Beyond
Walking

By Ronda Gates, MS

Ronda Gates, MS, is a pharmacy grad who traded her white coat for a pair of athletic shoes and never looked back. Her health promotion business, LIFESTYLES, provides motivational speaking, program development, and fitness assessment services to support people making a lifestyle change. She has developed health promotion programs for many organizations nationwide.
Visit www.rondagates.com for a complimentary subscription to Ronda’s weekly email newsletter.

An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.

— Henry David
Thoreau

Get Ready, Get Set, Get to the Doctor

Few would deny that the old adage, “You don’t have anything if you don’t have your health,” is true. That’s why I continue to be stunned that so few of us take our relationship with our doctor seriously. Often, worries about health care costs or the real or perceived barriers between our doctor and us can be sources of procrastination when it comes to caring for our most sacred possession — our body.

While getting a timely appointment with your doctor can seem harder than getting Super Bowl tickets, I was dismayed when a health-conscious friend told me she was avoiding taking care of a health concern because she feels so out of control when she enters her physician’s office. The combination of simply “dressing down” for an exam, the probability she would be in and out of the office before she knew what hit her, her lack of confidence the visit would have a good outcome, and her lack of familiarity with medical terminology left this competent executive feeling powerless.
As the daughter and former wife of physicians, I don’t share my friend’s experience. My lack of intimidation sets the stage to share some tips to make a medical encounter a positive, health-enhancing experience.

1) Consider your appointment an important meeting about your future. Prepare accordingly. Before you go, clearly define the purpose of your visit. What are your symptoms? When did they begin? What do they feel like? Where, specifically, do they occur? An “I ache all over,” is too vague when, in fact, you really mean, “My shoulders, wrists, and hips hurt,” or “I feel like my thigh and shoulder muscles are giving out.” Add any methods you’ve undertaken that give you relief. If you are being treated for a chronic illness that requires recurring visits, keep and bring a diary of information that will support your ongoing treatment.

2) List all the medications you take — including non-prescription remedies such as sleep aids, heartburn relief mints, herbal remedies, and supplements. Bring your health insurance card, social security number, copies of relevant medical records, a list of questions, and pen and paper for note taking. Take a shower and dress appropriately. Don’t wear perfume.

3) Arrive on time. Although the initial relief of sitting in a waiting room (where no one can reach you) can quickly transition to anxiety about paying big bucks to someone who doesn’t seem to value your time, remember: a doctor’s time is predictably unpredictable. Prepare by bringing something — a book, your knitting, and a crossword puzzle — to make use of waiting time. Then you are less likely to focus on any annoyance that your time is out of your control. Since others in the waiting room aren’t interested in your life, turn off your cell phone. If, after a lengthy wait, you feel ignored, tell the receptionist. An “I’m anxious to get the results of my bone scan (blood panel, mammogram). How much longer should I expect to wait?” will support a relationship better than a frustrated, “My time is as important as the doctor’s.”

4) Consider bringing a trusted friend or family member for physical and emotional support. This companion can be another set of eyes and ears to assure your concerns are expressed, take notes of instructions or comments the doctor delivers, or help you stay on track if nervousness causes you to lose your place in the conversation or start babbling about something that’s not important. If your illness is chronic, a companion can ask questions you might feel uncomfortable asking or jump in and continue a conversation if you are feeling overwhelmed. Be clear with the companion about the role you expect him or her to play. If you need private time with your physician, ask the companion to leave when the exam occurs and return when it’s time for the wrap-up with the physician. (If you are uncomfortable bringing a companion, bring a tape recorder you can listen to later.)

5) Don’t save the most important information you seek to the last minute when you’ll be inclined to say, “I have one more quick question.” Doctors often complain that, as they’re leaving the room, they hear a bombshell question such as, “If this treatment doesn’t work, does that mean I’m going to die?” If you think you may have forgotten something, say, “I know I may have forgotten something. What’s the best way to get answers to questions that may come up?”

I too often hear friends complain about how much they dislike their doctor because, “He doesn’t listen,” or, “She doesn’t give me enough time,” or ,“I feel put down by a response to a question,” or “I don’t think I’m a partner in my own care.” As a patient you deserve care by a physician with good training, experience, confidence, good listening skills, accessibility, compassion, openness to input, and respect for your privacy. You want to be treated by someone who loves what she or he does and has a supportive office staff that is caring and responsive. If you don’t have that, change doctors. It’s your life.