Traveling with Incontinence

October 24, 2018 | T. Kocik

Whether you are preparing for a long car ride or a flight across the country, traveling can be a source of anxiety for those who deal with incontinence. Those who experience bladder leakage or incontinence should not have to sacrifice their plans. Today we wanted to share with you a few tips from Joanne, a Neurological Continence Nurse Consultant and former academic at the Australian Catholic University (ACU National) for practical ways of managing bladder leakage so you can live an active life.

Plan ahead before you travel.

Book your seats ahead, be it by bus, train or flight travel, so you're situated close to toilets and seated in an aisle seat.

No matter where you are going, stock up on your protective supplies before leaving home.

It will help you avoid the stress of trying something new or having to go without. If you are amongst the many who use a sanitary pad and not a product designed specifically for moderate to high volume urine loss consider swapping over.

Don't be tempted to reduce your intake of fluids as this will not reduce your risk of leakage; instead choose your drinks wisely.

Avoid caffeine, a natural diuretic (chemicals that make you need to pass urine) and bladder irritant, and ensure you drink between five to eight glasses of water each day. If you don’t drink enough fluids you will reduce your bladder's capacity and actually increase your bladder sensitivity.

Many people don’t seek help.

If you experience bladder leakage or incontinence don't be afraid to reach out. Talking with someone about your options will help you be in control of your incontinence. There are many different products out there and it can be overwhelming. Binson's has a dedicated incontinence department that is ready to assist you with any questions you may have. Be sure to ask about FREE samples, our Discreet Home Delivery and Free Shipping with our Home Incontinence Delivery Program. Call (888) 246-7667 or click here for more information.

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Tips for Avoiding Cold and Flu Season

October 10, 2018 | T. Kocik

The weather is changing. The days are becoming shorter. The leaves are beginning to change color, and the sound of sniffles and coughs are on the rise. We are approaching cold and flu season, and we want to share with you a few tips to help you avoid getting sick this season.

1. Get a flu shot.

One of the best things you can do to prevent getting the flu is getting the flu vaccine. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, "Flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination. These antibodies provide protection against infection with the viruses that are in the vaccine. The seasonal flu vaccine protects against the influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season." It would be wise to talk to your doctor about the benefits of getting vaccinated.

2. Wash your hands.

This may be something you do not do as often as you should. No matter what you do, you are going to be coming into contact with people who are potentially contagious. It is unavoidable. This simple act can lower your risk of catching their germs significantly.

Do you know how to wash your hands? Sounds like a crazy question right? Many of us do not wash for nearly long enough. The best way to thoroughly wash your hands is to sing the "Happy Birthday" song in your head 2 times through. Making sure you are scrubbing the front and back of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails. The very act of scrubbing will physically remove the germs.

3. Sanitize!

If you are out and about and on the go, using alcohol-based hand sanitizers can kill cold and flu germs. See...that big purse does come in handy sometimes!

4. Avoid contact with those who are sick.

This may be tough to do in some situations, but you can significantly reduce your risk by limiting contact with people during the peak of cold and flu season. You may not know when someone you are around is sick, so being more cautious about hugs and handshakes may be a wise decision during this season. That is not to say you should be antisocial, most people would understand your avoiding contact to reduce your risk of spreading germs.

5. Be a clean freak.

You generally have more control over your immediate surroundings. So whether at work or at home, wiping down your desk and door knobs can help reduce your risk.

6. Take care of your body, and it will take care of you.

Making sure your body is getting all it needs to run efficiently. This means, eating whole unprocessed foods, drinking plenty of water, getting plenty of rest, avoid smoking, and stay active. Your body is an amazing machine and it needs all the right things to run. Investing in yourself and your health is so important, because who else is going to do it?

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A Story of Triumph

September 8, 2018 | R. Stiteler

There are amazing stories in the world. Stories of triumph, sacrifice, and loss. Stories that can bring people together and stories that remind us of why we believe what we believe. However, this story is all of the above. This is the story of Melissa Stockwell.

Melissa Stockwell is a Purple Heart recipient and a Bronze Medal Paralympic athlete. She is an amazing woman, and she has done all of these things with a prosthetic leg to replace the one she lost in Iraq. She is a strong reminder to all of us that we are not limited. That we are strong. That we can make it. She fought through the pain, loss, sadness, and fear, and came back years later as a Paralympic athlete that placed third worldwide. Below you will find her story, and how she overcame all of the odds. We want to focus today on just one thing though, she never gave up. It is the constant theme throughout her story and is something that we can learn from in the future. You can make it. You can be stronger but above all. You are not alone.

Read her full story here!

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Adapting Life To College

September 7, 2018 | R. Stiteler

When students move back to college in the fall there are many thoughts that go through their head. Questions about classes, friends, roommates, transportation and even how to balance these things while also trying to hang out with that pretty girl or handsome boy that you saw in English Literature class that you can’t stop thinking about. These are just the thoughts of the college student, however, there is one thought that many students must take into consideration when entering into the collegiate world of study. How am I going to make sure that my diabetes is under control while I’m away at school? This is a very real fear for some of us that suffer from a diabetic condition, however, there are several things that you can do to help both you and those close to you in regards to your diabetes.

The first thing that you can do is make sure people are informed. This may happen right away, it may take a while to build up a trust but either way it is important to tell people about your condition. This has a dual purpose. Of course, it can allow for those people to help keep you accountable, but it also serves as another line of support. Often we can feel like a medical condition can keep us from participating in many activities, but if your friends and those close to you know about your specific condition they can help to accommodate any needs you may have regarding the activities.

The second thing you can do may seem self-explanatory but make smart healthy choices. Different situations are going to affect you differently than they may affect your friends. That is why it is so important to make sure that you are taking care of yourself. A practical way to do this is to get a bit of exercise throughout the week. This will keep your body in check and help with managing your diabetic care.

For even more ways to help you manage your diabetes while away at school check out this link here!

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Creative Repurpose

August 30, 2018 | R. Stiteler

For those of us that live with a diabetic condition, we have a lot of waste that we work with on a monthly basis. Well, what if we could repurpose some of those containers and supplies that we have left after testing? We have found several creative ways to repurpose these pieces of medical equipment! Here are our favorites!

Storage

The containers that the testing strips come in can be used as a holder for everything from sewing needles to glitter. Simply clean out the contents of the container and you’ve got a stylish and easy to store container for those tiny and messy contents!

Feathered Friends

We all love to see the birds around our houses in the spring and summer, well now those pesky insulin containers can help you with that passion! By emptying and cleaning the bottle you can purchase a small plastic flower for bird feeders and place it in the open section of the insulin bottle. Then simply fill with between 10ml and 12ml of nectar and hang from your trees or bushes!

We hope that these ideas spark your creativity and allow you to be able to repurpose some of those pesky supply bottles that seem to be everywhere!

