Trials and tribulations: Another colonoscopy

I just wish upon a star that one day I won't have to have them anymore. However, I have a strange feeling that this may just be wishful thinking.

The last one was not the worst of them and good thing that Gabriella went with me.  We had to wait for a bit before I was called and then to wait a bit more for the doctor to do her part.  At the very end, however, I could feel a few pangs of pain as the doctor was finishing up.

My doctor is very good. She is pleasant, humorous, and very accommodating. She tells me exactly what she is going to do and at the end of the procedure she reads out the instructions to me.  I just wish, however, that she was able to give them to me in an electronic format.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advisor, wishing you a terrific day.

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids, with their wide eyed smiles and infectious laughter, is secured forever.

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My experience: A funny sensation

It is always interesting to me whenever I visit my doctor after a surgical procedure.  I am never sure what to expect but this is nothing new for any of us.

For me, as a visually impaired person, it is a matter of me being able to trust my surgeon.  I cannot see what he is doing and I depend heavily on him to tell me what he is going to do and how he is going to do it.

It all starts the moment I sit in the chair and the examination begins.  On this occasion my examination took place after my nasal surgery and good thing that the doctor was a very good one who explained everything to me, step by step.

I closed my eyes tightly as he started and the sensation in my nostrils was extremely acute.  I guess that this is one time when I was glad that I could not see what he was doing but the good thing was that, as he worked, he explained things to me. 

It sure helps when you have a doctor who takes the time to explain things to you as they work. 

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day.

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit  jodhanmysterybook.club/about-the-author
There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minutes mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts!
www.takeanother5.com
And available for download from iTunes and Google music play

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

When the doctor almost forgot me

Every time I think of this incident I have to smile to myself. Some time ago I visited my family physician for a regular check up and as customary the receptionist escorted me into a patient room and asked me to wait for my doctor. She told me that it would not be too long.

So I settled down to wait but after a half hour had gone by I began to worry because my doctor is always on time. I allowed five minutes to go by and then I decided to take action.

Thank goodness for my iPhone. I pulled it out of my purse and dialed my doctor's office number and bingo! As soon as the receptionist heard my voice she sprang into action and soon enough I heard her running down the hall towards the room in which I was sitting, followed by my doctor.

My iPhone sure saved the day for me because if I did not have it with me I would have been in great difficulty to find my way to the receptionist's desk.

The receptionist had made a small error but that's okay. She is always so very conscientious with me.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day.

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This is a personal message from author Donna Jodhan

"Each time we raise our voice at someone else we are engaging in bullying! Each time we raise our hands to slap or punch someone else we are also engaging in bullying and each time we engage in actions to either manipulate or force someone else to do what we want we are also engaging in bullying!

There is no room in this world for bullying and each day we fail to take action against bullying it is another day that we allow others to bully us and our kids. Our heroes and role models are the ones who have made us proud; those brave young men and women who gave their lives for us in past wars and those who continue to do so. They are not the ones who choose to be racists and those who believe that their bad behaviour in public is acceptable.

I write and record audio mysteries that are being used at such events as murder mystery evenings as well as at public awareness and team building events. I promote understanding, tolerance, and problem solving and my audio mysteries continue to be broadcasted around the world and you can listen to them anywhere! On the plane or train! In the car or right there in your home! On your i device or computer!

Please join my campaign against bullying (CAB) by supporting my efforts to keep on writing and recording!

If you truly care then you will certainly dare!"

Problems with prescriptions

In a nutshell, it is a huge problem. I am unable to read them for myself and I still have to depend on sighted assistance to have them read to me. If there is no one around or if the doctor has not explained them to me, then I am in trouble.

I have a terrific family doctor who tells me what she is doing, that is, what type of prescription she is writing out for me. But I do not always get the same pharmacist who tells me exactly what the prescription is, and what it contains. Maybe there is some type of gadget out there that will help me to read prescriptions; hopefully someone will read this and let me know.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day and inviting you to share my blogs with others. Visit www.nfb.org to learn more.

Please Speak Directly To Me!

This is one of my pet peeves with the sighted world. So many times throughout my life I have found myself being addressed by others in the third person. They somehow find it necessary or more comfortable to speak to me by talking to the person accompanying me. Sometimes the person accompanying me would politely tell the person asking the question that they should ask me what I need instead of asking them. On other occasions, when I am feeling up to it, I would also politely say, "You can ask me directly." This can be a big problem, if I allow it to be; the solution that I have come up with and the one that works for me is to educate those I come in contact with.

There is no pattern to the type of person that chooses to address my companion instead of me; salespersons do it, bus drivers do it, doctors do it, so many do it. I would go into a store with my friend and the salesperson would ask, "What would she like?" I would visit the doctor's office with my mom and the doctor would turn to her and say, "She does not have much of a chance of regaining her vision." Or I would go to the post office to mail letters and the postmaster would turn to my friend and say, "What does she have in the package? Documents or what?" Or at the restaurant, the waiter would ask, "What would she like to order?"

The classic for me is when I am traveling. I get to the counter escorted by an airport attendant and the ticket agent asks the attendant, "Where is she traveling to?" Of course the poor bewildered attendant has no idea where I am traveling to so I have to step in, although I obviously should have been addressed directly to begin with.

Here is another example. I go to the post office on my own with my package to mail, and the friendly postmistress asks, "Do you know what you have in the package?" This time she has no choice but to speak directly to me because I am alone.

On most of these occasions I have taught myself to smile and speak up, but there are the odd times when I become so frustrated and say in a sarcastic tone, "You can speak to me. I can understand you." As I see it, the only way to reduce these types of unnecessary incidents is through education. You can help by spreading the word that blind persons can hear and understand. You do not need to ask someone else to interpret for them.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan your accessibility and special-needs business consultant wishing you a terrific day and inviting you to contact me at donnajodhan@sterlingcreations.ca if you would like to learn how to communicate more effectively with blind and visually-impaired persons.