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Promoting Healthier Living in Your Community • Physical • Emotional • Nutritional
September 2012
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Turn Back the Clock on Foot Problems page 14
The Secret to Optimal Health pg. 18 The Perfect Blend of Nursing and Teaching pg. 21
5-Steps for De-Stressing pg. 23
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restoring movement
Joint Hypomobility By Dr. Bryan Taylor, DC, Chatham Chiropractic Clinic
A
re your joints feeling in a state of reduced mobility or losing power to move about? This is known as hypomobility of the joints and could be due to compressed loading, additional activity, and/or overuse. Immovable and injured joints can cause mechanical changes and can impact your health in many different ways. Not only can hypomobility of the joint construct damaging mechanical changes but it can also have a direct impact on the nervous system. The nervous system is notified of mechanical changes by way of mechanical receptors that transmit status of the joint in motion and also when the surrounding muscle is in a state of contraction or relaxation. As a result the nervous system is negatively affected and harms the structures, functions, and organs of the body. The severity of irritation will depend on the type of nerve interference, the degree of nerve injury, and the length of time disturbance is present. Furthermore, loss of motion to the joints can affect the nutrient flow to the joint, predisposing it to degenerate consequential pain. Whether you know it or not joint pain could disturb daily activities and, over a period of time, this irritation could lead to an uncomfortable lifestyle. Early detection and treatment can minimize discomfort and reduce your risk of serious complications. Each condition is unique and may need different types of management. However, it is important to prevent joint hypomobility with routine manipulation and massage, which helps to restore movement. Eating whole foods and maintaining a healthy diet can provide the joints with the vitamins and nutrients it needs for healing and pain relief. In addition, it is important to get daily activity to condition the body, to help keep joints and muscle flexible and improve mechanical changes.
For more information, please contact Chatham Chiropractic Clinic at 217-483-1551.
September 2012 — Springfield / Decatur — Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 3
S E PTEMBER
2012 Volume 3, Issue 9
3
Restoring Movement: Joint Hypomobility
This Month’s Cover Story:
5
Healthy Finance: Having Fun with a Kid’s Budget
Turn Back the Clock on Foot Problems page 14
6
Physical: Start Off Slow and Plan
8
Emotional: Finding Determination in the Face of Limb Loss
10
Nutritional: Where Is the Sodium Coming From?
12
Digestive Health: Do You Need to do a Detox/Cleansing?
13
Grief Recovery: “On Crying” Part 2
18
A Body in Balance: The Secret to Optimal Health: Re-Balancing Your Hormonal Symphony
20
Brain Fitness: Learning To Improve Your Memory Information
21
Continuing Education: The Perfect Blend of Nursing and Teaching
22
Planning for the Future: Think about Your Life
Healthy Cells Magazine is intended to heighten awareness of health and fitness information and does not suggest diagnosis or treatment. This information is not a substitute for medical attention. See your healthcare professional for medical advice and treatment. The opinions, statements, and claims expressed by the columnists, advertisers, and contributors to Healthy Cells Magazine are not necessarily those of the editors or publisher.
Caregiving Relief: 5 Steps for De-Stressing
Healthy Cells Magazine is available FREE in high traffic locations throughout the Greater Springfield and Decatur area, including major grocery stores, hospitals, physicians’ offices, and health clubs. Healthy Cells Magazine is published monthly and welcomes contributions pertaining to healthier living. Limelight Communications, Inc. assumes no responsibility for their publication or return. Solicitations for articles shall pertain to physical, emotional, and nutritional health only.
23 24
Prostate Health: Our Cancer Nightmare Comes True
For information about this publication, contact Dave Molleck at LimeLight Communications, Inc., 309-681-4418, dave@molleck.com
Healthy Cells Magazine is a division of: 1711 W. Detweiller Dr., Peoria, IL 61615 Ph: 309-681-4418 Fax: 309-691-2187 info@limelightlink.com • www.healthycellsmagazine.com
Mission: The objective of Healthy Cells Magazine is to promote a stronger health-conscious community by means of offering education and support through the cooperative efforts among esteemed health and fitness professionals in the Springfield/Decatur Illinois area.
healthy finance
Having Fun with a Kid’s Budget By Derrick Janson
I
t is our obligation to teach children how a budget works and also about how money works in this society. If you start your children at an earlier age, they will better understand how it works and will be wiser in the handling of their money. We should start educating our kids from the time they start pointing at things (about 9 months olds) on how and if they are allowed to have what they want. The reason for this being that at the end of the day, we are responsible for their well-being. By the time kids reach two years of age, renown for the "terrible twos", either they use tantrums to get what they want (if we give in to them), or they have learnt the very important word "NO" from us. Since kids from such a young age have already figured out how to get what they want and also to understand what their parents won't give them; I think it is only wise of us as parents not to ignore our kid’s potential of understanding money and how it works in our everyday life. The usual saying "one dollar for every age" is the general guideline for pocket money. For a child’s budget, it doesn't need to be very complex. They don't have bills to pay so up until the age of around 11, a kid’s budget should be focused on how much they receive and what they do with it. From the time they are in school, it would be wise to have a child’s budget drawn up for them. During this time, parents should consider encouraging their children to save. Teaching children about saving is critical for later life. As adults, we are so busy focusing on paying the bills that we, ourselves, don't always prioritize savings. The rich men in the world will always tell you "pay yourself first." A simple principle of paying yourself first, if applied early in life, will lead to great success for your child. Budgeting for kids should be implemented in a way that is visually attractive with lots of color and pictures; and, of course, having fun doing it. Make sure your kids get to design the layout of the budget with grids for the days of the week and money descriptions with pictures. For example, a piggy bank picture can be used for savings, picture of mum and dad for the allowance, or maybe a picture for books, toys, food, gifts, and donations can be used. Savings in a kid’s budget should be around 10 percent of allowance. Take them shopping to pick out their piggy bank. Encourage them to put 10 percent into the piggy bank first when you give them their allowance for the week. Before you give them the next week's allowance, encourage them to put in the remaining unused cash they have before the next week's allowance is given. This will teach them about living within their means. At the end of a month, you can count the savings together and then take it to the bank to deposit into their bank account so it can accumulate interest. This will educate them about compound interest and will encourage them to put more into the bank. During dinnertime, speak to your child about how they have used their allowance and also the topic of budgeting. Always offer positive encouragement when your child has made a poor decision. For instance, if they choose to spend their money on candy and potato chips and have ended up with a tummy ache, encourage them to remember this experience before they choose to repeat the process. Alternatively, if they saw a toy they want to buy but have come up short in cash because they used their money for something else, teach them about
patience and have them wait for their next allowance. It's not wise to pull out extra cash to buy them something they want straight away as this does not teach them about responsibility. During special times of the year, you may want to encourage your child to save more; for example, Christmas and birthdays. A month prior to the special event, you may want to encourage your child to save by matching their savings or doubling it. This can be an attractive draw card for them when they know they have more to gain than just the afternoon snack that week. I deeply believe that wise parenting must involve teaching our kids about money. Budgeting for kids is so important for the health of their financial future. Derrick Janson is an author and teaches kids about money and budgeting topics—allowances, saving money, and making money for kids. To learn more visit www.teaching-kids-about-money.com.
