LISTSERV 16.0 - PARKINSN Archives

MAKING YOUR APPOINTMENT WITH THE MOVEMENT DISORDERS

SPECIALIST MORE PRODUCTIVE

Take along a list of your Parkinsonian medications as in the following table:

DRUG	STRENGTH	DOSE PER DAY	SINCE*	ANY CHANGES**
Sinemet CR	200/50	4 tablets	March 1995	nil
Permax	1 mg	2 tablets	March 1995	nil
Permax	.25 mg	2 tablets	Sep. 99	nil

date began taking medication

** date medication dose adjusted up or down

Also take a list of any non-Parkinson perscription medications

DRUG	STRENGTH	DOSE PER DAY	SINCE	ANY CHANGES
Imovane	7.5 mg	1 tablet	Dec 1993	stopped Sep. 1999

Also take a list of any over-the-counter non-perscription medications, vitamins, herbals and any complementary or alternative therapies (e.g.: acupuncture, naturopathy, homeopathy)

ITEM	STRENGTH	FREQUENCY	SINCE	ANY CHANGES
multi-vitamins	Centrum select, 50+	1 daily	Jan 99
Vitamin C	Jameson, 1000 mg	1 daily	Jan 99
Evening Primrose	Quest 1000 mg	1 daily	Jan 99	stopped Oct 99

List any other physicians - including psychiatrists - you are seeing together with why you are seeing them and a consent for yor MDS to consult the other doctors.

List, as objectively as you can, your symptom progression since your last appointment.

Ask about any upcoming clinical trials

Ask any questions about your condition, having first taken the time to wrte them down.

Ask every physician you see for a copy of his/her reporting letter or file note after each visit. Also - and this can get expensive - get copies of X-rays, CAT, MRI and PET scans. These are to better inform you - you are legally entitled to them - and to show your MDS should (s)he wish to see them. (A patient with this sort of documentation is treated seriously by doctors because you treat your condition seriously.)

Tale along a tape recorder and tape your appointment. Doing this ensures that you won’t forget any important things your doctor says.

Give your MDS and/or his/her clinical nurse specialist/nurse practitioner a copy of this information sheet. They’ll tank you for it.