Tip #100 Picture Perfect; Somebunny to Love

     Who can resist a bunny? They are so soft, and those ears are so comical they are cute! Now, maybe you are not a "bunny" person, and that's fine by me. But, just like kittens and puppies, bunnies seem to be irresistible to children - apparently even if the bunny is stuffed!
     It's not surprising that kids can have a very hard time adjusting to having an immediate family member or close family friend being in the hospital, and in some ways, even more so if recovery is extended to the home setting. Why? Hospitals are rife with IV poles, hospital gowns, nurses, doctors, pumps, machines, and all of that other "hospital stuff." It makes sense for the hospital to be that way, after all, that's where you go when you are sick, and you stay there until you are well enough to go home. End of story. Except, in some cases it is not "end of story,"it's the middle.
     Either way, not many people have an IV pole or hospital bed in their living room. Or, if you were, for instance, in a wheelchair for a child's whole life, they don't know anything different, so they are already acclimated. But if, for example, you are someone they are accustomed to see walking, then seeing you in a wheelchair at home can be overwhelming. Frankly, that can be overwhelming for many adults too.
     The solution? If only it were that cut and dry! There is no solution, but I've learned a few things over the years as a caregiver, professional, and the one recovering. Such tips include:
a) Tell children to ask any question(s) they want (but only if they want to),
b) Tell parents to stop telling their kids that they shouldn't ask questions (especially if you've just said the child is welcome to do so!). As an aside I'll say that I actually find it more awkward when people urge their kids "Don't stare" or "Don't ask that" in a hushed and urgent tone.
c) Should a child wish to touch something like an IV line, a pump, or something else (obviously not a wound or the like), do so together (so you can control it in order to avert disaster, LOL!, and also to help them feel less intimidated)
d) A dab will do you in terms of info. If they want to know why you have a feeding tube for example, then a good answer might be, because I need to eat just like you do, but my throat doesn't work well. Usually, that's all they want and/or need.
e) Don't do or say anything to make them scared or worried about you. They're kids. Sounds like common sense I know, but if common sense was actually common we'd all just call it sense.
     So where does the bunny come into the discussion? Right now. The tips above are helpful, but not all of the time, and certainly not helpful if the child is a toddler. I've learned (entirely accidentally), what helps toddlers become unafraid… A stuffed animal. Not just any stuffed animal, but a cute one that is affixed to your intimidating accessory. My niece and nephew - Ms. D and Mr. A - gave me a bunny to hug and love when I came home from a long hospital stay. They were both in their teens at the time, and it was a very sweet gift. I wanted to see it all of the time so that I could be especially reminded of them in that hard time - it buoy's the spirit in a huge way. In the end, Mr. Bunny has served me very well, and many little ones who've come through the door too. Who knew he'd be such a powerful ambassador of "it's ok, don't be scared-ness"?
     One last tip: as you will see below, Mr. Bunny has Velcro in his ears, which makes it possible to hang him on the IV pole, while making him removable for the kids to play with (and I've since seen a lot of monkeys, bears, and other stuffed animals with the Velcro features). When kids are being held by Mom or Dad, their eyes gravitate to Mr. Bunny, and then they want to touch him and play with him. Since they have to get close to the potentially intimidating item, they soon get used to - and even want to - touch the IV pole, and the pump, etc. Before long, most of the little ones start to go straight to that bunny - they gravitate to the pole, like it's always been there and is supposed to be there, because that's where the bunny lives.
     It's crazy to me that something so little seems to stop fear in its tracks… but time and time again, we noticed the pattern (and, as I mentioned totally accidentally at that!). Who knew that giving me "somebunny" to love would have such a big impact on so many wee ones, and thus for me too? Thanks again Ms. D and Mr. A, I love you bunches, and great job too!

Happy Hugging!

Tip #61 Creature Comforts; I'll Have the Duck Please

     Yep, the duck please. No, I'm not repeating an order at a restaurant, I am speaking about my favourite duck - I call him Mr. Duck in fact. Huh?
      For Christmas last year my beautiful niece Miss C gave me a stuffed duck - or at least what appeared to be a stuffed duck. It would have been a lovely gift from her on its own; all huggable, soft, and plush; BUT, it became an ever better gift when I learned that Mr. Duck actually housed a hot water bottle. How awesome is that?!
     I've mentioned this product to a few people now, and many of my friends (usually the ones with kids) say "Oh, of course, I have the ______ (dog, cat, sheep, etc)." Who knew? If you haven't seen it, or have but never thought of using it for anyone who is not a child- maybe consider to reconsider!  
     Below I have 2 pics: The first is Mr. Duck with the bottle in him (sealed by Velcro in the middle of his back), and the second has the removable hot water bottle beside him.

 

     So, aside from the whole "it's cute factor" Mr. Duck may have few bonuses that may be of interest to you:

• No opportunity to leave a heating pad on and burn yourself because you fell asleep before turning it off....
• No electricity required:)
• It doesn't melt your feeding tube, IV line, or computer (you'll have to just trust me on this one!)
• It stays warm a lot longer than a regular hot water bottle (it's insulated)
• Got it ick-ified? No problem, it's washable
• It doesn't smell like barley or rice (as many of the microwavable bags do)
• It's like an extra hug when you don't feel so well (silly I know, but true nonetheless:)

     Mr. Duck also comes as a sheep, a pig, and a few other animals too. Here's a link for a "flashy lamb" at Amazon.com. They usually cost $20-$30.

