Keeping a diary can be very helpful in monitoring how the symptoms of Parkinson’s affect you and how you respond to your medications. A written record can be an accurate reflection of your life with Parkinson’s over a period of weeks, months or years and can help in highlighting:
Writing down your own individual experiences on a day-to-day basis can also help you effectively communicate any changes to your symptoms or your feelings with your doctor. This can be very useful, particularly as appointments are often too short for doctors to ask lots of questions, and your visit may be on a day when your symptoms do not follow their general pattern. Being able to review how you have been over a period of time can help your doctor:
Furthermore, maintaining a diary can also help you track your response to medications if any adjustments have been made, to see how effective these changes have been and to determine if further adjustments are necessary.
Of course, carers can play an important part in keeping a diary, helping to prompt you to note useful information on a regular basis. Do let your carer know you are keeping a diary - they too may wish to make contributions.
One of the most famous diarists in history was Samuel Pepys. Much of what we know today about day-to-day life in 17th century London comes from his diary, which he kept for ten years. Written with intelligence and compassion he recorded in great detail many of the important episodes of the day, including: the Great Fire of London, the plague that ravaged Europe and the coronation of Charles II.
Terms used to describe people who look after or provide support, voluntarily and without payment, to relatives, partners or friends who are ill, aged or disabled.
See section on Carers.
