"If you a fly gal, get your hair done, get a pedicure, your nails did and get your annual check-up." -Missy ft Drea, Work It Remixed by Brown Girl From Boston *I have added the annual checkup piece*
Brown Girls, we are some beautiful, stylish, and creative beings. Conversely, we are also stressed, vastly aging within, and unhealthy beings. When I see my Brown Girls, stylin' on them in the streets and on social media, I make sure I give my proper respect, but I want us to acknowledge that our inner FLYness is going unnoticed. FLY (Fearlessly Loving Yourself) self-care starts from within, and many of us are ignoring warning signs and symptoms of chronic burnout, emotional stress, and unhealthy lifestyles. Yes, you are rocking a fly a** outfit with your fly a** hair, but what about your holistic health. Does your inner FLYness match your outer FLYness?
Did you know this is National Women's Checkup Week (May 10-16, 2015)? If you don't know, you know, FLY Brown Girl. Let me ask you this uncensored and honest question: When was the last time you received a holistic annual checkup from your medical team? Your medical team should consist of a trusted Primary Care Physician (PCP), Gynecologist, Dentist, Psychologist/Clinical Therapist/Counselor, and any other medical specialty you might seek medical advice? If you are staring at this screen thinking for more than five minutes, you have answered your own question. If you can't think of the last time you received a holistic annual check-up, NOW is the time to make that appointment. Don't be scared!! Preventive care is necessary, and it will save your life.
Drea's Journey to Inner FLYness
My entire life, I have always been athletic, active, and in shape until the last five years of my life. In the previous five years of my life, I have dealt with a divorce, state-to-state relocation, unemployment, chronic work stress, starting a business, getting remarried, and all cray grayness. When life happens, you often try to find a way to survive the best you can. When those survival skills are no longer adaptable to you and your situation, you must find another way to survive and thrive.
I have always fluctuated from 125 pounds to 140 pounds, depending on what was going on in my life. For the last three years, my weight gain has been out of control, and that's when I knew something was off. Not only was my weight gain out of control, but I was unable to drop weight despite working out five times a week with a personal trainer. Little did I know that I was battling an invisible but evident autoimmune disease called Hypothyroidism (when your thyroid is barely producing hormones). For the past three years, I have discovered a gradual shift within myself, such as unexplained weight gain, hair loss, fatigue, terrible acne that turns to black spots, mood change, constipation, foggy memory, restlessness, sensitivity to the cold, and the list continues. I have chopped up my symptoms to constant lifestyle change, marriage weight, and turning 30.
Every day, I struggled to get out of bed to do basic daily living activities. I couldn't focus on one training and just couldn't turn my mind off and sleep. I depended on numerous cups of coffee to keep me going throughout the day, and I was wired and eventually crashed every weekend. My primary wake-up call happened when my husband and I went out one night, and I had a meltdown over choosing a movie and what to eat for dinner. That one meltdown turned into weekly breakdowns over the smallest and simplest things. The scary moment happened when I wanted to give up on life and exist. That's when I went to seek professional medical help and researched my symptoms.
At the time, I switched my PCP and gynecologist to an all-women medical practice in Providence. I thought I was going to receive the best quality of medical attention and have all my issues resolved with a diagnosis. WRONG! First, I told my gynecologist my concerns, symptoms, and medical red flags. She did not appear to be concerned and chopped it up to lifestyle changes and birth control. She ordered one blood test, lit up with me, and said nothing was wrong. I kept explaining that something was off because I lived in my body daily. My complaints fell on deaf ears, and she quickly got fired due to her lack of respect, integrity, and bedside manner. I felt that she was just trying to get to the root of the issues and basically dismissed me.
Secondly, I took my list of red flags, symptoms, and worries to my Primary Care Physician, specializing in Women's Health Issues. During my visit, my PCP ordered me to receive some blood tests and to follow up with her in two weeks. The follow-up visit was useless because she stated that my thyroid was borderline abnormal and not to worry. Excuse me if it is borderline strange, but shouldn't you still treat it with some kind of medication or alternative solutions? She told me not to worry and schedule my next yearly checkup. No, ma'am, you are fired because you dismissed me and provided me with over-the-counter stool softer and Miralax to solve my chronic constipation issues. She also stated that my 40-pound weight gain was attributed to stress and nutrition even though I put myself on a gluten-free diet and consumed 1200-1500 calorie intake, working out five times a week, and the scale is steadily moving on. I was just sick and tired of receiving subpar medical care.
