Oh, the end is here! Blog #15!!!

Well, let's see.....I would have to say that my favorite topic we have covered has been pregnancy and breastfeeding. As I said in my midterm blog, this is something that I had NO knowledge of (to speak of) and now I do!! My husband and I were going to start trying to have a family this summer but recent developments, I will be teaching Dental Radiology in the fall and for obvious reasons I have decided to hold off until the Spring of '08 to get pregnant. If you read my previous blog, you probably are thinking that is a good thing! Hee hee!! I do have a lot on my plate and it would likely be in my best interest to NOT add another major thing to it if at all avoidable! I will be graduating in December and do not plan on starting grad school for a while so I think that waiting is the best thing for me and my husband (he is scared out of his mind anyway, this gives him some much needed reprieve too!)

I have truly enjoyed this class. At first, because of the quantity of work involved I was dreading it but now that it is coming to an end, I can easily say, it was my favorite class this semester and ranks in the top 5 (on a VERY long list) in my college career. I learned so many things! I also have to say that Mrs. Gould has been SO organized and that has been a saving grace this semester! These online courses are tough but they are beyond frustrating when the teacher is not organized. I will miss (well, maybe that is pushing it =) the weekly blogs. It was a nice way to vent some frustrations and also to share and gain knowledge with and from you all. I wish that we had been able to have a gathering so we could meet one another but I can honestly say that I feel closer to many of you, through your blogs than I do to many people I sit next to every week in a regular class.

Best of luck to you! If you are graduating in May, CONGRATS!!!

Signing off for the last time,

Erin McCormick, RDH

Blog 14 - Balance!

Wow, can I say a thing or two about this subject! I am currently completing my bachelors in Dental Hygiene, working as a hygienist (M-W at my "regular job" and then temping on Thursday and Friday which is really hard because you are learning a new office pretty much everytime!), being wife (to a full time working and student husband, who loves a home cooked meal), mother to the very special puppy dog you can see on my site and new homeowner (don't even get me started on this one!)! I am so overwhelmed and it shows because my mom frequently asks if I am ok and says, "you seem REALLY stressed!" She is right, I am. I wish I had a magic potion to make all of things that stress me out magically resolve themselves, but I don't! My strategies for dealing with all of this craziness in my life are:

1. I leave work at work. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my patient and love what I do but if I brought even some of the negative (because there is some) stuff home, I WOULD go crazy. I would be blogging about my own mental illness!

2. I rely on my WONDERFUL husband and Mom for support. They let me vent when necessary and don't hold my rantings or mood swings over my head. I think having supportive people around you is essential to a happy, healthy life.

3. I take some time for myself. I have lunch with girlfriends, go shopping for something fun, take a nap or just veg out watching a favorite show. Sometimes I just have to forget about all of the things on my mind, even if just for a sort while.

4. Invest in a great massage therapist! A massage every once in a while is a worth while investment! You feel so good afterward. I try to get a massage every month or so. If that doesn't cut it, see below...ha ha ha!

5. I have to say that one way I "take a load off" is by enjoying a nice cold beer! Now, no one get all excited, I am not out of control but I have to say that sometimes an ice cold Michelob Ultra is just what the doctor ordered! It is never more than 2 (unless it is a party which is VERY infrequent). This is my thing, for someone else it might be exercising (I wish that were my thing!). Everyone should find something that gives them that feeling of freedom or relaxation.

Drug and Alcohol Abuse

I absolutely do not think a woman should be condemned for admitting she has a drug or alcohol problem. She should be applauded for having the courage to speak up and request help. Now, if she is just admitting there is a problem and not actively seeking help, which is a whole other situation. The first step in healing is admitting there is a problem. Those who do not want to acknowledge their disease cannot be helped. This kind of goes with the other topic about mandatory drug rehab or jail - I think it depends on the person. If they have no desire to quit, they should go to jail; rehab is a waist of money for the taxpayers. The commitment required for true rehabilitation is tremendous and I feel that those who are seeking that should be given the support to achieve that goal.

