Haven't come to Terms with your Illness yet? Try Journaling

Although the following article is focused on  mesothelioma as the illness, journaling can help people  across the entire spectrum of chronic mental and physical illness.


If you never tried journaling, read the following article and get started.


My journaling experience has been  in the form of poetry.  The practice has helped me cope with many situations over the years.

Here is the article:

Journaling as a Way of Life
by Melanie Bowen

Composing and organizing thoughts and goals in a journal aids individual self-assessment. Writing is a way to stimulate the brain to think in new ways. From one being diagnosed with diabetes to those with breast cancer, or stated mesothelioma prognosis, keeping a journal helps with the healing process. Writing down hopes, dreams, wishes, desires, ideals and future accomplishments contribute to a person’s overall psychological and physical well-being. 


Dr. James Pennebaker, noted psychologist and researcher at the University of Texas-Austin, explains that writing in a journal helps to strengthen immune cells referred to as T-lymphocytes. Recording stressful events is a way to reduce the toll that the stressful experience may take regarding overall physical health. Tear production during journal writing may also occur according to studies conducted by Dr. Pennebaker and his associates. 


Journaling is a way to help mesothelioma patients cope with the illness and reduce stress. It is an effective way for these individuals to clarify thoughts and feelings and learn more about themselves through creative writing and expression. A daily log helps with problem solving and tracking patterns, trends and daily improvements in physical and mental health. 


The best way to begin writing in a journal is to begin with an open page and an open mind. Start with a recent story about a life-changing incident or dream. Individuals from long ago have relied upon story telling as a therapeutic way to heal and achieve personal growth. Individuals who have the ability to construct a written narrative are more likely than others to experience the positive benefits of healing through creative expression.   


Writing stories in a journal helps to identify the emotions and thoughts of the mesothelioma patient after a doctor issues a prognosis. Jotting down notes about future goals, aspirations, hobbies and interests in a journal are ways to stay motivated and inspired. The key to happiness lies with establishing lifetime achievement goals and then writing about them. This helps individuals maintain a positive and productive outlook on life.


Journal writing is a very personal process. No one else will read the journal so there is no need to worry about correct spelling or grammar. Writing for at least twenty minutes or more every day is therapeutic and beneficial. Think of it as a road map for lifetime achievements and constructive daily activities. Jot down every passionate interest and activity. Perhaps learning a new language or musical instrument has become a new interest. Think of journaling as a way to stay motivated and interested in life.


For more information, help, and encouragement, visit  the MCA blog Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance

What to know About your Inpatient Medicines and when to Refuse them

Suppose you are admitted to the hospital and given your regular dose of fluid pills intravenously. Then, suppose the nurse came in your room handing you the same dose orally. What would you do?

Because of a mix up in the orders, this exact same thing happened to me. Of course, I refused the oral dose.


This brings up a great reason to refuse inpatient medicine. If you suddenly, without your previous knowledge are given an exceedingly large dose of medication, or if your nurse departs wildly from your normal doses, or if the medication you are being given is suddenly different than what you normally take, you should refuse your medicine until it‘s reviewed by your doctor.

You have the right to refuse any medicine as long as you are mentally competent to do so.


That being said, it is in your best interest to ask your medication nurse exactly what medications you are being given.


Any time there is confusion over your medications, you should have your concerns addressed by your medical staff before taking them.

I have refused medications a number of times while in the hospital. Since I am a somewhat professional patient, I am aware of certain characteristics of IV Lasix and Albumin related to my weight and edema.


I know, for instance, that I am getting dehydrated when I’ve been given these medications for several days, lose over 20 pounds of fluid, and start experiencing muscle spasms. I have refused doses of Lasix under these circumstances.


Nurse reactions to my refusals vary with the nurse. Most of the time I get an indignant look as they turn and stomp back to the med cart. Other times, they ask, “Why, Mr. Taverne?”


When I get a nurse who tries talking me into taking the medication, I tell her, “I’m not taking the medicine until I talk to my doctor.”


As a side note, there are times when I have reported medication waste; when I was supposed to get a certain amount of a medication but did not.


In one such incident, I was prescribed Intravenous Immunoglobulin at a certain dose and rate. But, because the pharmacy (who mixed my large dose from several small bottles) took one of the labels off a small dose and put it on the transparent IV bag which incorrectly indicated a dose and rate.