For the full list of ideas, check out the link here! As always for any questions regarding anything you read here or a topic that you’d like to see in the future, just simply leave a comment below!

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Simple Solutions for Healthy Aging

August 25, 2018 | R. Stiteler

As we all age, something that we all need to remember is how to live our lives in a way that allows us all to age healthily. So we're here to give you a few amazing tips that we've discovered over the years to keep you feeling like you still are 22!

The first tip is to remember to eat healthily. This may seem like a given for this topic and something that can be blown off. However, simply by eating healthier options you can help your body regulate the number of chemicals that you are entering into your system.

The second tip to remember is that activity can be good for you. Exercise is easy for some and difficult for others but activity in any facet is good for your health. Motion can also be different for different people, but the key to keeping it in your routine is to make sure that you are doing something that you enjoy and don't find to be a chore!

The next tip is to stay social. This can be something of a second nature to individuals that are extroverts, but for introverts, it's not something that is so simple. It is still important though, by creating relationships and deepening friendships with people, you have the opportunity to prevent loneliness, social isolation, and a sedimentary lifestyle.

The fourth tip is to reduce stress. This sounds a lot easier than it is, but the more stress that you put on your brain the greater chance that you can experience symptoms of depression, memory loss, fatigue and a decreased ability to fight off sickness. There are however several ways to reduce stress! Keep things in perspective and don't worry about things that you cannot control. The more that you focus on things that aren't under your control the more stressed you will be. A perfect example is the tides. No matter how hard you try, you can't affect the tides. They are under the control of something else and they won't ever listen to you.

The final tip for today is to get enough sleep. We all love to go to bed at the end of a long day, but it seems like as we get older we need less sleep. That is not true, adults need as much sleep as anyone else does! This can be a huge issue as many adults don't get their required 7-9 hours of sleep that is needed for optimal brain function. That being said, make sure to develop a good sleep schedule and watch the benefits change the way that you interact with people!

Thanks for checking back for this week's medical hack! We hope you'll check back in next week for our next installment of Binson's Medical Hacks!

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Migraine Prevention Tips

August 23, 2018 | R. Stiteler

Migraines are debilitating and render you helpless if the severity of a migraine is high enough. We understand what it is like to constantly have a pounding in your head and how badly it can limit your day to day life. That is why we are here today to give you 3 awesome ways to help combat your migraine!

Migraine Hack #1: Stress Isn't Your Friend

When entering into different situations in life there are many ways that we can get stressed out. However the more stressed we are the harder it is for the body to relax and actually recover. So our suggestion is to find a way to unwind when you have a migraine. Go outside, stay inside, whatever helps you relax and do that. You deserve it.

Migraine Hack #2: Become A Creature of Habit

The first enemy of a migraine is consistency. The more you become a creature of habit the less your brain is in a constant state of catch up. By doing and responding the same way to different situations you allow for your brain to recover and to better understand the way that it needs to operate on a day to day basis.

Migraine Hack #3: Stay Away From Stink

When learning to combat a migraine, your smell is the sense that is most able to both help and harm you. There are many triggers to a migraine and smell is one of them. By removing yourself from situations that can cause your brain to relapse can be a great way to keep your head clear!

That's all for today! We hope that we've been able to help and to allow for you to be able to understand what some of the more common ways of combating your migraine are!

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Let's Concentrate on your Concentrator

August 16, 2018 | R. Stiteler

The weather is a part of our lives that is constantly changing and for those of us that are dependent on an oxygen machine we need to be conscious of the environment. There are many different ways that the environment can affect the concentrator and we'll go over just a few here today.

When storing your concentrator inside or even using it outside heat is something that is incredibly important. When the oxygen warms up it lowers the lifetime of the tank. This is because if the concentrator heats up to the point that the oxygen starts getting above 70 degrees Fahrenheit it can lower the utility of the equipment by making it a less than ideal situation to use the concentrator.

Another way that the weather can affect your equipment is simply the way that you store the concentrator during different times of the year. When storing a concentrator your optimal temperature is between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This is so that the equipment has enough of the oxygen molecules moving to be able to be in a pseudo state of rest and at the same time is allowing the oxygen to flow at a constant and steady rate.

The last way that we'll cover today is in regards to those fun summer campfires that happen so often. Keep the concentrator a good distance away from the fire. A safe distance to keep from the fire is about 8 feet. This gives room for you to still enjoy all of the different fun that can happen at the campfire while also preventing the oxygen tank from increasing in temperature.

So now that you have a few ways that you can still enjoy the great outdoors with an oxygen tank...what are you waiting for? Have fun!

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How To Determine Whether Or Not To Get Your Medical Equipment Inspected

August 11, 2018 | R. Stiteler

Medical Equipment is part of may of our lives. It can manifest itself in many forms and is shown to be something we can't be without at some point in our lives. The question then becomes how do we take care of this equipment that is creating for us a higher quality of life? What do we do when the equipment isn't working as needed? It might be time to take your equipment in for inspection. When taking your equipment in for inspection there are several factors that you must consider.

One of these factors is are you eligible for an upgrade or replacement piece of equipment. This is a question for your medical insurance provider and the most common time frame that is needed to have passed for replacement is around 5 years, but this depends both on the equipment and the insurance.

Another factor you must take into consideration is wear and tear. This can occur when the equipment that the patient is using starts to show signs of age or is slowing down. If you are experiencing any of these situations on your particular piece of equipment it may be time to talk to your doctor about getting your equipment inspected.

These are two of the more generalized questions to look at when considering getting your Medical Equipment inspected, however, there are different specifications that need to be met for each different type of equipment and each insurance handles those situations differently. Thanks again for checking in and thank you for choosing Binson's.

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Post Hospital Care

August 9, 2018 | R. Stiteler

As we get sick and need medical attention, we all end up in the same place. The Hospital. This is an amazing place where doctors and surgeons work day and night to make sure that you the patient are getting the best care possible and are able to recover in a reasonable time. However what happens when you leave the hospital? What happens when that team of doctors and nurses lets you know that you are able to return home and are no longer under their watchful eye? That is where the concept of Post Hospital Care comes in. This sounds pretty self-explanatory, but it can be much more complicated than people believe. It can be everything from simply having a caregiver watching over your loved one for a time until they are able to live independently, but it can range all the way up to requiring social workers who operate to make sure that the ethical practices in medicine are being followed. See...just a little more complicated than it sounds.

However, there is another facet of Post Hospital Care that we are leaving out, the supplier. This is an organization like Binson's, which aims to make sure that while you have been discharged you are still able to have access to all the pieces of equipment that makes the hospital such a great place to be to get better. We are able to offer everything from aids to help you reach hard to get places to entire hospital beds with a variety of mattress options! So next time your doctor tells you to go home, get some rest, and feel better...remember that we're here to help you in all aspects of life with exactly what you need to get feeling better in no time!

