The 4 words that drive your doctor the wall

First -line care doctors have heard it all – but there are four words they hope not say their patients.

This is what happens: during the last moments of an appointment, while the doctor walks out of the door, a patient intervenes: “One more thing.” It sounds like a side issue, but it sometimes turns out to be something serious, such as a symptom that requires immediate attention or a side effect that changes the treatment plan.

“I have heard it often,” says Dr. Lisa Ravindra, a doctor at Rush University Medical Center. “I often find things that hesitate to raise patients in the beginning, and they work themselves up to be brave enough to discuss it. But it is often the most important thing they came for.”

The problem with “One more thing“

Ravindra remembers patients who unveiled – because she had one foot the door – that they had experienced chest pain. Whether they struggled with their mental health and wanted to get her opinion about an antidepressant. It is better to fade these things than to hide them entirely from your doctor. But the problem is that “we want to be able to pay as much attention as possible to the things that are most important for patients, and that are most important for their health,” she says.

When a patient mentions something that is worthy of a deeper discussion, because an appointment is packed, Ravindra has to take a fraction of a second: should she dive in a conversation with them and be too late to see the next patient (and the one afterwards)? Or should she ask them to plan another appointment to discuss what they have brought up? “Then you risk that patients feel fired,” she says. “They have made the decision to finally talk about it and I ask them to talk about it another time.” Neither option is ideal, she says.

Read more: 8 symptoms that doctors often reject as anxiety

Dr. Melinda Steele, a general practitioner in California, can relate. “The scenario ‘only one more’ happens all Time, “she says. It can throw her away all day. ” Doctors are like ducks: we are calm and collected on the surface, but we move it under water, “she says.” We are beaten from all different directions, things have to be trium, by going messages and laboratories and seeing patients in clinic. It is better not to be surprised by a dozy if you try to leave the house. “

How you can make you feel heard

Make sure you are prepared for the doctor’s appointments to prevent you from being prepared in the fall of the doctor. Steele suggests that you take a list of worries to take with you. Cap it on about three points of discussion, and play the best things you want to discuss, so that they get priority over less important issues. “Many people come to the doctor’s office and they are nervous and forgotten what they want to bring up, so writing down it can solve something and ensure that the problems are actually tackled,” she says. “If you have symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath or dizziness, move them to the top of the list and mention them in advance.”

Read more: What experts use to ward off ticks and mosquitoes

It is also important to work on the habit of what Steele calls problem recording ‘. It is not necessary to save problems until you have “enough” to justify a visit. “It is quite common for people to come in with a large list of problems, because they feel that there must be enough to justify freely,” she says. “Earlier reaching to your doctor and tackling problems earlier can certainly prevent complications” – and ensure that agreements are as seamless and satisfactory as possible.

Another idea, says Ravindra, is to add notes when you plan your appointment via your online portal. Many systems enable you to enter text that describes what you want to talk about, and she always assesses them in advance. “Then I have a good feeling, will this be a quick, simple visit? Or do I have to make sure that I allow enough time?” She says. Moreover, people who are nervous to personally bring up sensitive topics often feel more at ease to put them on their doctors.

What doctors can do

At the start of every appointment, Ravindra asks patients: “What do you think about today? Is there something that you want to make sure that we cover?” That helps to reduce the possibility of being blinded by “one more thing” at the end of the assigned time, she found.

Steele advises doctors that patients ask if they have brought a list of worries, and if so, whether they can look at it together while setting up an appointment agenda. “Skim it with the patient, because then you can emphasize:” Oh, I see that chest pain is no. 15. Why don’t we move that to the top? “

Read more: 10 questions that you should always ask for appointments from doctors

She also insists on clinicians to prevent them from falling into a rabbit hole and going deep into the first number that a patient brings up. “Doctors are regular people,” she says. “We listen, but our minds think and strategize:” What could these symptoms cause, and what am I going to do about it? “