Karen Hoving, Ph.D., Therapist

12/18/2024

10/18/2024

For those of you who are on IV medications (Chemotherapy, IVIG, hydration in between infusions) be advised there is a
SALINE SHORTAGE due to Hurricane Helene directly hitting a saline plant in NC.

PLEASE contact your Infusion Clinic or the Prescribing Physician (Immunologist, Oncologist, GP etc) to ask about changes in your prescription.
Remember, when we are on IV medications, sometimes when the saline is reduced your side effects MAY change/increase. Talk with your medical provider so you can plan accordingly.

I use saline in small syringes to prep the tubes of scIG. Last time they provided me with smaller saline syringes but I don't know if they are prepared to do that.

I also use 1000mg a month w/ rituxan. I'm hearing they will need to reduce the amount of saline which will mean I have to adjust my schedule after infusion due to side effects.

PLEASE REPOST you may not know who on your feed is receiving IV fluids!

A shortage of intravenous (IV) saline fluids due to Hurricane Helene is forcing hospitals to defer non-urgent surgeries, and could hurt companies that make medical devices for elective procedures if the supply crunch persists, analysts said.

06/12/2024

TRIGGER WARNING FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE
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Washington Post reports that over the past 2 decades, HUNDREDS of law enforcement officers have sexually abused children. Police and sheriff's departments have enable these predators by messing up background checks and mishandling investigations. Prosecutors and Judges colluded to help decrease charges and assist predators to evade prosecution or jail time.

Hundreds of police officers in the United States have sexually abused children, a Post investigation found. In many cases, the officers have avoided prison time.

12/04/2023

Long Covid and Mental Health

Long COVID can exacerbate existing mental health disorders or cause new-onset psychiatric symptoms, but mental illness does not cause long COVID, experts say.

11/08/2023

I am one of the rare women who are colorblind (only 1 in 200).

This article suggests that if you have a classroom of 24 students, ONE will be colorblind and have problems seeing things written on the blackboard (often they are green) or white board depending on the color of chalk/marker used!

Make sure you have your kids checked. If you have not been checked, make sure you request it (especially if your child is colorblind).

Millions of American kids would benefit from finding out whether they can register color differences that teachers rely on.

11/08/2023

Research on Long Covid and Low Serotonin Levels

Could antidepressants hold the key to treating long COVID?

10/25/2023

I've seen a lot of people struggling post covid with both depression and anxiety . I noted this in 2020 that patients who had had mild covid saw an exacerbation of their symptoms of Depression. Just a heads up-if you get covid or have had it and are struggling with emotionally lability or more severe depression and/or anxiety please check with your GP and your Therapist (make sure you let them know you had covid).

As many as 2 out of 3 people with long COVID also have mental health challenges, including high rates of depression and anxiety, new research shows.

02/23/2023

Over my decades working with women, many have shared how they feel when their "birth plan" get's hijacked (often...not bc there was a true emergency, which we all understand happens and we are grateful for medical intervention).
Often in these emergencies no one tells the patient anything...so despite there being a LOT of people in a room, no one takes a few moments to EXPLAIN.
Again YES! I understand things (especially in Childbirth) can change quickly and the goal is "SAVE MUM. SAVE BABY." The team is focused on that very important goal. But Mum is not terrified and often no one either has the time or takes the time to explain what is happening....
In, not all, but some of my experiences with medical professional, I have been disregarded, ignored, treated as if medical facts would "flip me out". I do better with FACTS. Data points. That calms me down. I believe IMHO it helps most women to understand -not to be ignored or demeaned.
Medical Professionals need to do better.

I had been reporting on maternal mortality for three years before I gave birth. Some part of me thought this knowledge would protect me in the delivery room. It didn't.