tea-and-spoons

[tea-and-spoons]

Okay so when I got sucked into the phantom zone last week while watching youtube shorts a lot of the content it fed me was ADHD tips and a lot of it was either useless for me or redundant but there was one REALLY good tip about taking breaks that wasn't about taking breaks it was about RETURNING from breaks and the tip is: when you are about to go on a break, before you step away from your task (work, craft project, school stuff) decide what you'll do as the first thing when you sit back down at your task and set up your workspace to do that thing.

That means you've got an easy re-entry point to go back to doing the thing instead of sitting back down and having to make a decision or having to reorient from break mode to task mode. You have pre-reoriented and can just go back into working mode.

I've been doing this by circling what my next task on my tasklist is and bringing up the windows that I'll need for the task before I step away from my desk.

Brilliant hack, works great for me, hope it works great for you as well.

[tea-and-spoons]

Dudes healthcare is so fake. My ADHD meds are $940 without insurance. But they gave me a website of "coupons" which straight up looks like a scam website, and I got it today for $60! Just a coupon from a random website and it was $900 cheaper. America, I am confusion!! America explain!!

[tea-and-spoons]

If you live in the USA and you're pleading for donations to pay your rent, bills, or get food then dial 211! Please dial 211 before the last minute!

It's a toll free service with people who will help you find programs in your community to pay those bills, find food, and find housing! They will give you numbers to call so you can get help.

It is not 100% foolproof. Their job is to direct you to a program they believe will help your current issue, but it's still a step up from praying random strangers online will give you enough cash before a deadline! The added benefit of these community programs, which get funded by the local government most of the time, is if there are more people using them then they can get more money to help more people.

You're not taking resources from other people if you use your community services. Your taxes pay for them. Use them.

Dial 211 first to see if they can help, and if for some reason they can't, then make your donation posts!

https://www.211.org/

[tea-and-spoons]

What happens when... I get a Holter monitor?

A Holter monitor is a device that sticks onto your chest and measures your heart rhythm for a day or two.  It doesn’t put any electricity into your body, it just measures the electricity your heart makes when it beats.

You’ll usually go to the cardiologist to have the monitor put on- this should be a short appointment, about 15 minutes.  They’ll explain how to take care of the monitor, put it on, and that’s it

There are a few different types of monitor you might be given.  The older kind has between 3 and 6 stickers on your chest with wires on them that connect to a box you wear on a lanyard or clipped to your clothes.

The newer ones have a small box on a sticky patch that goes directly on your chest.  Depending on the style, it might be a square that goes under your left collarbone, or a longer strip that goes up the middle of your chest.

Especially for the newer monitors, they’re super sticky and the person putting it on will have to push firmly when putting it on.  If you have sensitive skin or allergies to adhesives, you can have a patch test done ahead of time to see if you’ll be okay with the monitor.  You likely won’t have to put a gown on to have the monitor put on, they’ll just have you lie back on the table and lift your shirt.  If you’re wearing a tight sports bra or binder, you may need to take that off and change into a gown, but you can put it back on as soon as they’re done.  You can’t get the monitor wet, so I would recommend taking your shower before your appointment.  No lotion though, or the monitor won’t stick well.

Somewhere on the device, there will be a button for you to press when you notice symptoms.  The doctor will look at all the information from the device, but pay extra attention to times where you pressed the button.  You’ll also be asked to keep a record of anything you did while wearing that might have affected your heart rate, like exercising or watching a scary movie.

For the most part, you can just go about your regular day while wearing the monitor.  Just try not to get too sweaty, and don’t schedule an MRI for while you’re wearing it.  If it starts to peel, you can use medical tape to keep the edges down.  A shirt with a high neckline will hide the device pretty well, although if you have a flat chest, the bump or wires will be more noticeable.

Once it’s been however long your doctor wants you to wear it, you can take the device off.  It’s a lot stickier than your average band aid, so it helps to have an adhesive removing wipe or baby oil to loosen it.  You’ll either have to drop the device off at the doctor’s office, or they’ll give you a box to mail it back.

You’ll find out about the results at a follow up appointment with your doctors, unless there’s something urgent, in which case they’ll contact you sooner.  Some devices even send live information to your doctor so they can keep an eye out for anything that needs immediate help.

