Preparing for your appointment

[In this blog post, you will prepare for your appointment with your doctor. You will learn about what will happen at your appointment.]
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Before your appointment

Your appointment with your doctor is important. Your doctor will want to learn about your symptoms. Your doctor will rely on the information you provide.

It is helpful if you can provide as much information as possible. The information you provide will help the doctor to figure out what type of vertigo you have.

Before your appointment, you can prepare a list of your symptoms and notes. The following videos will show you two days you can prepare notes and track your symptoms.

1. Taking notes for your doctor

• Sample notes (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mI9rgXgZYuJt9ykO9of3eY9w4x8d87ToPnuGDCtBido/edit?usp=sharing)

2. Tracking your symptoms

• Sample worksheet (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1JkbdfGSCcFPcFZgiBsG0bLHaZV1RCt4dR62LLV1iVck/edit?usp=sharing)

Preparing questions

You should also prepare a list of questions for your doctor. You may want to ask your doctor these questions:

• Do I have vertigo?
• Is my dizziness a symptom of something else?
• What is vertigo?
• What is causing my vertigo?
• How severe is my vertigo? Should I be worried?
• What can I do to lessen the symptoms?
• What should I do when I have symptoms, like when I get dizzy?
• Is there any medication I can take to help?
• Are there any medications I should avoid?
• Are there any activities I should not do?
• What are my treatment options? Do I need surgery?
• Are there any alternative treatments?
• Are there any specialists I should see? Should I see a neurologist?
• Will my vertigo ever go away?

Your appointment with your doctor

At your appointment:

• The doctor will ask you to share your symptoms, medical history, etc. This information will help your doctor better assess your health.
• The doctor may examine your eyes and any eye movements. This may include shining a light into your eyes while you look in different directions. The doctor may ask you to stare in certain directions, or to move your eyes a certain way. The doctor may ask you to stare at an object as it moves. The doctor may use special instruments to watch your eye move.
• The doctor may ask you to stand or walk with your eyes open and/or closed. The doctor will observe your body movement and balance.
• The doctor may perform other tests, including an eyesight test where you cover and uncover one eye at a time. The doctor may perform other positional and balance tests. The doctor may use a balloon to change the pressure in your ear and see how you react.

(Brandt, Dieterich, & Strupp, 2013, p. 12-13)

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Reference

Brandt, T., Dieterich, M., & Strupp, M. (2013). Vertigo and Dizziness: Common Complaints. (2nd ed.). London, UK: Springer-Verlag.