I received this email (origins unknown) and just had to share it.....
Q: Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... don't waste them on exercise.
Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster.
Want to live longer? Take a nap.
Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn.
And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient
mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken.
Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable).
And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.
Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!
Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one.
If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.
Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good!
Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!! ...... Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil.
In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?
Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger.
You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.
Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy? HELLO Cocoa beans ! Another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around!
Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.
Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!
Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.
And remember:
'Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention
of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other -
body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and
screaming 'WOO HOO, What a Ride'
And For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health.
It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.
1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
2.. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
CONCLUSION
Eat and drink what you like.
Speaking English is apparently what kills you.
Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Laurie Garrett Puts our Minds at Ease on Colbert'
In a previous post I mentioned the H5N1 virus. I noticed it referred to in a "Google" ad as the "Swine Flu". I questioned it and noted to myself I should do some research on it. I have been so busy that I didn't get a chance to before I saw the following interview with Laurie Garrett who currently has an article in "Newsweek" entitled "Fear & The Flu" and is referred to as a "Global Health Expert".
The Swine Flu "is just a really bad rotten case of flu" Laurie states. She revealed that the H5N1 is the "Avian Bird Flu" and is much more serious than the "Swine Flu" or H1N1. According to WHO, The World Health Organization and their most recent statistics, there is not 1 confirmed case in the last seven years on our North American or South American Continent as shown in the chart below, so for Heavens sake, lets not panic over "Bird Flu" either:
Cumulative Number of Confirmed Human Cases of Avian Influenza A/(H5N1) Reported to WHO
The Swine Flu "is just a really bad rotten case of flu" Laurie states. She revealed that the H5N1 is the "Avian Bird Flu" and is much more serious than the "Swine Flu" or H1N1. According to WHO, The World Health Organization and their most recent statistics, there is not 1 confirmed case in the last seven years on our North American or South American Continent as shown in the chart below, so for Heavens sake, lets not panic over "Bird Flu" either:
Cumulative Number of Confirmed Human Cases of Avian Influenza A/(H5N1) Reported to WHO
| The Colbert Report | Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| Laurie Garrett | ||||
| ||||
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
First American death cited "with" Swine Flu
In this morning's news, was an article by Christoper Sherman, pertaining to the death of Judy Trunnell, a 33-year-old schoolteacher. In an effort to avoid panic I just want to reiterate that "according to the State health department in Texas, spokeswoman Carrie Williams said the schoolteacher had "chronic underlying health conditions" but wouldn't give any more details".
According to her Doctor., Judy had been hospitalized since April 14th and the hospital was well aware she had the flu at the time. "The area is undergoing a Type A influenza epidemic right now, and swine flu is one variety of that, he said. She was confirmed to have swine flu shortly before she died, he said".
The article also remembered "The only other swine flu death in the U.S. was that of a Mexico City toddler who also had other health problems. He died last week at a Houston children's hospital."
I don't want to downplay the tragedy of the two deaths, however keep in mind that they both had underlying conditions and as with any flu under those circumstances, can be deadly. Swine flu is just a strain of our Influenza A which is not even the most common strain of flu but comes in at close second under Influenza B.
For the entire article visit the Quad City Times
Peace
Liz
According to her Doctor., Judy had been hospitalized since April 14th and the hospital was well aware she had the flu at the time. "The area is undergoing a Type A influenza epidemic right now, and swine flu is one variety of that, he said. She was confirmed to have swine flu shortly before she died, he said".
The article also remembered "The only other swine flu death in the U.S. was that of a Mexico City toddler who also had other health problems. He died last week at a Houston children's hospital."
I don't want to downplay the tragedy of the two deaths, however keep in mind that they both had underlying conditions and as with any flu under those circumstances, can be deadly. Swine flu is just a strain of our Influenza A which is not even the most common strain of flu but comes in at close second under Influenza B.
For the entire article visit the Quad City Times
Peace
Liz
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Area Lawmakers Question H1N1 Message
Some Illinois lawmakers question H1N1 message
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SPRINGFIELD — Lawmakers mostly praised state officials Tuesday for they way they’ve handled the recent flu scare.
But some on a House panel expressed concern over what they characterized as panic when news of the H1N1 virus, or swine flu, first broke.
Illinois Department of Public Health Director Damon Arnold told lawmakers they’re urging people not to overreact. But he said officials had to first treat the H1N1 virus as potentially deadly, because they didn’t yet know whether it was.
