Questions to ask your specialist or Parkinson's nurse
If you've just been diagnosed with Parkinson's, you may find it helpful to think ahead to the appointment so you can get the most out of your time with your specialist or Parkinson's nurse.
Here we share some tips to help you prepare.
1
Make a list of questions
Making a list of the questions you want to ask will help you feel more prepared.
Some questions you may want to ask include:
- I’m concerned about a particular symptom. What can help?
- How soon should I start medication?
- What type of side effects might I get from my medication?
- I have another medical condition as well as Parkinson’s. What should I do?
- Which other health professionals can help me?
- I'm feeling stressed and down about my diagnosis. What help can I get?
- How often will I see you?
- When will I have my next appointment?
- Can I have more time with you?
2
Be concise
Try to make your questions as concise as possible. You may want to give your specialist or Parkinson’s nurse the list to read at the beginning of the appointment.
3
Understand the reply
If a healthcare professional says things you don’t understand, ask them to explain.
It's much better to admit you don’t understand than to pretend you do, and then find you don’t know what you need to do when you get home.