Relaxing Sunday and.... Last Day of Blogathon 2013

We did it! Made it through all 30 days without missing a beat. Yay! So it's fitting that today is relaxing Sunday too.

I'll take a break from posting for a few days, refuel, so to speak. Unless a really interesting topic catches my attention. Tomorrow is Canada Day, our celebration of the country that has given us so much. We have our problems, there's no doubt about that. I live in Montreal, which seems to be political corruption and scandal central these days. I had a good laugh the other day though. Another mayor resigned from office, from Laval, the city beside Montreal, and the CBC news anchor in TV said, "Another mayor in Quebec resigned today, but not for the usual reasons."

I wish we had a mayor like Naheed Nenshi. What a jewel he has turned out to be. Calgarians, many of us are very envious that you have such a personable, unflappable, cool mayor. I don't imagine he set out to be cool, but watching him speak to the media, he is truly cool. Funny and direct, he got his point across in a kind but firm manner.

That's Canada, eh? From coast to coast, we have our problems, but there are always some shining examples of how great we can be.

Happy Canada Day to my fellow Canadians.

The Last Blogathon Saturday Round-Up for 2013

It's the second to last day of the Blogathon 2013 and we've covered a lot of stuff. This blogathon is also a great way for me to learn about and introduce you to new blogs or rediscover older ones. The theme day for today was supposed to be a Wordle, a cloud of words from your blog. Last year I made one without any problems but for some reason, I can't do it this year. So, I decided to check to see which posts were the most popular this month instead.

The three most-read posts are ones that pop up all the time, two are several years old. They must be serving a purpose because every day, people come to my blog when they search for this information online. They are:

Broken hips in the elderly can lead to death
How can you die from pneumonia?
and a more recent post, from last year: Fibromyalgia - yes, it's real/no it's not.

These posts were followed by some from this month's blogathon:

Fibromyalgia cause discovered?
Distracted (Texting & Talking) Walking - No Sympathy Here
and 5 health and fitness apps I like

Do you have any favourite posts, maybe something that made you stop and think about how you felt about the topic, or that you disagreed (or agreed) with something I've said?

Another Child Dies in a Hot Car

Sadly, it happens every year. Every. Single. Year. Children are left in hot cars and they die of hyperthermia, heat stroke (Watch That Summer Heat). Last year, I wrote about the senseless deaths by drowning (Drowning Isn't Noisy). It looks like heat stroke is this year's topic.

This week, a 2-year-old boy died after being left for a "significant number of hours" in a hot car. I don't know the whole story. I don't know who forgot or how that happened, but it has happened before and it has happened too many times. Sometimes, the children are deliberately left in the car ("I'll be back in a few minutes," which turns into much longer), sometimes the children get into the car without anyone knowing, but often, the deaths occur when the child is forgotten. How does that happen?

The theories I've heard is that people are distracted, they're thrown off their routine, they're forgetful, they're busy. But are we really that distracted, that routine-oriented, that forgetful, that busy that we forget that we have a child in the back seat? How can that happen?

I heard on the radio today a host asking for ideas on how this can be prevented. One woman called in and said there should be an alarm that buzzes if someone gets out of the front of the car, but not the back. I guess she figured it could be a weight-triggered alarm like the ones in the front seat that tell you that you've not put on your seatbelt yet. But do we really have to start adding more technology to our lives? And what if we depend on it and the alarm doesn't sound? Then is the child's death the manufacturer's fault for not reminding the parents?

A friend of mine had five children. She laughs when she tells the story of the time when her husband took the a few of the children out for a bike ride - and forgot the baby in his crib. She said, "oh, he was busy, he didn't think about it." I didn't think it was funny. I was horrified. If you're the parent-in-charge, how do you forget a child? I'm not talking about having two adults around and each thinks the other has a child - this is one parent who was responsible for the child.

We have so much going on in our lives, but we need to take responsibility for things too. My children outnumbered us, there were three of them and only two of us. And we were as busy as most people with similar lives. And I was a far from perfect mother and I know I'll be a far from perfect grandmother when the time comes. But I wonder, in what circumstances could I have forgotten a child in the car. And if I did, would I not notice it quickly? "Hey, where's _____?"

What do you think?

(Re)Connecting With Others Through the Internet

I received an email yesterday from someone who I'd not thought of in a long time. We met (virtually) when I worked for my first online job. We didn't work together for long - he is a physician who was a consultant - but we worked well together. It had been about 15 years or so since we last communicated when his name popped up in my email box. A lovely surprise.

As someone who isn't always the most confident of people, I'm always a bit amazed when others go out of their way to find me to get back in touch. Sometimes it's a person I knew from childhood, other times, an old colleague. It's a nice feeling to know that someone reached out, took the time to find me, for whatever reason.

The Internet gets a lot of bad publicity because of the ease with which it is used for bad stuff. People can and do use it to cause problems, commit crimes, and hurt others. But bad people will do bad things, no matter what is available. And the Internet is a tool - that's all it is. It can be a tool for bad, but it can also be a tool for good.

Think about the world it has opened for so many who might otherwise be isolated: the homebound young mom who can connect with other mothers for support and companionship and the lonely senior who can get online and join groups of like-minded people. The person who lives too far away from university but who is aching to learn can now enroll in online education. The voracious news junkies can read newspapers from around the world. Grandparents can Skype with their grandchildren who live across the country or on another continent. There are so many people who use the Internet to enrich their lives or just to help them get through their day-to-day existence.

To me, it's often about connecting - or reconnecting. The email I received from Jeff made me smile yesterday.  Have you ever reached out online to someone from your past? Is there someone who would smile if they saw an email or Facebook request from you?

Deaf Boy Hears Dad for First Time - Is It Right or Wrong?

If you are on Facebook, you may have already seen this video, but if you haven't seen it - you should. Imagine being three years old and hearing a sound for the first time. And that sound is your dad's voice. (You can watch the video here.) The look of amazement on his face is priceless.

Grayson Clamp, the boy in the video, is one of the first children to receive a new type of implant that helps the brain hear sound. He had been fit earlier with a cochlear implant, but without the necessary nerves for the implant to work, he was not able to benefit. This newer type of implant Grayson received has been around for a while for adults, but only recently was approved for a trial among children.

There is debate among the deaf community about this procedure. I worked with hearing impaired children in the early 80s and I learned of the debate then. There are many who feel that the push to have deaf children hear can be damaging, that by trying to "fix" them, society is teaching the children that there is something wrong. There are some groups in the community that are vehemently opposed to teaching deaf children how to lip read and speak, if possible. Yet there are some in the community who equally opposed to sign language, while others say it is the only way to go. And now that helping children hear has gone beyond external approaches (lip reading and signing) and gone to invasive procedures (implants), the debate is even stronger.

