FLORIDA EAST COAST POST-POLIO SUPPORT GROUP - Vol. 12 #5
12 Eclipse Trail / Ormond Beach, FL 32174 / 386 676-2435
E-Mail:- bgold@iag.net - Web Site:- home.iag.net/~bgold
MARCH / APRIL 2005
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WE WISH ALL OUR FRIENDS
A FOUR-LEAF CLOVER ST. PATRICK’S DAY
A MOST JOYFUL EASTER
-and-
A SESSA (SWEET) PASSOVER
********************************** MEETING NOTICE
Sunday, March 20th, 2005-- No Meeting due to Bike Week Activities
May 15th, 2005 -- Speaker from Hill & Ponton, law firm will discuss Social
Security Disability
September 18th, 2005 --
November 20th, 2005 –
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CONTENTS
From Barbara
To the Children of Polio Mothers
Decision to Consider Knee Replacement
Taking a Cruise or Getting Taken for a Ride
Special Poem for Senior Citizen
Handicapped Permit Crackdown
English is Easy
Medicare – Preventive Care Added
Raise Your Prescription IQ
One Day at a Time
Just Remember
Upcoming Conferences
Friend Poems
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FROM BARBARA
Our March 20th meeting was cancelled by Red Lobster as they said during Event Weeks they do not take reservations. They apologized – but as it is a busy time in March and Easter Sunday is the following week, it was felt best that the meeting be cancelled.
Well, nothing else really to report in this newsletter except that I flew up to Long Island mid-February to see my fifth grandchild…. a beautiful boy (Griffin David Goldstein) – yes, a baby boy can be called beautiful. I was there for two weeks and had the delightful chore of giving him his formula from his morning feeding to about his 9:00 pm feeding. I was a little frustrated as, at this point, I have to have someone literally put the baby in my arms as I’m unable to even pick him up and walk a step or two to sit down with him. Changing him was also impossible --- but, my wonderful, loving daughter-in-law kept telling me what a big help I was just giving Griffin the bottle and enabling her to take care of the 16 month old (Gavin Jerome) and getting the not quite 7 year old (Morgan Alexandra) off to school. Also, allowing her to not have to take both the infant and the 16 month old out to do her errands. Made me really feel better about my difficulties.
Oh, you may recall that my son’s house has the bedrooms upstairs – well, with the third child going into the fourth bedroom, they have redone the basement with a lovely bedroom, accessible bathroom (with a 17” commode and a shower with grab bars wherever needed). More importantly, while I was there the had a Stair-Lift installed so that I no longer have to go up and down the basement stairs (which I am and have not been able to do). I used the Stair-Lift but it’s a little “scary” as my right leg (with the long-leg brace) likes to go to the right b-u-t it is certainly better than going up and down and I’m sure that after I use it several more times (when I go back up in April for Griffin’s christening) I’ll feel more comfortable.
Oh, I flew up with Southwest Airlines and had absolutely no problems. They had wheelchairs waiting for me, helped me get my luggage at Islip Airport, and wheeled me out to wait for my friend.
Those of us that were at our January meeting enjoyed hearing all about Dave Clark’s experiences as both a major league and minor league baseball player. Dave has some tapes of his experiences that can be purchased – if interested, you can reach him at:- Dave Clark, 2801 SW 25th Terr, Cape Coral, FL 33914, 239-540-7091 e-mail:- millacamilla2002@yahoo.com.
That’s it for now.
Barbara
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The following article was sent to us by a new member of our Support Group – David Dysart. It answers the question of whether polio could be passed to the infant through pregnancy of the mother. Thank you David for sharing your story.
TO THE CHILDREN
OF POLIO MOTHERS
“Will the baby be alright?” This was the first question my parents asked the doctors when, three months pregnant with me, my mother contracted polio. That was 1955 and almost no one knew of post polio complications, much less polio in utero (a non-paralytic strain of the virus which was possibly passed through the placenta). Now Post-Polio Syndrome has become a recognized and acknowledged condition and as the children of polio mothers are approaching their 50’s, new attention is being paid to polio in utero.
