by Kristi Jain | May 25, 2022 | Uncategorized
As I sit down this morning, draining the last few drops of the coffee in my mug, I was writing this week’s blog in hopes that it might inspire, entertain, inform or motivate you. If the words in this blog can be of help to you in some way shape or form, I have done my job. See if this it has anything to offer you.
FEEDBACK
A friend recently commented that the inspiration that is occasionally included in the blogs shows up for her at just the right time. A patient we saw recently sent feedback that said, a few words from our blog gave him the courage to contact his doctor about a medical issue he was nervous about.
COURAGE
When I hear or see the word courage, immediately I envision the Cowardly Lion from the Wizard of Oz. On that note, the Tin Man was in serious need of a heart and the Scarecrow had his heart set on a brain. Let’s be honest. We can all use a bit more of each of the above mentioned, right?
WE ARE ALL EQUIPPED
Although some may argue, we are all come equipped with a heart and a brain. So, is what we need is some more courage? Is there an issue you need to confront, but you are afraid to speak up? Is your body telling you something is not right, but you hesitate to get checked because you “don’t want to know?” Perhaps you should tap into your supply and muster up some courage.
FIVE SECOND RULE
Often, I get my blog inspiration from inspirational and motivational speakers. Recently, You Tube introduced to a woman named Mel Robbins. Her latest book discusses “The 5 second Rule.” We are not talking about the “food hitting the ground” 5 second rule. Ms. Robbins suggests when you get a thought, if you don’t act on it, it takes only 5 seconds for your brain to figure out a reason why you shouldn’t do it. Doing it requires courage.
STOP WHAT YOU’RE DOING?
It isn’t always possible to stop what you’re doing and act on every thought that enters your mind. It is possible to jot down your idea down for later before you forget.
A GOOD FIND
Mel Robbins was a good find for me and I hope her 5 second rule is something you might consider. She says,
- “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”
- “When I lost all of my excuses, I found all of my results.”
- “One moment of courage can change your day, and one day can change your life.”
HDD
If there is a healthcare situation you are avoiding, gather your courage and make the call. That call can be lifesaving. Deep vein thrombosis, blockage in your veins or arteries, or a heart condition don’t wait for you to gather courage. Knowing what you need to do to improve your life takes wisdom. Pushing yourself to do it takes courage. If we can help, call us at 505-350-3397.
by Kristi Jain | May 18, 2022 | Uncategorized
The blog du jour will touch on the idea of rules and rule following. If someone ordered you to sit down every Wednesday at 9:00am to read the weekly blog, you might resist thinking, “I’ll read it at my leisure if I read it at all. You can’t tell me what to do or when to do it.” That is a ridiculous rule!
THAT MAKES NO SENSE
I will tell you right off the bat, for the most part, I am a rule follower. I am married to a rule follower if the rule makes sense. Some say rules are made to be broken while others believe there are good reasons rules exist. There is a valid argument for both points of view.
ARE YOU A RULE FOLLOWER?
If a rule is generally reasonable, most of us are willing to comply. Actuarial Board for Counseling and Discipline gives us a few questions to ponder if we are deciding if we are going to be a rule follower or a rule breaker.
- What is the rule?
- Whose rule is it?
- What is the rule’s purpose?
- Is there a compelling reason to break the rule?
- What are the consequences of breaking it?
DOS AND DON’TS
The reason for today’s blog about rules is, I have recently undergone a medical procedure. I was given a pretty hefty booklet of “dos and don’ts” to follow both prior to and after the procedure. I won’t go so far as to say they are rules, but these recommendations are strongly suggested the patient follow to insure a successful procedure and recovery.
OPINIONS ARE LIKE NOSE HAIR
Opinions are like nose hair. Everyone has them. I have a friend who has undergone a procedure similar to the one that I recently had. Her provider gave her much different restrictions than the ones I was given. Her doc is pretty lenient about when she can start to resume normal activities. Mine is quite a bit more conservative. Common sense tells us the body takes time to heal. It is better safe than sorry.
