Life Over the Edge

Spring is here and is usually the time we like to get out of the house.  We’ve been cooped up most of the winter, and when we see the green and sunshine of Spring beckoning to us, we want to go out and have a great time!  But Spring is also a great time of the year to do some spring cleaning–not only in your house, but also in your life.  It’s good to take a small “breather” and rest…and look over your life to assess how you’re feeling and what’s working and not working for you. 

During this “breather,” you should also take a good look at your health and the care you’re receiving.  Periodically assessing our health care, medications and other treatments is just like assessing the other areas of our lives.  Our chronic illnesses and conditions can change over time.  Sometimes we don’t even notice the changes until we take a break from our everyday lives!  Then we begin to see and feel what’s been taking place. 

I do periodic assessments on a quarterly basis during the year.  For me, this works out to be the times of the year when my allergies and asthma have the most trouble.  These times, for me, are Spring, Fall, and Winter.  I have found that taking these “breathers” doesn’t have to be a long, drawn out process.  Usually, I just kind of stop and see how I’ve been feeling and I ask myself some questions:  Have I used my rescue inhaler more lately?  Has it been necessary to take prednisone?  What about my symptoms?  Are they worse?  Do I have more itching; more sinus trouble; is my peak flow stable or going down; am I feeling more tired than normal; am I feeling more pain than normal?  Asking all of these questions allows me to become aware of what my body’s trying to tell me, and make adjustments to my treatment as necessary.  I have to be on top of things all the time, or I’ll end up very sick since my allergies and asthma are so extremely sensitive.  Doing these periodic assessments helps to keep me feeling better most of the time.

Running assessments on your care, too, is very important.  You need to feel confident about your doctor, and comfortable with him or her.  You should also be satisfied with the treatments you’re receiving for your chronic illness.  If you’re not satisfied, then it’s time to talk to your doctor about the possibility of looking into other treatments, etc.  Plus, if you’re not satisfied with your doctor’s care, it is time to find a new doctor.  Trust and comfort are very important elements in the treatment of chronic illness and chronic conditions.  Without these elements you feel lost and alone.  But when you have confidence and trust in your doctor, you feel as if you have an ally who is there to help you.  

Periodic assessments are very good for our lives, and also for monitoring our chronic illnesses and chronic conditions.  Doing a short assessment at times that are appropriate for you will help you to feel more in control of your condition, and will help in better managing your chronic illness–and may also help to stabilize your chronic condition.  Being aware of our bodies and running periodic assessments help us to feel better; which in turn, allows us to enjoy the Spring when it starts to beckon!  We can go out and have a great time!

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