Pencil Thin

Has anyone had any personal experience with magnetic therapy? I have this ongoing pain in my wrists and magnetic therapy was recommended to me by an holistic practitioner. I found some of the cheaper magnets at the Big Lots store and put one on my this morning. It looks kind of like a piece of jewelry. My wrist seems to feel better. It could all be in my head and just be the result of the “placebo effect”. Just wondering if anyone else has tried these, if so, what were your results?

Ever year when winter rolls around my feet start to resemble lizard skin. I don’t know what it is that does it. I speculate that it has something to do with the transition from sandals to socks. I recently read some great tips on dealing with dry feet.

Besides using pumice stone , after soaking your feet. Two things you need. First- a bottle of NaPca, sold by Twinlabs(spray bottle) The only stuff that will moisturize the skin.After applying it- message your feet with hexane-free castor oil. Home Health products puts out a good one. Have fun!

Our new house has sent my allergies into overdrive. There are so many things going on with my head and chest I can’t begin to tell what is from allergies and what is due to something else. I was surprised to learn that the two most common underlying triggers of asthma are allergies and acid reflux. Ironically, some of the common asthma treatments, like prednisone, can cause acid reflux to flare up and actually lead to an increase in asthma symptoms.

I just got some great ideas for organizing a chest freezer such as ~

use those plastic milk crates that you can get at Big Lots or Walmart for a couple of bucks. I use one for beef, one for poultry, one for pork, one for breakfast type foods, one for any breads, one for veggies and so on.

My problem is more in how do I organize our fridge? It seems like everything always ends up on the top shelf and the things we need to eat end up shoved in the back and forgotten about….

A friend of mine is just about to finish a detox diet. I really don’t know much about the diet but from what she tells me I don’t like the sound of it. For me it would be impossible to accomplish because I just can’t stomach vegetable juice. There is simply no way that I could spend a day let alone a week drinking vegetable juice. It seems to be working for her and her family but I wonder how it will turn out in the long run when they have to go back to eating other foods.

In the past we have received two emails about young mother’s in our area fighting for their lives after giving birth. It is unimaginable to me to think of beginning to manage or cope with the situation from vantage point. The poor little babies are being shuttled from home to home. Father’s are worrying about raising children on their own. Parents are fearing saying goodbye to their daughters. If you are a praying person please say a prayer for these people and that the spirit of life with stir in an vicious manner in these women .

I have aching wrists that nothing seems to help. It is probably from all of the lifting and cleaning I have been doing as part of the process of moving. The pain seems to just always be there. An advertisement for magnets caught my eye the other day. This are part of these bracelet type things you wear for aching joints. I don’t really know anyone who has tried them but I am willing to give anything a try at this point. I barely slept last night for the dull ache in my wrist bones. If you have tried these things let me know and tell me what you think.

Our little man is sick. He has been acting funny for about a week. When he doesn’t feel well for some reason he hates to wear socks. I don’t know what it is but he screams when they are put on his feet if he is getting a cold. The other thing he does when he doesn’t feel good is insist on sleeping with us. I can’t blame him because who doesn’t want to be held by someone who loves them at a time like that. The downside is I get no sleep at night because he is either on top of me or wedged up against my face. Between the lack of sleep and him sweating on me my skin is a wreck again. I seriously hate acne but I seriously love that little boy. Just a little nap would make it all seem better.

How is it that some people have dogs that get incredibly fat? It isn’t like the dog can open the fridge and grab a snack. I watched this woman walking a dog that was so fat it just waddled along looking completely exhausted. The poor dog seemed to be saying “Can you just get me the best diet pills on the market and stop this walking business right now!” If people are punished for starving their pets it should be just as wrong to feed the poor thing until it looks ready to explode. I know there are always medical reasons this could happen but this isn’t an excuse in every case.

I cannot believe that my youngest son is just about to turn two years old! I found myself looking at birthday invitations today and thinking about party decorations. It seems like just yesterday that we brought him home from the hospital. With potty training and temper tantrums on the horizon I can only hope that I enjoy the coming years as much as I have the first two years of his life. In the midst of one of his meltdowns today I quickly reminded myself how blessed we are to have him. The world would be quieter and so much sadder without the little man who is presently screaming his lungs out for no apparent reason other than he can’t will the television to turn itself on.