September 2012 — Springfield / Decatur — Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 5
physical
Start Off Slow and Plan By Scott Gray, Health & Fitness for Beginners
I
f we were talking about anything other than fitness and exercise, starting slow would sound absurd. In order to get the most out of your fitness routine, it is important that you go at the proper pace. An exercise regime is somewhat like a roller coaster. Some parts of the ride are uphill, while others are downhill. Some parts are straight while others are twisty, so forth, and so on. When it comes to building your fitness program, you need to set it up with a number of different sections. Some sections of your workout program should be intense, uphill battles. Other sections should be coasting downhill easily, with the occasional twist.
Page 6 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Springfield / Decatur — September 2012
It is important never to begin your workout program with the uphill climb. The human body has the amazing ability to adapt to challenges, such as illness, starvation, and exercise. Many people make the mistake of getting so excited about losing weight that they start with a bang—doing the hardest, most intense exercises. It is true that the fat will fly off if you start with an intense workout regimen right out of the gate; however, because you are just starting out, you can and will easily injure yourself. Not only that, you will feel stiff and sore and will get to the point where you don't feel like working out anymore. The secret to a successful workout routine is to start slow. We are not talking about just one day a week, but slow enough that you will
be able to add intensity as you progress through your workout. Try working out for three days a week in the beginning, giving your body a chance to adapt to working out at all. When you are planning your workout, you need to set up different phases and add changes as you go along, such as increasing intensity, or the length of your workout sessions. Throw in a week of low intensity workouts every so often to give your body a chance to re-energize before moving on to more intense workouts. Beginning a workout routine is one of the best things that you can do in order to stay healthy. Best of all, the steps to a great workout program are simple. Most likely, you have some sort of an idea about your fitness level. However, actually assessing and recording your base fitness level before you get started on your new workout program will help you measure your progress effectively. In order to assess your flexibility, muscular fitness, aerobic fitness, and body composition properly, you will need to record the following: • Your pulse rate prior to and following a one-mile walk • The amount of time it takes you to walk a single mile • The number of push-ups you can do at one time • How far you can reach ahead of you while seated with your legs stretched out in front of you • The circumference of your bare abdomen right above the bone of your hip • Your body mass index, or BMI
•T hink about your workout goals: Are you working out because you want to lose weight, or is something else motivating you, such as training for a marathon or a recent health scare? Having a clear goal in mind will help you measure your progress. •B alance your routine: The average adult should strive for 150 minutes of aerobic activity per week at a moderate intensity level, or 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic exercise. In addition, you also need to add a minimum of two days of strength training each week. •S et your pace: Especially if you are new to working out, you need to begin cautiously and progress with your program slowly. If you have a special medical condition or an injury, you need to talk to a health care professional to help plan your workout program. It is important to work toward improving strength, endurance, and range of motion gradually. In addition, you may consider hiring a personal trainer to help you create a successful fitness plan. •H ire a Personal Trainer: If need be, hire a personal trainer to set up a program for you. It will be one of the best decisions you will make. Most often, a personal trainer will set up a program for you and work beside you to make sure you are doing your program properly.
Just saying that you are going to get up and exercise every day is not enough. You need an effective plan, so here are some important parts to help you:
Scott Gray is an educational writer/publisher of Fitness101.com.
These are just the first few steps to a fit and healthy life. Once you have your fitness plan of attack, you must put it into practice and stick to it. Think how great you will feel and look—it’s getting going and making it a part of your lifestyle.
JulieHale Hale Miller Julie Miller 120 W Walnut Tom Hale Chatham, IL 62629 217-483-4355 120 W Walnut julie.halemiller@ Chatham countryfinancial.com
Use your life insurance while you’re alive
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Many people don’t realize that they may be able to use life insurance to help pay off a mortgage, pay for an education, or be part of a sound retirement plan. At COUNTRY, we help you achieve financial security, no matter where you’re starting from. Issued by COUNTRY Investors Life Assurance Company®, Bloomington, IL. 072012-02741AC
September 2012 — Springfield / Decatur — Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 7
emotional
Finding Determination in the Face of Limb Loss By Robin M. McRae CP, LP, Comprehensive Prosthetics & Orthotics
D
ealing with the loss of a limb, whether it is after months or years of fighting a non-healing wound or because of an accident that only took minutes to occur, can be as traumatic as the surgery itself. Being able to cope with the loss often times can be the hardest part of dealing with amputation and for many individuals, finding the determination to do so is the key. For Gary Troutman, finding that determination to deal with an injury to his right arm began with multiple trips to several types of physicians. First being referred to a foot and ankle specialist in Peoria, IL, then a pain specialist in Des Moines, IA and finally ending with a chance visit to an orthopedic specialist in Rochester, MN. While each specialist had their own theory as to why Gary was in such pain, he was never able to find relief from the extreme discomfort no matter what type of treatment Page 8 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Springfield / Decatur — September 2012
he went through. He became very frustrated and was determined to find a solution. While Gary was out clearing brush on his farm, a 3-inch thorn from an Osage Orange Tree had speared his wrist joint. Although it didn’t hurt at the time and bled only a single drop of blood, Gary never gave the incident a second thought—until he lay in his hospital bed after his surgeon stated that he acquired a fungal infection in his wrist. Unfortunately, the infection destroyed all of the bones in his wrist and there was no way to stop the infection. Finally, Gary had an answer to his problem, but the solution meant amputation below his elbow. Gary’s determination to finally be rid of the pain and discomfort he battled for so many months, allowed him to cope with the loss of his arm and he was able to accept the enormous impact it would have on his
lifestyle. He knew that he could obtain a prosthetic arm that would allow him to continue to participate in the activities he loved. He also knew that it would not be the amputation that would limit him in any way, but a general lack of determination. Luckily for Gary, he was determined from the beginning to return to an active and healthy lifestyle and would not allow anything to get in his way of accomplishing just that. For upper extremity amputees, the array of components available has increased significantly since the recent wars have sent so many veterans home with amputations. That array includes bionic hands which have fingers that can move independently of one another and grasp objects, much like the human hand; to shoulder, elbow and wrist joints that are powered by myo-electric (electrical impulses in muscle) sites on the body. More commonly used in upper extremity prosthetics is a body-powered prosthesis which utilizes certain muscle groups through harnessing to control the elbow and/or terminal device (hook or hand). Every amputee is different and each has specific goals and desires that are addressed by the prosthetist, physician, and therapist when deciding on the most appropriate and beneficial prosthetic design to use. Thankfully, sheer determination is what has allowed Gary to return to the activities he once enjoyed with both hands. He has learned how to modify his surroundings and his equipment to achieve his goals, most importantly not letting limb loss slow him down. Thanks to Gary’s resourcefulness and ingenuity, he has been able to modify a number of tools in his work shop and on his farm that allow him to continue wood working, gardening, running his tractor and skid steer, and also, of course, taking evening rides on the 4-wheeler to enjoy the beauty of nature on his property with his lovely wife.
YOUR
CLEAR CHOICE
Robin McRae is a Certified and Licensed Prosthetist at Comprehensive Prosthetics & Orthotics, Inc. (CPO). CPO provides orthotic and prosthetic care to patients throughout Central Illinois. With unmatched patient care and dedicated professionals, CPO also houses an on-site fabrication department where custom orthoses and prostheses are designed and created for each patient. CPO can be reached by calling toll free 888-676-2276. Visit the website at www.cpousa.com.
