It’s Okay to Say No

I’m coming up on my 18th Crohnaversary. Yikes, I can’t believe it’s been 18 years. My Crohn’s is old enough to vote, get a job and move out. I’ve learned A LOT since my diagnosis and I’m still learning as I go, such is life.

I never fully understood my rights as a patient. Yes, it’s usually plastered on signs around the hospital and its part of the fine print you sign every time you are there, but who actually reads it? With my experience, no one really explained certain things to me back in the early days.

For instance, you can say no. I was under the impression that when a doctor ordered something, I had to do it. The doctor is the law of the land, right? Nope. Turns out, some of that fine print includes your consent for treatment. Nowadays I’ve noticed that the hospital staff is much better at explaining this.

No one can touch you without your consent. Even after you have signed those papers you can say no, something I wish I understood better.

The time that comes to mind when I think about this is my worst colonoscopy ever. After my colonoscopy, my doctor sent me for a colonography. A radiologist injects air through your rectum before a CT scan to help dilate narrowings in your colon for a better image. When the radiologist explained the procedure to me I was very clear that I didn’t like the sound of this and they pretty much told me it was needed and they left out the part about having a choice in the matter. I was really sick, weak, and tired. I just wanted to get it over with and go home.

It was extremely painful and I could barely sit still. You know what’s not fun? Having air injected up your rectum while a doctor and nurse tell you to sit still. I’m aware that I need to sit still but I’m in excruciating pain and my body is overruling me. You want me to sit still for a painful procedure? Sedate me, but don’t act like I’m being difficult and unreasonable.

If I could go back in time I would have told the radiologist that I’m not consenting to this procedure and I don’t care if my doctor is annoyed or pissed, I’m not subjecting myself to a painful procedure. I understand that doctors aren’t ordering these tests just to torture you and there is an actual need for the imaging, but I don’t need to suffer. Doctors need to clearly communicate the importance of the diagnostic tests and procedures they order and what are the other options in case you aren’t comfortable with the plan.

The whole point of this is that you can say no, and don’t ever let someone pressure you into consenting to a procedure that you don’t understand or aren’t comfortable with. You should always understand the medications you are taking and the procedures that you having done. You are allowed to question your doctors and ask for other options if you aren’t okay with something.