Get the most from your doctor’s visit

WASHINGTON (AP):

It is not unusual for a 20-something to text their mother in a panic from the doctor’s office, stuck on a question they did not expect. Even experienced patients forget medications, miss symptoms or remember their real concern only after the visit ends. Getting real value from a doctor’s appointment is less about the time in the exam room and more about the preparation done beforehand.

“It is really hard, even for me as a doctor going to see my own family doctor — to remember the things that I wanted to bring up,” said Dr Sarah Nosal, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. “The worst is when you’ve had that moment with your doctor” only to recall another problem after walking out, she said.

Her top tip is to bring a list of symptoms and questions to show at the start of the visit. The first item should be your top concern, but seeing the full list helps your doctor prioritise what’s most medically urgent.

“I’m actually going to be able to see, is there a red flag?” explained Dr Nosal, who has some advice about prepping for a typical primary care visit.

Some illnesses require specialists like a cardiologist or rheumatologist. But regardless of your age or how healthy you are, research has long shown that a relationship with a primary care provider is important for overall health. It might be a family physician, who cares for all ages, or an internist. Some patients choose gynaecologists, geriatricians, or have a primary care team that includes nurse practitioners or physician assistants.

Primary care is more than preventive checkups to help avoid illness, such as vaccinations, cancer screenings or health advice. It also includes detecting and treating common problems like high blood pressure, and helping to find and coordinate specialty care.

“That ongoing relationship also helps me know your ‘normal,’” Nosal explained. “If something’s different or changes or you feel off, when you tell me that information and I also have known you over time, we can really figure out together what’s going on.”

Young adults managing health care on their own for the first time may struggle to answer questions about their medical history, such as whether they have had general anaesthesia or if their tetanus shot is up to date.

If you still have access to your former paediatrician’s patient portal, you may find vaccination records and past illnesses there. Otherwise, you may need to request the records or ask your parents.

Family medical history matters at every age and should be updated regularly. Knowing whether conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, stroke or early-onset cancer run in your family can help guide preventive care.

FILL OUT PAPERWORK BEFOREHAND

Completing paperwork at home makes it easier to check medicine bottles for names and doses. List all medications, including prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, creams, vitamins and supplements. The latter matter because some can interact with prescription medicines. Dr Nosal noted cases where long-standing treatments stopped working after patients began taking turmeric, a spice sold as a supplement.

Before your visit, confirm that your doctor has records of recent lab tests, hospitalisations or visits to other providers, as electronic medical records are not always shared automatically.

MAKE A LIST OF QUESTIONS

Some symptoms are bad enough to prompt an urgent visit. But if you’ve got a checkup coming, whether it’s routine or to follow up on health problems, start a list of questions in advance. Notice a pain when you move a certain way? Or chatting with a friend who just got a colonoscopy and wonder if you’re due? Pop those on your list right away, before you forget and be specific in describing symptoms.

The idea is to address the most urgent questions first, rather than patients running out of time before raising a key concern. Dr Nosal said questions about mental or sexual health and wellness especially tend to come up at the last minute.

Whatever the medium, “please bring that list,” she said. “That’s the most critical of all pieces.”

IT’S OK TO ASK AGAIN

People may know to ask questions about treatments, such as how well they work and what side effects to expect. But it’s also important to understand why a doctor makes a particular diagnosis or, conversely, isn’t as worried about a symptom as you might be.

Don’t hesitate to say, “Explain to me what else could be going on,” Dr Nosal advised. “What would be the next step? How would you evaluate that for me, to know if it’s this or that?”

Most health advocacy groups also advise bringing along a friend or relative, especially if you have serious or multiple health problems. They can help ask questions and take notes.

“Whether you are 20 or you are 85, you will not remember everything from your medical visit,” Dr Nosal added.