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See all the Healthcasts at https://www.biobalancehealth.com/healthcast-blog This Blog contains dialogue of a sexual nature In my 29-year history of practicing gynecology and 23 years of practicing hormone replacement medicine, there have always been a few questions that only the bravest and most comfortable patients would ask me during a well-woman visit or consultation. During the next few weeks, I will dedicate my blog to those usually unanswered questions, but most probably those questions that women are too embarrassed to ask. The first question is asked in many forms, but the general idea of the question is:” What should I do if I think my vaginal area smells weird?”  “Smelling weird” is a common description that can imply many things, so I will outline what I ask my patients to gather enough information to provide them with a medically relevant answer. What does it smell like? Yeasty, like baked bread? Sweaty-like body odor? Sour- like a towel that has been we too long? Musky – like the musk type of perfumes? Urine? everyone knows what that smells like Old people in a nursing home? OR “Like something is dead in there?” “Like Fish?” These are the actual descriptions that I have received in response to my question, and they all identify different. In case some of you are worriers, I will start with the fact that vaginal odors 1-6 are likely due to a minor infection, either an overgrowth of yeast, or the fact that you don't air out that area at night which makes yeast and bacteria grow in the warm environment between your legs or under the covers. Vaginal odors 7 and 8 are more serious and require treatment. I will first discuss the most important conditions based on their odors. These can be quite dangerous if ignored. Let me start by addressing odors 7 and 8. Odor # 7. If your vagina smells foul, like “something is dead in there,” you should probably make an appointment with your GYN. It could result from something as simple as a tampon that was “lost” in the vagina, leading to bacteria growing from menstrual blood and semen.  This is a common cause of such vaginal odor. The GYN will need to use an instrument to grasp the tampon and remove it. She will then prescribe an antibiotic to treat the infection that has developed. While there's no harm in removing it, leaving it in place can lead to a serious pelvic infection. If your doctor doesn't find a tampon and this odor is confirmed by her, then she will do bacterial cultures and a pap to look for cervical cancer or endometrial cancer. It is important that you don't ignore this odor.  It won't get better on its own. Odor #8. If your vagina smells like fish it is likely an infection with a bacteria called hemophilous vaginalis, or from Trichomonas (“Trick”). Hemophilus can be caused by wiping back to front (the wrong way), which allows rectal bacteria to enter the vagina. Additionally, Hemophilus can be introduced into the vagina during intercourse. In these two cases, it is not considered a venereal infection– NOT an infection you acquired from your sexual partner. However, Hemophilus can be a venereal infection that you contract from a sexual partner if he acquired it from someone else and transmitted it to you! The treatment is essentially the same: a medication called Flagyl or metronidazole, taken three times a day for 7-10 days. If your partner has it too, he needs to take the medication at the same time so you don‘t keep passing it to each other. These infections require examination and testing to receive an antibiotic. The last possible cause of a fishy-smelling vagina is Trichomonas, a parasite that produces a significant amount of thin, greenish discharge along with a fishy odor. It is sexually transmitted, and both partners should be treated.  He should also have his other contacts treated. The group of infections in #8 is treatable and curable with medical help. Another quality of Hemophilus and Trichomonas is that if you have nitrazine pH paper and test the discharge with it, it will turn the paper dark blue.  Dark blue means go to the GYN! We'll start back up at 1-6 discussing the causes of “funny smelling discharge. ” These are the least likely to be serious infections. I need to provide some initial information before I discuss the various reasons for vaginal odor. First, there is always a slight odor that is uniquely yours. You shouldn't try to eliminate all signs of vaginal odor because it results from a combination of yeast, good bacteria, estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone, which help protect your vagina and vulva, the area surrounding the vagina.  Changes in hormones such as pregnancy, menopause, hormone replacement therapy, diet, antibiotics, and dehydration can alter the vaginal smell and discharge. The yeasty odor that resembles baked bread comes from normal yeast present in the vagina. Some women naturally have this odor. It becomes a concern only when it is accompanied by itching and a significant amount of white discharge. These yeast infections can occur after taking antibiotics that eliminate good bacteria.  They may also arise when blood sugar levels are elevated, as seen in diabetics or prediabetics. The pH paper will not change color.  Treatment involves yeast medication, which can be either vaginal or oral, along with oral probiotics and sometimes vaginal probiotics to help restore the good bacteria. If you are diabetic, you may experience yeast infections until your blood glucose levels are normalized.   Sweaty-like body odor.The vagina can develop body odor from sweat that fosters the same bacteria found under your armpits.  This matter is simple.  Change out of wet swimsuits, wash gently with the same soap you use for the rest of your body, and allow your vagina to dry by sleeping without underwear.   Sour like a towel that has been wet too long. The ability to detect sour odors is genetically determined. You may not notice it, but your significant other might, or you may smell his clothes that have this odor, while he doesn't.  Either way, it is caused by bacteria from sweaty, damp clothes thrown into a hamper, allowing fungus and bacteria to grow. For some reason, you then wear these clothes, and your vagina ends up harboring the same jungle of bacteria and fungus.  This one is easy: air out clothes before wearing them, avoid putting on garments that are not clean, and wash these clothes in warm water to eliminate the microbes. You may need a doctor's visit for diagnosis and treatment.   Musky -you know, like the musk type of perfumes. A musky smell is the natural scent of fertile women with testosterone, especially when they are sexually stimulated. This is not an infection; it is the normal sexual scent of attraction. This odor usually diminishes with menopause or when you are on the pill and your testosterone levels decrease.   Like urine. The smell of urine is usually caused by leaking urine, poor wiping, or wearing a pad that absorbs leaking urine. It can precede a yeast infection because urine wetness encourages the growth of yeast. Treating urine leakage is imperative for resolving this issue. Options include surgery, Emsella magnetic pelvic floor strengthener, or a pessary. All of these can be discussed with your doctor when you inform them that you experience this odor consistently.   Like Elderly individuals in a nursing home? Sadly, nursing homes do have a characteristic odor; it is a combination of urine and cleaning chemicals, but there is something more. Elderly people who lack hormones have lost protective bacteria and exhibit a dominant odor of deterioration. This is what the vagina smells like without hormones and the beneficial bacteria they support. This is a smell that many women ask me about after menopause when they don't take hormones. The only way to return the odor to normal is to reinstate hormones.   If you have other vaginal odors I have not addressed, then send your email questions to podcast@biobalancehealth.com.  I pray you will trust your gynecologist enough to ask any questions you need to understand your own body. I hope I have provided you with some material to reflect on and compare to help answer your questions.