Now that cases in Illinois have mostly mimicked the mild seasonal flu, officials are recommending people with minor symptoms not get tested, and instead take general precautions they typically would when sick.
And officials are trying not to use the moniker “swine flu.”
“If you cook the pork, you can eat the pork,” Arnold said. “I’ve had that question many times.”
Lawmakers on the panel reported health system overloads in their districts and schools that might be closing too quickly.
“The hospitals were just inundated,” said state Rep. Tim Schmitz, R-Batavia.
So far, no Illinois cases have been confirmed south of Sangamon County, and a vast majority of them have been in the Chicago area. On Tuesday, state health officials said the state was up to 122 confirmed and probable cases.
Most of the testing has been done at state labs in Springfield and Chicago. Carbondale also has a lab, but Arnold said it hasn’t been needed yet.
Even though the H1N1 flu hasn’t been serious, Arnold said officials will track it for at least three months to see if it gets worse. Arnold said more Illinois cases are inevitable, even if they never end up being very serious.
“We undoubtedly will see more cases in the coming days, weeks and months,” Arnold said.
Posted in Local, Illinois on Tuesday, May 5, 2009 7:40 pm Updated: 7:42 pm. | Tags: H1n1, Swine Flu, Illinois Department Of Public Health
Are We Done Yet?
I have so much I want to write about and so little time to do so. I'll be glad when I can stop writing about the flu. I was pleased this morning to see that one of our local newspapers, The Dispatch, did not have a single word in reference to Swine Flu, N1H1 or N5H1 or whatever they are calling it these days.
I was appalled on Sunday (May 3th, 2009)by the full page spread from "The Associated Press" on the history of the Spanish Flu that I previously mentioned. Just the manner in which the articles were presented was frightening to say the least; "In flu scare, echoes of a fearful time"..WHAT? This does not echo the flu epidemic that began in 1918 what so ever. The only reason we currently have a "scare" is due to the media blowing the "pandemic" out of proportion.
In a sub-titled segment of the article "Now and Then" it is quoted by John M. Barry the author of "The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History", that he is tired of talking about he epidemic of 1918 but because of the similarities (what similarities?) He is doing his part to make sure the same mistakes aren't made again. We do appreciate Mr. Barry's efforts but the first mistake that was made was frightening the entire World to death over the common flu.
The article also describes to us how the victims would sometimes die within hours of contracting the virus and how they suffered from "high fevers, bloody discharge, turned purple and drowned in their own fluids". Excuse me? Do you see any similarities aside from the high fever here? What we are looking at is the average flu which is dangerous yes, but only to those who are normally at risk from dying from the flu, that's why they are encouraged to get a flu shot every year.
On Monday, May 4th, 2009 The Dispatch published an article, again from the "Associated Press" in Mexico City, the headline: "Epidemic declining?" Really? When was it ever deemed an epidemic? Of course its declining, the flu season is almost over and by next fall we will have a flu shot that will cover this particular strain that caused the World to panic.
I can't help but think of the movie "Wag the Dog" and wonder "who" and "what" are we deliberately being distracted from? My friend and fellow blogger Aero of the ABNetwork has other theories on the subject, for more on the virus, visit their blog ABNETWORK: The "H1N1 Triple Flu Virus Outbreak
Peace
Liz
I was appalled on Sunday (May 3th, 2009)by the full page spread from "The Associated Press" on the history of the Spanish Flu that I previously mentioned. Just the manner in which the articles were presented was frightening to say the least; "In flu scare, echoes of a fearful time"..WHAT? This does not echo the flu epidemic that began in 1918 what so ever. The only reason we currently have a "scare" is due to the media blowing the "pandemic" out of proportion.
In a sub-titled segment of the article "Now and Then" it is quoted by John M. Barry the author of "The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History", that he is tired of talking about he epidemic of 1918 but because of the similarities (what similarities?) He is doing his part to make sure the same mistakes aren't made again. We do appreciate Mr. Barry's efforts but the first mistake that was made was frightening the entire World to death over the common flu.
The article also describes to us how the victims would sometimes die within hours of contracting the virus and how they suffered from "high fevers, bloody discharge, turned purple and drowned in their own fluids". Excuse me? Do you see any similarities aside from the high fever here? What we are looking at is the average flu which is dangerous yes, but only to those who are normally at risk from dying from the flu, that's why they are encouraged to get a flu shot every year.
On Monday, May 4th, 2009 The Dispatch published an article, again from the "Associated Press" in Mexico City, the headline: "Epidemic declining?" Really? When was it ever deemed an epidemic? Of course its declining, the flu season is almost over and by next fall we will have a flu shot that will cover this particular strain that caused the World to panic.