What do you know? A creature comfort that is both a creature and a comfort!

Happy Heating!

Tip #316 Un-Wise Words Wednesday 3; Learning the ABC's

     So, this Week's Wise-Words Wednesday post comes in 3 installments - this one being the last of the three. If you haven't read the others, here's the deal: I thought it would be fun to poke some fun at some of the medical lingo/acronyms/abbreviations without forgetting to give credit to human error in the midst of it. That said, I'd also like to clarify that the words are not necessarily "unwise" (though I think some are), but words/phrases/letters etc. used unwisely or unwisely created words. For instance, a word might be a technically correct entity, but not an appropriate word in every situation - like, for example, when a situation calls for tact.
     The first post addressed Logic and Language Casualties - extremely logical words and phrases that somehow manage to defy logic at the same time.... perfect for creating confusion. The second post was Collateral Damage - words/phrases that inadvertently create chaos and miscommunication. And, this post is all about letters, like when a wrong letter changes a definition, or various initials that contribute to making medical words that much more mumbo-jumbo-like. For consistency though, note that letters can mean initials, acronyms, and abbreviations, as well as, well, you guessed it - actual literal letters from the good old alphabet.
     A prime example of an letters gone wrong (in the form of acronyms) happened to me in University. One of my prof's told us in our measurement and research class that initials, acronyms, abbreviations and confusion were plentiful, and that we would be responsible for attaching meaning to a given page of initials on our first day of class. We all got stuck with one in particular, "RBI." Turns out it was "Runs Batted In" (baseball analogy). Since it was a class with a focus on measuring accurately for scientific research, we made an assumption that all of the initials were medical. In fact, only one of us in the whole class got it right (and it certainly wasn't me!). What did we learn? ALWAYS ask when you aren't sure what letters mean. Put aside any pride and ask - they could mean something very different than any seemingly reasonable assumption and resulting in disaster or worse.
      Okay, here we go - a few of my favourite types of wily, wonky, wonderful wonders. First up:

Old is Out, New is In 

I'm good with change. A lot of people hate it, but truly I don't mind - unless of course the change seems pointless.

Bewilderment:  Why do medical acronyms change whilst still describing the same thing?
Life context: Are you sitting down? I'm speechless. Me, miss long-windedness, LOL!  I can't think of a single non-medical example....

Medical example: In the auto insurance part of the world that involving people recovering from motor vehicle accidents, the short form used said incident was "MVA" and is now an "MVC." "A" means "accident," and "C" means "collision." Why? 

Double Duty

It's common to be confused initially, but "initial" confusion can be long-lasting - especially when an an abbreviation abbreviates different things!

Bewilderment: Why do so many new abbreviations use the same letters as existing ones? 

Life context: Quick quiz. What does "SOS" stand for? Not a lot of people knows what it stands for I would guess, but  we all know that it means "Help!" By the way, "SOS" actually stands for "Save our Ship"). But guess what? Ask your 15 year old the same question, and see what they say. Turns out in this day and age when texting/facebooking/emailing/chatting and other such things are a normal part of life from a young age, that "SOS" has taken on a new meaning. Now, "Sibling over Shoulder" is the winner. Who knew?

Medical example: Malignant Hyperpyrexia, Malignant Hyperthermia, and Malignant Hypertention all have the abbreviated initials "MH" but are 3 VERY different things. Tricky!

What's What?

Sometimes it gets tricky to call a "spade" a "spade" in regular life and seems exponentially more difficult in the medical world, particularly when letters are involved. Huh? Stay with me...
Bewilderment: In some disciplines more than others it seems that it becomes second nature to use the acronym for an item as a descriptor of the item rather than the words the letters represents. What???? I know that sounds complicated, but I think the two examples below will help make more sense of it for both of us. 

Life context: Do you know when I learned that "SOS" means "Save our Ship?" About five minutes ago! When thinking of examples, it occurred to me that I knew that "SOS" meant "Help me!" and likely accompanies the words "I'm stranded" as well. Everyone knows that part I think. And, at 10 years old I already knew the Morse code (three long, three short, three long), but until today I didn't actually know what words it represented.

Medical example: There are different types of feeding tubes: "NG," "PEG," "G," "J," "G-J", etc). Often the first is a "PEG" tube, and the subsequent ones are often "G" tubes. "G" tubes can be changed at home. "PEG" tubes require a surgical procedure, and are not done at home. So, trying to arrange a change of a feeding tube can be hair-pulling frustrating with all of the miscommunication about when, where, and how the change can be done!

     Well, I think that's it, finally, for the Un-Wise Words Wednesday extravaganza:) In parting, let me leave you with an astonishingly common confusing communication complicater. Have you ever experienced the difference that just one letter can make in a term? Hypothermia means you are really cold. Hyperthermia means you are really hot. Hypothyroidism means you have an under active thyroid. Hyperthyroidism is the thyroid being too active. See the difference? Whenever it is Hypo, it means low, below, beneath and Hyper means high, above, up. So, it probably wouldn't be all that helpful to take the person with Hypothermia to the lake, or the one with Hyperthermia to the sauna.....  I guess it just goes to say that "a little dab will do you," - er, actually let me amend that -  a little Letter will do you... In." LOL!

