I was given some great advice at a Lupus seminar I attended in my hometown of Atlanta, GA.
The doctor leading this class, “Doctor/Patient Relationships”, is not only a doctor but a Lupus patient as well. She understands clearly what it’s like to be on both sides of the table and what each person needs to bring in order for the patient to receive the best care.
One of her tips is keeping a daily symptom log. With Lupus, your symptoms are everything. They tell you if your medicine has helped you improve, they tell you if you are declining, they are helpful if you are to a point that disability is a need because you can accurately say how often you missed work or had xyz problem over the course of the year.
I am really trying to make this a no-option part of my day because although I tell myself I can just remember for the appt., I can’t. I go to my next Rheum. follow-up and I only know the symptoms I’ve had that week! Oops.
Today, Feb 1,2010 is my first day of starting any meds for Lupus, so I am hoping that I begin to see more days when I have nothing to write!
I will be posting how I’m feeling each day on the main page, along with what medication I took. They will all be tagged with “Symptom Log” and can all be accessed by clicking Symptom Log on the side bar.
**Please also note that this is my story. Lupus affects everyone differently. Each day for a Lupus patient is different. The pain you feel one day may be replaced by another tomorrow. A span of good days may turn into a span of bad ones. Please don’t use my journal as a comparison to yourself or to someone you know who has Lupus.
