PEG tube basics: usage
Feeding
Using a PEG tube may seem scary and intimidating at first, but it's easy once the anxiety goes away!
Most tubes have adapters with two or three ports; the balloon type has three, and the ones without a balloon have two. NEVER use the smaller port that goes to the balloon; only use the larger ports (they usually have a cap to close them.
PEG tube basics: types and placement
In order to get adequate fluids, nutrients, and medications, a feeding tube may be needed. Most “tubies” have some degree of dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), and may receive one or more types:
I Have an Immune Deficiency
When I was a kid, I was always getting sick. If something was going around at school, I'd definitely catch it. I had pneumonia, strep throat, and stomach viruses multiple times. It was awful.
Chronic SOS - May 2, 2024
Hey everyone!
Its been a while!
The Road Back to Art
I've started to get back into art.
When I was young, I loved doing arts and crafts; but somewhere along the way, I lost my confidence. I went through a lot of bullying as a kid and the constant criticisms internalized and became negative self-talk.
Chronic SOS - January 1, 2024
I have taken a page from Frida Kahlo's book and rediscovered my love for art while on bedrest. I put my pieces in an album on my Facebook page, but I'd like to highlight a few recent ones today:
Chronic SOS - December 1, 2023
For today, let's keep it serene with some wintry landscapes as I paint my mental journey through my idea of tranquility.
Chronic SOS - November 24, 2023
The holiday season is ready to get BUSY now that Thanksgiving is over! For the final November 2023 installment of Chronic SOS, I'll be sharing some of the funniest commercials I could find - plus a bonus
Spoonful of Gratitude - Day 7
For the final day of the Spoonful of Gratitude challenge, I'm channeling my inner Fraulein Maria and ask you to share a few of your favorite things! I've chosen: music, microbiology, animals, writing, and tea!
Spoonful of Gratitude - Day 6
I couldn't have a challenge without music! For day 6, post a song that makes you want to dance every time you hear it! For me, it's “Now or Never” by Halsey.
Spoonful of Gratitude - Day 5
Day 5 challenges you to post a picture of something or someone who always makes you laugh. I'm going a little bit off script for this one by picking a genre of pictures - animal memes.
Spoonful of Gratitude - Day 4
For day 4, I've asked everyone to share something or someone who motivates you. As cliché as it may seem, I'm motivated by child Lori.
Spoonful of Gratitude - Day 3
For day 3, I've asked you to post something or someone who changed your life for the better. This is going to be a bit meta - but this blog has changed my life for the better.
Spoonful of Gratitude - Day 2
For day two, I've challenged you to post pictures of 3 people who always support you. I've selected two of my closest friends, Emeryl and Sloan, as well as my mom.
Spoonful of Gratitude - Day 1
Day one is here! I'm starting off strong with one to remind myself of my achievements and I've chosen a picture of my high school graduation.
Ask Aunt Lori - Handling difficult people
I posted recently about a difficult situation with cyberbullying; during this, it made me realize that I could use it as a teaching opportunity.
Metal music to soothe the soul: interview with Jake Segura of ‘Citizen Soldier’
I started doing a deep dive into metal bands and their positive impacts recently, and though there are so many bands that are changing the world, there's always been one that stood out: Citizen Soldier.
Chronic SOS - November 7, 2023
Though I do enjoy the occasional political joke and disability advocacy often gets into political territory, I know the upcoming year will be full with so much campaigning and politics so I'm going to stay away from that. Instead, I'll be sharing facts about some small towns - with a twist.
Spoonful of Gratitude challenge!
This year has been rough for a lot of people, and so, I hope you will join me in the "Spoonful of Gratitude" challenge. Starting November 16 and ending November 22 (the day before Thanksgiving), there will be specific instructions of what to post online in order to intentionally make you focus on the positives!
4 Unexpected changes after my injuries (and 5 ways I've adapted to them!)
The brain controls everything, so of course when there's a brain (or spinal cord) injury, the entire body is affected. I've lived with this for nearly eight years now and some adaptations are fairly obvious: using a wheelchair, for example; some of them were unexpected and took some time to figure out how to adjust and adapt to. Here are [#] of unexpected changes and how I adapted to them.