Symptoms, swabs, and false negatives led to my extroverted self being quarantined in our guest room for a few too many days at the end of March. On Tuesday 3/24, I developed a scratchy throat followed in short order by a temperature of 100.2F which scored me a ticket to get swabbed for COVID19. Three … Continue reading Symptoms, Swabs, and False Negatives: an Update
Tag: chronic conditions
Self Care: Rationing my Energy
When a resource is limited, the resource is rationed; it's that simple. So, when the resource is energy, it is rationed just like other scarce resources. I ration my energy on a daily basis as a matter of self care, and some days I do a better job than others. Now, if you know me, … Continue reading Self Care: Rationing my Energy
Thanksgiving Debrief
That moment that I found myself in the hospital the week before Thanksgiving and it finally hit me; 'I can't do this'. So, I made an executive decision to cancel Thanksgiving meaning that I could not possibly host those we'd invited. My husband has an international travel component to his job as a software engineer … Continue reading Thanksgiving Debrief
Repondez S’il Vous Plait
Repondez S'il Vous Plait, French for 'please reply', is one of the most frequently violated rules of etiquette of our time. According to *Emily Post, the appropriate response to a formal invitation is to respond according to the manner indicated on the invitation itself. If no method is indicated, then a handwritten note or a … Continue reading Repondez S’il Vous Plait
Black Dress or Bow Tie: Got One?!
Truth: every wardrobe needs a little black dress or black bow tie just as every cancer survivor needs a cancer treatment summary. A cancer treatment summary is a detailed summary of your diagnosis, treatment along with your risk profile for late effects and recommendations for future monitoring diagnostics. A thorough treatment summary includes the following: … Continue reading Black Dress or Bow Tie: Got One?!
Cluster: What?!
Cluster: WHAT?! Clustering is THE way I 'do' survivorship, cancer and transplant. You see, during the immediate post-transplant period, I was interfacing with the healthcare system almost daily by phone and weekly in person. As time marched forward and I gained confidence in my knowledge of heart transplant and got to know my heart and … Continue reading Cluster: What?!