I can't help but think of the movie "Wag the Dog" and wonder "who" and "what" are we deliberately being distracted from? My friend and fellow blogger Aero of the ABNetwork has other theories on the subject, for more on the virus, visit their blog ABNETWORK: The "H1N1 Triple Flu Virus Outbreak
Peace
Liz
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Swine Flu Media Frenzy
Reading this mornings paper, nearly every section contained an article in reference to Swine Flu, from discrimination against Hispanics, the historical "Spanish Flu" that I mentioned as well, charts and a series of Q&A. I'm beginning to wonder if its not the Newspapers behind the frenzy as they are losing business with the internet news now available to us, however they aren't the only ones benefiting from the frenzy.
In todays news my questions were addressed from my previous post and how this panic is going to effect the economy. In an article by Andres Oppenheimer, The Latin American correspondent for the Miami Herald, he stated that the crisis will probably "prolong the global recession", "deepen" Mexico's "economic downturn", "increase migration pressures", "complicate President Obama's plans to pass a comprehensive U.S. immigration reform" But on the upside, it will "slow Mexico's battle against drug cartel violence". Does anyone else see the political ramifications here?
How convenient for the Republican party that the "Swine Flu" is killing several birds with one stone. Wasn't it just a few weeks ago that all of this panic began, coinciding with the recent violence in Mexico and the Drug cartel? And don't the Republicans want more stringent laws agains immigration, aren't they also trying to make the President look bad in the media every chance they get?
In another related article by the Wasington Associated Press, entitled "What you need to know about the new swine flu" It was asked "Is it treatable?", the answer was a resounding "yes", with and I quote "STANDARD anti-flu drugs". Yes, that means exactly what you are thinking, this is just the standard flu. Every year our flu shots are modified accordingly to the "strain" of flu that is most prevelant. Another question is presented; "Is there a vaccine?", "No. The goverment is working to develop one and the earliest shots could roll out would be in the fall". Isn't that "normally" when our new flu shots roll out, targeting the presumed strains for the season?
Article by Elizabeth A. Hall
5/3/09
In todays news my questions were addressed from my previous post and how this panic is going to effect the economy. In an article by Andres Oppenheimer, The Latin American correspondent for the Miami Herald, he stated that the crisis will probably "prolong the global recession", "deepen" Mexico's "economic downturn", "increase migration pressures", "complicate President Obama's plans to pass a comprehensive U.S. immigration reform" But on the upside, it will "slow Mexico's battle against drug cartel violence". Does anyone else see the political ramifications here?
How convenient for the Republican party that the "Swine Flu" is killing several birds with one stone. Wasn't it just a few weeks ago that all of this panic began, coinciding with the recent violence in Mexico and the Drug cartel? And don't the Republicans want more stringent laws agains immigration, aren't they also trying to make the President look bad in the media every chance they get?
In another related article by the Wasington Associated Press, entitled "What you need to know about the new swine flu" It was asked "Is it treatable?", the answer was a resounding "yes", with and I quote "STANDARD anti-flu drugs". Yes, that means exactly what you are thinking, this is just the standard flu. Every year our flu shots are modified accordingly to the "strain" of flu that is most prevelant. Another question is presented; "Is there a vaccine?", "No. The goverment is working to develop one and the earliest shots could roll out would be in the fall". Isn't that "normally" when our new flu shots roll out, targeting the presumed strains for the season?
Article by Elizabeth A. Hall
5/3/09
Friday, May 1, 2009
Pandemic or Dam Panic? I'm Dam Mad!
After researching and writing the update for my blog "Swine flu 'Pandemic' or 'Unnecessary Panic" I began to network to bring people to my site to inform them. The more I did, the more upset I became and have more questions than answers.
Thus far, I've learned that H1N1 is the most common form of flu. You are more likely to contract Influenza B or even win the lottery. The facts are all there for anyone to look at. I've listed them on the above mentioned blog.
These are my questions:
1. There is 1 "confirmed" reported death in the United States. Mexico holds the remaining few "confirmed" deaths. There are "confirmed" cases, though few, scattered about the rest of the world. Why are all the deaths in Mexico? Doesn't that seem strange? And there are many third world countries out there with confirmed cases and no deaths, also strange.
2. What is the panic going to do to our economy? I'll tell you. Businesses are closing, schools are closing, even the border from Mexico is closing and people are not going out except to buy useless face masks. I haven't looked yet, but I bet our stock market is down as well.
