Overcoming Serious Illness: The Recovery Process

If you’re battling, or have battled, serious illness in the past then you’ll know just how rocky the road to recovery can be. It’s understandably challenging for you, but also for those around you who love you and care about your welfare.

Overcoming serious illness is a huge achievement, and can make you view life in an entirely different way. You become more aware of other people’s struggles and you’re less quick to judge their circumstance. It can be an uphill battle, but once you get there, it’ll be a huge relief off your shoulders, and you will feel re-energized with a new zest for life.

Get The Compensation You Deserve 

If you feel that your medical care could have been handled better than it was, then you could be eligible to receive compensation. Medical costs and bills are notoriously high, and you can put yourself in serious debt by receiving ongoing treatment. If you suspect there was a medical mistake or malpractice when you were in the hospital, then contact The Medical Negligence Experts to review your case and assess whether there’s been bad practice somewhere down the line.

Make Friends 

Having a support network is crucial to your recovery process. You need to understand that you’re not in this alone, and there are others just like you who are experiencing the same issues as you, having the same challenges, as well as feeling similar achievements too. Reach out to close friends and family and ask for help wherever you need it. You may need a shoulder to cry on, and an extra pair of hands on standby to help you when you need it, so make friends with people you meet along the way in your recovery process. Bear in mind that you have a responsibility to those in need too. If you meet new people suffering just like you, then reach out to them and help them through hard times and good times, just as they have for you.

Be Prepared For Ups And Downs 

Overcoming serious illness is certainly no walk in the walk, and the recovery process can take months, even years. It’s crucial that you do ask too much from your body as you’re recovering and learning to readjust to life and everyday tasks and activities. Be prepared to face setbacks on the road to recovery and try not to become disheartened when your recovery looks set to take a little longer than first anticipated. Make sure that you interact with others in a similar position to yourself, and learn about their journeys alongside having a companion to share your recovery process.

Physiotherapy 

If you lost mobility skills during your serious illness, then physiotherapy might be able to help you get back on track and restore some movement into your limbs. Physiotherapy can be hugely beneficial to those who have suffered muscle wastage as a result of spending long periods of time in bed or a wheelchair. Physiotherapy is part of the recovery process for many people on the road to recovery, so give it a go, and with any luck, you’ll be edging closer to your recovery goals in next to no time.

This is a guest blog entry.

Top 4 Suggestions for Finding the Right Ostomy Products

Some conditions are not healed; instead, managing them so the patient enjoys the highest possible quality of life is the focus. This is true with many conditions that require an ostomy. An ostomy is a surgically created opening in a bodily organ and may remain open for a long time. That means investing in products that help to keep the opening free from infection and allows it to provide the intended function. If you have an ostomy, it pays to know how to select the right support products. Here are some suggestions to keep in mind.

Knowing What You Need

Knowing what sort of products you will use on a daily basis is a must. Your surgeon will provide a list of supplies and provide some instructions for using them properly. You will likely need to keep a supply of pouches on hand. Barriers are something else that will come in handy. Flanges with the right kind of tape will also be on the list.

Your list of supplies will include products designed specifically for CanMed wound care. Those help to protect the ostomy from the introduction of foreign matter and minimize the potential for inflammation and infection.

Getting to Know Different Brands

You'll find there are a number of reputable brands to consider. Some of them offer all or at least most of the ostomy products your medical team recommends. While the brands may offer products that look quite a bit alike, that does not mean the quality is similar. It's up to you to choose brands that are best for your particular needs.

One way to learn more about those brands is to go online and compare the features of each. You may find that giving hollister products is a great idea, based on how they compare to other brands.

Reading Reviews

You spend time reading online reviews for everything from new can openers to credit cards. Why not seek out reviews for different types of ostomy products and supplies? The goal is to locate reviews created by those who have actually used those products. Learning more about the personal experiences of people who live with conditions similar to yours makes it easier to determine which brands to try and which ones to avoid.

Finding a Reliable Supplier

Once you know what is needed and which brand you want to try, look for a retailer or supplier who can fill your order and have it on the way quickly. Many people prefer the anonymity offered by online medical supply sites. The products come in packaging that don’t tell the world what’s inside. Look for sites offering competitive pricing and reasonable shipping rates and terms. Knowing you can place an order today and the things you need will be here before your current supply is exhausted provides plenty of peace of mind.

Today is the right time to begin your search. See what you can find, learn the facts, and place your order. If everything goes as planned, you will never have to rethink where to shop or what brand to buy.

This is a guest blog entry.

4 Important Things to Do Before Undergoing Facial Cosmetic Surgery

Whether you are having your eyebrows lifted or changing the shape of your nose, it’s important to remember that undergoing any type of cosmetic surgery is serious. That means you must prepare for the surgery properly.

Among the things your surgeon urges you to do in advance, these four stand out the most. Make sure they are addressed before the day of the surgery and things will be much better during and after the procedure.

Go Over Your Medications Carefully

What medications do you take daily? Are there any over the counter products such as herbal combinations that you also take? Your surgeon needs to know about each of them.

The goal is to determine what impact, if any, those prescriptions and over the counter products will have on you while the surgery is in progress and during the recuperative period. While many of them will be fine to continue taking, others may have to wait for a time.

For example, you may take a medication or use a supplement that thins the blood. That’s not a good thing for people who are about to undergo Calgary facelifts. Your surgeon will provide suggestions for how much in advance you should stop using the product. There will also be a recommendation to not resume usage for a specified time after the procedure.

Meal Planning in Advance

How will you get nutrition in the days after the procedure? Some cosmetic procedures will not involve having to make any special preparations. With others, it may be necessary to focus on food and drink that provides plenty of nutrition but does not require much chewing. The surgeon will provide some ideas for meal planning. Make a trip to the supermarket and stock up on things you can enjoy and still follow the surgeon’s guidelines.

Arranging Your Finances
If you have them, use sick days to cover whatever period the surgeon believes is necessary before you return to work. Perhaps your bank of days is not enough. Check with your employer and see if you can use some of your vacation time to cover any remaining days. The goal is to make sure you don’t have to worry about falling behind with the bills while you are away from work.

Getting To and From the Procedure
Depending on the type of procedure you are having, the cosmetic surgeon may allow you to return home after a few hours of observation. In this scenario, it’s wise to have a loved one drive you to the procedure and be there to take you home afterward.

Even if you are having a more complex procedure like a rhinoplasty and will remain at the clinic for several days, it never hurts to plan your trip home in advance. If no one can be there on the day of your release, the team at the clinic will help you make arrangements with a professional transport service.

The goal is to ensure you have a procedure that is free of complications and can enjoy a speedy recovery. Work with the medical team to plan everything in advance and the only thing you will need to concentrate on is enjoying the results of the surgery.

This is a guest blog entry.

Assistive Devices To Help With Home Comfort

Advances in technology and assistive devices for seniors and those with limited mobility are allowing individuals to thrive. There are a range of products available to augment the senses, range of motion, and one’s comfort, especially for those that spend most of their time at home. These products include mobility, communication, hearing, and visual aids; diabetic equipment and supplies; respiratory equipment and supplies; oxygen therapy; prosthetics; braces, pumps, and compression garments. The Ontario Government has an Assistive Devices Program (ADP), making it easier for a wide range of people to access these aids. (Please note: there are several devices that are not covered by the program. ADP does not cover repairs and maintenance costs.)

Part of heightening home comfort is the choice to receive private, comprehensive, in-home health care services in the community. Those in the Toronto-area trust Integracare to attend to their loved ones and to offer advice and assistance in obtaining the right assistive devices. They sell and rent walkers, bath seats, commodes, wheelchairs, electric hospital beds, sell non-prescription pharmacy supplies, and more. Their Registered Nurses, Registered Practical Nurses, Registered Physiotherapists, and Personal Support Workers work collaboratively with clients, families, and community services, fostering independence, joyful living experiences and comfort for seniors. With the aid of trusted Caregivers plus government assistance, you can find the right assistive devices to suit your loved one’s needs and improve their quality of life
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Positioning devices like specially-designed back and head supports, cushions, powering tilting beds, and recliners make the bed more comfortable and improve the quality of sleep, which is a common problem for seniors. These devices also include pads that properly position limbs and keep them cushioned. They can make it easier to spend waking hours in bed or on the couch, so reading, watching TV, or conversing is more comfortable.  

An FM system for the hearing impaired is a transmitting microphone you can speak into and your family member receives the sound to either his or her ears or directly into a hearing aid. Cochlear implant replacement speech processors have internal and external components to allow the wearer to hear using a microphone, a speech processor, and a transmitter. Bone conduction implants or bone-anchored hearing aids work through sound vibrations transmitted through one’s own natural bone conduction. Speaking can be aided by voice prostheses, amplifiers, electrolarynxes, and speech-generating devices. Being better able to communicate with family members and friends in the home is important for feeling safe and for supporting good communication and relationships.

In addition to comfortable wheelchairs and walkers, specialized glasses, magnifiers, and other optical aids help with the ability to navigate one’s home more easily and engage with books and other visual entertainment. Audio players, CCTV- and computer-based reading and writing systems assist with electronic enhancement for reading books, the news, and family communiques. Braille typewriters and other manual braillers assist the visually-impaired with composing their own messages and letters.

Ask your loved one’s personal Nurse or Personal Support Worker about which assistive devices can ease their comfort and lifestyle at home. They can make recommendations tailored to his or her specific conditions and symptoms. Be sure to check if Ontario’s Assistive Devices Program can help with three-quarters of the cost.

This is a guest blog entry.

Understanding Age-Related Changes in Cartilage

Bone density and muscle mass are often the primarily discussed victims of aging as older age contributes to muscle atrophy and osteoporosis. But what about the all-important cartilage?

What is Cartilage?
Cartilage is a type of connective tissue that is critical to the musculoskeletal system. Firm, flexible, and whitish in color, cartilage can be found all over the body from the ear to the larynx and most notably in joints, acting as a cushion between two or more articulating bones.

There are two different types of cartilage found in the body. The first and most abundant is hyaline cartilage which is found in the respiratory tract and at the ends of bones. Articular cartilage in the knee, for example, is a type of hyaline cartilage; it absorbs shock when you walk and run, tolerates shearing forces between the bones that meet at the knee, and bears up to 20 times a person’s body weight. Hyaline cartilage has few fibers and is kept healthy and lubricated by synovial fluid.

The second, fibrous cartilage, is composed of a thicker, collagen-like matrix and can be found in insertion zones of tendons and ligaments, in the articular and vertebral discs (in the spine), and in the meniscus.

What Happens to Cartilage Over Time?
At infancy, a baby’s skeleton is composed largely of cartilage. Pliable and flexible, cartilage makes the baby less vulnerable to breaks as they learn to crawl, stand, and walk. Over time, the cartilage hardens into bone, though you may be surprised to learn that the bone development process isn’t fully complete until age 25.

Hyaline cartilage remains, however, in key places like articulating joints - the knees, elbows, shoulders, and so on. When cartilage becomes damaged because of a traumatic injury or general wear and tear, it, unfortunately, cannot regenerate on its own. It is one of the few tissues in the body that does not have its own blood supply, so when damage occurs, it is not miraculously bathed in nutrient-rich fluids that facilitate healing.

In addition, articular cartilage relies on just one single type of cell for renewal (or cell turnover) called a chondrocyte; repeated injury and older age results in less and less activity from chondrocytes. On top of all that, key proteins known as proteoglycans found in connective tissue that reinforce cartilage and make it more resilient become altered over time resulting in a higher risk of injury and damage to the cartilage itself.

Common Conditions that Affect Cartilage
There are a handful of common cartilage-specific conditions that affect older adults, especially those who were very active earlier in life as well as those who are obese.

