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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffYou're likely to start by first seeing your family doctor or primary care doctor. However, in some cases when you call to set up an appointment, you may be referred immediately to a skin disease specialist (dermatologist).
Because appointments can be brief and there's often a lot of ground to cover, it can help to be well prepared. Here are some tips to help you get ready for your appointment and what to expect from your doctor.
What you can do
Write down your signs and symptoms, when they occurred and how long they lasted. Also, make a list of all medications, including vitamins, herbs and over-the-counter drugs that you're taking. Even better, take the original bottles and a written list of the dosages and directions.
Write down questions that you want to ask your doctor. Don't be afraid to ask questions or to speak up when you don't understand something your doctor says. For hives and angioedema, questions you may want to ask include:
- What is likely causing my symptoms?
- Are tests needed to confirm the diagnosis?
- What are other possible causes for my symptoms?
- Is my condition likely temporary or chronic?
- What is the best course of action?
- What are the alternatives to the primary approach that you're suggesting?
- Do I need prescription medication, or can I use over-the-counter medications to treat the condition?
- What results can I expect?
- Can I wait to see if the condition goes away on its own?
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, such as:
- When did you first begin experiencing symptoms?
- What did the welts look like when they first started?
- Have your symptoms changed over time?
- What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
- What at-home treatments have you used?
- What prescription and over-the-counter medications are you taking?
- Urticaria — hives. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/skin_urticaria.html. Accessed Oct. 22, 2008
- Allergic skin conditions. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. http://www.aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/allergicskinconditions.stm. Accessed Oct. 22, 2008.
- Habif TP. Urticaria and angioedema. In: Clinical Dermatology: A Color Guide to Diagnosis and Therapy. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Inc; 2004. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/108133988-3/0/1195/29.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-01319-8..50008-X--cesec5_428. Accessed Oct. 22, 2008.
- Bingham CO III. An overview of angioedema. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 22, 2008.
- Bingham CO III. Etiology and diagnosis of urticaria. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 22, 2008.
- Bingham CO III. Treatment of urticaria. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 22, 2008.
- Simmons FER, et al. Anaphylaxis: Rapid recognition and treatment. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 30, 2008.
- Atkinson JP, et al. Pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of hereditary angioedema. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 30, 2008.
