The noted Civil Rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer coined the phrase, “Being sick and tired of being sick and tired.” She used it to describe what it felt like to be black, poor, left out and disenfranchised under Jim Crow. Sickening and tiring. Not just a chronic situation people were living with, Hamer also meant it as a rally cry. When you are “sick and tired of being sick and tired” you do something about it. Being “sick and tired” can be the starting point for getting well. People with chronic fatigue syndrome know all about this.
Health Watch wanted to find out more about chronic fatigue syndrome and what it means to be “sick and tired of being sick and tired.” We also wanted to know what is being done to help people with CFS and what people with CFS are doing to educate others about the condition. To answer some of our questions about CFS we had Dr. Charles Stratton, associate professor, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine on last night’s Health Watch.
Dr. Stratton told us that chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is not the same as being tired from being overworked or stressed out. Nor are CFS and its debilitating effects something just in people’s heads. Instead CFS is a medical condition that causes people to be significantly fatigued. Common symptoms associated with CFS include: difficulties with memory and concentration; joint pain and inflammation; tender lymph nodes; on-going muscle pain; feeling tired and exhausted even after resting; and problems with sleep. Because the symptoms of CFS resemble those associated with other medical conditions, it is not always easy for healthcare providers to determine if a person has CFS.
Yet, as Dr. Stratton shared more and more research is linking CFS to specific pathogens, which invade the body and cause wasting associated with CFS. If the associated pathogen can be identified and treated, it is possible for those with CFS to return to their normal, active lives. Dr. Stratton talked about one survivor who as a child with CFS once treated went from wasting away to becoming an active and healthy adult.
Dr. Stratton also shared that CFS is less common in children and more often seen in adults between 40-50yrs. Although it appears to happen more in women, Dr. Stratton pointed out this may only be because CFS can be easily misdiagnosed and that there are many people who may have symptoms, yet do not know they have CFS. That is why public awareness about CFS is so important.
To raise our awareness about CFS, the Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) Association of America in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is sponsoring a national photo exhibit called, The Faces of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The photo exhibit features the stories of people living with CFS, along with information, local experts and actual people touched by CFS. The exhibit is touring the Nashville area at Cool Spring Galleria, 1800 Galleria Boulevard in Franklin, TN from September 21-27, 2009. To find out more about the exhibit and The CFIDS Association of America, please check out these links:
http://www.cfids.org/sparkcfs/default.asp
http://www.cfids.org/
“Being sick and tired of being sick and tired” is something those with CFS understand all too well. Yet, those with CFS are not taking it lying down. Instead they are rallying and educating others about it. By getting educated about CFS we too can join the cause. Until next time remember, “When we know better, we should do better. So pass it on.”
Friday, September 25, 2009
“Die with Dignity”
If you keep living, there will come a day when you will have to deal with dying. We don’t like to talk about it much, but death is a natural part of life. Many of us fear death. So we try and avoid it at all costs. When it happens to someone we love, we are usually unprepared. Because we have not given much thought to dying, it ends up being even more stressful because we have to process how we feel while making major decisions about handling what needs to be done.
Planning for death sounds morbid, but it is not. Instead it is a healthy way of thinking about living. The same dignity you have in life should be the same dignity you keep in death, maybe even better. Having a “good” death (Yes, its possible.) requires thinking about what you want and knowing what is available so your wishes are respected. Planning for death can be a celebration of living.
To change the way we think about death and dying, Health Watch decided to find out more about both. We wanted find out what scares us about dying and how to avoid this when it’s our time or somebody else’s that we love. We also wanted to know how to better cope when someone we love dies. To help us think about these issues we had Dr. David Tribble, chief medical officer for Alive Hospice on to talk about death, dying and grief. Not only did Dr. Tribble share factual information we all need to know, he shared his heart. It was a Health Watch show not to be missed.
We uncovered that most of us fear the same things about death – dying alone, dying in pain, what happens after death, and leaving others behind. Although death is not easy, there are some things we can do make the situation better. This is where hospice becomes so important. We found out that hospices operate separate facilities as well as offer services in hospitals, to help patients and love ones transition through the dying process. Dr. Tribble shared that as much as dying is a medical issue it is even more a spiritual and emotional one. Hospices are equipped to serve all of these needs.
