44 Crucial Medical Notes To Keep With You

In my previous post , I mentioned the importance of having key information available when you need it. You’ve got a few options you can use to get all of this information together.

• Situational – Why do you use this information? Where? How often do you use it? How often does it need to be updated? The answers to these questions will help you prioritize your gathering and documentation.

• Down the rabbit hole – Pick a certain slice of information and get every possible detail. Dig up any possible resource. Go online, in your computer files, into the piles of paper, anywhere. Leave no stone unturned. Then move onto the next one.

I’m going to take a situational approach. Sure, there’s more information you’ll need to add at some point. But this list will help you prepare for your next medical visit. In future posts, I’ll add more information to gather so you can them take the rabbit hole approach if you wish. I’ll also post about different ways you can track the information so you can figure out a system that will work for you.

Let’s start by looking at the information you’ll need to access quickly whether you’re home or away.

Doctor Information

You need to have basic information on your doctors so that you can set up appointments, contact them, fill out forms…you get the idea.

1. Name of each doctor
2. Doctor’s specialty  – Include your primary care physician and any specialists you see. Don’t forget your dentist and eye doctor.
3. Doctor’s address – You’ll need it to complete forms. You need to know where to go! And if you’re directionally challenged like I am, you need to have it available to put into your GPS.
4. Doctor’s phone number – Include after-hours and emergency numbers if applicable.
5. Doctor’s website – Your doctor may allow you to schedule appointments, request refills, access records, etc.
6. Name of each pharmacy – You may use specialty and mail order pharmacies in addition to your main pharmacy.

Pharmacy Information

If you take prescription medication, you need to know where to get it, what information you need to provide when you order it, and how to get refills.

1. Pharmacy address
2. Pharmacy phone number
3. Pharmacy website – Some pharmacies allow you to request refills online.

Prescription Information

You need to know what, when, and how often you’re taking each medicines. You’ll be asked for this information whenever you have a doctor’s appointment. You’ll also need to order refills and request new prescriptions. Having a complete list also helps your doctors identify any adverse medicine or food interactions when prescribing new medicines.

1. Name of each medication (brand name and generic) – A nurse may recognize one more easily than the other. With the computerized medical systems, it might be easier to find the generic than the brand name (or vice versa).
2. The pharmacy filling it – If you’re using more than one pharmacy, you need to identify which one fills each prescription for you
3. Prescription ID number – You’ll need the number to request refills
4. Refill quantity – How much medicine do you get when you request a refill? For some medicines, you can request a 90 day supply, while others are renewable for a shorter time period.
5. Why you’re taking it – Some drugs have multiple uses, and you’ll need to explain why you’re taking it. Less frequently prescribed and specialty drugs may also not be obvious.
6. Dosage – You’ll need to know your current dosage. Has your dosage changed since you started taking the medicine? If so, you’ll want to note how much the previous dosage was and when the dosage changed.
7. Frequency and time – Do you take it daily? More than once a day? Do you take it at bedtime, or with meals? Don’t forget to include the medicines you take as needed (like allergy medicines).
8. Medicine on hand – You need to know how many refills you have available so you know when you need to contact the doctor to request a new prescription. You may want to keep up with the remaining doses you have on hand or a date when you’ll need to request a refill.

Non-Prescription Medicines and Supplements

It’s important for your medical team to know everything you’re taking. They can interact with prescriptions. They can also be dangerous when taking in the wrong dosages.

1. Supplement name – If you take a brand name multivitamin, then you can just provide the name. For other supplements, know what the contents (and quantities of each) are in case you get asked for details.
2. Over-the-counter (OTC) medicine names – Know both the generic and brand name and how often you take them. That way, your medical team can help protect you from bad interactions or overuse. Did you know that certain over-the-counter medicines interact badly with prescription medicines? For example, people who take blood thinners can use acetaminophen (Tylenol) but not ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve).
3. Why you take them – You can’t always believe what you read or hear. You may be taking something that’s useless or even dangerous. Your medical team can confirm that it’s worth taking or offer ideas that could better meet your needs.

Allergies, Sensitivities, & Other Warnings (Oh, my!)

Allergies can be fatal. Some people can have conditions that aren’t medically classified as allergies, but are sensitivities that can still cause horrible reactions.

