Be A Smart Patient

On January 28th, I had my first appointment with my new gastroenterologist. The first gastroenterologist that I ever had was not for long-term care so my family doctor set me up with a new gastroenterologist but he retired about 2 years later. When he retired, my family doctor set me up with yet another gastroenterologist. It took me a while to finally get an appointment since it was rescheduled twice, but it was worth it. She's amazing. I wasn't sure if I should be excited or nervous but everything turned out okay. In fact, it was better than I could have ever imagined.

I told her my whole history with intestinal disease. I first started having symptoms of blood in the stool around December 2011 but there was never any pain. My first colonoscopy in July 2012 showed inflammation and ulcers in the end of my large intestine and I was diagnosed with proctitis. I was prescribed cortifoam and then suppositories but the blood came back after I finished those medications and I was then sent to another gastroenterologist. This new one sent me for another colonoscopy around January or February 2013 which showed that there was now only inflammation in the end of my large intestine but it was all in one spot and I was prescribed enemas. I was also sent for a  CT scan (which was messed up because I was not given correct instructions) and it showed a suggestion of tightening of the end of my small intestine. My gastroenterologist said that that meant it was Crohn's Disease and I was prescribed mesalazine tablets which I had to work up to 8 per day. I continued taking enemas but the thing is that the blood would go away while I was taking enemas or suppositories but it would come back after I stopped the medication. At one point, I decided to try something on my own. I decided to try working with my diet to see if I could figure out a diet that would help me all the time, or at least most of the time. I started with following a low residue diet and then moved onto a pescetarian diet in May 2015. By following a pescetarian diet, I was not getting any blood most of the time, and when I did get blood, it was only a small amount. I also wasn't sure about the mesalazine tablets. I always asked my previous gastroenterologist if they would help the inflammation at the end of my large intestine and he always told me that they didn't really make it that far down. So I was always left thinking "Why am I taking so many of these pills if they won't even help the bleeding?" I just assumed that they were all for my small intestine but I decided to lower the dose myself to 4 per day.

I was afraid that my newest gastroenterologist might be a bit disappointed in me for lowering the dose myself or that she might not be a big believer in trying a pescetarian diet but I had nothing to worry about. She was so nice and she appreciated how much I knew and understood about my situation. She said that my question about the mesalazine tablets in regards to my situation was a very smart question. She also told me about how a test had shown that a pescetarian diet worked better than a normal diet when it came to patients with an intestinal disease. She explained that it's actually a very healthy kind of diet. The one thing that she said that made me the happiest, however, was that, looking at my previous tests and everything that I told her, it looked like I actually did have ulcerative proctitis and not Crohn's Disease. She explained how much better proctitis is than Crohn's and colitis. Proctitis is quite common and it does not put a person at higher risk of colorectal cancer. It can be treated simply with suppositories during a flare-up. She explained that some people have a lot of flare-ups and other people might just get a flare-up once in a while. She told me that I didn't have to take the mesalazine tablets anymore. I was so relieved! For several years, I had worried about my intestines and my health since I had been told that it was Crohn's Disease. I was worried when I decided to lower the dose of medication myself. I was worried that I would get a new gastroenterologist who would just send me for tests and prescribe me medication and wouldn't really listen to me. I needed someone who would listen to my questions and concerns. I needed someone who was okay with me trying things on my own to see what would work for me. In the end, I got the kind of gastroenterologist that I needed and I am so glad that I did!

I went through all of that over the course of five years. I worried and was stressed out over all of this for five years of my life when I didn't even have to be. If my second gastroenterologist had paid more attention to all of the information and he had really listened to my questions, maybe I wouldn't have had to take medication that didn't even do anything for me. I took the medication because my doctor told me to. Since he had told me that it was Crohn's Disease, I was worried that it would get worse someday. Along with school and everything else in my life, I really could have done without the stress that all of this caused me. Everything happens for a reason and, no matter how bad, can eventually lead to something good, though, so I guess that all of this had to happen for me to end up with my great new gastroenterologist.

