You've been having symptoms that have been bothering you, and your doctor has decided to send you to a neurologist to sort them out. Sounds scary! Before you stay up late worrying and wondering, here are a few tips that will make your visit more fruitful.

Before your appointment:

1) Make sure the specialist has in hand all the information she/he will need. If your primary care doctor made the referral, hopefully there will be some office notes about the problem, your medication list, and a summary of your other medical problems. Don't just assume that will happen automatically, though. You are safest signing a request that all pertinent records be sent.

2) If there are any X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans or other tests that have already been done trying to address this problem, do not assume that they will be there waiting for your visit. If they were done at another hospital, your best bet is to go get them and bring them with you. Even if they were done locally, it is best to check whether your specialist has access to the films. Government privacy regulations, meant to protect you, will delay access to the information if this hasn't been worked out ahead of time.

3) The more your specialist knows about your history, the better for you in the long run. If this is the third specialist you have seen, then by all means, request the records from the other specialists ahead of time. If that is not possible, then come prepared with their names and addresses, and the dates you saw them.

4) Know your medications! If all you can say is that you take a little white pill for blood pressure control, you are not helping anybody, most especially yourself. Better yet, keep a list of medications you have taken for your problem, and what your reaction to them was. If Medication A made you sick to your stomach, you don't necessarily want to try it again, but you need to be able to tell the doctor. Likewise if Medication B didn't help, but you only took it for a day, and it takes 2 weeks for the beneficial effects to be felt, then perhaps it would be reasonable to try it again for longer.

At your appointment:

1) If there is paperwork to be filled out, allow enough time to complete it. Scrambling in at the last minute and then finding there is a line at the registration desk will only fray your nerves.

2) Know your history! You have done your homework. You have thought about your symptoms. The better you know what happened when, the better off you will be. Neurologists agree: More than 75 percent of the time, your medical history contains the key to the correct diagnosis. You don't need to diagnose yourself-that is what you are seeing the doctor for. You do need to know when your symptoms started, in what order they occurred, and what symptoms came together.

3) Bring a trusted family member or friend with you, especially if you are anxious or if they have witnessed how you are with the symptoms in question. (During a seizure or blackout spell, for instance, you might have absolutely no recollection of the event.) They also can serve as a second set of ears to hear what the doctor has to say. You don't want to walk out of the office having heard only a fraction (likely anything scary, but little else) of what you are actually told.

4) Don't be afraid to ask questions. Bring a list. Take notes. Make sure you understand the game plan before you leave.

After your appointment:

1) If your doctor has ordered tests, be sure to keep all scheduled appointments and follow the instructions, if any, to properly prepare for the tests.

2) If you are prescribed medications, take them exactly as prescribed. Playing fast and loose with medications is the surest way to get into trouble.

3) If you are not sure, check with the pharmacist about any medication interactions, or how long it might take to see an effect.

4) Lists of possible side effects can be helpful, but in most cases, reviewing the list of potential side effects before taking a drug will give you more nightmares or heartburn than you need. However, if you experience a new symptom and you are concerned it is a side effect, by all means call your doctor.

5) Keep track of your symptoms. Write down the symptoms your doctor has asked you to track. If you are like most people, it is very hard to rely on memory alone. A symptom log is a very valuable tool for you and your doctor. Bring it with you to your next visit.

It sounds like a lot. The specialist you are about to see takes your symptoms very seriously. Sometimes your symptoms do point to a specific diagnosis, which needs to be addressed. Sometimes there is nothing at all to worry about. The tips above can help make your visit the positive experience it can and should be.

Mildred LaFontaine, M.D., is a neurologist based in Concord, N.H., for 18 years. Prior to that she was in private clinical practice in neurology in Philadelphia and was a clinical assistant professor of neurology at the University of Pennsylvania. She received her M.D. from Duke University School of Medicine in 1977 and completed her residency in neurology at the University of Pennsylvania. Her interests in neurology are varied and include stroke, movement disorders, memory loss and Multiple Sclerosis. Dr. LaFontaine believes that listening to the patient is one of the most important skills a physician can have, and that the doctor-patient relationship is a partnership where both the physician and the patient have important contributions to make in the journey toward enhanced health and well-being.