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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffMost people with Paget's disease of the bone don't have any symptoms, are and diagnosed when an X-ray or blood test taken for another reason reveals signs of Paget's disease.
However, in some cases you may experience pain and other symptoms that lead you to schedule an appointment with your doctor. In some cases, you may be referred immediately to a doctor who specializes in metabolic and hormonal disorders (endocrinologist) or in bone and muscle disorders (rheumatologist).
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
- 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.
- Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment. Even though possible changes such as hearing loss, constipation, or areas of skin warmth may seem unrelated to your pain, your doctor will want to know about them.
- Make a list of your key medical information, including other conditions you're being treated for and the names of the medications that you're taking. Your doctor will also want to know the medical history of your close relatives — especially if one of your family members has had Paget's disease of bone.
- 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.
Prepare a list of questions so that you can make the most of your limited time with your doctor. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For Paget's disease of bone, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
- What is likely causing my symptoms or condition?
- Other than the most likely cause, what are possible causes for my symptoms or condition?
- What kinds of tests do I need now?
- Will this condition get worse over time?
- Do I need treatment?
- If you don't think treatment is indicated now, how will you know when I do need to start being treated?
- Will I need follow-up testing? On what schedule?
- I have these other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
- Are there any restrictions that I need to follow?
- What diet and lifestyle changes would you recommend?
- Should I see a specialist? What will that cost, and will my insurance cover seeing a specialist?
- Are my children and other close relatives at risk of developing this condition? What can they do to catch the disease early, if it develops?
- 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 spend more time on. Your doctor may ask:
- When did you first begin experiencing symptoms? How severe are they?
- Have your symptoms been continuous, or occasional? Do they seem to be getting worse?
- Where is your pain located? Is your skin warm over the areas of pain?
- Have you been taking pain relievers or using other approaches to relieve your discomfort? Does anything seem to work?
- Do you have any additional signs and symptoms, such as hearing loss, fatigue, changes in your bowel habits or appetite?
- Has anyone in your family been diagnosed with Paget's disease of bone?
- Have you been diagnosed with any other health conditions?
What you can do in the meantime
To ease your discomfort while you wait to see your doctor, try taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others). Acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) also may relieve mild to moderate pain.