Some people do everything that their doctor tells them to do without a second thought. Some people don't educate themselves enough about their health condition or ask enough questions. I learned about IBD and asked questions. I really thought about the medications that I was taking and looked at other forms of treatment as well. We need to listen to our doctors because they are highly educated in their medical field, but we also have to remember that this is our body that they are treating, so we need to know what's going on. We need to learn about our health conditions. We need to learn about our medication. We need to learn about other treatments available. We need to talk to our doctors, ask them questions, tell them our concerns. We need to discuss everything with them and not hide anything from them when it comes to our health. We need to be smart patients because sometimes, like in my case, doctors aren't always right about everything.

I guess what I'm trying to say is this: Listen to your doctor, but at the same time, understand what's going on and work with them to come up with a plan that works and  that you and your doctor both agree on and think is best for you. Tell them your concerns and don't be scared of them. If you feel that they are not the best doctor for you, that they aren't really listening to you or that they just say and do things and don't really evaluate the situation enough, then look into finding a better doctor. Don't just be a patient, be a smart patient. Trust me, it will help you in the long run.

Take care,
Kay

Start Over, Whenever You Like!

Why, hello there! Let me begin with no, I have not forgotten about my blog and my big plans to do more blogging. This year has simply had... a rough start. New years are supposed to be fresh starts but, really, we can have a fresh start any time we like! Start over, start anew, restart, begin again (words are fun!). There is no specific time for starting over! You can do it anytime you like! You just have to make up your mind to do it!

Here are three steps for getting started:

1) Talk to someone or write in a journal: If you're really stuck on something from the past or if there's just something that is really bugging you that you are having trouble letting go of, talk to someone about it or write about it in a journal. I find that when I talk to someone or write about something that's bugging me, it's as if a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. Sometimes we have to reflect on something and let it all out in order to release it.

2) Clear your mind: Move on, reflect, forgive, forget, let go, relax... do what you need to do in your mind to start over. Live in the present and think about the now. Choose to start over. Meditation is great for this!

3) Make a list/plan: Take a piece of paper (Yes, an actual piece of paper! Not your phone or your computer! Paper!) and write down what you want to change. This could be a list of things that you want to start or things that you've been stuck on. Basically, you want to plan out the things that you want or want to do right now in your life. Once you have written your list/plan, put it on a wall, bulletin board, fridge or some other place where you will see it often. Here are some examples for your list/plan: become better organized, meditate everyday, figure out a good exercise routine, eat healthier, blog more...

Well, happy new year and here's to starting over! Cheers!
-Kaylie

Fan Expo Canada 2014 + Tips for Attending Conventions

On August 29th, 30th, and 31st, my brother and I attended Fan Expo Canada in Toronto! It was so much fun! We did photo ops (meaning we got our picture taken) with Matt Smith and also Stan Lee! For our Matt Smith photo, I wore a TARDIS dress that I made last October for Halloween and the 50th anniversary special and my brother dressed up as the 10th doctor. My brother also brought along his 11th doctor's sonic screwdriver for Matt Smith to hold in the photo so now he can say that Matt Smith actually held it! For our Stan Lee photo, we wore our Fan Expo t-shirts that we received as part of the ticket package that we purchased. We also went to the free autograph session with some of the cast of Murdoch Mysteries (and we took pictures with them at the autograph table just as many other people did) and went to their free panel afterwards. Other free panels that we went to were Arthur Darvill's panel and Stan Lee's panel and we went to the special Doctor Who panel which had both Matt Smith and Arthur Darvill. This was our first time going to Fan Expo and it was definitely a very interesting experience!

Throughout Fan Expo, there were a few things that I noticed and thought that I should share so here are 5 tips for attending conventions:

-Bring a bag: I brought my pack sack (backpack) and I was so glad that I did because we used it to hold things that we bought, free stuff that we received, snacks, water bottles, etc. I also brought a small book bag and used that to carry our photos after we did photo ops (which we payed to have framed) so that they would stay safe.

-Saturday is crazy: Saturday was the busiest day out of the three days that we were there. Saturday is probably a busy day at all conventions seeing as it's a day that is the most convenient day, for scheduling, that people are able to attend. We went to panels on Saturday and tried to do some shopping but we could hardly move through the crowds so I would definitely recommend sticking to panels and other similar activities on Saturday.

