Visiting
the Doctor
For some people,
visiting the doctor is no big deal. They are comfortable with their
physician and they can easily discuss symptoms and treatment options,
leaving with the secure knowledge that they have got the answers
and advice they were seeking.
For others,
a visit to the doctor can be a daunting experience. It may take
them years before they find a physician with whom they are completely
at ease, and even then, they may still be less than comfortable speaking
up about symptoms and treatment options. Unfortunately, they often
leave the doctor's office without having asked all their questions.
It is not that
they don't care, but since doctors are invariably quite busy, they
have little time to allow the more timid patients to work up the
confidence to ask questions about the nature of an illness or the
benefits of one type of treatment over another. A little preparation
of your own beforehand could help you get the best out of your next
visit to the doctor. If nothing else, it would probably help you
to feel a bit more confident and in control of the situation. Here
are some guidelines to help you prepare.
Describing
Your Symptoms
Your doctor will want to know when the symptoms started, how long
you have had them and whether they come and go or remain constant
over any length of time. He or she will also be interested in the
severity of the symptoms and will want you to describe the problem
in detail, stating whether it is a recent occurrence or a problem
that has been going on for a long time, whether there are any other
symptoms that accompany the main ones and whether you have noticed
any conditions or factors that cause the symptoms to go away or
lessen for any length of time.
Previous
Therapy
Be prepared to advise the doctor whether any medication or other
treatment has been previously prescribed for the same symptoms.
Medical
History
If you are seeing a new doctor, he or she will want to know your
medical history. You could obtain copies of your medical records
from your previous doctor or ask the office to forward a copy of
the file to your new physician. In any case, the doctor will need
to know your age, if you are female whether you are pregnant or
nursing, whether you suffer with any other illnesses, whether you
are taking any other medication and any substances to which you
are allergic.
When
to Seek Medical Attention
It is important to know when to seek
medical attention. Communicate with or visit your doctor if:
- Your child
has a fever of over 100º F
- A fever lasts
for more than three days
- Symptoms
do not respond to self-medication after two days
- There is
an increase in temperature accompanied by vomiting and diarrhoea.
It is an excellent
idea to make annual visits to your doctor for check ups or to do so
as often as your physician advises. This will allow the doctor to
monitor your progress and spot any potential problems early.
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