I hope that everyone has a wonderful Christmas on this special day...May you all know that when I write, I write from my heart, and my heart is wishing you a day of no pain....so you may enjoy this day to the fullest! Keep close to those that you love, those that love you, that bring you joy and laughter, a feeling of being cared for and safe...take a moment to be thankful for the dawn we are given, which brings us a new day, a new set of choices, adventures, and a chance to not only change our lives, but change the world through those choices....for we are all connected....all we do affects someone, somewhere, somehow.
Even though my life is very hard--having this pain every day...I am so blessed to have had many wonderful and unexpected experiences in my life....as odd and as beautiful as they range, I would not change anything I have done, seen, heard, touched, or chose. For they were meant to be...every single one of them....every experience...person...place...words...they have all had a profound effect on my life.
For I would not be who I am today, had I not experienced my life exactly the way it has occurred. The hazing accident at 16 in the van that rolled, me--like a shoe in a dryer in the back...Mary...the only other girl in the back with me....the other shoe...it was all meant to happen just the way it did. My pregnancy, on the other side of the world, encompassing the worst thing that has ever happened to me...also gave me the best thing that has happened....my son...healthy and perfect; gorgeous and funny, intelligent and complex....my only baby....and the star in my life.
Let us be thankful today for all that has occurred in our lives....as tough as times are right now, may we know we are blessed with a roof over our heads, warm and with a place to lay our heads...our aching backs....our hearts....our lives.
I am Thankful.
Merry Christmas!
"The Only Constant in Life....is Change."
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
Learn Medical Terminology With Me; New Feature!
I'd like to add to my blog from now on, a tidbit of medical knowledge for those who don't always understand right away the often-used, often-misunderstood medical terminology used by doctors, pharmacists, nurses, etc. We are used to using medical terminology in our daily lives in talking, charting, phone calls, ordering, reading, and so forth, and it is easy to slip and use those same words with those that just don't understand them.
It is usually the nurses that take the time to make sure we translate the 'med-speak' (the two words I'll use, simply short for Medical Terminology,) to layman's terms for our patients. After all, we are patient advocates, and when we explain and teach patients and families about a diagnosis, illness, prognosis, wound care, medications, etc., we make sure to use language that anyone can understand. Oh, we may slip up and throw in a 'med-speak' now and then, but it is the families or patients that then go into the, "Layman's terms please" mode, reminding us all to use the correct version of speaking about these issues with our patients and families/caretakers.
When I use a medical term, from now on in my blog, I will mark it with-- *** (three asterisks), and translate the word into layman's' terms right after that, so there will be some possible new words for you to learn and carry with you through your visits to your doctors, visits to the hospital, procedures, and pharmacies. I must note here that Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians, do a great job of translating most information for you into wording anyone can understand, so as to make sure that you understand the directions, side effects, etc. of your medications. For the most part, all medical personnel try to do this for their patients.
This is just a small learning tool, and I've received many emails and comments related to this blog; on having such good medical information, from those that read or write blogs on a Chronic disease or Chronic Pain, etc., from a patient-only point of view, and have really enjoyed learning some basic medical knowledge here and there throughout my blog.
Look for the ***'s, that will follow the medical term used, then the basic layman's term. I hope that this will help you to assimilate yourself into the very confusing world, of all the medical words thrown around so easily, in all that we encounter in our lives of pain!
Gentle Hugs to all.......
"Some birds are not meant to be caged.....I guess their feathers are just too bright."
The Shawshank Redemption
It is usually the nurses that take the time to make sure we translate the 'med-speak' (the two words I'll use, simply short for Medical Terminology,) to layman's terms for our patients. After all, we are patient advocates, and when we explain and teach patients and families about a diagnosis, illness, prognosis, wound care, medications, etc., we make sure to use language that anyone can understand. Oh, we may slip up and throw in a 'med-speak' now and then, but it is the families or patients that then go into the, "Layman's terms please" mode, reminding us all to use the correct version of speaking about these issues with our patients and families/caretakers.
When I use a medical term, from now on in my blog, I will mark it with-- *** (three asterisks), and translate the word into layman's' terms right after that, so there will be some possible new words for you to learn and carry with you through your visits to your doctors, visits to the hospital, procedures, and pharmacies. I must note here that Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians, do a great job of translating most information for you into wording anyone can understand, so as to make sure that you understand the directions, side effects, etc. of your medications. For the most part, all medical personnel try to do this for their patients.
This is just a small learning tool, and I've received many emails and comments related to this blog; on having such good medical information, from those that read or write blogs on a Chronic disease or Chronic Pain, etc., from a patient-only point of view, and have really enjoyed learning some basic medical knowledge here and there throughout my blog.
Look for the ***'s, that will follow the medical term used, then the basic layman's term. I hope that this will help you to assimilate yourself into the very confusing world, of all the medical words thrown around so easily, in all that we encounter in our lives of pain!
Gentle Hugs to all.......
"Some birds are not meant to be caged.....I guess their feathers are just too bright."
The Shawshank Redemption
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Get Your Medical Questions Answered By Experts At Wellsphere
The following is a Press Release by Dr. Geoff Rutledge, MD PhD. He is the very special man who created Wellsphere, a site where anyone can go and have their medical or psychological questions answered by experts in that field, consisting of Doctors, Nurses, Psychologists, and other Medical Personnel.
The site also has a wealth of health information, from losing weight and making goals for yourself, to reading Blogs that the Wellsphere members write. It would do you good to visit, and it has to be the cheapest way these tough days to get one of your health questions answered.
I am proud to be a Health Maven myself on the Wellsphere Site, and have had the blessing to answer questions from those that are obviously in great need of an answer. It gives me a great feeling of helping others, which is why I entered the field of Nursing in the first place!
Press Release Below:
The site also has a wealth of health information, from losing weight and making goals for yourself, to reading Blogs that the Wellsphere members write. It would do you good to visit, and it has to be the cheapest way these tough days to get one of your health questions answered.
I am proud to be a Health Maven myself on the Wellsphere Site, and have had the blessing to answer questions from those that are obviously in great need of an answer. It gives me a great feeling of helping others, which is why I entered the field of Nursing in the first place!
Press Release Below:
Recession Special: Free answers from doctors and expert patients who truly care
Wellsphere’s Health Mavens provide free answers to millions of health seekers
In these difficult economic times, it’s comforting to know there are medical and patient experts out there who care enough to answer health questions online for free. Dr. Geoff Rutledge, MD PhD, Wellsphere’s Chief Medical Information Officer, told reporters today about the new Health Maven Program, which connects volunteer doctors, psychologists, nurses, personal trainers, expert-patients and other experts with health seekers who are looking for answers. Anyone with access to the Internet can get their health questions and concerns answered quickly and at no cost at www.wellsphere.com/ .
Health mavens are carefully selected, knowledgeable, health experts who are committed to helping others live healthier, happier lives. Hundreds of Health Mavens have volunteered to join the program and answer questions, with new Mavens signing up every day. “We’re witnessing an incredible growth in the number of people using the Internet to find health information” said Wellsphere’s CEO Ron Gutman. According to an iCrossing research report, for the first time in history people with health questions are more likely to turn to the Web for answers than to their doctor. “Recognizing this trend among our users, we assembled the world’s leading network of over 1,800 medical and patient experts to share their experiences and expertise with Wellsphere.com’s almost 3 million monthly visitors. We are humbled by the experience, expertise and genuine care these wonderful individuals share every day with people who come to Wellsphere looking for answers” said Gutman.
In addition to providing a wonderful service to people seeking answers to their health questions, the Health Maven program allows participating medical professionals and patient experts to broaden their impact by sharing their experiences and expertise with a much wider audience, and to get the recognition they deserve. Here are a few of their comments:
"Being a Health Maven gives me the opportunity to interact directly with the Wellsphere community. It's been a lot of fun and professionally it's incredibly rewarding." - Melissa McCreery, PhD
"Wellsphere has taken caring to a new level and I'm glad to be a part of it," - Kathleen Blanchard, RN
"I enjoy being a maven - it seems that doling out advice and answering questions seems to be my calling in life." - Lynn Dorman, PhD
To find out more about the Health Maven program, please visit http://www.Wellsphere.com/
--
Geoffrey Rutledge, MD PhD
Chief Medical Information Officer
Wellsphere
Dr.Rutledge@wellsphere.com
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Are You Leaving The Pharmacy With YOUR Meds?
This post may open the eyes of many patients that must visit the Pharmacy often, picking up prescribed medications for pain, or other illnesses. Many of us just run in or drive through, pick them up, pay, and leave.
When you pay for those medications, and leave the pharmacy, you are now responsible for what is in your bag. How do you really know that your meds are in that already closed and stapled bag? Have any of you ever gone home to find that not only are the wrong medications in the bag, but there may be an indiscriminate amount of the meds that are yours; but not the amount, or dosage your doctor prescribed.
Also to look for on the bottle are the main things that the Pharmacy has the responsibility to fulfill, and these are the things that they check to make sure that the correct dosage has been prescribed and filled, the correct amount filled, to the correct person, by your doctor, with their name on the bottle, their phone number, your phone number, and your address.
Yes, this seems like double checking what the Pharmacist has already double checked. They usually fill meds automatically with a computer-only ability to access certain schedules of medications. Then, they count the meds by hand, for the double check. We all know how busy most Pharmacies are, and considering all the different people they fill for, all the range of meds they must work with, and all under a certain amount of time, when requested prescriptions come in from the doctors office, that is a lot of work. As in any job, there are mistakes to be made, hopefully inadvertently.
I am no way putting down Pharmacies, I respect very highly what they all do there, whether the Pharmacist, the pharmacy Technicians, or the cashier, who is usually one of the above two. I just know, from a great Pharmacist friend, that they are usually over worked, and there are many times they are either short an actual Pharmacist, putting the one left there to fill all the scripts, putting more pressure on them. Some companies, especially the bigger ones, may need to call in a Pharmacist that is a fill-in, and who is not familiar with the store, where everything is, does not know the regular patients, and may be either over-worked, or over the top on who you really are when you pick up your meds.
I have always found it very disturbing that basically anyone can go in, say they are picking up for "Joe Smith", and receive Joe Smith's meds without showing ID, and here we run into a problem that is not easily rectified. What if Joe Smith just had surgery and literally cannot pick up his own meds, and sends his family members, or a friend to pick up his meds. There are people who are in such pain when meds are due and ready, that they must send someone else to pick them up. This is a situation that I find no answer to. But if someone is hanging around the Pharmacy, hears the patient at the counter leave their scripts, enough is usually talked about between the staff and the patient to alert that person that a script or 2 will be ready to be picked up in an hour or so. When the time comes for pickup, that person could easily go to the counter, say they are picking up for ''Joe Smith", and usually no questions are asked, unless the patient had made a point of telling the staff that they will be picking them up, waiting for them, or shopping in the store while they wait for the meds to be ready. What about "Joe Smith's" meds that were turned in by someone, and the person hanging around in a waiting chair hears enough to be interested in the meds, he/she can then go to the counter, say they are picking up for 'Joe', and basically pay and walk out with someone else's medications. HIPPA rules and regs say the privacy of patients comes first, but I have never heard low voices used when a Tech asks for your phone number, address, etc., which can be easily written down and used by the false person who then picks up 'Joes' meds for 'him'.
To save yourself the problem of taking home either someone else's meds, or ending up with a short amount of your own meds, there is a solution. As 'silly' as it may sound, or look to others waiting in line, remember they are not the ones to worry about here in this situation. These are your meds, your lifeline to be able to lead a life of some sort, and those that have to pay the full price amount, will not feel shortchanged.
When the Pharmacist or Pharmacy Technician, brings your already stapled bags to you upon check out, do we really know what exactly is in those closed bags? Remember, as soon as you leave the Pharmacy, they do not know if you have reached in and scooped out some, then gone back and complained that the full amount was not there.
I am not saying that you need to count out every single medication. To do that properly, you need the little blue counter that they use to hand count your meds, and then pour them in the bottle. You can not pour them out on the counter, (unsanitary), or try to count them while in the bottle, but if you have been taking the same meds for a long time, it is quite easy to eyeball the amount dispensed.
