tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post922237838290305108..comments2024-02-05T05:15:04.759-08:00Comments on Wandering Scientist: Personal Maintenance Fail, with Bonus Lessons LearnedCloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09317847285050447789noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-1381812844713119132012-08-18T20:28:14.392-07:002012-08-18T20:28:14.392-07:00Hope you're feeling completely recovered Cloud...Hope you're feeling completely recovered Cloud. These kinds of things always throw everything off for a bit. Like @paola, our slightly urgent (or very urgent...we've had enough of both) situations have helped us hone our systems for health & disease management. But we still mess up. If DH has some weird symptom that's lingering, and he's not already talking about calling his doctors, I'll push him to do it. We have enough examples from waiting too long in the past that my prodding carries more weight now. But he's also gotten better at being more proactive too. I remember discussing DH's complacency in going to the doctor a while back with a friend (now deceased) who at the time was undergoing cancer treatment. It was great as he could give me the view from the other side without it being emotionally charged. Essentially his response boiled down to the fact that sometimes you just get tired of dealing with your illness, and sometimes you're scared of what you'll find out. I have to think that with chronic illness, fatigue in managing it over the long term sets in. This is why I don't mind stepping in for DH in being more proactive about his illness at times. Kind of a pinch hitter for the long run.<br /><br />Granted, it's my own health I tend to be more slack about. Though that's improved as well for me. I tend to have a rather bland health record...which is a good thing...but it is also a breeding ground for complacency. The worst combination is when I'm busy at work and have a minor health grievance. It can drag for a long time. Sometimes it works itself out, but sometimes just gets worse. The solution to my problem is trying to have more wiggle room (not planning every moment of every day) and to carry less of the mental load around here. Hard ones to solve.The millinernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-24505380454172656102012-08-18T19:59:29.569-07:002012-08-18T19:59:29.569-07:00I have the same problem with typepad when on the i...I have the same problem with typepad when on the iPad. Not a problem when I'm on my laptop or phone. Totally annoying.The millinernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-45780386954397520972012-08-18T19:55:08.339-07:002012-08-18T19:55:08.339-07:00Calling to make the appointments is the worst. I a...Calling to make the appointments is the worst. I always try to schedule my next appointment while I'm still in the office after the current appointment. Works well for almost everything except our family doctor. The receptionist still uses hard copy agendas and on top only keeps an agenda for a month or two in advance. WTF? This is 2012! Clearly this makes me insane. And I'd actually change doctors over this issue, except that it's pretty much impossible to get a family doctor here.The millinernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-58528201712771328992012-08-13T21:08:26.557-07:002012-08-13T21:08:26.557-07:00@ana- I wish I had better suggestions for how to h...@ana- I wish I had better suggestions for how to help people avoid this! The other factor that *should* work in my favor is that I'm good at improving processes- it is a big part of what I do for a living. So you'd think I could get the process for keeping myself breathing sorted out. <br /><br />I think in my case, a reminder email when my prescriptions was supposed to have been refilled might have helped. But maybe not- the inhaler has a little number that counts down and makes it obvious that I'm running out. <br /><br />The online systems for making appointments are a huge step in the right direction- for me, the problem isn't so much going to an appointment once I've made it, because it is blocked off on my calendar. It is calling to make the appointment in the first place, because that seems like something I should be able to just squeeze in, but then I don't get to it. Or I try and give up because the hold times are too long. Or whatever.Cloudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09317847285050447789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-45312560243027910342012-08-13T09:30:35.339-07:002012-08-13T09:30:35.339-07:00I was going to say the same: I found it really ins...I was going to say the same: I found it really insightful that your experience led to such a deeper understanding & compassion for people dealing with chronic physical & mental health conditions. That really opened my eyes to how easy it can be to "slide" into "non-compliance"---and I work in healthcare & deal with this routinely I guess the more difficult question, then, is how to prevent this from happening. People always say "easier access", yet, doctors/staff/etc... are all trying to juggle their work & families & lives and having 24/7 