The first appointment is 1 1/4 hours long. This appointment provides the opportunity to get as complete an understanding of your health concerns as possible; what your issues are, how they are affecting you, how they developed over time, what provokes them etc. A physical examination, focusing not only on the area/s of concern but with consideration for general health assessment, will be scheduled to allow Dr. Love to examine and understand your health issues as best as possible. Information from the history and physical examination may provide important insights for naturopathic treatment as well as considerations for further examination or investigation.
You will need to bring results from all recent and pertinent past medical, naturopathic and related health assessments (blood tests, ultrasounds, MRI's, biopsies, food sensitivity tests, etc.) as well as all supplements and pharmaceutical medications, whether self or professionally prescribed. Also bring in copies of any previous health programs you have undertaken. You will need to bring in a 5 day diet diary detailing your food and beverage intake and noting, where appropriate, any particular symptoms experienced on those days. The success of any new program is built upon the knowledge of past successes and failures.
At the end of the appointment, Dr. Love will provide a summary of her impressions and written directions for the next steps in your health journey. These instructions could involve further medical or naturopathic tests and/or referral to other health professionals for assessment or treatment. She may also recommend some preliminary diet and lifestyle changes.