For some people, it’s hard for them to talk about their health problems with their doctor. One of the reasons may be because they don’t know what they have to or want to talk about. To avoid feeling nervous, preparation can help. If you know what to talk about it is easier to bring up and discuss.
1. Know Your Concern
Take note of things that you want to discuss. This is the most important thing when preparing. You want your visit to the doctor to count. You want to make sure that your concerns are addressed and prioritized. Take note of symptoms you have, irregularities, additional information that you would like to know, questions you want answered, and so on. Doctors aren’t mind readers, they make their diagnosis according to the information you provide them and if you need information about health they are the best person to ask. Searching your problems on the internet won’t cut it and sometimes it is proven risky to depend on information on the internet especially if you get it from untrustworthy sources.
2. Check Your Patient Account on the Hospital Website
Sometimes doctors will require information from you. Such as over-the-counter medicines, prescription drugs, vitamins, and herbal remedies that you take. Your insurance documents and information, the names and contact number of the other doctors you see, and medical records are also an example of information the doctor might need from you. If your medical provider has healthcare software all the information that a doctor might ask from you is on there you can view it through the patient portal software which makes it easy for you to gather all the information you might need to present to your doctor.
3. Consider Bringing a Family Member or a Close Friend
If you feel nervous this tip might help you. Being with someone who you are comfortable with can help you be calm and comfortable. They can also help you remember things that you have to talk about or he or she can help you remember the things that the doctor tells you. Although do make sure to not let your companion take all the attention. At the end of the day, it is your body and your health and you know it better than anyone else. Your family member or your friend is just there as a support system.
4. Keep Your Doctor Up to Date
Tell your doctor about things that are happening to your life like your appetite, your sleeping patterns, stress levels, weight, eating habits, energy level, physical activities you do, habits such as smoking or drinking and so on. All this information is helpful to your doctor.
Always remember that your doctor’s main priority is your health. He or she means well. The more you’re comfortable with your doctor the more that you can communicate your problems and concerns well. It might also help if you practice what you want to say if you really feel nervous. Bringing a notepad and a pen can also help. It will allow you to jot down notes. So that you won’t forget what your doctor tells you.
