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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffYou're likely to start by first seeing your family doctor. However, in some cases when you call to set up an appointment, you may be referred immediately to a digestive disorders specialist called a gastroenterologist. If you're in the middle of a severe vomiting episode, your doctor may recommend immediate medical care.
Because appointments can be brief, and because there's often a lot of ground to cover, it's a good idea to be well prepared for your appointment. Here's some information to help you get ready and what to expect from the doctor.
What you can do
- Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there's anything you need to do in advance, such as follow dietary restrictions.
- Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment. Make your description of your symptoms as specific and detailed as possible. For example, your doctor will want to know how often you experience an episode of severe vomiting and any typical triggers you may have noticed.
- Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent changes — both positive and negative — in your life. Also include your dietary habits.
- Make a list of your key medical information, including other medical problems for which you're being treated. Also write down the names of any medications, vitamins, supplements, or other natural remedies you're taking.
- Take a family member or friend along, 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 child's doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions will help you make the most of your time together. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out.
For cyclic vomiting syndrome, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
- What is likely causing my symptoms or condition?
- Are there any other possible causes for these symptoms or this condition?
- Do you think my condition is temporary or chronic?
- What kinds of tests do I need?
- What treatment do you recommend?
- Will I need to take medications long term? What are the possible side effects of those medications?
- Are there lifestyle changes I can make to help prevent future episodes of this condition?
- Do you think my body weight may be contributing to this problem? What is my body mass index (BMI), and what should it be?
- Will I need to follow any dietary or other restrictions?
- Does this condition increase my risk of any other medical problems?
- Are my children or other close relatives at increased risk of this condition?
- I have these other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
- Should I see a specialist? What will that cost, and will my insurance cover seeing a specialist?
- 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 talk about in-depth. Your doctor may ask:
- When did your first begin experiencing symptoms?
- How often do you experience an episode of severe vomiting?
- How many times do you typically vomit during an episode?
- How long do your episodes typically last?
- Are your symptoms accompanied by abdominal pain?
- Have you noticed any warning signs that an episode is coming, such as losing your appetite or feeling unusually tired?
- Have you noticed any common triggers for an episode of severe vomiting, such as intense emotions, illness or menstruation?
- Have you been trying to lose weight? How?
- Have you been diagnosed with any other medical problems, including mental health conditions?
- What treatments, including over-the-counter medications and home remedies, are you taking for other conditions? Have you been taking laxatives?
- Does anything seem to improve your symptoms or shorten the duration of an episode?
- Do you have any history of severe headaches?
- Does anyone in your family have a history of this condition, or of migraines?
What you can do in the meantime
Your doctor will likely want to see you immediately if you're currently having an episode of severe vomiting. If the vomiting has passed, however, your recovery will be aided by getting lots of rest, increasing your intake of fluids and following an easy-to-digest diet. Try reducing the amount of citrus products you eat as well as spicy and greasy foods. Reduce or eliminate your use of caffeine, alcohol and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin.
- Dulude E. Cyclic vomiting syndrome. http://www.uptodate.com/online/content/topic.do?topicKey=gi_dis/26569&selectedTitle=1~6&source=search_result. Accessed Oct. 8, 2008.
- Cyclic vomiting syndrome. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/cvs/index.htm. Accessed Oct. 8, 2008.
- Di Lorenzo C. Approach to the child with nausea and vomiting. http://www.uptodate.com/online/content/topic.do?topicKey=pedigast/7584&selectedTitle=3~6&source=search_result. Accessed Oct. 8, 2008.
- Pareek NP. Cyclic vomiting syndrome: What a gastroenterologist needs to know. American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2007;102(12):2832-2840.
- Hoecker JL [expert opinion]. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Oct. 14, 2008.
