PopSugar

CaringBridge: Social Networking For Sick Loved Ones

FitSugar — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 03:30:00 -0700

If you've ever had a family member in the hospital, you know that keeping everyone informed about the patient's progress can be as exhausting as the nights spent in the waiting room. We rely on everything from phone trees to mass emails to get updates or find out where to send flowers, but I just discovered a website called CaringBridge that makes this very difficult task easier.

Sort of like Facebook for tough times, the free service lets you easily create a website to share updates on a loved one's illness, surgery, hospital stay, and progress. When a friend of mine was recently hospitalized, her family set up a page on CaringBridge, and I've been really impressed by how extensive it is. To find out how it works, read more.

CaringBridge lets you post explanations about a patient's illness, plus photos and updates on test results or overall mood. Friends and family can sign up for email notifications when new info is posted and leave their thoughts and messages on the guestbook page. The site even lets you make a donation along with a tribute to the patient in question. It seems like a great solution in what can be a very challenging time. Have you ever used one of these sites? Tell me what you thought.

Have You Ever Had Surgery?

FitSugar — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:30:00 -0700

I'll admit that I'm a huge fan of doctor shows like Grey's Anatomy and House - not that I think they're entirely accurate. I am intrigued by the diseases and entertained that the doctors can perform miraculous operations to make people healthy in just 60 minutes. Luckily, I haven't had to spend much time in hospitals, and the only surgery I've had was pretty minor. What about you . . .

Source

Hospitals in Canada and the US to Get Fun Centers With Wiis

GeekSugar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 02:00:55 -0700

Here's a heartwarming story to put you in a good mood before the weekend. The Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation and Nintendo have teamed up to put Fun Centers featuring Wii gaming consoles in about 500 hospitals across the US and Canada by the end of the year, with 750 more to come later this year.

Fun Centers will not only come with a Wii and games like Super Mario Galaxy, Wii Sports and Mario Party 8, but will also feature a Sharp AQUOS flat screen TV and a DVD player. The Centers have been created to offer children an entertaining respite during difficult hospital stays. "We hope the new Fun Centers will give kids and their loved ones an opportunity to play, laugh and connect with each other amid trying circumstances," said Don James, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Operations.

Hip hip hooray for Fun Centers!

Speak Up: Do Hospitals Make You Nervous?

FitSugar — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 11:45:00 -0800

I think it is hard to find anyone who has positive feelings about hospitals. For me, the only good thing to come out of them are babies, but I know so many women (including nurses) who opt to have their babies at home just so they don’t have to go to the hospital. Many people associate bad memories - too many ER visit for stitches as a kid, visiting a sick loved one - with hospitals or just feel that the institutions are germ factories. I just went to visit a friend and her oh-so-cute newborn and walking the halls, winding my way to the birthing center, made me realize how much I dislike hospitals.

So I was wondering, how do you feel about hospitals? Do they make you nervous? Have you ever had a bad experience there that made you never want to go back? Tell me in the comment section below.

Source

Some Hospitals Now Allowing Cell Phone Use

GeekSugar — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 15:00:27 -0700

Don't be surprised to see people chatting on their cell phones the next time you visit a hospital. According to Techdirt, a recent study found benefit in allowing mobile phone usage in hospitals, including improved communication among staff and lower error rates. Another study de-bunked the universal myth that cell phones interfere with medical equipment. Some hospitals are even going as far as installing local antennas to lower the likelihood of interference so that patients, docs, and visitors can happily chat away.

Keep in mind that not all hospitals have jumped on-board with this, as they are waiting for further evidence.

Image Source

Owen Wilson Hospitalized

PopSugar — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 18:32:01 -0700

We were shocked to read Owen Wilson was hospitalized today due to dehydration which is usually a good cover for many other things in Hollywood. Apparently he was in very serious condition but has since been stabilized and switched to a more comfortable hospital. We were holding out for more sources than the NE and Star but they were the first to say Nicole was pregnant so they are not always off. TMZ has confirmed that Owen has been hospitalized so now we just have to wait and see. Hopefully he is getting the rest and fluids he needs.

