Working With Your Doctor

Make a contract with your doctor

One of the productive strategies to help you and your physician manage your hereditary angioedema (HAE) most effectively is to make a contract. To do this, you and your doctor outline a simple list of responsibilities, and also make a commitment to open and consistent communication.

An effective contract is based on:

Respect for and trust in one another
Clear expectations
Open communication
Commitment and compliance

Some simple suggestions for the responsibilities of each party are as follows:

What the physicians should do

Maintain a detailed history of HAE attacks:

Trigger
Location
Frequency
Duration

Be informed and mindful of health conditions.

Know about other family members with HAE.

Have an agreement on pain medication.

Provide a letter of diagnosis to be shown to the hospital ER. Click (here)

What the person with HAE should do

Keep a detailed record of HAE attacks:

Trigger
Location
Frequency
Duration

Tell your physician about any changes in medication or any planned surgeries or dental procedures.

Make healthy lifestyle and food choices.

Be aware of mood changes

Know your prodromal symptoms (early HAE attack warning signs).

Get to a hospital when necessary.Have someone who will watch out for you

Drink plenty of (nonalcoholic and caffeine-free) beverages to replace fluids lost to swelling.

During painful attacks, take pain control medications early.

Notify your doctors, dentists and your child's school personnel using these customizable letters. Click (here)

Working With Your Doctor

Make a contract with your doctor

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