You got this! 💙

[tea-and-spoons]

THIS IS YOUR FINAL WARNING TO GET YOUR MEDS BEFORE THE PHARMACIES CLOSE

they are going to be CLOSED OVER THE HOLIDAYS and so will the DOCTORS WHO SIGN YOUR PRESCRIPTIONS.

if you don’t have enough meds to last the next THREE WEEKS, put in for your repeats and refills tomorrow! that’s Wednesday! do it! don’t go to hospital at New Year because you ran out of stuff!

[tea-and-spoons]

Banging on the walls chanting "OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR ACA THRU JAN 15" like some deranged town crier. Election results aside, you have options to access healthcare as a RIGHT through the ACA. NO one can dismantle the Affordable Care Act in less than 4 years, so SIGN UP! GET YOUR CARE! USE THE SYSTEM!

You have options RIGHT NOW that will be stable thru the next year, the one after that, and I'd be shocked to see them shrink even the year after that. That means RIGHT NOW you can get signed up for next year to gain 100% covered preventative care (your annual check ups, pap smears, dental cleaning, vision check). You have the option to get checked and screened as you need, do NOT be dissuaded from exploring ACA choices. They are SOLID, LEGISLATED, and WORK BEST WHEN PEOPLE USE THEM.

I can't change most things around me, BUT I CAN tell everyone I know that THEY CAN GET LIFE SAVING CARE. THEY CAN GET PRESCRIPTIONS. THEY CAN GET PREGNANCY CARE. THEY CAN GET CANCER CARE. AND THEY WILL GET THAT CARE!!!!!!

SIGN UP BY DECEMBER 15, 2024 FOR COVERAGE TO BEGIN ON JANUARY 1, 2025. ENROLLMENT AFTER 12/15/24 WILL HAVE COVERAGE BEGINNING FEBRUARY 1, 2025.

[tea-and-spoons]

Looking for service dog handlers who work with kids!

I will be receiving my service dog in December, and I'm a pediatric occupational therapist. My boss has a LOT of questions about how this will work, and I'm hoping to find someone in a similar situation. Is there anyone else out there with a service dog who works as a pediatric therapist, elementary school teacher, daycare, para, anything similar?

[tea-and-spoons]

When I was younger and researching the autism diagnosis criteria and symptoms, I thought “oh I couldn’t POSSIBLY be autistic.” Because when I read “takes everything literally” I thought it literally meant EVERYTHING and I was like “I don’t take EVERYTHING literally, just most things!” And I just realized the other day that it didn’t actually mean EVERYTHING and that was an overstatement.

[tea-and-spoons]

So many people who get periods are like “Ugh it sucks that having a menstrual cycle makes you almost die every month” like no that’s not normal you need to go to the doctor

[tea-and-spoons]

One of the most helpful things I've learned to do with ADHD is when I need to start a task, I don't think "I need to do this task" I think "I need to do (first step of task)".

I don't tell myself "I need to wash the dishes piling up in the sink." I tell myself "I need to get the scrub brush and turn on the facuet." That's easy, so I do it and bam, I've started the task.

"I need to brush my teeth" -> "I need to get my toothbrush wet and put toothpaste on it."

"I need to write this essay" -> "I need to pull up the assignment guidelines and open a word doc."

"I need to go to the store." -> "I need to put on my shoes."

Tasks are easily overwhelming when you constantly think about them in their entirety, so picking the most immediate part you need to so and only focusing/doing that helps to get you to start it with less anexity & stress.

[tea-and-spoons]

Hi! If you wouldn't mind, could I ask for some tips on how to talk to medical professionals about the possibility of mobility aids? I've been looking in to them for a while for a bunch of reasons (mostly pain while walking, joint issues and chronic fatigue), and started thinking more recently that it might be beneficial to use a wheelchair. I'm going to be seeing a few doctors sometime in the next few weeks (notably: GP and geneticist) and I thought it might be helpful to ask for any advice lol.

Hello! This isn't something I personally have much experience with, but I talked to some friends who have, and here's what I've learned:

-Your GP is the one who can write a prescription for custom equipment, and a physical therapist or occupational therapist is the ones who can take measurements and order it. You can ask the geneticist if they have any resources, but they likely won't be the person guiding the process.

