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)