Is it normal to write your doctor a letter?

[Hypergirl]

First of all, I'm on medicaid and disabled. My doctor (he's a specialist) is a busy man and very highly regarded in the medical community. His bedside manner and professionalism are outstanding but he has a certain "threshhold" that can be crossed where he can get a bit impatient at which point he begans to display subtle cues that the visit should now end. He is one of the few doctors who accepts my insurance and unlike some doctors, rather than just telling you it's all in your head and then sending you home with an aspirin, he actually provides me with VERY good treatment and I have been told by at least 3 people that I am VERY lucky to have him.

Ok, now here's the clencher. I feel like I have to walk on eggshells every time I go in for a visit because I don't want to say the wrong thing or ask too many questions and risk losing him. I went in the other day to see him after he was nice enough to get me in 2 weeks early and so I did'nt want to take up too much of his time and thus, I was'nt able to tell/ask him everything I wanted to. My next appointment is in three weeks but there are a few things I need to tell him so that he will have a more accurate idea of my condition. Do you people think I would be out of line if I wrote his office a letter and addressed it to him?. I would hope that he would read it and put it with my other medical records but I don't want him to think I'm weird writing letters like that.

What should I do?

[Momof3]

I don't really see any harm in writing him or her a letter but if it were me personally I would just write down a breif  description of your health concerns and then give this to the nurse the next time you go in and ask that it be put in your records. Remember, it is YOUR health and you should'nt have to feel like you can't be up front with your doctor about any problems you are having.

Best of luck!.

[Angelwings]

I agree with Momof3. If you are having any problems, you should let your doctor know about them. If your doctor is any good, he will listen to you and treat you for them.

[pmhoran]

What I do is give each doc I see a "standard page" that I make up before each visit

I list my meds ... which meds I need refills for before our next appointment ... and then the bottom section I list everything I want to talk to the doctor about during that appointment.

Every doc has always commented on and said they appreciate how "organized" I am ... but as I tell them ... I do it out of my necessity not for their convenience  hahahaha.    Not once has any doctor said anything negative about me listing things I want to address during our appointment.

Also ... 2 of my specialists and my PCP (family doctor) I fax or email copies of how I feel I am doing about 3 or 4 times a year.   Some times they read them, most times I don't think they do but the important thing is it goes into my file.   So if there is ever a check made by the pension people or ??? ... if the doc says one thing and I say another the proof is in their file that I had advised them of my side of things.   Didn't explain that well but hope you get the gist.

Take care
Peter