Current:Home > StocksDo you freeze up in front of your doctor? Here's how to talk to your physician -RiskWatch
Do you freeze up in front of your doctor? Here's how to talk to your physician
View
Date:2025-04-14 22:56:07
Watch this video for tips on talking to your doctor — including what information to bring to an appointment and what follow-up questions to ask after a diagnosis.
When you're sitting on an exam table wearing a paper gown, it's easy to forget all the questions that brought you in to see the doctor in the first place. Maybe you thought your physician would ask you about something, but they didn't, so you weren't sure if you should bring it up. Or a symptom felt like a big deal to you, but they brushed it off.
"I think most patients feel that the doctor is all-knowing, and that in the medical encounter or the relationship, that they are powerless," says Dr. Jennifer Mieres, professor of cardiology at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the chief Diversity and Inclusion officer at Northwell Health.
But your doctor can't read your mind. "I always say I didn't have ESP to figure out what was going on," says Mieres. "This is a partnership." She says ideally, doctors and patients should work together as "co-detectives."
And that detective work will be easier for you and your doctor if you come to your appointment ready. "Prepare as if you're going to your accountant getting ready for taxes," she says. "You don't show up without receipts."
Here are a few ways Dr. Mieres says you can prep for an appointment
- Keep a log book of symptoms, including details like:
- When your symptoms began
- What were you doing when they started
- How long they have persisted
- What makes them worse
- The impact they're having on your life (for instance, it hurts when you bend down to tie your shoes)
- Know and share your family's health history
- Keep track of your vitals like blood pressure
- If there's something you know you'd like to discuss at your appointment, send a portal message to your doctor in advance so they're prepared
If you feel dismissed by your doctor, Mieres says that's a warning sign and a signal to hit the pause button and take control. Some helpful phrases in those moments: "This is limiting my life," and "I think that there's something going on and I'm having a hard time putting it together. I need your help."
You can also ask for a referral to see another specialist and bring a friend or family member to your next appointment to ask questions or take notes.
To see Dr. Jennifer Mieres and Life Kit host Marielle Segarra act out a conversation between a doctor and a patient, along with pop-up notations about how to make the most of a conversation with your doctor, watch the video at the top of the page or on YouTube or listen to the podcast episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
This video was hosted by Marielle Segarra; directed by Iman Young; produced by Iman Young, Sylvie Douglis and Beck Harlan; edited by Christina Shaman; filmed by Nickolai Hammar, Christina Shaman and Iman Young, and animated by Kaz Fantone and Jackie Lay. Audio engineering support comes from Neal Rauch. Supervising editors are Meghan Keane and Nick Michael.
The audio portion of this episode was produced by Sylvie Douglis. The story was adapted for digital by Beck Harlan and edited by Meghan Keane.
Listen to Life Kit on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or sign up for our newsletter.
veryGood! (56)
Related
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- After a historic downturn due to the pandemic, childhood immunizations are improving
- Taco John's has given up its 'Taco Tuesday' trademark after a battle with Taco Bell
- Wide Leg Pants From Avec Les Filles Are What Your Closet’s Been Missing
- Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow owns a $3 million Batmobile Tumbler
- Why Chinese Aluminum Producers Emit So Much of Some of the World’s Most Damaging Greenhouse Gases
- In-N-Out Burger bans employees in 5 states from wearing masks
- There's a way to get healthier without even going to a gym. It's called NEAT
- Head of the Federal Aviation Administration to resign, allowing Trump to pick his successor
- A New Study from China on Methane Leaks from the Sabotaged Nord Stream Pipelines Found that the Climate Impact Was ‘Tiny’ and Nothing ‘to Worry About’
Ranking
- Sam Taylor
- As Flooding Increases, Chicago Looks To Make Basement Housing Safer
- Gabrielle Union Has the Best Response to Critics of Her Cheeky Swimsuits
- Score This Sweat-Wicking Sports Bra With 25,700+ 5-Star Reviews For $17 on Amazon Prime Day 2023
- Jamie Foxx gets stitches after a glass is thrown at him during dinner in Beverly Hills
- One Man’s Determined Fight for Solar Power in Rural Ohio
- Why the Feared Wave of Solar Panel Waste May Be Smaller and Arrive Later Than We Expected
- Could the U.S. still see a recession? A handy primer about the confusing economy
Recommendation
Selena Gomez engaged to Benny Blanco after 1 year together: 'Forever begins now'
Delivery drivers want protection against heat. But it's an uphill battle
Taco John's has given up its 'Taco Tuesday' trademark after a battle with Taco Bell
Kate Hudson Proves Son Bing Is Following in Her and Matt Bellamy’s Musical Footsteps
Have Dry, Sensitive Skin? You Need To Add These Gentle Skincare Products to Your Routine
Amazon Prime Day 2023 Back to College Deals from Tech Must-Haves to Dorm Essentials
Jennifer Aniston’s Go-To Vital Proteins Collagen Powder and Coffee Creamer Are 30% Off for Prime Day 2023
These 25 Amazon Prime Day 2023 Deals Are Big Sellout Risks: Laneige, Yeti, Color Wow, Kindle, and More