Happy Letter-Righting!

Tip #315 Un-Wise Words Wednesday 2; Collateral Damage

Un-Wise Words Wednesday? Yep, you bet. If you're just tuning in, this is part 2 of a 3 part series about words. Medical words. Wonky, wily, and weird medical words. Yesterday's post was about words in medicine that are extremely logical while at the same time managing to defy logic. Today's words/phrases are those that inadvertently create chaos; words that have the ability to inadvertently promoter of misunderstanding and miscommunication. Said another way, the words under discussion today are those that result in "collateral damage." Tomorrow's post (the third and last on un-wise words series) will focus on letters - ones that make medical lingo seem even more mumbo-jumbo (and yes, that's possible). But, until then lets consider some of my ever-bewildering favourite Collateral Damage Casualties.

  

Tomato, Tah-mah-toe, Potato Pah-tah-toe

Well, I think the title for this one is fairly self-explanatory, and a very common experience; it's not difficult to find two people who pronounce the same word differently. Whether an accent is the cause or different interpretations of the pronunciation, things can get a little tricky to understand under these circumstances.

Bewilderment: If the issue was limited to people with various thick accents, that would be quite logical. But since it's not, it makes me wonder - why? And how can you interpret it differently?

Life context: I have never promised to be the be the smartest knife in the drawer, but a friend from the UK once asked me if I needed any Bazz-ill. Now, many people have heard the word pronounced Bay-sle, and that's the only pronunciation I have known. If she was standing in the kitchen, talking about food, or any other such hint, I might have figured it out faster, but alas, it took a couple of go rounds for me to sort that the spice "Basil" was the item under discussion! Kinda silly of me really...

Medical example Have you ever heard of "ringing in the ears?" It's officially called tinnitus. Some call it (note syllable accent in bold) tin-night-us, and others call it tin-uh-tiss. Different syllable accents, different letter sounds... it all gets very confusing. For instance, Q: "Ms Jane, are you experiencing any tin-uh-tiss?" A: "No Ma'am, but my ears have been ringing like crazy!" For the record, the dictionary lists both pronunciations!

Sounds like...

Ever play charades? If no one is getting whatever it is the charade-maker is trying to convey, most resort to "Sounds like" before demonstrating the comparison word or phrase. Then it's up to the participants to make the connection.

Bewilderment: No bewilderment at the moment. I'm usually bewildered by the idea of it all, as well as in the midst of the communicating attempt. This time it's only the latter that I find bewildering!

Life context: There's a joke from days gone by about an elderly lady who plays BINGO and can't seem to make sense of a benign tumor (Get it? B-9. Someone had to explain it to me LOL!). 

Medical example:  "Ms. Davis, remember, nothing aurally" Most of us would assume that means nothing by mouth (orally),  but aurally refers to the ear.' Might make a difference in terms of hunger, and perhaps a hint that you should get checked aurally because of what you heard! One last example: I would imagine it would look a whole lot different if you were told the Doctor was calling you in to talk about a Fecal matter (re feces (aka poop)) instead of a Fetal matter (re baby in the belly)! Just a small difference between the two don't you think?!

Foiled by the Spell Checker

It's great that we can have so much technology at hand to keep us in contact with family, friends, and medical people. Truly wonderful, yes, but sometimes mind-boggling once spell check is done with your message.

Bewilderment: Why does Spell Checker refuse to trust me? I know I make a lot of spelling errors, and am happy for its assistance. Truly. But seriously, if I write a word 3 times over and it still tries to correct  me, why can I not make it understand that if it's made me recheck/rewrite it 3 times, that I might actually mean for it to be the way I am trying to write it? What does a girl have to do to get spell checker to trust her some of the time?

Life context: I once texted my nurse the results of an appointment she wanted info about. I, not feeling well at the time, did not check to see if my spell checker had automatically corrected my words - I was just trying to get it down, and get it done. Turns out I had a "Buddhism IV (Intra-Venous)." She called me shortly thereafter, cause there was no guessing from that one what on earth I was trying to get across! Incidentally, the word spell checker chose to replace with Buddhism was the medication Buscopan. I'm not sure what a Buddhism IV would entail exactly....

Medical example: Well, the life context example took care of this, so I'll just say that recently I wrote a note to someone that included the words refeeding syndrome, or refeeding for short - and I didn't catch that spell checker had replaced refeeding with referring all the way through the note! Makes for a very confusing read!

Common Words, Common Assumptions

There are a whole lot of words in this world, and many are said incorrectly (i.e. suppos-ib-ly instead of suppos-ed-ly). Other common words are frequently written incorrectly (i.e. adress instead of address). And that's okay in both cases. No one's perfect - and hopefully we can laugh at ourselves. The important thing is that everyone still knows what is going on; saying a common word incorrectly or spelling it, lets say- creatively, will still get the intended point across. What gets tricky though is 

when a common word is used with the assumption that it means something it doesn't because it's most of often only common in one general context. 

