How to Advocate for Yourself at the Doctor - Video

Written by Melissa Schenkman, MPH, MSJ

Doctor Visit Checklist

For millennials to truly be a partner in their own care, we must be honest with our doctors and ourselves when it comes to information about our health.

Here is a list from fellow millennial and Board-Certified Family Medicine physician, Dr. Jessica Gray, of what important pieces of information you should bring with you to your doctor’s appointment and how to go about applying it to make your doctor visit the best it can be.

Current Medications

Bring a list of your current medications. This should include their names, dosages, and how often you take them.

Personal Medical History

Know your previous medical history and current diagnosis. This can include conditions like asthma, high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, diabetes, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and chronic kidney disease.

Familial Medical History

Learn about your family’s medical history. It’s especially important to know the medical history of your mom, dad, sister, brother, aunts, uncles, and grandparents on both sides of your family. Some conditions have strong genetic links, meaning they run in families.

Preventative Screenings

If certain types of cancer run in your family, you need to discuss them with your doctor as they put you at higher risk for that type of cancer. This means you made need preventive screenings earlier than the average person and to be watched more closely. These cancers include breast cancer, colon cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, and prostate cancer.

Consumption

Be honest with your doctor and yourself about any alcohol, tobacco, vaping, or illicit drug use.

Jessica Gray, MD, FAAFP, is a Family Medicine physician who practices in Lubbock, Texas, as part of the UMC Physicians Group. In caring for patients, she brings her passion for preventive care, health maintenance, and overall women’s health including mental healthcare.

Sexual Activity

Be honest with your doctor about your sexual history—number of partners and any history of sexually transmitted diseases.

Prescription Consistency

If you are on prescription medication but have trouble remembering to take it most of the time, be honest with your doctor and let him/her know. There may be other options out there for you, and your doctor cannot help you learn about those if they are not given all the information they need from you.

Conclusion

Whether or not you choose to apply these suggestions when you go for a doctor’s visit can make a difference in the type of care you receive. After all, your doctor needs to have as many ‘pieces to the puzzle’ so to speak as they can to properly make a diagnosis or treatment plan that will improve your symptoms and help you stay healthy.

“Remember, everything discussed with your doctor is confidential,” Gray reminds us. “Your physician took an oath to help patients, which includes all patients struggling with many conditions.”

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