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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffYou may first see your primary care doctor. However, you'll likely be sent to the hospital for immediate treatment. At the hospital, you'll probably also see a doctor who specializes in neurology (neurologist) or infectious diseases.
What you can do
- Bring any medications you take with you, and let your doctor know about any vitamins or supplements you're taking.
- Write down questions to ask your doctor. Although you may not have time to write down questions before your first appointment, write down any questions you want to ask at your follow-up appointments.
For botulism, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
- How did I get botulism?
- Will I have any lasting problems?
- What side effects can I expect from treatment?
- Are there dietary restrictions I need to follow?
- How can I prevent this from happening again?
Don't hesitate to ask your doctor any other appropriate questions.
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, such as:
- When did you begin having symptoms?
- Have your symptoms been continuous or occasional?
- Have you or your child eaten any canned food recently?
- If your infant is ill, has he or she consumed honey?
- Did anyone else eat the food suspected of making you ill?
References
- Botulism. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/divisions/dfbmd/diseases/botulism/. Accessed March 20, 2012.
- Botulism. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec14/ch178/ch178c.html. Accessed March 20, 2012.
- Longo DL, et al. Harrison's Online. 18th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2012. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=4. Accessed March 20, 2012.
- Manfredi M, et al. Dry mouth as an initial sign of food-borne botulism: A case report and review of the literature. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology. 2011;111:e15.
- Principles of home canning. United States Department of Agriculture. http://nchfp.uga.edu/publications/publications_usda.html. Accessed March 22, 2012.
- Chalk C, et al. Medical treatment for botulism. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. http://www.thecochranelibrary.com/view/0/index.html. Accessed March 20, 2012.
- Zhang JC, et al. Botulism, where are we now? Clinical Toxicology. 2010;48:867.
- Botox medication guide. Food and Drug Administration. www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/DrugSafety/UCM176360.pdf. Accessed March 22, 2012.
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