You have been ill or injured. You have struggled to recover. As you recover there are many demands awaiting you. Now you are bombarded by paperwork. Paperwork that Read the rest of this entry »
Category Archives: Patients
Laughter as brain injury medicine … Who’s brain injured
Who is always to blame but someone that’s brain injured. Who is believed? It’s not Read the rest of this entry »
Simple tips after TBI dealing with behavioral changes, aggression
Aggressive and violent behaviors are common with brain injuries. This type of behavior is extremely difficult to Read the rest of this entry »
Laughter as brain injury medicine … Is life really a “walk in the park”?
A walk in the park is peaceful. A time to slow the pace of life and take in environmental delights! Here you’ll find uncomplicated Read the rest of this entry »
Simple tips for brain injury, illness, aging, injuries, patients … Do you have an advocate? Part 2 of 2
A person that is traumatized or fighting illness needs help. Read the rest of this entry »
Loving and living with someone when they have Cerebral Palsy, Seizures, and Brain Dysfunction (Part 6 Series)
Cognitive deficits … overwhelmed & problem solving
People with cognitive deficits usually become overwhelmed after misplacing or difficulty Read the rest of this entry »
Loving and living with someone when they have Cerebral Palsy, Seizures, and Brain Dysfunction (Part 5 of Series)
Bullying
Of course there was torment and bullying. Who hasn’t been bullied? There are different degrees Read the rest of this entry »
Again? Thank you for the prayers.
Advocacy. Listening. Persistence. Life. Health. POA. TPN. SICU. Ventilator. Disability. Rehabilitation. Healthcare. These are just a few terms that one’s dear friend is learning by experience. An experience no one wants to find themselves in.
First I do want to thank everyone for their prayers for the person who has shared our home for the past 4 years and I’ve known since age 5. In her struggle for life she found “healthcare is good if you never need it!” She never needed it before, but when she had developed progressive problems no one seemed to hear her complaints. A common complaint to many!
Over a short time she became worse. Finally her body would no longer go regardless of how hard her mind pushed. Her life came to a stand still! She was no longer well enough to work. She feared loosing her jobs. Now, all she wants is her health. We all have hope and prayer.
It’s been a tough month, but something I’m familiar with … on all levels! I was saddened to see how healthcare professionals expect everyone (regardless of education) to know exactly what was happening and to totally understand everything in their time of crisis.
It seems like no one has time to educate. What’s more important than health? It’s been a time to constantly educate and that’s kept me busy in a way I’d rather not be but I’m comfortable with this yet exhausted and overwhelmed. There is no routine.
My dear friend is entering territory that no one wants to enter. Her future looks bleak, so it’s day-by-day … but hopeful!
Persistence saved her life. Albeit, quality of life altered significantly. Five attempts at getting proper healthcare. Finally someone heard her desperate plea for help but most importantly they did blood work. She’s never been sick in her entire life.
The next thing I knew she was calling to let me know they were preparing her for the first emergency surgery. I arrived within the hour at the emergency room. After two surgeries and a number of medical procedures she is now off a ventilator but continues to struggle for life in an acute rehabilitation center with many medical complications from multi-system failure.
It’s unbelievable that she survived and I know anyone who had visited during this time feels the same. Her outcome is unpredictable, and only time will tell.
Education has been out but others don’t act upon it. I just want everyone to make sure they clearly know what they need to do in a true life-altering medical emergency. Do you have a Healthcare Power of Attorney? Do you have a Financial Power of Attorney? Don’t wait till this happens. Every second counts when dealing with life-threatening illness and injuries.
Do you have a place where updated telephone numbers are easily accessible? Do you know what your loved one wants? Please have these discussions. It’s your responsibility and its your life! Time is of essence when dealing with life-altering illness or injuries. It’s a time of action and support, and not time for discussion.
Who are your advocates? Being prepared makes these crisis easier to handle. Are you ready if it happens in your family? If you panic in crisis do you have someone who will react calmly to the most devastating news?
Related articles
- DIY Documents, Part 4: Powers of Attorney (leichtlaw.wordpress.com)
- Finances and Your Aging Parents (creditrepair.com)
- Piper’s emergency surgery (paisleyandpiper.wordpress.com)
- Rates of Emergency Bowel Surgery Vary Wildly from State to State: John Hopkins Researchers (medindia.net)
**********All material presented on Brain Injury Self Rehabilitation (BISR) is copyright and cannot be, copied, reproduced, or distributed in any way without the express, written consent of Edith E. Flickinger, BSN RN.
Loving and living with someone when they have Cerebral Palsy, Seizures, and Brain Dysfunction (Part 3 of Series)
Brain injury, intelligence, rigidity, moving
She is intelligent and has developed many ways to compensate by using the computer. Her physical activity Read the rest of this entry »
Simple tips for brain and spinal cord injury, illness, injury, aging, children, adults, everyone … Questions to ask your healthcare professionals
When you come across health issues there are a number of questions you and your advocate need to ask. It’s difficult to know what questions to ask when your world is turned upside down and you are not familiar with healthcare systems. Either the patient or the advocate, or both should ask these questions.
