What makes it better or worse: notes for your appointment
Most intake forms ask two questions side by side: what makes it worse, and what makes it better. You can answer both from short notes you make as things happen.
What were you doing when it got worse?
Write the activity in plain words, such as sitting at a desk, lifting a bag, a long drive or a bad night of sleep. You are describing what happened around it, not deciding the cause.
What have you tried?
List what you tried and what happened afterwards, in your own words. Include things you stopped, too:
- heat or ice
- rest or a change of position
- stretching or a walk
- a medication, with the dose you took
- a change of pillow, chair or shoes
Did it help?
Write what you noticed afterwards: "Easier for about an hour", "No change" or "Worse the next morning." Your doctor can ask follow-up questions from there.
Keep the dates separate
Date each note when you write it. When you first tried something and when you first wrote it down can be different days, so label which is which.
A note to take with you
Copy the prompts that matter to you:
- It gets worse when:
- It gets easier when:
- What I tried, and what happened:
- Date of this note:
- What I want to ask:
To put your notes on one printable page, use the free visit summary.
Related guidance: NHS: preparing for an appointment
Keep dated notes in Ever Since
A symptom entry can include where it is, how strong it feels, and your own words. Each entry keeps the date it was logged. Symptom logging is included in the free plan.
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