Tip #331 Form Frenzy; Remember the Milk (or let it remember for you!)

     Honey would you pick up some milk on the way home? No, that's not what this is about (although while we're discussing it maybe you should check with your spouse before going to leave for home...). No, Remember the Milk (RTM)  is not a task, it is a wonderful application that is very useful in life in general - and I love having it during the recovery process. Here's the deal:
  
 RTM is a to do list that is on the web. Not just any to do list though. Why?

• It's free, and an awesome easy way to manage lists.
• It is digital so all the info you need is in one place. It's like a digital filing cabinet where you can determine which file folders (and how many) you use, and you name them for what makes sense to you
• Depending on your settings, you can have RTM email you, or set an alarm of some sort to prompt you for appointments/due dates. AND, you do it all without cumbersome calendars, and without a long process (many easy shortcuts!)
• It is great for communicating with your medical practicionsers: 
• Keep track of questions you want to ask in your next apt, or what the answers were during that appointment. So, I have a Dr. So-and-so tab/file for each Doctor, physio, and other specialist
• You can share some of your "files"  I have a list for the occupational therapist. If she registers (for free) with RTM then she can see and update the list that I set as accessible for her (and no other "file" in my list "filing cabinet"). So privacy is great, and has a cool built-in flexibility
• Note, although the person you invite to look at your list you can do for free, but if you want to be able to ask people to join you, then you have to pay a $25 per YEAR fee. So, if you don't want to share particular lists, you pay nothing.
• Your lists will automatically update themselves (even with free version) every time you log in, regardless of which computer/device you open next.
• It works on most if not all devices PC (computer, Apple, blackberry, iPhone, iPad, etc)
• There's a notes section with each task
• And a lot of other great features too!

     So, it's fast, easy to set up, easy to use, and the interface is amazing too! On the iPad it appears as almost hand-printed fonts, and all sorts of goodies... You know that I am partial to Mac computers (and partial to the very very awesome iPad specifically), and I think it looks and functions best that way, but it's excellent on any device/computer you use.
     In general, I'll reiterate that it's a great list program for anyone, and you can make it as detailed or minimal as you want, and that too is another reason I like it so much. I would also love to use it as a medical professional, but that's a story for another day....
     Click here to go to RTM to check it out. Warning: if you sign up and you set it to alert you, you may find yourself laying in bed trying to figure out why you're hearing cowbells and some moo's. Living on a beef farm I have to say I found it surprising to hear a Moo from the livingroom rather than outside the first time the alert happened! LOL!! You can of course change that feature... but, maybe don't. It's more fun!

Happy milking!
  

Tip #444 Wise Words Wednesday; Plan for Joy

 What really raises one's indignation against suffering is not suffering intrinsically, but the senselessness of suffering

-Freidrich Nietzche

     Suffering isn't fun. Little girls and boys don't grow up to say "I think I'd like to be a person who suffers." But, illness and trauma happen. They happen to regular people in different ways, they rarely appear at a "good" time, and they never seem to arrive as a result of logic or reason.
     Because the illness/ trauma doesn't arrive as a rational acceptable outcome of life no matter how often we are exposed to it, we are often hard-pressed to believe it is happening or could happen at all. But it does. And, while experiencing this kind of life-altering change is no bundle of joy, the idea that anyone has to suffer at all in this life is a difficult pill to swallow - period (I must say that I didn't use that pun intentionally, but it works!). I like Neitzche's words because they eloquently depict the powerlessness people feel in the face of such a senseless reality. 
     The answer? I wish I had a magic wand and could fix it all - though I suppose that's not all that possible. A girl can dream... Okay, I am going to make a suggestion, but know that I do not wish to insult anyone who has proverbially waded through the swamp by telling them to practice walking in a 2 inch puddle. I know that many of you have tried much already.  That said, my almost overly simple response is to say plan for joy. Everyday. Plan for finding joy in the little things - the manageable things. 
     Plan for froot loops or some other random cereal you used to eat as a kid. Read a chapter of a book you like. Look through photo albums. Go for a 10 minute walk. Listen to music and take a few moments to really sing with it... You get the gist. It's easy to not fit joy in - it is one more thing to think about. I get that. But, an amazing thing can happen when you do focus on planning for joy; it becomes easier to spot even when you are NOT planning for it. Yep, small things can make a big difference, and that small step you take to plan for joy can make a big difference in the lives of those around you too. So why not try it?

Happy Planning!

Tip #88 Wise Words Wednesday; Up the Creek WITH a paddle?

