About Me

Taking Care of an Ill Loved One

I didn't think of myself as the nurturing type as I grew up, but when my grandmother became seriously ill while I was in college, my caregiver side came out. I started living with her and balancing her care with my schoolwork. It was very challenging, but seeing her recover and regain her ability to live independently was well worth the five years of hard work. Now I'm returning again to help my grandmother so she can once again stay at home, and I've decided to share some of my experiences online to help other caregivers feel like they're not so alone.

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Mohs Surgery: One Of The Best And Oldest Forms Of Skin Cancer Treatment
In the 1930s, Dr. Frederick Mohs worked hard to develop an effective method for treating skin cancer, and the method he developed is called Mohs surgery. If you are diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer, your doctor might recommend using Mohs surgery to treat it. Even though this method was developed almost a century ago, it is still one of the most common treatment options for skin cancer.

The Orthopaedic Doctor's Role In Treating Osteoporosis
Although orthopaedic surgeons generally perform surgery to repair a fractured hip bone, their role in treating hip fractures related to osteoporosis includes managing the disease afterward. Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become weak and brittle. Since patients who suffer a fracture are at double the risk of a second fracture, receiving the proper followup treatment is critical. Why Followup Treatment Matters The absence of effective osteoporosis treatment following a hip fracture can lead to additional medical problems, including

The Most Important Aspects of Substance Abuse Treatment
The best substance abuse programs work to correct the chemical, psychological, and circumstantial problems that can lead to a substance addiction. A combination of different tactics is great for attacking the problem from many different angles. Here are some of the most important ways to treat a substance abuse problem. Tackling the Chemical Problem Substance abuse can change the level of certain chemicals in the brain, such as dopamine, so one part of treatment focuses on restoring the brain to a healthy, balanced level.

Your Child's Aching Back: Spotting Problems From An Overweight Backpack
Young kids are facing more academic demands in school than ever with increased testing and performance measurements. With the increased demands often comes an increase in the number of books that kids have to carry to and from school. The added backpack weight could be causing serious back problems, both short and long-term. What is the Concern? Children shouldn't carry backpacks that exceed approximately fifteen percent of their body weight. Carrying more weight than that can lead to posture issues, muscle pain and other potential injuries.

Three Sounds Your Child's Hearing Aid Should Not Be Making
When your child is too young to tell you exactly what's happened to a malfunctioning hearing aid, it can be a little tricky to troubleshoot. But if the device produces unusual sounds, you may be able to tell what the issue is and how to correct it. Here are three sounds that may indicate a problem. 1. Distortion If your child tells you that there's something wrong with the sounds, such as a weak quality or an unpredictable fluctuation in sound coming from the device, the hearing aid may be experiencing sound distortion.

Too Much Of A Good Thing, Or Not Enough? What Water Means To You And Your Personal Trainer
Water is one of the most basic building blocks of life, but knowing how much is enough and how much is too much has been a point of contention in the personal training world. If your personal trainer is particular about your water consumption, learn the differences between extreme water abstinence and over-hydration. Your personal trainer should be somewhere in between. "Don't Drink the Water" There was a time when trainers instructed their athletes to avoid drinking water during workouts.

4 Diabetes Foot Care Tips
When you have diabetes, caring for your feet is especially important to reduce the risk of injury and infection. There are ways you can gently take care of your feet and minimize injury from simple activities. Trim Nails When Soft It is common for diabetics to have thick, brittle nails, which can making trimming difficult or dangerous. Trim your nails weekly to prevent overgrowth and make the process easier. Before trimming your nails, allow your feet to soak as long as necessary to soften the nails.

Understanding Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is a condition in which a woman who has never had diabetes before becoming pregnant begins having problems with high glucose levels towards the end of pregnancy. It is estimated that 9.2% of pregnant woman experience gestational diabetes. This condition can be dangerous to you and your growing baby, so your ob-gyn will monitor you during your pregnancy. Continue reading to learn more about gestational diabetes:   Glucose Level Testing

Pediatric Speech Therapy: It's Not Just For The Classroom
As a parent, you wait with baited breath for your child's first word. In fact, you may find yourself encouraging momma over daddy or vice versa. When that first word is delayed, hard to understand, or even absent, anxiety can set in. Pediatric speech therapy can help a child who is struggling to speak to communicate more effectively. In addition, it can help a parent learn tactics that positively reinforce a child's attempts at speech.

Are Dental Implants Suitable For Kids Who Are Missing Permanent Teeth?
Dental implants are commonly used to replace teeth that are permanently missing, but are they always the best option for missing teeth? If you have a child who is missing several permanent teeth, you may wonder if dental implants would be a good option to replace these teeth. Here are three things you should understand about missing teeth in kids and dental implants. Can kids get dental implants? A child's jawbone is not fully developed until he or she reaches a certain age.