5 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your Doctor Visits

Today on the podcast, we're going to be talking with Meredith and we're going to be sharing five ways to get the most out of your doctor visits. Great topic. Are you ready to do this, Meredith? I'm ready. All right. We'll see you folks on the inside. Hello, everybody, and thank you for joining us on the Senior Fitness Podcast with Meredith. We're really, really excited that you're here today. We've got a great topic. We are going to be sharing five ways to get the most out of your doctor visits. This can be challenging for a lot of people, so hopefully this resonates with you as we dive into it. But before that, we just want to send you a quick reminder to swing by our website, seniorfitnesswithmeredith.com. While you're there, check out all of our latest and greatest content, including our growing library of exercise videos and all of our podcast episodes, of course, as well as a chance to sign up for our podcast. We're going to be sharing five ways to get the most out of your doctor visits. And for our newsletter, which we send out once a week and in it, all of our latest information. We love staying in touch with you, and hopefully you check that out. We'd also like to mention that we are part of the Senior Resource Podcast Network, which is a network of like-minded podcasters with expert advice on retirement, Medicare, senior housing, aging in place, caregiving, and so much more. You can find this great network of podcasts at seniorresource.com forward slash podcasts. All right. Today's awesome topic, let's say, getting the most out of your doctor visits. So, Meredith, why is this a thing? Like, where's what spawned this idea? Yeah, this came up. I can't remember if it was a senior or the child of a senior. That was talking to me about doctor's appointments coming up and being prepared. I don't want to obviously give a lot of the things away that we'll discuss in this podcast, but it kind of made me think about how we need to talk about this in a way. And we, you know, this is a great forum to break things down on our podcast, and especially knowing it's geared towards seniors. And so, knowing that you can get the most from that appointment. I've had even my mom, like, the more I talk now out loud, my mom tell me about going to the doctor and just not feeling heard. And, you know, if you go to a doctor's appointment, if they ever keep their computer up and you're able to look over at it, I think they're given maybe five minutes per appointment, maybe. So, it's incredible that they're supposed to be. able to get enough knowledge out of that couple of minutes that they have with you and then jump into the next person, right? So, I think this is such a good topic to bring up for seniors, for caregivers, for family members, neighbors, whomever you might have taking you or going with you to a doctor's appointment. Mm-hmm. Knowing that this is kind of a good one to listen to, so you can jot down some notes before you go. Yeah. Yeah, definitely. You know, as usual, we like to kind of pick your brain on a lot of the experience you have in working with clients of all ages, younger, older. And what kind of feedback did you hear over those experiences as far as when. They would go to the doctor's office. Did they feel they were getting the care that they were looking for? You know, what were some of the challenges? Not enough time. Right. Getting the right. feeling like they're being diagnosed correctly. Like, what are the challenges that you heard about? Yeah, it was a lot of not having enough time, not feeling heard, because you say your part and then they go, yeah, yeah, okay, yeah. Normal part of aging or, okay, well, that's. we'll jot that down. We'll see how you're doing with that next time. Mm-hmm. Or just starting to finally get something out and then it's, oh, you know, time's up. Do you feel heard? Okay, goodbye. You know, and then they leave, even though you're like, no, wait, I'm not done. Yeah. Even I have had that feeling, which is very interesting. I guess I'm getting close to the senior age. I'm getting close to the senior age, but it's. you can just tell the doctor's almost ready to get to the next patient because they're looking at the clock more than they're listening to you and looking at you. So it just makes you go, oh, I guess that's that. I must be fine because they don't seem to really care. And you just kind of deal with it. I brought up the story of my grandparents, and I know my mom was very avid on not. avid on not liking it. And I think that's because that's exactly what they did. My grandparents would say, you know, ailments and things that were going on to the point where my grandfather had Parkinson's and they did not diagnose it for years and years and years when he could have been diagnosed much sooner if the doctor would have paid attention and listened. But so my mom would just be like, you need to find a new doctor. Please go to someone else. But they had gone to this doctor for years and they said, this is who we like. We're comfortable. We're not going to change. And the person would just come in and basically look them up and down and say, they're older. Therefore, you guys are fine. You're just getting older and would walk out. And that was it. I know, right? But I unfortunately think that that happens quite often. Unless you can find the right doctor that actually has time and is able to take the time. To listen to you and refer you out or to do further tests. It happens quite often for older people. So yeah, very sad. Yeah, it's unfortunate that that's the case because you go to the doctor you're expecting to get cared for