We also learned that to have our wishes honored, we can create an advance directive, which is an umbrella term for documents created before a person becomes seriously ill. Advance directives include living wills, a document which says how you want to be cared for if you become terminally ill; medical power of attorney, a document which gives a person you name the right to make medical decisions for you if you cannot make them for yourself; and DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) orders, which tell the hospital whether or not you want to be resuscitated if your heart stops beating. The Tennessee Department of Health has even more information about advance directives at this link: http://health.state.tn.us/AdvanceDirectives/index.htm
These are documents you can prepare long before you ever might need them. Although they indicate your wishes about your care, as Dr. Tribble told us, if while receiving care you change your mind, then your advance directives can be changed. Advance directives are to give you, your loved ones and healthcare providers directions about how to best care for you.
During our conversation with Dr. Tribble we also talked about grief. Grief is an important part of healing, especially when someone you love passes. Dr. Tribble shared that we do not all grieve the same way. Our age, relationship to the person and other experiences will all affect the way we grieve. Although the hole left when someone dies can never be filled, through grieving we learn how to better cope with that hole. Again hospice centers, like Alive Hospice, can be particularly helpful. These centers have people trained to help those left behind dealing with loss. If you want to find out more about Alive Hospice and the services they offer, please check out this link: http://www.alivehospice.org/
Death and dying are not something we like to talk about, but they are something we need to discuss with our families. When we do, it makes both less scary for everyone. Health Watch will keep doing its part to make it a little easier. We encourage you to do yours. To live and die well, those are the markers of a life well spent! Until next time remember, “When we know better, we should do better. So pass it on!”
Planning for death sounds morbid, but it is not. Instead it is a healthy way of thinking about living. The same dignity you have in life should be the same dignity you keep in death, maybe even better. Having a “good” death (Yes, its possible.) requires thinking about what you want and knowing what is available so your wishes are respected. Planning for death can be a celebration of living.
To change the way we think about death and dying, Health Watch decided to find out more about both. We wanted find out what scares us about dying and how to avoid this when it’s our time or somebody else’s that we love. We also wanted to know how to better cope when someone we love dies. To help us think about these issues we had Dr. David Tribble, chief medical officer for Alive Hospice on to talk about death, dying and grief. Not only did Dr. Tribble share factual information we all need to know, he shared his heart. It was a Health Watch show not to be missed.
We uncovered that most of us fear the same things about death – dying alone, dying in pain, what happens after death, and leaving others behind. Although death is not easy, there are some things we can do make the situation better. This is where hospice becomes so important. We found out that hospices operate separate facilities as well as offer services in hospitals, to help patients and love ones transition through the dying process. Dr. Tribble shared that as much as dying is a medical issue it is even more a spiritual and emotional one. Hospices are equipped to serve all of these needs.
We also learned that to have our wishes honored, we can create an advance directive, which is an umbrella term for documents created before a person becomes seriously ill. Advance directives include living wills, a document which says how you want to be cared for if you become terminally ill; medical power of attorney, a document which gives a person you name the right to make medical decisions for you if you cannot make them for yourself; and DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) orders, which tell the hospital whether or not you want to be resuscitated if your heart stops beating. The Tennessee Department of Health has even more information about advance directives at this link: http://health.state.tn.us/AdvanceDirectives/index.htm
These are documents you can prepare long before you ever might need them. Although they indicate your wishes about your care, as Dr. Tribble told us, if while receiving care you change your mind, then your advance directives can be changed. Advance directives are to give you, your loved ones and healthcare providers directions about how to best care for you.
During our conversation with Dr. Tribble we also talked about grief. Grief is an important part of healing, especially when someone you love passes. Dr. Tribble shared that we do not all grieve the same way. Our age, relationship to the person and other experiences will all affect the way we grieve. Although the hole left when someone dies can never be filled, through grieving we learn how to better cope with that hole. Again hospice centers, like Alive Hospice, can be particularly helpful. These centers have people trained to help those left behind dealing with loss. If you want to find out more about Alive Hospice and the services they offer, please check out this link: http://www.alivehospice.org/
Death and dying are not something we like to talk about, but they are something we need to discuss with our families. When we do, it makes both less scary for everyone. Health Watch will keep doing its part to make it a little easier. We encourage you to do yours. To live and die well, those are the markers of a life well spent! Until next time remember, “When we know better, we should do better. So pass it on!”
