Talking with Your Doctor: 3 Easy Steps to Prepare for an Appointment

We have all found ourselves in the doctor's exam room, sitting on the exam table waiting for the doctor to come in and explain what is wrong. You wait perched on the edge, listening outside the door to see if you can here the doctor coming. Unfortunately, all you hear is the crinkle of the thick paper that is covering the table. Most of us really dislike waiting, but honestly is this the best use of our time? Next time that you find yourself seated here on the doctor's exam table, take the time to do some serious thinking. When did this all start? How long have I felt this bad? What are my exact symptoms? There are many more questions that you can ask yourself. Let's take the next step. Wouldn't it be better if you already knew the answers to those questions and were reviewing the information one last time?

There are many events and situations in life that people prepare for. We study for exams, plan parties, and pack for road trips, but how many of us take the time to prepare for a doctor's visit? We don't; we make an appointment and then just go. The appointment with your doctor is something that you should prepare for, especially if you have felt unwell for some time. The questions is how do we prepare? There are 3 easy steps you can take: make a list of current medications, track your symptoms, and write down any questions you may have.

You should always take a list of your current prescription medications, over the counter medications, supplements, and vitamins that you take on a regular basis. I suggest you also include any medications that you have taken in the past two weeks that are not in your regular regimen. The list should include the name of the medication or supplement and the dosage amount. This information can be found on the label of the product. With supplements you may have to look carefully at the package to find the dosage amount, but it usually listed on the back of the box or in a bottom corner if the product comes in a bottle. With prescriptions, you should find the name of the drug and the dosage amount listed together, usually directly above the directions for taking the medication. Over the counter medications usually list a dosage amount on the front of the container. Another piece of important information is how often you take the medication. You should list whether it is morning, evening, 3 times per day, etc. Also, be sure to include if the medication is a liquid or an inhaler, as some drugs have multiple formats.

The next and most important step is recording information about your symptoms. You want to be able to give your doctor as much description as possible, as this helps he/she to know what the problem is, and what tests may need to be preformed. The type of questions you need to ask yourself depend on certain factors. How long have you been feeling ill? If you have only been feeling ill for a couple of days, you should evaluate your current situation only. You should note whether or not you have a fever, and what the temperature has been. Being able to say to your doctor that you have a fever that has ranged between 101.2 to 102.3 gives them more valuable information than simply saying you have a fever. Be as descriptive as possible. Do you have a dry cough? Is it a wet cough? Are you coughing up anything? If so, what color is it? Does it hurt when you cough? These are common questions your physician will ask you if you tell them you have a cough. Sore throat is another particular. Does it hurt to swallow? Are you having trouble swallowing? How severe is the pain? Make sure to include all of your symptoms, even if they seem minor. One minor symptom can help distinguish what is causing your major symptoms. You should always note body aches, headaches, any swelling, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, or night sweats.

When you are tracking symptoms that have been happening over a longer period of time, you need to include additional information. Yes, you still need to evaluate the current situation as accurately as possible, but you also need to be able to answer additional questions. Think back to when the symptoms first started. Did you start feeling ill a month ago, but it wasn't as severe as it is now? Has this been progressing for weeks, months or even years? Take all the symptoms that you are having now and look at each one separately. When did the body aches start? How have the progressed? Have they gotten better or worse? Now look at a different symptom. When did the fatigue begin? Are you having trouble sleeping or do you still get plenty of sleep? The answers to when your symptoms began will most likely not be the same. Make sure to note what came first. This information is key to helping your doctor evaluate your condition and make a correct diagnosis.

Lastly, you should make a list of questions you would like to ask the doctor. This is more of a reminder, as some of your questions may be answered before you have to ask them. Always ask if you will be given an additional medication and how it will affect your current regimen. Also, if it is a medication that you are unfamiliar with, ask about side effects and interactions. With some medications you should not have caffeine, citrus fruits or prolonged sun exposure. These are important things that you need to know, because they can greatly effect your well-being. You may also want to ask if you should be off work, or if you are currently off work, when you can return. Ask as many questions as you want. There are no stupid questions. It is vital that you have a full understanding of the condition and the medications so that you can help yourself get well.

It may seem like this would be a lot to have to do, but when you sit down to do it, you will find that it takes but maybe thirty minutes of your time. Your physician will be pleasantly surprised by the completeness of your information. Once you have taken these steps, and seen how much more you received out of your appointment, you will do it each and every time. It's more than worth the time it takes to be prepared. If you are still unsure whether you are willing to give this a try, ask yourself this one question: "Would I rather been in control of my health, or leave it completely in the hands of a physician that I have given incomplete information?"