THE BRAIN WON’T STOP
Most of us have had countless medical issues that require compliance in once way or another. I speak from experience, the brain says one thing while the body says another. After my procedure, my brain is saying it’s time to get back to normal life. It won’t stop thinking of all the things I need to get done. On the other hand, my body is reminding me it’s too soon. Listen to the voice of reason and err on the side of caution. It is worth repeating, it is better safe than sorry.
HDD
If you and your provider need answers to medical issues that diagnostic ultrasound can help detect, let us know. There are no rules other than communicationg your concerns with your provider and following the advice of your chosen medical professional to stay in optimum health. If we can help, call us at 505-350-3397.
by Kristi Jain | May 11, 2022 | Uncategorized
Today’s blog discusses the idea of tackling. No, I don’t mean on the football field. I’m referring to the idea of tackling challenges. In my experience, avoidance and procrastination leads to stress. Often, if you don’t tackle a challenge, it may fall by the wayside. Sometimes it is better to just get ‘er done!
PROCRASTINATION
As we all know, each day presents us with both expected and unexpected challenges. Some are good and some aren’t. Occasionally, those less than pleasant challenges are easily put on the back burner till we muster the courage to tackle them. Enter procrastination.
TACKLE
Life is full of ups and downs. One moment you think you’ve got a situation handled and the very next it kicks you square in the keister. A website called “University of the People” gave me a few reminders on how to overcome challenges that I like to share. These are all things we already know, but a reminder is certainly refreshing.
- Accept and let go. This is your life at this time. Remember everything is temporary and accepting it may help you let go of stress, anxiety and fear. Meditation is a great way to learn and practice acceptance.
- Observe and decide. When facing a challenge, step back from your feelings as you devise a plan. Although it is important to acknowledge your feelings, when you decide on an action plan, you want to be as objective as possible.
- Face fears and act. Taking action is a huge step in overcoming challenges. It’s possible that a large part of whatever you’re facing is challenging due to underlying fear. Attempt to identify what it is you fear then take steps to mitigate that fear.
- Practice gratitude. The majority of us tend to exist in our comfort zones. When change or challenges are presented, some may find them hard to deal with. Practicing gratitude can help you look at challenge and deal with it in a new way.
THIS TOO SHALL PASS
Take a minute to reflect on your day. How many challenges did you face, how did you deal with them and how might you have handled them in a more effective manner? The bottom line is life is challenging. Persistence and a good old fashioned positive attitude will help alleviate stress and anxiety associated with challenges. Often it comes down to basics. A dear friend of mine often reminded me, “This too shall pass.”
HDD
We at High Desert Doppler are genuinely concerned about your health and the challenges you may face. Remember to listen to your body, as you are the best judge of what is right and what is not quite right. Don’t try to tackle these challenges alone. If you feel something, say something. Contact your healthcare provider about any concerns or symptoms you may be experiencing. If diagnostic ultrasound if indicated, call us at 505-350-3397.
by Kristi Jain | Apr 27, 2022 | Uncategorized
As I was driving home today, I couldn’t help but notice a huge, looming red bullseye sign in the parking lot, enticing me to turn into one of America’s largest retailers. The telltale logo is unmistakable and stands on its own. It is the registered trademark of the Minneapolis-based Target corporation. Mostly, we don’t need to read the name “Target.” We recognize the bullseye, and we automatically know the retailer. Why does any of this matter in the HDD blog? Please, read on.
GOOD AIM
The bullseye trademark and the notorious bulldog with a target over one eye was of interest to me. Other than brilliant branding, I wonder what their motivation was to use a target symbol. I stumbled upon a quote from Jordan B. Peterson in “12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos” that might explain it. One of his quotes says simply, “You see what you aim at” hence the target.
TUNNEL VISION
The informal definition of tunnel vision is the tendency to focus exclusively on a single or limited goal or point of view. I won’t deny that I have selective tunnel vision, and if the truth be told, you probably do too. If it is a lifelong belief or a stubborn point of view, we hold tight to what we choose to focus on. That which is on the periphery, out of our target or tunnel vision either doesn’t matter or simply doesn’t hold as much weight.
