The Symptom Sleuth

Health trackers to manage symptoms + investigate flare up triggers

[thesymptomsleuth]

By Alice Oglethorpe from MarieClaire.com

Three women open up about how their conditions impact their bodies—and their wallets. You might never guess it, but chronic pain impacts 21.7 percent of women in the United States. We’re talking the spectrum of I don’t want to get out of bed to I can’t take it anymore—near-daily for months or longer. These are women you work with, see at the gym, pass going into the grocery store—maybe one of them is even you. And on top of the obvious physical and mental strain, chronic pain is literally costing them.

Read the stories of these three women -->

To all of our chronic pain warriors out there, you are not alone. Getting to the diagnosis can be expensive. Once you're diagnosed -- also expensive.

A tip we always share: tracking your symptoms may help your doctor get to your diagnosis. Thats why we created the Symptoms Log; a journal where you can track all the things going on with your body -- so many things we think are un-related could be the key piece of information you forget to tell the doctor, or maybe don't recount it all exactly the same when you see the next doctor. The weather that day -- might matter. What you were doing before the symptom -- might matter. How you slept the night before -- might matter.

[thesymptomsleuth]

By Michelle Karas from Pikespeaknewspaper.com

Gail Devers won her first Olympic gold medal in 1992 while battling a host of bizarre symptoms. “Weight loss, hair loss, headaches, insomnia, bulging eyes and painful skin sores were some of the health issues that afflicted Devers in her early 20s, driving her to desperate measures over a two-and-a-half-year period ...” states a July 6 CNN.com. article The track and field athlete nearly retired before she had a chance to become a champion because of a mystery ailment that was affecting her running, and every other part of her life.

Devers, who went on to win two more Olympic golds, has spent much of the last three decades raising awareness of the disease that nearly toppled her Olympic dreams — Graves’ disease. Graves is an autoimmune disease that causes the thyroid gland to over-produce the thyroid hormone. Being hyperthyroid, or having too much thyroid in one’s system, causes myriad health issues, including those that Devers experienced and still battles today.

Read the full story here -->

Even Olympic Gold Medalists suffer from mystery illnesses; but she didn't let it stop her. She looked for the answer and wants you to know your answer is out there. She had Graves disease and we are sharing this article because we want to share all the research on all the symptoms of all the conditions we can find.

Thats why we created the Symptoms Log; a journal where you can track all the things going on with your body -- so many things we think are un-related could be the key piece of information you forget to tell the doctor, or maybe don't recount it all exactly the same when you see the next doctor. The weather that day -- might matter. What you were doing before the symptom -- might matter. How you slept the night before -- might matter.

[thesymptomsleuth]

By Georgia Lambert from bristolpost.co.uk

A disabled Bristol artistic performer, who has to lie down at regular intervals because of chronic pain, is trying to teach others how to be more aware of hidden disabilities. Raquel started challenging the etiquette of 'resting' by lying down and demonstrating her disability's access needs in public spaces all over the UK. Following the success of her advocacy work, 'Cloudspotting' became the term used by Raquel to communicate the collective needs of the thousands of people in the UK living in chronic pain who need to lie down and rest at frequent intervals, regardless of whether they are in private or not.

Read the full article here -->

I know, I read the headline too and thought -- what??? but keep reading -- she also created an immersive experience which sounds amazing! The most common thing I hear from our invisible illness community is how it often feels like no one believes them. This artist's project is such a great way to "bridge an understanding between able-bodied audiences and the lived experience of people with ‘hidden’ disabilities." 

If you are a warrior of an invisible illness and feel that isolation, we created The Symptoms Log for you. It is a place to write down how your condition affects you personally. How many times did you feel the need to lie down today, this week, this month, this year? What did that mean for you -- like the idea of going to Disneyland is out of the question? The Symptoms Log helps you put your story on paper so you can tell it to yourself and, when you want to, share with your friends, family, and doctor so they can better understand your experience.

[thesymptomsleuth]

By Allie Flinn from wellandgood.com.

the five regions in the world—Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, California—where people not only regularly live into the triple digits, but their minds and bodies are both still working well. All five places share a few values: Maintaining a strong sense of purpose, eating mostly plant-based, and moving every day.

