Talking about your parents' health means sharing information about how they feel physically, emotionally, and mentally. Knowing how to describe symptoms and bring up other concerns will help you become a partner in your parents' health care.
Communicate Symptoms
A symptom is evidence of a disease or disorder in the body. Examples of symptoms include pain, fever, a lump or bump, unexplained weight loss or gain, or having a hard time sleeping.
Be clear and concise when describing your symptoms. Your description helps the doctor identify the problem. A physical exam and medical tests provide valuable information, but it is your symptoms that point the doctor in the right direction.
Questions to ask your parents about their symptoms:
- What exactly are your symptoms?
- Are the symptoms constant? If not, when do you experience them?
- Does anything you do make the symptoms better? Or worse?
- Do the symptoms affect your daily activities? Which ones? How?
Your doctor will ask when your symptoms started, what time of day they happen, how long they last (seconds? days?), how often they occur, if they seem to be getting worse or better, and if they keep you from going out or doing your usual activities.
Take the time to make some notes about symptoms before you call or visit the doctor.