What to say when the doctor asks "when did it start?"
If you cannot remember the day a symptom began, you can say that. Make a note of what you do remember and keep uncertainty visible.
Look for an anchor, if you have one
A calendar entry or a dated message may help you place what you remember. "It was after the trip, but I do not know the day" keeps the useful detail without inventing a date.
Give a range or say you are unsure
You could write "sometime between the 10th and the 20th" or "I am not sure." Use a range only if it reflects what you actually remember.
Keep different dates separate
The day you first noticed a symptom, a later change, and the day you first wrote a note can be different dates. Saying which is which keeps your answer accurate.
A note for the conversation
Fill in only what you know:
- I first noticed it:
- I am unsure about:
- The first note I have is dated:
- What I want to ask:
Start a record from here
Date new notes as you make them. They give you a record of those entries, even if the original start date remains uncertain.
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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