This week, we’re talking about another topic that often makes those that we care for groan—doctor visits. It’s not unusual to dread these visits, but they are so important! Being seen regularly by your physician is so crucial to preserving your health. Most people wait until there’s a problem to treat instead of being focusing on prevention and proactively staying ahead of issues.
There are two main components that we want you to take away this week:
Medications
Communication
Let’s dive in!
Medication
Prescription medications are no strangers to most of us, and the number of different medications we are on typically increases as we age. Most people never have any issues with their medication, however, there are a few things to pay attention to whenever adding a new medication to your daily regimen.
First, you need to understand what each medication is being used for. It’s not enough just to know the name of the drug and how many to take. You need to be very familiar with how the drug is working in your body. This will help you if you ever see a new doctor or if you were to find yourself in the ER and in need of any emergency treatment. Most importantly, you must be aware of how the drug will react with your other medications (we’ll discuss this more in a bit).
You also need to understand the side effects of your medication. Different medications will react very differently for everyone, and not everyone will experience the side effects the same way. Understanding the common side effects a medication causes for people will help you in recognizing them within yourself sooner once you start taking it. Some can be tolerable, and some can be life-threatening; either way, being aware of these effects will help you communicate with your doctor about what you’re experiencing. After starting a new medication, you should contact your doctor if you begin experiencing side effects. Your dosage might need to be changed or even a different medication entirely. Even if the side effect seems insignificant, it is worth it to let your doctor know. More communication is always better!
Now, let’s talk about mixing medications. More often than not, using different medications together won’t be an issue, however, it isn’t abnormal for any combination of drugs to cause issues when taken together. This is where understanding your medication, what it does, and what it’s side effects are comes into play. If you begin taking a new medication and have a severe reaction that isn’t a side effect of one of your normal drugs, this might be a result of the two drugs working against each other. It’s important to call your doctor immediately and let them know. Just like side effects, mixing drugs have different effects for everyone.
Communication
The biggest issue that can arise from doctor visits is miscommunication. It is so important that everyone fully understands what the patient needs, what conditions the have or are at risk for, and what steps need to be taken following the visit.
If you are having tests done, be sure that you fully understand what the tests are for. It isn’t uncommon for a patient to have a test performed and later, they realize that they aren’t really sure what it was for. To better understand your health and the implications of your condition(s), you need to communicate with your doctor.
If you develop a new condition, it is so important that you ask the doctor all of the questions you have. Before you visit the doctor, make a list of all of the questions you should ask him/her. To start off this list, you might ask:
What effect will it have on my life?
Where can I learn more about it?
What steps do I need to manage my pain or symptoms?
It may feel like you’re taking up too much of the doctor’s time, but that is never the case. Within your scheduled appointment time, YOUR health is the most important thing to the doctor, so you should take advantage of the time you have together.
Sometimes, it can be hard to understand medical jargon, as many doctors fall into the habit of using medical terminology that is hard to understand. If at any moment you feel overwhelmed, ask them to explain it in more common terms. Don’t be embarrassed for not being able to understand medical terms; you’re not a doctor after all! Be sure you leave with a solid understanding of what is happening with your health.
It always helps to take notes. If you’re anything like us, it seems like you leave the doctor’s office and it’s like a chalkboard that got erased. Taking notes can help you remember everything you talked about with your doctor.
Don’t be afraid to call your loved ones doctor before an appointment to tell them any details you’re worried might not be shared. Many times, people try to leave out a fall or other conditions they are having because they are worried they will have to go through more appointments or need special treatment. The doctors can’t do their job without the full story, so make sure you are including as much of your experience as you can remember.
Doctors’ appointments can feel overwhelming, but hopefully you can master them by focusing on becoming more knowledgeable about your medications and improving your communication skills!