get ready for your next visit

spend 10 minutes here first
and go in prepared.

learn what to ask and what to say

✳︎

learn what to ask and what to say ✳︎

The same way most of us were never taught how to file our taxes, we were never taught how to navigate the healthcare system.

No one taught us what questions to ask.
How to explain our symptoms.
What information to bring.
Or how to advocate for ourselves when something doesn't feel right.

Think of this page as your pre-appointment checklist.
In just 10 minutes, we'll help you organize your thoughts,
remember the important details, and walk into your appointment with a plan.

Let's get you ready.

Step 1: Know What You Want to Accomplish

What are you hoping to walk out with today?

Ask yourself:

  • What's the biggest reason I'm here?

  • If I leave with only one thing accomplished, what would it be?

  • What questions do I absolutely want answered?

  • Is there anything I'm nervous to bring up?

  • Are there any labs, imaging, referrals, or medications I want to ask about?

  • If we don't figure everything out today, what's the plan for follow-up?

Write down your top three priorities. Don't rely on your memory. Keep the list on your phone or bring it with you so you can come back to it if the conversation goes in a different direction or you start running out of time.

Step 2: Get Organized

The more clearly you can tell your story, the easier it is for your clinician to understand what's going on.

Think through:

  • When did this start?

  • Is it getting better, worse, or staying the same?

  • How often does it happen?

  • What makes it better or worse?

  • How is it affecting your daily life?

Bring with you:

  • A medication list (including supplements)

  • Allergies

  • Medical conditions and surgeries

  • Family history

  • A symptom journal

  • Photos of symptoms that come and go

  • Previous labs or imaging if you're seeing a new provider

Track Your Symptoms
Keeping a simple record can help identify patterns that are hard to remember during an appointment.

Consider tracking:

  • When did it happen?

  • How long did it last?

  • How severe was it? (1–10)

  • What were you doing when it started?

  • Did anything make it better or worse?

  • Did anything else happen at the same time? (bleeding, nausea, fever, headache, etc.)

  • Where are you in your menstrual cycle? (if applicable)

Download a symptom tracker here

Use AI to prepare—not to diagnose.
AI can be a great tool for organizing your thoughts before an appointment, but it shouldn't replace a medical evaluation. Studies have found that AI can still miss diagnoses or suggest incorrect ones, especially when it doesn't have your full medical history or the ability to examine you. Instead of asking, "What's wrong with me?" try asking, "Can you help me organize my symptoms?" "What questions should I ask my clinician?" or "Can you help me summarize my concerns?" The goal isn't to walk in convinced you have a diagnosis—it's to walk in prepared to have a better conversation with your healthcare team.

A few minutes of preparation can completely change the conversation you have in the exam room.