CONSULTING WITH DOCTOR ESSEL

ACING YOUR VISIT TO THE DOCTOR
Very often, we leave the doctor’s office, only to remember that we left out a major complaint. Some patients immediately rush back to the consulting room, totally oblivious of the privacy that that the next patient is entitled to. They expect that as they walk in, the doctor should ignore the seated or positioned patient and attend to them: a totally outrageous presumption. Others go home and continue to live with the condition, hoping to be healed miraculously.
Most of us will be lucky enough to spend fifteen minutes with our doctor; this time is often much shorter in countries or communities where the doctor-patient ratio is extremely low. To make the most out of our time with the doctor we need to PREPARE.  However, if your condition is an emergency then a lack of preparation will be unavoidable.

A List of Must Do’s!

• Kindly ensure that your personal hygiene is excellent; take a good bath and brush your teeth.

• Wear clean clothes that are easily removed, especially if you will need to expose any areas for inspection or examination.

• Remember that doctors are human, and therefore, when you are unkempt, you may not get adequate contact with your doctor.

Researching Your Symptoms

• If you have access to the internet or a book worth its salt, you may read about your symptoms, otherwise you may wait to read until after your doctor tells you your diagnosis.
• Remember that if you research on the internet it is essential that you use a reputable site.

Staying in Tune with your Complaints

• Write down your complaints and symptoms, if you think you may forget.

• If you have previously had a similar problem and are in possession of the results of any investigations, for example, laboratory tests, x-rays, CT scans and so on - kindly carry them along.

• Let your doctor know if you have adverse reactions to any drugs.

• Be truthful about any medications you have taken for the condition; if you do not remember the names, make sure you go with the containers.

• If you have any other medical conditions or are taking medication, make the doctor aware.

• Remember to make a note of the following:

• When did the symptoms begin?
• Are they getting worse?
• Does anything make the condition worse?
• What makes you feel better?
• How often do symptoms occur?
• How long do symptoms, for example pain, or a rash, last?
• Does anyone else in your family have these symptoms?
• How do your symptoms affect your daily life?
• Are they related to work or home?

You may need to modify this checklist slightly, if you have skin lesions or swellings. This list is by no means exhaustive, and you may not need to find answers to all of these questions before getting help.  However, they will definitely help you to ace your next visit to your doctor.

See you soon in the consulting room.