kc bob: HEALTH

Showing posts with label HEALTH. Show all posts

Letting Go of How it “Should” Be

Those of you who read here know that this idea of letting go of control has been a recent recurring theme for me.
So my interest was peaked when I came across "7 Mantras for Letting Go of How Life “Should” Be" [read it here] from Mark and Angel Hack Life. Here is a sampling of their mantras:

You must accept the fact that things may never go back to how they used to be.
If you want to be effective and bright, let go of your need to always be right.
When you hear only what you want to hear, you’re not really listening.

They end the list of seven item advising each of us to be humble and teachable.

I suggest that you read their post in full here. Especially if you need to let go of how life should be.

The Day I Became a Cliché

It was about 10 days ago. A Friday morning. Headed to an appointment about 12 blocks from my place. I missed the Streetcar. I decided to walk. A few blocks from my destination I tripped, fell and landed on the edge of a raised manhole cover. I remember feeling my head bounce off the sidewalk. My first thought was good, I do not have a concussion. My second realization was that I was in a lot of pain. Shockingly, I had fallen and could not get up.

I heard the voice of a stranger. "Are you okay? Can I help?" I told my Good Samaritan that I needed help. He took hold of me, got me to my feet and led me to a place that I could sit. Before I knew it, Patrick, one of our pastors, came and brought me to the Emergency Room where my son met us. I sat in the ER for a long time before they found the cause of my intense pain. I had suffered a few pelvic fractures when I fell.

In thinking back over the past week or so I am very thankful for all of the ways that I have been helped. I have sensed God with me from that first day when the Samaritan picked me up, Patrick brought me to the ER and my son stayed with me all day. I was grateful when a good friend stayed with Ann that first night and when my sister-in-law stayed the second night. My stay at the hospital was filled his presence as nurses, aides, technicians and doctors helped me begin to heal.

I am beginning to be able to get out of the wheelchair and use the walker more. Healing seems to be happening and strength seems to be returning. I am thankful for this. Also very appreciative of the food that has been delivered and the care that has been shown to me by so many friends. In reflection, the "I've Fallen" cliché is probably more accurately stated a "I fallen but I will get up with the help of others". And perhaps it is a lesson we all need to hear. ツ

Caregiving vs Caretaking

I am a caregiver for my wife. I help her doing things that are a bit of a challenge for a person in a wheelchair.
So my interest was peaked when I saw an article titled "When Care Becomes Overcare". A few clips from it:

On occasion our care and compassion can leave us feeling drained and stressed. Emergency relief workers will tell you that compassion fatigue is very real – it takes practice to care for people without becoming overly identified with their challenges.

The energy drain and depletion we sometimes feel can happen as a result of being out of balance with our care. Sometimes our care can cross a line and turns into worry, anxiety and stress. In other words, our care and compassion start to drain our energy and becomes what is called “overcare.” [You can read the article in full here.]

I can relate to overcare and compassion fatigue. Ann and I have talked about this a lot. We agree that being a caregiver is not the same as being a caretaker. One controls, and is responsible for, the care of another and the other merely assists in it. Ann mostly cares for herself and, in reality, she often takes care of me more than I take care of her. ツ

Diagnosing Hemochromatosis

I saw this pic on Facebook today. It reminded me about my own journey with Hemochromatosis (HHC). Normal ferritin levels are 24-336. Mine were over 1,800 when I was first diagnosed in 1998. According to hemochromatosis.org:

Hemochromatosis is a leading cause of iron overload disease. People with Hemochromatosis absorb extra amounts of iron from the daily diet. The human body cannot rid itself of extra iron. Over time, these excesses build up in major organs such as the heart, liver, pancreas, joints and pituitary. If the extra iron is not removed, these organs can become diseased. Untreated Hemochromatosis can be fatal.