I am suggesting that you: Open the stapled bag and look at the label, make sure that you check that it is prescribed to you, it is the right medication, the right dosage, the right amount, and the right price. After that check in front of the Pharmacy Tech or Pharmacist, you have made sure that you are getting YOUR meds! If you can make this fill on a Monday through Friday, (I know that is not always possible), at least if there is any problem, the Pharmacy can call your doctor then and there for you, if there are any discrepancies.
This is just one more bag unstapled in our lives of the many stapled bags that will liberate us, and allow us, the patient; to have full control over a most important part of our pain or illness therapies.
Gentle Hugs to all....
"The Only Constant in Life....is Change."
Monday, November 17, 2008
Guest Blogger Rosalind Joffe Today
Here is the Guest Post from Rosalind Joffe, THE resource for Professionals with Chronic Illness! She writes about the subject of: How people of different age groups respond to the news of a life before them, living with Chronic Illness. This is fantastic information, and is found in her Book; Women Work and Autoimmune Disease: Keep Working Girlfriend.
Rosalind writes:
How do people respond to living with a disease that is unstable and chronic? Swedish researchers (on young people with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis) found that it takes them time to digest this news and get used to it. It “…. involves complex challenges on coping strategies and adjustment processes”.
I have a hunch that if you’re reading this blog, this isn’t news to you. I’ve seen - - from my own experience, that of my clients and the people whom I interviewed for the book, Women Work and Autoimmune Disease: Keep Working Girlfriend!, -- that how you respond to disease diagnosis is strongly influenced by other life events, such as your job/career and your personal life.
As I described in my book, people who live with illness from a young age (childhood through the teen years) usually respond in one of two ways: either they over correct by severely limiting their hopes and expectations or they draw strength from the experience and clarity about what they are capable of so they can make realistic life and career plans that are likely to succeed.
On the other hand, when disease hits in early adulthood, typically you have completed your training and are building your career. These are also, for women, the prime years for childbearing and raising a family. When you’re adjusting to a new diagnosis or disease symptoms, you generally don’t have much “wiggle room” to explore other options. Too often, balancing family and career doesn’t leave energy, time nor the money to re-tool your career to adjust to your health needs.
Finally, in the middle years, (ages 40 – 55) disease onset can be emotionally tough. You’ve created a life around being a healthy person. You need time to integrate this new information. Most people are usually sufficiently well established in their personal lives and careers and make adjustments without tremendous upheaval. Their children are older and not as physically demanding, marriages are more durable and they’ve built a track record in their career that allows them to step back with more flexibility.
Developing unpredictable and chronic disease isn’t easy at any stage in life, regardless of whatever else you’re dealing with. One thing, however, is for certain. Nothing can prepare you for living with chronic illness. And no matter when onset occurs, you’re going to need time to adjust to this as being a part, although not all, of your life.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Guest Blogger Rosalind Joffe on Nov. 17th!!
I am more than excited to announce that Rosalind Joffe, The Chronic
Illness Coach, and THE resource for Professionals with Chronic Illnesses, will be a Guest Blogger here on Monday, Nov. 17, 2008. A great way to start the week!!
Shauna
"The Only Constant in Life....is Change."
Illness Coach, and THE resource for Professionals with Chronic Illnesses, will be a Guest Blogger here on Monday, Nov. 17, 2008. A great way to start the week!!
Her "Women, Work, and Autoimmune Disease: Keep Working, Girlfriend" virtual book tour has begun, and she will be a Guest Blogger on other fantastic disability/ hidden illnesses/ pain blogs in the month of November.
Please stop by on Monday, Nov. 17th, and read Rosalind's guest writings on my Blog. I have never had a guest Blogger so I am very happy about her being here!!
Below is Rosalind's information. Her website is full of information, and you can sign up for her wonderful posts. Hope to see you here on the 17th!!
Shauna
Rosalind Joffe
http://www.cicoach.com
The resource for professionals living with Chronic Illness
Rosalind@cicoach.com
617.969.1930
Visit our blog at http://www.WorkingWithChronicIllness.com
"The Only Constant in Life....is Change."
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Is Your Medication Ready For Evacuation?
As October breezes it's way into Southern California, so does the very breezy Santa Ana Winds, a novelty to our area, and a firefighter's worst nightmare. Add some very dry brush, a lack of rain, (again), to the area, and still summer-like temps of up to 100 in the Valleys and Inland areas.
The first set of fires threatening homes, people, animals; started almost as if on schedule. To let us all know it was time to look at our kits for evacuation, whether it is for a fire, flood, earthquake or hurricane, tornado, thunderstorm....all the nature we live with; slamming the ground with such force that we need to leave. And FAST!!
Are you ready? It is not only important papers that need to go with you, but all of your medications, if you take them on a daily basis.
It is a good idea in any home with possible meds that are readily stolen by many people, these drugs are to be locked away at all times, and the rest kept on your person during the day. The bottles keep you safe with the law,instead of just keeping meds in a little carrier for the day. Many times, people will carry their meds that way, but this presents a problem: If you are stopped and the police find a medication holder full of different pills with no name, no doctor's name, etc. These MUST be kept on your person in the prescription bottle the meds came in originally.
When you lock up the bulk of your meds, make sure they are all in the same container that is either part of, or with your documents and other important papers. That way, if you need to evacuate, you and your meds will be together and no thought of withdrawal with have to enter minds.
During Katrina, and the suddenness of the levy breaks, many, many people had no time or chance to gather anything, they headed for their roofs to simply save their lives.
When I saw on TV the different people that were Chronically Ill, and had no insulin, no heart meds, no pain meds, nothing; I immediately thought of those with Pain and possible other illnesses. How hard it would be to go through evacuation, which must be painful to all bodies getting rescued from a helicopter, then know that you have no medicine to take. NOTHING. Then what? Some will begin to go into a diabetic shock, be completely incoherent, no food, no sugar, no carbs right away to stop the quite out of range blood sugar.
When you think of a person who has chronic pain, the meds taken most often are the very ones that begin a withdrawal syndrome in the patient very quickly. It just happens that the meds used for pain have a very bad side effect: Withdrawal from the meds cause extreme uncomfortable feelings, physical signs of not having the dose your body is used to on a daily basis.
What did these people do during the horrid mess that followed Katrina? How long did they suffer before their meds were available? When would their meds be available? What a horrible thing to have to endure. And while in even worse pain than usual!
When you first get your meds for the month, (keep some older bottles for this to help out), put about 3 days worth in your purse, in the original bottles, and pour the bulk of the med into last month's bottle. Keep these full bottles in your evacuation box, plastic holder, safe, wherever you have your important papers, etc. Make sure the room locks where you store the meds, or get a safe, keeping the aforementioned items there. Make sure there is no humidity in the area you keep meds in, the bathroom is the worst place to keep medications. The humidity has an adverse affect, along with warmth also. No meds in the bathroom medicine cabinet!!
I've seen some people, while doing Home Care Nursing, that have their meds spread out all over the house. There is no way they could leave in an evacuation, with those meds in time!! There would be too much searching. This has always made me crazy, and I taught my patients how to keep their meds all in one place; many older patients always picked a little basket in the kitchen, one lady even used it for a kitchen table centerpiece after she had gotten them all put together!
So, no matter where you love to live, and what kind of Mother Nature's wrath you must put up with there, keeping those medications that just may save your life, or keep you from going to the Hospital at least; by keeping them all together, safely locked, and easily gotten into by you, will prove to be the smartest thing that you have ever done--Whether you are asked to evacuate--or not!!!
I ask Mother Nature now that California is spared from a "Firestorm-- 2008", on the local news channels this year. Haven't missed the continuing coverage daily, of fires everywhere, some of which I've seen right out my window!
Just make sure your medications are ready to evacuate with you!
Technorati Tags: Medications, Evacuation, safe medication storage, pain, diabetes, Katrina, CA Wildfires, Santa Ana Winds
[Caption]
The first set of fires threatening homes, people, animals; started almost as if on schedule. To let us all know it was time to look at our kits for evacuation, whether it is for a fire, flood, earthquake or hurricane, tornado, thunderstorm....all the nature we live with; slamming the ground with such force that we need to leave. And FAST!!
Are you ready? It is not only important papers that need to go with you, but all of your medications, if you take them on a daily basis.
It is a good idea in any home with possible meds that are readily stolen by many people, these drugs are to be locked away at all times, and the rest kept on your person during the day. The bottles keep you safe with the law,instead of just keeping meds in a little carrier for the day. Many times, people will carry their meds that way, but this presents a problem: If you are stopped and the police find a medication holder full of different pills with no name, no doctor's name, etc. These MUST be kept on your person in the prescription bottle the meds came in originally.
When you lock up the bulk of your meds, make sure they are all in the same container that is either part of, or with your documents and other important papers. That way, if you need to evacuate, you and your meds will be together and no thought of withdrawal with have to enter minds.
During Katrina, and the suddenness of the levy breaks, many, many people had no time or chance to gather anything, they headed for their roofs to simply save their lives.
When I saw on TV the different people that were Chronically Ill, and had no insulin, no heart meds, no pain meds, nothing; I immediately thought of those with Pain and possible other illnesses. How hard it would be to go through evacuation, which must be painful to all bodies getting rescued from a helicopter, then know that you have no medicine to take. NOTHING. Then what? Some will begin to go into a diabetic shock, be completely incoherent, no food, no sugar, no carbs right away to stop the quite out of range blood sugar.
When you think of a person who has chronic pain, the meds taken most often are the very ones that begin a withdrawal syndrome in the patient very quickly. It just happens that the meds used for pain have a very bad side effect: Withdrawal from the meds cause extreme uncomfortable feelings, physical signs of not having the dose your body is used to on a daily basis.
What did these people do during the horrid mess that followed Katrina? How long did they suffer before their meds were available? When would their meds be available? What a horrible thing to have to endure. And while in even worse pain than usual!
When you first get your meds for the month, (keep some older bottles for this to help out), put about 3 days worth in your purse, in the original bottles, and pour the bulk of the med into last month's bottle. Keep these full bottles in your evacuation box, plastic holder, safe, wherever you have your important papers, etc. Make sure the room locks where you store the meds, or get a safe, keeping the aforementioned items there. Make sure there is no humidity in the area you keep meds in, the bathroom is the worst place to keep medications. The humidity has an adverse affect, along with warmth also. No meds in the bathroom medicine cabinet!!
I've seen some people, while doing Home Care Nursing, that have their meds spread out all over the house. There is no way they could leave in an evacuation, with those meds in time!! There would be too much searching. This has always made me crazy, and I taught my patients how to keep their meds all in one place; many older patients always picked a little basket in the kitchen, one lady even used it for a kitchen table centerpiece after she had gotten them all put together!
So, no matter where you love to live, and what kind of Mother Nature's wrath you must put up with there, keeping those medications that just may save your life, or keep you from going to the Hospital at least; by keeping them all together, safely locked, and easily gotten into by you, will prove to be the smartest thing that you have ever done--Whether you are asked to evacuate--or not!!!
I ask Mother Nature now that California is spared from a "Firestorm-- 2008", on the local news channels this year. Haven't missed the continuing coverage daily, of fires everywhere, some of which I've seen right out my window!
Just make sure your medications are ready to evacuate with you!
Technorati Tags: Medications, Evacuation, safe medication storage, pain, diabetes, Katrina, CA Wildfires, Santa Ana Winds
[Caption]
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
The 'Graditude Attitude'
Just for a moment; imagine suffering with pain on a daily basis. What is it like? How does it make an individual feel?
Pain can give ALL of us a negative attitude, many times mixed with other emotions: depression, anxiety, anger, frustration. Those who do not suffer from Chronic Pain can easily look back over times in which they had acute pain from a fall, a cut, (even paper cuts hurt quite a bit!), a stubbed toe, or a finger caught in a door being closed; and remember the stabbing feeling of the pain, along with the emotions felt in that moment.
Those who have felt the anger and despair of being in pain, even those whose pain resolves, will tend to lean toward looking at the negative of this experience. It is not easy, nor does it feel natural, to be happy and feel 'up', when pain is involved.
