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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffYou're likely to first see your family doctor or a general practitioner. Eventually, however, your primary care doctor may refer you to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist, or otolaryngologist; a hearing specialist (audiologist); or a nervous system specialist (neurologist).
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 for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.
What you can do
- Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, especially those you experience during an episode, and how often your symptoms come and go. Make a note of how frequently episodes recur.
- Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
- Make a list of all medications, as well as any vitamins or supplements, that you're taking.
- Write down questions to ask your doctor, such as what's the best next step in your diagnosis or treatment plan. Also, 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. 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?
- Have your symptoms been continuous or occasional?
- How severe are your symptoms?
- What, if anything, seems to trigger your symptoms?
- What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
- Does anything seem to improve your symptoms?
- Schessel DA, et al. Meniere's disease and other peripheral vestibular disorders: Vertigo lasting minutes to hours. In: Cummings CW, et al. Cummings: Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/190360996-4/0/1263/1291.html?tocnode=49546577&fromURL=1291.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-01985-4..50146-5--cesec3_5425. Accessed March 16, 2010.
- Meniere's disease. American Hearing Research Foundation. http://www.american-hearing.org/disorders/menieres-disease/. Accessed March 15, 2010.
- Meniere's disease. American Academy of Otolaryngology. http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/menieresDisease.cfm. Accessed March 19, 2010.
- Committee on Hearing and Equilibrium guidelines for the diagnosis and evaluation of therapy in Meniere's disease. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. 1995;113:181.
- Hamed S, et al. Meniere's disease. Lancet. 2008;372:406.
- Dinces EA, et al. Meniere's disease. http://www.uptodatecom/home/index.html. Accessed March 16, 2010.
- Heart attack, stroke and cardiac arrest warning signs. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3053. Accessed March 21, 2010.
- Meniere's disease. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec08/ch086/ch086f.html?qt=meniere's%20disease&alt=sh. Accessed March 21, 2010.
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