Chondromalacia patella - abnormal softening or degeneration of cartilage in the knee can contribute to a condition known as chondromalacia patella, or runner’s knee. Worn down, thin cartilage cannot fully protect the knee cap and people who suffer from this condition end up with severe pain caused by the friction of the thigh bone rubbing directly against the kneecap. Chondromalacia can also occur in the hip and shoulder joints.

Osteoarthritis - the most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis (also known as degenerative joint disease) develops slowly over time due to deterioration of cartilage. Symptoms of osteoarthritis include pain, stiffness, and tenderness around a joint as well as limited range of motion and loss of flexibility. Bone spurs can also develop as a result of cartilage wearing away, and some people even feel a grating sensation when they use an affected joint.

Herniated disk (slipped disk) - degenerative disk disease, or the wearing down of the cartilaginous joints of the spine, can result in spinal disks “slipping” and bulging out of their protective casing. This condition is marked by severe back pain, limited range of motion, even numbness and paralysis associated with nerve damage from the herniated disk placing pressure on spinal nerves.

Preventing Cartilage Damage
If you are looking to prevent cartilage damage and strengthen your musculoskeletal system to stave off these painful conditions, experts recommend following these tips:

• Exercise regularly to help strengthen bones and muscles and take some of the burden off your joints. Choose fitness activities wisely, however, based on your age and ability levels. You don’t want to overdo exercise as it can exacerbate cartilage deterioration.

• Manage a healthy weight. Carrying about extra weight places excessive pressure on vulnerable joints like the hips, knees, and ankles. Lose weight to offload some of the stress on these joints and preserve the health of your cartilage.

• Wear protective gear (like orthotic braces and splints) and use appropriate equipment when playing sports and exercising to avoid overloading your joints.

• Rest painful and swollen joints, and use cold and hot therapy to reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and relieve pain.

This is a guest blog entry.

What to Expect After Wisdom Teeth Removal

Wisdom teeth are the molars that appear at the rear of the upper and lower rows of teeth. Most people have these teeth appear during the latter part of their teenage years or at least by the time they reach their 20th birthday.

Since one or more of the teeth can create crowding, it’s important to undergo a wisdom teeth extraction and prevent future problems. Here are some ideas of what to expect once the wisdom tooth is removed.

Bleeding

Many of the more unpleasant effects of undergoing wisdom teeth removal occur during the first 48 hours after the procedure. That’s when you can expect things to be at their worst. Even so, many people find that following the instructions provided by the dental team make those issues manageable.

Bleeding is one of the first things you will notice. Typically, the empty socket is packed and the dental team may place some dressing over the area. You can expect the bleeding to continue for several hours after the procedure. Assuming that you do not irritate the socket and the surrounding tissue, you should notice the blood flow lessens. By the second day, you should see little to no new blood.

Swelling

Swelling is definitely one of the things you can expect after undergoing wisdom teeth removal in North York. The gum tissue around the socket will swell and there is a chance that the tissue on the inside of the cheek will also expand slightly. The swelling may be significant enough for you to notice the outside of the cheek bulging slightly.

The swelling looks worse that it really happens to be. Applying a cold pack for 20 minutes at a time, then removing it for 20 minutes will help a lot. If you don’t have a cold pack, a bag of frozen peas will work fine. Continue applying the cold for the remainder of the first day. If there is still some swelling on the second day, consider applying heat. You should also remember to take any anti-inflammatory medication the dental team prescribes.
                          
Pain

As the feeling returns in the hours after the wisdom teeth removal surgery, you can expect some discomfort. Your dental team will provide a prescription for pain medication and recommend you take the first dose as soon as you notice the anesthesia from the surgery is wearing off. Keep in mind that it can take up to 8 hours before the feeling fully returns to the area.

If you tend to experience nausea when taking medication on an empty stomach, feel free to consume a small amount of some soft food. Something that requires no chewing and that you can keep away from the affected area is the best choice. You should notice a difference in the pain level by the next day, but continue to take the medication as directed.

