Healthy ABC's

Almonds

Breakfast

Chruch

Dark Chocolate

Exercise

Fish

Green Tea

Health Screenings

Inhale deeply & blow it out

Judge portions wisely

Keep yourself well hydrated

Laugh out load

Milk

Never give up

Oatmeal

Pause for prayer

Quiet time

Read

Stretch

Time out

Use olive oil

Vitamins

Walk, Walk, Walk

X Kisses

Yougurt

Zzzzzzzz (sleep)

Tips 16 - 20 For Good Clean Living

16.  Call your Mother (or someone)

17.  Take care of your nails and toenails

18.  Visit people

19.  Throw road rage out the window

20.  Chicken soup a cold

...more to come

Jodi

5 More Tips For Good Clean Living...

11.  Smile

12.  Get away for the weekend

13.  Be a good tipper

14.  Walk a dog

15.  Eat blueberries

...more to come

Jodi

More Tips for Good Clean Living...

6.  Send a card

7.  Make some Jello

8.  Wash & Wax the Car

9.  Plant Something

10.  Dance

Look for more....coming soon.  Love, Jodi

My Tips For Good Clean Living

1.  Love Yourself

2.  Count your blessings

3.  Celebrate the seasons

4.  Save for a Rainy Day

5.  Sing in the shower

...many more to come...Jodi

Surgery Tips

I've had to go into the hospital  for revisions on my arm.  I was told these would be Outpatient Surgeries, so I expected to be released.  I have learned the hard way to always prepare for a change in plans.  Sometimes going home that day is just not possible. 

When having outpatient surgery, I always pack a small overnight bag and leave it in the car.  I include some toiletries, slippers and a robe.  Most importantly, I always bring along a few doses of all my medications, as well as Tylenol or other pain relievers.  Chances are, you will be discharged before they are able to bring any of your proper medicines.  If they do bring your pills and you've already taken them, just accept them and add them to your stash.

Getting something to eat after that long day of fasting can also be tough, especially when on a special diet.  I bring along crackers and other easy edibles, as well as a bottle of water.  It may be a long, long time before you get a tray or even something to drink.

A magazine or newspaper is good to include just in case you can't sleep, and the television isn't available yet.

I always carry a written list of all my medications and their dosages.  Also list any allergies you may have.  When the nurse asks for this information, just slip her the list, and she can copy it onto her sheet.

Being prepared makes a hospital visit much more tolerable.  Be sure to request everything you may need (extra blankets, pillows) when the nurse is admitting you.  It may be a very long time before they answer your call light...

Good Luck...Your Friend...Jodi 

The Comfort Zone

Getting comfy on dialysis can be tough at times.  Gone are the days of freshly laundered sheets, pillowcases and blankets.  Oh well, these items used to become bleached into transparency anyway.  Happily, the new blankets have arrived along with carrying case and all.  I have found them to be DELUXE and quite capable of keeping us toasty and warm, even while the air conditioner is blasting at a cool 32 degrees.  These temperatures are necessary to prevent meltdown of our beloved caregivers.  Let's keep hot flashes out of this.  None the less, without new super thermal covers, everyone should be content.  For extra added warmth, I find that a blanket and a sheet together, make all the difference.

On the other hand, how about those chairs.  Everyone knows there is no love loss between me and my "chair".  Honest Abe sits more comfortable chair in the Lincoln Memorial.  I admit, I am spoiled from long ago when we all had Lazyboy recliners.  "Those were the days my friend".

All in all, we are lucky to be part of a great unit.  It's fun to kid and complain about the little things, but when it comes to the important stuff, our care is still the tops... "We've come a long way BABY."  Believe me, I know.  I'm a 27 year veteran.

Stay warm...Jodi

Tips on Longevity

Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes once said, "The best way to ensure a long productive life is to have a chronic disease and take care of it."  An article was published last year featuring the success tips of patients who have used the machine 25 years or longer.  Here is a summary of that article and how they take care of their chronic disease.

1.  Attitude is everything.  Stave positive and optimistic.  Always remember, bad times will pass.

2.  Get smart.  Learn all you can about your body, your disease and your treatment.    Understand how the machine works.  Take control and stay informed.  Keep an updated medical history and a list of medications ready at all times.

3.  Don't keep secrets from your health care professionals.  They are not mind readers.  Report any changes in wellness immediately, and always follow Doctor's orders completely.

4.  Eat well, feel well and never miss taking your food binders.  Foods normally eaten with a spoon, use a fork instead.  In other words, watch the fluids.  Stay on the dry side of the road.

5.  Be active.  Move around.  Get fit and stay fit.  

6.  Dialyze as much as you can.  Don't ever shorten your treatment time.

7.  Replace tears with humor, surround yourself with great people and always keep a smile on your face.

8.  Get creative with your down time.  Find a hobby, take a class or learn the computer.  Remember, life goes on with dialysis.  Be sure to get a life and live it to the full.

9.  Establish a strong faith.  Think God, and thank Him for His many blessings.

10.  Read, "Dialysis - An Unanticipated Journey" by David Axtmann, a 32+ years Veteran of Hemo.  Know that you are not alone and that there are people everywhere with problems.

My favorite quote came from musician Eubie Blake who said, "If I'd have known I was gonna live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself."  This remark was made on his 100th birthday.  

A hundred hugs & a thousand kisses....your friend, Jodi

Why Worry?

We worry.  Worrying is something we do.  It's a way of life.  It consumes us like a great fire.  We worry about everything.  Our jobs.  Bills.  The weather.  Our children.  germs.  The dog.  Our hair.  Traffic.  War.  Prices.  The car.  Our weight.  The Boss.  Our spouse.  The IRS.  The end of the world.  The list goes on and on.  

We dialysis patients probable worry the most about our health.  This would be valid except that all the worrying in the world will never effect the outcome.  Worrying wastes time and doesn't produce anything but more worry.  Worrying will not add one more hour to your life, but instead will steal precious minutes from everyday.  Worrying instantly transports you to another day that you are not prepared for.  This being a day that may never come.  

More than anything, worry insults God.  It clearly says, "I don't trust you, you can't handle this."  God provides on a daily basis.  Why would God teach you to walk, just to watch you fall?  Take one day at a time, one step at a time.  Psalm 91:11-12 states:  "He has put angels in charge of you to watch over you wherever you go.  They will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone."  Free yourself of worthless worry.  Don't fret, for He is worthy of our trust.

A hundred hugs & a thousand kisses.....Your friend, Jodi

Do's & Don'ts For People With Disease

Don't spend your lifetime trying to cure your disease.

Do Manage your disease, on the side.

Don't let your illness become your identity.

Do get into the habit of being a person instead of a patient.

Don't use your disease as a scapegoat.

Do everything you can not to let your disease consume you.

Don't succumb to your disease.

Do seek a higher quality of life.

Don't poison significant others with your disease and make them sick too.

Do pull yourself out of your illness.

Don't allow your illness to dominate your life.

Do live comfortably with it.

Don't dwell on it for hours and hours.

Do fill your life with more interesting things to do.

Don't allow your disease to become anymore infectious than it has to be.

Do control your disease...and...your live!

Don't waste anytime.

Do, do it today...

A hundred hugs & a thousand kisses.....your friend, Jodi