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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 doctor who specializes in urinary issues (urologist).
To get all the information you need from your doctor, it helps to be well prepared for your appointment. Here's how.
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 restrict your diet.
- Make a list of your symptoms, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
- Give your doctor a history of your childhood illnesses and immunizations.
- 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.
- 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.
Preparing questions ahead of time will help you make the most of your time with your doctor. List your questions from most important to least important. For orchitis, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
- What is likely causing my symptoms or condition?
- Other than the most likely cause, what are other possible causes for my symptoms or condition?
- What kinds of tests do I need?
- Is my condition likely to become chronic?
- What is the best course of action?
- What are the alternatives to the primary approach that you're suggesting?
- I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them with my orchitis?
- Are there any restrictions that I need to follow?
- Should I see a specialist?
- Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing me?
- Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What Web sites do you recommend visiting?
Don't hesitate to ask other questions that arise during your appointment any time you don't understand something or need clarification.
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?
- How severe are your symptoms?
- What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
- What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
- Have you had mumps or mumps vaccine? If so, when?
- Have you had an STD?
- Do you practice safe sex, such as using a condom or having only one partner?
- Epididymitis and orchitis. American Urological Association. http://www.urologyhealth.org/search/index.cfm?topic=490&search=orchitis&searchtype=and. Accessed Aug. 25, 2009.
- Trojian T. et al. Epididymitis and orchitis: An overview. American Family Physician. http://www.aafp.org/afp/20090401/583.html. Accessed Aug. 25, 2009.
- Orchitis. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec17/ch239/ch239e.html. Accessed Aug. 25, 2009.
- Mumps. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/mumps-508.pdf. Accessed Aug. 27, 2009.
