Article: Sometimes when you are very stressed or nervous, it can be difficult to concentrate enough to take notes or remember exactly what the instructions were later.  Ask a loved one or trusted friend to go with you to the appointments before the surgery and take notes on what you will need to do. The person will also be able to provide you with emotional support. If you don’t understand what the doctor wants you to do, don’t be afraid to ask. It is important that you follow the instructions; the doctor will prefer that you ask lots of questions, rather than make a mistake.  If no one is able to accompany you, you can take notes yourself and then read them back to the doctor to confirm that you understood correctly or you can ask your doctor if you can record the conversation. If you ask to record the conversation, explain why you want to do this. It is important to discuss your medications in detail with your doctor before the day of surgery. Your doctor needs to know what medications you are on, how much you take, and when you take them. This includes prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, herbal remedies, dietary supplements, and vitamins. Your doctor will be able to evaluate whether they are likely to interact with the anesthesia or other medications that you will need.  Be honest with your doctor if you abuse drugs or alcohol. It is important that your doctor know exactly what chemicals are in your system in order to plan your procedure. Your doctor may ask specifically about medications such as aspirin or other blood thinners. You might be advised not to take them right before the surgery. This might include preparations to do in the day before or morning of the surgery. It might also include ways to prepare for the recovery period. Read and review the hospital’s discharge policy. If you have any questions, ask them now. Things to ask include:  When should you stop eating or drinking the day before the surgery? Do you need to stop taking medications before the surgery? Do you need to wash with a special antibacterial soap before the surgery? How long will the recovery take? Are there any special arrangements that you should make ahead of time? Your doctor may have suggestions based on how long the recovery is likely to take. Both emotional and physical support are important for a safe and quick recovery. There are several things you might want to consider:   Cook and freeze food before your surgery so that you won’t have to worry about what to eat or where to get it while you are recovering. Then during your recovery, you can simply remove your frozen meals from the freezer, thaw them, and have something delicious to enjoy. Make changes in your house to minimize the physical activity you will have to do. If your your bedroom is upstairs, you can prepare a bed downstairs so that you don’t have to climb stairs until you are ready. You can also make arrangements to have a friend or housekeeping service help you with the housework if you need it. If you live alone, you might consider asking a friend to stay with you for a few days to provide emotional support and help. This person will both be able to provide you with emotional support and help you get settled at home. Your doctor will probably instruct you not to drive for several weeks after surgery. Make plans to have friends and family members drive you places you may need to go. This will give you time to pack everything without feeling rushed or anxious the morning of the surgery. It will help prevent you from forgetting anything important. You should bring:  A list of your medications and what they are prescribed for. Your health insurance card. If you have extra documentation for prescription drugs, bring that as well. Personal items such as glasses, hearing aids, and dentures Toiletry items such as a comb, brush, toothbrush, razor Walking aids like a cane or walker A robe, slippers, and your favorite pillow Loose clothing. Women should bring a comfortable, wireless bra. Books or music that will help you relax No electronics or valuables A small amount of money to store in a hospital safe, if one will be available to you. This will enable you to pay for medications that you take home with you. Be sure to get plenty of sleep the night before and to follow any fasting instructions given by your doctor. This may include:  Showering and washing with a special soap, provided by the hospital Taking only medications your doctor has said you can take Taking off all jewelry and nail polish Removing contact lenses, dentures, and glasses before going into surgery Telling your anesthesiologist if you have difficulties tolerating anesthesia
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Bring a friend or family member to your appointments. Bring a list of your medications. Ask your doctor if there are special preparations you should make. Prepare for your recovery period. Ask a family member or friend to drive you home. Pack ahead of time. Follow your doctor's instructions before the surgery.
Article: The ideal potato is firm and smooth. It's not sprouting and doesn't have any green coloration – this indicates that it is starting to produce toxins and could have an undesirable taste and even lead to headaches or diarrhea. Be wary of potatoes with soft spots or blemishes, too. As for the type of potato, that's ultimately up to you. There are waxy potatoes, starchy potatoes, and all-purpose potatoes. Waxy potatoes (Rose Finn Apple, Russian Banana, Red Thumb) hold their shape better and are great for boiling or roasting. Starchy potatoes (Russet, Jewel Yam, Japanese Sweet Potato) are great for baking and frying. Check to see if the recipe requires them peeled or unpeeled and peel them if needed.  If they don't need peeled, scrub them under running water until they're about as clean as they're going to get. If they do need peeled, with your potato peeler or a sharp knife (be careful!), peel them above a bowl or the trash. This makes clean up a lot easier. Wash them after peeling for good measure. Potatoes take a long time to cook, hence why you're parboiling them, right? To make sure they all cook at the same rate, cut them to the same size. If some potatoes are larger than others, they may not be done at the same rate as the smaller ones. And, in general, the smaller the potato, the quicker it'll cook. If you have really big potatoes, cut them into quarters just to cut down on your parboiling time.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Choose your potatoes. Clean the potatoes. If necessary, cut them to matching sizes.
Article: Check various locations that have faucets.  The kitchen, the bathroom, basement and outdoor faucets, and hose hookups are common areas where fixture specific low water pressure can occur. Run water in all faucets and showers in  your home to identify if there is are one or multiple problem problem areas or to determine that all locations have low water pressure. Run both hot and cold water through all faucets. If your water pressure is low only with hot water, the issue is likely your water heater. Your problem might only affect one or two locations. In this case, the source of the low water pressure is likely a clogged faucet or aerator.   Remove the end of the faucet. Examine your aerator. Check to make sure there are no debris or buildup. If the aerator needs to be cleaned, soak it in a water-vinegar solution. If that doesn't work, buy a replacement. These are very inexpensive. Aerators are sold with different rates of water flow, so you can also try buying one with a higher rate of flow. Turn the water on before you replace the aerator. If the water flow is not restored to normal, the source of low water pressure is likely not the specific faucet but an overall problem. If you can't pinpoint the cause of your low water pressure to just one or two faucets in the house, its probably an overall problem.  Check the PRV and water shut off valves in your home. This is often the cause of low water pressure.  Look for water leaks.  A leaking toilet or water main can cause low water pressure. Check your water heater. If you only have low water pressure when you are running hot water, it is likely due to your hot water shut-off valve on your water heater.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Determine if all locations within your home or office have low water pressure. Check the faucet if you only have low water pressure in a particular location. Look for other sources of low water pressure.