How To Talk To Your Doctor
August 3, 2017
Reviewed and Updated by Anastasia Iliou,
How To Talk To Your Doctor
Talking to doctors is harder for some people than others. Do you ever go to your yearly exam and forget to mention something that’s been bothering you? Do you ever find yourself struggling to answer your doctor’s questions about your health? Use this guide to prepare yourself for your next appointment!
Bring Notes
There is no shame in bringing notes about your health to your doctor’s appointment. In fact, it may create a higher interest level in your doctor. Though doctors should treat all patients equally, they are more likely to spend more time with you if you show that you care about your health. You may not need all of this information, but it’s better to be overprepared than underprepared!
Here’s what you should write down:
- A list of all medications you’ve taken in the past few months, as well as how often you take them.
- An idea of how often and how much you eat on a typical day as well as what your diet typically consists of and how much water you drink each day.
- Your general sleeping habits.
- Reminders to yourself of ANY health concerns you’ve had since your last doctor appointment.
- If you have any symptoms, write down how they make you feel and anything that makes you feel better or worse.
- Contact information for your other doctors.
- Your family medical history (especially if you’re seeing a new doctor).
Additionally, bring your glasses or contacts and hearing aids, if you have them. Don’t forget to bring your Medicare card!
List Your Concerns
Your doctor likely has multiple patients waiting at any given moment, so make sure you list your biggest concerns at the forefront of your appointment, so you can be sure that they are addressed. Don’t assume that feeling tired or achy is normal.
Tell your doctor about ALL health concerns, so that you can get the most out of your appointment.
As your doctor addresses your concerns, take notes then, too! Don’t be afraid to write down what the doctor says. It’s easy to forget, especially if you’re talking about multiple concerns.
Ask Questions
Part of your doctor’s job is making sure that you know how to take care of yourself once you leave the office – so ask all the questions you have! For example, if a doctor tells you to take your medicine with food, does he mean before, after, or during your meal? No question is a stupid one. If you had the answers, you wouldn’t need the doctor. Ask about side effects of your medication, reasons for testing, etc.
The only thing your doctor may not have answers to is whether or not your insurance covers something – but that’s what we’re here for. If your doctor can’t answer those questions for you, give one of our agents a call at 1-844-431-1832.
