13 Common Mistakes You Probably Make When You See Your Doctor
Going to the doctor can be a stressful situation, but there are ways to make it go much smoother for both you and your physician.
Doctors see a lot of weird and stressful things throughout the day, and they will be able to help you more if you don’t add to that stress.
A medical visitcan take some preparation on your part. Sometimes, you might even want to keep a diary of your pains for a few days before your appointment, in order to be able to describe exactly how and when you are hurting. Every detail counts when it comes to giving you the properdiagnosis and treatment plan.
It’s not onlyup to your doctor to make sure you get better, but it’s your responsibility as well. You canhelp your doctor by being articulate, prepared, and honest.
These 13 things that we all often do at the doctor’s office only hinder theirability to help us. I know that I’m guilty of being underprepared for the doctor, but I never knew how much I was getting in the way ofmy own treatment!
Thumbnail source: Flickr
1. You Lie
Your doctor wants to give you the proper treatment, so she needs to know everything. This is not the time to get embarrassed about your personal life. If you cap the night off with a bottle of wine, or if you’ve recently taken up smoking, you have to tell your doctor.
2. You Bring Up A Second Problem At The Last Minute
You should state all the reasons for your visit right up front, even if they are all completely unrelated. If you come in for an aching hip, but you also have an itchy patch on your arm, and you are feeling depressed, you should state all three right at the beginning so that your doctor will have enough time toaddress each issueduring your appointment.
3. You Complain About Other Doctors
Talking behind your other doctors’ backs isn’t going to win you favor with your physician. If you and a previous doctor weren’t a great fit, just get past it and work on your illness with your current doctor.
4. You Come In Without A List Of Your Medications
Your doctor needs to know everything you are taking at the moment in order to determinehow to treat you. You should have a list with you that includes everything from heart medicine, to cold medicine, to the vitamins you take.
5. You Describe Your Problems Vaguely
Saying that everything hurts, that you just don’t feel good, or that your stomach feels “weird” isn’t going to help. Your doctor needs specifics, like if it’s sharp pain, burning pain, or achy pain.
6. You Come Straight From The Gym Or A Dirty Job
It’s always best to wash up before going to the doctor because they’re going to be examining your body in a very small, confined room. Just be courteous. If you’re seeing, say, a podiatrist, don’t wear dirty socks.
7. You Yell
This should be a given, but raising your voice at your doctor isn’t going to get you anywhere. If they cannot reach your insurance company to get you a refill, or if they are running behind, getting angry at them isn’t going to fix anything. Throwing a tantrum like a child certainly won’t, either.
8. You Leave Important Records At Home
If you have the images and files from another doctor, whether x-rays, scans, blood work, or urine analysis, bring them with you. Offices aren’t always the very best or speediest about transferring files, and many still use fax machines. You’re better off bringingthe hard copies yourself just to make sure that your doctor will be able to see them.
9. You Accept Everything The Doctor Says
If your doctor is suggesting a treatment plan that you know will not work for you, say so. Perhaps you’ve already tried their method, or you have read terrible things about the medication they are prescribing you and you are going to throw the Rx slip away as soon as you leave the office. This isn’t going to do any good, and it’s wasting both of your time. Tell the doc if you disagree with them they want to get you the right treatment.
10. You’re Oblivious About Your Family History
Your family’s medical history can be a clear guide to your own ailments, as illnesses are very often genetic. Get as much of the scoop as possible before you arrive.
11. You Ask Your Doctor To Fill Out Paperwork At The Last Minute
Your doctor is very busy, and when rushed, she can make a mistake on important paperwork. Get the papers to your doctor ahead of time so that there is ample time to fill them out carefully.
12. You Come In With Your Own Diagnosis
It’s good to recognize your symptoms and try to understand what’s wrong with you, but don’t tell the doctor how you need to be treated before they can even examine you. The internet is not there to diagnose you, but your doctor is.
13. You Leave With Unanswered Questions
Ask every question you have, even if you think it might sound silly. It’s incredibly importantthat you fully understand what you are supposed to do once you leave the office in order to get better.
Do you make any of these mistakeswhen you take a trip to the doctor? Let us know in the comments and
Read more: http://www.littlethings.com/never-do-at-doctor/