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
“Rest for the Weary”
With everything going on, it is getting harder and harder to cope. There are more bad days than good days, and it seems as if the cloud over your head will never lift. Maybe you find comfort in “happy hour” after work with friends. But, now it seems that even the occasional cocktail is not enough. “Happy hour” is all day long. Guilt, shame and your little secret are starting to take a toll on you and those around you.
Or maybe life has dealt you some particularly hard blows. Death, divorce, abuse- you name it, you have been through it. Even though you are alive, you are dead inside. You are going through life on autopilot. You do not remember how to actually “feel” anymore. You are numb and disconnected. You don’t know when it happened you just know you are there. You are stuck.
Women, particularly those dealing with emotional trauma, substance abuse, and other addictive behaviors can feel like that. For many it feels as if they are facing these challenges alone. When they reach out for help, the help they receive is not always enough. Traditional treatment deals with the behavior, but not the emotional issues that underlie abuse. Dealing with one without addressing the other can feel like putting a band-aid on a gaping wound. Fortunately, there is a better way and Health Watch is on a quest to find it.
More and more behavioral health providers are now talking about dual diagnosis, which is a fancy way of referring to addiction and emotional issues. Not only are they talking about it, they are also developing treatments to deal with both. Brookhaven Retreat, a residential treatment facility for women in East Tennessee, is one such facility. Jacqueline Dawes, owner and founder of Brookhaven, talked to Health Watch last Thursday about Brookhaven and its unique approach to helping women heal.
Jacqueline talked about her own experience of losing a child, divorce, and how those experiences prompted her to start Brookhaven. We discussed the kind of comprehensive health/behavioral health services Brookhaven offers. We explored reasons why women are reluctant to seek care, signs to look for in yourself or a loved one dealing with depression, and how Brookhaven has transformed the lives of women throughout the United States. It was an hour you would not have wanted to miss!
However, in case you did miss last week’s Health Watch, you can find out more about Jacqueline and Brookhaven Retreat at the following link: http://www.brookhavenretreat.com/
Recovery is possible. That’s the take-home message from last week’s Health Watch. If you are broken, healing and restoration are available. When you take the first step, others will be there to take the journey with you, including Health Watch. Until next time, remember, “When we know better, we do better. So pass it on!”
Or maybe life has dealt you some particularly hard blows. Death, divorce, abuse- you name it, you have been through it. Even though you are alive, you are dead inside. You are going through life on autopilot. You do not remember how to actually “feel” anymore. You are numb and disconnected. You don’t know when it happened you just know you are there. You are stuck.
Women, particularly those dealing with emotional trauma, substance abuse, and other addictive behaviors can feel like that. For many it feels as if they are facing these challenges alone. When they reach out for help, the help they receive is not always enough. Traditional treatment deals with the behavior, but not the emotional issues that underlie abuse. Dealing with one without addressing the other can feel like putting a band-aid on a gaping wound. Fortunately, there is a better way and Health Watch is on a quest to find it.
More and more behavioral health providers are now talking about dual diagnosis, which is a fancy way of referring to addiction and emotional issues. Not only are they talking about it, they are also developing treatments to deal with both. Brookhaven Retreat, a residential treatment facility for women in East Tennessee, is one such facility. Jacqueline Dawes, owner and founder of Brookhaven, talked to Health Watch last Thursday about Brookhaven and its unique approach to helping women heal.
Jacqueline talked about her own experience of losing a child, divorce, and how those experiences prompted her to start Brookhaven. We discussed the kind of comprehensive health/behavioral health services Brookhaven offers. We explored reasons why women are reluctant to seek care, signs to look for in yourself or a loved one dealing with depression, and how Brookhaven has transformed the lives of women throughout the United States. It was an hour you would not have wanted to miss!
However, in case you did miss last week’s Health Watch, you can find out more about Jacqueline and Brookhaven Retreat at the following link: http://www.brookhavenretreat.com/
Recovery is possible. That’s the take-home message from last week’s Health Watch. If you are broken, healing and restoration are available. When you take the first step, others will be there to take the journey with you, including Health Watch. Until next time, remember, “When we know better, we do better. So pass it on!”
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