Visiting the doctor can be daunting for anyone. Visits have become shorter, insurance challenges could mean large bills, and nobody likes getting their blood drawn.
Women have been conditioned to check in with their doctor once a year for their physical, which is also the time to ask questions and check in on any changes in their health care.
Sometimes those questions might feel embarrassing and are not asked, despite their importance.
While the Internet can be a good source of health information, ultimately your doctor’s expertise and knowledge of your whole case will help govern the appropriate answer for your care.
With that said, here are five questions you should be asking your doctor.
1) Is normal?
It does not matter what sentence or phrase you put inside the because it is important to you. For example, is nipple discharge normal? Sometimes.
Is an increase in chin hair growth normal? Sometimes.
Is hair loss normal? Sometimes.
Is ovarian pain normal? Sometimes.
As you can see, the answer could be positive or negative thus warranting further testing and/or imaging. Never assume.
2) At what age should I ?
Doctors do see a lot of patients every day and they may not remind you to get a certain test therefore if you think an exam is coming up, make sure you ask!
At what age should I get my first mammogram?
At what age can I switch to having a Pap test every three years?
At what age should I get a bone density scan?
At what age do I need my first colonoscopy?
At what age does menopause typically begin?
At what age should I have this IUD removed?
At what age should I have my breast implants redone?
Be proactive with your health and understand where you stand among the ages in order to know what is coming up.
3) Can you explain and how it relates to my health?
Let’s face it, there is a lot of information on the Internet but it may not all pertain to your particular case. Therefore, talk with your doctor about your concerns.
For example, can you explain my mom’s breast cancer history and how it relates to my health?
Can you explain how me being on the birth control pill raises my risk for blood clots?
Can you explain how my recent thyroid diagnosis relates to my future fertility?
4) What are the side effects to these medications?
Many people do not realize that even though a lot of medications are common and thought to have minimal risk – they could be causing some of the general hard-to-pinpoint symptoms as easily as they could cause a major reaction.
Make sure you ask your doctor before you start something new and then follow it up by reading the fine print given to you at the pharmacy.
5) What would you tell your significant other to do?
This question can be powerful and is often underutilized when discussing different treatment options with a health care provider.
While ultimately the decision lies in your hands as it is your body, it is nice to know you have options and which option your doctor would recommend to their husband or wife.
It might help you make a decision, especially if you are on the fence about something or have a lot of fears and concerns about the treatment.
Lastly, remember to write all of your questions down so that you do not get off track and forget them. Bring a pen or use a recording app on your phone in order to remember what was said, and have notes to refer back to in the future.
It is your health, so be an active participant.
Sources:
10 Questions Doctors Wish Their Patients Would Ask
http://health.usnews.com/health-news/patient-advice/slideshows/10-questions-doctors-wish-their-patients-would-ask
Questions patients should be asking their doctors. Kevinmd.com.
http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/06/questions-patients-doctors.html
Reviewed December 17, 2014
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith