Tip #49 Picture Perfect; The "Last Changed" Whiteboard

     When was your last B12 shot? Your last IV line change? How about your last bowel movement? Pardon me for getting personal! But, know that if you are recovering from severe illness at home, you will likely have nurses, physio-therapists, etc., and if you do, they will ask you these questions and more (of course adjusting them to your particular situation). That's where the whiteboard fits in. I know it sounds crazy to have to write down the last time you had a bowel movement... you'd think that that is something you'd remember, but it is an important question many will ask you, and the more accurate are, the better shape you will be in. And, you can write it in a way that no one else knows (in this example sup is short for suppository, and thus makes sense without having family or friends having any idea what you're speaking about). 

     One very big tip is that you should make the whiteboard as EITHER "Date item was changed/administered/altered" OR "Date item is TO BE changed/administered.altered"It's very confusing otherwise. Also note that there are other options for monitoring timed medications as part of a different set of whiteboards (see Tip #50).  If you want some suggestions/examples  of the types of items I believe are most helpful to have recorded for yourself and your medical team, look at the list below this  picture. Thanks!

Suggested items: 

• Any medication that you don't take every day (here fentanyl is changed every 2 and a half days).
• Any medication that you only use occasionally, but have to track for the nurses/ team members (Here B12 is given every 2 weeks)
• Last Bowel Movement (Here is listed as sup, and the orange refers to a feeding tube adaptor which gets changed every 3 days
• The date (very important!)
• Notes for the day. Examples:
• Don't forget to call the pharmacy and order specific meds
• Ordered refills on such and such a day, will be delivered on...
• Don't forget to change your medication patch
• Didn't have my 10am med dose until 12pm, so can't have it again until 4pm, instead of 2pm
• Goals for today (walk around table, sit up 20 minutes, physio x3, etc)
• Your last blood test (eg. if you have blood taken every few weeks or months, record the last time you did it as a reminder for the next time it needs to happen) 
• Caregiver schedule
• Any other items that would compromise your safety should you not have them done on time, or that would compromise your safety if they occur too close together.

Happy Writing!