Fiercely Independent Pam

Category: helpful products

  • Home Again and it Feels So Good!

    Success! I’ve been home for almost 48 hours, which these days is a record for me! I am absolutely exhausted but getting back into a routine and good sleep are helping. The true test will be tomorrow when I resume my technology offerings here in my community.

    I find routine the number one thing I can do to stay healthy and on track. I try to get to bed around the same time each night, an early 9ish and get up around 6:30 or so. Sometimes I need to go back to bed in the morning and restart again, but I try to stay out of my bed during the day.

    One of the greatest purchases I have made for the purpose of good sleep habits at home is my light/fan fixture. It’s an enclosed ceiling fan and led light combination. I have several light modes such as night, casual, reading, and work. In the morning I usually set it for work, which is quite bright, during the day if I need it on, I set it for casual. While getting ready for bed, I set it on night, which helps a lot.

    Other things that help set the mood include blue blocking readers (I use during the day as well as getting ready for bed). Trying to stay off my phone(this one is hard) and using audio books or meditations to listen to that help me fall asleep. I’ve been doing better about not waking up in the middle of the night and being so awake that I try to get things done. Usually, I am able to simply go to the bathroom and hop back in bed.

    Being home means that I am able to complete tasks and errands like grocery shopping, prescription pick up, and just grabbing a snack or drink. It’s a sense of independence and freedom that you never feel in the hospital. I long for independence and being restricted means I get more frustrated easier. How do you deal with frustration? What works for you to stay calm and collected the whole time you are hospitalized?

  • The Hospital: What I Pack, Bring, or Acquire That Makes My Stay Better

    I am a frequent flyer patient at any given hospital. In any month, I can be in more than I am out. (See Here for more on that). I thought it was time to give some information that makes a stay a little more pleasant.

    Being Ready:

    I designate a large tote bag to always have available for visits to the hospital. It always has fresh underwear, a change of clothes(be sure to change with the seasons), and small bottles of medications that I take and the hospital doesn’t carry. I also keep a 10 foot long charger for my phone in my purse- this ensures you always have a charger. The length is crucial to the flexible needs of the ER/hospital rooms.

    When Time Allows:

    If I have time to pack a few more things, I always bring my Owala water bottle. I also pack other medications that I might need. Sometimes I leave this to be brought once I am settled, especially if they have to be refrigerated. I love my water bottle and find it super helpful in a busy hospital(if you are in the ER, be sure you ask if you are allowed to drink water).I find having the water bottle filled up 3-4 times a day into night allows for colder water, less spills, and you bother the staff less too.

    For Longer Stays:

    Sometimes, if I know I am staying for a few days, I ask a friend or family member to bring my laptop, Kindle, and/or my fun crocheting kits. I try to keep these things in the same spot so I can tell them exactly where they are at home.

    Once I am settled in a hospital room I do several things to improve my stay. 1) Be sure to ask for a menu, often times there are options you don’t know about. My favorite “secret menu” item that I found is a hummus/vegetable/pita plate, this is wonderful with some soup for lunch. 2) Don’t be afraid to ask for specific items on your meal tray. I always ask for two unsweetened iced teas. I drink one with the meal, and keep the second for when I want to drink something other than water. 3) Ask if they can give you bottle water with your meals. The water tastes better than tap (especially in Florida) and because they have a cap, they are handy to keep on your bedside tray. 4)Don’t be bashful to ask for things like toothbrushes, toothpaste, and soaps. I try not to pack these things to cut down on germ transfer. I never bring my own pillows or blankets for this reason.

    I also ask for wipes of all kinds. The purple CHG wipes are harsh on your skin, but helpful for keeping things like picc lines or other lines clean. The blue wipes are great for bedside baths and issues in the bathroom, just don’t flush them. If you have a foley in, you should ask for the green package wipes to wipe down the foley multiple times during the day. I also like to use the no rinse foam cleaner as opposed to liquid soap. It’s common knowledge that any wipes or cleaners left in your room at the time of discharge are going to be thrown away, so feel free to bring them home for use there.

    I pass the time with watching tv, blogging/surfing the web, and completing crocheting kits from Woobles, or listening to an audio book. I find when I bring something along with me or brought later, I am able to feel busy when I am feeling up to it.

    What are your favorite ways to be prepared for hospital stays, or what do you pack/ask for during a stay? Any favorite products or bags you love to use?

  • Are You “A Leaky Person?”: A Guide to Some Great Products

    I’m not sure if it’s a generational thing, the influence of my days at environmental camp, or reading the Lorax more times than I can count, but I have always had a desire to limit my environmental footprint. Unfortunately, as a medical mystery, I create a lot of medical waste: flushes, gloves, iv therapy, IVIG, self-cathing, and more means a lot more trash than I ever thought about. I desired to do everything I could to lower my footprint since I can’t exactly control my healthcare needs. I started with some products for my kitchen and bathroom- more on that in a different post.

    Then, I was looking for some hygiene products that would help in my goal. I was using disposable pantyliners each day and decided to start there. I found lots of options but was intrigued with a little company in Canada called Lil Helper. Their social media ads were different. They featured their founder, Uncle Mo, a self-proclaimed “rocket scientist” talking about their products and that they were for “Leaky people.” I took a chance and ordered some products to replace my pantyliners and pads that I was using. I loved the patterns and the sticky silicone dots that helped keep them in place.

    Fast forward to my hysterectomy, and the bleeding that occurred. I was happy to use the pads that absorbed a lot more and helped keep everything clean. I also slept on a pad that was unlike anything I have encountered before. This so called Life Saver Mat has saved me from a few “Leaky Encounters.

    This encouraged me to order more items. I ordered a mini sized Life Saver Mat and never thought that I would be using it several times a day. Complications from my hysterectomy meant that I needed to learn how to self-cathertize. Being a wheelchair user and having difficult anatomy meant it needs to be done on my bed for now. Insert the Lifesaver Mats- they protect my bed while also providing absorbency. I loved them so much I ordered another in my favorite pattern- the Space Dinos. I wish these products were around when I was caring for my mom- they provide such dignity to “Leaky Situations”

    They have other solutions for diapering/toileting, “spicy time”, special needs, feeding, and more! I look forward to working with this company and ordering more products in the future. I have learned that I am a “Leaky Human” and require special products to provide solutions. Be sure to check them out to fit your needs. Share with others who might have needs. Or even just like them on Facebook to be amused by their genius ads.

    https://fiercelyindependentpam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Lil-Helper-delivery.mp4