Dear Readers,
There have been a few traumatic events and major changes Read the rest of this entry »
Tag Archives: Health
Is it TBI, chronic illness, cognitive disorders, dementia or Alzheimer’s? Part 1 of 2
What’s the difference between brain dysfunction such as dementia and other progressive cognitive disorders and TBI or other chronic illnesses?
Survivors of TBI and chronic illness rarely Read the rest of this entry »
Laughter as brain injury medicine … What’s your vision?
Vision? What vision? What’s your vision of perception? Have you laughed at some ridiculous comments or created laughter in a room full of serious people? At a recent 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 »
Simple tips for brain injury, illness, aging, injuries, patients … Do you have an advocate? Part 1 of 2
No one can be totally prepared to handle a medical crisis alone! How can you be the patient and advocate along with a body in crisis? Some are better ready than others, yet these are too very different roles. If you’ve never been ill or injured you may think you will never need an advocate. Trust me, everyone NEEDS an advocate! 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 4 of Series)
Catastrophic reactions and safety issues
When she is in crisis, it’s nearly impossible to find peace and calm within the household. It’s easy to cause a catastrophic reaction Read the rest of this entry »
Laughter as brain injury medicine … Do you hear what I hear
When I woke this morning I heard a faint buzzing or ringing tone. It sounded to me as though 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 »
Laughter as brain injury medicine … permanent doggie diet
Do you have someone who seems to be feeding your dog table scraps against your wishes? Is your dog hanging around a certain person in the house on a regular basis? 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 »
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 »
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 »
Laughter as Brain Injury Medicine … Silly comments or questions
Have you laughed today? Many times we say things that are innocent but 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 »
Simple tips: When YOU suddenly join the TBI club! Part 2 of 3
No one knows their deficits until they are out of formal rehabilitation, when life Read the rest of this entry »
Simple tips: When YOU suddenly join the TBI club! Part 1 of 3
To receive the quality care you or a loved one deserves after traumatic brain injury you must have Read the rest of this entry »
Do you think you should be feeling better? You should! Dr. Charles Parker , a Neuroscientist, psychiatrist, and author of two books is offering a free webinar March 14th 6-8 pm (eastern time). This includes an interactive session and expert advice of “brain science”, including TBI along with ADD.
This neuroscientist starts getting a biological profile to determine balance with neurotransmitters, hormones, and trace minerals. Read the comment about a gentleman who improved after 18 years. It sounds like a very similar story to mine.
With advances like this, TBI symptoms could possibly be managed with the quality of life improving drastically. Let’s all keep pushing for quality and searching for the proper professionals. One of his books “Deep Recovery” focuses on “labels” during recovery/rehabilitation and where the focus should be during evaluation, assessment and treatment for adequate care.
I truly believe signing up for this Shindig will be an educational opportunity no one wants to miss. What do you think about the research, and possible improvement in TBI symptoms and quality of life?
Remember – links on this site are dark grey to reduce distraction potential
while you’re reading. They turn red on mouseover.
Find out how much better you COULD be doing — directly from Dr. Charles Parker
by Madelyn Griffith-Haynie, CTP, CMC, ACT, MCC, SCAC
An article in the ADD Advocacy Series
THIS is your shot – free of charge
As I said on an earlier post,Dr. Charles Parker, fellow ADD advocate, is one of the physician crusaders for specificity – of diagnosis and of treatment approaches – and he will be at your service on March 14th, 2013, no matter where you are in the world, at no charge whatsoever.
Neuroscientist, adult and child psychiatrist, Dr Parker is the originator of CorePsych, and the creator of an amazing amount of high-value webcontent in various formats on the CorePsych Blog.
He is also the author of two books containing information you…
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Laughter as brain injury medicine … Eyes
Time to laugh at our daily frustrations. Laughter helps heal the body and soul. Have you looked throughout your surroundings and couldn’t find what you just had? How Read the rest of this entry »
Laughter as medicine … how loud is too loud
Have you ever sat in the same room with another and they appear to be watching the television? Have you asked questions and they reply “Huh?” Have you noticed Read the rest of this entry »
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