Symptom Management
When you have a long term condition your symptoms can appear when you least expect them to. You may feel your symptoms are often difficult to manage. Symptoms such as pain, tiredness and nausea can impact on everything you do and can make you feel frustrated, depressed and having no control over your condition or what is happening to you.
There are several ways you can start to mange your symptoms and this will help improve how you are feeling:
- Learn as much as you can about your condition
- Start reading about what can make your condition worse and what can make your condition better
- Read the information leaflets your are given with your medication. It can tell you the best way to take it
- Learn if certain foods improve your condition or make it worse
- Keep a pain/symptom diary to take to your doctor when your symptoms are not well controlled
- Once you have more information, make small changes to see what makes your symptoms better
- Continue to make changes until you have found what works for you
Everyone is different and symptom management works well if you design your own management to your specific needs. By learning more about your condition you can start to recognise symptoms before they become difficult to manage. You can do something about them at an early stage You can alert your doctor or nurse before your symptoms become worse . This may even prevent you having to be admitted to hospital. By managing your symptoms you can feel less helplessness about what is happening to you and you can improve how you are feeling.
Here are some resources to help you manage your symptoms: