Asthma symptom diary

[Junglechicken]

Hello everyone (again)!

I’ve decided to keep an asthma symptom diary but I’m not really sure how to go about it. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions or templates that I could use. It’s really just to get some ideas as to how to structure it and what exactly I should be making a note of.

Thank you as always x

Stay strong everyone!

[Wheezycat]

I will read the answers with great interest!

[Js706]

I’ve got a tracker where I have one section of boxes on symptoms:

-cough (dry/productive)

-wheeze/tight chest

-short of breath

-number of times woken night before

-avoided activities due to asthma

And then have a table where I tick each box for any symptoms I have on a given day (and add a D/P for cough or number for times woken etc)

Then a peak flow chart I draw out with my zones coloured in (pre and post meds with different colours for if I used ventolin at the same time 😂) and I can scribble down a word or two for a trigger/what occurred on a hospital or GP trip etc

Finally I then have another little table underneath that for Med doses/any contacts made. So I write down ventolin puffs, my pred dose (as on maintenance pred but otherwise I’d just track if I was on it or not), if I’ve seen the GP, spoken to an asthma nurse/immunology nurse (other condition) and if I’ve gone to hospital.

Sounds long but doesn’t actually take up too much space or time once I’ve drawn the tables out!

I can’t find how to upload pictures as a comment on here so message me on here/reply to me and I’ll happily send some pictures of it through 😊

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

Peak flow diaries (the old paper kind). GSK used to do a fab one (which also lasted 3 months!) but you can print off alternate versions... here the AUK;

asthma.org.uk/globalassets/...

But basically (for me); reliever use, pred use, medical contact (GP/AN/Para/A&E etc), night symptoms (and number of times), sob, cough (+/- productive), wheeze, tightness, limited/avoiding activity, off work, triggers

Think my list is basically the same as Js706 (I may or may not have contributed to hers and vice verse 😉😅)

[Js706 in reply to EmmaF91]

Yep mine is definitely a mish mash from conversations we’ve had! 😂

[Welshtoffee]

I have done a diary for many years and take it with me when I see the consultant at the hospital. She says it's very useful we discuss the diary and then write up an asthma plan for the following year.

I include

Triggers where and what happened

Cold weather pollution etc

Peak flow reading

Asthma symptoms ie wheezy ,chest infection etc

What meds I have taken blue inhaler steroids antibiotics etc

If I've seen a GP( I have a rescue pack at home a supply of steroids antibiotics to take when needed as it's sometimes difficult to get an appointment)

Hope this helps good luck

[Wheezycat]

For myself (not just to show a doctor or a nurse) I would like to be able to be slightly more detailed, such as noticing and noting things that happens during the day. And that it actually occurred to me I could use ventolin, whether I then used it or not. I am bad at remembering it and noticing I am wheezing.

And I also need a box/column for other people’s comments. It may sound strange, but I think it is something to do with being diagnosed late in life (though my suspicions had been there before) that you get so used to just slightly underperforming that you stop noticing. Thus others’ comments are useful, it validates that I ‘have something’ that needs attention. (A friend of mine, a doctor, read me the riot act once. She had noticed for years, but been tactful, but by then she was getting quite concerned. I either didn’t notice, or if I did that I mustn’t be such a wuzz, so ignored it.)

So all above suggestions are helpful, but for me to educate myself more, I need to expand.

I am still thinking of the best format for me, and ease of access, so I actually do it. My internal jury is still out on that one.

[Erin001]

I have an asthma diary myself.

I note the date and time

If I’m having symptoms I will note that first if not I will go to this next step:

Then my PFR (peak flow rate) I do this every time I take a medication

I then jot down every medication I’m taking at that time

Here’s an example for you one wheezy one regular

Tuesday 3 December (3/12/2019)

9:05 - wheezy, tight, SOB

- PFR - 230

- 4 ventolin

22:00 - PFR - 310

- 2 fostair - 1 atrovent - 1 Alvesco -10mg montelukast - 180mg fexofenadine - 20mg omeprazole - 300mg ranitidine - 500mg azithromycin

I find it useful for me to note everything down so I can count the amount of times I taken my rescue and symptoms. Before my asthma diary I never realise the amount I was needing and how symptomatic I was because I would wheeze and take a puff and so on

Also when I saw paramedics or doctors they would say what time did you take your preventer or last dose of Ventolin. Before I would just be guessing but now I can just refer to my little diary.

I use a little like A5 size notebook so I can carry it wherever I go with a pen in the rings. On the diary I printed out some medical ID type pictures and asthma so anyone would see it is a medical diary and on the first page I noted all of my conditions, medication, my best peak flow and any allergies. On the second page I noted my emergency contacts such as Next of kin and Consultant so if anyone needed to find NOK details they can be found on the notebook if unable to access or find my phone (where I also have filled out my medical ID)

I also may note afterwards obviously if I have required an ambulance and how long I was in hospital etc so then I can see how often I require the service

Hope you got some ideas now

Good luck, it can be a tedious process writing everything down but you can notice everything much better.

Take care, let me know if this is any use

Erin x

[Junglechicken in reply to Erin001]

Thanks Erin. I like the idea of a notebook which you can carry around. Also the way you set it out, like a blog is great.

[Erin001 in reply to Junglechicken]

It is very useful because it is then evidence for doctors and even friends and family to go look this how many meds I’m on and how often I’m wheezing. Especially for those who don’t have a clue about what this horrid condition entails!!

It also helps me keep track because I have to stop, take my time and think about it because I’m on so many medication now without the diary I would probably forget something and rush it.

I’m not an organised person but I am when it comes to my health and medication. Like I’ve had to get a little medical cabinet so I can keep all my tablets and inhalers in an organised hidden storage which is quite useful.

I’ve only used a diary the last 2 years. Before I think I was just as severe but I didn’t realise it because for me it was normal and I didn’t think I was taking it that often but I was taking my rescue daily and once I started noting it down I was like crap I’m using it a lot I am bad and now I’m on the right medication and the most stable I’ve been in my entire asthma life.

It is like a blog, well it’s my daily log of my asthma.

If I could I would take a photo of mine to show you but unfortunately unable to x

Take care

Good luck x

Erin x

[Echoblue]

I use an app on my phone. It is the PEFLog app personally but there are others available. I record peak flow and it charts that as well as you can email or text it to anyone or print whole report out. There are also 2 other available sections for comment so I include any symptoms, sats level or cause in one section and what reliever I have used in the other. You can record pre and post meds results. Docs and asthma nurse alike have going through report and graph very helpful and it has been enlightening to me to see it in the graph form as it picks up trends. Have used this for just short of a year now and has just become part of daily habit.