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Detect your Allergens via Your Journal
On
this page, there are two suggested approaches for a "food/allergy Journal"
. Co-ordinate both for faster problem solving, or choose one. One approach is: |
Put these forms into a computer data-base, or take the form to a copy shop and mak many copies, to put into a loose-leaf notebook. In the notebook, dividers can be used to separate each event record or each symptom record , depending on the kind of record you choose. To understand this more, read on.
Event Based Allergy Journal Record Form
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Event Based Allergy Journal Record Form
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Event Based Allergy Journal Record Form date food kind of symptom degree of reaction body part/function affected |
In a "Symptom Based Allergy Journal"
notebook or data base you would have a record for each
symptom, such as "Itching" that you are experiencing. Each symptom's
record would be a section in your notebook and could have many pages of
entries.. At the top of the "Symptom Based Allergy Journal" have
the name of the symptom and columns for Probability, Date , Location, Food
Name and whatever else. Roughly columns, or rows, for a "Allergy Symptom
Based Record" notebook, could look like this:
"Itchy Eyes" Symptom Notebook Record Section. This section could contain many pages ice cream. Three scoops (Probability 4/10) 7/5/97 yogurt , quantity, (Probability 3/10) 7/7/97 chocolate milk , quantity, (Probability 6/10) 7/11/97 This could continue for as long as needed until patterns are discovered. |
"Itchy neck" Symptom Notebook Record Section. This section could contain many pages cologne , quantity, (Probability /10) date lipstick , quantity, (Probability /10) date corn fritters , quantity, (Probability /10) date This could continue for as long as necessary until patterns are discovered. |
"Mild Asthma" Symptom Notebook Record Section roast beef sandwich , quantity, (Probability 3/10) 9/31/97 chocolate cookies , quantity, (Probability 3/10) 10/18/97 sirloin steak , quantity, (Probability 5/10) 10/5/97 hamburger , quantity, (Probability 7/10) 10/20/97 Do you see the discovery above happening?) This could continue for as long as necessary until patterns are discovered.. |
You may want to add fields titled, "Time" and "Location" to allow for the possibillity that your allergic symptom is not food based which is a great possiblity.
If you are going to use this "Allergy Symptom Based Record", it might be good to have the page in "horizontal/landscape alignment" to give you more space to write on each line.
The more information the better.
Too much is information is better than too little in this case.
An explanation of the importance of each entry in the journal.
"Date" is important as it may give hints such as seasonal variations, or habits you have on certain days or times.
"Trial number" is important so you can see that this has happened 5 times which means it is pretty clear that this is a problem.
"Time to react" is important as this give a clue to the degree of sensitivity. Perhaps you only had a few grains of the "stuff" yet it reacted immediately. You may think that is a mild reation. It is not. A quick reaction tells you to be very very cautious about this food. If yu eat it again in larger quantities the reaction could be much greater.You may forget in a few months unless you write it in your Journal.
"Degreee of reaction" is important so you won't torture yourself by eating this thing again.
The "Body part function affected..." is crucial to finding a pattern to your reactions. If your hands itch sometimes, it could be that one food causes that kind of reaction more than other foods. Discovering which food will be a "Godsend".
"Relieved by..." is important to remember so you can find relief again in the best way with least medication if you eat this food again.
"Future action/behavior..." is important as it is a record of your plans. You will forget otherwise. Don't forget your good ideas.
Using a "Health/allergy Journal" will prevent suffering the same problems over and over. (You will forget and repeat otherwise)
Using a "Health/allergy Journal" will help you to discover patterns. The patterns can lead to changes in your choices that will benefit you.
The "Health/allergy Journal" will allow your doctor who doesn't believe what agony you are going through to take you more seriously and to make more informed recommendations.
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