When I was younger, I often thought that being blind would be the worst disability in terms of losing a sense - but when I worked with the hearing impaired, I learned that when you can't hear, you are so isolated from the rest of the world. You can't hear the person behind you on the bus saying "excuse me," has she tries to pass. You can't hear the warning sirens nor cheers of joy. You can't communicate easily with the hearing world. So while I can understand that some people may not want the children to feel they are broken and need to be fixed, I can't understand why some people would want to restrict their children to a world where they can only communicate with others who can sign.

What do you think? Are we going too far in trying to help children with no hearing gain that sense? Or should we continue to do what we can to give the children what we can?

Fibromyalgia Cause Discovered?

It sounds a bit too good to be true, but maybe a new discovery into what may cause fibromyalgia can bring hope to those who have this mysterious disease. Researchers in New York claim that they have found that people with fibromyalgia had more sensory nerve fibers at certain sites in the palm of the hand. The researchers believe that this finding could explain the hypersensitivity and increase in pain sensation, because of the link between these nerves and the pain that people with fibromyalgia feel throughout the body.

While I'm not thrilled with the article title (too sensational and not quite true), Fibromyalgia Mystery Finally Solved! does do a good job of explaining the findings.

The study, published in the medical journal Pain Medicine, was based on a small study group, so much more research needs to be done. But, if there is something to this, not only could this be a basis for better treatment research, it could help prove to nay-sayers that this is an actual disease with actual effects.

Sadly, fibromyalgia falls into the invisible diseases and if you have an invisible disease, it is easy for some people to dismiss your illness as "in your head," or an excuse to get out of doing something. Some people are determined to prove that fibromyalgia doesn't exist (Fibromyalgia - It's Not Real/Yes, It Is). For those of us who have it, fibromyalgia is very real.

If you are looking for more information on fibromyalgia, I wrote an article for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain magazine, called You Don't Have to Look Sick to Be Sick. This may explain things for you.

In the meantime, it's nice to know that the research is continuing. One day, there will be an effective treatment, if not cure.

A Nurse's Life - Stress

Nursing is one of those professions that seems to polarize people. Over the past many years, when speaking with members of the public and even healthcare professionals, I've found opinions to be rather strong about who or what they believe nurses to be and what the job is like. Some people believe that nurses are angels (we're not), others believe that it's an easy job and that nurses are their servants (we're not), and yet others believe that a "smart nurse" is a wannabe doctor (we're not) and that if you're not a "smart nurse," then being a nurse was as close as you could get to becoming a doctor (it's not). Oh, and many believe that doctors are nurses' bosses and that nurses can't and don't think on their own (so not true). We can't forget that there's also the whole other group of people who have no clue at all what it is like to be a nurse and what nurses actually do. (What Do Nurses Really Do?)

As with many professions, nursing has changed over the years. Just in my professional lifetime, there have been so many leaps in technology and in responsibility that it would be impossible to list them all. Patients in the hospital now - on regular units, not ICU - are sicker than they ever were before. The patients we kept in the hospital for several days when I began nursing are now, if kept overnight at all, discharged as quickly as possible. Nurses are expected to keep up with it all.

The CBC had a feature that discussed how low staffing numbers in Canadian hospitals affected how nurses perceived and did their work; I think it's a must-read for anyone, health professional or not. And it's important to keep in mind that this isn't a Canada healthcare system vs U.S. healthcare system issue. Staffing ratios are in issue throughout the continent so while nursing has always been a stressful position, it's getting worse. Fear of mistakes is paramount. And, unlike some jobs where a mistake is annoying, perhaps expensive, but fixable, a nurse's mistake could cost a life.

Nurses need more support. They need more people going into the profession so there are fewer shortages and demands like forced overtime. They need better support in the hospitals. They need for the public to understand that they aren't miracle workers and if the public demands that the nurses do non-nursing tasks, then the nurses don't have time to do what they are supposed to do.

Nurses aren't perfect. There are some who shouldn't be in the profession and everyone knows someone who has a bad story to tell about such a nurse. But it's so important remember that this is not representative of the profession. There are bad teachers, but not all are bad. There are bad bank tellers, but not all are bad. There are bad accountants, but not all are bad. Nurses are for the most part, very caring and very good at what they do. They have to be to keep going back to it shift after shift.

Relaxing Sundays - A Day to Slow Down?

There is something to be said about the belief that one day should be sacred, set aside for family and play or relaxation rather than work. In a simpler world, it was possible for many but not for everyone. As a nurse, I worked many Sundays or holidays - days that were supposed to be days of rest. And now, in today's always-on society, there are no days set aside when society just slows down, forcing people to sit back.

Stores are open seven days a week, sometimes 24-hours a day. People work around the clock in their various jobs. Even people like me - those who work from home - can fall into the trap of working when maybe we shouldn't be.

Of course, taking a day to do what you want to do rather than have to do doesn't mean it has to be a Sunday or even a whole day, but it is important do this. It's a way to refuel yourself, to remember that life isn't all about working and moving ahead. It's also about enjoying what and who is around you.

When was the last time you took a walk just to take a walk? Not to get exercise, not to get from point A to point B, but to look at the neighbourhood, to people watch, and just be part of the experience. What about reading a book for the pleasure of reading it - not for work and not because someone told you that you should? If you like to create, when was the last time you made something just for the pleasure of doing so?

If you find yourself getting stressed or feeling like you have too much to do, maybe that should be the time to sit back and make time for yourself. Stopping the hamster wheel before it starts to spin out of control is a lot easier than trying to get off it when it's spinning too fast.

Saturday Round-Up - Day 22 of Blogathon 2013

Happy Saturday! It's day 22 of the Blogathon and finding ideas isn't all that difficult considering all the news that's been around the past few weeks.

Saturday is round up day here. On Monday, Blogathon participants were challenged to post videos on their blog. Here are a few of the blogs that participated:

• Discovering Ranch Life: To be a responsible dog owner
• Annette Gendler: The Waves and the Wind - a Video
• Ramblin' with AM: Video Killed the Blogathon Star (Blogathon Video Day)
• All Knittings Great and Small: Video blog day – Welcome to the Display Room!
• Just a Backpack and a Rollie: Portlandia ~ the show

Want to catch up on this blog's week's posts? Here is what we talked about this week:

Relaxing Sundays, Good for the Soul
When It's Time to Say Good-bye to a Beloved Pet (with video)
Easier-to-Understand Drug Labels for Canadians
Health Care - from Your Tablet or Smart Phone?
Distracted (Texting & Talking) Walking - No Sympathy Here
Obesity - a Disease?

Obesity a Disease?

Is obesity a disease? A result of lifestyle? An adverse effect of medications? A symptom of a disease? What is obesity and should we be trying to define it?

