2023 December News

12/11/23: "Massive Study Finds a Link Between Commuting and Poor Mental Health"- https://www.sciencealert.com/massive-study-finds-a-link-between-commuting-and-poor-mental-health

What Are Sleep Disorders? By L.K. Currie-McGhee

 

Wondering around my local library (I found this book at the main branch of the Aurora Public Library) I went into the the young adult section to see what kinds of nonfiction books I could find. I was kind of surprised to find that they did have a mini health and wellness section. I found this book to be a good simple introduction to sleep disorders. Not only would this book be good for young readers, but also adults who are on the go and want some quick information about sleep disorders. I could see this as a first book that a person would read if someone in their family just got diagnosed and are trying to fit getting information in while trying to support that family member. I wish I would have had this book years ago just to help me build a base. Unfortunately our current medical system leaves you hanging a lot of the times and people have to self educate just to stay alive sometimes. 3 stars out of 5 or a C and the only reason why I rated it so low is just because I wished that it had a little more detail on some of the topics.  

Top Picture From: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26483887-what-are-sleep-disorders

2023 November News

11/13/23: "Head of Aurora VA's prosthetics department canceled veterans' orders to eliminate backlog, ex-employees allege"- This kind of underhandedness is not surprising coming from the VA. Employees have been making complaints to HR about people in leadership positions, but nothing is ever down and these poor leaders are not being held accountable for their actions. This is just another case of the VA protecting its leadership instead of showing that they have any ethics or morals. https://www.arcamax.com/currentnews/newsheadlines/s-2959866

11/29/23: "Cannabis Use Linked to Epigenetic Changes, Scientists Reveal"- https://www.sciencealert.com/cannabis-use-linked-to-epigenetic-changes-scientists-reveal

11/30/23: "VA workers face more mandatory overtime amid record claims processing"- This is just one example of how the VA is abusing its employees. Instead of hiring workers to work or run call centers they are making workers either do overtime or do jobs that they did not sign up for and that equals way more then the standard 10% other duties as assigned. My mother actually works for the VA and is one of many employees that have been and continue to be abused by VA leadership. There have been many complaints to both HR and the VA union and nothing is being achieved. VA leadership is refusing to acknowledge that the patient experiences is shaped by the employee experience. It is common knowledge that happy workers lead to better customer service, but those currently in VA leadership do not have the skills enough to even understand this. I will continue to include information about how messed up the VA is on this blog since it is one of the major health systems in our country. https://www.federaltimes.com/management/pay-benefits/2023/11/30/va-workers-face-more-mandatory-overtime-amid-record-claims-processing/

11/29/23: "Caffeine Could Have a Surprising Effect on The Brain's Ability to Learn"- https://www.sciencealert.com/caffeine-could-have-a-surprising-effect-on-the-brains-ability-to-learn

2023 October News

10/2/23: "Rising Addiction to Milk Tea Linked to Depression in Adolescents"- https://www.sciencealert.com/rising-addiction-to-milk-tea-linked-to-depression-in-adolescents

Accessible Halloween Costumes 2023

 

So this year I was a little disappointed that there weren't that many new styles of adaptive Halloween costumes to be found. Most were the same styles has had been offered in previous years. For those new to the topic of accessible/adaptive Halloween costumes, these are costumes that are made to be able to accommodate things like medical equipment or mobility devices so that more people can still get the full Halloween experience. 

Disney (https://www.shopdisney.com/halloween-shop/costumes/adaptive-costumes/)

The Little Mermaid Wheelchair Wrap

For this one only the wheelchair parts will cost $49.99 while the body costume is sold separately.

Target (https://www.target.com/c/adaptive-halloween-costumes/-/N-66yhm)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Mayhem Wheelchair Cover

The wheelchair parts will cost you $35 and then the adaptive body costume is another $35, so a total of $70 before taxes and shipping.

Adult Witch

So at first I was super excited to see an adult adaptive costume then I saw the sizes.... they only went up to a large. Good to know that the adult body type for people with disabilities stops at a large. Pissed me off. This is an example of where a little more diversity is being accepted, but some other human features like body size/weight is still being left out. Plus size people are many times left without options when it comes to Halloween costumes and as adaptive costumes continue to expand I hope that manufactures start to think about more overlapping identities. $25 for this one.

Adult Skeleton

Ouch once again. So for this one men can come in a size up to extra large only, and there are no small men. Target is really not doing well on their sizing. I also did research for this article in August and September, so even before they could blame limited sizes on selling out. So Target really needs to do better. Also their costumes for adults also seem to be very gender focused. This costume is also $25.

Adaptive Trick or Treat Pumpkin Halloween Backpack

This is kind of cool, but at the same time a lot of bags can be placed on wheelchairs using one handle on each hand hold. I guess this one would be better because less of a chance for the bag to rub up against the wheels. $10.

HalloweenCostumes.com (https://www.halloweencostumes.com/adaptive-costumes.html)

Pikachu 

A little pricey when compared to other adaptive body costumes out there at $59.99. I was able to find this on Amazon for only $35.