My mother was initially paralyzed from the neck down, but regained use of most every thing but her legs and some diaphragm muscles. One of the many things I learned from this remarkable woman was her love of life and family. When I was old enough to hear and understand her tale, I will never forget her saying, “I didn’t care what shape my body was left in as long as I could live independently of a respirator. I had a husband and three children who needed me.” And what a life she went on to lead. She was an inspiration to all who met her. In her 50’s she began to develop what we now know were symptoms of PPS. She took them with the same matter-of-factness that she did her paralysis. Unfortunately they progressed unrecognized by her doctors until she died at age 64. There is much more I could write about this amazing woman, but I have been asked to write an article for this newsletter in order to tell my story. Our hope is that it will help others with similar stories.
From childhood I have had joint and muscle problems and never seemed to have the energy of my peers. I can remember, in the middle of playing with friends, having to go home to lie down due to pains in my legs. Mama said they were “growing pains.” Sounded good to me. From my teens on I had arthritic type pain in my hips and legs, and the older I got the more it spread and the more severe it became. Tests never revealed anything conclusive. After almost two decades of doctors making me feel as if it were all in my head, I began to believe them. However, after several days of being bed-ridden this summer, it was if Mama tapped me on the shoulder and said, “Sweety, think about your history.” I immediately began to research PPS and was amazed at what I learned. Researchers around the world seem to agree it is entirely possible that polio mothers could have pass a non-paralytic strain of the virus and therefore the offspring may develop PPS like symptoms without having had actual paralysis. This has been an incredible journey of knowledge and empowerment and I have been most anxious to share it with others with similar stories. Even though no one knows what the future will bring to the children of polio mothers, simply having some explanation to life long ailments does much to raise spirits and hopes.
If you are the child of a polio mother or know of one, I would be most grateful if you would contact me at ddysart@stetson.edu. Researchers are very anxious to gain more data which could serve to benefit us all. Thank you for taking time to read my story.
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This article was also done by a Support Group member – Judy Mullis. Many thanks, Judy.
DECISION TO CONSIDER KNEE REPLACEMENT
The decision to seriously consider total knee replacement was not an easy one to make, nor did it come quickly. As a 'polio child' and now a post-polio adult, I experienced many physical changes primarily in my legs. Gradually these changes amounted to diminished ability to function at the same level I had and a significant increase from nagging discomfort to real pain. After years of denying that knee replacement might be needed, I found myself face to face with my doctor one day, armed with a written list of questions:
How much pain will surgery relieve?
Will the replacement be firm or will my knee still be prone to instability and shift?
Will replacement aid balance and prevent buckling?
Will walking be easier or stay the same?
Would replacement mean my leg will be straight again? Do I have the muscle and tendon strength to hold it in place?
How long does a replacement joint last?
What are the risks of infection and blood clots?
And, most important, Will I have an MD Anesthesiologist knowledgeable about the unique problems polio survivors can have with anesthesia?
Fortunately Dr. Dunlap and I have a background spanning over twenty years when I first noticed the twinges of new weakness primarily in my legs. At a time when so little was understood about the late effects of polio, he was the only source of help and hope for many like me. He suggested this surgery several years ago, but typical of many 'polio people', I thought I could just buck-up and handle it like countless other times. However, the pain only intensified until it was constant, around the clock.
Dr. Dunlap gave me straight answers; most, but not all pain should be alleviated, no to the shift question and yes, about buckling and balance. He didn't think my ability to walk would be improved except that the pain when I did walk would be much less, the joint would be stable and, in the process, the replacement would mean my valgus leg would be straight again. I could expect about twenty years use out of the new joint. The risk of infection was a factor he said, but one where extraordinary precautions would be implemented including antibiotics implanted with the knee joint. I knew from a past newsletter, there were many drugs post-polio patients should avoid, so we also talked about my concerns regarding anesthesia.
The process toward Total Knee Replacement officially began several weeks before the actual surgery with the usual pre-surgery tests; EKG, chest x-ray, blood work, urinalysis, etc. There was also an in-depth interview by the counselor on staff. This gave me an opportunity to personally talk with the Anesthesiologist about the choice of anesthesia he would administer. I truly appreciated this. Next in the process were several trips to the blood bank for analogous blood drawing to assure I would receive my own blood back by transfusion if needed. I was glad latter, since I experienced very low blood pressure after surgery and needed the two pints back.
