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Monthly Archives: March 2019

Tool Box – Making Life Easier

Lisa Hyde-Barrett, RN Mesothelioma NurseWhen you want to fix something, whether you’re a master craftsman or a Do-It-Yourselfer, you rely on your tools. What does a person diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma need in their tool box?

If we put together a tool box for patients arriving at a Mesothelioma Center, we would put in some simple things that could make a huge difference in the journey.

We would start with a scale, so you could weigh yourself daily. Something as simple as weight can tell a mesothelioma team if the patient is consuming enough calories, or if they are retaining fluid. When recovering from mesothelioma treatments, it important to weigh yourself at the same time every day. You would be surprised at just how much a fluctuation in weight could tell a healthcare professional. Often, a patient feels short of breath, only to discover their weight increased 2-3 pounds overnight. Shortness of breath often precedes weight gain, but the scale could confirm your fluid retention.

Another item we would include is a pill box. We have all seen them and they can be useful if you are taking more medications than usual and feel overwhelmed. You or a family member can set it up for a week or two, which allows for fewer errors. Patients who use pill boxes often feel more in control and confident about when they are taking their new medications. Some local pharmacies may even help with this task; you will just have to check with your individual store.

We would also add a journal for writing about your feelings and experiences along your journey. This can be a great device to reflect upon where you have been and how you have changed, both physically and mentally. When you have moments of doubt in your treatments, your journal can show you how much progress you have made. Taking care of your mental and physical health during this period is critical. Many people feel anxious or overwhelmed by thoughts that plague them since being diagnosed with mesothelioma. A journal can help act as an outlet for these worries and fears, and it can be therapeutic for many people with malignant mesothelioma to let go of some of these feelings. A journal can track how much you exercise. It is good to walk outside for 20 minutes, go to physical therapy, participate in a meditation course, or clean your house for an hour. Physical activity can make a world of difference in helping us feel strong and in control.

If there was only one more thing we could include, it would be a water bottle to measure the amount of fluids that you drink. When coping with mesothelioma, many people lose their desire to drink fluids. Measuring your intake can keep you on track about staying hydrated. Regularly drinking fluids can help you fight off dehydration and dizziness, avoid drops in blood pressure, and help you feel better overall. Using a bottle with simple markings can help you stay on your game and keep yourself well hydrated.

None of these tools have to be elaborate or high-grade medical equipment; in fact, most are already somewhere in our houses. The core idea of your tool box is to help you have equipment at your disposal to make life easier.

Gathering Information

Eleanor Ericson Mesothelioma NurseAt a recent meeting with patients diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, as usual, we exchanged a lot of information. Some patients shared their experiences about surgery; other patients shared their thoughts and feelings about scans, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. We shared thoughts about why sometimes surgery is recommended over chemotherapy or vice versa. Everyone discussed their concerns and questions about the treatments.

Information comes at us from multiple sources. We can get information instantly these days from the internet. It is estimated that approximately 1/3 of Americans look online for medical information – like this blog. Reading about mesothelioma online can be very scary and concerning. Knowing the source of your information and the context of the statistics and information is very important. While we share this information with you, it is extremely important to speak with your medical providers about your health.

For patients diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, treatment needs to happen at the right time, at the right stage of the disease and the person must be physically able and mentally willing to undergo treatment. This information can only be evaluated with a medical expert in mesothelioma. Treatment for malignant mesothelioma is decided on a case by case basis.

Reading the latest statistics can be interesting, but do they apply to you? It is estimated that at least one-third of people living in the United States use symptom checkers for routine and urgent medical conditions. Since many of the initial symptoms of malignant mesothelioma are the same as more common conditions, you could be worrying yourself unnecessarily. While you may be experiencing symptoms that concern you, it is best to discuss these with your doctor, as these online tools are not appropriate to diagnose a medical condition.

Search engines can be very helpful in obtaining information, but they should only be a part of making your decision regarding your health care. Please remember to discuss the information you find on the internet with your healthcare professionals.

Sleep Help

Eleanor Ericson Mesothelioma NurseOur recent blog on sleep deprivation and sleep deficiency explained what the terms mean and how important sleep is to good health. When you or your loved one is managing with a diagnosis like mesothelioma, it is not unusual to suffer from lack of sleep. Now that you have identified this problem, how can you help solve it?

Sleep hygiene is a defined as “a variety of different practices and habits that are necessary to have good nighttime sleep quality and full daytime alertness” (www.sleepfoundation.org).

Sleep should be a priority for everybody, but especially so for people being treated for mesothelioma. Getting a restful night of sleep can be challenging. It is estimated that up to 59% of all cancer patients suffer from insomnia. Some of the possible causes of sleep deficiencies with a cancer diagnosis can be stress, pain, side effects from the cancer treatments, new medications that are interfering with sleep, or possibly the cancer itself.

How do you improve your sleep hygiene during the stress of managing a mesothelioma diagnosis? Let’s begin with how your routine affects the quality of your sleep. Once you determine how much sleep you function best with, make it your goal to get that amount. The average adult requires 7 to 9 hours a night for their best performance. One way to achieve this is to limit daytime naps to no more than 30 minutes. Also helpful is exercising during the day – it can be as simple as walking and getting outside for at least 20 minutes. Try not to drink caffeine or eat rich or spicy foods close to bedtime. Too much alcohol can also interfere with sleep – although you might get to sleep faster, staying asleep can be an issue. Make sure that your bedroom is comfortable – a cooler temperature is better for restful sleep. Finally, try and make the time you go to bed each night routine, so your body understands when it is time to fall asleep. Above all, make sure you are always reaching out to your loved ones and your caretakers throughout this ordeal, and relieve some of the burdens and worries that are inhibiting your sleep.

It is important to keep your mesothelioma team in the loop of how you are sleeping. Sleep is as important as exercise, medication, and nutrition when dealing with any cancer diagnosis, and your nurses and doctors need to be aware of anything that might be impacting your fight. Your mesothelioma team can even guide you to sleeping resources as well – the counselors on site at a mesothelioma center can benefit patients by helping them practice healthy sleeping techniques. There are ways and resources to help you get restful sleep. It begins with recognizing how important a role sleep plays in your health.

Get a good night of restful sleep, or make changes and talk to someone to help you achieve this goal. It is a priority!

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