or at least listened to. Yes. And it's somewhere you can go to talk to someone that you hopefully trust. Yes. Right? Yeah. And if you feel like you're not getting the most out of it. If you feel like you're not getting the most out of these visits, you're not getting enough time. What do you do? It's just challenging for someone who, no matter how old you are, but especially for people who are older. Yeah. Because they tend not to get listened to as much as they should. Exactly. Right? Yeah. So it sounds like a lot of feedback you got from folks that you trained or work with showed that same sentiment as far as the frustrations. Yeah. I mean, of all ages. I mean, of all ages, but especially older adults. They go to the doctor more often, usually, most of the time, than younger people. Younger people just kind of let things go and then they feel better or they just don't go. And then until you get to a certain age, then you start going to the doctor, I guess. But yeah, so I just have a tendency to hear from more seniors the things that they've dealt with or felt. So yeah, looking more into it. And, you know, the National Institute on Aging has a really great article and that's what we're going to kind of reference and resource for going, delving more into this topic that helps with our five, five key points. Yeah. Yeah. And before we jump into those, you know, it's, I'd like to probably say that this is an industry wide problem, you know, like if you're having an issue with your primary care physician, I mean, this is not true. It's just happening to you. Right. Yeah. Yeah. That's a good way to put it. This is a, this is an industry wide situation where you just feel like you're not getting the right, enough care or enough time. Yeah. It's not specific to region or your doctor. Yeah. It is industry wide and all different doctors. Yeah. That you deal with and seniors, a lot of seniors deal with a lot of different doctors. Yeah. They don't go to just their PCP. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Definitely. Okay. Let's find out how to deal. Deal with this. Yes. So let's talk about our five ways to get the most out of your doctor visit as you go. So what do we have for number one? So decide what questions are most important to ask your doctor. And I think this is a great one because pick three or four questions, concerns, things that are going on with you. Have them written down. Have your list ready so you can make sure you, you discuss each of these because if they are things that you are thinking about. And you have waited however many weeks, who knows, maybe months to get in to see this doctor, then make sure you have those questions ready to go paper in hand, pen or pencil in the other ready. I think it's a good look and it kind of lets the doctor know you mean business and you have an agenda. You have questions and concerns and a list that needs to be discussed. Yeah. I like this one a lot for all those reasons. Yeah. - Yeah. - Because you are presenting Presenting yourself to the doctor as, hey, I really want to know this information. This is important to me. Right. Because some people, if you go to the doctor, sometimes you don't know what to ask them. You're just like, I have this thing. Yeah, yeah. This feels like this. Yeah. But if you walk in prepared, I mean, that sets the tone. Right. The context of which you are looking to find out. Exactly. Right. Yeah. So what do you do if you, you know, you just, it's so hard to nail it down to like three or four questions. How do you kind of like get that focus? Yeah. Well, if you start with those and you try and make those the main objective, if you have time, then you'll be able to discuss the other things. Giving them those three or four concerns and questions hopefully will give the doctor a good playing ground, let's say, to do a diagnosis or to know if they need to refer you out to someone else. But. Or a good doctor, you give a question, they give a question back. So it's a tennis match, right? You're playing and you're giving them more now to these questions that you even had written down. So hopefully they'll all get answered at the end, even if you have more, more that needs to be discussed, more than that three or four that, you know, you'll only have in your five to seven minutes, if that, with the doctor. Caring for someone with dementia is one of the toughest journeys. But you don't have to do it alone. I'm Alison Schreier, and my experience caring for my husband inspired me to create Zinnia, a therapeutic streaming service designed to support people living with dementia and reduce caregiver stress. 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Inside, you'll find devotionals, guided prayers, podcast recommendations and other faith-filled content we think you'll love. No ads, no clutter. Just good content to help you stay rooted in God's Word. Sign up for The Good Word today at LifeAudio.com forward slash The Good Word. That's LifeAudio.com forward slash The Good Word. So, yeah. Yeah, just trying to get focused on it. Yeah, that's our, yeah. And of course, if you go in with someone like your spouse or a relative, it also helps to share those questions with them. Right. Right, before you go in, so they kind of know maybe what your, you know, what your plan is. Yeah, if you've got them written down, be like, this is what we're going to discuss. This is my main objective because this is the way I'm feeling and all of that. And then let them know that. But then, if you are the patient, the older adult slash senior, and someone else is coming in with you, unless you want them to speak for you, make sure they know. Make sure they know you want to