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September 2012 — Springfield / Decatur — Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 9
nutritional
Where Is the Sodium Coming From? Submitted by the American Heart Association
Y
ou may have heard the buzz about the effects of sodium on your heart. Eating too much sodium can lead to high blood pressure, increasing your risk of heart attack or stroke. So since hearing that buzz, you may have started leaving the salt shaker on the table, and spicing up your food in healthier ways, maybe using lemon juice, balsamic vinegar or other spices...or you’re using far less or eliminating salt in recipes. Now here’s the bad news: You may not be doing enough to lower your risk of high blood pressure, which raises your odds of coronary heart disease or stroke. That’s because up to 75 percent of the sodium in the average American diet comes from salt added to processed or restaurant foods. In other words, we often don’t even know we’re eating it; and, while cutting table salt is wise, it may only be putting a tiny dent in your sodium total. “Sodium shows up in canned soups, salad dressings, and even products that don’t immediately come to mind when we think of “salty’ foods, such as pasta, bread and cereals,” said Rachel Johnson, PhD, RD, a professor of nutrition at the University of Vermont and a volunteer for the American Heart Association. With so much salt in our food, it’s no wonder the average American gets 3,436 milligrams of sodium per day. That’s more than double the American Heart Association’s recommended limit of 1,500 milligrams. Manufacturers use salt to preserve foods and modify flavor, and it’s included in additives that affect the texture or color of foods. Sodium is an essential nutrient, but very little is needed in the diet. In an ideal world, we’d all handpick fresh ingredients and cook them at home, thus ensuring a low sodium intake. In the real world, however, we don’t always have time to cook; and, who doesn’t enjoy eating out from time to time? So, what’s a real-life solution to uncover this hidden enemy? The secret to becoming a sodium sleuth is knowledge.
a guideline, to include a “sodium free or salt free” claim on the label, a product cannot exceed 5 milligrams of sodium per serving. A product with a “low sodium” claim must not exceed 140 mg per serving. A “no salt added or unsalted” claim on the label does not mean the food is “sodium free.” Compare the sodium content between various products and choose the one with the lowest amount of sodium. Also, look for products with the American Heart Association’s HeartCheck Mark on the label. This red and white icon guarantees that a product meets the association’s sodium requirement of less than 480 milligrams per portion. When eating out, choose restaurants where food is cooked to order. Remember that communication is key. Ask your server about the sodium content of menu items, and when ordering, specify that you want your dish to be prepared without salt. Of course, avoid table salt as well as high-sodium condiments and garnishes such as pickles or olives. For more tips, see the American Heart Association’s online content on “Dining Out.”
“Whether you’re walking down a grocery store aisle or ordering at your favorite restaurant, there are ways to avoid sodium if you know what to look for,” Johnson said. In the supermarket, your best ally is the Nutrition Facts Label on product packages, which lists how much sodium is in each serving. As
Step up to fight heart disease at the Tri-County Heart Walk on October 13 at Liberty Park in Peoria! Enjoy free health screenings, health and fitness information, heart-healthy food, and a one to three mile walk along the riverfront. Start your team today at www.peoriaheartwalk.org.
Page 10 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Springfield / Decatur — September 2012
Sunday Pork Roast with Vegetables Serves 4: 3 ounces pork and 1/2 cup vegetables per serving Once you get this easy-to-assemble dinner in the oven, you can sit back and relax. A small amount of brown sugar and apple juice sweeten the pork, and the vegetables get a lot of flavor from the pan juices. Ingredients: Cooking spray 1lb. boneless center-cut pork loin roast or pork tenderloin, all visible fat discarded 1 tbsp. frozen apple juice concentrate, thawed 1 1/2 tsp. light brown sugar 1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder 1 1/2 tsp. dried oregano, crumbled 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme, crumbled 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika 1/2 teaspoon pepper 2 small red potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes 1/2 cup baby carrots 1/2 cup bite-size cauliflower florets 1/2 small zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch cubes 1/4 small red onion, cut into 1/2-inch dice Directions: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly spray a 13x9x2-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Brush the pork on all sides with the apple juice concentrate.
Nutrition Analysis (per serving) Calories 227, Total Fat 7.5g (Saturated Fat 3.0g, Trans Fat 0.0g Polyunsaturated Fat 1.0g, Monounsaturated Fat 3.5 g) Cholesterol 64 mg, Sodium 62 mg, Carbohydrates 14g, Fiber 3g, Sugars 6g, Protein 2 g, Dietary Exchanges: 1 carbohydrate, 3 lean meat This recipe is brought to you by the American Heart Association’s Patient Education program. Recipe copyright © 2009 by the American Heart Association. Look for other delicious recipes in American Heart Association cookbooks, available from booksellers everywhere, and at heart.org/recipes.
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In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar, garlic powder, oregano, thyme, paprika, and pepper. Set aside 1 teaspoon of this mixture. Spread the remaining mixture all over the pork, pressing so it adheres. Put the pork in the baking pan. In a medium bowl, stir together the potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, zucchini, onion, and reserved 1 teaspoon brown sugar mixture. Place around the pork. Lightly spray the pork and vegetables with cooking spray. Bake for 55 minutes to 1 hour for the pork loin roast (40 to 45 minutes for the pork tenderloin), or until the pork registers 160°F on an instant-read thermometer and the vegetables are tender when pierced with a fork. Cover the pan loosely with aluminum foil. Let stand for 5 minutes before slicing the pork.
Specializing in Functional Medicine and Detoxification.
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digestive health
Do You Need To do a Detox/Cleansing? By Karen Geninatti, ACE Certified Personal Trainer, Geninatti Gym and Fitness
I
am sure there are probably quite a few people out there who need to do a “detox” or “cleansing.” However, I am not talking about the type of cleansing that you are going to buy in a box. I am talking about changing your diet, eating fresh foods in their most natural state as possible, avoiding processed foods, and foods high in sugar, white flour, alcohol, and sodium. If you are putting good things into your body, I do not feel there is ever any reason to do a detox. Even if you were to do a packaged “detox”, it is not going to cleanse your whole body—you are mainly cleansing your colon and most likely severely dehydrating yourself. Daily physical activity also helps to keep things inside your body running smoothly. Keep your body clean and you will not need to cleanse. For more information, please contact Geninatti Gym and Fitness at 217-825-7957 or visit us at www.karengonline.com.
Karen’s Fruit And Veggie Salad Dressing/Salsa All Natural, Paleo And “Game On” Approved! 1 red tomato 1 orange tomato 1 mango 1 pear 4 packets stevia Peel the pear and mango. Put all ingredients in blender. Makes approx 4 cups, depending on size of items Servings 64 Serving size 1T Calories 8 Sodium 0 mg (unheard of in a salad dressing!), Carbs 5 gr, Protein .5 gr, Sugar 4 gr, Fiber .8, Vit C 18% daily requirement
Page 12 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Springfield / Decatur — September 2012
grief recovery
“On Crying” Part 2 Healthy Cells magazine is pleased to present the fourteenth in a series of feature articles on the subject of Grief ❣ Recovery®. The articles are written by Russell P. Friedman, Executive Director, and John W. James, Founder, of The Grief Recovery Institute. Russell and John are co-authors of WHEN CHILDREN GRIEVE - For Adults to Help Children Deal with Death, Divorce, Pet Loss, Moving, and Other Losses - Harper Collins, June, 2001 - & THE GRIEF RECOVERY HANDBOOK - The Action Program For Moving Beyond Death, Divorce, and Other Losses (Harper Perrenial, 1998). The articles combine educational information with answers to commonly asked questions.
