Going to the Doctor's

Going for a doctor's appointment can sometimes become a daunting or frustrating task. It may feel like there is pressure to be quick and not ask too many questions or just forget exactly what was concerning you as soon as the doctor steps into the room. Here are some great tips that will help you feel prepared for any appointment that you go to and help strengthen your relationship with your physician of any specialty. 

• Write down everything you would like to ask or talk about at your meeting. This is a great tool for not forgetting any important concerns that you may have about your conditions or medications. This also helps the physician streamline their discussions with you to ensure that you both are talking about what matters. The physician may not be able to discern your questions automatically though they will try to cover everything they deem is important. 

• Bring your medications. This will make everyone's life easier because it is difficult to remember all medications, dosages, and frequency especially if you are taking more than one or two at a time. A large ziplock bag can easily contain a lot of medications leaving you with enough room to throw in any supplements that you might be taking as well. Everything you take can form some form of interaction with a new or current medication so your doctor would like to know everything that you take. Having your medications on hand can also help the doctor observe if you are taking enough of your medication on time or if there is any discrepancy as well as find out it is time for a refill. This becomes helpful for our seniors who may not always realize it is time for an update or refill. It is also a great way for your doctor to see if any of your medications can be reduced or dropped. Even though your doctor may already have this information on file, bringing in your medications to your appointment never hurts but is especially important when going to a doctor for the first time. 

• Ask for more information if you need it. The information could be related to your medications or a condition that you do not fully understand. Doctors usually have access to easy to understand directions or information that they can print out and provide you with for further reading. If this is not the case they will find the information you need and have it sent to you. Never hesitate to let your health care providers know that you do not fully understand something because clear communication and comprehension can help patients see results quicker with better compliance with medications. 

• If you wish to discuss your matters with the doctor alone and are there with family members or spouses, the health care team will ensure that you are able to. Confidentiality is always a priority and what is most comfortable for you will always be acceptable here. Your doctor wants you to feel that you are in a safe place where you can discuss anything that concerns you with as little stress as possible. Age does not matter here because whether you are a child or an elder if you wish to speak to the doctor alone, everyone holds a right to privacy. 

Until Next Time,

Photo by Abby Anaday on Unsplash