How Far Will You Go?

As any pregnant woman, mom, or spouse knows, somewhere in the 25th or 26th week of pregnancy, women have to take a glucose tolerance test. Basically, the test is administered to ensure that a woman is not on the verge of developing gestational diabetes causing both the baby and mother to have health complications.

Anyway, as is my normal routine with the past 3 children, I take the one hour and I have yet to fall within the "normal range." Because my body was not able to fully break down the glucose juice, I had to follow-up with the 3 hour long glucose test. Each time I take the 3 hour test, it comes back well within the normal range. This is normally a good indication that all is fine with both me and the baby.

Since moving to New Orleans and having a different Obstetrician, I have found that some physicians are more than just cautious. They are overly cautious. Despite my previous medical history, my knowledge of my own body, and diet, my current OB decided that he would lump me with his group of "diabetic" patients. Oh, I guess I should state again...I am NOT Diabetic. I merely was 7 points higher than the allowable "normal" range for my one hour test. This could have been caused by my eating too much candy from Holloween, or my late night snack every night before going to bed, or even not drinking enough water the previous few days.

Therefore, my OB prescribed me to perform four skin pricks per day, draw blood, and then record the results in a journal. He wants me to do this for the next two to three months. His logic and rationale is that by monitoring my blood level daily, he can ensure that I don't fall in the gestational diabetic realm (because I scored 7 pounds outside of the normal range on my 1 hour test and the 3 hour was normal).

How far should I go to stand up for my beliefs and wishes? I know that I am not nor have I ever been diabetic. I will not idly stand by and be a pin cushion, nor will I allow my doctor to solely determine what he feels is best for me. I appreciate his experience and wisdom, yet I reserve the right to respectively disagree and decline. A part of health care is open discourse and discussion with my health care provider. I could choose a different provider, but what if I go from bad to worse? What if I choose a different provider and have no connection with that physician? What if that physician is worse than this one? What if I stay where I am and do nothing?

Open discussion is the course of action that I am going to choose. However, I will stand my ground and express myself. I will not continue to do the skin pricks nor will I subject myself to mindless testing all for the sake of "caution." It is time that patients stand up for their right to have a say so in their healthcare. It is time that we take an active interest in our health and the course of treatment that effect us and our families. Whether you are a pregnant woman, mother of children, grandmother or father, or anyone needing healthcare, this message is for you. it is time we stand up and become informed on our health, our options, and our insurance.

It seems that in this time of healthcare debates and reform, open discussion is needed now more than ever. We have to want to be informed, get involved, and take an active interest in our lives. In order to laugh out loud, and enjoy our families today, everyday, and in the future, we have to step out of our normal routine and do all we have to do to ensure our health, safety, and care.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas season!

Inspect What You Expect

I remember being a mid-twenty something sitting in a relatively warm church hearing the words, "inspect what you expect." At first, it seemed to only have relevance for that particular message. It was not until later that my husband kept repeating the same words to me when I got disappointed by someone who I had asked to do something and they had either not completed the task, or it was not up to the standard I expected or knew they were capable. He just uttered "inspect what you expect." In my brain, if I show you how to do a thing, then watch you do it once or twice, and you say, you understand, I believe we're good and I don't have to micromanage the task or the person.

Just this past week, I had to "inspect what I expected." However, this time, it was from the smallest members of our household. They had been given a task to perform and little did I know, they did their rendition of the task, but it was way below the standard that was set. I am still learning that I have to "inspect what I expect" and not feel like it is micromanaging or showing a lack of confidence. I guess, it's something that I just have to deal with and get over.

In reality, we all give our children tasks that we know they are capable of achieving with proficiency. What is our reaction when they fail to perform to the level of our expectations? Do we yell, shake our heads in disbelief, or take the time to show them how to properly do it? Do we check on our children with regularity to ensure that they have an understanding of what is being asked? Have we taught our children to ask for help when they need it? Have we taught that asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but rather a sign of a truly intelligent person who wants to get better and show a mastery of what they have been given? Have we linked our expectations with a character trait that is quantifiable and has the ability to produce amazing adults?

Is this all to deep? I hope not, because if I am confronted with this little piece of normalcy, I am sure other parents are as well. Hopefully, we all respond that we are thinking of the future and not just the present. We are teaching our children how to be self-sufficient and to value certain traits such as dedication, honoring standards set and exceeding them, and learning to ask for help to do their best. At the end of the day, we have to "inspect what we expect" until it is shown and proven with consistency that the person has a mastery of the task being performed.

After exhaling, reaffirming my intentions, and demonstrating what was expected, I laughed out loud, and enjoyed yet another life lesson with my children! I invite you to do the same.