Utah Hemophilia Foundation

Can you remember what you were wearing seven days ago? Did you drink one or two glasses of milk the last time you had cookies? Can you remember the date of your last dentist appointment?

In today’s busy world there is so much going on; it is hard to remember things that aren’t written down. That is why taking the time to journal or log any bleeds and your factor infusions is so important.

As the Mountain States Hemophilia Treatment Center (HTC) team in Salt Lake City, we are committed to providing the highest quality and most current care for children and adults with bleeding disorders. As part of that mission, we want every visit tailored to your needs. One of the best ways to learn about those needs is to look over your factor logs.

So why is it important for us to know your bleeding history?
Each visit we check if your current treatment plan could be improved. Without accurate records of your bleeds, how you treated the bleeds, as well as how the bleed responded, it is challenging to create a plan of care specific to your needs. Logs are a valuable source of information that can help us identify if changing the time of day you give the factor, the days you give it, or the dose, would improve your health. Logs can also help identify if further testing is needed.

What to include in the “factor log” and WHY?:

 Purpose of the infusion (prophylaxis vs. joint, muscle or other type of bleed)

• Some bleeds require more factor than others. Call us if you need help to figure out if you need to give factor or how much to give.
• You may be developing a target joint and not realize it. A target joint is defined as having four or more bleeds in the same joint in a six-month period of time.
• Your bleed may not be responding as you would expect. For example, muscle bleeds often take longer to heal than joint bleeds, whereas soft tissue bleeds look bad but can heal fairly quickly.

 Amount of factor given (include the lot number, located on the box)

• It is important to know the amount so we can help you use the appropriate amount of factor. This can reduce waste when bleeds are treated appropriately.
• The lot number is important in the event of a “product recall.”

 Response to the factor infusion (how quickly did the bleed resolve / start to feel better)

• If we know how you responded to your factor, we can change your treatment plan so you have the best response and shortest healing time.

Logs can be kept electronically, or there are paper logs that come in a variety of formats. Do you like a large calendar that has room for writing? Do you prefer something small that you can keep with you all time? We have several formats to choose from at the HTC and would be happy to send you a log.

Of course, even accurate logs won’t do much good if you leave them at home. Please bring them with you at your next HTC clinic visit. Then, if even if you can’t remember what color socks you wore six months ago, you can still provide an accurate log so that we can work together to achieve your optimal health.

Looking forward to seeing you at your next annual comprehensive visit!

The Mountain States HTC Team: Dr. Hassan Yaish & Dr. George Rodgers, Renee Marlette, Heidi Lane, Susan Gohn, and Susan Earl