Medical History

It is amazing how far the science of medicine has come in just a single generation. As we try to gather as much information about family medical history, I remark to myself how little detail we possess. Diagnoses and treatments were just fuzzy information. I am sure the doctors had very detailed information to work with, but the patient/family was not privy to most of those details. We didn't ask questions and the doctors never volunteered too much.

I think that the introduction of the World Wide Web and easy access to computers has made it possible for any patient or family member to become a well informed advocate for themselves when it comes to health care. We can't not ask questions and simply follow the doctor's orders anymore.

I know there are some of us who still prefer not to know too many details. "Just make me better, doc. I can't handle the details." I believe that we have a responsibility to be educated patients, not only for ourselves, but for our loved ones down the line. How I wish I could question my parents more completely about their family medical histories, probing the generalities and digging for more specific information. How I wish I didn't have to stumble and guess when I am asked to provide this type of information for my daughter's doctors.

What about my grandchildren? Are they more at risk because of the past medical conditions experienced by our family members? Would having more complete information allow the doctors of tomorrow to provide better care for them? Or maybe even help to predict the possibility of some medical condition?

Among my own siblings, I have to admit that I don't know an awful lot about their medical histories. Yes, some of the serious illnesses are known by all. Even then we often know of "stomach surgery" but we rarely know the exact diagnosis. What do we share about what we might consider "little things" or the more private issues? Especially when families are separated by many miles, we just don't often know what is going on, medically, with each other.

As we age, more and more medical issues arise. Some are trivial and some far more serious. Who wants each conversation to be what my friend, Jack, calls an Organ Recital where we go on and on about all our afflictions. Sometimes we just feel that our health is nobody else's business.

And then we find ourselves at a place where a loved one needs details to help her doctors try to calculate the possibilities of this or that. That is when I find myself wishing there were a big spreadsheet out there where family health matters could be recorded and accessed by others as the need to know arose. Am I asking for for a modern day version of what was once scribed into the family bible? Perhaps I am. But the science of medicine continues to grow in leaps and bounds. We don't know what factors happening today will be of great importance tomorrow. It all seems mind boggling and, frankly, a whole lot of trouble to keep track of all these facts.

It might be your daughter who could next benefit from a detailed family history. Don't wait until you need that information for her. Take the time to chronicle your family history now. If you are still lucky enough to have your parents in your life then I urge you to query them while they are still able to tell you what they know, or at least point you to another family member who may have more clues. It could be really important to someone, sometime.

Start today.