HHC is a genetic disorder that my sister and I both share. My treatment over the years has involved regular blood testing and phlebotomy therapy - I donated blood every other week for a year when I was first diagnosed. These days I donate my blood at the Community Blood Center two to three times a year which keep my levels around 50.

HHC is not fatal if it is caught early and aggressively treated like mine was. A good reason to insure that your blood is screened for high iron levels when you get your annual physical. You do get an annual physical. Right?

Now I Have MS

My wife Ann shared this with me saying how much she relates to the feelings expressed in it.
The disease that Ann suffers from is very similar to MS.

I used to be a writer and an artist. Now it’s hard to hold a pencil. Now I have MS.
I used to be a great conversationalist. Now I can’t find the words. Now I have MS.
I used to be energetic. Now I’m tired. Now I have MS.
I used to feel rested and refreshed and revitalized. Now I don’t sleep. Now I have MS.

People think I don’t listen to them. I do—I just don’t remember. Now I have MS.

I used to be a violinist. Now my left side is too weak. Now I have MS.
I used to be fearless, when things were more predictable. Now I’m afraid. Now I have MS.
I used to be in control of my emotions. Now my emotions control me. Now I have MS.
I used to make plans and look forward to those plans. Now I don’t know how I’ll be feeling. Now I have MS.

It took a lifetime for me to “find myself.” Now I live with a foreign brain. Now I have MS.

When I used to get sick I knew exactly what I had and how long it would last. Now I have MS.
In 2011, I followed my dream when I fell in love. I was finally excited about my future. In 2012, I found out I have MS.
Now I don’t know what the future holds for me. Now I have MS.
I always gave my best. I still do, but my “new best” is my new normal, not what it used to be. Now I have MS.

I’m still a wonderful person with a good heart. People still see my beauty within.
Now I have MS, but I am not nor will I ever be MS.

Written by Dana Harrison from Mentone, Indiana. Read more here.

Is Healthcare a Moral Issue?

Responding to the recent court events in Florida that declared federal healthcare legislation unconstitutional, Joe Scarborough, conservative host of Morning Joe on MSNBC, said this:

"Anybody that goes to an emergency room at 11 o'clock at night and sees the people who have to use that as their primary care providers, it shows two things: the inefficiency and the immorality of the system... There are two Americas when it comes to healthcare -- and it is immoral."

It got me to thinking and wondering if healthcare should be classified as a moral issue? Also caused me to ponder that old overused phrase "you cannot legislate morality". Of course we in America absolutely do legislate morality. The issue is what ideological morality are we legislating. So I think that the answer to the question will be different depending on what ideology you might embrace.

Many years ago congress passed Social Security legislation and years later Medicare was passed. The morality of these seemed to embrace the idea that people in their senior years should be cared for by our country. Later on people with disabilities were added to the roles of those covered by these two programs.

So, when I think about the 11pm emergency room scenario that Joe speaks of, I wonder if there is a moral reason to add other folks to the ranks of Medicare. Remember that legislation both reflects and defines America's morality. And it seems to me that our laws should reflect a consistent morality. Possibly the poorest amongst us should be covered by Medicare for the same reasons that seniors are covered.

Do you think healthcare is a moral issue? Please let me know why you think that it is or isn't.

... originally posted February 2, 2011

Tapped Out

Half of all bottled water is just tap water

According to the Beverage Marketing Association, a trade group, nearly 50% of all bottled water sold in the U.S. is just tap water that's been purified. The regulated standards for bottled water and tap water are actually very similar. The biggest difference is that bottled water is produced specifically for "human consumption."

But with that said, tap water is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure that it's safe to drink, and many experts say tap water is actually regulated more tightly than bottled water. There's just no fancy label on your faucet. Plus, tap water typically contains fluoride, which helps maintain strong teeth and prevent tooth decay, and fluoride is often removed from bottled water during the purification process. Mored info here.