Three days ago, on a very high pain day, I was thinking about what I couldn't do; walk my dog, do the wash loads, clean up the kitchen, and all the other 'normal' things that those without pain can do so easily after a day at work, and especially on a day off.
I realized I was thinking in an "I can't" attitude. Yet what was I to feel so grateful for when all I could do was sit against the heating pad? Sit, and not be able to feel very grateful for the pain I have been given.
When I examined the depth of my tears in that moment, I saw so much inside them.
I saw my son. My handsome, funny, intelligent, empathetic, quick-witted, lovable son. I saw gratitude then. I saw that my attitude of what I don't have, can't do, or was unable to involve myself in, was completely unnecessary.
I HAVE! I CAN! I AM ABLE! I have an Attitude of Gratitude when I look at the people in my life that have impacted me in a positive way. When I realize what I have in my jewel of a son. In my best friend. In my siblings. In the people I have met through this blog.
Being in pain is not something that is easily dealt with. Yet I can, will, and do have 'The Gratitude Attitude'. No, I am not grateful for my pain. I am in no way happy that I was in an accident that has started a life of Chronic Pain. I don't understand why my Spinal Cord is getting impeded by my own bones. But if I think about that, if I think LIKE that, there is no room for Gratitude.
I choose to begin working the 'Gratitude Attitude'.
All I need to do, is focus on the wonderful people in my life. However close, however far away, these people can become part of my daily thinking in a positive way; actually helping me to achieve the type of thinking I need to practice. Especially when I really hurt!
I'd love to hear what YOUR 'Gratitude Attitude' is.....What do you think about? What are YOU grateful for??? There is so, so much if you thoroughly examine your life. We pain sufferers have much to be grateful for; even though our lives are extremely hard and a huge daily struggle. Just try it out.
The 'Gratitude Attitude' can, and will change your outlook on your life.
Pain can give ALL of us a negative attitude, many times mixed with other emotions: depression, anxiety, anger, frustration. Those who do not suffer from Chronic Pain can easily look back over times in which they had acute pain from a fall, a cut, (even paper cuts hurt quite a bit!), a stubbed toe, or a finger caught in a door being closed; and remember the stabbing feeling of the pain, along with the emotions felt in that moment.
Those who have felt the anger and despair of being in pain, even those whose pain resolves, will tend to lean toward looking at the negative of this experience. It is not easy, nor does it feel natural, to be happy and feel 'up', when pain is involved.
Three days ago, on a very high pain day, I was thinking about what I couldn't do; walk my dog, do the wash loads, clean up the kitchen, and all the other 'normal' things that those without pain can do so easily after a day at work, and especially on a day off.
I realized I was thinking in an "I can't" attitude. Yet what was I to feel so grateful for when all I could do was sit against the heating pad? Sit, and not be able to feel very grateful for the pain I have been given.
When I examined the depth of my tears in that moment, I saw so much inside them.
I saw my son. My handsome, funny, intelligent, empathetic, quick-witted, lovable son. I saw gratitude then. I saw that my attitude of what I don't have, can't do, or was unable to involve myself in, was completely unnecessary.
I HAVE! I CAN! I AM ABLE! I have an Attitude of Gratitude when I look at the people in my life that have impacted me in a positive way. When I realize what I have in my jewel of a son. In my best friend. In my siblings. In the people I have met through this blog.
Being in pain is not something that is easily dealt with. Yet I can, will, and do have 'The Gratitude Attitude'. No, I am not grateful for my pain. I am in no way happy that I was in an accident that has started a life of Chronic Pain. I don't understand why my Spinal Cord is getting impeded by my own bones. But if I think about that, if I think LIKE that, there is no room for Gratitude.
I choose to begin working the 'Gratitude Attitude'.
All I need to do, is focus on the wonderful people in my life. However close, however far away, these people can become part of my daily thinking in a positive way; actually helping me to achieve the type of thinking I need to practice. Especially when I really hurt!
I'd love to hear what YOUR 'Gratitude Attitude' is.....What do you think about? What are YOU grateful for??? There is so, so much if you thoroughly examine your life. We pain sufferers have much to be grateful for; even though our lives are extremely hard and a huge daily struggle. Just try it out.
The 'Gratitude Attitude' can, and will change your outlook on your life.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
The Big Drug Companies That Take ActionTo Help Those That Need Medications
I usually hear others speaking of 'The Big Drug Companies", in a negative way. They are the bureaucrats, the big boys, only out for the buck. They are feeding America pills and more pills. They hire beautiful, handsome, young and intelligent sales staff that interact mainly with the Physicians, sampling them the newest medication out; and explaining what the drug does, how it works physiologically, the studies, and outcomes of those studies. Which are always very positive.
It is a fantastic fact that we now live in a world that has eradicated many diseases, due to selfless and hardworking scientists, and researchers, that devoted their lives to finding the cures for many illnesses; that used to kill thousands and thousands of people. This is a great age of discovery, look at Viagra and how that has changed the lives of many men and their significant others. When the side-effects of other illnesses call for help, it is wonderful to know that there are great medications available to take care of some bothersome side effects.
Some may moan about the 'Big Boys' in the drug companies, and all the profits they make, and yes, purchasing medication cash pay is a real eye-opener and one wonders why? Yet these companies also make a point in helping those less fortunate, which includes so many of us Chronically Ill patients. It hits us, because more often than not, we are either under-insured, or non-insured. We have to pay cash, or a very big medical payment; and if one is 'lucky' enough to be labeled with the dreaded "Pre-Existing Conditions", that person is a real risk to the insurers, and finding medication coverage is very hard.
It may surprise you, as it did me, that two very big and prominent drug companies have programs to help those with a financial need in paying for their medications. GlaxoSmithKline has two programs, one named, "Bridges to Access", BridgesToAccess.gsk.com; and also their "Commitment to Access", CommitmentToAccess.gsk.com, program.
The second company is AstraZeneca. This page takes you straight to all the information you need about qualifying for the Free Medication Program called 'AZ & me": http://www.astrazeneca-us.com/help-affording-your-medicines . In this program, if a single household brings home 30,000 or less, you are probably eligible.
The third and last I'd like to suggest is 'The Patient Assistance Program' through Pfizer, called "Connection to Care." www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com/pages/misc/Default.aspx
This page takes you straight to where you can look up programs available, and medications they make.
You have nothing to lose in checking these sites out, you may be soon receiving a package in the mail with a 90-day supply of your needed medication(s) you can't afford, or your doctor will call you, and the med will be there ready to be picked up. Certain meds are shipped to homes, other classes of meds to your doctor's office; and it is different policy between the 3 companies which meds get shipped to your doctor's office.
You will get so much information from the websites to be armed with plenty of information when you next see your doctor. Most physicians offices have this program set up, and have the starting paperwork there, some do not, and these may be the smaller area physicians, or a small office not affiliated with a big Hospital. The benefit of going into your doctor with all this information will just make the application process easier. You will know if your med is on the list, and if not, check with your doctor's office just to be sure that a call from them may make a difference. You will know how the application process is handled, and you will know what a patient advocate is. This will be the most important person between you and the drug companies. This is usually a designated person in the doctors office that takes care of medications, this person will probably be your advocate. Your advocate works with the companies, and you, so that all the proper paperwork has been filled out, the Prescription sent in from your doctor with the paperwork, and they make sure that you are always okay on your meds while all the paperwork gets processed.
Once you are on the program, the companies will ask you yearly for your IncomeTaxes, and to fill out a new form, and you are set for another year!
I do hope that this helps some of you out, and maybe it will give a new ray of sunshine to our attitudes regarding the 'Big Drug Companies!" After all, giving free, brand-name medication that people need, is a great step in mending this attitude, and at the same time, be doing a great service to the millions of under-and uninsured.
I wish you a low or no pain day....
It is a fantastic fact that we now live in a world that has eradicated many diseases, due to selfless and hardworking scientists, and researchers, that devoted their lives to finding the cures for many illnesses; that used to kill thousands and thousands of people. This is a great age of discovery, look at Viagra and how that has changed the lives of many men and their significant others. When the side-effects of other illnesses call for help, it is wonderful to know that there are great medications available to take care of some bothersome side effects.
Some may moan about the 'Big Boys' in the drug companies, and all the profits they make, and yes, purchasing medication cash pay is a real eye-opener and one wonders why? Yet these companies also make a point in helping those less fortunate, which includes so many of us Chronically Ill patients. It hits us, because more often than not, we are either under-insured, or non-insured. We have to pay cash, or a very big medical payment; and if one is 'lucky' enough to be labeled with the dreaded "Pre-Existing Conditions", that person is a real risk to the insurers, and finding medication coverage is very hard.
It may surprise you, as it did me, that two very big and prominent drug companies have programs to help those with a financial need in paying for their medications. GlaxoSmithKline has two programs, one named, "Bridges to Access", BridgesToAccess.gsk.com; and also their "Commitment to Access", CommitmentToAccess.gsk.com, program.
The second company is AstraZeneca. This page takes you straight to all the information you need about qualifying for the Free Medication Program called 'AZ & me": http://www.astrazeneca-us.com/help-affording-your-medicines . In this program, if a single household brings home 30,000 or less, you are probably eligible.
The third and last I'd like to suggest is 'The Patient Assistance Program' through Pfizer, called "Connection to Care." www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com/pages/misc/Default.aspx
This page takes you straight to where you can look up programs available, and medications they make.
You have nothing to lose in checking these sites out, you may be soon receiving a package in the mail with a 90-day supply of your needed medication(s) you can't afford, or your doctor will call you, and the med will be there ready to be picked up. Certain meds are shipped to homes, other classes of meds to your doctor's office; and it is different policy between the 3 companies which meds get shipped to your doctor's office.
You will get so much information from the websites to be armed with plenty of information when you next see your doctor. Most physicians offices have this program set up, and have the starting paperwork there, some do not, and these may be the smaller area physicians, or a small office not affiliated with a big Hospital. The benefit of going into your doctor with all this information will just make the application process easier. You will know if your med is on the list, and if not, check with your doctor's office just to be sure that a call from them may make a difference. You will know how the application process is handled, and you will know what a patient advocate is. This will be the most important person between you and the drug companies. This is usually a designated person in the doctors office that takes care of medications, this person will probably be your advocate. Your advocate works with the companies, and you, so that all the proper paperwork has been filled out, the Prescription sent in from your doctor with the paperwork, and they make sure that you are always okay on your meds while all the paperwork gets processed.
Once you are on the program, the companies will ask you yearly for your IncomeTaxes, and to fill out a new form, and you are set for another year!
I do hope that this helps some of you out, and maybe it will give a new ray of sunshine to our attitudes regarding the 'Big Drug Companies!" After all, giving free, brand-name medication that people need, is a great step in mending this attitude, and at the same time, be doing a great service to the millions of under-and uninsured.
I wish you a low or no pain day....
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Easy and Delicious Chicken Recipe
This recipe was from a Sunset magazine, and when I tried it, it was an instant hit with everyone; actually everyone who has ever tasted it. You will like the simple steps, the one-skillet-cooking, and just a few ingredients to buy. If you have trouble cooking yourself, or just don't cook anymore for many reasons; this recipe is easy for someone else to do, and maybe you can help with the noodles that the chicken can go over. Either way, trying it yourself, or asking your 'cooking person' to try it, I think you will adore the results.
***Chicken in Tarragon Sauce with Sun-Dried Tomatoes***
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed in one inch pieces
1-2 bunches of green onions--I like them so I use almost 2 bunches.
1 cup sun-dried tomatoes
1 pint heavy whipping cream (I get two just in case)
Tarragon to taste
Garlic salt to taste
salt and pepper to taste
Oil
Prep: Chicken cut into inch-cubes. Chop green onions in about 1/2 inch long pieces.
