Communicating with your doctor

• Prepare for your doctor's appointment - make a list of any points that you wish to discuss, and take this with you.
  
  
• You might find it helpful to make a regular diary to record how you have been coping with your symptoms.
  
  
• If there is a lot you need to discuss with the doctor, then make this clear when you book your appointment.
  
  
• If you have prepared a list of your medications, then take this to your appointment.
  
  
• Make sure that you are honest about your symptoms. Making symptoms seem better or worse than they are will give the doctor a false idea of how the treatment is working.
  
  
• Don't feel that you have to use medical words with the doctor - use the language that you feel comfortable with. · If you don't understand what the doctor says, then say so. Ask if it can be explained again or in another way. It is very important that you understand. · Feel free to write down, or ask the doctor to write down, anything that is said if you feel it will help you remember something important.In order to download the documents you will need Adobe® Reader®. Click here for a FREE download of Adobe® Reader®.

Last updated: 31.07.2008