Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Traveling with Medical Conditions

 Knowing how to travel with an invisible illness can be a difficult task, but not impossible. Some people can not take a trip due to other conditions along with muscle pain. I, for one, like to travel and will not let a chronic condition keep me from my joys in life. The content below is to help others figure out how to travel.

The tips are not just for those with chronic pain and related syndromes. People that experience asthma, irritating skin problems and fatigue should consider the information below.

Start Small

Begin with short journeys to figure out where to go from there. A small trip can be anywhere from an hour to three hours depending on your tolerance and risk level. Make multiple trips for a small distance before adding to lengthy travels.

Know Your Body

Be aware of what your body can do and the conditions work best with it. For me, I know that cold weather is my foe and I prepare for it. I maintain several levels of clothing to keep me warm. If walking is hard for you, then avoid trips that require a lot of foot action. A good alternative may be to use a cab, but know that will make the trip more costly.

Time Out

Designate a resting time while taking trips. This may be mean going to one attraction and taking a rest period before going to the next. The most important element here is to have your body relax and not bring on a flare. Not all people need sleep, some do well with just sitting for twenty minutes or so. Do what works best for you.

Be Prepared

Do not leave home without your standby relief aids. This means over the counter and/or prescription pain medications. I, often use a relaxer to help my muscles not get tight. Depending on your symptoms, other products may include: heating pad, ice pack, pain patches, foot warmers, etc.

Good Luck! Contact your doctor’s office for information specific to you. Optimism and knowing your body are the preparation for travel. I am not a health professional and my advice should not be regarded as such.

                                                        

     

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Working With Medical Problems or Ilness

  Blog Post- Kardashian Work Plan For Real Folks

Those of us with a permanent medical condition, but not technically ‘disabled’ still need to find a way to make money. This seems like an almost impossible task but it can be done. An important aspect is to change the way you think about working and employment. Search for work options that work for you and not you for them. One of the most important factors that will help you is knowing your own body. Observe not just the ailments but how you feel when you’re at half-strength. Continue reading to find out how to work while having an illness.

Know Your Limits

Think about what you can do with help from the largest chore to the smallest. For some that mean filing some papers, observing children or driving a bus. Now, consider what you can do without help. Can you do cashier duties, fix food or review documents? As a clarification, ‘help’ is used as a non-specific term for any item that can assist in performing a task. A chair, stool, hand brace or wheelchair can be a help.

The next step is to consider how medication can help you in completing an activity. Sometimes the use of a prescribed or over-the-counter medicine will help expand the list of job duties. An important fact to remember is to recognize if medicine overall helps or if the side effects make you less productive.
View Possibilities

The standard 40-hour work week is not a veritable possibility for everyone. The right work situation may be a part-time position, work from home jobs or temporary assignments. Possible job titles are substitute teachers, seasonal employment or consultant work. The theme is to look outside of the regular 9 to 5, Monday thru Friday shtick.

Adjust the Environment

If your medical condition is affected by cold weather consider wearing extra layer of clothes or a personal heater for cold offices. Consider using ergonomic equipment that is constructed to ease pressure on joints and muscles. Find information on adaptations from your doctor, occupational therapist or the job accommodation network website.

Blog post. The Game of Work.