My oldest son is eight going on nine years old. In the last few weeks he has been getting a pimple about once a week on his cheeks. It just seems way to early for this to be related to puberty. I suppose I better just concede to the fact that he is growing up and looking into the best acne treatment for young teens. His skin is pretty sensitive and he has allergies so I think I will need to find a special product for kids like him. Maybe it is a fluke and we won’t be facing the whole adolescent scene for a few years. A parent can dream right?

I went out to the garage today to get something and got the shock of my life. Prior to taking a step I happened to glance down at my feet and spotted a skunk. Thinking it was asleep I slowly backed up and went inside the house. While I thanked my lucky stars it didn’t spray me I began making phone calls to see how to get rid of it. When it didn’t move after an hour it was pretty clear it wasn’t going to. A friend came over and boldly poked it with a stick. The only thing I could picture was him getting a face full of skunk stink and then having that mess to deal with. Thank goodness it didn’t spray him because I have no idea how we would have gotten my house free of the stink. A person could be gotten somewhat clean in one of those walk in tubs or a shower but do you clean a garage? Needless to say the skunk is now in a box and headed for a proper burial.

When I am stressed I can usually count on two things happening. The first thing that happens without fail is my skin breaks out. This 37 year old woman is graced with the skin of a pubescent girl when the world around her is going crazy. The other wonderful thing is that my right eyelid will twitch. The acne I can deal with by watching what I eat and stocking up on acne treatment. There isn’t much you can do for an involuntary eyelid spasm. Duck tape really isn’t appropriate. Creates a great image in you mind doesn’t it? A 37 year old woman with horrible skin and a nervous eye twitch.

A new office supply store is going to open next to where my husband works. They have really been promoting the grand opening like crazy and it seems like everyday he comes home with some promotional products are giving away to his employer. I think they are hoping to get a contract to provide all of the office supplies for the agency. Either way we have netted some great coffee mugs and a much needed ergonomic mouse pad. What I really could use is a new ergonomic keyboard since someone in this house gave mine a bath in iced tea! Have you ever seen a promotional keyboard? It would be a great way to keep your business name in someone’s mind day in and day out. That is the type of promotional loot I could get giddy over.

For several months a good night of sleep has eluded me. In attempt to catch a decent night of sleep I have tried many over the counter sleep aids. The problem is that I find after a while I simply can’t sleep without them. Getting concerned that this could lead to a bigger problem in the long run I have weaned myself off of sleep aids entirely. A friend suggested I have a glass of wine before heading to bed each night instead of taking a sleep aid. She has never tried this herself but says her mother swears by it. My husband makes wine as a hobby and our wine racks are very well stocked. The thing is that I just don’t care for wine that much at all. I do however love the idea of really sleeping well and would gladly have a glass of wine if I knew this was more than an old wives tale. I also don’t want to find myself hooked on wine in order to sleep.

The topic of mattresses came up at my coffee group the other day. Several of us have been dealing with neck and back pain for several years now. Having tried so many things on the market I thought I would share my 2 cents on the topic here with all of you. When it comes to mattresses there isn’t one type that is best for everyone, it all depends what you personally like best. That’s tough because one has to spend alot of money on mattresses. I personally have a King Coil with mattress topper, plus a down mattress top on that, plus a several inch thick memory foam mattress topper on top of all of that! I have a queen sized bed, but use king sized deep pocket sheets. So the mattress itself is firm , but I have layers of softness on top it and can take them off if need be. However, it’s never helped to stop some back and neck pains I’ve had, especially when it’s due to nerve pain. As a matter of fact, i have all that b/c when my back first started hurting (in my low back area), I thought maybe it was due to my previous mattress. I wasted all that money on new mattresses and toppers and all sorts of other things and most of the time nothing helped my pains. I do find, though, that having the memory foam helps my one shoulder when that acts up. (I usually sleep on my sides). I’ve also tried many different pillows for neck pain and the only that helps alot is not even really a pillow. I had this buckwheat filled, horseshoe shaped small neck pillow for the car. I was desperate in finding something to lay on and that was my last resort. When I woke up the next morning, I had a lot less pain from spasms anyway. I guess it kept my neck in a nice neutral position because it’s not too smooshy.

So many people I know have been complaining lately about how worn out they feel. I count myself among these batch of people. My diet lately hasn’t been the greatest and my stress level has been over the top. One of the things I really need to do is start taking better care of myself on a basic level. Taking a multi-vitamin would be a really good way to get a jump on this. My doctor has suggested it and I have started looking at different options on the market.

