Preparing for an appointment

You're likely to start by seeing your primary care doctor. If you have severe symptoms, you might see an emergency room doctor. You'll likely be referred to a doctor trained in heart conditions (cardiologist) and possibly a doctor trained in infectious disease.

What you can do

Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment. Write down the following details:

• Your symptoms, including any that might seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment, and when they began
• Key personal information, including recent illnesses and their symptoms, recent travel locations, and your and your family's medical history
• All medications, vitamins or other supplements you take, including doses
• Questions to ask your doctor

For myocarditis, basic questions to ask your doctor include:

• What's the most likely cause of my symptoms?
• What are other possible causes?
• What tests do I need?
• How is myocarditis treated?
• What side effects can I expect from treatment?
• Are there alternatives to the primary approach you're suggesting?
• I have other health conditions. How can I best manage these conditions together?
• Do I need to restrict my activities?
• Are there brochures or other printed material I can have? What websites do you recommend?

Don't hesitate to ask other questions. Take a family member or friend along to your appointment, if possible, to help you remember the information you'll receive.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, including:

• Have you recently been sick or have you recovered from another illness?
• Have you traveled out of the country recently?
• Does anything seem to improve your symptoms?
• What, if anything, makes your symptoms worse?