Summarise What You Need to Tell Your GP Before the Appointment

You remember three of the four things you needed to say. The fourth one comes to you on the bus home. GP appointments are short and the time goes fast once the doctor is typing. This helps you summarise what you need to communicate in a form you can actually refer to in the room: the main concern, what else is happening, the relevant history, the medication, and the one question you need answered before you leave.

I have a GP appointment coming up and I want to use the time well. Help me prepare what to tell the doctor by working through the following: what is the main symptom or concern I need to describe and how long it has been happening, any other symptoms that may or may not be related, any previous relevant medical history the GP should know, any medications I am currently taking, and the one question I most need answered before I leave. Keep the preparation to what will fit in a three to five minute conversation. Format it as a short brief I can refer to in the appointment room.

My main concern: [describe it]
Other symptoms: [list any]
Relevant history: [mention anything relevant]
Current medications: [list them]
My main question: [what I most need to know]