Dec5 14 by Daniel Pearson

AUGUSTA

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HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS

AUGUSTA’S MOST SALUBRIOUS NEWSPAPER • FOUNDED IN 2006

THE (NOT SO) SKINNY ON ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES Have you jumped on the e-cigarette bandwagon? Electronic cigarettes have sprung up in the past year or so in a big way. There are “vapor” stores all over the Aiken-Augusta area to cater to the growing number of people who want to vape instead of smoke. Are e-cigarettes for you? Moe importantly, are they safer? Consider the standard warnings that have been on cigarette packages for the past several years: “Quitting Smoking Now Greatly Reduces Serious Risks to Your Health;” “Cigarette Smoke Contains Carbon Monoxide;” “Smoking Causes Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Emphysema, And May Complicate Pregnancy;” and “Smoking By Pregnant Women May Result in Fetal Injury, Premature Birth, And Low Birth Weight.” By comparison, here is a warning label from an e-cigarette package: “This product is not a smoking cessation product and has not been tested as such. This product is intended for use by persons of legal age or older, and not by children, women who are pregnant or breast feeding, or persons with or at risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, or taking medicine for depression or asthma. Nicotine is addictive and very habit forming, and it is very toxic by inhalation, in contact with the skin, or if swallowed. Nicotine can increase your heart rate and blood pressure and cause dizziness, nausea, and stomach pain. Inhalation of this product may aggravate existing respiratory conditions. Ingestion of the non-vaporized concentrated ingredients in the cartridges can be poisonous.” It also warns: “This product contains nicotine, a chemical known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm.” It also says “Keep out of reach of children” and promises “important additional safety information” inside the package. Wow. Japanese researchers last week released a study which found that e-cigarettes Please see E-CIGARETTES page 15

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Can we talk? “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” Can you almost hear Andy Williams singing that line even now? Of course, Andy Williams probably never worked retail and had to deal with the public — you and me — all day long. Would you like to know what that’s like? You’re about to listen in on a reconstructed conversation between three employees who work retail in Augusta, one at Augusta Mall (AM), one at Augusta Exchange (AE), and the third on Washington Road (WR). WR: How is it at the mall right now? AM: People are bullies! I had a lady the other day demand a discount we weren’t offering. When I told her I couldn’t offer her that markdown, she threw the item at me. The hanger hit me in the eye. WR: I had a customer come in the day before a sale started and demand the price a day early because she’s from out of state. When she showed me her customer card I saw she’s from North Augusta. AM: We’ve had people try on garments in the changing rooms, and when they don’t fit, they rip them up and even urinate on them. AE: I can’t count the number of times we’ve gone into the rest

rooms — it’s almost always the ladies room — and found feces - yes, actual dookie! - smeared all over the walls! WR: That’s a regular occurrence at our store. I used to be surprised by it. Not any more. We also had a customer tell us she had come to the store a few days before to return merchandise she had bought at another one of our stores. When she was in the store that day, she said, she lost the bag, but didn’t say a word to anyone. After waiting a few days, she came back, told us she had lost the bag days before and told us she wanted a refund for everything that was in the bag that she lost! AM: Did she have a receipt? WR: Nothing. She just wanted

us to take her word that she had bought $300 of merchandise and wanted a refund for all of it. And she was very, very persistent. She caused quite a scene. Can you believe this conversation? We give you our word of honor, every word is true. (Full disclosure: the three retail employees have never met. The Examiner used its literary license to transform the true experiences of three employees we know into one conversation.) What do you think of the adage that “the customer is always right”? As bad as these tales are all year round — ask anyone you know who works retail — right Please see TALK? page 2

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TALK?… from page 1 now is peak season for retail bullies and retail terrorists If they can’t badger the clerk or the manager into giving them the discount, they ask for the number of the store’s corporate offices to file a complaint. That isn’t hair-pulling or name calling, but it’s still bullying. Will they actually call corporate? Yes, we’re told, more often than one would expect. And if they don’t call — if in fact they have no intention of calling — taking names and getting phone numbers anyway is what the Medical Examiner calls retail terrorism. Get your way. And when you can’t, instill fear into the heart of your enemy. Like convenience stores whose policy forbids resisting a robbery, most stores forbid their employees from contending with customers, even when they make outlandish, ridiculous, rude, and selfish demands. Ironically, the corporate office will back the customer against their own employee 98 times out of a hundred. Retail terrorists know that, and it’s their green light to be bullies. It feels good to torment some minimum wage clerk or waitress, doesn’t it?

And you thought terrorists wear turbans and come from faraway places. Turns out some of them live in your neighborhood and sit in the same pew as you on Sundays. In an Evans family restaurant recently, a grandmotherly type got up from her table and went over to a table with a gurgling, happy (not crying) toddler and loudly and repeatedly berated the mother until the mother and child left in tears. Lady, you may go to the beauty shop every Friday and sing in the choir every Sunday, but you’re still just a bully. If you want to eat in silence, stay home. Don’t go to a family-style restaurant and attack someone who has kids who aren’t even misbehaving. If you want adults only, go to a strip club. If you want fine dining, here’s a tip: if the lighting is fluorescent, chances are you’re going to be disappointed. Don’t bully and terrorize innocent people because you’re a moron. On the road Everyone who drives the highways and byways of the CSRA sees daily evidence Please see TALK? page 3

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of the “me first, you second (if at all)” thinking that is the same basic philosophy behind bullying. We all see cars going through yellow lights until that last car — or two or three cars — end up going through a red light. Those are actions that send out the message that we’re special. “I hate that I had to run that light, but I’m late.” Recently at Kroger, a guy who looked to be in his late 20s sped his truck right through the stop sign that brackets each side of the front entrance area, giving several pedestrians a moment of concern for their safety as he then veered sharply to the left — all so he could snag the parking space closest to the store. Have you seen those Liberty Mutual commercials on television where one good deed breeds another and then another and another? Each act of kindness is seen by someone who then pays it forward. We’d like to imagine that things like those ads and this article will motivate people to act like civilized human beings. Is that too much to ask? + Parts of this article were adapted from a September 2012 article in the Medical Examiner.

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POINTS OF INTEREST TO FORMER KIDS by Trisha Whisenhunt, Senior Citizens Council

THE RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS

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“Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.” — Benjamin Franklin

medication, and falls in the bathroom. The idea of taking away the right to own and use a firearm responsibly is un-American. It goes against everything this nation stands for and frankly, the way things are these days I can’t argue with anyone who may feel they need a gun at home for self-protection. I see nothing wrong with stricter requirements for owing a gun or higher costs to do so. Perhaps a gun safety

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t’s certain that anyone who has had a loved-one killed by gunshot has an opinion about guns. The random mass shootings we see too frequently on the news, as well as the reports of an individual turning a gun on their family members, aren’t unusual. It’s awful and heartbreaking to learn about even when you don’t know the victims. It must be unbearable for those who are involved. The second amendment of the United States Constitution gives its citizens the right to bear arms. While I don’t presently own a gun, I defend my fellow American’s right to do so. Attempting to take guns away from law-abiding people is not the answer. The criminals will still be armed. The issue is illegal weapons and weapons being accessible to mentally disturbed individuals. If you take those out of the equation, it eliminates a lot of tragedy. There will always be a percentage of accidents with guns, just as there are with motor vehicles,

course should be mandatory - after all, we have to take and pass a test before we can drive a car. There are very few of us who have a true need for an automatic weapon. Even if you are a hunter, target shooter, or are a collector, a highpowered weapon such as an AK-47 is just not something you typically need in the average home. Other than law enforcement and the military I can’t see a justification for it. But it’s not my call. We can’t limit the rights of one or a few without impacting all of us and causing a ripple effect on the security of our other rights. One of the best answers to this problem has been mentioned by greater minds than mine: a better mental healthcare system. We need to stop being so politically correct and start using the common sense we were born with. If erratic and unusual behavior is witnessed, speak up. How many shootings could have been prevented if the authorities had been called or if doctors, teachers and parents paid more attention? I would rather report something that my instincts tell me isn’t right and be wrong or embarrassed by it than live with the consequences of not having picked up the phone. That is more to the point than trying to legislate firearms out of our hands. +