According to the American Medical Association (AMA), yes we do need to define it and, yes, obesity is now a disease. This declaration has surprised some in the medical community because an advisory committee had actually advised against this new designation. But the AMA isn't the only physicians' organization to say obesity is a disease. An article was published not too long ago in the British Medical Bulletin that said the same thing. The abstract says:

"Obesity is associated with the development of some of the most prevalent diseases of modem society. " It goes on to list the increased risk for diabetes, coronary heart disease, and gallbladder disease, as other problems that include the endocrine and respiratory systems. " Obesity is not a social stigma but an actual disease with a major genetic component to its aetiology and a financial cost estimated at $69 billion for the USA alone."

A CTV article says:

Supporters argued that obesity fits the criteria of a disease, since it impairs body function and can lead to serious conditions such as Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Detractors argued that obesity was more of a risk factor for other conditions, rather than a disease on its own.

Critics of the new designation fear that by labeling obesity as a disease, people will stop choosing lifestyle changes as an option for losing weight. While it's true that not everyone can lose weight through changing their habits, many can - and the idea that this isn't necessary because it's a medical problem could result in more people having surgery or taking medications than is really necessary.

To be clear, not everyone who is obese is overweight because of poor diet or lack of exercise. There are biological and medical reasons that may be the driving factor. But, we can't deny that we have a problem with obesity in our society these days that is, for many people, caused by poor diets and lack of exercise.

So, is obesity a disease? What do you think?

Distracted (Texting & Talking) Walking - No Sympathy Here

We see it every day. People looking down at their phones or are in deep conversation as they walk down the street or through a mall. Many times, we see these people walk right into obstacles or even down stairs. They walk straight into intersections because they're so busy texting or reading their latest text. They don't hear cars honking because their phone conversation has all their attention.

And you know what? I'm afraid I'm going to say that if they walk into a telephone pole or fall down the stairs because of their behaviour, I'm not going to feel sorry for them. Unfortunately though - the damage doesn't stop just with them. Their stupidity and selfishness (I *must* take the call/read this text/send this message NOW) behaviour affects not just them, but the people around them.

Picture this: a texting pedestrian doesn't see the stop signal and walks straight into traffic - and is hit by a car. I don't feel bad for the pedestrian, but my heart breaks for the poor soul who was driving that car. That accident was caused 100% by the idiot who didn't pay attention to the road and has quite likely not only changed the pedestrian's life forever (if the pedestrian wasn't killed), but the life of the driver will never be the same.

If you're texting and you fall down the stairs, break several bones or get a concussion - you're not the only one affected. The people who have to help you are. Your family and friends are. Your coworkers are. What could possibly be so important that you can't wait until you're at your destination or, at least, you stop (over to the side!) to do what you have to do. Yes folks, "step aside." I've had people stop in their tracks, right in front me, as they stop to read something on their phone or to dial a number. As I smash into them, they look at *me* as if I did something wrong. Excuse me? We're walking along the sidewalk at a quick clip, you stop in your tracks because you want to look at your phone and it's my fault I couldn't read your mind and make a split second decision to move around you?

Lest you think I'm just on a rant, I will tell you about a study that was just published on this issue:

Distracted walking: injuries soar for pedestrians on phones. Here are just two examples: "One 14-year-old boy walking down a road while talking on a cell phone fell 6 to 8 feet off a bridge into a rock-strewn ditch, suffering chest and shoulder injuries. A 23-year-old man was struck by a car while walking on the middle line of a road and talking on a cell phone, injuring his hip."

And don't get me started on the number of parents with young children I see pushing strollers or holding their children's hands while the parents are deep in conversation (voice or text), ignoring their children the whole time. I've seen young mothers on the phone, push their stroller right into traffic because they aren't paying attention. I'm afraid to say, it's almost always a mom I see doing it.

Nothing is that important that you can't step aside or wait a few minutes to deal with it.

Rant over. I think.

Health Care - from Your Tablet or Smart Phone?

What do you do if you have a quick question you want to ask your doctor or a nurse? Do you have access to someone? Can you call your doctor's office for an answer? What if you're not feeling well, but you don't know if it's something that should be looked at or if you'll be better if you get a good night's sleep? The answer might soon be in your pocket, purse, or backpack if you have a tablet or smart phone.

Today's world is full of instant communication. Having a phone in hand all the time makes phone calls or texts a quick thing to do, rather than when you used to have to wait until you got home, to the office, or even if you found a pay phone. The Internet has added to this "instant-ness" by providing you with information as fast as you can type your search request. So, can our health care fall into this type of category?

According to an article written by HealthDay News, which undertook a survey on how people might want to use their technology for their health care, "one-third of respondents who are online said they were "very" or "extremely" interested in using smartphones or tablets to ask their doctors questions, make appointments or get medical test results."

For the past two years, I have been able to make appointments with two of my doctors online and I do like that convenience very much. The convenience of making appointments online is considerable and this was reinforced a few weeks ago when I had to make an appointment with another doctor the "old-fashioned" way, by phone. It took a few calls before I could finally get through to someone. But, once I did, the receptionist was very helpful and apologetic.

With the online booking system my other doctors use, you can make your appointment and if it's not soon enough for your liking, you can check daily for cancellations and grab one if an opening comes up. The drawback to the system, however, is these doctors have cut back on their receptionists or their hours and if you need to call to ask a question (no email), it's very, very, VERY difficult to get through. You have to call many times, different times of the day to finally speak to someone because their system doesn't take voicemail.

While being able to email your doctor to ask questions may be appealing to many people, we have to take into consideration practicalities. One email from you might not take much time to answer, but if your doctor receives 30 emails in a day from patients, some with complex questions, when is she going to have time to respond when she is supposed to be seeing patients? And, of course, we all know how email piles up when you're not in the office, so if your doctor is off for a day or two, is working in a clinic or hospital for a day, or is just at home overnight - that 30 emails can easily balloon to a much higher number. This system may not be sustainable.

On the other hand, a system that allows doctors' offices to send normal test results straight to a patient via text or email could save considerable time and stress on behalf of the patients who may be worrying about what the tests will show. Many doctors will say to patients "We'll call if the tests show anything out of the ordinary," meaning they won't call if things are normal. But that leaves people hanging. Did the doctor not call because the tests were normal or did he not call because the results haven't come in? Or did he not call because the tests did come in and he did mean to call, but something happened and the call never happened?

So, what do you think? Can you get hold of your doctor or healthcare professional whenever you need? Would you like to be able to email your doctor? But how would it be possible for the doctors to take on this extra task in their already busy day?

Easier-to-Understand Drug Labels for Canadians

If you're sick, trying to figure out how you should be taking what medication should be the last of your worries. Unfortunately, not having clear drug labelling can be confusing and add to medications being missed or not being taken correctly.

