How should I talk to my doctor about my heart failure symptoms?

Your doctor and health care team are experts at what they do. This does not mean you should feel intimidated or embarrassed to ask questions, but rather, feel more confident in asking your questions in knowing you will receive a thoughtful and pertinent response. If I want to remember something important, I write it down; this is a good practice to get into when you know you have a visit coming up.

Your doctor and health care team will also want to see a log of your daily weights and blood pressures; this is so very helpful! Be sure and take a list of your medications or even bring them in a bag; be sure to write down if there is a change in your medication dosing or if you're asked to stop taking one medication and start taking a different kind!

Lastly, with your approval, you can have another person accompany you on your visit. Sometimes, especially when we're nervous or we're hearing new information, we only truly "hear" half of what is told to us. Another person can serve as a second pair of ears; this person could also be of great support to you down the road, as valuable information has been shared that can be reinforced after the visit.