From: American Parkinson Disease Association
Sent: Friday, March 16, 2012 6:19 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: March Tip of the Month from American Parkinson Disease Association
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Preparing for Your Neurology Appointment:
Helping Your Neurologist to Help You!
An appointment with your neurologist will be most productive if you are prepared to share your information and concerns. Here is a checklist to help you get organized.
Get ready!
a.. If this is your first appointment, ask the neurologist’s office what types of information you should bring. These may include office notes from other doctors, MRI or CT images of your brain, and lab reports.
b.. Make a list of the Parkinson’s symptoms you are experiencing. Which are new? Which are most troublesome?
a.. Movement symptoms (walking, getting out of chair, moving in bed, etc.)
b.. Fluctuations in your symptoms (typically correlated with medication cycle, eating, sleeping, and exercise)
c.. Dyskinesias (involuntary movements caused by Parkinson’s medications)
d.. Non-movement symptoms (swallowing, speech, nausea, constipation, urinary frequency and/or urgency, drooling, excessive sweating, dizziness upon standing, swollen ankles, sleep disorders, restless legs, and more)
e.. Changes in mental status (depression, anxiety, cognition, inability to make plans, hallucinations, compulsive or excessive behaviors such as shopping, gambling, or sex)
c.. Ask a family member or friend to accompany you and to take notes and remind you during the meeting of anything important that has not been discussed.
d.. List three items that you most want to discuss with the neurologist. (There may not be time to address everything during your appointment, so it is important to prioritize your needs.)
At your neurology appointment:
a.. Special requests: Ask early in the appointment about prescription refills, disability forms, handicapped parking permits, etc.; often a nurse or secretary is available to work on these during your appointment.
b.. Address the three major concerns on your list of priorities.
c.. Ask for recommendations regarding exercise and nutrition.
d.. Ask about participation in clinical research trials.
e.. Ask about the best way to get in touch with the neurologist in between appointments: Contact with nurse or secretary, by phone or email?
Prepared by Diane L. Church, PhD
Coordinator, APDA New Hampshire Information & Referral Center, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon.
Would you like more information? Check out APDA's National Resource Center for Rehabilitation!
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Copyright © 2012 | American Parkinson Disease Association | All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy 135 Parkinson Avenue | Staten Island, NY 10305 | Tel. (800) 223-2732 | www.apdaparkinson.org If you prefer not to receive APDA e-mail correspondence, please unsubscribe here.
The American Parkinson Disease Association, Inc. was founded in 1961 to "Ease the Burden - Find the Cure" for Parkinson's disease. Headquartered in New York, the organization focuses its energies on research, patient support, education and raising public awareness of Parkinson's disease.
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