Module 12 - The Stigma of Mental Illness

Mental Illness does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender or socio-economic status. Many mental illnesses begin during childhood or the teenage years, the most impressionable years. As many as one in five Americans will experience a mental disorder during their lifetime! Along with mental illness has come fear and stigma. Stigma towards people with a mental illness has a detrimental effect on their recovery, the type of treatment and support they receive, and their acceptance in the community.
This "mark" is all too common. It is caused by a lack of understanding. The stigma surrounding mental illness is so strong and can only be weakened with knowledge. Withthe statistics of 1 in 5, it is likely that everyone will know someone with a mental disorder. It is a difficult subject to talk about but the more talking and learning that happens, the better off society will be. There are many illnesses that are treatable or manageable and with support from the community instead of rejection many more people could be living happy, productive lives.

Module 11 - What Am I Doing to Live a Healthy Life?

Not enough! I am at high risk for heart disease and cancer yet I have not made a commitment to live more healthfully! I have posted about this before. I am not sure what is going to take for me to "get it" but I know I will pay the price for it at some point if I don't. I have a lovely gym membership and plenty of exercise DVDs but I do not use them regularly. I do try to eat halfway decent but that goes in spurts - I will eat REALLY god for a week and then REALLY bad for a while...Not such a good strategy. According to my Dr.’s (family physician, cardiologist, OB/Gyn and chiropractor) I should lose around 20 pounds. You would think with all of those doctors encouraging weight loss that I might do it. I have lost about 3 pounds! I hope that once school is done (December) that I will have more time to focus on ME! I know I need to be more diligent.

Module 10 - Heart Disease and Cancer

Wow, both of these diseases sure hit home for me. On both sides of my family there is a significant prevelance of both diseases. On my fathers side, both he and his mother died of heart attacks, my dad was only 48. On my mothers side, her father died at 51 of a heart attack and my grandmother (who is almost 90...go Grandma!) has faught and won 3 bouts with cancer. Ueterine, lymphoma (non-hodgkins) and most recently breast. He sisters and her daughter (my moms sister) have also had breast cancer - some survived, others did not. The "option 1" assignment for this module that involved the health quiz was a good assignment for me. The feedback I received from a student was very kind and supportive and I think I needed that. I beat myself up a little over bad habits that I cannot kick, that I need to kick. After reading her feedback and realizing that I am not alone in making excuses, makes me want to change and stop making excuses. Not just for me, but also for her and others like us.

Eating Disorders

I am all too familiar with this issue. A very close friend, someone I
think of as a little sister has struggled with an eating disorder since
she was 15. It was the strangest thing to watch happen. I have known
her since she was 2 and she was always a very active child and was
always very small, height and weight. At about 11 or so (junior high)
she began putting on weight and by 13-14 was overweight (not obese but
"chubby" for her height). No one knows exactly what happened but there
was an incident (outside of the home) that broke her spirit and she
became a whole new person. Eating was limited at best and the food
choices were not a healthy variety. Rice cakes, water, celery, etc.
Sugar was out of the question. Exercise was the other new obsession.
There would be times when she would go for so long and so hard that she
fell off the treadmill. We all noticed these behaviors and tried to
talk to her but it only got worse. She reached a point where she was a
size 0 and it was an extremely proud time for her. It was an
excruciating time for her family. We could see her breast bones and
shoulders through her skin and her cheeks looked like they had been
scooped out. Several years have passed and there has been marked
improvement. She finally accepted a little bit of professional help and
also married a nice young man who loves her for what is on the inside.
There were many other issues involved such as promiscuity so it is my
thought that this was not only about control but also about "feeling"
loved or accepted (self esteem). This is the strangest part of the
whole thing because she has a very loving family who always told her
she was special and beautiful, no matter what. Through this experience
I have learned to understand thestrength and power of this disease. I
am glad that we all worked together to get her on a healthier track. I
am happy to report that in the beginning of this month she delivered
triplet boys who are all perfectly healthy! She has already begun to
talk about her exercise plans to "take off baby weight" but she intends
to do it in moderation. We will all be watching closely =)