Request edit for Medical Gaslighting blog recently published

Hi, thank you for publishing my blog. However, I must raise issue with one of your edits. I believe your edit of this sentence changes my original meaning and just doesn't flow well.

I wrote: Until that day, we need to advocate for ourselves and to feel empowered in doing so.

Your edit: Until that day, we need to advocate for ourselves and others to feel empowered in doing so.

Please reconsider. I don't mind adding «others», but I really believe the word «and» belongs in the sentence.

Thanks — (I am including the text below only to meet the minimum word requirement necessary to submit this communication).

What you DO need to realize is this. Good medicine is based on teamwork. You are an important member of that team. You know your body better than any medical professional. You know what is normal for you. Remind your doctor, respectfully, that while you appreciate their expertise, you are the expert when it comes to your body, what’s normal and what’s not. And you are in the doctor’s office at that moment because you feel something is not right and you want to find the cause of it and you need their help. Insist on having the appropriate diagnostic tests run, and ask what those would be. If you’ve been written off with a suggestion such as “lose weight” or “get more sleep”, and you believe there is more going on, say so. Tell your doctor that you think there is more to your problem than what he/she has suggested, and again, ask what other things could be considered as the cause.

If your symptoms are affecting your quality of life, say so, and insist on being worked up. If your doctor still resists, seek a second opinion, and if necessary, a third. Don’t stop pursuing answers until you are satisfied, until you have the answers you need. Ultimately, this is an issue of communication but it is also an issue of trust. You should be able to trust your doctor, but if he dismisses your valid concerns, you have to be able to trust yourself. Remember that you know your body the best, and if something is not normal, you should trust your own intuition. If you’re not being listened to, get another opinion. Don’t be afraid of hurt feelings. A good doctor doesn’t get their feelings hurt when a patient seeks a second opinion. You deserve to be taken seriously.