Long COVID: How Do You Prepare for a Doctor's Appointment?

What is long COVID, and how do I know I have it?

Long COVID is a very new condition, so its definition is still — more or less — “under construction.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines long COVID as ongoing health problems people can experience weeks to months after COVID-19 infection. It affects about 1 in 3 people who are infected with the virus that causes COVID. Common symptoms include:

Long COVID can happen even in people who had asymptomatic or mild cases of COVID-19. In most cases, the lingering symptoms of long COVID follow on immediately from the initial infection. But this isn’t always the case. In about 40% of people, symptoms start between 3 and 6 months later. 

It can be hard to figure out if you’re suffering from post-COVID symptoms — or something else. That is why it’s best to touch base with your healthcare team about any new or old health issues that you might be experiencing.

Finding care for long COVID

Your first stop for your long COVID care — like with most medical concerns — should be with your primary care physician (PCP). Your PCP will interview and examine you, and they’ll figure out if you need testing, such as blood tests or imaging studies. Depending on your symptoms, they may also refer you to one or more specialists, including a:

• Lung specialist (pulmonologist)

• Heart specialist (cardiologist)

• Brain specialist (neurologist)

• Autoimmune specialist (rheumatologist)

• Rehabilitation and pain specialist 

8 ways to prepare for your doctor’s visit

1) Gather your past medical records. This includes documentation from your previous doctor’s visits, emergency room visits, and hospitalizations. Most of the time, you can do this by gathering your records through your patient portals, or making a records request at the facilities where you were treated

2) Make a list of your symptoms. Also note when your symptoms started. It’s best to organize your symptoms in chronological order (by date) so that your physician will get a sense of your “medical story,” which they will include in your documentation.

3) Prioritize your symptoms. Try to narrow down the top three symptoms that are causing you the most difficulty. These “top three” should be the symptoms that are preventing you from being able to do your work, physical activity, or other things you enjoy. Narrowing down your list of symptoms will help both you and your doctor focus the visit.

4) Write down a list of questions about your condition. You may have quite a few questions about your condition, so it’s a good idea to prioritize these as well. Put your most pressing questions at the top of your list.

5) Find an advocate. It helps to have an advocate who can come with you to the office visit or will be available to listen in on the phone. This can be a family member, friend, or anyone who you are comfortable with knowing details about your medical history.

6) Ask if you can fill out paperwork ahead of time. Most physicians will need new patients to fill out paperwork before the visit. This can include information about your insurance, office policies, and your personal medical history and symptoms. Having the paperwork filled out beforehand means one less thing to worry about when you arrive at the appointment. 

7) Plan the trip to the doctor’s office. Double check the date and time of the appointment, address of the office, and figure out how you’re going to travel there — and where you’re going to park. 

8) Leave early for your appointment. There may be traffic, problems with public transportation, or you could get lost. Extra stress caused by rushing to an appointment can lead to falsely high blood pressures.

During your visit

Bring your advocate! In addition to offering moral support, an advocate may be able to fill in gaps about your illness that you can’t remember, remind you of questions that you wanted to ask during your visit, or help you remember the details of your visit. If your advocate can’t make it with you in person, see if you can have them with you on the phone during the appointment. 

Take notes. This is especially important if you’re having memory issues — so you don’t forget what’s discussed in the appointment. Making an audio or video recording is also a possibility, but make sure you have received an “OK” from your doctor before doing it! Remember: Recording people without consent is against the law in some states. 

Tell your story. In addition to your medical history, your physician will be interested in knowing:

• When your medical issues started

• What your first symptoms were, and how they progressed

• What makes your symptoms better or worse

• What medical care and treatments you have tried for your symptoms

• What medical issues you have had in the past, if any

• If you have any family history of medical problems

Remember to discuss physical activity. Many people who suffer from long COVID notice that they relapse soon after performing physical or mental activity. Remember to report how much you can exert yourself before you notice a “crash,” so you and your doctor can decide if you are a candidate for a physical or cognitive rehabilitation program. 

Be prepared to become a member of a “team” with your physician. The best doctor- patient relationships happen when everyone involved feels heard and respected. Your doctor wants to take care of you just as much as you want to feel better.

Remember that this is a new condition. Your physician may not have a cure or all of the answers to your questions until more information becomes available about long COVID. This is just as frustrating for most physicians as it is for you. 

Understand the plan. This includes prescribed medications, ordered tests, and when your physician would like to see you back for a follow-up appointment.

Ask about side effects if you are prescribed any new medications. Also ask how long you should tolerate these side effects before calling your doctor for instructions. Remember, you should never stop a medication suddenly before checking with your doctor first!

After the doctor’s visit

Make appointments. You’ll need to make appointments to schedule your testing and a follow-up visit with your doctor.

Review your notes and/or recordings. This will help to refresh your memory about the details of your appointment. It’s very likely that you’ll have some more questions for your doctor after you have some time to review your notes, which you can jot down and bring to your next visit.

Talk to your advocates/caretakers about the appointment. Even if they weren’t there to listen to the conversation with your doctor, just talking to them may help you recall some of the details of your visit. 

Beware of “Dr. Google.” Only use reputable websites and resources to research your conditions and tests — such as GoodRx Health!

Reach out for support. Many people with long COVID have had similar experiences — look into one of the many support networks that can help connect you with other people with long COVID and link you with more resources.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Alice Perlowski, MD, MA, FACC

Dr. Alice Perlowski is a board-certified cardiologist and fellow of the American College of Cardiology. She has seen patients and supervised trainees in the academic and private sector, with focuses in interventional cardiology, vascular medicine, preventative cardiology, and women’s heart health.

Edited by:

Sophie Vergnaud, MD

Sophie Vergnaud, MD, is the Senior Medical Director for GoodRx Health. A pulmonologist and hospitalist, she practiced and taught clinical medicine at hospitals in London for a decade before entering a career in health education and technology.

Our editorial standards

Meet our experts