Questions to Ask Your Doctor

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Questions to Ask Your Doctor

Note: We recommend you use this page as a reference for your consultation

with your doctor.

1. What is my diagnosis and how can I learn more about it?

2. Does my type of arthritis condition only affect the joints or are there

other areas of my body that can be involved? Can my eyes, heart, lungs,

brain, or kidneys be affected? How?

3. What is the likely course of this form of arthritis? What is the long-term

outlook?

4. What are my treatment options? What are the risks of not treating at all?

5. If my symptoms worsen, what should I do on my own? When should I contact

you?

6. How and when should I exercise?

7. What are the local support groups or foundations that are available to me?

8. I have certain special concerns (for example; fertility, pregnancy,

offspring, alternative medicines, surgery, special diets, relatives with

tragic outcomes with similar diseases or medications, etc.). How do these

particular issues relate to my situation and how do you feel about them?

9. Are my children likely to be affected by this illness? If so, how can I

best help them?

10. While I take the medications that you currently recommend, how should we

monitor for possible side effects (for example; examination, blood pressure

check, lab testing)? Are you aware of each of the medications that I am

taking?