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Questions about stopping, fainting or pregnancy belong before needles go in, not afterwards. This guide shows how to prepare a short list for your appointment.

Questions that cannot wait

May I call a halt halfway? Who helps if dizziness sets in? Do periods or pregnancy alter the approach? Questions like these affect comfort and consent, so saving them for the walk back to the car makes little sense. Raising them early makes the whole appointment easier.

Preparing a short list

Ahead of seeing Dr Christine Shen, Acupuncturist, scribble three or four questions, plus anything new since the previous visit: a fresh prescription, a bout of flu, a tumble or a positive pregnancy test. Bringing the list on paper or on your phone saves trying to remember everything in the moment.

Questions readers commonly find useful include:

• How will treatment frequency be decided for me?
• Which feelings are routine, and which deserve an instant mention?
• Who should I contact if I feel woozy or off-colour later that day?
• How will we know whether to continue, adjust or stop?

No fixed schedule fits everyone

Some clinics advertise set courses of treatment. It is more sensible to ask how often sessions would suit your situation, given your assessment and response, than to assume a standard timetable applies.

Making goals personal

Separate what you want help with from the result you hope to see. Easier sleep after a long shift, a better sense of what is behind a recurring ache, or recognising when another assessment is needed can each be worthwhile aims. Christine can explain how acupuncture will be reviewed against yours.

A test when comparing practitioners

How a practitioner responds to questions is revealing. Clear, patient answers before the first needle suggest that communication will continue throughout. At the Lane Cove clinic, questions are welcomed at the start of every visit, which makes it easier to approach each session knowing the plan, the expected sensations and the follow-up advice. Even a simple question can reshape a session for the better.