Here are some tips to better communicate with your doctor –

 

1)     Write out symptoms and questions ahead of time, so you won’t forget what you wanted to discuss. You won’t loose time trying to recall things.

2)     If you are seeing a new physician; print out your medical history ahead of time. This includes family history of who had what/how old they died, your own past illnesses and operations, and your social history. This saves time – the new doctor doesn’t have to spend time getting this information if you have it written out already.

3)     Always have a list of your medications and doses, including over the counters and herbals. If you see more than one physician, each doctor may not know what you are taking.  Again, this saves time for the matters at hand.

4)     What gets a doctor’s attention is something new, something different, or something extraordinary.  Statements like “I have a stomach pain I have never experienced” or “this head ache is like none I have ever had before’ makes a physician less likely to dismiss the ‘let’s wait and watch’ approach.

5)     Most things have a variety of treatment options, including non surgical and non pharmaceutical interventions.  Spontaneously bring up you are interested in these if they are available. Lots of MDs reach quickly for a prescription pad; and are pleased to consider other treatments.

 

Here are some things not to do -

 

1)     Tell the doctor what the diagnosis is. “I have a cough and I KNOW it is TB”. People read all sorts of things on the internet and come in convinced they have a specific condition; it turns out they are usually wrong. Rather, convey you are concerned you may have this or that, and then give your supportive symptoms.

2)     Don’t tell the doctor what to prescribe or order; “I want Valium” or “I need an MRI”. Most MDs don’t like being treated like a waiter. Rather, bring up “I saw an ad for X, would that be something I could try or benefit from?” Be prepared to hear ‘no’ (I hope a “no” is given with an explanation why X wouldn’t be the best solution).

3)     In Medicine there is something called ‘the doorknob issue’ where the appointment is over, the patient touches the doorknob on the way out, turns around, and remembers he wants you to fill out papers or address another symptom or problem. Try to bring up all topics at the beginning so there is room in the appointment for all matters.