google-site-verification=ZTYg11mvIYHNbEU2g5SxL9_QHKENf5J6gzQJmMAjvss
What can I do at home for Covid? 1. Zoom with your provider 2. Walk around as much as you can- covid causes blood clots 3. Lay on your belly when you’re resting, not necessarily when asleep. We are proning Covid patients (placing them on their belly) even when they are on the ventilator to help move mucus / fluid and drain the lungs. 4. Hot steamy showers. Even if you don’t feel good enough to shower, sit in your smallest bathroom with the steam running to help open up the lungs. If you feel lightheaded though, stop. 5. Hydrate hydrate hydrate - covid is an inflammatory virus and hydration is key! 6. Monitor your pulse and oxygen levels as I mentioned yesterday. 7. What has fallen out of favor / lacked statistical backup and/or caused harm: ivermectin, oral steroids prior to hospitalization, hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), unnecessary antibiotics 8. Mucinex, zinc, Vit C, Vit D, Singulair (it’s Rx though) are all in the grey zone- I don’t think they’ll hurt you but they may not keep you out of the hospital. 9. Finish out your quarantine please and thank you. 10. Chest percussion- look it up on YouTube How do I know if it’s Delta? 1. Big testing centers are batch testing swabs for variants and extrapolating that data to identify geographic variant trends. Your local urgentcare is not. 2. Whatever the variant, we treat based on symptom severity and delta may look good on you and horrible on Sally. Alpha (the original variant) may have put me in the hospital but barely slowed Steve down. 3. I equate it to flu A and B which are always swabbed and tested together each year. Every year I hear “oh Flu B is way worse than A. I’m so sorry you have B.” Etc etc etc when patients’ flu courses can vary regardless of the strain. 4. Anecdotally, my zoom covid visits with this wave seem different than in 2020. Less fevers. Less complaints of crippling headaches. Less loss of taste and smell. More dizziness & confusion (likely from low oxygen levels). Similar diarrhea complaints. Worse shortness of breath and chest tightness. Way more trips to the hospital and ICU. . My only vent-survivor told me all of a sudden they just Could Not Breathe. I should add this person is under 40 years old and is (or was) healthy. 5. Speaking of strains, did you know the Gardasil vaccine protects against 9 strains of HPV? Did you know Prevnar13 protects against (you guessed it) 13 strains of pneumonia? Strains have been around forever as have vaccines yet sudden interest persists. Just educating- no judgment on vaccine choices. I’m too tired. How many times can a child under age 12 have Covid? Will they develop immunity? Great question. I’ve seen twice so far and I expect more. Their bodies should be developing antibodies but no children have volunteered for my quantitative antibody study yet. Stay tuned. How soon should I get my vaccine after I have Covid? I’m recommending one month not 90 days IF you’re truly feeling better. Ask your PCP as they know your health situation. If I’m + today, symptoms resolve in 2 weeks, and then I’m + in 4 weeks, is it a reinfection or residual positive from original infection? I would ask if you ever had a negative test. If you did, maybe it is a re-infection but if you did not, I know we saw some folks stay + for 6 weeks or more in 2020. ***as always, consult your PCP for your healthcare. I’m trying to raise awareness. Let’s not bicker and judge over vaccine status. Let’s educate ourselves and let’s come together to get out of this public health crisis!!!***
0 Comments
Taking multiple medications multiple times per day can be overwhelming at best. Remembering to take them, remembering to refill them with the pharmacy, remembering to contact the provider if you run low, and remembering to purchase or pick them up can be stressful, time-consuming, and somewhat depressing. I hate filling my 2 pill boxes each month (one for morning, one for evening). It is a reminder that I am living with a chronic illness and that my body has "failed me." My rheumatologist told me 5 years ago at the onset of my sarcoidosis diagnosis, "Amy, my goal is for us to get your treatment regimen in line to the point that you only think about having an illness when you see me every few months and when you take your medication. Otherwise, I want you to feel so good that you don't even think about it." I did not know then how important those words would be to me five years later. I have FINALLY recruited my husband to help me fill these PITA boxes (they are- I spill meds every month and lose count without fail). Now we turn on Ted Lasso or Bloodline and he fills one while I fill the other. It is depressing to accept that my body depends on the very THING I shell out every single day in my profession. I can truly empathize with my patients who say "but I don't want to be reliant on a pill." A few times I have shown them a picture of my med boxes, and sometimes it has provided comfort. One patient asked "oh my goodness- what is wrong with you?" so I decided I might share a little less. Vulnerability is hard. My best advice is to have a system for managing your medications if you have a chronic illness.
