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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffThe signs and symptoms of amyloidosis are often vague and mimic those of other conditions, so it can be difficult to diagnose amyloidosis. Your symptoms may first prompt you to see your family doctor or a general practitioner. However, you may then be referred to a doctor who specializes in blood disorders (hematologist).
Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what you might expect from your doctor.
What you can do
- Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
- Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
- Make a list of all medications, vitamins and supplements that you're taking.
- Ask a family member or friend to join you, if possible. Sometimes it can be difficult to soak up all the information provided to you during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
- Write down questions to ask your doctor.
Your time with your doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions can help you make the most of your time together. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For amyloidosis, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
- What's the most likely reason I'm having these symptoms?
- Are there other possible causes for my symptoms?
- What kinds of tests do I need?
- What treatments are available, and which do you recommend?
- What's my prognosis with each treatment?
- What types of side effects can I expect from treatment?
- Are there any dietary or activity restrictions that I need to follow?
- I have another health condition. How can I best manage them together?
- Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What Web sites do you recommend visiting?
In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment at any time that you don't understand something.
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to spend more time on. Your doctor may ask:
- When did you first begin experiencing symptoms?
- How is your appetite? Have you recently lost weight without trying?
- Have you experienced any shortness of breath?
- Are you tired often?
- Have you noticed that you bruise easily?
- Have your symptoms been continuous or occasional?
- How severe are your symptoms?
- Are you able to work and perform normal daily tasks?
- Does anything seem to improve your symptoms?
- Does anything make your symptoms worse?
- Has anyone in your family ever been diagnosed with amyloidosis?
- Seldin DC, et al. Amyloidosis. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2863105. Accessed June 11, 2009.
- Amyloidosis. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec12/ch160/ch160a.html. Accessed June 12, 2009.
- Gertz MA, et al. Amyloidosis. Best Practice & Research Clinical Haematology. 2005;18:709.
- Amyloidosis and kidney disease. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/Amyloidosis/. Accessed June 12, 2009.
- Gorevic PD. An overview of amyloidosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 12, 2009.
- Dember LM. Modern treatment of amyloidosis: Unresolved questions. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. 2009;20:469.
- Merlini G. Amyloidosis: Is a cure possible? Annals of Oncology. 2008;19(suppl):iv63.
- Jaccard A. High-dose melphalan versus melphalan plus dexamethasone for AL amyloidosis. New England Journal of Medicine. 2007;357:1083.