3. Why has WHO deemed it necessary to place us at level 5 risk? If you'll look back in history, a form of H1N1, otherwise known as the "Spanish Flu" killed between 40 million and 100 million people from 1918 to 1920 and was said to be a level 5 pandemic. I'm sorry but this doesn't hold a candle to that bit of history at all. There are fewer reports of the H1N1 in recent months than when flu season began and more reports of Influenza B overall.
4. Is someone trying to sabotage the progress of our economy? Is someone or some organization trying to terrorize the people? Is someone just trying to make our President look bad? So in te future they can look back and say "look how bad the economy turned during Obamas first 100 days" and completely forget the reason behind it?
President Obama had it right, he advised us to wash our hands and cover our mouths when we cough! As we would during any flu season. People are so trusting of our media. Where are the fact checkers? Someone should be fired!
I'm angry as you should be too, to be a "puppet on a string", being terrorized by our own media? And for what reason?
Peace
Liz
(to give credit where credit is due, Jon Stewart saw the anogram in Pandemic to be Dam Panic)
Thus far, I've learned that H1N1 is the most common form of flu. You are more likely to contract Influenza B or even win the lottery. The facts are all there for anyone to look at. I've listed them on the above mentioned blog.
These are my questions:
1. There is 1 "confirmed" reported death in the United States. Mexico holds the remaining few "confirmed" deaths. There are "confirmed" cases, though few, scattered about the rest of the world. Why are all the deaths in Mexico? Doesn't that seem strange? And there are many third world countries out there with confirmed cases and no deaths, also strange.
2. What is the panic going to do to our economy? I'll tell you. Businesses are closing, schools are closing, even the border from Mexico is closing and people are not going out except to buy useless face masks. I haven't looked yet, but I bet our stock market is down as well.
3. Why has WHO deemed it necessary to place us at level 5 risk? If you'll look back in history, a form of H1N1, otherwise known as the "Spanish Flu" killed between 40 million and 100 million people from 1918 to 1920 and was said to be a level 5 pandemic. I'm sorry but this doesn't hold a candle to that bit of history at all. There are fewer reports of the H1N1 in recent months than when flu season began and more reports of Influenza B overall.
4. Is someone trying to sabotage the progress of our economy? Is someone or some organization trying to terrorize the people? Is someone just trying to make our President look bad? So in te future they can look back and say "look how bad the economy turned during Obamas first 100 days" and completely forget the reason behind it?
President Obama had it right, he advised us to wash our hands and cover our mouths when we cough! As we would during any flu season. People are so trusting of our media. Where are the fact checkers? Someone should be fired!
I'm angry as you should be too, to be a "puppet on a string", being terrorized by our own media? And for what reason?
Peace
Liz
(to give credit where credit is due, Jon Stewart saw the anogram in Pandemic to be Dam Panic)
UPDATE 5/1/09 Swine Flu "Pandemic" or "Unnecessary Panic"
UPDATE 5/1/09
I decided to do my own research in reference to the "unnecessary panic" which I believe is being instigated by WHO and I'll tell you why. According to the CDC's Weekly Influenza Report in which they reported the statistics for five different strains of virus in the United States this flu season, accumulatively there have been 25,925 confirmed cases of influenza. Of the 25,925 cases, only 6,223 were the H1N1 strain (identified as AH1). That leaves 19,702 confirmed cases of other strains of influenza, the highest being Influenza B with a reported 8686 confirmed cases. The CDC reports that there have been 15 cases confirmed in week 15 of their flu season. Influenza B reports 77 just this week. WHO's statistics were slightly higher than that of the CDC and Wikipedia.
The CDC had this to say about the 2008-09 season:
In actuality, going by the numbers, Influenza B is more than half and in recent weeks only small numbers of positive influenza has been reported indicating that, overall, the influenza "pandemic" is fizzling out. The CDC goes into some detail specifically related to the "swine version" with only a handful of confirmed cases in isolated areas with no deaths reported.
Wikipedia is kind enough to provide us with a chart compiled of statistics of mortality involving twelve countries in an article entitled 2009 Swine Flu Outbreak The overall statistics make the "swine flu" look harder to contract than winning the lottery. Of twelve countries there have only been 521 "laboratory confirmed" cases "World Wide" thus far this year. Suspected or Probable cases reach 4033 (referenced by who? WHO!) There were only thirteen (13) "confirmed" deaths and one-hundred-sixty-eight (168)"suspected" deaths, all but one of those confirmed deaths occurred in Mexico, the other one (1) was here in the United States. In a foot note it is stated "Suspected and probable cases have not been confirmed as being due to this strain of influenza by laboratory tests, although some other strains may have been ruled out".