-You don't need a prescription or doctor approval to buy a generic mobility aid. However, talking to the providers who know you best is a good idea to make sure you're getting what will work for you.

-Whether it's written down or in your head, come prepared with a list of symptoms you're having and how they're impacting your life.

-If a provider immediately says no and doesn't offer any alternatives, there might be a disconnect between what you and your provider each understand about your symptoms/conditions. I know it might be scary, but you're allowed to ask about alternatives, ask about solutions to concerns they raise, and clarify the difficulties you're having.

-Know that your experience is valid and you deserve care, no matter what the outcome of your appointment is 💙

[tea-and-spoons]

Do you have any info on applying for SSI disability?

This website has been a GODSEND.

it's been the MOST helpful to me by far when it comes to any question with disability, ssi in particular.

[tea-and-spoons]

as much as i appreciate the intent of the “being disabled doesn’t make you a burden” type posts, i don’t really agree. a lot of times being disabled DOES make you a burden

& i think that maybe we should try to shift focus to the fact that even if you’re a huge burden on society and can contribute absolutely nothing, you’re still a human being who deserves to exist.

like. there’s nothing morally wrong with being a burden on other people. you aren’t a bad person for needing to rely on others. you’re allowed to be a burden & disabled people who are burdens on others, i love you

[tea-and-spoons]

hi! so sorry for the bother but i just want to know of youve seen anything similar to what im looking for? ive been trying to find a possible attachment for rollators that support the forearms and kind of let you steer/move with your forearms, rather than having to hold on to the handles. ive got some issues with gripping things, plus other stuff that would make consistently using the handles difficult ive seen forearm walkers and theyre good but the only affordable one ive found is really low-rated :/

thanks :) hope your day is going well!

Yes I know exactly what you're talking about! There are forearm supports that attach to regular walkers, which you might find under any combination of the following names: walker platform attachment, walker arm trough, forearm cradle, forearm walker attachment, forearm platform attachment.

Some of them look pretty pricey, but hopefully you can find some that are still cheaper than a forearm walker. I would also recommend talking to your PT/OT, as they might know where to find discounted ones, and can help make sure the attachments are positioned safely.

-Tea 💙

[tea-and-spoons]

hey its me. legpain johnson /silly (the guy from this ask -> https://www.tumblr.com/tea-and-spoons/753818570925948928/hi-were-really-sorry-to-bother-you-but-were?source=share ) and ive returned to be a pain once more

so ive been to an OT recently, and have been referred to a PT. OT confirmed i am hypermobile and knows about the leg pain (plus back pain, knee issues that i just whole ass forgot to mention before, etc)

so obvs ill try discuss things with the PT when i get to them eventually but i kinda just wanted to ask for your opinion on some things if thats alright? though ofc no pressure /gen

do you think itd be a good idea to get like. crutches (since a cane probably wont help at all) or a walker, for me? (ofc if youre not sure thats chill its kind of weird for me to expect you to like. Know ig yk?).

do you think its like. reasonable for someone to go for the “easy” route (being mobility aids) instead of the more annoying, difficult route of strengthening exercises and junk (talking specifically about my shitty hypermobile knees here). ik that sounds bad with like. saying mobility aids are like “oooh an easy out” or qhatever, thats not what i mean i just dont really know how to convey the idea. (also yea this concept kinda ties in with the whole thing of autonomy, but im nothing if not a sucker for reassurance lol /lh)

sorry for the second disgustingly long ask from me, and sorry im like. throwing problems at you, theres no pressure to answer or nothing. hope your day is going well /gen. sorry + thank again

-legpain johnson /silly

Hello hello, sorry it's taken so long to get back to you! So glad to hear you're seeing OT and PT, hopefully they've been helping lots.

My recommendation would be, why not try BOTH the mobility aid and the strengthening exercises? I think it's very reasonable to try whatever may help your quality of life, both immediately and in the future. My crutches and my increased joint stability from PT exercises both give me more freedom and safety in different ways.

-Tea 💙

[tea-and-spoons]

friendly reminder that you don't need any diagnosis or disorder to adapt your routine to accommodate you! sit down in the shower. brush your teeth and wash your face in the shower. bring a chair to the kitchen while you cook. use unscented products. your routine should be built for you.