Tips for Talking to Your Doctor

Being able to talk freely with your doctor will not only make you feel better, it will also help your doctor to help you.

Try some of the following tips for getting along better with your doctor:

*Stay positive

*Keep track of your condition

*Bring a list of your current medications to your appointment

*Learn about your condition and ask questions

*Ask about your treatment

*Tell your doctor how you feel

*Ask for help if you need it

*Learn the terms

1. Stay positive. If you go to your doctor's office with a bad attitude, you'll probably leave feeling as if you have no control over your medical treatment. You may even think of your doctor as the enemy. However, if you go to your doctor visits ready to share and learn about your disease or disability, you'll probably feel as if you and your doctor are working toward the same goal-to make you as healthy as possible.

2. Keep track of your condition.Your doctor visits will go more smoothly if you write down the patterns of your disease or disability as they happen in a journal. That way, you'll be able to answer the doctor's questions about your symptoms, reactions to medications, side effects, and other issues. You don't have to write down all the details-just enough to help you remember how you were feeling and when. When you're at the doctor's office, you can look back at your journal anytime your doctor asks a question.

3. Bring a list of your current medications to your appointment. You'll save your doctor the time of having to look through your chart and give her or him a few more minutes to talk with you about your treatment. Learn about different medications at the Physician's Desk Reference's Getting Well Network.

4. Learn about your condition and ask questions. Learn as much as you can about your condition by reading brochures and information from national organizations, the library, and the Internet. You can also learn about your condition by talking to adults who have the same disease or disability. As you find out more about your disease or disability, you'll probably have lots of questions about your symptoms, treatments, side effects, or how you feel in general. When you see your doctor, ask questions-each answer brings you that much closer to understanding your condition.

Since you probably won't remember every question that pops into your head, write them down as you think of them. You can then take your list of questions with you on your doctor's visit and ask your doctor. You can take notes when your doctor answers your questions to help you remember everything that was said. You can also bring a tape recorder with you to record your visit.

5. Ask about your treatment. Although some medical conditions do not require treatment, most can be helped by medicine, surgery, changes in daily habits, or a combination of these. You will benefit most from treatment when you know what is happening and are involved in making decisions. If your doctor suggests a treatment, be sure you understand what it will and won't do and what it involves. Have the doctor give you instructions in writing, and feel free to ask questions.

You may want to write down some questions such as these before your next doctor's visit:

*How long will each treatment take?

*What is involved?

*Will it be painful?

*How many treatments will I undergo?

*Will I miss any school?

*Will I be able to play sports, play a musical instrument, or try out for the school play?

*Is this an attempt at a cure or will the treatments just help my symptoms?

*What are the side effects of the treatments and how long will they last?

*Will these treatments make me sleepy, grumpy, or weak?

*What happens if I miss a treatment?

*What if the treatments don't work?

*Is there another treatment that might be better?

If your doctor suggests a treatment that makes you feel bad or is hard to follow, ask if there are other treatments to consider. For example, if the doctor recommends a medicine that makes your stomach upset, ask if you can take it with food or if there is another medicine that might be better. The doctor can work with you to make sure that the treatment you are getting is what's best for you.

6. Tell your doctor how you feel. Be honest about how you feel-not only where it hurts and how long it's been hurting, but also how you feel about your condition or treatment. Your care will be more successful if your doctor knows how you are feeling.

7. Ask for help if you need it. If you're very upset about your condition, talk to your doctor instead of hiding your feelings. Your doctor may be able to recommend a counselor or psychologist to help you deal with your painful emotions. Your doctor may also be able to tell you about support groups of people your age with similar health issues. You can also call national organizations [Go Surfing] for information on support groups in your area.

8. Learn the terms. Knowing some medical language may help you feel more sure of yourself when you talk to your doctors.