Tips to get the most out of your doctor visit
Posted 10-09-2015 at 08:10 AM by DavidRaonic
Speaking with your doctor about a medical condition and treatment can be intimidating, especially if there is a stigma surrounding your condition, or if you are unclear of what treatment options are available.
But according to Dr. Norman J. Kalyniuk, MD, it's important for patients and physicians to talk openly about treatment options and then chronicle what works and what doesn't. Here are some tips on how to approach your doctor about treatment:
Explore different options.
Finding out about all treatments available for your diagnosis or condition can be the first step to finding the best solution. For example, after not responding well to traditional medications, parents of one of Dr. Kalyniuk's young epilepsy patients raised the idea of trying medical cannabis. The patient suffered debilitating seizures every day and after consulting with Dr. Kalyniuk, they decided to try medical cannabis from Health Canada licensed producer, Mettrum. Medical cannabis can help individuals manage a range of medical conditions from epilepsy to chronic pain, sleep disorders, PTSD and other conditions.
Find out about the level of care you need.
Have an open conversation with your doctor about the seriousness and progressiveness of your condition to understand how much treatment you will require. There are several developments in technology like the 'Mettrum Spectrum', a tool designed by a Health Canada licensed producer to simplify the dialogue around medical cannabis by categorizing strains with a colour coding system. This can help physicians identify the most appropriate strain for their patients and monitor progress.
Ask questions and do your homework.
Research your condition and come up with a list of questions to ask before you visit your doctor. This will ensure that you cover your most important concerns and have a record of points to go through so that you don't miss any. When looking into different medical treatments, Health Canada's website has information available about the medical and legal use of cannabis, as well as the licensed producers that offer a wide variety of different product choices.
Use these tips to work with your doctor to find a solution that works for both of you.
But according to Dr. Norman J. Kalyniuk, MD, it's important for patients and physicians to talk openly about treatment options and then chronicle what works and what doesn't. Here are some tips on how to approach your doctor about treatment:
Explore different options.
Finding out about all treatments available for your diagnosis or condition can be the first step to finding the best solution. For example, after not responding well to traditional medications, parents of one of Dr. Kalyniuk's young epilepsy patients raised the idea of trying medical cannabis. The patient suffered debilitating seizures every day and after consulting with Dr. Kalyniuk, they decided to try medical cannabis from Health Canada licensed producer, Mettrum. Medical cannabis can help individuals manage a range of medical conditions from epilepsy to chronic pain, sleep disorders, PTSD and other conditions.
Find out about the level of care you need.
Have an open conversation with your doctor about the seriousness and progressiveness of your condition to understand how much treatment you will require. There are several developments in technology like the 'Mettrum Spectrum', a tool designed by a Health Canada licensed producer to simplify the dialogue around medical cannabis by categorizing strains with a colour coding system. This can help physicians identify the most appropriate strain for their patients and monitor progress.
Ask questions and do your homework.
Research your condition and come up with a list of questions to ask before you visit your doctor. This will ensure that you cover your most important concerns and have a record of points to go through so that you don't miss any. When looking into different medical treatments, Health Canada's website has information available about the medical and legal use of cannabis, as well as the licensed producers that offer a wide variety of different product choices.
Use these tips to work with your doctor to find a solution that works for both of you.
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