One of the worst things to come across in your life will be having a doctor that just doesn’t want to comply. Some doctors sincerely believe they know best, and they won’t listen to their patients. Sometimes what the doctor says seems so scripted, as if they weren’t even listening to you and your symptoms at all. Fortunately, not all doctors are like this but some are.
Many believe that the communication with their doctors is satisfactory but there is always going to be a percentage that doesn’t believe that. It doesn’t have anything to do with a lack of medical skills, it’s just bad communication. This disconnect between the doctor and patient can get very stressful. If your doctor isn’t listening, here are some tips on what you can do.
Before the appointment write down some notes
It’s best to have a list of notes that you’re wanting to tell your doctor. This can include your symptoms, when you first began feeling how you did, and even questions. Some doctors would rather hear your symptoms rather than the story of how you’re feeling. While it’s not ideal, it’s best to maybe try and get directly to the point. Even writing this on paper or a symptom notebook and handing it to your doctor may help. If they’re not listening and tuning you out, then maybe getting them to read your symptoms just may help. Some things to include in your notes should be
- When the symptoms started
- Has this ever occurred
- Is it painful
- What were you doing when these symptoms first occurred
- How it feels
- How often are these symptoms
This can immediately help with clearing up things.
Be completely accurate
Sometimes it may be too embarrassing to be open and honest with your doctor. But it’s something that you have to do. It’s best to try and build up a relationship with your doctor. If your doctor is asking whether or not you’re consuming alcohol or illegal substances, no matter how embarrassing it is, you need to be honest. A lot of stuff, even the very uncomfortable topics, can directly impact our health. While it can be very uncomfortable and embarrassing to talk about, it’s so important to talk about it anyways and be completely open.
Give feedback
You shouldn’t have to feel bad or even apologize for focusing on your health. So just be direct, and tell them directly what’s going on. If you don’t like how your doctor visits have gone lately, let them know and even tell one of the nurses.
Look into getting a new doctor
Sometimes, no matter what you can do, things just may not work out. It’s better to just find a new doctor rather than face the fear of getting misdiagnosed and having to deal with getting medical malpractice attorneys for a lawsuit. Just ask around and see if you’re able to get a new doctor. Just call them up, explain your situation and why you’d like to transfer. While you may have to worry about your health insurance, you can even call them and discuss the situation with them.