Another is valuing low levels of stress, which naturally means restful sleep is a top priority. it's common for people in these parts of the world to get a solid, restful eight hours of sleep per night. So, how do they do it? Believe it or not, what they eat and drink before bed plays a big role.

Here, five food-themed sleep tips for better rest and longevity. -->

Sleep is literally my favorite thing -- can you imagine if it was even better? Try each of the methods and track your sleep in The Trigger Tracker Journal's monthly charting section to see which tip works and see if you actually get better sleep. A good night's sleep is so important for reducing stress, enjoying your day, drinking less coffee and the benefits no-caffeine may bring to your heart.

And if it makes you live longer, the journal can't tell you that but that's just a plus.

[thesymptomsleuth]

By Steven Koerner, D.O., FACOI from hackensackmeridianhealth.org

For people who have felt the steady, sharp abdominal pain of a diverticulitis attack, another flare-up is not something that you’d want to experience again, although it may happen: More than half of people who experience diverticulitis once are likely to have another flare-up. Diverticulitis is the name for the condition caused by inflammation or infection of the diverticula, which are small, bulging pouches that sometimes develop in weak spots along the wall of someone’s colon or large intestines.

Read about the symptoms, treatments, and how to lower your risk of flare ups -->

So many conditions are caused by inflammation and, for some, inflammation can be mitigated with your diet. See our past blogs about signs of inflammation and the anti-inflammatory diet recommendations. We want you to not experience what sounds extremely painful condition. Check your Symptoms Log to see if you have the symptoms listed in the article: abdominal pain in the lower left side, nausea/vomiting, fever/chills,... All of these can mean many things so show your doctor your Symptoms Log and be prepared with your notes and these tips at your appointment.

If your doctor confirms Diverticulities, the article has some recommendation for trigger foods that you can avoid to prevent flare up. The Trigger Tracker journal helps you track what you eat so you can see which foods you can and cannot eat.

[thesymptomsleuth]

By JR Thorpe from Bustle.com.

Although caffeine is considered safe for consumption, it can pose a problem for many reasons,” Dr. Seema Sarin M.D., director of lifestyle medicine at EHE Health, tells Bustle. “In moderation, caffeine is fine, but in excess, it can cause health complications such as anxiety and insomnia.

See how caffeine affects your stress levels -->

Could caffeine be your trigger? If that's a possibility, try making it your first prime suspect in The Trigger Tracker investigation. The Trigger Tracker is a journal that helps guide you to investigate what is triggering your flare up.

We know; it's hard. We've tried. Our tip: We cut it out on a three day weekend where we had a few days to sleep in and take naps when needed. I drink hot water as a substitute and, when the work week came back around, my husband cheats -- I mean, he sneaks sips of tea.

[thesymptomsleuth]

By Jennifer Benjamin from RealSimple.com.

With all the health and diet content filling up your social media feeds, you may have noticed ads for at-home food sensitivity tests like Everlywell or Pinnertest, which claim to help identify underlying food intolerances in individuals. Dig deeper and you'll find testimonials from people who learned that almonds were causing their stomach pains or dairy was creating their skin issues. But are these test kits legitimate—and should you try one, too? Here's everything to know before diving in and ordering a test yourself.

Read more...

If you're considering an allergy test, you might also want to consider The Trigger Tracker Journal. It was made for an 8yo little girl to investigate her extreme eczema flare up, practice the scientific method and collect data on her food and activities to solve the mystery. Not as easy as an allergy test; consider it an independent study.

[thesymptomsleuth]

By Colleen Murphy from Health.com:

By eating food made with blue food coloring, which will turn what you poop out blue, nutrition research company ZOE wants you to track how long it takes for food to travel through your gut. Why? Because knowing your gut transit time (aka, how long it takes for you to eat something and poop it out) can reveal really interesting things about what's happening inside of you.

How the Blue Poop Challenge works -->

The Blue Poop Challenge sounds like some great detective work! The Symptom Sleuth has never tried it but for people with GI issues, what a great data point to include in The Symptoms Log or The Trigger Tracker journal to bring with you to show your doctor.

[thesymptomsleuth]

By Julie Pennell from NBC Today.

while the pandemic has certainly made us rethink our living spaces by prioritizing things like home offices and outdoor spaces, it’s also brought to light the need for a focus on hygiene and infection prevention.

Online interior design company Modsy found that there’s been an increased interest in people wanting to incorporate hygiene stations in their homes.

