How to Prepare for Your Doctor's Appointment

Doctor visits are short, and it is easy to feel rushed. You might have ten things to ask, but once you are in the office, you forget half of them. Or worse, the doctor uses big words that leave you confused.

Think of AI as a medical secretary who helps you get organized before you leave the house. It cannot give you medical advice or diagnose you, but it is excellent at organizing your thoughts. It helps you turn a jumble of symptoms and worries into a clear, printed list that your doctor will appreciate.

For example, if you have been feeling tired and your knee hurts, you can tell the AI all your symptoms in plain English. Then, ask it to summarize them into a bulleted list for your doctor. It helps you communicate clearly so you get the best care possible.

Here's how: Follow these steps to create a "Doctor Day" cheat sheet.

Open your AI tool.

Type this note: "I have a doctor's appointment next week. I have been having headaches in the morning and my left ankle is swollen. I am also worried about my blood pressure medication side effects. Please write a clear, concise list of questions and symptoms for me to hand to my doctor."

Print or write it down. Take the list the AI generates and put it in your wallet.

During the visit: Hand the list to the doctor or nurse right away.

After the visit: If the doctor used a confusing term (like "hypertension"), type it into the AI later: "Explain hypertension to me like I am 12 years old."

You are the captain of your health, and this tool helps you speak the language. It ensures you don't walk out to the parking lot saying, "Oh, I forgot to ask about my hip!"

Next step: Before your next check-up, spend 5 minutes with ChatGPT to make your question list.