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BE FRUITFUL

To prolong the life of ripe strawberries, rinse them in a mixture of 1 part vinegar to 10 parts water and then drain and store in the refrigerator. Kathy Belinski, RD, LD If you picked too many blueberries, make your own syrup for pancakes or to put over angel food or pound cake 2 cups of fresh blueberries 1/4 cup orange juice 1/4 cup water 1 Tablespoon cornstarch 2 Tablespoons sugar 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon grated orange peel

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JUNE 20, 2014

There’s nothing better than fresh fruit, and we’re entering peak season for all the delicious natural bounty our beautiful earth gives us. The Medical Examiner asked the members of the Augusta District Dietetic Association — they’re registered dietitians — for their favorite nuggets of fruit info. Here are a few of their tasteful thoughts:

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and cook and stir over medium heat for 5 minutes or until slightly thickened. To freeze blueberries for later use,, place dry berries on a cookie sheet in a single layer and freeze. Once frozen, transfer the berries to a plastic bag or freezer container. This way you can take out as many or few as desired for future use and they won’t be all frozen in one clump Jeanne B. Lee, MS, RD, LD Augusta Area Dietetic Internship University Hospital Quick fruit snack ideas: 1) Banana with peanut butter. Bananas and apples are another delicious combination.

2) Yogurt with berries and some granola or flax seed on top 3) Sliced banana with nuts 4) Dates stuffed with almonds 5) Low-fat crackers, cheese and wedges of fresh plums 6) a mix of dry plums, apricots and nuts Pamela Brisky RD LD Clinical Dietitian Georgia Regents University “Fruit is nature’s candy. The best energy bar grows on trees; pick a fruit for hours of energy instead of the supplements aisle.” Andy Yurechko, MS, RD, LD Dietitian Georgia Regents Medical Center & Children’s Hospital of Georgia • If you want to get a child to eat and apple, try cutting it up in slices and dipping it in dry jello. It is not only appealing to look at, but delicious to eat! • You don’t have to peel a kiwi to eat it. Try eating with the peel on. Your body will love the extra fiber. Donna S. Martin, EdS, RDN, LD, SNS Director School Nutrition Program Burke County Board of Education Strawberries are the only fruit which grows seeds on the outside. Bananas will turn black in the refrigerator. There are over 1 ,000 different kinds of apples. Amy Culberson, MS, RD, LD Dietitian/Private Consultant ++

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If you prefer paper, we’re all over town. If you like our digital version, it’s always available on your favorite device at the Medical Examiner blog (www.AugustaRx.com/news) or online at www.issuu.com/medicalexaminer. Click straight from an Examiner page directly to websites listed in ads and articles. You can easily view back issues, too. +

DECEMBER 5, 2014

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WHAT EVERYBODY OUGHT TO KNOW ABOUT THINGS YOU JUST DON’T DO

AUGUSTA

his is the time of year to take stock in what you have done, what you have not done, and what you should have done but didn’t do. Then you can focus on what to do next year. It is a good time to read (and heed) The Ten Commandments. They are commandments, not The Ten Suggestions, in case you did not already know that. And if you are not religious, read them anyway. Mankind would be better off and no one harmed if everyone followed them. But there are other rules that should be followed for your own well-being. Here are a few pointers for a more pleasant life:

• If your doctor prescribes a medication for your illness, take it just like it is prescribed. Don’t make up your own dose regimen. Doctors spend at least two decades learning all the hows and whys of medical treatment. They know more than you do, so get your money’s worth and do what they say. • Don’t speed in North Augusta if you have a Georgia tag. • If your wife asks you if a certain dress makes her look fat ... fake a coughing spell, rush into the bathroom and don’t come out until the coast is clear, and then go into a lengthy dissertation about how your allergies act up this time of year.

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• If you favor flu shots, get one today. Tomorrow maybe too late. • If you are 50+ years old, get a shingles shot. Period. Shingles hurt really, really bad. • If you are 50+ years old, get a pneumonia shot. Period. Pneumonia can kill you. • If you are 50 pounds overweight, lose 50 pounds. You will live 5 years longer. • If you smoke, stop. You will live 5 years longer. • Jackie Gleason said, “If you can take a shower and not get your feet wet, you are too fat.” He was right. Lose weight. • Don’t exceed the speed limit anywhere, anytime. Ignore this and you greatly increase your chance of being a traffic fatality. That is why your car has cruise control. • If something needs doing, don’t put it off. Do it now. You will have one less thing to do tomorrow. That will lower

e n i c i d ME

stress, anxiety, and pressure. We all need a dose of that. • If you go to a kid’s birthday party, act like an adult. Eat a piece of cake. Tell the kid how good it is. Kids don’t want to hear about the diet you are supposed to be on or that calories kill. • When giving gifts, give a gift the recipient wants, not something you want for yourself. In other words, don’t give a first grader 5 pounds of mixed salted nuts. • When in public, act like you have good manners, whether you actually do or not. It will make your mother proud. • Dress appropriately. Half naked is for the swimming pool or the bedroom. Not the mall or city streets. • Belts go around the waist, not just above the knees. No one wants to see your bad taste in underwear. • If a woman asks if you like any part of her attire, there

Bad Billy Laveau is a retired MD with a pointed sense of humor. Bad Billy speaks and entertains at public and private events for audiences not subject to cardiac seizure secondary to overwhelming laughter and glee BadBilly@knology. net or 706-306-9397

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will never be a proper time to say, “No.” • If a policeman says, “Stop,” stop right then and there. No questions asked. He has a reason. Stopping will not hurt you. Not stopping greatly increases your chances of getting a citation or getting shot. Neither of those is good. • If you feel moved to protest in the street, get a permit, and protest peacefully. The police will protect you while you protest, regardless of your cause. You will not go to jail. Burning police cars and looting private businesses will send you to jail ... where you should be. If you follow the points above, you will live longer, be happier, and be considered a near model human being. You may not be elected Citizen of the Year, but at least you will not be on the front cover of the Jail Report. +

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY

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Money Doctor Coming up in the December 19 issue.

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

The Short White Coat L

ast week, I took my car to Goodyear to get its oil changed, tires checked, and have it generally inspected for any mischief that could be brewing. With traveling for the holidays and my upcoming interviews over the next two months, I want to make sure my car would be safe, especially when I head up north and possibly encounter snow. I sat in the waiting room and read a book while the mechanics hoisted my car up in the air. Then the nice man in charge came and asked me to come outside with him to look at my car while he showed some things to me. My heart jumped up to the back of my throat and I felt nervous – like being called to the school principal’s office over something I did wrong. But the Goodyear man was nice. My two front tires were bald and he recommended I replace them. “Is it a safety issue if I don’t replace them?” I asked. He said it was. I reached up and

“Medicine is not only a science; it is also an art. It does not consist of compounding pills and plasters; it deals with the very processes of life, which must be understood before they may be guided.” – Paracelsus felt the smooth, almost nonexistent treads. I believed him and was not willing to risk unsafe driving for the sake of procrastinating and saving money. At the same time I was nervous because I know absolutely nothing about cars, so I was really not completely certain I wasn’t being swindled. In the end I trusted that I had been told the truth. I drove home feeling a little insecure with my decision; replacing tires is expensive and money is tight. I texted half a dozen of my friends asking if they thought I did the right thing. They all agreed that I had. It’s nerve-wracking, I thought, to place your trust in someone in a situation like that when you know nothing. And I was only replacing tires! I should get better at

understanding cars, I thought to myself. My trains of thought continued upon these rails… I wondered if this is how patients feel when they go to their doctor appointments, when doctors recommend an expensive MRI scan, an invasive surgery, major changes to lifestyle, or adding more medications to a regimen. It must be absolutely terrifying. It ‘s scary enough to have your car fiddled with… but your one and only body? Yes, organ transplants exist, but it’s not like we can just replace the parts like Goodyear does. Replacing tires is not the same as replacing knees, or hearts, or livers. What an extraordinarily frightening position patients find themselves in when they have to decide whether to trust

