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Questions about stopping, feeling faint or pregnancy do not need to wait until treatment is over. Here is how to bring them into the appointment.

No question is too small

Is it all right to have a needle removed part way through? What if I come over dizzy? Should my cycle or a pregnancy affect the plan? These are reasonable things to wonder about, and the time to raise them is before or during the session, not on the drive home.

Arriving with a short list

Dr Christine Shen, Acupuncturist, practises acupuncture at the Freshwater clinic, a familiar spot for many from Manly and Balgowlah. Bringing a few written questions can help you remember what you wanted to ask once you are settled. It is also useful to mention any changes since your last visit, such as:

• new or stopped medicines;
• a fall, injury or illness;
• pregnancy, or trying to conceive;
• changes in the symptom you came in about.

If pregnancy is relevant, Christine has undertaken further study in pregnancy support and can talk about how that affects the plan, alongside your midwife or GP.

How often, and why?

Rather than accepting a standard timetable, ask how the spacing of visits will be worked out for you. The answer should relate to your situation and your response, and it can change as things progress.

Keeping the plan personal

Name the problem, then name what a good week would look like. That might be less discomfort when lifting your child, a better grasp of what is happening, or a sense of when a GP check would be wise. Christine can describe how she will gauge your response and what would make her suggest a different course.

Speaking up is part of good care

Asking questions is not a sign of doubt; it helps the session work around you. Pop your list in your phone notes and open it when you arrive at the Freshwater clinic, so nothing important gets lost in the moment.