Tracking The Changes - Peri/Menopause Journaling Options

[WhiteHorses]

Going through so many different symptoms and situations in life and peri/menopause, plus trying different foods, techniques, exercises, medicines, etc. how does one keep track of it all, what has worked and what hasn't, while juggling life issues and working with failed concentration and memory?  So has anyone out there run into good record keeping systems, or can imagine them?

[chriscarol]

Except for tracking my periods, whining in my<br>journal and coming to Power Surge, I've pretty<br>much have given up on a cure. I've been hormonally<br>challenged for years, which SSRIS helped, until<br>perimenopause hit. &nbsp;I hate the lack of concentration.<br>It makes it tough to distract myself, from myself.<br>Walking makes me feel better temporarily.<br>Unfortunately, it's been raining endlessly in<br>Connecticut. &nbsp;I need light and movement. &nbsp;I HATE<br>GYMS though. &nbsp;A journal may be your best bet of<br>tracking symptoms, solutions, feelings, etc.

[Suchabear]

I've kept a small journal/calendar since I started  this journey...7 yrs ago now!  Can't believe it's been that long....I use one of those small office notebook things.....it really helps to jot  things down for your own info as well as talking with your doctor....sometimes we 'forget' how quickly time passes and what has transpired in all that time.  I also keep track of my gym/exercise work-outs....I've lost weight and that has helped me immensely!  These journals don't have to be long....breakfast, lunch, dinner, workout, and another 'issue' for me is IBS, so I have to track 'other stuff'....

So...I highly recommend journaling...or just writing a few words about you, if not every day, every other day....

[Dearest]

Suchabear says, "So...I highly recommend journaling...or just writing a few words about you, if not every day, every other day...."

Journalling has been found to be highly effective. This why I created the "An Open Menopause Journal" forum where you can keep your own journal online and compare experiences  with others as well.

Dearest

[WhiteHorses]

Hi all.

I've done journalling forever.  I have filled up a series of notebooks.  I write to express myself, work through issues, or just to capture the moment.  I think journalling in a book, or on the Menopause Journal forum here is helpful in expressing ourselves.  The forum also gives the possibility of feedback.  This is a special modern type of journalling!

Lots of us struggle with inadequete support - from our doctors, from our community, from ourselves.  We are sick and we don't know fully understand why or what to do, or may not even remember exactly what has happened and when.   At times I have struggled to set up a "health plan" of what to do and stick to it.  Also, if I go to the doctor it would be nice to have a little summary of what I have tried and what symptoms I have had handy.   I am thinking of a compact separate medical journal to help us to keep notes and reminders in.  Can we brain-storm together in this thread on what would be a practical and useful way of collecting our own medical histories, so that we can be our own advocates for getting better help care and more public awareness of what some women are going through in perimenopause and menopause.Am I a dreamer? LOL   Any RNs out there who can suggest a good format for keeping notes in?

Hope you have a great day all, and best wishes for a long healthy. happy life.

[Liz51]

Journaling is vital to my well being.  It gives me a history of how I felt and what was happening, and when it happened, that has proved to be invaluable.   Since I began journaling in 1998, I have 3 full journals and am just starting my 4th.  I don't journal every day, but when something significant happens - either feeling really good or really bad, and what was going on in my life at the time.  I find it comforting to go back and re-read these entries and see that there no matter how badly I may be feeling, in the past there were horrible days that I survived . - and I will again.

[jan5745]

Keeping a journal is a great idea!  Something we should all do, really!

[WhiteHorses]

Hi everyone! I have *completely* gone off of writing in my main journal. I worry about the privacy of my journals. I have started carrying a small book with me to write down my symptoms, and any pertinent health info I can think of. I also use it to record the names of people I meet because I have never been good at remembering names, and now I forget them almost immediately! LOL Now to my question. Has anyone read Susan M. Lark's book about Menopause Self Help? I have her PMS self help book and she has a section in it about recording the symptoms, so maybe the meno. book has a section like that too?

[MaryO]

Now to my question. Has anyone read Susan M. Lark's book about Menopause Self Help? I have her PMS self help book and she has a section in it about recording the symptoms, so maybe the meno. book has a section like that too?

I haven't read her book, but she was a guest in Power Surge Live! Her transcript may have something like that in it. The transcript is in the Power Surge Transcript Library along with hundreds of others.