The symptom file
- Date and time: record the event and each meaningful change.
- Symptom language: use the person’s own words, plus a simple intensity or frequency description.
- Function: record what became harder — reading, screens, driving, shifts, classes, exercise, or sleep.
- Care: preserve visit summaries, restrictions, referrals, and follow-up instructions.
Keep the sequence intact
A file is easier to understand when it distinguishes contemporaneous notes from later recollection. Do not backfill a precise time that is not known; mark uncertainty clearly.