July 2011
1 post
6 tags
cancer
can a nurse tell you that you could have cancerous cell after an abnormal pap test?
Hi and thank you for the question.
This seems like a very simple question, but like most medical/nursing things, it really isn’t. Typically cancerous cells are identified by a pathology lab. Your sample is sent off, read by the lab, the lab writes a report and sends it back to the physician who sent it in,...
June 2010
2 posts
5 tags
Pulmonary Hypertension and My Friend Christa
A friend of mine was recently diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (PH). Many of you who follow this blog know Christa as well. We discussed my writing about PH because the statistics can be depressing, and I didn’t want her to feel negatively affected by my writing a very direct, factual post about this illness. Christa and I have discussed more than once that statistics are meaningless until it...
Anonymous asked: I've never gone to a therapist before, but I think it's time that I start. How do I go about finding someone to call and make an appointment with? I don't feel ready to admit to friends or colleagues that I want therapy, so I don't feel as if I can "ask around" for recommendations? How do I start?
May 2010
1 post
4 tags
April 2010
7 posts
8 tags
Allergy Overview
I have gotten several questions about allergies. Allergies are really complex. That’s why there are entire fields of medicine, research, and drugs devoted solely to this one topic. I’m going to do my best to give a simple overview, and then if I haven’t answered a question to your satisfaction, let me know and I’ll get more detailed.
Allergy symptoms are caused by an immune response to an invader....
12 tags
Politics and Health on the Internet
I should start this by saying I may be one of the last people to have figured this out, but I’m saying it anyway.
I have a few questions to answer but I came upon some things this week that frustrated me greatly and I want to make you all aware of them. I’m talking about internet health care politics and trickery.
As many of you know, I’m writing for a couple of websites now, and I’m seeing some...
6 tags
In Memorium
In lieu of a regular post today, I want to send condolences to an amazing family, The Norlings.
Leah lost her husband Bob to cancer today; their children lost a wonderful father. The Norlings are a strong, beautiful family, and Leah has shown strength, grace and humor throughout this awful fight.
If you want to help this beautiful family when they need it most, please send a heartfelt donation...
2 tags
Endometriosis
I promised someone quite a while back I would write a post about endometriosis. I haven’t forgotten. I’ve read up on it over and over to refresh my memory and was wondering to myself why it was taking so long to write about it. I figured it out last night.
Endometriosis is frustrating. Even to read about. So I can’t even imagine how frustrating it is to have. It is another one of those problems...
9 tags
CPT 2 Deficiency Question
We had an infant (approx 9 mos old) that had become restless and the mother was en route to the Dr with it when it became unresponsive. By the time they had got to the nearest hospital it was DOA. This is the first time that any of us at the PD had heard of this, I was just wondering if you have ever had any dealings with it.
I have not personally dealt with this, but I have had adult...
16 tags
Grief
Grief is a bitch. There is no way around it. People grieve for many different reasons, and the process is different for each person, but the thing to remember is that grieving is a process. It isn’t an act or an event. It is a process that can take from days to years in a healthy person, and in someone who isn’t healthy emotionally it can last indefinitely.
The best-known “authority” on grieving...
12 tags
Social Phobia/Social Anxiety Disorder
Social Phobia or Social Anxiety Disorder is often a life-long issue, even though it usually waxes and wanes according to what is happening in a person’s life. Estimates say approximately 2-13 percent of the general population struggles with Social Phobia.
Generalized Social Phobia is not the same as a limited fear of public speaking or other limited anxieties. It can be a little tricky to tease...
Long-Term NSAID Use
What can you tell me about long-term use of NSAIDS for people with osteoarthritis? I take double the normal dose a couple of times a week (with food), when I know I’ll be walking or standing for long periods. Thanks!
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are ubiquitous but they are like most other drugs in that there are definitely pros and cons to taking them, especially...
March 2010
13 posts
10 tags
Diet Question
I am probably about 80lbs overweight. Currently I weigh 360, and probably should be somewhere in the 240-280 range. I have a familial history of cartilage degeneration in the knees. Pops is 61 and due for a knee replacement this July. After a bad sprain this winter, I saw an ortho and she said that I’ve got “arthritic changes” in my knee that mean I’m losing the...
8 tags
Nursing Differs From Medicine
I want to take a moment to talk about how nursing, nursing advice, and health care education differ from diagnosing disease and practicing medicine.
In a nutshell, a nurse looks at your reaction to an illness or problem, and works to keep you well and coping with what you have going on. A nurse should not tell you that you have cervical spondylosis, that is a medical diagnosis. A nurse can talk...
Anonymous asked: I have a pregnancy question. If I'm spotting in the beginning of my pregnancy, can I (and should I) still have sex? Will intercourse exacerbate the whatever's causing the spotting?
Anonymous asked: If someone has has carpal tunnel for 10+ years, is there any point in doing ergonomic exercises?
mrsbadcrumble asked: My left thigh is "numb", in that I don't get goosebumps there and when I scratch it, if feels...muffled, if that makes sense. But it also aches intensely sometimes, usually after I'm on my feet for a long time. I've been x-rayed and MRI'ed and apparently it's just a pinched nerve. No one seems too concerned about it; should I? Is there anything that can help?
erinmargrethe asked: So, I was doing a little drunk cooking last night and I burnt my hand (the fleshy bit just under the thumb joint) pretty good on the pasta sauce. I held on to an ice cube for a while, then went to bed. I just woke up and it's come up in a massive blister. What should I do for it? I'd like to bandage it so I don't bang it against anything (it hurts like a mofo), but will that slow...
13 tags
Neck Question
How do I tell if my chronic (9 days straight now) neck pain is from tension or because I pulled something? Do I need to visit a doctor or a chiropractor? If so, when?
This could be very long and involved, so I’ll do multiple spine posts. I worked neuro/neurosurgery and then in an ortho/spine clinic, but that doesn’t make this area any less grey. I can say a few things with...
25 tags
Coffee Question
Question: Why does coffee make me poop? Coffee!
We love coffee! It is often thought of as a guilty pleasure, or an every day addiction. You don’t need coffee to live, but coffee is a wonder drug. It can also cause adverse reactions in some people.
Scientists still argue about whether coffee is good or bad for us. There are check marks in both columns, but some of the old studies showing how...
12 tags
Ambien Question
I’ve had a couple of different medically trained people inform me that Ambien is only “designed for short term use” and is generally prescribed because insurance companies prefer it to be used based on cost.
I’m “lucky” that I had an adverse reaction to the drug so I was moved onto something “better”, however it makes me concerned that so many ...
Questions.
Do you have questions?
What are kidney stones made of?
Why does my son sell plasma? What is plasma?
What exactly is disability?
I have a couple of questions to answer, so I thought I’d put out a call for further questions. Simple, complex, silly, I don’t mind what kind of things you want to ask. Nothing is too simple. Anything you think is a stupid question, I guarantee you ten...
6 tags
Health Care Provider Selection
How did you find your primary health care provider? Do you even have one?
In the US, most people choose a provider based on location. That means you put your most valuable asset, your health, in the hands of someone because they are the most convenient to your home or work. Most of you ask your insurance company or a friend or neighbor or a hospital website which doctor or nurse practitioner is...
14 tags
Medical and Financial Assistance Programs
As the US goes through the current recession and the health care industry continues to spasm while we work toward some sort of meaningful reform, many of you have financial issues intertwined with medical difficulties. There are programs out there to help you. Some of them offer free or low cost medical care or medication, others give emergency rent or utility assistance or even assist with car...