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The Future of Home Health Care

August 4, 2018 | R. Stiteler

Technology. It is something that has been integrated with our society for almost the length of humanity. Since the early homo sapiens, we have been looking for ways to make our lives more efficient. To them breaking things open with rocks was just as a revolutionary technology to them as standing in line outside the Apple Store for the newest model of the iPhone is to us. These were revolutionary discoveries that our society has created and the spark of life that keeps the flame of invention burning. We wish to further ourselves and by learning about new and more efficient ways to do things we are doing just that. But now that I've given the promo for the technological age that we live in, let's think about how this may affect simple things in our lives that we don't necessarily think will be affected. Of course, the big ones are jobs, driving, and maybe even fast food.

However, one that people tend not to remember is Home Health Care. This field has the potential to drastically change with the future of technology. What could change this field that has been around for so many years you ask? Well, let me tell you what exactly it is, robotics. This field is growing exponentially right now and may allow for there to be a more flourishing field of home health care simply because caregivers can be given more time to take care of themselves during their care and simply hand off simpler tasks to a robotic assistant. To find out more about this situation and the way that robotics has the potential to change the way we see Home Health Care check out the link here!

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Medical Hacks - Fall Prevention Edition

August 2, 2018 | R. Stiteler

Falling is a real fear for individuals that have limited mobility. If they cannot get themselves off of the floor if they fall, the fear of getting stranded without a manner of alerting anyone is very real. However, for those who are the family of the individuals that fall prey to that fear, we are going to give you a few ways to help prevent the amount of falling that an individual may go through.

The first thing that you can do is use an Exercise Peddler. This is a device that allows for your muscles to be strengthened while in a stationary position, such as sitting down. By giving your loved one this option they are removing the potential of them falling while exercising as they are already seated and it strengthens the muscles that are used more often in fall prevention and mobility which can make a big difference!

Another way to help limit the number of times that an individual falls in the home is to install grab bars and railings around the house. By doing this you allow for your loved one to have extra security and support in areas they may usually have trouble navigating through.

The last way that we'll cover today is mobility aids. These are products like canes, walkers, rollators, wheelchairs, etc. These devices exist to help individuals that do not have another manner of reliably moving from place to place. By giving your loved one access to one of these devices you are helping to prevent them from falling while still keeping them mobile.

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Almond Coconut Delight

July 29, 2018 | R. Stiteler

This weekend we're going to dive back into the world of food and the tasty treats that go with it! So without further introduction, let's jump back in and find ourselves something good to eat!

The recipe that we're going to be focusing on today is the recipe for Almost Coconut Protein Bars. This is the perfect dessert that is sneakily also something that has a lot of healthy components as well that allow for you to find the perfect combination of healthy and tasty!

Ingredients:

• 3/4 Cups of Almond Butter
• 2 and a Half Teaspoons of Coconut Oil (Separated into 2 tsp and 1/2 tsp)
• 4 Tablespoons Honey
• 2 Teaspoons of Vanilla Extract
• 1/4 Teaspoon of Salt (Only necessary if the Almond Butter is unsalted)
• 2/3 Cup of Premier Protein Vanilla Powder
• 3 Tablespoons Unsweetened Coconut Flakes
• 3 Tablespoons Miniature Chocolate Chips
• 3 Tablespoons Dark Chocolate Chips

Now that we've gotten all the pieces we need to make this healthy and delicious snack, let's start cooking!

Step #1: The first step is to line an 8.5 by 4.5 inch bread pan with aluminum foil paper. Make sure to have it overhang with the parchment paper and set it aside from the rest of the bread pan.

Step #2: The second step is to take a large bowl and add in the almond butter, 2 tbsp of the Coconut Oil and honey. Microwave for 10-15 seconds and stir until smooth.

Step #3: Add in the Vanilla extract, salt (if using Unsalted Butter), vanilla protein powder, coconut flakes, and miniature Chocolate Chips.

Step #4: Stir until everything is combined and the mixture has turned into a thick dough. Press that dough into the bread pan, cover and chill for at least 1 hour.

Step #5: Remove from the fridge and using the overhand paper, pull the bars from the pan. Cut into 12 individual pieces. Enjoy as is...or for those feeling extra adventurous, apply a chocolate glaze!

Chocolate glaze: To add the chocolate glaze, combine the chocolate chips and remaining 1/2 teaspoon coconut oil in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave in bursts of 15 seconds, stirring in between each burst for 10 seconds until the chocolate is smooth. Transfer the chocolate to a bag and cut off the tip of the bag. Drizzle the chocolate over the bars and allow to set up at room temperature.

Now that we've got this amazing treat before us, well we need to go enjoy it. Drop by again next week for the next Binson's Healthy Snack addition!

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Tips and Tricks For Maintaining Your Power Scooter

July 26, 2018 | R. Stiteler

With the Binson's Southgate Tent Sale just around the corner (July 28th) we wanted to get more information about mobility scooters into your hands as soon as we could. We all know that there are numerous benefits of using a mobility scooter and simply by having one in your life there are a plethora of opportunities and activities that you didn't have access to before, but today we're going to be focusing on some of the simple things that you can do to ensure that your adventures aren't cut short because of the scooter!

Now we'll be looking at is the general cleaning of the scooter. There are many different methods that you can do to keep your scooter running smoothly and looking sharp. Here are just a few of those tips for you to use for you and your new scooter:

1: Only dust with a smooth, dry cloth and only clean with a smooth cloth dampened with liquid cleaner or glass cleaner. Any direct contact with water or any other liquid could potentially damage the internal functions of the scooter.

2: Also find a cover for the scooter itself, much like you would get a cover for some cars when the weather becomes poor or to prevent potential dust build up. This is the same concept for the scooter and by getting a cover for the scooter you are working to help prevent this dust build up and weather effects from affecting the condition of your mobility scooter.

These are just the most common of the methods of cleaning your scooter and ensuring that it stays in top shape throughout your necessity for the scooter. We hope to see you this Saturday, July 28th as well, to get you into the scooter that you need! It truly does give low mobility individuals another entrance into the world of adventure!

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Hospital Bed Benefits

July 21, 2018 | R. Stiteler

Hospital Beds are common features that you see in the medical world, and even in the world of home health care. However, there are many features that hospital beds offer to patients that you may not know, or know about but don't fully understand why this benefits your loved one. Well, today we'll go over a few of the more important and common features that hospital beds can offer patients and what exactly the benefit of these features are.

Feature #1: By having access to a hospital bed you have the ability to allow for the patient to adjust to their comfort. These beds are able to adjust both the head and feet which is great news for patients that have back problems, problems breathing and potential difficulties with their mobility. This can also be beneficial for patients that need to have their feet raised above their heart for circulatory reasons.

Feature #2: Side railings are also another one of the features that hospital beds are equipped with. These have the obvious benefit of preventing people from falling off of the edge of the bed, however there is another benefit that these side rails posses: mobility assistance. By using the railings of the bed as a manner of cane that is attached to the side of the bed, it allows for patients to more easily lift themselves from the bed and becoming more mobile.

