Saturday, February 27, 2010
Take two and don't call me in the morning
Since I've had my past med experience on my mind I wanted to post some more information on "where to go" when you're about to start a new med or thinking about a treatment plan. My research has lead me to two great sites: askapatient.com and medications.com have both been helpful to me in the past.
Medications.com is easy to navigate and even has quick reference tabs for side effects, videos, conditions and questions. This site also provides information in the news about various drugs and a message board that you can use to communicate with people who have taken the medications and they can tell you what experiences they've had. While it's understandable that every persons experience is different as well as their reason for taking the medication, it still is very helpful.
Askapatient.com is a site that I have found the most helpful. It has the same information as medications.com but it's patient created and has more "down and dirty" information on medication and health care opinion. It provides medication reports and FDA alerts as well as a prescription report cards. There are opinion polls which have links to even more related articles on medications.
The News tab is a great resource for todays health care and pharmaceutical news. The news section provides a blurb from the article and a link from the media in where the article can be found. Furthermore, you can find similar articles from that article. Included in the news tab are drug safety alerts where you can enter your medication for an easy check.
Being able to find as many resources for any and all information (good or bad) pertaining to medications you might currently be taking or may be thinking of taking, is helpful. These sites helped me and I felt it was important to pass on this information for anyone who might be considering taking a new drug that they're not familiar with. Also, if you're on a drug and you're experiencing side effects that your doctor insists is not due to the drug....you'll be surprised to see just how many other people might be suffering from the same issues. You're not alone and information is out there, if you know where to look.
Have a healthy day!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Following the Yellow Brick Road......
With yet another school cancellation due to inclement weather I had the opportunity to watch an episode of Dr. Oz. He usually has very interesting but short segments. Today though was "The Number One Surgery Women Don't Need: Hysterectomy." It primarily focused on those women who were suffering from fibroids. This was of great interest to me considering I've been torn over whether or not to have a hysterectomy myself. I have two very close friends (close in age as well) who have opted to have the surgery and so far one is very happy with her decision. The other, well it's too soon to tell as she had the surgery just a little over a month ago. It is amazing to me how doctors are making a hysterectomy their first choice and not the last resort.
Facing the decision myself, I did extensive research on other options. I was disappointed that Dr. Oz didn't go into more of the other options available to women. He suggested one medical option and then went into some herbal teas and ibuprofen. While I agree ibuprofen helps with some pain associated with fibroids there are times that it just doesn't cut it. I've battled with the pain for so many years that my tolerance is pretty high. I have been prescribed Mefenam Acid, which helps tremendously.
I was surprised to hear that a myomectomy was one of the worst surgeries to have. I have had one to remove a fibroid which was in my uterine wall. Come to find out this type of surgery causes a lot of scar tissue....which is part of my problem as well. I have endometriosis as well as adenomyosis. All of the aforementioned coupled with fibroids has been the reason I have studied my other options extensively. I found an excellent GYN who was against the idea of a hysterectomy and we discussed other options and although the choice was difficult I opted to go with Lupron shots and Norethindrone (Add-Back Therapy) for a period of 6 months to reduce the fibroids.
Three months into this treatment and I was a basketcase. While this treatment effects everyone differently, my experience was the same as most of the horror stories I read on a site that I found dedicated to "help" other patients. I had every possible side effect associated with this medication. I suffered from insomnia, memory loss, couldn't remain focused on anything, mood swings, muscle pain, skin rash, hair loss, and the list goes on and on. The side effects caused many problems for me in my personal life. I was just promoted to a new position at work and had trouble focusing during training for this new job. Once I was out to dinner with family and lashed out at the waitress who was rude to my mother. I was so short fused that it became difficult even to drive to work without having several feelings of road rage during a 7 minute drive to work.
After month three I marched into my doctor's office and told him that I could no longer take this medication or he'd be treating me in the Psychiatric ward. All of the memories of this treatment was running through my head while I watched Dr. Oz today and I'm not really sure that hysterectomy is the wrong decision for every woman. I do believe that a psychiatric evaluation should be done before a woman has a hysterectomy for those women that are still in child bearing years. I also believe that it should be done when all other treatments have failed.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Why am I here?
When I sit and study and begin to stress out over my possible grade, I immediately begin to think "why am I here?" I think back to the days when I was employed and I have to say that there's more work involved in being a student then being an employee. I remember finishing my first semester, getting great grades and planning my next semester. Getting another step closer to my dream of being an RN. That was December 26, 2009 and that day I received a letter that my unemployment was running out so I said "That's it. The decision has been made for me. I have to go back to work." It was fun while it lasted. Maybe I can work and go to school part-time. It will take longer, but I have survived one semester. This was a day that will forever be emblazoned in my brain. Not because of the letter from UC, but how my evening ended.
