When you're suffering from a physical illness or injury, you might be unsure of whom to contact for help. Distress from the ailment or a lack of medical knowledge can also make it difficult to communicate the problem clearly. A licensed medical professional will guide you through the process of finding and receiving appropriate treatment. Following that, it's sometimes helpful to ask for additional help, support and information from other sources. The physician, however, is the only person qualified to advise and treat you.
Step 1
Contact your primary care physician to schedule an appointment. If you do not have a regular doctor, contact a general health clinic. Go directly to a hospital emergency room instead if you have severe injuries or symptoms, such as excessive bleeding, burns, broken bones, chest pains or difficulty breathing.
Step 2
Prepare for your meeting with the doctor by noting the details of your symptoms, which can be physical or mental abnormalities. The National Institute on Aging recommends that you ask yourself what worsens the symptoms, what relieves them, whether they're constant, when they started and how they affect your everyday life. This information will help your doctor diagnose and treat the problem properly.
Step 3
Write a list of any questions and concerns you have so that you can reference it while speaking with the doctor, and let him know that you have a few items to discuss.
Step 4
Answer the doctor's questions truthfully and to the best of your ability. Information about your lifestyle may help him address the condition and any underlying causes of it.
Step 5
Follow the physician's treatment recommendations. If you have any questions about your treatment or experience any other difficulties, call the physician's office. Schedule a follow-up appointment if needed.
Tips and Warnings
- Medical advice websites and forums, such as justaskmedical.com and medhelp.org, have physicians answering individual's questions. Note the details of your symptoms as you would with your primary care physician when seeking help from this type of website.
- Online medical advice is not a substitute for the evaluation and treatment provided by physicians.
