There is a clock at every train station in the Netherlands. This lets you know what time it is, usually there is also an electronic sign where you can see when the next train will arrive and whether you have time to sneak away to Starbucks for a nice cup of coffee. Or in my case, hot chocolate.
At the station at Medicine Center the clocks are different. They are special clocks that can tell you when it is time to take your medicine. These clocks plays a melody when it is time for medication and with the push of a button, it hands out your medication bag. They’re so special that it is possible to have one installed in your personal train carriage and adjust it to your medication schedule.
A few weeks ago I had one of these clocks installed in my own train carriage and it has now become my best friend. What a funny sight it was when the lovely nurse turned it on for the first time. The hands spun around like crazy as it searched for the signal to set the time correctly. That happens quickly too. I didn’t manage to record a video. By the time I picked up my phone, the time was already correct and the clock was ready for the next step. The nurse had to call customer service for this. We went through a number of steps with the friendly lady on the phone. Such as the times at which medication is taken, whether and how far in advance I can remove medication from the device and a sound test to see whether I can hear the melody properly when the ‘alarm clock’ goes off. Wow, that was quite a shock. That bell can ring really loud! Finally, the baxter roll was loaded into the clock and it was ready for use.
It’s a good thing that I like challenges, because having a clock like this presents a small challenge if you have not been used to getting up independently to take medication for more than two years. During those few years, it was the nurse who stood next to my bed every morning to wake me up and give me my medication. This has both advantages and disadvantages. I heard the nurse’s cheerful voice every morning when I woke up and didn’t have to get out of bed to take my medicine. On the other hand, due to changes in healthcare in general – not just at the healthcare agency I am under – There was no longer a guarantee that I could be given medication at a certain time so that I could eat on time. Due to diabetes, this is important to prevent fluctuating sugar levels. Only my station clock is not in my bedroom. Because I have to eat with second round of morning medication, the clock is next to the personal alarm in the living room, close to the dining table.
So I really have to get out of bed on my own. Physically I knew it would work, but my brain often has different ideas when it comes to waking up. So I set the HomePod next to my bed to do two things in the morning. First it shouts at 7:45 am that the station clock will ring in 15 minutes. Then it turns on the radio so that my brain has to wake up so I can put on pajama pants to go downstairs. There is of course a third motivation helper in case my brain would rather stay in bed. The station clock does not like people who take their medication too late. It then warns the nurse that no one has pressed the button and the medication is still in the device. Uhm… no… I really don’t want that. Then the nurse can still come and stand next to my bed. That is not being independent.
So far everything is going well. My brain listens obediently to the HomePod and I am always downstairs in time for the first round of medication. I enjoy the independence and self-confidence that comes with it. I can quietly enjoy a cup of tea while waiting for the second round of medication and can always eat on time. The headache I had for 13 days before the clock was installed is now gone and I feel less and less sick because I have fewer peaks and valleys in my blood sugar level. I even managed to get up earlier a few times to take the medication from the clock and eat so that I could go to appointments on time.
It’s a shame that the clock can’t do more things. Unfortunately it doesn’t have thumbs, so it can’t help with washing and dressing. While walking around in my pajamas all morning is fun, it doesn’t always suit the life of a 40-year-old person. Medical appointments, daytime activities, appointments with friends and family, going out with my buddy or caregiver, exercising and all my hobbies and interests make it a challenge to find a balance between care and life. I will always need care, but I am also still busy with life. I realize that things may be different for other people who need care. For me it will take a long time before I am old, stiff and eighty.
The clock cannot make tea or do the dishes either. That’s a real shame!!!
CRS Life 