After reading the letter I finished getting ready to head to the movies to see the movie Precious. Finally, it was here in a local theatre and despite the stress of having to hit the job market again, I was determined to enjoy the movie I'd been wanting to see. The movie was great. Some say it wasn't as good as the book, but since I hadn't read it, I enjoyed the movie.....well I enjoyed the acting in the movie. How can you enjoy a movie about the sad and horrific life Precious lead?
It was the day after Christmas and Airport Road seemed desserted. But the rain had let up by the time we left the theatre and it was only misting but visibility was low. As I was driving home past the entrance to the Airport, my husband asked, "Do you see that? Be careful." I had noticed something in the road and slowed down and as it all came into focus I realized that I was driving upon the scene of an accident. I drove as close as I could and threw the car into park, put my flashers on and yelled over to my husband to dial 911 as we both ran out of the car. I could hear my husband speaking to a dispatcher as he ran to one vehicle and I ran to the other. I don't want to get into the details of the accident . I only want to say that my actions were instinctual. I did what I hope someone else would have done for me or anyone in my family too.
As I walked away from the accident towards my car so many people came to me and asked if I was okay. They told me how amazing I was. That they'd never seen anyone "react" the way that I did. As I sat in my car, Airport Road was "alive" with paramedics, emergency vehicles and now many other drivers on their way somewhere, I watched as the police tried to redirect traffic so we could turn our vehicle around to leave the scene. The drive the rest of the way home was about 5-7 miles but seemed much longer. When I finally got home and into my home I was numb from the emotions that were bouncing around in my head. My husband held me and said "I don't care what that letter says. You follow your dream. You were meant to do this."
I met the family of the man who's hand I held, who's head and brow I rubbed and who I spoke to let him know he wasn't alone. They thanked me for being there with him when they couldn't be. They hugged me and told me their family has now been extended to include me. So on the days that I get frustrated and say "I just can't do this anymore," I remember Bill Weiss and I know that I absolutely can.
After reading the letter I finished getting ready to head to the movies to see the movie Precious. Finally, it was here in a local theatre and despite the stress of having to hit the job market again, I was determined to enjoy the movie I'd been wanting to see. The movie was great. Some say it wasn't as good as the book, but since I hadn't read it, I enjoyed the movie.....well I enjoyed the acting in the movie. How can you enjoy a movie about the sad and horrific life Precious lead?
It was the day after Christmas and Airport Road seemed desserted. But the rain had let up by the time we left the theatre and it was only misting but visibility was low. As I was driving home past the entrance to the Airport, my husband asked, "Do you see that? Be careful." I had noticed something in the road and slowed down and as it all came into focus I realized that I was driving upon the scene of an accident. I drove as close as I could and threw the car into park, put my flashers on and yelled over to my husband to dial 911 as we both ran out of the car. I could hear my husband speaking to a dispatcher as he ran to one vehicle and I ran to the other. I don't want to get into the details of the accident . I only want to say that my actions were instinctual. I did what I hope someone else would have done for me or anyone in my family too.
As I walked away from the accident towards my car so many people came to me and asked if I was okay. They told me how amazing I was. That they'd never seen anyone "react" the way that I did. As I sat in my car, Airport Road was "alive" with paramedics, emergency vehicles and now many other drivers on their way somewhere, I watched as the police tried to redirect traffic so we could turn our vehicle around to leave the scene. The drive the rest of the way home was about 5-7 miles but seemed much longer. When I finally got home and into my home I was numb from the emotions that were bouncing around in my head. My husband held me and said "I don't care what that letter says. You follow your dream. You were meant to do this."
I met the family of the man who's hand I held, who's head and brow I rubbed and who I spoke to let him know he wasn't alone. They thanked me for being there with him when they couldn't be. They hugged me and told me their family has now been extended to include me. So on the days that I get frustrated and say "I just can't do this anymore," I remember Bill Weiss and I know that I absolutely can.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Happy Valentine's day!
Another day to fight the urge to eat candy! Just got past Christmas candy, cookies, dinners, etc....now it's time to fight the chocolate urges! But I made it. I actually spent most of my Valentine's day in the gym! It was empty! I guess everyone worked hard on their New Year's resolutions and now they're gonna cheat with a box of chocolate....I know I wanted to! I only ate a chocolate donut...BUT Saturday I went to NY to eat Peruvian food....hence the reason I was in the gym sweating it all off!