     Where oh where was Wise Words Wednesday?  Well, I'd to know where Wednesday went period - my time flies! Well, I know it's Thursday, but here goes...
     I love being on the water, in the water, and just generally around water anywhere, at anytime. Well, almost anywhere at anytime; have you ever felt like you were "up the creek without a paddle?" Yes, I know that some people use colourful adjectives to describe what the creek, um, let's say, contains, and others leave out the "without a paddle" portion, but the meaning of the idiom seems universal nonetheless. 
     Whatever version you like, not many of us like to be up the creek no matter what; not figuratively and not literally - no matter how much you love water. As an outdoor enthusiast, a person recovering from severe illness and injury, and a person who has been a caregiver for others recovering, I've been "up the creek without a paddle" literally and figuratively in my life.


Really. Yes truly.


Literally...the water kind is better.


     I wish we could choose our troublesome situations, and their associated factors. Although not everyone has actually been in an actual boat without paddles, I bet that we have all been "in the same boat" in that we've struggled with the reality of caregiving or recovering at times. i am sure that everyone has felt fear, uncertainty, and desperation during this process. And, at one time or another, everyone will likely feel as though the situation is heart wrenching, dangerous, never-ending, all-consuming and /or insurmountable.

And that is okay.
You are not alone.
There is no shame in feeling overwhelmed, and no need to be apologetic for it.
     
     And you know what? Be you caregiver or the one recovering, if you can work hard at holding on to those you love (and who love you) you're doing very well. Support each other. It is more important now more than ever to hold on to friends and family and let them hold onto you too. After all, the dark is never as dark when you are with someone you love and trust. So, no matter which role you are in, be their paddle, or join them in the boat - and let them do the same for you. I'll let Ms. Pogrebin tell you about that in her words, as she says it much better than I do...

If the family were a boat, it would be a canoe that makes no progress unless everyone paddles.

- Letty Cottin Pogrebin, Family and Politics

Happy Paddling!

Tip #377 Weighted Wonders; How Do You Like Them Apples?

     You'll have to forgive me - I know that the "How do you like them apples" phrase is a phrase people use in order to gloat. Sorry. I also know that gloating isn't at all becoming, and I'm not exactly trying to gloat - but I am so happy about something I am ready to burst! What's going on? Well, the irony here is that I really am talking about apples - not the edible kind though, but the Macintosh Apple kind. With an enormous and crazy amount of generousity, my father and mother bough me an Ipad this week. Yep, the Apple Ipad 2. My farmer hubby woke up the other day and laughed because I was hugging it in my sleep. Unfortunately, I am not kidding about the hugging it part  - I don't remember doing it, but I actually was using it before going to sleep... I really am an apple geek! Who can blame me though?
     Well, if all of you PC people will forgive me for loving apple, I'd love to share with you some of the functions and applications that it has that I think will be of extra help in the recovery process, be you the one who is ill or a caregiver. My Disclaimer? Please know that I do not work for Apple, or any other computer place/empire/company for that matter. And, while I am focusing on the iPad, a lot of devices will do some similar things. I just don't know which devices do exactly what, since I am an apple addict. I must admit that I have learned via discussion with friends and family that if you know a function exists  (i.e. on the iPad, iPhone, computer. etc.), then you can at least look for said item on yours (i.e smart phone, blackberry, PC computer...). It might not be as good, but still helpful. Then again, I guess it could be that some of the non-apple devices and computers have functions better than the iPad/iPhone, etc... though you'd be pressed to convince me of it, and especially to admit it!
     So why is the iPad so incredible in my opinion? Well, several things; too many in fact to just write one post about it. I think I will keep coming back to this topic in more posts. If you don't want to wait that long you could take a peek at one of my very first posts where I discuss the  benefits of the iPhone since a lot of the functions and capabilities of the iPhone carry over to the iPad. However the iPad is even better than iPhone in my opinion! Much better and many more functions in fact! So, whether you are mac happy like me, or interested or using any other device, here is a brief sample of the kinds of things that the iPad has, and other devices could have (though again, I don't know other brands of devices much anymore). This will be a tiny brief synopsis, but watch for other posts within the weighted wonders (weighted because of the cost) category.
     I'm going to limit myself to two of the great things about the iPad to consider when recovering/caregiving since I've nearly written a tome already! Here goes:

• First, the iPad Apps. I read an article last week that said the iPad has approximately 60 000 apps, compared to the 3 000 Apps by the competitors. That's 20 times the amount of Apps! Why is that significant? Well, for starters there are 75 medical encyclopedia Apps. On average said apps cost between $0.99 and $19.99, and there is a very wide range of them. Among the medical encyclopedias you will find at least one of each of these:

• Anatomy encyclopedia
• General medical encyclopedia
• Paediatric encyclopedia
• Cancer encyclopedia
• Blood encyclopedia
• First aid encyclopedia
• Natural medicine encyclopedia
• And, a whole host of other Apps too, including many alarm apps you can customize to help you remember to take your meds, or to have that medical appointment, to read to you, to type for you when you read, and many many many more!

