Going to the doctor to discuss an unidentified health problem may seem daunting. Often patients try to describe their symptoms clearly, but the doctor needs to collect all kinds of information in order to formulate a complete clinical evaluation of the patient. All this must take place during the medical examination, which on average takes less than 10 minutes. You can make the most of your appointment with the doctor by providing him with the information he needs in a simple and concise way, adopting an approach similar to that of medical schools.
Steps
Step 1. Bring an updated complete clinical picture with you
You can create one by summarizing your medical history on a single page. Include dates and reasons for hospitalizations and surgeries. You may not need it, but if questions arise about your medical history, having one on hand, you could focus on current problems. Bring your usual medications and dosages with you, as well as supplements if necessary.
Step 2. Summarize the main reasons for the visit in a sentence or two
Most doctors start by saying something like "What brought you here today?". Preparing an answer to this question in advance will make the visit easier. Some common symptoms include: pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, fever, confusion, breathing problems, or headache.
Step 3. Mention the onset and duration of symptoms
Include the beginning, the end and the frequency. ("I have severe pain during my intra-menstrual period which lasts about three days.") Be ready with dates and times if possible. ("The first time I remember feeling this way was in the middle of the month. The annoyance tends to get worse late at night, but I occasionally experience it early in the morning as well.")
Step 4. Explain what relieves or makes the pain worse
Take note of any movement that accentuates the pain ("My finger doesn't hurt, unless I bend it towards the palm of my hand, and then I feel a sharp pain.") Or it relieves it ("It seems to vanish when I place myself on the side. ") If certain foods, drinks, positions, activities, or medications worsen or relieve symptoms, clarify this. ("The fever went down with the tachipirina but returned after two hours.")
Step 5. Use adjectives to better describe symptoms
Pain is not all the same. They can be acute, deaf, superficial, internal to the body, etc. Example: "When my head is spinning, not only do I have the feeling of fainting, but it also seems to me that the world is constantly spinning to the left!". Without being overly poetic, try to describe what makes this sensation different from other types of pain previously experienced.
Step 6. Indicate where the pain is located
Include the details if the pain moves. ("The pain was localized right around the navel, but now it seems to have moved to the height of the right side.")
Step 7. Assess the severity of your symptoms
Use a scale of one to ten, with one being almost nothing and ten being the worst symptom imaginable. Be honest, don't minimize and don't overdo it. A "ten out of ten" pain (in the eyes of a doctor) would make a person nearly unable to speak or to perform any other activity such as eating or reading. ("I had a terrible headache while I was having lunch. It was so bad, I almost lost consciousness. Definitely nine out of ten.")
Step 8. Describe where and where the symptoms occurred
Duties? What were you doing? Was there something different than what you normally do? What were you doing before the symptoms showed, and before that?
Step 9. List all other things that are occurring at the same time as your symptoms
("During the three weeks I passed out, my wife noticed that I was very pale; in addition, my stools were dark and I lost nearly 5 pounds, even though I didn't change my eating habits.")
Step 10. The doctor will examine you based on the symptoms you have described and will prescribe some tests or therapy
Advice
- Don't be afraid to describe all your symptoms to the doctor, even if they are embarrassing, so that you can get the right treatment as quickly as possible.
- Bring a friend or family member with you if you don't know how to properly explain the problem, if you are forgetful, or get agitated easily.
- Make a note of what you want to ask the doctor. Many people fall silent when faced with the doctor. A pen to write down what the doctor says is also useful. Many patients remember the things to ask after the visit, and are embarrassed to call.
- Do not wait for the end of the visit to say "… and, in any case, I feel this other pain". It is undoubtedly inappropriate, because something that you consider irrelevant could upset the whole cure. Talk about any symptoms before your doctor starts diagnosing.
- Make a list of questions to ask the doctor. Most of the time, due to limited time, you forget what you wanted to ask, so it's important to have a list.
- Sincerity is essential. Doctors are bound by professional secrecy. If your health is at stake, you shouldn't overlook any details.
- If you complain that you have the worst pain in your life, don't start drinking coffee, reading the paper, or answering your cell phone. If you complain about a toe, don't have the doctor stand on the barrella with a lab coat on.
- Think about the symptoms and their nature before you get to the doctor, to save time, as well as to aid in a more accurate diagnosis.
- Be prepared about your health. It is very frustrating for both the patient and the doctor to come face to face and have to start putting together the pieces of the medical history.
- Following these steps may be useless if the doctor asks questions logically and hits all points. A true professional should be able to get the full picture of the situation, without even thinking about the various steps.
Warnings
- Start talking about your symptoms, not the disease you think you have (unless you're sure). Stating something like "I think I have multiple sclerosis" might seem like a time-wasting way, but in practice, it would put the doctor on his toes and sidetrack the interview. Instead, introduce the speech by saying something like "My arms and legs have weakened and I have been struggling to walk lately."
- This setting is most useful when you are dealing with a doctor who has never seen you before, and particularly when the physical problem has just arisen. It doesn't make much sense if you're reviewing a chronic problem with your GP.
- If the visit does not give you satisfactory answers, it is more effective to continue expressing interest and concern and much less useful to get irritated. You don't want to be labeled a "Problem Patient" or someone ready to sue. In these cases it would be preferable to ask for a second medical opinion.
