Face to Face time with doctors is shrinking as payments from insurance companies are further reduced. No longer are the Patient Consumer Information pamphlets included with prescriptions from manufactures, they cost money. The medication information we receive from pharmacies is a cover your ass view of a few possible side effects. Doctors work on reduced rates leaving no choice but see more patients. I believe we are due the information to manage out health properly.

What do I mean by managing our health properly? We have to take responsibility to gather information the doctor doesn’t have time to give. If lucky doctors allow 15 minutes per patient. How much information can you get in that amount of time. Especially if its a new or complex illness. We are our best advocates, we have to hold doctors accountable for the information we need. It is our responsibility to understand our illnesses and medications. Doctors do not have all the answers. You have to clarify communication, don’t get caught up in “it’s the doctor’s responsibility”, wrong. Two people are in the equation and you’re the sick one. These steps may help the journey to survival and beyond. Critical to getting well is seeing the right type of doctor. A medical doctor is not a mental health specialist, has no business dispensing  RX’s. Get a referral , if not you’re a trail and error for what they think will work. Not always in you best interest. Not to mention the side effects of pick and choose.

Education is a powerful tool to build confidence, confidence you’ll need to talk toe to toe with doctors. The first place I head is the Internet. I’m one of the patients doctors don’t like. I come in with my note-book, recap our last meeting and let them know I have several questions. I spend my time researching the ailments. What are the most important symptoms. I use the info to put a short list of questions together. I ask next steps if don’t have a diagnoses. Doctors don’t have enough time to spend with each patient so I go in ready. I’ve included two resources which may help with your education. FDA.GOV is a great resource if you take prescriptions. You can find everything needed including Consumer Prescription Inserts we no longer received from medical companies. Medwatch  a FDA.gov department provides label changes, warning letters, recalls on specific drugs and medical equipment. The database is extensive however some of the tools are cumbersome at first.

Best of luck and well wishes.  XO M

“The purpose of life is the expansion of happiness. Happiness is the goal of every other goal”

Deepak Chopra

Nadine Burke Harris gives a dynamic Ted Talk on How Childhood Trauma effects health across a lifetime. Her talk reinforces what many have thought for years.  XO  W

Ted.com offeres 1900+ talks to stir your mind. 

Many of you enjoyed the softer side last week. Let’s do a week on words. Each songs beauty is in the words. Clear your head.This week I want to show another side to a couple of my favorite singer/songwriter/guitarist. They are not “B Sides”, I hear gems without the radio overplay. Pull up a comfy seat, maybe lay on couch with Black Light on. What happens in your house stays there. I want to hear what you think!!! Shout it out!  XO W

Fighting to end trafficking is a complex issue. We may not see the change ourselves, we do have to start the ball rolling. We have to understand why trafficking is happening and widely excepted in many countries. I’ve included a link to original article.   XO  W

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/rights4girls-jvta-marks-a-pivotal-step-forward-in-the-fight-against-trafficking-2015-05-19

I love you Gramps. The memories we made fill my heart with joy. Teaching me how to fish. The first fish I caught, standing up almost turning the boat over. At 13 you gave me a 16 gauge shot-gun, we went to the levees to practice. I shot a duck out of season, you were pretty cool about that. Laughing when I shot at dragonflies. I will always remember throwing trash cans in truck, heading to levy for driving lessons. He picked up more cans on parallel parking.

Gramps didn’t hear this song, he didn’t know Carrie Underwood. He would rather listen to Buck Owens or George Jones, old-time country. This song touched me deeply, I can’t listen to without crying. I’ll see you soon. I know this is my temporary home.  XO Melinda

Traveling to Russia was/is number one on my Bucket List, a trip of a life time. Traveling alone without knowing the language is true adventure for me! The hotel provided A+ support and everyone treated me like a Princess. I felt safe walking after dark, the hotel called letting them know I was leaving now. I would get to the restaurant and some one would great me. The Astoria see’s many Costa Nostra everyday. The Astoria is one of two five-star hotels, I can see why they like hanging around. I’m not blind, crime is hard to miss when they wear suits and walk tall like they own the house, right under your nose. The best way to find them is eat around 3:00PM, only two people and inquiring eyes. One day I stopped for a late lunch. Found couple alone, the guy would not take his eye of me, I knew right away. On the way out he came very close to the table and said “American? smiling, enjoy the rest your day”. I’m fascinated by the Mafia. I’ll share how the Mafia touched my life one day.

