(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
June 8, 2023
February 10, 2023
Medicine 4 The Masses
What I want to know is what are in the 3 BIG vials at the top (in blue, green, and orange)? ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Medicine 4 The Masses
November 1, 2021
Sleep Apnea and Respiratory Disorders
You can get full face, nasal mask (2 versions), or nasal "pillows".
How does one choose? I guess your doctor knows.
Looks challenging to try and sleep with these, but I guess you may have to do what you have to do.
At least, there are therapeutic options these days, and hopefully many more in the future for all the illnesses out there! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
(Note: Not intended as medical advice in any way!)
Sleep Apnea and Respiratory Disorders
October 20, 2021
Politically Incorrect Ointment
Didn't think any legitimate product would actually be named "Butt Paste."
Can you imagine going up to the pharmacist and asking:
Do you have any butt paste?
Pharmacist:
Oh yes, it's in Aisle 7. Do you want me to show you where it is?
Now, we're really going down a rabbit's hole! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Politically Incorrect Ointment
August 26, 2021
Anti-Dentite, Like Pulling Teeth
Notice the dentist has his foot up to get some leverage to pull out the teeth, yikes!
I guess this is how things were in the "olden days."
No Anesthesia either!
I'm sure in a hundred years from now, they'll look at our state of healthcare and laugh too.
Progress is a great thing! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Anti-Dentite, Like Pulling Teeth
June 18, 2021
Dr Merry-Go-Round
He mentioned that no doctor wants to take responsibility for the patient anymore.
Maybe that's why they punt to other doctors and have big medical malpractice insurance.
But he said something really interesting...
"You wind up going on doctor merry-go-round until you [actually] find someone willing to help..."
One doctor sends you to another doctor and this one sends you to that specialist and it goes on and on.
Sometimes they just can't figure out what's wrong.
Usually comes across as trial-and-error or a process of elimination.
But then if they don't want to deal with you or don't know what's wrong or how to treat they pass you off to the next doctor and so on, and so on.
I suppose to a certain extent it makes sense because medicine like many technical fields is very specialized now-a-days.
But how much is it the specialization stuff and how much is it that they just don't want to deal with the hard stuff or don't want the liability.
Dr. Merry-Go-Round takes you on a very nauseous ride and makes it tough sometimes to get the care you need. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Dr Merry-Go-Round
March 31, 2021
Covid Ultimate Mr. Clean
Not as good looking as the muscular bald guy.
But I have a feeling this colorful character gets the job done.
I wonder if Mr. Clean was transformed into this guy after he took the vaccine!
I had the first dose yesterday, and I'm feeling horrible today.
Hopefully, it will all be worth it. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Covid Ultimate Mr. Clean
March 1, 2021
Lots of Lenses
So many prescription strengths.
Trial and error to figure out what is the right one.
Hold it up to your eye or flip it into the machine.
How's things looking now?
A little stronger, no a little weaker.
Wait, stronger.
No, weaker.
Ah this is nuts.
How can I even see what the heck I am choosing.
Seeing is believing. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Lots of Lenses
January 20, 2021
Walking Dead: Can't Wait
24 more episodes of killing the crazy zombies.
Everyone's got to hold on and survive in a world that is in full apocalypse mode.
It doesn't take much for society to revert to biblical Sodom and Gomorrah where the wheels come completely off the proverbial bus.
We should know because aside from advances in technology and medicine, a lot of the world is well on the way there! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Walking Dead: Can't Wait
January 2, 2021
Covid May Be Over When Pigs Can Fly
Don't be fooled by the Covid vaccines.
Aside from the very disappointing and dysfunctional rollout so far (less than 3 millions first doses in the time that they promised 20 million), the virus is mutating!
Hence the new yet more contagious Covid virus now going around.
I wouldn't get my hopes up too high on the results of the vaccine quite yet.
Hype is the opioid of the masses.
