What Questions to Ask your Doctor While Searching for a Diagnosis
When you aren’t feeling well, but have yet to receive a formal diagnosis, it can be a very overwhelming time. You may be seeing a lot of different doctors and/or having a lot of tests performed. Your care team are your partners during this time of confusion, and building a rapport of strong communication can make a huge difference in your experience as a patient. By asking questions, you highlight to your doctor what is important to you, and ensure you both are on the same page. Being proactive enables you to understand the meanings of complicated medical terms or gain clarity on certain instructions.
A key component of successfully preparing for a doctor’s appointment is preparing a list of questions to discuss, however, many times you may not know what questions to ask. Below is a round up of questions that could be relevant to your next appointment while you are searching for a diagnosis.
If you have concerns about finding a diagnosis:
What conditions could be inducing my symptoms?
Are there any tests I can or should take to identify and confirm a diagnosis?
Are there any specific specialists I should visit regarding my symptoms?
If you have concerns about a medical test:
Why do I need this test, and what are you looking for from the results?
Will it be uncomfortable at all?
How quickly do I need to get the test done?
When will I receive the test results?
Is there anything I should do to prepare?
If you have concerns about an upcoming medical procedure:
What is the purpose of this procedure?
Are there less invasive alternatives to consider?
How long will the procedure take?
Will I need to stay in the hospital after the procedure?
Will I be under anesthesia?
Will I experience discomfort during or after the procedure?
What are the benefits and risks of having this procedure done?
How much experience do you have with this procedure?
What will recovery be like?
If you have concerns about a new diagnosis:
What is my diagnosis?
What causes this condition?
Are there any symptoms I should watch out for with this condition?
Are there any complications that could develop as a result of my condition?
Could this condition affect other parts of my body?
Is there anything I can do to prevent complications?
What is the long-term outlook for this condition? Is it curable?
How serious is this condition?
Will this diagnosis affect my other health conditions and their treatment?
Is this condition genetic?
What are the local support groups or foundations that are available to me?
What books, websites, or other materials do you suggest I read about my condition?
If you have concerns about how to communicate with your doctor during a diagnosis period:
If my symptoms change or I develop new symptoms, what is the best way to contact you?
What type of symptoms require an urgent, same day appointment or a trip to the ER?
Who covers for you when you are unavailable?
Will you update other members of my care team, like my primary care provider?
How Chronius Can Help
Chronius makes appointment preparation as simple as a few clicks – and that includes pre-loading questions for you to select and share with your doctor ahead of your appointment as well as giving you space to add in your own questions. Additionally, our Care Guides are available to talk you through what questions might be most relevant to your specific situation and upcoming visits.
Interested in learning more and signing up for our waitlist? Visit chroniushealth.com and claim your spot today.
