How Can Caregivers Help Their Loved Ones At Doctor Appointments?

So, I will be telling you today, how my sister as my caregiver helped me with all the appointments and the procedural things I went through while getting my CKD treatment. I would say hats off to her for the way she managed everything so gracefully. I learned a lot from her during that time. I learned that being a caregiver is so much more than giving your company and making sure the person you are caring for is having their meals and medicines and everything included. I mean, I never knew it is so much more than that.

Emotional support

I learned from her that it is not necessary to be physically involved in everything, but caregivers do have to keep an eye on many more things than just the person's treatment. I learned about it the first time we had to go for my doctor’s visit. One day earlier she came into my room, saw my medical records, and asked me about the things I am feeling not only physically, but also emotionally. She wrote down something on paper that I did not know at that time.

The next day she put all those medical records in a close file keeper, and on our way, she asked me if I would personally like to tell all of these things to my doctor or do I need her to be part of it. She also asked me if how I would be more comfortable, her being in the room with me, or waiting outside while I discuss everything with my doctor. Of course, I replied that I needed her inside with me because I was a bit anxious.

Keeping track of everything

When we headed to the doctor’s office, she sat there while I told her everything about my symptoms and how I feel lately. After I was done, she pulled out her paper from the file and asked my doctor a few very important questions regarding my treatment plan and the way she is watching my side effects, and how she should be dealing with the things she mentioned. It was amazing yet surprising for me how important it is to keep a track of everything on paper, she asked a few things that even I forgot to mention.

That was my first learning, to always keep a list of queries if you have any with you, to discuss everything in detail. Second, she let me say things first so that I feel confident about how things are going, and she took her turn after that just ensuring that everything is in place and confirming what else needed to be done. Then she asked me if I have something to discuss in private so she could leave the room, that day I refused but later on, whenever I felt the need, I used to politely ask her to wait for me outside.

Valuing a patient's opinion

All of this really helped me in many ways, like how important it is to value the privacy of the patient, even if she is my sister, I deserve to discuss things privately if I need to. I learned how to value the patient’s opinion.

Next time I get a chance to be a caregiver, I will always keep these little things in my mind.