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Prepping for a specialist appointment
Hello, LEMS community! Hope everyone is having a great week.
When prepping for an appointment with one of your specialists, different factors come into play. You may be seeing a specialist for the first time, or dealing with new symptoms that you want to discuss. It helps to have a plan going into the appointment, so that you ensure that your needs are met.
What steps do you take to prepare for a specialist appointment? Do you have any tips or tricks to share?
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3 Replies
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Prepping for a specialist appointment = Agenda/Research
1. Agenda. Always make a list of questions and observations. This is needed to help “YOU” remember everything. It is especially needed when the doctor distracts you during the office visit. Do not let the doctor out of the room, until ALL YOUR important items are discussed.
2. Start. Start the list at least 3 weeks before the visit. That will increase the number/quality of items to discuss. Make a copy of any recent Lab results from the Patient Portal.
3. Website Documents. If the question is related to an internet article, bring it with you and highlight sections.
4. Labs Reports. Bring a copy any recent lab test that needs further explanation. My expectation is NOT that they explain the meaning of each lab element. But if the data is out of range, they need to say, “it does not require any action” OR what action is needed. If it requires action, take good notes.
5. Complex Issues. If there are complex questions that require some advance research by the doctor. I will email them the agenda a few days earlier. This avoid shot-from-the-hip weak replies.
6. Action Summary (Last item on the agenda). If there are multiple actions, this agenda item is to consolidate ALL the action items. Record WHO is doing each action.
PS: I also bring a copy of the United Kingdom’s, Clinical Guideline on Medicine that may affect patients with LEM (paraphrased title). This has coached my PCP, surgeon, oncologist, neurologist and anesthesiologists.
https://www.rightdecisions.scot.nhs.uk/media/2273/myasthenia-gravis-3.pdf
The 2025 version due to be issued.
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Hey @dale-curtiss Thanks so much for sharing this awesome list! I KNOW it will help someone out! 🙂
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<div>This professional article provides “more” steps than my first reply.</div>
Your Doctor Has 15 Minutes—Know How to Make Each One Count | The Epoch Times
theepochtimes.com
Your Doctor Has 15 Minutes—Know How to Make Each One Count
Nearly 3 in 4 Americans leave medical appointments confused, but you can be the one who gets real answers.
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