Pain diary - yay or nay?

[staceymacg]

Has anyone kept a pain diary?

I was told today I'm finally being referred to an endometriosis specialist after an unsuccessful lap from a general gynaecologist and I want to do as much as I can to make the meeting a success.

I have no idea how long I'll be waiting to see the specialist in Edinburgh but I want to do as much as I can to get things moving quickly and to aid my new doctor.

I've written down the notes of the past week and I can see some days are worse than others and how my symptoms change.

Will my specialist appreciate a pain diary?

Will it be decided at my first meeting with my specialist about doing another laparoscopy? My gynae was the one who suggested me going on to see a specialist who could spot things he couldn't!

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I didn't keep a pain diary at any point but I was sent to the specialist with severe disease already diagnosed (the gynae who diagnosed me basically put in the scope, said oh dear, and ended the op there and then). Plus my medical records showed all my visits to A&E for pain relief. My experience was that it wouldn't have been necessary - they weren't interested in specific details of when or where I had pain, only in ensuring that I had medications in place to help manage it. However if it is something that you will find helpful to do then it's of course useful.

[Fabbird]

Hi, i keep a pain diary on my phone. I've done so for years. I sometimes get it out for doctors but I've never found one that's much interested. I do find it helpful myself. It makes the patterns clearer and when I'm suffering I can look back to remind myself of times I was pain free.

[staceymacg in reply to Fabbird]

Okay thankyou!!