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
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