I fell in love with gypsy music, vodka with every meal, Cathedrals and caviar. Being a short-term Princess wasn’t bad either. I will make another trip to St. Petersburg, maybe a glimpse of Moscow. I was close to boarding the time The Towers fell. Airspace shut down for a week, I left when airspace lifted. Nothing could prepare me for people from many counties coming up telling me how terrible it was, hug me, cry, the beauty of traveling. You never know what’s in the Cracker Jack box.     XO Warrior

JESUS ON CROSS, CHURCH OF THE SPILLED BLOOD

CHURCH OF THE SPILLED BLOOD

CHURCH OF THE SPILLED BLOOD

THE RIVER RUNS THRU CITY

 GUARDIANS OF THE BRIDGE

LET’S GET HAPPY

I’m sending you fun, a big smile and inspiration. All you need is your dancing shoes. It’s nice to see celebrities passionate, invested and real without fluff. I love the song, it makes me happy. The inventive ways people included the song in tells me its universal.   XO Warrior

NAMI Advocacy Update

 NAMI Advocates works tirelessly to educate, their website is a great resource, most important is they are always working for us and injustices.   XO Warrior

21st Century Cures Bill Passes House Committee

The House Energy & Commerce Committee passed 21st Century Cures on May 21st— a bipartisan bill designed to push for the development of new therapies for diseases that are not being treated successfully. This bill includes new dollars for the National Institutes of Health Opportunity Fund totalling $10 billion over five years.

The bill does not target specific diseases or illnesses, but it does leave open the possibility of investments in new clinical trials or therapeutic interventions for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, and other mental health conditions. The 21st Century Cures bill is expected to come to a vote in the full House of Representatives in June.

View NAMI’s letter of support for this important bill.

17 U.S. Senators Write Letter To HHS Citing NAMI Parity Report

In a first step to addressing some vital concerns in Affordable Care Act health plans, a group of U.S. Senators sent a letter to Secretary Sylvia Burwell (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) calling for action to ensure transparency and mental health parity. The letter cites NAMI’s report “A Long Road Ahead” noting, among other issues, that consumers cannot get the detailed information they need to make informed decisions when buying a health plan.

Read the letter.

Stepping Up To Reduce The Number of People With Mental Illness In Jails

NAMI helped jumpstart the Stepping Up Initiative on Capitol Hill this month as part of a national effort to divert people with mental illness from jails and into treatment. The campaign brings together a powerful coalition of national organizations, including NAMI, the Council of State Governments Justice Center, the National Association of Counties, the American Psychiatric Foundation and many law enforcement associations, mental health organizations, and substance abuse organizations.

The initiative will challenge counties and local communities to work together to find solutions that work for their local community.

See how you can step up.

Tell Congress To Help New Veterans Keep Their Mental Health Medications

The way things stand now, if you decide to transition out of military service and into veteran status, your medication might not transfer with you. This is unacceptable. Urge your member of Congress and ask them to co-sponsor H.R. 2123 the Enhancing Veterans Access to Treatment Act.Tell them it is not ok to take away a medication that works for a service member simply because he or she transitioned out of service.

Email Congress.

Tweet Congress.

Bright Spot: NAMI Minnesota

This legislative session NAMI Minnesota led the Minnesota Mental Health Legislative Network to increase mental health funding in the 2016 state budget. Their motto, “We know what works; let’s build on it.” This coordinated campaign helped secure $46 million in new funding for mental health services and supports.

“It was the most new money invested in mental health in our state’s history. There was truly a recognition that there is no silver bullet for fixing the mental health system. Significant investments were made all up and down the continuum,” said Sue Abderholden, executive director of NAMI Minnesota.

Books Matter: An update from ADL
by the Change.org team

Jun 1, 2015 — The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) would like you to support and share with others the launch of their exciting new education initiative for educators and parents which uses children’s books as a mechanism to discuss bias, prevent bullying and promote discussion and awareness of diversity and social justice. Anyone who has ever read to or with a child knows that books have the potential to create lasting impressions.

Beyond their educational benefits, books have the power to instill empathy, affirm a sense of self, teach about others, transport one to unfamiliar places and inspire action. “Books Matter: The Best Kid Lit on Bias, Diversity and Social Justice” is a bibliography of over 600 books organized into 11 categories and reviewed by ADL’s anti-bias education experts. The categories include anti-bias, bullying awareness, anti-Semitism, racism, religious bigotry, gender and sexism, genocide and the Holocaust, LGBT people and issues, and social justice. As part of the initiative, ADL is also featuring a series of podcasts including interviews with children’s authors whose works are highlighted in the Book of the Month.
http://www.adl.org/education-outreach/books-matter/#.VWzIH1xViko

Books Matter