preparing for consultant

[Grrarg]

Hey,

So I have a long awaited consultant appointment coming up for a bad back, I've had degenerative disks for years, it's cyclical pain so I go to the Drs when it's too bad and that's normally every 2 - 4 years.

I've now been referred to a acute clinic through a private hospital and I feel that since there are 10 years of bad back history I should write some stuff down so I remember, but what do I write?

Sequence of events?
What I've been told before?
When it's painful?
Related issues?
How it's changed my life?
Pain killers I've tried and failed with?

I'm not wanting to go in with 50 sheets of paper but I don't want to miss anything.

Bump for the evening crowd just in case :)

Your GP ought to give you a letter to take / send giving the basic info.

Some consultants work without this but you can't be sure.

I think I'd not write too much down but think about what you want to happen next.

Treatment- eg options, pros and cons, tests, etc.

The dr should lead and ask you questions so unless you are likely to forget, I'd not write down much except notable events which maybe illustrate the pain etc you have and how it affects quality of life.

Thanks Polly,

I'm possibly over thinking, I just don't want to miss telling them something important since I tend to get really flustered

I also take a recent 'pain dairy' with me. They always ask when is it at it's worst etc seen more consultants about spinal issues than you could shake a stick at

Thanks bubble, hope that your not suffering at the moment

I'm taking DH's formidable aunt with me to help, I have been fobbed off twice before by consultants and have not fought my corner properly so want to make sure I get the most out of this referral

Always a good idea to take a list of questions that you have for them. We often forget the things we want to say once in the doctors office

Good luck xxx