White Coat Syndrome Is Not Your Friend

Whether you received your diagnosis 12 days ago or 12 months ago talking to your doctor about it can be nerve wracking. Nerves can cause us to forget important information that we wanted to bring up or a question we wanted to ask. They can also get in the way of our courage to ask, which only harms you, the patient. The questions that you have about your kidney illness are important and your doctor is the most valuable resource for them, so when you see your doctor take a deep breath and ask your questions, it will help stop your worry and let you focus on figuring out the best plan for your care and treatment.

Next time you visit your doctor consider bringing a notepad it will help calm your nerves and you’ll be able to jot down some information. If you’re unsure of what to ask your doctor take a look at the questions below, these are sure to spark a string of questions. 

  1. What is the reason for my failing kidneys?
  2. How often should I have labs done? 
  3. What do the levels on my lab report mean?
  4. Ask them to show you visual examples of what’s going on. 
  5. What are warning signs I should look out for that would result in an emergency room visit? 
  6. Will I have to make any lifestyle adjustments? 
  7. Ask for trusted reading material on your kidney illness.
  8. Ask if your doctor is aware of any support groups. 
  9. What are your care and treatment options.
  10. Ask to be tested for other diseases like diabetes or hypertension, which are the leading causes of kidney illness.
  11. What can I do to help my family better understand this change? 
  12. Can I participate in any type of recreational therapy to help me cope and relieve stress?

Sponsor: Kibow Biotech®