Surgery day came in early September, between two of the four hurricanes we experienced. The five-hour procedure went pretty much as anticipated. There was a significant buildup of scar tissue from two previous knee surgeries I had in childhood which required extra effort to remove. But after that a Stryker Scorpio total knee system was successfully set in place. The hospital stay was uneventful except for needing the transfusions. Pain for the first couple of days was a factor. In hind-sight, I wish I had asked for a medication pump to be used to administer pain medication. That way I could have gotten the medication before the pain level escalated. Even though the staff was excellent, they did not always deliver the pain pills soon enough. As soon as my blood pressure stabilized PT began with the unheard of task of standing up beside the bed! PT gradually got easier and continued for two weeks after I got home. The only thing I was not prepared for was an injection of Fragmin each day to guard against infection. Before I was dis- charged after four days, I learned to give myself the injection, which I reluctantly did every morning for several weeks. I never did get used to that procedure and was very glad when it was no longer needed! Knowing the Fragmin would greatly lessen the possibility of infection, a serious risk with surgery of any type, especially orthopedic, made it tolerable.
Therapy came by way of three very professional and wonderful individuals; an RN, Occupational Therapist and a Physical Therapist. They each came to my home three times a week for several weeks. The RN took care of normal issues of BP, temp, etc, while the OT helped with the practical day-to-day functions like how to maneuver in the kitchen without tripping over the walker etc. It was my Physical Therapist who helped me and my new knee to begin to become friends. She pushed, pulled, rolled and rubbed, bent and stretched almost to the point of exhaustion. But every uncomfortable effort is paying off now, big time. At the beginning the knee literally would not bend beyond an inch or so, now I have a bend of about 110 degrees!
Today I am almost four months post surgery and with the exception of a set back due to a bad slip and fall in November, things have gone very well! I am so glad to have had this surgery! From the beginning I knew for post-polio patients healing can be a very slow process, and so far, that is true. Total healing could be anywhere from three months to a full year. Periodically there are problems with painful swelling when nothing but ice brings relief. There are times of aching for no apparent reason but this occurs with less frequency as time passes. Although I depend on my little green Jazzy for shopping and part of the time at home, when I do walk, it is definitely with much less discomfort, increased stability and greater confidence. For that I am so very thankful.
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Reprinted from AARP Bulletin, February 2005
Taking a Cruise
or
Getting Taken for a Ride?
When Douglas Spector boarded the luxury ship Norwegian Star on his electric scooter, he had no idea his five-day cruise would take him all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
But this month the court will consider the lawsuit Spector and four others filed arguing that cruise lines that cater to Americans, use U.S. ports and sail U.S. waters must conform to U.S. laws by making their ships wheelchair-accessible.
A friend of the court brief filed by AARP and several disability rights groups agrees that cruise ships – even if registered in a foreign country – should be subject to the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, which requires public accommodations and transportation to be accessible to people with disabilities.
Spector, who cannot walk because of a tumor on his spine, says he paid a premium price for a wheelchair-accessible cabin, only to find one barrier after another throughout the ship, obstacles that blocked him from dining in the restaurants, swimming in the pool and using restrooms and emergency evacuation equipment.
Though most cruise ships are registered in foreign countries – Norwegian Star is registered in the Bahamas – the United States is by far the largest source of business for these ships, with 80 percent of all cruises departing from North American ports. The latest worldwide industry figures show that 76 percent of the 9.8 million passengers cruise ships carried were Americans.
While a number of foreign-flagged ships are now wheelchair-accessible, whether they are required to be is a murky legal issue.
“Cruise lines have their headquarters in this country, and they market to U.S. citizens,” says AARP attorney Daniel Kohrman. “So it makes no sense not to apply U.S. civil rights law to these ships.
The Norwegian Cruise Line, which is based in Miami, argues Norwegian Star is exempt from the U.S. statute because it sails under a foreign flag. Nevertheless, the company says it welcomes disabled passengers and rejects any form of discrimination.
FECPPSG Editor’s Note:- Although I haven’t cruised on the Norwegian Line, I have been on both Celebrity and Royal Caribbean and found both to be fairly accessible. No problems with restrooms or dining rooms.
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SPECIAL POEM FOR SENIOR CITIZENS!!
A row of bottles on my shelf
Caused me to analyze myself.
One yellow pill I have to pop
Goes to my heart so it won't stop.
A little white one that I take
Goes to my hands so they won't shake.
The blue ones that I use a lot
Tell me I'm happy when I'm not.
The purple pill goes to my brain
And tells me that I have no pain.