• Second, it's size it's fantastic. It's big and small all at the same time. Call me crazy, but it's nice to be able to see whatever you need to see, when you need to see it, and lightweight enough to have it wherever you need to put it to use it.
• The screen is big, and it's clear. If it's large screen is not big enough for you, text and pictures are easily enlarged at the snap of a finger (or with a move of two fingers exactly the opposite of a snap to be more accurate!). Your vision may be affected by medication, the condition itself, and/or is just normally not that wonderful and the condition isn't all that helpful on top of it. 
• The device itself is little and lightweight. If you want to put it up to your nose to read something, you can. If you want to use it while sick in bed, it's easy to do so. And, it's little enough to adjust just so you can get comfy and use it all at the same time.

     Okay, that's all for now. If you're not all that technical, don't discount a using a device like the iPad, or a smart phone.Technology can be intimidating at first, but if you are stuck at home because of illness or caregiving for a loved one who is ill then it can open a whole new world to you and/or your loved ones. It's practical, exciting, adventurous, and most of all liberating, and helpful for promoting independence. I hope you'll consider it. You never know, maybe you'll be saying how much you like them apples too...

Happy considering!

Tip #26 Wise Words Wednesdays; Opportunity Edison-Style

     It's no secret that our world is a better place because of Thomas Edison. Why? Well besides the fact that he was quite the inventor, I think the successes he achieved are epic because of his approach to life (and to science in particular). I'm no Thomas Edison expert by any means, but I think it's safe to say that he was really good at thinking-out-of-the-box. How many of us get frustrated with something (especially technology!), but still go about it in the same way over and over again? Maybe we do that because we can't (or don't want to make the time to) think of an alternative. Maybe we do it because it is just easier sometimes than taking the time to learn how to do something in another way. Or, perhaps we are sometimes limited physically due to the fatigue, pain, and /or the energy required to participate in the process of recovery. Whatever the reason, we limit ourselves when we don't engage in out-of-the-box-thinking like Edison.
      For example, Edison made a paradigm shift when he invented the light bulb. He didn't take the candle and try to improve it. No, instead, Edison looked at the function of light, and how he would like light to be used. He looked at what was possible, even if it did not seem probable to achieve. That's where his "I haven't failed I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work" attitude saved his bacon, and gained us light bulbs forever. So here's what I think. I think we should be more like Edison in how we approach recovery (well, and life in general too). If we can doggedly pursue recovery, and make our own paradigm shift, we too can have success. Why couldn't we?
     I think a good place to start is (in true Edison fashion) to begin seeing parts of the chaos as opportunities - no, not all parts, we're still human! Maybe for some it's an opportunity to help someone else in the future with the same issue, or maybe it's an opportunity to slow down, and not take loved ones or life for granted. Maybe it's an opportunity to have the time to do something you've always wanted to do (organizing those photo albums, learning a new language, reading the classics, writing a book...). Maybe it's an opportunity to see the goodness in others; the sides of people others don't usually get to see, and/or the way in which you and your loved ones learn to work together for the shared goal of recovery. Whatever the reason, and whatever the direction your paradigm shift may take you, I hope that the idea of opportunity in wellness is something truly considered. Who knows where you may end up? Here are some quotes on the topic at hand that I find inspiring.

In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity 

Albert Einstein

Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises

Demosthenes

Opportunities are seldom labeled

John A. Shedd

I especially agree with that last one!

Happy labelling!

Tip #207 Picture Perfect; Pictures Really are Perfect

     I'd like to warn you that there is a slight possibility that you will think the photos below are graphic in terms of the icky factor. These photos are NOT anything violent, sexual, or anything else that could be even remotely inappropriate! In fact, I don't think that the pictures below are overly graphic at all, but I'm not you - hence the disclaimer. Why do I want to show you photos of this nature? For one reason and one reason only.... that you can see the impact that photos can have in your recovery (and how they can influence the type of care you have access to). How so?
     I'm going to skip a few lines here, so the pictures are not right up here, so keep looking if you want to see. If you don't want to see, then you'll have to trust me that photos are helpful in the recovery process, and maybe look at another post just now...

