Posted by DaveH (64.252.7.95) on January 06, 2002 at 18:16:42:
Guide To Visiting
a New Doctor
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Visiting a new doctor is never easy. We all know that, and we all dread the experience. I am often asked what should be taken to the first visit with a new doc and what questions we should ask at that first visit. This Guide is meant to help make those first visits easier. For a printer-friendly version, click HERE. If you have suggestions for additions to this Guide, please click HERE.
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What to take with you:
Records from previous doctors. Some doctors and their staffs are reluctant to give records directly to the patient. You should know, however, that you have a legal right to your records, and they cannot legally refuse to give you a copy. They are within their rights to charge you for making a copy, but they must give you a copy if you request it.
Your headache diary. I know, keeping a headache diary can be a real nuisance, but even when we can't see patterns, the information can prove very valuable to your doctor in diagnosis and in setting a treatment regimen. A headache diary can be done in a number of ways. You can use a small notebook, a printed form, or a document on your computer. If you choose the document on the computer, you can make notes during your episodes, then transfer them to the computer later. If you'd like to print or download our diary, click HERE.
Your list of symptoms, comments, and questions. No matter how "together" we usually are, it's virtually impossible to remember everything once we get to the doctor's office.
Confidence and self respect. Sure, good doctors deserve our respect. Just don't forget that we deserve respect, too. Headache disorders tend to make us a bit more emotional and a bit less confident. We begin to doubt ourselves. Don't fall into that trap. Just have your information and questions ready. Give and expect respect, and don't settle for less.
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What to ask your new doctor:
It's probably important to note for this section that I've had some great experiences with doctors and some pretty rotten experiences as well. There were times when I stayed with less than great docs, but those times are over. I have now "fired" a few docs, too. Don't get me wrong. I respect doctors, but I expect them to both deserve my respect and to return it. So, the first few questions in this section are about how the doctor works with his/her patients and what you want and can expect from the doctor. Not everyone will be comfortable with these questions, so you can, of course, just not use them. They are here because they are questions I always want answered before I decide if I am even going to begin treatment with a particular doctor.
Questions about the doc and his/her practice:
I'll suggest the phrasing here, but you'll want to phrase these questions in a way that's natural for you, of course.
I want to be active in my health care. How do you feel about the team approach where the patient is an active member of their own health care team?
Because I want to understand, not because I question your judgment, I tend to ask quite few questions. Will this bother you?
Will you be the doctor I see every time I have an appointment here? (for group practices)
What's the procedure if I need assistance outside of office hours?
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Questions about headaches and treatment:
What is your diagnosis of your headaches? (tension, sinus, migraine, etc.)
If you don't understand what happens in your body during these episodes, and want to know, ask the doctor to explain it.
Are there lifestyle changes you can make to help prevent these headaches?
What might be triggering these headaches?
If you are diagnosed with migraine disorder, are the episodes frequent enough to consider preventive medications?
Regarding medications being prescribed:
What type of drug is this, and how does it work?
If prescribing more than one drug, what should be taken when, and in what order?
What are the possible side effects? Will they go away? At what point should you call you about any side effects?
What is this drug's potential to cause rebound headache? If you have already used it as many consecutive days as it can safely be used without risking rebound, what can you take instead?
If nausea is a problem, and the doctor does not offer to prescribe an antinausea drug, it would be a good idea to ask for one. (Reglan, Phenergan, Compazine)
If there has been a significant change in your headache patterns, and your doctor is not ordering an imaging study (CT scan or MRI), ask about it.
Does the doctor suggest a magnesium supplement? If so, what type of magnesium, and in what amount? What about other vitamin or mineral supplements?
Does the doctor suggest herbal remedies such as feverfew? Again, in what amounts?
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There are many other questions you may want to ask that will pertain to your individual situation, but this is a beginning. You may want to copy and paste these into your word processing program. That way you can add extra spaces between them and make notes while you're in the doctor's office.
For a printer-friendly version of this page, click HERE.
© 2001, Teri Robert
About, Inc.