Photo by J. Kelly Brito on Unsplash
Seeing a specialist is an opportunity you need to make the most of, since it can seriously put you out of pocket if you don’t have medical aid, and you don’t want to keep going back, wasting your time if you can avoid doing so. However, preparing for the visit is not something that most people think to do – yet this is something that can seriously save you and even help get you treated quicker.
Here are a few ways you can prepare for your specialist visit:
List Your Symptoms
In anticipation of your upcoming visit, try to focus on all the strange or unpleasant symptoms you are experiencing, jotting them down as you think of them. Take this list with you to your appointment.
Think of Major Lifestyle Changes
Have you had any major lifestyle changes recently? These could include major changes in diet, starting new supplements, the adoption of new habits such as smoking or drinking, and quitting gym. These may have more of an impact on your body than you realise, and so they’re definitely something your specialist needs to know about.
Add this to your list, so that if you hit a blank during the consult, you have something to refer to.
List Your Questions
Can you think of a time when you’ve had a few questions to ask your doctor before your visit but upon arriving, you got carried away chatting and forgot to bring them up? This is a common occurrence and can easily be solved by jotting them down on your phone or notepad.
Your specialist can only perform at his or her best when you give them the right information, enough information, and ask the right questions. Making a list may take a little time, but it’s something you won’t regret as it will most certainly save you time down the line and ensure you get the most value out of your visit! And remember to be open and honest with your specialist – they are trained to listen to you without judgement!
If you’d like to book an appointment with your friendly, go-to orthopaedic specialist, Dr Sachin Baba, get in touch with us and we’ll get back to you with a date.