Directions: Put enough oil to cover skillet bottom. Usually one to two Tbsp. is enough. Heat on medium heat on stove. Do not wait until oil is either smoking or splattering, this is too hot. Carefully place cut-up chicken in skillet, sprinkle with a little garlic salt, pepper, and brown lightly on all sides, until chicken is cooked through, about 20-25 min. Remove chicken with slotted spoon and keep warm. Add chopped green onions to remaining oil in skillet. Add more oil if you need, but even skinless chicken will give some drippings that add to the oil. Saute the green onions. While doing this, boil some water and pour over the one cup of sun-dried tomatoes in a bowl large enough for them to soak in. Soak until just pliable. You don't want them too soft. Let these cool, and slice them into strips. Add these to the green onions and saute to mix the flavors. Add the heavy whipping cream. I end up using the entire pint, and always get 2 pints when shopping in case I need a bit more. Stir while cooking on low heat. Do not let the cream sauce simmer quite yet. Add the Tarragon, it is up to your taste. I rarely cook with measured amounts, it should be about a tsp. or more. Add the Tarragon a little at a time, stir well, and taste. Now start to raise heat under pan, still keeping watch to not let cream boil. Add chicken to skillet and stir well, mixing all ingredients well. Let sauce come to a simmer, and VOILA! A delicious sauce to put over pasta, rice, even baked potatoes!
I like it over Fettuccine Noodles. You will be surprised how well this goes over with kids too!
Serve with a salad, or slice tomatoes and place a piece of fresh Mozzarella cheese on top, then a leaf of Basil, and drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Nice coolness to offset the chicken dish. Good fresh bread or foccia with olive oil and balsamic vinegar to dip in, is great on the side, and to sop up any sauce left on the plate!!
Hope you try it, and I hope you enjoy!!
"The Meal's Complete When The Kitchen's Neat"
***Chicken in Tarragon Sauce with Sun-Dried Tomatoes***
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed in one inch pieces
1-2 bunches of green onions--I like them so I use almost 2 bunches.
1 cup sun-dried tomatoes
1 pint heavy whipping cream (I get two just in case)
Tarragon to taste
Garlic salt to taste
salt and pepper to taste
Oil
Prep: Chicken cut into inch-cubes. Chop green onions in about 1/2 inch long pieces.
Directions: Put enough oil to cover skillet bottom. Usually one to two Tbsp. is enough. Heat on medium heat on stove. Do not wait until oil is either smoking or splattering, this is too hot. Carefully place cut-up chicken in skillet, sprinkle with a little garlic salt, pepper, and brown lightly on all sides, until chicken is cooked through, about 20-25 min. Remove chicken with slotted spoon and keep warm. Add chopped green onions to remaining oil in skillet. Add more oil if you need, but even skinless chicken will give some drippings that add to the oil. Saute the green onions. While doing this, boil some water and pour over the one cup of sun-dried tomatoes in a bowl large enough for them to soak in. Soak until just pliable. You don't want them too soft. Let these cool, and slice them into strips. Add these to the green onions and saute to mix the flavors. Add the heavy whipping cream. I end up using the entire pint, and always get 2 pints when shopping in case I need a bit more. Stir while cooking on low heat. Do not let the cream sauce simmer quite yet. Add the Tarragon, it is up to your taste. I rarely cook with measured amounts, it should be about a tsp. or more. Add the Tarragon a little at a time, stir well, and taste. Now start to raise heat under pan, still keeping watch to not let cream boil. Add chicken to skillet and stir well, mixing all ingredients well. Let sauce come to a simmer, and VOILA! A delicious sauce to put over pasta, rice, even baked potatoes!
I like it over Fettuccine Noodles. You will be surprised how well this goes over with kids too!
Serve with a salad, or slice tomatoes and place a piece of fresh Mozzarella cheese on top, then a leaf of Basil, and drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Nice coolness to offset the chicken dish. Good fresh bread or foccia with olive oil and balsamic vinegar to dip in, is great on the side, and to sop up any sauce left on the plate!!
Hope you try it, and I hope you enjoy!!
"The Meal's Complete When The Kitchen's Neat"
My Serenaded Birthday
Well what do you know? It is coming...again...just too quick do these years fly by. It is soon to be Birthday time and you ladies know as we get older, they do get less important overall. OH, not that we don't want anyone to acknowledge that it is 'our' one day a year; it is the realization that when people used to say to me, "You are so young, so smart, so beautiful; enjoy your youth while it is here", I never realized just how quickly it all would pass by.
I enjoyed my youth, oh yeah I did!! Then suddenly, one day, I wake up thinking about my retirement fund. Wha????? WHAT? That is when I realized my youth had been, well, had. It is a new horizon now for me, and I have had other people on my mind lately as my birthday rapidly approaches.
Because my youngest brother was born a day after me, and the doc in my life for over 9 years' b-day was a day before mine, we all 3 would get together on mine, the middle b-day, for a drink or 8, maybe have a fabulous dinner, or BBQ with family and friends together.
Speaking of dates, it is absolutely amazing those that he and I shared! Aside from our birthdays being the next day from each other, here's a few more. His son, who is the same age as mine, was born on MY father's B-day. And my son--born on HIS father's B-day. Uh-huh. Wow huh! Then there was the fact that we both got married, (our first marriages), on the same day. Year different, but same wedding anniversary with our ex's! Just the son and father thing was crazy enough. Odd how dates bring us together, when we find some in common. Isn't it a real draw when you meet someone, and find out they share your B-day? Doesn't it make for a tad more of a connection, and easier to speak to each other?
The B-day that I will always remember the most, was my 40th B-day. What that sweet doc did for me was above and beyond anything I had ever been 'given' for my B-day.
There was a lot of scurrying around the week or so before my b-day. He told me that we were having some people over for my b-day, and we'd have a nice dinner at home with close friends and family. How much better could that be? It got better, believe me.
I was told to not worry about 'anything', and that he would be cooking the dinner. Cooking and us two was quite the hobby. When we met, he literally could only make one dish, and I taught him how. He basically boiled water in the cooking department. After 6 years of living together, I turned out to the next victim a man who could cook a lavish dinner, set the table right, and so beautifully too, then clean it up! He took an immediate interest in cooking when he would sit in the kitchen and have wine with me as he watched me cook. My mother taught me how, and now he was learning her recipes! He took to a few right away, and would cook a couple times a week at first. Then...it became, "What would you like tonight honey....squab, or a nice pork loin topped with a cherry sauce?" Yep. I taught him to enjoy cooking. He began to love to create, and experiment. My son and I were the Guinea pigs, and 99% of it went down so nice! (It was the poor little rabbit's I just had a tough time with!)
On my b-day, I saw a table being delivered, with beautiful China and glassware, gorgeous flatware, linens, and 3 or 4 Brunch-type servers. When he later put it all together, it was like Martha Stewart had run by and had a little fun in our dining room! (I hear it is now an altar, but I'll leave that one alone!) He added my favorite flowers, (one of his 'things' he did for me so often, was indulge me in flowers, he knew how much I loved them), and went into the kitchen. I had semi-strict orders to stay out. Soon, some of the most delicious smells were coming out of our kitchen.
I got ready, leopard bra and low-cut black top, my favorite black skirt, (he had requested that one), and black stockings with seams down the back, finished off with new patent leather pumps. It must had been a 'good day' pain-wise, b/c I don't remember that being an issue. I felt sexy, and of course he had told me over and over that I couldn't possibly be turning 40, and how lucky he was to have me. He was a very sweet man to me, and always complimented me, helping me to feel pretty when maybe it was a day I didn't.
Our guests arrived, from fellow docs and their wives, to both my and his older brothers, mine a Sommeleir; who doc adored, they were like 2 peas in a pod; and some other family. We shared some aperitifs and wonderful pate, and other appetizers that he had made. I noticed at one point, the kids were kind of whispering and there was a bit of a rustling downstairs, coming from the garage entrance. Walking up were three Mexican men with traditional instruments, dressed in fancy ruffled shirts. They were simply called a Trio. As I was kind of taking it all in, they stopped at the top of the stairs and got instruments ready. Then they played.
They were serenading me! Since it was all in Spanish, I couldn't understand them completely, and doc was next to me telling me what they were singing. He told me it was a traditional Spanish song that was used in serenading the ladies up on their balconies. I was teary just from his sentiments, from what he had done for me, the planning it must have taken; and it was all as he had hoped: A Surprise!! I noticed the Spanish-speaking wives were swaying to the music, hanging on every word. As it was translated to me, I was taken away by the romantic lyrics.
As doc did last-minute preparations in the kitchen, the music continued, and some of our Mexican friends were in small spats; looked like a male vs. female kind of thing...I asked them what was going on, and the girls told me they were asking why they had never before been serenaded like that! YIKES!
Dinner was amazing, and the Trio played on. Doc made his famous pork-loin with Cherry Glaze, a delicious assortment of quail, red potatoes with rosemary in olive oil, baked just till a bit crispy, (I am getting so hungry right now!), and a Spanish Paella with seafood, and other meats. A plate of sliced tomatoes topped with a slice of fresh cheese, a basil leaf, and olive oil drizzled on top, with a sprinkling of salt and pepper started the feast, then we served ourselves from the gleaming heated Serving Dishes. The best of wines flowed, the bread was passed, live music was played, conversations were all over the gorgeous table, and my b-day cake finished off the night.
Great, home-cooked with a lot of love, fine food; could not outdo an actual professional Trio in our home, playing all night, starting out with a few love songs just to serenade me. What he put into making that night wonderful for me was the most heart-touching, and caring things that anyone has ever done for me on my birthday. One I will obviously never forget.
It is true; that saying, "It doesn't matter what the gift is, it is (truly) the thought that counts."
Thanks doc.
"The Only Constant in Life....is Change."
I enjoyed my youth, oh yeah I did!! Then suddenly, one day, I wake up thinking about my retirement fund. Wha????? WHAT? That is when I realized my youth had been, well, had. It is a new horizon now for me, and I have had other people on my mind lately as my birthday rapidly approaches.
Because my youngest brother was born a day after me, and the doc in my life for over 9 years' b-day was a day before mine, we all 3 would get together on mine, the middle b-day, for a drink or 8, maybe have a fabulous dinner, or BBQ with family and friends together.
Speaking of dates, it is absolutely amazing those that he and I shared! Aside from our birthdays being the next day from each other, here's a few more. His son, who is the same age as mine, was born on MY father's B-day. And my son--born on HIS father's B-day. Uh-huh. Wow huh! Then there was the fact that we both got married, (our first marriages), on the same day. Year different, but same wedding anniversary with our ex's! Just the son and father thing was crazy enough. Odd how dates bring us together, when we find some in common. Isn't it a real draw when you meet someone, and find out they share your B-day? Doesn't it make for a tad more of a connection, and easier to speak to each other?
The B-day that I will always remember the most, was my 40th B-day. What that sweet doc did for me was above and beyond anything I had ever been 'given' for my B-day.
There was a lot of scurrying around the week or so before my b-day. He told me that we were having some people over for my b-day, and we'd have a nice dinner at home with close friends and family. How much better could that be? It got better, believe me.
I was told to not worry about 'anything', and that he would be cooking the dinner. Cooking and us two was quite the hobby. When we met, he literally could only make one dish, and I taught him how. He basically boiled water in the cooking department. After 6 years of living together, I turned out to the next victim a man who could cook a lavish dinner, set the table right, and so beautifully too, then clean it up! He took an immediate interest in cooking when he would sit in the kitchen and have wine with me as he watched me cook. My mother taught me how, and now he was learning her recipes! He took to a few right away, and would cook a couple times a week at first. Then...it became, "What would you like tonight honey....squab, or a nice pork loin topped with a cherry sauce?" Yep. I taught him to enjoy cooking. He began to love to create, and experiment. My son and I were the Guinea pigs, and 99% of it went down so nice! (It was the poor little rabbit's I just had a tough time with!)
On my b-day, I saw a table being delivered, with beautiful China and glassware, gorgeous flatware, linens, and 3 or 4 Brunch-type servers. When he later put it all together, it was like Martha Stewart had run by and had a little fun in our dining room! (I hear it is now an altar, but I'll leave that one alone!) He added my favorite flowers, (one of his 'things' he did for me so often, was indulge me in flowers, he knew how much I loved them), and went into the kitchen. I had semi-strict orders to stay out. Soon, some of the most delicious smells were coming out of our kitchen.