I, as I received this medication many times, knew the nurse was making a big mistake when she stopped the IV after infusing only 1/3 of the bag’s contents. I mounted a protest which was ignored, and the nurse threw the other 2/3 into the trash!


That stuff costs over $8000.00 per bag! The second time this was about to happen, I stopped her. I tried explaining that I was supposed to get the whole thing, but she wouldn’t listen to a “lowly patient” and call the pharmacy.


I got out of bed, still hooked up to the IV, went downstairs to the pharmacy, and asked her to explain why my nurse would throw away 2/3 of the contents of this bag as I pointed to it.


The pharmacist looked shocked as I explained what happened to the previous dose. She promptly called the charge nurse on my ward and explained that I was, indeed, supposed to get the entire bag.


I suppose the point of this post is to let you know its okay to question your medication nurses. It’s smart to question anyone who is giving you medicine.


Here are three questions to ask:
1. What are you giving me?
2. What are they for?
3. How often will I be given them?


These are great questions to start with. 


If there is ever confusion about your medications, get it cleared up. Remember, it’s your doctor who prescribes your medicine (even if you are in the hospital) so when a question can’t be cleared up by your nurse, ask to speak with your doctor.

Be mindful, however, that while you are hospitalized, your doctor may prescribe medications to you without your knowledge.  If this happens, and you are uncomfortable with the situation, it is okay to request a talk with your doctor.  


One more note:  The contents of this post are only suggestions.  Any action you take in the hospital is your responsibility.    I'm simply sharing my stories and making suggestions based on my own experiences.

Magic Fruit stabilizes Protein level?

I think I found a product (a fruit) that seems to help me hang onto more of  my protein.


I can't remember the name of it.  I think it was pronounced, "oh-seye-ee". (But I could be wrong).


I'm visually impaired so I never actually read the container.  I ate this fruit and drank some tea containing this fruit and blueberries.  I had the fruit each night for 3 nights, then started the tea, nightly.  It seems it took about 2 weeks when I noticed that my legs didn't seem as heavy with fluid.  I ate this fruit several months ago, like April of 2011, and since, I've only been to the hospital a few times.  My protein has gone up.  It's still not normal, but it is better than it has been.


So, if you have idiopathic protein losing enteropathy, try this fruit.  What have you got to lose.  The next time I buy this stuff, I'm going to pay attention and get the name right.  I'll post it when I find it.

Nursing Styles say Much about the Person

The style-labels I use below describe how nurses relate and interact with patients while performing their duties.

Fast and efficient:  These nurses usually appear strangely calm while moving 100 miles per hour.  They seldom speak, but  when they do, their words are short and direct.

These nurses zip in, do what they have to do, then zip out.

I liked this style best in the middle of the night when trying to sleep.

Warm Helpful & Caring:  I’ve had lots of experience with this style of nurse.  One such nurse, Gaylord, is a sweet woman.  If I show up on the ward after a lengthy absence, she greets me with a giant hug. 

One afternoon she had to give me an intramuscular Octreotide hip injection.  Octreotide is very thick so the needle was quite large. 
I must say, when Gaylord started crying because she had to give me that shot, I realized just how caring she is.

Knowledgeable and compassionate:  These nurses exude confidence and control. On many occasions, nurses fit this category might make remarks about how a nurse on the previous shift messed something up.

This nursing personality  believes the needs (comfort, safety & Medical) are their top priority.

Another nurse, Lorraine, fit’s the this style. 

In 2009, I was hospitalized with very painful necrotic toes.  It didn’t take long for me to discover that morphine didn’t work for me.
I needed something stronger, but because the doctor suspected I was a “pain-seeker”, she wouldn’t do anything else for me.

Then I had to have my toes amputated.  As you might guess, it was very painful.  This time, Lorraine advocated for me, insisting to the doctor that I was, in fact, in pain and the morphine wasn‘t helping.

Lorraine’s advocacy for me ensured my pain was properly treated. That said, Lorraine’s knowledge and compassion continue to give me great confidence in her abilities.

Lost, lazy,  incompetent  Some nurses make me nervous as can be.  They stomp into the room, and struggle to get things right. 

For example, some  nurses have a difficult time setting up IV pumps.  Some don’t know, for example, that most albumin bottles have ‘vent caps’ in their necks.  Removing this cap allows air to flow into the bottle so the albumin can flow out. 

