Medical Minutiae

Mollie writes:

When Millie and I started this blog, we did it to celebrate homemaking.  Most of it centers around our children since we are each dedicated moms.  But homemaking also includes other issues, including marriage, partners, money management and a bazillion of other details.

One of the issues where I consider myself a diva is the issue of health care.  After sweating my way through a chronic disease (multiple sclerosis) for 20 years, I've become something of an expert on the ways  of the sickly.  There is a lot to say, so occasionally I'll sort out individual topics and deal with them one by one.

One thing we don't hear a lot about is patient responsibility.  It's our job to be sure we are providing our medical providers with our latest insurance information and the pursuant information for the paper work that will accompany it.  We need to sign those medical information release forms so that a claim submitted for payment can be adjudicated quickly and reimbursement made to the provider as soon as possible.  It's just a matter of common sense.  If you have a co-pay, make it at the time of care, since those nurses, doctors, secretaries, bookkeepers, phlebotomists, etc. aren't working for free.  Remember, even a doctor has overhead.  By the time she pays her staff and rent and malpractice insurance and medical school debt, she still deserves some money to manage her household.

It is also our responsibility to be honest with our providers.  Somethings slip our minds or we make mistakes filling out forms.  If you make a mistake or forget something, just own up to it.  Just yesterday I blew it and listed a perfectly safe drug as one that caused my liver enzymes to soar.  In a nutshell, instead of listing zanoflex as the drug that shut down my liver, I listed another drug that I've been taking safely for years.  But we get battle weary, and we make mistakes.

A solution to this problem is to do what I'm doing now; that is, write a small medical biography about yourself (and your kids, etc) and take it to the doctors' office.  List the names of your drugs, both prescription AND over the counter.  List your surgeries, pregnancies, family medical history, etc.  Do this at home, when you are clear headed.  Print it, and take it with you.  You can let the doctor keep the copy attached to the forms you've also completed.  It lets these folks know that you are an involved, careful patient.

Also, there's something to be said about spelling all the medical conditions and prescriptions properly.  It lets them know that you may not be a medical professional, but you speak the language, even if it is a second language.

Along with your history, bring a printout of your questions.  I always ask whether a new drug is excreted by my liver or my kidneys.  I'm just over protective of both and like keeping up to date on this.  But I'm sure you have your own personal issues you want addressed, your own questions answered.  Going in with a printout also lets the provider that you mean business.  It also means that you'll waste less of their time.

Show up on time.  I hate it when a physician makes me wait - and usually it's because she was taking care of the patient in the next room who was having seizures that lasted longer than the 15 minutes the visit originally was for.  Time is not magic in the doctors' office.  Treat it with respect.  Print out the directions to the clinic, etc.

Leave the kids at home, unless they are the patient.  It's hard enough to give a patient the "bad news" without scaring the kids in the exam room spitless.  They don't need to hear bad news in this fashion, if at all.  They also don't need to wait in the waiting room for you to come out all teary eyed.  And the office staff has to draw blood, make appointments, settle billing questions, etc. so they really aren't reliable babysitters.

I had the doctors' appointment from hell yesterday, it began at 4:40 am when I rose to catch the ferry to drive to Seattle 'til I got home that evening to pick up my dog from daycare.  It was to determine if I'm eligible for a new drug for MS that will replace my 3x weekly self injections of interferon.  I'm hoping that all goes well, and I can switch therapies:  but before this decision is made, I had to see a neurologist, a pulmonary technician, an ophthalmologist, a dermatologist  and have lab tests run.  By the end of the day, my eyes were crossed and my fatigue level exceeded.

And I still had to shoulder my share of the responsibility.  It's a jungle out there, but we are up to it!

Christmas Every Day: Day 10

Millie writes:

Pop up a big bowl of corn, gather the family around the TV (you will hardly ever hear Millie suggest that!) and watch Christmas movies.

The Nightmare Before Christmas, Jim Carrey's How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Love, Actually are a few of our favorites; for more young-kid-friendly fare, try The Polar Express, Home Alone or one of the Thomas the Tank Engine Christmas movies.