The capsules tell me not to wheeze
Or cough or choke or even sneeze.
The red ones, smallest of them all
Go to my blood so I won't fall.
The orange ones, very big and bright
Prevent my leg cramps in the night.
Such an array of brilliant pills
Helping to cure all kinds of ills.
But what I'd really like to know...........
Is what tells each one where to go!
There's always a lot to be thankful for if you take time to look for it.
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The following article was sent to me by one of our Long Island members – my friend, Sandi Cornell-Delaney. It appeared in the December 16, 2004 Newsday.
HANDICAPPED PERMIT CRACKDOWN
Altered tag is a felony in
first arrest of its kind
by John Valenti, staff writer
Calling it “the lowest form of human endeavor,” Suffolk County Sheriff Alfred Tisch last month vowed police would crack down on drivers using altered, forged and fake handicapped parking permits – and, for the first time, charge them with felonies instead of merely issuing them a summons.
On Tuesday night, Donna Caggiano, 41, of 224 VanBuren St. in Mastic, became the first person in New York arrested and charged with a felony for using an altered permit, police said. Caggiano was allegedly caught using it to illegally park her 2004 Chevrolet Suburban in a handicapped space outside the First District Court building in Central Islip.
Last night Donna Caggiano’s husband, Michael Caggiano, called the situation “ridiculous” and said: “They’re treating this like this was the biggest bust since the Brink’s robbery… They think they got Ma Barker here.”
Michael Caggiano said the permit was his and he altered it because he had forgotten to apply for a renewal. He said his wife also has disabilities but never applied for a handicapped permit. “This is really, really stupid,” he said.
Still, Donna Caggiano was in First District Court yesterday. She was arraigned on one count of criminal possession of a forged instrument and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance.
Appearing before Judge Paul Hensley, Caggiano pleaded not guilty to all charges. Caggiano was released on her own recognizance. Her next court date is Valentine’s Day.
Criminal possession of a forged instrument – the altered handicapped parking permit – is a Class D felony punishable by 2 ½ to 7 years in prison. Each count of criminal possession of a controlled substance – in this case, Vicodin and oxycodone, according to police – is a Class A misdemeanor and is punishable by a maximum of 1 year in jail.
Donna Caggiano could not be reached, and her husband declined to comment about the painkiller possession charges.
Undersheriff Donald Sullivan, a spokesman for the Suffolk County sheriff, said Caggiano was arrested after leaving the court building. The permit – its handwritten expiration date allegedly changed from 5/31/2001 to 5/31/2007 – was hanging from her Suburban’s rearview mirror, he said. Contrary to what her husband said, police said Caggiano admitted she has “no disability or handicap.”
“She’s very shooken up about this,” Michael Caggiano said last night, adding: “”Any other day, she would have just gotten a parking ticket.”
FECPPSG Editor’s Note:- Truthfully, I think jailing someone for illegally using a handicapped permit is going just a little too far – BUT, I’m glad to see that Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office is taking it seriously. I feel that if they ticketed everyone who misused the handicapped permit, it would stop others from doing it.
I do recognize the fact that this particular Handicapped Permit was altered and that that, in itself, is a punishable act and that the Sheriff was right in arresting Mrs. Caggiano and charging her as he did.
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English is easy…
So a 2 letter word has a hundred completely different meanings.
So what is this stuff about English being easy?
There is a two-letter word that perhaps has more meaning than any other two-letter word, and that is “UP.”
It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we waken in the morning, why do we wake UP?
At a meeting, why does a topic come UP? Why do we speak UP and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report?
We call UP our friends And we use it to brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver, we warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and some guys fix UP the old car.
At other times the little word has real special meaning. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses.
To be dressed is one thing but to be dressed UP is special.
And this UP is confusing:
A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP.
We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night.
We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP!
To be knowledgeable of the proper uses of UP, look UP the word in the dictionary. In a desk size dictionary, the word up, takes UP almost 1/4th the page and definitions add UP to about thirty.
If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more.
When it threatens to rain, we say it is
clouding UP. When the sun comes out we say
it is clearing UP.
When it rains, it wets UP the earth. When it doesn't rain for a while, things dry UP.
One could go on and on, but I'll wrap it UP
for now my time is UP, so.........
I'll shut UP.....!
Enjoy!