A med student’s notebook their doctor’s opinion or not. Even second and third opinions require a degree of trust. And by no means am I trying to equate taking a car to the mechanic with going to the doctor; the two are most certainly very different. I am simply painting figurative parallels. For the past few years, I’ve been on the opposite side of the doctor-patient interaction as part of my training in medical school. Aside from keeping my vaccines up to date or struggling with occasional raging heartburn, I haven’t really been in a patient’s shoes recently. But that just demonstrates even more how important it will be for me to remember what an enormous privilege and obligation it is

to be a future doctor in charge of any patient’s care. What a tremendous act of courage and faith it is for a patient to entrust their care to doctors. It is stressful enough for a body to suffer from illness or injury, and patients do not need the added stress of worrying about the soundness of their doctor’s decision-making. So I guess the point of this collection of thoughts, which I submit as my article for this month, is that I would do well to always keep this appreciation in mind. It is important to anticipate and consider the concerns or thoughts patients have. The best medicine involves care of the whole patient, not the ailments only. As Paracelsus noted, medicine really is more than compounding medications and making recommendation. Medicine is an appreciation of humanity. Happy holidays to everyone. May everyone keep happy, healthy, and running in tip-top shape! + by Caroline Colden 4th-year medical student at MCG

WE’RE BEGGING YOU We’re never too proud to beg. What we’re begging for is Medicine in the First Person stories. With your help, we’d like to make this a feature in every issue of the Medical Examiner. After all, everybody has a story of something health- or medicine-related, and lots of people have many stories. Send your interesting (or even semi-interesting) stories to the Medical Examiner, PO Box 397, Augusta, GA 30903 or e-mail to Dan@AugustaRx.com. Thanks!

“The cause was a mystery for a long time.” “And that’s when I fell.” nearest hospital “He doesn’t remember a thing.” “The was 30 miles away.” “I was a battlefield medic.” “He was just two when he died.”

“OUCH!”

“It was a terrible tragedy.” “She saved “I sure learned my lesson.” “I retired from medicine my life.” “It seemed like a miracle.” seven years ago.” “We had triplets.” “It was my first year “I thought, ‘Well, this is it’.” NOTHING SEEMED of medical school.” “They took me to the hospital by helicopter.” TO HELP, UNTIL. . “It took 48 stitches.”

ambulance crashed.” “Now THAT hurt!” “The “My leg was broken “I’m not supposed to be alive.”

“This was on my third day in Afghanistan.” in three places.” “I lost 23 pounds.” “Turned out it was just indigestion.” “At first I thought it was something I ate.” “The smoke detector woke me up.”

Everybody has a story. Tell us yours. Here’s our “No Rules Rules.” We’ll publish your name and city, or keep you anonymous. Your choice. Length? Up to you. Subject? It can be a monumental medical event or just a stubbed toe. It can make us laugh or make us cry. One thing we’re not interested in, however: please, no tirades against a certain doctor or hospital. Ain’t nobody got time for that.

DECEMBER 5, 2014

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

Southern Girl Eats Clean

Pad Thai with Shrimp, A Clean and Healthy Asian Dish

Pad Thai is a fabulous Asian dish that can be made in a variety of ways. I was first introduced to Pad Thai about nine years ago. A friend of mine took me to lunch at a local Thai restaurant in my hometown of Spartanburg, SC. Funny, it had never occurred to me to go to a Thai restaurant. Yes, I had quite an under-developed palate at the time. I loved good food with lots of flavor, but was still stuck in rut of eating only what I was taught to eat growing up in the South. I remember being so shocked to find that Thai food had tremendous flavor and on top of that, many Thai dishes are made with fresh veggies. I have grown to love Thai food of any kind and have incorporated it whenever I can into our clean diet. I love the spicy flavors in Thai cuisine and the variety of ways you can add spice to a Thai dish.... or not. It’s your choice. Spicy or not spicy, it’s still amazing and fresh. My husband was amazed Place carrots and sugar snap For the Sauce: that I had made this dish at peas into the pan along with • 1/2 cup of lime juice home because as he put it, another 2 Tbsp. of the sauce. • 2 Tbsp. of fish sauce “This is a restaurant quality Reduce heat to medium, • 2 Tbsp. of soy sauce meal, Honey.” To me it’s even stirring often. Cook until • 1 Tbsp. of rice vinegar better because I know what went into this dish and I know • 3-4 Tbsp. of agave (or honey) tender crisp, approx 5-8 min. Add bean sprouts and • 1 tsp. of crushed red pepper that it’s healthier and cleaner . scallions to the veggies and I hope you enjoy the recipe., flakes stir fry until heated through. and maybe you’ll amaze your Reduce heat to low and add Directions: significant other with this the shrimp back to the saute As always, begin by tying fabulous Pad Thai dish too. pan; pour in the remaining on a cute apron in a tidy kitchen. sauce. Ingredients: Then, in a small bowl, Drain the rice noodles and • 1 box of rice noodles (You whisk together the sauce add them to the saute pan may use brown rice noodles ingredients and set aside. with veggie/shrimp mixture. also) Heat the sesame oil in a Using tongs lightly toss to • 1 Tbsp. of sesame oil large saute pan over medium coat all ingredients with the • 3 cloves of garlic, crushed to high heat. sauce. • 1 pound of wild caught Add garlic and shrimp to Add cilantro to the pan and shrimp, peeled, deveined and pan along with 2 Tbsp. of toss throughout the noodles. tails removed the sauce. Stir fry the shrimp Serve immediately and • 4 organic carrots, julienned until the shrimp are done and garnish with chopped into 2-3 inch pieces • 2 cups of organic sugar snap no longer translucent, approx. peanuts. + 3-5 minutes. peas, ends trimmed and cut At the same time, bring Alisa Rhinehart writes the blog in half www.southerngirleatsclean.com water to a boil in a separate • 1 cup of organic bean She is a working wife and mother small saucepan. Once water sprouts living in Evans, is boiling, remove from heat • 4 organic scallions, chopped Georgia. Visit her and place rice noodles into fine blog for more recipes the boiling water and allow to • 1/2 cup of cilantro, chopped and information on sit for 8-10 minutes only. • 1/2 cup of roasted, unsalted clean eating. Remove shrimp from the peanuts, chopped saute pan and set aside.

Pad Thai with Shrimp

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OUR NEWSSTANDS Medical locations: • Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Ctr, 15th St., Main Entrance • Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Uptown Div., Wrightsboro Rd., main lobby • Doctors Hospital, 3651 Wheeler Rd, ER Lobby Entrance • Eisenhower Hospital, Main Lobby, Fort Gordon • George C. Wilson Drive (by medical center Waffle House and mail boxes) • GHSU Hospital, 1120 15th Street, South & West Entrances • GHSU Medical Office Building, Harper Street, Main Entrance • GHSU Medical Office Building, Harper Street, Parking Deck entrance • GHSU Hospital, Emergency Room, Harper Street, Main Entrance • GHSU Children’s Medical Center, Harper Street, Main Lobby • GHSU, Laney-Walker Boulevard transit stop, Augusta • Select Specialty Hospital, Walton Way, Main entrance lobby • Trinity Hospital, Wrightsboro Road, main lobby by elevators • Trinity Hospital Home Health, Daniel Village, main lobby • University Health Federal Credit Union/ University Hospital Human Resources, 1402 Walton Way, Main Lobby • University Hospital, 1350 Walton Way, Emergency Room lobby area • University Hospital, 1350 Walton Way, Outside Brown & Radiology/Day Surgery • University Hospital - Columbia County, 465 N. Belair Road, Main Lobby • University Hospital Prompt Care, 3121 Peach Orchard Road, Augusta

Around town: • Barney’s Pharmacy, 2604 Peach Orchard Rd. • Birth Control Source, 1944 Walton Way • GRU Summerville Student Bookstore • Blue Sky Kitchen, 990 Broad Street • Columbia County Library, main branch lobby, Ronald Reagan Drive, Evans • Enterprise Mill (North Tower), 1450 Greene Street, Augusta • Daniel Village Barber Shop, Wrightsboro Road at Ohio Ave. • Hartley’s Uniforms, 1010 Druid Park Ave, Augusta • International Uniforms, 1216 Broad Street, Augusta • Marshall Family Y, Belair Rd, Evans • Mellow Mushroom, 12th and Broad Streets, Augusta • Parks Pharmacy, Georgia Avenue, North Augusta • Southside Family Y, Tobacco Road, Augusta • Surrey Center, Surrey Center Pharmacy, Highland Avenue, Augusta • Top-Notch Car Wash, 512 N. Belair Road, Evans • Wild Wing Cafe, 3035 Washington Road, Augusta

Very little if anything about healthcare is inexpensive, and that includes medicine. Tiny pills can command large prices. Over-the-counter medications may be less expensive, but are they also less effective? Find the answers to lots of your drug store questions in this column written by Augusta pharmacists Chris and Lee Davidson exclusively for the Medical Examiner.

