Be a good patient, from a doctor's perspective

I spend my work days in the hospital seeing patients. Nobody plans to be a patient. Nobody knows what to expect until you've been there yourself. This is my advice for making the most of a bad situation, take it or leave it

1. Tell your doctor everything. Really. That little part about how this has happened 10 times before but you never worried about  it-that matters.

2. Please remember you are not in a hotel. Don't focus complaining about the food or being woken up or the tv channel selections. It goes on the list of irrelevant information.  Focus on getting better.

3. Be your own advocate. Your thoughts, previous experiences, and gut feelings will effect the picture. So please share.

4. Don't ask me "what time.....?" about anything and expect anything more than a guess.  Little known fact-doctors have little to nothing to do with what time your test is done, when you are moved from the ER to a room, or even what time you'll see your specialist physician. Patience is a virtue.

5. That being said, if you are the head coach of your sons Little League team that leaves for the World Series on Tuesday, let me know (true story). I will do everything I can to help you get there.

6. If you suddenly inform the nurse at 11pm on a Saturday night that you haven't had your morphine and you need me to restart it right away, don't be surprised when I say no.(another true story)

7. Please don't ask me how old I am. My answer will be "old enough to be your doctor" (ok so maybe this one only applies to me)

8. Long allergy lists, while occasionally accurate, are a red flag in the medical world. You are allergic to allll but one specific narcotic? How do you know that so well?

9. Please fill in other family members about your condition yourself. Questions are welcome but repeating yourself from the beginning for every cousin and coworker and neighbor that stops by to visit is not.

10. Follow up, follow up, follow up. What happens in the hospital is most often a result/symptom of a bigger issue that will need to be worked on over time. Don't expect a miracle cure at the end of every hospitalization and don't be shocked if it happens again if you don't follow up with your physician in the office. Nothing, absolutely nothing, can replace a relationship with a physician who knows you well.