Posted 7/20/2008 6:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Ivy, sorry for the late reply - just saw your post. :) I've only kept a day specific journal for one day. Before that I kept notes. In the notes, I have notes of pain that seem to come out of nowhere, how it feels and how it limits me. I also put in there that for periods of time I wake up with swollen face, feet and hands and I have not had exess salt. And frequently when I sit too long, especially on the floor, I have trouble unbending back into a straight position. I don't sit in the same position, I move about, but getting up from the floor after a period of time, is very difficult.
I started the day specific one yesterday and wrote in there that I woke up stiff and stayed that way for about 45 minutes. Also recorded hip and hand pain all day, trouble getting up from the outdoor swing due to stiffness and soreness, stiff neck and back and nighttime migraine. Also included measures I took to alleviate the migraine (ibuprofin, ice and bed). Once in bed, muscle spasms all up an down my back - used heat for that.
In addition, I recorded a little soreness from working in the yard, which wasn't more than one would ordinarily expect.
Today so far, I wrote that I woke up with minor stiffness that was alleviated with stretching and that I felt great. Hip and hand still bothering me today.
It is laid out very casually. Last night I was thinking that if I had not written all the pain, soreness, stiffness down in the journal, I probably would have thought I felt fine all day. Writing it down, brings it to my attention more. Like when I cannot stand up, I just ouch and groan and get straightened out and then I don't think about it again, but writing it down makes me remember.
Do you think these are the right things to put in the journal? I am trying to follow the advice of one of the members or moderators who welcomed me on my first post and the info on fibro 101.
~Sue