According to an article on CBC.ca:

"[A]s many as 1 in 9 emergency room visits are related to drug adverse events, and 68% of these visits are preventable. Patients often suffer because of drug labels, packaging or names that they've misunderstood."

This isn't difficult to see. Many drugs sound alike or look alike, and when you're not feeling 100% to begin with, mistakes are bound to happen. While the article doesn't go into much detail about the new labelling, the fact that the issue is being addressed can only be a good thing.

As a nurse, I often had to give discharge instructions to patients, explaining their medications and who they should be taken. But as a parent, relative, and friend of people who take medications, it became plain to me that what may be obvious to me isn't to everyone. For example, take the medication ibuprofen. That's the generic name, the common name. But people in North America also know it as Advil, Motrin, or Nuprin. For prednisone, the generic name, people may know it as deltasone. And that's just the simpler drugs. I've been known to say to someone who is asking for something for a headache, "I have some ibuprofen," only to get a response, "is that the same as Advil?"

Another problem is medications that sound alike. Celexa (an antidepressant) could be easily confused with Celebrex (an anti-inflammatory); Cozaar (for high blood pressure) with colace (a stool softener); Flonase (a nasal spray used for allergy congestion) with Flovent (an inhaled steroid, often used for asthma; and Miralax (a laxative) with Mirapex (a medication for Parkinson's disease). These are just a few examples. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices in the US has compiled a long list of similarly named medications.

What do you think? What could manufacturers do to make drug labels safer?

When It's Time to Say Good-bye to a Beloved Pet

Pet owners know how hard it is when it's time for their beloved animal to leave. Sometimes, our pets die on their own, but all too often, we have to make that decision. It's so very difficult.

I grew up with dogs and cats. When my children were young, we started off with guinea pigs and then dogs joined our family. We couldn't have cats because a few family members are quite allergic to them.

Rox waiting at the front window

Our first dog was our beloved golden retriever Rox. We loved that dog with a passion we didn't think possible. He was goofy, silly, but incredibly loving golden. But he left us when he was too young. He had stomach cancer. He came to us when he was 2 years old. He died when he was 7.

Rox was such a special dog that others, some people who swore they would never get a dog, adopted one after spending time with him. His gentleness eased so many fears and his eagerness to please won over so many people. I remember him greeting our milkman every time he came, jumping for joy when he saw him. The day after Rox died, the milkman came to the door and looked past me to see Rox. When I told him that Rox had died, he cried. Rox was that special.

A while later, we adopted our first greyhound, Oscar. Oscar was a real character. While Rox will always be my heart dog, Oscar had a special place all his own. He loved life. He was 2 years old, as was Rox when he joined us, when we got him straight from the racetrack. He was a poor excuse of a racer, which is why he was so young, but he was a major star in being a part of our family.

Goofball Oscar

Greyhounds are the polar opposite of golden retrievers. They are often called the feline dogs. They do need some special care that other breeds don't, but they're not the high strung, high energy dogs that many people think they are. Most greyhounds I've met are more than happy to snuggle on a soft bed or couch.

I used to keep a "diary" of Oscar and his antics. After he died, I published a book, Oscar's Diaries, Life as a Retired Greyhound. Sadly, he also died of cancer, at age 5.

Dee, her first day

We then adopted Dee, a retired broodmom greyhound. She had been kept to breed and had never lived in a home. She was 9 years old! She didn't stay with us for long, only 9 months, but she had a great 9 months. She was a brat, a real brat - but she deserved to be.

Making that decision is tough and our veterinarians know that. There was an article published recently in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, describing a tool that is being developed by researchers at Michigan State University. They are hoping that such a tool will help make this sad decision a little bit easier.

Today's theme of Blogathon 2013 is using a video. I was going to make a video, a how-to about something health-related, but as I was poking through my files, I found this video I made after Oscar died. I think it says so much about the love that we have for our pets and I still miss him - and all my other beloved animals, very much.

Relaxing Sundays, Good for the Soul

I just remembered the other day that I did a "relaxing Sunday" thing during last year's Blogathon. So, I'll do it for the remaining ones for the month.

What do you do to relax? Do you like to read? Exercise? Do a hobby? Everyone needs something to help them with some down time. In our house, my husband loves to read newspapers - and look at maps. If I ask him what he's looking for with a particular atlas or map, he'll say "nothing, just looking." I have to admit, I find maps fascinating too. My parents had an atlas (do they even publish those any more?). I used to love taking it off the shelf and just look at the different countries and far away places.

I like to read too, but my real relaxation comes from my quilting. Last week, I spent two and a half hours in a waiting room, waiting for someone who was undergoing a medical test. I brought with me some work, my Kindle for reading, and a lap quilt that I'm working on. It turns out that the lighting in the waiting room was perfect for some hand quilting and although I hadn't planned on it, I quilted straight through that whole time.

unfinished quilt top

Often, I quilt while watching television or a movie. Sometimes I listen to an audiobook, but I rarely just quilt without something going on around me. I actually feel that the quilting is an addition to what I'm doing. Watching tv? Ok, better quilt so my hands are busy. Listening to some music? Get quilting... but rarely do I just sit and quilt.

What was particularly remarkable about this time was that it was so meditative, so relaxing. I could listen to conversations around me, think and ponder about life, or just zone out and look at my stitching. The time didn't drag at all as it often does if I'm reading a book while I wait. I think because while I'm reading, I get distracted by sounds and conversations. With the quilting, it was all part of the experience.

For the quilters who are interested in seeing what I'm working on, here it is. It's an unmarked fan quilting pattern, starting from the bottom up. I read that Bonnie Hunter did this, but she goes around the edges towards the middle. I thought that for this quilt, the fans looked better from the bottom up. I'm using a lovely cotton thread of many colours and the batting is a dream to quilt through, a cotton batting that I bought at Joann's by the roll. I still have about eight inches of quilting to do on it.

close up of quilting

So, how do you relax?

Saturday Round-Up, Blogathon Version

Well, we're half way through the 2013 Blogathon and I've gained some new followers and readers. I'm pleased with the number of people who have been looking at my posts. Some conversations have been started, which is always good. People don't have to agree with each other - opposing points of view are always appreciated as long as they are respectful of others'.

So, what's been happening in the Blogathon realm this week?

Because my children are not children anymore, I don't tend to read blogs about parenting issues. I will read the odd post every now and then if it catches my eye or if someone recommends it, but it's not something that is on my radar at this point. So, this week I made an effort to check out some parenting bloggers who are participating in this year's blogathon.