-Use the Help Desk and ask the staff questions: The staff are there to help so if you have any questions or don't know where to go, just ask them! Sometimes, the staff don't give enough information or they might give confusing information but when that happened, I either asked them to clarify or I asked another staff member.

-Be prepared for large crowds: Conventions are huge and busy! It can get very overwhelming (I was super overwhelmed until I got used to it) so be prepared for this. Understand that it might take you a long time just to get to another part of the building and be prepared to stand in long lines. When my brother and I got too overwhelmed, we left the building for a little while (usually to get lunch and get some air).

-Most importantly, have fun!: Conventions are meant to be exciting and fun so don't forget to enjoy yourself!

Just to give you an idea of what a panel is like (if you've never been to one), here's the awesome Murdoch Mysteries panel that we attended:

-Kaylie

Positive Life: Ideas for a Relaxing Sleep

We all want to have a great sleep, especially when the next day is filled with lots of activity. We want to wake up refreshed and ready to take on the day! Here are a few ideas for falling into a relaxing sleep and for using bedtime to reflect on your positive life.

-Spritz on some nice smelling body spray and rub some body lotion on your face and hands. For your hands, the best lotion to use is lavender because it's soothing and helps people sleep.

-Make sure you use a comfortable mattress along with comfy pillows and blankets. My mattress is old so I have a foam pad on it that makes it much more comfortable. I also use a feather pillow and several blankets which include a comforter, quilt, and fleece blanket because I get cold easily (even sometimes during the summer and especially during our cold Northern Ontario winters).

-Listen to rain sounds, other nature sounds, classical music, or soothing music to help you relax and fall asleep. I recommend a website called Rainy Mood for rain sounds.

-Meditate before you fall asleep (or maybe your meditation will even make you fall asleep) to relax and focus on your breathing.

-Think of the things that happened that day that you are grateful for and smile at the happy memories.

-Imagine yourself in your perfect relaxing place. For me, I like to picture myself in a forest with a waterfall and stream or in a beautiful giant library.

Sweet dreams!
-Kaylie

My Best Travel Tips

Here are some of my very best travel tips! I hope these help you during your next vacation! I've split them up into these categories: food, hotels, activities, and souvenirs.


Food:
-At restaurants, order a glass of water as your drink to save money: At most restaurants, a glass of water is free! Sometimes they even add a slice of lemon!

-If the restaurant meals are huge, share meals with your travel buddies: Some restaurants give huge meals (this has happened to my family a lot while on trips to the U.S.) so share meals. This is a great tip for people who have a hard time finishing a huge meal (like me!) and it's also great for saving money.

-Have a picnic instead of going to a restaurant: Bring a cooler bag along or get a foam cooler and go to a grocery store during your trip to stock up on sandwich supplies, salad supplies, snacks, and drinks. This will save some money and it will be a nice change from always going to restaurants.


Hotels:
-If you bring your pillow with you when you travel, keep it in a brightly coloured pillow case so you don't forget it in the hotel room: My brother forgot his pillow in a hotel during one of our trips because it was a white pillow in a white pillow case and all of the hotel pillows were white so it blended in. If your pillow is in a brightly coloured pillow case, it will stand out from the hotel pillows and you will remember it when you leave. I have three pillow cases that I use; a bright yellow one with white flowers and leaves, a bright pink one with hearts, and a bright purple one with butterflies.

-Before you leave, take the free soap, shampoo, hand lotion, tea or coffee (if you like coffee, unlike me), and pen from your hotel room: Hey, they're free! It saves you money on soap when you get back and, if you're like me, you're always in need of pens. The hotel gives them to you to use and they are meant to be used or taken because the housekeeper is going to put new ones in the room.

-Take advantage of the free services and perks at your hotel: Drink that free tea, coffee (maybe you like it more than me), or hot chocolate. Use that free wifi. Eat that free continental breakfast. Before going to bed, watch those TV channels that maybe you don't get back home. Relax and enjoy!


Activities:
-Look for free activities to do to save money: Instead of just doing activities that can cost a lot of money, include some free activities in your trip. In some cities, there are museums and concerts that you can go to for free. Some other ideas are a trip to the beach, going for a walk around the city, or going for a hike on a trail. Do a Google search before your trip to find some free things to do at your travel destination.

