So you leave with answers instead of thinking, “Wait… what just happened?”
Doctors tend to follow a general structure that allows them to collect the information they need to assess what might be going on. By thinking about this before your visit, you can help them get there.
Start with the main problem
This is what doctors call the “presenting complaint”. It is what often guides the rest of the consultation.
Don’t begin with every detail chronologically.
Try:
“The main reason I’m here is…”
Then give:
- what the symptom is
- how long it’s been happening
- what worries you most
Example:
“I’ve been getting headaches for 3 weeks, they’re becoming more frequent, and I’m worried because this is new for me.”
That immediately gives the doctor a framework that they can build off of.
Describe symptoms specifically
Doctors need more than just “I feel weird.”
Before you visit your doctor, try to develop an answer to these questions:
- Where is it?
- When did it start?
- What does it feel like? (e.g. sharp, dull, aching)
- Do you feel symptoms anywhere else?
- How severe is it on a scale of 1-10 (e.g. 1 = no pain, 10 = worst pain ever)
- What makes it better or worse?
- Does it come and go?
For example, if you have stomach pain –
Instead of:
“My stomach hurts sometimes.”
You could start with:
“I get a 5/10 burning pain in my upper abdomen about an hour after eating. It lasts around 30 minutes and happens three times a week.”
Much more diagnostically useful.
Think about what changed.
If you have a new symptom, the first thing that doctors often think about is what changed around the time that symptom started.
Think:
- Did you start or stop any medications or supplements?
- Has your diet changed?
- Have you travelled recently or been exposed to new environments?
- Have your sleep patterns or stress levels changed?
Importantly, this might not always explain a new symptom but you can help your doctor rule possible diagnoses out by having this information ready.
Be honest about the awkward stuff
It is incredibly important that you feel comfortable talking to your doctor about awkward or intimate problems.
Your doctor is a professional and is trained to deal with such matters. They want to help you, and restricting information may divert or delay possible diagnoses or treatment.
Before you leave, make sure you understand the plan.
Ask:
- “What do you think is most likely going on?”
- “Do I need any tests?”
- “What should I do next?”
- “What symptoms should make me come back or seek urgent care?”
And if you don’t understand something, say so. Medical terminology can be confusing, and asking your doctor to explain something differently is completely reasonable.
