symptom tracker??

[angiebee]

Hi all. I posted a few days ago because my Dr. Told me I need to see a neurologist and be look at MS. I don't think that's the case but I began reading everyone's posts to see what I could learn and ask a question.
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Since I've been reading the posts another question popped up I hope you don't mind me posting a second question. Anyway, many people have said keep good track of your symptom. I had already been working on this, but when my problem first started it was only my left leg that would have numb feeling then pain when standing/walking. Pain is relieved with sitting however should I keep track of the things that may not be related?? Like burning, tingling in my leg when sitting, headaches (not bad ones-just enough to know its there, but still more than I've ever had) pain that last a few minutes in upper arm, and cramp like pain when I stretch after waking up in the morning. Some of these things have only happened a few times and are most likely nothing but its all new for me.
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Thanks in advance for any insight that may be offered...

[coco31]

I think it is really important to keep some kind of tracker in relation to how you are feeling especially if you develop any new or odd sensations, they are very handy to have when reporting to your consultant or neurologist. BUT..........

I must also make this point that sometimes you can get too wrapped up in trying to identify and justify symptoms and end up working yourself into a tizzy....

FUNNY EXAMPLE: I spent a whole saturday doing the "pampering myself" thing for a girls night out. Tan on make-up cute dress, nails polished, eyebrows tinted and plucked..... great night out. Woke up the next morning (not feeling great after my night out - as one does ocassionally) and I had the weirdest sensation on the left hand side of my face.... it felt like it was burning and my skin was tight.

Left it 2 days and presented to A&E with what I thought had to be a relapse of a cranial nerve palsy........ Neurlogist couldn't find anything wrong.

Hello everyone!!!!! - I did I GLYCOLIC ACID facial peel on saturday afternoon and totally forgot  It was only thursday my skin started to peel.... Mainly on the left hand side of my face. Felt so silly. But lesson learned!

[angiebee]

Thank you for all your responses, they were very helpful and appreciated. I have an appt with the neurologist in june so I have plenty of time to get it together.

[tonyad]

  I agree with Wobbly, Keep track of all your symptoms, when they happened, what you where doing when it happend, how long it lasted (minutes, hours, days, weeks).

    The more info that you can provide to your Neuro, the better off you will be.
Besides, if your anything like me, if you do not keep track of your sx you will tend to forget about them until they decide to make another appearance.

     And, Welcome to the forum. Stick around and ask whatever you want or comment on whatever. How soon is it before you can see the Neuro?  Keep us posted.

~Tonya

[Wobbly]

I would keep track of all the symptoms and they can change... so add when they started and ended...how painful or numb etc...

you can ask as many questions as you like on this forum.. did you check the Health Pages out..top right link...

take care
wobbly
dx

[Lulu54]

When you first start this journey it is so hard to know what is significant and what is inconsequential.  We begin to listen to our bodies so intently that we pick up every little bit of noise.

While you want to list significant symptoms, you don't want to list absolutely every little twitch and twang - the fleeting ones that happen once and don't revisit you are probably not needed on your timeline. You can add so many little details that the doctor will disregard the entire list.    

List what you feel is significant, and use that for your timeline.

good luck  with the next doctor, Lu

[jensequitur]

I would keep track of every symptom, because you don't know what's related.  For example, I didn't know that the cramps I was experiencing across my chest were part of MS.