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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffYou're likely to start by first seeing your primary care doctor, or in the case of acute pulmonary edema, an emergency room physician. Most people with pulmonary edema will be hospitalized for at least a few days, often longer. You may see several specialists while you are in the hospital. After your condition has been stabilized, you may then be referred as an outpatient to a doctor who specializes in disorders of the heart (cardiologist) or in treating lung disorders (pulmonologist).
Because appointments can be brief, and there's often a lot of ground to cover, it's a good idea to be well prepared ahead of time. 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, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
- Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
- Obtain copies of medical records, whenever possible. Discharge summaries from the hospital, results from heart tests, as well as summary letters from any previous specialists you've seen can be helpful for your new doctor.
- Make a list of all medications as well as any vitamins or supplements that you're taking.
- Keep written track of your weight, and bring that record with you so that your doctor can look for any trends.
- Make a list of the salty foods you consume regularly.
- Ask 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.
Your time with your doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions ahead of time will help you make the most of your time together. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For pulmonary edema, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
- What's the most likely cause of the symptoms I'm currently experiencing?
- What kinds of tests do I need? Do these tests require any special preparation?
- What treatments are available, and which do you recommend?
- What types of side effects can I expect from treatment?
- Are there any alternatives to the primary approach that you're suggesting?
- What's my prognosis?
- Are there any dietary or activity restrictions that I need to follow?
- 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?
- Have your symptoms been continuous?
- How severe are your symptoms? Have your symptoms affected your work or daily activities?
- Does anything seem to improve your symptoms?
- What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
- Do you have any family history of lung or heart disease?
- Pulmonary edema. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec07/ch074/ch074b.html. Accessed June 4, 2009.
- Schwartzstein RM. Dyspnea and Pulmonary Edema. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y. Mc-Graw Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2863220. Accessed June 4, 2009.
- Ware LB, et al. Acute pulmonary edema. New England Journal of Medicine. 2005;353:2788.
- Signs and symptoms of heart failure. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/print_presenter.jhtml?identifier=339. Accessed June 6, 2009.
- Harris MD, et al. High-altitude medicine. American Academy of Family Physicians. http://www.aafp.org/afp/AFPprinter/980415ap/harris.html?print=yes. Accessed June 6, 2009.
- O'Brien JF, et al. Heart failure. In: Marx JA, et al. Rosen's Emergency Medicine Concepts and Practice. Philadelphia, Pa.; Mosby Elsevier: 2006. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/141932241-3/849416907/1365/226.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-02845-4..50085-8--cesec4_3780. Accessed June 6, 2009.
- What causes cardiomyopathy? National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/cm/cm_causes.html. Accessed June 6, 2009.
- What is ARDS? National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Ards/Ards_All.html. Accessed June 4, 2009.
- Givertz MM. Noncardiogenic pulmonary edema. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 5, 2009.
- Swenson ER. Pathogenesis of high-altitude pulmonary edema: Inflammation is not an etiologic factor. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2002; 287: 2295
- Mattu A, et al. Modern management of cardiogenic pulmonary edema. Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America. 2005;23:1105
- Acetazolamide (Prescribing information). Haifa Bay, Israel. Taro Pharmaceuticals, Inc. http://www.taro.com/media/oMedia/Acetazolamide%20Tablets%20%200305-1.pdf. Accessed June 6, 2009.
- ABCs of Preventing Heart Disease, Stroke and Heart Attack. American Heart Association. http://americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3035374. Accessed June 6, 2009.
- How do I know if I have high blood pressure. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/print_presenter.jhtml?identifier=219. Accessed June 6, 2009.
- About high blood pressure. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/print_presenter.jhtml?identifier=468. Accessed June 6, 2009.
- How can I reduce high blood pressure? American Heart Association. Accessed June 6, 2009.
- Cigarette smoking and cardiovascular disease. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/print_presenter.jhtml?identifier=4545. Accessed June 6, 2009.
- Rosenow EC (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. June 12, 2009.
- Grogan M (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Rochester, Minn. June 12, 2009.