See all the Healthcasts at https://www.biobalancehealth.com/healthcast-blog This Blog post is for mature women to read.  If you feel embarrassed by sex or offended that I am addressing these genuine female concerns, please skip this Blog. Among the many questions I have received, I am sharing a few with you in case you also have these questions but are hesitant to ask when you visit your gynecologist's office. At BioBalance Health, our doctors conduct consultations with new patients and follow-up visits that last an hour. During these consultations, patients are free to ask questions about their health including sexual questions.   The atmosphere in our office is open to all questions, and the doctors offer hour-long visits, fostering a supportive environment for discussing embarrassing sexual situations, asking awkward questions, and addressing concerns about sexuality and aging. I am going to offer some of the questions I have been asked and the answers that I give to my patients who ask. Question 1:” Am I normal to think about sex and fantasize about having sex all the time now that I have testosterone pellets?” Yes, that is normal and healthy to think about sex…humans are sexual beings and thinking about or planning to have sex with your partner is normal.  After Testosterone pellets are inserted for the first time, they have magnified sexuality for a few weeks.  After that the sex drive of a patient goes back to what was normal for them when they were at their prime. Testosterone is necessary for a person, women and men to have a sexual drive. Those women and men who have had a healthy sex life before their testosterone was lost can still have sex, on their usual schedule, but what we think of sex DRIVE, won't be there without T….just the habit of having sex will make them continue to have an active sex life.  Question 2: “Before pellets I didn't have any discharge in my underwear, and I thought that was a benefit of menopause but now I experience wetness/slight white discharge Am I OK?” When women are mature and have fertility, (women between 12 years old and menopause) have some discharge clear or white in their underwear.  It is from the vagina, and it is a way of the vagina cleansing itself. Without the hormones estradiol and testosterone, as in menopause and when a woman takes low dose birth control pills, the vagina dries up and doesn't “cleanse itself”. Vaginal lubrication stops, so does vaginal discharge, and painful intercourse is a real problem for women after they are not producing estradiol or replacing it with HRT. Experiencing normal vaginal discharge is a small price to pay to comfortable sex and a good sex drive. If the discharge changes, please watch or read my last Healthcast #685 or blog #685 to determine if you need to see a Gynecologist. Question 3: A question women ask me before they experience replacement of testosterone and estradiol. “Do I have Alzheimer's disease?  I'm only 50 and I can't remember things. I lose words and I am always late because I can't remember appointments.” One of the most important benefits of taking testosterone by pellet insertion is that my patients usually get their brain back!  It is rare that anyone who is having trouble with their memory before age 55 is really starting to have an early onset dementia. By taking Estradiol and Testosterone pellets my patients regain their normal brain function in the first 8-12 months.  Those women who are still struggling with memory after taking Estradiol and Testosterone Pellets should be evaluated by a psychiatrist or neurologist to test them to see if they are having the beginnings of a type of dementia. The sooner a person takes TE hormone pellet replacement, the longer they will have a clear and functional mind.  If a woman takes T and or E2 pellets, they can delay the genetic onset of dementia by 10 years. That means if genetically you were wired to lose your ability to think at age 70, then you should get a ten-year delay in the onset of your dementia. E + T pellets are the only treatment I know can preserve your ability to think 10 years longer than if you didn't take them within 10 years of losing your Estrogen and Testosterone (around age 45).  Question 4: “Now that I have pellets, I have great orgasms but I produce a lot of fluid when I come.  Is that normal?” Yes. Estrogen increases vaginal wetness, and lubrication for sex. Testosterone stimulates the sensitivity of the area around and inside the vagina. Testosterone pellets are the only form I have heard of that can cause vaginal ejaculation, or forceful production of fluid from the vagina.  Not everyone experiences this phenomenon, and some women love it as do their partners, and other women dislike it because it makes sex messier than usual. It is a testosterone dose dependent action, and lowering the T dose in pellets can decrease the response to sexual stimulation. Question 5: “My husband can't keep up with my sex drive.  I have the same drive as I had when I was younger, but he is not able to keep up with my libido.  What can I do?” My response has several options because every sexual partnership is different. You can use vibrators or sex toys to stimulate yourself. He can use the same toys to engage in sexual activity with you. You can lower your dose of T pellets to decrease your sex drive. You can invite your husband to visit us or another Pellet practice to have his level of T and Free T checked and replaced if it is low and he is a good candidate. Question 6: “My husband likes me to give him oral sex. I like it, but what do I do with the semen he produces? The eternal problem:  to swallow ejaculate or not.  You can only decide this for yourself and if you are uncomfortable with this, then have a washcloth or Kleenex handy to handle the fluid. Question 7:” I have had pellets for a year now, and I have never been so happy, and I feel young again, but my gynecologist examined me and said I had an enlarged clitoris, and she told me to stop pellets because of that!  I don't get it!  It doesn't bother me; why is she so upset? What should I do?” Your GYN is clearly not educated in hormone therapy using T pellets. She also seems to be uncomfortable with her own sexuality if she cannot see the benefit of having a clitoris that is slightly larger than normal, so it is easy for a partner to access.  She may be recalling something from residency, that we were taught: “An enlarged clitoris is a sign of an ovarian tumor, and these tumors secrete high levels of testosterone-like hormone. This is not the same as a slight enlargement of the clitoris that is normal with T replacement. She has not considered that you are receiving Testosterone to replace what you are no longer producing. When we no longer make testosterone at fertile levels, our clitoris shrinks so small that it can hardly be found. Testosterone reverses that change reviving the size and function of the clitoris. Honestly, the change is minimal, and the size of the clitoris varies based on a woman's genetics and testosterone levels before the age of 40.  The natural shrinkage of the clitoris after menopause corresponds with low levels of testosterone, along with the loss of clitoral sensitivity, which can lead to a decrease in orgasms!  We are sexual beings, and testosterone is essential for sexual function. The ignorance of your gynecologist is both sad and common.  In the last 20 years, there has been no training for OBGYNs in sexuality or hormone replacement during menopause.  There is complete ignorance regarding treating women with testosterone. As in the general population that has a subset of people who are sexually inhibited, the group of board certified gyns carry their own attitude into the treatment room. Clitoral orgasms are the most common type of orgasm in women. After menopause, they can disappear without testosterone stimulation.  That will stop sexual pleasure completely. Most of my patients don't complain about having a visible clitoris, and they say “I can see my clitoris again and my husband can find it now! It makes sex great again.” Question 8: “My internist asked me why I wanted to have sex now that I am old!  I'm 45! I am changing doctors, but what was she thinking?  Again, the training of normal sexuality in residency programs is minimal.  She might also be sexually unaware or inhibited, as she revealed when she told you that it is not normal to have sex as we age (over 40); clearly, she does not view it as an important part of her life, so it shouldn't be an important part of yours! Question 9: “Now that I am having sex again, I am shooting fluid out when I climax!  What is that and where does it come from?  By the way, my husband loves it!” This phenomenon is called “female ejaculation,” and it is a normal, yet uncommon, part of great orgasms.  Women can produce fluid through transudation via the vaginal wall (which is incorrectly dubbed “vaginal sweating”).  There are no sweat glands in the vagina; the fluid comes from the abdomen and is known as peritoneal fluid.  When a woman orgasms, her vagina contracts, and this fluid squirts out of the vagina with force. The second source of fluid is the Skene's glands, which are small glands located on either side of the urethra (the opening that leads to the bladder). They don't produce a large amount in most women, but it is possible for them to “squirt” fluid with force. Most men find this gratifying, as an unspoken sign that they did a great job.  Women may find it upsetting and ask me to decrease their testosterone levels to lessen the likelihood of “making a mess” when she has sex; however, this also decreases the orgasmic experience. I will keep collecting questions that my patients ask me in my office to offer a continued version of “Embarrassing Questions” in future blogs. I hope this helped you answer some of your unanswered questions!