Christmas Every Day: Day 9

Millie writes:

Your family's celebration starts at your front door, so hang a wreath on it! This will get your family in the Christmas mood every time you come into the house.

We have a tradition of buying a huge Costco evergreen wreath and hanging it up Thanksgiving night to kick the season off with its wonderful smell. It doesn't have to be the traditional pine circle, though; hang a grapevine wreath with stuffed animals and a big red bow, or a spray of silk poinsettias with battery-operated twinkle lights, or a brass French horn with a sprig of holly attached. Use whatever strikes your fancy and fits your decorating scheme.

But the prettiest sight you'll see
is the holly that will be
on your own front door!

Christmas Every Day: Day 8

Millie writes:

Break out the books! If you don't already have a collection of Christmas books, start one this year. There are fantastic volumes for all ages containing stories, pictures, poetry and games with a Christmas theme. There is an even larger assortment at your local library!

We keep ours with our decorations during the year, and make a point of reading at least one every day in December. As with the ornaments, I try to add to our book collection annually – you find them cheap at school book fairs and at a substantial discount at the After-Christmas sales.

Christmas Every Day - Day 7: Molly Wraps (Rap)s!

It's day 7 my friends and I've got something to say!

How to confuse your kids 'til the Christmas Day.

Wrap those presents kid by kid

But don't you worry 'bout keepin them hid.

Each kid gets their own color paper and bows

But this isn't just how everything goes



On Christmas Morning, tell who gets what

But before then, just keep your mouth shut!

Peter gets the presents in newsprint and Roger - brown bags.

Only Daddy gets the ones with the id tags!

The kids won't guess who gets what

Until Christmas morning when the silence is cut!


Millie writes:

Vacuum up the paper scraps with your faithful Bissel, Bro,

Then you and Mister Mollie kick it underneath the mistletoe!

Christmas Every Day: Day 6

Get a poinsettia and display it prominently! There's no more potent visual reminder of the season than the vivid red and green of a classic poinsettia plant. Nowadays there are other colors, too, from peppermint-striped to pure white.

Poinsettias are available nearly everywhere this time of year, from the huge bushel-basket size at your local florist (or Costco!) to the tiny one-bloom pot at the nearby gas station. They also come in every price range, so don't be put off by the cost of the fill-your-unlit-fireplace size if all you want is a top-of-the-kitchen-table model.

Oh, and - they're not really poisonous, neither to humans nor animals.

K3's "Cookie Trinity" Recipe

K3 writes:

With all of the festivities and food and baking, I wanted to share a recipe from a wonderful cookbook. One of my favorite cookbooks ever - and one that is especially helpful at this time of year (well, always, actually) is the More-With-Less Cookbook. This treasure of recipes produced by the Mennonite Central Committee "in response to to world food needs" was first printed in 1976 and has been updated in recent years. The book not only has great recipes, but nearly horrifying statistics about the American diet. However, never fear! There are also chapters about Eating with Joy and menu planning, making breakfast cereals, beans, and I even remember a demonstration when I was in church youth group about using 1 chicken to make 3 meals plus petfood and oil for use in bread baking. Recipes for homemade bread, crackers, ketchup, pickles, clay dough, children's paste, flavored teas, laundry detergent and international dishes are all included.

So how does this fit in with the holidays that seem to be surrounding us? First, the More-With-Less Cookbook highlights recipes that are TIME SAVING. Second, they have a variety of recipes that include instructions for helping children learn to cook and experience food. Third, they have wonderful recipes for desserts that are high in protein and can substitute as a meal.

One of my favorite recipes from the book is a cookie recipe that combines the "cookie trinity" -- chocolate chip, oatmeal, and peanut butter. What more could you want?

Here ya go!

Makes 6-8 dozen
Bake 375 degrees for 10 minutes

Cream together:
1 c. shortening (may use half margarine and half lard)
1/4 c peanut butter
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
Add:
1 1/2 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 c rolled oats
1-2 c chocolate chips
1 c chopped nuts (optional)
Mix well. Drop by teaspoonfuls on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for about 10 minutes.

Hmmmm. Homemade corn chips. I'll have to remember that for the Superbowl party....OOOOOoooohhhh! Orange Eggnog popsicles....