Feature #3: Another great feature on the topic of mobility with the hospital bed is how mobile the bed itself is. Due to the fact that the bed is on rolling wheels, it allows for there to be more versatility as to where the bed can be in the house if it becomes necessary for it to be relocated after the original assembly.

These are just a few of the benefits of a hospital bed that are beneficial for many different patients with many different medical needs. We hope that this has been helpful for you and your loved ones and thank you again for choosing Binson's!

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Super Tasty Potato Salad

July 19, 2018 | R. Stiteler

Hello again,

We're here at the weekly recipe from Binson's Blogging! Today we're going to be heading down the healthy trail again with a great summer recipe that is good whether you're cooking in heat or comforting cool this summer! Lets dive right into the ingredients needed for this weeks Garden Potato Salad!

Ingredients For Dressing:

• 2 Cloves of Peeled Garlic
• 2 and a half Teaspoons of Kosher Salt
• 1/2 Cup Mayonnaise
• 2 and a half Tablespoons of White Wine Vinegar
• Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Ingredients for the Salad:

• 8 Cups of Water
• 2/3 Cups of Dry White Vermouth
• 3 Cloves of Smashed Garlic
• 2 Tablespoons of Kosher Salt Plus Extra for Seasoning
• 1 Sprig of Fresh Thyme
• 1 Bay Leaf
• 4 Black Peppercorns
• 2 lbs Small Red-Skinned Waxy Potatoes, Sliced into 1/8-inch-thick rounds
• 5 Medium Carrots, Peeled and Sliced into 1/8-inch-thick rounds
• 1 Bunch of Radishes, Sliced into 1/8-inch-thick rounds
• 1/2 English Cucumber, Sliced into 1/8-inch-thick rounds
• 1 Cup of Grapes or Cherry Tomatoes, Halved
• 3 Scallions, Thinly Sliced
• Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• 1/2 Cups of Lightly Packed Chopped Mixed Fresh herbs (such as Flat-Leaf Parsley, Dill, or Tarragon)
• 6 Lemon Wedges

Now that we've collected the ingredients for this healthy garden salad, lets get started!

Dressing: Smash the garlic cloves, sprinkle with the salt, and, with the flat side of a large knife, mash and smear the mixture to a coarse paste. Put in a bowl and whisk with the mayonnaise, vinegar, and black pepper to taste.

Salad: Put the water, vermouth, garlic, salt, thyme, bay leaf, peppercorns, and potatoes in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the carrots, lower the heat, and cook until the vegetables are tender but not mushy, about 5 minutes. Stir in the radishes, then immediately drain all the vegetables in a colander in the sink. Remove and discard the garlic, thyme, bay leaf, and peppercorns. Cool slightly and toss the vegetables with the dressing. Cover and refrigerate about 30 minutes. (The salad can be prepared up to this point a day ahead.)

About 10 minutes before serving, toss the cucumber, tomatoes, and scallions in a small bowl with salt and black pepper to taste. When ready to serve, fold the cucumber mixture and herbs into the potato salad. Serve with lemon wedges.

Well that's all we have for you this week for the Binson's Recipes! We hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we have! Remember to check back in next week for more healthy summer recipes!

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2 Tips for Living with and Ostomy

July 13, 2018 | R. Stiteler

One thing that individuals that have had an Ostomy surgery and have bags and a stoma may be worried about how they are going to live their day to day lives with the surgery having added a complication to their routine. However, we are here today to prove one of those worries wrong! Many times when a patient has ostomy surgery their diet is not drastically affected at all! There can just be some new complications that may occur if you aren't paying attention to how you are eating and what you are eating.

The first complication that can occur is the complication that comes with fruit and vegetables with edible skins. These skins can be difficult for the body to digest and may cause a problem with the ostomy bag. The solution to this complication is just to be conscious of what fruit and vegetables that you are consuming and the amount that you are consuming as they could potentially cause complications.

The second complication that can occur is the complication that occurs if food isn't eaten correctly. This may sound like something that is just a little too nit-picky or maybe even silly, but it is something that requires your attention in order to maintain a healthy ostomy and stoma. When eating it is important to understand that you must chew your food fully, potentially longer than you normally would. This is important because when you have ostomy surgery you lose the ability to control the movements of your stomach and bladder, so if you do not work harder to break the food down there is a chance that your stoma will not be able to stop the nutrients from leaving before they have been fully broken down and absorbed by your body.

These are just a few things to be aware of when going towards ostomy surgery. Your life will not change drastically, but it is important to understand the different nuances that are occurring within your body while living with an ostomy.

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Beat the Heat, Diabetes Edition

July 6, 2018 | T. Kocik

Summertime is great and very welcome after the cold days of winter, but high temperatures, the sun's harsh rays, and longer days outdoors can make it more difficult to manage your diabetes. Now, this does not mean you don’t get to go out and enjoy the beautiful sunny days at the beach, it means taking a few more precautions and planning ahead. We have compiled a list of useful tips for you to keep in mind this summer.

Stay Hydrated

People with diabetes can become dehydrated more quickly. Dehydration can raise your blood glucose, higher glucose levels can make you urinate more, which worsens dehydration. Before you start the IV drip, read about the smarter choices when it comes to staying hydrated.

Be sure to choose the right liquids to keep hydrated. Water is always your best drink of choice. It is wise to avoid caffeinated drinks, alcohol, tea or soft drinks which can all be dehydrating. You don’t have to drink your body weight in water, but avoiding beverages that work against you, will make it that much easier to stay healthy in the sun.

Choose Healthy Snacks

If you are planning a day trip you want to make sure you think ahead when it comes to snacks. Water-rich fruit and vegetables are in season like peaches, cherries, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Be sure think about balance when packing, grabbing celery and peanut butter, a hard boiled egg, string cheese and apple slices, or throw some fruit in a cup of yogurt.

Wear Sunscreen

A sunburn can trigger inflammation in the body, raising glucose levels. Wearing sunscreen can help prevent running into this issue. Choosing a high enough SPF such as SPF 50 can help prevent sunburn. Another thing to check is how often you need to reapply if you are going to be outside for an extended period of time, or swimming. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using about 1 ounce — or enough to fill a shot glass — to fully cover their body, and when outdoors, reapply sunscreen approximately every two hours, or after swimming or sweating, according to the directions on the bottle.

Keep Supplies Safe

Keeping your insulin and test strips cool is very important for them to work well. Insulin vials must be kept cool, and also avoid freezing. We really like the Frio Insulin Cooling Case which keeps insulin cool without refrigeration and is activated by water.

If you are going to be at the beach, pack your meter in a sealable bag to keep sand out and wrap in a towel and keep it in the cooler to protect from extreme heat, which can lead to inaccurate readings.

