Take a deep breath…

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Let’s all say this together…

We are not going to be intimidated when we visit our physician.  We will not let him or her flit in after our vitals were taken, listen to our heart, check a few other items, say we are fine, and evanesce.  Leaving us to dress and go home.

No! We are going to ask questions and get answers.  If there is pushback, we can remind our professional that we are following the mandate issued by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ.gov).

Here’s the list of questions. Ask them politely; there is no need to be contentious.  Inquiring minds WANT to know the answers.  And, not all of them may apply to every visit, but having them printed on a card and brought with you to the doctor will make sure you don’t forget something.

Questions to Ask Your Physician

It’s not how much time you spend with your doctor- but how wisely we spend that time!   You know the rules about time management- this is one of those instances when we need to exercise control- and get the full benefit of our- and our professional’s- time.

Yes, there is more information on the web- but remember, much of that was written by folks who have an axe to grind.  Medical or pharmaceutical firms who want you to choose their therapy.  Herbologists who want you to buy their (usually voodoo) medicine.  Alternative medicine has some benefit to change our psyche- but other than that, a lot of the therapies have no scientific merit.

Tomorrow, I will provide additional thoughts on how to sift through this plethora of (real and mis-)information.Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A.

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21 thoughts on “Take a deep breath…”

  1. I like the questions to ask your doctor, Roy. They are very specific and get to the point. Sometimes doctors just want to make small talk and then hand you a prescrition and run out of the room.
    I agree that it is our responsibility to take control of our health issues.

  2. Thank you Roy for this post! This is great advice. Everyone should remember that health care professionals are hired to meet your health care needs. If they use a word (or many words) that you do not understand, ask them to explain it better using regular terminology. If you still do not get it, ask for diagrams, written instructions, or someone else who can explain it better. Make sure that you feel that you have all the information that you need so that you can work with your health care providers to make the best decisions for your health care.

  3. This post is very timely, Roy. I have been visiting doctors and dentists with a mystery illness and it is so difficult to get to the bottom of it. Seems to be some kind of process of elimination. It’s a great list to bring – very helpful – thank you!

    1. Suerae:
      I am so glad you will do so. That’s exactly why i wrote this – to help us through the time we are in the doctor’s office. We are always less certain there- having the questions at the ready makes the process so much easier.

      Roy

  4. An excellent checklist, Roy, and a great list to take along to any doctor visit. I once got so discombobulated by the rush around me and past me at the office that we talked about several things EXCEPT the problem I’d made the appointment about.

    Got the bum’s rush, and was out of there and home before I realized I’d have to go again, pay again, and bring up the topic the original visit was about! So yes. I need that list! 😉

    1. Paula, you are not the only one. It’s why that list is critical. It’s helps each of us stay focused and get the answers we need. So, we can control our therapy and improve our outcomes.
      Thanks for visiting.

      Roy

  5. Hi Roy,

    That is a good list. I actually have this habit of asking questions so its good to know that it is not entirely wrong. It can be annoying at times but I know its better than to assume things on my own. 🙂

    1. Nice to meet you, Alex. Glad you added to the discussion.
      You are absolutely right to ask questions- it’s YOUR health. You need to understand what the choices are and be active in your own course of events.
      So glad you liked the list.
      Roy

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  9. Hi Roy, kelli again. Most of my colleagues won’t visit a doctor because aside from it’s expensive, there would be a lot of complications that will come out. They don’t want to hear how sick they are.

    1. Kelli:
      That’s a little scary. No one really wants to know how sick they are- but there is no way to get better or improve without at least knowing with what we are dealing.
      And, hopefully, insurance will start covering the costs for the physician visits.

      Roy

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