Bewilderment: I know I've said this before, but again I ask why do we have to use words or terms that have a higher risk of miscommunication when giving a diagnosis, or a post-diagnosis consult? It's hard enough sometimes to be given a diagnosis for anything - but when there are common assumptions made by laypeople (laypeople especially but not exclusively) the diagnosis can seems so much scarier, and so much bigger.  Some people assume that requiring oxygen therapy (breathing in oxygen from a mask) means being in a wheelchair forever and ever. It doesn't. Why can't there be some kind of gentle preface to giving someone a diagnosis that you know has common assumptions and pitfalls thereof associated it?

Medical context: Telling someone they have gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy)  is something many women experience, but it does not necessarily mean that you will have diabetes forever and ever (thank goodness - it usually disappears after the baby is born). But diabetes is a scary word. It comes with certain assumptions - most of them kind of intimidating. If we could only preface it "Well June, you have what is likely just a temporary case of diabetes," that would be a great start. If the doc continued with "in which the baby will likely be just fine with some dietary changes..." It still is concerning - I'm not trying to minimize that, and it's not an overly fun thought or reality to experience. Still, if it was me getting said diagnosis, I think that's the method I'd prefer. After all, not only are there assumptions with the word diabetes, but not many people express pregnancy as the "gestational" period when they are talking with their girlfriends either!

Another Medical context: Tumours are usually described as malignant or benign. Do you know that the definition of Malignant actually means fatal? If so - great! But, as it turns out, many people think that one has cancer or some kind of tumour every time the word Malignant is used to describe a condition. Malignant Hypertension is a dangerous form of high blood pressure. Malignant Hyperthermia is a condition that makes surgery a higher risk for some than it is for others, amongst a whole host of other non-cancer related dangerous symptoms, triggers, and factors. But time and time again, someone is devastated because they think themselves or their loved ones have cancer the minute they hear the word Malignant. If this kind of thing has happened to you, you have nothing to be ashamed about... You aren't the first person that has happened to, and I am sure you will not be the last!

Well, that's it for now. Hope that this gives you a good giggle here and there, and also tells you that you are not the only one to wonder "Did I hear that right?" or "He didn't just say _____, did he?" and so on:). And, hopefully it also makes you feel like you're not the only one to make an incorrect assumption.... It just means that you are human like the rest of us. Oh the joys of it all!

Happy communicating - collateral damage and all! 

Tip #314 Un-Wise Words Wednesday 1; Logic and Language Casualties

     I know it's not Wednesday, but I love words. Shocking I know - I never seem to use many of them at all.... no wait, I do. In fact, if you've even only ever read one of my posts, you'll know that I am extremely long-winded!  I love words, I love being educated and educating (which goes much better with the right words), and - another shocker - I'm rather fond of details.

     So, since there are a lot of words in the medical world that I find wonderful, wacky, weird, witty, weighty, wise, and/or sometimes just well, wonky - it's a match made in heaven! So, this weeks regular "Wise Words Wednesday" is in three instalments starting today with one small addendum; this week it's "Unwise Words Wednesday." Hope you are as entertained as I am by these often frustrating, sometimes ridiculous, and often wily yet wonky, words and phrases! Part II highlights what I like to call "Collateral Damage Casualties" and stay tuned for Part III as well - it's all about letters.... In the mean time, lets consider some of my ever-bewildering favourite Logic and Language Casualties:

It's All Greek to Me... Or  Maybe Latin
It makes sense that the names of body parts actually mean something in Latin, and thus Latin is the appropriate language for referring to anatomical parts wherever you are. For instance, the fibularis longus is the muscle that runs over the fibula (thus "fibularis"), and is the longest (hence "longus") of the three fibularis muscles. 
Bewilderment:  While this is true, many physicians seem to, well, lets say "forget," that the average person does not actually speak Latin (unless of course you live in a community where Latin is the first language I guess:).) Otherwise not all that helpful!
Life context: "Did you see Laura's new koira? So sweet - I want one too." So, koira is the Finnish word for "dog." Apparently, it's the right word for dog (I think;P). And no, it's not helpful to use a different language to name it. So why do it?
Medical example: "Well Mr. C, it seems as though your popliteal fossa has been the cause of all of your pain." Any guesses? It's the name for the space behind your knee. Your knee-pit. I'm not kidding.


The Old "Switcheroo"

Just when you think you know what something is called, someone goes and calls it something different. The tricky part is that since they don't always know the word you call it, neither one of you has any idea why the other is being so very confusing. 
Bewilderment: I just can't picture how this works. So, for some unknown reason somewhere along the way, someone (who is someone anyway?) decided that they didn't like the name of something - so they began to call it something different. And it stuck. Well, mostly. Why?

Life context: Maybe it's a dialect thing - you know - a switcheroo simply due to geographic location. Says the British person to the Canadian"Pass the torch please?" "What torch?"  "The one in your hand." "I'm not holding a torch... Oh wait, do you mean the flashlight?" Or, maybe it's an accidental switcheroo because of rising popularity or convenience. We often say "Pass the Kleenex" when we should say "Pass the tissue" as not all tissue is Kleenex. I don't think I'll ever not call it Kleenex though....

Medical example: I went to University of Waterloo. Our anatomy profs call (the afore mentioned) fibularis muscles the peroneus muscles. However, at the University of Western (3 hours from University of Waterloo), they're still called fibularis muscles. Why? I have no idea. Tricky! You know what would really mess with a lot of people? If the Profs did an exchange and started teaching their preferences..... But I digress.

