Thursday Health Thoughts- Organized Health Notebook Part 2

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 I have shared before in the Thursday Health Thoughts about how I created an organized health notebook (which you can read about HERE!). Today I wanted to share with you what the different sections of that notebook are!

In The Front Pocket:

*many times there are questions that arise that don’t constitute a medical emergency but things that I want to discuss with my doctor at my next appointment. I keep paper in the front pocket and write down things that I want to discuss including all or any of the following: {I HIGHLY recommend this if you don’t already do this! It definitely creates a better doctors appointment and is one of the things that I suggest to have a successful doctors appointment!}
* new treatment ideas
* diagnosis terms
 * reasons for new/worse symptoms
* any other ideas

1st Section: Introduction

* diagnoses (including date of diagnosis and name of doctor who diagnosed)

* how the diagnosis affects me personally (I suggest this because even with the same diagnosis every person is different so this is important to include)

2nd Section: Doctors Information

* I have a separate sheet for each doctor that I see. Each page has the doctors

   contact information including address, number (phone and fax), and the nurses information. {Make sure to know the nurses information! I usually talk more with the nurses then the doctors!} 

* During each doctors appointment I put notes on that specific page about what

  was discussed {This is especially helpful if you have a team of doctors so that you can keep track of all of your information!}

3rd Section: Medication Information

* Pharmacy Contact Information {phone numbers, fax numbers, and pharmacist names} for each pharmacy I have (I have shared this before in a financial resources post, but sometimes it is beneficial to have a couple of different pharmacies!)

* Medication information and list along with dosage and reactions that I have to

  each prescription

* Since my insurance reimburses me for some of my prescription costs I put blank Subscriber Health Care Claim forms in this section also so they are easy

  to find (look at "in the back section" about envelopes/stamps)

* Previous medication that I have taken is in here (along with what it was used for and dosage) on a list

4th Section: Hospitalizations and Surgeries

* Surgery Information (including dates and hospital information)

* Hospitalizations (including dates, symptoms, diagnosis and hospital

  information)

5th Section:  Procedures, Tests, and Results

* Many times chronically ill and seriously ill patients have numerous testing done. Because of this it is helpful to keep a chart that includes the test name, test date, what the test was for (if specifically known), results, and information of where tests were done and what doctor ordered the test

* I always ask for a copy of all test reports and I put these in this section also

In the Back Section:

* I keep a health journal of each day so that I can always have a “big picture”

   (very important with chronic illnesses!)  This has also helped me if doctors have specific questions and I can quickly reference what the last days, weeks, or months have looked like!

* In this back section pocket I also keep several blank envelopes and extra stamps so that it

     is easy to mail things out.



I hope that y'all find this helpful! This health notebook has been such a huge resource to me in this journey! Do you use a health notebook? I would love to hear how you organize yours! I hope y'all have a wonderful Thursday!