First Office Visit Expectations

PATIENT EXPECTATIONS OF FIRST OFFICE VISIT

Please complete the “new patient packet” prior to coming for your first appointment, and bring it with you. If you did not receive this information in the mail, it is available on our website. Also please complete the bladder diary. Filling out the papers and documenting your patterns of urination may take some time and be a little inconvenient, but the information you provide is extremely valuable to your physician in the initial evaluation of your problem. The information also helps us get to know you, your medical history, and previous treatment you have had for this problem.

There is a lot to accomplish during this first appointment. In order to see you in a timely fashion, we ask that our patients arrive on time. If you find that you are unavoidably delayed and will be more than 15 minutes late, please call and reschedule the appointment.

During the first visit, our staff will ask you several questions about your symptoms and medical history. Your bladder diary will help suggest the type of incontinence you are experiencing. Your responses to the new patient questionnaire will help define the problem. To determine how well your bladder holds and empties urine, you will be asked to urinate in a urine hat, and then a small catheter will be placed in your bladder to determine how much urine remains in your bladder. More specialized tests may be indicated as part of the evaluation, but your doctor will explain these to you, and they will be done at a follow up visit. During the pelvic exam, the doctor will take some measurements of the strength of your pelvic floor muscles and your general sensations in that area of your body, and the location and extend of any pelvic organ prolapse. You will be asked to cough or bear down. Sometimes a woman will lose a little urine or pass gas. Do not be dismayed – this actually helps with the diagnosis of your problem. A rectal exam will also be done, and you may be asked to stand and cough or bear down to see what happens to any pelvic organ prolapse you may have. Your doctor will explain everything being done, but feel free to ask what is happening during the exam.

The doctor will then explain the findings. If further testing is required, the physician will explain the tests and the reasons for them. Our staff will assist you in arranging for these tests during check out. If a diagnosis can be made, the diagnosis will be explained fully and treatment options suggested, based on what you have identified as your major concern. You and your physician will decide on the treatment option that best meets your needs. Make sure you understand the treatment choice. We have found that the more informed a woman is about expected outcomes – when will I see improvement, how much improvement should I expect, what are the side effects/problems associated with this treatment – the more satisfied she is with the results. Several handouts are available that address frequently asked questions. Feel free to ask about them, or locate them on our website.

A cure for your symptoms is rare with just one appointment. Plan to stop by the front desk to make your follow up appointment. Should you have questions in the meantime, please contact our staff.

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