Document, Document, Part 2- Keeping Track

I last posted on the importance of documentation when filing for disability. Another situation where documenting is important is keeping track of something that you don't use often, such as where you put it. You may be sure it is obvious, or that you will remember, but, what if...? Two weekends ago we were at our cabin. Our main water supply comes from a big tank buried up the hill near the road. The water comes down the hill through a pipe, powered by gravity, assisted by a small pump. When the tank was buried several years ago, there was a 24" diameter neck of the tank sticking up a few inches above the ground, topped by a green domed lid. Surrounding the tank is natural, wild growth: tall grasses, wildflowers, and blackberry brambles.
My husband decided to put some chlorine in the water tank to get rid of anything growing there. He went up the road, chlorine bottle in hand, to treat the water. He came back half an hour later. Mission accomplished? Nope. As nothing can grow on the lid itself, and it is raised up from the surrounding ground, one would think that the lid would be obvious. If one thought that, one would be wrong. He came back to get me to help him search for the lid to the water tank.
The entire area is totally overgrown, the ground uneven with rocks. The weight of rain knocked the grasses down and laid them out, covering much of the ground. We searched the area with feet, hands, sticks, shovels. We sweated, we got bit by mosquitoes, but we did not find the lid to the water tank.
If only we had written down somewhere '3 feet to the left of the telephone pole and 6 feet back', If only we had a photo that showed the angle of the water tank in comparison with the cabin. If only we had, in some way, documented where the tank was located...
Voila! We got home, my husband looked on the computer, and found some pictures he had taken when the tank was put in. We were back at our cabin this past weekend. He found the tank in 3 minutes, thanks to his documentation. We had been looking in the wrong place before. Note: Keep your documentation where it will be handy when needed.
This idea applies to all kinds of things.Perhaps you have a key to an old trunk or drawer. Or something you are saving to give your daughter when she turns twelve. Or where you buried the time capsule in the back yard. Of course, you don't want to advertise where you put your valuables. Your documentation can be in shorthand only you would understand, or can be kept in your underwear drawer, if it would expose valuables
.I have a tendency to write myself notes on scraps of paper, then lose the paper. Not only should you document where you put whatever it is you want to remember, but you should also keep the documentation someplace where you will remember it. Oy. It gets so complicated. We laugh at my husband sometimes because he puts all kinds of information in his phone that no one else thinks to write down. We stop laughing and know who to go to when we need that information.
How about a recipe that you tweaked, and really liked the results? Of course you will (not) remember what you did different when you next go to use that recipe. Document it, in this case, right there on the recipe. If you can't bear to write directly in the book, or over grandma's lovely handwriting, use a sticky-note.
If you are like me, and have a laundry list of maladies, it can be hard to keep track of everything. For example, I have tried many different kinds of eye-drops, with varying results. Some burn, others itch, some don't help much, and a few actually work for me. It helps to keep a list, in case I am ever tempted by a sale or recommendation to try something I don't normally use.
Our lives are so complex, most of us have too much going on to keep track of everything. That's what calendars and address books (or contacts) are for, and any other form of documentation you choose to use.

Document, Document, Part 1- Disability

I read recently on an occupational therapy (OT) forum about an OT clinic where they say that if it isn't documented, it didn't happen. In other words, write complete and accurate notes of all therapy sessions, phone calls, etc. Documentation is so important in so many aspects of our lives.In my opinion, I think we overdo it sometimes, with people taking pictures and videos with their phones of absolutely anything and everything. On the other hand, sometimes we don't document when we should. I have a couple of specifics in mind.
Many of us with chronic illness and pain may at some point want to or need to file for disability. If so, having documentation is critical. We have no control over the documentation of our various doctors.We can tell our docs how we are functioning each time we see them, and ask that this info be included in our medical record. Hopefully, they are keeping good records, but this isn't always the case. We can ask for copies of our medical records. You have a right to see them, though some places charge a 'processing' fee.
More important than medical records are your own records. Keep a journal, documenting sleep, medications, pain levels, how your pain and/or illness affect your functioning, what it prevents you from doing, what you can and cannot do. Keep track of all your doctors' appointments, all the meds you try, and how they work for you. If you are still working, document any difficulties at work, accommodations you need, number of hours you are able to work, how you feel/ how you function at the end of a day of work. Document how your social life is affected, and anything else that you think is relevant to your functioning ability.
Also, don't be a hero. Don't tell family and friends you are fine when you aren't. I know a lot of people don't like talking about their issues, but if you believe you should get on disability, there has to be evidence that you are disabled. Don't be a complainer, but let people know when you are hurting, when/what things are difficult for you. Ask for help when needed.
Having good documentation and clear evidence that you are disabled does not guarantee that you  will get approved for disability on your first application, but t makes it much more likely.
My next post will be about another situation where documentation is very helpful.