talk. Because it's very easy, and I've heard this many times, actually, from seniors, that you bring someone else in and they talk for you because they think they know best for you. When you are the only one who actually knows how you are feeling, I kind of, like what I say during the workouts, you know your body best. Do what's best for you. Same thing. You know your body best. Advocate for it what's best for you. And that means you talking about it. To your doctor. And then letting them be supplemental if needed. Right, right, right. Yeah, that's. If you're able to. Yeah, that's definitely something that should be established early before going in. Okay, that's a great one. Start with the questions. What do we have for number two? Number two you touched upon, the stay focused on why you're there. So give brief description of the symptoms of what's going on. When it started, how often? Is it worse or better if it's that type of doctor's appointment? Write that out. As well. So when, I mean, I've gone to the doctor and they're like, so when did this start? And I'm like, when did it start? It's been about maybe five, six months. You know, you're trying to remember the calendar and that's just time. It's ticking by. That doctor's looking at, you know, the clock and have all your ducks in a row. All of the details, but staying focused. Why am I here? A lot of times doctors will go off on tangents. And so how's the family? How's this and that? That's nice. That's fine. But we don't have time for that. You don't have time for that. You know, as the doctor, the doctor doesn't have time. The patient has all the time in the world and wants the reason why I am here to be discussed. So making sure you keep the doctor even focused on why you are in that appointment at that time. Not the other time, unless it has to do with the other time. We're talking about this appointment, why we are here. Yeah, definitely. And it would help to, like you say, write it down. Yes. Write your mission down, I guess you could say. In addition to your number one point, the questions. Right. Having kind of a goal, maybe. Yes, yeah, definitely. Write down your goal for this visit. Yeah. To say, okay, I'd like to feel and know this information as I leave. When I leave. Right. By the time I leave. Yeah. Along with the questions, you're looking at your goal and some extra information that you may write down on it. Right. And you can just kind of say to yourself, okay, this is how I want to at least feel when I leave. Yes. Yeah. And it may not be a good feeling. It could be like, oh, I got to get more. Right. You know, checkups in. Yeah, we'll get to that. But yeah, yeah, definitely. Exactly. But yeah, making sure you have those questions and then further with those questions is right. Writing down how to stay focused. And timelines is the best way to do that because it's very easy to get in there and forget what the symptoms are and forget what the timeline is and how often it occurs and what you feel for some reason. It's easy to go blank even though you've been thinking about it for probably months. Yeah, yeah. I like the idea of writing down the timeline because you know when you go in, especially if this is your first visit for something that you're feeling or whatnot, the doctor is going to ask you, when did you start feeling like this? How often do you feel like this? Is it getting worse or better? And yes, we could just rattle that information off. But if you really put thought into it, you can actually put dates down and times down and have it give that to the doctor. And now they are looking at something like, okay, I see what's going on. Maybe they see a pattern. Right. Or something. Yeah, definitely. Right. Just helps. Yeah. Everybody in general. And it does help. The conversation and the focus in the room when it could go in multiple directions if you're just not thinking about it and you don't have an exact answer, so to speak. And the doctor goes in a different direction possibly and you're like, no, no, no. Actually, this is more what I'm feeling. You know, just trying to keep it honed in on you and what's going on. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. And always revert back to your main three or four questions even because that's going to help go to the focus of it if it does start to waver a little bit and go all over the place. Yeah. Yeah. Definitely like that. Staying focused and getting the most out of your visit. Yeah. Okay, let's jump to number three. Number three is being honest with your doctor. And it's so tempting when we go in there and they ask us things. The doctor is not judging you. If you're a smoker, are you smoking less? Have you quit smoking? How much do you drink per week? What type of foods are you eating? Are you eating a balanced diet? All of the things. How much exercise are you getting? All of the things they ask. They use that as a gauge to see where you're at to help with diagnosis and to also help with medication if you did need to take some. They need to know if you go, I don't drink at all and you're drinking three times a week at social hour, which is fine, but that's drinking. You need to put that. You need to put that down because if he gives you a medication that alcohol interferes with it, he's not going to tell you about that because you don't drink according to what you told him. Same with smoking. Same with exercise. What is this person feeling? There are symptoms and everything, but they claim to exercise for an hour five times a week and they're eating the most healthy Mediterranean diet they can and no drinking, no smoking. This is really perplexing. right We'll give them this medication and hope that