Get the extra care you need – on your terms

Cathy:

My name is Cathy Field. I live in Union, Maine.

We've got 45 acres of woods back there. At one point we had eight horses here.

It's just me and my husband, John, and my cat, Spencer, and my horse, Cece.

These two conditions that I have are what's referred to as invisible diseases. I've been diagnosed with CIDP, which is Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy. My immune system is attacking the sheathing of my own nerves. That affects me basically with muscle weakness and easy fatigue. And the other condition is limited Cutaneous Systemic Scleroderma. It causes inflammation throughout the whole body.

Somebody is not going to look at you and know that there is something wrong. So nobody understands that.

Bonnie:

It's really scary for a lot of them and not knowing what's happening to their body.

My name is Bonnie Hale and I am a Health Management Nurse with Accordant.

Cathy:

Hello

Bonnie:

Hi Cathy. This is Bonnie. How are you?

Cathy:

I’m getting by. Back at work full time. And managing.

Bonnie:

Good. Good. Yeah we’re going to be heading out that way pretty soon. Certainly, looking very forward to meeting you.

Cathy:

Yeah! I’m looking forward to it too.

My work as a rural mail carrier is actually a fairly physical job. I'm on my feet sorting mail, reaching, twisting, pretty much constantly in motion. And the delivery part is actually a little bit easier, because then I get to sit in my Jeep.

I'm not ready to retire yet.

Sometimes it's working through some pain. It's hard. I just have to be more careful in doing my work, and it does take me longer.

The accordant nurse was able to give me suggestions on how to approach them about what I needed so that I could keep doing my job.

Bonnie:

In Cathy’s case I would be looking for progression of her disease, which would be more neurological symptoms.

Sometimes you have to read between the lines because they won't always come out and directly tell you (you know) what's going on.

Fear, depression, anxiety, helplessness, hopelessness. Just basically, why me?

Cathy:

I think she's a good-natured person. She's definitely caring.

Bonnie:

Hello. How are you Cathy?

Cathy:

Hi Bonnie. I’m good how are you.

Bonnie:

Good to meet you. I’m great.

Cathy:

Just to have somebody who understands my conditions, understands the impact that it can have on my life.

Bonnie:

We have our notes from previous conversations with them, which helps a lot, because you need to know what was going on the last time you spoke to them.

Within care everywhere I can see the last lab work, I can see the last doctors appointments, and it really does help guide your conversation. So it's really helpful.

Cathy:

If I had not had the Accordant Care Nurses to help me, I really don't know what I would have done in some situations. They know what it can do to a person. And having somebody to understand that is really what's helped me the most.