Trips to the doctor’s office can leave you harried and overwhelmed. As a result, important questions can be forgotten. Here is a list of suggested questions to consider bringing with you to your loved one’s next appointment.
See also: How to talk effectively with health care providers.
Symptoms
Here are the symptoms my mother is experiencing. What could be causing them?
Diagnoses
- What illness or condition does/could my loved one have?
- How is the condition or illness diagnosed?
- What are the treatment options?
- What is the most effective treatment?
- What are the causes of this condition or illness?
- What is likely to happen with and without treatment?
- Are there common complications associated with this illness or condition?
Medications
- What is the name of the medicine you are prescribing?
- What is its benefit?
- Is a generic drug available?
- What are the risks and side effects?
- How often should my loved one take the drug?
- How long should he take the drug?
- What foods, other medicines or activities should he avoid while taking this drug?
- Could this medicine interact with any medications he’s currently taking?
Diet and Exercise
- Are there foods that my loved one should avoid?
- Should my loved one eat more of a certain type of food?
- Do you recommend vitamins or supplements?
- How often should my loved one exercise?
- What types of exercise are safe?
- What types of exercise are not safe?
Tests
- Are tests necessary?
- What will they show?
- What preparation is needed?
- When will we get the results?
- What do the test results mean?
Next: Questions about costs»
Surgeries
- Why does my loved one need surgery?
- How is the surgery performed?
- Where will the surgery be performed?
- Are there alternatives to surgery?
- What risks are associated with this operation?
- What kind of anesthesia will be used?
- What is the average recovery time?
- How much experience do you have performing this type of surgery?
Costs
- What costs can we expect?
- Will my loved one’s insurance cover this test or treatment?
- What can we do to reduce costs?
Written Instructions
- Do you have any written information that we can take home?
Follow-Up Care
- Is a follow-up visit necessary?
- If so, when should we follow up?
- If we think of questions later, how can we contact you?
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