There is nothing worse than leaving a doctor’s appointment with a vague feeling that you aren’t much better off than you were before you went. I’ve created a checklist of 6 things you can do to get the most out of your consultations with specialists. Even though you likely don’t have a medial degree, you still have an important role to play in your recovery and treatment. When we understand our diagnosis and know our treatment options, it gives us a sense that we are partnering with our doctor in our journey to health and helps us to advocate for our needs. Here are 6 things to remember when preparing for your doctor’s appointments.
1. Write your questions down beforehand. You may think you will remember them, but there is nothing worse than leaving your appointment only to realize you forgot to ask an important question.
2. Consider asking a family member to come along. Sometimes it helps to have a second set of ears, especially when there is a lot of new information coming at you. It’s easy to miss things or simply not understand everything that was said. Your family member may also have a helpful question to ask that you didn’t think of in the moment, but are glad to know.
3. Do you have any prescriptions to refill? Write it down on your page of questions so you don’t forget to ask for a refill.
4. Keep a symptom journal and see if you can notice a pattern. Is there something in your diet, environment or menstrual cycle that seems to trigger a flare-up? Bring your symptom journal to discuss with your doctor. He or she may have helpful ideas about how to prevent these flare-ups.
5. Don’t be afraid to ask for a copy of your records or test results. Many doctors don’t offer you this unless you ask, but it is helpful to have your own copy. That way if you visit another doctor or specialist you will have information about your health at your fingertips.
6. After your appointment, write down everything that was said. You will forget! Especially if you are seeing different specialists. You may want to keep a binder with all your records, notes and paperwork or use an app on your phone to type in notes and add pictures of all your documents.
Bonus point: Take time to do something you enjoy after your appointment. Often we leave the doctor’s office feeling like we are no more than a statistic or a depressing medical oddity. Remember you are more than your disease. You have a life to live, now go enjoy it!
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