Diagnosis vs. Prognosis.
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Diagnosis vs. Prognosis.
Now there's a title I never thought I'd be writing about.
When I was a child, I heard a lot of conversations that I didn't fully understand.
The main reason was because I loved spending time with my grandmother.
She was my person.
If you asked me where I wanted to be as a child, her house would have been at the top of the list.
Right up there with Disneyland or my favorite fast-food restaurant.
There was just something about being there.
It felt like home.
When I stayed with her, I would often hear her talking on the telephone with her friends.
Those conversations seemed to go on forever.
They would catch each other up on the latest news, talk about family, neighbors, and of course...
Someone's health.
As a little girl, I didn't understand half of what they were talking about.
At five years old, those words sounded like they came from another planet.
Even at ten years old, I was probably more interested in finding out what was coming on television than listening to adult conversations.
I wasn't much of a video game girl.
So every now and then, I'd overhear something like,
"She has... what?"
Then my grandmother would repeat it out loud.
"Oh my..."
The conversations ranged from high blood pressure...
To gout...
To diabetes...
To all kinds of conditions I'd never heard of before.
I didn't know exactly what those words meant.
I just knew one thing.
I didn't want any of them.
Not as a child.
Not as an adult.
The way they talked about those illnesses made them sound so serious that you almost wished you had never overheard the conversation in the first place.
Years later, as an adult, I heard someone say something that completely changed the way I thought about health.
They said,
"Diagnosis versus prognosis."
That caught my attention.
Immediately, I wanted to know the difference.
So I started researching.
What I found was simple, yet powerful.
A diagnosis identifies what a disease or condition is.
A prognosis predicts how that condition may develop and what the future outcome could be.
The moment I understood that difference...
My mind took off.
I sat there thinking,
"So you can receive a diagnosis...
But your story doesn't necessarily end there."
That realization stayed with me.
It made me think about how often we hear a diagnosis and stop listening.
Almost as if the diagnosis becomes the final answer.
When in reality, there's still another conversation to have.
The prognosis.
The possibilities.
The treatment.
The lifestyle changes.
The steps that may help improve the outcome.
Sometimes we wait much longer than we should to find out what's really going on with our bodies.
By the time we finally learn the truth, it can feel overwhelming.
Almost like everything happened overnight.
But if we're honest...
Health and wellness rarely change overnight.
Our bodies usually begin whispering long before they start shouting.
Little signs.
Little changes.
Small warnings.
They've often been tapping at the door long before we discover why.
The good news is this.
Once you know...
You know.
And knowledge gives you an opportunity.
For many conditions, there are ways to improve your health.
There are lifestyle changes.
Better habits.
Healthier choices.
Conversations with your healthcare team.
Learning.
Growing.
Making adjustments.
Some things can improve significantly.
Some conditions can even be reversed or better managed, depending on the situation.
The important thing is not allowing the diagnosis to become the end of the story.
Our bodies belong to us.
That means we also have a responsibility to learn about them.
To care for them.
To ask questions.
To understand our options.
To do what we can, one step at a time.
That's why today's title made such an impression on me.
Diagnosis versus Prognosis.
Yes, a diagnosis tells us where we are.
But a prognosis reminds us there's still a road ahead.
Sometimes that road requires change.
Sometimes it requires patience.
Sometimes it simply requires hope.
I like to think of it this way.
Imagine you're driving and suddenly come across a road that's closed.
You have two choices.
You can sit there and let the roadblock determine your entire journey.
Or...
You can look for another route.
Take a detour.
Keep moving toward your destination.
Life often works the same way.
Sometimes the path changes.
But that doesn't always mean the journey has to end.
Have a wonderful Tuesday.
Take care of yourselves.
Keep learning.
Keep asking questions.
And whenever possible...
Don't stop at the diagnosis.
Take time to understand the prognosis too.
Until we meet again tomorrow..
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