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Methamphetamine, or Meth as it is known on the streets, is the most addictive drug known to man.  Even more so than heroin.  One hit off a crack pipe will create a state of euphoria that will last for close to 24 hours.  That’s a hard act to follow.

How does this happen? To understand this one has to understand brain chemistry.  Essentially neurons fire and chemicals called serotonin and dopamine carry the signals from cell to cell resulting in the desired result; for example moving a finger or feeling pain.  Methamphetamine creates the largest flooding of dopamine than anything on earth.  Dopamine is the “feel good” chemical in the brain.  This explains the desire to “feel good” again and again.  Take that away and addicts describe feeling “gray” as the body on it’s own cannot produce anywhere near the same amount of dopamine.

The current trend is to not give antibiotics for sinus infections.  Interesting idea.  Without sinuses your head would be so heavy that you wouldn’t be able to hold it upright.  They also give resonance to the voice.  They consist of the ethmoids, which are straight up the nose between the eyes.  The maxillaries, which are above your teeth and below the orbits of the eyes.  And the sphenoid which is in the center of the head.

The problem with NOT treating the sinuses is that if the infection reaches the sphenoid, behind the back wall is the brain.  Should the infection eat through the paper thin bone it will cause a brain abscess.  Brain abscesses have a 50% mortality rate  When I was working in an ENT office, one of the physicians had a gentleman that this happened to, unfortunately he didn’t survive.

I have seen cultures done, and the bacteria causing these infections are very real.  I don’t understand the rationale for not prescribing antibiotics.  Because I have allergies, I use a Nettie Pot.  The basic principle is that one uses a saline solution to rinse out the sinuses thereby eliminating the pollen.  If I feel that I’m starting to get an infection I’ll use the Nettie Pot several times a day.  Mucous will change color as it becomes infected.  If I were blowing green (not yellow) or brown mucous from my nose, was running a fever and felt pressure, I would insist upon an antibiotic.

When CBS news broke the story on implants for surgical procedures not being checked for integrity for implant, I was absolutely stunned.  As a surgical nurse for many years and as a team member on the Joint Replacement team, I felt like I had literally been beaten up.  Come to find out that many of the Joint Systems and Pacemakers have been grandfathered in by the FDA are just unacceptable.

It breaks my heart to think that there are people out there in some cases dieing, as in the case when an implanted defibrillator didn’t fire to restart the heart on the young man to the woman with two artificial hips that have failed and the metal is leaching into her bloodstream to do who knows what.  Also not comforting as one who has aneurysm clips in her head.

I really don’t know what the answer to this issue is.  As a former federal employee,  perhaps the government can come up with new jobs in the FDA to test ALL new implants.

Test Blog Entry for Facebook 2

Incidents.  In hospital lingo that means an unexpected outcome; anything from an allergic reaction to a fall.  If one of these happens the nurse who identifies the problem writes an ‘ incident report’.  This report is factual, and reports exactly what happened.  No finger pointing or subjective material is allowed.

Once the report is generated, it is logged into an excel spreadsheet and given a number based on the injury incurred.  For example, if the allergic reaction responds to the corrective pharmaceuticals then it would rate a O.  But if, on the other hand, the fall results in a hip or femoral fracture requiring surgery then it would be rated a 3.  Deaths are always a 4.  All people present are mentioned, everything that happens is mentioned and the outcome is mentioned.

These are discoverable, meaning that if a suit ensues the incident report is part of the medical record.  Imagine what use this would be to an attorney defending a case!  It’s all there, in black and white with all the players and exactly what happened.  I can’t imagine a more coveted document!

HIPPA, an acronym that has changed the lives of all people seen by physicians.  They need to be updated yearly and protect all medical information about you.

In two cases I’ve been involved in, I’m sure that not all the information was provided after the hospitals medical records were subpoenad.  In one case, the x-rays,  including the one showing the retained sponge under the plate were missing.  When asked why by the attorney, the physician responded that the equipment needed to take the x-ray wasn’t working.  WRONG ANSWER!!  When any metal implanted item is placed, there MUST be x-ray confirmation of placement.  That case settled out of court.  If this were truly the case, the procedure should have been postponed until such time that the x-ray was available.

I mention this only because I believe that I have a HIPPA release form that will prevent this kind of thing from happening.  It lists every possible lab value, biopsy and x-ray is mentioned.  This is very important not only for the attorney but also the client that brought the case to the attorney!

It was reported today on CBS news that people who consume higher than normal amounts of citrus, especially oranges and grapefruit, greatly reduce their incidence of strokes.  It is suggested that the fruit be eaten whole rather than in juices due to high sugar content in juice.

So go ahead and use lemon on that fish rather than using high fat sauces, put lime wedges in water and make oranges a daily treat.  They even make infusers that you may stuff the fruit into the center and fill the pitcher with water.  And of course you may make your own orange juice these days.  Get creative!

When you walk into a hospital, you see shiny floors and the smell of antiseptic Don’t let this fool you. Hospitals are some of the dirties places on earth. Methecillin Resistant Staff Aureus (MRSA), Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus (VRE), and C.Diff are all out of control and can be life threatening.
There are many trains of thought on why these “super bugs” exist. From feeding animals antibiotics to people feeling better and not finishing their courses of antibiotics; it’s really anybody’s guess.
It is so severe, that you will get a nasal swab to check to see if you came in with it and on on discharge to ensure that you didn’t contract it in the hospital.
YOU can help ensure that you don’t contract one of these illnesses by asking ANYONE who touches you if they’ve washed their hands. Dressing changes ALWAYS require the changer to be wearing gloves. Remember, you are in some ways responsible for your care, don’t feel as if you’re going to put someone off by asking, it’s your right to know.
While working in the OR, I once had the displeasure of helping a surgeon remove chunks of dead tissue. It all started as a small white bump on her thigh. This woman was operated on several times before the organism got to her rectus muscle (the one up the middle of the abdomen) and she succumbed. This was early on in the invasion of the “super bugs”.

Heard this morning on the news that Norovirus is in Wake and Orange Counties.The only way to prevent this unpleasant virus: nausea. vomiting and diarrhea, is to obsessively wash those hands. (see previous post) Alcohol based products DO NOT kill this virus, it’s going to take vigilance on your part, and by all means keep those hands away from your face.
I traveled over the holidays. Six airports and planes, two with toddlers with snotty noses and wet coughs, I did not get sick because I was constantly aware of where my hands were and washed until my hands were chapped.
We can avoid this illness if we wash, wash, wash those hands!