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Reprinted from Daytona Beach News-Journal
MEDICARE
Preventive Care Added
WASHINGTON – Government and health organization leaders on Monday urged Medicare beneficiaries to take advantage of new preventative benefits, saying the emphasis on prevention will save lives and billions of dollars in health-care costs.
As of January 1, new enrollees to Medicare are eligible for a one-time “welcome to Medicare” physical exam, and all Medicare recipients will have access to free cardiovascular and diabetes screening.
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Reprinted from Daytona Beach News-Journal’s USA Weekend, Jan. 21-23, 2005
Raise Your
PRESCRIPTION IQ
Even the most medicine-savvy person can pick up a few tricks, tips and tactics to help make wise choices, cut pill bills – maybe save a life. These true-or-false questions are just what the doctor ordered.
By William H. Thomas, M.D.
When you open your bottle of prescription drugs, you are in charge of your health – not your doctor. The risks you run and the benefits you reap depend greatly on what you know about your medications, or your Prescription IQ. Drug-smart patients know the pills they take are life-enhancing yet potentially dangerous. In my geriatrics practice, I’ve seen hundreds of patients whose health has suffered from side effects, drug interactions or simply taking too many medicines. Sometimes these problems are a nuisance. Sometimes they end lives. How smart are you? These questions test your knowledge.
True or False?
You don’t need to keep a list of the medications you take, because your doctor has that information.
FALSE:- Don’t assume that doctors and hospitals have up-to-date information about you. Healthcare professionals do their best to be accurate, but you’d be surprised how easily errors can creep into your medical chart. Each time you visit a doctor or hospital, bring along an up-to-date list that includes:
· DOCTORS:- The names and phone numbers of all the doctors you’re seeing.
· DIAGNOSES:- Your cirrent and past conditions.
· MEDICATIONS:- Include the names and dosages of everything you take; don’t skip over-the-counter drugs, herbal remedies and vitamins.
· HEALTH EVENTS:- Give dates and descriptions of key hospitalizations, surgeries, medical procedures, etc.
True or False?
After a medication is prescribed for a serious illness, it’s dangerous to ever decrease the dosage or stop taking it.
FALSE:- When I speak to doctors, I often ask if anyone remembers attending a med school lecture on the art of tapering medications. Typically no one raises a hand. Modern medical education pays very little attention to how to safely discontinue drugs. This is a tragic oversight, because continuing medications past their effectiveness is expensive and dangerous. Ask your physician: “Are the medications I am taking still necessary?” Help your doctor provide good care by letting him or her know you understand that more is not always better.
True or False?
You should keep medicine where it belongs: in the medicine cabinet.
FALSE:- To preserve their power, medications should be stored in a cool, dry place. That rules out the medicine cabinet; bathrooms are among the moistest rooms in a house. A kitchen cabinet is better, but your best bet is a dresser drawer. Just use the childproof cap if the grandkids are around. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, one-third of the accidental prescription drug poisonings in children involve a grandparent’s pills.
Another good idea is to use pill sorters to help keep track of medications. These small plastic trays can hold a week’s worth of medication, slip easily into a purse or bag, and provide visual evidence of which doses already have been taken.
True or False?
Savvy consumers dispose of outdated medications by flushing them down the toilet.
FALSE:- It’s a good idea to get rid of old medicines, because prescription drugs are chemical compounds that break down over time. But flushing them is not the best option. Researchers are finding traces of pre-scription drugs in some public water supplies. The amounts are tiny, but the consequences could be huge.
A better option: Take your old pills back to the pharmacy – most pharmacies accept the return of outdated drugs.
True or False?
Some side effects mimic signs of aging.
TRUE:- If you’re suffering anything from memory loss to erectile dysfunc-tion, don’t just blame it on Father Time. Certain conditions are chalked up to “normal aging” when they’re actually side effects from medications. Tell your doctor if something is not right, and do some research of your own. Sure, you never read the flimsy package inserts that accompany your medications – the print is tiny, and they’re about as easy to understand as an income tax form – but your pharmacist can provide you with more readable and useful medi-cation guides. You also can learn more about the side effects of specific medications on the Web, at www.fda.gov. The consumer informa-tion is current and accurate.
True or False?
Lifestyle changes are less effective than drugs in improving long-term health.