I
n “On Crying” - Part 1, we focused on the idea that it can be dangerous and counterproductive to attach our personal ideas and beliefs to how other people express their grief. Especially the idea that many people will communicate tremendous depth of emotion and never shed a tear, while others cry all the time but don’t seem to complete the pain, nor derive any long term benefit from crying. In Part 2 we are going to address issues of gender and uniqueness of individuals and relationships, or exactly what function does crying serve, and for whom? We are aware of the research that indicates that tears of sadness differ in chemical makeup from tears of joy. We are also aware that tears perform the valuable function of washing the eyes. From time to time, we have even alluded to the published studies that indicate that women cry, on average, five times more than men. In attempting to discover if there is any physiological basis for that five to one ratio, we ran into a stone wall. Failing to find any valid studies on crying that would support a physical distinction by gender, we did a little of our own research. While anecdotal, we believe that it represents the truth. We called some nurse friends whose life experience is working with infants. Without exception, they indicated to us, that the circumstances and frequency with which very young infants cry, is NOT dictated by gender. Little baby boys and little baby girls cry co-equally. There are clear personality differences between individual babies. Some cry more than others, not by gender, rather by individual uniqueness. We did not limit our search to those who worked only with newborns. We got the same responses from experts who work with children up to the age of five. From age five onwards, distinction by gender, and the resultant attitudes and beliefs begin to magnify. The logical extension of our informal study led to the inescapable conclusion that socialization, not gender, was the primary key to later differences of attitude and expression regarding crying. Although there may be no innate physiological difference between males and females when it comes to crying, we must still ask, what purpose or value, if any, does crying have in recovery from loss. Let us say that crying can represent a physical demonstration of emotional energy attached to a reminder of someone or something that has some significance for you. In fact, during our grief recovery seminars, when someone starts crying, we gently urge them to “talk while you cry.” The emotions are contained in the words the griever speaks, not in the tears that they cry. What is fascinating to observe, is as the thoughts and feelings are spoken, the tears usually disappear, and the depth of feeling communicated seems much more powerful than mere tears. In Crying - Part 1, we talked with an adult child whose Mom had died. The caller was worried about their Dad’s reaction to Mom’s death, and the fact that Dad had not cried “yet.” We asked the caller if they thought that their Dad’s heart was broken. They said yes. We believe that their response, based on their observation of Dad’s body language, tone, and other factors, showed them that he had been massively affected by the death of
his wife. It would be unusual, uncommon, and probably uncomfortable for him to cry. And, frankly, it might not have any real benefit for him. On the other hand, do not be fooled by those who cry frequently. In the strangest of all paradoxes, people can actually use crying as a way to stop feeling rather than to experience great depths of emotion. The tears become a distraction from the real pain caused by the loss. The key to recovery from the incredible pain caused by death, divorce, and all other losses, is contained in a simple statement: Each of us is unique and each of our relationships is unique. Therefore, we must discover and complete what is emotionally unfinished for us in all of our relationships. Our personal belief systems about the display of emotions are also unique and individual. We may not even have a conscious awareness of what our own beliefs are. An alert to everyone, young or old: “Don’t let anyone else dictate what is emotionally correct for you - not even your children - or your parents. Only you get to determine what is correct for you.” If you need some help in discovering or determining what might help you deal with a broken heart caused by a death or a divorce, get thee to a library or a bookstore, and get a copy of The Grief Recovery Handbook. It contains the kind of information that will lead you to your truth, which in turn will help you complete the pain in your heart. Please do not interpret this article to mean that we are in any way against crying. What we do provokes tears all the time. At the restaurant across the street where we take our friends to lunch, they don’t understand why everyone who dines with us seems to cry. And if you visited our office, you would have to giggle when you see the gigantic stack of cases of Kleenex piled in a corner of the room. We are neither for nor against crying. We are for recovery from emotional pain. We are for fond memories not turning painful. We are for you having a life of meaning and value even though a loss or losses may have made your life massively different than you had hoped or dreamed. For information visit www.griefrecoverymethod.com. September 2012 — Springfield / Decatur — Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 13
feature story
Turn Back The Clock on Foot Problems By John Sigle, DPM
N
ot too long ago many of us thought that turning 60 meant entering your twilight years, retiring from a career, taking up a hobby, babysitting the grandkids, and hoping for your health to hold out until you reached the golden years. However, as the baby boomers morph into senior citizens, they are ushering in a totally new definition of what old age really is, and reinventing this new stage of life. Now it’s common to see celebrities like Christie Brinkley, Susan Victoria Lucci, and Chuck Norris on exercise commercials perhaps suggesting that 60 is starting to become the new 40. Even our favorite blockbuster stars like Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, and Harrison Ford are resuming their old action hero roles. Hence, it seems as though a whole wave of people in their 60s, 70s, and 80s are certainly not ready to trade in their active and more youthful roles for walkers and wheelchairs.
“As the baby boomers morph into senior citizens, they are ushering in a totally new definition of what old age really is, and reinventing this new stage of life.” The baby boomers are becoming the driving force behind this movement. As the population moves into their encore years, they are embracing this period of time and trying to live longer and healthier lives. Unfortunately, as we get older so do our feet. Because the typical person has walked over 75,000 miles by time they turn 65, foot problems are often the first signs that we are aging. The fountain of youth is not out of reach for people with foot and ankle problems. It is possible to turn back the clock to improve the condition of your feet. The most important way to do this is to have a podiatrist provide a thorough evaluation of your feet and to get you on the right course of action. Page 14 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Springfield / Decatur — September 2012
As we age, there are many predisposing conditions such as flat feet, pronation or supination, peripheral neuropathy, osteoporosis, arthritis, diabetes, obesity, foot trauma, and vascular problems that make an individual more susceptible to foot problems. However, restoring the healthy condition of your feet may be as easy as giving your feet a little tender loving care to protect them from any further damage and assault, practicing good hygiene, knowing what shoes or foot products to purchase, or altering your exercise and fitness activities. New noninvasive laser technologies are available that are incredibly effective at restoring the beauty of your feet and eliminating aches and pain. Other new products and surgical remedies are available to restore your mobility and to relieve pain. Unfortunately, unresolved foot and ankle problems may lead to a series of consequences such as pain, less movement, weight gain, unnatural gait, imbalance, falls, sprains, and broken bones. Before we can reverse the clock to achieve more youthful feet, it is necessary to recognize the signs of aging. Here are some of the more common foot problems associated with aging and self-help tips: • Increased Foot Size: The length and width of your feet actually expand as the ligaments, tendons, and muscles become weaker and thinner. S elf-Help Tips: Select the proper shoes. Measure your feet each time you try on new shoes, stand when they are being measured, and buy shoes at the end of the day when your feet are swelling at their maximum. When you try on shoes, take a test walk to gage comfort and fit. Select a comfortable shoe over a fashionable one and avoid purchasing shoes that feel tight. If you have corns, bunions, arthritis of the toes, or hammertoes, buy shoes with a deep and wide toe box to keep them from pressing on your sensitive toes. • Skin Breakdown: Skin loses its ability to produce sweat and oil with age and becomes thinner. Dry skin often results in itchiness, discoloration, peeling and flaking, and thickening and hardness (especially around the heels). Cracks and fissures can make it painful to walk and cracked skin is more prone to fungal infections and bacteria. S elf-Help Tips: Exfoliate dead skin and use a moisturizer to penetrate deeply into the skin. Select a moisturizer that will soften and hydrate to protect your skin from drying further. Avoid the use of nylon and rayon socks.
