Women with CMT speak out
With Linda Crabtree (1996)
As women who have a disability, we owe it to ourselves to make sure we have the best medical care we can find. We also have to be assertive when it comes to finding that care. I recently ran across the article below and thought you'd like to read what most of us have known all along:

"A woman's health advocate is urging women to play a bigger role in their health care.

Dr. Carolyn DeMarco, author of Take Charge of Your Body, told a group of 75 women that conventional medicine is not their friend.

"Women's health as a special subsection of health isn't really addressed by conventional medicine."

DeMarco said in more than two decades of practice she has found women being treated as second-class citizens by the male-dominated medical profession.

"What I found is that women weren't listened to. The doctors did not take their complaints seriously.

"Their doctors did not respect them as equals. And when they would have a valid physical complaint, the doctor would say 'It's all in your head.'"

DeMarco, a general practitioner in Nelson, B.C., was in Edmonton to participate in the World Congress on Medical Acupuncture and Natural Medicine."

Linda here – So it's up to you to be assertive and demand that you and your symptoms be taken seriously.

While we're talking about being assertive, I'm happy to say that I've been getting some feedback from women readers who are putting themselves first for the first time in their lives. How many times have we said: I should get more rest; I should quit this job before it kills me; I should get some help around the house; I should get that operation done the doctor said would let me walk better; or asked yourself what your boss would do if you weren't on the job; or your kids would do if you weren't around to pick up their clothes, make the beds, or prepare the food.

Some of you are actually acting on your desires. You are being assertive and doing what you say you want to do. I say congratulations and a hearty pat on the back to all of you who have taken back control of your life. You can control it, you know, you just have to make it a priority and put yourself first. And take it from me, hanging on until the last vestige of strength is gone isn't smart. It may not come back. Remember, if you don't look after yourself, no one else will!