-Use coupons to save money: You can find coupons online or you can even find coupon booklets in some cities. You can also often find coupons at your hotel.


Souvenirs:
-Only buy things that you really want or need: This is my rule when buying souvenirs on a trip. I like saving my money and spending it wisely so I only buy souvenirs that I really want, things that I need, or things that I want or need that are much cheaper than back home.

-Make a list of things that you need or want to buy before going on your trip: Do you need some new pants? Are there some books that you've been really wanting to buy? Bring a list with you on your trip and look out for these items. You might find some good sales or cheaper prices than back home. Everything seems to be more expensive in Canada than in the U.S. so my family loves shopping in the U.S.!


Enjoy your travels!
-Kaylie

Positive Life: The Power of Laughter

Don’t you just feel great when you laugh? It boosts our mood and just leaves you feeling fantastic. It makes you smile and makes you feel happy. It is such a great way to start or end the day because it leaves you in a good mood. I love laughing! I myself can be very bubbly when talking to people. I find that when I am bubbly, I laugh and giggle more and I feel happier. I like telling silly stories to people and laughing along with them as they tell me silly stories of their own. Laughter is contagious. So, we should really laugh more!

Check out the health benefits of laughter in helpguide.org’s article, Laughter is the Best Medicine. 

Here are some funny videos that I make me laugh every time I see them. Enjoy!

Amy’s Grocery Hidden Camera Prank (on the Ellen DeGenerous Show): 

Amy’s in Another Haunted House (on the Ellen DeGenerous Show):

Animator vs. Animation: 

  

Danny Bhoy on national symbols:

Keep laughing!

-Kaylie

Positive Life: Just be Yourself!

People always say “Just be yourself! Don’t pretend to be someone else!” and it is a very good way to live. If we want people to truly love us and be genuinely interested in us, then we must be ourselves even if that means that we act a different way, dress in a different way, or are interested in different things than everyone else. I, personally, have always thought of myself as different and I’m okay with that. I was never in cliques in school and I was always the quiet, shy girl in class. I was interested in different things and I had different hobbies. I wasn’t into the latest fashions and I didn’t wear make-up when all of the other girls started. I still don’t wear make-up just because I didn’t like it then and I don’t like it now and that’s okay. I actually feel that the skin on my face is healthier because of it and I am comfortable with my natural look. I like my natural look and I think that I am pretty without make-up. I was never interested in all of those things so I didn’t push them onto myself and I hung out with people who accepted me and who enjoyed the same things as me. I wanted to be me, not someone else. I didn’t want to do things just to hang out with certain crowds. In high school, I made friends who were interested in the same things as me and liked me the way that I was. I mostly made friends who were artsy and musical like me but I also made friends who were just different like me as well. I still don’t try to act a certain way or hide the way that I am because I know that people will like me better if I am honest about who I truly am inside. When you expose your true self for everyone to see, you will develop better relationships and you will be happier as well.

-Kaylie 

University Life: Using Technology for School

In this day in age, technology is very important and it is at a point where it is fast and easy enough to help us in so many situations so why not use it for school? Yes, technology can be very distracting but it can also help us and make our school life a lot easier! Here are my favourite technologies and programs that I use for school:

• My Netbook: You see so many university (and high school) students using laptops today and it is no surprise. The cost has gone down a lot in so little time (my very own first laptop for grade 9 in 2007 cost $1000 and now laptops can be as low as $200) that it is easier on our pockets to buy a laptop now but it can still be expensive. I received my little netbook (which I am using right now!) from my great-uncle who had some left over from work (he’s now retired) so he gave one to me and one to my parents. He told me to use it for school to get good grades and I try my best. I use it to type assignments and notes, do research, check my school email, and visit websites that help me with specific classes.

• My iPod Touch: 

1. Calendar: I have my calendar on my iPod Touch connected to my Google calendar and it’s great! The calendar can be used to schedule in classes, assignment due dates, test and exam dates, and so much more!
2. Reminders: Reminders can be used to make a to do list for studying, completing homework, and working on assignments.
3.  Grades 2 by Tapity, Inc. : I use this app to calculate my grades and averages in each class. It lets you enter the grades for each specific assignment and how much of a percentage of your final mark each assignment is worth.

