How to Describe Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms to Your Doctor – Everyday Health

The first rule of thumb is to be open and descriptive when speaking to your doctor. These strategies can help you communicate more effectively with your MS care team.

You may not want to disappoint your doctor by telling them that you havent stuck to your treatment regimen, but its very important to share this information. If youre not taking your medication because you have side effects from it, or its hard for you to keep up with the schedule, or theres some other reason your doctor needs to know that, says Dr. Giesser.

Not taking your medication consistently can affect your MS symptoms. Let's say your doctor prescribes disease-modifying therapies to slow the progression of MS. If they notice more scars on your next MRI or that your next neurological exam is worse, your doctor may assume the medication isnt working if you dont tell them you havent been taking it.

We dont judge, says Giesser. Its okay if you havent been compliant with your medication, but try to tell us why, so we can help you figure out a way to take your meds regularly.

Any nonprescription medications and supplements youre taking may affect how well your prescription MS treatments work. Some of them can interact with prescription medications, and some of them might even be harmful, says Giesser.

The same goes for alcohol and recreational drugs, including marijuana. Its important to tell your doctor about everything youre putting into your body, she notes.

Also, beware of any supplements that claim to ease MS symptoms. Unlike prescription medications, supplements arent regulated, which means their effects can be hard to predict. If you dont know what something does, it may be potentially risky to take it, says Giesser. To play it safe, dont take a supplement without first talking to your doctor about it.

If youve been feeling more fatigued than usual, dont say something vague like, Im more tired than before. Instead, be as precise as you can, and say something like, I now need 10 hours of sleep when I only used to need eight.

When it comes to describing your pain, try to explain the quality and character of it, so your doctor can treat it better. For example, if its prickly or stabby, it might be a nerve pain. If its tight or achy or pulling, it might be spasticity, which is treated differently, says Giesser. If its worse with movement or in a certain position, it might be a musculoskeletal issue.

Neurological exams and MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging) arent the only measures of how youre doing. Your doctor also needs to know the impact MS has on your day-to-day life. If theres a specific symptom or a problem thats impacting your ability to do your everyday activities, let your doctor know about that, says Giesser.

For example, tell your doctor how often you cancel plans, dont feel up to doing something, or have to force yourself out of bed.

Its a good idea to keep track of your MS symptoms. Mark down whether they are existing or new and what makes them better or worse. You can log this in a notebook, computer spreadsheet, or mobile app, such as the Multiple Sclerosis Association of Americas My MS Manager.

Before your next appointment, review your symptoms log and look for any patterns that stand out. Then, you can share your findings with your doctor.

It can be challenging to describe your MS symptoms, but doing so will help your doctor give you the best care they can. Try to give your doctor as much information as possible, says Giesser. An abundance of information never hurts.

Read the original post:
How to Describe Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms to Your Doctor - Everyday Health