office hours for non-urgent appointments just isn't practical. Automatic refills or reminders can help, but I've also seen patients show up with 10 bottles of the medicine they never took (for example, because they were concerned about side effects but never called to ask about it), because they were refilled every month regardless---for expensive medications this leads to so much wasted $ and, thus, higher costs for everyone. Its a really hard problem, especially, like you said for people with limited resources & support and even more for those with mental health issues that by definition make organizing/following through difficult.anahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18320182732889825712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-4592731642126822702012-08-13T08:52:42.499-07:002012-08-13T08:52:42.499-07:00"we're all going to be in cubicles. The b..."we're all going to be in cubicles. The big boss believes that improves collaboration."<br /><br />We had an open cubicles floor plan at my old company because the men in charge hired McKinsey or BCG (can't recall which) and became convinced that having everyone out in the open would encourage teamwork and productivity. I don't think it made much of a difference except it may have increased the number of petty annoyances between staff.hushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05532820460835325762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-68421407546700784662012-08-13T08:48:22.477-07:002012-08-13T08:48:22.477-07:00Amen! You made two very, very good calls.Amen! You made two very, very good calls.hushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05532820460835325762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-6961954608185296752012-08-10T23:05:22.857-07:002012-08-10T23:05:22.857-07:00I get a full physical every year. It's when I ...I get a full physical every year. It's when I can talk to my doctor about big-picture stuff rather than specific concerns like my sinus infection of the moment. I'm also good about going to the dentist twice a year. But I've been really bad about my optometrist appointments ever since I was pregnant with Baguette. I like her a lot, but I'm not sure her office hours and location still work for me.Tragic Sandwichhttp://tragicsandwich.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-25904840917678148302012-08-10T22:59:53.555-07:002012-08-10T22:59:53.555-07:00So glad you're feeling better now and sorry th...So glad you're feeling better now and sorry that you hit one of those episodes. :/<br /><br />As a fellow chronic issue person, agree that it's (sometimes shockingly) easy for a series of seemingly mundane problems to ball up and turn into a serious showstopper, and just because you know this, it doesn't mean that you can always stop it. It's just a part of being a fallible human. <br /><br />We do keep implementing/tweaking systems to reduce the frequency: using the mail order system, ordering medicine much earlier, setting myself work from home days to make myself actually GO to appts, PiC pitches in and makes other appts for me, etc. <br /><br />It's not always the easiest thing for him to understand either but he does understand the effect of my thing because it's *slightly* more obvious. Still, it takes time to figure out better disease management in the family. *hugs*Revanchehttp://www.agaishanlife.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-78157024604891267232012-08-10T22:11:23.669-07:002012-08-10T22:11:23.669-07:00You know, I think my pharmacy would call and remin...You know, I think my pharmacy would call and remind me if I signed up for their program! What I really need is Saturday doctor's office hours, but of course that would suck for the doctor so is unlikely to happen.Cloudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09317847285050447789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-77289515660227558652012-08-10T22:10:27.042-07:002012-08-10T22:10:27.042-07:00I'm sorry about your sister. Asthma is MUCH ea...I'm sorry about your sister. Asthma is MUCH easier to control these days. That is one of the triumphs of modern drug discovery, even though a lot of the benefit is derived from reformulation of known drugs (steroids) into a new delivery mechanism (inhaled- so directly where it is needed, and fewer side effects).Cloudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09317847285050447789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-82615367270874192562012-08-10T22:09:14.911-07:002012-08-10T22:09:14.911-07:00Ah yes, I've had the dentist visit of shame be...Ah yes, I've had the dentist visit of shame before, too, and needed a deep clean. That sucks. I swore it would never happen again, but... I'm past due on my dentist appointment. My dentist moved to an inconvenient location, so now I need to find a new one, etc, etc.Cloudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09317847285050447789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-7886475226676528862012-08-10T22:08:20.362-07:002012-08-10T22:08:20.362-07:00I can't remember when I last had a full physic...I can't remember when I last had a full physical. But