 Just how are photos helpful?

1) Have a time sensitive issue, and can't get in to see the specialist?
Here is a picture of a feeding tube in someones stomach. Tubes are not supposed to be black - they're clear. Since there's a black chunk, then something is not quite right. If you don't have (and more specifically cannot get) an appointment with your physician, then taking a photo of something that just doesn't seem right is a good strategy. Ask his/her receptionist/medical assistant for an address (email, snail, colour fax, etc) and send it in to the physician. Make a short (very short) note about it, and shortly thereafter (time line depends how concerned you are) follow up with said assistant. Ask them to see if  the physician has looked at the photos, and what actions will follow once the photo has been studied. You don't need to get all fancy and put arrows and text on it like the photo above, but if you can provide details in any form it can only help, and never hurt. Note though that a small amount of detail is best at getting the physician to actually look at the photos. Short (15 seconds max) video's are great too if it's tricky to catch a particularly "active" symptom in person.

2) Can't get to a particular medical team member (physically), and/or having difficulty describing things that happen between appointments with your medical specialist? 

So, your specialist is in a different city, or the same city but you are not able to physically be there (or vice versa)? A picture paints a thousand words. For instance, if you said "My legs are sometimes orange with purple polka dots" would that sound crazy to you - or to them? They really do that? Really? Yep. Really.

3) Wanting to more easily explain what a particular treatment looks like? 

 People often ask things like "What is acupuncture?" Does it hurt? What does it look like? etc.

Other photo uses?

• Take a picture of yourself semi-regularly to see how much better you are getting, especially since the last photo
• Mark specific milestones - maybe you are now sitting up for a few minutes, or able to do stairs, or able to make dinner -  or starting to achieve any new goal. 
• Has defective medical equipment delivered? Sometimes it's easier to show a picture of the equipment at hand, and pass it along (videos apply here too)
• Use photos via email or chat on Skype with a medical team member that can't get to you any more than you can get to them (maybe they live in a different city...).
• Send photos of your milestones to immediate family members out of town, so they too can see your progress. 
• Mark the very special times with loved ones, and look at those pictures regularly. It's good to be able to look back and be reminded of that day/activity that was special. And doing that is a good reminder that even in this crazy recovery phase, life still goes on, and fighting for help is worth it.

Well, you get the gist...

Happy shooting (with the camera only! LOL)

Tip #368 Wise Words Wednesday; Superwoman or Wise Woman?

     Hello everyone. I know it's been a few weeks since I last posted anything, but as you all know, sometimes illness doesn't cooperate or coordinate well with one's schedule. How could it though? After all, no time is a good time, and even if there were a good time, it's still not something easily planned... 

     When we find ourselves in that type of scenario, I think we have a choice to make: Superwoman or Wise Woman. What? Yep, lets reiterate -  Superwoman or Wise Woman (pardon me if you're male - Superman and Wise Man also apply:)). Which would you rather be?

     It took me a few years, but I finally figured out that I am not Superwoman. First I thought I was, then I thought I wasn't but wanted to be, and finally I decided I don't. I know what you're going to say - excellent choosing skills Val, way to be direct and certain! But hey, what can I say? I'm not always the sharpest knife in the drawer! Although I'm a type A personality, age has taught me to mellow a bit... so I don't want to be Superwoman because I don't want the pressure, expectations, and responsibility that come with that job description - especially since no human could actually fulfil that description. Well, that and the whole uniform issue - going on Superman and Wonder Woman's costumes, I'm not sure I'm up for what Superwoman might have to wear....

     Seriously though, instead of Superwoman, I am striving to be a wise woman - a super wife, friend, sister, daughter... To do that requires making wise choices that conserve energy as needed, and apply it to the most important things in life (in my case, faith, family, and friends). With that said, I did miss blogging - I love the creative process of doing it, and I thank you for your patience, and for continuing to check in. I am still humbled and amazed that you would at all want to read what I have to say - thanks! 

     As for Wise Words Wednesday? I opened a tin of mints, and the quote I'm sharing today was written on the inside surface of the lid (a very fun surprize). It was a good kick in the but for me (reminding me to slow down and pay attention), and particularly apt for what I wanted to say today about making wise decisions with one's evergy. He says:

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.

-Jimi Hendrix

That's good stuff:) So here's to listening... in faith, in relationships, and in response to the body and it's limits, too. Yep, very wise words indeed Jimi Hendrix! 

Happy Listening!