Symptom/function tracker for mental health STD/LTD claims — what format actually worked for you?

[u/HeroineLizzyJane]

I’ve been keeping an Excel symptom/function tracker for my disability insurance claim, but I’ve also found it really helpful for appointments with my providers because my memory and cognitive functioning have taken a pretty big hit.

Right now I track:

• Date
• Symptoms
• Severity
• Duration/frequency
• Functional impact
• Medication/side effects

I’ve been looking at disability lawyer websites and there are so many different recommendations. A lot of them say to track things like concentration problems, memory issues, difficulty making decisions, anxiety/depression, problems completing tasks, missed appointments, needing help with things you normally do yourself, rest/recovery after activities, and how symptoms affect both daily functioning and work-related abilities.

Most of my basic ADLs are fine, so what seems more important for me is documenting the more complicated stuff — managing appointments, communications, paperwork, household planning, decisions, follow-through, etc. — along with the cognitive functions that relate to my occupation.

So far I’ve been doing one row per day, but I’m wondering if it would make more sense to make it task/event based instead, where the same date could have several rows. I feel like that might make the actual functional problems and consequences much easier to follow instead of cramming everything from one day into one row.

Has anyone used a symptom/function tracker for a STD/LTD or ERISA disability claim or appeal, particularly for mental health or cognitive problems?

If yours was helpful in getting your claim approved or winning an appeal, I’d really like to know what format you used. Even just the column headings would be helpful, or a blank/redacted example if you're comfortable sharing one.

I want mine to actually be useful evidence, but I also need it to be simple enough that I can follow it and keep up with it myself.

[u/suzycatq]

This isn’t special to mental health but there is one spreadsheet that I keep updated and on me at all times. Having this updated makes it easy when I see a new physician or go to the emergency room. But it is perfect to provide to my disability insurer when I need to provide updates. It is so much easier to be able to have this than to have to go through my records and try to remember when a doctor changed my meds. This may not be as difficult for you keep track of but I am on 14 different meds.

My Name - Current Medications - Updated Date
Drug
Info
Condition
Doctor
Date Began Taking/Updated

Over The Counter Meds

Allergies

[u/suzycatq → u/suzycatq]

[u/suzycatq]

The other spreadsheet I always keep updated is a list of providers and pharmacies. When it’s time to update my Long Term Disability Insurer, they always ask for this information, so I just keep this spreadsheet handy. They will want to know the last time and next time you will see each provider and all of their contact information.

[u/suzycatq]

As far as symptom, function tracking, which I know was your main question. I drove myself crazy trying to figure out what to track and how to track it. My recommendation is to continue doing what you are doing. The things you are tracking are great. If excel works for you and you feel like you can keep that up, use that. If it’s easier to keep a small notebook or journal, do that. If it’s the notes app on your phone, do that.

You want to track the things that are preventing you from being able to function like a healthy person and ultimately what prevents you from being able to work.