I think that it helps to have someone with you especially if it is something complex that requires asking certain questions or remembering to mention symptoms. When my wife broke her leg and we went through a three year odyssey of infection and non union fractures, external fixators and 25 operations, i went with her every visit to 7 orthopedic surgeons and kept track of what she wanted asked or addressed. Being the patient you get caught up in what the doctor is saying or asking or doing at the time and often forget what you needed to ask or forget what he told you five minutes before. In this case credibility wasnt an issue since it was obviously broken, so at the doctors visits they did address her concerns. In the hospital after operations, pain control became an issue several times and the residents tone would change after i showed up to discuss it with them.

I can hold my own for myself but sometimes i wished that someone was with me when dealing with certain doctors.