Your Doctor probably sees 20-30 people per day with acute problems.  By acute I mean new, generally one day to one month in duration.  The doctor needs to hear their patients complaint , then to systematically ask questions so they can form an opinion.  In science an opinion would be called a hypothesis.  In medicine it is called a differential diagnosis, a list of the possible causes of your complaint.  His job is to not put blinders on.  Blinders is a reference to how farmers used to keep horses from seeing anywhere except straight ahead.  Good for horses but bad for your  doctor.  Your physician is under time pressure, pressure to get it right, and pressure to please you.  Help your Doctor and yourself by being prepared in these ways.

Tell your doctor the main symptoms that caused you to seek help.  It may have been the severity of the symptoms, one progressive symptom or a group of persistent symptoms but know why you came in.  I think I have a sinus infection is your diagnosis.  Its fine to think about what is wrong but let your doctor use all that training to see if the medical conclusion is the same as yours.  Just tell about how you feel and in what order and severity your symptoms appeared.  Did you do anything to make those symptoms better?  Mention what and how it worked.  What other symptoms have been a nuisance or come and go?  Please, if you take prescription medicines bring a list of their names and dosages.

So let me show you how your doctor might record your visit.

time seen 10AM  Historian Self, Chief Complaint: cough, fever, body aches

Onset: 3 days Duration: continuous Context: Healthy, nonsmoking married female with two children.  Modifying factors: Worse with exercise, and lying supine, better with Tylenol and Robitussin.  Associated symptoms: No appetite, poor sleep, vomiting after cough.

Head,eyes, ears, nose and throat - sore throat, ears stopped up,

neck - normal, Respiratory - cough produces yellow phlegm  Heart -nl, no edema

etc…

Next time you have an acute visit to the doctor, take a few notes with you, answer the questions asked and then add your comments, and try to be brief in your answers and comments. You will receive better care if you prepare.

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