Simply Prepared

Let me start off with asking you a question: Have you ever had a day, a week, a month, or a year, that you have to keep reminding yourself, just do today? Otherwise you think you might explode! If you have, welcome my friend. I hope that you find this post helpful and hopeful in some way today!

Now, let me lead with a few facts about myself before we dive in. 1. The following “advice” (not sure if that’s what I should call it- but I’m going with it for today😂) comes from my life of live, learn, make mistakes, get back up again experiences and self-educated research. 2. Also, I have found that some of the greatest lessons are born out of our greatest need. Example: Heat triggers my migraines. What can I do to be proactive? I can carry water wipes and a personal fan with me to keep me as cool as possible. ADHD example: What were my last lab results? I am not good at remembering numbers- so keep all these results in a notebook. (because passwords are another thing I struggle with remembering)

So you are probably wondering where this is going. It’s going somewhere very simple. I am going to share with you today two things that I have learned that make my life simpler on a daily basis, but also as a person with multiple doctors and many appointments, makes these days a little less chaotic. Also, I will encourage you along the way in how you can help friends and family in different ways.

First: Grab-N-Go Medical Binder: This is one of the big ways you can help family and friends! Honestly I am a big believer in that every family should have one of these, even if there is not any health issues currently in the family. It should be as important as your insurance documents. If you have family with current health issues, it’s a must, and someone should know where it is at all times in case of emergency. If you have older parents, help them compile this notebook, keep copies for yourself. If you have a friend that is overwhelmed by medical papers, ask them if you can come along side them and help sort and organize them. Believe me, this is a huge gift!!!!

What goes into a Grab-N-Go Medical Binder? Glad you asked 😊 Most medical offices have a digital records program like MyChart, and while this is super helpful and way better than the paper charts of the good ole days, things sometimes get missed. We are all human, and all need grace. But even more reason to have it printed out and readily available for easy access. (I have not only learned this for myself but in caring for my little girl, my grandparents, watching my brother and my parents in their healthcare situations.) Here are how I break down the sections:

• Quick Reference Medication List: Medication name – Dosage and Instructions – Prescriber
• Detailed Medication List: Prescriber – Medication Name – Dosage and Instructions – What the medication is prescribed for. (example: asthma, allergies, reflux, kidneys, etc.)
• Doctors and Other Medical Contacts, Blood Type, and Medication Allergies: Emergency Contacts- Name, Phone Number, Address , Pharmacy- Phone Number and address, List of each Doctor- Name, Phone number(s), and address, email if you have it. (I also include Dentist)
• Health Conditions/Diagnosis: List the major to the minor! If your medical office uses MyChart- there is a tab that you can find all of your diagnosis under and links to just enough information about each.
• Medical Power of Attorney/DNR: if you have one, this is important to have a copy of because sometimes the ER doesn’t always have access to all your records.
• Family Medical History: This is important for yourself, but also for your future generations. Researchers are learning so much about genetics! I could get really passionate about this, but I won’t today 😊 List: Family Member – Relation to you – Name – Date of Birth – Illness/Condition – Any Notes – Age/Cause of Death
• Quick Reference: I like to have reference charts to vitals, lab abbreviations, etc. You can get these from about anywhere on the internet. I personally like this brand and they can fit right into your notebook.

https://www.barcharts.com/subject/medical/?page=1

• After this begins each Doctor, starting with Primary Care, and then each specialty doctor, of which I have multiple. Behind each specialty divider I keep a sheet protector, written across the top “Last Visit Summary/Doctor Notes.” Each time I see this doctor I print out the visit summary and the notes the doctor wrote about the visit and remove the old visit summary and notes. Now I know the date I last saw this doctor, the action plan, and if they ordered any tests. If tests were done, I have additional page protectors for each test. Example: Urology- I have x-rays each year to make sure kidney stones are not growing, and with high hopes some have passed. So each year I print out the updated radiology report. So that if I do need to go to the ER, that is a point of reference for the doctors.
• Behind Primary Care I also have vaccine records.

Second: Let’s talk about living daily with health conditions that touch all parts of your life. I have always been in awe of the people that are able to walk out the door with just a wallet and phone. It just has always blown my mind. It’s not that they need to feel bad that that is all they need to carry, it’s just hard for me to imagine. I’ve been carrying some kind of bag or pocket book since I was tiny. The ladies at the hometown pharmacy that we used to go to still talk about me coming in with my pocketbook!😊 I am assuming I picked this up from my mom always being ready for what might come our way. With my doctors at Duke and my brother’s at UNC, and his school in Greensboro, well we had the most equipped wood paneled mini van you could ever dream of! So I give her credit for my “preparedness” training! There are two bags that you always have ready: Everyday Bag and Clinic/Possible Hospital Stay Bag. You will be laughed at and get comments like, “here she comes with her big ole bag,” “why you have to take all that stuff?” But when those people need a band-aid, or feel sick, or their phone is on red – who do they come crying to? YOU! HAHAHA, you have the power to share or not share then! Sometimes the comedy goes too far, and you gotta give some tough love ☺️ But most of the time you give it to them (and never let them live it down!) 😂

The Everyday Bag goes everywhere with you! It has literally everything you might need. Here is a glimpse into mine:

• Cord/Electronic Bag: Phone charger- wall and car, chargers for camera, etc.
• Always the Bible!
• Rainbow Essential Oils Bag: Oils and Migraine Rescue Helps: earplugs, mask, etc
• Sunglasses. Prescription! Best gift I’ve ever asked for from my parents! Bad eyesight + sunlight or fluorescent lights = migraines
• Calendar/Planner: YES I still use a paper planner and I am proud of it!!!
• Rescue Inhaler and Pulse/Oxygen Meter
• Wallet with Migraine Rescue Medication and keys
• “Everything but the Kitchen Sink” Bag: first aid, glasses cleaner, splinter removers, bug spray, hand cleaner, hair ties, kids and adult Tylenol
• Water Wipes
• 1 or 2 Books
• Activities for unexpected waiting: notebook, pens, would your rather questions, miscellaneous funny questions.

My Clinic Bag is all of the above and the following, just in a fun book bag decorated with fun pins. Sweet Tea (my urologist appreciates 😂), Alzheimer’s Awareness, Pediatric Cancer Awareness, and Baby Feet 😊

• Grab-N-Go Medical Binder
• Notebook for Notes
• Masks
• Word Search
• Neck Light
• Personal Fan
• Blanket
• Kleenex
• Water Wipes
• Water
• Snacks

All of these things, the notebook, and the bags, all are to help clear headspace on a daily basis. And on days that I do have appointments or in the moment of needing to go to the hospital for myself or someone else, I can focus on getting there instead of being overwhelmed with what will be needed to be packed. PREPARED not scared, not anxious, not overthinking. Actually the exact opposite of all those things- being prepared so I won’t be anxious or scared or have to overthink in those moments. It’s a deep breath.

I am not sure who I am writing this for today. But I do hope it has brought a deep breath and encouragement to someone who is feeling overwhelmed by life and needs something to be easy. I guarantee you, it’s worth it! One step, one minute at a time! Ask for help if the task seems daunting, there is to be no shame in asking for help! And if you are a helper, be gentle, but offer to make something easy. Buy a cute and happy bag. Get them some cute bag organizers. Or a fun notebook. Or a pack of stickers to decorate the notebook. Ask if you can help clear some headspace by sorting medical papers. No gesture is too small!

Life Book of the Week: Five Minutes of Peace, by Jill Murphy. One of my all time favorites! 💕