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EspañolThe reason for the appointment
Write down in one or two sentences the main reason for the consultation: a new symptom, worsening, follow-up, a test result, a problem with a treatment or a request for referral.
Preparing for your medical appointment
A few simple pointers to organise important information, prepare your questions and make the most of consultation time.
Why prepare for a consultation?
When your medical history becomes complex, it can be hard to sum up months or years of symptoms in a few minutes.
Preparing a few things in advance makes it easier to explain why you have come, what has changed and what you expect from the consultation.
You don’t need to bring a perfect file: the main aim is to make important information easy to find.
Useful information to prepare
Gathering the main elements in a note, a notebook or on your phone can save you from having to find everything at the last minute.
Your treatments
Prepare a list of your current medicines and treatments, with doses if possible. Also remember to mention treatments stopped recently and any side effects you have had.
Your medical documents
Gather only the reports, blood tests, scans, prescriptions or letters that are really useful for the consultation. The most recent documents are often the easiest to use.
Presenting your symptoms clearly
A symptom is often easier to understand when it is put in context rather than summed up by its intensity alone.
Since when?
Try to roughly date when the symptom started and say whether it is stable, comes and goes, or is getting worse.
How often?
Every day, a few times a week, during certain activities or only at particular times.
In what circumstances?
Note what seems to trigger, worsen or, on the contrary, improve the symptom when you have identified it.
What impact on daily life?
Explain in concrete terms what the symptom stops you doing or forces you to change: sleep, eating, getting around, work, studies, activities or independence.
Tip: you don’t have to put a number on everything. Concrete examples from your daily life can sometimes say more than a long list of figures.
A few questions you can prepare
Choose only those that match your situation.
What is the next step?
Ask what is planned after the consultation: a test, a treatment, monitoring, a specialist opinion or a new appointment.
What is this test looking for?
If a test is suggested, you can ask what it is for and what its results might change in your care.
What is the aim of the treatment?
It can be useful to know which symptom or problem the treatment mainly aims to improve.
What effects should I watch for?
When relevant, ask which side effects or changes should lead you to contact the professional again.
When should we review things?
Check how long it will be until the next appointment or the next step in your care.
Who should I contact between appointments?
If you need particular follow-up, ask which professional to contact and in which situations.
A few simple habits
Keep your note or list of questions to hand during the consultation. You can look at it: that’s exactly what it is there for.
If you don’t understand an explanation, ask for it to be put another way. You can also take a few notes on the decisions made and the next steps.
If it helps you and circumstances allow, you can also bring someone close to you.
If the professional knows little about your condition
EDS and gastroparesis are little known by some healthcare professionals. You can bring a reference document to make the discussion easier:
- our sheets Understanding EDS and Understanding gastroparesis (PDF, in French);
- the HAS national protocol on EDS (French National Authority for Health), which includes a summary for GPs;
- the latest letter from your reference or competence centre.
Keeping track of the next steps
Note what was decided
Keep a short record of important decisions: change of treatment, tests prescribed, referral or next appointment.
File new documents
Put prescriptions, reports and results in the same place as your other medical documents so you can find them easily.
Prepare what comes next
If several steps were requested, a short list can help you keep track of what is done, what is pending and what still needs an appointment.
Important information
These sheets are organisation tools and do not replace medical advice. They cannot be used to make a diagnosis or decide on a treatment.
Your sheets to prepare the appointment
Simple sheets to fill in before a consultation, so you don’t forget the essentials.