Ready, Set, Go
You did your homework, you’ve chosen a new physician and now you have scheduled a visit. Guess what? More homework.
If this is your first real visit make sure you have the following information written down:
- Name and birthdate
- Blood type
- Person to be notified in emergency, phone # and address
- Telephone # of pharmacy
- Date of your latest health screenings (mammograms, pap test, PSA (males),colonoscopy, lab work)
- Immunizations – flu, pneumonia, tetanus, etc
- Allergies
- Recent illnesses or surgeries
To get the most from your visit and to help your doctor work with you for the best treatment plan there are some basic things you need to keep in mind.
- Many illnesses have similar symptoms
- The doctor is not a mind reader
- You are paying (or your insurance is) for this visit. You are entitled to the doctor’s time and attention
- Medical jargon can be confusing.
- Even if something may not seem related to you tell the doctor about it anyway. (For instance gall bladder pain can occur under your shoulder blade. A heart attack in women may only be felt as extreme fatigue.)
Most people are a little nervous when they see a physician – in fact some people have such a fear of doctors that there is a name for the condition – white coat anxiety. It can elevate blood pressure, cause faintness, dizziness, heart palpitations – in it’s most extreme. While most of us don’t react THIS severely we may be anxious enough to not remember everything we want to ask or tell the doctor until he is out the door and we are on our way home in the car.
First assignment : Make a list. Write it down. Write down everything you want to tell the doctor.
- What are your concerns?
- What are your symptoms?
- When did they start?
- When do they occur?
- Are they constant or intermittent?
- Are they getting worse?
- Anything that you do/eat/take make the symptoms better or worse?
- Have you changed any of your routines, started new exercises, eating anything differently, had changes in your life, stresses, changes in moods or memory?
Your 2nd list should be of all the medications you are currently taking, or using, even if you took the list the first time you saw the doctor, take it again and be sure to include non-prescription medications as well such as aspirin, ibuprofen, vitamins, herbal supplements, pain patches such as ICY-HOT or Thermacare.
List any other health care practitioners you may have seen since you last saw your doctor such as acupuncturists, massage therapists, specialists such as ophthalmologists or dermatologists and any treatments or medications they may have ordered or delivered.
Answer all the doctors questions completely and honestly. If you haven’t been following your diet admit it. If you don’t take some of your medications as they are prescribed tell the doctor that and why – maybe you don’t think they are helping, maybe they make you feel nauseated, maybe you forget . Whatever the reason – be honest. The doctor can only work with the information you give him.
Answer all the doctors questions completely and honestly. If you haven’t been following your diet admit it. If you don’t take some of your medications as they are prescribed tell the doctor that and why – maybe you don’t think they are helping, maybe they make you feel nauseated, maybe you forget . Whatever the reason – be honest. The doctor can only work with the information you give him.
I want to add something here. If a medication you have been prescribed does not seem to be helping or working as it should PLEASE tell your doctor. DO NOT STOP TAKING A MEDICATION without consulting your doctor. Some medications can cause very serious side effects/complications if they are stopped suddenly. An adjustment of the dose by the doctor can often make a difference.
During your office visit take notes or take someone with you who can listen and take notes. Ask questions. If you don’t understand something your doctor says tell him you don’t understand and ask him to clarify his answer. Ask more questions if necessary.
If a new medication is prescribed ask about side effects. Ask if it is ok to take with the meds you are already taking. Ask how long before you will notice the medicine is working. Some antidepressants take two or three weeks to make a difference. Are there other treatment options? Cost?
Review the medications you are already on and ask if any can be discontinued. Ask if they are available in generic form (usually cost less and insurance pays more of the cost.)
If tests are ordered ask what they are for and when you should get the results.
If this is a new diagnosis ask about prognosis – how long will it last? Is it treatable?t Treatment options? Will you need to make changes in your life style? Is it contagious? Will it compromise YOUR immune system and make you more susceptible to other illnesses? Ask the doctor how much experience he has treating this type of condition and would he recommend a specialist or can he treat it.
Remember YOU are the consumer. You are paying the doctor for his expertise and time. Unless you ask questions the doctor assumes you understand what he has told you and you are in agreement with the treatment.
I can’t overstate the need for this type of interaction with your physician. He needs all the information you can give him and you need to understand what he is telling you so that the relationship is a working partnership. Your health is your most precious commodity.
Think about it.