Ahhh the gym....I partake in as much gym activity as I can. For some reason once I turned 35 I started struggling with weight. Not a lot....just 10 lbs or so. But it was a constant struggle because I'm so accustomed to being on the go and grabbing what I can to eat but always had a healthy dinner. The worst part is now 7 years later I'm still fighting but it's with gravity!!! So I'm in the gym 5 days a week. I take the Zumba class twice a week, which is loads of fun and a great cardio workout! Then I hit the weights. My struggle now like I said was gravity and keeping my abs in check! All other muscles are responding well...thank heavens muscle has memory....but the abs for whatever reason seem to have dementia these days!
Studied the rest of V-day for that Biology exam! The first exam of the semester. Hoping for a good grade. Made my notecards and took the online textbook quizes and I did well. Doesn't mean that the exam will be the same...but the information is stored and ready for retrieval! Wish me luck
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Conquering the Second Semester Blues
So here I am, a few weeks into the second semester and I'm feeling as lost as I did in the first. Haven't quite gotten my schedule down pat....sorry Developmental Psychology Professor...I really thought the class started at 12:30 and not 12:00....my bad. I am regretting not noting the Algebra class is computer based. It's not fun trying to make a computer understand what answer I "meant" to type. Also, the computer gives the same examples over and over as opposed to the instructor changing them and teaching you from scratch.
All in all I am enjoying college....when there's no snow of course! Seems these snow storms lately are coinciding with my Biology Labs....lucky me! So now I'm two labs behind thanks to Mother Nature. According to the professor, looks like we'll be doubling up for the next couple of weeks. Not cool!
Studying tip for today is I highly recommend studying with notecards. You take notes during class and just reading them over is not enough. Writing the note cards actually helps the information make it past your short term memory. You can recall the information more easily after writing them over and studying from the notecards.....well at least it worked for me last semester! It was a recommendation from my Speech Communication's professor that I will carry with me throughout college. I have my first Biology exam coming up so I will let you know how the notecards worked for me this time.....
All in all I am enjoying college....when there's no snow of course! Seems these snow storms lately are coinciding with my Biology Labs....lucky me! So now I'm two labs behind thanks to Mother Nature. According to the professor, looks like we'll be doubling up for the next couple of weeks. Not cool!
Studying tip for today is I highly recommend studying with notecards. You take notes during class and just reading them over is not enough. Writing the note cards actually helps the information make it past your short term memory. You can recall the information more easily after writing them over and studying from the notecards.....well at least it worked for me last semester! It was a recommendation from my Speech Communication's professor that I will carry with me throughout college. I have my first Biology exam coming up so I will let you know how the notecards worked for me this time.....
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Let's get it started
So this is where my story begins....What I thought was the end turned out to be a fresh new start. Flash back two weeks from "The Second Cut," where fiance, at the time, and I were closing on our new home. We waited until my job seemed more secure but little did we know what was in store for us. We were estatic. A new home and a fresh new start for us both. Now let's flash forward to the day I thought was the end of what seemed like a stretch of good luck for me. The day I was laid off.
I knew it was coming....just had that sinking feeling in my stomach that this time I wasn't going to make the cut. I had already told my fiance that chances are I was going to be one of the unfortunate ones. He assured me that all would be fine. How I couldn't understand. We were to be married in less than a month, just closed on our home two weeks ago and now I've lost my job. Chances of finding a job in The Valley making my previous salary was slim to none! I had a better chance applying at Taco Bell since I am bi-lingual.
Once I got over the bitterness and after many discussions with my fiance, we decided to just stop thinking of it all and enjoy planning the final touches to the wedding. Surprisingly it wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be to let go of the past and start a new. The wedding went beautifully and the honeymoon in Aruba was amazing. Once back at our new home and finally finishing up painting and settling in the husband and I sat and decided my going back to school for my RN was the way to go.
Nursing was something I've always had a desire for. I never had the opportunity to do so and my being a "recently dislocated worker" ..... gotta love the way they make it sound so cool eh? ..... the college was offering a Tuition Waiver program that made me realize it was time to follow my dream. All fell into place regarding Financial Aid. My first semester had a rocky start and there were times I just thought I wasn't going to make it. However, I beat my first semester with three A's and a B+ which scored me a spot on the Dean's List!
Hmmmmm Maybe I can do this college thing after all ...... So here I am in my second semester....doubting myself again...but sure I can pull through again .... I think I can .... I know I can!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)