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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 treating skin conditions (dermatologist).
Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.
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.
- Make a list of all medications, vitamins or supplements you're taking.
- Write down questions to ask your doctor.
Preparing a list of questions for your doctor will help you make the most of your time together. List your questions from most important to least important. For pyoderma gangrenosum, 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 temporary or chronic?
- What is the best course of action?
- What are the alternatives to the primary approach you're suggesting?
- I have these other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
- Are there any restrictions that I need to follow?
- Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing?
- Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What websites do you recommend?
Don't hesitate to ask other questions during your appointment.
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, including:
- When did you begin experiencing symptoms?
- Have your symptoms been continuous or occasional?
- What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
- Have you used any prescription medication for this condition? If so, what?
- What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
- Did you have any damage to your skin, such as a cut, bruise or burn, in the area of new a lesion?
- Do you have any inflammatory medical conditions, such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis or rheumatoid arthritis?
What you can do in the meantime
Protect your skin from trauma. Avoid activities in which you put your skin at risk. Treat ulcers with antibacterial cream.
- Pyoderma gangrenosum. The Merck Manuals Online: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec10/ch117/ch117h.html. Accessed April 21, 2010.
- Peppercorn MA. Skin and eye manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 8, 2010.
- Habif TP. Hypersensitivity syndromes and vasculitis. In: Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00027-4--s0815&uniq=196584586&isbn=978-0-7234-3541-9&sid=986856689. Accessed April 21, 2010.
- Cohen PR. Neutrophilic dermatoses: A review of current treatment options. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology. 2009:10:301.
- Moschella SL. Neutrophilic dermatoses. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 21, 2010.
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