SparklyUnicorn Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 And for once I'd like the doctor to ACTUALLY listen. So please give me some tips. Should I write my issues down? Make a list? Create an interpretive dance? Bring cookies? :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmichigan Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 (edited) And for once I'd like the doctor to ACTUALLY listen. So please give me some tips. Should I write my issues down? Make a list? Create an interpretive dance? Bring cookies? :glare: I go on Thursday to U of M, for an appointment I've been waiting months for. I made a list. :) Best of luck! Edited July 23, 2017 by melmichigan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted July 23, 2017 Author Share Posted July 23, 2017 yeah I think a list will be good Best of luck to you too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmichigan Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 yeah I think a list will be good Best of luck to you too. If any test results, or blood work, or things like that have any impact, then know the results well, put them on the list. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 Everything but the interpretive dance? I think when he comes in (I am guessing he), you sit up straight, look him in the eye, and say that you've made this appointment because you have felt he hasn't listened to you in the past and you wanted to make sure you could have your issues taken seriously and addressed because they are deeply impacting your life, are pervasive, and have been long-lasting. He is your means of being able to get help fixing your issues and you need to feel that you are moving forward in making life more tolerable. Hold his toes to the fire and ask pointed questions. Don't leave without a specific game plan with time constraints! If plan A doesn't work, what will plan B look like? And if he is still an a$$, ditch him and move on! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted July 23, 2017 Author Share Posted July 23, 2017 Everything but the interpretive dance? I think when he comes in (I am guessing he), you sit up straight, look him in the eye, and say that you've made this appointment because you have felt he hasn't listened to you in the past and you wanted to make sure you could have your issues taken seriously and addressed because they are deeply impacting your life, are pervasive, and have been long-lasting. He is your means of being able to get help fixing your issues and you need to feel that you are moving forward in making life more tolerable. Hold his toes to the fire and ask pointed questions. Don't leave without a specific game plan with time constraints! If plan A doesn't work, what will plan B look like? And if he is still an a$$, ditch him and move on! She, but doesn't matter. I like this.. Thank you. I do tend to down play stuff. I don't know why I do that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 The above has generally worked for me. Twice, though, I have had a specialist call my (now fired) doctor to give a tongue lashing and list of specific expectations for quality of care. I have also effectively co-opted nurses and front desk staff to pester doctors for me (to get orders, results, etc.) Figure out what buttons you need to push and give 'im hell. 😇 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 We were typing at the same time! I used to use "make nice" language, take the blame, apologize and minimize. You can do this! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen500 Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 I would make a list of your 3 main issues to discuss. Tell the dr at the beginning that you have 3 issues to address, then very briefly state them. Then as the visit goes on or is ending, clarify each of the issues and what your plan of action is. So if the issue wasn't really addressed by the dr. you can bring it up again towards the end in a more business-like manner. I do this with at some of my ds' dr appts, not because the dr doesn't listen, but because sometimes I forget or get distracted by some other topic and then the dr sometimes forgets too. GOOD LUCK!!! :) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbutton Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 I agree what what's been stated as needing to happen. Just be respectful if you can. Sometimes that (deservedly) goes out the window. It's hard because I have a close relative in healthcare, but yet, I tend to not get listened to at the doctor's office. Sometimes though, it's simply that a doctor is "too" reassuring. Like, they are in comfort the patient mode, and they don't realize they are actually kind of talking you out of your issues. Also, this is awful, but dress on the nicer side--business casual. The relative I know in healthcare says this matters, and it irritates him that it matters, particularly since people who don't feel well aren't really in the mood for dress-up, right? Really hoping you simply get a good one that sees your problem, and doesn't think you are the problem! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbutton Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 Oh, and be sure that if a tech or nurse (or worse, front desk person) is writing down your "chief complaint" sort of thing, you ask them to read it back to you. One of my doctors has nice (but not the sharpest) tech/aides (not sure what they are called), and they "retranslate" a lot of stuff totally incorrectly. I only know because I caught them doing it. They mean well, but they completely and totally botched it, and I had to get past that with the doctor--I stated right up front that the chief complaint was totally messed up. Even that took some explaining. Total pain in the butt, but it's important. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vintage81 Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 Good luck! I hope it goes well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 I take a list with all my questions. I go through the list and write down answers they give me. I take a list of every medication and supplement I take, with dosage listed. Even things I think they don't care about, like a fiber supplement. Not sure about this, but I wonder sometimes if acting in a professional manner - having a notebook with a list of questions, taking notes, handing over a typed list of medications - makes some doctors take people more seriously, maybe even without realizing it. I don't know. All I know is I generally feel that doctors are listening to me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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