Check out our storefront for self-advocacy tools and consultations. Or leave us a tip to show your support. Welcome to Patient Empowerment Pulse: Real-Life Wisdom from a Professional Patient Who I Am Welcome to Patient Empowerment Pulse, a blog built on the hard-won wisdom of someone who’s lived both sides of the healthcare divide. I’m Joanna, and this is more than just a health blog—it’s a survival guide for anyone trying to navigate chronic illness, complicated care teams, and a medical system that often feels like it’s working against you. I didn’t set out to become a professional patient. I trained for a career in culinary arts. But life had other plans. Over the years, I was diagnosed with lupus, Sjögren’s syndrome, spondylitic arthritis, inflammatory-onset diabetes, and a growing list of related conditions. That’s when I discovered that all my professional training didn’t fully prepare me for what it means to actually live this every day. This blog is where I share the str...
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Living with a chronic illness means living with constant variables—flares that come out of nowhere, energy that evaporates before noon, and appointments where you’re expected to remember everything. It’s exhausting.
That’s why I created this monthly printable symptom tracker: a single, calming page you can print and use as often as you need. No apps. No log-ins. No tiny boxes or clinical overwhelm. Just a clear, compassionate tool for real life.
Why Tracking Matters
When you live in a body that doesn’t play by the rules, your patterns are your power. Tracking gives you:
- A clearer sense of what’s improving or declining
- Data you can share with your care team
- A sense of rhythm, even on chaotic days
- Peace of mind that you’re not imagining things
But traditional trackers? They’re often overwhelming or built for people with totally different needs. I wanted something spoonie-friendly, binder-ready, and nonjudgmental.
What Makes This One Different
This tracker was designed for bodies like mine—bodies that need compassion, not perfection. It includes space for:
- Wake HR / Sleep quality
- Main symptoms (pain, fatigue, GI issues, flares, etc.)
- Energy level
- Medications taken
- Food notes (optional, but helpful for pattern spotting)
- Movement or pacing activity
- “Other Notes” for things like mood, hydration, hormones, or triggers
It’s undated and reusable. Just print as many as you need and tuck them in your care binder or bring them to appointments.
Download the Tracker
You can get the Monthly Symptom Tracker on my Ko-Fi store: ko-fi.com/patientempowermentpulse
Whether you’re newly diagnosed or years into managing your condition, this simple sheet can help bring your health picture into focus—without adding stress.
You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to start where you are. This tracker is here for that.
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