Health Journal- You Use(d) One?

[tiffjake]

I made several health journals while trying to figure out what was wrong with me. I would print out pages and pages and have them bound. I was showing these to a friend who suggested I make several and sell them and donate the profit to Celiac Research, and I really like that idea!

Here is my question to you: What information would you want to keep track of in your daily health journal? Your meal choices, any workouts, water intake, meds taken, hours of sleep, stress level, (for women) day of cycle, food reactions, what else?

Thanks for your input! If I do end up doing this, I want to give away free ones to the people who help me put this together!

[dionnek]

well, right now my "journal" has what I eat throughout the day and my BMs and other symptoms, so maybe having a space for "bathroom trips" or something and also just "possible symptoms" or something like that? I know I don't keep track of my shampoo/conditioner/lotion/vitamin, etc. changes like I should, so maybe a monthly place to record any changes in brands of personal care products?

[Turtle]

Cool idea! I keep a gluten-free journal but I admit i've gotten a bit slack with it. I am still good about writing down dates and time frames of when I get headaches, have diarreah, nausea and other such aches and pains...but I really need to start being more thorough. Keep me posted on what ideas you get. I'd like to develop a good basic guide to follow for myself on what all needs to be in a health journal that would help.

[kb8ogn]

I keep one that is a day by day "diary" so to speak. I write which meds I took at what time. What I ate. Was it difficult to get up that morning and why....too tired, too much pain, too stiff....

What time did I eat? What did I eat, how did I feel when I was done? Did I get sick, did it affect my sugar( I am hypoglycemic),

How did I feel as the day went on ....such as at lunchtime... was I feeling fatigued, did I feel ok, did I need a nap. What activities had I done,

What time did I go to bed, did I take a nap during the day, how did I sleep during the night, did I have to get up and why. Did I need something to help me sleep

I have more medical issues besides gluten intolerance. So all of these things affect what I can or cannot do during the day.

For example, I was in bed by 10pm last night, I slept thru the night, but woke up this morning in a lot of pain and very stiff. It took me roughly 30 minutes to get out of bed so I could shower and get dressed. I couldn't eat breakfast because it took too long getting ready for work this morning.

I have to take my prednisone this morning or I won't make it thru the day. Since my schedule will not afford a nap today, I will need to be in bed very early(8ish) and will probably not be able to do what I need to this weekend. Because I didn't eat breakfast, my sugar is off, I need to get some juice, I'm starting to shake. My stomach is also upset from having all the medicine in my stomach and no food to help absorb it.

I hope this helps or gives you some ideas.

[tarnalberry]

I think they need to be customizable. Here's what goes in mine (keep in mind that I do FAM, so that includes that):

basal temperature, cycle day, period, sex, cervical fluic, cervical position, illness/stress/travel, knee pain scale, vulva pain scale, abdomen pain scale, back pain scale, asthma severity scale, allergy severity scale, headache/migraine scale, mood level scale, stress scale, energy level scale, weight (not tracked daily), and body fat (not tracked daily), then meds.

so, imho, having it customizable, so you can add/subtract additional 'things to keep track of', is important, since everyone is different.