Wear Shoes

Prevent unnecessary cuts or scrapes from the elements be simply wearing shoes when outdoors. This may be a small tip, but can make a big difference as healing time for wounds can be slower for those with diabetes.

Wear the Right Socks

Keeping your feet cool and dry is very important when preventing skin breakdown, or fungal infections. Traditional cotton socks may not be enough to do the trick. Look for socks that wick away moisture to help keep your feet cool. Check out these diabetic socks make with bamboo, these socks help increase blood circulation, have enhanced moisture control and thermoregulation and is made of one of the most ecologically friendly grasses on the planet.

So go on out there and enjoy the beautiful days of summer! Just remember to plan ahead and be proactive when it comes to taking care of your body.

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Things Are Looking Up

July 5, 2018 | T. Kocik

Today we wanted to feature a product that we think can be a great addition to your everyday life. There are many different kinds of uses for this particular product that we think it deserves a spot on our “Medical Hack” list. In fact, we wanted to share our top 4 favorite uses for reachers or grabbers.

These are our Top 4 Favorite uses for Reachers and Grabbers

1: Tippy toe no more.

We have all been in the position where something we need is just out of reach. Maybe something got pushed to the far back of the top cabinet or shelf for instance. I know personally, I have come up with creative ways to obtain said item in a pinch. Most of which I would categorize as unsafe. Keep those feet planted safely on the ground and use a reacher to get your favorite coffee mug from the top shelf you told your son not to put it on.

2: Cleaning out of Reach.

You're relaxing in your chair, looking up towards the ceiling and almost ready to doze off, until you see it. The big clump of dust collecting on the ceiling fan. Your eye twitches but you quickly recall what happened the last time you climbed up on the kitchen chair to knock it down. Rest easy, with a reacher you can grab your dusting cloth and eliminate that pesky dust bunny with ease, safely.

3: Back out of Whack

You lost it. The tv remote just slipped off of your lap, bounced on the carpet and onto the dining room floor. It would have been fine there if Buttons your cat didn’t promptly attack it sending it sliding underneath the kitchen table. Your favorite show is minutes from starting...on the other channel. What do you do? Your back hasn’t been the same since your victory dance winning last week's euchre tournament. Fret not, use your reacher to safely and easily grab the remote and return to your show in plenty of time.

4: Help in the Bedroom

Okay, take it easy we are talking about dressing here. A grabber can be very useful for helping pull up your slacks, putting on your long sleeve shirt, or putting your shoes on. If you have ever had to limit what you wear because of how difficult it was to put on, you may want to look into a reacher.

These are just a few useful ways to use a reacher. We are sure you can come up with many more uses. That is why it deserved a spot as a “Medical Hack”. We think remaining independent is important, and one of the ways to do that is to perform your daily tasks safely.

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A Perfect Pairing

June 23, 2018 | R. Stiteler

So now that we've made this amazing Marinated Grilled Steak, we run into this situation that now we don't know what to pair it with. What flavor profile will be able to compliment this delicious main course we have grilled. The first thing that we could think of that would work perfectly with the steak would be sweet potato fries! So we couldn't wait to share that with you!

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

Now that we've got all of the ingredients, here's how we make it all work together!

Preparation

• Heat the oven to 400.
• Cut the sweet potatoes into sticks 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide and 3 inches long, and toss them with the oil.
• Mix the spices, salt and pepper in a small bowl, and toss them with the sweet potatoes. Spread them out on 2 rimmed baking sheets.
• Bake until brown and crisp on the bottom, about 15 minutes, then flip and cook until the other side is crisp, about 10 minutes. Serve hot.

Try this recipe out, share it with your friends, honestly the world is your oyster! We hope you enjoyed this recipe as much as we did!

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First Day of Summer

June 21, 2018 | R. Stiteler

Sunshine. Tanning on the beach. Spending hours outside because the day seems to never end. These are all staples of the season that we know to be summer and today we get to celebrate just that. That's right! Today is the start of summer! Today is the start of boat rides, spending time in the woods and overall just enjoying the time we have with the people we care about! So this summer we all have plans, but the greatest plans that we can make are with the people we care about. So with the summer season starting today, drop by your local Binson's store and visit us! We consider all of our patients to be family, so drop on by and say hi! We'd love to see you to make sure that you can have all the adventures possible without letting anything stop you!

Happy First Day of Summer!

~Your Family at Binson's

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Happy Father's Day

June 16, 2018 | R. Stiteler

The month of June is home to a large amount of fun activities and fun times to be had all around. However today we want to focus in on one day in particular...Father's Day. This is a day that we have the privilege to spend time having fun and engaging in activities, but the undertone for the whole day is how much your life has been affected by your dad. We all have one, and the crazy part is how much they teach us in such an important and formative part of our life and how much we take away from them without even realizing what they are teaching us.

So today call your dad, or simply reflect on all the amazing things that you were able to learn from him all those years ago. Who knows, maybe on a day like today he's thinking about you!

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Pot Roast Special

June 15, 2018 | R. Stiteler

So after spending a lot of quality time with relatives and friends during this early summer, there is one thing that we can all agree is just simply delicious. Pot Roast. So when you are out and about this summer try this one out! Here is what you'll need to make all of your stomach dreams come true!

Ingredients:

• 1 4-pound boneless beef chuck roast, trimmed
• 3 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 4 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 large leek, white and light green parts only, halved lengthwise, sliced crosswise
• 4 garlic cloves, finely grated
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 3 large carrots, peeled, cut into 3-inch pieces
• 3 celery stalks, cut into 3-inch pieces
• 1 large parsnip, peeled, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1½ pounds medium red waxy potatoes, quartered, halved if small
• 8 ounces crimini mushrooms, quartered
• Chopped parsley and chopped chives (for serving)

Now that we have collected all of these foods together, it is time to make the magic happen!

Step 1: Season roast with 3 Tbsp. salt, rubbing into the grain and covering all sides. Wrap tightly in plastic and chill at least 3 hours and up to 3 days.

Step 2: Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a medium skillet over high. Cook onion, leek, and remaining 2 tsp. salt, tossing occasionally, until browned around the edges but not completely cooked through, 6–8 minutes. Add garlic and tomato paste and cook, tossing occasionally, until paste is brick red and mixture is fragrant, about 1 minute. Add wine and bay leaf and cook, stirring occasionally and scraping bottom of pan, until slightly reduced and you can no longer smell the alcohol, about 2 minutes. Scrape onion mixture into ceramic insert of a 6-qt. slow cooker. Stir in broth and pepper.

Step 3: Heat remaining 2 Tbsp. oil in same skillet over high. Cook roast, turning occasionally, until golden brown on all sides, 10–12 minutes. Transfer to insert, nestling into onion mixture. Arrange carrots, celery, parsnip, potatoes, and mushrooms around roast, pushing into onion mixture and surrounding meat. You might think there isn’t enough liquid, but the juices from the roast and vegetables will release as they cook.

