Your Tips on How to Get Off to the Best Start with a New Specialist

Hello, I know this is an older post but I would love some feedback. I have been disappointed as of late with my lack of healthcare. I was recently dx with some brain issues which are scary enough. I am a Mom of 4 and worked in the medical field all my life (not an RN). But, have been pretty healthy minus a few surgeries in the past. I started to do my research from evidence based websites with my condition and the last neuro I saw seemed to use that against me by saying "You are educated" I never try to act smarter than the MD because I am not. I just want to get better and feel better. Any advice how to connect with my Mayo appointment ahead of time? It isn't until August? Should I send a fax ahead of time saying who I am? I want to get better and get treated...all I have been given locally and not so locally is, here is pain meds and your headache isn't the cause of your brain issues. I want them to know me and see me and I am spending $ and scared I will leave another appointment disappointed and dismissed...

@cacoon6 You don't need to contact Mayo ahead of your appointment unless you are sending something like imaging studies. I had to do that before getting an appointment. All the staff that I have encountered at Mayo are excellent and you don't need to try to introduce yourself ahead of time to get excellent care. You can make a list of questions to ask at your appointment and list your concerns so you don't forget while you are there. I understand the fears and concern over costs. Don't worry, when you go there as a patient who is interested in getting better, they will listen and also refer you to other specialists there because it is a team approach. For now, work on getting yourself organized with your information, questions, lists of medications, where to stay, etc. That will help diffuse some of the anxiety. I went through that too of being worried about being dismissed. I needed spine surgery and had been dismissed 5 times before I came to Mayo, and my experience there was wonderful. I got the help I needed and made a great recovery. Even though you might have detailed medical knowledge, discuss with your providers in simple language. I ran up against that before I came to Mayo and a nurse didn't pay attention to real symptoms connected to my spine problem and was very defensive every time I asked a question. You don't want to come across as a patient who diagnoses themselves and challenges opinions. Instead ask questions instead of telling them why you think it is what it is. If you feel anxious, write down your feelings and why. Do that just for you. It will help you process the feelings.

My final suggestion would be to plan to meet "the specialist" prepared with all the information you have accumulated through your medical journey; similar to a resume...yet, a medical journey. You will be prepared to answer all questions.Please make sure to get the patient questionnaire prior to you appointment and have it completely filled out. You should also prepared to answer and add new notes to your medical journal. I tend to keep a video and/or photo journal of my symptoms, as well as a written journey. This is important as the last Specialist you may have been with prescribed you with medications that you have already tried and did not work for you. Of course, as I mentioned before...you want to be very cautious of who you are meeting. Did you review the Specialist credentials, what rating reviews does this Specialist have? No matter what, Patients must connect with his or her specialist. Please be cautious. It's great to know you are able to trust your specialist and that you can open your heart to that specialist. I would suggest that you not judge on the opinion of others. YOU are making an important decision...and it is your decision; and not the decision of others. Remember, YOU always come first. ❤

Great idea to prepare information on how to prepare. I hope you ask some appointment coordinators, nurses and doctors for their input also.

I try to be as prepared for any questions the doctor might ask and have a list of questions for the doctor. The more prepared I am, the more efficient the appointment will be. I would rather have too much information with me then not enough.

Think back to other doctors' appointments, what questions did the nurse or doctor ask. Be prepared to answer those questions again.

I have been a patient of Mayo my entire life, and all my information is online, I still bring the following list to my appointment just in case. Even though information is online, it does take time for a doctor to find. If he wants to look up details, it is nice to have dates of previous tests, etc…

My suggestions:

1. Make sure your appointment is with right specialist. At Mayo the appointment coordinators should be able to help. Just because a friend saw a certain doctor, he/she might not be correct specialist for your condition.
2. Have your referring doctor send all medical records (preferable electronically). In addition, bring a copy with you just in case something gets misplaced. Again, preferable on a disk.
3. In addition, I always have the following with documents with me:
○ List of all medications I take, who prescribed, why I take that medication, how long I have taken that medication.
○ If there are other medications I have taken in recently that I no longer take, it is nice to have that information also. Maybe your previous doctor recommended something and it did not work. You want your new doctor to know this information.
○ Your list should include all prescribed and over the counter medication.
○ You might want to bring all the bottles with you so there is no question about dosages.
○ List of all allergies
○ List of all surgeries, date and location.
○ List of all medical conditions, when diagnosed and are you still being treated for this condition. A specialist is not there to treat all your problems, but something may be related to your current problem.
4. Write down your understanding of current problem and list of symptoms. Be specific.
a. When did symptoms start
b. How are you treating the symptoms
c. Does anything make them worse or better.
d. What tests have been done for current problem, date, location, results
5. Write down your questions related to current problem in order of importance. At end of appointment, look through your list and see if they have been answered.
6. Take notes, the doctor's summary will be available online after your appointment. If he tells you something and you do not know how to spell it, ask him to write it down.

If your appointment is at Mayo, and you use the internet register for the Mayo Portal. It is great reference to double check appointment information, fill out forms, check results and see doctor notes. Even if you fill out form online, also bring information to appointment. And if use a smart phone, download app.

Hope this helps.
Laurie

This is great information! I am coming to Mayo for the first time in A few weeks— this is really helpful!!!!

Hi Colleen, I do think it’s important to ask what research they are doing or would they do research if you find you have a rare disorder. My son ended up being diagnosed by children’s hospital genetics with a rare disorder and the doctor he had been seeing for over 20 years told me, he didn’t know anything about that disorder and didn’t care to look it up. Genetic team reached out to him for a response after finding the disorder and as of today’s date he has not responded to them, going on 4th week. So from my experience, please ask the new specialist questions. I’ve had to move on to new doctor. It’s just sad for someone else that would come thru that doctor, and he could possibly have helped them. But Because he didn’t want to do the research, I had no choice to move on. I advocate for my mentally challenged son. Bottom line is find a doctor that does research and will correspond with other drs.

Has anyone had a si joint fusion. ?