Silent Sufferers

This image appears in today's edition of the Kansas City Star in an article about folks in KC that are experiencing unspeakable debilitating chronic pain and suffering in silence ... my wife is among those who suffer in silence ... I write as an advocate for her. Interesting, how I just shared about the topic yesterday. I suggest that you read the Star article here. A few responses to yesterday's linked article.

"I refuse to allow the rows of medications on the window sill to obscure my view of the sunrise." "Living with these diseases and disorders is a full time job."

"It is meant to be comforting to those who can relate and eye-opening for those who cannot." "Being chronically ill is, for the most part, definitely not a "blessing."

"I find it ironic that people are attacking you for the exact reason you wrote the article.....no sympathy or understanding." "People have a hard time showing compassion for something they can not see."

What It’s Really Like To Be Chronically Ill

The worst part about being chronically sick isn’t the physical pain, it’s the emotional pain that goes along with it. You reach a point where you can’t hold back the tears any longer and suddenly you’re breaking down in the middle of a doctor’s office. You think you can escape the emotional torture; your disease is purely physical, right?

The worst part is that there is no escape. There is no light at the end of the tunnel. There is no happy ending. There is no way to make the incurable go away. We learn to tolerate the physical pain. You have to. But it’s the overwhelming emotional burden that makes you feel like someone is holding your head down in the water. You can fight it, but you can never overcome that crushing feeling. How are you supposed to get rid of an emotional suffocation when the source of it is never going to go away?

Being sick is being stuck in the eternal clutch of the unknown. Any day anything could go wrong, or at least more wrong than it already has. It’s so hard not to feel anxious or depressed or completely lost when all that lies ahead is a giant question mark. You rarely seem to get answers when you are sick. And when you do, they’re often the answers you wish you hadn’t heard any way.

There’s one thing every single sick person wishes for, but rarely gets. Hope. Hope that one day things will get better. Hope that there will finally be a day when your pain is a zero on that silly little scale. Hope that one day you’ll get a glimpse of normal."

Excerpted from an article by Lauren Anne. Read more at thoughtcatalog.com.

The Dehydrated Brain

The title sounds like a SciFi horror movie doesn't it? In truth, the idea is a bit scary. Here is the introduction to an article titled, Your Brain On: Dehydration:

Call it “dry brain.” The moment your noodle feels even mildly parched, a bunch of its most important functions tend to go haywire. From the way you feel to the power your mind has to process info and memories, dehydration does immediate damage to your mental abilities. It even shrinks your brain, research shows. [read more here]

I have a tendency to forget to drink water. The author says that if you feel thirsty, you’ve already waited too long to drink some water. Ouch. He gives us a few hints about how to know if we are getting dehydrated. Read the article and please, do not stay thirsty my friend.

Rare Disease Day

Today is Rare Disease Day. According to the website:

A disease or disorder is defined as rare in the USA if it affects
fewer than 200,000 Americans at any given time.

My wife Ann has a rare disease called Neuromyelitis Optica.

Do you know anyone with a rare disease?

... thought I would republish this post from a few years ago.

Calling in Sick

Been a bit under the weather this week. Don't think that I look as bad as this guy but I try not to look in the mirror too much these days. Ann got it first - right after she left the hospital. She is coughing less today so I hope that healing is coming soon for yours truly. I will need to be better by Monday when she has her kidney stones blasted. Until then I plan to mostly veg in front of the TV.

That said, I have been writing daily at my devotional blog. So feel free to click here to get your Bob Blog fix. Or check in here later when I am back to normal - whatever that is. ツ

Geriatric Entitlement Rant

I am turning 65 in a few months - I got my Medicare Card this week. So things will be changing a bit for me. As a Ma Bell retiree I currently have good health insurance - not as cheap as it once was but pretty good. Even so, I do not think that my healthcare will change that much. My rant is more about the solvency of these government geriatric programs.