• Nail Deterioration: The primary changes that occur to the toenails as we age are related to reduced blood flow to the toes, trauma to the nails, and fungal infections. Seniors are extremely susceptible to toenail fungus. S elf-Help Tips: Consult with your podiatrist to determine what is causing your nails to change and for the appropriate treatment options. The primary treatment options for toenail fungus include the use of topical drugs, oral drugs, or laser treatments. Laser treatments are the most effective in eliminating nail infections and restoring clear
September 2012 — Springfield / Decatur — Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 15
feature story
(continued)
nails. The laser light passes through the nail and surrounding tissue. The laser light is absorbed by the pigment in the fungi, which causes the pigment to heat. The heat kills or damages the fungal organism allowing the nail to grow normally. The Genesis Plus Laser produced by Cutera, is considered to be the best of class. It is FDA approved and treatments are painless, quick, and effective. • Loss of Fat Pads: The fat pads in the bottom of the foot become thinner and less effective as a cushion or shock absorber. Consequently, they do a poor job of dissipating shock waves, absorbing impacts, dampening vibrations, and avoiding torsional sheer stresses. Fat pad pathology is a common cause of planter foot difficulties, mobility limitations, inflammation, and pain. Self-Help Tips: If you have a thin fat pad under the ball of your feet or metatarsalgia (pain under the fat pad), make sure your shoes fit properly and use a custom orthotic. Wear supportive shoes and avoid walking barefoot. Try to moisturize the balls of your feet often to avoid dry skin and calluses from developing. If you participate in high-impact activities such as running, dancing, or jumping, change your workout to include other non-load bearing activities such as swimming, biking, or stair gliding.
Page 16 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Springfield / Decatur — September 2012
• Arch Collapse: When the ligaments that support the foot arch become thinner and weaker, the foot flattens and is not able to properly transmit loads and forces. A collapsed arch can have dire consequences on other parts of the body, particularly the knees, hips, and lower back and increase the likelihood of developing arthritis. S elf-Help Tips: A collapsed arch requires shoes that provide ample support and custom orthotics are recommended. Avoid high-impact activities. Excessive weight gain and activity are often contributing factors for a collapsed arch. If this applies to you, commit to a weight loss program and scale back on high–impact activities. • Ligament and Tendon Deterioration: The weakening of ligaments and tendons in the foot will not hold bones and joints together in proper alignment. As the foot becomes weaker, flatter, and more flexible, the ankle has a tendency to roll inward and the foot to turn outward. Consequently, the likelihood of sprains, tendon tears, and abnormal alignment are increased. This condition also leads to hammer toes, bone spurs, corns, and bunion, loss of balance, and abnormal gait problems. Improper joint functioning may also lead to stress fracture. S elf-Help Tips: Shoes that provide stability are essential if you have weak ligaments and tendons. Avoid wearing high heels or at least reduce the frequency of use. Use custom orthotics to stabilize your feet, to provide arch support, and to provide better shock absorption. Physical rehabilitation therapy is recommended. The MLS Laser produced by Cutting Edge is now available to reduce pain, relieve inflammation, and restore mobility. MLS treatment uses specific wavelengths of light that have anti-inflammatory, anti-edema effect on tissues that are exposed to the laser. Painful conditions accompanied by swelling or inflammation benefit from this technology. Photons of laser energy penetrate deeply into tissue and accelerate cellular reproduction and growth. As a result of exposure to the MLS Laser, cells of tendons, ligaments, and muscles repair themselves faster. Basically, laser energy kick-starts the healing process and speeds recovery. The MLS Laser is FDA approved, safe, and effective. If pain and discomfort are intolerable and mobility is hampered, consult with your podiatrist about surgical options to correct hammertoes, bone spurs, bunions, joint repair, and structural alignment.
Dr. Sigle is the owner of the Foot & Ankle Center of Illinois
located at 2921 Montvale Drive, Springfield, Illinois. Dr. Sigle received a Bachelor of Science degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, graduated from Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine in Chicago, and completed his Podiatric Medicine and Surgical Residency at Botsford General Hospital in Farmington Hills, Michigan. He went on to complete Advanced Reconstructive Ankle and Foot Surgery/Trauma training at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in San Francisco, California, under Jack Schuberth, DPM, a world-renowned foot and ankle surgeon. Dr. Sigle received certifications from Wright Medical for IN-
• Structural Deterioration: As the integrity of the ligaments, tendons, joint capsules, and cartilages begins to deteriorate, toes and feet become crooked, lumpy, and bumpy.
BONE Total Ankle Replacement and STAR Ankle Replace-
S elf-Help Tips: Try to keep your feet comfortable if you have crooked toes and feet. Select proper fitting shoes and wear shoes with a larger toe box or special therapeutic shoes. Wear custom orthotics to address biomechanical deformities and to provide added support. Make sure to have corns and calluses treated properly by your podiatrist to avoid infection and discomfort. Although surgery is may improve the appearance of your feet, cosmetic surgery in usually not recommended.
lengthening techniques for deformity correction at the Gavriil
For those of you who are aspiring to feel 20 years younger, it is essential to become more aware of your feet and to care for them properly. Fortunately, new advancements in medical products, therapies, and surgical options are available to address a wide range of problems. Consult with Dr. Sigle at the Foot & Ankle Center of Illinois at 2921 Montvale Dr., Springfield to turn back the clock of time on your foot problems or call 217-787-2700.
ment for Small-Bone Invasion. He completed advanced training in external fixation techniques for trauma and limb Ilizarov Hospital in Kurgan, Russia under physicians’ trained by Dr. Ilizarov, the inventor of the Ilizarov techniques. Dr. Sigle is board-certified through the American Board of Foot Surgery and in Reconstructive Rearfoot and Ankle Surgery. He is currently on the physicians’ panel for Memorial Medical Center’s Wound Healing Center and a Clinical Assistant Professor at Southern Illinois University (SIU) Health Care, Division of Orthopaedics. The Foot & Ankle Center of Illinois specializes in foot and ankle reconstructive surgery, arthroscopy, ankle replacement, trauma, sports medicine, pediatrics, orthotics, general podiatry, and laser therapy for cosmetic purposes and pain management.
