SO WHAT MAKES ME QUALIFIED?

Every once in a while I get asked - so what makes you qualified to put together a book like the Personal Healthcare Journal. The assumption is that I work in some capacity in the healthcare field - likely a nurse.

While sometimes I feel like I should have entered the nursing profession, my kids will tell you I am not the least empathic so patients out there can be grateful that I did not enter this very noble and sometimes thankless career path.

Back to the qualifications. Our immediate and extended family has won the lottery as I like to say in all things health related. It's helpful to know all the different ailments and illnesses your family has encountered, here are just some of the things that run in our family:

• diabetes
• hypothyroidism
• celiac disease
• prostate cancer
• asthma
• depression
• aspergers (autism spectrum disorder)
  
• interstitial cystitis
• heart disease
• adhd (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)
  
• osteoarthritis
• arthritis
• migraines
• fibromyalgia
  
• a few mystery illnesses
  
• and probably a whole lot more that I'm not aware of

I have been involved directly or indirectly in the lives of the people who experience one or more of these illnesses. It's mind boggling really when you start to list the number of illnesses or diseases people in your family have experienced.

Visiting doctors, asking tons of questions and being fascinated by the human body and all it's quirkiness, I have learned that it's important to keep track of the information you receive. Keeping track helps you to have a much better understanding of what is really going on.

So... if you haven't started a healthcare journal yet - start one today. If not for yourself - for your kids - they'll be glad you did.