One product I have looked at is GBG Liquid Vitamins. This is a 10-In-One liquid vitamin formula that appears to offer quite an array of good things for the body. Aside from being packed with multi-vitamins and minerals this product is offers properties are supposed to help the body manage the effects of stress and aging. Heart, vision, digestion, and bone health are also supported by this special formula that is boosted with the power of well known super foods like pomegranate and wolfberry. One thing that really appeals to me about this product is the fact that it is supposed to taste good. I have tried so many traditional vitamins that I ended up throwing away because either they tasted awful or left me feeling sick to my stomach. A nice feature about this product, aside from the the low price point of $19.95, is that it is offered with a 60 day money back guarantee. This makes purchasing this product risk free. This product offers people the opportunity to not only take a step towards better health but also to earn extra money by taking advantage of the GBG MLM matrix opportunity. Referring new GBG 10-In-One Liquid Vitamin customers offers a number of added perks such as great money earning opportunities, product shipping discounts, and more.

I suppose it really is time that I stop complaining about how crummy I have been feeling and actually do something about it. Taking a vitamin really is a very small and simple gift I should be giving my body. There are so many much more taxing things I should be doing to improve my health and well-being that there really is no good reason for me not to be doing this. A vitamin that taste good, supports several different body systems, and offers a money back guarantee seems like a solid product choice to get me back on the path to better health.

Routinely I find that I can’t sleep. If this sound familiar you might try this. Melatonin 3-6 mg. might work. For Melatonin to work properly, you should be in a darkened room. It is the dark that stimulates the Melatonin. Try taking it when after you have gotten into bed and in a dark room. After taking it don’t watch TV or sit in front of a computer. If you must get up, do not cut on bright lights. Light from a TV or computer screen will cause it to stop working. Of course, I would talk to my doctor or phone his nurse and ask before mixing any medications that are used induce sleep. One cannot be too careful here.

My previous post might have sounded a bit callous and I want to take a minute to clarify a few things. First of all I can completely understand what it is like to be an overweight child or teenager because I was one. The difference in my case was that I had no shortage of physical activity. Growing up on a farm there was hardly a free moment to sit and watch television the way kids today do. I know what it is like to be a kid who desperately wants someone to buy them diet pills or something to make it easier to loose weight. In my situation the problem was not about being active or physically strong because I was. The problem was simply eating more food than I needed to keep myself fit and strong. The kids next door quite literally do nothing all day for days on end. That is where my criticism lies. Even mowing the lawn would be a good start in their situation or for that matter walking the two blocks to school.

This week I found myself sitting for what seemed like forever in the doctor’s office. As I scoured the magazine selection it became very clear that this office must usually see only men. From wall to wall the place was littered with sports magazines, fliers offering mens gold watches, pamphlets discussing prostate health, and pictures of famous golf courses. Literally there wasn’t even an outdated Good Housekeeping magazine to be found. Every doctor’s office seems to at least have this magazine as a staple in their reading stockpile. At least now I have a good gift idea for my husband and know more than I ever wanted to about prostates.

There is this kink in my shoulder that no amount of stretching seems to relax. One side of my neck feels like a fiber cable that someone has practiced tying knots with. I have tried different pillows and sleeping positions but nothing seems to help. I even introduced a few strengthening exercises into my workouts but to no avail. So do you think I need to see a chiropractor or what? I might even try acupuncture if I thought it would rid me of this lopsided feeling I always seem to have lately. Little tiny needles don’t scare me at all but the thought of strange chiropractor hands on me does weird me out just a bit.

My cold seems to have settled in my chest. Breathing is a challenge today and all I seem to do is cough. I seriously feel like everything is swollen and congested that not even fiber optic cables could fit down my throat. At least this winter I can take cold medicine which I could not do for the last two years. It certainly makes a difference to be able to get some pseudoephedrine into my system. I am seriously loving being able Nyquil once again after a very long hiatus. I just wish I could shake this feeling that there is a brick on my chest.

This Halloween was not kind to me. It was my turn to take my older son out door to door while my husband stayed home and handed out candy. The weather seemed perfect but somehow I managed to come home with a big bad cold. Being a mom and a work at home mom with many commitments it has been tough trying to get things done. I keep reminding myself that feeling like I am knocking on death’s door is not an excuse to slack off. Hopefully, I can shake this over the weekend before someone looks into getting a term life insurance quote for me. A nap and some vitamin C might do me a world of good if I could just find the time.

