How to Have a Better Doctor Visit, according to a Doctor
Have you ever left a doctor’s visit feeling overwhelmed and wish you asked more questions because everything was hard to grasp?
Doctor’s visits can be stressful, so we consulted Dr. Dawn Hnat, a prominent physician practicing Internal Medicine and Rheumatology in Southern California, to guide us on preparing for a visit, steps to take after a diagnosis, when to get a second opinion, and most of all- how not to panic.
1. Preparing for visit
Being able to thoroughly express and describe concerns concisely will make it easier for your doctor to address them. Dr. Hnat advises, “To make your medical appointment more productive, be succinct and come prepared.”
Guidelines on what you should include when talking with your doctor:
- When did symptoms develop?
- What makes symptoms better or worse?
- How long have you had symptoms?
- Possible causes of symptoms such as physical trauma
- How severe are the symptoms? Using a scale from 1 to 10, with one being very minimal and ten being excruciating pain
- Are symptoms constant or intermittent?
- What have you done so far on your own?
Many conditions have different stages and different degrees of severity, so do not panic about everything you read online.
Dawn Hnat, M.D.
2. Information to know
Make sure you have all of the following information ready to present and discuss with your doctor:
- Past medical history, including previous medical problems and surgeries
- Allergies, including medications
- Childhood illnesses
- Family history of medical problems
- Lists of medications, including over-the-counter medicines, with dosage amount and frequency of use
- Recreational drug, alcohol, smoking, and vaping use
3. After diagnosis
After a diagnosis, lifestyle changes can be expected, such as giving up alcohol. Dr. Hnat advises you to check with your doctor if any amount of alcohol is tolerated with your medication, as “certain medications can cause liver damage if you drink alcohol while on these medications.”
Questions to ask your doctor after a diagnosis are:
- What are the side effects of prescribed medication?
- If you don’t want to take the medication prescribed, what are the risks if you choose not to? What are your other options?
4. When to get a second opinion
You should consult with a different doctor if your doctor dismisses your concerns and the doctor cannot diagnose. If your condition is less well-known, you should inquire about a consultation at a university medical center such as UCLA or USC.
5. Don’t panic
Do not panic when reading information about a condition or possible diagnosis online. “I know people are fearful when they go to a doctor because of one or more symptoms and do not know what it means. I have seen that the fear of the unknown is what causes fear. Once a solid diagnosis is made and a treatment plan is started, you should feel better,” says Dr. Hnat.
An essential aspect of not panicking is making sure you are reading from reliable sources. This is important, says Dr. Hnat, because “many conditions have different stages and different degrees of severity, so do not panic about everything you read online. Look for reliable sources such as WebMD.”
Did this article help? Leave your thoughts in a comment below.
Denise
Omg this is so helpful. Doctor’s appointments stress me out so much. Thx!