I tend to lean towards bloggers who admit they're not perfect parents, that life gets in the way sometimes, and that stuff happens, rather than ones that tell you how to be a perfect parent. In fact, I'm glad that blogs didn't exist when I was parenting young children because I'd be even  more paranoid of screwing up than I already was. Anyway - here are some of the parenting blogs I read and liked this week. If you go over for a visit, please consider leaving a comment and tell the bloggers how you ended up there.

Mean Moms Rule. I *love* Denise Schipani's take on motherhood and I like to think that if we had been at the same stage at the same time, we'd have been soulmates. I've read her blog before simply because I've seen Facebook posts about them from friends we have in common. If you only read one parenting blog for real life stuff, this is it.

The Dancing Egg by Caren Chesler is another must-read but for different reasons. I find her posts make me think about issues I hadn't considered before - like all the stuff we accumulate, visiting a theme park, and yelling. Sometimes I feel sad after I've read a post, because I'm reminded of the things that have passed and that I maybe could have done differently. But, it's not a bad sad, if that makes sense.

Mamahh: Navigating the Labyrinth of Motherhood One Breath at a Time is written by Jennifer Derryberry Mann. I haven't read too many of her posts because I just discovered her blog this week, but it looks interesting. I wish I did have something like this when I was struggling through the early childhood parenting years. Jennifer wrote in  her "about" page: "Jenni is the creator of Mamahhh.com, a meditation on self-care for the wondrous, winding journey through the labyrinth of motherhood. The blog has a simple yet profound purpose: It’s a daily reminder to {breathe, mama}. Through the amazing moments and the awkward ones, and in times both sublime and stressful, there’s nothing quite like a sweet deep breath to bring you into the marrow of the present moment."

Running for Autism is exactly what it sounds like it's about. Kirsten Doyle writes about her life and parenting a child who has been diagnosed with autism, as well as her love of running.

And what about this blog? Did you miss anything? Here is a list of this week's posts:

11 Months and Counting - Fitness Report
Quebec Revisits Right To Die
Your Medications: Keeping Yourself Safe  - a guest post
4 Questions to Ask if Your Child's Doctor Recommends a CT Scan
11 Tips to Keep Outdoor Spaces Safer for Seniors
Fireworks Beautiful, But Handle With Care

11 Months and Counting - Fitness Report

Eleven months ago I joined a gym located right around the corner from me. It's not the first time I've joined a gym. I've tried before to get fit. I've never been particularly physically active, but now because I work from home and don't go out of my way to get exercise, other than going for walks, I knew I wasn't getting the exercise I needed. I knew I wasn't fit. I'd also gained some weight and I just didn't feel comfortable in my own skin.

So, on July 1, I began revamping my eating habits. They weren't terrible, but they weren't great either. I realized that all the other times I had failed at my attempts to live a healthier lifestyle, I was changing too many things at the same time. So, I figured that by changing my eating habits first and getting my body ready for physical activity, I'd be giving myself a better chance at success.

How have things changed over the past 11 months? Well, on July 11, 2012, I couldn't complete 20 minutes on the easiest level of the elliptical. I did do some weights, but then I went home and collapsed, reminding myself how much I hated to feel so tired.

I went six days a week for four and a half months. Friends were advising me not to go that often, but I know myself. I knew that if I didn't go every day, I would find excuses not to go the days I was supposed to. I've been there. I've done that.

Finally, in the new year, I cut down to Monday, Wednesday, and Friday as my regular days. I could do extras if I wanted, but I had gotten into enough of a routine to know that I would stick with the three days per week thing.

Now, on June 11, 2013, I can (and do!) complete 20 minutes on the elliptical, with resistance, without any trouble. I do my weights and machine exercises, and then I finish off with 20 minutes on the exercise bike. When I'm done, I'm tired, but not wiped out. I've lost almost 30 pounds and several inches. And I have muscles! I also got back on my bike and am enjoying the feeling of being outside, riding along the canal.

Several people predicted that with this exercise, I would have more energy because that tends to be the way things go. My fibromyalgia doesn't allow for that, I'm afraid. I still am quite fatigued, but I seem to be able to handle it better and I do have more energy when I'm doing a specific task, like going for a walk.

So folks, don't give up if you've not succeeded at previous attempts at getting fit. I was an out-of-shape 51-year-old last year. I'm an in-shape 52-year-old today!

Quebec Revisits "Right to Die"

The right to die - four words that evoke strong feelings. Assisting someone to commit suicide is illegal in Canada, as is euthanasia. Right to life is above all. But what about those who don't want to continue living the life that the law has made inalienable, undeniable? What about those who are going to die, often a painful, drawn out death, who wish to end life on their own terms, rather than that given to them by God or nature, depending on their beliefs?

Whenever a topic like this is discussed, there is talk of the slippery slope. This was brought up during the legalization of abortion - what this slippery slope abortion would lead to. And so there is fear that assisted suicide - legalized assisted suicide - would be the start of a very bad slide in our society.

Let's look at the arguments:

PRO:
A person should be in control of his or her life and if there comes a time that this person decides that life is no longer worth living, the end should be permitted and even assisted, if needed. This italicized part is important because many people who are at the stage that they want to give up, can no longer face living another day, also cannot end their life on their own.

The argument for legalized assisted suicide is that the person's desire to stop suffering is paramount. It is this person's decision and no one else's. Often, when this is discussed, the issue of euthanizing animals and beloved pets comes into the forefront. After all, as a society, it is frowned upon to allow an animal to suffer and we often feel it is best to euthanize them, put them out of their misery. Many a pet owner can tell you how difficult and painful this decision is, but they are always told that they have done the right thing. Their beloved pet, a loved part of their family, is no longer suffering. And then people ask, if we can do this for the animals we love, why can we not do it for the people we love?

CON:
The counter argument is that we cannot, as a society, allow people to take another's life. While the idea may start with the best of intentions, helping someone end suffering, it could balloon into lives being taken because caregivers no longer want to provide care or there is no one left to provide the care.

As for people deciding that they want to die, there are some who argue that many times, this desire to die is temporary, such as untreated clinical depression. And if the underlying cause is treated properly, these people can go on to live full and productive lives - something that would not have been possible if they had been allowed to ask for help to die.

So, now what?

The Canadian province of Quebec has reopened the debate on the right to die. They are studying the possibility of making it legal to help someone commit suicide - under strict guidelines. They include:

- The patient must express the desire to die several times over a prescribed period of time.
- Two doctors must agree that the patient is sound and able to make this decision.
- A doctor has to be willing to give the injection.

It sounds simple enough, doesn't it? So why is it so difficult? Perhaps because we, as a society, don't treat dying with the dignity and the care that it needs and deserves. We spend so much time and money fighting death, that patients suffer needlessly for longer than they may have if the fight to save them hadn't been so aggressive. We also fear that with our aging population, that it is our seniors who will be targeted. After all, they are usually the sickest and frailest of our society.

