"Help! My doctor doesn't listen to me!"

If your ailments have ever been dismissed as typical 'female bothers,' a product of your weight or part of getting older, here's how to get the medical care you deserve

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Feel prepared

Create your ‘pitch’

Doctors interrupt patients 11 seconds into their appointment on average—that’s why it’s so helpful to have a brief “elevator pitch.” “List your symptoms: when they occur and what makes them worse or better,” says expert Helene M. Epstein. “If you’re having chest pain, for example, you might say, ‘It tends to get worse when I exercise,’ or ‘It wakes me up at night.’ Try to cover the key facts in under 3 minutes.” Being clear and concise will empower you and help you enter a partnership with your doctor.

Bring a trusted friend

“Take someone with you to jot notes,” urges expert Tammy Porter, explaining that the mere presence of a “buddy” makes medical staff more focused. “As a nurse, I know when I see two people, it gets my attention, because there’s an ‘audience.’”

Outsmart gaslighting