My older son tested negative for all food allergies. Some people are allergic to all tree nuts. My son can eat some tree nuts, but he’ll get sick if he eats even a small bit of walnut or pecan. Doctors haven’t been able to figure out why just a few nuts cause a reaction, but he’s been prescribed an Epi-Pen because of how quickly he gets ill.

1. What’s your allergy/sensitivity? Get specific about what causes a reaction.
2. How do you react?  You could have breathing problems, rashes, nausea, etc.
3. How serious is your reaction? Could you die without immediate care? Do you need an Epi-Pen, insulin, or some other medical intervention?
4. Do you have to eat something, or is your reaction triggered by getting close?  Can your reaction be triggered by smell? Some peanut allergies are severe enough that just smelling peanuts can cause a reaction. Is cross-contamination a trigger? My brother-in-law is allergic to shellfish, but his allergy can be triggered if something is cooked on the same surface as shellfish. For example, he can’t eat a steak if it’s grilled where shrimp has been grilled. 

Vaccinations and Tests

Quick – when was your last tetanus shot? Are you up to date on all of y   our tests? Where and when was your last colonoscopy? Your doctors could ask for this information when you’re in an emergency situation or have a routine appointment. Your medical team will be able to provide you better care if you can quickly provide answers to their questions.

This isn’t a comprehensive list. It’s a starting point for you to talk about your medical team and find out what care you need – and when.

1. Tetanus – Recommended every 7-10 years. If you get hurt, your medical team will want to know if you’re up to date or whether you need a booster.
2. Flu shot – Recommended annually. Sure, they’re not 100% successful at warding off the flu. But if you’re heat sensitive, it’s worth doing anything possible to avoid getting a high fever.
3. Pneumonia – Recommended for adults over 65 or younger people with certain chronic illness. Check with your doctor to see whether you should get vaccinated.
4. Colonoscopy – Colon cancer is treatable if found early, before the cancer has a chance to spread to other parts of the body. According to the American Cancer Society, the 5 year survival rate for Stage I cancer is 92%, but only 11% if the cancer has spread. People without a family history of colon cancer typically get their first test done at 50, with follow-ups every 10 years. Those of us with a family history typically get our first test done at 40. You will have to follow a special diet the day before. And don’t worry about pain, because you’ll be sedated.
5. Mammogram – The American Cancer Society recommends that women without a family history of breast cancer should have their first mammogram done at age 40 and then annually after that. Women with a family history will most likely have their first mammograms done earlier. I know women who wouldn’t get a mammogram because it hurts, but don’t buy into that thinking. The test only lasts for a few minutes. And claustrophobes have nothing to worry about, since the machine is in an open space and doesn’t confine your head.

Family History

As I mentioned before, some testing and monitoring is based on your family history. Relatives you’ll need to know about typically include your biological siblings, parents, and grandparents. Here are some of the questions you may need to answer:

1. Survival info  – Are your parents still alive? If so, how old are they? If not, how old were they when they died? 
2. Cancer – Have any of those relatives have cancer? What kind of cancer? How old were they when diagnosed? Did they survive their bout of cancer?
3. Diabetes – Identify Type 1 or Type 2. Your OB may want to know if your female relatives had gestational diabetes.
4. Heart disease – Any heart attacks? Other types of heart disease? (such as arrhythmia)
5. High blood pressure?
6. High cholesterol?

Personal History

There are a few additional pieces of your own history you need to keep on had. These can show up in that pile of paperwork they hand you before an appointment.

1. Blood type
2. Chronic illness info – diagnosis date, symptoms, treatment history
3. Hospitalizations
4. Surgeries
5. Emergency room visits since previous appointment
6. Pregnancies and outcomes – live births, stillbirths, miscarriages, abortions
7. International travel – Travel to certain countries could expose you to diseases, so mention the trips to your medical team.
8. Health changes since last visit – Let your doctor know about new/more severe symptoms and major illnesses you’ve had.
9. Questions – Bring a written list of questions so that you remember to ask everything.

Having this information available will mean you’re ready for everything from emergencies to checkups to the infinite forms you’re asked to complete. This is NOT a comprehensive list, but it’s a good start.

Did I leave any information out that you’ve needed when on the go? Share in the comments.