Shelfari: Book reviews on your book blog

Continuing The Health Care Journey In The New Year

By Judi January 29th, 2012

I had my liver biopsy on schedule this time-laparoscopic instead of a needle biopsy.  The Wednesday before Christmas I went in for what was hopefully a quick little procedure and then home for a few days of recuperation.  The procedure went well but I ended up having to spend a couple of days in the hospital.  I think they just tell you you are going home so you don’t make too much fuss and then they break the bad news when you are all helpless and drugged.

I was able to go home on Friday with one of those ugly drains hanging from my stomach and I spent Christmas with my guys.  We went out to dinner instead of cooking and that worked well considering the circumstances.

The surgeon was able to remove two …

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January 29th, 2012 | Tags: , , , , | Category: Caregiver Support, Judi's Story | Leave a comment

Sisterhood and Brain Health for Recovering Caregivers

By Carol December 20th, 2011

Once we got our new iPad email working and used the Photo Booth app to take some funny pictures of ourselves, we wondered what to do next with our intriguing Little Buddy.  The problem is not a scarcity of possibilities.  According to official Apple sources, there are over 140,000 iPad apps available—many of them free.  Too many to sort through on our own.

No problem.  Sister Judi–an iPhone owner and aficionado—to the rescue.  She undertook to coach me in advanced techniques of using the “Home” button and also suggested a few challenging and enlightening apps.  High on our list are Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja.  I also learned that she is the creator of her own app—Smart Tot Rattle!

Her next move was to challenge me to a game of Words with Friends.

I’m …

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December 20th, 2011 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Category: Caregiver Support, Carol's Story, Judi's Story | Leave a comment

Making Sense of Health Care Insanity

By Judi December 11th, 2011

In my last post I talked about my upcoming liver biopsy, my 3rd needle biopsy this year.  I wrote that after reading the results of my latest CT scan, my health care team believed that they could get a large enough sample to figure out what is going on with me.  When my doctor told me this, she said she had consulted with a radiologist and a surgeon and they felt confident that there would be some answers this time (the definition of insanity is…?).  Well, I guess everyone was confident except the doctor who would actually perform the biopsy!

There I lay, in the hospital, all comfy in my drafty gown with a tube attached to my vein, when in comes the doctor to tell me that he is “pessimistic” that he would …

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December 11th, 2011 | Tags: , , , , | Category: Judi's Story | One comment-please leave yours

Being Thankful

By Judi November 27th, 2011

Thanksgiving is the time when we pause to acknowledge the things that we are thankful for.  Right up at the top of the list for many of us is our family, our jobs and our health.

My husband left today to travel for work. This time, Portland is where the jobs are. The trip takes 6 1/2 hours in his truck so he will not be able to make it home every weekend. I probably won’t see him until Christmas.  Thankfully, Willie has family in Portland.

When Willie is home, it is usually because he is laid off from his job as a UA Pipe Fitter.   The last time he worked was just before our wedding, so he has been home and taking care of me for almost 3 months.  I rely on …

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November 27th, 2011 | Tags: , , , | Category: Caregiver Support, Judi's Story | Leave a comment

Caregiver’s Gateway To The Future

By Judi September 25th, 2011

People start out in relationships not knowing what the future holds. Willie and I were together for 11 years before we got married.  We started out as friends and then we carried on a long distance relationship for over a year before I moved to Boise and we moved in together.

We have lived together for so long that we know each other as well as any married couple.  I didn’t think that it would be much different after we were married…but it does feel different.  There is a feeling of protection, of security that was missing before.  Something that makes me feel proud when I can say “husband”.

When you get married, things change.  We made a promise when we spoke those vows.  We are bound to care for each other now and …

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September 25th, 2011 | Tags: , , | Category: Caregiver Support, Judi's Story, Stages of Life | Leave a comment
 
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