I've gotten a flu shot every year since 1993, the year I entered medical school. The first 2 years of med school are mostly spent in the classroom, so I wasn't exposed to flu any more than a regular dude. However, beginning in 1995- present day, I've been treating patients. For the past 13 years, I've worked in the field of Urgent Care, so I have been nearly constantly exposed to the flu virus. And I've never gotten the actual flu; until this year.
In November 2012, I got Influenza A. Fever to 102,sore throat, cough, fatigue & body aches. I started Antiviral medication within 24 hours of my first symptom. It took 5 days for fever to go away, and 3 more days for the aches to disappear. The fatigue lasted another week.
Then, in March 2013, I started feeling bad again. Temp only 100, mild cough & mild aches. This time I tested positive for Flu B. I skipped the antivirals this time, and I was only sick for 5 days.
I'll still take my flu shot next fall. But if I get the flu again, especially twice, I'll think hard about it for the future!
Friday, April 19, 2013
Monday, April 15, 2013
The problem of pain
We have become a nation addicted to pain medicine. Somewhere down the line, we came across the notion that there should be no pain. People have decided that for every minor ache or pain, they must take a pill. Pain is there for a reason. It's the mechanism your body uses to tell you something isn't quite right. Pain isn't always bad. That soreness in your back? Maybe you need to rest. Maybe try a heating pad for 10 or 15 minutes. Maybe soak in a hot bath. And yes, maybe even take a pain pill.
The problem seemed to become much worse when the government decided that pain was a "vital sign". By definition, a vital sign is an objective measure of a physiologic process in life, like your heart rate or blood pressure. Objective meaning measurable and reproducible. But some do-gooder bureaurocrat decided pain should be measured just like your temperature. The problem is, you cannot measure pain. I've seen people with shattered ankles after a car wreck who rate their pain a 2-3 out of 10. They can't walk, but their pain is low. I've seen others who swear their migraine or back pain is a 12 out of 10, yet they sit comfortably on the exam table, hair and makeup perfect, clean shaven, takling to their buddies on their phones about going out for a beer after the game.
Here are some do's and don'ts about talking with your doctor about pain.
Do: tell the truth about what happened. Did you really trip and fall, or did you get pissed off and punch the wall?
Don't: use street terminology when asking for meds. "Hydros" "oxys" "percs", etc
Do: be polite. You might be surprised how far that goes.
Don't: expect to get more than a few days of short-acting pain pills from the ER or Urgent Care. They are not your primary care physician, no matter how often you show up at their door, and they will not prescribe your OxyContin, Soma or Morphine.
Do: get a primary care physician. A doctor that will get to know you well, understands your problems and long term needs. If you really need pain meds for more than a few days, they are much better options than hydrocodone or Percocet.
Don't: lie. I know, I kinda said that one already. But most states now keep records of pain prescriptions in online databases that the doctor can, and should check, before writing you a new prescription. The quickest way to get no pain meds is to not admit up front that your doctor wrote you 60 Tylenol #3s last week.
The problem seemed to become much worse when the government decided that pain was a "vital sign". By definition, a vital sign is an objective measure of a physiologic process in life, like your heart rate or blood pressure. Objective meaning measurable and reproducible. But some do-gooder bureaurocrat decided pain should be measured just like your temperature. The problem is, you cannot measure pain. I've seen people with shattered ankles after a car wreck who rate their pain a 2-3 out of 10. They can't walk, but their pain is low. I've seen others who swear their migraine or back pain is a 12 out of 10, yet they sit comfortably on the exam table, hair and makeup perfect, clean shaven, takling to their buddies on their phones about going out for a beer after the game.
Here are some do's and don'ts about talking with your doctor about pain.
Do: tell the truth about what happened. Did you really trip and fall, or did you get pissed off and punch the wall?
Don't: use street terminology when asking for meds. "Hydros" "oxys" "percs", etc
Do: be polite. You might be surprised how far that goes.
Don't: expect to get more than a few days of short-acting pain pills from the ER or Urgent Care. They are not your primary care physician, no matter how often you show up at their door, and they will not prescribe your OxyContin, Soma or Morphine.
