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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffIf you have signs and symptoms of familial Mediterranean fever, you may begin by seeing your family doctor. You may be referred to a doctor who specializes in inflammatory diseases (rheumatologist).
Because appointments can be brief, and because there's often a lot of ground to cover, it's a good idea to arrive prepared. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment.
What you can do
- Write down your signs and symptoms, including how long you've been experiencing them.
- Collect your family history, as it might pertain to your condition. Note if you're of Mediterranean descent, for instance, or if you have a relative with familial Mediterranean fever.
- Take a list of all medications, as well as any vitamins or supplements you're taking.
- Write down questions to ask your doctor.
Some possible questions you might want to ask your doctor include:
- What do you think is causing my or my child's symptoms?
- What caused this condition?
- What treatments are available?
- What are the possible side effects of treatment?
- Are there any other possible treatments?
- Are there any restrictions on activity?
- Can I prevent this disorder in future children?
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, including:
- When did you first begin experiencing symptoms?
- Have your symptoms been continuous, or do they come and go?
- How long do your symptoms last?
- Can you think of anything that triggers your symptoms, or do you have warning signs that help you predict when they will occur?
- Is there anything you can do to stop or lessen the severity of your symptoms?
- Do your symptoms seem to follow a pattern?
- Do you have blood relatives with familial Mediterranean fever?
- Familial Mediterranean fever. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec19/ch297/ch297b.html. Accessed May 28, 2010.
- Kastner DL. Familial Mediterranean fever. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2899961. Accessed May 28, 2010.
- Fonnesu C, et al. Familial Mediterranean fever: A review for clinical management. Joint Bone Spine. 2009;76:227.
- Rosenberg PM, et al. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of familial Mediterranean fever. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 1, 2010.
- Galip G, et al. Current perspectives on familial Mediterranean fever. Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases. 2009;22:309.
- Rosenberg PM, et al. Management of familial Mediterranean fever. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 1, 2010.
- Ben-Chetrit E, et al. Familial Mediterranean fever in the world. Arthritis and Rheumatism. 2009;61:1447.
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