Dealing with doctors

I often have to explain 5 years of my history in 10 mins, they dont understand really i guess its trying to make them relate is the best way to do it :)

if others have suggestion please share it could help us all out :) xxxx

Stay calm and take your time. Yes they are rushed and stressed but in order to treat you they need the basic facts at least. In a way those especially with rarer conditions are educators to these drs .

I carry a list - kinda basic with the name of my conditions and a list of medication. The list means immediately they can scan it and ask questions - ask what they need to know

I also find it helps when possible to have someone who knows me well to be there and jump in when I get frustrated an flustered.

will be following post with interest see how others manage. Great idea for thread

I try to do the right things. For a long time I've had a document that I've updated before going to a new long-term doctor with all my medications and would edit before an appointment.

Now I have medic alert including the app - so all conditions and medications (some classed together) there. I still write out a list of all my topicals if I think it will be relevant.

I also bring my HAE medication kit, binder that include my HAE med logs and emergency room letter when I see a new doctor.

Past experiences pre-diagnosis have certainly soured me - once I was in a fairly uncomfortable attack, hunched over from nausea and the doctor suggested I relax and exercise more (umm at that point since I had no meds simply walking a flight of stairs was making attacks worse).

There are also numerous issues post-diagnosis. Not getting meds, doctors not taking throat attacks seriously, having poor recommendations, etc.

I try to go into to a new doctor with a good attitude, but it's hard. My expectations are typically low. A good new long-term doctor or walk-in for a small issue is usually one who wants to learn but often my issue doesn't get the care it needs. In an emergency I'm rarely up to teaching and without quick care the situation usually gets worse.

Just typing this exhausts me mentally.