I don't know why and can't even fathom why "WHO" would cause such a panic (no pun intended). Historically, Wikipedia associates the H1N1 virus with the "Spanish Flu" of 1918 to 1920, noting it was responsible for 40 to 100 million deaths. At that time it was a (5) in the severity index. Wikipedia also has this to say about H1N1:
We are at level 5 now?!? Have we had anywhere near that number of deaths for the H1N1? NO! So why all the hype? Relax people, we just have an outbreak of the flu! And what do they tell us about the flu, get a flu shot, especially the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.
by Elizabeth A. Hall
5/1/2009
Information in this article were obtained by the following sources:
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_05_01/en/index.html
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_swine_flu_outbreak_by_country
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_swine_flu_outbreak_by_country#References
I decided to do my own research in reference to the "unnecessary panic" which I believe is being instigated by WHO and I'll tell you why. According to the CDC's Weekly Influenza Report in which they reported the statistics for five different strains of virus in the United States this flu season, accumulatively there have been 25,925 confirmed cases of influenza. Of the 25,925 cases, only 6,223 were the H1N1 strain (identified as AH1). That leaves 19,702 confirmed cases of other strains of influenza, the highest being Influenza B with a reported 8686 confirmed cases. The CDC reports that there have been 15 cases confirmed in week 15 of their flu season. Influenza B reports 77 just this week. WHO's statistics were slightly higher than that of the CDC and Wikipedia.
The CDC had this to say about the 2008-09 season:
influenza A (H1), A (H3), and B viruses have co-circulated in the United States. Influenza A (H1) viruses have predominated during the season overall, however, the most commonly reported influenza virus has varied by week. From week 40 through week 10 (September 28, 2008 – March 14, 2009) influenza A (H1) viruses were more frequently reported and from weeks 11 through 13 (March 15 – April 4, 2009) more influenza B than influenza A viruses were reported. Since week 14, small numbers of positive influenza specimens have been reported; approximately half of influenza viruses reported nationally have been influenza A viruses and half have been influenza B viruses, but there continues to be variation in the predominant influenza type by region. During week 15, five of the nine surveillance regions reported more influenza A than influenza B viruses.
In actuality, going by the numbers, Influenza B is more than half and in recent weeks only small numbers of positive influenza has been reported indicating that, overall, the influenza "pandemic" is fizzling out. The CDC goes into some detail specifically related to the "swine version" with only a handful of confirmed cases in isolated areas with no deaths reported.
Wikipedia is kind enough to provide us with a chart compiled of statistics of mortality involving twelve countries in an article entitled 2009 Swine Flu Outbreak The overall statistics make the "swine flu" look harder to contract than winning the lottery. Of twelve countries there have only been 521 "laboratory confirmed" cases "World Wide" thus far this year. Suspected or Probable cases reach 4033 (referenced by who? WHO!) There were only thirteen (13) "confirmed" deaths and one-hundred-sixty-eight (168)"suspected" deaths, all but one of those confirmed deaths occurred in Mexico, the other one (1) was here in the United States. In a foot note it is stated "Suspected and probable cases have not been confirmed as being due to this strain of influenza by laboratory tests, although some other strains may have been ruled out".
I don't know why and can't even fathom why "WHO" would cause such a panic (no pun intended). Historically, Wikipedia associates the H1N1 virus with the "Spanish Flu" of 1918 to 1920, noting it was responsible for 40 to 100 million deaths. At that time it was a (5) in the severity index. Wikipedia also has this to say about H1N1:
Influenza A virus subtype H1N1, also known as A(H1N1), is a subtype of influenza virus A and the most common cause of influenza (flu) in humans. Some strains of H1N1 are endemic in humans, including the strain(s) responsible for the 1918 flu pandemic which killed 50–100 million people worldwide. Less virulent H1N1 strains still exist in the wild today, worldwide, causing a small fraction of all influenza-like illness and a large fraction of all seasonal influenza. H1N1 strains caused roughly half of all flu infections in 2006.[1] Other strains of H1N1 are endemic in pigs and in birds.
