A challenging doctor's appointment

This past Wednesday, I went to the doctor for swelling in my right knee which ended up being bursitis. This is a medical practice that I’ve been a patient at for over ten years. Although, I can’t always see my primary care doctor, I’m just as comfortable seeing another doctor or physician assistant.

Last week, I was very aware of my cognition being a little more challenging for me but I thought that this week was going pretty well. Everything was fine at this appointment, except when the doctor was examining my knee. She kept having me bend it a certain way, then she would check for pain etc. I was very aware that she had to keep repeating things to me. I’m guessing that my lack of comprehension was the reason that she had to ask me the same question several times. As I was sitting on the examining table, she also asked me to just let the leg fall very limp. This is probably an easy task for most people. However, on this day, it was very difficult for me to do this. I know that she had to ask me several times and I think that I just looked at my leg and then looked at her.

Eventually, I was able to do what she asked me to do. She also asked me to bend my leg and relax it, but this was also challenging for me to do. I’m not sure how to avoid this from happening at a future appointment. I don’t even know if this doctor knows that I have a memory impairment. I believe that information is in my chart and I know that my primary care doctor's office knows. I’m wondering if I should contact this office and make sure that whoever I see is aware of my memory impairment. I think that I need them to make sure that I truly understand what they are saying. I might not remember to ask them to write things down for me, but that is what is needed to help me.

I live alone and I go to all of my appointments by myself. I think that I just need to let my doctor's office know how they can help me.