ANOTHER POINT OF VIEW
A few other ways to say tunnel vision are, wearing blinders, narrow outlook, narrowmindedness, one-track mind, shortsightedness, fixation or obsession. Do any of these sound familiar?
THAT BEING SAID…
MedicineNet.com defines yet another form of tunnel vision aka, tubular vision. It is the loss of peripheral vision with retention of central vision. My research yielded a possible few causes for medical tunnel vision. Sometimes, tunnel vision can occur temporarily when the body produces high levels of adrenaline, extreme panic or stress and can cause temporary tunnel vision. Alcohol and drugs have also been shown to have an effect on peripheral vision.
STROKE?
Vision loss can be a symptom for identifying the possible onset of a stroke. According to stroke.org, up to 66% of people who suffer from a stroke experience changes to their vision along with loss of ability to move one side of the body, inability to speak and disorientation to name a few. If any of these symptoms occur, act fast and seek medical attention immediately. 911!
AIM HIGH…BULLSEYE!
If your aim is to have optimum health, then you have hit the bullseye! Remember, “You see what you aim at.” See what you need to do to optimize good habits and a healthy lifestyle. Early detection is critical and saves lives. When you don’t have your health, little else matters. Get tested and screened on a regular basis. If High Desert Doppler can help in your diagnosis through diagnostic ultrasound, call us at 505-350-3397.
by Kristi Jain | Apr 13, 2022 | Uncategorized
Hello! Welcome to a new addition of the HDD blog. My apologies for publishing re-runs the last couple of months. John and I have been deep in the thick of moving from one home to another so unfortunately, fresh blogs took a back seat to moving. Speaking of back…
MOVING
If you have moved recently, perhaps you will recall the back breaking work involved in moving. Planning, sorting, decrapping, packing, lifting, loading, unloading, Goodwill runs, unpacking, and organizing are just a few of the joys of moving. Sometimes it goes smoothly, and other times injury is a result.
CHRONIC COMPLAINER
Yes, I am a recent victim of a back injury. Along with various strenuous activities, moving furniture and boxes may be a contributing factor. No matter what the cause is, the result is extreme discomfort. I hate to be a chronic complainer however, simple tasks like getting out of bed, walking, sitting down or picking something up off the floor can prove to not only be painful but nearly impossible.
NO BIG DEAL?
If you are anything like me, you hate to make a big deal of an injury. I figure time will heal it. Not so fast. After a few days, I decided to Google back pain. Maybe a good idea, maybe not. Back pain can be indicative of some pretty serious health problems and is nothing to take lightly! My sister recently passed away from colon cancer. One of her first symptoms was back pain. Another friend had severe back pain and was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She too passed away shortly thereafter. I tell you this so you will take symptoms seriously. Maybe it is no big deal but then again, maybe it is.
SCIATICA
I believe mine is simply an injury from poor posture sitting in a twisted position at my desk for hours along with lifting associated with moving. It sounds more like sciatica which refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which branches from your lower back through your hips, bittocks and down each leg. Mayoclicin.org states that typically, sciatica affects only one side of your body. Although pain associated with sciatica can be severe, most cases resolve with non-operative treatments in a few weeks.
ULTRASOUND
There are different kinds of ultrasound. One is therapeutic ultrasound which helps relieve pain by sending soothing sound waves into deep tissue for relief. Another is diagnostic ultrasound which can help diagnose several spine disorders including degenerative disc disease, scoliosis, spinal deformity and tumors. Sometimes at CT scan or MRI will be performed to locate the root cause of sciatica.
HDD
Hopefully today’s blog will urge you to take your symptoms seriously! Hypochondria is a whole other issue but hope you will assess your health and well being carefully. If you have questions, make the call, get the test and start on the road to a healthier you. If we can help, call us at 505-350-3397.
Recent Comments