WHY CAN’T I GET THE PRESCRIPTION I NEED?

ou have a prescription from your doctor for a medication you need. So go get it filled and start working toward better health, right? It’s not always as easy as it sounds. There are a number of potential roadblocks to getting that prescription filled at your local pharmacy. Let’s start by seeing who may be causing the roadblock. It could be your insurance company, the government or the supply chain for the medication. First, let’s take a look at your insurance company. For a number of reasons, your prescription may not be covered on your plan. The insurance company’s opinion might be that there are other medicines that should be tried first. They may require the patient to try these other treatments before approving the physician’s first choice. This is referred to as a prior approval process and may take several hours to several days to complete. The second situation can be that a certain class of medications is not be approved for any reason on your insurance plan. For example, Medicare Part D plans will not pay for vitamins, over-thecounter products, and cough and cold products. Georgia’s Medicaid program also does not pay for cough and cold medicines for anyone over age twenty-one. Many commercial insurance plans do not pay for most over-the-counter medicines. So these are the main reasons your insurance may cause a roadblock to filling your prescription. Unfortunately, the reason for delay in getting your medicine often boils down to the almighty dollar. The preferred medicines for your insurance plan are usually the cheaper options, not necessarily the best medicines for any given condition. Another source of delay is supply chain issues. This could be a manufacturer that cannot supply a given medicine at a particular time due to raw material shortages or production delays. A manufacturer can also be blocked by the FDA from releasing medicines due to problems with their quality control

SPOILER ALERT!

YOU ARE GOING TO GET BETTER (if we have anything to say about it)

Questions about this article or suggestions for future columns can be sent to us at cjdlpdrph@bellsouth.net Written for the Medical Examiner by Augusta pharmacists Chris and Lee Davidson (cjdlpdrph@bellsouth.net )

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programs. Another supply issue can be from a wholesaler or pharmacy simply being out of stock of a given medicine. In the case of a pharmacy supply issue, the situation can be fixed in many cases by the next day. Sometimes wholesaler issues can be more prolonged, with it taking a week or more to get an item back in stock. Manufacturer issues can take weeks to months to resolve. One last roadblock is time. This is the patient running into a situation where the prescription is not due to be refilled yet. Your insurance company may require that a certain percentage of the previous prescription be used up before it will pay for another prescription for the same medication. This applies to any medicine, even maintenance medicines like those used for blood pressure and diabetes. Another variation is when it is too early to refill controlled substance prescription. This is usually a government issue, where the DEA or state law enforcement has instructed pharmacies to refill a controlled substance no more than a certain number of days early. The physician may have also noted on the prescription when it can be filled. In the event of conflicting dates, the pharmacy is required to use the most restrictive date. For instance, say that the state allows a controlled substance to be filled two days early but the doctor writes that it can be filled only on the very day it is due for refill. The pharmacy must go with the greater restriction and wait until there are zero days left on the previous prescription before filling the new prescription. Remember that your pharmacy has no control over government- or insurance company-imposed restrictions. The pharmacy will work with you and your doctor to resolve as many issues as they can. Please be patient and as understanding you can. +

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DECEMBER 5, 2014

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

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DECEMBER 5, 2014

Ask a Dietitian WINNING THE ANNUAL HOLIDAY BATTLE OF THE BULGE

he holidays are a festive time filled with family gatherings, cocktail parties, office pot lucks and celebrations. With all the events this time of year, food tends to be a key part of most festivities. All the good food exposure has many of us concerned about being able to button our pants come New Years Day. To win the battle of the holiday bulge takes some preparation, a touch of offense, and a little defense.

beneficial if a long walk cannot be scheduled. A pedometer can be a good motivator to increase walking. An initial goal can be to aim for 10,000 steps per day. Drink plenty of water everyday. Sometimes thirst can feel like hunger. Keeping a water bottle around can make it easy to remember to drink enough.

control over all the food choices at the holidays. Not to mention, some of the choices taste so good! Here are some tips to enjoy without going overboard. Watch out for beverages. Holiday specials and alcoholic beverages can have extra

calories that will not fill you up. Remember that alcohol can also lower inhibitions and lead to overeating. Limit alcoholic beverages to one for women or two per men a day. After that, stick to sparkling water, tea, coffee, or other zero calorie beverages for the rest of the party. Before committing to foods at an event, scope out the spread. Be choosy! Pass on everyday high calorie options like chips. If you are going to splurge, choose something you can only get at the holidays. At a buffet, once you have a plate move away from the food table. By keeping the food

- Nicole M. Moore, MS, RD, CNSC, LD

Going on the Offensive The overwhelming and constant exposure to food may be inevitable. It shows up at work, school, home and almost every social function. Providing healthy choices at these events

One family of providers. to eat a regular meal before an event. Skipping meals before a function can lead to overeating. Set realistic goals for the season. At the risk of stating the obvious, the holidays would not be a wise time to try to lose weight. You may consider it a success simply to maintain your current weight. Regular exercise should be a part of the routine, too. Not sure how to fit it in? Several short walks during the day are

out of sight it can help limit the desire for more. Focus on socializing and the party. When eating, slow down. It is easier to recognize satiety when you eat slowly. It helps to put down the fork between bites and chew throughly. Ultimately remember the season is for celebrating, socializing, spending time with family and friends, and honoring traditions. Don’t let eating stress you out, have a plan and you too can survive the holidays. thus winning the battle! +

INSOMNIA

Preparation During the holidays is not the time to abandon all our usual good habits. Maintain the healthy routine you’ve already established. Regular meals during the day can help to control appetite and in turn control cravings. For this same reason, it is a good idea

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

can ensure that you have a healthful option. Delicioius healthy holiday recipes are available in cookbooks and online. A good stash of healthy snacks can help curb your appetite and make saying no to another sweet treat a little easier. Don’t let yourself get too hungry between meals. That is when it is hard to control food choices.

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DECEMBER 5, 2014

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

PET VET

IS IT OK TO FEED LEFTOVERS TO MY PET?

he easiest way to answer this question is to remember a simple rule of thumb: for every bite of human food you give your pet, you should take one bite of pet food. If you abide by that rule, there really should be no problems. It’s when people forget that rule that trouble arises. And when we say “people forget that rule,” we don’t mean that people are eating too much pet food. It’s the other way around.

It’s a good topic to discuss now because it isn’t just the high holidays of overeating for people; pets get into the act, too. When tables are sagging under the weight of platters of food too numerous to count, you can bet the farm that Fido will be sitting right there keeping a watchful eye on the proceedings. He scores in several ways: every time something accidentally hits the floor; every time kindly old Aunt Martha decides (usually on the sly) that Fido should get a morsel from her plate; every time a child tries to clean unwanted food from his dinner plate (always on the sly); and every time Mom or Dad decide to scrape some leftovers into a dog bowl before

HOPE ROLLED SANDWICHES • SOUPS • SALADS

CATERING IS OUR MIDDLE NAME.

