Free visit preparation
Prepare for your doctor visit.
Appointments are short, and it is easy to leave without asking what you came to ask. This page offers a simple way to get ready: what to write down, what to bring, and questions you can ask your own clinician. It is free, and you do not need an account.
A 15-minute checklist before you go
- Name your top concerns. Pick the two or three issues that matter most this time. Put the most important one first, because the start of a visit is when there is the most time.
- Sketch a short timeline. Note roughly when each concern started, whether it comes and goes, and anything that seems to make it better or worse.
- Describe the effect on daily life. Concrete examples help: missed work days, stairs you avoid, sleep you lose, tasks you now need help with.
- List every medicine and supplement. Include doses and how often you take them, plus anything you stopped recently and why.
- Gather recent results. If you had tests or visits elsewhere, bring copies or know where the results are stored.
- Write your questions down. Keep them on paper or your phone so you can check them off before the visit ends.
The visit preparation worksheet walks through these steps in your browser. You can copy or print the result; entries are not sent to BHI.
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Questions to ask your doctor
You do not need to ask all of these. Choose the few that fit your situation and add your own.
Understanding what is going on
- What do you think could be causing this, and what else is still possible?
- Is there a name for what I have, or is it too early to say?
- Where can I read reliable information about it?
Tests and results
- What is this test meant to show, and what happens if it is normal?
- When and how will I get the results?
- Who should I contact if I have not heard back?
Next steps
- What should happen before our next appointment?
- If you suggest seeing someone else, who coordinates that and what should I bring?
- Which changes in my symptoms mean I should call sooner?
Daily life
- Is there anything I should change or keep track of at home?
- How does a suggested option fit with my other conditions and medicines?
- What evidence supports this approach, and what are the trade-offs?
What to bring
- Your written list of concerns and questions, with the most important one marked.
- A current list of medicines, supplements, and allergies.
- Notes from a symptom log, if you keep one. BHI's free symptom log can help you record patterns over a few days or weeks.
- Insurance card, photo ID, and contact details for your other clinicians.
- Something to take notes with, or a trusted person who can take notes for you.
If you are helping someone else
Caregivers and family members often notice changes that the person living with the condition gets used to. Agree before the visit on who will describe what, and which questions matter most to the patient. Ask the clinic how to be listed as a contact if the patient wants you to receive updates.
Video and phone visits
For telehealth, test your connection and camera a few minutes early, sit somewhere quiet with good light, and keep your lists in front of you. Have a way to measure things the clinician may ask about, such as your temperature or blood pressure, if you have the equipment at home.
After the visit
Before you leave, repeat back the plan in your own words and ask whether you understood it correctly. Afterward, write down what was decided, any tests or follow-up that were ordered, and the date you expect to hear back. Keep these notes with your worksheet so your next visit starts where this one ended.
If a question comes up later, use the patient portal or call the office rather than waiting for the next appointment.
Learn about a condition first
If you already have a diagnosis, or a clinician has mentioned one, reading a plain-language overview can help you ask sharper questions. BHI publishes free condition guides on ME/CFS, Long COVID, POTS, Ehlers-Danlos syndromes, fibromyalgia, lupus, Lyme disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. For checking a clinician's license and scope, see appointment preparation.
Put your concerns, timeline, medicines, and questions on one page before your next appointment.
Start the worksheet →Education, not medical care
Better Health Institute is a nonprofit that provides health education only. It does not provide medical care, diagnosis, treatment, referrals, or appointment booking. If you have a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.