The Doctor’s Office

There are so many things that can be done to make this brain injury life easier. I will start today with Doctor Visits.

 If you suffer memory loss:

• Take someone you trust to the doctor appointment with you.

• If you must go alone, take paper or a notebook, and something to write with, to the doctor’s office to write down anything that needs to be remembered.

• If you must go alone, use your phone or a tape recorder to record all that is said, to play it back and listen to it at another time when you won’t be rushed or with someone you trust, so they can explain things to you.

• If you can’t keep up, ask the provider-doctor, nurse, physician’s assistant, or nurse practitioner, to slow down so you have time to write what you need to.

• If you don’t understand what is being said, ask if he or she can say it in a different way. Remind them that you have a brain injury and cannot think fast, or you need extra time to process.

•  If writing is hard for you, ask the doctor, their assistant, or chaperone, or someone other than you to be present to write for you.

• If you are on medication, take an updated, pre-written list of all the medications you are on along with doses that you are taking.  Write the date in the upper right corner of your medication list so the doctor knows it is current. To make it easier you can ask someone as you check in or when you are actually in the appointment to make a copy of that paper for their record, and give you back the original.

• If you are asked to remove any piece of clothing, ask for there to be a chaperone of your gender to be present as well.

If you would like to have more prompts on how we handle situations, please read my book titled,

A Miracle a Day, One Day at a Time: Hope After Traumatic Brain Injury

https://store.bookbaby.com/book/a-miracle-a-day-one-day-at-a-time

If you have any questions or suggestions, please leave a comment on my blog.

I hope this has helped. Have a blessed week. Like, comment, and subscribe. If you subscribe, you will receive an email every time I post a new blog.