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CONTENTS
From Barbara
Cherokee Seasons
The Polio Personality
The Weight-loss Secret
We Must Stop this Immediately
Tips on Pumping Gas
Three Little Words
Henry’s Helpful Hints for Living w PPS
Scientists Think They Know What The Appendix
Does
Expect Success and it is Yours
Keep Safe
A Can of Worms
Eye Exam Needed to Detect Glaucoma
Alleviating Stress
Top 10 Secrets to a Stress Free Personal Life
A Diet for Dealing with Stress
The High Cholesterol you Actually Want
*********************************************
FROM BARBARA
First – I’d like to wish
everyone a most Happy and Healthy 2008.
Secondly – My thanks to
all for their good wishes.
Now, I’m sorry to say
that I really have very little to report since our last newsletter – with the
exception of the Carnival cruise just recently taken. This was a four-day cruise on the
Sensation. Unlike their Celebration
ship, I have to say that the Sensation was very accessible and I had no
difficulties. The only problem was the location of the handicapped room. It was the last room starboard and the
farthest from the elevators going to where the dining room and most other
activities that we (my roommate and I) were involved in. For me, on the scooter, it really presented
no major problem – however, my roommate (83 years young and using a walker) had
a difficult time walking the corridors.
It made me realize that in the future, when booking a cruise, I have to
request a handicapped room mid-ship and near an elevator. Personnel onboard were most helpful if I
needed anything. In the buffet dining
area they were quick to take my tray and get me whatever I wanted. Drinks were constantly brought to the
table. The entertainment was Vegas
good. I even came home $25 ahead from
playing BlackJack.
We
went to the islands of
**********************************************
The below was e-mailed to me by Beverly Schroll – Our thanks to her. Cherokee Seasons really tells us the old parable
of “You can’t tell a book by it’s cover.” in a
different way.
CHEROKEE
SEASONS
There was an Indian Chief who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn
not to judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest.., in turn..,
to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away.
The first son went in the Winter, the second in
the Spring, the third in Summer, and the youngest son in the Fall.
When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe
what they had seen.
The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted.
The second son said "no" it was covered with green buds and
full of promise.
The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled
so sweet and looked so beautiful. It was the most graceful thing he had ever
seen.
The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping
with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.
The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but only one season in the tree's
life.
He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only
one season, and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and
love that come from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the
seasons are up.
If you give up when it's Winter, you will miss
the promise of your Spring, the beauty of your Summer, the fulfillment of your
Fall.
Moral:
Don't let the pain of one season destroy the
joy of all the rest.
Don't judge life by one difficult season.
Persevere through the difficult patches and better times are sure to come.
**********************************************
Reprinted from The Post-Polio Experience with the
express permission of the author, Margaret E. Backman,
Ph.D. Published by iUniverse, Inc., website (www.iuniverse.com). No further reprints allowed without obtaining
the permission of Dr. Backman (mbackman
@aol.com). Our thanks to Dr. Backman.
THE POLIO PERSONALITY:
DOES IT
EXIST?
People
often ask if there is a “Polio Personality”.
My simple answer is: “Not that
I’ve seen.”
Those
with polio come in all stripes, as they say.
Some are ambitious, others more laid back, some have up-beat
personalities, and some are depressed.
Polio affected people in different ways, physically,
psychologically, and socially. Those who
got polio came from different home environments. They went to different institutions for
treatment and had different treatments.
And they also had different educational and social opportunities and
experiences. The list goes on and on,
with each factor interacting with the others, shaping the person.
That
said – the more complex answer recognizes that there is still some common
ground that polio survivors share.
Although there may not be a specific polio personality or a specific
polio self-concept, the stories of others may sound familiar, and you may find
yourself reacting in a similar way.
Let
us look at one personality type that is common, though not universal.
THE DOER
Many
polio survivors describe them-selves as Doers. They are the ones that spend a
lot of time taking care of others – family and friends. (At this point you may be smiling and shaking
your head in recognition.)
