wife, mom of 3, full-time PT

mainly about my day to day life as all

[brittpt-blog]

Depression

So my husband and I have been having a bit of a rough time. Things have gotten monotonous, routine of get home from work, make dinner, feed baby, feed kids and selves, give kids baths, put kids to bed....then when we have down time (about an hour before I would like to go to bed) we usually sit and watch tv together, but on our phones (me especially). Anyway, it seems like we were just living in the same house, not even co-existing. You may have guessed it, but I do better putting my words in writing, having time to think about what I really want to say. So I did. I wrote a letter to my husband about my concerns, we went in a date sans kids, and had a good talk, and things were better, until today....

I came home tonight after work. My husband took the afternoon off (his job allows this, it is his typical day off), and he tells me, "I think I'm depressed. I got home and was going to work on the bathroom remodel, and couldn't even find the want to put some tiles up." He goes on to say he is more forgetful than usual, and has mood swings, feeling completely happy, then the next minute, or hour, or day, feeling zoned out. States he gets pissed off when he has 2 appts at work, when he use to be able to handle 10 or 15.

I let him talk for awhile, again processing, and he brings it up, "I think I need to see someone". I suggest a doctor, but he doesn't want to go to anyone here (small town). We discuss what a doctor would do. I said he may run blood tests, hypothyroidism comes to mind (I have it, and he is describing how I felt before dx). He says that he's a male and it is not as likely, and says that depression is likely in his work field. I said they would do some screens and testing, and if everything was ok, then could refer to mental health counselor. We're both in the medical field (think I said that at some point, him a vet, me a PT), so he knows most of this already. I said I will go with him, if he wants.

One thought is that I may have brought this on, or more to light, with our recent date, complaining that he never wants to do anything social, and has been more short-tempered with the kids. I'm really glad that he was able to open up and tell me this. The other thought is that my life may just fall apart, which I know sounds very selfish, I know. But how serious is it? Enough to tell me he needs help, enough to have suicidal thoughts, enough for self-harm? I don't know, and I'm really scared right now for our future....

Any advice on the topic will be read, but please no husband bashing. I love the man with all my heart, and just want to help him

[brittpt-blog]

Keto/carb cycling diet

After some research, decided to go all in with the keto diet, in a carb cycling mode, as I don't think I can give completely give up carbs forever. I have calculated my macros and goals. I'm also going to continue my HIIT workouts at least 3x per week, as you can get a lot done in 15 minutes, that has an afterburn effect...from what I have read, your body will likely go into ketosis after 2 days of low carb diet, so will also be using keto strips to test, and once I'm getting into it, then will be able to have a high carb day...wish me luck, and any advice or suggestions will be appreciated.

[brittpt-blog]

Nothing like being on a diet, making mac and cheese for the kids, and the leftovers just don't quite fit in the tupperware....what are ya gonna do?

#momdiet #trying #hardtoresist

[brittpt-blog]

It's a Monday

So, I work full time as a clinical director of a small PT office. It's just me, our PT tech/Secretary, and a part-time PTA (she works as needed, and when I take vacation). I wouldn't say I love my job, but it's enjoyable and challenging, both with seeing different diagnoses, different ages of patients, and dealing with the ever-changing insurance. My office is a very distant satellite clinic (like 400 miles from our home office) so we don't even do any of the insurance verifications (if a patient has a co-pay, how many visits allowed, etc) or the billing. But we still have to know a fair amount about the billing and insurance to be able to answer patient's questions on-site, and to make our business as efficient and profitable as possible.

Now, I know some people don't want to hear about that side of things. That we are healing doctors and shouldn't be just thinking about making money, and I don't. I can honestly say that I treat every patient the same, regardless of their insurance and how well, or not well, we get reimbursed. I even convinced my boss (yes I still have one) to take a pro bono case recently.

But the boss does have expectations and target numbers to reach. With him not being on-site, and staying busy seeing patients of his own, and managing 4 PT clinics, it's safe to say that he doesn't know our clinic like we do. He doesn't understand why our numbers are maybe not as good as his other clinics. And with looking at some of his samples of notes and charges, I can say his documentation is, to say the least, not justifying what he charges. And I REFUSE to bill unethically. I've had this discussion with my husband, and he said that I'm too black and white in this regard. Like there's no gray area. But I feel like with PT services, there is no gray area. You either did the service or you didn't, right? And you either saw the patient for 25 minutes or 26 minutes. So when we have our monthly meeting, I'm sure I will basically told, again, that I need to bill "appropriately" (aka more) for our services. And that I shouldn't downplay or undervalue what we do. And might I add that I have still met his monthly goal numbers for new patients and patient visits, it's just he always wants more.