Through Adversity by Helen Blocker-Adams

(Like when we sign something, it’s always “Roly C. Poly”)

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THANKS FOR READING!

HOPE IN A HOPELESS WORLD

love this time of the year. I always have. Especially Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday. But this year is much different for me than last year or even previous years. I am different. The world’s chaos and noise have been diminished. We hear Christmas songs with words that include “peace and joy.” I wonder how many truly experience peace or joy. I’ve come to appreciate the limitations of materialism. We want to do and be everything for everybody, but one day we discover that it can’t be done. Charity organizations are clamoring for our money, time and life. We don’t want to say

FOUNDINGS

Former Trinity Hospital CEO Bill Atkinson’s book on the behind-the-scenes tales of twelve Augusta healthcare institutions.

a platter is rinsed and put in the dishwasher. That’s quite a haul, and although we’ve generically referred to only dogs so far, this is a cat issue, too. Is anything wrong with it? As the picture has been painted here, yes. Moderation is the key, and the foregoing scneario does not suggest moderation. Rover has had many more bites of human food than you would be willing to go bite-for-bite on an equal amount of dog or cat food. Foods high in fat — not that we eat those, right? — can contribute to the same problems they do in people: obesity, heart trouble, lack of exercise, and more. High fat people foods can lead to an animal developing pancreatitis if table scraps are a regular part of their diet. High sodium foods aren’t great for people, and the same is true for dogs and cats; they can cause or hasten kidney failure. Health considerations aside, people aren’t the only creatures who are creatures of habit. So when you begin to feed table scraps to your cat or dog, you can both get into the habit. It’s even worse when you’re no to people or those we love. We simply can’t do it all, but we try. I know I did. With all good intentions and the right spirit too. The peace and joy most of us crave comes from God. Sometimes it takes traumatic, hurtful, life-changing events to help us see that reality. Recently I had a little incident that, in the past, would have made me agitated, angry, and overwhelmed with stress. I was scheduled to be a storyteller at an elementary school at 9 a.m. I went outside and started my car to heat it up. When I came back out later to leave, I realized the truck was locked. The door was partially opened, so I tried to pull the handle and when I did I broke two fingernails. As the blood dripped on the running board of my truck, I was thinking “Oh my goodness, I do not have a spare key. But I know someone who does.” I went back in the house, made the phone call and waited. And waited. And waited some more. Three hours and fifteen minutes later — the truck running the whole time — an extra set of keys was brought to me, and I opened the door. There was still gas in the tank,

We tried — and failed — to get this dog to fit into the picture frame. feeding (overtly or on the sly) during a meal. Pets can get rather insistent when the sights and smells get a little too overwhelming. Doggie manners can go right out the window. It’s far better to feed your dog or cat a tiny treat of people food at their regular bowl in its regular spot. That way you aren’t training them to invade the dinner table at meal times. There are foods that you don’t want to give your dog or cat even one bite of, ever.

These include grapes, chocolate, raisins, coffee (beans, grounds, chocolate-covered espresso beans), tea (because of its caffeine content), onions, several kinds of leaves and nuts, and a number of other food items. Check with your vet or a reputable website (like the CDC or FDA) for a omplete list. In summary, if the food is healthful and you practice (even if just in theory) the rule of thumb we described earlier, you have the Pet Vet’s blessing. +

the vehicle was very warm, my finger was throbbing, and my entire morning had been completely derailed. The reason it took so long for my friend to bring the key? He forgot. Yes, he went to his office with plans to grab the key and bring it to me right away. Instead he got caught up in some things going on at the office and completely forgot about me until I texted and called him asking if had he forgotten about me. Throughout this whole ordeal, I stayed calm and was really thankful that I didn’t lock myself out of the house: it was 27 degrees that morning! This had a happy ending, but if I didn’t have the right attitude or have God’s peace and joy in my spirit, it could have turned out much different. The God of the Bible is a God of peace. Hebrews 13:20-21 tells us that when we become agitated or anxious, we can remember that God’s Spirit produces power, love, and selfcontrol. (2 Tim. 1:7) The holiday season often brings sadness along with happiness. People’s lives are lost, tragedies happen, relationships crumble and

despair overcomes our lives. Unfortunately, these situations are often unavoidable. But I want to encourage you that there is Hope in a world filled with hopelessness. It’s not easy, but it’s possible to build a relationship with God, allowing Him to be present in your life minute by minute. When you do that, the noise and chaos of the world will begin to fade away, your attitude will become different, your anxiety about “stuff” will go away, even when some of the ragged issues of life are still there. It’s a beautiful feeling. The New Year will be here before we know it. Embrace the new year with a feeling of the reality of Hope you have never experienced before. + Helen Blocker-Adams is an educator, inspirational speaker, author and columnist, serial entrepreneur, events planner and mentor committed to giving people hope and transforming Blocker-Adams lives. You can reach her at hba@hbagroup-intl.com

NOW AVAILABLE AT AMAZON.COM Proceeds from the sale of this book benefit dementia research

LOOKING FOR A DOCTOR? SEE PAGE 15

DECEMBER 5, 2014

11 +

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

From the Bookshelf The blog spot — Posted by endocrinologist Rajasree Pai. M.D. at medpagetoday.com on Nov. 29, 2014

WHY DO HOSPITALS FEED THEIR STAFF SO POORLY? I recently visited a friend who works at Google and was pleasantly surprised by the Bay-area tech giant’s healthpromotion efforts. Its crowded cafeteria offered mostly healthy food, with low-fat, low-carb, and high-fiber delicacies. Any dietitian would have appreciated the plethora of organic dairy products, the salad servers filled with balsamic vinegar instead of the usual ranch dressing, and the bounty of nuts in the salad bar — all a sign of care and attention to healthy behaviors. Concern about physical activity was evident, too. Employees were given bikes to use around the office grounds and for transportation to and from work. There were nap boards, gymnasiums, and organic vegetable farms on campus, providing relaxation, recreation, and exercise within the workplace. Not surprisingly, employees in casual dress appeared relaxed, and the vast majority were lean and healthy. That such a health-promotion effort is made by a corporation that stands far outside the field of medicine is truly laudable. On the contrary, in hospital cafeterias, overweight and obese staff stand in line for entrees like mac-n-cheese and chicken wings. White coats run away from the salad bar, fearful of outbreaks of enteroviral infections from unhygienic handling of raw food. They also skip meals daily or even more frequently, sustaining themselves on chips and sodas from vending machines. As health care providers and promoters, it is a shame that we are being served mostly junk food and that we are feeding this same unhealthy food to our patients — even during illnesses. Those who have witnessed a diabetic patient being delivered a heaping stack of pancakes and sugary syrup as part of a “diabetic diet” understand the frustration. And when was the last time you were employed by a hospital or research institution that had a gym? It is true that the health care sector is not as profitable as many of today’s big technology companies, but we can no longer deny the fact that hospitals and clinics offer choices that are no better than fast food. The priorities need to shift. Hospitals should not just channel their finances toward expanding their workforce and constructing new buildings. They must invest in maintaining a healthy workforce. The paradox is shocking: Other sectors can focus on health promotion, but the health care sector itself lags behind. Health promotion at work should be a necessity, and it should begin within the health care field. A healthy cafeteria and an employee gym should be as mandatory as restrooms. Employers should be convinced of the long-term health benefits and lower costs of health promotion compared with all of the future hospital bills. +

“The paradox is shocking.”

Speaking of blogs, the Medical Examiner’s blog is found at www.AugustaRx.com/news It features new content daily.

