Presenting Detailed Information about Symptoms
Presenting information about a medical condition by answering these questions will give your health care provider much of the information they will need to diagnose and treat you. We know this is a long list of questions to think about. Click ADD to add any of these questions to “My Notes.”
1. When did you first experience these symptoms or changes?
2. How often and when do you experience them? For example, when you have sex, when you urinate, or while you’re sleeping?
3. How long do they last (a few seconds, minutes, days)?
4. Do these changes or symptoms increase with certain activities? If so, what activities?
Presenting Detailed Information about Treatment
Here are some things to think about when presenting information about treatments you have already tried.
1. Have you taken any prescribed or over-the-counter medication? If so, what have you taken? Did you feel better?
2. How did you take the medication; for example, how much and how often?
3. Have you used other therapies for the problem, such as vitamins, herbs, or nutritional supplements? If so, what and with what result?
4. Does anything you do help (eating or not eating certain foods, doing or avoiding certain activity)? If so, what?
5. Have you seen a health care provider before about these changes? If so, when did you see the provider?
6. What was his/her name?
7. What kind of treatment did they prescribe?
8. Did you use the prescribed treatment? If so, did you feel better?
Presenting Detailed Information about Other Concerns
Here are some other concerns to think about.
1. Are any of your symptoms or changes related to problems, concerns, or stress about events in your personal life at home, work, or elsewhere?
2. Are you concerned that your symptoms may be a sign of a particular illness such as a STD or cancer?
3. If you have health care preferences or values, for example, avoiding medication as much as possible, it’s very important to let your health care provider know.