How to Prepare for Your First Integrative Medicine Visit
If you’re scheduled for your first integrative medicine visit, you’re likely curious, and maybe even a bit unsure, about what to expect. Unlike traditional doctor visits that may focus solely on symptoms, integrative medicine looks at the whole person: mind, body, immunological, neurological, and spirit. The goal is to understand your full story and help you achieve better health by combining conventional treatments like IV therapy with evidence-based alternative therapies such as nutrition planning, biofeedback, mind-body practices, supplementation, and lifestyle counseling.
What to Expect during Integrative Medicine Appointment
The initial appointment with us in our integrative medicine practice is typically longer than that of conventional practices. We may spend 60–90 minutes with you to review symptoms and explore your lifestyle, emotional well-being, diet, sleep, exercise, stress, and even purpose or sense of meaning. Beyond this, we will perform a detailed neurological exam, with the potential of additional neurodiagnostic testing and labwork, depending on the nature of your complaint. These visits are more conversational and collaborative. You can expect a deep dive into your medical history and questions that might surprise you, like how you feel emotionally, what your typical meals look like, how you manage stress, and whether you feel supported in your daily life.
The relationship with your provider may also feel different. Integrative medicine practitioners often take a more partnership-based approach. You’ll work together with us to discern the root causes of your concerns, not just manage your symptoms. This can be empowering, as it also encourages you to take an active role in your care.
How to Prepare
To have the best visit, be ready when you come. Bring the following:
- Ahead of time, please fill out all forms in the portal. This helps us walk in with a springboard off which to begin our conversation and allows more time for your appointment.
- A list of your current medications and supplements, including dosages and how often you take them. Include over-the-counter meds, herbs, and vitamins; these are all important in integrative care.
- Recent lab results and imaging from the past year, if you have them. This saves time and can help avoid unnecessary repeat testing. If your labs were done through different providers, try to gather them ahead of time or ask your doctor’s office to help request records.
- Tell us when big health things happened to you, like bad sicknesses, operations, hurts, hospital stays, and sad or hard times in your life. Don’t worry about being perfect; just jot down what stands out.
- Your health goals. Whether you want better sleep, more energy, help with pain, or to manage a chronic condition differently, it’s helpful to be clear on what you hope to change. We aren’t here to help; we are here to help you return to what brings you personally the most joy.
How It’s Different
This kind of visit is less about a quick diagnosis and prescription and more about understanding why you’re feeling the way you are. Integrative medicine blends science with curiosity. Your provider will likely ask, “What’s going on underneath this?” rather than “How do we make the feeling go away?” This often leads to a more thorough and individualized care plan.
Ultimately, integrative medicine is about healing, not just curing; that process starts with telling your story. Come as you are, bring your questions, and expect to feel truly heard.
FAQs about Integrative Medicine
- What will happen on my first visit? We will talk for a longer time than usual about your health, how you live, and how you feel. We could also do a check-up of your nerves and some tests.
- What should I bring with me? Please bring any papers we asked you to fill out, a list of all the medicines and vitamins you take, any recent test results you have, and a simple story of your health problems. Also, think about what health changes you hope for.
- How is this visit different from seeing my regular doctor? This visit will take more time, and we will ask you more questions about your life, not just your sickness. We want to find the main reasons you are not feeling well.
- Will you give me medicine? Not always. We might use regular treatments, but we also look at other ways to help you like food plans, exercises for your mind and body, and vitamins. We want to help all of you.
- Why do people use this kind of medicine? We want to help you improve and feel good overall, not just disappear your sickness. We will work together to find out why you are not well and help you feel more joy in your life.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you like the idea of a health visit where someone listens to your whole story, we’re here for you. At Innovative Health and Wellness Group, we take the time to understand you and work with you to find the best path to better health.
Want to learn more about how our integrative medicine approach can help you? Talk to Innovative Health and Wellness Group today. We will gladly answer what you ask and help you set up your first visit.