Have you ever come home from a visit to your doctor wondering if you really understood your medical problem or how to take your medications? In
past, doctors were in charge of your care and you were to "follow orders." These days, patients and doctors have an equal responsibility for care. You have a right to information about your condition and treatment and doctor has a right to an accurate accounting of your history and symptoms.According to National Institute on Aging, here is what you can do to communicate better with your doctor:
* Be completely honest about all of medications you take, including over-the-counter medications and herbal preparations. If you have more than one doctor, be sure each knows about all of your medications and other treatments, since dangerous interactions among medications are possible.
* Also be honest about smoking and drinking. Doctors and nurses are accustomed to taking care of people who smoke or drink. They need to know if you have any habits that contribute to disease or interfere with treatment.
* Your doctor may question you about a topic that you consider embarrassing, such as sexuality, memory loss, incontinence, or problems with your spouse or children. These problems often have an influence on diseases or may be caused by taking certain medications. Your doctor needs to know about them to accurately diagnosis and treat your condition. Also remember that doctor and staff members are professional people who will protect your privacy.
* Make a list of your symptoms, special concerns, medical history, and current medications and give list to doctor. Doing this at home before your appointment keeps you from leaving out details.
* Provide doctor with a brief, to-the-point description of your problem. What are your symptoms? How severe are they? When did they start? What brings them on? How long do they last and what relieves them?
* If you are concerned about cooperating with doctor's treatment, say so. Are you worried about cost involved? Does treatment conflict with your beliefs and values? Do possible side effects of a medication bother you to extent that you are unlikely to take it?