I got ready, leopard bra and low-cut black top, my favorite black skirt, (he had requested that one), and black stockings with seams down the back, finished off with new patent leather pumps. It must had been a 'good day' pain-wise, b/c I don't remember that being an issue. I felt sexy, and of course he had told me over and over that I couldn't possibly be turning 40, and how lucky he was to have me. He was a very sweet man to me, and always complimented me, helping me to feel pretty when maybe it was a day I didn't.
Our guests arrived, from fellow docs and their wives, to both my and his older brothers, mine a Sommeleir; who doc adored, they were like 2 peas in a pod; and some other family. We shared some aperitifs and wonderful pate, and other appetizers that he had made. I noticed at one point, the kids were kind of whispering and there was a bit of a rustling downstairs, coming from the garage entrance. Walking up were three Mexican men with traditional instruments, dressed in fancy ruffled shirts. They were simply called a Trio. As I was kind of taking it all in, they stopped at the top of the stairs and got instruments ready. Then they played.
They were serenading me! Since it was all in Spanish, I couldn't understand them completely, and doc was next to me telling me what they were singing. He told me it was a traditional Spanish song that was used in serenading the ladies up on their balconies. I was teary just from his sentiments, from what he had done for me, the planning it must have taken; and it was all as he had hoped: A Surprise!! I noticed the Spanish-speaking wives were swaying to the music, hanging on every word. As it was translated to me, I was taken away by the romantic lyrics.
As doc did last-minute preparations in the kitchen, the music continued, and some of our Mexican friends were in small spats; looked like a male vs. female kind of thing...I asked them what was going on, and the girls told me they were asking why they had never before been serenaded like that! YIKES!
Dinner was amazing, and the Trio played on. Doc made his famous pork-loin with Cherry Glaze, a delicious assortment of quail, red potatoes with rosemary in olive oil, baked just till a bit crispy, (I am getting so hungry right now!), and a Spanish Paella with seafood, and other meats. A plate of sliced tomatoes topped with a slice of fresh cheese, a basil leaf, and olive oil drizzled on top, with a sprinkling of salt and pepper started the feast, then we served ourselves from the gleaming heated Serving Dishes. The best of wines flowed, the bread was passed, live music was played, conversations were all over the gorgeous table, and my b-day cake finished off the night.
Great, home-cooked with a lot of love, fine food; could not outdo an actual professional Trio in our home, playing all night, starting out with a few love songs just to serenade me. What he put into making that night wonderful for me was the most heart-touching, and caring things that anyone has ever done for me on my birthday. One I will obviously never forget.
It is true; that saying, "It doesn't matter what the gift is, it is (truly) the thought that counts."
Thanks doc.
"The Only Constant in Life....is Change."
Friday, September 12, 2008
The Six Rights Nurses Have In Medication Administration
Written for the Mass. Nurses Association, these are the most wonderful rights I have ever seen as a Nurse, for Nurses. Nurses are under such responsibility when it comes to medication administration; it is up to us to check each doctor's order for mistakes, illegible writing, incorrect dosages, open-ended directions; and if it gets by us, it is our fault, the Nurses, not the doctors. We are the final people to recieve an order for meds before administration.
To see the 6 Rights for Nurses was a very fresh idea. We are accustomed to going through the '5 Rights of Patient Medication Administration.' These are:
1. Right Patient
2.Right Medication
3. Right Dose
4. Right Route
5. Right Time
If all 5 are followed for each patient that receives medication, the chances of a mistake are nearly nil. These have been ground into our brains since Nursing School.
Enjoy reading this very wonderful idea of giving Nurses a head start on the very time-consuming, important, and huge responsibility of administering meds. This takes such a load off of us to not have to check and then double and triple check the simplest of orders. No longer needed is our constant vigilance of making sure everyone involved; from the Pharmacist, to the Doctor that wrote the order, did it correctly. As long as we follow our 5 rights for the Patient, everything should be just fine.
If we lived in a world that adhered to 6 simple steps by others involved in medication preparation and orders; we Nurses would actually have our own set of Medication Rights!
Happy reading!!
http://www.massnurses.org/News/1999/990600/sixrights.htm
"The Only Constant in Life....is Change."
To see the 6 Rights for Nurses was a very fresh idea. We are accustomed to going through the '5 Rights of Patient Medication Administration.' These are:
1. Right Patient
2.Right Medication
3. Right Dose
4. Right Route
5. Right Time
If all 5 are followed for each patient that receives medication, the chances of a mistake are nearly nil. These have been ground into our brains since Nursing School.
Enjoy reading this very wonderful idea of giving Nurses a head start on the very time-consuming, important, and huge responsibility of administering meds. This takes such a load off of us to not have to check and then double and triple check the simplest of orders. No longer needed is our constant vigilance of making sure everyone involved; from the Pharmacist, to the Doctor that wrote the order, did it correctly. As long as we follow our 5 rights for the Patient, everything should be just fine.
If we lived in a world that adhered to 6 simple steps by others involved in medication preparation and orders; we Nurses would actually have our own set of Medication Rights!
Happy reading!!
http://www.massnurses.org/News/1999/990600/sixrights.htm
"The Only Constant in Life....is Change."
Thursday, September 11, 2008
NATIONAL INVISIBLE CHRONIC ILLNESS AWARENESS WEEK!!
On these wonderful days of National Invisible Chronic Illnesses Awareness Week, I am given a chance to stop for a moment, and not only thank those in my life that have intimately helped me through the years of my surgeries, procedures, and the resulting and unrelenting pain; I am also looking at who has helped myself, and others; in the virtual world.
I have been so blessed to 'meet' many people online who have helped me to look at myself, deep inside, they have given me harsh words when I needed them, (for me to slow down!), or the simple words, "I understand." When a fellow Chronic pain/illness sufferer says that, I know they know exactly how I feel, and that can mean so much to those of us that are suffering. Even those of us that write online, that try to get to our computers to write what is in our heart and minds, have a great need for encouragement. This is where the 'other' CP and CI sufferers that reach out to one another makes all the difference in my life.
I know I have helped others. They have told me in long conversations that I was the only one they could tell a certain feeling or past experience to. Not even their friends, or family could be counted on to be non-judgmental-- as I was with them. I hope that my Blog has helped some...even if it was that ONE person that felt alone. Reach one, and I have reached out. I have hopefully calmed the fears of thinking that they are alone in this struggle of pain and illness. As we have seen, there are many of us 'out there'!
The woman that began this wonderful week is a lady named Lisa Copen. Lisa means a lot to me. I learned of her when looking into starting a 'Hopekeepers' group about 4 years ago. I had the 'Hopekeepers Magazine' sent to my Pastor, so he could begin to see how prevalent Chronic Pain and Illnesses are. Lisa began this idea also, to start a group, to reach out to others in pain. My heart was in it 100%. Yet my body was not to be so easy to follow my heart.
Nearly ready to start my own Hopekeepers group, then struck again by many acute bouts of my Chronic Pain, so high on the pain scale that I decided I was not well enough at the time to be the leader of a group, and the turnout was bound to be small, so I did not know what kind of help I would have gotten. I had to give that idea up. At least at that very time in my life.
Lisa is presently concentrating now on National Invisible Chronic Illness Week!!!! Go visit: www.invisibleillness.com for much more information on people and companies that make a difference, and how the public can become educated on the subjects of Chronic Illness, and Chronic Pain.
Lisa wrote a post that has resounded with me quite loudly, almost as if she knew I had just read her post, as my best friend and I were parking at the market, with me saying (for the ? time), "I really need to get one of the Handicapped Placards, but am terrified because I may 'Look Good' that day, and am not in the mood to be stared at by those that see me get out, no cane, (yet), no wheelchair, no cast." That post Lisa wrote needs to be read by everyone, ill or well. Let others see that not everything can be seen.
The post: "Can those with an Invisible Illness Park in the Blue Spots Without Others Seeing Red?" by Lisa Copen of Rest Ministries, is a great read, and oh, so true.
http://www.restministries.org/invisibleillness/thingstoprint/ii7_oped_canthosepark.htm
I applaud Lisa Copen for what she has done for us all, and may she and all the others I have met, continue to be advocates for those of us with Invisible Illnesses and/or Chronic Pain!
I wish you a low or no pain day!
I have been so blessed to 'meet' many people online who have helped me to look at myself, deep inside, they have given me harsh words when I needed them, (for me to slow down!), or the simple words, "I understand." When a fellow Chronic pain/illness sufferer says that, I know they know exactly how I feel, and that can mean so much to those of us that are suffering. Even those of us that write online, that try to get to our computers to write what is in our heart and minds, have a great need for encouragement. This is where the 'other' CP and CI sufferers that reach out to one another makes all the difference in my life.
I know I have helped others. They have told me in long conversations that I was the only one they could tell a certain feeling or past experience to. Not even their friends, or family could be counted on to be non-judgmental-- as I was with them. I hope that my Blog has helped some...even if it was that ONE person that felt alone. Reach one, and I have reached out. I have hopefully calmed the fears of thinking that they are alone in this struggle of pain and illness. As we have seen, there are many of us 'out there'!
The woman that began this wonderful week is a lady named Lisa Copen. Lisa means a lot to me. I learned of her when looking into starting a 'Hopekeepers' group about 4 years ago. I had the 'Hopekeepers Magazine' sent to my Pastor, so he could begin to see how prevalent Chronic Pain and Illnesses are. Lisa began this idea also, to start a group, to reach out to others in pain. My heart was in it 100%. Yet my body was not to be so easy to follow my heart.
Nearly ready to start my own Hopekeepers group, then struck again by many acute bouts of my Chronic Pain, so high on the pain scale that I decided I was not well enough at the time to be the leader of a group, and the turnout was bound to be small, so I did not know what kind of help I would have gotten. I had to give that idea up. At least at that very time in my life.
Lisa is presently concentrating now on National Invisible Chronic Illness Week!!!! Go visit: www.invisibleillness.com for much more information on people and companies that make a difference, and how the public can become educated on the subjects of Chronic Illness, and Chronic Pain.
Lisa wrote a post that has resounded with me quite loudly, almost as if she knew I had just read her post, as my best friend and I were parking at the market, with me saying (for the ? time), "I really need to get one of the Handicapped Placards, but am terrified because I may 'Look Good' that day, and am not in the mood to be stared at by those that see me get out, no cane, (yet), no wheelchair, no cast." That post Lisa wrote needs to be read by everyone, ill or well. Let others see that not everything can be seen.
The post: "Can those with an Invisible Illness Park in the Blue Spots Without Others Seeing Red?" by Lisa Copen of Rest Ministries, is a great read, and oh, so true.
http://www.restministries.org/invisibleillness/thingstoprint/ii7_oped_canthosepark.htm
I applaud Lisa Copen for what she has done for us all, and may she and all the others I have met, continue to be advocates for those of us with Invisible Illnesses and/or Chronic Pain!
I wish you a low or no pain day!
Shauna
"The Only Constant in Life....is Change."
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Some Information on Medical Insurance For The Chronically Ill
Today I had an insurance agent at my home, discussing medical/dental/vision, etc. coverage for the self-employed. I am so impressed with this company, and their view of those with the dreaded pre-existing conditions. The name of it is the 'National Association for the Self-Employed'. More info @http://www.needinsurance.org/. It is for anyone that writes a check themselves for their insurance. This happens to also pertain to many Chronically Ill people, not just the self-employed. Although it is important to note that many Chronically Ill have to obtain their own insurance now because they have become self-employed due to chronic illnesses!
I have not only owned my own company for Clinical Micropigmentation for 3 years now, but I am becoming a free agent in Nursing. I have many options for insurance coverage through companies I will be working with, but I prefer to cover myself, and take the stipend offered for any insurance I pay myself. In Travel Nursing, a high percentage of companies start the medical benefits on the first day, since most assignments are 13 weeks. If they held to the usual 90 day policy before benefits, we would have one week of insurance before the assignment ended! lol
Having a Chronic Illness leaves so many either rejected from insurance coverage, or made to wait 6 months, then begin coverage at a high cost to the patient, high deductibles and low coverage. The big insurers are the worst offenders of this type of what I consider discrimination. Having found a company that doesn't care what I have now to deal with, what surgeries I have had, what medications I am prescribed. It was amazing. It is formed of a group of those that pay for their own medical insurance. It is something that will follow me around the states, all of them; that I travel to. It is also something for those that have been rejected, or put through the waiting game because of their illnesses.