You can also check out our articles from past years on accessible/adaptive costumes at:

https://geekedcolorado.blogspot.com/2021/10/accessible-costumes-2021.html

https://geekedcolorado.blogspot.com/2022/10/accessible-halloween-costumes-2022.html

Top Picture From: https://nmeda.org/the-magic-wheelchair/

The Little Mermaid Wheelchair Wrap Picture: https://www.shopdisney.com/the-little-mermaid-adaptive-wheelchair-wrap-428425183601.html

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Mayhem Wheelchair Cover Picture: https://www.target.com/p/kids-39-adaptive-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-mutant-mayhem-halloween-costume-wheelchair-cover/-/A-87351576#lnk=sametab

Adult Witch Picture: https://www.target.com/p/adult-adaptive-witch-halloween-costume-with-hat-hyde-eek-boutique/-/A-89453025?preselect=79283833#lnk=sametab

Adult Skeleton Picture: https://www.target.com/p/adult-adaptive-skeleton-halloween-costume-jumpsuit-with-mask-hyde-eek-boutique/-/A-87738951?preselect=87351523#lnk=sametab

Adaptive Trick or Treat Pumpkin Halloween Backpack Picture: https://www.target.com/p/kids-39-adaptive-trick-or-treat-pumpkin-halloween-backpack-hyde-38-eek-boutique-8482/-/A-87351490#lnk=sametab

Pikachu Picture: https://www.halloweencostumes.com/pokemon-kids-pikachu-adaptive-costume.html

Other Resources for an Adaptive/Accessible Halloween

"Wheelchair Halloween Costumes and More"- https://www.braunability.com/us/en/blog/accessible-living/halloween-costume-for-wheelchair-users.html

Magic Wheelchair- https://www.magicwheelchair.org/

Note: This article will get updated throughout the 2023 Halloween season as I find more options and info.

9/30/23-

While I was out shopping today I actually found one of the wheelchair sets in store. Normally you have to order these online, so it was really great to see it in a store since the stores are easier access.

Also while I was there I saw the below display, which is great because it is not only a more diverse image, but it also let's people know that there are accessible costumes online.

I just wish they would also put the website on the bottom since QR codes don't work on all phones. It's still progress though.

Chronic Muscle Pain Syndrome: Understanding and Treating Fibrositis- The Body's Powerful Reaction to Deep-Rooted Stress

Chronic Muscle Pain Syndrome: Understanding and Treating Fibrositis- The Body's Powerful Reaction to Deep-Rooted Stress (1989) By Paul Davidson, M.D. ISBN: 0-394-56860-5

This book review may seem random, but I will also be covering books on different health topics. I picked this specific book because our current health system is forcing me to become an expert in fibromyalgia. I say forcing because it really is. A family member was diagnosed with fibromyalgia years ago and since then we have been bouncing from specialist to specialist and back and forth to the primary all because everyone says they can't help even though they were recommended by someone else. It is frustrating and it forces people to learn how to be doctors themselves because no one will help them. Because of all of this I am using all of my science and limited medical background to try and get a medical understanding to help my family member. This is unfortunately normal in our medical system. I figure that I would share the information I find, which is the overall goal of this blog any way, so that others can find additional resources to help themselves navigate health in our modern world and crazy medical system.

One of the first things that this book talks about is the history of fibromyalgia and the different names that it has been known as through the years. This is actually a thing that has been known for hundreds of years if not longer. Some doctors will tell you it is a new thing, but it is not and there is no excuse as to why by this point there is not more info on it. It does really seem that doctors don't care about the disease or the people that suffer from it. He also talks about how primary care doctors will send you to specialists to get treatment. The problem is that in today's medical world that the specialists send you back to the primary care doctor saying they can't help you and that it is the primary care doctor's job to take care of fibromyalgia. The primary care doctor is a generalist that doesn't have time to try and specialize in something because they are busy dealing with colds, sports exams, and the such. This book did talk about some treatments, but it seemed like he blamed fibromyalgia on either the lack of sleep or on a person's mental health. If it was this simple then treatment would be easy, but it's not. There was also a section of the book that recommended some different exercises. I think this is a good book for people to start with like myself, but I really feel like it was just trying to explain away the issue because if you have dealt with the disease for awhile what he recommended really doesn't work and just in a way is general health recommendations. I do not feel like Davidson is an expert in any way on the subject or that he should be fully trusted.

Note Highlights:

-back in the 1970s studies were showing a connection between fibromyalgia and poor sleep. (P43-44)

-"doctors can find major clues to the diagnosis by listening carefully as the patient relates his or her complaints instead of relying primarily on the results of laboratory and x-ray studies." (P48)

-Some disorders can mimic fibrositis like polymyalgia rheumatica, giant cell arteritis, multiple areas of tendinitis, and hypothyroidism. (P61)

-Prednisone has little to no effect on fibrositis. (P62)

-Stress can cause fatigue. "not in physical disease but in a mind wearied by stress, anxieties, tensions, and depression." (P102)

-stress can also cause headaches, irritable syndrome and disturbed sleep. (P103-104)

-General physicians will "relinquish the investigation and care of patients to rheumatologists, neurologists, orthopedic surgeons, physiatrists, industrially based physicians, and dentists." (P109)

I found this book in the medical section at the college library on the Auraria Campus in Denver. Three different schools support this library, but even with that they have a limited selection of physical books. They only had two books on fibromyalgia and I checked them both out. 

2023 September News

9/5/23: "What you should do if a household member tests positive for Covid-19, according to an expert"- https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/05/health/covid-precautions-jill-biden-tests-positive-wellness/index.html?fbclid=IwAR32KaUsnSkYm1uAG14dlJ4MHxwgNY8_m_TZzMw5KTpSfUQG1gM6BD_yqSk

9/6/23: "Schools grapple with COVID safety amid late summer surge"- https://www.axios.com/2023/09/06/covid-19-school-cases-summer-surge?fbclid=IwAR33P88XDKW8cTch6WD6MLb6YtTNBO1WtB0amwDUcIrkvIYnYg0ynnODNIA

9/12/23: "CDC director discusses updated COVID booster as infections rise from latest variant"- https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/cdc-director-discusses-updated-covid-booster-as-infections-rise-from-latest-variant?fbclid=IwAR3etMMSoISwKhF7Ld3ooO6hwBR73yDNDAg172B7aJ47qCUgZ7eWpeS-CMU