Questions To Ask Your Doctor

If you have a chronic medical condition, particularly if you’re dealing with symptoms that affect your daily life, routine appointments with your doctor alone may not be enough. Asking your doctor for strategies to manage your symptoms helps you find relief and maintain your well-being between visits – keeping you out of the hospital in severe cases.

When you have congestive heart failure, for instance, you might need periodic check-ins by a nurse to monitor your blood pressure and weight, make sure your legs aren’t swelling from excess fluid and you’re not experiencing shortness of breath.

Many people with diabetes benefit from speaking with a certified diabetes educator or registered dietitian, as needed, for expert advice on medications or nutrition in the moment.

“You might ask doctors how they’re paired up with social work, dietitians and therapists,” Durso says.

It’s also important to know the best way to get in touch with your doctor’s office if you experience any symptom flare-ups or issues between visits. Each medical practice has its own processes and procedures. Being aware of the basics – like office hours, navigating their online communication portal or the intricacies of obtaining test results – allows you to navigate communication more smoothly.

Having confidence in your doctor means you’re more likely to follow their instructions. Asking about their previous experience with your condition is a great way to ensure that you’re getting the best treatment you can. Having experience is critical in managing complex cases for many conditions, such as cancer.

Start by inquiring how familiar they are with treating patients with your condition, or ask them to share their experiences managing patient cases similar to yours, if they’re comfortable. This helps open the conversation, leading to more in-depth questions about the number of patients or outcome of their treatments.

Another question to ask is: “If it were your family member, would you recommend this to them?”

That allows doctors to recontextualize a routine professional discussion to one on a more human, relatable level, giving your doctor an opportunity to shift their perspective.

“Sometimes you have to remind yourself, ‘I have a mother, I have a wife, I have a sister. Would I want this for them?'” says Dr. Tia Guster, an OB-GYN with Piedmont Healthcare in Newnan, Georgia.

Even in this day and age, many people are still reluctant to discuss intimate health concerns. However, it’s hard to shock or surprise your doctor, who has likely heard it all.

“People are so embarrassed to talk about sex,” Guster says. “But you should talk about sex because you’re probably not the only one having a problem with it.”

No need to mumble or use discreet euphemisms. Instead, it’s better to be direct and straight to the point.

“We’re used to hearing about all the body parts with all kinds of different names,” Guster advises. “You will not be offensive to us. If you try to filter it for us, sometimes we may miss what you ask.”

For example, Guster says, people hesitate to ask about or describe vaginal discharge, but your doctor won’t be put off. In fact, they want to hear about it. While some descriptions of discharge are normal, some are not.

“Just tell me what it is, and I can tell you if this is on the line or not,” Guster says.

Similarly, men should feel free to ask their urologists or primary care providers about any type of discharge or symptoms of concern.

Continence is another concern that patients sometimes hesitate to voice.

“A lot of people are very chary about mentioning that they don’t go out too much because they’re afraid they can’t get to the bathroom, particularly if they’ve been put on medicines like diuretics,” Durso says. “Doctors should bring that up.”

Either way, speaking up about this common issue can help solve the problem.

Physicians and patients alike can benefit from asking, “Am I understood?”

Communication poses a big barrier to getting great care, but knowing how to talk to your doctor effectively isn’t always intuitive. With fast-moving appointments and medical jargon in the mix, it can feel like doctors and patients aren’t taking part in the same conversation.

“The most important question that patients should ask is, ‘Do you understand what I said?'” Guster says.

Sometimes, patients say they’ll relate a concern to a physician who may then come back with a response that doesn’t fit the patient’s meaning or need, Guster says.

If you don’t feel like you can communicate freely and openly with your doctor, it may be a sign you need to find a new physician.

End-of-life care, also known as palliative care, is a critical aspect of health care that focuses on providing comfort, dignity and support to individuals.

Particularly for elderly patients and those with chronic illnesses, it’s important to ask and discuss end-of-life care options, as well as to address advanced care planning. Establishing an advance health care directive may include designating a health care proxy or medical power of attorney for health care and documenting health care preferences, which spell out choices such as whether you want interventions – like CPR, mechanical ventilation or tube feeding – and under what conditions.

Starting end-of-life discussions can feel uncomfortable. But having these conversations when you’re healthy – rather than when a crisis is occurring – helps establish your wishes at a time when you can effectively communicate to your doctor what’s important to you.

“This can help ensure (patients’) priorities are followed through on – whether that’s aggressive means to prolong life or comfort care when the time comes,” Ravindra says.

Having plans set in place can also avoid crisis decision-making down the road and ease the burden on family members, ensuring they won’t be faced with difficult decisions about your health or end-of-life care. You can also revisit and update your preferences at any time.

If your doctor has ordered any diagnostic testing or procedures, you should ask about when to expect the results and whether a follow-up visit is necessary. Your doctor may want to set up another time to share the findings of your tests or discuss a treatment plan.

Similarly, if you have a chronic condition like diabetes, your doctor or endocrinologist may want to see you more often than once a year. They may recommend more regular visits to manage medication, complete blood tests and generally monitor your health status.

But doctor visits shouldn’t be relegated to the times you’re sick. Work together with your primary care physician to create a personalized health plan that works for you, which may guide the frequency of visits or include a virtual doctor’s appointment.

Your interactions with your doctor extend far beyond addressing immediate health concerns. By asking the right medical questions, you empower yourself to take charge of your health and create a strong partnership with your health care provider.

You shouldn’t hesitate to ask your primary care physician about anything related to your health.

“For instance, a patient who has finger numbness may have Googled their symptoms and be worried about stroke or diabetes as a cause,” Ravindra says. “However, a thorough exam and asking the right questions on my end will easily differentiate these serious conditions from something more benign like carpal tunnel syndrome.”

In addition, Ravindra encourages patients to be upfront with your fears. That way, physicians know what’s really on your mind and can address your concerns head-on.

So, next time you step into the doctor’s office, remember that proactive communication is the key to quality health care and that it’s a two-way street.