Questions You May Be Asked

Symptoms

In order to get an correct diagnosis it is important to share with your doctor all of your symptoms. 6 Sometimes the stress of going to the doctor can cause you to forget to mention something small that could mean a lot. Try to make a list of all the symptoms before going to the doctor. Include how often you get them and for how long and if they seem to happen in response to something. You may also be asked how severe the symptoms get. Try to be as specific as possible. Is the pain sharp, shooting, throbbing, burning? Is it continuous or does it come and go? Does it occur in response to something or a time of day? Does it negatively affect daily life for you? These are questions you should be prepared to answer.

Medications

Many medications can have an unpleasant or dangerous interaction with other medications or culturally correct remedies you might find at La Botánica. 6 Share with your doctor all of the medications you are currently taking or have just finished taking, including any and all folk remedies, herbal supplements and vitamins. Your doctor is not trying to judge you or put downyour beliefs, but to make sure you're not harmed by the new medication, so don't be embarrassed. Most likely, these won't cause a drug interaction, but it's always better to check before starting any new medication!

Habits

Your doctor may ask you about your habits and lifestyle. 6 The questions may not seem relevant or even embarrassing, especially if a family member is translating. See the Language section on another page of this website. Your answers sometimes give the doctor a better understanding of how the illness or injury may have resulted and can result in advice to prevent it from happening again. Things like alcohol, drug, and tobacco use, as well as diet and exercise and level of sexual activity can tell a doctor what the problem might be. It can also help determine what kind of health screenings you might benefit from.