HOW TO HELP YOUR DOCTOR DIAGNOSE YOUR ILLNESS?
To help your doctor diagnose your illness, you should also try to be as specific about your symptoms as you can. The phrase “I just don’t feel well” can be frustrating for your doctor to hear, because it doesn’t tell him anything. A few ways in which you can be more specific about your symptoms is to ask yourself the following questions:
• Have I recently lost or gained weight?
• Do I feel more tired than usual?
• Do I feel a pain somewhere in my body? Is it sharp or dull? Is it constant, or does it appear after a particular activity?
• Is my temperature over normal?
• Do I feel short of breath?
• Have I noticed a change in my personal hygiene?
The amount of time you’ve had your symptoms is also important. If you have had a number of different symptoms for more than a few days, you should be sure to tell your doctor how many days, weeks, months, or years you’ve had that particular symptom. And if you’re trying to read the Body Signals of a family member or close friend, ask him or her these same questions as they pertain to his or her condition.
Remember, relying on the doctor inside you will speed up your own
physician’s diagnosis and treatment plan and ultimately your own recovery as well.
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