September 2012 — Springfield / Decatur — Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 17
a body in balance
The Secret to Optimal Health: Re-Balancing Your Hormonal Symphony By Tom Rohde, MD
O
ur normal function and health depend on the balance among multiple organ systems. The body will always try to restore balance when either internal or external forces start to affect it. The most common initial stressors that affect our body are stress and dietary excesses. Stress affects the adrenals, which alters cortisol levels. Too many carbohydrates in our diets affect our insulin levels, which further affects cortisol leading to further imbalance and weight issues. As the adrenals struggle to maintain cortisol balance they start to regulate down the thyroid—think fatigue. Cortisol and thyroid changes affect the sex hormones, which then shift these further out of balance—hello, hot flashes and weight gain. A vicious cycle begins! The initial changes manifest as loss of vitality with the first symptoms of fatigue being trouble sleeping and weight gain. If you have trouble remembering names and you feel foggy, then your cortisol is not balanced—this is a subtle first warning of brain
Page 18 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Springfield / Decatur — September 2012
compromise! An elevated cortisol can manifest as the tired and wired phenomenon (tired during the day and wired and unable to sleep at night) that is often misdiagnosed as depression! Unless changes are made to restore balance—in relationships, food, stress, and body chemistry—these cycles continue to worsen and then chronic disease states start to emerge and set in. The initial take-home message is that all things are inter-related in the body and looking at only one parameter - such as thyroid, or adrenals, or hormones - and trying to "fix" that item will cause the body to move back toward balance. This is often seen as an initial brief period of improvement with a given treatment. But, if not all the body’s systems that are affected are addressed, and only the underlying cause(s) remedied, then the body will return to the unhealthy baseline status as it adjusts and shifts back. How do you address all the body’s systems and restore this crucial balance? You need to evaluate the complete thyroid sta-
tus, and you can't do this by looking only at the TSH and perhaps a T4 as is usually done in traditional medical practice. How many of you have heard that your test was normal yet you feel lousy? You need more in-depth testing to thoroughly evaluate conversion to active T3 as well as looking for inactive reverse T3 and thyroid antibodies indicating underlying issues that also need to be evaluated and corrected. Almost everyone needs to evaluate their gut function. Everything that happens in your body is dependent on your ability to digest and absorb the nutrients from the foods you eat—if this doesn't work well or you're on meds that interfere with absorption of vital nutrients, then you're headed for trouble. You will need to look for fungal colonization and/or abnormal bacteria, as well as other infectious causes of mal-performance. Your pancreas, an integral part of your gut, also needs a thorough evaluation by looking at both the production of digestive enzymes for proper nutrient break down, as well as insulin production capabilities. A fasting blood sugar should be less than 90 and a fasting insulin should be between two and six. If these parameters are off, then dietary change to eliminate sugar and minimize carbs is a must! You definitely need to add in regular exercise as this helps with normalization of sugars, elimination of insulin resistance, and improvement in gut motility. Next you need to evaluate the adrenals using the most sensitive testing modality: a 4 point salivary cortisol collected in the serenity of your home and normal routine to get an accurate reading. Getting up, getting ready for the day, then driving to the hospital and getting stuck with a needle can all increase the cortisol level leading to a false normal. Again, how many of you have heard that your test was normal, yet you feel lousy?
"Everything that happens in your body is dependent on your ability to digest and absorb the nutrients from the foods you eat." Finally, you need to look at your sex hormones—all of them—as they all work together. The simplest method is again salivary testing as one specimen allows evaluation of all sex hormones and DHEA for both men and women. Blood testing can also be done, but all of the hormones must be ordered to get a thorough evaluation, which enables a balanced treatment program. So, what's the “take home” message? If you're tired of being tired and you want to get back to a normal vigorous life, then you'll need to make some serious life-style changes along with planning an in-depth evaluation of the multiple players in your symphony of hormones. Get started today! Visit Dr. Rohde’s website at www.DrRohde.com or call 217-864-2700 for your personalized evaluation and a start to a healthier you!
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September 2012 — Springfield / Decatur — Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 19
brain fitness
Learning To Improve Your Memory Information By Timothy Romano
H
ave you experienced the embarrassment of forgetting a family member's birthday or an important assignment? Are you in school and are finding it toilsome to study successfully for exams and tests? It's not just you! Thousands and thousands of individuals out there have the same challenge, and it doesn't just affect senior citizens. In school, they never teach you how to improve your memory information, or the time-tested strategies for successful memorization. Your brain is a very able piece of machinery. The organ collects data and thoughts, and then categorizes and stores them. For the information in the brain to be used beneficially, it must be available for quick retrieval. One such case of quick recall would be answering a question like, "how old are you", or "what is your address?" How many of you have searched high and low for a pair of eyeglasses, and found them right on your head? Maybe you have forgotten something more important like a project at work or a homework assignment. The good news is that you don't have to keep worrying about your memory. Regardless of age or ability, there are lots of things you can do to exercise and improve the performance of your memory. Sometimes the best "improve your memory information" can be found by asking someone who has a lot of experience under her belt. My grandmother told me about an old trick to help remind myself of something. The technique is to tie a piece of yarn on your finger, or put some tape on your hand to serve as a reminder. Since the string or tape is out of the ordinary, it will help you remember what you were supposed to do. You could tie a string on your thumb, wear your watch upside down, or even set an alarm on your mobile phone. The secret is to mix up your normal environment just enough to tune you in to the fact that something is wrong and you have something to remember. You can also try creating a picture to help improve the effectiveness of your memory. The easiest way to accomplish this is to create a scene in your mind of what you are trying to remember. In my language learning hobby, I have found this technique very effective in learning new vocabulary. This is how it works. "Potato", in the German language, is pronounced car-tawfol, which is in no way similar to the word potato in English. Try to form the following image in your mind. You're shopping for groceries at a store in Berlin and see a gigantic cart of rotten potatoes. Your buddy exclaims, "That is a cart of awful potatoes!" Implant the image in your mind and think about how bad that smells. I'll bet that you'll remember the German word! If your image is wild and imaginative, you are much more likely to remember your vocabulary word. It works, believe it! This is a system I have employed over many hundreds of words in several languages. Try it! You can use this helpful trick to remember far more things than German vocabulary! Page 20 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Springfield / Decatur — September 2012
These are just a few ways you can supercharge your brain. The improve your memory information that I've shown you here is easy enough that you can start practicing right away! In no time, your memory will be much improved, thanks to the new techniques you've learned and practiced. Timothy Romano is a memory expert. For more information to improve your memory, visit www.secretstoimproveyourmemory.com.
