Blog
Who is a Caregiver, Anyway?
In our world today the term caregiver comes to mind when someone mentions dementia, Alzheimer’s, cancer, ALS, stroke and other serious medical conditions. Many people are familiar with the story of a son or daughter who takes over the care of their aged parent(s)....
In Memory of Bill
I never met John Jay “Bill” Hays even though he lived not far from me in California. He was just a year younger than me and had we met we most likely would have been friends. It’s one of life’s strange coincidences that several years ago, in his home town of...
TPC Comfort Cookin’: Lovin’ Them Leftovers
At my house, I seldom know exactly how many I am feeding (can be anywhere from 2 to 6). Usually I have a rough idea, but erring on the side of planning for more is usually prudent. Then there are those recipes which are difficult to cut down. The end result means...
You’ve Got To Be Kidding Me!
Recently I read an article titled, “Drug-Test Physicians? Docs Say 'No Way”. I was lost for words. I could do nothing but sit and shake my head. Then, I wanted to scream so loud that all the physicians who were quoted in the article could hear me: “You’ve got to be...
Do You Dream of Sleep?
I find this topic of conversation comes up a lot, especially for those who live with pain. Sleep. Will I find a comfortable position? Will I fall asleep tonight? Will I be able to sleep in my bed or will I resort to the sofa or recliner? Will I stay asleep? Will I...
Held To a Higher Standard
As I sat in the jury room listening to my fellow jurors deliberating the case before us, I was suddenly struck with the similarities to how some people with pain are talked about and treated. Before us was a case of a convicted felon who had served his time. The...
Old Pain Medications, New Rules
I had an interesting conversation the other day with a journalist. No kidding! I spent about 30 minutes on the phone discussing the recent upscheduling of hydrocodone-containing combination products (HCCP). Here are some of the most common of the 65 brand names and...
Dear Person With Pain: Help Me Fight Back!
This is the final entry of a three part series (part one | part two) that I have written regarding the stigma that we as people living pain face daily. I have lived with pain for nearly half of my lifetime. I would love to be able to say that things have changed for...
Caregivers Unite: We Must Support People Living with Pain
My soul-mate has lived with chronic pain for over 20 years. I am biased but I think she is superwoman. She raised 3 children, took care of our home, cooked, cleaned and now she spends hours playing and enjoying her grandchildren and loves every painful minute of it....
Being Home: Just a Stroll Away
This may seem paradoxical. Even though I’ve been disabled for 20 years, I’ve been able to walk for nearly 4 miles most mornings in spite of having extensive spinal surgery 15 years ago. There are mornings when either the pain or the colitis has hold of me and I stay...