megram - Index

megram - 55NovOttawa - Index

The Rest Is Best
By Lorna Foreman
Ithink we are incredibly lucky in
Canada to have the health care system
we do.Compared to the rest of
the world, I rate it high. I try my best
never to abuse it. Unless I feel it is a
life-threatening problem, I prefer to
attend to the small problems myself.As
a result, I have become quite knowledgeable
about nutrition, homeopathic
remedies, herbal remedies and the
like. It is only when it is beyond my
understanding that I take myself off to
the emergency department of my
local hospital or call my doctor. After
all,a test can also put your mind at rest
and that is very important.
Little did I know what an adven-
Diagnosis Dilemma
Adventures in the health care system
Retirement Living
• Inclusive Care Package:
meals, snacks, phone, cable,
housekeeping, laundry, personal care,
medication dispensing
• Registered staff on-site 24/7
• Activity & Leisure programs
• Health Clinics
• Transportation for Outings
Suites Available
ture I was about to take when I developed
(what I thought was) arthritis in
my hip. Last fall, just prior to the onset
of winter, my hip started to become a
real problem. Since I have suffered
from arthritis in my right wrist for several
winters I put two and two together
and that was my conclusion.
Bad timing. I still had those 14
cords of wood to stack since I heated
my home with a wood stove. Out
came my dependable bottle of glucosamine.
I started taking the prescribed
dosage and went out to start
stacking.Alas, it did not help.
Now this is where the adventure
starts. A friend figured that from the
Billings Lodge Retirement Community
Twenty-Five Years of Caring
A family owned & operated retirement community offering personal care from
independent apartment living to secured nursing units for residents with dementia
Apartment Living
Studio, one & two bedroom
Waiting List
1180 Belanger Avenue
613-737-7877
or 613-737-7878
billingslodge.com
November/December 2008 • Ottawa 3 • Fifty-Five Plus Magazine
symptoms I was suffering from were
instead a sign of sciatic nerve problems.
Seems as though she had the
same problem and was cured by her
chiropractor. Hmm, I thought — okay
I’ll try that since I already have a chiropractor
in my life.
I was treated and given plenty of
stretching exercises that, apparently,
would help. Nothing worked. My leg
was getting worse to the point where
it interfered with my life.Walking was
out of the question since my leg
would develop such stabbing pain
that it would give way. So I tried my
physiotherapist and for a while it was
Continues on page Ottawa 5
Alzheimer’s Units
• Inclusive of the Retirement
care package plus
• Secured floor with dedicated
Floor staff-Nursing & Leisure
• Assistance with all activities
of daily living
• Separate Dining & Leisure
areas
• Secured patio and garden
• On-going assessments by
Health care Team