Do: get a primary care physician. A doctor that will get to know you well, understands your problems and long term needs. If you really need pain meds for more than a few days, they are much better options than hydrocodone or Percocet.
Don't: lie. I know, I kinda said that one already. But most states now keep records of pain prescriptions in online databases that the doctor can, and should check, before writing you a new prescription. The quickest way to get no pain meds is to not admit up front that your doctor wrote you 60 Tylenol #3s last week.
Network TV had better wake up
I really hope that the Network television big boys & girls would wake up and take notice of what the "little" cable channels are able to come up with. Blockbuster shows like Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, Mad Med, Ripper Street, Copper and Falling Skies, just to name a few.
In stead, they just keep pumping out trash like "dancing with the Glee idols in Nashville".
If you're a fan of sic-fi television, not since BattleStar Galactica has there been such a heart wrenching take on the human condition as Falling skies. It grips you from episode one, with the main characters and their struggles against their seriously overpowering antagonists.
What things do all these shows I mentioned have in common?
1. Having smaller budgets that NBC, CBS or ABC allocates requires the writing, directing and producing staff to be much more awake and alert, not having time for a "crap" filler episode.
2. Only having 10-13 episodes per season keeps the actors on top of their game. They don't get tired of playing their roles; quite the opposite, they stay excited and committed to making the best shows they can.
3. The only thing that could make this better? With the success of the afore mentioned shows, I think the incredible tale that was Firefly would have risen to the top and shone like the start it was. Watch it.
In stead, they just keep pumping out trash like "dancing with the Glee idols in Nashville".
If you're a fan of sic-fi television, not since BattleStar Galactica has there been such a heart wrenching take on the human condition as Falling skies. It grips you from episode one, with the main characters and their struggles against their seriously overpowering antagonists.
What things do all these shows I mentioned have in common?
1. Having smaller budgets that NBC, CBS or ABC allocates requires the writing, directing and producing staff to be much more awake and alert, not having time for a "crap" filler episode.
2. Only having 10-13 episodes per season keeps the actors on top of their game. They don't get tired of playing their roles; quite the opposite, they stay excited and committed to making the best shows they can.
3. The only thing that could make this better? With the success of the afore mentioned shows, I think the incredible tale that was Firefly would have risen to the top and shone like the start it was. Watch it.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Father Emil Kapaun given one of our country's highest honors
Father Emil Kapaun has been awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama for his selfless sacrifice during the Korean War.
The priest risked his life, time and again, for our POW's held captive by the Chinese and Korean governments. He held regular Mass, even when threatened with his own death. He carried wounded soldiers on his back during forced marches, because those soldiers would have been murdered if they couldn't move. He gave his own rations to other soldiers.
Father Kapaun died on May 23, 1951, of pneumonia and dysentery. His nephew accepted the Medal of Honor in his place. God Bless Father Emil Kapaun.
The priest risked his life, time and again, for our POW's held captive by the Chinese and Korean governments. He held regular Mass, even when threatened with his own death. He carried wounded soldiers on his back during forced marches, because those soldiers would have been murdered if they couldn't move. He gave his own rations to other soldiers.
Father Kapaun died on May 23, 1951, of pneumonia and dysentery. His nephew accepted the Medal of Honor in his place. God Bless Father Emil Kapaun.
Sunday, April 07, 2013
End of the world as we know it
I'm reading a few news articles about "avian flu" again. Mark my words. Within the next 6 months, the news media will be talking ominously about this every day, telling us we are all going to die from the bird flu. Or will it be swine flu? Or SARS? Or Global Warming? Or the upcoming ice age? Or a comet about to crash into the planet?
In other words, Chicken Little is always telling us the end is nigh.
In other words, Chicken Little is always telling us the end is nigh.
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Music
I guess I've gotten old, because I don't like much of what is considered "music" on the radio any more. I don't care for American Idol, the Voice, Glee or any of the shows on Disney. I like original music. I like unique music. I like music that comes from the heart, not from some voice mixer.
I've discovered new music using services like Pandora and Songza. I also love the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast by Marc Gunn. Check it out. Buy a song or two. With the internet, you have the opportunity to hear music that you'd never hear otherwise; so support these small time, local artists. You'll be much better off for it.
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