The
need to take care of others may come from guilt felt over the years, for having
relied on others so much. “Doing” may be
a defense that is intended to lessen the sense of guilt and help you feel
accepted. In moderation “doing” can be a
good thing, but when it takes on a life of its own and becomes “over-doing”, it
can become a problem unto itself.
Maria,
a self-reported Doer, says that even when she gets tired, she is not able to
stop herself:
“I just keep on “doing”, until I’m fatigued – and then I
become resentful.”
“I do too much for people and come on too strong.”
“I try to fix others.
If I can fix others, I don’t have to focus on myself.”
HELPING THE DOER NOT TO OVER-DO
Take
a piece of paper and write down the WHYS and WHATS:
1.
Why
do you feel you have to keep going?
2.
What
are you afraid of?
3.
What
do you think others will think of you if you don’t keep going and “doing” more?
4.
Why
do you care?
5.
What
would happen if you weren’t so helpful anymore, if you just stopped?
6.
What
may you be avoiding in looking at yourself?
THE TYPE A PERSONALITY AND PPS:
FACT OR WHAT?
Let
us not confuse the Doer with the Type A personality. Do polio survivors have Type A personalities? Some
seem to think so, since many of those who survived polio are real strivers and
doers – so to speak. But before we reach
any conclusions we need to understand what is meant by Type A.
Type A and Type B Personalities
People
typically think of those with Type A personalities, as
very active, ambitious, hardworking, and successful. But this is not the whole story.
The
Type A personality is characterized by
● aggressiveness,
● competitiveness, and
● impatience.
It
has been described as the “hurry sickness.”
Those so classified are easily moved to
● anger
And show frequent displays of
● irritation, and
● hostility,
Particularly when things are not
moving fast enough nor going as they would like.
This
is in contrast to the Type B personality, which is more relaxed and more
accepting of life and of others.
RESEARCH FINDINGS
Early
studies of Type A personality looked at the
relationship of this personality syndrome to heart attacks. The implication of the findings was that a
person’s Type A personality caused the heart attacks. That is still the idea in the popular press,
even though more recent research is showing the issue to be much more complex.
Results
are mixed and seem to depend upon the different questionnaires and interview
techniques used to assess Type A traits. It does appear, however, that certain traits,
such as anger, hostility, cynicism, and
suspiciousness affect a person’s tendency to succumb to some illnesses.
The
polio literature often refers to those with post-polio syndrome (PPS) as having
Type A personalities.
If we accent this, we are then saying that those who had polio are
typically hostile and angry, cynical and suspicious? I think not.
Some may be, but is this the rule?
Having a little bit or some of the traits does not mean one is Type A.
Amongst
those who had the gumption to try psychotherapy with me, some survivors did
exhibit Type A traits.
But I cannot say that this was in greater proportion than in the general
population. And there were certainly
those with more “laid back” attitudes and behaviors, typical of the Type B
personality.
More
research needs to be done before one can make statements with confidence about
the relationship between personality and PPS.
In so doing, we must be careful that our surveys are not biased.
Those
who participate in research studies are quite possibly a select group. Because of their character traits, survivors
with Type A traits are the ones most likely to turn up at support groups or to
seek help from clinics and physicians.
They are more assertive, for example, than those who stay home and do
not seek help for their problems. They
are also more likely to answer questionnaires in greater numbers than their
Type B counterparts, who are, thus, not well represented in our data.
Why is This Important?
One
reason is the common belief that over-doing it physically may have contributed
to post-polio symptoms. After all, the
treatment early on was to exercise, exercise, exercise, and exercise. And throughout life for many there was the
continued pressure to be like others, to succeed, if not excel, in the
mainstream. Do; do more; do more and
more.
Still
some hearing about the possible association between Type A and polio may
worry: Did I cause my post-polio
symptoms? Did all that exercise and
activity throughout my life lead to PPS?
A BAD RAP
The
Type A personality has been given a bad rap. It is not something to be ashamed of, not is
it necessarily something to be changed. In
some cases, it may be a very good type of personality to have, as long as
certain traits, such as hostility and anger, are kept under control.
