EXPLAINING ENDOMETRIOSIS: GET THE BEST OUT OF YOUR SPECIALIST
Questions to ask
Some of the questions that you might like to ask your doctor include:
• Does the doctor have a partner who knows about you and can treat you if your own specialist
is unavailable?
• Can the doctor see you immediately if you have an urgent or serious problem?
• Will the doctor personally answer and return phone calls or will those phone calls be taken
and answered by a secretary?
• Are phone calls answered promptly; does your doctor receive messages to contact you when
Requested?
• Can the doctor be contacted out of hours?
• Will the doctor see you out of hours?
• Will the doctor read out to you the results of pathology reports or referrals, etc., or will the
results be given via the doctor’s secretary.
Getting the best from a doctor
To get the best out of your doctor you need to be well-informed and provide honest and accurate information.
In order to be well informed you should read about the menstrual cycle so that you understand how the cycle works, know about hormonal changes and their effect, and understand what endometriosis is. This can be achieved either by yourself or by your doctor suggesting reading material and other sources of information. You can also contact your local women’s health information centre.
It is important to recognize that your doctor is not a mind reader, and that it is up to you to tell her or him what your problems are so that your doctor can get an overall picture of your illness. Identify the major areas of concern for you – infertility, pain control, improvement of lifestyle.
It may be a good idea to keep a diary in which you can record your visits to your doctor and make notes of any side effects of drugs or surgery or other treatments suggested by your doctor and list questions for future visits.
Be honest about symptoms and make sure the information you give is complete, accurate and relevant. It is of no benefit to you to withhold information.
It is important to be able to talk openly to your doctor and to feel that you can discuss your needs and fears.
If you have concerns about the side effects of drug therapy, you should feel comfortable discussing these with your doctor. If you have printed information about drugs or treatment you want to discuss, take this with you to the appointment so that your doctor can comment.
Always report the positive as well as the negative feelings you may be experiencing.
Vital decisions and concerns such as marriage, sexual relationships, careers and children should also be discussed with your doctor since these make up the total picture.
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