To get the most accurate possible
diagnosis if you’re sick, Dr. Sierzenski and NSPF advises these steps:
- Tell your story well. The more clearly you can describe your symptoms—including when they started, what makes them better or worse, and if they occur after exercise, eating, taking medication, or strike at a certain time of day—the easier it will be for your doctor to figure out what is wrong. For example, it’s relatively common for people to develop tendon injuries after taking certain antibiotics, Dr. Sierzenski points out.
- Offer examples. To help your doctor understand how bothersome the problem is, give examples of how it impacts your daily life. For example, instead of just saying that you are unusually tired, you might say that even walking one block is exhausting.
- Ask the right questions. NPSF suggests these 3 crucial questions: “What could be causing my problem? What else could it be? When will I get my test results and what should I do to follow up?”
- Don’t assume that no news is good news. It could mean that your doctor hasn’t gotten the lab results or hasn’t bothered to read them. If you undergo any type of medical test, always get a copy of the result and ask to have any abnormal findings explained. Ask what needs to be done next.
- Consider a second opinion—or a third. If you don’t feel that the doctor has made the right diagnosis, or the treatment prescribed isn’t helping, consider going to another medical provider for additional evaluation. Also make sure that each doctor you see knows what tests and findings other providers have made.
- Follow up. Find out when you should return for your next appointment, what to expect from the treatment that is recommended, and what to do if you develop new symptoms or feel worse. Also encourage your doctor to think about other reasons for your symptoms. As NPSF points out, the most likely diagnosis may not be the right diagnosis.
To get the most accurate possible
diagnosis if you’re sick, Dr. Sierzenski and NSPF advises these steps:
- Tell your story well. The more clearly you can describe your symptoms—including when they started, what makes them better or worse, and if they occur after exercise, eating, taking medication, or strike at a certain time of day—the easier it will be for your doctor to figure out what is wrong. For example, it’s relatively common for people to develop tendon injuries after taking certain antibiotics, Dr. Sierzenski points out.
- Offer examples. To help your doctor understand how bothersome the problem is, give examples of how it impacts your daily life. For example, instead of just saying that you are unusually tired, you might say that even walking one block is exhausting.
- Ask the right questions. NPSF suggests these 3 crucial questions: “What could be causing my problem? What else could it be? When will I get my test results and what should I do to follow up?”
- Don’t assume that no news is good news. It could mean that your doctor hasn’t gotten the lab results or hasn’t bothered to read them. If you undergo any type of medical test, always get a copy of the result and ask to have any abnormal findings explained. Ask what needs to be done next.
- Consider a second opinion—or a third. If you don’t feel that the doctor has made the right diagnosis, or the treatment prescribed isn’t helping, consider going to another medical provider for additional evaluation. Also make sure that each doctor you see knows what tests and findings other providers have made.
- Follow up. Find out when you should return for your next appointment, what to expect from the treatment that is recommended, and what to do if you develop new symptoms or feel worse. Also encourage your doctor to think about other reasons for your symptoms. As NPSF points out, the most likely diagnosis may not be the right diagnosis.
- Get more information from http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/most-common-and-dangerous-medical-mistake
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