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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffYou're likely to start by first seeing your regular healthcare provider, or if you're pregnant, your obstetrician. However, you may then be referred to a doctor who specializes in infectious diseases, or if you're pregnant, a doctor who specializes in fetal and newborn health (perinatologist).
Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, as well as what information your doctor might want from you.
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.
- Make a list of medications, vitamins and supplements that you're taking.
- Write down questions to ask your doctor. List your questions from most important to least important, in case time runs out.
For toxoplasmosis, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
- What kinds of tests do I need?
- What treatments are available, and which do you recommend?
- What types of side effects can I expect from treatment?
- I'm pregnant. What effect will this have on my baby?
- Are there any brochures or other printed materials that I can take home with me? What Web sites do you recommend visiting?
In addition to the questions that you've prepared, don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment any time you don't understand something.
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions to aid in the diagnosis. 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?
- Have you recently consumed any raw meats or meat that wasn't fully cooked?
- Do you own or care for a cat? Who changes the litterbox?
- Do you wear gloves when gardening or working with soil?
- Do you have any conditions or take any medications that affect your immune system?
- Toxoplasmosis fact sheet. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/toxoplasmosis/factsheet.html. Accessed May 5, 2009.
- Martin-Rabada P, et al. Blood and tissue protozoa. In: Cohen J, et al. Infectious Diseases. 2nd ed. New York, N.Y.: Mosby; 2004. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/135708454-2/0/1209/737.html?tocnode=49359306&fromURL=737.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-02407-6..50247-6--cesec17_8111. Accessed May 4, 2009.
- Kasper LH. Toxoplasma infections. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=2896423. Accessed May 4, 2009.
- McLeod R, et al. Toxoplasmosis (toxoplasma gondii). In: Kleigman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/135783748-2/0/1608/732.html?tocnode=54480801&fromURL=732.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2450-7..50289-9_6064. Accessed May 4, 2009.
- Toxoplasmosis. March of Dimes. http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1228.asp. Accessed May 6, 2009.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, et al. Preventing congenital toxoplasmosis. MMWR Recommendations and Reports. 2000;49:57. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr4902a5.htm. Accessed May 8, 2009.
- You can prevent toxo. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/brochures/toxo.htm. Accessed May 5, 2009.
- Montoya JG, et al. Diagnosis and management of toxoplasmosis. Clinics in Perinatology. 2005;32:705.