It seems like everywhere you turn today there is someone whose life has been impacted on some level by drug abuse. When you first think about it substance abuse doesn’t seem like something that should have a rippling effect but it does. Substance abuse not only impacts those using drugs but also their families, friends, and others around them. The chaotic lifestyle of those addicted to drugs is pretty hard to ignore when it invades your life. For those that are fortunate enough not to have first hand experience with those dealing with addiction problems it may seem an easy problem to fix. If you spend any time reading about drug rehab, or know someone who has been in rehab, you learn very quickly what an uphill battle sobriety can be. I highly recommend spending time learning more about addiction by reading blogs such as Drug Rehab Mobile before jumping to quick conclusions about those addicted to drugs. This blog offers insight from a variety of perspectives about drug addiction, rehab, and the lives of those touched by this destructive problem. Drug Rehab Mobile openly and honestly discusses drug addiction, and incredible effort it takes to overcome it, in an honest and eye opening way that readers can relate too.

On one of our morning walks the topics of slivers came up. My walking partner was expounding on how well this stuff called “Drawing Out Salve” had worked to help her remove a deeply embedded sliver. I kind of dismissed the idea that some goop could actually work in the way she described. This weekend my husband was installing some new cabinet hardware in the basement and found himself with a very irritating sliver. No matter what he used he could get the thing out and commented on how much it hurt. Then I remembered my friend and her salve. She kindly lent us her tube of the stinky, tar like substance to try. Before bed my husband put a small amount on his finger and then bandaged the area. Surprisingly, the next morning the sliver had come to the surface where he easily removed it with tweezers. If you find yourself with a tough sliver give this stuff a try. I had never heard of it but I can imagine it will be indispensable with children in the house!

The other day I was talking with a friend of mine about over the counter pain medicine. She indicated that she takes huge amounts of acetaminophen every day. The number of pills she reported taking seemed outrageous to me and I kindly suggested that she talk to her doctor about this. I told her about a PSA I saw discussing the dangers of taking too much Tylenol that included some of these points:

Taking too much acetaminophen is a danger that cannot be overemphasized. You can do serious damage to your liver, and this can even cause death. Some believe that acetaminophen overdose is the leading cause of liver failure in the United States. Taking acetaminophen too often or too much has been linked with other serious health problems.

If she is in this much pain it sounds like there is something that should be evaluated medically instead of her trying to self medicate as she has been doing!

In the course of my work in the medical field I have cared for several morbidly obese people. The thing I have always struggled with is wondering where it all went wrong for them. Research suggests that even as young as 6 months of age eating patterns for life have been established. But, I just don’t buy that it is our parents fault when we become out of control and gain weight. Take for instance my former employer. This man constantly complained about his body and his size but did everything possible to limit his physical exercise. He would do things like get in his car to drive the 20 feet to our mailboxes rather than walk and ask for wheel chair service at the airport. I am not suggesting that all obese people are like this but I don’t honestly think any of us gets the exercise we could be in our convenience oriented society. I can’t help but wonder when I hand my fussy toddler a snack if somehow I am setting him up to over eat as an adult. If there is any truth to these studies the damage is probably already done. Either way I probably should try engaging him in an activity rather than offering a snack if I am not really sure he is hungry.

What on earth is it about stress that sends my skin into despair? My face can be flawless for periods on end and then poof I look 13 years old again. I have narrowed it down to corresponding with times when I am under stress. My present stress is due to the fact that our 2nd gave up the good fight and died. We are now looking for another car at a point when we REALLY hadn’t planned on it. Literature would suggest my zitty friends are due primarily to “hormone imbalance or stress, in women ages 30-40″.

My stomach is not pretty. There, I said it and now the entire blogosphere knows it. Really I don’t know very many woman who have had three pregnancies and two c-sections who have really pretty tummies. Secretly, I have always wanted to know if I am a candidate for a tummy tuck. It doesn’t matter how hard I work out my midsection remains soft and doughy. The truth is I don’t have the nerve to call and set up an appointment to talk to someone in person about having the procedure done. I did however just find out about a website that offers FREE professional . This is an incredible opportunity to gain solid information from trained professional about cosmetic surgery. Expert information available via the privacy and anonymity of the internet. If you have ever considered or wanted to know more about cosmetic surgery check out this great website!