Persons
with Type A are often very successful in their lives,
and in terms of heart attacks do much better than their counterpart Type B’s
when it comes to surviving a second heart attack. Some think it is the very Type A traits that
enable people to take better care of their health following the first attack. Thus, it may be a good thing that some
survivors of polio have the assertiveness and energy so common to the Type A;
this may be what makes them seek better medical care and be active in keeping
the medical profession on its toes.
PPS AND TYPE A
So
what does this mean in terms of the person who has had polio? Did the earlier efforts in treatment cause
people to become Type A’s? Certainly
there was pressure to exercise and to be reintegrated into society at large. Yet in my clinical experience I cannot say
that all those who had polio or have PPS fit the classic Type A description.
Indeed, many lead successful busy lives, but others were not so
fortunate. Those who were successful may
have been ambitious, but not necessarily hostile or angry.
Having
polio or developing new symptoms can made one angry at times. Being frustrated by physicians who do not
understand can bring out hostile feelings, even in the most even-tempered. But these feelings or behaviors alone do not
make a Type A. In fact it may be the
keeping in of hostile feelings that compro-mise one’s
health. The issue is very complex. As we’ve said before.
Labeling
may be useful in research when one is grouping large numbers of people for
studies. But labeling individuals can be
misleading, inaccurate and possibly harmful.
If people who had polio – or for that matter, cancer, MS, or other
diseases – are made to feel that their personalities are the cause of their
physical problems, that is another burden put upon
them.
By
overusing the term Type A, we obscure what the experience and behavior of those
with PPS is really about – interfering with our deeper understanding of the
late effects of polio.
**********************************************
FECPPSG Editor’s Note:- Since this is the first newsletter of 2008, and since most
of us make a New Year’s pledge to lose weight, thought this would be a good
one.
Reprinted from USA Weekend,
The
Weight-Loss Secret
Accentuate a good diet and
exercise to make it work.
According
to 2004 information from the Centers for Disease Control, 66% of adults are
overweight or obese. And the problem is
not just limited to grown-ups. The
percentage of children and adoles-cents who are classified as overweight has more than doubled since
the 1970s.
The problems associated
with obesity include such devastating things as diabetes, heart disease and
cancer. Our current lifestyle has
certainly been a major contributor to the problem, but genetics also plays a
role. Which one plays a bigger role has
been a topic of great interest for several decades.
Another conundrum is
that everyone doesn’t lose weight at the same rate. As much as we tell folks to watch their diet
and to exercise, it’s a fact that doing so works well for some people and not
so well for others.
Various studies have
been done to determine the rates at which people tend to lose weight. The participants are put on the same diet and
exercise regimens. The results have shown
that some people gain weight (in the form of fat) more rapidly than others when
given excess calories, and they often lose fat more slowly when calories are
restricted. The differences are rooted
in how we metabolize food, which, to a large extent, is determined genetically.
Some of you reading
this might be thinking, “Because I come from a family of husky people, there’s
no way I can lose weight.” That’s not
true. You can. But for those individuals with a greater
genetic predisposition to hang on to extra weight, losing weight is likely to
be more difficult.
So, how can we win the
ongoing struggle to control our weight?
First accentuate the positive.
Don’t focus on the weight.
Instead, focus on developing healthy eating habits and being more
active.
For one thing, make a
strong effort to include more fruits and vegetables in your daily diet. You also need to make physical activity a
priority in your daily routine. Healthy
weight control requires burning extra calories, which comes through increased
activity. One way to do that is to
develop a “work-week” mind-set about activity; that is, from Monday through
Friday, keep in mind that you owe yourself a daily bout of exercise.
Having a positive
perspective toward your health is a better approach than the negative,
self-sacrificing mode many people adopt in an attempt to lose weight. Above all, remember this: Not all of us can be skinny, but all of us
can be fit.
Tedd Mitchell, M.D., president and medical director of
FECPPSG Editor’s Note:- Although this article says exercise is important (and I
agree), remember that there are many of us who cannot really do exercise (such
as me) – so, I intend to stick strictly to a good diet program and change my
eating habits.
