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Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
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Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
"The magic of the electronic village is transforming health information. The mouse and keyboard have extended the stethoscope to the 500 million people now online." - Dr. Edward Creagan
The power of the medium inspires Dr. Edward Creagan as he searches for ways to share Mayo Clinic's vast resources with the general public.
Dr. Creagan, a Newark, N.J., native, is board certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hospice medicine and palliative care. He has been with Mayo Clinic since 1973 and in 1999 was president of the staff of Mayo Clinic. Dr. Creagan, a professor of medical oncology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, was honored in 1995 with the John and Roma Rouse Professor of Humanism in Medicine Award and in 1992 with the Distinguished Mayo Clinician Award, Mayo's highest recognition. He has been recognized with the American Cancer Society Professorship of Clinical Oncology.
He describes his areas of special interest as "wellness as a bio-psycho-social-spiritual-financial model" and fitness, mind-body connection, aging and burnout.
Dr. Creagan has been an associate medical editor with Mayo Clinic's Web sites and has edited publications and CD-ROMs and reviewed articles.
"We the team of (the Web site) provide reliable, easy-to-understand health and wellness information so that each of us can have productive, meaningful lives," he says.
Latest entries
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Stress blog
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May 19, 2009
Blog: Sandwich generation — Don't forget to take care of yourself too
By Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
Some of life's most powerful lessons are delivered at the oddest moments. Let me explain.
A few days ago, I was walking from our parking ramp into our clinic building, self-absorbed and pondering the challenges and the opportunities of the day. I came upon a colleague who was obviously limping and uncomfortable. I asked my colleague — a wonderful clinician, respected researcher and sought-after speaker — how she came to be limping. She explained that that in the past year, she'd abandoned her exercise program and, as expected, had gained weight. She further explained that the weight gain and deconditioning had lead to a severe knee injury, which required major reconstructive surgery. Because of the resulting pain in her knee, she'd begun to shift her weight to the other leg — and had developed a painful hip problem. I empathized with this cascade of unfortunate events.
She lamented to me, "If only I knew then what I know now, I would have taken better care of myself." She explained that she is the poster child for the "sandwich generation" — caring for her young family and her elderly father. My colleague shared with me that the one item consistently missing from her daily to do list is "taking care of myself." She is faced with a real dilemma of trying to make time to care for herself in the midst of caring for others.
I realize there are no easy solutions, but what advice can any of us share with our colleague who is obviously struggling with some very difficult issues?
4 comments posted
June 1, 2009 1:59 p.m.
It sounds like there are two interrelated issues here - sandwiching ourselves, and a subsequent reduction in self-care. There are online tools like Microsoft HealthVault (http://www.healthvault.com/personal/scenario
/get-organized.html) that are immensely helpful in dealing with exactly these issues. We can help our parents keep track of their health and communicate with their doctors even if we're far away, and use the same tools to focus our efforts at self-care more efficiently. I'm the go-to person for my parents' healthcare issues (they don't like pestering their doctor, despite my constant reminders that that's why he went to med school), and I'm guiding them toward HealthVault - they aren't as tech-savvy as me, but they can use email and the web, and that's pretty much all they need to do with my assistance. In the meantime, I'm measuring my BP and weight more often and recording it so my own doctor has a better sense of where I'm at - I'm hoping to pull out of my recent rapid weight gain! I like your stress reduction ideas, too - they're key to keeping it all together to have any energy at all to focus, efficiently or not! Take care! - Rob
May 26, 2009 4:55 p.m.
Thank you Liz for your comments-I'm not just sandwiched-I'm a double cheeseburger! Between my husband and I we have five aged 83 and older-I've been in hospice care for years so I get called frequently and when "other family" do not understand my "ways and means" it creates a whole new set of stressors-added to that is then my parents, already sporting a pacemaker and defibrillator is my Dad at only 64! My Mom is still trying to get in her last three years of work and I've just completed rounds of treatment for breast cancer and my husband was just diagnosed with stomach cancer and will start his treatments. We are still raising our youngest of three children, who is autistic! For me, prayer, a Gazelle glider, and knowing to whom and when I have to say NO (in a gentle but firm way) is survival-and laughter, support of friends and cooperative family, walking away from what I know is a battle I cannot fight and having learned I cannot protect my family who needs it most, the elderly, from those who stand between me and them (even though they are not trained and qualified to make the decisions they are making-no matter how much it is hurting my grandparents or in-laws) has become a part of the "toolbox of traits" that help me cope and keep myself healthy and my own family healthy. So, here's to prayer, quiet time, hot showers, long walks when angered and frustrated, and to learning the hardest two letter word to use there is-no-We are managing
- Deanna
May 20, 2009 8:35 a.m.
I took care of my father in my home for over 3 years while my mother was in a local nursing home. I also have a teenage daugher. Having my dad in our home took a huge toll on my family. Finally, I convinced him that he needed more care than I could provide and he moved into assisted living. I am happier, he is much happier with the socialization and companionship, and my family is feeling less stressed. Don't put off the move into a care facility! It can be the best thing for everyone involved.
- Dorothy
May 19, 2009 10:25 p.m.
Oh yes! How I relate to this! Include the lower back and then climb up to the neck. A pinch of headache as a result. On and on it goes... Let's do something preventative rather than reactive! Massage....meditation....exercise....relaxati
on....laughter.... - Liz
4 comments posted