What are the best and smartest investments someone can make in their home to stay as healthy as possible?

Thats why at The Symptom Sleuth we encourage you to track everything that could be a trigger in your The Trigger Tracker Journal. Little changes around the house can make all the difference in alleviating your symptoms.

[thesymptomsleuth]

by Amy Marturana Winderl, C.P.T. from Self.com

Because psoriatic arthritis can affect any of your joints, including the ones in your fingers and toes, it can be hard to even hold a toothbrush or get out of bed to make breakfast. These tasks can be near impossible to do during flares, or periods of time when your symptoms get worse. It’s common to experience flares as well as periods where your symptoms improve or go into remission.

The good news is that the right treatment plan, which typically includes medication and lifestyle factors such as not smoking, can help people achieve remission and live with minimal pain once they find what works for them. Without treatment, the condition can be debilitating, and over time, cause permanent joint damage and disability.

Unfortunately, there is no single test that can identify if you have psoriatic arthritis, so it can be an uncomfortable journey to get a correct diagnosis and find a solid treatment plan. And sometimes a medication that works initially may become less effective, leading to even more trial-and-error to find a solution.

She asked six individuals living with psoriatic arthritis about what they wish other people knew about their experiences—here’s what they said. >>

If you're still wondering what is causing your flare up, get The Trigger Tracker to guide your investigation. Track down & examine prime suspects, identify new leads, and collect information so you can look back and re-trace your steps.

[thesymptomsleuth]

By Nikki Marshall from irishtimes.com

For me, a flare-up starts with a wave of exhaustion that can swamp me within seconds, accompanied by a brain fog so dense I might struggle to speak. Then the pain begins. It’s a rusty feeling in my hands and feet that moves up and seeps into my wrists and ankles, elbows and knees, shoulders and hips. There are muscle aches too, that trampled feeling you get as you’re coming down with a cold or flu.

tip: Read the full article (it's a great one) -->

Another great honest read about what it is like to live with Fibromyalgia, one of the most mysterious conditions. A common theme we hear from our community is this isolating feeling where no one seems to understand, or some don't believe the pain to be real. We hope that by sharing ways to talk about pain and stories of how other talk about pain can help you strengthen connections as someone living with chronic pain or someone who loves someone with chronic pain. The Symptoms Log is somewhere you can put those feelings down - how did the symptom really impact you? - as a starting point for those conversations. We hope you find it as cathartic and releasing as we do.

[thesymptomsleuth]

By David Hucks from MyrtleBeachSC.com

We often assume that doctors have all the answers. If we visit a doctor with a problem that is impacting us, we expect them to be able to tell us immediately what’s wrong and hopefully provide the right solution. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that. Research suggests that 30 million people in the US alone are experiencing a mystery illness that doctors simply can’t diagnose. So, a problem like this is far more common than most people realize. It can also have a significant impact on your life. For instance, a mystery illness could cause you to feel pain. If you don’t know the reason then this can be frustrating at best and feel completely hopeless at worst. It could also impact your mobility and even your mood.

So, how should you handle it when you have a mystery illness? --> 

Great tips on how to approach a mystery illness like, duh, don't google it. WebMD is not your friend. Tests, Doctors, Lifestyle. We think you need one more that wraps these up into a nice package: The Symptoms Log. One place to track all your symptoms. This will help your doctors see the full picture of everything you experience. If you get a second opinion, you'll have the same notes + the tests. If you make a lifestyle change, document that too. All the things your doctor wants to know!

[thesymptomsleuth]

By Ivanhoe Broadcast News from wmcactionnews5.com

"There are seven million people who have severe sacroiliac, or SI joint pain, in America. Many cases are misdiagnosed since SI pain can mimic other conditions, like a herniated disc, or hip problem.

“Unfortunately, it’s been misdiagnosed in so many people for so long my average patient has had sacroiliac joint pain from anywhere from two years to 35 years,” explained Freeman.

Freeman says the telltale signs that SI joint problems could be to blame for back pain are: pain in the buttock area that gets worse with sitting but also worse going from sitting to standing, laying on the left side, and walking up steps.

A new procedure called Neurovascular Anticipating Distraction Interference Arthrodesis, or NADIA, inserts a device into the SI joint, which encourages bone to fuse to it, lessening the pain.

