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How can I get what I need from my doctor?

222 Answers
Last Updated: 05/26/2022 at 8:27am
How can I get what I need from my doctor?
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Danielle Gonzales, PsyD

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Hello! My name is Dani, I am a Psychologist and registered Psych Assistant. I have a passion for helping a different types of clients from all diverse backgrounds!

Top Rated Answers
Anonymous
November 12th, 2017 9:56pm
When dealing with doctors it's often about assertiveness. Know what you want to talk about before going in - perhaps write a list of all the things you want to talk about so you make sure you don't forget things. And I know this is hard, but it's okay to be a bit pushy! Sometimes we need to be the squeaky wheel in order to get the oil.
Profile: readingDream88
readingDream88
November 17th, 2017 3:35am
That depends on what you need. If you just ask them about it, you should be able to get what you need!
Profile: YasmineNotYours
YasmineNotYours
November 23rd, 2017 2:11pm
doctors usually are competent they'll give you what you need without you making so much efforts for it ...
Profile: giggleJoy40
giggleJoy40
December 1st, 2017 7:12am
Be honest with whats going on. Your doctor can't give you want you need if they don't understand what's wrong with all the details.
Profile: palan
palan
December 6th, 2017 6:33pm
I would never tell people to go against their doctor's opinion, but if you really want to be healthy and thriving, you have to be responsible for your own health. It's a bit hard to hear, but health is the sum total of what you eat, feel, think, and surround yourself with. But to be more practical, maybe appeal to his compassionate side by sincerely and straightforwardly telling him or her what you're going through? And do a little research to find a doctor whose personality and philosophy of treatment resonates with you?
Profile: musicalEnergy94
musicalEnergy94
December 7th, 2017 4:28am
when you see your Doctor, you should develop a good report with him or her. Before you go to the Dr.'s office you should make a list of all the questions that you have so you don't forget anything to ask. You may want to learn about the different medications too should you get into a conversation about problems that are more complicated. Dr's ask questions about when the symptoms started so you need to know that info. as well.Some dr's want to see you every month for example. If you don't think you need to see your Dr. that often be assertive and let them know that you want to see them every other month because it can be expensive for the visits.
Anonymous
January 19th, 2018 5:19am
By telling him or her what it is that I am experiencing so that he can provide me the help that I am needing.
Anonymous
January 21st, 2018 1:08am
Be prepared. Write down a list of questions to ask, and a list of what you want to get from your doctor's visit. Make this list a few days before the visit. Sleep over it, then review it: are your demands ecologically correct? Possible, feasible, and within the scope of the doctor's practice? Then go to the appointment with the list in your hands. If things don't go according to your plans either the doctor is not for you, hence change doctor; or your demands/expectations were not ecological; ask someone for help to give you a reality check.
Profile: CalmWhisper22
CalmWhisper22
January 24th, 2018 4:51pm
That is a very good question and been asking myself the same thing for the last year. What I am doing is switching up my medical team and the company I am going to. Finding a team I can open up with and that I can trust and that they will all chat with each other.
Profile: BalancedLuna
BalancedLuna
January 26th, 2018 5:44pm
Entering the doctor office with your questions prepared can help to get all your questions answered and not forget anything. If there is something you’re really worried about, asking for a second opinion is also helpful.
Profile: Mushu74
Mushu74
January 31st, 2018 11:24pm
A 10 minute appointment can be difficult to express your feelings and to get what you want and need out of such a small appointment, you can always book in for a double appointment or can ask to be referred to a specialist
Anonymous
January 31st, 2018 11:40pm
Sometimes you have to put on your brave pants and ask. Or suggest it and see what your doctor says and accept the answer if it's a no.
Profile: JenCounsel29
JenCounsel29
February 2nd, 2018 9:24am
Have an open conversation with them! Let them know everything that is going on! They are the experts and can help point you in the right direction
Anonymous
February 5th, 2018 10:09am
By telling him / her what you need😮. If you feel shy or nervous just write it on a paper or just tell him by texting your problem. He is there to treat you only. Trust me. He wont judge your problems.