Is the Medicare GUIDE Program for you? Today Nancy and I are sharing insights from Amy Imes of Emory's Integrated Memory Care about the new Medicare Program GUIDE. We're going to help you understand what it is and how to know if you can leverage it. We're sharing three tips. We are Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster. As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia, we are so excited to share this information with you. This is an awesome opportunity to learn about the US Medicare GUIDE Program. With big announcements happening on July 1, 2025, we're excited to give you an overview so you can understand how you might participate in the GUIDE program. Let us introduce you to Amy. Amy Imes is a gerontological nurse practitioner who is a trusted expert in geriatrics, demonstrating a deep understanding of the unique healthcare needs of the aging population. Throughout her career, Amy has played a pivotal role in building care models—that's important to the GUIDE program—and developing teams that yield superior outcomes. In addition to her clinical work, she is a member of the team at Emory's Integrated Memory Care, which is a nurse practitioner-led primary care practice for patients living with dementia. She's also the program lead for the Medicare GUIDE Program at Emory Healthcare. GUIDE stands for Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience. It is a US Medicare pilot program that aims to provide better support and resources for persons living with dementia and their caregivers. Which is awesome. You should know that it's a pilot program. Please let's all support it because we need to prove that this pilot program which focuses on helping dementia caregivers actually works so that this can become a standard part of Medicare and can also be expanded globally. It would be ideal for the US to prove it's worth so that we can help other countries take advantage of these kinds of support because they're watching and they're aware of it. This is a groundbreaking program that is being offered around the country. So definitely we want to show up and show out as people tend to say sometimes. As of today, July 1st, there are approximately 390 programs across the country that have been vetted by Medicare to provide this program, and so it is really going to have an impact for persons living with dementia. Full Show Notes https://thecaregiversjourney.org/39-is-the-medicare-guide-program-for-you-three-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias/ Additional Resources Mentioned To find a guide program near you: Go to this CMS website page and put in your state and under models select ‘Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model' Then click ‘Display selected' You can use the plus and minus signs in the upper right corner to zoom in closer to your area and find the program closest to you. There may be several who cover your zip code so explore options Emory Integrated Memory Care: https://www.emoryhealthcare.org/centers-programs/integrated-memory-care-clinic Support the nonprofit The Caregiver's Journey: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney Takeaways What the Medicare GUIDE Program Offers One-on-one support and coaching by dementia prevention providers Care navigation through an often difficult and chaotic healthcare system Education and training resources for caregivers Respite care Tip 1: Understand Your Eligibility Tip 2: How to Find a GUIDE Program Near Me Tip 3: How to Integrate GUIDE with Your Existing Medical Team About Emory's Integrated Memory Care GUIDE Program For those in the Atlanta area, Emory's Integrated Memory Care is led by nurse practitioners who are all dementia specialists and geriatric specialists. They bring everything under one umbrella with geriatric psych, licensed social workers, and RNs on their team. This eliminates doctor hopping and multiple visits. Read More in This Blog here

"When it comes to caregiving, the assumption about being able to take what we've learned and just naturally grow is not always going to be true." How do you think you would feel if you were caregiving for a second or third person living with dementia? Would you feel more prepared because of your previous experience? If you answered "yes," you might be surprised by what research is revealing about experienced caregivers. We are Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster. As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia, both of us have been caregivers more than once, and we recently learned about enlightening research from Dr. Emily Mroz, a researcher at Emory University's School of Nursing who coined the phrase "experienced caregiver." Her research is shedding light on a common phenomenon that affects millions of families: providing dementia care for multiple loved ones throughout adulthood. Dr. Mroz is a tenure-track assistant professor and social behavioral scientist who studies how people think, feel, and act within their social and personal situations. With training in developmental psychology, gerontology, geriatrics, and public health, she uses her multidisciplinary perspective to develop resources and interventions that support people living with serious illness, family caregivers, and those who are bereaved. Through her research and interviews with caregivers, Dr. Mroz has identified crucial insights about experienced caregivers that challenge common assumptions and offer practical guidance for those stepping into the caregiving role again. Full Show Notes https://thecaregiversjourney.org/37-studying-experienced-caregivers-four-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias/ Additional Resources Mentioned Dr. Emily Mroz, assistant professor and social-behavioral scientist, discusses her research on improving how patients and caregivers navigate serious illnesses such as dementia, end-of-life care and bereavement. Link to study flyer here To join this study, visit survey.qualtrics.emory.edu/jfe/form/SV_cYfshxWcThSSV5s.Support the nonprofit The Caregiver's Journey: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney Takeaways Tip 1: Avoid Assumptions About Who Is Prepared to Be a Dementia Caregiver Tip 2: Assess How Prepared You Really Feel Tip 3: Don't Hesitate to Get Involved in Skills Training and Support Groups Tip 4: Share Your Stories with Grace, Not Judgment The Importance of Research for Experienced Caregivers Dr. Mroz's study is part of a growing recognition that experienced caregivers represent a significant population with unique needs and strengths. Her virtual research study involves participants completing surveys about their caregiving experiences and sharing their stories to help researchers understand the differences between new and experienced caregivers. Study details: Focuses on people currently in active caregiving roles, including those early in their journey with a second or third care recipientParticipants receive a $50 gift card honorariumSessions are conducted virtually and take about one to two hoursCan participate alongside other dementia caregiver research studiesResearch is crucial for developing resources specifically tailored to experienced caregivers Read More in This Blog here

Is your loved one in a memory care community, or are you considering moving them into one? Understanding how to build a collaborative relationship with the care team is crucial for ensuring the best outcomes for your loved one. We are Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster. As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia, we've learned that creating a true partnership with care community staff can dramatically improve quality of care and reduce stress for everyone involved. We recently spoke with James Lee, CEO and co-founder of Bella Groves, an award-winning memory care community. With over 17 years of experience in senior living and memory care, James has developed valuable insights on how to transform what is often an adversarial relationship between family caregivers and professional caregivers into a collaborative partnership. Full Show Notes https://thecaregiversjourney.org/35-build-a-partnership-with-your-care-community-six-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias/ Additional Resources Mentioned Support the nonprofit The Caregiver's Journey: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney Takeaways Tip 1: Assess the Overall Fit When looking for a memory care community, many families focus on practical aspects like location, price, and amenities. While these factors are important, James suggests that philosophical alignment and rapport with the management team are even more crucial for long-term success. When evaluating potential communities, James recommends shifting your mindset from "us versus them" to "us collectively versus dementia." This perspective can transform the relationship from the beginning. Tip 2: Embrace the Community Aspect Moving your loved one from home to a community setting represents a fundamental shift in their care environment—from one-on-one care to being part of a group. Tip 3: Acknowledge Your Role Has Changed When your loved one moves into a care community, your role shifts from being the primary caregiver to being a care partner working alongside professional caregivers. Tip 4: Recognize That the Diagnosis Will Progress A critical aspect of the care partnership is understanding that your loved one's condition will continue to change over time. In fact, by the time someone moves into a memory care community, they're often in the steeper part of their dementia journey where changes happen more rapidly. Tip 5: Acknowledge Your Grief The dementia journey involves ongoing loss, a phenomenon Sue calls "drip grief." As your loved one's condition progresses, you experience new losses almost daily—abilities that disappear, memories that fade, personality changes that emerge. Tip 6: Engage with the Community Caregiving Team The families whose loved ones have the best quality of life tend to be those who actively engage with the care team. This engagement goes beyond basic communication to building genuine relationships with the people caring for your loved one. Building a True Partnership Creating a collaborative relationship with your loved one's care community team isn't just about being nice—it's about achieving the best possible outcomes for your loved one with dementia. By reframing the relationship from "us versus them" to "us collectively versus dementia," you can transform what is often an adversarial dynamic into a true partnership. As James explains, "You are your loved one's expert, we are dementia experts. And the two together give us the best chance to get this right." Read More in This Blog here

Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out.You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.In this episode, we sat down with the founder and distiller behind one of the most interesting rum projects in the U.S. right now, Robyn Smith of rum et al., a chemical engineering PhD turned rum distiller.The premise behind Rum Et Al is simple but fascinating. Robyn started with a foundational, always-available rum she named Baseline. She's since released batches in which she introduces a "variable" to the Baseline recipe, such as dunder. This allows you to taste the exact differences that the variable brings to the flavor profile when tasted side by side. If you're a rum geek, it's a really cool tasting experience.During the episode, we discussed:How she went from chemical engineering PhD to rum distillerHer experience in R&D for Lost Spirits DistilleryHow rum et al. came to beAll the nerdy rum production detailsThe joys and challenges of being a one-woman operationCongeners vs. estersHow ester measurements translate to flavor profileWhat we might see from her nextAnd much more!Be sure to check out her YouTube channel, This Blog's Neat! These videos about her rum et al. releases are a great place to start:How Baseline Was MadeHow Variable (Dunderclap) Was MadeHow Variable (Tailspin) Was MadeHave you had a chance to try Robyn's rum? What stood out to you in the conversation? Let us know via email (host@rumcast.com) or social!

Are you prepared for others to take care of your loved one? Do you have a care plan in place? Having a comprehensive care plan is one of the most important tools a caregiver can create — not just for emergencies, but for everyday peace of mind. We are Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster. As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia, we've learned the importance of creating a care plan for our loved one. We spoke with Amanda Lukoff, co-founder and CEO of Eleplan, about what a care plan is and how to create one that works for your unique situation. Amanda's journey to creating Eleplan was deeply personal. Her brother Liam, who has autism, is her "North Star" and the inspiration behind her career path, including going to law school for special education law. Through observing her parents' caregiving journey with Liam, Amanda recognized the need to capture all the knowledge that lived in her parents' heads so that others could provide care that truly honored who Liam is as a person. Connect with us and share your tips: Website: https://www.thecaregiversjourney.comDonate: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourneyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaregiversjourney/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCaregiversJourneys/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suearmstrongryan/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancytreaster/Email: sue@thecaregiversjourney.com, nancy@thecaregiversjourney.com Additional Resources Mentioned Episode 32: Navigating The Caregiver Hiring Process https://thecaregiversjourney.com/32-navigating-the-caregiver-hiring-process-five-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias/Eleplan Website: https://www.eleplan.com/Support the nonprofit The Caregiver's Journey: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney Full Show Notes https://thecaregiversjourney.com/33-how-to-create-a-care-plan-five-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias Takeaways Tip 1: Start with the Basics The first step in creating a care plan is to document the essential information that would allow someone to provide short-term care (even for just 30 minutes) while you step out. This includes: Emergency contactsMedications and dosagesHigh-level meal preferencesAllergiesRelevant medical conditions Tip 2: Outline Preferences and Daily Routines Beyond the basics, a good care plan should capture what makes your loved one unique—their preferences, personality traits, and daily routines. Your care plan should include: Likes and dislikesDaily schedule and routinesBedtime and morning ritualsBehavioral patternsEmotional triggers (both positive and negative) Tip 3: Document What to Do in an Emergency Crisis situations demand clear instructions. Your care plan should outline: What constitutes an emergency for your loved oneWhen to call 911 vs. other resourcesWho to contact and in what orderSpecial instructions for EMTs or ER staffLocation of important medical documents Tip 4: Collect Key Contacts and Documents Gathering important documents in one accessible location is critical for seamless care. This includes: Insurance cardsHealthcare directivesPower of Attorney documentsGuardianship formsMedical history and medication lists Tip 5: Keep Everything Accessible and Current A care plan is only effective if it's up-to-date and easily accessible. Amanda frames this with an important question: "Do I have a system that is as dynamic as the needs of my loved one and the ever-changing piles of documents and information?" Whether you're using a physical binder, shared digital documents, or a specialized platform like Eleplan, the key is having a system that makes updates easy and ensures the information is available whenever and wherever it's needed. Read More in This Blog

When you travel, have you ever though about how you can leave a place better than you found it? Today's episode features Susanna Shankar, AKA Sooz, from Curiosity Saves Travel, who joins Stevie for a discussion on the idea of regenerative tourism.Show Notes ⬇️ Published on 12/13/24 Timecodes0:00 - Intro2:34 - What the Term Regenerative Tourism Actually Means6:19 - How Long has the Concept of Regenerative Tourism been Around?9:27 - The Core Principals of Regenerative Tourism13:25 - The Differences Between Sustainable Travel and Regenerative Travel17:57 - A Closer Look at Examples of Regenerative Tourism 21:26 - Can Regenerative Tourism Help to Diminish Overtourism Issues?22:59 - It Takes Everyone Involved to Make Regenerative Tourism Happen24:15 - Regenerative Travel Tips for Travelers29:37 - Responsibility as it Relates to Regenerative Tourism30:47 - Final Messages on Regenerative Tourism31:55 - How to Choose a Regenerative Destination33:08 - Stay Connected with Curiosity Saves Travel35:02 - Susanna Shankar is a Student of Travel Follow Along with This Blog from Curiosity Saves TravelWhat is Regenerative Tourism 101: Tips and Everything Travelers Need to KnowFollow Curiosity Saves Travel onFacebookInstagramThreads LinkedInExplore Group Experience to Learn how to Build your Travel Tribe

Whether it's a tiny town with mining history like Silver Plume or a college town like Boulder, you can find stunning scenery, fun outdoor activities and unique history in the communities that are in close proximity to the Mile-High City. Katie Chavez from The World on my Necklace travel blog sits down with Stevie to talk about some of the fascinating towns that aren't too far from Denver.Show Notes ⬇️ Published on 12/6/24 Timecodes0:00 - Intro2:17 - What Made Katie Put Together A Blog Post About Towns Near Denver?2:58 - Boulder, CO4:23 - Idaho Springs, CO6:15 - Golden, CO8:50 - Morrison, CO10:43 - Silver Plume, CO12:32 - Fort Collins, CO14:04 - Stay Connected with The World on my Necklace15:31 - Katie Chavez is a Student of Travel Follow Along with This Blog from The World on my Necklace11 Mountain Towns Near Denver You Have To Visit (1 Hour or Less)Follow The World on My Necklace onFacebookPinterestInstagramExplore Group Experience to Learn how to Build your Travel Tribe

