Posts About health

A Different Kind Of Vacation

July 29, 2010

It’s been a week since David had his surgery, and four days since we’ve been home recovering. Clockwise from top left: the patient’s domain, my home nursing shelf, Cleo wondering what’s going on around here, and the huge pile of snacks that we’ve amassed. My patient is improving by leaps & bounds, and soon he’ll be zooming around. But for the first month he still can’t put any weight on his right leg and he can’t drive himself anywhere. That means he still needs help doing some fairly simple things like going to the bathroom, showering, and having meals prepared. In addition to activities of daily living, I also have to give him a shot in his belly once a…
Continue Reading »

Things I Learned From My Husband’s Hospital Stay

July 26, 2010

It was an interesting experience staying in the hospital with my husband for a few days and NOT being the nurse. Although there were a few frustrating moments, overall we had a great experience. We liked certain staff members more than others. And actually, I think the whole ordeal will make me a better nurse. Here are some things I learned: When you walk into a patient’s room, introduce yourself. Even if you’re not assigned to that patient and are just helping out, let the patient know why you’re there. About a million people came in and out of our room and we didn’t know who half of them were. It was strange. If you are taking care of a…
Continue Reading »

Pre-Surgery Checklist

July 21, 2010

It’s the day before David’s surgery, and I thankfully don’t have to work. Yesterday he went to the hospital to get some bloodwork and other tests done, and brought home a huge packet of information regarding his procedure, hospital stay, and recovery. Thank God, because he never asks a single question at his appointments, and doesn’t let me go with him. So last night at 10 p.m. (only an hour after I got home from work; it was a long day) I sat down to read the packet in detail. It included advice on things to do before surgery, such as: Be familiar with the guidelines and benefits covered by your insurance company – we have no idea Make a…
Continue Reading »

How I Learned That It’s OK To Walk

May 26, 2010

I’ve played soccer since I was about 7 years old, and soccer is a sport that involves a lot of running – sometimes up to 10 miles a game. I didn’t really mind running during games or practice because there was a purpose to it.  For a long time I hated running for its own sake. I grew up training hard for my teams, practicing daily and playing in elite tournaments with three games a day in 100-degree weather. I was surrounded by trainers, coaches, teammates, and dads that pushed me to the limit. Sometimes I broke down, but overall I pushed myself right along with them. When I graduated college I continued to play on adult teams in the…
Continue Reading »

How I Learned That It’s OK To Walk

May 26, 2010

I’ve played soccer since I was about 7 years old, and soccer is a sport that involves a lot of running – sometimes up to 10 miles a game. I didn’t really mind running during games or practice because there was a purpose to it.  For a long time I hated running for its own sake. I grew up training hard for my teams, practicing daily and playing in elite tournaments with three games a day in 100-degree weather. I was surrounded by trainers, coaches, teammates, and dads that pushed me to the limit. Sometimes I broke down, but overall I pushed myself right along with them. When I graduated college I continued to play on adult teams in the…
Continue Reading »