4. Take a notebook with you to the clinic and write
down what you're told. If you have questions later,
call back
... and ask to speak to
a nurse. Have the nurse explain it.
5. If you're not getting better (if pain continues,
or other complications come up), then go back and say
... "it's not working."
Take your list with you.
6. Don't be afraid to try a different doctor. Some
doctors have a bias against certain conditions (sometimes
... fibromyalgia is seen
as being "all in your head." This isn't as
much a problem as it used to be, but chronic
... pain of any sort is
often treated lightly by someone who's never actually
been in chronic pain.)
By the way, it's a good idea to hang onto your medical
bills for a year. If you itemize taxes, they are tax
deductible and if you ever have a question or a dispute,
you will have these documents to back you up.
Keep these records in a safe place, and keep them organized.
Many people can do this with a file folder or some sort
of personal organizer. There are also commercial organizers
that you can buy.
Here's one from Amazon that seemed pretty good: My
Medical Assistant®--An Organizer for Personal Medical
Information.
And since diabetes is an issue in our family, here's
two that I think are useful: My Diabetes Organizer:
The Essential Planner and Record-Keeper for People with
Type 2 Diabetes
