Filed under: Blogroll, Caregiving, Medications | Tags: Caregiver, Diagnosis, Medical Markers, Specialist, Treatment
We had been doing the same treatment for years and all of a sudden a new treatment process has been approved. So it must be better right!?! Not necessarily. Science is a great thing and has brought us new technologies, new treatments, new drugs and it’s constantly seeking better answers. I loved science in school. My ADD brian loved the complexities of experiments and the fact that it sharpened my questioning process. Miss Pillon was my favourite high school science teacher, we also shared the same passion for the Toronto Blue Jays. Need I say more!
But when it comes to what we are dealing with as caregivers there are a few very important and key questions to think through and ask before making any decisions.
1) Become an expert. Learn all you can about the diagnosis of your loved one.
2) Partner with a doctor. You may have to search for this type of doctor.
3) Keep copies of all lab results
4) Try to get the markers done. Markers are those results of labs that doctors look for to make a diagnosis and staging of the diagnosis.
5) Get a second opinion from a specialist in the field of the diagnosis.
6) If in the US, assess established costs up front before making any decisions.
7) Don’t let the diagnosis take over your life or your loved one’s life.
Filed under: Blogroll, Caregiving, Medications, Pharmacy, family | Tags: Caregiver, Medications, Pharmacy, Tips
If you’re caring for an individual, no matter what age they are. You need to know what medication they are on, what dosage and how often they are required to take it each day. Keep a list and keep it in the same place each time. Use your computer or a spreadsheet for this. You want this to be a medication journal for who you’re caring for. You cannot rely on them to remember or even your doctor. You need to be the one in control of this information. Be Fearless!
Here are some basic tips on when you are pickeing up medication for the first time:
1) What is it?
2) What are they taking it for?
3) When and how to use it?
4) What are the possible side-affects, if any?
5) Could this cause any complications with any other medications currently being taken?
Each time you go to the doctor or the pharmacy you need to do the following:
Bring a list of all the medications being taking each time.
Depending on how many doctors you might see, medications and there dosage might change between visits. You need to keep this list current and up to date. This will help your doctor or pharmacist check for interactions with various medication combination.
Pharmacy Tip: Know your pharmacist by name and make sure they know you. Take a few minutes to explain the circumstances going on in your family and then you will have another safegaurd in place for your family member. Pharmacists are an amazing ally and can even catch a doctors mistake on medication combinations or allergies.
My story began 8yrs ago. I was dating my wife at the time and we were enjoying a meal at a casual restaurant when the conversation turned serious. My date at the time told me that 2yrs earlier she had been diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Luekemia (CLL). I then made the decision over the next few weeks that I loved Heather and could not imagine my life without her. We were married and now have one child, who is a miracle and another story for later.
I am now a full-time caregiver, dad, husband, medical researcher, and the list goes on. One thing that I have come to realize is that during the past 8 years I have become a fearless caregiver.
I will be posting lessons learned in the days ahead.
