General Health
What are my health problems?
What do I need to do?
Why is it important?
Prescription Medications
What is the drug for?
How do I take it?
Is there a generic version?
Is it covered by my insurance?
What are the side effects? What should I do if I experience them?
How do I store my medication?
How does the medication react with my other prescriptions and over-the-counter medication?
What should I do if I miss a dose?
Are there any activities, foods, or other medications that I should avoid while taking this drug?
Are they any refills? If so, what do I need to do to get them refilled?
How will this medication affect my lifestyle and work?
About Symptoms & Diagnosis
What is the disease or condition?
How serious is my disease or condition?
How will this disease or condition affect my work and home life?
What is the short-term and long-term prognosis for my disease or condition?
What causes the disease or condition?
Is there more than one disease or condition that could be causing my symptoms?
Should I be tested for a certain disease or condition?
What symptoms should I watch for?
How can I be tested for a disease or condition, and what will these test tell me?
What test will be involved in diagnosing my disease or condition?
How safe and accurate is the test?
When will I know the test’s results?
Will I need more medical tests?
Do I need a follow-up visit and if so, when?
Do I need to take precautions to avoid infecting others?
About Your Treatment
What are my treatment options?
How long will treatment take?
What is the cost of the treatment?
Which treatment is most common for my disease or condition?
Is there a generic form of my treatment and is it as effective?
What side effects can I expect?
What risks and benefits are associated with the treatment?
What would happen if I didn’t have any treatment?
What would happen if I delay my treatment?
Is there anything I should avoid during treatment?
What should I do if I have side effects?
How will I know if the medication is working?
What would I do if I miss a dose of medication?
Will my job or lifestyle be affected by the treatment?
If You Need Surgery
Why do I need surgery?
What surgical procedure are you recommending?
Is there more than one way of performing this surgery?
Are there alternatives to surgery?
How much will surgery cost?
What are the benefits of having surgery?
What are the risks of having surgery?
What if I don’t have this surgery?
Where can I get a second option?
What kind of anesthesia will be used?
How long will it take me to recover?
How will recover effect my life and work?
What are your qualifications?
How much experience do you have performing this surgery?
How long will I be in the hospital?