continuing education
The Perfect Blend of Nursing and Teaching By Gail Crookshank, Millikin University
S
ome people make great nurses, while others make great teachers. While some combine nursing with teaching and become Nurse Educators to help train other nurses. For Valerie Wright of Mahomet, moving into a teaching role was a natural fit. Valerie, a registered nurse who graduated from Mennonite School of Nursing and has worked at Carle Hospital in Urbana for 14 years, worked many years as a nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). In the NICU, she provided some education for other nurses and discovered she loved teaching and mentoring. “One of my best days in the NICU was when I was scheduled as the charge nurse and upon doing assignments, realized that the nine other nurses in the department that day were nurses I had trained. It was humbling to look across the unit and know that I had specifically trained each of the nurses working alongside me. On a lighter note, I also knew every baby girl that day would have a pink bow in their hair. That day was definitely one of the highlights of my career!” She made the decision in 2008 to return to school for a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree with a specialized Nurse Educator track. In 2010, Valerie became a Nursing Education Specialist at Carle where she now coordinates hospital and ambulatory nursing orientation for new nurses in the Carle system. With over 1,600 nurses working in the Carle hospital and clinics, the education process is always ongoing. Valerie and her four fellow Nursing Education Specialists also monitor the transition of these new nurses into the system, coordinate the partnership between a preceptor (an experienced nurse who mentors the newbie) and new nurse, and assist with the training of the specially selected preceptors. In December 2009, Valerie received her MSN from Millikin University in Decatur. She selected Millikin because she wanted a classroom experience rather than an online experience, and classes met just one day a week, which worked well with her schedule. “The ability to interact with my colleagues was important to me. I developed close friendships with my classmates and we provided support for each other. The coursework was rigorous and there were times when each of us wanted to quit, but we pulled each other along. I can see now that I was well-prepared from Millikin’s MSN program. Another appealing aspect of the program was that most classes were eight-weeks long. The eight-week cycle made it really nice to see my progress as I worked through the curriculum,” said Valerie. The Master of Science in Nursing degree with the Nurse Educator specialization can provide many career opportunities. Nurse Educators can teach at the collegiate level, can serve in a capacity similar to Valerie’s at a hospital, or can remain as a master’s-level bedside nurse with a focus on research. A new trend for leadership in hospitals requires a master’s degree. Many MSN-prepared nurses combine fulltime employment in a hospital setting with a part-time teaching position; Valerie serves as an adjunct faculty member at Illinois Wesleyan
University and previously taught in the nursing program at University of Illinois Chicago (Urbana campus). “What I love about this job is that I make a difference in people’s lives and careers. I teach students who want to become nurses, acclimate new nurses into the hospital setting, and, through clinicals, I work with patients and share my knowledge of patient care with the students. It’s very rewarding to have students come back and say ‘thanks’, and I love when I see my students become new nurses. Teachers have a lot of influence on students and this is evident to me when some of my students follow my passion for NICU nursing.” One reality check for Nurse Educators is that they may trade off some salary benefits in order to enjoy more freedom in their work hours. That’s a price that many Nurse Educators are willing to pay in order to make their own schedules, avoid working holidays and weekend shifts, and enjoy their families and lifestyle. Valerie’s work hours are conducive to an active family and allow her to train for triathlons with her husband and attend her children’s events. The nursing specialty provides many exciting career options. The MSN-Nurse Educator program is one of four master’s level nursing tracks at Millikin University. The Nurse Educator and Clinical Nurse Leader tracks can be pursued as part or full-time programs, with classes meeting one day a week for about 18-months. Millikin also offers a Nurse Anesthesia Program (CRNA) track and a Master’s Entry into Nursing Practice track for individuals with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree who want to move into a nursing career. For more information on Millikin’s MSN programs, call 217-424-5034 or visit www.millikin.edu/nursing. September 2012 — Springfield / Decatur — Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 21
planning for the future
Think about Your Life September is Life Insurance Awareness Month
O
wnership in life insurance is down compared to 2005. Eleven million fewer households have life insurance, leaving 35 million uninsured, according to the Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education (LIFE). COUNTRYŽ Financial has partnered with LIFE and more than 100 other insurance providers to promote September as Life Insurance Awareness Month. “This month we’re asking people to make sure they have a tangible plan that helps balance their need to protect what they have with their desire to build for the future,� says Julie Hale Miller, a financial representative for COUNTRYŽ Financial in Chatham. “Ask yourself what would happen if you died today. Would your loved ones be in financial trouble?� Underinsured According to the 2010 Life Insurance Ownership Study by LIMRA, only 44 percent of households in the United States have individual life insurance, which is a 50-year low. In addition to a decline in life policy ownership over the past 30 years, millions of Americans are vastly underinsured. Nearly 60 million households say they need more life insurance—the highest level to date.
Among households with children, almost half say they would have trouble keeping up with everyday living expenses immediately after losing a primary wage-earner. Another three out of 10 admitted they would have difficulties after several months. Women Lag Behind Men According to LIMRA, more women are likely to be insured now than a decade ago. However, about one-third of women have no life insurance, and half of women between the ages of 18 and 24 are not covered. Only one-fourth of men remain uninsured. “It’s not a subject we like to think about, but you have to be prepared,� says Julie. “Would your loved ones be able to pay the mortgage, handle the daily household activities and preserve their quality of life? If the answer is no, you need to talk to a knowledgeable professional. Most families can build a financially secure future, no matter where they’re starting from.� For more information, please contact Julie Hale-Miller, COUNTRYŽ Financial, at 217-483-4355.
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caregiving relief
5 Steps for De-Stressing Submitted by Heartland of Decatur
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t is becoming more the rule, not the exception, that senior citizens with long-term care needs receive assistance from their children and relatives instead of from a nursing home or home health facility. In fact, about 75% of seniors needing some type of long-term care receive care from a family caregiver.
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“Trying to juggle a full-time career and family while keeping another loved one fed, giving medications and transporting him or her to appointments can cause a person to become stressed.” The responsibilities that come with being a caregiver can be overwhelming. Trying to juggle a full-time career and family while keeping another loved one fed, giving medications and transporting him or her to appointments can cause a person to become stressed. Here are a few tips for relieving some of the stresses that come with being a fulltime caregiver: • Take time for yourself. Getting away from your job, family, and friends for a little quiet time to yourself can be very therapeutic. Do not feel guilty if you need time to relax. The constant juggling of tasks can be very exhausting. • Ask for help. If you have conflicts, don’t be afraid to reach out to other loved ones for help. You cannot be expected to do everything. • Divide caregiver roles. Splitting up the roles of caregiving allows time for everyone to enjoy life outside of the responsibilities of caregiving. • Take a break or a vacation from caregiving. When you are stressed out, your stress will affect the person who needs care also. Your loved one does not want to be a burden on you and will understand if you need time away. One option is to look into respite stays at nursing homes. Many skilled nursing facilities offer short-term care for patients whose loved one will be out of town or need a break. Not only will you have time to yourself, but peace of mind that your loved one is being cared for. • Look into options for long-term care. Often people feel guilty about placing a loved one in long-term care. They feel it is their duty to care for the seniors in their life and return the favor for care they received in the past. Remember that there are times when a person cannot be cared for in the home setting. It is important to know of the options available if a situation such as this should arise. The transition will be much easier for everyone if a plan is in place. For more information, please contact Heartland of Decatur, 444 West Harrison Ave., Decatur, IL. Phone: 217-877-7333.
