How We Prepare for Doctor Visits From Head to Toe
It's easy to feel overwhelmed about medical appointments when you have a child with a chronic condition. You want to make sure that you address everything that you need to, but you need to do it efficiently. A couple of days before any important appointment, we take a moment to really check in with Evan. Because this condition can impact all areas of the body, we literally go through with him head to toe, to ensure we are fully prepared.
This head to toe assessment has become a routine part of our preparation. We approach it with humour—asking about every detail, from the tip of his hair down to his toes. "How's this pinky feeling? What about this piece of hair?" It might seem silly, but it's a light-hearted way to gather serious information from him.
He's not one to voice his complaints, so it helps us identify any new issues that have arisen since our last visit, no matter how small they might seem. It allows us to track progress. We also compare to the previous list. What has improved since the last appointment? Are there therapies or concerns that we can strike off our list? Noting progress is as important as identifying new challenges.
Additionally, this routine prompts us to consider if there are any new assessments from therapists that we need, any specific questions we have, or if there are any referrals or tests we want to request. If anything new pops into our minds after the appointment, I add it to an ongoing list on my phone so that we are always prepared.
Going through this process has been a critical part of advocating for Evan's health and ensuring we're making the most of each medical appointment. In the world of chronic illness, where appointments can blend together and days can become a blur, this method helps us stay focused, informed, and proactive in managing his care.
And when the doctor asks, "Is there anything else?" we do a scan of our list to make sure nothing has been missed. This isn't just a casual glance, it's a deliberate, focused review that serves as our safety net.