My Musing:  In grocery stores, when one company makes chocolate chip cookies, other cheaper options (like No Name or PC Brands) follow suit. The same is done with many medications. However, whether PC calls their cookies Decadent or Chips Ahoy calls theirs Chewy Gooey, everyone knows the product is chocolate chip cookies.... 

But meds? Not so much.  Dimenhyrdrinate is Gravol in Canada, Dramamine in the US, and who knows what it's called anywhere else? Buscopan isn't made anymore, except that it sort of is - by another company who now calls it Hyocine - after it's primary ingredient. This gets especially confusing (as many switcheroos are prone to do), since people often know only one of the two or three most commonly used names/versions... 

My musing? Why can't we just call it "Generic Gravol" or "Generic Buscopan" and call it a day? Ah, I suppose that achieving world peace might be easier....

Double the Trouble, Double the Fun?
Sometimes a little info is confusing and too much info overwhelming, and doubly fun when two different things are called only one thing. Unlike the switcheroo (where 2 terms used interchangeably for one part),  "double the trouble" occurs when two different parts are called only one name. Just to keep you on your toes - in case you weren't already....

Bewilderment: Back to the whole Latin thing, they were very on the ball when they put names to areas,  and thus, a small understanding of the intention with which things were named gets you pretty far. For instance, calling different muscles/ligaments brevis, and longus for short and long, that makes sense. But, sometimes it can get confusing, and, unless I'm illogical (entirely possible) or they weren't all that practical for some things.

Life Context: Ever see that show - Newheart I think - where the one guy introduces himself and his brothers to everyone regularly "This is my brother Darryl, and my other brother Darryl." They're 2 different people, but look sort of the same and have the exact same name, but are 2 different human beings.

Medical example: The tib-fib joint. Actually, joints. Plural. There are 2 of them. Your shin has two bones - the tibia (tib) and the fibula (fib). And they connect twice; once at ankle (called distal tib-fib joint), and once at the knee (called the proximal tib-fib joint). Trouble is, much like the Darryl's are not named Darryl x and Darryl y, it's not that often that people ever distinguish which of the two joints are under discussion. Things can get a little confusing for non-anatomy people in such circumstances (who am I kidding - lots of medical pros get confused about it too!). 

     Okay, so I have to ask; Have you ever wondered such things or am I the only geeky one who thinks about/has experienced such things? If you have then hang in there and laugh - you're not alone! If you haven't but are entertained by my goofiness, then keep a lookout in the next few days for parts 2 and 3 anyway, there's more goofiness yet to come! In the mean time...

Happy Surviving Crazy Logic and Language!

Tip #407 Bibs and Bobs; Hairum Scar'em Part II

     For those of you who missed the first Hair'em Scar'em post, let me tell you that I know the spelling is wrong, but the gist is that my "hair, umm, scares, 'em" sometimes, and scares me often when I am quite ill. There's not much that can make you feel as amazing as having a clean scalp when you feel miserable, and so the Part I post deals with logistics. Logistics like how to wash hair in bed, from the counter, at the tub, and items you can buy retail to help you with that endeavour, no matter what your mobility (or the mobility of the one you are caring for) situation is at any given time. I know having 2 posts on hair seems a little trivial, maybe over done? But I'm okay with that, 'cause after many surgeries, many immobile times, and much time on bed rest I have to say that it's a really important thing, at least for a girl, and maybe for a boy? But, I will leave it at that.
     So, Part II is all about products and services. You likely have a routine that involves specific products, or non-specific products if you don't mind getting whatever is on sale. I find that, for a lack of a better word "trauma" hair, behaves differently, and requires some extra TLC. I have very long, uncoloured, non-grey hair but still find it a little high maintenance when ill, so I will try to include what I personally know, and what I've gleaned from others professionally. IT'S A VERY LONG POST with a lot of info, so I've tried to highlight items for you so you can skim to find what you want. Luckily for me, one of my attendant care pros happens to be a hairdresser too. Ms. J. shared lots of great info with me. Thanks Ms. J! So here goes:

