Tips for Preparing for Medical Appointments

Not to brag, but I'm a bit of an expert at going to medical appointments. Whether you only go for annual check ups or if you're part of the chronic illness club, I have some tips.

Write down any questions. If you're going to see your doctor for something specific, you likely have questions. They may be basic, such as

• what is the diagnosis?

• what has been ruled out?

• if there are prescriptions, how long do they need to be taken? Do they need to be taken with food or at the same time every day? Are there any common side effects?

• do you need a follow up appointment?

If you have more than one concern that you're seeing your doctor for, make a list. It helps to prioritise it in advance, or you can show the list to your doctor or nurse at the start of the appointment. The important thing is to have your list with you. Appointments can be rushed, you might be nervous, and it's easy to forget things.

Bring a list of your current medications. Hopefully your doctor will already know your medications, but if you see multiple doctors and specialists they might not all be up to date. This is especially helpful if you need to go to the emergency department where they may not have your medical history.

Bring your referral letter. If your GP has referred you to a specialist, bring your referral letter. The office should have received it, but I've been to appointments and found out that they didn't have their copy.

More writing. This one is for if you have a chronic illness or are seeing multiple doctors for an issue. I write down my basic info such as name, date of birth, family medical history, medications taken in the past year or so, and a timeline of my illness. Appointment times are pretty brief these days, I've found that anticipating the kinds of things they'll need to know saves some time. I've never brought one to an appointment and not had the doctor use it.

Bring an advocate. I've mentioned this one previously. Having someone you trust go with you can be so helpful. They can help you stay organised, take notes for you, and back you up with doctors who aren't helpful. I personally tend to minimise my symptoms, partially due to my brain fog. When that happens, Daniel can chime in. He never takes over or speaks for me, he helps fill in some gaps for me and provide his perspective.

Sometimes you may see a doctor who doesn't seem to take you seriously. If they can't or don't tell you what they think is causing your issue, ask them what they ruled out, and ask them if they've put that in your record. If you're not comfortable with that, the person who you brought with you will probably be happy to help and ask for you. Ask what you should do if the issue doesn't resolve, and when. If the issue causes you disruptions at work, make that clear. I've found that doctors take things more seriously once you mention that they impact your job. For example if you have unexplained breathlessness but your lungs sound fine, mention that it's been stopping you from lifting things at work. Many times that will convince them to send you for more tests. You can also ask if there is anyone else you can see for your issue.

Medical appointments require preparation. If you go in assuming that the doctor will know everything and have a quick and easy answer for you, you could end up disappointed. You don't need to show up with your Google search results, but if you're prepared to have everything the doctor may need to know you might have a better experience.