• Google Account : Google accounts can be useful for so many things because they have so many different tools. They have so much that I still need to explore my Google account more and try out everything!

• Evernote : I use Evernote to create and save lecture notes and personal notes. It’s great because you can use it on your computer, laptop, iPod Touch, iPhone, etc and sync it to all of your devices. I use it on my netbook and my iPod Touch. On a computer, you can create audio notes, webcam notes, and to do lists and then organize notes into specific “notebooks”. It’s handy on an IPod Touch as well because you can create notes on the go and add audio and pictures.

Sometimes, pen and paper is the best way to go with certain things in school. Not everyone will use technology for the exact same things. I like to type my notes now using Evernote but I still write some notes down on paper. I also like to use a good old fashioned agenda along with my online calendars and iPod touch reminders because I like to have a physical calendar that I can quickly jot notes on and I like the weekly spaces for assignments in which I can write details about assignments rather than just putting the basics in a virtual calendar and reminder list. It’s up to you how you use technology in your school life (or if you use it at all).

-Kaylie

Positive Life: Happiness Boost

There are times in everyone’s lives when we feel down and need a burst of happiness and lovely positive energy to radiate through our bodies and minds. Here are some ways that we can get a happiness boost when we really need it which can help us feel amazing and ready to take on whatever comes at us!

Sunshine

It’s no secret that we feel happier during the summer months. This is because there is more sunlight during this time. I personally know that, living in Northern Ontario, I feel more gloomy and unmotivated during the winter months but in the summer, I feel great! Not too long ago, we had a nice sunny day with lots of sunlight shining through the windows so I sat in front of the window and let my skin soak up some vitamin D. I felt fantastic afterwards! So whenever the sun peeks out, get out there and allow a healthy amount of sunshine to soak into your skin and feel the glorious warmth of happiness!

Exercise

We may feel sore afterwards but we feel great after exercising, am I right? Exercise releases endorphins which combat stress. So, go for a jog, a hike, or a swim. You could go to some kind of class for a physical activity like I go to Kung Fu. I always feel great after a one hour class of Kung Fu!

Sleep

Allow both your body and brain to rest a bit. If you’re feeling stressed out, just get some sleep and you will wake up rejuvenated!

Laugh

Don’t you just feel great after a nice, long laugh? Watch some comedy movies, some videos of a comedian or just spend time with one of your own comedic friends. It will help you forget your worries and smile!

Meditate

Taking deep breaths will help you relax and clear your mind. Concentrate on the present moment and your breathing. This will force you to forget about everything else for a little while.

Pamper Yourself

Take a warm shower, get a haircut, or have a spa day at home. There are so many possibilities for pampering yourself and you feel so refreshed afterwards!

Tackle your To Do List

Do you have a large to do list or something that you've been putting off for a while? Just complete the task! Start by working on it a little bit at a time and then get right into it. Once you’re finished, you’ll feel great about finally having it done and it will give you a burst of positive energy from how proud you will be of yourself!

Check out this previous blog post that I wrote about completing large tasks for some tips: Staying Organized: Completing Large Tasks

Accomplish a Goal

Doesn’t it feel great to accomplish a goal? The sense of pride after finishing and the happiness and fun that you have while you complete the goal are great mood boosters!

Change Your Routine

Routines are great but it can sometimes get boring doing the same thing every day. Switch it up! This will stimulate your mind and leave you feeling happy.

-Kaylie

Staying Organized: Completing Large Tasks

I think that everyone can relate when I say that large tasks are hard to complete. I myself always tend to procrastinate when it comes to large tasks. I complete the easy small tasks first and worry about the large ones later. Whether it is an essay for school or organizing my bedroom when it is messy, I instantly see it as difficult and leave it for later thinking “I’ll get it done… eventually.” If we break down those tasks and work on them step by step, they become smaller tasks and are easier to complete.

