Come prepared
When trying to maximise the time you have in your appointment, coming prepared can be one of the biggest things you can do. Write down your concerns and questions before you arrive and refer to them throughout your appointment.
Prioritise your concerns
Unfortunately, you may not always have the time to discuss all of your concerns at length. Consider the things that are most important to you and focus on these first.
Take a friend or family member
Take someone with you who can support you throughout the appointment, ensuring that you fully understand what the doctor says.
Ask questions
If you are unsure as to what your doctor is saying, ask questions until you feel comfortable that you have understood everything fully.
Don’t be afraid to ask for another appointment
If you feel you haven’t had the time to discuss everything you wanted to, you can always ask for a followup appointment. This can give you more time to discuss your symptoms in detail.
Understanding your symptoms
Whatever symptoms you might be experiencing, it is important that you take the time to consider exactly how they make you feel and how they might be changing over time so you can accurately describe them to your doctor. Remember to be as specific as possible and pay attention to detail. You could use our discussion guide as a way of clarifying your thoughts and getting them down on paper, and keeping a diary could help you to keep track of how your symptoms might be changing over time. You might want to ask yourself:
- Where do my symptoms occur?
- Exactly how do they make me feel?
- Are they getting worse or better?
- How long have I had them?
- How do they affect me day-to-day?
- When do I notice them most?
- Do I have any other symptoms?
Proximal muscle diseases are rare, meaning the chances of you having one are low. Whatever is causing your symptoms, taking the time to understand them and how to effectively communicate them to your doctor will help you to work towards finding their cause. If you are concerned that you might be experiencing any of the symptoms of proximal muscle diseases, take the time to find out more.
