Family Doctor 2007 - (Page 20) working with your doctor TALKING TO YOUR DOCTOR ‘Doctor, I have this pain ’ Whether you have a specific health problem or you are having a routine checkup, it’s important that you know how to communicate with your family doctor. By Kelly L. Gilmore ● If you think of questions before the appointment, just write them down. Be sure to write down the most important questions first to make sure they get answered. ● Tell your doctor when you need more time to talk about someTell your doctor if you need more time to talk. thing. If the doctor isn’t available to help, you should be able to talk to a physician assistant or a nurse. If no one else is available, schedule another appointment to continue your talk. Take information home with you Taking written or recorded information home with you can help you remember your doctor’s instructions any time you need to. Your doctor is a good source of accurate information you can trust. The following are types of information you can take home with you: ● Notes that you have taken during the appointment. It’s okay to I t’s important to take an active role in your health care. One way to do this is to improve your relationship with your family doctor. The following are some tips to help you get the most out of your doctor’s appointment. write down the information your doctor gives you. Sometimes it helps to bring a friend or family member with you. They can help write down the answers to your questions. ● Written instructions from your doctor. ● A tape recording. Ask your doctor if it’s okay to bring a tape Talk to your doctor Tell your family doctor about current and past health care issues. Don’t keep any information from your doctor, even if you’re embarrassed. The following are some things you should talk to your doctor about during an exam: ● Any symptoms you are having. ● Your health history. Create a “health journal” for yourself on recorder to the appointment. ● Brochures or other educational materials. If there aren’t any available, ask your doctor where you can find some. paper or in a notebook, and bring it to your appointments. ● Personal information, including whether you are stressed or if Follow up with your doctor During an appointment, your doctor may give you a lot of important information. For example, your doctor may tell you about tests you need to schedule or a specialist you need to see. Your doctor may also tell you how to take your medicine. All of this information may seem overwhelming. If you’re confused or if you forget some information, it’s okay to contact your doctor. The following are some common reasons you may need to call your doctor: ● If you have questions after the appointment. Ask to leave a your life is changing. ● Medicines you are currently taking. Bring them with you or create a list of all your medicines. Include information about when and how often you take the medicine. You should also write down the strength of the medicine (for example, do you take 150 mg or 200 mg?). ● Side effects you may have from your medicine(s), especially if it makes you feel sick or if you think you may be allergic to it. ● Vitamins or supplements you take. ● X-rays, test results or medical records you have that can be message for your doctor or to speak with a nurse. ● If you start to feel worse or have problems with your medicine. ● If you had tests and haven’t gotten the test results. brought with you to the appointment. ● Changes in diagnosis or treatment that another doctor has Kelly L. Gilmore is an associate editor with the American Academy of Family Physicians, headquartered in Leawood, Kan. made for you. ● Whether you’ve made any visits to an emergency room. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION American Academy of Family Physicians http://familydoctor.org/837.xml The Harvard Medical School http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/doctor/doctor.shtml National Institute on Aging http://www.nia.nih.gov/ HealthInformation/Publications/TalkingWithYourDoctor/ Ask your doctor questions Don’t be afraid to speak up. Be sure to let your doctor know if you don’t understand something. The following are some tips on asking your doctor questions during the exam: ● Ask every time you don't understand something. 20 familydoctor 2007 http://familydoctor.org/837.xml http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/doctor/doctor.shtml http://www.nia.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Publications/TalkingWithYourDoctor/ http://www.nia.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Publications/TalkingWithYourDoctor/
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