And I DO believe in what we do, and that we know more than people think we do. I find a lot of patients, or people in general, don't know what a PT is, or does, or how much education is required, or the various conditions that we treat. And that is partly our fault as a profession, not educating the public about all the different diagnoses we can treat. And I don't want this to sound like an ad for PT, but we can help with so many different types problems, from post-surgical rehab, neck and back pain, work and sport related injuries, headaches, then all the neuro conditions like Parkinson's and post-stroke.

So again, I wouldn't say the I love my job, but I'm passionate about offering the best patient care, advocating for the PT profession, and helping people reach their goals, whether it be sleeping without waking from pain, or playing football again.

It's a Monday...

[brittpt-blog]

I am not a throw up person...

I never have been. I remember when I was 8 or so and my older brother was sick. I happened to walk by the bathroom door, which he left slightly ajar in his rush to the toilet, and heard him throwing up. This then caused me to gag (a reflex mind you, totally involuntarily) but luckily not throw up. Same thing happened when I was watching my baby sister when she was sick....

Now, I'm not saying that anyone is a throw up person, unless you have some nasty fetish, but you know what I mean. Some people can't do poop💩, or snot, or whatever other bodily fluid. Some people can't do snakes (which is right up there with throw up for me), others spiders....you get it.

Now, they say that all changes when you have kids, because let's face it, you just have to deal. But nope, still have trouble with it. I have been lucky that my husband understands this about me, and although he shakes his head at me, will go help our puking child while I try to clean up the mess (usually folding sheets up and throwing them in the wash). One time, I was home with my daughter, and she was feeling better by the afternoon, so I made her peanut butter and jelly....well that backfired, hard. And I think that's why I don't like throw up....the smell. Something about that acidic, bile stench that does me in. Now try to imagine that mixed with rotting peanut butter. Ya, maybe the worst one yet.

But now, I'm writing this post, because my husband isn't home and you guess it, my son is sick. Now bless him for trying hard, rushing to the toilet, and even apologizing for pooping his pants. The poor kid has it bad. 105 fever just now. So I write this after I cleaned him and the house up, washed my hands, gave him medicine (which we kept spilling because the poor kid is pretty disoriented with it being late, no nap, and high fever) lysoled everthing, and now wait for the Tylenol to kick in and check his fever again. Looks like the flu...

And I don't know about your region, but it has been an epidemic here in my town, and the surrounding ones; schools closing so they can disinfect everything, then calling parents if your kid so much as clears their throat in class. Over 100 kids missing in a high school of 450...ya, that bad.

So I am not a puke person, and that hasn't changed, but I guess I don't have a choice....it may be a long night for me and my poor baby :(

#momlife #gottadeal #lysol #trytokeeptheothershealthy

[brittpt-blog]

First post

So, I'm pretty sure I understand the general idea of what a blog is and how it works. I've never followed a blog, rarely make comments on FB posts or stories. So the big question is why do I have a desire to want to try blogging? Is it a "new year, new you"? Is it because I just turned 29, and jokingly said this is the age I will say I am for the next 15 years? Do I need more out of life? I'm not sure...

What I am sure about is what you may find if you choose to follow or occasionally read this blog. First, I'll talk about my family, and not just my husband and kids, but my parents, siblings, and my in-laws. You will also find that I blog about my work as a PT, of course not breaking any HIPAA laws, as well as my husband's work as a veterinarian. You will see some anatomical and medical terms, I can't help it, it's kinda (at least) 1/2 my life. You will read about the joys and struggles of living in small town, center of the USA (for privacy, I rather not say which state or area, as I know in small town living, some one will know someone and figure out my identity, which I would like to remain private, unless it is listed and I missed it somewhere on this site when setting up my profile haha). And lastly, I hope you will NOT read any grammatical or spelling errors, I hate that.

So that's kinda it for my first post--does one call it that when blogging? I hope that I can stay true to my thoughts that I want to create this blog for me, and not be an attention-seeker, maybe just the thought that someone, somewhere will read it and quickly smile to themselves, having been through similar experiences they may read about. Feel free to comment, but I'm not sure that's what I'm looking for either...