The link below will take you to a most interesting article in the New York Times, by Marci Alboher; about self-employed people needing health insurance, and also getting health care when pre-existing conditions have kept you from obtaining decent insurance. It is something we must all pay attention to: the fact we NEED health care because we are fighting invisible illnesses, and chronic pain, we are the people that truly need to access health care, and have every right as those that are healthy in obtaining and keeping insurance. It has been a catch-22 for us. It is time to find, research, compare, and look outside the normal box of companies that provide health care.
There are options. I hope that this has been helpful to anyone who is seeking medical insurance-- and running into walls.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/business/smallbusiness/27sbiz.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
This site is also in the above article, it is an organization that helps patients get procedures paid for that doctors have ordered, yet their insurance is not covering it, they are advocates for patients, and any organization that is for patients are gold in my book! And even better, it is a non-profit company. Got to love it!
http://advocacyforpatients.org/
I wish you a low or no pain day.......
"The Only Constant in Life....is Change."
I have not only owned my own company for Clinical Micropigmentation for 3 years now, but I am becoming a free agent in Nursing. I have many options for insurance coverage through companies I will be working with, but I prefer to cover myself, and take the stipend offered for any insurance I pay myself. In Travel Nursing, a high percentage of companies start the medical benefits on the first day, since most assignments are 13 weeks. If they held to the usual 90 day policy before benefits, we would have one week of insurance before the assignment ended! lol
Having a Chronic Illness leaves so many either rejected from insurance coverage, or made to wait 6 months, then begin coverage at a high cost to the patient, high deductibles and low coverage. The big insurers are the worst offenders of this type of what I consider discrimination. Having found a company that doesn't care what I have now to deal with, what surgeries I have had, what medications I am prescribed. It was amazing. It is formed of a group of those that pay for their own medical insurance. It is something that will follow me around the states, all of them; that I travel to. It is also something for those that have been rejected, or put through the waiting game because of their illnesses.
The link below will take you to a most interesting article in the New York Times, by Marci Alboher; about self-employed people needing health insurance, and also getting health care when pre-existing conditions have kept you from obtaining decent insurance. It is something we must all pay attention to: the fact we NEED health care because we are fighting invisible illnesses, and chronic pain, we are the people that truly need to access health care, and have every right as those that are healthy in obtaining and keeping insurance. It has been a catch-22 for us. It is time to find, research, compare, and look outside the normal box of companies that provide health care.
There are options. I hope that this has been helpful to anyone who is seeking medical insurance-- and running into walls.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/business/smallbusiness/27sbiz.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
This site is also in the above article, it is an organization that helps patients get procedures paid for that doctors have ordered, yet their insurance is not covering it, they are advocates for patients, and any organization that is for patients are gold in my book! And even better, it is a non-profit company. Got to love it!
http://advocacyforpatients.org/
I wish you a low or no pain day.......
"The Only Constant in Life....is Change."
Friday, August 29, 2008
Up All Night
It's 5:36 a.m., and I'm still up--again. I need to be at the doctor's in less than 3 1/2 hours, why bother with any sleep now? (Says my mind.)
NO! I will not allow this horrible insomnia take over my life, rendering me useless and stupid the next day, with much worse pain to deal with. I chose not to take a sleeping pill the doc gave me a few samples of, as I didn't want to sleep past the doc offices before noon only-- Friday hours.
I need the PPD test that was given for work yesterday, and needs to be checked and give me a letter stating it is negative. Which it is. The PPD test is for Tuberculosis and any health care worker should have it. Just a little bubble put by needle, just barely under your skin and wait 3 days for any sign of swelling, a bump over the injection site, or redness.
I really don't think that I am the only one up in the world of Blogosphere; that odd time of night is coming to a close, and the sun is rising very soon. Circadian rhythm kicks in and well, you know.
I have an odd feeling that I have just a 'few' fellow posters out there doing the same thing.
Up all night..........zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.......again.
"The Only Constant in Life....is Change."
NO! I will not allow this horrible insomnia take over my life, rendering me useless and stupid the next day, with much worse pain to deal with. I chose not to take a sleeping pill the doc gave me a few samples of, as I didn't want to sleep past the doc offices before noon only-- Friday hours.
I need the PPD test that was given for work yesterday, and needs to be checked and give me a letter stating it is negative. Which it is. The PPD test is for Tuberculosis and any health care worker should have it. Just a little bubble put by needle, just barely under your skin and wait 3 days for any sign of swelling, a bump over the injection site, or redness.
I really don't think that I am the only one up in the world of Blogosphere; that odd time of night is coming to a close, and the sun is rising very soon. Circadian rhythm kicks in and well, you know.
I have an odd feeling that I have just a 'few' fellow posters out there doing the same thing.
Up all night..........zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.......again.
"The Only Constant in Life....is Change."
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Paula Abdul's Pain Journey and Others Speak Out
I was fortunate enough to run into a recent online ABC interview with Paula Abdul, concerning her battle with RSD and the resulting pain that she has endured for 25 years. Also , her use of Opioid medications so she could get out of bed and have as productive a life as her pain allows her to.
We've all heard the jokes about her being "on pills" or "drunk". When I do see the times she does seem to be talking a bit slurry, I wonder if it is from a new med, and she is getting used to it, or a change in the dosage of what she takes. There are many reasons in a pain patients life to exhibit those symptoms or side effects.
Knowing that she suffers from a Chronic Disease, causing Chronic Pain, I feel very sad when I hear others talk about her in a negative light. My heart goes out to her, as does my heart and empathy go to every person that suffers in any way with pain and ALL we need to do to address it.
If a patient decides to try the use of opioids in their pain management regime, there will be side effects that show at times. CP (Chronic Pain), patients take these meds, as stated in the article, sometimes at grams, not milligrams. And do they get 'high' off of opioids? No! Many say that they wish they could at least feel something. Everyone likes to alter their reality with something, if we are very honest with ourselves. If it is not liquor, it is smoking pot. If it's not being high on all your new clothes that you can't really afford, or stole; it is using lies to get that rush, the rush of getting caught. I knew a man who liked to drink, yet his lies were much higher on the get high scale than the wine....the adrenaline rush he must have had, heart beating quickly as he tries to remember what he told one person and what he told me.
Those who have every day pain, and take medications for it, go through so much just to get the RX, get it filled at a Pharmacy that: 1. Has it in stock, 2. Doesn't treat you like a drug abuser, but with respect, as everyone should be treated that they serve. Then picking them up later, if waiting is out of the question, because you are in pain. Sometimes the life of a pain pt. (patient), is a series of catch-22's. You waited till the last minute to get your meds because you have been in such high pain and there is no one close to help you out. If the pharmacy doesn't have it in stock, (which is why it is a great idea to call first and simply find out!), you must either know your backups, or guess at what pharmacy you will go to.
Paula Abdul had not gone public with her pain issue for many years. I remember her as a Lakers cheerleader, then her introduction to the music world. To think that since the cheerleading days she has been dealing with her pain. Quietly. In fear. Like so many with Chronic Pain. Fear of what others think when it comes to taking narcotics. Fear of 'their' approval or disapproval over 'their' beliefs in taking opioids. Who are 'they'? If they are your family or friends, they are not educated in chronic pain. Educate them! Once they have been, if they keep their treacherously narrow view as before, you do not want them in your life. All they do is pull you down. I want the people that offer to help me. Who know my story very deeply
Paula wanted people around her that understood her pain and how she chose (with her doctor), to treat it. And meds are just one part of a pain management ongoing program. She, like others that just happen to not be a celebrity, feel the vibes from the haters. The ones that never fail to say that,"my doctor can cure you", "my Uncle got this or that treatment", and how what worked for these people, will work for you. (When the person they are referring to have no diagnosis even close to ours!) We, on the other hand, the pain pnut gallery, have researched our diagnoses for years. We have seen many doctors. Tried many if not all treatments, procedures, surgeries, and medications available to us for our specific issue. We heard the doctor say after seeing our backs opened up, that there is no surgery available. Period. Were these people that want to judge us, there by our side, helping us with trips to the doctor when we are in pain, were they there when the doctor said he couldn't do anything anymore surgically and we are relegated to a life of pain management. How alone are we in this life of hidden illness?
Paula Abdul felt alone. She had to put up with the rumors and attention to something that is personal, it is her health. Her publicists are racing around trying to decide what to say to the press when her speech sounded slurred or the rumors were flying. Then she did what we all must do, if not already done. She told the truth, her truth, in an interview, then another, and another. Her truth, in essence, has set her free. Tell the world, your world, about your story. About your cheerleader story. How you originally hurt yourself, if you can put a finger on that. Or what you feel now, and what the causes are. Let people know who you are.
We are not our illnesses; we have illnesses. And when we have something, it is ours to do with what we want. Work on it, research it, take care of it, and ultimately, you. Paula Abdul has taken steps for years to try and let her just live every day without the pain that kept her from doing what she wanted to in her profession. KUDOS Paula!
The fireman interviewed in the article is eloquently spoken about his world now in chronic pain. He has quite a few great things to say. To read the article, just click on the title of this post.
I wish you a low or no pain day.
"The Only Constant in Life....is Change."
We've all heard the jokes about her being "on pills" or "drunk". When I do see the times she does seem to be talking a bit slurry, I wonder if it is from a new med, and she is getting used to it, or a change in the dosage of what she takes. There are many reasons in a pain patients life to exhibit those symptoms or side effects.
Knowing that she suffers from a Chronic Disease, causing Chronic Pain, I feel very sad when I hear others talk about her in a negative light. My heart goes out to her, as does my heart and empathy go to every person that suffers in any way with pain and ALL we need to do to address it.
If a patient decides to try the use of opioids in their pain management regime, there will be side effects that show at times. CP (Chronic Pain), patients take these meds, as stated in the article, sometimes at grams, not milligrams. And do they get 'high' off of opioids? No! Many say that they wish they could at least feel something. Everyone likes to alter their reality with something, if we are very honest with ourselves. If it is not liquor, it is smoking pot. If it's not being high on all your new clothes that you can't really afford, or stole; it is using lies to get that rush, the rush of getting caught. I knew a man who liked to drink, yet his lies were much higher on the get high scale than the wine....the adrenaline rush he must have had, heart beating quickly as he tries to remember what he told one person and what he told me.
Those who have every day pain, and take medications for it, go through so much just to get the RX, get it filled at a Pharmacy that: 1. Has it in stock, 2. Doesn't treat you like a drug abuser, but with respect, as everyone should be treated that they serve. Then picking them up later, if waiting is out of the question, because you are in pain. Sometimes the life of a pain pt. (patient), is a series of catch-22's. You waited till the last minute to get your meds because you have been in such high pain and there is no one close to help you out. If the pharmacy doesn't have it in stock, (which is why it is a great idea to call first and simply find out!), you must either know your backups, or guess at what pharmacy you will go to.
Paula Abdul had not gone public with her pain issue for many years. I remember her as a Lakers cheerleader, then her introduction to the music world. To think that since the cheerleading days she has been dealing with her pain. Quietly. In fear. Like so many with Chronic Pain. Fear of what others think when it comes to taking narcotics. Fear of 'their' approval or disapproval over 'their' beliefs in taking opioids. Who are 'they'? If they are your family or friends, they are not educated in chronic pain. Educate them! Once they have been, if they keep their treacherously narrow view as before, you do not want them in your life. All they do is pull you down. I want the people that offer to help me. Who know my story very deeply
Paula wanted people around her that understood her pain and how she chose (with her doctor), to treat it. And meds are just one part of a pain management ongoing program. She, like others that just happen to not be a celebrity, feel the vibes from the haters. The ones that never fail to say that,"my doctor can cure you", "my Uncle got this or that treatment", and how what worked for these people, will work for you. (When the person they are referring to have no diagnosis even close to ours!) We, on the other hand, the pain pnut gallery, have researched our diagnoses for years. We have seen many doctors. Tried many if not all treatments, procedures, surgeries, and medications available to us for our specific issue. We heard the doctor say after seeing our backs opened up, that there is no surgery available. Period. Were these people that want to judge us, there by our side, helping us with trips to the doctor when we are in pain, were they there when the doctor said he couldn't do anything anymore surgically and we are relegated to a life of pain management. How alone are we in this life of hidden illness?
