Lyme disease often causes significant cognitive impairment, which means patients may rely on you as their caregiver to accompany them to appointments and make sense of doctor’s instructions and newly-prescribed medications.
Below is a list of suggestions for how to make the most of these appointments.
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Keep a notebook or journal specifically for doctor appointments. In between visits, write down any questions or concerns that arise, including reactions to medications and new, worsening, or improved symptoms.
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Keep an updated list of medications and supplements to discuss with the physician.
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Confirm the appointment with both the physician’s office and the Lyme patient.
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Allow the Lyme patient to speak on their own behalf, particularly when reporting on symptoms.
Intervene when necessary for clarification.
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Ask any necessary questions of the physician and record all answers for the Lyme patient.
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Record the physician’s care instructions.
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Record and confirm changes in medication.
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Verify any follow-up appointments.
PATIENT APPOINTMENTS
Keep track of all upcoming appointments with a bonus Appointment Summary box to make note of any changes to your patient's care.
Review your patient's day-to-day wellness and make note of any improvement or worsening of symptoms to share with their treating physician.
Keep track of current prescribed medications and supplements and record or confirm changes with your patient's treating physician.
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