A Canadian writer with deep ties to Manitoba is celebrating the launch of her latest book aimed at helping people feel more confident in their medical appointments.
Susie Schwartz, a columnist and author now based in Staffordshire, England, has released the second edition of Help the Doctor Help You: 41 Secrets and Tips for Self-Advocacy to Get the BEST From Your Appointments. The updated edition, out Nov. 4, features fresh advice, guest stories and a redesigned cover.
“I realized there were more tips that could benefit people dealing with illness, and I came across some statistics and quotes from medical websites that I knew could be helpful,” Schwartz said. “I had great feedback from the first edition and I know it helped people. I have big plans for the second edition, including book signings, events and hopefully getting it into bookstores.”
Among the new strategies are reminders for patients to be upfront about lifestyle factors, to develop emergency action plans and to request longer appointments for complex health issues. The book also includes stories from others who put her tips into action.
Schwartz draws on her own lived experience navigating health care. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age nine, she has since faced multiple chronic conditions, including retinopathy, gastroparesis and even brain surgery. Her thousands of appointments with doctors and specialists have shaped her advocacy and her voice as what one of her doctors dubbed an “expert patient.”
“Type 1 diabetes nearly killed me at nine and continues to try,” she said. “It demands 24-7 care, is exhausting and comes with long-term complications. I’ve had to advocate for myself since I was a child, and I’ve learned through experience that there doesn’t have to be a power imbalance between you and your doctor. You really can become a team.”
Her favourite piece of advice from the book is simple but powerful: treat doctors like people.
“Every time I take a moment to ask how their day is going, I see a look of relief flood their face,” Schwartz said. “They’re not just a white coat. Building that relationship means they will care deeply about your outcomes.”
Humour is another cornerstone of her writing. Schwartz said leaning into comedy has helped her through dark times and makes difficult topics more approachable.
“When we can see the funny side of things, it really does relieve stress,” she said.
Barbara Lucas, a registered nurse who endorsed the new edition, praised Schwartz’s approachable voice.
“Susie may not have asked or even wanted the title ‘Patient Extraordinaire,’ but she has certainly earned it,” Lucas said.
Schwartz continues to share weekly health reflections through her Substack newsletter The Quest for Less Health Stress and her long-running column Expert Patient Here to Help! She said her biggest hope is that readers will feel empowered to build safe, trusting relationships with their doctors.
“I want them to have the best health outcomes possible,” she said.
In addition to her patient advocacy writing, Schwartz has completed a memoir about living with chronic illness and a domestic suspense novel featuring a protagonist with Type 1 diabetes. She recently finished ghostwriting a memoir for another author.
Help the Doctor Help You will be available Nov. 4 on Amazon, with Schwartz planning author appearances in the weeks to come.