Noticeable Difference After Two Days

Once you get through the first 48 hours after the wisdom teeth removal, most of the swelling should subside. The bleeding will stop and the tissue will begin to firm up a bit. While you still need to be careful, resuming part of your normal daily activities is fine. Remember to avoid strenuous exercise or actions for a little longer. If in doubt, call the dentist and ask if a certain activity is acceptable. If not, wait a few more days before resuming that particular activity.

Remember that the wisdom teeth dentist is never further away than a phone call. If you notice anything unusual or if the bleeding and swelling aren’t subsiding by the end of the second day, call immediately. Doing so allows for quick action that makes the remainder of your recovery more comfortable.

This is a guest blog entry.

Stress: It's Not All Bad News

Stress is not all bad news. This may come as a surprise because we tend to only talk about stress in the negative. To be sure, it carries quite a lot of negatives and some of them are pretty bad. Still, that is only one side of the story. It is past time for you to hear the other side:

The Effects of Stress Can Be Controlled

Let’s start with the elephant in the room. Left unchecked, stress can kill. High blood pressure and elevated heart rate are just two of the potentially fatal consequences of stress. But we have medication that can fight even those consequences of stress and have for a very long time.

Stress has other effects that are not fatal but can be rather awkward all the same. Certain body chemistries combined with stress can produce excessive sweat. Though not always, sweat can be the carrier of offensive odor that can be socially devastating in the wrong situations.

While stress sweats cannot be completely eliminated, they can be controlled. You will need products like name brand deodorant to fight the smells and you can use antiperspirant products like SweatBlock to reduce the sweat for 4 to 7 days depending on the brand and formula you choose.

There are even techniques for dealing with nervousness and performance anxiety when the house lights are low and you have to make the presentation. None of this is to say that dealing with stress is fun or easy. And we are definitely not downplaying the serious consequences of unchecked stress. But there are ways to control even the worst of its effects. And that is very good news indeed.

Stress Is Necessary

We need stress to recognize and act on danger. Without it, we would die a thousand horrible and completely avoidable deaths because we were apathetic when we should have been frightened into action.

Stress produces cortisol which has the primary function of preparing the body for fight or flight. That is what keeps us alive and functioning in an emergency. That means stress is an evolutionary advantage. Like all evolutionary benefits, stress has to be kept in check. If not, it can turn against us.

Still, that is no reason to fear it.

Stress is common to all humans. In generic terms, it simply means to push something to its limit. A stress test is what we do when we need to maximize the potential of a thing to endure. The fact that we have a breaking point does not make stress a bad thing.

Stress Makes Us Stronger

There is a saying that "whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger." That is not literally true but the idea is sound. We get stronger by being pushed to and discovering new limits. Muscles don’t grow if not stressed. If you stop using your muscles they atrophy. Stress them properly and they grow stronger.

The same is true of mental and emotional strength. Soldiers are trained to be efficient under extremely high-stress situations because they are trained to use stress as one of their tools. One who carries the weight of the world with grace and competence is one who has been stress trained.

Avoiding stress at all costs cheats you out of an important tool for growth.

Stress Is a Warning

Before we get to fight or flight, we recognize that something isn’t quite right. Sometimes it is just a feeling, intuition. Sometimes, it is something more. Stress is a part of our early warning system that something in our life is off.

You wrinkle your nose. Is that smoke? It occurs to you that the kids are at home alone for a couple of hours. Did you turn the iron off after pressing that shirt? What you are feeling is the leading edge of stress. It is enough for you to stop the car and call the kids to make sure everything is alright. All alarms are annoying. But that clangorous cacophony of distracting dissonance is exactly the early warning system nature provides to keep us alive.

So, while excessive and uncontrolled stress is always bad, the good news is that it can be controlled. Stress is necessary. Stress can make you stronger. And stress is one of the best early warning systems that nature has ever produced.

This is a blog post by Nancy Evans.