As much as I wanted to give up on myself and my health, I continued to seek a quality medical professional. It took me two years, but I found a naturopathic physician who actively listened to my health concerns and assessed my holistic care. During my first visit, my physician sat there with a pen and paper and openly listened to my medical history, current medical state, and frustrations. My PCP ordered sixteen blood tests to test everything from autoimmune diseases to food allergies. I had to follow up with him within two weeks, and I did. The two weeks felt like two months because I wanted to know the results immediately.
Fast forward to May 12, 2015, my questions were finally answered through quality care, advocacy, and my PCP being compassionate about my holistic health. My PCP sat me down in his office and explained every single medical issue that I was silently but vocally dealing with. Not only was I diagnosed with Hypothyroidism, but I am also suffering from a hormonal imbalance. I knew something was off because I know my body, and when something is off. The medical professionals can only test and confirm you, but you have to tap into your intuition and listen to your body.
I knew I wasn't going crazy. I couldn't give up on advocating on my own behalf because I am all I have. I am on the road to holistic healing because I did not give up. I started going to a holistic therapist who focuses on African-American professionals who struggle with being present and mindful and helps unleash suppressed feelings and emotions. When you are an unapologetic FLY girl, you don't give up on yourself.
How Brown Girls Can Advocate for Self
African-American women put everyone's holistic needs before their own. We have been programmed to put everyone's needs before our own needs, but we are the main ones suffering in silence and in isolation. We are often afraid of being vulnerable, worried that we will be deemed weak because we ask for help. We love wearing that damn cape and mask and embracing the "Strong Black Woman" persona, but behind the cloak and cover is a broken, unhealthy woman who is crying out for help. Being vulnerable and asking for help are two undeniable strengths to possess, embrace, and celebrate. We need to break together and start advocating for our holistic needs so we can begin our journey to healing.
Historically, African Americans have a mistrustful trust relationship when it comes to seeking professional medical advice. Hence, we are less likely to receive preventive care. When we do decide to seek preventive care, it is often too late, and the disease/cancer has manifested and spread throughout our bodies.
From a cultural standpoint, we have been guinea pigs, receive subservient care, face barriers regarding quality health care within our neighborhoods, and need more knowledge about tests and screenings to screen out major health issues. Advocacy gives you the power to educate yourself and keep you aware of what is happening inside you.
I have recently traveled to the DMV area (Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia) to attend the National Breast Cancer Coalition Conference. There is an important initiative that the NBCC is pushing that is called Deadline 2020. Deadline 2020 is an initiative to eliminate breast cancer through vaccines like Gardasil to prevent Ovarian Cancer. I hope this vaccine will help stop breast cancer because African American women are being diagnosed and dying from breast cancer than any other racial group.
Traveling to the conference gave me the voice to advocate for all major health issues to advocate for African American preventive care. We have the power, voice, and numbers to lobby for quality of care within our community, city level, state level, and national level. We must sit at the table with the medical professionals and advocate for quality of care clinics, hospitals, affordable medical insurance, major health screenings and testing, and knowledge of medical terms in our language for our understanding. Many times, when the doctor explains things in medical terminology, many of us need clarification about what is being stated. You, as the patient, have the right to advocate and ask questions about what is being said and done to your body.
Many patients need to realize that we have rights and responsibilities. You have the right to access quality of care. You have the right to see your medical records. You have the right to hire and fire any doctor that you don't agree with or feel uncomfortable with. You are responsible for using your voice and advocate. You are responsible for paying your medical bill. The list goes on! (Here is a copy of the
Patient's Bill of Rights)
Remember, you belong at the table advocating for YOUR health! Don't allow your symptoms and warning signs to go unheard. Find someone willing to listen to your list of concerns and actively help you find answers. You are a precious being, and you deserve to live a healthy and happy life.
Black women matter, our health matters, and we count. #womenlives