I occasionally end up with blood tests to check that there is no medical reason I'm tired (nope- just sleep deprived) or things like that. And of course, having asthma means that I get breathing tests every time I go to the doctor.Cloudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09317847285050447789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-8992301464644159102012-08-10T22:07:24.276-07:002012-08-10T22:07:24.276-07:00I honestly think I'd be even worse at personal...I honestly think I'd be even worse at personal maintenance if I were at home with the kids all day. They have a tendency to frazzle me!Cloudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09317847285050447789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-70054485250844066042012-08-10T22:06:34.407-07:002012-08-10T22:06:34.407-07:00When my company moves to our new building next yea...When my company moves to our new building next year, we're all going to be in cubicles. The big boss believes that improves collaboration. Of course, he sits in an office... So those of us who work at our desks (instead of in a lab) and need to concentrate will be buying noise canceling headphones.<br /><br />It sucks that your bosses expect you to rigorously make up time. In my opinion, that is silly and counterproductive, unless you're going to let people "bank" time when they work extra.Cloudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09317847285050447789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-9095551635214696072012-08-10T22:04:47.030-07:002012-08-10T22:04:47.030-07:00I'm so sorry about your aunt. That is tragic. ...I'm so sorry about your aunt. That is tragic. I am really cautious when traveling abroad- if I'm going somewhere where I don't know the medical system and am not convinced I could get help immediately, I actually get an EpiPen and carry it. I am petrified to use one, but I assume that if I truly couldn't breathe, I'd get over that.Cloudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09317847285050447789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-80476122247012117832012-08-10T22:03:46.510-07:002012-08-10T22:03:46.510-07:00Oh, he backed down right away. I told him I'd ...Oh, he backed down right away. I told him I'd transfer an extra $5 per pay check into our joint checking account if he wanted, and that highlighted the silliness of it all. I think he had just lapsed into his engineering "optimize this variable" mindset, where the variable is our total net worth. I need him to think more of a multivariable optimization!Cloudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09317847285050447789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-19317098234930777342012-08-10T21:25:07.132-07:002012-08-10T21:25:07.132-07:00This is not your problem alone, the system also fa...This is not your problem alone, the system also failed you (depending on your hospital/managed care group, some electronic health record systems' programs get triggered when a maintenance med doesn't get filled, in your case, the rx had run out too, but if it's a chronic condition, ideally the RN or someone from the doctor's office should have contacted you)<br />I think people in healthcare are only starting to attend this, but health maintenance and attending to chronic conditions well is the number one way of keeping people out of hospitals. Asthma deaths are completely preventable in america, yet, I have seen people die from them.Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03742211004208956742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-8416180695984858712012-08-10T16:06:57.691-07:002012-08-10T16:06:57.691-07:00I used to get these regularly when I was in my 20s...I used to get these regularly when I was in my 20s/early 30s; Now I tend to skip and just go to the ob/gyn for pap smear/breast exam, unless I don't feel well. However, it seems like I have to see my primary doctor every 2 years and I just figure I'll do the whole physical when I'm there. I'm mainly concerned about my glucose due to past gestational diabetes. of course I think you have to tell them you want this when you make your appointment.oghttp://oilandgarlic.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-39849580101421625672012-08-10T13:00:58.397-07:002012-08-10T13:00:58.397-07:00I am so glad you are feeling better! My sister had...I am so glad you are feeling better! My sister had serious asthma as a kid, and I remember all the scary labored breathing and many, many trips to the emergency room. Our childhood was colored in large part by her illness. My eldest son has mild asthma which we manage, but a major problem are other people's pets to which he is very allergic. It really is to the point of us wanting to prevent him from going to certain people's houses because he's miserable for days after a visit. <br /><br />I hear you on talking to husband. I too am getting stretched thin and husband is resisting outsourcing cleaning... And I am tired of fighting over mess. <br /><br />Take care of yourself and I hope you have better luck than me in negotiating a suitable division of