My parent's generation produced twice as many kids as mine. The consequences are that my kids will have a greater tax burden as more of us Boomers retire simply because there are fewer tax payers in the system to pay for the entitlements of seniors. I think that huge changes need to be made in Social Security and Medicare to compensate. A few thoughts:

If they raise the eligibility to 70 (for example) that would mean that private insurers would have to cover people for an extra 5 years or so - who knows how that would play out.
Another solution is to do means testing for these senior entitlements - seniors would probably feel the rug being pulled out from under them but it may be the best option to make these programs solvent.
And then of course there is a tremendous amount of fraud that should be dealt with - even these types of investigations are expensive and cost tax payers money.
Lastly, I hate to even mention it, the government could raise the earning limit (currently $117,000) for FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) taxes causing people who make more money to pay more into these geriatric programs.

I know there are other options - what do you think? I think that we are pretty much up the creek and the congress in DC is doing little to solve these massive problems. I so wish that there was a way for them to come to a consensus on these things. Yeah, I know that I am dreaming. Here endeth the rant.

Diabetes, Google and Contact Lenses

My first wife had diabetes. So I my interest was peaked when I heard about Google's Smart Contact Lens Project that involves the monitoring of sugar levels in tear drops through contact lenses. Here is a clip from their blog:

We’re now testing a smart contact lens that’s built to measure glucose levels in tears using a tiny wireless chip and miniaturized glucose sensor that are embedded between two layers of soft contact lens material. We’re testing prototypes that can generate a reading once per second. We’re also investigating the potential for this to serve as an early warning for the wearer, so we’re exploring integrating tiny LED lights that could light up to indicate that glucose levels have crossed above or below certain thresholds. It’s still early days for this technology, but we’ve completed multiple clinical research studies which are helping to refine our prototype. We hope this could someday lead to a new way for people with diabetes to manage their disease.

This could be an amazing revolution for folks who are now pricking their fingers for blood tests. I so hope that something like this could one day be the norm. Of course it would even be better it researchers come up with a cure!

How to help a friend who’s ill ...

While we want to help when a friend or family member is seriously ill, it’s difficult to know just what to do – so we often do nothing. Sami Papacek, wellness program development manager at Turning Point: The Center for Hope and Healing, suggests three welcome ways to lend a helping hand.

First, take the initiative to make contact and make something happen. Whether it’s a thoughtful gift or an offer to provide a service, Papacek said families facing illness often feel they don’t want to impose on others. So it’s up to you to make the offer.

Second, it’s important to keep in mind that gifts like candy or plants might be prohibited from the homes of ill patients for health reasons. “I also urge people to think about basic life needs when thinking of a gift,” she said. “Running errands for the person or helping with household chores can be more welcome than a physical gift.”

Finally, if you choose to give a gift, think beyond the disease. After all, sick people know they’re sick. Giving a gift that draws attention to the disease – such as a book about the sickness or a jewelry mentioning the illness – might be counterproductive. Instead, think of a gift that might bring joy such as warm clothing, funny movies or comfy throws or pillows. You might consider giving a certificate for a relaxing massage or spa service.

Whatever you decide, remember that a visit or phone call might be just as welcome.

... a tip of the hat for this article to KU Med Center

Healthcare Mulligan

Sometimes we just need a do over!

Reversing Nerve Damage

If successful, a new remyelinating antibody called rHIgM22 may help reverse nerve damage caused by MS. In a collaboration between the Mayo Clinic and Acorda Therapeutics, Inc., a “first-in-human” trial of the drug rHIgM22 to repair nerve damage caused by multiple sclerosis (MS) is currently recruiting volunteers.

Earlier animal studies of rHIgM22 showed improvements in motor activity, meaning a possible reversal of disability. If successful, this could be a groundbreaking achievement, particularly for those with progressive forms of MS, for which there are no treatments currently available. Read more about this drug trial here.

