The other day someone asked, what super power would you want, if you could have one? My immediate answer was to have unending emotional strength. Unfortunately, I am human, and have no super powers. But I do have the ability to recognize when I am depleted.
And right now, I am depleted. I have decided to take the rest of this week off, and probably next week, too. I need to replenish myself, take care of my emotional and physical needs, and let go of stress.
I have a plan. I made my list this morning and have already made an appointment with a doctor. I made a list of everything that I have put off in the past month. I will check off each of these and then write some short term and long term goals to keep emotionally and physically healthily. I have put myself on the back burner for too long now.
Until later,
Ann and Dennis
Showing posts with label doctors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label doctors. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Doctors
Yesterday, I took Dennis to see his Parkinson's doctor. I don't particularly like her. She seems to have forgotten to develop people skills as part of her practice. I think she tries, but being a doctor of some prominence seems to be more important that being there for her patients. In reality, I am sure that this is not true, but this is how she comes off, to me.
Most of the doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals that we have met over the past 5 years have had a very positive impact on me. During our hospital and emergency room visits we have met many caring, selfless, interesting and dedicated staff. At the Mayo, we were impressed with how much time was spent listening to and talking with us by research doctors. The Courage Center welcomes the disabled with so much comfort, no one feels out of place. I could, and probably should, go on and on, but I believe that I have made my point.
There definitely people at the Struther's Clinic that we both do like. Joan, the social worker, and Jean, the Physicians Assistant are both easy to talk to and provide the information that we need. There are others, too, that we both like. Happily, we deal with the "others" much more often than his doctor.
I believe that it is fairly apparent that I value social intelligence more than other types of intelligence. Perhaps I should get over this prejudice of mine and accept her for her expertise. I will think about this.
Most of the doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals that we have met over the past 5 years have had a very positive impact on me. During our hospital and emergency room visits we have met many caring, selfless, interesting and dedicated staff. At the Mayo, we were impressed with how much time was spent listening to and talking with us by research doctors. The Courage Center welcomes the disabled with so much comfort, no one feels out of place. I could, and probably should, go on and on, but I believe that I have made my point.
There definitely people at the Struther's Clinic that we both do like. Joan, the social worker, and Jean, the Physicians Assistant are both easy to talk to and provide the information that we need. There are others, too, that we both like. Happily, we deal with the "others" much more often than his doctor.
I believe that it is fairly apparent that I value social intelligence more than other types of intelligence. Perhaps I should get over this prejudice of mine and accept her for her expertise. I will think about this.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Doctors and Time
Dennis loves his general practitioner, Dr. Kieffer. He is thorough and kind, and always remembers the little pieces of personal information that you share with him. But, you must come to an appointment prepared to spend an hour or two in his room.
Yesterday, that hour or two became three hours.
Today, I took Dennis to a new dentist. He finally figured out that I was serious when I told him I would not drive for 30 minutes just so he could see his old dentist in Lakeville. He is very wary of change, and has a low threshold for pain. He was comfortable with his dentist. I, on the other hand, see the value in keeping a specific doctor in your life, but find the world of dentistry a bit less personal in nature.
The point is, the new dentist is a bit like Kiefer - thorough and kind, but slow. Dennis loved him! I finished my book, read a People magazine (one of my guilty doctor's office pleasures), shopped at a pharmacy and stared at CNN for over 3 hours, once again.
Tomorrow surgery is slated for 10:30. Of course, we will sit and wait for a while for his turn in the surgical room. Then, five minutes of surgery will take around 2 hours. Then a wait for him to wake up and become coherent once again, before another hour when he can be wheeled to his room.
I am actually a bit anxious about this surgery. I want it over, and finished. Oh, my! Where did this come from? I surprised myself by actually writing those two sentences. I thought I was becoming a rock and here I find out that I am actually quite human. Well, good. I can be a bit worried and everything is okay.
Until later,
Ann and Dennis
Yesterday, that hour or two became three hours.
Today, I took Dennis to a new dentist. He finally figured out that I was serious when I told him I would not drive for 30 minutes just so he could see his old dentist in Lakeville. He is very wary of change, and has a low threshold for pain. He was comfortable with his dentist. I, on the other hand, see the value in keeping a specific doctor in your life, but find the world of dentistry a bit less personal in nature.
The point is, the new dentist is a bit like Kiefer - thorough and kind, but slow. Dennis loved him! I finished my book, read a People magazine (one of my guilty doctor's office pleasures), shopped at a pharmacy and stared at CNN for over 3 hours, once again.
Tomorrow surgery is slated for 10:30. Of course, we will sit and wait for a while for his turn in the surgical room. Then, five minutes of surgery will take around 2 hours. Then a wait for him to wake up and become coherent once again, before another hour when he can be wheeled to his room.
I am actually a bit anxious about this surgery. I want it over, and finished. Oh, my! Where did this come from? I surprised myself by actually writing those two sentences. I thought I was becoming a rock and here I find out that I am actually quite human. Well, good. I can be a bit worried and everything is okay.
Until later,
Ann and Dennis
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Doctor Visits
We are set for the next Mayo visit in January. This is the test where the force radio-active materials through Dennis' veins. The test that will definitively answer the question, "Is it Shy-Drager or something else?"
Dennis also has an appointment for botox injections in January. These are suppose to help his drooling issues. His doctors all approve and we are both hoping this will be the answer to the most pesky of problems.
Tomorrow it is a visit to urologist for a catheter change. They will also check for a bladder infection if Dennis remembers to ask for one. He has been a bit under the weather and he was thinking perhaps . . .
I also need to call his general practitioner about his depression. He is understandably depressed, but I hate the idea that it can keep him from living as fully as possible.
If nothing else, his life is full of doctor visits.
Until tomorrow,
Ann and Dennis
Dennis also has an appointment for botox injections in January. These are suppose to help his drooling issues. His doctors all approve and we are both hoping this will be the answer to the most pesky of problems.
Tomorrow it is a visit to urologist for a catheter change. They will also check for a bladder infection if Dennis remembers to ask for one. He has been a bit under the weather and he was thinking perhaps . . .
I also need to call his general practitioner about his depression. He is understandably depressed, but I hate the idea that it can keep him from living as fully as possible.
If nothing else, his life is full of doctor visits.
Until tomorrow,
Ann and Dennis
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