Profile: wonderfulSoul777
wonderfulSoul777
February 11th, 2018 12:51pm
Be honest with yourself. Truly authentic. Noone here is judging you half as much as you judge yourself. Be honest and direct.
Profile: calmBlanket36
calmBlanket36
June 22nd, 2018 3:49am
Talk to your doctor and explain to them your situation. Doctors are here to help so it can’t be too hard to get what you need as long as it’s for your own good :)
Profile: lostgirlfangirl
lostgirlfangirl
June 27th, 2018 2:41am
Be honest with your doctor when they ask you questions. Tell them how you are truly feeling so that they can help you to the best of their ability.
Anonymous
February 17th, 2021 11:58am
It really depends on what you need from your doctor. Communication with your doctor about symptoms, signs you're experiencing are the best way to figure out -what it is you need. If the doctor doesn't know what's wrong they are in a position they can't fulfill their duties of helping their patients. What I suggest is making a list of the symptoms and rating them 1-10 how bad they are and then make an appointment with your doctor to let them know what's going on so that they can begin a course of action to help you get better
Anonymous
October 17th, 2019 6:43pm
I find it helpful to bring a list of what I want to discuss (and what I want in generally) to my appointments. If your doctor doesn't agree with what you want, you can always go to another provider for a second opinion. You can also look at reviews of different doctors to find one that is more receptive to their patients' wants and needs.
Profile: DarkPiT23
DarkPiT23
November 27th, 2020 2:38pm
Get organized. Be clear about what you need from your appointment. ... Prioritize. Organize your list. ... Start early. The best time to see a doctor is early in the day. Be human. You need a physician, not an automaton. ... Be direct. ... Plan ahead. ... Say thank you. Come prepared. ... Prioritize your concerns. ... Don't be afraid to ask for another appointment. ... Be willing to communicate outside the exam room. ... Bring someone with you. Don't Be Shy: Set an Agenda. Many doctors' visits last only 15–20 minutes, so it's important to prioritize your concerns by setting an agenda, Roter says. ... Be Honest. Roter urges patients to be honest about worries and concerns. ... Ask Questions. ... Work Collaboratively.
Profile: Tyedyedbutterfly65
Tyedyedbutterfly65
December 5th, 2020 1:31pm
Seeing a Doctor can be very triggering for some and what has helped me when I go is making a List of things that I may forgot and then regret not asking about so by making my list a day before I am calmer and can really think about what it is that I want to ask my doctor about and then go down my list while there and I will actually write down their reply and have it with me when I am back home. When going down the list make sure that you they understand that you are there for answers and would like to get these things taken care of. Doctors normally set a time limit they wanna be with a patient and they can hurry some one along so it is important to make sure you go prepared and get the results you went for. Ask Questions always !! People feel they should not ask questions but this is so important.
Profile: YourOnlineListener
YourOnlineListener
January 13th, 2021 5:08pm
So when people can't get the exact things they want from their doctors there are some solutions they can go for, 1. Write down every symptom and some important ones with date. 2. Write down the questions before the appointment. 3. Feel comfortable with your doctor. There's nothing to be embarassed about so don't hide pains even if they sound embarassing to say. A doctor has taken an oath before he took the job so whatever happens he won't tell anybody about what you said. 4. Remember that even if your symptoms may show a major illness and need intense treatment you still need to be very honest with your doctor. Never ever hide symptoms.
Profile: Heretosupportxo
Heretosupportxo
January 17th, 2021 12:54am
It depends on what you actually need. If you want some medication, maybe you wouldn't be able to get it because your doctor knows better than you what should you drink or no. If it's about psychotherapy, like you may want CBT or similar, you can recommend it to your doctor and tell him/her what you actually want. You can't get anything if you don't talk about what you want. So, just a conversation about it can change things. But this is anxiety Q&A so you're maybe asking this because you're scared and don't know how to tell them what you want. I can recommend writing it on paper and just giving your doctor that. It may be really, really hard, but if you don't try you logically won't get what you want. Fight for it. Fight for your health. You deserve it.