We are at level 5 now?!? Have we had anywhere near that number of deaths for the H1N1? NO! So why all the hype? Relax people, we just have an outbreak of the flu! And what do they tell us about the flu, get a flu shot, especially the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.
by Elizabeth A. Hall
5/1/2009
Information in this article were obtained by the following sources:
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_05_01/en/index.html
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_swine_flu_outbreak_by_country
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_swine_flu_outbreak_by_country#References
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Swine Flu "Pandemic" or "Unnecessary Panic"?
I was watching "Hardball" with Chris Matthews last night and the UN Health Officials, having placed the threat on a level 4 out of 6, are saying that the virus "cannot be contained" yet there are only about 40 to 50 cases in the U.S. and only one hospitalization according to Robert Bazell, the MSNBC Health correspondent. President Obama is stating that there is no need for panic and I agree with him. There are also "two" vaccinations in our country, possibly used in unison they can kill the virus.
As for Mexico, it was stated that we don't know for sure how many of those deaths are really caused by the flu and since it has been going on for some time now, it could be out of millions that contracted it. In the bigger picture, that sounds containable to me and someone is just unnecessarily causing panic as those statistics probably aren't far off from our normal flu strains that tend to kill the elderly and those with a weakened immune system.
For Further Information and controversy surrounding the Virus visit the ABNetwork
Finally, someone has a grasp on Reality! Watch the video below from "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" and his interview with Dr. Roy Gulick. And thank you Keith and Dr. Gulick for seeing beyond the panic.
As for Mexico, it was stated that we don't know for sure how many of those deaths are really caused by the flu and since it has been going on for some time now, it could be out of millions that contracted it. In the bigger picture, that sounds containable to me and someone is just unnecessarily causing panic as those statistics probably aren't far off from our normal flu strains that tend to kill the elderly and those with a weakened immune system.
For Further Information and controversy surrounding the Virus visit the ABNetwork
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Finally, someone has a grasp on Reality! Watch the video below from "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" and his interview with Dr. Roy Gulick. And thank you Keith and Dr. Gulick for seeing beyond the panic.
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Hard Core Hysterectomy Confessions
I'm bored to tears, can't sleep and am coaxing along the long awaited BM after surgery. Today is the day, I've taken a pain killer in anticipation. (I know, I'll write about anything for the sake of writing. Sorry folks its the drugs.) The question of the day? will two the size of a pea constitute a BM? Surely its not a "Big Mama" more like " Borderline Microscopic". I have until Monday, then I have to call the Doc. Who by the way I've grown very fond of.
After feeling like I had been turned into a blow up doll, watching my legs inflate and deflate, knowing all I have left of my femininity is a tube. Everyone had to keep reminding me that my vagina was packed...packed for what? A vacation, where is it going and why? I finally learned the purpose of the packing when it was time to go home, the Dr. came in and announced she was unpacking my vagina...."You were told it was packed?" she asked. I thought to myself, "Yes, too many times to count, I'm glad its staying".
Doc spread 'em and proceeded to remove the long strip of gauze that was packing my vagina (I've been told I like that word and use it way too much). As she was removing it, hand over hand she clenched her teeth, smiled and bobbed her head as she often does and said "it just keeps on coming"..lol She may be a doctor but I think she secretly wanted to be a magician because that's what it looked like, a magic trick but instead of scarves in pockets, she uses gauze in vaginas.
I think we bonded while I was there and she called me yesterday, with much excitement (I think she was more excited than myself) to say that my biopsy came back NOT CANCEROUS!. I had fibroids and something called Asherman's syndrome. She had initially told me she would let me know on my follow up appointment this upcoming Wednesday. But she surprised me again.
Now I have 6 to 8 weeks of not being able to much of anything. I've learned that I tend to drop things a lot, not being able to bend over to pick them up there are things scattered about the house; missed tosses in the garbage can, pill bottle lids, pills, a couple of spoon fulls of jello...all have to wait until someone can come pick them up for me. In the hospital I thought it was due to the morphine drip causing the drops. I had to buzz the nurse to pick up my glasses, my comb and something else I don't recall because, after all I was on morphine.
Now that I'm home, I have to wear these cute white tights to prevent blood clots and I so wanted to go lay out in the sun the past couple of days its been so nice. I also have to wear the "swelly belly belt" to prevent me from "bustin a stitch". What happens if I bust a stitch? I'm just dying to tell you this one, my vagina turns inside out and then I will have had a sex change instead of a hysterectomy. I know, I have a sick, sick mind.