*****************
Note from Barbara –This was in one of our previous newsletters, but I
love it and it really is quite apropos for us. –
================
THIS
IS HAPPENING RIGHT HERE IN OUR OWN COUNTRY!
We
Must Stop
This
Immediately!
Have you noticed that stairs are
getting steeper.
Groceries are heavier. And, everything is farther away.
Yesterday I walked to the corner and I was dumbfounded to discover how long our
street had become!
And, you know, people are less considerate now, especially the young
ones. They speak in whispers all
the time! If you ask them to speak up they just keep repeating
themselves, endlessly mouthing the same silent message until they're red
in the face! What do they think I am – a lip reader?
I also think they are much younger than I was at the same age. On the
other hand, people my own age are so much older than I am. I ran
into an old friend the other day and she has aged so much that she didn't
even recognize me.
I got to thinking about the poor dear while I was combing my hair this morning,
and in doing so, I glanced at my own refection......... well, REALLY NOW – even mirrors are
not made the way they used to be!
Another thing, everyone drives so fast these days! You're
risking life and limb if you happen to pull onto the freeway in front of
them. All I can say is their brakes must wear out awfully fast, the way I
see them screech and swerve in my rear view mirror.
Clothing manufacturers are less civilized these days. Why
else would they suddenly start labeling a size 10 or 12 dress as 18 or
20? Do they think no one notices?
The people who make bathroom scales are pulling the same
prank. Do they think I actually "believe" the number I see on
that dial? HA! I would never let myself weigh that much! Just
who do these people think they're fooling?
I'd like to call up someone in authority to report what's going on -- but
the telephone company is in on the conspiracy too: they've printed the
phone books in such small type that no one could ever find a number in there!
All I can do is pass this warning along:
WE
ARE UNDER ATTACK!
Unless something drastic happens, pretty soon everyone will have to
suffer these awful indignities.
PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN
GET THIS CONSPIRACY STOPPED!
PS: I am sending this to you in a larger font size, because something
has happened to my computer's fonts - they are smaller than they once were.
**********************************************
More and more articles seem
to be coming to us through our e-mails.
This was sent to us by one of our local members, Lee Rotstein. Much thanks, Lee.
TIPS ON PUMPING GAS— GOOD INFO!
I don't know what you guys are paying for gasoline... Here in
Here at the Kinder
Morgan Pipeline where I work in
TIPS:
Only buy
or fill up your car or truck in the early morning when the ground temperature
is still cold. Remember that all service stations have their storage
tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground the more dense the
gasoline, when it gets warmer gasoline expands, so buying in the afternoon or
in the evening... your gallon is not exactly a gallon.
In the petroleum
business, the specific gravity and the temperature of the gasoline, diesel and
jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum products plays an important role. A
1-degree rise in temperature is a big deal for this business. But the service
stations do not have temperature compensation at the pumps.
When you're filling up
do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to a fast mode. If you look you will
see that the trigger has three (3) stages: low, middle, and high. In slow mode
you should be pumping on low speed, thereby minimizing the vapors that are
created while you are pumping. All hoses at the pump have a vapor return. If
you are pumping on the fast rate, some of the liquid that goes to your tank
becomes vapor. Those vapors are being sucked up and back into the underground
storage tank so you're getting less worth for your money.
One of the most
important tips is to fill up when your gas tank is HALF FULL or HALF EMPTY.
The reason for this is, the more gas you have in your tank the less air
occupying its empty space. Gasoline evaporates faster than you can imagine.
Gasoline storage tanks have an internal floating roof. This roof serves as
zero clearance between the gas and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evapora-tion. Unlike service stations, here where I work,
every truck that we load is temperature compensated so that every gallon is
actually the exact amount.
Another reminder:
If there is a gasoline truck pumping into the storage tanks when you stop to
buy gas, DO NOT fill up! Most likely the gasoline is being stirred up as
the gas is being delivered, and you might pick up some the dirt that normally
settles on the bottom.
**********************************************
Three little words
I suppose some degree of
commerce would grind to a halt if telephone solicitors weren't able to call
people at home during dinner hour. But that doesn't make it any more pleasant.
