Sharing this because it took me an embarrassingly long time to work out.
Do it before the appointment, not during it.
One change at a time, otherwise you learn nothing about which one worked.
Took me years to work this out.
Fifteen years of this and the function column is the only one that changed anything for me. Also, one page of history, printed, handed over at the start. It changes the appointment.
Careful with attribution. You changed the timing, the dose and the season. That is three variables.
Ask for the longer appointment slot. Ten minutes is not enough for a complex history and pretending otherwise wastes both your time.
You are not imagining it and you are not being difficult. Document it and take the document in.
Ten percent cuts. Slower is faster.
Sorry for the basic question, but how do you actually start one of these diaries?