Profile: kindnessisamust
kindnessisamust
January 23rd, 2021 3:55am
When you see your doctor, you should be clear and detailed about your symptoms. For common mental conditions such as depression and anxiety, your doctor will decide on the course of treatment based on what you tell them. For example, instead of saying "I feel tired", be more detailed, like "I feel tired in the morning, but later this feeling goes away". There are multiple forms of depression and anxiety, which may require different treatments - by being specific about your symptoms, your doctor will be able to determine the specific type of depression/anxiety - and give you the necessary treatment.
Profile: Izzy274
Izzy274
April 10th, 2021 10:16pm
It can be really hard to know what you need and then how to go about getting it from your doctor, especially since healthcare systems are so complex and different depending on where you are. Here are a few options you could possibly think about, but I don't know your full situation so could never know what would be best for you. - It depends on what you want - if it is a medication, the doctor may have a reason for not prescribing it, which you could talk about. If it's for a treatment, you could present to them what you want and then have a discussion about it together. - Perhaps try writing down what you want to get out of a conversation beforehand, so you can make some clear & concise points and don't leave out anything. - Ask questions if you don't understand why the doctor is doing something, whilst still keeping an open mind towards it. - Become your own advocate and research the treatments you want before putting them forward to the doctor. - Remember the doctor is here to help and you are not an inconvenience to them!
Anonymous
May 30th, 2021 7:58pm
You want to have a goal when speaking with your doctor. Ask questions and ask them for resources on paper. They will give it to you! These types of resources should be very beneficial in assisting you in getting the best and most professional help as possible. Speak with them about personal experiences and ask them for great advice. Make sure to write down the advice and practice it mindfully. This will give you an amazing personal boost of energy and will help you feel more energized as you tackle on your day. This will be very helpful for you.
Profile: junem
junem
May 29th, 2021 4:48am
It is my experience that one needs to be a strong self advocate to get what one needs from the doctor and the healthcare field in general. It seems all too easy to fall between the cracks. Firstly one needs to come to the realization of what one's needs are. Sometimes this cannot be all that clear in our minds. Learn to know yourself and what your normal feels like. Then make a . list of one's new symptoms or things of concern. Writing this out helps clarify our thinking. When approaching the doctor be prepared with that list so you can speak clearly one's concerns. Ask for what you feel you need
Anonymous
May 16th, 2021 7:26pm
You can get what you need from your doctor by communicating exactly what those needs are. Communication with your doctor or health professional is key! I am sure they will be more than welcome to work with you in order to address those needs and get you the correct care. Continue being an advocate for yourself and obtain those resources. You can always jot down a list for you to remember that way you can express yourself freely and openly without forgetting any potential information that may be important for them to use. Give them all the information you have in order to get your needs satisfied properly. Hope this helps.
Anonymous
October 10th, 2019 11:52am
My personal tip to prepare for a doctor's trip is to write a list beforehand, maybe when you book the appointment. When I'm in the doctor's office, I often forget what I really need to talk about and what I would like help with. Recently I've started to write a list in my phone - I'll note down the main issue I am there to address, my most bothersome symptoms, how the symptoms affect me day-to-day and what kind of treatment or plan I would like to be put into place to help me manage the symptoms I am having.
Profile: mrlimers15
mrlimers15
April 8th, 2021 2:44am
Be honest and share any information that you want to share with your doctor. Do not be afraid to seek help and work on yourself so that you can feel better physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Hear and adhere to their advice and don't be afraid to question the purpose of their recommendations. It might be intimidating to question a doctor but assure them that understanding the why of things will help you achieve whatever goals you might have. A doctor will not judge and their purpose is to help you achieve health in every aspect possible so don't be afraid to ask.