labor!GMPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17872461021953583473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-86631735503033049922012-08-10T12:20:40.093-07:002012-08-10T12:20:40.093-07:00I'm glad that you are feeling better! I think...I'm glad that you are feeling better! I think personal maintenance is a hard thing to keep on top of when you are working, spending time with your kids, and running a household. Everyone knows they should do it, but it really isn't any fun, the bureaucracy of scheduling an appointment, and the time it takes away from things you'd rather be doing (and are often more urgent in the short term) can keep it on the backburner. If it makes you feel any better, I once put off going to the dentist for what I thought was 8 months, but was actually more like 2 years and then I had to have a deep cleaning (so, so horrible) because of it. I think most people have an experience somewhat like yours that reminds them to put it back on the radar. I've set reminders for myself on Outlook with six month alarms with medium success.<br /><br />Recently, my mom was diagnosed with heart disease and diabetes because she had just never made it to the doctor in, oh, 25 years or so! If she had just gone to a regular doctor earlier, she would be in much more manageable shape. Not to mention that she didn't have a relationship with any medical professional when her situation became urgent, which made it much more difficult to navigate. Her experience has been a real wake up call for me. But even with that in the recent past, I still find it challenging to stay on top of all the little details that personal maintenance entails.<br /><br />That is why, after I read your post, I remembered that I had to make an appointment for my daughter. So thanks for that!Stinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01210632160640905557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-53815571525234465622012-08-10T12:01:18.772-07:002012-08-10T12:01:18.772-07:00This reminds me: do any of you schedule full annua...This reminds me: do any of you schedule full annual physical exams for yourselves? Of course, I do it for the kids, and I go get my annual or biannual gyno check (breast exam and pap smear etc), but I have not had a full physical since I came to the US (13 years ago) and they are not routinely done in my home country so I would have to say I never had a full physical. I have a very competent but very grumpy primary care physician; when I suggested having a physical he said something along the lines of "why? there's nothing wrong with you." <br /><br />So I am curious to see if people (here people means mainly busy adult women) actually have them and how often.GMPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17872461021953583473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-29953967579525092192012-08-10T11:11:06.902-07:002012-08-10T11:11:06.902-07:00I think this is common, to be lax about personal m...I think this is common, to be lax about personal maintenance whether it's yearly health exam to exercise to managing chronic illness, because so many other things compete for our attention. I'm bad about scheduling doctor appts -- it just seems like a hassle - so I leave it on my to-do list for way too long. Glad you're feeling better.oilandgarlichttp://oilandgarlic.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-78222197837861409222012-08-10T10:53:38.579-07:002012-08-10T10:53:38.579-07:00Personal maintenance can be hard even without the ...Personal maintenance can be hard even without the encumbrance of a full time job. Getting around to see the doctor for me takes 2nd, 3rd place after almost everything, even when my life threatening nut allergy is concerned amd God only knows why.<br /> <br />A little reminder in the way of a slight reaction does wonders I find.<br /><br />Glad to hear you are feeling better.<br /><br />P.s Am I the only one who has difficulties with typepad? Refuses to type or make corrections consistentlypaolanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-1803769690061059342012-08-10T10:32:18.132-07:002012-08-10T10:32:18.132-07:00I completely understand. Reorganization at my job ...I completely understand. Reorganization at my job means that I lost my office and gained a cubicle, which means a lack of privacy. It also means that my bosses insist that I make up any time I am away from the office, even though my job has Exempt status.<br /><br />The result is that I feel that I cannot go to a doctor's appointment, because going to a doctor's appointment means I need to work later, which in turn means that I will not be able to spend that evening with Baguette.<br /><br />My solution is to schedule as many doctor's appointments as possible for the same day, and then take that as a sick day.<br /><br />This worked once, but frankly it just isn't possible to get everything done in one day. That day, I saw my OBGYN and my primary care physician. But I still need to see my optometrist (it's been nearly 2 years) and at least one specialist.<br /><br />So I still have to schedule those appointments. But first I need to borrow someone's office.Tragic Sandwichhttp://tragicsandwich.comnoreply@blogger.com