Death is a part of life. It happens. It's inevitable. Death isn't necessarily a failure of the doctor or the healthcare team and this is where we have our problem.

Palliative care (hospice) resources are lacking. The number of hospice beds are sadly inadequate as are the number of healthcare professionals who specialize in caring for patients at the end of life.

I worked in palliative care for a few years. It is a very, very rewarding type of care. It allows you to help the patients and their families live their final days as well as they can. But I did come across some patients whose physical pain was very difficult to control, whose quality of life was not one that I would have wanted. I've had family members come to me and say, "why can't we do to our loved ones what I could do to my dog if he was suffering?" I had no answer, other than it was against the law. We do have the right to refuse treatment that will lead to death, we can have advance directives, but we don't have the right to cause death.

How do I feel about assisted suicide? I don't know. As I said, I've had these conversations with families who were in the midst of it. I've also worked on hospital floors where I saw doctors fighting their hardest to save someone who we knew, deep down, couldn't be saved - that their actions were only drawing out the inevitable, causing more pain for everyone involved.

But I also had a brother who did take his life; he died after years of mental anguish drove him to commit suicide. He died alone, thinking that no one loved him.  That will always haunt me. No one should die alone. But his pain, his illness would not have qualified him for assisted suicide.

Do I believe in the slippery slope that could result in legalized assisted suicide? Yes, that I do believe in. I do believe that if this ever does become legal, we will have to be so very, very careful to ensure that no one who doesn't want to die, no one who is unable to state it because of dementia or unconsciousness, will die. I do fear that we may get much more than we bargained for.

Related news stories:

Euthanasia in Quebec: Physicians group denounces right-to-die legislation

Quebec introduces controversial 'dying with dignity' bill

Quebec tables bill on medically assisted death

‘Demands of Quebec society’ behind controversial right-to-die bill, junior health minister says

Your Medications: Keeping Yourself Safe - A Blogathon 2013 Guest Post

A guest post by Jane Neff Rollins, MSPH

As I head off to my college reunion tomorrow, I am packing what I need for a five-day trip, including my medications. I take only one prescription drug, for an underactive thyroid gland. But I also take two nutritional supplements – Vitamin D (because my last blood test showed that my level was too low) and Calcium (which is recommended for all women my age – 61). Because I sometimes have trouble remembering whether I’ve taken a given pill by the time mid-afternoon rolls around, I transfer my gel caps and tablets to a calendar box, a plastic box that has smaller boxes with hinged lids labeled M, T, W, Th, F, Sa, and Su for the days of the week. If the Tuesday box is empty, and it’s Tuesday, I know I’ve taken my allotment for the day.

According to the Partnership for Health Care Excellence, a Massachusetts not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping patients be more actively engaged with the health care system, we should all keep our tablets and capsules in the original pill bottle or package.

So I’m a bit of a scofflaw when it comes to that bullet point, but I do follow all their other recommendations for medication safety. To learn what they are, download the PHE fact sheet: "What you can do to take your medications safely."

If you take lots of meds, it’s a good idea to schedule a “brown-bag checkup,” either from your primary care doc or your local pharmacist. You put all of your prescription and over-the-counter meds, and any nutritional supplements or herbs you may take, into a brown paper bag and bring it with you.

Your doctor or pharmacist will double check to see:

• If you are taking the correct dosage at the right intervals
• If you are using pills that are expired, or have been discontinued or recalled
• If you are taking pills prescribed by two different doctors that do the same thing
• If anything you take (Rx, OTC or “natural”) might interact poorly and cause side effects

Taking charge of your health care by knowing what medications you take, and working with your doctor or pharmacist, will help ensure that you are taking medications safely.


Jane Neff Rollins, MSPH, is the author of the upcoming book “Health Care Navigation 101: Get the Health Care You Deserve.” She also trains working adults to navigate the health care system effectively and blogs at www.getthehealthcareyoudeserve.com. Jane takes complex ideas and makes them easy to understand for consumers and health professionals. Her medical writing has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Reed magazine, www.drdrew.com, medical journals, and trade magazines.

4 Questions to Ask if Your Child's Doctor Recommends a CT Scan

You may have seen on the news that a new study was just published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, reviewing how radiation doses from CT scans need to be adjusted even more and done even less frequently on children in order to lower their risk of developing radiation-related cancer later on in life. The researchers  discussed how children are smaller than adults and don't need as much radiation for their CT images as do adults, among other issues. This finding, of course, makes sense.

The study goes on to say that by reducing radiation doses and reducing unnecessary exams, the long-term cancer risk for children who have these tests could drop as much as 62 percent. We do know that exposure to radiation, even from medical exams like CT scans (also called CAT scans) can increase a person's later-in-life risk of developing some sort of cancer. Fortunately, as technology is adapted and more is learned, newer guidelines and modern scanners are providing for less radiation exposure than ever before, particularly among children.

Of course, we want to do everything we can to reduce any risk of our children of causing cancer, but it is important to understand that as impressive (and important) that 62 percent reduction in risk is, the chances of developing radiation-caused cancer are low to begin with. That's not to say it doesn't happen, it does. But it isn't common, so this needs to be kept in mind when looking at the numbers.

So, why is this study important? It's a reminder that not all CT scans that are ordered may be necessary. It's a reminder that not all facilities that do these scans on children are using calculations that are appropriate for their pediatric patients' size. And it's a reminder that we need to ask questions and understand why tests are being done on our children.

The American College of Radiology released a statement yesterday, in response to the study, in which it said: "Diagnostic scans reduce the number of invasive surgeries, unnecessary hospital admissions, and the length of hospital stays. However, they must be used judiciously, when indicated, and when the needed information cannot be obtained in other ways, in order to minimize radiation exposure to all Americans - particularly children.

Keeing this all in mind, what is a parent to do? There are four questions that parents should ask when a doctor recommends that their child undergo a CT scan:

1- What benefit will there be from having this scan performed? (Why do it?)

You want to know what the doctor is looking for and why the CT scan is the right test for this.

2- Is there any other exam that would be equal to or better than a CT scan?

You want to learn if a regular x-ray or an MRI, which doesn't use radiation, could be be performed instead of the CT scan with equal or better results.

3- Will the radiation dose be adjusted to account for my child's size?

One issue that affects radiation exposure is that not all tests are properly calibrated for children, particularly if the facility does not see many pediatric patients and are not experienced in dealing with children of various ages and sizes.

4- Is the facility ACR accredited?

The ACR accreditation involves surveying of medical imaging equipment to assess that it meets industry standards and that the radiologists who are interpreting the findings are qualified to do so, reducing the chances of more exams being ordered on the same patients.