“We've both had ‘that' trip — the last trip that you take when you decide we're not traveling ever again with our care receiver. Or, as we like to say, it's the trip after the last trip you should have taken!” We are Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster. As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia, we've learned travel decisions require careful consideration. Through our experiences, and what we've learned from support groups and others on their journeys, we've developed four important tips to help you decide whether you and your care receiver should stay home or go on what could be ‘that' trip. See Full Show Notes here Rate, Subscribe and Share Your Tips on Social Media! Please click here to review, follow or subscribe to our podcast. If you don't see your preferred platform click on Podchaser and click at the bottom “Write my review” You can log in with Twitter, Facebook or Google On the right you'll see a box with “Follow”, “Rate and Review” and “Share” Connect with us and share your tips: Website: https://www.thecaregiversjourney.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaregiversjourney/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCaregiversJourneys/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suearmstrongryan/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancytreaster/ Email: sue@thecaregiversjourney.com, nancy@thecaregiversjourney.com Additional Resources Mentioned These resources contain affiliate links so we may receive a small commission for purchases made at no additional cost to you. Fidget blanket here Takeaways Tip 1: Pre-test Travel Readiness Key points: Test longer car rides (at least an hour round trip) Try interstate driving if that will be part of your journey Experience crowds and noise if those will be present Test unfamiliar environments Pay attention to any existing signs of travel difficulty. Tip 2: Evaluate All Trip Components Key points: Assess sleeping arrangements and bathroom accessibility Consider the need for quiet space Evaluate support options at the destination Think about familiarity with locations Listen to your inner voice about the decision — is this the wisest choice? Tip 3: Plan Comprehensively Key points: Minimize advance information to avoid overwhelming your care receiver. Pack comfort items: Fidget blankets Familiar snacks Favorite music and headphones Photo books Familiar entertainment (DVDs, etc.) 3. Plan around normal routines: Meal times Sleep schedule Best times of day for different amounts of activity 4. Prepare for emergencies: Take IDs and insurance cards Bring extra medications Pack legal documents Consider anti-anxiety medication options Share detailed itinerary with family members Have your emergency contact information easy to find on your care receiver and in case something happens to you. Tip 4: Prepare Others Key points: Explain current abilities and challenges Provide conversation guidance Demonstrate proper approach techniques Give permission for others to opt out if they're not comfortable Show grace toward those processing their own emotions Read More in This Blog here

As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia, we've learned that shaving, trimming nails, brushing teeth and trimming hair - what we're calling personal care - can become challenging. These challenges often arise around the same time as bathing and dressing difficulties. How we provide support for our loved one will vary based on whether they stay at home during their journey or move into a care community. Not surprisingly, personal care is an area where many tips can be provided! Through our experiences, what we've learned from support groups, and others on their journeys, we've developed four initial areas of tips to help you and your care receiver with their personal care. Rate, Subscribe and Share Your Tips on Social Media! Please click here to review, follow or subscribe to our podcast. If you don't see your preferred platform click on Podchaser and click at the bottom “Write my review” You can log in with Twitter, Facebook or Google On the right you'll see a box with “Follow”, “Rate and Review” and “Share” Connect with us and share your tips: Website: https://www.thecaregiversjourney.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaregiversjourney/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCaregiversJourneys/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suearmstrongryan/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancytreaster/ Email: sue@thecaregiversjourney.com, nancy@thecaregiversjourney.com Additional Resources Mentioned These resources contain affiliate links so we may receive a small commission for purchases made at no additional cost to you. Electric razor For men here For women here Oral swabs here Electric hair trimmers here Full Show Notes https://thecaregiversjourney.com/personal-care-four-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias/ Takeaways Understanding Personal Care Challenges in Dementia Care Tip 1: Mastering the Art of Shaving Transition to an electric razor as early as possible. Begin your support by prompting and supervising, gradually inserting yourself into the process. Try shaving when your care receiver is calm, possibly after meals or during naps. Aim to shave men's facial hair at least every other day to prevent discomfort from longer hair. For women, transition to electric razors for safety. Women also tend to become comfortable with letting their body hair grow. As early in their diagnosis as possible, get a thorough dental examination. If there is any dental work that's important to be completed, do it while they still understand and can participate. Consider transitioning to a dentist specializing in disabilities. If possible increase dental visits to every three months. Start by reminding your care receiver and supervising their tooth brushing. Gradually take over the process - for example, begin by handing them their toothbrush, transition to handing them their toothbrush with toothpaste on it, then transition to beginning to brush their teeth. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and less toothpaste to prevent swallowing. Consider using disposable oral swabs with mouthwash for additional cleaning. Tip 4: Hair Care and Trimming Take photos of the hair style your loved one has. If they color their hair, talk about keeping it colored or letting it become their natural color. There are hair stylists who will come to your home instead of you having to go into a salon. Consider transitioning to easier-to-manage hairstyles. Learn basic haircutting techniques or ask their stylist to teach you. For women, longer hair in a soft bun might be easier than short styles. Personal care trimmers are very helpful for both men and women for eyebrows, hair in the ears and nose. Read More in This Blog here

Welcome to today's episode of 'AI Lawyer Talking Tech,' where we delve into the latest advancements and trends reshaping the legal landscape. From workflow management tools enhancing efficiency in mid-sized law firms to LexisNexis's acquisition of Henchman and its unconventional marketing flair, we're exploring how legal technology is revolutionizing operations and strategies. We'll also discuss new AI-driven marketing platforms, groundbreaking legislation on social media regulation for children, and the innovative 'Panel of AI Experts for Lawyers' software. Stay tuned as we unpack these exciting developments and their implications for the future of the legal industry. Workflow Management: A big advantage for mid-size and small law firms21 Jun 2024Legal FuturesLexisNexis to buy…Brazilian butt lift jokers21 Jun 2024Roll On FridayNY Gov. Kathy Hochul signs bill banning ‘addictive' social media feeds for kids, the first in the nation20 Jun 2024Yahoo.comFirmPilot: $7 Million Raised To Provide Law Firms With AI-Driven Marketing21 Jun 2024Pulse 2.0Panel of AI Experts for Lawyers: Custom GPT Software Is Now Available20 Jun 2024EDRMAutomation Comes to Our Litigation Nation with James Lee20 Jun 2024HB Litigation ConferencesA Cool New Feature of This Blog, If I May Say So Myself20 Jun 2024LawSitesAI Watch: Global regulatory tracker - Turkey20 Jun 2024JD SupraAI Watch: Global regulatory tracker - Kenya20 Jun 2024JD Supra‘Access DOJ' initiative aims to help veterans, citizens obtain justice20 Jun 2024Federal TimesRevolutionize Your Contracts with AI Software20 Jun 2024TopTut.comThe Tokyo District Court Holds an Artificial Intelligence System Cannot Be an Inventor Under Japanese Patent Law20 Jun 2024Jones DayHighlights from the DOJ's recent competition & AI workshop20 Jun 2024Hogan Lovells

Ocular migraine | AOAD&D Alignments Explained + Character Examples + How to ChoosePennsylvania Family Vacation Destination | Hershey, PAThe White Lotus - WikipediaHome - NetflixThe Gods Must Be Crazy - WikipediaTaskPaper – Plain text to-do lists for MacDrafts | Where Text StartsEditorial for iOSUNC-Chapel Hill shooting: Graduate student charged with murder of associate professor | CNNStudents criticize the University of North Carolina's response to an active shooter emergency - POLITICOParents concerned after E. coli outbreak at Calgary daycares | Calgary Herald506. Kids on Lawns Irrigated With Water Containing Pathogenic E. coli — Risky or Not?Footage from Barcelona-bound Delta flight that was forced to return to Atlanta shows aftermath of passenger's horrific bout of diarrhea that caused ‘biohazard issue' | Daily Mail OnlineFood Safety Talk 37: Inoculating the Plane — Food Safety TalkSeinfeld - The Car Reservation - YouTube47: Peanut Butter Fingering — Risky or Not?Top Four - Relay FMRutgers Researchers Debunk ‘Five-Second Rule': Eating Food off the Floor Isn't Safe | Rutgers University5 Food Safety Tips an Expert Wants You To Know | Well+GoodOfficials solve bread poisoning incident in Portugal that sickened more than 200 | Food Safety NewsGrocery Stores Alarmed by Spinach Giving Customers HallucinationsSimultaneous quantification of ergot and tropane alkaloids in bread in the Netherlands by LC-MS/MS - PubMedSalem Witch Trials Culprit Again | USUWhat's Happening with This Blog? - David GumpertFood Safety Talk 53: Raw Milk Hamsterdam — Food Safety TalkFood Safety Talk 55: Damn Ignorant PhDs — Food Safety TalkFermented Vegetables: Creative Recipes for Fermenting 64 Vegetables & Herbs in Krauts, Kimchis, Brined Pickles, Chutneys, Relishes & Pastes: Christopher Shockey, Kirsten K. Shockey: 0787721860693: Amazon.com: BooksFermented & Acidified Vegetables Bibliography : USDA ARShttps://www.foodprotection.org/files/food-protection-trends/Jun-11-Nummer.pdfNational Center for Home Food PreservationPruno - WikipediaAmbrook ResearchThe Food Section | Hanna Raskin | Substack

