The other day my mother-in-law phoned. She sounded distressed and needed someone to take her to the doctors. Her knee was badly swollen - and she could barely walk. She had somehow injured it - she wasn't quite sure how.
I work from home so I have the flexibility to put work on hold and take her in. We went to an urgent care clinic that specializes in bones and muscles.
After waiting the obligatory couple of hours - as you do in a walk-in - she was finally seen by a really nice dr. He examined her and ordered an x-ray. After reviewing the x-ray he ordered an MRI. In Canada you're lucky to have an MRI in 6-8 weeks - and that is how long we will likely wait. Anyway - she needed to use ice 3x a day and see him in a week to 10 days.
Now - my mother-in-law is not the greatest at remembering details - so we wrote everything down in a book that prompts us to fill in the blanks. Date, symptoms, questions for the dr., answers from the dr., tests ordered and when her next appointment is.
What a relief - because now all she has to do is check back in her Personal Healthcare Journal to help her remember. For more information check out http://www.mycarenecessities.blogspot.com/
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I think that's a terrific idea! I've been trying to get my mom to write things down, as well. She's approaching 80 and I'm concerned that none of us in the family will have a complete history or picture of her health issues, although she has been blessed with great health. But, one never knows what can happen or when you'll need such a journal to help the doctors treat her.
February 27, 2008 - 5:56pmThis Comment