Step 4: Slide ceramic insert into base, cover, and cook over high heat until roast is very tender and shreds easily, 7–8 hours. If programming your slow cooker, set for 7 hours at high, then set to warm after that.

Step 5: Transfer roast to a cutting board and slice against the grain. Divide vegetables among plates. Arrange sliced roast over. Top with parsley and chives.

Step 6: ENJOY YOUR AMAZING CREATION!

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Food for the Summer

June 1, 2018 | R. Stiteler

So I don't know about you, but I would like to consider myself a foodie. You know, someone that really loves food and can tell the main difference between "just okay" and "oh lordie this is delicious." However that might just be my bias speaking, and the child's dream inside of me to become a food critic. But in all reality, we have found something, and I can vouch for its deliciousness and high quality of taste.

Now that I have captured your attention and you are just waiting to hear what this recipe is, let me add this disclaimer. If your palate is not considered to be friendly to our aquatic friends, then this recipe might not be for you. That's right, seafood. With all of the disclaimers out of the way, lets dive in...pun intended.

Let's start with what you will need for this amazing recipe:

• 1 lb. medium shrimp (peeled and deveined)
• 3 ears of corn (quartered)
• 1 zucchini (cut into half moons)
• 2 cloves of garlic (minced)
• 2 tsp. ground cumin
• 1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
• 2 tbsp. freshly chopped cilantro
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Kosher Salt
• Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• 2 Limes (cut into rounds)
• and finally 2 tbsp. of butter

Since collecting all of these ingredients was easy, I'm sure you all just have a pound of deveined shrimp waiting in your freezer just for this occasion. It is time for us to create this tasty treat!

In a large bowl, combine shrimp, corn, zucchini, garlic, cumin, red pepper flakes, and cilantro. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and toss until combined.

Lay out four pieces of foil. Divide shrimp mixture between foil and top each with a pat of butter and lime slices. Seal packs.

Heat grill to high. Add shrimp packs and grill until shrimp is pink, about 10 minutes.

Serve.

That's it. Just 3 easy steps that you can do at home. So go, create something tasty for yourself and your family. Or maybe you can save this little tidbit of information for when you go to your summer grill off. Show off that recipe to the individual that is always saying you can't cook, its really up to you...the net is in your hand.

Okay, enough fish puns. Just try it, you'll like it. That's a promise.

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Your Summer Cast Solution

May 31, 2018 | R. Stiteler

Summer is here, the weather is becoming incredibly hot and it is starting to become time for us to move towards the water! However we are also in the middle of the out of school time, which means that summer sports are starting up for kids and that leads to injuries. Well the last thing that we want to happen is to have your child unable to participate in all of the activities that they had planned out for this summer. So we are here to inform you of a solution! It's a little unorthodox, but if your child injures either their arm or their leg the perfect thing for them might just be a shower sleeve. Now before you write me off as just another crazy business promotion, think about this...a shower sleeve does all the things that would be necessary for your child to still participate in all of the water based activities that they would have been participating in when they were 100%. It prevents water from getting the cast wet, provides protection against bacteria in the water that potentially could get into the cast/injury, and on top of that doesn't slow you down due to the nature of the product and its non-water absorbent nature. This seems like a no brainier to me!

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Support Surface - Low Air Loss

May 25, 2018 | R. Stiteler

We have already covered the Gel Overlay Mattress and the APP Pad, so now we are onto the third and final support surface that you can use with your Drive Hospital Bed. The Low Air Loss Mattress. This device is very different from the other two devices, which both attach onto the regular mattress and are in reality just a topper for the bed. With the Low Air Mattress the regular mattress is actually removed from the bed and this is used in its place. This is due to the way that the low air loss mattress works. It uses a lower pressure of air for the filling to allow for maximum comfort for the patient by allowing for them to be on as level of a sleep as possible. Here are a few benefits of Low Air Loss Mattresses and what exactly they are able to do for you!

#1: Enhances Quality of sleep which has been shown to be increase the health and well being of an individual.

#2: Increase blood flow which is necessary for individuals to feel both comfortable and healthy.

For any more information about Low Air Loss Mattresses call us at 586-755-2300.

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Support Surface - APP Pad

May 24, 2018 | R. Stiteler

So last week we covered the first type of support surfaces, the Gel Mattress Overlay. Now we're going to move onto another type of support surface, the APP Pad. The APP Pad or Alternating Pressure Pump and Pad, is a compact and lightweight device that allows for the air supply to provide relief to the patient via stimulation every 30 seconds. This is a very appropriate alternative to the Gel Mattress Overlay if the patient has chronic pain that strikes in more than one location causing a large array of pain across the individuals body. For more information about APP Pads and to learn how you can acquire one for your loved one call the number below!

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Greek Goodness

May 18, 2018 | R. Stiteler

This week we'll be pulling a recipe from one of our own! Its considered to be both healthy and tasty, and on top of that it is incredibly simple to make! Its a homemade parfait! We all love a good parfait, and we here at Binson's are going to teach you a great way to do just that. Lets get started with the ingredients! For this recipe you will need:

• Small Bowl of Frozen Fruit (our favorite is a mixed berries combination)
• Bear Naked Granola of Any Flavor (our favorite is Cacao & Cashew Butter)
• Chobani Plain Greek Yogurt.

This recipe is easily accessed from any grocery store and now that you've collected all of the tasty pieces of the recipe lets get started because we know just how hungry you really are!

Step #1: In a dish of your size, place the frozen fruit into it to let it defrost and become soft.

Step #2: In another small dish (after the fruit has defrosted) take the Greek yogurt and place as much into your bowl as you want!

Step #3: Then pour the fruit into the bowl of yogurt. Then add a quarter cup of the granola of your choosing into the bowl as well.

Step #4: Mix all the ingredients together and simply enjoy your simple, healthy and chilled snack!

We hope you've enjoyed this recipe! Check in every Saturday for another healthy and tasty treat!

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Group 1 Pressure Relief

May 16, 2018 | R. Stiteler

Have you ever thought that your hospital bed just wasn't comfortable? Or that something had to be done because you were developing a nasty something since sleeping on the hospital bed? One thing that people seem to forget about hospital beds is that there are many different surfaces that you can use to adjust the feel and comfort of your hospital bed!

The first option you can go with is a Gel Mattress Overlay. This is a very good solution to prevent any pressure wounds that may occur by "providing a barrier between the patient and the bed surface they are sleeping on." Here are some ways to know if you or your loved one may need a Gel Overlay:

• they need their upper body to be elevated by more than 30 degrees
• they have to constantly change position to prevent or alleviate pain
• they have attached traction equipment to their hospital bed.

Something interesting to learn about Gel Mattress Overlays is that "all patients who qualify for a home hospital bed, also qualify for gel mattress overlays for pressure wound prevention."

