Preparing for an appointment

Make an appointment with your primary care doctor if you have prolonged fatigue or other signs or symptoms that worry you. He or she may refer you to a doctor who specializes in treating blood disorders (hematologist), the heart (cardiologist) or the digestive system (gastroenterologist).

Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment.

What you can do

Before your appointment, make a list of:

• Your symptoms and when they began
• Key personal information, including major stresses, implanted medical devices, exposure to toxins or chemicals, and recent life changes
• All medications, vitamins and other supplements you take, including the doses
• Questions to ask your doctor

For anemia, basic questions to ask your doctor include:

• What's the most likely cause of my symptoms?
• Are there other possible causes?
• Do I need tests?
• Is my anemia likely temporary or long lasting?
• What treatments are available, and which do you recommend?
• What side effects can I expect from treatment?
• I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
• Do I need to restrict my diet?
• Do I need to add foods to my diet? How often do I need to eat these foods?
• Do you have brochures or other printed materials I can take? What websites do you recommend?

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you questions, such as:

• Do your symptoms come and go or are they constant?
• How severe are your symptoms?
• Does anything seem to improve your symptoms?
• What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
• Are you a vegetarian?
• How many servings of fruits and vegetables do you usually eat in a day?
• Do you drink alcohol? If so, how often, and how many drinks do you usually have?
• Are you a smoker?
• Have you recently donated blood more than once?