About a month ago a new family moved into the house next door. It hasn’t taken very long for the entire neighborhood to realize this is a family in crisis. The adults in the home clearly have addiction problems as not a day has gone by that they aren’t drinking. It really would be beneficial if someone in their immediate family encouraged them to seek alcohol and drug treatment services. Finding help for loved ones is a simplified process using the referral services available a 4Rehabilitation. No longer do families or those in crisis have to wade through the myriad of services on their own. 4Rehabilitation narrows down exactly what services suit the individual needs of each person creating personalized rehabilitation referral recommendations. It would be wonderful to see someone close to the family next door take charge and find help for them rather than wait for law enforcement or child protection agencies to intervene and force the issue legally.

One of my relatives, who shall remain nameless, is obsessed with the fact that my son likes to sit in front of the television. It isn’t the fact that he is watching television that concerns her but rather his proximity to the television. Every time we watch a program she points how how my son is going to ruin his eyes by sitting so near the television. Our home is small and it isn’t like we have home theater seating. In reality the entire family is in very close proximity to the television. If her theory about sitting near the tv is true in theory we should all be going blind together. It doesn’t matter that the American Academy of Opthamology states that sitting right on top of the television does not damage your eyes there is no changing our loved one’s opinion on the matter. At least she loves us enough to fret about things like this.

Obviously you should do everything you can to avoid getting sunburned given the increasing rates of melanoma but when it does happen these are a few home remedies that might prove relieving:
Aloe Vera Gel
For sunburn there is nothing better than aloe vera gel; it is antibacterial and deeply healing for burns in part because of aloectin B, which stimulates the immune system. Aloe vera gel is used in hospitals for burn victims. Aloe Vera comes from the aloe vera plant, and the gel may be squeezed from its leaves, or you can buy pure aloe vera gel as a product in most health food stores.

Vitamin E Cream
One of the antioxidants, vitamin E creams, ointments and oils, can help heal sunburn damage and shorten its effects.

Increase Your Vitamin C
Another antioxidant, increasing your vitamin C intake while sunburned will help you heal.

Black Tea Sunburn Soother
The tannins in cool black tea will help sooth a sunburn.

Baking Soda Bath
Have a cool bath to which 1/2 a cup of baking soda has been added.

Calendula Creams
Calendula is one of the most healing plants. The flowers are emollient, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antiviral. They are immune system stimulants and rich in carotenoids. Look in your health food store for calendula creams and ointments.

Avoid Petroleum jelly, as it will hold in the heat.

A friend of ours sprained his ankle at our church softball game this weekend. It seems everyone has a different opinion of how best to care for this type of injury. I decided that should this happen to one of us again someone should know exactly what the proper care of this type of sports injury involves. My research concluded that the recommended treatment of a sprain is:

* Apply ice to the injured joint during the first 24 hours. Place ice in a plastic bag and separate it from the skin with a thin towel. Hold it against the joint for up to two hours at a time, either constantly or intermittently, depending on your ability to tolerate the cold. Continue the ice treatment at two-hour intervals for 24 hours while awake.
* After 24 hours, you may switch to heat.
* To use heat either soak the joint in warm water or apply heat for 15 minutes every two hours or whenever possible. Do not apply heat during the first 24 hours. It may increase bleeding and swelling and may prolong the healing time.
* Compress with an elastic (Ace�) bandage.
* Whenever possible, elevate the joint (especially while sleeping) so fluid can drain and decrease swelling.

When it comes to taking care of ourselves preventive care is one of the best gifts we can give our bodies. Sadly preventive care is something that most people simply overlook. Often the first time people see a doctor is only when they are symptomatic. For some of us the sight of white lab coat just invokes a feeling of anxiousness we can’t explain. Other people seem unable to make the time or feel odd going to the doctor’s when they are feeling well.

As a health care provider I can attest to just how helpful it can be to see patient’s when they are at their best. This is a great time to obtain baseline measures and establish a point of reference for future comparison. Preventive care is a set of measures taken in advance of symptoms to prevent illness or injury. In many instances health care provider’s can curb disease or arrest illness very early on in patient’s who are seen routinely. The emphasis is on preventing illnesses before they occur. This can be a simple as getting regular annual physicals and wellness checks. Your doctor can advise you as to any specialized testing or screening that is recommended based on your individual needs.