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An Open Letter to Mom's Everywhere

May 13, 2018 | R. Stiteler

Today is a day that we get to reflect. We get a great chance to look back on our lives and remember who helped make us who we are. Maybe it was a teacher, maybe it was some mentor that you had throughout your lives...however many people would overlook the one person that did more for you than all of them, our mothers. We take them for granted, we argue and complain and consistently think that they just don't understand us as individuals. However, they are the people that have been with us since the beginning. They're the people that picked us up when we were down. Who we ran to when something in our lives was falling apart and we just couldn't handle it anymore. They were always in our corner...even if we didn't believe it at the time. So what is the main takeaway here? Thank her, go see her, give her a call, do something to make sure that this amazing person in your life knows just how much you appreciate everything that she has done for you.*

*Doing so may result in a large emotional hug and/or group crying.

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A Game of Medicine

May 7, 2018 | R. Stiteler

Lets play a game, lets see if you can guess who I'm talking about based on 3 easy and quick clues!

Clue #1:They work with a large number of people of all different backgrounds.

Clue #2:Their degree requires a lot of schooling and sometimes a specialist designation.

Clue #3:They record, observe and participate in multiple interactions with other individuals on their team.

Were you able to guess who I'm talking about? If not I'll give you another hint, they are the people you interact with most in the medical field. Yes I'm referring to Nurses, and yes this week is National Nurses Week! This is such an amazing time to celebrate them and to understand exactly what they do for us and why we truly do need to thank them for all they do!

Nurses by job description are individuals that "provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their family members." On a more specific spectrum, these amazing individuals on a daily basis do any or all of the following:

• Assess patients' conditions
• Record patients' medical histories and symptoms
• Observe patients and record the observations
• Administer patients' medicines and treatments
• Set up plans for patients' care or contribute information to existing plans
• Consult and collaborate with doctors and other healthcare professionals
• Operate and monitor medical equipment
• Help perform diagnostic tests and analyze the results
• Teach patients and their families how to manage illnesses or injuries
• Explain what to do at home after treatment.

These are key reasons to be celebrating these individuals over! They are a huge piece of society that are key to the livelihood of everyone. So we here at Binson's want to thank you, the Nurses, for all you do and will continue to do in the years to come because without you the world would be a much darker place.

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Healthy Snack for the Family

May 5, 2018 | R. Stiteler

Snacks, the bread and butter of individuals that just need a little something ot tide them over until later in the day. Well many times these snacks are the worst possible thing that you could be putting into your body. Chips, candy and many others are just calories that don't do anything for your health and are simply a manner of fending off hunger in the wrong way. The treats that you're really looking for are from unhealthy and are truly tasty!

What you'll need for this tasty snack:

• 2 red apples
• 1/4 cup of raisins
• 1 Tablespoon peanut butter
• 8 thin pretzel sticks

Now that all of the tasty pieces of the treat have been collected all you have to do is put it all together!

Step #1: Slice the apples in half from top to bottom and scoop out the cores using a knife/melon baller. Also, if you have an apple corer, core them first and then slice them. Place each apple half flat side down on a small plate.

Step #2: Dab peanut butter on to the back of the "ladybug", then stick raisins onto the dabs for spots. Use this method to make eyes too. Stick one end of each pretzel stick into a raisin, then press the other end into the apples to make antennae.

Step #3: Enjoy!

That is all we have for you this week, stay tuned and check back again next week for even more amazing recipes and ways to teach your stomach to enjoy healthier foods!

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Diabetes Success Stories

May 2, 2018 | R. Stiteler

Diabetes. It is a medical condition in which the body’s ability to produce or respond to the hormone insulin is impaired, resulting in abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates and elevated levels of glucose in the blood and urine. Or at least, that't what Google calls it. For many people however, diabetes can be very manageable and some individuals just like you have become incredibly successful despite it! Here are some of those individuals!

The first individual we're going to talk about today is George Lucas. For those of you out there who don't exactly know who that is, he's the genius behind Star Wars episodes 1-6. Lucas went to film school and after studying at the University of Southern California, embarked on a journey into the film world that would make him a legend among the world of film.

The second individual we'll touch on today is Randy Jackson. He is an award winning record producer and was diagnosed with diabetes in 2003. After working on creating a plan of diet and exercise he was able to learn to control is blood glucose levels and has been able to life in success for much of his life.

The third and final individual we'll talk about today is none other than H.G. Wells. This might seem to be an abstract individual but for those who don't know who he is...he's well respected as the Father of Science Fiction. Space Travel, Superheroes, Freak Science Experiments, that was his forte. He was diagnosed with diabetes in his early 60's but was able to live a very fulfilling life as one of the most awarded and respected authors of our time.

So for those of you who feel like your situation may be holding you back. Look to these individuals as inspiration, and as a reminder that truly nothing is impossible if you put your mind to it!

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Spring into Action

April 28, 2018 | R. Stiteler

So spring has come and just as quickly as it arrived, we've started to move into warmer weather! So we here at Binson's have a question for you, what is your favorite summer activity? Does it involve running around with your kids and loved ones? Does it involve going out of your comfort zone to make sure that the people around you are having an amazing time? If either of these statements are true and so many more, then it might be time to get outside and start making those memories with those loved ones!

So come see us at Binson's, we'll make sure that you are able to go out and spend time with your family the way you want to, in the places that you want to. Because we care, we understand, and above all we want you to enjoy the time you have with the people you care about and to make sure that the time you do spend with them is actually spent being with them.

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Something Tasty This Way Comes

April 27, 2018 | R. Stiteler

Have you started to get hungry during your weekends at home? Have you wanted a way to combine something tasty with something that is not only good for you but easy to create? Well, let us tell you, we think we've found the perfect thing! Its a little something we dug up called BBQ Chicken Salad.

What you will need for this recipe is:

• 2 Skinless, Boneless Chicken Breast Halves
• 4 Stalks of Celery (Chopped)
• 1 Large Red Bell Pepper (Diced)
• 1/2 Red Onion (Diced)
• 1 Can Sweet Corn (8.75 ounces and Drained)
• 1/4 Cup of Barbecue Sauce
• 2 Tablespoons Fat-Free Mayonnaise

Now that you've collected all the required ingredients for the recipe, lets move onto the recipe itself!

• Step #1:Preheat the grill for very high heat.
• Step #2: Lightly oil grate. Then grill the chicken for 10 minutes on each side, or until the juices are clear. Remove the chicken from the heat, cool the chicken and then cut into cubes.
• Step #3: In a large bowl, toss together the chicken, celery, red bell pepper, onion and corn.
• Step #4:In a small bowl, mix together the barbecue sauce and mayonnaise. Then pour the mix over the chicken and vegetables, stir and chill until ready to serve.

We hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we have and stay tuned for more recipes in the future!

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Do's and Do Not's for Your Portable Oxygen Concentrator

April 25, 2018 | R. Stiteler

Hello Again, Today we're going to be covering a little something different than what you would normally find on your average blog! We're going to go over some of the Do's and Do Not's of your oxygen Concentrator!

