keeping track

[mmamom]

I am wondering if people keep dated journals of their symptoms since they change? like nausious, headache, grey vision, auras, ect and what goes with what when? I had two 'drop attacks' this week, one on thursday and one on saterday, and am thinking I should write these things down so Im not trying to remember in the office. I think thats what i'll do.

These drop attacks are weird. I used to say 'passed out', but thats not right. I dont loose consiousness just part of my vision greys out and the ability to remain standing up goes. Ive come to realize that Im not lowering myself to the floor like I thought I was to wait it out (i used to think i just sat down to prevent falling down but know i know i'm falling down and i have no controll).. i just kinda crumple like my muscles loose the ability to hold me up for a minute or so.
dose that sound familiar to people?

It happend at work and i was so embarased i started to cry which made me more embarased. i hate this.

arin

[zygy2]

I kept a journal for me but the did an edit before taking my list to the Doctor.  I did not want to present so much that they just dismissed me as crazy.  I picked the things that were worrying me the most even though I had the list for later when I knew they were listening to me and helping me.  I got grey outs or at least that is what I called them to the Dr.   Vision dims and darkens and I grab for a wall, my doctor seemed to understand this wording just fine.  I guess I will take grey outs over black outs any day! :)  

[mmamom]

thanks

[jenshead]

Forgot (ironically) to include one more thing...I kept a headache log for a couple months.  If you can put together a spreadsheet, 1 per symptom (1 for drop attacks, 1 for headaches, etc), you can easily see the patterns & progression.  My dr seemed to like it.

[jenshead]

I have kept a dated log since the day my symptoms began.  I'm very forgetful naturally and even more so when in pain, so it comes in handy.  I also bring a copy of it whenever I go to the first appointment with a new dr.  They make you fill out forms about your symptoms usually, so having that with me allows me to be extremely specific.

[selmaS]

Hi...some do keep journals.....

  A drop attack can be a little diff for each o f us....but what u describe is pretty close to what I had happen.,..except for the gray area in ur vision.,...

During my drop attack I was standing one minute and the next...I was mid fall and could not respond to stop or get up once I hit the ground , but I was aware I was falling at the mid fall point....

My NS explained a Drop attack as  like flipping a light  switch....imagine the CSF blockage as a way of turning off all signals ...how to stand, move, etc.....so the switch gets flipped off and then back on so quickly we r not out for more than a few seconds and y I was aware I was falling mid fall.....

I was very confused right after as well as very nauseated....

My drop attack I had was on concrete ....I had injuries from that fall....a really badly sprained left ankle, and a torn meniscus in my right knee which needed surgery to repair.

  This is what helped me push for answers...Drs felt I had lupus for a few yrs prior, did more tests after my knee surgery and found the chiari.,


  "selma"