UPDATE: The hospital news was shocking enough but now the latest word is that this may have been a suicide attempt. The sad story is still developing but the bottom line is we hope Owen is getting better and we're not going to try to jump to any conclusions until an official statement is released.

You Asked: Should I Help my EX?

DearSugar — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 13:00:00 -0700

Dear Sugar--

I was dating this guy about 4 years ago. We got really close and he ended up confiding in me things he never told anyone. He's severely bi-polar and has a history of depression, so he was self-medicating himself with alcohol, and was a heroin addict. At the time we were going out, he was sober about a year and going to daily AA meetings. Our different lifestyles and his drastic mood swings were too much for me to handle so we broke up. Since then, when we see each other at our yoga studio (which is about once a week), we say "hi," but that's about it.

Recently, out of the blue, I received an email from him saying that he had decided to go for treatment in a hospital for his bi-polar disorder. I was happy to hear that, but he said he needed someone to take him to the hospital for the 3 hour treatments, 3 times a week, for 6 weeks (he is going to be put out for shock treatment so he can't drive). He knows my schedule is somewhat flexible, and was basically begging for me to help bring him once a week, since he has hardly any friends who know about this, and his family is out of the picture.

I really don't want to get involved (because of all the reasons we broke up in the first place), and I really can't take off work once a week, but I feel so bad, knowing he has no one to help. What should I do?

--Want-to-Help Heather

To hear DEARSUGAR's answer, read more

Dear Want-to-Help Heather--

It sounds like you are in a tough place, and you are being asked a huge favor from someone who is clearly reaching out for help.

My suggestion is to ask him if he's thought about hiring a private nurse who can bring him to the hospital, stay with him, and then bring him home. He has to realize that it's a lot to ask for you to take off work once a week for 6 weeks. If a nurse is out of the question, he may need to confide in some of his other friends (who don't yet know about his situation) and see if they can help. Then you wouldn't have to do it once a week, you could maybe do it every other week.

If giving up your time isn't the main issue here, and you just feel weird about spending time with him again, knowing he is relying on you so much; I would just be honest with him. Explain that you don't think it's appropriate for you to be his caregiver and that it makes you uncomfortable to be back in his life in this way. You can apologize, hope he understands, and move on with your life. Although he clearly needs help, it is a lot of anyone, let alone an ex- girlfriend, so I am sure he wouldn't be all that surprised if you declined this responsibility. I hope this helps Heather. I hope your ex gets better, but remember you are your first priority!

Hospital Chart Bloopers

GiggleSugar — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 07:00:00 -0700

There is nothing funny about being ill, but then again, we never get to see what the docs write down in those top secret hospital charts. Now there's some sick humor:

She has no rigors or shaking chills, but her husband states she was very hot in bed last night.
The lab test indicated abnormal lover function.
She stated that she had been constipated for most of her life, until she got a divorce.
I saw your patient today, who is still under our car for physical therapy.
Examination of genitalia reveals that he is circus sized.
The pelvic exam will be done later on the floor.
The patient was to have a bowel resection. However, he took a job as a stock broker instead.
Patient was seen in consultation by Dr. Blank, who felt we should sit on the abdomen and I agree.
Discharge status: Alive but without my permission.
The patient refused autopsy.
The patient has no previous history of suicides.
Patient had waffles for breakfast and anorexia for lunch.

Source and Cartoon Source

WTF?!

GiggleSugar — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 12:51:16 -0800

I guess this is what they mean by "in sickness and in health"...but if you ask me, they're all sick.

Source

Which Guest Star Are You Most Excited to See This Week?

BuzzSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:30:00 -0800

November sweeps is here, which means appearances by big names on some of my favorite shows. We've already seen the likes of Samantha Ronson and Pharrell on 90210, but now we're getting to the exciting stuff.

Lady Gaga hits Gossip Girl tonight - check out a sneak peek here - before Melrose Place welcomes back Heather Locklear tomorrow night. And who could forget James Franco's big cameo on General Hospital? While I'm still baffled by his career move - not to mention those early pics - Franco on a soap opera is bound to be hilarious.

All of this means lots of TV-watching for me, and luckily none of the shows are on the same night, so I don't even have to pick favorites! Still, I'm curious to hear your opinion - which guest appearance is earning the top spot on your TiVo?