| Your doctor will gain a great deal of information | | | | they are related. |
| about your health by peering into your | | | | Ask yourself questions, create a record to help |
| orifices,eyes, pressing nails and areas of your | | | | explain and describe symptoms. |
| body. | | | | Pain, for example : Is it a sharp, dull, aching or |
| Never-the-less, forget the hocus Pocus, if you are | | | | relentless pain?, Is it pain that moves?, |
| looking for the smallest pocket trick it will not be | | | | Is it experienced in the AM/PM ? |
| found at your doctors office. Physicians are not | | | | Be prepared to answer other specific questions |
| magician or mind readers. | | | | that may be related. |
| Simply put, applied knowledge equals a diagnosis. | | | | Do Not Offer the Doctor A Diagnosis! |
| Your doctor has had many years of training, | | | | Describe all your symptoms exactly, but do not |
| knows the symptoms of countless diseases, and | | | | offer a diagnosis. That is what he/she has |
| has access to the latest research he or she may | | | | beentrained to do, diagnose and why you choose |
| need inmaking a diagnosis. | | | | to see a professional. |
| Yet, with all this impressive knowledge and paper | | | | Have a list of your previous illnesses handy |
| to prove his or her success, every doctor must | | | | compare notes with your doctor. |
| ultimately depend upon you, the patient for a | | | | Your history should be listed on your medical |
| proper diagnosis and method of treatment. | | | | record. Make sure your doctor reads your |
| To get the most from a visit to any doctor, no | | | | abbreviated history on each visit by ask your |
| matter what the specialty is, you must be | | | | doctor to summarize your history to date before |
| prepared to tell him/her what you are | | | | leaving. |
| experiencing with your health. A vague " I am, | | | | Remember you are not consulting a magician. The |
| just not myself" does notgive the doctor the | | | | symptoms of many diseases can be almost |
| information needed to treat you. | | | | theexactly same. A proper diagnosis can only be |
| There are are millions of disease states out there. | | | | accomplished with you and your doctor working |
| How will he/she to narrow it down to one ? | | | | together, you are the first assistant on each visit. |
| Be prepared to explain: | | | | He/She needs all the help you can give, so the |
| Exactly how you feel. Be able to describe your | | | | rightdiagnosis and treatment can be made for |
| pain /symptoms, paint a picture in a | | | | you. |
| understandable manner. If you have other unusual | | | | If you are prepared, your visit can be |
| symptoms that you feel are not related to your | | | | accomplished efficiently saving both time and |
| present condition, do not hesitate to mention | | | | aggravation for you and the physician. |
| them anyway. The doctor will decide whether | | | | |