Health care ...

• Your body is a treasure to take care of.
  • Eat healthy, do fun exercises, get good sleep, don't have sex with lots of people.
• Learn how your brain and body work differently so you can face your challenges.
• Don't leave home without back-up meds.
  
  • One of the things we have done to keep us sane is buy the small zipper sandwich bags and keep a couple days worth of meds ready to go. If Mom is traveling I package my meds for the whole time she is gone plus two or three days.
  • Mom keeps a set of meds with her if we travel more than two hours away
    
• If you know your mother drank while she was pregnant with you, do not be afraid to get a diagnosis. There may be many parts of your body that do not work the same as other people and this may help you and your doctor understand your needs better.
  

Take your medication as prescribed by your doctor

• Pay attention to any strange or unusual reactions and work with your doctor if you believe it needs to be changed.

Avoid addictions or self-medicating with alcohol, drugs, tobacco.

• Tell your doctor if have a problem and get help NOW!!!!
• Find someone to help you get into recovery if you end up in trouble.

Appointments

• Clinic
  • Pick a clinic to develop a care team relationship with
    • Doctor/nurse — primary care
    • Dentist
    • Therapist
  • Make sure you can get to "WHERE" the clinic is located (bus, drive, bike, walk).
  • Keep all your medical records in that one place.
  • Make appointments on the same time of day and/or on the same day of the week.
    • Bring another person with you to the doctor so you understand what is being said or expected of you.
      
    • Check at the end of the appointment what was talked about today and write or draw what I need to do. Keep it short.
    • Be truthful with your health care team.

Ideas for my health care team

• Please have the “heat on” when it is too cold, I can’t think as well and I also am not as cooperative.
• Realize when you tell me something complex, it may take a bit for me to understand, be sensitive to my reaction if I am overwhelmed.
• Assist in paperwork and transportation services.
• Follow-up on any connections or meetings you set up with me.
• Consider providing fidget toys in the office or an aquarium or waterfall object.
  

 

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