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Imagine this: you’re a young and healthy person just beginning a new career and in the first blush of a new romance. Life stretches out ahead, looking long and happy. But almost before you can blink, you’re in a hospital mental ward wearing the equivalent of a straitjacket. Not that you know this. You’re completely unaware. Your mind has taken a leave of absence. At your worst you’re nearly catatonic, and almost surely heading for coma and death. Of course, things like this don’t usually happen in an instant, like the brain’s “on” switch suddenly being flipped off. There were puzzling introductory symptoms, some shrugged off as insignificant, others only recognized in hindsight, or by trained medical and mental health experts. And neither does a cure — when one happens to materialize — happen overnight. The cure can begin with one misdiagnosis after another, followed by a lot of head-scratching, before someone gets on the right track. All of that — the unexpected

descent into madness and back again — is the subject of this unique first-hand account. And it is unique. After all, how many times do you read an autobiography in which the author doesn’t know the subject? There is an author video at Amazon.com in which Cahalan describes the out of body experience of seeing pictures or watching videos of herself during her month of madness in the hospital. It was like looking at a total stranger who looked exactly like her — except for the thousand-mile stare and the near-vegetativestate part, that is. Her detailed reconstruction of the missing chapters of her

life were built from extensive interviews with her doctors, boyfriend, co-workers and others, and scouring over her medical records. And those alone were voluminous. Cahalan describes (without exaggeration, apparently) a million dollars worth of diagnostic tests that failed to come up with the conclusive results that one very simple and completely free test did. That came at the hands of a perceptive doctor and led at long last to a correct diagnosis: a type of autoimmune disorder that attacked her brain. Reading this account leaves you with a profound sense of the delicate balance between health and normalcy and its complete opposite. With this year’s prescribed day of official thanks just past, it also should make every reader profoundly grateful for the measure of health we each have, and give us a little more compassion and understanding for those with mental illnesses — even temporary ones. + Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, by Susannah Cahalan, 288 pages, published in August 2013 by Simon & Schuster

Research News got stockings? Remember the Examiners comic strip (see page 12) a few years ago where the punch line was that feet are the perfect stocking stuffers? Good times. But it turns out that there are alternatives, if you’re into stuffing stockings with nonfoot items, that is. Our huge research dept. ran across a U. of Michigan study released a holiday season or two back. Its findings were that stuffing stockings (the holiday kind, not the insideyour-shoes-all-day kind) with fruit can dramatically improve bone health. The rationale goes like this: high-sugar, high-fat foods weaken bones and contribute to conditions like osteoporosis. “Let me stop you right there,” you say. “We hang stockings for the children. With all due respect, osteoporosis happens to old people.” With all due respect right back at you, who are actively

building bones? Children. So — as I was saying — sugar and fat weaken bones, say the Michiganders. Diets rich in fat and sugars block calcium absorption in at least two major ways, thereby weakening bones. Such diets also contribute to weight gain, meaning that a heavy body is hung upon a weakened frame. Not good. The antidote to all of this is twofold: diet and exercise. Diets that are long on fruit, vegetables and whole grains with limited saturated fats, salt and sugar — no matter what age we are — helps by preventing weight gain. And for young ones, a diet like that promotes construction of strong and healthy bones. Stocking stuffers that contribute to this — and which can kickstart a yearround (if not life-long) habit — include oranges, apples and tangerines. Candy canes, it seems, can eventually lead to wood canes.

I ♥ fiber Well, if we’re being accurate it would be ♥ ♥ fiber. In other words, if you could rip your chest open right now and take a look at your heart, it might have a bumper sticker on it reading “I ♥ fiber.” That (in so many words) was the conclusion of another semivintage study (Dec. 2013) we ran across this week in our so-farunused-research file. This study, conducted by the University of Leeds in Great Britain, found that even small increases in dietary fiber (7 more grams per day) can lead to significantly lower risk of cardiovascular and coronary heart disease. You have just read an extremely significant sentence. To rephrase it, the reason for 945,836 annual U.S. deaths (78,819 per month; 18,189 per week; 2,591 per day; etc.) can be minimized by a small daily increase in delicious fruits and vegetables, beans and lentils, whole grain cereal, whole wheat bread, or pasta. Sound good? +

+ 12

DECEMBER 5, 2014

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

THE EXAMiNERS +

by Dan Pearson

There was a break-in Oh no! And they at the PBS television just had their fall station in Wrens. membership drive.

Says they got over a Probably even hundred dollars cash mine. I’ll just and half a million make another one more in pledges. next drive.

They were completely cleaned out.

This is terrible news.

EXAMINER CROSSWORD

PUZZLE

ACROSS 1. Hollow beginning, locally 5. Uterus 9. Mountains of note 13. Jennifer from the block 15. Online auctioneer 16. City in NW France 17. Diminish 18. Augusta venue (with “the”) 19. Taro root 20. Come together, as a plan 21. The “A” of DDEAMC 23. Part of the verb to be 25. Rotation (in flight) 26. Sleighs 27. Type of spray 29. Systematic massacre 32. Pool variety? 33. Thorax 34. Churchill sign 36. Russian country house 40. Laden intro 41. ____ on the side of... 42. Masculine pronoun 43. Whistling, moaning sound (by the wind) 46. Doctrine, generally 47. Triple; one-third of a circle 49. A long, long time (British) 51. B3 or nicotinic acid 52. Prescribed doctrine 54. Subject of study suffix 56. Artist Peter 57. Course lead-in, often 58. _____ Girl (film) 59. Lrg. area employer 62. Roman poet 64. Eye part 66. Savannah, for one 68. Lee Iacocca’s real first name 69. Mr. Ballesteros 70. Surgically created opening 71. Barbara, a.k.a. Jeannie 72. Garden tools

5 14

17 20

41 44

All Mystery Word finders will be eligible to win by random drawing. We’ll announce the winner in our next issue!

VISIT WWW.AUGUSTARX.COM

Click on “READER CONTESTS”

QUOTATION PUZZLE

25 28

D A D H W T U B T E U T T O A N O I C ’ W Y S Y N T R A I ’ O T

57 64

56 62

Simply unscramble the letters, then begin exploring our ads. When you find the correctly spelled word hidden in one of our ads — enter at AugustaRx.com

26 29

The Mystery Word for this issue: MINSIANO

59 66

R K T L Y T H R S H E A A E Y I O S O

— Lou Holtz

70 73

73. Cut DOWN 1. One of 18 at Forest Hills 2. Aprés-bath garment 3. Multicolored gemstone 4. ____ lost! 5. Popular medical site 6. Follows orders 7. Grand ___ 8. Where you find the writer’s name in a magazine/newspaper 9. Bandage type 10. Evans venue 11. Of the foot 12. Classic Nashville’s Hank 14. Fanatic 22. Deep sleep letters 24. National intro for 61-D 26. DOE site 28. Red or Black ______ 29. Banned toxic chemicals 30. Neil Young Kent State song 31. The knee (anat)

32. Bug 34. Vessel 35. Trauma pt. destinations 37. Stylish 38. Famous 2009 flu 39. Corner of renown 44. Muzzle 45. Blood prefix 47. Ty Cobb’s team for 22 years 48. Floyd of note around here 50. Clumsy; crude; uncultured 51. Invasive beginning? 52. DDE middle name 53. Rust 54. Pointed or Gothic arch 55. Fails to retain 56. Birthmark 59. ______ Lady 60. Prefix meaning “half” 61. Word after 24-D 63. Juan’s first name? 65. Speedwagon initials 67. It is Solution p. 14

DIRECTIONS: Recreate a timeless nugget of wisdom by using the letters in each vertical column to fill the boxes above them. Once any letter is used, cross it out in the lower half of the puzzle. Letters may be used only once. Black squares indicate spaces between words, and words may extend onto a second line. Solution on page 14.

7 9 6 1 9 2 4 5 3 7 6 3 7 7 8 1 2 4 4 2 3 9 5 7 6 4 7 5 4

X A M I N E R

U D O K U

DIRECTIONS: Every line, vertical and horizontal, and all nine 9-square boxes must each contain the numbers 1 though 9. Solution on page 14.

Use the letters provided at bottom to create words to solve the puzzle above. All the listed letters following #1 are the first letters of the various words; the letters following #2 are the second letters of each word, and so on. Try solving words with letter clues or numbers with minimal choices listed. A sample is shown. Solution on page 14.

