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"Quality of life"......a gift that just keeps on giving.
The 2020 Holidays are over. What was your favorite gift? Was one of your gifts what I call a “quality of life” gift? Was it a new special pillow that made you sleep better? Perhaps you were given something that made your life a little easier like new shoes with a softer sole. Or maybe your family gave you a Mayo gift like the Pain course or a Habit workshop?
It’s never too late to think of and thank yourself for your endurance, generosity, and kindness to yourself. And these may be things that you have never mentioned because you didn’t want to be a burden or a nuisance or appear to be selfish.
I went crazy this year and got three of my quality of life gifts. I’ll share them with you and hope you realize how very important they were and are to me.
1. My MFR therapist began to feel that one session a week was not sufficient. So, we set up a six week trial of 2 sessions per week. The difference in tolerance was amazing. I didn’t have to endure increasing discomfort for 7 days….just 3. And so….gift #1. When I let my family know they found a way to help with the additional cost called a “stocking stuffer”.
2. For over a year I have been noticing more and more pain in my hip. Several years ago, I had an injection which was done poorly and so I wasn’t too excited about trying again. This time I had a chat with myself. “Why, Chris, are you going through increasing pain when there is a solution?” So I gathered my strong determination, had the injection, and am just jumping for joy. And my insurance covered it. Great…..another quality of life gift received and appreciated.
3. My 2021 quality of life gift brigade begins tomorrow when I have my preliminary appointment to fix my arthritic thumb. I can no longer open a jar or turn a key in the door lock. Seven years ago I had anchovy surgery on the left thumb. It is perfect. Now, why have I let the other one reach such a painful stage? I really don’t like surgery but this one is relatively doable and I won’t need too much help at home.
So Happy Holidays to me.
And thank you friends and family who shouted encouragement and helped support my wishes for a few things that just needed to get done.
What items would qualify for your quality of life? Let’s all share and help each other develop our 2021 list of can dos and must-dos.
Be happy and content in 2021.
Chris
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@artscaping went to the ortho surgeon yesterday and the only thing I got from him was angry! Told me my shoulder was back in the socket, which I could tell. Said the x rays showed him nothing and I need to get an MRI. Can't be scheduled for 2 weeks. No medication! Nothing for the pain. Said he did not know me well enough. So I have to suck it up, continue to get little sleep, and pretend my pain is gone. Very discouraged. He said he did not know me well enough to prescribe anything! I told him the appointment was a waste and thanks for not caring about my daily 7-10 pain level. As the day goes on it rises. So did my temper in his office.
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4 ReactionsFor my two cents worth, I would certainly look around for a doctor with compassion--compassion with a capitol C That sort fo attitude is inexcusable!. I am angry for your having to go through such horrid treatment. Good luck and let us know how things turn out. I'd tell the guy good bye. Really like how you told him about the waste of time and his lack of caring.
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4 ReactionsWow Suzanne, that's a doc I would fire in one second. And if he is part of a group practice or professional association, I would write a letter to tell them exactly why. I did just that with my ortho after a very bad post-surgical experience. Then I found a replacement who is pure gold. My daughter, a former surgical nurse, says this is characteristic of many surgeons - they prefer their patients unconscious.
Sue
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6 Reactions@dsh33782 Re the Covid vaccinations. Don - Did you have any choice which vaccine you got in terms of which company manufactured it and is that even something people should worry about. It has been confusing to me to read tidbits like this one is 70% effective, that one is 97% effective, that company has a reputation for falsifying test results, etc. I think at this point I'll be glad to get anything offered, but maybe that isn't the most prudent thing to do. Thanks for your insight. Nancy
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2 ReactionsHi @magneticcenter,
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5 Reactions@fiesty76 I guess we share the same desire. We haven't seen our son in Denver since the first weekend of February, last year. This will be the first Superbowl weekend in a very long time that we, or at least my husband, has not traveled to watch it with him. Hopefully we will get to visit him, either here or there, sometime in the relatively close future.
I hope too that more and more people who are reluctant to have the vaccine will change their minds when they see that it has not negatively affected those who have gotten it. If not enough people get it we will never have "community immunity".
@sueinmn I had a gastroenterologist who was that way - preferred his patients to be unconscious. After an endoscopy showing that I had Barrett's Esophagus I tried to speak to him. He would not speak to me, his office told me to speak to my PCP! That was the last contact I had with his office. I then switched to a fabulous gastroenterologist at Mass General.
JK
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2 Reactions@sueinmn thanks for the advice. Think I will follow it! Will keep you informed!
@nla4625
Hi,
There are a lot of comparisons online between Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and they are both equally effective...around 95% is reported. I don’t think you have a choice initially as to what vaccine you get if you are looking for an appointment. I just happen to get Pfizer with 3 weeks interval for the second shot... Moderna has a 4 week interval. Walgreen pharmacists were dispensing it at the facility I went to. I think....down the road maybe when more different brand vaccines are developed you may have a choice. So I would say no....if there there are only so many places you can go right now then you will get what they have. My impression is that most will be either Pfizer or Moderna at this point.
FL Mary
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2 ReactionsHi Mary -- thanks for this information. I'll be glad to get something and hope for the best. Nancy
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1 ReactionHi Mary just wondering, since you are a Florida resident were you aware of the doctor in Miami who had died 16 days after receiving the Pfizer vaccine? I understand investigations are pending from Pfizer and the CDC for an explanation as to what caused his platelet count to be so low for internal bleeding. Toni