If you have a chronic illness, you’re probably used to having to go to a wide variety of doctors & specialists to manage your conditions. I’ve always found it easier to make notes to take to appointments. I struggle with my memory & don’t want to forget to discuss something important. I started a bullet journal in July & I’ve been loving it. So today, I thought I’d show you how I bullet journal doctor’s appointments. As with all thing bullet journal, there is more than one way to go about it, but I hope this gives you some useful ideas.
In my bullet journal, I have a diary section at the front & my collections at the back. This way, they will eventually meet in the middle. It also helps me keep things flowing better for me rather than have collections breaking up the diary section. If you haven’t already & would like to, check out my Bullet Journal Setup.
So at the back of my bullet journal, I (generally) assign a page per appointment to bullet journal doctor’s appointments. Because I see my GP at least once a month & appointments are shorter, I usually have 2 appointments worth of notes per page. As I have a lot to discuss when I meet my gastro, I’ve devoted two pages to that appointment, one side for my dysphagia symptoms & the other for my stomach concerns. This is one of the things I love about bullet journalling, you can change it to suit you & your situation at the time.
I keep my bullet journal next to me most of the time. This makes it easier to get all of the information I need for my appointments together. If I experience a symptom, I write it down then & there. Once I have the appointment date, this goes into the main diary part. Next to the appointment entry, I add the page number for that appointment’s notes. Each page has a title & I put the date of the appointment next to it, so I can refer back & know what I discussed at previous appointments.
I write all my bullet journal doctor’s appointments notes in blue pen. When I’m in the appointment, I use a black pen to mark off points once I’ve discussed them. So my note mark of – becomes +. This helps me to keep a track of what I’ve mentioned & what I haven’t, so that I don’t miss anything. I mark particularly important things with an *. If there’s anything that doesn’t get mentioned in an appointment, the – becomes an → & moves to the next appointment’s notes. If there are any notes I need to make while in the appointment, I find it helpful to have them in a different coloured pen, so that I can tell the difference easily between what I planned & what happened in the appointment.
As I bullet journal doctors appointments this way, it means that all my information is together. This is particularly useful if one of my consultants asks me something about another condition, or appointment with another consultant. All I have to do is flip to the relevant page & all the information is there for me. No need to rely on my memory, which we all know never ends well for me!
Do you bullet journal doctor’s appointments? Do you use a similar system to me or something else?
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This is a really good idea! I love how you note everything down as this makes it much more coherent to keep track of symptoms. I have been trying to use a migraine diary but never manage to keep it properly. Just dedicating some pages at the back of my calendar might actually do the trick…thanks for the inspiration!
Christina ♥ https://caliope-couture.com
Thanks you so much Christina! I struggle with my migraine diary. I’m supposed to keep a pain score every day, but with how emotionally difficult things have been recently, I can’t bare to end the day with a negative but focussing on how bad the pain is. I know my neurologist isn’t going to be happy, but I hope he understands that I’ve been trying to look after my mental health. I really hope this works for you. Xx
Such a great idea and way to use the Bullet Journal. Unfortunately as much as I love planners I’ve found they don’t work for me as a lot of my life is last minute or spontaneous so I’m finding new ways to work with that.
Victoria x
FlorenceandMary.com
Thank you so much! It just sort of happened this way & it really works for me. I can completely understand a planner like this not working as well if life is unexpected or last minute. Have you tried iCal or similar? That way your diary is on your phone, so always with you. Xx
I’m dabbling with the basic iphone calendar at the moment which is working. Because I spend most of my time in the office for my ‘day job’ I’m using the work calendar so now I send the various app I do put in that are personal to this so I have a record of sorts. xx
My husband loves his iCalendar. If you want him to do anything or not book something else on a specific day it HAS to be put in his iCalendar. He has about 5 different calendars for different things running on the same app & it works really well for him. I’ve not got on with it for myself, but I prefer having something more tangible. Xx
That’s such a good idea and so detailed, I don’t think I would have the patience to do one and my hands would be so sore, I find writing things down hard and painful but it looks great!! xx
Zoe ♥ MammafulZo
Thanks Zoe! I tend to write each point as they happen, so it’s only a little writing at a time. I couldn’t manage it all in one go, I don’t think my hands or my concentration could cope! I’m really pleased I’ve found a way to organise my thoughts & love that I have all the information ready should a different consultant ask. Xx
Thankfully, I don’t have a chronic illness and rarely go to the doctors, but this post has been so interesting! I’ve been toying with the idea of a bullet journal for a while but it seems so overwhelming. I wish I wasn’t so lazy haha!
– Nishi x
http://www.nishiv.com
I’m so glad you liked it! I haven’t found bullet journal overwhelming at all, so it may be worth giving it a try if you have a spare notebook & see how you get on. Xx
I always take notes to my doc appointments as well. It’s the only way to ensure I don’t forget something important! Lately, I have been taking down notes on whatever paper is handy. Your post has given me the motivation to once again keep everything in the one place – it makes so much more sense!
It’s such a relief to know that it’s not just me who struggles to remember things. I’ve been making notes for many years to take to appointments, but I think having them in my bullet journal has been my favourite way. It’s so easy to have everything together. Xx
Hi,
My Doctors use my chart, however they work for two separate hospital systems. I print out the visit summary and put it in my travel notes. Writing any additional questions on the summary. In my chart, I can also message my Doctors with questions and updates. Hope you are doing well. Thank you for sharing this helpful information.