Describing Your Symptoms

Whenever you have a doctor’s appointment, it’s a good idea to plan what you would like to talk about including questions for your physician. Making notes beforehand helps to make sure you won’t forget anything.

Since time with the doctor is often limited, it also makes sense to understand the best way to describe your symptoms so you’re prepared for the questions the doctor will ask. Here’s a list of 10 things to include:

1. When did the symptom first start to occur?
2. What were you doing when it first started?
3. Where do you feel it?
4. How long does it last?
5. If it’s a pain, how would you describe it? Sharp, dull, burning, stabbing?
6. If it’s a pain, does it seem to spread or move (radiate) to other locations?
7. Is the symptom accompanied by any other symptom?
8. What seems to make it get better or worse?
9. Is it occurring more frequently since it started?
10. Is it growing in intensity since it started?

These 10 questions give you a sense of what the doctor will be looking for when you tell him about your symptom. Knowing how to describe it in these terms will help him identify the cause and prescribe an effective treatment.

For Your Health – Dr. Bob