I've been promising to cover natural dyeing techniques for a while now, and I've made good on that promise with this episode! I got to speak to a talented and experienced natural dye expert, Amy Taylor. A practitioner and teacher based in Chicago, Amy shares so much information in this extended episode of CYT. We go into the history and techniques, plus she busts some myths and tells us some fun stories of her experiences dyeing fabric with natural substances. If you ever had any questions about this topic, this episode is for you! Ms Amy Taylor website HERE and Instagram @msamytaylor. Amy's first natural dye teacher was Akemi Cohn who can be found HERE. The teacher Amy had in Oaxaca, Mexico is Elsa Sanchez Diaz. I couldn't find a direct contact for her, but you can find some wonderful pictures of her and her dye workshops on THIS BLOG. One is Amy's favourite natural dye substances is cochineal which makes an incredible, rich fuchsia colour (pictured below). Amy's most popular products are the tie dyed briefs undies (pictured below), found HERE. A collaboration with designer Goli June Bridal resulted in stunning silk robes using the bundle dyeing technique using onion skins (pictured below), found HERE. Gasali Adeyemo, Indigo dye expert HERE. Michel Garcia, sustainable dye practice HERE. Maiwa, natural dye supply store HERE. Botanical Colors, suppliers and educators with Feedback Friday HERE. Amy is also inspired by the following dyers, makers and organisations: @thedogwooddyer @silk&tulle @birdy_sew_obsessed @lauracastro.co @ecotone.threads @slowstitches.co @jamiebourgeois @allweremember @wearethreaded

Amazon is likely the front-runner for NFL Sunday Ticket [source]. The NFL may ask for up to $2.5 billion per year for the package, a source said. I expect to see more of the major technology/digital companies (Amazon, Facebook, Google, Apple, Twitter and Netflix) snag the rights to major sporting leagues. It'll be tough for traditional media outlets to compete with the deep pockets of technology. Do you have duplicate content on your website? If you have similar content on multiple pages or content that's eerily similar from elsewhere on the web, this can negatively impact your site rankings on Google. I wrote a blog on the complete guide to duplicate content. Facebook recently announced Facebook glasses, in conjunction with Ray-Ban [learn more]. The glasses can take photos, record video, answer phone calls and play podcasts. Google failed with smart glasses so it'll be interesting to see if Facebook can succeed. I did love THIS TWEET which mocked Facebook for choosing Mark Zuckerberg to be the model to introduce these glasses. As a marketer, I love good cringe worthy, good old fashion local television advertisements. I was in Kansas City this past weekend and came across this gem of a commercial for a local personal injury lawyer, Tarzan the Lawman [view commercial]. While some may balk at the ads, they are memorable and must work. I saw billboards all over the city for this firm and they were spending major dollars on television ads. As for their website, well I think I know someone who can help spruce things up :) The other week in my email blast, I talked about how BNPL (Buy Now Pay Later) is exploding. Square announced it had acquired AfterPay. Shortly thereafter, it was announced that Amazon and Affirm entered a partnership. Well, the stock is up another 25% after reporting 71% revenue growth and strong guidance [read CNBC Story]. eCommerce accounted for 65% of William-Sonoma's total revenue [source]. Prior to the pandemic, eCommerce accounted for less than 30% of sales in the furniture category. William-Sonoma's stock has more than tripled since the pandemic lows [view here]. Do you want to drive more traffic to your site from qualified prospects? I have a tip for you [watch my video]. Jot down the 10 most popular questions you get asked by your customers. Write a 750-100 word blog post answering each of these questions. Post each blog onto your site. Start using this blog as sales collateral when your customers call again asking these questions. The beauty of this strategy is you'll likely get new customers from people who search for these exact questions on Google. When we build a new website or optimize a site for SEO, the first thing we look at is the URL Structure. Think of a URL Structure similar to house. Both need a strong foundation to avoid future issues and set you up for future success. I wrote THIS BLOG on creating the optimal URL Structure for SEO.

As homeschooling parents, we have to overcome many obstacles and hurdles, to provide out children with the education and lifestyle we want for them. When you first begin, one of the biggest barriers to home education, is dealing with naysayers. In those beginning months and years of home education, many of us are fragile. The slightest bump in the road can shatter our confidence and leave us questioning our decision to homeschool. And so, when people around us find fault in our homeschooling, it can send us into a negative spiral, of self-doubt and shame. This Blog-post may contain affiliate links. Please see Disclaimer for more information. So what do you do when someone tells you that you shouldn't homeschool your children? In episode 34 of the Raising Mums podcast, I discuss how to deal with naysayers, in a way that will leave you feeling empowered, rather than ashamed. WATCH THIS VIDEO! https://youtu.be/s8MZIq3BGYs The key to dealing with naysayers is to identify if they are truly coming from a place of concern, or simply feeding their own ego. In both situations, put yourself into their position and respond with love and compassion. This doesn't mean that you can't stand up for yourself. If you are being mistreated, you must! But do it with compassion, and you will leave the situation feeling more empowered, and confident in your decision to home educate your kids. Related: Homeschooling | When you don't have enough time! Our Lovely Sponsor This episode of Raising Mums was brought to you by Miraj Stories! You can save up to 25% off on this Islamic app for children aged 4-9, with an exclusive Discount Code just for Our Muslim Homeschool fans! It includes Islamic audiobooks, picture books, songbooks and games. It’s Halal and there are NO ADs! Alhumdulillah! Miraj Stories is such an EASY way to incorporate Islamic learning into your child’s homeschooling!  They are currently offering a 7 day FREE TRIAL, so give it a go! CLICK HERE to GET 25% OFF Miraj Stories! https://mirajstories.com/ourmuslimhomeschool/ I'll be back again for another episode of Raising Mums, on Sunday 21st February 2021 at 4pm GMT, LIVE on Facebook and Instagram, insha'Allah. This time, I'll be discussing, How to Educate Children Under 5 at Home! See you then! Peace and Love, @import url(https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Open+Sans:400,400italic,700,700italic); .ml-form-embedSubmitLoad{display:inline-block;width:20px;height:20px}.ml-form-embedSubmitLoad:after{content:" ";display:block;width:11px;height:11px;margin:1px;border-radius:50%;border:4px solid #fff;border-color:#fff #fff #fff transparent;animation:ml-form-embedSubmitLoad 1.2s linear infinite}@keyframes ml-form-embedSubmitLoad{0%{transform:rotate(0)}100%{transform:rotate(360deg)}}#mlb2-1752390.ml-form-embedContainer{box-sizing:border-box;display:table;margin:0 auto;position:static;width:100%!important}#mlb2-1752390.ml-form-embedContainer button,#mlb2-1752390.ml-form-embedContainer h4,#mlb2-1752390.ml-form-embedContainer p,#mlb2-1752390.ml-form-embedContainer span{text-transform:none!important;letter-spacing:normal!important}#mlb2-1752390.ml-form-embedContainer .ml-form-embedWrapper{background-color:#f6f6f6;border-width:0;border-color:transparent;border-radius:4px;border-style:solid;box-sizing:border-box;display:inline-block!important;margin:0;padding:0;position:relative}#mlb2-1752390.ml-form-embedContainer .ml-form-embedWrapper.embedDefault,#mlb2-1752390.ml-form-embedContainer .ml-form-embedWrapper.embedPopup{width:400px}#mlb2-1752390.ml-form-embedContainer .ml-form-embedWrapper.embedForm{max-width:400px;width:100%}#mlb2-1752390.ml-form-embedContainer .ml-form-align-left{text-align:left}#mlb2-1752390.ml-form-embedContainer .ml-form-align-center{text-align:center}#mlb2-1752390.ml-form-embedContainer .ml-form-align-default{display:table-cell!important;vertical-align:middle!