And hopefully, pain-free days ahead."

Calling all sleuths with back pain: check your Symptoms Log. Did you log pain in the buttocks? Did you track sitting time? Did you track laying on the left side? Is sitting -> standing a trigger? Is walking up steps a trigger? Here are tons of things to track in your Trigger Tracker. Some diagnosis are not curable, some diagnosis are wrong -- so we are happy to share this in case this is you!

Watch the full news story here.

Find the right health care journal for you.

[thesymptomsleuth]

By David Hanscom MD from PsychologyToday.com.

"I decided that I was tired of trying to fix my pain, and I would move on, regardless of how much pain I was in. The mental pain was the worst part of the ordeal. I was obsessed with finding a way out of all of my misery and spent a reasonable amount of time reading books, trying new treatments, discussing problems with anyone who would listen, and actively engaging in counseling. I was a self-described epiphany addict. I was looking for the one answer to my pain."

If you find yourself on our blog but not clicking on the articles, this article is definitely a not-to-miss. It offers a raw, emotional, and honest description of the chronic pain experience and ever so eloquently describes his journey to recovery with tips, strategies, advice along the way. He makes connections between journaling for anxiety, sleep and anger, mindset and mindfulness. For me, I definitely could relate and hope it helps you get closer to breaking free from the grip of chronic pain.

Track your journey in our journals. :)

[thesymptomsleuth]

By Metro Creative Content from ReadingEagle.com.

"Back pain can take on various forms, ranging from a dull ache to a sharp pain. Some may experience intermittent back pain, while others may have chronic back pain. The causes can be considerable, from injury to underlying medical conditions. Alleviating back pain — or preventing it in the first place — involves understanding the common causes and taking appropriate actions."

Read 6 tips from ReadingEagle.com -->

For me, gardening and sitting in front of a computer are a huge killer due to my posture. For many, reasons may not always be so clear cut. Use the Trigger Tracker, a guided journal to help you figure out what is causing your back pain and what makes it feel better. Once you know the reason, you can take proper steps to address it. For example, I correct my posture with a $10 yoga belt I can wear under my clothes and stack my computer on books so I sit up straighter. Knowing the root cause is the first step!

[thesymptomsleuth]

By Aley Davis from KSL TV

“Getting an exercise program and walking and using the muscles can really help actually lower your chronic pain overall,” Dr. Jeremiah West [a pain management specialist] says, adding that it loosens stiff joints. “Then the synovial fluid, blood flow, everything increases, and you can have a lot more movement and the pain can decrease.”

West said endorphins, brought on by exercise, are a natural pain killer."

We know it may not always be that simple and for some conditions, walking can be a struggle. But if you can walk, it worth a try. If you can't, maybe try other options to get your body moving like cycling, swimming, arm circles... or even just standing. Track your activities and flare ups in your Trigger Tracker to see which ones help you feel better, feel more fatigue, or to track progress. How many steps did you take today, what is your goal for tomorrow or next week? Find those endorphins!Honestly, we just want you to feel better so let us know if this tip works -- if not, stay tuned, we definitely have plenty more tips where that came from!

Click here to read the full article -->

[thesymptomsleuth]

By Avery Hurt from PracticalPainManagement.com

"Research reveals that the use of metaphor and addressing themes such as isolation may improve provider-patient communication and aid in shared decision-making."

A study on how patients describe pain -->

This article is a bit of a change of pace for us since this focuses on the physician perspective. Long story short, the study suggests that we could move away from a numeric pain assessment scale and would benefit from the patients description of how the pain feels -- which sounds like, "duh" to me. The Symptoms Log utilizes a pain scale, because that's what your doctor would want to know, but there is room to really describe your pain and how it affects you.

"Patients used a variety of metaphors and descriptors to express their pain and their feelings about their pain.

One patient, according to the report, noted, “…it felt like it was underneath me and that it would suck me out and I would feel that fear, that dark horrible feeling ... it was like a dark thing that wanted to suck me out.”

Another used humor rather than horror, describing her pain as being “like having a mother in law you don’t like constantly being here, running your life, telling you what to do and what not to do ... it commands you around.”

Perhaps not all doctors have time to hear your metaphor, but it does paint a better picture for the ones that do and can help you keep the memory fresh when you describe it to them.