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Key Points
- The article discusses the difficulty many people face in accurately communicating their medical symptoms to doctors, and offers five tips to improve this communication.
- The first tip is to quickly explain why you need urgent care, providing a clear context for the doctor to understand your situation.
- The second tip encourages patients to use their own terms and phrasing, even metaphors, to describe their symptoms, as this can provide doctors with additional insights.
- The third tip emphasizes the importance of being specific about the frequency, severity, and history of symptoms, including using a pain scale and noting any relevant medical history.
- The final two tips are not to be embarrassed about any aspect of your symptoms or condition, and to write down all your symptoms and concerns before your appointment to ensure you don't forget anything important.
Humans experience pain and discomfort differently and articulating the nuances around what you are feeling is not an easy task. This comes as no surprise as until we are at the doctor’s office or faced with the ever-daunting google search bar, we survive by replacing articulation with groans, moans, whines, and ‘ouches.’
You’ve moved past pain and discomfort mode, into search mode, and now, finally, you are face to face with a professional. You know your symptoms but you can’t convey your situation well enough. The doctor doesn’t understand you and you don’t get the treatment you need. You’re back where you’re started – only worse, because you finally made an attempt to get help, and even that didn’t improve anything.
Does this sound familiar It doesn’t have to be this way. Five tips to help you better communicate your medical symptoms to your doctor:
1. Quickly Explain Why You Need the Urgent Care
Before you go into story mode or details, quickly clarify to your doctor why you’re here. A couple of sentences will be enough to help your doctor listen more proactively, instead of guessing what you’re trying to get to.
2. Use Your Own Terms
Don’t worry about using proper medical terms . Doctors often gain extra insight into your situation by hearing how you experience it in your own language and phrasing.
If a metaphor comes up, share it. For example, if you feel your cough is like a knife that’s cutting your throat, tell the doctor. If you feel like your head is submerged in a giant tub of Aloe Vera, let them know. If no colorful metaphor comes to mind, don’t worry about it. Just explain what’s going on the best way you can.
3. Be Specific About Frequency, Severity and History
Pain in your foot might sound specific, but pain in different parts of your foot can mean different things. When you walk into an urgent care clinic, doctors need you to be as specific as you can.
They need to know when the pain started, what happened around that time, how consistent it’s been since, whether it’s associated in your opinion with something else (for example, does it hurt when you jump, but not when you walk?), and how bad it is.
Try using a scale of 1-10 to describe severity, when 1 is “I hardly feel it” and 10 is “the worst pain I’ve ever felt”. If you can, log your pain levels throughout the day or week, and write down what was different about the times the feeling got significantly better or worse.
Doctors also need to know relevant medical history, what meds you’re taking, or if neighbors or co-workers are suffering from similar symptoms.
4. Don’t Be Embarrassed
Most doctors have heard it all, so there’s a good chance that what you’re embarrassed to share doesn’t even come close to the worst thing they ever heard.
Even if it is, you’re protected by doctor-patient confidentiality. This is your safe place. Share what’s going on, so you can get the most accurate treatment, and get healthy as soon as possible.
5. Write it Down
We want all patients to enter their appointments feeling empowered. Empowered to ask questions, empowered to find the best care. Whenever possible, before you walk into an urgent care clinic, read through this post and write bullet points for yourself. Think about the specificity and severity of the situation, relevant medical history and that thing you’re embarrassed to share. If you have pictures or anecdotes to add, do so!
Having everything written down will help you feel empowered, confident, prepared, and make the most of those moments with the doctor. Lastly, if saying the words out loud feels like too much, let your doctor read what you wrote.
Either way, providing your doctor with accurate information will shorten your journey back to health. Have recurring or relentless symptoms that you’ve put on the back burner? Take note and make an appointment to get it settled once and for all.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it important to quickly explain why I need urgent care to my doctor?
Quickly explaining your need for urgent care allows your doctor to understand your situation more proactively and focus on your main concern, rather than guessing what you're trying to communicate.Should I use medical terms when describing my symptoms to a doctor?
No, you don't have to use medical terms. Doctors often gain extra insight into your situation by hearing how you experience it in your own language and phrasing. If a metaphor comes to mind that describes your pain or discomfort, feel free to share it.What details should I provide about my symptoms?
Be as specific as you can about the frequency, severity, and history of your symptoms. This includes when the pain started, what happened around that time, how consistent it’s been since, whether it’s associated with something else, and how bad it is. Using a scale of 1-10 to describe severity can be helpful.How can I overcome embarrassment when discussing my symptoms?
Remember that most doctors have heard it all and what you’re embarrassed to share probably isn’t the worst thing they’ve heard. You’re protected by doctor-patient confidentiality, so it's important to share all relevant information to get the most accurate treatment.Why is it helpful to write down my symptoms and concerns before a doctor's appointment?
Writing down your symptoms, concerns, and questions before your appointment can help you feel more empowered, confident, and prepared. It ensures you don't forget any important details and makes the most of your time with the doctor.What should I do if I'm too uncomfortable to verbally communicate my symptoms?
If saying the words out loud feels like too much, you can let your doctor read what you wrote. This allows you to communicate your symptoms without the discomfort of verbalizing them.Is it beneficial to share if others around me are experiencing similar symptoms?
Yes, it can be helpful to share if neighbors or co-workers are suffering from similar symptoms. This information could provide additional insight into your condition.What should I do if I have recurring or relentless symptoms?
If you have recurring or relentless symptoms, it's important to take note and make an appointment with a doctor to address them. Ignoring these symptoms could potentially lead to more serious health issues.