this will help them. But then it interferes with things that are actually going on inside of you. So being as honest as possible about all of the questions that they do ask. You want your questions answered for a reason. The doctor has some that he or she probably want answered for a reason. It's not to judge you. It's not to write down and put a sad face. You don't get the gold star for the day. It doesn't matter. They need to know to keep you healthy. They, yes, of course, will probably say, well, you shouldn't drink that much. You shouldn't smoke. You need to exercise more and eat better. We all hear that. So just make sure you're being honest. Yeah, and this one's kind of a challenging one because you have to think about your habits, what you do. How do you eat? How do you sleep? Do you exercise? Do you drink? And it's hard to come to that truth, I think, sometimes when someone literally looks at you and asks you, do you exercise? Right. Oh, definitely. How much do you drink? What's your diet like? You don't get asked those questions every day. No. So you really have to do some self-reflecting. And it's just easy to say, oh, I just have one or two drinks a week. Yeah. Or, oh, you know, I exercise, you know, twice a week. And it's easy to lie. Yeah. Yeah. Unfortunately. Oh, big time. Because we want to be perceived as healthy people that are doing all the right things. That's not why we're here to see you, doctor. Because we are doing everything right. Yeah. But, yeah, we definitely need to make sure we're being as honest as we possibly can. And I just keep saying, like, the main reason why we most of the time don't want to be honest is we do think someone's going to judge us for that. And going to go, well, of course you don't feel good. But because you're not doing this or you're doing too much of this or we don't want to hear that. The doctor won't say that. There's more to it most of the time when you get to the point where you're at the doctor. If you're smoking two packs a day, but you don't tell him you smoke at all, obviously you could probably tell. But we need to now delve a little bit deeper into the reason why you have this cough that you've had for months now, you know, and you're finally now coming to the doctor. Kind of pertinent information. For the doctor to diagnose correctly. So, yeah, just trying to be as honest as possible, as difficult as it can be. I know we get questionnaires before we go into the doctor, you know, zero to one, two to four, you know, how many drinks per week. And I'm like, yeah, I don't know. Every week's different, right? Yeah, yeah. So, but try to put things on an average and be as honest as possible. Yeah. That's important. That's an important one. Yeah. I can see why it's on the list. Okay, let's jump to number four. Number four is share your point of view about the visit with your doctor. I kind of like this, but tell the doctor. A lot of times at the end, they'll go, is there anything else? And tell them if you felt rushed or you're worried or uncomfortable at all. If you need to reach out for a second visit, that's where the doctor should say, you know, I do have to go to the next patient, but let's get you in here as soon as possible. Let's schedule you for a follow-up. We have the next opening, that type of thing. Discuss your concerns, what wasn't talked about, what didn't you get answered, that type of thing. Voicing them in a positive way, making sure, you know, you're not necessarily dissing the doctor necessarily because you do know they have a schedule that they have to adhere to and all of the things. But making sure those concerns are your point of view is being voiced, I think. I think it's a great, great one that's on this list because it's very easy, especially as we age, to have many concerns when we leave and many opinions and feeling rushed, but it's never talked about or discussed. And maybe the doctor has no idea that he's making his patient, he or she is making their patients feel that way. Yeah. You know, unless it's, we just keep a smile on our face, which I still remember going in the doctor doing that. Yeah. And then somebody left and I went, what just happened? Nothing was answered and I have no idea what's going on. Why didn't I listen to this, you know, prior to or read this list? I wish I would have. But making sure we are heard and our concerns, our worries, et cetera, about the visit are part of that as well. So, yeah. Yeah, it's kind of like, you know, you sit down on the table, the doctor comes in. It's just like this whirlwind of questions, like you're in a hurricane for like five minutes and you don't know what's going on. You're getting asked all these questions. And then he finally asks or she goes, okay, you got any questions for me? Right. And you're like, uh, no. And then, okay, great. I'll see you next time. Yeah, that's the answer they're hoping for too. That's the sequence of events that usually happen. Yep. And obviously with all of these things we've discussed already, stay focused, be honest. I'll share your point of view. A good doctor will always, number one, make you feel comfortable. Make you feel like you're heard. Yes. And ask you questions. Yeah. And then at the end, say, is there anything else that I can answer for you? Right. And that's where you chime in again if you need to. If you need to. Exactly. Yeah. Right. Yeah. That time is yours. Your time is valuable. I know the doctor's is too, but your time, you as the patient. It's quite valuable as well. You're the one in there because something is going on. You're not just going because you like to go hang out with the doctor. You're going because there's an issue. So making sure