Preparing for Your Neurology Appointment

Help your neurologist help you! An appointment with your neurologist will be most productive if you are prepared to share your information and concerns. Here is a checklist to help you get organized.

Get ready!

* If this is your first appointment, ask the neurologist’s office what types of information you should bring. These may include office notes from other doctors, MRI or CT images of your brain, and lab reports.

* Medication list: Document all prescription medications (including non-Parkinson’s drugs), over –the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements; dosages, when medications are taken; and when you first start taking each. Are there any medications that you were on in the mast that were discontinued? Have you experienced any side effects?

* List of Parkinson’s symptoms you are experiencing? Which are new? Which are most troublesome?

* Movement symptoms (walking, getting out of chair, moving in bed, etc)

* Fluctuations in your symptoms (typically correlated with medication cycle, eating, sleeping, and exercise)

* Dyskinesias (involuntary movements caused by Parkinson’s medications)

* Non-movement symptoms (swallowing, speech, nausea, constipation, urinary frequency and/or urgency, drooling, excessive sweating, dizziness upon standing, swollen ankles, sleep disorders, restless legs, and more.
* Changes in mental status (depression, anxiety, cognition, ability to make plans, hallucinations, compulsive or excessive behaviors such as shopping, gambling, or sex)

* List three items that you most want to discuss with the neurologist. (There may not be time to address everything during your appointment, so it is important to prioritize your needs.)

Go!

* Arrive early to allow time for parking, using the restroom, getting to the appropriate reception desk, checking in, and filling out paperwork.

* Bring along water, a snack, and any medications you might need in case your appointment is delayed.

* Ask a family member or friend to accompany you, to take notes and remind you of anything important that has not been discussed.

At your neurology appointment:

*You did your homework, so you are prepared when your neurologist asks about your symptoms and medications!

* Special requests: Ask early in the appointment about prescription refills, disability forms, handicapped parking permits, etc; often a nurse or secretary is available to work on these during your appointment.

* Address those three major concerns on your list of priorities.

* Ask for a referral to a physical therapist for help with balance, gait, strength, pain, and flexibility issues.

* Ask for a referral to an occupational therapist for help with handwriting, home modifications, driver evaluations, computer modifications, and adaptations to make dressing, grooming, cooking, and eating easier.

* Ask for a referral to a speech language pathologist for help with speech and communication problems (including vocal volume, clarity of speech, and increasing facial expressiveness) and swallowing.

* Ask for recommendations regarding exercise and nutrition.

* Ask about participation in clinical research trials.

* Ask the best way to get in touch with the neurologist in between appointments: Contact with nurse or secretary, by phone or email?

* For more information about Parkinson’s disease, contact the your state APDA Information & Referral Center.

Prepared by Diane L. Church, PhD