Submitted on Wednesday April 23rd, 2014
These days health is defined as more than the absence of disease. Good health includes
- physical well-being (having the ability to do activities)
- mental well-being (feeling clear headed and emotionally stable)
- social well-being (enjoying meaningful relationships and pastimes)
Doctors are prepared to help in all these arenas, but they can’t get started without your input. Lab reports do not reveal quality of life and general well-being! Doctors need your report from home. Plan ahead for your visit by preparing the following:
Describe the troubling physical symptoms. Some may be from the disease. But some may be treatment side effects! Describe the severity of the symptom using a scale of 0 to 10. (0 = no problem. 10 = the most severe possible.) Consider pain, nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath, diarrhea, or constipation.