I knew I wanted shelves on all 3 sides of the closet. I knew I didn't want wire racks. I knew I didn't want to use shelving brackets if possible. My husband got creative and thought of a solution. He notched the wood so he could use wooden slats as supports.
I don't know all the other technical ways he made this happen but I love it! I just had a funny thought as I sipped my coffee. I wish I had read this article 19 years ago in my first few weeks of NP school. I wonder if I would have kept going to class? Probably... knowing me. I'm always trying to prove somebody wrong. Alright, alright, I'm about to let you all in on a BIG secret! Those who love me, and especially those who live with me know all of these truths, but I bet many of you are about to lose all your enamor for your health care provider. I am going to tell you about the daily life of a family nurse practitioner working in primary care. In essence, my day can be broken down into a few "sessions" or time periods.
Let me laugh with another sip of coffee real quick before I proceed.
Going back to my original "dreams" of working as an NP, did any of it come true?
Check out these posts from my fellow Hope*Writers for our monthly writing challenge. This month's theme was "daily": Oh, I Try by Jessica Weaver www.rootedunrooted.com/blog/oh-i-try Kids Sleep Meditation: 6 Daily Practice Dos and Don’ts by Ashley Olivine louvaria.com/kids-sleep-meditation/ Lessons from Daily Bread by Dianne Vielhuber simplewordsoffaith.com/2021/09/01/lessons-from-daily-bread/ Daily Conversations with God by Sharla Hallett www.sharlahallett.com/daily-conversations-with-god/ The boys lined up in their knicker pants smiles and oversized gloves and bats mom and dads in the bleacher seats red Georgia clay in barely-worn cleats I had the honor of sitting inside the dusty dugout, beaming with pride I applied all the bandaids, passed out the ice packs watched the boys triumph, grow, and relax I knew the days being close to him would end I knew my high fives would be replaced with friends' what I didn't expect was how much I would learn about watching my own child wait for his turn I witnessed my boy's first time on that bench I felt his disappointment and saw the heart-wrench I watched my own child have ups and downs in the game I saw innings of glory and moments of shame I knew it would come to an end one day I knew I'd hear "Mom, get out. We're good. Go away." I still feel my heart tug when I wash his gear I know his time is now, this very year So go get 'em, sweet boy- show them all what you've got Let the haters stand back, for a quitter you're not Throw that ball down the strike zone with red Georgia heat Nail that ball to the outfield, pull the crowd to their feet I may not be in that dugout with you right now but this mom is inside you, I'm showing you how to come back from defeat and rise to the top keep your head held high son, all the doubting shall stop When the ump calls "That's Ball Game" and the fans shift away this mom knows your love for the game and each play This life lesson you've learned - while it hurt, it's okay Smack that ball, throw that strike, they'll remember your name This goes out to any little boy who waited his turn and for his mom that watched him wait. As a family nurse practitioner, I see moms, dads, grandparents, and kids every day in my office. One of the most common questions I encounter with my pediatric patients comes from frustrated, defeated parents or grandparents. HOW CAN I GET MY CHILD TO EAT VEGETABLES? Here is the tried-and-true method I've used with my own children to get them to eat vegetables (and other healthy foods):
Let's discuss each tip in more detail. There are some things you need to know before you begin.
