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Here are some
questions you can ask your doctor to get your
discussion started: |
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About the Disease or
Disorder... |
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What is my diagnosis?
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What caused my
condition?
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Can my condition be
treated?
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How will this condition
affect my vision now and in the future?
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Should I watch for any
particular symptoms and notify you if they
occur?
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Should I make any
lifestyle changes?
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About the
Treatment... |
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What is the treatment
for my condition?
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When will the treatment
start, and how long will it last?
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What are the benefits of
this treatment, and how successful is it?
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What are the risks and
side effects associated with this treatment?
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Are there foods, drugs,
or activities I should avoid while I'm on this
treatment?
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If my treatment includes
taking a medication, what should I do if I miss
a dose?
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Are other treatments
available?
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About the Tests... |
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What kinds of tests will
I have?
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What do you expect to
find out from these tests?
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When will I know the
results?
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Do I have to do anything
special to prepare for any of the tests?
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Do these tests have any
side effects or risks?
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Will I need more tests
later?
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Understanding
doctor's words: |
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If
you don't understand your doctor's
responses, ask questions until you do
understand.
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Take notes, or get a friend or family
member to take notes for you. Or, bring
a tape-recorder to assist in your
recollection of the discussion (but you
are required to take your doctor's
permission to record the conversation).
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Ask
your doctor to write down his or her
instructions to you.
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Ask
your doctor for printed material about
your condition.
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If
you still have trouble understanding
your doctor's answers, ask where you can
go for more information.
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Getting the best from
Your Doctor... |
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Well, it is important to have the right
perspective towards the doctor and the
treatment.
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Remember that every doctor tries to do
his best to treat his patient because a
satisfied patient mean an advancement of
practice.
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Stick to one doctor as far as possible.
However, you may seek second opinion in
consultation with your current
physician. Consulting many doctors may
cause confusion, dissatisfaction and
delay in treatment.
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Pay
him his dues. Remember you are paying
for his skill, service and expertise,
and for your own good health ........
things that are actually more valuable
than most material objects.
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Take complications objectively.
Complications are NOT deliberate
blunders of doctors. Nobody ever wants
things to go wrong, least of all
doctors.
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Doctors know that good service and good
treatment results for the patients mean
good 'business sense' for the doctor.
- "Keep the Faith!"
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