Now Steve Rubenstein, a
writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, has proposed "Three Little
Words" based on his brief experience in a telemarketing operation that
would stop the nuisance for all time. The three little words are "Hold On, Please." Saying this while putting down your phone and walking
off instead of hanging up immediately would make each telemarketing call so
time-consuming that boiler rooms would grind to a halt. When you eventually
hear the phone company's beep-beep-beep tone, you know it's time to go back and
hang up your handset, which has efficiently completed its task. This might be
one of those articles you'll want to e-mail to your friends. Three little words
that eliminate telephone soliciting.
**********************************************
By
Henry D Holland MD
When I was three years old, my
mother became a victim of Schizophrenia.
She never recovered. When I was
eleven years old, I had paralytic polio.
I partially recovered. These two life
events were major factors in guiding my life toward a career as a physician and
a psychiatrist. For at least the sixteen
years, I have struggled with Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS). Most of you are quite familiar with all of
the manifestations of that struggle. For
sixteen years, I have had the privilege of being a member of the Central
Virginia Post-Polio Support Group, a marvelous group. As a result, I have had the pleasure and
challenge to communicate with hundreds of PPSers
around the world. I think I have learned
a lot about PPS and the people who are living with this life changing
disorder. In this article, I will
attempt to share what I am calling Helpful Hints for Living with Post-Polio
Syndrome. Many of these hints are
similar to what is now called “mind – body” medicine. Many of them are replicated in other lists
and articles. I offer these hints for
your review, reflection, and response.
This list represents only my opinion and is not to be interpreted as
anything more than that.
1. Sleep: Adequate, restful sleep is a major asset in
living with PPS. Successfully living
with PPS usually requires more sleep than before the onset of PPS. The amount of sleep may range from
2. Pain: Pain and PPS are like partners of
misery. Every effort should be made to
eliminate or reduce pain without resorting to narcotic analgesics. A variety of pain management approaches may
be tried. This might include over the
counter preparations such as Tylenol, Ibuprofen, aspirin, and other non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory medications. Non habit
forming prescription medications may help pain and sleep problems. Low doses of the tricyclic
antidepressants and/or the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may help to
reduce the daily pain level and improve sleep.
If one has made a genuine effort at managing pain by reduced activity,
more rest, and the use of assistive devices, then the use of narcotic
analgesics would be more appropriate.
Other pain management approaches might include moist heat as obtained in
a heated pool, gentle massage, magnet applications, and even acupuncture. Heated pools should not exceed 92 degrees
F. Massage should not be aggressive, and
a trained professional should administer acupuncture.
3. Fatigue: Fatigue is probably the single most commonly
shared symptom of PPS. Fatigue
contributes to greater pain and sleep disturbance. I believe that intermittent down time is the
most effective method of managing fatigue. Down time means lying down prone or
supine. Each person has to discover what is the best balance
between down time and up time for each day. For example, spending an hour reclined every
four hours works well for many PPSers. Medications to reduce fatigue have proven to
be of minimal effectiveness in double blind studies. Also many PPSers do
not tolerate medications well and have numerous side effects.
4. Respect new
weakness. If new weakness is detected or
experienced, respect this reality and do not try to restore strength by an
exercise program. Exercising
with this goal in mind will likely lead to more pain and a progression of the
weakness. Most of us get enough
exercise just trying to maintain the activities of daily living and trying to
remain independent. Be sure that any
physician or physical therapist who recommends exercise is fully knowledgeable
about PPS.
5. Blood
pressure: Maintaining normal blood
pressure is most important for PPSers. Many of us experience elevated systolic blood
pressure (the upper number on a blood pressure reading) after exerting some
physical effort. Our heart rates may
also increase during times of fatigue and minimal physical effort. If this elevation of blood pressure persists,
the risk for heart attack, heart failure, and stroke increase. There are many effective medications to
control blood pressure. However,
beta-blockers sometimes cause side effects for PPSers. The systolic pressure should be below 140 at
rest and our pulse rate should be below 100 at rest.
