Published: June 12, 2008 02:35 pm         

Before visiting the doctor

During the past few months my mother has not felt well. We have been trying to find out the cause of her rash and her allergies. She has been to several doctors and each one has been wonderful to her and has prescribed medications to help or suggested many things to try.

Finally, her primary care doctor called the pharmacy and they coordinated all of the medicines she was taking. Thank goodness she only uses one local pharmacy! Between the doctor and the pharmacist, she has been taken off several medications to see if she has an allergy or reaction to one of them. Hopefully, we are on the road to recovery now.

When I go to the doctor I often forget to state all my problems or ask all of the questions that I planned to discuss. This apparently is very common for any age, but especially for older adults. I began doing some research to find suggestions about preparing for a doctor’s visit. The following are some tips:

n Think about the visit beforehand.

n Prepare a written list of things to tell the doctor or questions you want to ask. If you have trouble writing, ask a friend or relative to help you prepare this list.

n Take all your medications to the doctor when you go, or take a list of all your medications. Include even the drugs that do not require a prescription such as aspirin or laxatives. Be sure to include all vitamins, minerals, and herbs you are taking.

n Every doctor you see needs to know about all the medications you are taking.

n Take a written list of your allergies and all medications to which you have had a negative reaction.

By having everything written down you can check each item off your list and will help make sure you covered all your concerns. This not only helps you, but it helps your doctor know more about you. The doctor is your partner and we need to tell the doctor all he or she needs to know in order to diagnose our problem and prescribe the proper medication.

Many older adults see numerous physicians for their ailments. Each physician is a specialist in his or her own field. The scenario with my mother is just one example. This is not uncommon. The pharmacy, the primary care physician, the patient and the family or caregiver need to be a team and work together.

— Sue Ritz, the executive director of Boone County Senior Services Inc., may be reached at (765) 482-5220 or sritz@booneseniors.org.



doctor talk

A workshop on “Partnering with Your Doctor” will be offered from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. June 19 at Epworth United Methodist Church, 6450 Allisonville Road, Indianapolis. Free to the public, the workshop is sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Indiana and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Workshop participants will learn strategies to make the best use of time with their doctors. The goal is to improve and enhance how patients, care partners and physicians relate in the care setting. The workshop will demonstrate how to prepare for doctor visits, reduce stress, and communicate information accurately and effectively. These skills can help everyone in the process make informed decisions about care and services.

For information or to register, call (800) 272-3900 or visit www.alz.org/indiana

— Source: The Alzheimer’s Association

     

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