Talking to Your Doctor About Your Care

Prepare for Your Doctor Visit

Doctors need to know all about you and your lifestyle to give you the best care. They want you to feel comfortable sharing anything that’s on your mind. If you and your doctor can communicate well – clearly and honestly – they can help you make the right choices for your health.

Start with some preparation. Make a list of any concerns and questions you have before you leave for your doctor visit. Bring this list to your appointment, so you won’t forget anything.

Here are some questions to ask yourself as you start making your list:

• Do I have any new symptoms?
• Do I have any side effects from my medicines?
• Are there any words I don’t understand in my diagnosis or drug prescriptions?

Don’t wait for the doctor to start the conversation, because they may not know what’s important to you. Start right away by voicing your concerns.

There’s No Such Thing as a Dumb Question

Even if what you want to talk about seems sensitive or embarrassing, be honest and up front with your doctor. For example, you may feel uneasy talking about sexual problems, memory loss or bowel movements. But all these things are important to your overall health. It’s better to give a lot of information than to leave things out because you’re feeling shy. Your doctor has heard people bring up all sorts of issues and is used to talking about anything health-related.

After your appointment, if you don’t understand something and have questions, call or email your doctor’s office. Make sure you understand your diagnosis, treatment plan or anything else that might affect you. Don’t wait until the next visit.

Bring a Family Member or Friend

Your friend or family member can help if you have language or cultural differences with your doctor. Or if you have trouble communicating because of a health condition, your friend can do the talking. If you’re unsure about something, the person with you can help explain what you’re feeling or ask questions for you. It often helps to have someone else’s point of view, too. Your friend might share questions or concerns that you hadn’t thought of.

Go Over Digital Sources of Info

People can search anywhere online for health information. They can use the web to look up symptoms and learn about different diseases. But you can’t diagnose your condition or someone else’s just by doing an internet search. Ask your doctor to recommend specific websites or resources, so you know you’re getting your facts from a trusted source. Federal agencies are often the most reliable places for online health information.

Also, health care providers now use electronic health records, which you can access online with a login name and password. Ask your doctor where to look at your records online. You can keep track of your:

• test results
• diagnoses
• treatment plans
• medicines

Going over these records can help you prepare for your next appointment.

Tips for Talking About Your Care

Keep these tips handy for your next doctor visit:

• Make a list of questions before your appointment
• Bring a close friend or family member with you, if you need help
• Tell your doctor honestly how you feel, and what’s been on your mind, no matter what it is
• Ask as many questions as you need to, until you understand what the doctor’s telling you
• Take notes on what the doctor says, or have your friend or family member take notes
• Ask which way (phone? email?) is best to contact the doctor and how to view your records online
• Keep in mind that nurses and pharmacists can be good sources of info, too