Like the flu, Covid may be over when pigs can fly. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Covid May Be Over When Pigs Can Fly
January 1, 2021
Horrors in U.S. Healthcare
But I am hearing that Covid is spiraling around just about every family that I know now.
The new most contagious Covid variant is in at least 3 states, but I would suspect it's in all of them by now. We'll find that out way after the fact.
G-d only knows whether the Covid vaccines will work on the mutated Coronavirus and how this will impact the runaway pandemic. Will it be back to the Vaccine drawing board?
While many healthcare workers have been extraordinary during these difficult times, I've been appalled at some recent cases of horrible care.
Example 1:
Went to CVS Minute Clinic, they gave me some antibiotics, but said go this afternoon for a Covid test, which I had already booked prior at another CVS location that does the tests.
I drive 10 miles sick to go there, and when I arrive they tell me, they don't have my appointment anymore even though I show them "black and white" my confirmation! "The system must've kicked you out because you were at another CVS earlier in the day." I said, I need to be tested, and they were adamant that there was nothing they could do. Their completely incompetent store manager told me to call and make another appointment for another day. I said, I waited two days for this appointment, drove ten miles, and waited a long time on line. He said, that's too bad and I should call the 800 number if I wasn't happy. I said, it's your mistake, so you call the 800 number. I told him I wasn't leaving the line until they resolved this. The manager was a rude SOB, but finally one of the pharmacists said the nurse can put me back in the system and they would in fact see me.
Well, lo and behold, a day passes, and I get a call the test didn't work. Make another appointment. Ok, now I really have no choice. I go to another CVS, this one was actually much better and gave comprehensive instructions on how to take the Covid test. So much for good CVS and bad CVS!
Example 2:
Someone else in my family was sick and also goes to the CVS Minute Clinic. They give her not much more than Tylenol. But tell her to make another appointment to take care of her ear. She makes an appointment, and I take her to yet another CVS location the next day. Well guess what, the Physician's Assistant refuses to treat her ear. He sits us down and tells us that he has a wife and kids at home and doesn't want to possibly get Covid since she was at the Minute Clinic the day before. I explain that all they gave her was Tylenol. He says, "Anything can be Covid! And I'm not going to go in the room to clean out the ear for maybe 20 to 30 minutes." Well then why in the hell did this guy go into the medical profession?
Example 3:
I contact another pharmaceutical outlook (not CVS) for a prescription. They quote me $2,500 dollars. I say "That's 10 tens what they usually charge me so there must be a typo." Oh no, that's the price for the branded drug. Maybe you meant the generic which is only $250! Same drug but ten times the price!
I'm sorry folks our healthcare system in the U.S. is very broken indeed. By calling attention to these things, I hope to bring positive change for all our sakes. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Horrors in U.S. Healthcare
December 28, 2020
Vaccine: Too Little Too Late
So just about everyone I know now has Covid going all around them.
Heard from 2 people in the last 2 days, and yet a 3rd person that died miserably from it this past week.
Aside from almost 120,000 currently hospitalized, including 20,000 in the ICU, this thing is spinning rapidly out of control!
I am now convinced that by the time they get the vaccine out (and it's going awfully slowly so far), it will be too little too late and almost everyone will already have had Covid.
Incredible how many billions of dollars have been spent on the vaccine research, manufacturing, and now on the distribution, and frankly it will have been another great big wasted boondoggle.
Vaccinate away...despite the valiant efforts by many, it's basically a throwaway for this round of the virus, and it all points to our woeful state of unpreparedness to begin with! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Pixabay)
Vaccine: Too Little Too Late
November 19, 2020
Vaccine Fears
They tell me that the news is reporting 95% effectiveness and then they pull out their smartphone and show me a cartoon of someone taking the vaccine and their face is all deformed (I won't go into the details).
So I ask him:
Are you going to talk the vaccine?
He says:
"No!"
I ask:
Do you take the flu vaccine?
Again he says :
No, it's poison!
