When you have a health problem, it's always important to understand what it is, what its course may be, and how it is treated. When you have a chronic disease such as arthritis, it's even more important. In chronic illness, you may not get all your questions answered right away - because you may not even think of them. But over time, you get an opportunity to develop an important partner relationship with your physician.
The day before every doctor visit, you should make time to sit down and make a list of anything that has been troubling you since your last visit - any changes in your symptoms, concerns about medications, or lifestyle issues, such as those related to exercise or sexuality - as well as any questions you have.
Early in the course of your relationship with your physician, you may want some or all of the following questions answered by your physician. Over time, you may want to ask some of these questions again - because the answers may change as your disease progresses or comes under control, as new therapies are developed, or as you age. You can use this list to develop your own question checklist for each doctor visit.
http://www.hss.edu/conditions_questions-to-ask-doctor.aspThank you, Lynn! I will be seeing a new rheumy as soon as I can get in to see her. I have typed up a medication list, and started documenting my pain levels. This is very helpful!