Griffin Center for Healthy Living in Derby to host diabetes management program

DERBY - The Griffin Center for Healthy Living is hosting a free diabetes self-management program this month to help empower individuals to improve their well-being.

Living Healthy with Diabetes is a free, six-week diabetes self-management program that engages participants in learning and discussing clinical and lifestyle self-management behaviors to improve their health, blood sugars, emotional wellness, and quality of life. 

The program integrates trusted information from the National Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes and The Association of Diabetes Care & Education Curriculum to empower individuals diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes to manage their health and well-being.

An upcoming session will be held on Wednesdays May 14, 21, and 28, and June 4, 11, and 18 from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Griffin Hospital, 130 Division St.

Community Wellness Facilitator Carolyn Gundell, MS, CDCES, will guide participants to manage their well-being with insightful education on healthy eating, weight management, physical activity, medication, glucose technology, health-related risk management, and coping with a chronic condition.

This free wellness program is part of Griffin’s commitment to improve community wellness through free education, guidance and assistance in preventing and managing chronic disease. Griffin’s mission is to empower individuals to make choices that change their lifestyles for the better, and to go beyond caring for individuals when they are not well by building a meaningful relationship, guiding, and coaching them to maximize their quality of life.

Register at griffinhealth.org/living-healthy-with-diabetes or contact The Griffin Center for Healthy Living Coordinator at 203-732-1369 to sign up or for more information.

This is a press release from Griffin Health.

Medication takeback event slated at Bradley School in Derby

 

Derby Senior Center to host medication presentation Friday

 

Medication take back day slated at Bradley School in Derby

DERBY - The Derby Youth Service Bureau is partnering with the Derby Police Department and the Naugatuck Valley Health District to hold a medication take back day Oct. 28 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Bradley School

This community service initiative is in unison with the national medication take back day and is in response to the public health crisis concerning the growing number of overdose deaths in our country, which has doubled in recent years.

 

This effort is intended to take back unwanted, un-used prescription drugs, which can make their way into the community and in the hands of young people. 

The inappropriate use of these drugs can lead to possible addiction and the desire to move toward a more dangerous illicit drug market. 

These illicit drugs, which are often tainted with fentanyl and other synthetic chemicals, are dangerous and have caused thousands of overdose deaths.

Medication take back day is one-step in helping to preventing these overdose tragedies.

 

For any questions contact John Saccu, Director, Youth Services Bureau, 860-883-7476.

This is a press release from Derby Public Schools.

Medication Take Back Day slated at Bradley School in Derby

 

Medication take back day slated at Seymour Community Center

 

Derby Police to hold medication take back day in DHS parking lot

 

This is shared from the Derby Police Department Facebook page.

Recuperation journey: Happiness is ...

having your nephrologist say that you 'graduated' - meaning my clinic appointments are now only going to be once a month.

That certainly was good to hear this morning. 
I've learned that the post-transplant routine for clinic visits starts with twice a week, gets cut to once a week, then every two weeks, to my new schedule of once a month.

Very happy!

As always I hope my writing about this will help someone with kidney disease or has a loved one suffering with it who might be apprehensive about the transplant process. 

I'd simply say don't be. 
A new healthy organ will improve your quality of life, despite all the meds you will have to take. 

Recuperation journey: Buh-bye, Acyclovir

Today is the three-month anniversary of my transplant surgery. 
That means the first birthday party I'm planning to host for my new kidney will be in just nine months! 

Since I'm now three months out, today is the last day I have to take an anti-viral infection medication (Acyclovir). 

I was able to stop taking an anti-fungal pill after the first month, and after six months I'm looking forward to stopping an anti-bacterial infection medication, Bactrim. 

I am recording this journey for my own records, but also because I hope to raise awareness of the importance of organ donation. 
If you're a healthy adult, please consider becoming an organ donor. 
It really is the best gift you can give to another person.

Recuperation journey: Waiting for a package

The Chordettes

This is currently playing in my head, with apologies to The Chordettes: 

"Mr. Fedex, bring me my pills" to be sung to the tune of "Mr. Sandman," an oldie but goodie.

I'm grateful my post-transplant medications are delivered to my door. Automatic refill and delivery make life so much easier! 
The pharmacy didn't send my recently prescribed med with all the others last week but it will be here today, via "Mr." FedEx.

That's what put that tune from 1954 into my head!  😊

'To sleep, perchance to dream - ay, there's the rub' - W. Shakespeare

Another night, another lack of proper sleep.

I blame all the anti-rejection and anti-infection medications I'm taking after my kidney transplant from upsetting my normal sleep pattern.
Fingers crossed it will settle down soon.