The best outcome to all health issues is dependent on the educated patients and advocates. Asking the following questions will help you take control, eliminate some stress and struggles with healthcare and focus on ones optimal level of functioning. This is a comprehensive but not all inclusive list of questions to ask your healthcare provider. Read the rest of this entry »
Loving and living with someone when they have Cerebral Palsy, Seizures, and Brain Dysfunction (Part 1 of Series)
Routine works best with brain injury. Most survivors place things in the same place all the time. Anything out of order, disrupts many aspects of life. Disruption affects everyone in the famil Read the rest of this entry »
Simple tips traveling by air with TBI, aging, and other physical and mental challenges
Do not let your physical and mental challenges stop you from traveling when you want or need to. You can get preferential seating by Read the rest of this entry »
Laughter as brain injury medicine … you don’t understand
Communication is unpredictable, just as other symptoms of TBI. Some symptoms are invisible and others are incomprehensible! As I met up with someone while working out in the pool I asked “How are you doing today?” her facial expressions of shock Read the rest of this entry »
Laughter as brain injury medicine … reading
How many romance novels can one read? It’s reading that kept mother-in-law’s 96 year old mind and memory remain clear. Who cares what type of reading? She handled finances, checkbook, and all her affairs until the day she died. She learned so much from reading and learning is something that’s important throughout the lifespan.
It was our pride that at 96 years old weekly library trips to checkout books and keep the brain and mind functioning were a priority. She was an avid reader sparked by the sensational sexual romance books. She told us the books have gotten better over time!
When asked if they ever bore her, she said they never do … “it keeps one’s imagination very much alive when the rest of the body is nearly dead!”
Have you laughed today? What made you break out in laughter?
**********All material presented on Brain Injury Self Rehabilitation (BISR) is copyright and cannot be, copied, reproduced, or distributed in any way without the express, written consent of Edith E. Flickinger, BSN RN.
Does your healthcare professional listen to you? Lost and found!
Have you ever found something and you tried to enlist others to help, but no one did? Just the thought that no one can be bothered is heartbreaking. Certainly, if most people were missing Read the rest of this entry »
Simple tips … reminders of additional paperwork
There is plenty of paperwork and financial obligations that continue while dealing with devastating injuries and illnesses. Do you and/or spouse or significant other own property? Are you paying life insurance premiums? Have you been paying cash for health care providers before insurance pays?
Expenses for your medical care and other expenses incurred from injury and illness are devastating. At a time when things are already difficult, you and your family are supposed to know all the ins-and-outs of a foreign concept …. Disability alone is difficult! Read the rest of this entry »
Simple tips for brain injury … exercise Part 2 of 2
Exercise, that seems like work! Even if you think you aren’t exercising, it’s likely you are. Are you doing any of the following? Read the rest of this entry »
Laughter as brain injury medicine … cold feet
It’s been a rainy spring 2013! Walking through the puddles reminds one during childhood when we’d run and jump in the fresh puddles on a warm spring day. It’s not been warm but Read the rest of this entry »
In the aftermath of terrorism … Who gets rehabilitation
In the aftermath of terrorism many questions remain. Many people have lost what was “normal”. They will be searching for a new normal. Most will find that balance with help. Are we ready to help in all the ways they need? Who will get rehabilitation and what type of rehabilitation? Read the rest of this entry »
Simple tips for brain injury … exercise Part 1 of 2
Are you struggling to get on track to feeling your best? What is your best? Are you interested in becoming your healthiest and prefer avoiding the gym? Read the rest of this entry »
Medications that help but what it takes to get them Part 2 of 2
Some problems that are happening inside our healthcare system are due to Read the rest of this entry »
Medications that help but what it takes to get them Part 1 of 2
The roles everyone plays in helping patients get their medications can mean the difference Read the rest of this entry »
Laughter as brain injury medicine … Are you sleeping?
Who needs sleep? Awe, one is finally having restful nights with adequate amount of sleep. You would think 4 out of 7 nights are good if you had a TBI, and to our standards I’m in the “good” range now! Read the rest of this entry »
Simple tips … enhancing one’s well-being with TBI, SCI, Chronic Illness and Aging Part 2 of 2
When one’s life changes, do others “accept” these changes? Can you return to previous employment Read the rest of this entry »
Laughter as brain injury medicine … not ready yet
When stressful situations happen, laughter is relaxing and healing. Camera, one has carried it everywhere, long before cell phone cameras. It’s my memory! Ironically, over the years people have complained Read the rest of this entry »
Simple tips … enhancing one’s well-being with TBI, SCI, Chronic Illness and Aging Part 1 of 2
How can we improve awareness of self and others and enhance one’s well-being while dealing with traumatic brain and spinal cord injury, mental and physical illnesses, and the aging process?
Artistic and creative talent frequently emerges with Read the rest of this entry »
Simple tips: When YOU suddenly join the TBI club! Part 3 of 3
This is definitely a family affair! With gratitude Read the rest of this entry »
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