I think that many of us treat doctors more like mind-readers and magicians than we should. We assume that if we just show up at the doctor's office and sit silently on the crinkly white paper that they will magically deduce anything that might possibly be wrong and, with a wave of their wand, or stethoscope, all will be fine. It's sometimes easy to forget that doctors are fallible creatures who have hundreds and even thousands of patients and they just can't, and don't have the supernatural resources to, cover it all. This is why we need to step in and serve as our own advocates.
Consider these:
1. Be aware of your symptoms and keep a journal so that you can have as much information as possible when you visit your doctor. What does it feel like? What time of day are you most affected? Is it worse after certain activities? Writing everything down will ensure that you don't forget anything when you're seeing the doctor.
2. Get blood work done routinely and insist that you receive a full report ASAP. If you have any questions about the results, ask your doctor if you can meet with him/her to discuss them. Having your blood work done periodically can help doctors detect conditions before visible symptoms arise and it can be helpful down the road in determining whether a condition is chronic or acute.
3. Don't be afraid to ask. I have made the mistake numerous times in the past of not asking my doctor enough questions because I was too afraid that I was going to come across as an annoying, time-consuming or ignorant patient. You have every right to ask as many questions as you need to feel comfortable about your health. If your doctor seems annoyed and makes you feel as though he/she doesn't have time for your questions, find another doctor!
4. Seek the best doctor possible. We often need to see a specialist and just consult the yellow pages or call the hospital to find the first available appointment with whomever will see us. When you need a doctor, for a routine visit or otherwise, putting in some extra legwork on the front end can be well worth it. Ask family and friends if they know of anyone who has experience with a doctor in that field, or if they know anyone at the hospital who could find out which doctor is most highly regarded. Or look on-line to see if you can find credentials and patient's reviews.
also...if you or your child is ever in the hospital, ASK FOR WHAT YOU WANT!! if your gut tells you that they should do another test, or let you talk to the doctor NOW, or see another doctor, or whatever...ASK FOR IT. hospitals want good ratings, therefore they want their patients and families to be satisfied. if you push for it, they will most often get you what you want. doctors/nurses often know best but not always! :)
ReplyDeletegood tips, linley!