And a great big thanks to my son and my boyfriend who have been picking up after me and putting up with my sick jokes and the word vagina more than any man should have to. Love you both.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
The Tact of Doctors
I have had the unfortunate experience of having to deal with many Doctors in many different situations in my 42 years. I recall my Father when he was told he was going to have to have a quadruple bypass, Dad's Dr. was straight forward, very blunt; "you're going to die, this artery is 90% blocked, this one is 99% blocked"...etc. etc. Dad ended up having a triple bypass because of a vein being too small to replace, However, it wasn't a blocked artery that killed him. I suppose most heart surgeons are more "matter of fact" I was appreciative of his tact or lack there of. My brother thought it was unnecessary and as is my brother's character, wanted to "kick his ass".
I have been having gynecological issues for a long time. Three years ago I had an endometrerial ablation (they burned the lining of my uterus) for my endometreosis. My procedure fixed my problem and I was liberated of the monthly nuisance we women have to endure. I loved my Dr., I'd been seeing her since I was sixteen, she always had a good poker face and nothing was certain until the tests came back. When on July 1st I began bleeding again I called her only to find out she had retired the "DAY" before. My new Dr., whom I had only seen once before had me come in, even on the phone, "we need to make sure you don't have 'cancer' or something". I had a pap smear and she sent me for a sonogram and set me up for a followup in two weeks and prescribed "two" antibiotics?!?
I found myself having chest pains at work one day and went to the ER. They took my blood and said I had tested positive for blood clots and was immediately sent for a CT scan, to which nothing was found and they sent me on my way. In the ER, they never seem to want to search any further for a problem, only having scanned my chest and lungs for clots. What about my brain, my legs, they could be anywhere. I knew I had my followup in two days so I would bring up the issue with her, I knew she would peruse it.
Granted, I like my new Dr., its hard to find a female Gynecologist. But she's young and when she talks she expresses herself with certain facial expressions. "you have developed white spots on your cervix" she says while clenching her teeth and smiling, her head bobbed in a downward motion. What was that? We were sitting in her office at this point (never a good sign when you have to see her in her office after your examination). She also went over the results of my sonogram with many clenches, smiles and head bobs as she explained all of the "abnormalities". I hadn't heard anything in the span between the tests and the appointment. My previous Dr. would call me immediately, sometimes at 6:00 or 7:00 pm, personally, if something came back amiss. OK, so this Dr. doesn't believe in "no news is good news".
I finally asked her about my blood test and questioned whether she felt we should be looking for blood clots and why would my test come back positive if there were none found? Her response included more clenching, smiling and head bobbing. "It would come back positive because of what is going on below". Now, I know a simple failure of an edometrial ablation would not prompt a blood clot test to come back positive, at least my common sense tells me that, otherwise every woman having her period would test positive for blood clots, but I'm not a Dr., what do I know? I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express at least not recently.
So, I have a thickening of the uterine lining, its mottled (discoloration), its falling, there's a growth within the lining and something about my bladder that I don't recall as I was in a fog for a moment. I've developed white spots on my cervix in a matter of just two weeks. She wants to do a biopsy on it and schedule a D&C on my uterus. OK. So over the weekend I developed new symptoms and then we have a storm the morning of my biopsy and there is no power to the Dr. office or most of the city. I call her exchange in a panic, explain my symptoms and she puts the D&C on hold and wants me to call and get squeezed in for a biopsy on my cervix and uterus as soon as they have power again (I can't see her clenching and smiling on the phone, thank God!) I've had to wait a week for the power to return and will finally get my biopsies today and then I'm on Vacation.
Now, I've already assumed the worst because of my Dr.'s body language and lack of tact so at first opportunity I visited Web MD. According to Web MD, I am exhibiting signs of Advanced Endometrial Cancer. ( I can no longer say I'm on the IBS diet due to having lost 30lbs in 6 months without being on a diet, its now the cancer diet) I've already rented a documentary/video journal of a woman with cancer. I learned of a non-profit organization called "Fuck Cancer", I'm ready to buy my "Fuck Cancer" T-Shirt and haven't even had the biopsies yet. If I weren't such a good sport with a sense of humor, I could be one of those people who, upon putting the pieces together themselves, finds themselves unable to crawl out of bed and is devastated before the results are even in. I cried for a day, the next day I was pissed because I wanted my uterus out 3 years ago and now I'm already in the acceptance stage. I'm sure I'll cry again when I get the bad news, because that is what I am expecting.