6. Brain power:
Utilize your brain or intellect to compensate for the increased physical
limitations of PPS. This is a process
that most polio survivors have been doing for years. PPS calls for an enhancement of this same
process. Read more. Read some of the classics. Audio books are a wonderful way to read
without tiring your brain or eyes. If
your physical disability makes it difficult to hold a book or maintain a
reading posture, you are eligible for the Federally
funded audio (talking) books for the blind and handicapped. A simple application has to be completed by
your doctor to authorize this service. I
would also recommend the many benefits of owning a computer. For PPSers, the
investment required to purchase a computer is usually a rewarding
under-taking. You are never too old to
enjoy and learn from a computer, which literally makes the world available to
you.
7. Doctors and
therapists: Find doctors and other therapists who not only know about PPS, but
are interested in learning more and will listen to you. However, be cautious if
a doctor tends to blame all your symptoms on PPS because we are in an age
group, which is vulnerable, to many other medical/ surgical problems. Your doctor should rule out other causes of
symptoms that simulate PPS symptoms.
Your doctor should not hesitate to refer you to an appropriate
specialist if any symptoms are not explained.
8. Herbal medicine:
Americans now live an average of about thirty years longer than our ancestors
of one hundred years ago. This is
largely due to antibiotics, better diagnostic and treat-ment
techniques, improved nutrition and more prevention via vaccines. Because we have it so good,
we want it even better. Thus, the
herbal, vitamin, and nutrient alternative medicine busi-ness
is booming. Keep in mind that the
Federal Drug Administration does not have the resources to monitor these
alternative products as it does pre-scription
medications. Whether it be
9. Talk to someone:
Talk to someone who cares about your feelings in living with PPS. This person might be your spouse, a family
member, friend, or even a professional therapist. Our support group is a healthy and welcome
forum for talking about your feelings.
Many polio survivors have spent a lifetime of containing their feelings
of loss and even anger. To express these
feelings to someone is very difficult, but the benefit is immense.
10. Spiritual base:
Having a faith or spiritual base that transcends the daily activities and
struggles of this life can be an additional source of personal and inward
strength. This pilgrimage is a personal
choice, but I believe such a pilgrimage provides a greater meaning to our time
in the midst of the ages.
11. Nutrition: Enjoying good food is still one of the
pleasures of life that most of us still can do.
That is the up side. The down
side is that we more easily gain weight, as we are more sedentary living with
PPS. The practical advice is to avoid
big meals, especially at the end of the day.
Eat balanced meals with some emphasis on protein content. Maintain good hydration. Good hydration assists renal and pulmonary
function.
12. Keep your feet
up: When sitting, keep your feet elevated whenever possible. Another advantage of taking intermittent down
time throughout the day is the benefit of preventing or at least reducing
dependent edema. Weakened leg muscles,
along with reduced motor activity, contributes to dependent edema. Chronic dependent edema can lead to possible
leg ulcers, deep vein clots, and phlebitis.
Complications of these conditions can result in life threatening
pulmonary emboli. Wearing support hose
can also help prevent dependent edema.
13. Don’t ignore
headaches: Headaches are a common sign of PPS fatigue. Have your doctor rule out other causes of
headache such as hypertension, tension vascular headache, or some other medical
problem. A dull daily headache is often
a sign of PPS fatigue and particularly brain fatigue. Brain fatigue is often
marked by word finding difficulties, mental focusing, and concentration
problems. These brain fatigue symptoms
are usually reversible with rest. Rest
and more rest is the best treatment for the dull headache of fatigue.
14. Pace: Approach pacing like you would an algebraic
equation. The daily physiological energy
expended must equal the physiological energy stored and not exceed it. Most of us are accustomed to expending more
energy than we store or acquire. If you
know that a particular day’s activity will result in more energy expended, plan
to spend more than one day to restore and recover that energy. Balancing this energy
equation over time results in successful pacing. Pacing reaps results,
but not in a few days. One should
practice pacing for months and years.
15. Breathe well:
Healthy breathing and good sleep hygiene are coupled together as I mentioned in
#1. Some-times, the muscles of breathing
grow weaker with the progression of PPS.
