Speak your doctor's language
Doctors recognize health conditions by symptoms. Here's how to describe your symptoms in a way that makes it easiest for your doctor to interpret them.
Remember when the symptom started. Include stops, starts and frequency. You might say, "The first time I remember feeling this way was on the 15th of this month, and it's usually worse in the mornings."
Note the setting. Where were you? What were you doing? What had you been doing right before the symptoms hit, as well as earlier in the day?
Rate the severity. Use a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being almost nothing and 10 being the worst possible. Employ terms your doctor will recognize, like dull, sharp, chronic (persistent) or acute (an intense feeling that comes and goes).
Explain what makes the symptom better or worse. If the fever went away with Tylenol but came back in two hours, mention that.
List other things that happened at the same time. Be specific. Say, "I also had dark-colored bowel movements and lost weight during the week that I fainted, even though I've been eating the same."
Include all relevant symptoms. Saying "I also have this other pain" at the end of a visit could require your doctor to change the entire diagnosis and treatment plan. Mention all important symptoms to her up front.
Point to the location. If you have pain right above your eye, indicate the exact spot.
Ask your doctor if you need any of these .