I can honestly say that I have never gone to a doctor’s appointment and remembered everything I wanted to ask—not even when the appointment is the most basic of physicals.
It’s not really surprising.
When you have an ongoing illness like primary scelorsing cholangitis, you’ve got a lot on your mind.
Sometimes, your health can change on a dime. It can be a struggle to keep track of all the questions or concerns that come up one day to the next.
So it’s all very understandable—doesn’t make it any more helpful when you meet your doctor’s “any questions?” with a blank stare.
To help, the Mayo Clinic prepared a list specifically for patients with primary scleorsing cholangitis. It’s designed to give you the tools you need to go into your next appointment prepared, confident, and with the best chance of getting answers.
Here are my 3 favorites:
- Write Things Down: Seriously, I don’t remember anything if I haven’t written it at least once on my arm. Of course, for recording symptoms and questions as they come up, I’d recommend something more permanent… like a notebook. It’ll be your best friend come appointment time.
- Bring a Buddy: Friends and family aren’t just good emotional support. They can often catch, interpret, and remember information that you missed (which you can also then write about in your notebook).
- Prepare Questions: While you’ll most likely think of things to ask while you’re at the appointment, it never hurts to have some of the biggest ones already on-hand so that you’re getting your biggest concerns answered. Some questions for primary sclerosing cholangitis include:
- What did my test results say?
- What are the symptoms of primary sclerosing?
- How does the condition progress?
- What should I be on the lookout for?
- Are there any resources or websites I should look at?
The Mayo Clinic has more questions and way more tips then I can include here. Check them out—heck, print out the page and bring it with you, if you want!
Whatever you need to feel comfortable and informed at the doctor’s office, I encourage you to do. Remember, the most important thing to never forget at the appointment: Your needs matter.
