Swelling

Preparing For Your Appointment

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.

You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions:

• What are your main symptoms?
• How long have you had your symptoms?
• What do you think is causing the swelling?
• What specific body area is swollen?
• Did the swelling begin suddenly, or did it develop gradually?
• Is the swelling always present? Is it worse in the morning or the evening?
• Have you had this problem before? If so, do you know what caused the problem at that time? How was it treated?
• What activities make your symptoms better or worse?
  • Do you think that activities related to your job or hobbies caused your symptoms?
  • Do you do sports activities?
• Have you recently moved from a different climate, such as from a colder climate to one with more heat or humidity?
• What home treatment measures have you tried? Did they help?
• What prescription and nonprescription medicines do you take?
• Do you have any health risks?

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: October 3, 2008
Medical Review:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
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