There is no doubt about it. Exams such as CT scans do save lives. But we need to be sure that the people doing these tests are doing them properly, that the equipment is maintained properly at at the most recent standards, and that the proper exams are being ordered for the right reasons.

11 tips to Keep Outdoor Spaces Safer for Seniors

It’s summer time! And if you live in a colder part of the country, summer often means it’s outdoor time for both family and friends. This added living space may mean you may entertain more or you just might move your usual activities, like eating dinner, outside for a few months.

If you have an older parent or friend with limited mobility who will be joining you in your outdoor space, be it a patio, a deck, or a balcony, there are a few safety issues you might want to take into consideration to reduce the risk of injuries.

Here are some tips to help you keep the fun in summer time:

Lighting

1- Good lighting helps keep people safe inside and outside. For outdoor lighting, be sure the lights are secured and highlight any possible obstacles, such as stairs, ramps, or furniture. If there are shadows that can make the obstacles hard to see, you may want to add some lighting to those areas.

2- If you don’t like the idea of having bright lights on all over, consider using motion-sensing devices to trigger your lights. This way, when someone approaches the area, the lights go on as needed. An added bonus is that you don’t have to worry about turning off lights after everyone has gone inside.

3- You may have seen small lights on steps. These can be very useful, especially in places where you might not want full bright lights. Small lights can be placed on the stair risers themselves, or along the step sides.

Remove obstacles

The smallest things can be a tripping hazard for anyone, not just someone with limited mobility. Here are some of the more common ones:

Extension cords
Furniture
Outdoor carpeting
Uneven patio blocks


4- Extension cords for lights, sound systems, or other electronics can pose a tripping hazard. If you need to use lengthy cords, it’s best to fasten them along a wall or railing, out of foot reach.

5- Outdoor furniture is often not as stable or heavy as indoor furniture. Many have wheels on them to make them more portable, easier to move around. This has a drawback: if a guest loses his balance, he may reach for one of these pieces of furniture for support. If there are wheels or the furniture is light, it may push out from underneath, causing a fall. If your furniture has wheels, see if they can be locked, to prevent this type of accident. If the furniture is very easily moved, it’s best to keep it along the walls or railings.

6- Keeping the furniture clustered in one area also reduces the risk of people bumping into the pieces or tripping on a table or chair leg.

7- If you have outdoor carpeting, check it regularly to be sure it’s not lifting along the edges or bubbling near the center. If there are signs of wear, watch that area to make sure it doesn’t split and cause a tripping hazard. Some people place mats at the front of the door so people can wipe their feet. Ensure that the edges or corner of the mat don't curl up.

8- If your patio is made of stones, these should be inspected for shifting. All the stones should be as flush with the ground as possible, to reduce the risk of tripping.


Stairs or steps

9- Patios and decks that have stairs or just go up a step can pose a risk for falls for anyone. You can reduce the risk by installing solid hand bars to both sides of the steps.

10- If stairs are a barrier, you may need a ramp for better accessibility to your patio or deck. If a permanent ramp is not an option, there are different styles of portable ramps available. Don’t forget that backdoors often have a step over them to get outside. This may need a ramp too.

11- Gates are also a good safety feature if you have stairs – they’re not just for young kids. If you have people on your deck, particularly if they use a wheelchair or walker, it could be easier for them to get too close to the edge of the stairs and fall. A gate would decrease this risk.


It’s fun to do things outside, particularly if you can’t do so all year round. But don’t forget the safety issues, because the last thing you want is for your outdoor fun to turn into tragedy.
Do you have any safety ideas to add?

Fireworks Beautiful but Handle With Care

Few things make huge crowds gaze admiringly at the sky like fireworks. A well orchestrated fireworks show is a beauty to behold. I live in Montreal, where the Montreal International Fireworks Competition is a perfect example of how the beauty of explosives can be mixed with the beauty of music to create a magical evening. But not all fireworks displays are so well coordinated or safe. Most, I dare say, are homemade, neighborhood endeavors, which can be dangerous.

June 1 to July 4 is Fireworks Safety Month in the United States. Every year, an estimated 9,000 fireworks-related injuries, mostly burns and eye injuries, are reported. According to the American Association of Ophthalmology, one-quarter of those eye injuries result in permanent loss of vision or blindness. And children are at the highest risk:

Children are the most common victims of firework accidents, with those fifteen years old or younger accounting for half of all fireworks eye injuries in the United States. For children under the age of five, seemingly innocent sparklers account for one-third of all fireworks injuries. Sparklers can burn at nearly 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which is hot enough to cause a third-degree burn.

In 2006, a study published in the journal Pediatrics, reported that over a period of 14 years, 85,000 children had been injured by fireworks. Their average age was almost 11 years old and 78 percent of those injured were boys. Not all who were injured were doing setting off the fireworks: at least 22 percent were bystanders.

The most common devices that caused injuries were firecrackers, causing 30 percent of the injuries, followed by sparklers or novelty devices (20.5 percent of injuries) and then aerial devices.

The eyeball was the most commonly injured body part (21 percent), followed by the face (20 percent), and the hands (20 percent). The most common injuries were burns.

Emergency action:

So what do you do if someone is injured by fireworks?

Eyes:

- If a chemical has splashed into the eye, flush it with clean water as soon as possible.
- If an object is in the eye or punctured the eye, do not try to remove it. If you can put a small paper cup or something similar over the eye, this could provide protection until you get to the emergency department.
- Do not rub the eye.
- Even if the injury affects one eye only, cover both eyes. This helps reduce the eye movement (as the uninjured eye moves, the injured one will too, perhaps increasing the severity of injury).

Burns:

- If the burn is first or second degree (red, blistering, but not black or charred), the usual course of action is to stop the burning process as quickly as possible with cold water - not ice water. If running water isn't possible, you can use a clean cloth for a cold compress, gently over the area. Do not press down on the skin.
- If blisters form, do NOT break them. This could introduce infection into the area.
- If you are going to cover or wrap the burn, be sure you do not use something that has lint or bits of cotton that can come off and stick to the skin. The best bandage is a sterile gauze.
- Watch closely for signs of infection (increased pain, fever, oozing from the burn). If you have any concerns, seek medical advice.
- Third degree burns must be treated as a medical emergency. Call 9-1-1 for emergency help.

Fireworks can be a wonderful way to finish off a fun day, a way of celebrating what has passed and what will be. They are beautiful to behold. But they are also dangerous and must be treated with caution and respect.

Saturday Blogathon 2013 Post Round Up

Do you suffer from "what have I missed?" syndrome? Many people do. They go through the week constantly checking their electronic devices for the latest news, sure that something incredible, terrible, fantastic, awful, fill-in-the-blank thing has happened since they last checked a few minutes ago.

