Living With Polio


Self-Assessment

Post-polio advocates noticed that polio survivors experienced very frustrating visits to physicians when reporting new post-polio problems. Barriers included the limited amount of time a physician had for an appointment and the lack of experience of physicians in the early days. They weren’t as skilled at asking the right questions. Additionally, polio survivors knew they didn’t feel well, but hadn’t spent much time thinking about details. In fact, many survivors spent years pushing polio and its effects out of their everyday thoughts.

The following documents have been created to assist in self-evaluation:

“My Polio Life” developed by the United Kingdom based Polio Survivors Network is designed to help survivors understand their polio and post-polio experience or “life.” The authors provide an excellent introduction followed by a questionnaire that provides details which then provides insights to a polio survivor.

“PPS Medical Insights, Evaluations and a Plan of Action That for Me, Have Stood the Test of Time” describes one woman’s journey, having researched polio and PPS since 1984. She cites specific advice and personal interviews with internationally known polio specialists in her persistent search for answers to understanding post-polio problems and explaining the importance of self-assessment ending with questions for other polio survivors.

“What you need to know about my condition” adapted by Polio Survivors Network (Lincolnshire) from a document of the Neurological Alliance (London).

Tags for this article:
Independent Living
Late Effects of Polio
Pacing