Sample medical history that I take to every appointment

[Guest guest]

The following is a sample medical

history to take to your appointments. My doctors love it. You add/subtract/move

around to put the worst problem or what you want them to see the best first.

You put down your list of questions/requests so you don’t forget. The

list of drugs/dosages allows them to see for a potential bad interaction or

overmedication from other doctors.

Attached is a medical log to fill out

with a pain level you can show them. If you add things that you think

increase the pain, over time you can see the trends and talk to the

doctor. Possible things to track – weather, prior days activities,

new drug added…

Medical History

Lynette

48-year-old white female. History

of over a dozen sinus infection, and other upper breathing problems. I

have very small sinus opening and they swell shut easily. When I was in

college, I put my hand over my mouth to avoid throwing up in the hall and threw

up into my sinuses instead. I have had major problems ever since.

Bugs are resistant to most antibiotics, but the Z-packs still work.

History of three Laparoscopic Surgeries

(one laser) for endometriosis (stage

4). I was given drug to control without the recommended calcium

supplement and 30% of calcium lost from bones. I have Osteoporosis.

I had a complete hysterectomy in November

1990. Hormone drugs for 2 weeks; gain 15 pounds; stopped.

I had my gall bladder removed in May

1989 for non-cancerous tumor.

2 drug induced ulcers (1988 on

experimental drug and 2003 on diclofenac 50mg/ misoprostol 200 mcg tabs).

Just before I got out of the AF in 1992,

I was diagnosed with a “sleep disorder that causes swelling in your

hands” – Fibromyalgia?

In 1994, I was diagnosed with sleep

apnea, restless legs, and Fibromyalgia, and RA. I have a CPAP machine.

Drugs:

_____________ 500mg 2X day

______________ 50 mg 2X day

Nasal spray for allergies

Mtx 15 mg once a week

____________________ once a week

I

have been having a lot of coughing and have been bring up clumps of crud

for the last 3 weeks. I think that my allergies have gone into a sinus infection with the left ear

working on an infection. I need an antihistamine with decongestant.

My

allergies have been bad for the last 3 weeks.

I

also am having problems with waking up several times during the night to

pee and not being able to get to the bathroom in time. I drink 10

– 14 glasses of water or herb tea a day, but I stop at 4 – 5

pm.

Medical Log

Date

Temp/Time

Medications

Dose

Dose Today

3X

3X

1X

1X

2X

2X

Pain

Level 1 2 3

4 5 6

7 8 9 10

Where?

Stress Level/Reason:

Date

Temp/Time

Medications

Dose

Dose Today

3X

3X

1X

1X

2X

2X

Pain

Level 1 2 3

4 5 6

7 8 9 10

Where?

Stress Level/Reason:

Have a great day,

Lynette & Molly

(the fruit stealing Boston Terrier)

land/ Zone

7

Visit Molly at http://community.webshots.com/user/lmthib

From:

Rheumatoid Arthritis

[mailto:Rheumatoid Arthritis ] On

Behalf Of Sam Rocci

Sent: Saturday, August 27, 2005

6:32 PM

To:

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Subject: Re:

Advice on Appointments

Whining and crying is not really working for me... I love the idea of

writing a letter beforehand. I had to see a specialist recently and so I wrote

up a list of my meds, medical history, and current issues. It was great to have

written it all down so I had dates, dosages, diagnosis's all in one place. I

tend to get flustered when meeting doc's. I had some really bad experiences

while getting my Stills/RA diagnosed back in my teens. One doctor told me read

Helen Keller so I would understand what " real " pain and suffering was

like (this was while I was having a pelvic exam during that time of the month

and him telling me it did not appear to him that I was cramping etc... Six

months later while I was away at school in London they removed a cyst the size of a two

liter pepsi bottle along with my left fallopian tube). So, while I

intellectually have gotten past this, I know it affects me emotionally when I

ever I have to deal with the medical world. If I am really specific about my

needs, concerns, treatment options etc... I feel like it goes much smoother. I

also do this with my kids. Two out of three have seizure disorders, so I keep a

medical binder handy that has everyone's medications, recent tests, any

pertinent information. This really helps me in staying on topic and getting

what we need from these appointments.

We live in a very small town in central California so any specialists are quite a

drive for us. My RD is about 2 hours away and the kid's ped. neurologist plus

the children's hospital for tests etc... is about an hour. They have all been

really awesome if we are ever late due to traffic etc... There's nothing like

the sinking feeling in your tummy when you think you may need to reschedule an

appointment when you've gotten the necessary sitters, arranged transportation

from school etc... So far so good, we've always made it just in time.

Has anyone ever tried bringing treats, flowers etc... to the office

staff? MY RD's staff is kind of cold and distant. I thought I might try

something next visit. Any ideas?

Thanks for letting me vent just a tad :0)

Sam