Preparing for Appointments

Sadly, there is no sure-fire way to prepare for appointments that make you nervous.
There is no exact protocol, no cheat-sheet or instructions to follow.
Sometimes the most nerve-racking appointments go much better than expected, while run-of-the-mill appointments can be surprisingly stressful.

I knew that I would not be able to sleep until I felt as ready as possible for an upcoming appointment.
That has kept me awake - preparing - until 3 in the morning the night before.

There are a few standard things to help prepare for big appointments. By 'big appointments', I mean any appointment that is daunting. It could be getting test results back, making a big decision about treatments, changes to medications or directions, discussing a newly diagnosed illness, seeing a brand new specialist, etc...
Here are some basic tips:
• If you have a medical log, bring that with you.
• If you are discussing a particular set of symptoms or disease progression, go over your notes and get exact dates for when the symptoms began, what helped, what made them worse, and what may have triggered episodes.
• Ask a family member, spouse, or close friend to see what they remember about watching you go through it.
• Bring an updated list of medications.
• Think of some questions the doctor may ask.
• Try to stay as calm as possible and really think about your answers when you are asked questions.
• Prepare as early as possible.
• Try to get a decent night's rest before the appointment. Being foggy about dates or forgetful about symptoms (this is far more common than people realize) will only hinder your appointment.
• Remember that they are the experts in medicine, but you also have legitimate knowledge of your own experience to provide.
• Avoid google.

The most intimidating part of these appointments are rarely the information itself. When it comes to a brand new physician or specialist, in particular, not knowing how that person will treat you is terrifying. The truth is, specialists and physicians have a great deal of power over your medical future, especially in the realm of chronic illness. So when you are meeting a physician who is going to determine your treatment, it can be a stressful experience. This is all the more reason to bring someone with you, if you can.