Doctors see it everyday: Patients wait until they’re walking out the door to ask about embarrassing issues. “The most significant words often don’t get communicated,” says Mark Pettus, chief of staff at the Berkshire Medical Center in Massachusetts and author of “The Savvy Patient.” Whatever it is, your doctor has heard it before. So prepare to speak up:
MAKE A LIST Write down you concerns and bring them up right at the start of your visit. “If it’s on your mind, it’s relevant.” Says Danielle Ofri, professor of medicine at New York University School of Medicine. If you’re really nervous about an issue, ask if you can e-mail or fax the doctor’s office about your problem in advance.
GET DRESSED You feel vulnerable enough in a gown on the exam table, says Professor Ofri. Ask if you can put your clothes back on before you talk.
MAKE A CHANGE “If you’re with a doctor with whom you don’t feel comfortable bringing things up, maybe you need a new doctor,” says Professor Ofri. Live long and prosper.
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