Blog Post #5

Blog 5

People pursue health because of many reasons. Some because they have had enough of being ill and being controlled by their illness. Others because they feel they finally can appreciate what all life has to offer and want to take advantage of the blessing of being alive. These are just two of many reasons people pursue health and desire to be well in every aspect of their lives. As a health educator, it is joyous when a patient desire to live and to live a full life. It is amazing to see a patient take control of their health not allowing anything to stop their pursuit of ultimate health. The shingles virus through my experience is a virus so devastating to many people affected that I wonder how miraculous for someone to regain their health after that experience. I remember a loved one feeling as if they have no control their body anymore so it seemed easier to just surrender and let the virus takes its toll. This is the point where health educators, family, and other professionals in the health field come in and help the person in a way they cannot help themselves. At the times when someone feel that regaining their health is distant, it is important to remember that encouragement and aid in those moment makes a great impact in their lives. Patients look for words of encouragement, comfort, and people to do for them what they feel they can’t do for themselves. We must be reminded to be sensitive to the needs of others at all times as their lives may be depending on it. 

Blog Post #4

Blog 4 

No one really understands the experience of someone else until they themselves have the same experience it. Through having someone close to me experience shingles I can only imagine what a person feels dealing with that kind of an illness. The person that I knew who had gone through this horrible experience tried explained to the best of their abilities what it felt like to live with the virus. At that point all I had to offer was encouragement each day as a way to help them move through this experience a little better. Family members are great for patients because they are able to offer support, encouragement, and most importantly but certainly not the least, comfort. It may seem as though they are at a lost but patients do appreciate the presence of their loved ones by their side. I feel that them knowing that they are not alone, patients seem stronger and more encouraged to get through the illness and achieve optimal health. It is important for the family to go the clinic with the patient and ask questions so that the patient and the physician sees that they have loved ones desiring to care for them during this time. Family members should know the medications that the patients are taking, how they are to take it, when they are to take, and most importantly for how long. This will increase the chances of the patient getting well and will remove any worry of whether or not the patient will be able to care for themselves. It will be a great help to have a professionals go over what all needs to be done for the patient to care for themselves to get well quickly if the time they have with the patient makes it possible. The patient and the family member should be aware of all the resources available to them. I believe that the saying is true for the most part that when a person knows better, they do better.  

Blog Post #3

Blog 3

When people hear the words that someone or they themselves are ill, I believe the life inside of them dies a little. The diagnosis of any illness will by far impact the individual possibly more than the illness itself. At times we fear things that seems impossible to overcome or things that holds us captive and that fear is more crippling than the physical effects of the illness. Many people are aware of the shingles virus and the symptoms and effects it has on an individual. We as a society need to learn to live each day fully present and aware of our actions, emotions, and thoughts. People can manage shingles by being fully present, positive, and active in their own lives. People infected by the virus can overcome it and can revitalize their health by the way they choose to approach the situation. Their needs to be support from family members as well as medical professionals to help the patient achieve optimal health. Patients may ask the healthcare provider whether or not the virus can come back after they become well. They may also ask how they became infected with the virus. These are all common questions that could easily be answered by a healthcare provider. What is important in overcoming this illness is understanding how and when to take your medications. Medication is the key to getting well and it is important that a patient knows without a doubt how to take their medicine and the correct dosage to take. Taking medication, being physically active, and being more aware of your nutritional habits are part of a day to day self-management habit and will get them to where they desire to be in terms of their health. 

Blog Post #2

Blog 2

With any and all illnesses and disease, patients have to take basic care of themselves in order to better manage their health. Aside from following the orders of the doctors, patients must drink the appropriate amount water daily and get involved in light physical activities. They must be aware of their overall wellbeing in order to know how they can improve it. Our mental health does have a bearing on our physical health and so does our emotional health. A shingles infected patient must be confident in knowing what to do to manage their health as they are infected. Many times patients become weakened with the diagnosis given that they are barely able to function, let alone care for themselves. It is important for the health educator to walk them through each day until they build the confidence to successfully care for themselves independently. The patients must know what all that is involved to care for themselves day-to-day and be prepared for situations where the normal effects of taking medicine for the virus begin to physically appear. Patients must understand what are the preventive steps that must be taken and why. This will also include ensuring them that with care the effects of the virus will subside. 

Blog post #1

Blog 1

The media has a way of greatly influencing our actions. The first time I have ever heard of shingles it was in a commercial and it scared me as a viewer but informed me as I had no idea what this illness was. It is a bit humorous how people become more and more aware of certain things after being exposed to it and more aware than before the exposure. After hearing about the virus, I had a close family member who experienced it soon after. Shingles, according to the Mayo Clinic is a viral infection that causes a person to breakout in a rash. The cause of shingles is the same as chicken pox which is a virus known as varicella-zoster. This lies dormant in a person after they have had the chicken pox near the spinal cord and brain until it is active and appears as the shingles virus. From knowing people who have personally experience having this illness I can say that it is very painful and without a trip to your doctor or the emergency room, there is very little that can be done to eliminate the symptoms and the effects of shingles. There is a sense of relief knowing what shingles is and being educated on what can be done if this illness ever appears in my life. Knowledge of this will lead many people to better help themselves when experiencing shingles.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/shingles/basics/definition/con-20019574

Source: http://www.medicinenet.com/shingles_picture_slideshow/article.htm