What You Need to Know Before An Important Doctor’s Appointment

Often when people discover we are a medical family, they begin to divulge their own medical dilemmas in great detail. Even if they are complete strangers. It’s part of the role I guess. 

This happened with our air conditioning repairman last summer. I emphasized to him how important it is to keep our home cold so our medically fragile child doesn’t overheat. This gave him the permission he needed to share the most intimate details of his diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.  

He showed us his laparoscopic scars and lamented about needing to wear Depends. It was TMI. But what he wanted to express, more than his battle wounds, was his frustration over the healthcare process.

Healthcare is an ever-changing and complicated system to navigate

In recent years healthcare has become more of a business than a service. You need to arm yourself with information. I’m not saying, Google your condition and come into the exam room ready to tell the doctor exactly how to diagnose and treat you. But, in the middle of my conversation with the A/C guy, I realized that there are many things I’ve learned about having a medically fragile child. Things that might be helpful to those who don’t go to the doctor as often as we do.

How to prepare for an important doctor's appointment

Collect data before the doctor’s appointment.

Doctors make decisions based on data, not feelings. This is coming from a highly feeling person. I would prefer the doctor to find a way to treat my pleas for help in the midst of a medical crisis, rather than slow down, review my calendar, and recount symptoms. Most doctors don't operate based on feelings. 

Doctors are far more likely to read and analyze pages of a food diary, an output log, or any other list of symptoms recorded on paper or in a spreadsheet. Your doctor will listen more to your data than your feelings.

 Make a list of three issues per doctor’s appointment.

Any more than three complaints are going to overwhelm the provider. If you begin to overwhelm the provider you will likely get rushed through the rest of your appointment. So, rank the three most critical symptoms you need to address and focus on those.

You can follow up via a phone call with the doctor's nurse on the less important issues. Have the staff be the one to query the doctor on your behalf. You’ll sometimes get a more thoughtful response that way anyway.

Decide how you are going to take down information at the doctor’s appointment.

You are going to want to remember what you discussed during the appointment, especially, if this is a new issue or an overwhelming problem. The easiest way is to take notes in a journal or on your phone. Another is to bring a buddy. If you do bring a friend they can help you remember what was said.

If you want to audio-record the conversation, make sure you get the provider’s permission in advance. I have never recorded a conversation because I think it hinders trust in the doctor-patient relationship. I have, however, asked for the physician to reexplain something or spell an unknown word so I can take accurate notes.

You have rights to your own (or your child’s) medical records.

You will make more informed decisions about your healthcare if you get copies of test results, scans, and reports. This is why I prefer going to an imaging center rather than a hospital for ultrasounds, MRIs, x-rays, and things like that. Typically imaging centers are able to get you the information quickly. You ask the front desk staff for a CD of images and an email of the report. You will get that information, sometimes on the same day, but most definitely within 2 or 3 days. 

Knowing the results ahead of your follow-up appointment with your doctor helps you ask better questions, research how you would prefer to treat the problem, and better partner with your provider.

Finally, plan to do something fun after the doctor’s appointment.

Visiting the doctor can be stressful, and if not stressful, certainly not a welcome part of your day. So, make time to do something you enjoy afterward.

 As you browse your favorite store, grab a coffee, or work out — whatever that fun thing is for you — you’ll feel like a person again. It will clear your mind and your heart for the changes you may need to make to care for your body better. 

 Doctors are amazing community helpers, but they don’t know everything. You know you. You know your child. Your job is to find the right doctor to partner with you, or your child, on your health journey.