Medical care has taken on a different approach during the COVID-19 pandemic. In-person appointments are limited, and treating health conditions may-be a little more complicated than just going to the office. If you find yourself developing new symptoms, there are plenty of options on the table for what you can do next.
However, to assure better care, some of the work will have to fall into your hands when it comes to getting you back to the best overall health you can imagine.
Symptom Checkers
The truth is that medical science is rapidly expanding daily in its findings. In fact, it’s estimated that the world’s medical knowledge doubles every 73 days, with over one million research reports, presentations, and clinical trial results coming forward annually. This ever-expanding plethora of research could pave the way for different health decisions, and getting insights that even your care team may not be aware of.
Symptom checking websites may be a valuable source to link your present ailment to something you aren’t aware of. However, some websites can take a simple symptom and turn it into a serious medical condition without any real context. Other sites will rely on social media posts of just one person’s particular struggling with an illness or a new treatment option.
You may want to look into how to get a second opinion with MediFind. MediFind uses trained algorithms to get through all of that information that could help you find new treatments or summaries quicker than ever thought possible. From there, MediFind takes that potential new research and processes it once more with the help of medical experts to simplify the terminology. This way, you don’t need to be a member of the medical community to understand what you’re reading.
The value of a second opinion is priceless, and having this research and information in your hands, can only boost your chances of optimal health outcomes.
Documenting Your Symptoms
Beyond the use of symptom checkers, make sure that while you are searching new viewpoints for the best treatment path to keep detailed records of what you are experiencing. It is recommended that you journal any new symptoms you experience, as well as the frequency at which they are happening.
If a primary care physician has directed you to a specialist, be sure to keep a record of that visit. If you have been asked to undergo testing of any sort by a physician within your care team, make sure to have a copy of the results for your personal files.
As you try to figure your way out around a specific medical condition, it is best to also take photographs of any symptoms that are visible to the human eye, like a rash or discoloration. You can track these photos by using a cloud saver that allows you to share those photos via phone or laptop for easy access to share with your doctors to help you in making the best choices for your health.
Reaching Out to Your Doctor
Between the current COVID-19 protocols regarding medical visits and certain financial limitations of constant doctor visits, you may be delaying reaching out to your physician about a care plan. However, addressing these symptoms is a crucial step, and you should reach out to your doctor with any questions for objective data about your condition.
Be sure to rely on the documentation you have on hand, as well as any of the latest advances in medical research that you may have found through presentations and clinical trials. This can help your doctor learn of different insights that they may not have been aware of. It could help them get a leg up in zeroing in on a specific condition or recent study that could end up being the answer to your medical worries.