Beverly J. Matthews Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Decatur 217-876-7929 Springfield 217-825-9010 Fax 217-876-7950 bmatthewspsyd@att.net www.bmatthewsneuropsych.com
Central Illinois Neuropsychological 5130 Hickory Pt Frontage Rd Suite 260 Decatur, IL
Professional Counseling 1124 S 5th St. Springfield, IL
September 2012 — Springfield / Decatur — Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 23
prostate health
Our Cancer Nightmare Comes True The second in a series of excerpts from “Making Love Again” The subject matter of this book is of a personal and explicit nature, and may not be suitable for younger or ultra-conservative readers. By Virginia and Keith Laken
I
felt guilty when I walked into Keith’s office, thinking I had let him down and not been there for him when Dr. Barrett called. But Keith was talking on his business phone. Surely, I thought, the fact that he’s back to work means he received good news! As I walked toward Keith, he handed me a piece of paper filled with handwritten notes. At the top of the page was the title “PHONE CALL WITH DR. BARRETT.” I began to read…biopsy is positive…adenocarcinoma…left lobe…probably confined…come in next week to discuss options… suggest surgery and taking of pelvic lymph nodes… Suddenly I felt faint. I fell clumsily into a chair, and was grateful to hear Keith’s voice, as if from a distance. “I’ve gotta go now. I’ll call you back later.” My stomach began to cramp. I could feel the color drain from my face. Keith reached for my hand and held it gently. His eyes reflected concern. Keith always gets upset when he sees me hurting. “How do you feel about this?” I whispered, dragging my focus back to Keith. “I’m numb,” he replied in a level tone. “I can’t take it all in.” Keith paused. “I guess I knew it all along, but when I heard the words I couldn’t believe it. I just stopped feeling.” “How could you go on?” I asked, incredulous. “Make your phone call and do business?” “What else was I supposed to do?” Keith answered quietly. “I can’t do anything to change this.” Keith asked me to be the one to call the children and my mom. I reached out to hold him, and Keith’s voice murmured in my ear: “I don’t want to talk to anyone about it right now.” Beth took the news in her typical stoic manner. “Mom,” she told me, “our family can handle anything.” Steven was equally supportive, but more outwardly emotional. Fighting back tears, he said he’d fly out to be with us anytime we needed him. The call to Mom was difficult. Hearing of Keith’s cancer, I knew, would remind Mom of her own battle with stomach cancer — a topic she tried her best to avoid discussing. It wasn’t surprising, therefore, that Mom said little more than to tell us how sorry she was. The next morning, my first waking thought was of cancer. I looked at Keith, still sleeping, his hair rumpled and his face smooth. “Cancer is eating away at Keith’s body,” I thought, horrified. At breakfast, Keith told me he felt “unclean.” Laptop Notes. January 23, 1995 Tomorrow is my appointment at Mayo to “discuss options”. Still thinking of doing nothing, waiting to see how things develop. Prostate cancer is generally slow growing. We may have some time. Not that I want to take risks.
Page 24 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Springfield / Decatur — September 2012
I have a dream of sitting on a porch swing with Gin when we’re in our eighties, watching the family around us. I want Duncan to know his Grandpa, to remember that I took him fishing and flying. And Beth and Care say they’re planning a big family. I can’t miss that. But I also can’t risk this surgery.
Journal Entry, January 23, 1995 Dear God, please let Keith say yes to the operation. Let him agree to get this cancer out of his body so he can be well again…so we can have our old life back. Now that we know for sure we have to get rid of it… At our appointment with Dr. Barrett he talked about the characteristics and progression of prostate cancer, and reminded Keith of the seriousness of his condition. Of all the treatments available for prostate cancer, the urologist preferred surgery. This option, he said, offered the greatest possibility for a cure. Keith listened intently while Dr. Barrett spoke of recovery time and outcome. Only when he paused did Keith ask the questions that overshadowed all other input for him: “And what about the possibility of becoming impotent?” “That risk is low…about 30%. And you’re young. The odds are in your favor.” Keith then questioned Dr. Barrett about the nerve-sparing technique of prostate surgery, pioneered at Johns Hopkins University Hospital by Dr. Patrick Walsh. “Do you use this procedure here?” Keith asked. “I do,” the surgeon replied readily. “But you can’t assume it guarantees an escape from impotence. There are other factors besides nerve damage that can affect a man’s ability to achieve an erection, such as blood loss and arterial damage. Those causes are almost impossible to predict.” “Look Keith, if you do become impotent, don’t worry. We can easily treat it. These days we have excellent methods for creating erections. We’re using a new injectable medication that gives a man an erection just like the natural thing. So don’t be concerned.” Neither of us spoke as we left Dr. Barrett’s office and headed across the street for our next appointment. Dr. Barrett had recommended we talk to Nick, a man around Keith’s age who had survived prostate cancer thanks to the same surgery he wanted us to consider. Nick had been diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of thirty-nine, and had elected to have a prostatectomy (prostate surgery in which the prostate gland is removed). He told us it had now
January 15, 1995 — TO ALL EMPLOYEES In an effort to dispel any rumors you may have heard recently, I would like to share some facts with you about my personal health… Should you have any questions about my schedule, projects, or condition, please stop by. I am very open about the subject and willing to explain to whatever detail you may want. Thanks for your support, Keith Laken Laptop Notes, January 28, 1995 When I sent out my memo, I didn’t expect much response. But saying I was willing to answer questions must have opened the floodgates. For two days I haven’t gotten any work done. People have been in my office constantly, some wishing me well, others with questions. The amazing thing was how many told me about their fathers, brothers, and uncles who had prostate cancer, and how worried they were about them. Some people hugged me. Some even cried. It was really embarrassing. I didn’t know people cared so much.
been seven years since his operation and, in his experience at least, it had been a blessing. He was still disease-free and doing great. When Keith asked him if “doing great” meant “great in all areas,” Nick grinned coyly and nodded. “I can assure you that I function just like I did before the surgery. No problems whatsoever.” As we walked back to the Clinic, Keith unexpectedly took my hand, and, like a happy schoolboy, began swinging it back and forth. “That was really good for me to hear,” he said as we crossed the street. I looked up. Keith was grinning that wonderful half smile of his. It felt so good to be seeing that smile again! Our final appointment that day was with Dr. Phyliky. Our family doctor for over seven years, Dr. Phyliky wanted to meet with us to discuss any concerns we might still have. Dr. Phyliky began by asking Keith what he had learned from Dr. Barrett and Nick, and how he was now feeling about his situation. Keith quickly summarized the two earlier meetings, then very casually concluded: “…and I’ve made up my mind to go ahead with the surgery.” I couldn’t believe it! I wanted to leap up and smother him with kisses. To laugh. Shout for joy. Cry with relief. Dr. Phyliky nodded and smiled approvingly. “I’m very pleased that you’ve elected to have surgery. Like Dr. Barrett, I feel it gives you the greatest possibility for a cure. I must tell you that my father died with prostate cancer. Prostate cancer kills many men,” Dr. Phyliky stated soberly. “And believe me, it’s not a good way to die.”
Journal Entry, January 14, 1995 I was SO surprised when Keith said He’d decided to have the surgery…for the first time in days I feel like I can take a deep breath…. Keith’s going to have surgery! Prayers are indeed answered!
Laptop Notes, February 3, 1995 Tomorrow I go under the knife. My first operation, and I’m really nervous. I don’t like putting my life in someone else’s hands, but that’s what has to be done. Now I just want to get the whole thing over with. It was a tough decision to have this surgery, but I won’t second-guess myself. I never do.
Journal Entry, February 3, 1995 Tomorrow Keith has his surgery. God, I’m scared. I know he needs this operation, but I’m still so worried. Something could go wrong. Tonight Keith wanted to make love “for old-times sake,” but I just went through the motions. I couldn’t concentrate. I really don’t know how Keith can do it. How can he have a climax at a time like this??? Keith’s been so concerned about being impotent, I’m sure that’s why he wanted to make love tonight. But I just couldn’t get into it. It’s not important to me that we have sex. I don’t care about that. I JUST WANT KEITH TO LIVE. Next month: Keith Goes Under the Knife The book Making Love Again: Hope for Couples Facing Loss of Sexual Intimacy is available at Amazon.com and many major book sellers.
September 2012 — Springfield / Decatur — Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 25
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