From 
Del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
StumbleUpon
TwitThis
Medical schools teach a specific way to conduct an office visit. Part one is the complaint, aka your description of your problem. Part two is the physical exam. And part three is when the doctor gives you a diagnosis and prescribes tests or a treatment. Chances are, you focus on part three, but the patients who receive the best care are those who master part one. The key is to describe in detail what you've been feeling -- not just "bad," but what kind of bad, for how long, and after what kind of activity.
Of course, that's easier said than done. Even though I've been a physician for many years, I tend to be a little nervous when I'm the one sitting on the exam table; if I haven't prepared, I lose track of the details I intended to share. So I take a few minutes at home to write down some crucial specifics. This is sort of like medical Mad Libs -- just choose the right words to fill in the blanks. For instance, say you've been bothered by back pain:
I have had __________ [problem: back pain] for __________ [time: days, weeks, months, years]. It is worse when I __________ [context: awake, bend down, at the end of the day]. The pain is __________ [type: sharp, dull]; it's __________ [severity: mild, severe, intolerable] and __________ [duration: constant, intermittent]. It began __________ [when: with an injury, spontaneously, when taking a medication]. When I take __________ [medication: aspirin, ibuprofen, narcotic], it makes it __________ [effect: all better, partially better, doesn't affect it at all].
The doctor will then ask questions, but you've done much of the work already. Your examination will be more specific, and the diagnosis and treatment will be more accurate. You'll have bought yourself time at the end of the visit to ask questions. And there may even be a few minutes left over for a little pleasant conversation!
Pamela F. Gallin, MD, is a clinical professor of ophthalmology and pediatrics at New York Presbyterian-Columbia University Medical Center and the author of How to Survive Your Doctor’s Care.
10 Easy Slow Cooker Recipes
How to Make Your Party a Success
Quiz: What Do Food Labels Really Mean?
Funny Video: Fast Food Mixup
Joke: Worshippers are greeted by these words at the Travelers Rest Church…
10 Great Gift Book Ideas
Advertisement 