I had one nurse stabbing the albumin bottle’s ‘spike-port’ with syringes; injecting air into the bottle.  This eventually works, but the albumin bottle looked like a pin cushion and albumin dripped all over the top of the IV pump.

Some of these nurses don’t like answering nurse call buttons and act like they are doing me a favor when  I ask for something like water, for example.

Occasionally, these nurses don‘t want to hear it when the patient trys to explain how something should be done.

The example of this is when I began explaining to nurses about opening the vent cap and they don‘t do it.  After they leave the room I get out of bed and open it myself.

Obviously, this list of nurse types is not all inclusive.  The idea I wanted to get across here is that the way each nurse cares for patients is a direct reflection the nurse’s personality.

What are your thoughts? Do you have any memorable tales about one or more nurses?  If so, leave it in a comment.

5 Reasons Men Avoid Doctors - How to Help?

1. Uphold a tough guy image - “I’ll be alright!” “It’ll heal on its own.”


2. Financial imposition - “It will be expensive.” “I don’t want to miss work.”


3. Fear - “I might have cancer.” “They might find out I’m REALLY sick, and if I am, I don’t want to know.


4. Stubbornness - Don’t like doctors and nurses telling them what and what not to do. “They’re going to tell me to stop smoking.” “They are going to tell me to change my diet, and I like bacon!”


5. Embarrassment - “I don’t want a digital rectal exam, or a Colonoscopy!”


Okay, I admit this list of excuses is not all-inclusive, but it does illustrate the point that the inner dialog of men can result in avoidance of medical evaluation and treatment.  


That being said, avoiding doctors sometimes means allowing treatable conditions to grow into untreatable nightmares.


How do we change the inner dialog of men to reverse this situation? Maybe we can’t, but there is something we can try.


Those of us, men in particular, who have met our own medical challenges, who didn’t allow negative dialog to stop us from seeking medical attention can start looking out for our fellow men.


If we know any adult male coworkers, friends or family members who despite health issues, refuse to see doctors, we can use our own experiences to address their concerns and encourage them to seek medical attention. END


Do you have any thoughts or ideas on this matter? Leave a comment or sign my guestbook.

Pets can Improve Quality of Life ***VIDEO***

It has been demonstrated time and time again that pets can improve people's quality of life.


That said, my wife and I weren't looking for a pet when we came into possession of Holly, but now that we have her, we couldn't imagine life without her.


Here is a video of me interacting with my little doggy, Holly.

Trust in the Patient -Doctor Relationship in Western Medicine

There are good doctors, and there are bad doctors.  I think we all know that.  Doctors will similarly say, however, there are good and bad patients.


I think the relationship between my doctors and I begins with me and my attitude.


I don’t go into an appointment with prejudices about the care I’ll receive, though some folks  say I should.  


I just finished watching a video of a guy with Hepatitis-C talking about how modern medicine is  designed to sell illness and push pills.  CLICK HERE TO VIEW IT.


I, however am not that cynical.  I think most people who become doctors do so because they genuinely want to help people.  They are taught medicine, which they then practice on you and I.


Does modern medicine have all the answer?  I don’t think so.  There are ancient healing practices that modern medicine should investigate and incorporate to create a more effective healthcare experience.  One such ancient healing practice is acupuncture.


Here is a video showing how this healing method is being used today. 



I don’t like the fact that I have to take over 20 pills every day, but right now, that’s all I have.  They have kept me alive and comfortable for 10 years now.  That said, some medicines I have taken in the past have hurt me.


So, when it comes to my relationship with my doctor, I  pay attention, I ask questions, I expect answers, I insist on explanations that make sense, I am gracious, I follow their instructions, and I try keeping them informed on any and all possible changes in my condition.


From my doctor, I expect to be informed.  I want my doctor to be direct and truthful about test results.  I don’t want to be patronized or otherwise put off when I seek their advice.


When I think of my doctor, only one comes to mind.  Dr. Sanders.  She’s not even my primary care doctor.  She is the Rheumatologist that has been keeping tabs on my condition for 7 of the last 10 years.


By keeping tabs I mean she has been there through almost every up and down I’ve experienced.  She seems genuine when she talks to me and when ever I call her personal office, she has always spoke to me with polite dignity.


If, or when, she ever leaves, I’ll probably be pretty sad.  I have really appreciated having access to her.  I don’t think I’ll ever meet another like her.