Must be very careful: Organizing my medications

I place high importance on being able to organize my medications in a logical way for me to be able to safely find, identify, and navigate among them.

I am required to take several medications daily and alas!  Most of the bottles are of the same size and shape.  So. what do I do?

I organize them in groups of categories.  I place identification tape on the bottles so that I know which is which.

The other day, my always on the alert pharmacist told me about talking labels and the next time I go to the pharmacy for my refills I’ll be using these.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly award-winning sight-loss coach and accessibility advisor, wishing you a terrific day.
 
If you would like to learn more about me as a sight-loss coach and author then I invite you now to visit http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as a sight-loss coach and 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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Not my favourite thing: Getting ready for a colonoscopy

 

I have yet to meet anyone who looks forward to a colonoscopy.  Yes, not a very nice experience, but for me as a vision-impaired person, it is all about me making sure that I have everything that I need in advance and then to be able to time myself when drinking that horrible liquid.

So here is what I do.  
First, I buy my medication well in advance.
The day before my colonoscopy I organize my medication on my kitchen counter and then decide as to when I start the horrible process.
I have my trusty timer close by to help me: Alexa.

Things go smoothly for me when I do this and I find it much less stressful using this strategy.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly award-winning sight-loss coach and accessibility advisor, wishing you a terrific day.

If you would like to learn more about me as a sight-loss coach and author then I invite you now to visit http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as a sight-loss coach and 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.

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan
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Not very happy: Not too pleased with the shingles vaccine

 I am just relieved that I have now received both of my shingles vaccines. The first one was brutal, sending me to my bed for a few days followed by feelings of tiredness for a few days after this.

The second and final vaccine was not as bad but there were still feelings of tiredness for a few days after I had taken this vaccine.

I know, I know!  At the best of times the taking of vaccines can be challenging but there is not really anything that I can do about it.  Some of us react more badly than others and I am just at the wrong end of the stick.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly sight-loss coach and advisor, wishing you a terrific day.

If you would like to learn more about me as a sight-loss coach and author then I invite you now to visit http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as a sight-loss coach and 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.

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan
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A necessary challenge: Taking precautions with medications

I do not think that in the normal scheme of things that I am any different from anyone else.  Maybe the only big difference is that I must ensure that I do not mix up my bottles and that I know what is in each bottle or container at all times.

If I am super thorough and careful, I label my bottles and containers with Braille labels.  Most bottles are so much alike to the touch that one little slip of the hand, so to speak, and I'll get them mixed up.

The boxes may be a bit different and the same for containers but now that I can use my trusty Aira app to help me, things are much better.

So, what is the Aira app all about?  It is easy to use on one's iPhone.  Just sign up for it through the App Store and voila!  You now have access to round-the-clock agents in the States who can help you to identify almost anything.

Just go into the App, call Aira, and then they will do the rest for you.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly sight-loss coach and accessibility advisor, wishing you a terrific day.

If you would like to learn more about me as a sight-loss coach and author then I invite you now to visit http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as a sight-loss coach and 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.

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

She is a Godsend: My favourite pharmacist

I could not ask for a better pharmacist. She works at the Shoppers Pharmacy Drug Mart in the Bridlewood Mall.

She is patient, understands how to interact with me as a vision-impaired customer, and knows exactly how to help me identify my medications.

She is always ahead of the game, so to speak, because she has already labeled my bottles with distinguishing marks by the time I am there to pick up my prescriptions. She goes way beyond the call of duty but, sad to say, I do not even know her name!

She knows my first name and always calls me by it. She is a gem and I thank her for being my favourite pharmacist!

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.

And now my weekly podcast!

From recipes to apps, and 5 minute mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts! www.donnajodhan.com/takeanother5.html

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A tedious but necessary chore: Taking care with the prescription bottles

This is probably always going to be a challenge for me and a very important one.  Whenever I receive more than one prescription bottle from the pharmacy I need to ensure that I am able to distinguish each of them because one error can cost me medically.

I have to say that my pharmacy and their super staff do understand and are always willing and ready to help me decipher the difference.  So, whenever I go to pick up my medications they have already labelled them for me by putting them in bottles that I can distinguish.   They do this with tape and elastics.

I am truly grateful to the Shoppers Drug Mart Pharmacy!

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.

And now my weekly podcast!

From recipes to apps, and 5 minute mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts! www.donnajodhan.com/takeanother5.html

Subscribe to my monthly newsletter!

'Let's Talk Tips' is my monthly resource for the most current and reliable informational tips available in the areas of Technology, Nutrition, Media, Business, and Advocacy.  http://bit.ly/ADJSubscribe

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan

And like me on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

Not very pleasant: Challenges of a colonoscopy

I guess that this particular procedure is probably most challenging for the majority of us even at the best of times. But for me, who is unable to see what the doctor is doing, it often leads to my imagination taking over.

Thank goodness that just before the procedure commences I am given something to relax me so then I have no idea what is taking place.

Before I am given this, however, the nurse and doctor do their best to put me at ease by telling me what is going on and what is going to happen, but for all of this it does not make me feel any better.  So I lie there on my back and do my best not to get too anxious about it all.

I sing softly but loud enough that those around me can hear and this sure helps me to feel better.

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
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.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minute 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

How I deal with medications

By now, most of my readers would know that I am a very organized person and everything has its place. In my cupboards, on my counters, and in my cabinets and this is exactly how I deal with my medication.

Everything has its place. Vitamins are placed in their little corner. Prescription medications are placed in their own little spot, and so on. I label things in Braille and I use size of boxes, bottles, and tubes to help me deal with my medication.

My sense of smell is also brought into the picture and luckily for me, I have not had the misfortune of mixing up my medication. The best strategy for me is to label and put it in spots that I can easily access.

I am really careful when it comes to my medication so this is why I take all of these precautions, and when you are unable to read labels on boxes and bottles, then more care needs to be taken.

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

Am I Taking the Right Pill?

Yes!  This is one of the things that I need to pay very close attention to; am I taking the right pill?  With so many bottles feeling the same to the touch, I have had to come up with a system to tell what I am taking.  So, here is what I do.

 

My vitamin bottles are placed in a specific spot.  My cold and flu pills go into another area.  My stomach, allergy, and anything else go into specific places in my cabinet.  Within each group, vitamins for example, pill bottles may be differentiated either by size or by shape of the cover on the bottle.  If the size is the same and the covers are a wee bit different, then I identify by cover but if everything feels the same then I go to plan B.

 

I either use Braille labels to help me or I use my trusty tape system.  That is, I use pieces of tape to help me differentiate bottles.  I place them on different parts of the bottle.  I will tell you that since the birth of the Pen Friend label reader, I use talking labels to help me.  That is, I use the Pen Friend to help me create labels for bottles.

 

Of course, there are other ways to differentiate pills.  By the shape of the pills themselves, and the smell that emits from the pill bottle.  Capsules feel different to the touch as opposed to the old fashioned pills.  Liquid gel caps are long but harder to the touch than capsules.  Then there are round tablets, long ones, and those that are shorter and thicker in texture.  A whole lot of ways to differentiate.

 

I'm Donna J. Jodhan your friendly accessibility advocate wishing you a terrific day and encouraging you to go out there and learn more about the Pen Friend by visiting www.rnib.org.