Table 4.
Top 3 self-management strategies for the top 10 Symptoms
| Symptoms | Top 3 Strategies | n | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall low energy or fatigue | Specific activities | 76 | Stay inside and rest, took smaller chunks of activity, sleep hygiene |
| Take Medication | 23 | Take sleeping aid, take medication for energy | |
| Increase physical activity | 19 | Forced myself to exercise more, walk | |
|
| |||
| Muscle aches/pain | Take medications | 101 | Aleve, Ibuprofen |
| Specific Activities | 15 | Jacuzzi, hot baths, massage, ice, stretching | |
| Activity Reduction | 10 | Rest | |
|
| |||
| Depression | Take medication | 83 | Zoloft, Welbutrin, took my meds |
| Specific Activities | 14 | Go to store, got a dog | |
| Seek Help from healthcare professionals | 12 | Made an appointment for therapy, I see psychologist for grief therapy | |
|
| |||
| Anxiety or fear | Take medication | 85 | Took prescribed Anxiety meds |
| Specific Activities | 24 | Relax, go for walks around the block | |
| Complementary or alternative health activities | 11 | Meditation, diaphragmatic breathing, exercise | |
|
| |||
| Difficulty Staying Asleep | Take medication | 64 | Remeron, Zolpidem, Nyquil |
| Specific Activities | 18 | Heat or cold compression, I read | |
| Substance Use | 7 | Switch to wine instead of vodka martini, smoke weed | |
|
| |||
| Difficulty Falling Asleep | Take medication | 91 | Sleeping pill, took medicine, pain meds, take pill |
| Specific activities | 11 | Avoid taking naps during the day, took warm showers | |
| Substance Use | 11 | Drink, cannabis | |
|
| |||
| Neuropathy | Take Medication | 57 | Gabapentin, Lyrica, opioid pain meds, Tramadol, methadone, benzodiazepine |
| Specific Activities | 11 | Stopped walking, shaking it out, baths with Epsom salt | |
| Wait | 6 | Wait till it’s over, nothing, I sucked it up and took it | |
|
| |||
| Decreased sex drive | Take Medication | 21 | Took male enhancement pills |
| Specific Activities | 19 | Masturbate, stopped having sex, don’t get in relationships or dating, watch more porn | |
| Wait | 3 | I have not done anything, just live with it, just waited until I felt in the mood again | |
|
| |||
| Difficulty Remembering things | Specific Activities | 43 | Write myself notes, use datebook for reminders of appointments and tasks, tried to put things in a consistent location, verbalizing |
| Take Medication | 8 | Medication, Antidepressants | |
| Wait | 7 | Wait patiently until problem goes away, nothing but lay down and try to recall what I did | |
|
| |||
| Difficulty concentrating/Easily distracted | Specific Activities | 27 | Try to limit distractions, used post-it notes, frequent breaks from reading, quit my job, exercise my memory |
| Take Medication | 16 | Medications | |
| Manage thoughts/attitudes | 3 | Redirected myself on new task | |