• Some salons will come to you. 
• There are some hairdressers who have an in-home salon business. Try googling "in home hairdressing, or home hairdressing, or mobile hairdressing in your area. 
• It might sound crazy, but I have seen many hairdressers come to 'regular customer' houses (maybe Joe blow out of the blue won't come if they don't know you, but you can always ask). And/or if yours won't come, ask if your hairdresser knows someone who could/would come
• Consider tipping very well if your hairdresser does come to you, (some don't come back if not, but many do). 
• Student hairdressers are often keen too - they're often just happy to have a head to practise on! Try googling hairdressing schools in your area, or check with your city business listings on the city's main page (most have an option for a search, and only include local - less to muck through to find what you want that way).
• Reconsider your expectations. Do you really need it cut every 6 weeks, or is every 10 weeks okay? For those of you who die your hair, do you care right now? Could you and a friend use the boxed kind, so you only required a cut from the professional who is graciously coming to your home? I know that for a good year I couldn't sit up for more than about two minutes, so we did a lot of "simplistic" cuts (still nice because done by a hairdresser, but started sitting, finished while laying, or just one layer instead of a few, or a straight cut, etc). Any improvement is a good improvement and feels good under those circumstances.
• Cutting it all off isn't always easier...You might think so, but not not necessarily.
• Shorter hair is harder to style and (in my opinion) requires more time and more effort. Long is nice... braid it, stick it in an elastic, get it out and off your face. Personal preference I guess, but long is handy in my books.
• If you have a neck injury or people regularly working on your neck, it's harder to have middle-length hair. Shorter or long is good, but middle not so much; for therapists, and for you (gets gunky, pulled, etc).
• I do have to say though that you should maybe prepare yourself for having to cut a bunch off in terms of having healthy hair. Sometimes meds make it very gross and cutting is the only option. So sorry if that's the case, but, it does grow back.....
• Washing tips 
• Wanna know the best invention since sliced bread? Earplugs! They are a joyous invention!!  The thing I hate most about someone else washing my hair is that it's so easy to get water in your ear, and so hard to get it back out again! Especially if you are trying to avoid water going down somewhere because of a dressing, IV, or anything that can't get wet. Ah, wearing an earplug or two makes such a difference....
• Turns out that it's better not to wash your hair everyday. Every other day is actually better for your hair. Who knew? 
• You don't have to wash all of your hair, it's actually better for your hair if you only wash the roots (and let the soap clean the rest as you are rinsing). Takes a lot of time off the process too.
• There are now some "dry" shampoo like products, that don't require you to conventionally "wash" your hair with water and shampoo. I was VERY excited about the Tresemme dry hair wash and tried it out recently. It's a mousse, and you put some in your hair, and towel "any of the greasy spots" and let it dry. It might work for you, but I however, found it to smell like baby barf, and my hair looked worse not better. Not a fan at all, and I haven't convinced anyone else to take it and try it themselves. Not a popular choice apparently.
• Conditioning tips 
• All conditioners are not created equally. 
• Some detangle, or are supposed to, some don't. I find that conditioners targeted to dry hair are best when your hair is unhappy with your illness. I have tried many, and I find Pantene helps detangle more than any other, and works really really well. 
• If you can't be mobile/upright long enough for your hair to be conditioned, there are leave in conditioners that are great. There are pump ones (infusium, pantene, etc), and some cream ones too. I find the pantene cream the best for conditioning, but that if you use too much, it makes your hair greasy, which defeats the whole purposed. So, I usually use the pump pantene instead most of the time.
• If you specifically need a detangler, then good ole' Johnson and Johnson's pump "No more tangles" is a great choice. It's not often at the grocery stores but Walmart and baby places usually carry it. Again, pantene has a nice one - I switch them up. 
• NOTE: DANGER When using the pump versions of detanglers/conditioners, be careful!!! Lay a towel on the floor behind you if possible before using the pump kinds because conditioners (as it turns out) often have floor wax ingredients in them. We didn't know this for a while, and our bathroom became much like the scene from "Risky business." Lots of floor sliding, and a lot of funny scenes, but, fortunately no accidents when they were easily possible.  
• Alberto VO5 hot oil treatments. I used this product while in high school (oh, maybe 20 years ago as sad as that is to say...), and it still works as great as ever. It's not an every day solution, but it's very quick. Put it in dry hair, sit for a minute, wash (with shampoo) it out, and presto magico... softer, more manageable hair, that adds maybe 2 minutes to the time you must be upright to wash your hair. Good deal.
• Skin issues
• Eczema. dandruff, psoriasis, dry skin, acne.... they are not lovely words, but if you are prone to experiencing them, then your current status might bring them to the surface again, and in full force. Sorry. Not so fun, but you're not doing anything wrong...
• Ask your Doctor if you need a prescription, but in the mean time, there are a lot of "tea tree oil" products that many find success with. There are all sorts of Head and Shoulder/Selsun blue anti-dandruff shampoos, and unfortunately, my experience is that you need to try them and find what works for you. A small heads up - the tea tree oil products are usually natural which is nice, but I find it stings, and some stink... You might think differently though 
• Styling Tip
• Yep, tip. Just one. I have recently learned that a bobby pin is an amazing styling tool, and easy to implement with just one hand. When you are used to drying your hair a certain way, and then are too ill to sit and dry it with the blow-dryer, then letting it dry over a few hours can play wreak havoc with your style. I'm no style-mogul, or style-anything, but I have recently learned and appreciated the power of the bobby pin. Thanks Ms. L. While wet, you use the bobby pin the pull your bangs down flat for example, and when it's dry and you remove the pin - your bangs will stay much nicer, and closer to where you wanted them. I suppose everyone's hair is different, but turns out I've learned that many of my friends already do this, I was just behind the times.... not overly surprising!!

Well, that's it. Finally. Hooray to those of you who made it this far. Hope there's at least a little something you were able to glean to feel cleaner and/or better about things.

Happy Hair, umm, not Scare-ing 'em!

