Don't be afraid to cry or interrupt: 12 tips to make the best of your doctor's appointment

We go toif we need help. Here it is importantopen and honestTo talk about where it tweaks and tweaks so that you get a good and, above all, helpful diagnosis - but this is exactly what many patients fail. The fear,not taken seriouslyor evento be condemned for "little ailments"is too strong. Sometimes so much that some people save themselves directly into practice. The result: the suffering is greater and larger ...

This article should help you have more courage and thatTo be able to describe the doctor without any problems what you are missing. Be honest with regard to your symptoms, express your concerns, make notes, ask follow -up questions if necessary. Explain hereGeneral practitioners and surgeonhow to optimally use every minute of treatment.

If you see a doctor, it can be difficult toto clearly express health concernsBecause they are afraid, ashamed or do not understand the medical jargon. How can you? With these12 doctors tipsIt will work easier in the future.

It often happens that people with a long list of things go to the family doctor who they want to talk about, saysDr. Fari Ahmad, Partner in general medicine and trainers for general practitioners in the Wilmslow health center in Cheshire. If you do this right awayClear at the beginning of your appointment, you can find out together what has priority.

The brain tends toThe first information that is presented to us is to be regarded as the most important, saysDr. High, Specialist in Neurology at the University Hospital Oxford. So always address your biggest problem. "So if the most important symptom of a*of a patient*is in a headache, it is worth starting with this symptom instead of first talking about another symptom. Of course, all doctors are trained in recognizing this, and we try to avoid it, but what you first mention is what you will most likely concentrate on."

As difficult as it may be, try yoursTo overcome embarrassment when you explain your symptoms. "Most general practitioners have already seen or heard everything," says Ahmad. "I've been doing this job for 30 years, so I am not embarrassed. And sometimes these supposedly embarrassing symptoms are even very important so that the specialists understand what is going on." Above all, everything related to sex and sexual diseases.

"I ask the patients to use their own language," says Begeti. "What a neurologist can really do is to differentiate. A patient may say that he or she has dizziness, which corresponds to medical terminology. Then: How does that feel for you? Do you feel that you are turning? Or do you feel dizzy as if you were on a boat? Sometimes people can use the same language for very different sensations."So colloquial is welcomeIf it contributes to this, theShy to overcometo talk about certain parts of the body.

"I don't know any therapist who*has something against it when you use colloquial words," saysProf. Matt Phillips, Specialist in Urogenital Medicine in Cumbria and President of the British Association for Sexal Health and HIV. He adds: "Don't worry if you pronounce something wrong."

"Doctors are not there to judge them," says Ahmad. "We just want to give you the best advice. So it is important that youopen, how much alcohol you drink, whether you smoke, how active you are and what you eat. If you tell us that you only drink a few glasses a week, although it is actually a bottle of a bottle per evening or if you say that you don't smoke even though you smoke,Then we work with the wrong information. The more honest you are, the better we can help you. "

In the age of Google, most people go to a doctor's appointment with oneQuantity of information about a possible disease. "If that applies to you, you are not afraid to tell us," says Ahmad. "Your family doctor knows that thatInternet sometimes makes things appear worsethan they are. For example, if someone has a headache, he or she could fear that it is a brain tumor. Your doctor can go through the typical symptoms of a brain tumor with you and explain why your situation is different. He or she can explain to you what your*believes is the cause of your symptoms and what steps are next to take. Be it that you try treatment, keep an eye on things or carry out further tests, so you leave your appointment with a good feeling and know what to do next. "

"I always say my patient: 'If you are during our conversationDo not understand something, you canlike to interrupt'", saysDr. Petra Jankowska, Specialist in clinical oncology in Taunton, Somerset, and medical director of professional practice at the Royal College of Radiologists. "It is really important thatDoct a clear and unmistakable languageUse and avoid jargon, acronyms and euphemisms. If you don't understand what is said, don't be afraid to say this. "

"The patients think we are really in a hurry because they know that the health system is overloaded and they almost apologize for the time they have with us," saysStella Vig, Specialist for vascular and general surgery at the University Hospital Croydon. "ButTime belongs to them. If that means that my clinic is slightly overloaded, it doesn't matter. If we cannot cover everything in the time available to us, we can have onefurther appointmentagree. But the patients shouldn't go with the feeling that they couldn't speak to us. "

"OneAccompanying personCan help you understand what has been said - but make sure youprimarily to listen", says Jankowska." If the*relatives or friend wants to ask a delicate question, how 'what does that mean for the forecast?', And the*the patient has not asked this question, this can be very uncomfortable. If the patient is accompanied by someone who*who supports him*, he should*speak to this person beforehand and say: 'I actually wanted to ask that. Is it okay if I do that? '. "In the event of problems like memory loss, it is important anyway to bring someone who one who oneobjective opinioncan submit.

"If something is uncomfortable for you, then say it", says Phillips. Ask the presence of a supervisor or to be examined by a person of a certain gender if you believe that this would help."But say it early, so that it doesn't get too stressful. "

"It is your right to get a second opinion", says Phillips:" If you are not satisfied, you should always have the opportunity to ask for it. "But, adds Begeti," it is important with oneopen attitudeto come to the appointments. Sometimes people come to me with an illness that they have heard of, but the same symptom can be caused by dozens of different diseases. "

"Sometimes the patient comes the tears during the consultation, and theEmotions are unexpectedly high- And that's perfectly fine, "says Ahmad." Your doctor will not be surprised, on the contrary, it can help him or her,to better understand the effects of their concerns. "Cry can bereal reliefbe. Sometimes a few more tears help than you expect, and letting go can be therapeutic.