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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffYou're likely to start by seeing your family doctor or a general practitioner. However, you may then be referred to a doctor who specializes in disorders of the brain and nervous system (neurologist).
Because appointments can be brief, and there's often a lot of ground to cover, it's a good idea to arrive well prepared. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.
What you can do
- Write down any unusual symptoms as you experience them, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
- Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes that you can recall. Ask family members or friends to help you with this task to ensure that your list is complete.
- Make a list of all medications, as well as any vitamins or supplements, that you're taking.
- Ask a family member or friend to come with you. Even in the best circumstances, it can be difficult to remember all of the information provided to you during an appointment. Someone who accompanies can help you remember everything that was said.
- Bring a notepad and pen or pencil, so that you can jot down the points you want to be sure to remember later.
- Write down questions to ask your doctor.
Preparing a list of questions can help you make the most of your time with your doctor, as well as ensure that you cover all of the points you want to. For amnesia, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
- What's the most likely cause of my symptoms?
- Are there other possible causes for my symptoms?
- What kinds of tests do I need? Do these tests require any special preparation?
- Will my memory ever come back?
- What treatments are available, and which do you recommend?
- I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
- Are there any activity restrictions that I need to follow?
- Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What Web sites do you recommend?
In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment at any time that you don't understand something.
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to spend more time on. Your doctor may ask:
- When did you first notice your memory loss?
- Did you experience any other symptoms at that time?
- Were you involved in any trauma? For example, a car accident, violent collision in sports or an assault?
- Did an illness or another event seem to trigger the memory loss?
- Does anything help improve your memory?
- What, if anything, appears to worsen your memory loss?
- Are the memory problems intermittent or constant?
- Has the memory loss stayed the same or is it getting worse?
- Did the memory loss come on suddenly or gradually?
- Amnesias. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec16/ch210/ch210c.html. Accessed July 30, 2009.
- Simon RP, et al. Disorders of cognitive function. In: Simon RP, et al. Clinical Neurology. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=5143601. Accessed Aug. 4, 2009.
- Davis PH. Transient global anemia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 30, 2009.
- Heilman KM. Evaluation and management of amnesic disorders. In: Noseworthy JH. Neurological Therapeutics: Principles and Practice. London, New York: Martin Dunitz; 2003. library.mayo.edu/ebook-noseworthy/266_Neuro_XIV.pdf Accessed Aug. 4, 2009.
- Ropper AH, et al. Diseases of the nervous system caused by nutritional deficiency. In: Ropper AH, et al. Adams and Victor's Principles of Neurology. 9th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3639886. Accessed Aug. 4, 2009.
- Miller BL, et al. Memory loss. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2885255.
- Woodruff BK (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Rochester, Minn. Aug. 5, 2009.
