Guest guest Posted August 2, 2005 Report Share Posted August 2, 2005 Hi - I kept a journal all winter for a couple of reasons. One, it was a good place to vent without burdening anyone else. Two, I could keep track of the progression of my disease and the pain involved - and what seemed to change the level of pain (meds, weather, stress, foods). I wrote in it mostly at night and kept it by my bed so that it was convenient even if I were stuck in bed a lot. It was really good as a reference when I would talk to my doctor. I could go back in it and tell her exactly when certain things happened. Since so much of my treatment is myself being proactive and adjusting some meds (and some supplements) to effect, it was important for me to keep track of it. I wrote down what meds I took every day. Periodically I would type up a " progress report " and drop it off at the doctor's office. I was on some pretty high doses of pain meds so I wanted her to know how I was doing and why I needed to be on them. I think that communication made her more comfortable in what she was prescribing me. I tried putting " values " from 1-10 on the pain, with one being " need to get better to die " and ten being no pain. I think the highest I ever got to was about six and that was after a couple of pain pills. But the number values just didn't work well for me - I needed to put down in words how I felt and where the pain and inflammation was each particular day. Since I've been on prednisone, I rarely write in it though. The pred, luckily, has given me my life back and even though I still have daily pain it isn't incapacitating like it was before. Sure wish I could get more energy though! in Alaska ----- Original Message ----- From: ltlmisscrankypants Question: Do any of the members here find it beneficial to keep a pain journal? My flares are less often lately and less intense, but they still happen. I do notice a bit of a pattern and wonder if the journal would help my Rheumy understand what triggers them for me. The journal would rate the pain on a scale from 1 to 10 and I would also note my mobility/swelling. Nothing fancy....just adding it to my calendar to keep track. Thanks for reading, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 2, 2005 Report Share Posted August 2, 2005 , I think this is a great idea. I have been doing it for some time now and it is very helpful for doctor visits. Especially if the day of your appt happens to be a real good day, then I seem to underplay the pain I have had previous to the visit. Hugs June ---------- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 267.9.7/60 - Release Date: 7/28/2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 Best way I have found is to use http://www.raacademy.com they have a daily planner that you can use that helps you to keep track of : weight Drs appts pain journal medications excercise to do etc It will plot out a graph of your pain levels over a certain time period for you and do all sorts of things. It really helps me out and I have not found them to be intrusive into my life. I can look back and see how much worse I was when I was first diagnosed compared to now - pre-meds. It helps me to keep track of when I changed the medications from Embrel to Remicade etc. I highly reccomend it. I havent tried printing it cause my printer is out of ink ( for months now) so I dont know if it is possible but I bet I can. Jill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 Best way I have found is to use http://www.raacademy.com they have a daily planner that you can use that helps you to keep track of : weight Drs appts pain journal medications excercise to do etc It will plot out a graph of your pain levels over a certain time period for you and do all sorts of things. It really helps me out and I have not found them to be intrusive into my life. I can look back and see how much worse I was when I was first diagnosed compared to now - pre-meds. It helps me to keep track of when I changed the medications from Embrel to Remicade etc. I highly reccomend it. I havent tried printing it cause my printer is out of ink ( for months now) so I dont know if it is possible but I bet I can. Jill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 Jill: Great suggestion! I will check it out. Thank you so much, > Best way I have found is to use http://www.raacademy.com they have a daily > planner that you can use that helps you to keep track of : > weight > Drs appts > pain journal > medications > excercise > to do > etc > It will plot out a graph of your pain levels over a certain time period for > you and do all sorts of things. It really helps me out and I have not found > them to be intrusive into my life. I can look back and see how much worse I > was when I was first diagnosed compared to now - pre-meds. It helps me to > keep track of when I changed the medications from Embrel to Remicade etc. > I highly reccomend it. I havent tried printing it cause my printer is out > of ink ( for months now) so I dont know if it is possible but I bet I can. > Jill > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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