Be prepared for doctor's appointment

[Pdgal]

I have been here since 2004 and finally diagnosed in 2010 after Tremor came out in my hand at the end of 2009. I definitely agree that a movement disorder specialist is an asset to receiving a Parkinson's disease diagnosis.

Things you can do to prepare for an appointment:

Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.

Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.

Make a list of all medications, vitamins, any over-the-counter medications and supplements that you're taking.This is very important so that there is no interaction between medications.

Ask a family member or friend to come with you, if possible. Sometimes it can be difficult to remember all of the information provided during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember or take notes. My spouse actually writes the answers to the questions and any notes, medicine changes, etc.

Write down questions to ask your doctor.

Your time with your doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions ahead of time will help you make the most of your time together. Make sure you present questions first so that doctor will cover during his examination.

For Parkinson's disease, some basic questions to ask your doctor include

What's the most likely cause of my symptoms?

Are there other possible causes?

What kinds of tests do I need? Do these tests require any special preparation?

How does Parkinson's disease usually progress?

Will I eventually need long-term care?

What treatments are available, and which do you recommend for me?

What types of side effects can I expect from treatment?

If the treatment doesn't work or stops working, do I have additional options?

I have other health conditions. How can I best manage these conditions together?

Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What websites do you recommend?

In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions that occur to you during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to spend more time on. Your doctor may ask:

When did you first begin experiencing symptoms?

Do you have symptoms all the time or do they come and go?

Does anything seem to improve your symptoms?

Does anything seem to make your symptoms worse?

I will post more information today.

Best of luck!