If you are reading this article thinking that I am judging you, I am not by any means. I think all mothers and fathers are doing the best they can when they can where they are in life. You decided that you want to work on Johnny's diet, and you looked for help. I decided I could not lie to you and give you what you wanted to read. You need the truth! These tips have worked in my house and in HUNDREDS of homes of my patients throughout my career. Good luck Mom or Dad! You can do this!!! I am cheering for you! I'm waving broccoli and carrots at you from Georgia!
How to be the most productive on your day off (when you have to run errands):Â 10 Pro Tips!8/11/2021
We have all been there. We have an unexpected day off and we try to cram 497,632 things to do in that one day. That day comes and goes like the wind and maybe only two things were accomplished. We feel like a failure, and we decide we are a lazy blob of a human. None of this is true.
Here are 10 pro tips when running errands and being productive on your day off:
Let's take a deep dive into each of these pro tips.
I encourage you to try these on your next day off and share your success stories (or epic fails- we can laugh or cry with you) in the comments below. Please know that I still have wasted days off, and that's okay! I'm learning in my forties that some days are meant to be wasted. (insert sunshine, beach music, and a cool breeze here)
First of all- this morning was a disaster, so I thought this might be a good topic for a blog post. Since my oldest is now 19 and out of the house, I cannot claim to be a novice at getting children out the door. My youngest is now in fourth grade, so again I should be good at this.
I learned many years ago that mornings and evenings with children can make or break any parent's heart. All kids out the door with teeth brushed, hair combed, deodorant on, lunch in hand, and backpacks on equals home run, grand slam, touchdown. If either or both parent makes it out the door with work lunch, work bag, clothes, jewelry, watch, phone, brain cells, positive attitude, AND shoes--- well you might as well say we have won the lottery. The secret to these success stories (which let’s be honest are few and far between for most of us) is having a morning and an evening routine. I know, I know, everyone and their mother, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, cousin is online touting about elaborate morning and evening routines that are super unrealistic for a single person much less for a family with multiple children. My goal in writing this article is to tell you the absolute truth: the cold, hard, ugly, sometimes-hilarious, often meltdown-provoking truth. The truth is that getting kids out the door is hard. It also takes practice and patience. The following tips will help you get your kids out the door:
The 15 minute buffer: Parents and kids alike need a 15 minute buffer every morning. This is a fact, and I’m not sure why it is true, but it is true. If everyone needs to leave by 7:15 AM , we ALL need to mentally think 7 AM. Allowing that 15 minute buffer reduces anxiety, rushing, attitudes, and raised voices. I personally use the 15 minute buffer always on all days just to reduce my own anxiety since being late provokes panic for me. Have a dedicated spot for backpacks, shoes, and lunchboxes: All five members of our household have always taken their lunch to work or school. This saves money and is better for our physical health. We have a dedicated spot for lunchboxes so that packing lunches is easier. I asked my husband to install hooks in our hallway between the garage and laundry room for backpacks since the layout of our house does not lend itself to a mud room or drop off bench area. The backpack / hoodie hooks have been a game changer in our household. Similarly, shoes are deposited in a designated space as we enter our home. This prevents all the “where are my shoes!?!“ screams in the mornings. When the kids get off the bus or my husband and I get home from work, things aren’t strewn across the kitchen. They go where they belong. Use a timer: I use a the timer on my watch for several things every single morning.
