A visit to the doctor is always a good opportunity to find out more about any issues that have been troubling you, but it is not uncommon for people to leave their doctor's rooms feeling as though their questions haven't been answered.
If medication has been prescribed, or if you think that something could be amiss, it is vital that the right questions are asked.
It is important to remember that the responsibility for your health and wellbeing does not lie with your doctor but with you.
Do not be hesitant to discuss any treatment and advice that you receive from your medical caregiver - the better the level of communication with your doctor, the better your medical care will be.
Before you visit your doctor, make a note of any queries you may have and take them with you. Decide on the quantity and quality of information you want from your doctor and check that you have everything you need by the time you leave. It's easy to get sidetracked during a medical examination so it's a good idea to keep a checklist with you to refer to before leaving the surgery.
If necessary, keep a pen and paper with you to write down the answers to the questions and to make notes.
Also make a note of any symptoms that you have been experiencing and list the medication that you are currently taking, including the doses and frequency. Include in this list any vitamins that you take on a regular basis.
If you are prescribed new medication, ask the doctor what it does, if there is a specific time of day that it needs to be taken, what the side effects are and is there anything that would interfere with it, like food or drink. Your pharmacist may also be able to provide this information. Also ask if there is a generic alternative available.
When prescribed a course of treatment, ask if it is a common treatment for the condition and if there are any alternative treatments available.
If you feel overwhelmed by the amount of information, or the course of treatment that you are facing, take someone you trust with you and ask them to keep notes. Sometimes you need a second pair of ears to pick up details that you may miss.
If questions come to mind after you have left the surgery, there's nothing wrong in calling the doctor if you feel it can't wait until your next appointment. The information is important to you and you should be assured that your doctor will not only expect but also welcome your questions.
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