He thinks some more and says (jokingly, I believe):
And if some big burly guys try to hold me down and make me take it, I'll tell them I'm gonna go out and get a gun and come back tomorrow and shoot them.
Bottom line: there is some real fear and apprehension out there about these vaccines.
And surely, some people do have negative effects--whatever that percentage is.
Personally, I will take the vaccine. I would rather try and fail (hopefully not), than never try at all!
How long the vaccine is effective for--that's another matter all together. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Vaccine Fears
October 7, 2020
The Vise of Migraines
Yet it's, perhaps, not as bad as your typical horrible migraine.
Actually, the pressure of a vise-like feeling may actually provide some sort of sick relief.
Migraine headaches can be so incredibly debilitating.
This guy looks like he needs to close the lights and lay down before his head pops!
Consider taking some medication as per your doctor, ice packs also helpful, close your eyes, and say a prayer. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
The Vise of Migraines
August 22, 2020
No, It's Not Fort Knox
I don't think I've ever seen this many surveillance cameras in one relatively small room that's not related to national security!
And there were even more cameras around me--they were freakin everywhere.
I get that people are afraid and want security, but seriously over a dozen cameras in the entry/waiting room to see a doctor!
Did someone go a little overboard here?
Maybe they had a bad experience, who knows.
Still, this is beyond dystopian and never a private moment shall one have! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
No, It's Not Fort Knox
July 29, 2020
Good One for Rosh Hashanah
But this is a good one for Rosh Hashanah in 2 months.
Got to contain the spray from the blowing of the shofar.
It's a coronavirus time of year. ;-)
(Source Photo: Facebook)
Good One for Rosh Hashanah
July 25, 2020
Even Dogs Wear Masks
- If giver doesn't wear mask and receiver does - 70% chance of transmission
- If giver wears mask and receiver doesn't - 5% chance of transmission
- If giver wears mask and receiver wears mask - 1.5% chance of transmission
That's doggie good statistics to avoid the Coronavirus plague.
People can learn just like dogs. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Even Dogs Wear Masks
July 2, 2020
Forgot To Bring Blood
Lady pokes my arm, and nothing comes out.
She moves the point of the needle around and around-- still no blood.
She says: "Hey, it's your fault!"
I say:
You're right, no one told me that I was supposed to bring blood with me today.
She looks up and says, "Okay let's try the other arm!"
Then she spanks the arm...and I blurt out laughing, "hey do that again!"
Then poke, poke, and the blood easily fills a half dozen tubes.
She's said, "You see that worked!"
I said:
I only brought blood in my right arm today!
If I could read her mind: "Ok, get the F*** out of the office."
But she was nice and actually says, "You can get your results in about 3 days." ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Forgot To Bring Blood
May 4, 2020
Matzo Ball Soup For The Soul
Our moms for centuries have preached chicken soup whenever you didn't feel well or felt like you may be coming down with something.
Hmm...I wonder if it even works on Coronavirus. Heck, I'd try it for sure. LOL
From an alternative medicine perspective, like it says on the package:
It's penicillin in a pot.
Anyway, I thought this package kit of matzo ball soup was pretty cute.
With the old lady that looks like she's about to fall in the soup saying:
Good. Not as good as mine. But good.
Hey, I guess there is no package matzo ball soup that is going to be as good as homemade.
Especially as I was taught that the magic ingredient is not chicken, but love! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Matzo Ball Soup For The Soul
May 2, 2020
Bacteria Vs. Virus--The Cure!
The enemy of my enemy is my friend
Both bacteria and viruses are enemies of people in that they often make us sick.
If they can make us sick, why can't they be used to fight and make each other sick (i.e. destroy each other).
Thus, bacteria can be our friend, if we use them to destroy viruses, like Coronavirus.
Why can't we create a "virus-eating bacteria" (and vice versa "bacteria-eating virus") to destroy these little monsters that are infecting and killing us?
Let our enemies kill each other! ;-)
(Credit Graphic: Andy Blumenthal)
Bacteria Vs. Virus--The Cure!