Prepare for your doctor appointment

Invariably these days you only have approximately 15 minutes, and in some special cases up to 30 minutes to consult with or discuss your medical problems with your doctor.  It is therefore of great importance to make the most of the time you have with the doctor, to ensure you get the care you need.

The key to a successful consultation is communication.  You need to communicate your needs, understand your diagnosis, and discuss your treatment options.

The more accurately and completely you can describe your symptoms, the more likely it is that your doctor can identify your health problems and prescribe an effective course of treatment.  Before your appointment, write down all your symptoms, noting when they started, and whether they get worse at  certain times of the day or in certain situations.  Also write a brief outline of your medical history, and be sure to list all the medications you are currently taking.

Once you have identified your symptoms, research them.  The more you can learn about the possible causes of your symptoms - and what your treatment options may be  - the better equipped you will be to discuss your care with your doctor and understand his or her instructions.  With practice you will find that you will improve with respect to formulating your search words and descriptions of your symptoms.

This preparation, described above, will not only lead to a better focused communication between you and your doctor, and hence more efficient and effective, but it should also help you lead the conversation with your doctor.  If you have a printer, print it all out, so that the doctor can read it all or follow what you are saying much more easily.

One day, many years ago, when I still lived in Ottawa, Canada, I went into a naturopathy store to buy something, and while I was waiting to be attended I decided to check out a book on vitamins and minerals that was lying on the counter.  I became quite impressed by the index in the back, and quickly determined that it would be a particularly useful book for me, so I bought it.  At home I read it quickly, and highlighted all passages that were of particular interest, so that they would be easy to locate.  I found that some of the information lent itself very well as background material to discuss with my doctor, Michael Phillipowski, in a couple of days, in conjunction with my cholesterol problem, so I typed the extracts, and printed them.  They covered 7 typed pages.  Dr. Phillipowski's office was just down the street from my home, so on my way home from work the day before my appointment I decided to leave the printouts with his receptionist.

I was waiting for dr. Phillipowski in his office when he suddenly opened the door, with a big smile on his face when he said hello.  He quickly went to his desk, and as soon as he was seated he told me he had read all my seven pages, and found it all quite interesting.  He added that nobody had ever presented him with such a synopsis befiore, and he obviously liked it very much.  In fact, he quickly asked me whether I would like to meet the only lipid expert in the city, dr. Ruth McPherson, the head of the lipid clinic at the Ottawa Civic Hospital, currently known as the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.  She is now Director, Atherogenomics Laboratory and Lipid Clinic, and is also Director of Research, Division of Cardiology, at the institute, and Professor, Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry, at the University of Ottawa.  You can read about her research and clinical interests by clicking on preceding link with her name.  She is an exceptionally competent doctor and researcher, with great personal, as well as staff accomplishments to refer to, which deserves a separate post later. Both she, and the head of the cardiology unit, that later treated my hypertension, quickly brought my cholesterol and hypertension under control.

If you are likely to need a medical procedure - whether surgery or a diagnostic test, such as a colonyscopy or mammogram - learn all you can about the procedure before your visit so you'll understand your options and be able to discuss them intelligently.  Articles, slideshows, and videos are available for many procedures that explain the purpose of the procedure, how it is performed, the risks involved and what you will need to do to prepare for it.

Your relationship with your doctor is a partnership.  The better able you are to communicate needs and understand your options, the more productive your appointment will be and the more likely you are to get the treatment you need.  The time you have with your doctor is all too brief.  A little preparation will help you make the most of your next appointment.