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Talking With Your Doctor |
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 Getting
the most out of each visit with your doctor
You can prepare for your visit in a way that helps you get the information
you need, and manage the information you get.
 Prepare
a list of questions and concerns that you want to discuss
This should include any new or changed symptoms that you have experienced
since your last visit. It should also include any major changes
or stresses in your life such as changes in your living arrangements,
difficulties getting your medicines, or the death of a loved one.
Number the items on the list so you know which are the most important
to talk about.
Consider
bringing a family member or friend to help you.
You may need only moral support or company in the waiting room,
but having help is good. You may forget to ask something important
(especially if you didn't put it on your list!) You may wait longer
than usual and feel too tired to drive yourself home. And, if you
get test results or treatment recommendations, it is helpful to
have someone there to help you remember many of the details of what
was said.
Bring
all of your medicines or a list of all of your medicines
Although you may think your doctor knows everything you are taking,
sometimes things get left out of the chart. This happens often when
a patient is being seen by more than one doctor and information about
test results or new medications hasn't gotten from one doctor to the
other yet. Bring any vitamins, nutritional supplements, or herbal
medicines you are taking, too. While these usually do not require
a prescription, they can still interact with other medicines you may
be taking.
Set
your priorities for the doctor's time
At the beginning of the visit ask, "How much time do you have for
me today?" Then, address the issues on your list, beginning with the
most important one. If you are not going to cover everything on the
list in the time available ask, "How can I get 30 minutes (or whatever
you need) to talk about the concerns I have that we don 't have time
for today?" This lets the doctor know that you have more concerns
and that you are aware of the time constraints he may be facing.
Be
honest
Telling the doctor what you think she wants to hear will not help
her to help you. It is natural to want to seem to be improving, sometimes
for your own well-being and other times to feel like a "good" patient.
But this will only result in less than the best therapy for you.
Be
honest about your priorities
It is often easier for doctors and patients to talk about medicines
and treatments than it is to talk about what is really happening in
the course of an eventually fatal illness. Do not be afraid to say,
"We have talked a lot about the side effects and the schedule for
the next round of chemotherapy. I really want to hear from you what
it means that there is almost no change in the tumor."
Ask
questions
If you have questions about anything your doctor says, ask! Ask what
unfamiliar words mean, why you need a certain test, or what to expect
from a new medicine. Ask what new treatments and medicines are supposed
to do to help you and how likely it is they will do what they are
supposed to do. Ask whether the therapy being recommended is supposed
to treat symptoms or prolong life. Ask what side effects you might
experience. Ask what is likely to happen to you if you do not try
the therapy. And do not hesitate to ask about the cost if that is
of concern to you.
Takes
notes
Be sure to bring pencil or pen and paper to record the doctor's answers
to your questions. You can assign this task to whomever comes with
you if note-taking is hard for you or if you want to concentrate on
talking to the doctor.
Repeat
what the doctor tells you, in your own words
Nothing tells you or your doctor what you think he said better than
to say it back in your own words. "If I understood what you just said,
then I should increase my pain medicine to 120 milligrams every twelve
hours and call back day after tomorrow if that doesn't help." This
allows you to uncover and correct any misunderstandings.
Make
contingency plans
Doctors can't predict every symptom or complication that you might
experience, but they should be able to tell you the major ones. And
the ones you already have may change over time. Ask the doctor what
to expect and what to do if you have a problem. Do you take more medicine?
Do you call the office? What if it is 3 AM? Asking these questions
and planning in advance can save you frantic trips to the emergency
room when you have a problem. |
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Adapted from The
Handbook for Mortals: Guidance for People Facing Serious Illness,
by Joanne Lynn and Joan Harrold, copyright by Joanne Lynn, used by
permission of Oxford University Press.
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