Dealing with health challenges

I'm sick. I do not have a lot of energy for writing today. Also, I feel like I need to catch up some more on the Relief Society letters.

When this particular blog started, it was specifically for storing the emergency preparedness newsletters somewhere. I had started out as a ward preparedness specialist, then for the stake, then on the ward level again, and in each of those roles I did a monthly newsletter.

When I started doing the Relief Society newsletter, it was not specifically for preparedness at all, at least not at first. For the first year there would be one piece by different women in the ward, and then a section from the Fly Lady. (Those were home tips from a web site. She drove me nuts, but a lot of people like her.)

The Fly Lady section was replaced by a preparedness section, and I did write that, but a lot of it was based on things I had written before, so there never seemed to be a need to capture them here. Now I keep feeling drawn back to the material. It isn't even necessarily my own.

I think there are two things going on. One is that I am currently in between project phases, and I will start having new things to write soon, but I am not really there yet. I could force the issue, or I could take a break from this blog, but neither feels quite right. I suspect this is because of the other thing, in that many of the women shared really good information, and maybe it is meant to reach additional people. So, we will do some catching up, with credit where credit is due.

Thoughts on Dealing with Health Challenges by Sandy Christensen

I’ve been asked to share a few thoughts about caring for family members with health challenges. While this isn’t a particularly exciting topic, it is something that most, if not all of us, will face at some point in our lives. While I don’t claim to be an expert on the subject, I hope that the insights that I have gained over the past year caring for my husband and son during their extended illnesses can be of some benefit to you in dealing with not only health challenges, but other types of “stretch assignments” as well.

1. Trials are part of life. They are part of the plan and part of the reason we chose to come to earth. Try to accept them and not fight them too much. Although unpleasant, our trials can be our greatest teachers as illustrated by this quote by Elder Orson F. Whitney.

“No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God…and it is through sorrow and suffering toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire and which make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven.” (as quoted in Faith Precedes the Miracle, p. 98)

2. Prepare temporally as much as possible. You never can tell what is around the corner in life. There is no way to prepare for some events, but for other challenges we can prepare. Obtain health insurance if at all possible. Save $ for unexpected emergencies. Establish a relationship with a good primary care physician. Keep basic health supplies on hand : fever reducer and OTC pain medicine, pedialyte, chicken broth, crackers, cold remedies, Benadryl, toilet paper, peptol bismol, etc. This will save you a late night trip to the store.

3. Prepare spiritually for the unexpected. If we add “spiritual oil to our lamps” each and every day, we will be prepared to face the challenges that come to us. It doesn’t mean that it won’t be difficult, or that we won’t suffer, but we will be able to turn to our Savior and feel his love and support, and that will strengthen us and carry us through. With His help we can become a better person, not a bitter person.

4. Seek spiritual power during the trial.  Pray for guidance and strength. Listen to the Spirit. Read the scriptures, and a conference talk every day. Pray for your Doctor and other medical providers that they will be inspired. Fast. Attend the temple. Put the patient’s name on the prayer roll of one or more temples. Obtain priesthood blessings as needed. Both the patient and the long-term caregiver may need a blessing. Priesthood blessings do not need to be our last resort. Heavenly Father loves us and desires to bless us. He is pleased when we exercise our faith in Him.

5. Have an attitude of gratitude. Learn to recognize and express gratitude for the many tender mercies Heavenly Father blesses you with each day. Record these in your journal to provide you with strength later on.

6. Be a good patient/caregiver. You will get better medical care if you prepare in advance for your Doctor’s appointments. Do your research on reputable sites. Knowledge is power, but don’t believe everything you read on the internet. Bring written questions (and your written logs of symptoms, and other pertinent info) to your Doctor’s appointments. Discuss them. Bring another adult—two heads are better than one. Take notes at the appointment so you can remember everything. Find an excellent Doctor and then follow their advice.

7. Take steps to minimize the stress of having a chronic illness, or of being a long-term caregiver. Exercise as vigorously as possible, spend time in nature, listen to uplifting music, record your thoughts in your journal, practice relaxing, (progressive muscle relaxation or guided imagery are two useful techniques). Find joy in small and simple things. Get adequate sleep and good nutrition. If you can’t sleep because of excessive worrying get up and do a “brain dump” – write down all of your thoughts, then go back to sleep. Spend time with the people that encourage and uplift you. Embrace opportunities to serve others. Serving others will lift your own spirits. Send out e-mail/Facebook updates so you can benefit from the love and support of those that care about you, and so you don’t use all of your precious energy giving updates about your patient. This is especially important if things aren’t going so well--it is just too emotionally draining to have to talk about the same distressing news over, and over, again.

Minimize/avoid things that cause you stress: watching/ listening to the news, doing too much internet research on potentially deadly health conditions etc.

I’d like to close with this encouraging, and uplifting quote by Elder Bruce R. McConkie.

“…anything that befalls us here in mortality is but for a small moment, and if we are true and faithful God will eventually exalt us on high. All our losses and sufferings will be made up to us in the resurrection…and God shall wipe away all tears.” ELDER BRUCE R. MCCONKIE, The Dead Who Die in the Lord, November 1976 Ensign