Questions for Your Doctor and How to Prepare for Your Visit

Dealing with doctors can be quite overwhelming. There were so many days where I felt so alone. I felt so sick and was spending so much money on doctors, yet no one was helping me. It wasn’t until I started working with Integrative M.D’s that I started getting answers and started to learn about what was going on with my body.

If you are new to Integrative Medicine, I recommend reading my What is Integrative Medicine? Page and my How to Find an Integrative Doctor Page for more information. It’s a long road to good health but I can tell you from experience that it’s worth it. It’s not cheap and it costs a lot of money to go to the right doctors- but it’s the only way to heal I healed and actually started to feel better for the first time in years.

Questions to Ask Your Integrative Doctor:

  1. How do they recommend you follow up with them if you have a question in between appointments? Email, phone, etc.? I have my doctor’s personal emails and email them anytime I have a question. They get right back to me with the answer!
  2. Is your doctor willing to work with your other doctors? For instance, at one time I was working with six doctors and none of them would talk to each other. Why was this? Didn’t they want to help me? It didn’t seem that way! Now I work with one doctor but if I have to go to a specialist, I make sure my primary doctor speaks with them about my results so that they can compare notes- that is the ONLY way it will work if you have to use numerous doctors. Make sure they are team players!
  3. Ask WHY. Why are you prescribing Vitamin D? Why do I need more B12? Why am I not absorbing Iron? Why is my thyroid low in T3 when I am taking synthroid? These are some examples of questions you need to ask depending on your situation. Don’t just take something not knowing WHY. Start with your gut, liver (detox), thyroid, etc. and any other major issues that you have.
  4. Ask about lifestyle changes you will have to make and strategies they can suggest you take such as infrared saunas, dry brushing, colonics, chelation, etc. or other ways to detox.
  5. Ask about their experience with other patients having a similar illness and how they were treated.
  6. What are the risks of taking the prescribed supplements?
  7. What BRAND of supplements do they recommend? Not all are created equal. Check out my Supplements Page for more information.
  8. Do you feel comfortable with the doctor and their staff during your visits and when you call? Make sure you do and be HONEST with everything- no matter how embarrassed you are! If you don’t tell them, they can’t help you.
  9. Do you feel a sense of care, connection and comfort with your doctor? You should. If not, move on. You want someone who is a cheerleader for you!
  10. Ask about your treatment options. Can you take amino acid supplements instead of an IV like I did? Ask questions like this depending on your case.
  11. Are you notified of test results within a reasonable amount of time or do you need to call and follow up with the office?
  12. Are follow-up visits scheduled every few weeks to check your vitamin levels and to see if the protocol of supplements is working?
  13. Is there an ongoing conversation about your future health goals and how you want to feel?
  14. How long will your treatment last? Your doctor should be able to give you a time period.
  15. Would you send your best friend, your mother and your grandmother to this doctor? If not, move on and find a doctor that you would send them to.  This is YOUR body and the only one that you have. Don’t let someone mess with your health who isn’t worth your time.
  16. Make sure your doctor is invested in YOU. That is what matters most. I love both of my doctors dearly and they have become two of my very good friends.

How to Keep Your Healthy History Organized:

  • Keep a binder of all your blood work, reports, doctor’s notes, etc.
  • Have the doctor’s scan your blood work to you via email so that you can easily email it to your other doctor’s anytime!
  • Keep a phone book for JUST your doctor’s phone numbers, emails, etc. so that you have them at all times. Save them into your cell phone so that you have them on speed dial if you need them or have a question.



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