Doc Martin, Doc Obama and the Sick

This year Ann and I have been watching a BBC show called Doc Martin. It is about a big time brilliant surgeon in London who is forced to take a job as the only doctor at a small English village. It is a pretty funny show but one that demonstrates what, in a microcosm, healthcare is like in England. Here are a few observations:

The Doc lives in a modest home where his office is located;
He is a curmudgeon but is truly interested in the health and care of his neighbors;
He regularly makes house calls when needed;
Everyone in his town is cared for the same regardless of wealth.

The show reminds me of what healthcare used to be like in the 60s when Dr. Koosman, our family physician, made house calls. I remember that day in January 1965 when he came to my bedroom and diagnosed me with appendicitis. And yes I know that, like Doc Martin, that situation is not relevant to 21st century America.

My thinking is that somehow, in the midst of the debate over Obamacare, we need to find a way in our country to better care for the sick. It breaks my heart to think of responsible people who have to declare bankruptcy because of inadequate insurance coverage. It also saddens me that people are denied coverage because of preexisting conditions.

Thinking about how, as a young and wild guy, I was forced into an assigned risk auto insurance group, it seems to me that, like auto insurance, there should be provisions made so that everyone can be covered by health insurance. Seems like everyone in a society benefits when everyone has healthcare coverage.

Without bashing or lauding Obamacare, what would you like healthcare to be like in America?

The Veebot

According to this MSN article: "If you’ve ever left the doctor’s office looking like a pin cushion thanks to a zillion failed attempts to draw blood, you’ll love this robotic phlebotomist. If, however, you’d be terrified of a needle-wielding robot, you might think it’s a very bad idea. Called the Veebot, this contraption uses infrared light, a camera and ultrasound to pick the perfect vein, check it for blood flow and whammo, it gets the job done. The brainiacs behind this healthcare gizmo say it successfully chooses the best vein around 83 percent of the time, and if it can boost that rate up to 90 percent they’ll launch clinical trials."

Lowering Medicare Eligibility to 60?

Watched This Week with George Stephanopoulos on Sunday and heard Steven Brill (the guy who recently wrote the Time Magazine cover story titled "Why Medical Bills are Killing Us") engage in this interesting dialog with economist (and former Obama adviser) Steve Rattner:

RATTNER: But there's a fundamental point here, Stephen, I think your piece was great. And I think you're points are right, but I also don't want people to be confused. I don't believe that we can cut our way, change the pricing, do all the things you're talking about and still save Medicare. The average person who's at Medicare retirement age has paid in some like $122,000 in the system. They'll get back $387,000 back in benefits. That's three times. You're not going to reduce that $387,000 by hospital cuts and this and that. We have to still have fundamental Medicare reforms to make those numbers work.

BRILL: Well, if you put Medicare in the context of the larger health care system, and this is something that everybody at this table is going to think that I should go to a mental hospital when I get finished saying this, the government and all of us would actually save money if you lowered — I said lowered the age for Medicare. If the Medicare age were 60 instead of 65, the economy and the taxpayers would actually save money. And George, please don't look at me like that.

RATTNER: You're potentially right. And part of the argument — you're taking people out of the Medicare age to 67 is you're taking people out of the Medicare system.

BRILL: Right. And what you would be doing, is you would be putting the most efficient player, which is Medicare — Medicare spends 80 or 90 cents to process a claim and the health insurance companies spend $18 or $20 or $25 to process a claim. Health insurance companies pay two, three, four times what Medicare pays for various services. So if you lowered the age, you would put more people into the bucket of much more efficient health care.

And the worst part about it is, the reforms that we have now, with the president's plan, are actually going to raise the costs because all of the people who are 60, or 62, or 63, who can't afford the premiums that they're going to have now, are going to be subsidized by the taxpayer.

Hard to argue with the logic. Especially for folks who think that Medicare holds down the type of costs that Brill writes about in his Time article. Even so, many folks would see it as a government power grab and liken it to a single payer system. What do you think should be done to help Medicare?

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Half of all bottled water is just tap water