Paula Abdul felt alone. She had to put up with the rumors and attention to something that is personal, it is her health. Her publicists are racing around trying to decide what to say to the press when her speech sounded slurred or the rumors were flying. Then she did what we all must do, if not already done. She told the truth, her truth, in an interview, then another, and another. Her truth, in essence, has set her free. Tell the world, your world, about your story. About your cheerleader story. How you originally hurt yourself, if you can put a finger on that. Or what you feel now, and what the causes are. Let people know who you are.
We are not our illnesses; we have illnesses. And when we have something, it is ours to do with what we want. Work on it, research it, take care of it, and ultimately, you. Paula Abdul has taken steps for years to try and let her just live every day without the pain that kept her from doing what she wanted to in her profession. KUDOS Paula!
The fireman interviewed in the article is eloquently spoken about his world now in chronic pain. He has quite a few great things to say. To read the article, just click on the title of this post.
I wish you a low or no pain day.
"The Only Constant in Life....is Change."
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Where I've Been
Wow. I have never left my blog without a post for 14 days. I feel very mad at myself, and as if I let myself down. I must realize that I write this (also), for others!! The visitors I get that are repeat, which are over 80% of my visits, are just seeing the same thing day after day, for a half a month now. I get bored when I go to a blog and see the same thing for over 4 days or so. Sorry for the boredom, it’s been an odd 14 days!
Writing a blog is time consuming and although some posts just fly out, as this one is doing, some I choose to do research, usually the medical ones, and that requires time, attention, work, and commitment.
I am lacking in those attributes concerning this blog; and I have been lacking for the past 4 weeks. I am not strong. I am not well. You know when your body is not right. And when I have made it to the computer to try and write here, I find that all that naturally comes out is writing about what has been happening to me. Then I start second-guessing myself: Will this be boring? Will my readers get anything out of these words I want to type? Will I dare go against one of the character traits that I have, and like: I am not a whiner. Won't this all sound like a bunch of "poor me's?" Anyone that reads my blog on a regular basis would spot it right away. Maybe it is meant to be written. If that is all I can think when I begin to think of my topic, isn't it meant to be?
I will now attack the past two plus weeks in my life. It has obviously affected me and my blog, and I don't want that to happen. I know now as I write that this is exactly what needs to be done. Then I will be in the open place that normally surrounds me when I write. I will be free.
I mentioned once here, an odd blister that spontaneously (suddenly), appeared on my lower leg. It showed up about a month ago. It was about 4 inches long, 2+ wide and over two inches high. Yep, it was BIG! There was a thicker than normal skin also. Walking to get coffee one morning, I felt an odd sensation as the yet-unseen blister brushed against my PJ's, with each step I took. When I pulled up the pant legs to see what it was, I was very surprised at what I saw, to say the least. It had not been there the night before. How did this happen? Why?
The color was not of your normal blister either. It was a soft amber shade, no clear to white to light pink translucent colors that are usually seen. In 17 years of nursing, I had never seen one like this. I was quite bothered and called my doc, and was going in the next day. I took lots of pictures, and wore my scrubs which had loose legs, with my coworkers coming over from other departments when they heard about "Shauna's Blister!" It had already become a legend!
Some nurses said it looked like a burn. Not! Some thought friction caused it. Let's just say any friction was sure not in the area of the blister!! ;-) More than one said a spider bite. That I could learn toward.
Through washing my leg gently in the shower one day, the blister split directly in half horizontally. Because I was in the shower, I couldn't really identify the color and amount of drainage, but I did see some serosanguineous fluid. Serosanguineous contains serum and blood. After the fact, I have read that if this type of blister is seen, medical intervention must begin, before the blister pops.
My doctor told me one day that nurses are notorious for ignoring their own health issues, not being compliant patients. We will drag it out, thinking we are fine. I am good at yearly paps and mammograms, but this I just left. I had other things to take care of. The skin underneath did not look healthy. I knew my doc needed to see the wound, and made another appointment, promising this time I would be there!! As I was changing the dressing one day, I uncovered something I thought I'd never see on myself. The wound was black. It had become necrotic! As quickly as the blister had appeared, the wound went from skin that was trying to heal, to necrosis.
Necrotic tissue is tissue that has died. There are no vessels to bring the needed blood to the skin, and quite soon the tissue will just die. The color is black, and it is hard to the touch. It was not painful, but bothersome and tender. The doctor was as amazed as I. It had happened so fast! He told me to use a WTD dressing, Wet to dry means simply having a layer of semi-wet gauze or other similar material next to the wound, covered then by dry gauze/dressing. He told me to use some Vitamin E cream or oil, and as he told me what I already knew, that this wound was going to leave quite the scar, and the Vit. E cream would help. I was to return in 2 weeks.
As the 2 weeks went by, the wound remained the same. Same in size, in color, in hardness, regardless of the WTD dressing, and the Vit E oil I was using. But near the time to see him, something else was happening, the area became more and more tender, the pain became worse, and I saw the beginnings of what was to become an infected necrotic wound. The skin around the blackness was pink and raised, warm to the touch, and painful. All the classic signs of infection.
When I saw my doc, he was saddened to see that it had definitely become infected. I had used such care in dressing it, using a windowpane taping technique, to keep as much air and germs out as possible. He pushed on the area around the wound to see if anything could be expressed, and he wanted to see also what would come out, if anything. OMG when he was pressing around it, directly next to and sometimes on the pink skin, it hurt very much. He did express thick liquid substance out of the sides, confirming the infection diagnosis. Now it was time to put me on antibiotics. And he instructed me to dress it this time using antibiotic ointment directly on and around the wound, covered by a simple dressing.
Today is the last day of the antibiotics. I need to stay on them, as the lesion is still infected, and looks scary to me. Scary is not my normal nursing terminology, but I was scared. The pain is tremendous. Now I am to see him in a few days, and my thoughts go to two things that he will want to do, as this cannot be left any longer as it is. What many docs do is to debride the necrotic tissue, leaving just the hopefully healthy tissue underneath to heal. Or, they will perform surgery, going in much deeper, getting all the involved tissue out, and then pulling the skin together, to stitch it shut, leaving a nice scar instead of a gaping hole in my leg. I vote for the surgery.
During this ordeal, somehow, I contracted an infection on my scalp. That has been part of this unknown skin problem occasionally, but never to this extent of pain. It is so tender to the touch, hard to wash or brush without pain, and he had to just take one look that day at my scalp to tell me that it was infected too. He said it was impetigo. Now that was a surprise! After researching impetigo, which I conjure up as children with it on their nose, I found there are three types. The one I fall under from the symptom list and pictures is not something that I want to fool around with either. The certain bacteria or viruses that I may be dealing with could finally quench my yearning for an answer to this! Maybe my problem will finally be diagnosed, after that connection, and the leg lesion. I want him to culture it, if he isn’t going to already. One of my biggest worries is that this all will cause sepsis. I have not felt well for the last month or more. Just such little energy, no appetite, and on top of this, my back pain decided to kick in and throw me down to the ground for 5 days straight. This has happened before, the days straight of pain, but this time, it felt different in an odd way. As if my vertebrae were on fire. Deep, deep inside my spine and cord, it felt hot and also stabbing. Something new is happening back there.
Possibly another osteophyte that has finally made its way to touch the spinal cord. Or one of my herniated discs could be bulging just enough to press on the nerves, causing such searing pain. Maybe some scar tissue.
This is why I have not been writing. Now it’s out of me, and although this is has taken 2 days to finish and get published, I feel as if I can talk about this, and then move on to other subjects, including updates on this whole blister situation. This has been part of my life lately, a big part! It is different and unusual. Nearly everything about it has been odd.
I am so accustomed to dealing with pain that I tend to wait too long to seek medical attention. I know that is how I have had tooth abscesses way too long, before I get myself to the dentist. There are days of other problems physically in the past that I have just dealt with. Like I do my back pain. I am a Chronic Pain patient and we learn how to not cry at the first medical problem that we have. We know how to manage pain over extended periods of time, always aware that there is no end in sight to the pain.
I regret not getting help sooner, but I also did not expect to have the lesion under the blister turn necrotic in such a short time! Something like that will bring me out of my world of long-term pain care, and seek help.
I’ll write more when there is more to say. As of today, it is all good, I am trying to keep a positive attitude, as I do with my regular pain. And you know something?
If I hadn’t ever experienced pain lasting longer than 6 months, I would not have the natural empathy I have, strengthened by the suffering, which I do not even experience as suffering. It is a great word to use for description when writing. Yet I do not…remember??….some cheese with that whine? Not me! I’m not one that hangs on to what I experience with my pain, in my pain. It is, more for me, the way it fits into my life, and that is the challenge that I have for possibly 2 hours, maybe 12, how about 24? Others may experience that in their jobs. Everyone I know has a beef with something regarding their employment. So they deal with work, and I deal with pain. Then, we all as humans move on to the next item in our lives that need attention.
We go on. We attend to, pay attention to and work hard at what ever our next task is! Children, work, family, friends, homes-
That is life! And if you face a challenge medically, that bothers you and may be serious, or you experience pain lasting longer than 6 months, or you inject your insulin daily, you DEAL WITH IT. And you all know exactly what I mean!
That, all comes down to one word. Suffering.
Yet remember, I’m not one to say ‘help’ (even if I need it but that’s my deal), and you may be that way too….so the number one rule to remember is: Suffering = Challenge.
Quite the Nice Life Lesson we have been given!!
I will be here I promise!
"The Only Constant in Life....is Change."
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Understanding Your Chronic Pain-Fibromyalgia
Oddly enough, just a day after I wrote on keeping a pain journal, my inbox was full of the usual mail, and then from WEB MD was a great article about seeing your pain doctor, and it touches on some good ideas that include a type of journal that you can keep before seeing your doctor to help them in a diagnosis. It is an interesting read. Mainly covers the topic of Fibromyalgia Pain. Hope you enjoy it!!
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Digg - Home Care Nurses Drive More Each Week Than UPS Drivers
Digg - Home Care Nurses Drive More Each Week Than UPS Drivers
medicalnewstoday.com — In this article from the site: http://www.nahc.org, which is the National Association of Home Care and Hospice; it is noted that the nurses out making house calls cover more miles per week than a UPS driver! I found this so fascinating because I worked as a Hospice Nurse for years and used to put 120 miles/day some days I was on call. Nuts!
medicalnewstoday.com — In this article from the site: http://www.nahc.org, which is the National Association of Home Care and Hospice; it is noted that the nurses out making house calls cover more miles per week than a UPS driver! I found this so fascinating because I worked as a Hospice Nurse for years and used to put 120 miles/day some days I was on call. Nuts!
Keeping Your Pain Journal
I want to always have a record of my pain levels. Having this Pain Journal with me when I see my pain doc is valuable information that I could not recall easily or at all when I visit him without it.
Think of one day in your life. The ups and downs of your pain levels can vary by the minute. The peaks and valleys must be recorded, all of that information will be so helpful when you visit any doctor, especially the one that manages your pain. Your symptoms may speak specifically of one issue, and help with a doctor's diagnosis.
What spikes your pain? How long does it take after a certain activity for the pain to get bothersome? What do you take for your pain medicinally, and how long does it take for that medicine to be effective?
What helps your pain? Are there specific exercises that your doctor has approved for you? Stretching, swimming, etc.? Do they really help?
What other modalities do you use that have been effective/non effective for your pain? Heating pads, ice packs, Thermacares (Activated by air-heated charcoal), for on the go heat; Icy Hot Packs, tinted with Menthol for a cooling feeling in a to go pad also. Capsicum patches are made from hot pepper and this is for some helpful. Cramps? Try some Thermacares for Menstrual Cramps. Very effective. The heat in Thermacares last for 8 hours up to 12. Great for hurting backs at work or out doing something we probably are pushing ourselves to do! Chart all of this. Remember, just a few jotted down notes is all you need to do.