See all the Healthcast's at https://www.biobalancehealth.com/healthcast-blog/ Doctor lingo is often confusing to those patients who don't work in the medical profession, and even to some of us who work in medicine, so I believe it is important to translate some of the phrases your doctor uses when explaining why he or she has chosen a particular treatment plan for you.  This Blog addresses what your doctor means when he chooses a treatment plan based on the Standard of Care or the Guidelines written by his particular specialty group. These two terms are often misleading and often following guidelines or Standard of Care is an excuse for doing less than excellent care or even out of date care! Read on to understand how to interpret these phrases when choosing the best medical treatments for you or your family. Over 25 years ago I decided to offer my help to patients who were injured and to doctors who were being sued without merit, by becoming an expert witness.  My husband is an attorney and I had always gotten many requests to review medical records for his attorney friends to determine whether a doctor had treated a patient with neglect or had injured a patient secondary to an act of malpractice.  Before engaging in this endeavor, I sat down with my husband and asked some necessary questions about what a patient could sue over and what a doctor could use to defend herself if she were sued without merit. He taught me that doctors are held to a standard that is called the “standard of care” and if he or she fell below that level of care then she (let's call all doctors “she” for this blog since I am a woman doctor) would be held negligent if there was lasting damage to a patient.  To my surprise he defined the medical standard of care as the lowest level of care or the least a doctor could do when caring for a patient. Prior to this time, I had thought “standard of care” meant the best care a doctor or nurse can give a patient; however, the name is misleading and is meant to protect doctors from lawsuits and to defend doctors working in indigent and rural areas where they have very few tools and tests to use to diagnose and treat patients. Needless to say, that day I changed how I used the term “the standard of care!”, and how I viewed the care I gave to my patients. When planning a procedure or a treatment, If your doctor tells you he is following the standard of care you should let her know that you understand that that is the minimum she can do, and that you want the best care possible for your problem, if it is available the most accurate testing and treatment possible.  By letting them know, that you KNOW, you understand the lingo they are using and that you want to receive the best care, you are likely to have a much better outcome than if the bare minimum is done for you. An example is often seen in the emergency room when a female patient comes in with urinary symptoms: painful urination, trouble passing urine, and back pain. The standard of care is to get a urine specimen and if there is blood in the urine, and white blood cells the standard of care would be to send the urine off for culture and treat the patient with antibiotics.  However, these symptoms are often the sign of a kidney stone, or a renal tumor.  A simple Xray can usually find kidney stones, or an ultrasound of the kidneys can diagnose dilation of the kidneys that would indicate an obstruction of the ureters like a stone or a tumor. Positive tests would lead to more diagnostic procedures and negative would solidify the diagnosis of a urinary tract infection.  The Xray and or Ultrasound would be above the standard of care, but not all hospitals have a radiologist on call to do these tests outside of normal business hours.  Another test that is above the standard of care is a culture of the cervix for chlamydia, a sexually transmitted disease that can scar fallopian tubes and cause infertility.  An above minimal care test would be to also culture the cervix for chlamydia so that the patient could be made aware of an STD so her partner can be treated as well as receive appropriate treatment for Chlamydia.  The chlamydia test would be above the standard of care but is also a necessary test in sexually active women to prevent infertility and should be done! The term Standard of care is also the phrase used by politicians who want to cut your access to expensive treatments and diagnostic procedures.  When politicians who are supported by the wealthy insurance industry, or when political agencies like the CDC and NIH create a standard of care for all of America it is based on spending as little money as possible to serve the greatest number of people, NOT for the health and welfare of individual Americans. Beware when anyone including politicians, lawyers and doctors start using standard of care as a goal of treatment instead of the lowest common denominator of treatment. You and I want the best care for ourselves and our family that our insurance, or Medicare will pay for and sometimes to get the best doctors or treatments we have to pay out of pocket as well, however the second misleading term that can cause us to be treated inferiorly is the “Medical Guidelines” of our medical specialty groups. Let me tell a story about being board certified in a specialty such as mine, OBGYN. In 1999 the guidelines from the American College of OBGYN, ACOG, our national organization that sets treatment guidelines for doctors who care for women, gave a national recertification test in Dallas, TX.  Hundreds of doctors sat in a large room and took a 6-hour written test that was supposed to test us to see if they were good enough doctors to be board certified in our specialty. All of the practicing OBGYNs had already been certified but a retest was necessary every 10 years at that time.  We all studied the guidelines that listed the tests necessary to provide the lowest standard of care to be a member of ACOG, but the problem was the guidelines were at least 10 years out of date, and if a doctor read the research and practiced the way we should, at the most advanced level of practice, then they would fail the test because it was behind the times!  For example, I had been treating PMS for women successfully for a decade with natural progesterone nightly during the second half of the menstrual cycle, and the research had come out that said it was a psychiatric disease, but in fact it was a REAL disease!  ACOG was so behind the times that they were wrong about the Diagnosis as a disease at all! On the test the question was, “Is PMS a real condition?”. The right answer for the test was NO, but the correct answer was YES!  The college of OBGYN was behind in its guidelines and teaching of residents by a decade! PMS had been acknowledged as a disease years before the test and those of us who practiced up to date medicine were marked wrong on this question as many others like it.  I was the victim of another outdated “guideline” that ACOG published in 1988 during my oral boards.  I was a few years out of residency when a 5 man panel of OBGYNs quizzed me about the surgeries I had done over the past year.  I had done quite a few ovarian cyst removals and ovarian removals through the laparoscope, which was the new (about 7 years old at the time) way to remove ovaries and cysts without making a big incision in a woman's abdomen, and I had been taught in residency and continued to work with general surgeons to hone my skills with the laparoscope when I took this test.  I actually was failed because I was “ahead of my time” and used the laparoscope “too much”.  When I asked them how much was enough, they had no answer! The guidelines had not changed with the practice of my specialty! Now, most ovaries and ovarian cysts are treated that way!  Laparoscopic surgical technique had not been accepted into the guidelines yet, in 1988, but the research and practice had been around almost a decade! Last but not least is the fact that there are always very old, retired and obstinate men at the top of the medical specialties who do not accept the new way of doing things until they are already being done by everyone!  If you are ahead of your time and treat patients with much more than the standard of care you are penalized!  I view the medical specialties a large leviathan that can't turn quickly so is often behind the curve. When trying to communicate with your doctor please ask for all the options available for your problem..not just medications but procedures too.  I had to see a cardiac physiologist because I have had atrial fibrillation for the last decade and it was getting worse. I finally needed a procedure to stop it, an ablation. II did my homework and knew there was a one-day procedure that did not require premedication with a poisonous drug that I am allergic to, so I knew it was possible to have this procedure with one day in the hospital and no premedication.  When I saw the first doctor, he told me I would have to be in the hospital on a drug (in the same family as the one I am allergic to) for 3 days ahead of time and 2-3 days after the procedure.  I asked him if there was any other way to do this, and he said no.  Then I knew he was lying!  I asked him if he did the procedure by using a balloon that froze the pulmonary vein in an hour or so, or a radio wave that took 5-7 hours under anesthesia. He told me the only way he did it was the radio wave because it was “safer”.  In fact, my extensive research revealed that the less time under anesthesia is the safest way for any procedure and that the balloon freezing method had fewer complications!  I left that doctor, never to return and interviewed another doctor who told me the truth and I am scheduled with him soon to have a one- day hospital stay with the balloon procedure.  When I asked him which he preferred to perform when ablating the pulmonary vein, he said he does both and I could choose which one I felt most comfortable with!  How refreshing. So, the things I would like you to remember to protect yourself is that you don't necessarily want a doctor who views the standard of care and medical specialty guidelines as the newest and best way to practice medicine.  I would also like you to ask your doctor these questions: Can you please compare the risks and benefits of the two or three types of treatment or surgeries for me? How many times have you done this surgery? How long will I be in the hospital, in recovery, out of work? Which medication or surgery choice would you have your mother, father, child undergo if they had the same problem as I do? Run from a doctor who views the standard of care his highest goal and the guidelines to be current and the only way to practice!  Stay healthy and informed! Stay healthy and informed, this is Dr Kathy Maupin Medical director of BioBalance Health.

