How to get more out of your next doctor's appointment
Defuse stress, get more out of your doctor's appointment with these simple tips
Defuse stress, get more out of your doctor's appointment with these simple tips
Going to the doctor is more than just stressful, it can be downright awful. Not only do you almost always have to wait forever to get an appointment, but doctors also tend to be overbooked and rushed.
바카라 게임 웹사이트Developing a good relationship with your doctor is so important, but it can be tough to do,바카라 게임 웹사이트 says Jenni Prokopy, who is in and out of doctors바카라 게임 웹사이트 offices often and blogs about living with fibromyalgia at . 바카라 게임 웹사이트Physicians바카라 게임 웹사이트 practices just seem to get busier, which means doctors 바카라 게임 웹사이트 and the people who work for them 바카라 게임 웹사이트 can be less available and accommodating.바카라 게임 웹사이트
Even so, there are some things you can do to forge a better connection with your practitioner and make the experience less stressful and more productive, Prokopy adds.
Here are simple tips and strategies that can help you do just that, according to folks living with chronic health conditions that require regular doctors visits.
Prepare questions you want to ask in advance
It may seem unnecessary, but Prokopy says reviewing what she wants to can really help her stay on track once she바카라 게임 웹사이트s in the exam room. She바카라 게임 웹사이트ll either go over her talking points with her husband or a friend or just simply state them out loud to herself while she drives to her doctor's office.
바카라 게임 웹사이트Doctors are always short on time, so I rehearse what I need to say to make sure I바카라 게임 웹사이트m as concise as possible,바카라 게임 웹사이트 Prokopy says. 바카라 게임 웹사이트Practicing what I want to say also helps me pick out the most pertinent points.바카라 게임 웹사이트
Mary Leah Caillier Coco, who was diagnosed with a life-threatening at age 30 (and blogs about her condition on ), follows a similar strategy. She says she바카라 게임 웹사이트ll often run what she wants to ask her doctor by a friend with a similar health issue.
바카라 게임 웹사이트Oftentimes, that friend can answer some of my simpler questions so I don바카라 게임 웹사이트t waste time on those, and she바카라 게임 웹사이트ll also give me advice on other points to bring up with my doctor,바카라 게임 웹사이트 Coco said.
Do just the right amount of research
Natasha Tracy, who writes about her on her blog , likes to do a little bit of research about her symptoms on trusted sites 바카라 게임 웹사이트 but not too much.
바카라 게임 웹사이트It바카라 게임 웹사이트s great to be informed about what you want to discuss with your physician, but you also don바카라 게임 웹사이트t want to come off as that patient who thinks she knows more than her doctor,바카라 게임 웹사이트 she said.
Email your MD the topics you바카라 게임 웹사이트d like to review ahead of time
While this tactic may only work if it바카라 게임 웹사이트s a doctor you have a good rapport with and who knows your health history, Prokopy says it can really help both the patient and the physician make the most of a limited appointment time.
바카라 게임 웹사이트I email a list of symptoms I바카라 게임 웹사이트m having to my doctor바카라 게임 웹사이트s office before my appointment, and oftentimes the doc will skim the info before she walks in to examine me,바카라 게임 웹사이트 said Prokopy. 바카라 게임 웹사이트It leaves more time for discussion 바카라 게임 웹사이트 and questions.바카라 게임 웹사이트
Leisha Davison-Yasol, the author of the personal health blog, "," has a slightly different approach. Rather than e-mailing her doctor before the appointment, she keeps a running list of her symptoms in the 바카라 게임 웹사이트Notes바카라 게임 웹사이트 app on her phone.
바카라 게임 웹사이트If the doctor seems rushed during my appointment, I hand him my phone to read the notes,바카라 게임 웹사이트 she said. 바카라 게임 웹사이트He can read through that list faster than I could explain them to him, which means we have more time to go over my treatment plan.바카라 게임 웹사이트
Book a double appointment
If you know you바카라 게임 웹사이트re going to need a significant amount of time with the practitioner, ask the receptionist how long the appointment slots are 바카라 게임 웹사이트 and request a double appointment if you바카라 게임 웹사이트re worried the allotted time won바카라 게임 웹사이트t be enough, Tracy suggests.
Asking to speak with a nurse practitioner can also be a good tactic, as they often have more time in their schedule. More often than not, they're able to answer all the same questions as your doctor.
Find a good health advocate (and maybe even bring them to your appointment)
If you바카라 게임 웹사이트re seeing your doc for something routine 바카라 게임 웹사이트 like an annual checkup or sick visit 바카라 게임 웹사이트 you can likely handle it on your own. But if you바카라 게임 웹사이트re worried about something in particular, or have recently been diagnosed with a condition that바카라 게임 웹사이트s going to involve a lot of follow-up treatment, it바카라 게임 웹사이트s a good idea to bring a smart and confident friend with you to your appointment, Davison-Yaso said.
바카라 게임 웹사이트You need someone who바카라 게임 웹사이트s going to help you ask questions, remember the answers, and who isn바카라 게임 웹사이트t going to be afraid to politely push back when you need more explanation,바카라 게임 웹사이트 she said.
If bringing a friend isn바카라 게임 웹사이트t an option, Coco recommends voice recording your visit.
바카라 게임 웹사이트Doctors talk fast and throw out a lot of big medical terms,바카라 게임 웹사이트 she says. 바카라 게임 웹사이트If you can play back what she says, you바카라 게임 웹사이트ll be able to digest it when you바카라 게임 웹사이트re not so overwhelmed or stunned.바카라 게임 웹사이트