Having to go to the doctor is never a fun experience, as it usually means that something isn’t right with your body. And when this happens, it’s perfectly normal to feel stress or anxiety. Unfortunately, during times of stress and anxiety, it’s also common for people to have a hard time focusing or wind up forgetting important things that they were wanting to remember. And when this happens, your time spent with the doctor may not be as productive as it could or should be.
If this is something that sounds familiar to you, here are three tips for talking to your doctor during a doctor’s appointment.
Come With A List Of Questions
The better prepared you are for your doctor’s appointment, the more information you’ll be able to glean while you’re in their office. So to be best prepared, it’s wise to come to your appointment with a list of questions already prepared to go over together.
To come up with helpful questions, think about what is most important for you to know or what your biggest concerns are. Ask these questions first when you get to the appointment, as you’ll want to be sure that you get these answers if they’ll help you know more about what’s going on and feel better about your situation.
Feel Free To Revisit Something You Don’t Understand
Being in with a doctor can make you realize just how much you don’t know or understand about the medical situation you’re in. So if you start to feel like everything they’re saying is over your head or you’re not completely understanding things, don’t be afraid to ask them to explain things in a different way.
Part of being a good doctor is explaining things so that the patients can understand them. Doctors have to know how to talk to little kids, adults, and the elderly at assisted living facilities so that they all can know what’s going on with them. And if you feel like you haven’t been given a straight answer about something, you should also go back to that question to get more clarification.
Ask For Help From Someone More Assertive
Many people feel intimidated and overwhelmed when they go to the doctor’s office. If this is how you feel, you might benefit from having someone else at your appointment with you. It can be very helpful if you have someone along that knows what you’re going through and can help you get the answers that you need. Another set of ears being there can also ensure that you don’t miss anything when it comes to advice or your diagnosis.
If you need some help speaking with and understanding your doctor, consider using the tips mentioned above the next time you have a doctor’s appointment.