Here are my tips for completing large tasks:

• Break it down. Write down the task at the top of a piece of paper. Now, underneath the task, break it down into 3-5 steps. If you need to, break down each of those steps into 3 more steps. Once you are finished, you will have a page full of smaller tasks. When you have completed all of these small tasks, you will have the large task completed.
• Work on the task a little bit every day. Spread it out among a week or even a month. It will be easier to complete the task over the course of a few days, weeks, or a month than trying to complete it all in one day.
• Take breaks. Set break times aside to relax. It’s hard to work and work and work without a break. We need to give our body and mind a break to be able to think clearly and work well. A break will leave you feeling refreshed and ready to get back to work on your task.

-Kaylie

Positive Life: Turning Negative Thoughts into Positive Thoughts

Everyone has negative thoughts. It’s really hard not to with everything that goes on in the world and everything that we go through each day. Part of living a positive life is concentrating on the positive things instead of the negative ones. We choose what we think therefore we can control what we think and what we concentrate on more. I, personally, would rather be happy about something than angry about another thing. Yes, negative feelings can sometimes be good because they might make change in the world but they can also lead to hatred and destruction so we must try to be positive. Change can still be made through positive thoughts, feelings, and behaviour. 

Here are some ways that we can shift our focus and turn our negative thoughts into positive thoughts:

• See a good side to the negative thing. If you made some kind of mistake, think of how you have learned from it. If you forgot to bring your laptop to school, think of how you can now do some studying with your books instead of being distracted from the many distractions that a laptop offers. There are so many bad or difficult things that can have a good side to them if you just change the way you think about them. There are, however, some things for which it is tough to see a good side so you can use other ways to switch to positive thoughts for those ones.
• Think of a happy memory. If you are feeling sad, angry, worried, nervous, or frustrated, think of a happy memory to take your mind off of whatever is bothering you. Think of a funny memory that will make you laugh out loud or think of a very special memory that makes a smile spread across your face.
• Breathe. If you are having negative thoughts and feelings, stop for a moment and just breathe or if a specific activity is frustrating you, take a break. Do something that makes you happy or think of something that you are excited to do later on. This will help you relax more and start thinking more positive thoughts. You will have a clearer mind with which you will be able to tackle that frustrating task or change your negative thoughts.
• Think of what you are grateful for. Thinking of the things in your life that you are grateful for will put you in a much better mood and make you think more positive thoughts because you will realize how many good things you have in your life.

          -Kaylie

Positive Life: It's All About Gratitude!

Welcome everyone! Everyone has a different life. Nobody, really, has a perfect life but we must try our best to live a positive one. We must allow the positive thoughts into our minds and shut out the negative ones. We must keep a good attitude and try to see a good side to things. Most of all, we must always remember the secret to a positive life… gratitude! Gratitude will help you in your relationships with family and friends, your health, and everything you do. People will appreciate you more if you appreciate them and if you have a good attitude towards things. If you stay relaxed and happy, your body will function better as stress greatly affects health. Be grateful for the healthy parts of your body and you will relax so much more. If you are grateful towards things and keep good thoughts in your mind, you will see good things more and more. Our mind is very powerful and we are in control. We choose how we react and we choose our thoughts. Choosing to be happy and grateful for the things we have is so much better than being grumpy and angry so why not choose those good thoughts and feelings? Yes, bad things happen in our lives and it is not good to keep our anger bottled up but we can choose to accept things the way they are and move on with our lives.

Would you like to know some activities to help you practice gratitude? Here they are:

• Write a list of the things that you are grateful for. Your list can have as many things as you like and you can write as many lists as you like! You can write them every day, every week, or whenever you’re feeling down and need to cheer up. It’s completely up to you!
• Think of 3 things that you are grateful for every day and focus on each one for a little while thinking about why you are grateful for them. You could do this in the morning when you wake up or before you go to bed at night.
•  Let the people who you are grateful for know that you are and maybe even tell them why! It will make both you and the other person feel great!
•  Say thank you often!

Here’s a list of the things that I am most grateful for in no specific order. I just started writing my list and kept writing as things popped into my mind which is what you can do as well when you write gratitude lists. Here we go:

• My family
• My pets
• My ancestors
•   My friends
• Music – My ability to play the piano and the flute
• Art
•  Literature and writing
• A warm and safe home
• My health and all of the things that are helping me to stay healthy
• My mind
• My country
• Geocaching
• Attending university

-     
     -Kaylie