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
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.
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.
