The most powerful advocate for your own health is you.
Your doctor is there to guide you. So it’s up to you to make the right decisions once you are armed with the facts. Studies show that the more people know about their treatments and condition, the more likely they are to take better care of themselves.
You have chosen your doctor. You looked for the right qualities – bedside manner, knowledge, expertise, reputation and academic background. You are the boss and you alone know your body. Your doctor works for you and with you.
Much of your diagnosis depends on what you tell your doctor. The more information you provide, the sooner and more easily that the diagnosis can be made. That means you’ll be able to start the right treatment sooner. Doctors have to sort through thousands of diseases, each with their unique set of symptoms and signs. Be sure, though, to never diagnose yourself and do not dismiss your symptoms. See your doctor.
Make the most of your time at your appointment. Here’s what you can do:
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Write down your symptoms before your visit. Describe their severity, when they started, time of day that they occur, how many there are – as much as you can think of. This will help guide your doctor.
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Take a list of questions with you. Chances are you’ll have a lot of information to digest during your visit, especially if a diagnosis is made. In upcoming issues of your e-Health Connection newsletter, we will offer you lists of questions for your doctor.
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Bring along copies of your medical records or have them sent to the doctor. This information provides important clues for your doctor and gives an overall picture of your health.
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Take a tape recorder or a friend along – or both. This will help you review your treatment options and come up with questions for your next visit.
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Do as much research as you can before your first visit and for later appointments. Don’t try to diagnose yourself, but do make sure you are educated. This will help you when your doctor uses medical words such as a CT scan or an MRI. Or if you have pain in your knees, find out how your joints are constructed. Research available treatments as well.
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Join support groups. Cooper has many patient support groups that you can join. By talking with people coping with similar situations, you can learn how to deal better with your own health.
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Ask about clinical trials. The Cancer Institute of New Jersey at Cooper offers many clinical trials. People who participate in this research can benefit from treatments that are not yet available to the general public.
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Check in with your doctor about screenings. Screenings can help save your life. If it’s been a while since you’ve seen the doctor, you may not realize that you are due for certain screenings.
Your passport to good health
Our role at the Cooper Health Desk is to show you how by giving you very own online guidebook called “The Guide to Wellness.” Each newsletter adds more information to your guidebook.
Here are topics we will explore:
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Preparing for a hospital stay and surgery
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Getting to know your doctors and nurses
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The role of your health care providers
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The difference between generic and brand name drugs
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Questions to ask your doctor
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Taking medications safely
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Dealing with medication side effects
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What clinical trials are
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Health care for seniors
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Sorting out confusing news you hear on television
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Keeping track of your family history
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The screenings you and your family need
First, take an inventory of your health. That means asking yourself if you have been ignoring symptoms such as a shortness of breath or a cough that doesn’t go away. Have you have been putting off that mammogram or colon screening? Life may be busy. You may be shuttling the kids to daycare. You may be swamped with work at the office. But you can’t avoid this simple fact – putting off that visit to the doctor is a mistake.
The bottom line? Pay attention to your health. You’ve taken the right steps toward doing that by choosing Cooper as your guide.