Tip #242 Wise Words Wednesday; Anxiety and His Friends

     No one wants to feel anxious - but everyone does at one time or another. And it's not fun. At all. 
Ug.
     And since anxiety is usually related to a loss of control of some aspect of life, I think it's fair to say that anxiety is a regular visitor in the midst of lives riddled with severe illness or trauma whether you are a caregiver or the person who is ill. Yep, totally understandable. 
     But,as common and understandable as it is, for some reason people in said situations often think that there is something wrong with them if they are feeling anxious; like it's a character flaw, or a terrible exhibition of weakness.
It's not. 
     If your best friend described your situation (as if it was happening to him/her not you), would you think they were weak, or flawed, or ridiculous for feeling anxious? Let me answer for you; No. 
Of course not. 
     But when it's happening to us... well, it's hard. Still, I believe that if we allow ourselves to feel it, and talk about it with others, then the word "anxiety" loses it's power and the feelings that go with it can disappear then too. I'm not talking about total surrender to anxiety, but being able to acknowledge it when it visits can go a long way. You can't get rid of the mouse in the house until you both acknowledge it's there (no matter how much you don't want it to be), and you bait the trap with the cheese (take action to get rid of it). So, how to bait the trap?
     Well, one woman I know meets anxiety head on. She is a very brave and wonderful woman who happens to have two kids - one of whom has a condition named Noonan Syndrome. I find her very relatable, a great teacher, knowledgeable, funny and inspiring too. And her children are the cutest sweetest kids... 
     She recently did a blog post about anxiety that was relieving, refreshing, and too funny too. You should just check out her blog for yourself, but for now I've included an excerpt from it here... 


Re Anxiety:
      I thought it would go way - the sinking in the pit of my stomach, tight shoulder muscles and sense of impending doom. There's no reason for it to stay. Surely there are other people that Anxiety could be stalking instead of me.
     Having my companion last week leading up to Lauren's sleep study was understandable. Now Anxiety has overstayed its welcome. It's like I've had a relative arrive from far away and they've decided they like my home enough to stay longer. The fridge is empty and the bathrooms are a mess and yet they stay.
     Anxiety even stepped it up and is now hosting a party. The little turd invited Anticipation, Subconscious Worry, Obsession and the ever present but quiet Sadness to the party. Who knew they'd all be free the same week? I'm fairly certain Lack of Sleep started frosh week and tracked Anxiety down in the parking lot. Anxiety was waiting for someone else but once the word got out, well, you know how the story goes...pictures fall from the walls, tables get broken and the liquor cabinet is empty.
     I'm sure they'll get bored eventually. I could always up the rent, disconnect the satellite feed, hide the car keys and buy only whole-grain-organic-no-fat-no-flavour-cardboard-meatless foods.
     Or maybe down-grading the Internet connection to dial-up will be sufficient?
     Isn't she great? The Sweet One is her moniker. Well, thanks for reading. Hope you can bore anxiety and it's party too:). 


Happy trapping!

Tip # 333 Bibs and Bobs; Hairem Scare'm Part I: Logistics

     I know, it's supposed to be "Harum Scarum" not Hair'em Scare'm, but when have I ever followed convention? Besides, I'm not actually talking about recklessness, or the band, I'm talking about hair. Actual hair. As in my-hair, um, scares-em.
     What? Well, when you (or the one you are caring for) are so very ill, any small thing that can make a big impact on state of mind is not just great, it's amazing! When you're in a blaze blue hospital gown, it's easy to feel unattractive, and it's common to feel vulnerable. And dirty. Hospitals are crawling with germs and ick, and for many this is hard to come to grips with. Or, you're back at home and you need others to help you clean and change dressings, or help toilet you, etc., and that's doesn't feel so attractive either, and then you've got greasy unkempt hair to boot... how frustrating! Well, you get the gist. So, a small thing like brushed or especially washed hair is a little thing that can make a huge difference.
     Oh, and, for the record, I'm a girl. So, I don't really think that hair is a small thing!  I have been only 2 days out of the ICU (and back into the regular ward), and asked 4 people to hold me up I could stand and dunk my very long hair into the sink. It was exhausting, but every bit of discomfort was worth it for how good it made me feel! So, with that let's look at some tips, and tricks for accomplishing the clean hair goal for the "Ah-there's-no-feeling-like-being-clean-in-the-midst-of-all-of-this" look.

• Washing hair in a bed
• In hospital they often wash your hair in bed with this kind of device, but there's no reason you can't purchase it and use it at home.
• Fancy frugal home situation? Put some towels on the floor, and an empty bucket, have a couple of pitchers of water, and you're ready. Hold person's head over the edge of the bed (still face up, while they are laying on their back), and make sure one hand is always keeping the head supported while the other is used for washing and rinsing. This method is so much more helpful if you have assistance, but doable without as well. 
• Washing hair at sink
• From sitting
• Sit a telephone book or a pillow under your bum to raise you up a bit higher (but make sure sturdy and safe first - and with a spotter).
• Invest in a spray rinser for your sink if possible. If not, fill a couple of pitchers with water before you start so that when it is time to rinse you don't have to keep moving your head out of the sink to fill it all up
• get a perching stool so you can adjust the height easily (and most let you tilt forward a bit, which is helpful for putting your head in the sink
• Buy a portable shampoo bowl  . It converts your regular sink into the type that is used is salons.
• While laying
• Yes, that is really what I wanted to say. I have had my hair washed many-a-time from the counter. Yep, laying on the counter. Now, I can't recommend you do that as it isn't exactly safe for some, but if you have the appropriate assistance (at least 2 people helping) it may be an option - I'm still not advocating it though:)!!!
• Using the Bathtub
• At the tub
• Use a perching stool or a simple bath stool (since they are adjustable) or some other kind of safe chair or stool on the outside of tub. Then, lean down, and put your head over the side of the tub while someone uses a sprayer or jugs of water to wash and rinse hair.
• In the tub
• If sitting in tub, have someone fill jugs of water from the sink and pour it over your hair so you can wash and rinse it. 

