1. HOW TO TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR

2. GETTING STARTED Building a good relationship with your primary care physician-or any doctor who may be giving you care-is a critical component in making sure that you get the care you need and the care that you want. To do so, you're going to want to communicate effectively with your doctor and that includes asking the right questions and maximizing the time you have with your doctor. Remember, doctors are busy people, but the time you've reserved is your time and you should use it wisely. Here are a few tips on how to establish a great back-and-forth with your doctor. 1. Bring a Buddy- A close family or friend. Someone who knows you, you trust with your health information, may be more health literate and or can help you remember and ask the right questions. 2. Speak frankly Not only should your doctor know what symptoms are bothering you, but "patients should also be as honest as possible about what they think may be causing the problem," Beckman said. If you fear your headaches indicate a brain tumor or an impending aneurysm, sharing those concerns could help. If the things you fear are outside the realm of possibility, the doctor can tell you so and save you a lot of stress; if not, voicing your gut instincts may lead to tests the doctor otherwise might not have ordered, and even a lifesaving early diagnosis. 3. Ask for things you want from the doctor- information, lab results, routine tests

3. WAYS TO FRAME YOUR HEALTH CONCERNS Prepare an agenda. Deciding ahead of time which things you most need to discuss can make the most of your limited time. Almost half of our readers brought a written list of questions and concerns to their doctor visits. Prioritize the three or four issues you most want to talk about, and bring those up first. If you don't have time to get through the whole list, ask whether you can follow up with e-mail. A survey by the Center for Studying Health System Change found that 24 percent of U.S. doctors now exchange e- mail with patients. Many doctors now offer an online portal to allow you to your visit reports, lab results and connect with them by email, among other services. Below is a list of questions you can ask to help make the most of the short amount of time you may have with your doctor. "Your doctor should be receptive to the right kinds of questions," says Beth Nash, M.D., who evaluates best treatments for the BMJ Group, publisher of the British Medical Journal. "If not, then you should think about finding a different doctor."

4. Tests Why is this test necessary? What will it tell us that we don't already know? Will the results significantly alter any treatment plans? When will the results be ready? Should I call you for them, or will you call me? Your ailment What is my exact diagnosis? What's the cause of my problem? How long will I be sick? How long before I'll see improvement? Under what conditions should I call you or come back? (Don't feel better in a week? Coughing doesn't stop? Pain becomes worse or spreads?) Treatments What treatments are used for my condition? Which is best for me, and why? What does the research show about this treatment? Is there any research on the horizon about treatments for my condition? What can I expect from this treatment, based on your experience? What are the side effects of this medication? Will it interact with alcohol, caffeine, or other drugs or supplements I take? Are there any alternative treatments appropriate for me to try, either before or along with conventional treatment? Lifestyle changes How will these changes help my disorder? How soon should I expect to see an effect? How drastic do the changes have to be to produce real results? Do you have any tips that would make these changes easier?

5. 10 dumb things you do at the doc's office 1. You talk on your cell phone. This is your health we're talking about. Other calls can wait. Turn the thing off. 2. You lie. " I need to treat you the best way I can, so if you're gay, tell me. If you drink a bottle of tequila every night, I need to know. If you're having an affair and not using condoms, let me know," says Rankin, who blogs at "Owning Pink." "I promise I won't judge you." 3. You do a sloppy job describing your pain. Is it stabbing or burning? Sudden or constant? Tingling or hot? The answers will help your doctor make the right diagnosis. " You should describe the exact location, how intense the pain was, what provoked it and how long it lasted," says Dr. Nieca Goldberg, director of the New York University Women's Heart Program. The week before your appointment, keep a diary of your pain and your other symptoms, too, advises Dr. Loren Fishman, a clinical professor of rehabilitative medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He suggests using this time to also think about the questions you want to ask your doctor and what you hope to get out of your appointment.

6. 4. You don't state up front all the reasons for your visit. 5. You don't state up front your expectations for your visit. 6. You don't know what medications you're taking. 7. You leave with unspoken questions and concerns 8. You don't bring your medical records or images with you 9. You're too scared to disagree with your doctor. 10. You don't comply with the treatment plan.