To be a better guide you must pay attention to your communication, journaling and managing expectations of clients. Check out this podcast and other linked in THIS BLOG for all the ways you can improve your guiding. Important things to note would also be your fitness, making sure you're getting enough sleep and not comparing yourself to other guides. Comparison is the thief of joy.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To be a better guide you must pay attention to your communication, journaling and managing expectations of clients. Check out this podcast and other linked in THIS BLOG for all the ways you can improve your guiding. Important things to note would also be your fitness, making sure you're getting enough sleep and not comparing yourself to other guides. Comparison is the thief of joy.

Hi Everyone, Welcome to ParentTalk’s REAL MOM MOMENTS!!! These segments include the "Cute and the Funny" as well as the "Crazy and Frazzled" moments they are experiencing being mothers of young children. In this episode, Heather talks about her transition to becoming a mom of 2 and Genevieve shares the fun and silly way that has been working to gain cooperation from her toddler in the mornings as well as her hubby’s newest “playlist”. We are also announcing the winner of our “Spa Contest”!!  Click on The Mompreneur to read our write up from Jennifer Kolbuc. This Blog is a must follow! Have a great day, Genevieve & Heather

As both a sewist and a full time psychologist, Charlie from This Blog is not for You" gave us an inside look into just how our hobby benefits our mental health. Many of us have felt the positive environment of the sewing community, but it can be hard to pinpoint why sewists are so nurturing, encouraging and accepting. We dive into some real advantages that we have in negotiating the sometimes fraught landscape of self image and body image. And an added chat with Amy from Making Marilyn, Emulating Elle, on how sewing is integral to her mental health.

This Blog is voiced by my good friend Susie. Its Sunday, I haven’t spoken since Thursday and it has not been as difficult as I expected.

Show notes Intro—Intro: Encouraging you to fight everyday for your mind, your body and your soul .17—Workout talk 2.12—Millionaire Hoy workouts on YouTube 3:00—Quiet time talk 7:30—How to get out of old grooves of thinking 14:00—“Why Do I Struggle with This?” Blog from www.livelaughlight.com 20:00—Discipline makes us who we are 24:00—Embracing YOUR fight, enjoying the victory 27:00—Connect with us! @elsimms @4titude_fitness @annalight09 www.axispodcast.com 29:00—Questions: “How do I recover from food guilt?” 34:00—Setting yourself up for failure 36:30—“How do I become more knowledgable about health and fitness and find what works for me?” 38:00—The Worlds Healthiest Foods—Book 39:00—The Strength Training Bible for Women—Book 40:00—It Starts with Food—book 41:30—Switch on Your Brain—book 42:20—Books by Jade Tetta 45:00—Start somewhere 48:00—Invest in yourself 50:00—Using your freedom to be the best you can be 52:00—Share this podcast, subscribe, review! 54:00—Final encouragement to FIGHT!

Today I talk with CLUB 52 member and PATREON supporter Susan Sussman about setting up your first fundraiser show. Susan is a comedienne from Norfolk, VA who I met through the podcast. She followed through on some of the suggestions I made in THIS BLOG about setting up a show. Then we talked live about the event. And, next I followed up afterwards to see how it went. Thanks to this week's Patreon Sponsor Ron Havens and the Clean Comedy Challenge! Lot's of great info on this episode about setting a comedy show, whether it be your own show or a comedy fundraiser show. We cover a lot of ground, including: How many comics to have on the show How long the comedy show should be Where to set ticket prices Stage, sound and lights set up Expecting the unexpected at a fundraiser show Marketing and advertising Food and beverage Structuring the line up of the show and much, much more. Thanks to this week's Patreon Sponsor Ron Havens and the Clean Comedy Challenge! This podcast is a production of the Rik Roberts School of Laughs. For more information on stand-up comedy classes and posts on how to go about getting the business visit: www.SchoolOfLaughs.com.    

RIGHT HERE, TODAY, at NOON WEIGHT LOSS RADIO Get ready for tonights amazing class.  Determine your Phase 3 "Fat Burn" schedule,  Meal Timing, Protein Requirements, calories you burn per hour, and let me show you how to burn fat each and every hour. This Blog talk episode is a preface to this weeks Phase 2 class.

This is a Movie from Sept. 2005. It stands the test of time; only the gas prices have gone up. There is also a great free-jazz soundtrack which uses Blondie's Heart of Glass for the melody. This video was lifted from the Make a Difference Blog: "I believe that it is possible to change the world through the smallest actions. This Blog explores the little things that not only I but others do in order to make a difference." Here is the text from the post "As a poor college student booming gas prices are a down right pain in the ass. So what does one poor student do? Or anybody for that matter? Well, there are many routs, but I decided to acquire a bike. I found one that didn't belong to anybody in the basement of the house I am living in. I got it fixed up, and now I am gas free. Sure it cost money to fix it, but in my mind I'm not only getting off my fat ass, and getting some exercise, but I am feeling good about it. In my opinion the gas price boom is, in large part, due to panic. And I chose not to support it. I think when gas companies can price their gas in relation to the actual supply and demand of the country and stop profiteering than I will decide to support them, but until then I just have to make sure I leave for class a few minutes earlier than I would normaly. What do you think?" I think it's terrific! It's short and to the point. It says "fuck big oil. I'll ride my bike and it's more fun anyway." The camera work is simple and effective. I love the above the head POV and the shadow shots. The music brings it all together.