Essential points

When meeting with a doctor or Parkinson’s disease (PD) nurse, there are certain things that are especially important to talk about. A list of these points is given below.

• Describe any symptoms that you have experienced, including whether they have worsened or improved since the last visit, e.g., poor control of movement, stiffness, shaking/tremor, difficulty walking, sickness, dizziness, etc.
• Explain when your symptoms occur, for example, shortly before your next dose, early in the morning, after a certain event/trigger, or in relation to food.
• Discuss all concerns or worries about PD or the medication you are taking – i.e., your opinion regarding PD and its treatments.
• Let the doctor know if you would like a change in your medication.
• Tell the doctor about any other medications you are taking, including any bought over-the-counter. This is very important, as some medications may not be suitable to take while receiving PD therapies.
• Keep the doctor up-to-date on any significant changes in your life – for example, stressful events such as bereavement, or changes that may affect your medical routine. These events could influence your symptoms.
• Discuss how people around you are coping with PD and its treatment.
• Make sure you understand exactly how and when your medication should be taken, before you leave the surgery/clinic. If necessary, write these instructions down, or ask to have them written down for you.
  
  As it can sometimes be difficult to remember everything that you wish to discuss with your doctor, the essential points listed above have been reproduced on a ‘Communication card’ that can be downloaded from this website. This communication card can be taken along to appointments as a prompt for matters you may wish to discuss.