Set expectations ahead of time: My kids know that their homework must be done before bed and not the morning of school. Unless we have a late ballgame or rehearsal and they are just exhausted, they know that they are not allowed to do homework in the morning. This prevents any last minute “mom I have to do this worksheet real quick“ debacles that can derail any smooth morning. My children also know that they eat breakfast at home at the table every morning, and they must allow time to eat in their schedule. They will not be eating a pop tart or breakfast bar on the bus. Whatever expectations you have for your family, I encourage you to make those known well ahead of time and be consistent. Consistency is key. Remain calm: This tip is probably the most important tip but also the most comical in my opinion. I can definitely say this is the hardest one for me to follow. While I am naturally a morning person and usually a calm person, my aforementioned anxiety that stems from being late causes me to get easily flustered if the kids go off the rails. It never fails that the dog won’t go outside or the milk gets spilled or the backpack won’t unzip or mom forgot the applesauce on the click list. These things happen. Since we have the 15 minute buffer, it is best to remain calm and take a few deep breaths before unloading every thought and frustration onto our children. We love our children and our spouse and our dog. Repeat that three times LOL. Weekly habits that make daily routines flow smoothly:
Check schedules every night: I have used a planner my entire life. I am a planning guru. However, when work is crazy and kids' schedules are busy and homework abounds, I sometimes forget to look at my planner. This is never good. Whether you use a digital or a paper planner, it is easy to dismiss a digital reminder or leave a beautifully decorated planner unopened. Check the planner. Check it again. Every night. Charge all the things:
Morning routine for parents:
Evening routine for parents:
Cabinets are Diamond from Lowes. Drawer pulls and knobs also from Lowes. Backsplash tile is from Home Depot. Bar stools from Hobby Lobby. Floors are Revolution Mills Aspire Accolade LVP. Sherwin Williams Angelic paint. My brother built this simple desk. Black chair from Amazon. Gray chair from Home Goods. I love the acrylic shelves to hold my planners from Amazon. Kanban board from Amazon. Intellectual Gray Sherwin Williams Paint inside the sleeping nook. We decided not to waste space under the stairs and placed a twin bed there. My husband wired it with a light and wall outlet in case we ever wanted to mount a TV. The kids love it!
Finding friends as an adult can be difficult. Once we live through certain life events, we can become jaded and mistrusting of others. In today's world of social media and spending so many hours online for work or entertainment, new friend opportunities seem to be few and far between. Ways to find a new friend as an adult in 2021:
Let's talk about the pros and cons of each avenue for creating a new friendship:
I value honesty, deep conversations, and potential for growth now more than ever when I approach a new friendship. Time is precious, and I encourage you to spend it with those who add value to your life. So, how in the world do I plan meals for an entire month? As I mentioned in my previous post, monthly meal planning has taken me YEARS to develop. One thing to note is that there are 3 adults rotating the cooking in my family. My parents live 2 doors down from us and we decided many years ago that it was easier to feed 7 than 2 (for them) and that mom didn't mind cooking for 7 twice a week if it meant she and dad would be fed by us several nights per week. Some weeks that looks different. Since my husband and I both commute about an hour each way to our jobs, and he works night shift, my mom may have to cook 3 times some weeks. Kids' sports and school activities can also affect our cooking rotation. Let's look at monthly meal planning with a few good tips or rules to get you started:
Now let's look at each question in more detail:
Good luck and just remember:
it doesn't have to be fancy, it just has to be planned.
Here are 7 easy ways to find your next great read:
Let's look at each tip in more detail:
My favorite fiction books have usually been ones I have found via social media recommendation or from a friend who has similar reading tastes. My favorite nonfiction have usually come from a podcast recommendation. If I'm driving and hear something that sounds good, I will pause the podcast and voice-text the book name into my phone notes.
Throughout my career, I have had to deliver hard news to my patients. I have had to deliver even worse news to their families. It is the LEAST favorite part of my job, but I have found some comfort knowing I am delivering the news with compassion and empathy. I usually know the patient and family very well, and I think that means a lot. These suggestions may be helpful when faced with a difficult diagnosis.
Let's look at each suggestion in detail:
I am in a unique position in that I have both delivered and received hard news. At the age of 40, when my youngest son was 4, I was told I probably have lymphoma AND multiple sclerosis over the phone by a nurse. I was told to get an appointment with an oncologist and a neurologist as soon as possible. Many blood tests, imaging tests, and biopsies later, I was finally told that "you don't have cancer! And I don't think you have MS but I'm not sure. What you do have is a lifelong incurable autoimmune disease that can attack any organ and can be difficult to treat. And by the way, nobody has really heard of it and even us doctors have to google it when we see it on a chart."
So maybe those weren't his exact words, but it was close. And there will be a lot more to that story to come in my posts. I wish someone had used tip #3 with me when delivering my news. |