Making the Most of Your Crohn’s Disease Doctors’ Appointments

My doctors’ appointments haven’t always been productive. There were times I was afraid to ask my questions or voice concerns, times when I knew there were things on my mind but they completely escaped me once I entered that sterile room, and even times when I left appointments feeling confused and uncertain about what was to come next. 

I now take a proactive approach to my appointments and lead as the strong self-advocate that I am. Given that doctors’ visits are often on the shorter side and far apart, I make sure to make the most of that limited time.

Have you ever felt like you had a zillion updates to tell a friend when you got together, but then, when you’re there, you forget what you wanted to say? Being in a doctor’s appointment can be like that, which is why I always have a note in my phone of questions and concerns I want to cover. I typically start thinking about these questions and topics a week or two in advance, so I don’t feel pressure the day of to think of everything at once.

These topics may cover: 

• symptoms
• lab results or scheduling new testing
• scope results or scheduling a new scope
• new research about treatments, remedies, or case studies I’m interested in

Having things written down also saves time, so I don’t have to waste any racking my brain.

One more benefit of writing my burning questions down? It holds me accountable for asking the questions and not brushing any off due to a time constraint or feeling like it’s not important. In the past, there have been times when I attempted to gaslight myself into thinking that a question wasn’t that important. Now, if it’s written down (or typed in my phone), it’s important enough to ask.

To support my list of questions and discuss topics, I prefer to have hard copies of labs and recent tests. If this doctor ordered the testing, they will pull up the results on their computer. If I ordered the testing, I’ll send the results to the doctor ahead of time.

Either way, having a hard copy in my hands helps me be an active participant in the conversation, since I likely don’t have my results memorized line by line.

If I’ve been curious about new research or remedies, I may come equipped with hard copies of studies to share and discuss with my doctor. I find this helpful in supporting our discussion since we have a real-life application of this topic to discuss, versus just my opinion or curiosity about it. Of course, the doctor can keep my copy for review if they’d like.

Anticipating a doctor’s appointment can be stressful enough at times, so I try not to add any anxiety to the process. I hate running late, being stuck in traffic, and searching frantically for a parking spot.

That’s why if I have an in-person appointment, I try to avoid added stress at all costs and do my best to be on time.

This looks like:

• estimating the transit time at least a day before, so I know what kind of traffic I may hit
• setting an alarm for a “hard stop” if my appointment is in the middle of a workday
• having any paperwork printed and other things I need, ready by the door

 If my appointment is virtual, I prepare by:

• testing out the video software ahead of time
• having hard copies of paperwork nearby or pulled up online
• using the bathroom beforehand and having water close just in case

The less “extra stuff” on my mind, the more confident and at ease I’ll feel, which is definitely the goal.

Before the appointment is over, I always make sure I have clarity on all next steps.

This means I know the answers to questions like:

• When will I have my next scope, and how will I schedule it?
• When should my next appointment be? Will it be in-person or virtual?
• If tests are being ordered, how soon can I expect them to be in the system, and at which lab can I have them performed?
• What is the best way to reach out with questions?

I don’t want to have a productive discussion and leave without knowing my next steps, so I quickly run through the list of action items with my doctor once more, ensuring I feel confident in what’s next before leaving. 

My years of attending doctors’ appointments have taught me that to get the most out of my care, I need to be an active participant in my health. I stopped feeling bad or needy about asking questions and started leading with confidence. My health is worth it.