Your daily Pain Journal should consist of your pain levels, when and possibly why they were exacerbated, what helped, what did not, how long it took for relief, and all this with times of the day written in. It may sound tedious, yet after you get used to doing it, you will feel odd when you don't 'chart' for the day!
A small notebook but with enough room for your extra notes works fine, as does a specifically-made pain journal. I have one from the American Pain Foundation. It was a few years ago, and I found it to actually be more tedious to follow their way of charting it. I feel more comfy just noting it down in a notebook and keep it by my bed. Kind of like a dream journal!!
Each day, make a note of your pain level when awakening. If the day goes by without anything out of range happening , or not much unusual in what is normal for you pain wise, note that; and happily!!! If the day begins to take a turn for the worst, start by noting the time, your symptoms, what you were doing prior to the pain, and what action you take. Then make a note of if your action was effective.
Do whatever works for you! When you have your next doctor appointment and you bring that journal, you will have with you many moments out of the month or two months since you've seen the doc, that are significant and important for her/him to know. And when you look at a month's worth of moments, you will realize there is no way you could have remembered each of them to tell the doc. Many have a tendency to go with the most recent pain levels in their mind, they may have had a basically good month, but not connecting that every time the dog poop is picked up, or a drive longer than an hour escalates pain levels. If these seemingly small events, but so important in our lives as Chronic Pain/Illness sufferers because they cause pain; are not noted down ever, the connection may not be made, and there is another reason for pain flare-ups that could have been identified. Even standing while washing dishes for me is HUGE. The use of my arms at Thoracic level and standing flares up my pain fast.
We all know, as the patients, what things make our pain worse. The obvious things. The ones we can connect immediately to pain. Then there are the days that we feel good enough to do 'some things' around the house, work a little extra, drive a little further, stay a little longer. We know that the next day, we are likely to 'pay' for our over doings. Today I am in a lot of pain and need to get out of the computer chair and my positioning, and go sit using the heating pad with my legs up. It doesn't take a smart one to look at the fact I vacuumed last night, something my doc and other docs have told me not to do. I even did the attachment thingy and started on the couches. Of course I had to stop before I would have liked to, but I knew I was going to hurt last night, and today very bad-- if I didn't stop. And I do. :-(
So, I overdid it. But what about the day I worked on the computer, and emptied the dishwasher? Why did my pain level rise so quickly? Which of those events caused the spike? I was able to narrow it down to the computer time, having made a note for that day when I came home what my pain level was. I was going to attribute it to the computer chair, but I have a really great ergonomic chair, and then I must look at the position of my hands that starts to put my back into spasm. And what do you know? Aside from standing, it is just like doing dishes to my back. Thoracic level, arms working, holding them away from my body, reaching out.
Identifying your triggers are an excellent thing to jot down in your journal too. I put my list of triggers in the front and seriously have to look at them when I am in pain, but have things to do staring at me, like wash, (oh, just the word hurts,) to remind myself of the things I just can not do at that time. Oh well, who said a heating pad, an old Rosalind Russell film, and a diet coke is not too bad of a deal when I have the time to rest and do some self-care. Or, (this is for Jeanne & Mckay) , when I make the time to rest!
Duly Noted!!
Think of one day in your life. The ups and downs of your pain levels can vary by the minute. The peaks and valleys must be recorded, all of that information will be so helpful when you visit any doctor, especially the one that manages your pain. Your symptoms may speak specifically of one issue, and help with a doctor's diagnosis.
What spikes your pain? How long does it take after a certain activity for the pain to get bothersome? What do you take for your pain medicinally, and how long does it take for that medicine to be effective?
What helps your pain? Are there specific exercises that your doctor has approved for you? Stretching, swimming, etc.? Do they really help?
What other modalities do you use that have been effective/non effective for your pain? Heating pads, ice packs, Thermacares (Activated by air-heated charcoal), for on the go heat; Icy Hot Packs, tinted with Menthol for a cooling feeling in a to go pad also. Capsicum patches are made from hot pepper and this is for some helpful. Cramps? Try some Thermacares for Menstrual Cramps. Very effective. The heat in Thermacares last for 8 hours up to 12. Great for hurting backs at work or out doing something we probably are pushing ourselves to do! Chart all of this. Remember, just a few jotted down notes is all you need to do.
Your daily Pain Journal should consist of your pain levels, when and possibly why they were exacerbated, what helped, what did not, how long it took for relief, and all this with times of the day written in. It may sound tedious, yet after you get used to doing it, you will feel odd when you don't 'chart' for the day!
A small notebook but with enough room for your extra notes works fine, as does a specifically-made pain journal. I have one from the American Pain Foundation. It was a few years ago, and I found it to actually be more tedious to follow their way of charting it. I feel more comfy just noting it down in a notebook and keep it by my bed. Kind of like a dream journal!!
Each day, make a note of your pain level when awakening. If the day goes by without anything out of range happening , or not much unusual in what is normal for you pain wise, note that; and happily!!! If the day begins to take a turn for the worst, start by noting the time, your symptoms, what you were doing prior to the pain, and what action you take. Then make a note of if your action was effective.
Do whatever works for you! When you have your next doctor appointment and you bring that journal, you will have with you many moments out of the month or two months since you've seen the doc, that are significant and important for her/him to know. And when you look at a month's worth of moments, you will realize there is no way you could have remembered each of them to tell the doc. Many have a tendency to go with the most recent pain levels in their mind, they may have had a basically good month, but not connecting that every time the dog poop is picked up, or a drive longer than an hour escalates pain levels. If these seemingly small events, but so important in our lives as Chronic Pain/Illness sufferers because they cause pain; are not noted down ever, the connection may not be made, and there is another reason for pain flare-ups that could have been identified. Even standing while washing dishes for me is HUGE. The use of my arms at Thoracic level and standing flares up my pain fast.
We all know, as the patients, what things make our pain worse. The obvious things. The ones we can connect immediately to pain. Then there are the days that we feel good enough to do 'some things' around the house, work a little extra, drive a little further, stay a little longer. We know that the next day, we are likely to 'pay' for our over doings. Today I am in a lot of pain and need to get out of the computer chair and my positioning, and go sit using the heating pad with my legs up. It doesn't take a smart one to look at the fact I vacuumed last night, something my doc and other docs have told me not to do. I even did the attachment thingy and started on the couches. Of course I had to stop before I would have liked to, but I knew I was going to hurt last night, and today very bad-- if I didn't stop. And I do. :-(
So, I overdid it. But what about the day I worked on the computer, and emptied the dishwasher? Why did my pain level rise so quickly? Which of those events caused the spike? I was able to narrow it down to the computer time, having made a note for that day when I came home what my pain level was. I was going to attribute it to the computer chair, but I have a really great ergonomic chair, and then I must look at the position of my hands that starts to put my back into spasm. And what do you know? Aside from standing, it is just like doing dishes to my back. Thoracic level, arms working, holding them away from my body, reaching out.
Identifying your triggers are an excellent thing to jot down in your journal too. I put my list of triggers in the front and seriously have to look at them when I am in pain, but have things to do staring at me, like wash, (oh, just the word hurts,) to remind myself of the things I just can not do at that time. Oh well, who said a heating pad, an old Rosalind Russell film, and a diet coke is not too bad of a deal when I have the time to rest and do some self-care. Or, (this is for Jeanne & Mckay) , when I make the time to rest!
Duly Noted!!
Sunday, July 27, 2008
This Day Went By Too Fast!
Today has me in an odd way of thought. This day has gone by way too fast! I have gotten so much done, and now my brain is on 'relax' mode. Tried to study Lifespan Developmental Psychology but wasn't interested in the repetitive information I was being fed. Tried to apply it to my own life; (suggested for study,) yet I had no interest in my zygotes, prenatal care, or delivery of a baby and their APGAR score. Ah, the United States Educational System....I have always believed that so much time is wasted in this country on the amount of time that goes by before someone is considered "done." We all know education never ends, yet what I have seen from living in other countries, and having lived with a man from Mexico; I am informed well on the topic of countries that graduate their HS students with the ability to go out and work at a career, not just a job. He was teaching Biology in Mexico the year after graduating High School. Of course higher education was encouraged, and utilized; and these new possible college students were able to make the choice of staying in what they specialized in while in HS; and not continue their education, or, as they are going to school, they can work if they have to, and not always at a mindless job!
Here, our kids are lost. It's not easy to find 3 other guys and a house, all splitting it, that would not be affordable unless they all are working straight from school, for hours at minimum wage just to make some money; of course leaving no study time. It is so expensive to live in Southern California, the rents alone are astronomical, and unrealistic for most college students. We Americans spend 12 years in school, and come out with a Diploma. No specializations, just general studies and a piece of paper that at that time, makes no difference really. I took 2 years of ROP in HS, of course it was Medical Occupations....my dreams then of being a surgeon...watching people almost die from gunshots in the ER, chaotic scenes there--at a hospital that of course is now no longer called what it was---Orange County has gone from citrus trees to losing the old 'institutions' I remember learning in. And won't forget one heart wrenching scene.
In the Medical Library at the Hospital, I saw an old book with a picture of a man with no lower mandible. Straight on throat only photo. I took one look at that book and kept it for the whole year, mesmerized by the pictures of disfigured people inside that were helped in appearance through prosthesis's and surgery. (Of course I DID return the book at the end of the year!) I knew since I was 12 I wanted to be in the medical field, and as soon as I could, I was IN some kind of program that put me in the actual life I had dreamed of. I spent time and interest in that program, ROP was something our HS's had: Regional Occupational Programs. The guys took car shop, or electrical; some girls took secretarial, I went straight for the Medical field. I wonder...it would be very nice had I been able to graduate with something like: 'A High School Diploma with major in Medical Occupations.' Why not? The classes became just words on a report card, eventually making their way onto transcripts, (that are even asked for now!) my they are old! LOL
Just a few thoughts this odd day. Even as I work on my Bachelors, I see books full of previous knowledge from my nearly 2 decades of being a nurse. Oh how the rules and regs work for this one! OY! Oh well...what can I do?
.......maybe I'll be in the mood for some zygotes later on. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Here, our kids are lost. It's not easy to find 3 other guys and a house, all splitting it, that would not be affordable unless they all are working straight from school, for hours at minimum wage just to make some money; of course leaving no study time. It is so expensive to live in Southern California, the rents alone are astronomical, and unrealistic for most college students. We Americans spend 12 years in school, and come out with a Diploma. No specializations, just general studies and a piece of paper that at that time, makes no difference really. I took 2 years of ROP in HS, of course it was Medical Occupations....my dreams then of being a surgeon...watching people almost die from gunshots in the ER, chaotic scenes there--at a hospital that of course is now no longer called what it was---Orange County has gone from citrus trees to losing the old 'institutions' I remember learning in. And won't forget one heart wrenching scene.
In the Medical Library at the Hospital, I saw an old book with a picture of a man with no lower mandible. Straight on throat only photo. I took one look at that book and kept it for the whole year, mesmerized by the pictures of disfigured people inside that were helped in appearance through prosthesis's and surgery. (Of course I DID return the book at the end of the year!) I knew since I was 12 I wanted to be in the medical field, and as soon as I could, I was IN some kind of program that put me in the actual life I had dreamed of. I spent time and interest in that program, ROP was something our HS's had: Regional Occupational Programs. The guys took car shop, or electrical; some girls took secretarial, I went straight for the Medical field. I wonder...it would be very nice had I been able to graduate with something like: 'A High School Diploma with major in Medical Occupations.' Why not? The classes became just words on a report card, eventually making their way onto transcripts, (that are even asked for now!) my they are old! LOL
Just a few thoughts this odd day. Even as I work on my Bachelors, I see books full of previous knowledge from my nearly 2 decades of being a nurse. Oh how the rules and regs work for this one! OY! Oh well...what can I do?
.......maybe I'll be in the mood for some zygotes later on. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
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