How to Talk to Your Doctor About Hard-to-Explain Symptoms
Healthy’s Summary
You’re not making it up. When something feels off in your body—but you can’t quite describe it—it can be tough to speak up at the doctor’s office. But knowing how to explain symptoms to a doctor can make all the difference in getting the help you need.
Whether it’s strange fatigue, shifting pain, or a vague sense that something isn’t right, your experience matters. And no, you don’t need to have all the answers. You just need a way to talk about what’s going on.
This guide will help you organize your thoughts, speak clearly, and feel more confident during your next appointment.
Why it’s hard to explain symptoms to your doctor
Let’s be honest: sometimes the hardest symptoms to talk about are the ones that don’t come with a clear cause—or even a clear description. How to explain symptoms to your doctor isn’t always as easy as telling them what hurts. You may not remember things that you felt or experienced months, weeks, or even days before your appointment. You may have some anxiety or apprehension about being in a doctor’s office in the first place. Some of us even get concerned about “wasting our doctor’s time” with something we notice but doesn’t seem like that big of a deal. And in the worst case scenarios, many of us have a history of having our questions and concerns dismissed as being “all in our heads.”
But here’s the truth: most doctors want to help. They just need good information to work with.
How to explain symptoms to your doctor clearly
Clarity beats perfection. You don’t need medical language—you need observations. Here’s how to get ready:
- Track your symptoms: Note when they started, how often they happen, and what makes them better or worse.
- Use comparisons: Describe how the symptom feels in real-world terms. (“Like a tight band around my chest,” “like I ran a marathon even when I didn’t move.”)
- Mention patterns: Does it follow your cycle? What happens at a certain time of day? Get worse after eating or not sleeping?
- Be honest about how it affects your life: “It’s making it hard to work.” “I’ve stopped exercising.” That helps your doctor gauge severity.
- Take notes whenever you’re feeling or experience something and keep a log you can bring to your appointment.
Ask Healthy
What to say when you feel dismissed
If you’ve ever left an appointment feeling brushed off, you’re not alone. It’s frustrating. Here’s what might help next time:
- Say clearly, “I don’t feel heard,” or “I’m worried this is being minimized.”
- Ask, “Can you help me understand what we’re ruling out?”
- Bring a friend or family member to advocate with you.
- If needed, seek a second opinion. Trust and respect are part of quality care.
Ask Healthy about your experiences, symptoms, and feelings. Always listening, never judging, Healthy is here for you to explore the health and wellness issues that are most important to you. Take Healthy with you on iPhone or Android!
A Final Thought
Figuring out how to explain symptoms to your doctor isn’t about getting it perfect—it’s about being your own best advocate. You don’t have to know what’s wrong to know something is wrong.
Your voice matters. When you speak up—clearly and confidently—you give your care team the best chance to help you. And you deserve to be heard.
Want to dig deeper?
You’re Not Crazy! Find Answers to What’s Causing Your Symptoms
Struggling to connect the dots between your symptoms and potential causes? This program empowers you to track symptoms, diet, and mood, uncovering patterns and triggers for hard-to-diagnose conditions like gut health, IBS, migraines, autoimmune diseases, and chronic fatigue. Gain clarity and create doctor-ready reports with tools designed to support your self-advocacy and health journey.
Enroll in one of Healthy’s Programs to log, track and learn more about your Health, one conversation at a time.
Learn More