you know your time is valuable and you want to be heard as well. And don't leave there feeling rushed and worried. Yeah. Yeah. Because it's so easy to just kind of be mesmerized by being in this office and being just, you know, and then if they have an assistant there too, you know, who's kind of like, you know, kind of there. That can be everything. Yeah. That can be kind of intimidating. Yeah. Definitely. We don't experience those kinds of things every day. Right. So it's easy to just kind of clam up and you don't share your point of view. You just kind of take with what the doctor is telling you. Right. And just to take that as fact and move on. Right. So I like this point. Yeah. This bullet point, point of view. So glad that's on the list as well. Yeah. Let's get to our last tip. The last one. Then I have actually a couple of tips at the end. But the last of our five ways to get the most out of your doctor visit is remember the doctor may not be able to answer all of your questions. We do have to remember that as well. That some, they might not be able to answer, but that's where, like you said, good doctor will refer you out. We'll do more testings in another, either another office visit, some other way. But sending you out to a specialist, we think that that doctor that we go to is going to go to knows everything, that they're a specialist in everything and they're not. We should definitely know that. And so if they're brushing off any of your questions and they don't, you don't feel heard, that is where you really, really do need to find another doctor. If you can tell that they are intrigued by what you're saying and actually listening, but even they are thinking, and then they would eventually say at the end of your discussion and your questions and concerns, once those are done, then they go, you know, this is actually something that I should refer you out to see a specialist for. And that's, that's the route you'll go. So just knowing you may not, kind of like what you said earlier, you may not leave there with all of your answer, your questions answered, or you won't leave there feeling great sometimes. Right. We also think we're going to get a diagnosis or we're going to get something that's going to make us feel better. And finally, we're, we're all good, but that's not always the way, um, when it comes to, but knowing that they may not know everything, but that's where they hopefully will figure out how to, to get you to the person who will help you, um, understand what's going on with you. Yeah, definitely. Yeah. Um, okay. What are our honorable mentions? It's more like tips. So when you go to the doctor, you're bringing your list. Make sure you're taking notes. Um, they talk so fast and they're trying to say so much to you so quickly and what you should do and what you shouldn't do. And this is the medicine we're going to give you. And then you're like, what? Try and take notes as much as you can. Um, you can also get written or recorded materials. A lot of doctors will record. They talk into recorders now, or so it kind of AI scribes, or they have to do charting notes as soon as they finish talking to you. They have notes about what you just talked about. And what they recommended for you. So that is all there. You can get that. Um, you can of course talk to other members. So like you said, if there's that nurse or nurse practitioner or someone else that's standing in there, um, talk to them. They usually have a little bit more time to take with you, ask them those secondary questions and what was just discussed. If you didn't get it all in, um, you can also call and email the doctor directly. directly. And if they are a good doctor, they will respond. So making sure you know what just happened in that doctor's visit that you had. It's great to go in with the list of questions and stay focused and be honest. But if you didn't hear or understand a word, anything that just happened, that was all for naught, in my opinion. You need to understand what was given to you back. What you gave to them, they gave you something back, hopefully. And it wasn't just, here, take this medicine. There was more to it. Make sure you understand that because it is a lot of gobbledygook when our minds are going in multiple directions. Yeah. And I like that recording thing. You can also put an app on your phone where you can record the whole conversation. Totally. So you can listen back to it later. Just let the doctor know, hey, I'm going to record this so I can listen to it later and really get that information. You can do that yourself. You don't have to rely on them. So great. Great, great, great tips. Yeah. Be an advocate for your own health and know that you have rights, just like the doctor has rights and rules. You do too. So making sure you remember those each time you go to see this doctor. Yep. Well, thanks for joining us on this episode. We hope that you get great value from it on your next doctor visit. Don't forget to swing by our website, seniorfitnesswithmeredith.com. Check out our newsletter, sign up there and get all of our latest and greatest content delivered to you. Every week. And until the next episode, we will see you guys later. Bye-bye. Hi, I'm Lori LeBay. And I wanted to tell you about Alzheimer Speaks, which is another great podcast. You see, my own mother lived with dementia for 30 years and I felt lost. Did you know? Every three seconds, someone in the world is being diagnosed with dementia. Odds are it's going to hit your families too. We want to help you connect to services, products, tools, research, and stories so you can be prepared. Please subscribe to Alzheimer Speaks on your favorite podcast platform.