Working with Your Doctor.
Last updated Thursday, January 06, 2005
Effective office visitsHow can a person with arthritis prepare for an appointment with a doctor? To get the most out of office visits, it's helpful to prepare before
each appointment. Doctors appreciate your preparation because it makes
their jobs easier.
Before your visit, try to keep in mind:
- the time spent with your doctor may be brief
- you must make the most of that time
- if you waste time or don't ask questions, you won't get the
information you need to make the best decisions about your health, and
you may not get the best return for your money
Remember, it takes time for your doctor to answer your questions. If
you have many, consider scheduling a longer appointment. Don't forget
your doctor has other patients.
As you write down your questions, also prepare a brief but accurate
progress report. Your doctor will most likely ask: "Have you been
following your treatment plan? How have you been feeling? Have you had
any problems? What has been happening in your life?" You might find it
helpful to jot down the answers to these kinds of questions ahead of
time.
Be ready to report the names and the dosages of the drugs you're
taking. If you're taking several medications, you should bring in your
pill bottles (if you're visiting a physician other than your regular
doctor, it's especially important to bring all your medications with
you). If you don't already use a "drug usage" chart, your next office
visit may be a good time to discuss one with your doctor. The chart
lists all of the drugs you take, any special instructions, and when you
should take them. To show that you took your medication, simply put a
check in the space provided. This way you keep a permanent drug record
for yourself and your doctor. If you are seeing your doctor on a return
visit, make a list of any refills of medicines you need. What should a person with arthritis do during a doctor's appointment? - Answer your doctor's questions, and report your progress.
- Be honest. If you haven't been feeling well, or if you are frustrated with your treatment, tell the doctor.
- Be concrete. If you have pain, try to describe how
intense it is on a scale of one to ten, with ten being the worst. Try
to be specific about which part of your body is bothering you.
- Also explain how your pain or limitation of motion
prevents you from doing certain activities that are important to you.
These might include driving your car or brushing your teeth.
- Tell the doctor about any fears or complaints you have
about your treatment. Your doctor can sometimes reduce your fears by
explaining the treatment in greater detail. Or if you have a problem
with your treatment program, perhaps it can be changed slightly. Listen
to what your doctor tells you. If, after giving it careful thought, you
disagree with your doctor's advice, talk it out. There may be other
treatments you can try, or the doctor may be able to explain in a
better way why you should follow a certain program.
- Report any unusual symptoms you have noticed. Drugs
used for the treatment of arthritis can have side effects, so it's
important to tell your doctor about any unusual symptoms or bodily
changes you have noticed. Typical changes may include a skin rash,
sores in the mouth, dizziness, or changes in the color of your urine.
- Remind the doctor of what you want your interests and
needs. Your treatment program should be a combination of medications,
therapies, and exercises that are suited to you. Remembering your
interests and needs helps the doctor develop the best program for you.
For example, he or she may be able to help you keep the pain m your
knee under control so that you can continue to play golf. Or if you
tell your doctor that you find it difficult to take medication four
times a day, he or she may be able to prescribe a drug that you take
only twice a day.
- Share with your doctor important events in your
personal and social life. Events in your life can affect your arthritis
and they can also affect the way you take care of yourself. For
example, your doctor needs to know if your rheumatoid arthritis tends
to flare up after you and your husband fight. He or she also needs to
know if you get depressed during the holiday season and forget to take
your medication. Learn to share this information and talk honestly
about your emotions.
- Ask for an explanation. Always ask your doctor to
explain anything about your arthritis or your treatment program that
you don't understand. Try repeating what you think you heard. It's a
good way to make certain you really understand. For example, you might
ask "In rheumatoid arthritis, the lining of the joints gets inflamed
somehow and that causes fluid to build up inside it?" If you've got it
wrong, your doctor can correct you. Sometimes it's helpful to bring in
a friend or relative when you see your doctor so you can discuss what
the doctor told you.
- If your physician adjusts your treatment program and you don't know
why, find out. Also ask about possible side effects and what you should
do if they occur. Remember, the more you know about your arthritis and
your treatment, the more you can help the doctor help you.
- Keep in mind that talking honestly means giving and taking in an
atmosphere of respect and trust. However, you should try to be
"selective" when you tell the doctor about your complaints. If you
always bring a large list of complaints, your doctor may stop listening
attentively and could ignore something new that is truly important.
How important is it to follow an arthritis treatment plan? Part of developing a partnership with your doctor means trying your
best to follow the treatment program. All too often, people fail to
follow their doctors' instructions for one reason or another. Perhaps
they forget, or they get too busy. Make working for your good health a
routine. For example, place your drug usage chart on your mirror or
refrigerator or bathroom door to remind you to take your medications.
Make a habit of doing your exercises at the same time in the same place
every day. Your doctor or other members of your health care team may be
able to provide other suggestions to help you follow your treatment
program.
- Make notes. After you have visited with the
doctor, go to the waiting room to make notes, or write your notes at
home. If medication instructions aren't clear to you, ask for an
explanation from the nurse before leaving the office.
- Don't change your treatment program on your own without good
reason. This is very important! If you have a problem with the
treatment, consult your doctor. Many people stop taking their
medications once they start feeling better. Or if they don't start to
feel better right away, they give up. Either way is wrong. In arthritis
treatment, you have to understand that the drugs may take time to work.
Some drugs can take months before a noticeable change will occur.
However, if you improve right away, that doesn't mean you should stop
taking your medication. Feeling better doesn't mean that you've been
cured. It just means the treatment program is working.
- Also, don't follow other "medical" advice without
first checking with your own physician. You may watch a TV show or read
a newspaper article about a new "miracle cure" for arthritis. Be
cautious of any claims about cures. If you're curious and feel tempted
to try one, call your doctor for an opinion, or ask at your next office
visit.
- Stay alert for side effects. Observe your body and
judge how you feel. If side effects occur, refer to the notes you took
at your office visit and see what you should do. If you aren't sure,
call your doctor.
Each time you have an office visit, you and your doctor have an
opportunity to further develop your relationship. Discussion is a
necessary part of good medical care.
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