F 1 2

Y 1 2 3

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4 5 A ’ 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5

G 1 2 3 — Lou Holtz

1.SHYYYDDABWIT 2.EEFAOOOOINHI 3.DNUUVSAYDGE 4.METATET 5.NESHY 6.RIT 7.ND 8.AG 9.Y

SAMPLE:

1. ILB 2. SLO 3. VI 4. NE 5. D =

L 1

O 2

V 3

E 4

I 1

S 2

B 1

L 2

I 3

N 4

D 5

WORDS NUMBER

THE MYSTERY WORD

DECEMBER 5, 2014

13 +

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

THE BEST MEDICINE ha... ha...

man wakes up in the hospital bandaged from head to foot. The doctor comes in and says, “I see you’ve regained consciousness. You probably don’t remember, but you were in a terrible car crash. You’re going to be okay, you’ll walk again and everything; however, your penis was completely severed in the accident and couldn’t be found.” The man groans, but the doctor goes on. “It’s not all bad news. You have a $9,000 insurance check coming and we now have the technology to build a new penis. They work great, but they don’t come cheap. They cost about $1,000 an inch.” The man immediately perks up. “So,” the doctor says, “You need to decide how many inches you want. I understand you have been married for more than twenty-five years. This is something you should discuss with your wife. If you had a five-incher before and get nine inches now, she might be a bit put out. But if you had nine inches before and you decide to only invest in five now, she might be disappointed. It’s important that she plays a role in helping you make a decision.” The man agrees to talk it over with his wife. The doctor comes back the next day. “So, have you spoken with your wife?” “Yes I have,” says the man.

“Has she helped you make a decision?” “Yes,” says the man. “We’re getting granite counter tops.” The career criminal had never been a religious man, but after receiving the death sentence he began to change. On the day of his execution, the priest who served as the prison chaplain accompanied him as he was strapped into the electric chair, then uttered a final prayer for the condemned man. With the execution just moments away the priest asked, “Is there anything else I can do for you, my son?” “Yeah,” said the prisoner, “When they throw the switch, hold my hand.” “Mr. Jones,” said the psychiatrist, “I am proud to say that after months of therapy, I pronounce you completely cured. You are no longer a kleptomaniac.” “That is great, doc,” said the patient. “Are you sure?” “I am so confident that I have one final exercise for you: when you leave here go to BestBuy. Walk up and down every aisle and you’ll see for yourself. You will feel no desire to shoplift whatsoever. You’re cured.” “Oh doctor, how can I ever thank you?” “Well,” said the doctor after a moment of thought, “if you do have a relapse, I could use a new laptop.” After completing his exam the doctor told his patient, “You have a slight heart condition, but I wouldn’t worry about it.” “You know what, doc? If you had a slight heart condition I wouldn’t worry about it either.” +

Why subscribe to the Medical Examiner? Because no one should have to make a trip to the doctor or the hospital just to read Augusta’s Most Salubrious Newspaper.

The Patient’s Perspective by Marcia Ribble

have found myself in a quandary. My skin is very dry and the heavy, oilbased preparations have an extremely deleterious effect. I put on the lotions or oils or thick greasy concoctions, and blisters form almost immediately, break open and begin to ooze. This results in broken skin, necessitating putting on a calamine-laden cast which eventually heals the oozing, but makes my skin even drier. The result is a recurring cycle of dry and then broken-down, oozing blistered skin. Even my hands blister and peel, just from putting the prescribed gunk on my skin, which obviously doesn’t like anything that is greasy or oily. But my skin still needs to be moisturized to help it become less dry and flaky. Right now it seems like I’m going to suffer if I try to moisturize my skin and going to suffer if I don’t. Other people are able to slather on lotion without ill effects, but not me. My skin crawls just watching them do it. I envy their lush, moist skin and wish for a magic healing potion that soothes my skin and helps it to recall its youth without wreaking havoc in its path. It’s difficult to explain this issue to doctors, who tend to rely on their long-held beliefs that if I just apply something akin to petroleum jelly all will be well, and moist healthy skin would result. They tend to pretty much ignore what I keep telling them and to insist that if I would follow their directions instead of complaining, it would solve

Talk is cheap. Not talking can be deadly.

the problem. So I get categorized as a non-compliant patient, simply because they don’t really listen to me. They aren’t there to watch when the skin develops large blisters and begins to ooze again after I liberally cover it with whatever they believe will work. I have tried literally dozens of different preparations and they all have the same effect, so it’s not just the ingredients in one preparation vs the ingredients in another; it’s moisturizers in general on skin that reacts violently to those ingredients. Right now my legs are healing and itching enough to drive me crazy. If I were a drinking woman, I’d ignore my diabetes and opt for a sloe gin fizz to anesthetize the itching. Fortunately for me, the sloe gin fizz is only a passing whim and I’m hoping to find someone who understands my dilemma. + Marcia Ribble received her PhD in English at Michigan State and retired from the University of Cincinnati. She taught writing at the college level, most recently at Virginia College in Augusta, and loves giving voice to people who have been silenced. She can be reached with comments, suggestions, etc., at marciaribble@hotmail.com.

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DECEMBER 5, 2014

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

THE MYSTERY SOLVED The Mystery Word in our last issue was: INPATIENT

EXAMINER CLASSIFIEDS Roman Realty 706-564-5885

HOMES, APARTMENTS, ROOMMATES, LAND, ETC.

MISCELLANEOUS

WEST AUGUSTA Luxury 3 bdrm, 2 bath townhouse. Garage, quiet neighborhood off Pleasant Home Road. $795/mo. Call 706228-4655.

6.7.8

...cleverly hidden (on the ring) in the p. 2 ad for WINDSOR FINE JEWELERS Congratulations to MORGAN KRIDNER, who scores a coveted Scrubs of Evans gift card, 2 movie passes courtesy of Health Center Credit Union, and a $20 Wild Wing Cafe gift certificate. Want to find your name here next issue? The new Mystery Word is on page 12. Start looking!

The Celebrated MYSTERY WORD CONTEST ...wherein we hide (with fiendish cleverness) a simple word. All you have to do is unscramble the word (found on page 12), then be the first to find it concealed within one of our ads. Click in to the contest link at www.AugustaRx.com and enter. If we pick you in our random drawing of correct entries you’ll score our goodie package! SEVEN SIMPLE RULES: 1. Unscramble and find the designated word hidden within one of the ads in this issue. 2. Visit the Reader Contests page at www.AugustaRx.com. 3. Tell us what you found and where you found it. 4. If you’re right and you’re the one we pick at random, you win. (Winners within the past six months are ineligible.) 5. Prizes awarded to winners may vary from issue to issue. 6. A photo ID may be required to claim some prizes. 7. Other entrants may win a lesser prize at the sole discretion of the publisher.

The new scrambled Mystery Word is found on page 12

ROOMMATE WANTED! 3 bdrm, 2.5 bath house with pool, 2 minutes from colleges. Perfect for medical or grad students. $425+share utils. 706.993.6082 WEST AUGUSTA House for rent. 3 bdrm, 2 bath, 1500 sqft, 1-car garage, 3024 Sterling Road, located off Stevens Creek at Riverwatch Pkwy. $850/mo. Call 678467-7187. FOR SALE: GORGEOUS, immaculate, never occupied townhome located mins from Medical District. 2 bed, 2 bath, master en suite, walk-in closets, office. 1450 sq ft. hardwood floors throughout, fabulous upgrades, custom kitchen and baths. Floor to ceiling windows, fenced yard. Partially furnished! 120k OBO. 803-507-6621.

