When you become a parent, you can read all the parenting books in the world; but, the reality is, nothing prepares you better than real world experience. While this is very true of dealing with medical issues, it’s also true that it never hurts to be prepared.
Going to the doctors feels daunting enough for a person. When it’s a trip for our kids, it adds a whole new level of concern and hesitation. Part of that is the unknown. Guess what? The best way to combat the unknown is to be prepared. There is no better preparation than having a list of questions ready to ask the doctor.
Over the next few months, I’ll be covering what to ask of different medical fields and professionals. From an ER visit to a regular check-up at the pediatrician and even lab work, I’m going to provide some tips on coming up with questions to help you prepare yourself and your little one for these sometimes-intimidating visits.
My “Run Ins” with the Medical World
Before I dive into future articles in the series, I want to share a little bit about why I’m even writing about these topics.
I have three daughters, ages two, three and 18, that all have had an unfortunately vast assortment of medical issues over the years. In just the last 12 months, I’ve been to more than 60 doctors’ appointments (I lost track of counting around 64). In the past 18 years, there have been five ER visits, three of which required ambulance rides and one was while we were on vacation for Christmas one year in Clearwater, Florida. I’ve dealt with two surgeries for my 18-year-old daughter, three surgeries if you count my own gallbladder removal. My sweet three-year-old has already been under anesthesia twice. So, I say all this to share that I have indeed been around the medical world a bit!
As this series progresses, I’ll share some of the insight I’ve had to learn firsthand. I hope this helps those reading this to not only feel better prepared in putting together their questions and asking questions that pop up at appointments but also have peace of mind that you are not alone in this!
Furthermore, as a writer and marketing professional, I’ve had several medical assignments and clients. I’ve had to research and write on various medical topics from digestive health to water safety. I even built a website for a local, well known pediatric office!
I’ve had so many scenarios where I’m asking questions of a doctor/medical professional, and their first response is “do you work in the medical field.” It’s to the point my husband finds it humorous and almost starts laughing every single time it happens.
All that said, and joking aside, please always ask a medical professional all your questions. Here are a few initial tips and pieces of advice.
- Trust your instincts. As a mom, you know your child best and, if something doesn’t feel right, follow your gut.
- There are no stupid questions. Seriously. When it comes to your child’s health, ask away, and I promise the doctor will think no less of you.
- Remember medical professionals are human too and make mistakes. So again, trust your gut, and it’s okay to want a second opinion.
- Stay away from Google, especially if you see medical results before you talk to a doctor. It’s just going to scare you and almost always leads to false information.
- Utilize your portal. It’s there for you to send questions. Same goes for that emergency hours triage nurse line. They are there to answer your questions when needed, even after hours.
- Make sure you have a pediatrician/primary care provider who listens. If you feel like they aren’t taking you seriously, it’s likely time to switch practices.
To wrap up this first part, I want to share what lies ahead in this series!
- September – Questions to ask a pediatrician
- October – Questions to ask in an ER visit
- November – Questions to ask the specialists
- December – Questions to ask for surgeries and procedures
- January – Questions to ask about labs
- February – Questions to ask about medications
- March – Questions to ask your own PCP (Primary Care Provider)
