"Sick Journal" - Disabilities Message Board

Heather_Brennan · 05-20-2006, 10:16 AM

Can anyone help me with information on making a sick journal? I recently applied for SSI because my fibromyalgia is so extreme is has consumed my life. I was told that I need to go back the last few months and start there but I cant remember exactly what I did each day or what meds I took that day. What types of things should I include. I was thinking to list what meds I took, what times and how much; what else should I be putting into this?

countrykid · 05-20-2006, 01:56 PM

I would put in your journal how you felt each day. Like if you woke up not feeling good, if you were exhausted any time during the day and such. If it is a sick journal than you want to document how you felt and what you were unable to do that day.
I had to do a short one for my doctor on a medication I was taking to see if it wasx helping or hurting my progress. So I included what drugs (script, OC, herbal) and food I was I consumed. I also said what I did for the day. How I felt morning noon midday and night. I also included how I slept if it was sound or distrubed.
Hope this gives you some clues on preparing your journal.

cherry1952 · 05-21-2006, 12:03 AM

You can alos document your activity level for each day. Such as how long you were able to stand to do dishes, how long it took to get your shower and did you have to rest afterwards before getting dressed, were you able to do all the dishes at once or only part of them and then have to rest? Make comparrisons from now to before you got sick. Like: Before illness I could do all morning routine...Shower, wash hair, dress, etc in about 45 minutes but now that same amt of activity takes 2 hours or 3.5 hours because of having to stop and rest or whatever it is that happens on each day. They want to know how your illness has effected your daily activites. Also, I didn't document everyday...They know you can't do that. I never even used all that stuff I wrote because I didn't have to go for a hearing. My Lawyer had me start a journal just in case we did go to a hearing.

feelbad · 05-30-2006, 06:18 AM

I have one of those little daily planner things where I have to keep all the neuro changes I ahve everyday,kind of highlighted.this also includes any new symptoms or changes in old ones.anything that prevented me from actually being able to really 'do' anything that particualr day.and always rate my pain.I have five seperate pain generators all stemming fromalot of different problems.some mostly due to secondary spinal cord injuries and pain syndromes that all resulted from the SCI.but then there is the kidney and liver disease and the newest Dx as of last fall,a wonderful anuerysm that was found and coiled in my brain that is currently residing up against the front of my brainstem.

I just have soo many areas to keep track of that If i didn't use that planner,geez I would be soo lost.this helps alot with doc appts too,when something in particular actually started or eveloved or went away,its all in that planner thing for my doc to read.

this info may not help yopu with getting all of that 'backlog" type of knowledge but it is something you really need to start doing like today and on from there.

I think what they are actually looking for from you here is just a basic timeline of events and how your condition haddeteriorated over time/what can you not do anymore now as opposed to six months ago?those kinds of actual changes not exactly how many pills you took in one day except to say something like'on such and such a day,this pian was just soo bad(little explanation here)that i had to take 3 more breakthru meds than normal that day 'you get the idea?

also obtaining your own medical records and reading thru them will help prompt a good memory even looking at your calender(i always write down my doc appts,surgical procedures stuff like that?)like I said,they are not lookig atthe major details here just the highlights and the efects your conditions have on you personally and your ability to even get thru a day.

Do you understand a bit better now?i certainly hope so cuz sometimes I tend to cause even more confusion than before,lol.good luck to you,just get the planner and keep track of your days at the end of every day.good day bad day and why,what made it that bad/you know/please keep us posted,Marcia