With my daughter’s meds, I can trust my caregiver experience
My ability to handle her allergy shots myself saves us all a lot of hassle
With over 35 years of experience in the performing arts, I’m often the go-to expert for theatrical presentations by corporate or nonprofit organizations.
Sometimes I’m asked to write or direct major shows. Other times, however, I’m asked to conduct a script assessment. This particular request arises when a program is under time pressure and has a small window to execute a presentation. My job is to assess the script and report back on how long the presentation will take.
For me, this task is simple. After I receive the script, I note the set and the number of pages, props, and cast members, and I even denote song length if singing, dancing, or both are involved.
Many times, people thank me for helping them realize that what they thought was a 10-minute play is actually 30 minutes long, or what they thought was a 15-minute presentation is actually five minutes. In all instances, by the time I’m brought in to do the assessment, I’m considered a trusted expert.
Years ago, I conducted an assessment for an organization where I reported back to them the exact duration of their presentation, down to the minute. During the debriefing, the organization’s lead conveyed their shock at how I was able to make such an accurate estimation on something I’d never seen.
“Experience,” I responded. “I’ve been doing this a long time.”
That’s also true for other things.
Experience matters
Our daughter, whom we lovingly call Ladybug, has hereditary angioedema. While that comes with its own treatment regimen, other aspects of her health often add to the laundry list of medications she takes daily. One such medication is a subcutaneous injection that helps with her chronic hives.
Twice a month for the past six years, either my husband or I have driven 30 minutes to take Ladybug to her injection. During the school year, it was much harder because we had to make sure her injection time didn’t interfere with class time. During the summer, it had to be scheduled around vacation so she wouldn’t miss a dose.
Moreover, there often was a longer wait before and after the injection. We had to stay for 30 minutes to ensure she didn’t have an allergic reaction. On hectic days, the medication sometimes was still cold, which made the injection slightly uncomfortable. And then there was the copay, a somewhat higher fee we paid for every visit because the allergist is a specialist. This single medication was time-consuming, slightly inconvenient, and expensive.
Several months ago, during Ladybug’s routine visit with her immunologist, I casually mentioned that I’d never trained on this medication, but given all the other injections and infusions I administer at home, I should be able to accomplish this simple task.
“I don’t see why not,” her doctor agreed, without missing a beat. When he looked up and saw my look of disbelief, he smiled. “You’re right. You’re already doing all the hard stuff. And you’ve been doing it for years. This will be easy for you.”
He was right! After a few phone calls, we were able to arrange for Ladybug’s allergy shots to be delivered right to our door. And now, instead of the hubbub of rushing to an office and paying high copays, we can do it in the comfort of our own home.
Experience often makes us caregivers the best experts to help our patients. It’s like my favorite quote attributed to Julius Caesar: “Experience is the teacher of all things.”
Note: Angioedema News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Angioedema News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to angioedema.
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