CEMETERY PLOTS Side-by-side cemetery plots for sale located at the Heart Section of Hillcrest Cemetery. $3600 for BOTH. (706) 798-8495

SERVICES HOUSE CLEANING Your house, apartment, rental move-outs. Thorough, dependable. Weekly, or whatever schedule you prefer. References. 706.267.9947 HEALTH CARE - CNA offering in-home care: companion/assist with daily activities, light housekeeping, meal prep, assist with ambulation, medication reminders, grocery shopping, Dr. appts, errands, etc. Since each person’s needs are different, I will consult with you one-on-one to discuss your needs. CALL 706.833.9787 BIBLE BY PHONE - Free daily Bible readings; for Spiritual Encouragement and Growth. Call 706-855-WORD (9673)

Augustagahomesearch.com Foreclosures • Rentals • MLS

NOTICE! ATTENTION! If any current or past employer has failed to pay you min. wage or time and a half overtime pay, you may be entitled to an order from US Federal Court awarding you twice the amount of your unpaid wages plus atty. fees. For info, call Arthur H. Shealy, Attorney at Law, 803-278-5149, 1010 Plantation Rd, North Augusta SC 29841. You may be entitled to a similar award for unpaid wages if your employer required you to perform duties during your lunch hour, before clocking in, or after clocking out. BUSINESS ASSISTANCE Ridiculously affordable and highly visible advertising available through the pages of Augusta’s Most Salubrious Newspaper, aka the Augusta Medical Examiner. Have you heard of it or seen a copy? Rates can be reviewed at AugustaRx.com. Questions? Send an e from the website, or call the publisher directly: Dan Pearson at 706.860.5455. or Email to Dan@AugustaRx.com

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(OURS IS COFFEE)

Augusta Medical Examiner Classifieds

F. E. GILLIARD, MD FAMILY MEDICINE Acute & Chronic Illnesses Occupational Medicine PROMPT APPOINTMENTS 706-823-5250

THE PUZZLE SOLVED F

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QUOTATION QUOTATION PUZZLE SOLUTION: Page 12: “It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.” — Lou Holts

AD COPY (one word per line; phone numbers MUST include the area code): .50

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DECEMBER 5, 2014

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

E-CIGARETTES… from page 1 contain 10 times the level of cancercausing agents as regular tobacco. And to think, e-cigarettes were heralded as an invention less harmful than smoking. The researchers, commissioned by Japan’s Health Ministry found carcinogens such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde in vapor produced by several types of e-cigarette liquid. Formaldehyde, a substance found in building materials and embalming fluids, was present at much higher levels than carcinogens found in the smoke from regular cigarettes, the official said. “In one brand of e-cigarette the team found more than 10 times the level of carcinogens contained in one regular cigarette,” said researcher Naoki Kunugita, adding that the amount of

formaldehyde detected varied through the course of analysis. “Especially when the... wire (which vaporizes the liquid) gets overheated, higher amounts of those harmful substances seemed to be produced.” If you have turned to e-cigarettes as a safer alternative to smoking, perhaps it’s time to reconsider. Not only are e-cigarettes demonstrably unsafe; they deliver the same highly addictive substance — nicotine — as their non-e relatives. +

Q A

Ask the Doctor Get an opinion here. Or a second opinion. Or a third.

The “stomach flu” seems to be going around. What causes that?

The stomach flu is not a single disease. It’s a nickname for viral gastroenteritis, which is causes by various nasty viruses, such as noroviruses, rotaviruses, and adenoviruses. It is usually spread by lack of hand sanitation. It is often confused with food poisoning. The symptoms are dreadfully awful: diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps. These may be accompanied by chills, sweats, faint feelings, or even fainting. Symptoms vary and usually last for 1 to 3 days, but sometimes longer. The old advice was a liquid diet for a few days, and then adds bland foods, such as the BRAT diet of bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. It is important to maintain hydration. Drink water and electrolyte solutions. Diet should be slowly progressed as tolerated. Physicians prescribe antiemetics to control vomiting (Tigan, Phenergan, etc.) and antidiarrheal medications to control diarrhea (Lomotil (RX) or Imodium (OTC)) If one person in the home has stomach flu, boil or replace all tooth brushes. + — by F. E. Gilliard, MD Family Medicine 639 13th St Augusta, GA 30901 706-823-5250

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY DERMATOLOGY

ALLERGY

Tesneem K. Chaudhary, MD Allergy & Asthma Center 3685 Wheeler Road, Suite 101 Augusta 30909 706-868-8555

CHIROPRACTIC

DEVELOPMENTAL PEDIATRICS

Evans Chiropractic Health Center Dr. William M. Rice 108 SRP Drive, Suite A Evans 30809 706-860-4001 Poppell Chiropractic Clinic 1106-A Furys Lane Martinez 30907 706-210-2875 Most insurance plans accepted

COUNSELING Resolution Counseling Professionals 3633 Wheeler Rd, Suite 365 Augusta 30909 706-432-6866 www.visitrcp.com

DENTISTRY Dr. Judson S. Hickey Periodontist 2315-B Central Ave Augusta 30904 706-739-0071

Georgia Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center 2283 Wrightsboro Rd. (at Johns Road) Augusta 30904 706-733-3373 www.GaDerm.com

Karen L. Carter, MD 1303 D’Antignac St, Suite 2100 Augusta 30901 706-396-0600 www.augustadevelopmentalspecialists.com

DRUG REHAB Steppingstones to Recovery 2610 Commons Blvd. Augusta 30909 706-733-1935

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS Group & Benefits Consultants Inc. 3515 Wheeler Rd, Bldg. C Augusta 30909 706-733-3459 www.groupandbenefits.com

FAMILY MEDICINE F. E. Gilliard, MD Family Medicine 639 13th Street Floss ‘em or lose ‘em! Augusta 30901 706-823-5250 Industrial Medicine • Prompt appts.

Jason H. Lee, DMD 116 Davis Road Augusta 30907 706-860-4048 Steven L. Wilson, DMD Family Dentistry 4059 Columbia Road Martinez 30907 706-863-9445

Urgent MD Augusta: 706-922-6300 Grovetown: 706-434-3500 Thomson: 706-595-7825 Primary Care Rates

HOSPICE

SENIOR LIVING

Medical Services of America Hospice 4314-E Belair Frontage Rd. Augusta 30909 706-447-2626

LASER SERVICES Ideal Image 339 Fury’s Ferry Rd Martinez 30907 1-800-BE-IDEAL • www.idealimage.com Schedule a FREE Consultation

MEDICAL MASSAGE Medical Massage Stuart Farnell L.M.T. 803-646-1846 jsfarnell@att.net www.FarnellClinic.com

OPHTHALMOLOGY Roger M. Smith, M.D. 820 St. Sebastian Way Suite 5-A Augusta 30901 706-724-3339

PHARMACY Medical Center West Pharmacy 465 North Belair Road Evans 30809 706-854-2424 www.medicalcenterwestpharmacy.com Parks Pharmacy 437 Georgia Ave. N. Augusta 29841 803-279-7450 www.parkspharmacy.com

If you’d like your medical practice listed in the Professional Directory, call the Medical Examiner at 706.860.5455

Augusta Gardens Senior Living Community 3725 Wheeler Road Augusta 30909 SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY 706-868-6500 www.augustagardenscommunity.com

SLEEP MEDICINE Sleep Institute of Augusta Bashir Chaudhary, MD 3685 Wheeler Rd, Suite 101 Augusta 30909 706-868-8555

THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE Centered in Georgia Diane Young L.M.T. 4488 Columbia Rd Martinez 30907 706-251-2244

VEIN CARE Vein Specialists of Augusta G. Lionel Zumbro, Jr., MD, FACS, RVT, RPVI 501 Blackburn Dr, Martinez 30907 706-854-8340 www.VeinsAugusta.com

WEIGHT LOSS Medical Weight & Wellness Specialists of Augusta Maycie Elchoufi, MD 108 SRP Drive, Suite B Evans 30809 • 706-829-9906 www.mwwsAugusta.com PHC Weight Loss & Wellness Centers 246B Bobby Jones Expwy Martinez: 706-868-5332 Thomson: 706-597-8667 www.phcweightloss.com

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

DECEMBER 5, 2014

Lost in the maze? Why enter in the first place?

We know the way. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS • COMPLIANCE • WELLNESS • CONSULTING • EXCHANGES • PARTNERSHIPS • TECHNOLOGY

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