     Okay, so we have the logistics of it all covered. But, there's more. A lot more. So, I will continue this post soon in "Hairem Scare'm Part II." There are all sorts of things that one can do to make person feel better about both appearance and non-ickiness, several of which relate to - you guessed it - hair. So stay tuned for info about dry shampoo products, getting someone to come to you to cut your hair, how earplugs can make you joyful, and some other bibs and bobs too.

     With that I'll say goodnight for now, and hope that there's enough info here to help you feel a little less "scare' em" and a lot more "hair - yum,"

Happy Washing!

Tip #347 Wise Words Wednesday; Perfection-Smerfection

     How are things going these days? Wonderfully I hope! In reality though, I get that things might not feel so great these days - whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually. And, that's natural, normal, and nothing to feel ashamed about. And for all of the Type A personalities, I get that things/services/people/you-yourself can feel even more inefficient, inadequate, or incompetent in the same situation - darn perfectionists! As an aside, if you want to see what I look like, go to the dictionary and look up perfectionist...
     But - now hold on to your pants perfectionists - it's okay to not have the highest of expectations for a while. And, take another deep breath... no one is going to do everything the same way that you did, could, or would, including yourself (given current limitations/circumstances in general). Trying to make that happen will only drive you, and others around you, absolutely certified off-your-rocker-brain-is-melting- kinda-crazy.
     So, I say, let some things go. Pick your battles, and the world seems like a better place. And, five years from now you're not going to look back to this time and say "I ruined his birthday because I ordered that present online (since I can't physically get to the store) and it wasn't exactly what I thought." No. And, no one looks back ten years from now and says, "I can't believe she thought it was a good idea to wash the reds and whites together" or, well, you get the gist....
     My thoughts? Save your energy and fight only that which is worth fighting - especially when the person you need to fight most happens your perfectionist self! And, don't sweat the small stuff. It just isn't worth it. I think Annette Funicello says this better, and I think many of us could stand to adopt her mantra.

So, how are you now?

Perfection, smerfection. Who needs it?

Happy wonderful-ing!!

Tip #7 Frugal Fixes: Surf's Up

     I love the fall. I love all things fall; pretty colours, crisp air, new beginnings, and hot chocolate outside on the deck. Yes, I do love the fall, BUT, I don't like to fall. Frankly I don't know many who do like to fall, unless it's from an airplane (which I'd actually like to do as well someday, but I digress....).
     Although falling is not my favourite thing to do, I seem to excel at it - especially when trying to get out of the bathtub when the tub is all wet. That's pretty tricky! If you have this problem too, allow me to suggest a few inexpensive things that may help. Note that there are some really great and functional solutions out there if you have the financial and physical ability to attain them, but that's a discussion for a future post. For now, we'll stay with the quick and inexpensive fixes.
     Oh, before we get any farther, let me remind you that you should never attempt anything without the consent of your physician or other appropriate team members. Not all fixes work the same for everyone or are appropriate for everyone. Now, disclaimer accounted for  - here are the tips in no particular order. Bare in mind that some of these may be more expensive than the "frugal" definition re this category, however, they are much less so compared to other bathing solutions.

• Ask your physical therapist or occupational therapist to work with you towards safe bathing solutions should you have access to either.
• Ask someone to put up bath rails  to hold on to
• Put a bath stool in the tub. I DON'T recommend the following; in a pinch, a sturdy plastic lawn chair has been used. But, without a tight fit and non-slip flat shower floors, things get more dangerous not less
• Get into the tub before turning on the water
• Try a handheld shower - they make things much easier!
• Use anti-slip bathtub coating. Just know that not every tub is eligible for this fix (porcelain vs. non-porcelain etc). 
• Cut a hole in the middle of a bath-towel, slip your head through it, and wear it like a poncho. This way, whoever is helping you out of the tub has a better grip (you're less slippery).
• If you can sit on the edge of the tub and swivel to get your legs in or out of the tub and vice versa, you may have less chance of falling than if you get in/out from a standing position.
• Many subscribe to using no slip mats in the tub, but I have seen many (myself included) fall if it slips... so (as with the rest of these tips) use with caution.
• The crazy solution? Surf Shoes,

     Yep, you heard me right; surf shoes. I know it sounds crazy, and truth be told, I am a little crazy. But crazy or not, an inexpensive pair of surf shoes seems like a good solution to me.  Amazon.com has a wide selection in a range of prices. I'm not sure how easy they are to get on and off with wet feet, but I am going to give it a try myself when I get the chance, and then I'll let you know how they worked.

    One last thing - do you know what I think of when I think of surfing? Balance. I'm no surf swami, but I've noticed that surfers have the ability to balance like few others; but they also work hard at it.  So, surf shoes will not be enough on their own - but neither will any of the other list items. Think about it, work at it, and employ good tools and techniques - all of these things will be helpful and improve your chance of staying upright whilst getting in and out of the tub. Like, isn't that gnarly?

Surf's up Dude,

Happy Bathing!