Navigating Through the Fog

Two days before Christmas, my husband was driving while me and the pups rode along on our way up to my family’s house in Reno. In the weeks leading up to our trip, we kept a close eye on the weather hoping we could make it past Mammoth or over Donner Summit to safely get into Reno. Fortunately, we had pretty good weather (no rain or snow), but we did encounter some dense fog in a few spots along the 395.

In my early morning, half-cup-of-coffee haze, I started noticing the metaphor of the fog and what I do with patients:

A few spots had fog so thick that I couldn’t see very far ahead and I’m sure my husband couldn’t either (the control freak in me was pressing the imaginary brake pedal on my side of the car lol). We could barely see the taillights of the car in front of us and he was basically navigating by the faint yellow lines on the side of the road along with his deep knowledge of a drive he’s done countless times.

So, what does this have to do with my patients? Well, some of them…the ones with autoimmune or complex, chronic conditions are navigating through the fog. I’m usually the one driving the car because I’m the one who has driven this road countless times, and you, my dear patient, are the one in the passenger seat trying to use the imaginary brake pedal because change can be scary, especially if you can’t see the road.

We safely made it through the fog and before we got to our destination, looking down at the valley with the low clouds was absolutely stunning.

Remember: I’ve got the wheel and can navigate this road that I know like the back of my hand. Have faith, stick with me, and I’ll get you to the magnificence of the other side.