Comments on: Keeping an MS Medical Journal

By: Jen

Jen — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:06:50 +0000

Hey Jill—

Love ya lots! Great ideas that will help anyone who comes across this page. You’re doing an awesome job with this recent diagnosis. See ya Saturday.

One of your oldest buddies–

Jen (a big goofy smile)

By: Jill

Jill — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 13:48:54 +0000

I have Lupus and keep a journal. Every day I write down what I ate, what meds I took & times, what I have to do (helps having everything on one page), and how I felt w/ specifics (good or bad), along with a little freewrite of things I want to remember (saw a bird, nice sunrise, good conversation, notes from docs, etc). I transfer the “how I felt” onto a monthly calendar when I have time (usually do it during work meetings when I should be paying attention), which is easier to look at rather than flipping through each page, for instance, if I had to count the number of days in a month with a headache, knee pain, etc. My journal will definitely help me keep track of trends, and memories I don’t want to forget.

By: Jen

Jen — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 17:44:16 +0000

Oooohhhh: like the online idea. Thanks for sharing it!

PS: my notebook is a junky mess. Might try this idea myself.

By: Lanette

Lanette — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 06:53:49 +0000

I did this in the “beginning” 6 years ago and I stopped and now I need to do it again. It helps to be a reminder as well that “Hey – You, You have MS – take care of yourself.”

I may do mine online this time, last time I wrote it down. I type much faster so online it will go! Good Post!

By: Jen

Jen — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:35:37 +0000

I received this advice from my mom, who really doesn’t have much wrong with her (knock on wood.) She always tells me to write everything down— anything that can later cause a discrepancy or questions. I’m a huge list maker (it’s pretty embarassing actually) but it’s worked for me. I had a small notebook in the past specifically for an altercation with my insurance carrier and a provider who didn’t precertify me for a procedure (dragged on for a year and a half.) I learned then!

Good morning, Diane..

By: Diane J Standiford

Diane J Standiford — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 03:00:11 +0000

I wish the Internet had been around when I was first DX. Great advice, Jen.

By: Jen

Jen — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:34:41 +0000

Joan—

You really are a ‘numbers’ kind of gal, huh? I’m embarrassed about my total buffoonery with Excel sheets. I can barely do Powerpoint either. Now there’s an idea: an MS medical journal as a slide presentation…!

Any way we care to slice it, the information is still the same and is relevant to our overall medical records.

Glad you’re up and about again, Joan.

Jen (a smile)

By: Joan

Joan — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:34:06 +0000

Thanks for the reminder! I stopped updating my MS/Health spreadsheet when I went on disability, so I need to update that darn thing. It is huge!