Dr.'s should be required to take a class on Tact and if they already do its not good enough. I like my new Dr. but she gets an "F". Maybe with experience she will learn or maybe I should be so bold as to tell her what she does. Now I'm going to be late for work, I should have taken the entire day off. At this point, I have a "so what" attitude anyway. It reminds me of Queen Latifa's movie but I don't recall the name, she got that "so what" attitude and went on one hell of a vacation.
I have been having gynecological issues for a long time. Three years ago I had an endometrerial ablation (they burned the lining of my uterus) for my endometreosis. My procedure fixed my problem and I was liberated of the monthly nuisance we women have to endure. I loved my Dr., I'd been seeing her since I was sixteen, she always had a good poker face and nothing was certain until the tests came back. When on July 1st I began bleeding again I called her only to find out she had retired the "DAY" before. My new Dr., whom I had only seen once before had me come in, even on the phone, "we need to make sure you don't have 'cancer' or something". I had a pap smear and she sent me for a sonogram and set me up for a followup in two weeks and prescribed "two" antibiotics?!?
I found myself having chest pains at work one day and went to the ER. They took my blood and said I had tested positive for blood clots and was immediately sent for a CT scan, to which nothing was found and they sent me on my way. In the ER, they never seem to want to search any further for a problem, only having scanned my chest and lungs for clots. What about my brain, my legs, they could be anywhere. I knew I had my followup in two days so I would bring up the issue with her, I knew she would peruse it.
Granted, I like my new Dr., its hard to find a female Gynecologist. But she's young and when she talks she expresses herself with certain facial expressions. "you have developed white spots on your cervix" she says while clenching her teeth and smiling, her head bobbed in a downward motion. What was that? We were sitting in her office at this point (never a good sign when you have to see her in her office after your examination). She also went over the results of my sonogram with many clenches, smiles and head bobs as she explained all of the "abnormalities". I hadn't heard anything in the span between the tests and the appointment. My previous Dr. would call me immediately, sometimes at 6:00 or 7:00 pm, personally, if something came back amiss. OK, so this Dr. doesn't believe in "no news is good news".
I finally asked her about my blood test and questioned whether she felt we should be looking for blood clots and why would my test come back positive if there were none found? Her response included more clenching, smiling and head bobbing. "It would come back positive because of what is going on below". Now, I know a simple failure of an edometrial ablation would not prompt a blood clot test to come back positive, at least my common sense tells me that, otherwise every woman having her period would test positive for blood clots, but I'm not a Dr., what do I know? I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express at least not recently.
So, I have a thickening of the uterine lining, its mottled (discoloration), its falling, there's a growth within the lining and something about my bladder that I don't recall as I was in a fog for a moment. I've developed white spots on my cervix in a matter of just two weeks. She wants to do a biopsy on it and schedule a D&C on my uterus. OK. So over the weekend I developed new symptoms and then we have a storm the morning of my biopsy and there is no power to the Dr. office or most of the city. I call her exchange in a panic, explain my symptoms and she puts the D&C on hold and wants me to call and get squeezed in for a biopsy on my cervix and uterus as soon as they have power again (I can't see her clenching and smiling on the phone, thank God!) I've had to wait a week for the power to return and will finally get my biopsies today and then I'm on Vacation.
Now, I've already assumed the worst because of my Dr.'s body language and lack of tact so at first opportunity I visited Web MD. According to Web MD, I am exhibiting signs of Advanced Endometrial Cancer. ( I can no longer say I'm on the IBS diet due to having lost 30lbs in 6 months without being on a diet, its now the cancer diet) I've already rented a documentary/video journal of a woman with cancer. I learned of a non-profit organization called "Fuck Cancer", I'm ready to buy my "Fuck Cancer" T-Shirt and haven't even had the biopsies yet. If I weren't such a good sport with a sense of humor, I could be one of those people who, upon putting the pieces together themselves, finds themselves unable to crawl out of bed and is devastated before the results are even in. I cried for a day, the next day I was pissed because I wanted my uterus out 3 years ago and now I'm already in the acceptance stage. I'm sure I'll cry again when I get the bad news, because that is what I am expecting.
Dr.'s should be required to take a class on Tact and if they already do its not good enough. I like my new Dr. but she gets an "F". Maybe with experience she will learn or maybe I should be so bold as to tell her what she does. Now I'm going to be late for work, I should have taken the entire day off. At this point, I have a "so what" attitude anyway. It reminds me of Queen Latifa's movie but I don't recall the name, she got that "so what" attitude and went on one hell of a vacation.
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