It was suggested I try using a melatonin supplement to help in the sleeping department.
Another pill to take! Yikes. But I'll give it a try.

This lack of sleep reminds me very much of living with a newborn who wakes up every two hours or so during the night.
I remember those tiring times well, and I'm sure many other parents reading this do too.

I'll skip the sides, thank you

But I'm not talking French fries or cole slaw. 
I wouldn't mind those sides. 
No restaurant food for me until three months post-transplant. 

I'm talking about the side effects I'm experiencing from all the medications I now take. I never really considered how taking a cocktail of meds twice a day would affect my system.

The side effects are minor, and I won't go into them here, but they are part of the reason I'm up in the middle of the night writing a blog post.

I'm never up at this hour. I'm an early to bed, early to rise person. It feels strange being wide awake at 3 a.m. I feel for those who suffer from any form of sleeplessness.

I think I'll head back to bed. Next up: Counting sheep.

See you in the morning.

Pills, glorious pills

Truth be told I'm not good at math. 
But I'm getting a chance to practice my counting skills now with all the pills I have to ingest.

Took my first 16 last night and took 21 so far today. But the day is young!

This is quite an adventure, to be continued.

Griffin Hospital in Derby to present talk on inhaler medications

Presentation planned at Griffin Hospital on inhaler medications./ Submitted photo 

DERBY - The Community Health Resource Center at Griffin Hospital, 130 Division St., will host a free educational talk on inhaler medications from 11 a.m.-noon. Nov. 11.

Clinical pharmacist Bekim Jashanica, Pharm D., will present “Breathe Easier: Proper Inhaler Use,” an open discussion about inhaler medications, how to best use them, and how to avoid any complications. 

Participants are encouraged to bring their medications and questions.

To register or for more information, call Kerry or Deborah at 203-732-7399.

The Community Health Resource Center at Griffin Hospital is a traditional library that provides an array of medical and health information, including a large collection of easy to read health and lifestyle related materials.

The Center is open to the public to educate themselves on ways to enhance their well-being, prevent illness, and play an active role in decisions about their health.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Crisco hails Senate passage of 'Right to Try' bill for terminally ill

HARTFORD - Terminally ill patients could try experimental medications and procedures not yet approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration as a last resort at life under a bill approved Tuesday on a bipartisan and unanimous vote by state Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge, and the entire state Senate.

 

State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco

Senate Bill 371 allows certain terminally ill patients, under specified conditions, to access medications and devices not approved for general use by the FDA. 

The bill applies to investigational drugs, biological products, or devices that have completed Phase 1 of an FDA-approved clinical trial and are still part of the trial.

To qualify for the program, patients must meet certain eligibility criteria and complete a detailed informed consent form.

Twenty-six U.S. states already have such laws on their books.

“This bill is about giving someone hope at a time when there is little hope left,” Crisco said. “Cutting-edge medical research, like the kind that goes on in Connecticut all the time, holds the promise of extended life or an improved quality of life for certain terminally ill people. If the patient, their doctor, the manufacturer, and the insurance company agree, they can try one of these experimental treatments.”  

The bill passed the Senate and was awaiting action in the House of Representatives late Tuesday. If passed by the House and signed into law, the bill would take effect Oct. 1, 2016.

The bill allows investigational drug manufacturers to provide eligible patients with investigational drugs. 

Manufacturers can charge eligible patients for the investigational drugs, and the bill allows insurance companies to cover investigational drugs, but does not mandate it.

To be eligible to receive treatment with an investigational drug, a patient must:

• have a terminal illness verified by his or her treating physician
• not be a hospital inpatient
• have considered all other FDA-approved treatment options
• be unable to participate in a clinical trial within 100 miles of his or her home
• receive a recommendation for the drug from his or her treating physician

This is a press release from Crisco's office.

Griffin Hospital in Derby to host medication education

The Community Health Resource Center at Griffin Hospital will present Medication Education May 14. / Submitted photo

DERBY - The Community Health Resource Center at Griffin Hospital, 130 Division St., will host a free educational workshop on medications at 11 a.m. May 14.

Clinical Pharmacist Bekim Jashanica will present "Medication Education," an open discussion about medication interactions, comparing generic medications and brand medications, and safe disposal of unused medicines.

Participants are encouraged to bring their medications and questions.
To register or for more information, call Kerry or Deborah at 203-732-7399.

The Community Health Resource Center at Griffin Hospital is a traditional library that provides an array of medical and health information, including a large collection of easy to read health and lifestyle related materials.

The Center is open to the public to educate themselves on ways to enhance their well-being, prevent illness and play an active role in decisions about their health.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.