Thus, there could be an insidious onset of chronic hypoventilation,
which could contribute to an overall feeling of fatigue. Also scoliosis, resulting from polio may
advance with the progression of PPS and aging.
This process could restrict the ventilatory
capacity of the lungs and lead to hypoventilation. Measurements of pulmonary function and
arterial blood gases can help to diagnose hypoventilation. Most PPSers with
these problems do not usually need added oxygen, but simply improved
ventilation, often only at night.
Depending on the degree of hypo-ventilation, this condition can often be
treated with a C-pap, bipap, or ventilator without
the necessity of added oxygen. Actually,
adding oxygen with-out improving ventilation can increase the risk of carbon
dioxide retention in many PPSers with scoliosis or
weakened respiratory muscles. Untreated chronic hypoventilation can lead to
respiratory failure and ultimately death.
16. Extend recovery
from any stress: Expect to take three to four times longer to recover from an
infection, minor or major surgery, an injury, accident, or emotional
upheaval. For whatever the reason, the
physiological restorative processes of the body and brain are delayed by
PPS. When any of these
stresses occur, plan on taking longer to recover.
17. Use your sense
of humor: Many survivors of polio seem to possess a witty sense of humor and an
upbeat approach to life. A sense of
humor is a good way to remain innovative, creative, and positive. Keep using
this attribute.
18. Sex and Intimacy:
Sexual stimulation is good for the cardiovascular system. Be creative with this stimulation. The polio virus did not damage the sensory
portion of the nervous system. Feelings,
both physical and emotional, are still potentially available for expression and
perception. Linda Van Aken and I wrote an article about PPS and Intimacy about a
year ago. That article attempts to
address this issue.
19. Be more dependent: Not only should you allow others to help,
but also you should tell them how to help you.
If your spouse is your main helpmate, be cognizant that he/she also gets
tired. If you ask your spouse or anyone
else to fetch or fix things for you, be organized about your requests and
minimize their physical effort and time consumed. Simply keeping a list of your needs or
requests can help conserve your spouse or helper’s energy and reduce the
development of interpersonal tension. It
is very difficult for PPSers to relinquish some
controls, but in doing so, avoid trying to control your spouse or helper. Communicate what you want or need, but be
courteous and grateful in the process.
20. Roll more, walk
less: When walking becomes more difficult because of new weakness or fatigue,
get some wheels and roll more. If you
can still walk some and rise unassisted from a chair, a scooter might be
advisable. A battery-motorized scooter
allows you greater and safer mobility.
Scooters are great for malls, touring your neighborhood, and even in
parks. If your weakness is profound, an
electric wheelchair is probably what you need.
Most health insurance carriers will pay for most of the cost of a
scooter or electric wheelchair. Even Medicare covers these devices as long as
your physician orders it. Once you learn
the value of electric mobility, you may want to invest in a van and a lift to
be able to take your wheels wherever you go.
21. Use assistive
devices. Many of us have found it
necessary to acquire new braces, canes, and crutches in order to keep walking
and maintain balance. Accepting this need
may be a step back in time for some.
Don’t resist this help. By all
means, do anything to prevent falls. Do
what is wise and necessary. Install grab
bars, elevate the toilet seat, use pick sticks, and install ramps. I think it is wise to carry a cellular phone
on your person (or wheelchair or scooter) at all times. Use your brain to help yourself. Only you know what you need and what may
help.
22. Never, ever give
up. During the struggle with acute polio
and its aftermath, many of us were told, “No pain, no gain.” We were encouraged to overcome adversity and
that it was all up to us. With PPS, we
know that attempting gain will bring more pain and no real gain in the
process. However, we still need to
retain our persevering and hopeful approach to life. Giving up will serve no positive purpose and
is a sign of depression. We should press
on, but pace the race. We should be more
like the turtle than the hare.
23. To be added when
a new hint comes from you.
FECPPSG Editor’s Note:- Dr. Holland has told me that this article is about seven
years old – however, I feel that it is as apropos now as it was then.
**********************************************
Reprinted from
Scientists
think they know
what the appendix does
by Seth Borenstein, Associated
Press
That’s
the theory from surgeons and immunologists at