Preparing for Healthcare Appointments

You may feel nervous about meeting with your doctor or other members of your treatment team. Here are some suggestions to help you prepare for appointments and get the most from the time.

Make a list of questions and issues you want to discuss, such as:
- Health problems or medication side effects
- Symptoms of your illness that are hard to cope with or that have changed
- Any problems you are having with everyday life
Take this list to the appointment. Bring paper and pen so that you can write down the answers to your questions.
Get a good night's sleep the night before so you'll feel rested and alert.
Leave plenty of time to get to your appointment. You'll feel less anxious if you don't have to rush.
Right before your appointment begins, read over your list of questions and issues. After you've reviewed your list, take some time to relax.
Take notes during your appointment to help you remember important suggestions, instructions and answers to your questions.

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