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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffYou're likely to start by seeing your family doctor or a general practitioner. However, in some cases when you call to set up an appointment, you may be referred immediately to a specialist in skin diseases (dermatologist).
Because appointments can be brief, and because there's often a lot to cover, it's a good idea to be well prepared for your appointment. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.
What you can do
Write down all your signs and symptoms and when they first occurred. Record how long the lesions lasted and if any recurred.
Make a list of all medications, including vitamins, herbs and over-the-counter drugs, that you're taking. Even better, take the original bottles and a written list of the dosages and directions.
If possible, take along a family member or friend. It can be difficult to absorb all the information provided to you during an appointment. The person who accompanies you may remember something that you forgot or missed.
Write down questions that you want to ask your doctor. Don't be afraid to ask questions or to speak up when you don't understand something your doctor says. Start with the problems that concern you most. If you run out of time, ask to speak with a nurse or physician's assistant or leave a message for your doctor.
If you have symptoms of hidradenitis suppurativa, questions you may want to ask include:
- What is likely causing my symptoms?
- What are other possible causes for my symptoms?
- What tests do I need to confirm the diagnosis?
- Is this condition temporary or chronic?
- What is the best course of action?
- What are the alternatives to the primary treatment approach that you're suggesting?
- Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing me?
- What if I just wait to see if my signs and symptoms go away on their own?
- Do you have any literature on this condition? Is there a website you can recommend where I can learn more?
In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment.
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, such as:
- When did your symptoms start?
- Did they come on suddenly or gradually?
- What did the lesions look like when they started?
- Are your symptoms painful?
- What, if anything, makes them better?
- What, if anything, makes them worse?
- Do you have other symptoms that started about the same time?
- What medications do you take?
- Hidradenitis suppurativa. American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. http://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/hidradenitis_suppu.html. Accessed June 22, 2010.
- Alikhan A, et al. Hidradenitis suppurativa: A comprehensive review. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2009;60:539.
- Smith HS, et al. Painful hidradenitis suppurativa. Clinical Journal of Pain. 2010;26:435.
- Beshara MA. Hidradenitis suppurativa: A clinician's tool for early diagnosis and treatment. Advances in Skin and Wound Care. 2010;23:328.
- The morbidity of hidradenitis suppurativa. The Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation. http://www.hs-foundation.org/abouths/morbidity.htm. Accessed June 22, 2010.
- Stewart EG, et al. Treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 28, 2010.
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