Select Region: North America \| Germany \| Japan

Email:
Password:

Forgot Password?


	We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.

Make a Contract With Your Doctor

One of the productive strategies to help you and your physician manage your HAE most effectively is to make a contract. That means, you and your doctor outline a simple list of responsibilities, and make a commitment to open and consistent communication.

An effective contract is based on:

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

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

What The Physician Should Do

What The Person With HAE Should Do

Maintain a detailed history of HAE attacks:

Prodromal symptoms
Types
Duration
Severity
Signs
Treatments

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 hospital E.R.

Maintain any prophylactic medication.

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 (warning attack signs).

Get to a hospital and stay there until you're better.

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.

Document Published: 12/21/2006 3:44 PM
Last Updated: 11/30/2009 2:33 PM