Ask the staff at your doctor's office to add both items to your chart so that they will be available if your records are sent out for other opinions. Quantifying pain or other symptoms can help your doctor assess your conditions accurately. Try keeping a chart of your pain for a week prior to your appointment and ranking each day on a scale of 1 to 10. It can also be helpful to keep a running list of questions and symptoms that you can bring with you to the doctor's office. When the day of the appointment arrives, do whatever is necessary to make sure that you retain and understand your doctor's instructions.
Some patients like to tape record their appointment.
Bringing along a third party is another way to ensure that you hear and remember important information. And always remember that there's no such thing as a dumb or insignificant question. Any concerns, symptoms or questions you have are important. If you feel that your doctors are not addressing a problem, ask them to explain why. Dr. Alan Valentine, a psychiatrist with MD Anderson Cancer Center, advises patients to ask for referrals if they feel their doctor can't manage all of their problems.