So let's start with the Do Not's because, if we're honest its always better to get the bad news before the good news. Here are 3 Easy Do Not's for your Portable Oxygen Concentrator:

1.Do Not leave your Oxygen Concentrator in an incredibly warm environment because it can be a very dangerous to the internal structure of the equipment.

2.Do Not leave your oxygen Concentrator boxed into a small area while on. The equipment will heat up when in use and can damage the internal pieces if the heat again raises in the contained environment.

3.Do Not keep your Concentrator near any open flame. This is incredibly important because the major component of keeping flame alive is oxygen. To ensure that the flame doesn't grow and larger is to keep all oxygen away from open flames.

Now that we've covered 3 of the important Do Not's of your Concentrator, let's cover some of the awesome Do's that you can do with your Oxygen Concentrator!

1.Do run your Concentrator for at least 4 hours each month. This means that you can do all of the awesome activities in your life and only be stopped for around 4 hours each month!

2.Do contact us with any issues that you may have when you are interacting with you Oxygen Concentrator.

3.Do make sure to have an amazing time when you are moving around with your oxygen Concentrator!

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Urostomy. What is it?

April 19, 2018 | R. Stiteler

After looking at the differences between temporary and permanent ostomies, as well as covering the first type of ostomy, the colostomy. Today we're going to focus on what exactly the urostomy is. Now this surgery is very similar to the colostomy in effect and visual, however the biggest difference between the urostomy and the colostomy is that the surgery is done to the bladder instead of the colon.

There are several reasons that an individual would need to get a urostomy. The first reason would be that there are several individuals that have a difficult time managing their defective bladder (which could be due to a birth defect or injury) and wish for a more controlling way to manage their bladder. The other common need for a usostomy is if a child is born with a defect in their urinary track which can back up their kidneys. This can lead to chronic infections if the condition is not treated.

For individuals that have gone through the procedure and are having difficulties adapting to the change in their lifestyle we recommend finding a support group. This is a great way to express your feelings in an environment with individuals that have gone through or are experiencing the same change as you.

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A Rainy Day Special

April 17, 2018 | R. Stiteler

So as we all know, it's been pretty rainy these past several weeks. You've probably had to change plans due to rain or even intentionally started to plan things that can be done inside in case the weather takes a nasty turn for the worst. Well we here at Binson's understand, so that's why we went out and found this awesome recipe for you to try with your loved ones at home on your rainy days when life outside is dark and dreary. This awesome recipe that we discovered and really needed to share with you is for a special cup of cocoa.

The ingredients are:

• 2 cups of powdered sugar
• 1 cup cocoa
• 2 and a half cups of powdered coconut milk
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 2 teaspoons of cornstarch
• lastly, hot water.

Now that you've gone and collected all the necessary ingredients for the recipe its time to put it all together and make something amazing!

Step #1: Combine all ingredients into a mixing bowl and incorporate evenly. Also in a small pot, heat 4-6 cups of water to a boil.

Step #2: Fill your mug half full with the mixture and pour in how water. Stir to combine. Seal the rest in an airtight container, keeps indefinitely in the pantry. This also works great with warm milk!

This recipe will serve 5 so make sure to take this time to share with the important people in your life!

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Superior Skin

April 14, 2018 | R. Stiteler

Incontinence is something that many people live with today. One of the most important things to pay attention to when dealing with incontinence is how their skin reacts to the re-introduction of the incontinence supply to their lives. Now incontinence supplies affect different people differently but there is a general set of information that you can use to ensure that your skin is in the best condition throughout your incontinence use.

The first step is to better understand how incontinence products affect the skin. The different conditions that cause the breakdown of skin are maceration (waterlogged), dermatitis or rashing, infection due to bacteria, increase in pH conditions to cause irritation and even fungal infection due to the generally warm and dark location.

The second step in this process is to understand how to prevent these conditions from taking action against you. They are as follows:

• Change incontinence products as soon as soiling occurs to avoid excessive skin wetness
• Use a barrier ointment, or rash cream, to minimize direct contact with urine and feces
• Cleanse gently to avoid friction
• Stay hydrated and eat well to maintain skin integrity.

Finally there are 3 major steps to take to ensure that your skin is indeed healthy. The first of the steps is ensuring that you clean yourself. This seems simple and essential but also is a major way to understand and prevent the integrity of the skin layer. The second of the steps is to make sure that you condition and protect the skin. You have to protect the skin layer from irritation, drying and bacteria along with many other problems that may develop once you have spent time using incontinence supplies. The third step is to make sure to keep your skin dry. This is important because many of the problems that can occur throughout the time of using incontinence supplies is from having moisture trapped in the area.

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A New Normal

April 11, 2018 | R. Stiteler

Earlier this month we discussed the most common form of ostomy surgery, the colostomy.

However there are many different types of Ostomy surgeries, which we will discuss at a later date. Today we will be discussing the difference of the temporary and permanent ostomy types. To best explain the differences of these two types of ostomy, we have to go back to the beginning of the procedure. When an individual needs to get a osotmy procedure done, it creates a stoma. This stoma is best explained as a "small opening on the surface of the abdomen being surgically created to divert the flow of bodily waste". This opening is where the differences between the temporary ostomy and the permanent ostomy come into play.

A temporary ostomy is, as it sounds, temporary. It is created because the patient has a injury or medical situation that is prone to healing itself. This then does not require the surgery to be permanent and is designed to be reversible within a specific time frame window. However there is no quick answer to ostomy's of this kind. Even though the temporary ostomy can be reversed and is not in any way permanent it usually takes a length of time that exceeds 3 months before the patient can visit the idea of having the procedure reversed to remove the stoma. A permanent ostomy is a concept that is much simpler to understand. With this procedure the stoma is now a permanent surgery for the patient.

Now patients that have had a stoma and ostomy surgical procedure completed may have a lot of questions regarding their new living situation. However simply because an individual has had an ostomy surgery doesn't mean that their life will change drastically. Much of the lifestyle that you had prior to the ostomy can be similar!

For more information follow the link here to answer any questions that you may have concerning your new life with an ostomy!

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What is a Colostomy?

April 6, 2018 | R. Stiteler

Colostomy. A colostomy is a surgically created opening that can change the way that bowel movements exit your body. It can be a result of many different situations such as cancer, diverticulitis, imperforated anus, Hirschsprung's disease, trauma, and many others. These bowel movements are redirected due to the trauma or malfunctioning parts of the digestive system. This situation can be both permanent and temporary, depending on the severity of your individual situation. The main portion of the colostomy surgery is called the stoma, which is located near the stomach and is pink in color. For many different colostomy situations the stoma is covered by a pouch to collect the bowel movement. In the following updates we will be covering the major differences between Temporary and Permanent colostomies and what your options are to ensure your ability to live your life with a colostomy.

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