Health record log book

[Hollybushroad]

Any recommendations please.Bought a few but disappointed with layout.

I'm not looking a daily journal but more keeping a log of bloods tests drs visits etc

Any suggestions much appreciated

[Fruitandnutcase]

I just used to jot all that sort of thing down in a normal notebook. I kept my blood test results, how much levo I was taking - I had Graves’ disease and was being treated with block and replace so the carbimazole stayed the same and the levo increased. Anyway, I kept my blood test results and any I had done privately - vitamins and minerals etc.

I also kept a note of how I was feeling every day - just a quick bullet point not an in depth story. That was good because it meant when I went to see my consultant and was asked how I was I actually knew because I used to go over it the night before - otherwise I would say ‘Fine’ then realise after I’d gone home that I wasn’t fine at all.

It also meant I was also able to link any changes of meds to how my body felt. For example the first time I needed an increase in levo I had signs of being hyper again but people on here said that was probably because I needed an increase which turned out to be the case so by keeping notes I was able to show them t my GP when I needed an increase between endo visits

I also jotted down in my little notebook any questions I had so that I would remember to ask them, I also jotted down the replies I also kept any interesting articles I found on Thyroid U.K. etc about Graves and its treatment.

So I just used a regular handbag sized notebook, nothing fancy and I was able to set things out the way I wanted to. Some people keep notes on their phones but I preferred to use a notebook - that was probably an age thing 😉

[Hollybushroad in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Yes I'm a bit old school like yourself. Pen and paper any day.I keep a daily journal but just wanted a separate nifty wee book for results etc but probably ruled pages wud do same job

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Hollybushroad]

Nothing wrong with being old school 😉

Always impresses / stuns the consultant when you pull out a notebook and pen and start.

[Sama999 in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

I have an Excel spreadsheet where I have Axillary temps, 3 x blood pressure, weight, exercise and any out of usual occurrence. Even to bowel movements, sleep and tiredness commented on.

[tattybogle]

I'm using a

========== Boots ============

======= Scribbling Diary ========

===== 66th Year of Publication ====

= British Manufactured Throughout =

===== Three days on a page ======

===========1962=============

it's perfect , and very retro in sepia /brown with a canvas spine.

but you can't have one .

my dad probably pinched it in 1963 from the printers and it was probably in a cupboard in my bedroom for all of my childhood .....along with a lifetimes supply of pencils, and shiny gold and silver cardboard samples.... and loads of selotape.

i can let you have some pencils if you want .

but the selotape doesn't work anymore .

[DippyDame]

I use a "Page a Day Diary"....

Prefer paper and pen!

Rough notes....I don't do super-organised now!!

Have stacks of them going back donkeys years!!!

[Hollybushroad in reply to DippyDame]

Yes I'm trying to get myself more organised....can't find anything as leave things in all places and then when I need them I can't find them

[arTistapple]

I, like you, got one when I first was diagnosed. I very quickly found I did not like it. However it was a start. If you have any computer skills you can create your own. I find it so much easier to read from the printed word rather than my own handwriting. A bit OCD perhaps.

For me though I have found that no matter how I try, there is always something that seems to become important later and I have not logged it. I am getting better but of critical importance to get the best record, is to keep changes to a minimum and only one change at a time and giving it time to bed down before moving on to some other change.

Someone on the forum did an excellent one for himself. He put in actual number of days of taking something as well as his own comments. Just a small thing but so useful. helvella also has given some good advice on how and what to record.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

If you are comfortable with using a computer, that has lots of advantages.

Including being able to back it up. View it on a phone, tablet or computer. Email some or all of it. And (if you have access to a printer) print out some or all as needed. (You might need access to some sort of Cloud storage to do all these things.)

But what to use? I can see advantages in word processors documents, spreadsheets, apps that collect all sorts of information like OneNote, EverNote, or Notes. There are some apps which might be usable. But, whatever you are considering, make sure you know how to back it up, copy bits of it, and export the entire contents to another format.

[CoeliacMum1]

My husband made me a spreadsheet, I just add in my results.

I have the past 10yrs information at hand now 🫣

Every type of investigation is down in a column, and along the top are dates of test when done with a box to add meds etc in, I also put where tests were done and time, so I plot absolutely everything medical down now along with the medication brand and quantities or supplements I was taking at the time. I colour code when ranges are under or over so can see quickly where things are… I’m no whizz on these things eg creating them, but I can use once in place.

I try to be as accurate as possible so it leaves little room for errors and I can see if any correlations occur. Eg my creatinine is usually higher when Vit D is higher and FT3 is lower 🤓

This is usually just a few minutes job each year putting in my annual review data in, unless any alterations to medication then more frequent testing do more data to go in 😵‍💫

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to CoeliacMum1]

That is impressive!

[Hollybushroad in reply to CoeliacMum1]

Yes very impressive indeed but a bit beyond my technical skills. I'm a bit more old school....pen and paper but appreciate your suggestions

[Poniesrfun]

See if you find any of these helpful: thyroidcanceradvocates.net/...

Patti in AZ

[kiefer]

If you're interested in a full-featured desktop software program (windows) you could try this, as it tracks just about everything:

thyroidtrackerpro.com

[Hollybushroad in reply to kiefer]

HiReally appreciate your suggestion but that's way beyond my technical skills.

I'm old school. Pen and paper but thanks anyway

[kiefer in reply to Hollybushroad]

Here's a paper form (free) for logging medications/supplements:

thyroidtrackerpro.com/wp-co...