FALSE:- Healthful eating habits, regular moderate exercise and weight loss are all linked to increases in strength, endurance, improved sleep and a better overall sense of well-being. Next time you pop the top on your medicine bottle, ask yourself whether a new commitment to diet and exercise might be part of the answer to your health issues. For example, weight loss, exercise and salt reduction can lower high blood pressure, and eating less saturated fat but more vegetables can lower cholesterol.
As a doctor, I can tell you that some people will need to take medications no matter how much they exercise and how closely they watch their diet. But many more people can reduce the number of pills they take by embracing healthful food, fresh air and exercise.
And it’s never too late to start: A study that followed more than 7,500 women ages 65 or older found that those who had been inactive, but took up exercise, had a 48% lower risk of death from any cause during the 12 years of the study than those who stayed sedentary.
True or False?
Prescription drugs are tested on people of all ages before they receive FDA approval.
FALSE:- Few research trials include older people. As a result, doctors often have little information on how older people may respond to a particular medication. It’s a critical issue because older people metabolize medications differently from healthy young adults. When prescribing medication to an older patient, my philosophy is “start low and go slow.” If you start taking a new medicine, ask to begin at a reduced dose and make changes gradually. Doing so can protect you from unpleasant and dangerous side effects.
True or False?
You can safely save money by splitting tablets at home.
TRUE:- Sometimes you actually can buy two pills for the price of one. For example, my local pharmacist tells me Zoloft costs $2.87 for a 50mg pill – and a 100mg pill is the same price. So people taking 50mg of Zoloft a day could buy the 100mg tablets, break them in half with a plastic pill splitter (which costs about $4) and save $43.05 a month. If you take 10mg of Lipitor a day, you could buy the 20mg strength, split the pills and save $1.87 a day, a 28% discount adding up to $56.10 a month.
Not every drug can be chopped in half: Capsules cannot be split, and some tablets (mostly long-acting ones or those that are coated to pass intact through your stomach) should not be split either. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about each medication you take before splitting pills, and be sure to follow that advice.
True or False?
Herbal remedies and dietary supple-ments rarely have side effects; that’s why they don’t require a prescription.
FALSE:- Herbs and dietary supple-ments are prescription-free as long as they don’t claim to treat specific medical conditions. That’s why packages tend to make vague promises such as “Prostate Health!” or “More Energy!” or “Lose Weight!”
Not only can these remedies have serious side effects, but they also can interact with prescription drugs. Some examples: Ginkgo can affect the body’s response to anticoagulants or anti-platelet agents, while saw palmetto can increase the effects of estrogens.
It’s always best to ask your doctor or pharmacist about possible inter-actions before trying an herbal remedy.
True or False?
The new Medicare prescription benefit law provides the same coverage to all regardless of income.
FALSE:- This year, low-income beneficiaries can apply for a Medicare discount card and receive a $600 credit for drugs. Check medicare.gov for eligibility information. Next year, the discount card program and the “direct subsidy” both end. But people with the lowest incomes will pay no premiums or deductibles, will pay small or no co-payments, and will have no coverage gap. Slightly higher incomes will have a reduced deductible; some will have a sliding-scale premium.
True or False?
Brand-name medications are more expensive than generics because they are more effective.
FALSE:- The FDA guarantees that every generic medication works exactly the same as its brand-name equivalent. The only real difference is price. Generics cost an average of 20% to 40% less than their brand-name coun-terparts. Drug companies spend millions of dollars emphasizing the size, shape and color of their drugs. But it’s what’s inside the pill that counts, so ask if a generic form is available.
True or False?
Drugs that have been on the market for years can be as effective as new ones – and may be safer.
TRUE:- Older and more established medications can be a wise choice for several reasons. First, they have a well-established track record, so you are unlikely to get a nasty Vioxx-style surprise when you open the morning paper. Older drugs often cost much less, because the original patent has run out and they are available in generic form. In some cases, older medications have been shown to outperform new drugs in head-to-head comparisons. Don’t assume that newer automatically means better.
True or False?
People taking six or more daily medications are more likely to have a negative drug interaction.
TRUE:- Wayne Anderson, dean of the State University of New York School of Pharmacy, notes that patients who take at least six drugs a day have an 80% chance of experiencing a negative drug-drug interaction. Even more alarmingly, about 7,000 people die from medication errors each year – about 16% more deaths than occur from work-related injuries.
