Many patients claim that going to the GP is a very stressful experience. This comes from the fact that the appointment time is very brief, in most cases it is ten minutes or less and also that you are allowed to discuss one problem at a time. Many patients, therefore, find themselves trying to give their medical history, current symptoms and a lot of other information within the short time frame the appointment should take. This hassle can be avoided by simple preparation before the appointment.

Summarize your problem in a sentence

The first thing that you need to understand about visiting the GP is that they hear a lot of winding tales in their line of work. Instead of endless explanations on how you are feeling, it would be best to find one statement which summarizes everything. For instance, you can say that there is blood in your stool, or that you have unexplained weight loss. This will lead to a series of questions whose aim will be to establish the problem you have. When making the statement which you will open the examination with, avoid speculations at all costs. For instance, do not approach a GP and tell them that you think you have diabetes. Just state the symptoms and let them guide you.

Make it simple and clear

The type of diagnosis you get, and how accurate I will be depends on how well you explain your problem. You should avoid the use of complicated words which will hinder the doctor from asking the right open-ended questions to help diagnose your problem. The most effective way to get treatment is not by Googling your symptoms and approaching the GP with a pre-conceived diagnosis. Simply write down symptoms and let the doctor make the judgement. You can bring a person who has witnessed your problem along to help remember certain details.

Avoid coyness

Some people spend the first half of their appointment being apologetic about the intimate nature of their problem. It is important to know that whatever medical issue you have; the GP has probably experienced a similar situation before. Just dig right in and explain what is wrong.

The right preparation before an appointment with the GP is very essential. Most people get wrong diagnosis because they do not communicate properly, and do not listen fully to the questions asked by the GP before giving an answer. Take time and only engage the GP when sure of what you are saying.