When you see the doctor, they have a limited amount of time they can spend with you. Being prepared will make the visit much more productive.
Preparing for the doctor visit:
1. Write down the symptoms and when they occur. For example, back pain early in the morning which goes away by mid-afternoon. Track you symptoms on a calendar or diary so that when asked how long you have been feeling this way you can give an accurate accounting. Note changes in activities like you are unable to walk long distances without having shortness of your breath. Little things can make a big difference in a diagnosis. Make sure you bring your numbers such as glucose readings or if you monitor your blood pressure with you.
2. Do some research prior to the visit. This will make you informed so that you can make decisions with the doctor. For example on medications: your research discovered that the medication the doctor has prescribed has side effects such as weight gain or increasing depression. This way you can talk about alternatives or whether the risk is necessary. Research the doctor and read about patient survey responses and complaints. Make sure the doctor you are visiting is qualified to deal with your problem. A GP is just that; a general practitioner. They will not be a best choice for someone with renal issues. That is what a nephrologist does. If you want help with your diet ask for a renal dietician referral. If you need referral, make sure you explain to your GP you WANT a referral.
3. Write down your questions so you cover everything you want and need to know. There is nothing more frustrating for the doctor and the patient to finally get around to the most important question too late in the appointment time.
4. Have labs drawn close to the visit but with enough time for the results to come in. This is critical especially for renal function.
At the visit:
1. You can skip the weigh-in. Unless your appointment is about weight loss, or that your weight has changed due to a medical condition, there is no real reason to be weighed every time you see a doctor. If your doctor insists on a reading, and you do not want to know, simply turn you back to the scale and tell the technician you do not want to know.
2. If your blood pressure is part of the discussion, make sure you wait until you have settled down to have it done. Make sure the technician uses the right size cuff. If you have a large upper arm, insist they use a large size cuff. (They are usually brown as a smaller cuff is blue.) Often the rush from the waiting room, hopping on a scale and then having a cuff slapped on you will increase your BP. I have had a dramatic drop when the physician actually does the reading later on in the appointment and does it with a manual cuff. Also tell the doctor if you just consumed a double latte or the likes as caffeine will skew your reading. An accurate reading is critical before they load you up on BP meds. If BP is an issue, getting a GOOD home based reader and cuff is a great idea and then bring the readings with dates to the appointment.
3. Keep the discussion focused. Nothing wastes more time if you or the doctor goes off on a tangent not relevant to the visit. This happens often to people of size. Don’t let your visit be about weight if that is not the reason for the visit. I am a Fat-Advocate and member of organizations that fight for equality for people of size. If this is an issue for you, Health at Any size (haescommunity.com) is a great resource. Some doctors will get so off track with weight loss and completely skirt a serious health issue. Demand the care you need. A good diffusing question for a doctor myopically focused on weight loss is: What would you recommend if I was thin?
4. Tell your doctor your goals. For example, you may want to get off a particular medication. Ask the doctor what you can do to reach that goal. Ask the doctor for a time line. This is important especially if there is supposed to be an outcome. For example, you are supposed to take a medication and in three weeks, you should see a change. If you don’t see a change, or the symptoms get worse, let your doctor know.
5. Take notes, record the visit or have someone come with you in. Ask for clarification if you do not understand something. Sometime the doctor can put their notes in an electronic record system which you have access to you (“My Chart”). If a doctor is not clear in their explanation, and this is a trend when you see them, find a new doctor. Walking out of an appointment confused is no help.
After the visit:
1. Report any form of abuse. There are many boards that oversee doctors. In the USA, you may get a survey to fill out after a visit. If you do, fill it out: Report abuse, lack of communication and not being satisfied with your doctor on the survey. They do get back to the organization/hospital the doctor belongs to and will make a difference.
2. Follow directions. If your doctor says to take one pill, taking two is dangerous. If they say take one in the morning and one a night, do it correctly. You cannot fault a doctor when you do not follow directions.
3. Follow up with the doctor. If you have doing what they said you should, and after the set time there is no change, let the doctor know. Also report any side effects that have happened. For example: a dry cough with blood pressure medications. Don’t wait if you experience a side effect early on such as a rash or fluid retention or shortness of breath.
Your physician will be very pleased if you are clear on your intent for the visit, are prepared and follow directions and you will have better success.
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