Tag Archives: doctors

Protect your Ears

Our trip to the doctor’s office today was spurred by continued sick days with our son. He has been waking up with 103 degree temperatures, been nursing every 30 minutes each night, and fluctuating between our normal, happy baby and an uncomfortable, unhappy, baby boy. Not only has this sickness adversely affected our son but it has also required me to miss two days of classes. Mom hasn’t been sleeping because of his desire to nurse every 30 minutes. Perhaps most difficult for Mom and Dad is seeing their little man being in pain and unhappy. We’d had enough! So … Continue reading →

Back Relief but Still on the Bench

After a trip to the walk-in clinic I’m back on my feet (kind of). A mixture of steroids, anti-inflammatory pills, and muscle relaxants have collectively worked to combat whatever the source of the pain was (or at least mask it temporarily). Despite this absence of pain I am still mostly useless around the house and I can’t help but feel sorry for my wife as she picks up all of the slack that I’m currently (and by necessity) leaving behind. One of the things I’m noticing during my period of inability is how much I actually do do and how … Continue reading →

What’s the Spookiest Thing That’s Happened to You on Halloween?

Happy Halloween! I don’t know if it’s the kid in me or what, but Halloween remains one of my favorite holidays. I love decorating and dressing up even though I don’t have any kids and some may think I’m too old for such nonsense. But I don’t care. I still think it’s a hoot. However, this Halloween, even though the decorations are up, I find myself facing something very scary indeed. A trip to the doctor. Dreading the Doctor After having to schlep my mom to and from doctors’ offices this past year, I’ve semi-sort of conquered one fear in … Continue reading →

Are Doctors Always Right?

Good medical care and a trusted primary care physician are vital to the average western family. Many of us turn to our doctors to help us understand our children from infancy and figure out what sort of care to give and adjustments to make. We need to be able to trust and believe in our doctor as an expert, but can that get us into trouble? Are doctors always right or should we learn to be a bit more skeptical, inquisitive and objective? Now, do not get me wrong, doctors and primary care are important resources for the family. We … Continue reading →

Changing Pediatricians or Doctors

Maybe you have a fabulous pediatrician whom you love who is retiring, or you have changed health insurance plans and are being forced to change pediatricians, or your children have grown and you think a family doctor would be a better fit—there are myriad reasons why families need to change pediatricians or doctors—but that doesn’t make the process any less daunting. Here are some suggestions to help you through the process… First, don’t panic. You can take a little time to find someone you truly like and trust. Even if your insurance is changing and you’re feeling the pressure to … Continue reading →

How Handsome Is Your Surgeon?

A December 2006 study from the University of Barcelona found that surgeons are the most handsome among male doctors, but they’re still no match for actors who play doctors on TV. The tongue-in-cheek study was inspired by doctors at the University of Barcelona who recalled that their best looking classmates from medical school tended to become surgeons. Two dozen medical professionals at the University of Barcelona Hospital Clinic volunteered their photos and basic measurements for comparison. The jury? Eight women in the medical profession. The women rated the photos of the twenty-four doctors on a scale from one (ugly) to … Continue reading →

Medicine or Faith?

For some proclaimed Christians, seeking certain types of medical treatment and using various types of medicines can be viewed as a lack in faith or believed to be against God’s plan. There are people who prefer to avoid many medications because of the unknown future complications that could arise. The Bible show us some medications used during its history: Wine used to numb pain (Proverbs 23:35) Ointment to sooth (Isaiah 1:6, Luke 10:34) Figs to treat a boil (2 Kings 20:7, Isaiah 38:21) Leaves used for medicine (Ezekiel 47:12) Jesus recognized physicians (Matthew 9:11) Wine with myrrh for pain (Mark … Continue reading →

Quality of Care — Elizabeth Letts

“Quality of Care” is a new release from first-time author Elizabeth Letts. From the very first page of the book, I was taken with the realistic depiction of a maternity ward setting, and was not surprised to find that the author is a nurse-midwife by profession. I don’t think she could have portrayed the book so realistically without that level of knowledge; it was that real. Our character is Clara, a doctor who is on call at the hospital. It’s late at night and she has a few patients laboring, but all is going well. She looks up to see … Continue reading →

The Amethyst Heart — Penelope J. Stokes

As my third and final selection to commemorate September 11th, I have chosen “The Amythest Heart” by Penelope J. Stokes. Set in the deep south, it focuses on the lives of men and women who lived through the Civil War and the things they did to improve the world around them, and how that legacy passed on down through the generations. Today is Miss Amethyst Noble’s ninety-third birthday, and she has baked a coconut layer cake to celebrate. Donning a lavender dress and her amethyst broach, she goes downstairs to meet her family: sullen and unstable Conrad, his flighty wife … Continue reading →

Working with Professionals and Avoiding the Pitfalls

You realize that your child has special needs, and now you feel as though you’re surrounded by a swarm of professionals, all giving you instructions and advice. The greater the degree of your child’s handicap, the more professionals you’re likely to deal with. How do you maintain your parental control, when you feel intimidated by these knowledgeable strangers? Here are some pitfalls to watch out for when dealing with these experts: Technical Lingo: Sometimes doctors, specialists, and even social workers start to speak in what seems like their own mysterious dialect. That’s because day after day as they deal with … Continue reading →