I do suffer from that a bit, I admit it. But it's only when I'm alone. When I'm with someone else, I don't check email or texts unless I'm expecting something that must be dealt with right away. And if that is possible, I do explain to the person I'm with what might happen.

All that being said, I do find that a weekly round up during the Blogathon is a great way to highlight what's been discussed and what I think people should check out if they have a chance. That includes not just my posts, but those of my fellow bloggers.

This week, I discussed a couple of issues that are important to me: Sepsis Alliance and senior safety.

On Monday, I highlighted that Sepsis Alliance announced its 2013 Sepsis Heroes. Sepsis awareness is a cause definitely worth looking into if you don't know about it already.

Yesterday, I highlighted medical safety and the MedWatch program that is marking 20 years in existence.

My other posts discussed handwashing, 5 favourite apps, senior driver safety, and how to stay healthy while attending conferences.

I also encourage you to check out some of my fellow Blogathon participants. This week, I'll highlight some of the blogs from bloggers who have I met online in person.

Bike With Jackie: "This blog introduces you to the mental BIKE. I show you how to find your Best self, access your Inner strength, tune in to your Killer instincts, and use your Expressive voice. It's inspiring, spiritual, quirky, and it's all in your head."

Suddenly Frugal: Living the frugal life and having fun.

In the Shadow of Beaver Stadium: How an entire community was blamed for one man's crimes.

Arial View: Written by a fellow Montreal-are writer, this blogger has a schedule of what writing-related topics she will post and when.

WordCount: A blog about writing, this is where the Blogathon originated.

I do hope you discover some new blogs that you will keep for regular reading once the Blogathon is over.

MedWatch, Part of the FDA, Needs You

The FDA, the agency that protects consumers by regulating food, drugs, medical devices, and cosmetic products has been around since the beginning of the last century. The FDA was created by the 1906 Pure Foods and Drug Act that was championed by Harvey Washington Wiley, the chief chemist at the Bureau of Chemistry, then part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

It was recognized that the country needed an organization that would protect US citizens from people who deliberately mislabeled products or who sold medicines, products, or machines that clearly could not do what was claimed. Healthcare professionals voluntarily reported when they found issues among FDA-approved products, but it was only 20 years ago in 1993, with the implementation of MedWatch that the FDA made it easier for professionals to report possible problems with medications or devices. Consumers were also welcome to make reports and they did. However, while there has been an increase in consumer-reported problems, there were concerns that the reporting process was too complicated and this could discourage reports that could be valuable.

Consumer reports are of particular interest because they may notice things that healthcare professionals may not. For example, according to an FDA press release:

Consumer reports also alerted FDA to an unusual issue: Men using a testosterone gel on their upper arms and shoulders were inadvertently exposing, and harming, children. The reports led to stronger product warning labels to alert the public and urge that the gel be covered after application so it wouldn't get on other people.

"MedWatch is one of the lines of defense against products that are contaminated or that pose risks that weren't previously known," said Anna Fine, Pharm.D., director of FDA's Health Professional Liaison Program. "Greater consumer involvement will mean we have more eyes and ears available to catch problems before they escalate."

Making it easier

As MedWatch marks its 20th year of helping people make reports to the FDA, it has launched a new consumer-friendly form that they hope will make it simpler for members of the general public.

The form answers questions such as when you should fill one out, what types of products are covered by MedWatch, how to fill it out, and how you can have further contact with the FDA if you need. There is also a video that explains the reporting process.

Have you ever made a report about an unsafe product or a previously unknown adverse/side effect?

Conferences - Educational, Fun, but Tiring.

Have you ever gone out of town to a business-related conference? I'm at one right now if you're reading this on the posting date. I'm in Toronto, Ontario for MagNet 2013, meeting together with fellow member of the Professional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC) and others in the writing, editing and publishing field.

This is my third writing-related conference (and last) this year. For some reason, the associations I belong to all have their conferences within the first six month of the year, starting in March and ending in the beginning of June. It's exciting, invigorating, educational, and fun. But it's also very tiring and can lead to you being run down and becoming ill.

So, what to do?

Be prepared. If you are traveling to attend the conference, take into account that this can tire you out. Air travel is very drying, so you have to stay hydrated. Sitting for long periods on trains, planes, or in cars can be hard on your back and your circulation. On planes and trains, try to get up and walk around. In cars, try to make regular stops to get out and stretch. 

Bring healthy snacks

While many conference organizers provide snacks of some kind, not all do and if they do, they're not always the healthy kind. There have been many conference I've attended where the only offerings were sticky buns, donuts, or muffins. So I make sure to pack some granola bars or and/some fruit. If I'm traveling into the US (can't bring fruit across the border), I find a local grocery store to buy some to keep in my room.

Drink water, lots of it

I'm not sure why, but the convention centers and hotels I've been to are always very dry. There is usually a never ending supply of coffee handy and water - choose the water as much as possible. While the coffee may be good and satisfying at the time, you may not feel so happy when you try to sleep later if you've had too much caffeine.

Watch the alcohol intake

It's so tempting. You're gathering with like-minded people and you're enjoying yourself over a few drinks. Don't forget, you may be working with or for some of these people later so you really should be on your best behaviour. Don't overdo the alcohol. Plus, you don't want to be hung over for the next day's sessions.

Get your sleep

I bring earplugs with me whenever I travel. Hotels are NOISY. Even when other guests are being respectful and aren't running up and down the halls, shouting out at each other, doors slam, people do talk, and noise happens. For me, I can't stand the sound of the fan in the room, from the AC or heat. Since I started bringing ear plugs with me, I've been sleeping much, much better, allowing me to benefit from the next day's events.

Wash your hands, wash  your hands, wash your hands....

There's a lot of handshaking going on, elevator buttons pushed, and lots and lots of contact that you may not have every day in your usual life. Keep a small container of hand cleanser nearby and wash your hands. You don't want to catch a cold or pick up some other virus either here or on your way home. 

Take time for yourself

It's easy to become overwhelmed being with so many people all day long for a few days in a row. You're meeting new people, learning new things, and your routine is out of whack. You need to take some time to yourself. If that means waking up a half hour earlier to go for a walk or pop into the hotel gym, do it. Perhaps you can skip one of the sessions and get outside to get some fresh air or go to your room to be by yourself. 

Sure, it's tempting to accept all invitations to go out for drinks or meet up for lunch - and isn't that why you're attending this in the first place? But stop and think if you really need to accept all of the invites. If you overdo it, if you become overwhelmed, you may end up getting sick or just not being able absorb everything around you. That happened to me last year. During my third conference, I was hit by a migraine. They're not fun at home. They're even less so in a hotel room hundreds of miles from home.

Do you have any tips for conference goers?