While some people have medical conditions that require the use of complicated drug regimens, it’s best to use the fewest medications possible. Prescription drugs are double-edged swords and always must be handled with care.
Here’s an example of one drug-drug interaction to be wary of: People taking cholesterol-lowering statins should not use antiboiotics related to erythromycin; that combination can cause dangerously high blood levels of the statin drug as well as muscle soreness.
FECPPSG Editor’s Note:- When I saw this article and thought it would be a good one for the newsletter, I also thought it would be a good idea to show it to a pharmacist friend of mine to see if the article read true. My friend told me it did but to remind everyone that they should always check with their doctors before taking any new over-the-counter drugs, and also to make sure that their medications don’t interact with each other. She also said that if you go to the Google search engine on your computer and put the name of the drug in, you can get a lot of information.
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The following poem was sent to me by a long-time member, Jack Briggs. Thanks, Jack.
ONE DAY AT A TIME
A SUNSET TO REMEMBER
By Jack Briggs
Appreciate the view that has come your way
For tomorrow brings yet another day.
Clear your mind of every thought, except for the wonderful colors the sunset has brought.
Whenever life seems to be passing you by, STOP, take a moment and look at the sky.
It’s usually the end of a very hectic day, when toward the horizon your eyes may stray.
Invite someone to sit down with you;
It’s a special moment for your loved ones, too.
The colors may change from sunset to sunset,
But this peacefulness you will never forget.
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The below was e-mailed to me and I thought it most apropos to how many of us feel.
I would add one line (before the “and”) to it – something to the effect that we now
“wheel around” more than “walk around!!”
Just remember...
We are more valuable than any
of the younger generations because:
We have silver in our hair.
We have gold in our teeth.
We have stones in our kidneys.
We have lead in our feet.
and.....
We are loaded with natural gas.
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UPCOMING CONFERENCES
New Jersey Polio Survivors – Annual Conference on April 3, 2005 – Hilton Hasbrouck Heights/Meadowlands Hotel in New Jersey. Watch for details.
Post-Polio Health International – Ninth International Conference – June 2 to 4, 2005 – Marriott St Louis Downtown: Strategies for Living Well. For further information call 314-534-0475 or info@post-polio.org.
FECPPSG Editor’s Note:- I will be attending this particular conference. Attendees come from almost all 50 states and many foreign countries.
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The following “poems” were given to me by my brother – Thanks, bro.
A FRIEND
A friend is a person who is “for you” always, under any circumstances.
He never investigates you when charges are made against you, he does not ask proof.
He asks the accuser to clear out.
He likes you just as you are. He does not want to alter you.
He likes your moods and enjoys your pessimism as much as your optimism.
He likes your success. And your failure endears you to him the more.
He is better than a lover because he is never jealous.
He wants nothing from you except that you be yourself.
He is the one being with whom you can feel safe. With him you can
utter your heart, its badness and its goodness.
There are many faithful wives and husbands, there are few faithful friends.
Friendship is the most admirable, amazing and rare article among human beings.
Anybody can stand by you when you are right. A friend stands by you even when
you are wrong.
A friend is like the shade of a great tree in the noonday heat.
A friend is like the home port, with your country’s flag flying, after
a long journey.
A friend is an impregnable citadel of refuge in the strife of existence.
It is he who keeps alive your faith in human nature that makes you
believe it is a good universe.
He is an antidote for despair, the elixir of home, the tonic for depression.
When you are vigorous and spirited you like to take your pleasures with him.
When you are in trouble you want to tell him, when you are dying you
you want him near.
You give to him without reluctance and borrow from him without embarrassment.
If you live fifty years and find one absolute friend you are fortunate.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
WHAT IS A FRIEND
A friend is someone who is there
when my face is filled with sunshine,
yet doesn’t leave when my soul is in dark despair.
A friend is someone who is honest with me
even when the truth hurts,
yet encourages me to keep growing and doing my best.
A friend is someone who may live far away
in physical distance, yet is always close
when the heart starts measuring the miles.
A friend is someone who meets many needs in my life,
yet never demands more from my life
than I willingly give.
A friend is what I want to be to others
and what I can be if I but remember to first
be a friend myself.
***************************************
FLORIDA EAST COAST POST-POLIO SUPPORT GROUP
12 ECLIPSE TRAIL
ORMOND BEACH, FL 32174-4936
386 676-2435 e-mail:- bgold@iag.net