005 Ceridian Corporation. All Rights Reserved