Last Viewed Health Blogs (951)

I'd never heard of this before - insulin for non-diabetics, as a way to lose weight. A man in his early 70s that I know has recently started it, because his overweight daughter did. I looked it up, and seems there's quite a trend, mainly in the US. They are not in the US but their doctor is providing the stuff and monitoring quantities and, presumably, their health.

Changing the body's chemical make-up - AND knowing that diabetics struggle to rid themselves of stored bellyfat when they start on insulin - is surely not a great idea, but father and daughter are both very happy so far with reduced appetite and steady weightloss, don't mind the occasional attack of biliousness. Both are pretty large.

Anyone know more pros and cons - literally asking for a friend, since his wife (a naturally skinny wench who therefore Doesn't Understand How Hard It Is To Lose Weight) is absolutely appalled.

Retired Staff Sgt. Johnny "Joey" Jones recounts the harrowing day in which he lost both of his legs in an unexpected IED explosion in Afghanistan. Join Jones as he reflects on his time as a United States Marine EOD technician and experience the infectious positivity that has been capturing the hearts of so many who hear his story.

Twelve years ago this week I was lying on a foreign battlefield in the rural Helmand Province of Afghanistan.

Just moments before I had rendered safe or disarmed an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) or “homemade bomb” and was talking to the Marine providing security for me, Cpl. Daniel Greer.

In the blink of an eye, my life, Daniel’s life and the lives of those we love changed forever.

As I put my helmet and ballistic glasses back on to move towards my patrol, I took a step with my right foot away from a short wall I was leaning against.

My foot landed on a buried IED, activating it and sending me cartwheeling through the air, conscious and without legs.

I landed on my back.

As the dust settled I could tell my legs were gone, just past them, I could see Cpl. Greer lying on his stomach, motionless.

I reach up to my left shoulder for a tourniquet with my right hand but my forearm was severed and my hand lay limp in my lap.

My left arm was under me and I could feel it.

As my body went into shock I realized my efforts should be directed at helping the Marines coming to retrieve us.

The rest of that day is blurry at best. -- I’ve been told some details but that’s all the memories I have.

That day, August 6th, 2010, isn’t the day I lost my legs, it’s the day I lived. It's my “Alive Day.”

Now looking back a full decade since that day I have to acknowledge some hard truths.

First, Cpl. Greer didn’t survive that bomb.

I might’ve done something different and he’d still be here but war is ruthless, indiscriminate and final. There are no second chances, looking backs or better next times.

It's just life and death and what’s left.

Secondly, I’ll never have legs again. I’ll always feel the indescribable pain of nerves pulsing trying to find a piece of me that’s no long there.

The throbbing aching of skin and bone grinding against my prosthetics and the unrelenting frustration of needing a helping hand for the most basic of tasks.

Lastly, the pain and emotional toll that day took on my fellow Marines, our families and friends is a difficult burden to bear.

Yet, these truths, as painful and negative as they are, aren’t without positive outcomes and blessing.

Yes, Cpl. Greer died that day but now I owe it to him to live a full and good life. To pay his sacrifice forward and see his legacy fulfilled.

His widow is now my dear friend. His son is a sprouting young man who is the same age as mine.

I think health is 1, and all other things we are good at in life are zeros, no matter how many things you are good at, without health, everything turn out to be zero.

So around 8:30am yesterday while I was still sleeping my doorbell rang. Aroused by the sound I yelled just a moment and slipped on some pants. I heard a familiar voice respond with an okay. My land use tenants.

I had rewired my electric circuit panel and installed a 30 amp 110v GFI plug outside (using 8.2 AWG Romex and an appropriate circuit breaker) outside the house and for a monthly fee permitted a friendly former dancer to park her large, towed RV motor home (you may depending on where you live call it a towed Caravan trailer) as a place to live. She had a well to do husband and when he passed she liquidated much and bought the mobile home as a place to live. It is big enough so that whatever tows it needs what is called a 5th wheel to tow it. Ultimately after bouncing around awhile she decided on the Shenandoah Valley as a place to settle. To alieviate boredom, much as I had done a few years ago gotten a job at the local 711. Local parking rates for such large RVs can approach (US) $70 a day. When she mentioned this to the store owner it was suggested she contact me, and a mutually acceptable financial deal was struck with a parking lease agreement and advance payment resulting.

It was an effort to get her RV in place due to some low laying tree branches. But they were removed and a good water and power connection was made. She was happy with the secluded location we chose. A posted entrance and screened by tree hedgerows totally invisible from the road. Deer, rabbits, turkey greet her every morning. Gorgeous sunsets. Hunting allowed. Close enough to work to walk. A parking place for her car. WiFi, etcc.

In the past 6 months we have become reasonably friendly. I have a private jogging trail she uses to stay trim. Her shape is not displeasing. She does her own mowing around her camper. When home her electric current draw is at most 24 amps. The electric bill is included in the rent of the space, Her music taste is similar to my own.

So the purpose of her visit was to invite me to a barbecue she was planning for evening. Althoujgh early for me, she had just gotten off work at the store, so I offered her a cold one. She accepted and we went outside to the chairs on my front porch,, me with coffee, her with a tall Twisted Tea. I asked her to hold on while I got my cigarettea (also to put on my flip flops). While iside I heard her screaming my name. I yelled out throush a window what is wrong. She yelled back she needed help. Come here now. My land has mostly gentle animals, but it also has animals that eat them. Bear, Eastern Coyote (aka Red Wolf), occasional mountain lions seeking a mate too. .Or there may have been a human trespasser on my posted lands she was confronting. Either way it couldn't be good, so I grabbed an appropriate gun and went to help her. She wasn't where I had left her. I yelled where are you and she said, at my trailer. I ran over there and found her on the ground clutching her arm which had a new bend between wrist and elbow.

I asked what happened and she said I fell on my steps. She had decided to retrieve her own smoking materials while I got my cigarettes. Before coming to my door she had gone home and changed out of her work outfit to something more stylish which included women's cowboy line dancing boots to match the desired western cowgirl look. Those boots are made for dancing on a dance floor. The soles are slick leather. The steps to her home are polished metal, still damp with the morning dew. She had fumbled for her key while ascending the steps when her foot slipped. As she went down she out thrust her arm to protect her face from the steel step edge. Her hand slipped off the top step and into the space above the next step as she continued to fall. Her arm was not a crowbar. Her momentum resulted in the trapped arm breaking.
End Pt I. =continued-

so much in my head

And got a piece of toejam that tasted so sweet

Sweat forms on my forehead in beads

I secure my feet
CAUTION" the sign said, "Danger of slipping"

Smashed nuts, you're in pain

but on the other hand, sometimes it's just plain boring.

It came out on 3/31/2020 which is today's date.

Physician David Drew Pinsky, commonly referred to as Dr. Drew, slammed the media in a CBS News interview late last week, saying that it is responsible for causing the American public to panic, which is hurting businesses and people.

Are you aspecting any cards that day ?

There's a narrow 2-lane road leading to the county park where I'm often seen with friends on weekends. Typically, I arrive between 9 or 10am and find it amazing to see the same guy walking along the way to the park. From the main road into the park and back is no less than four miles... doable for someone at a slow pace. The guy wears a floppy-style safari hat, t-shirt and shorts... typical to many of the people who go to the park. The thing most distinguishable about him is his hunchback-like posture. You can spot him from 100 yards as his head and neck are forward and he's usually looking downward. Only once in all the times I've seen him did he look up and acknowledge me as I drove by.

I admire someone so ritual in his exercise plan that I've nicknamed him 'Walker' as he's probably in his 70's and doesn't appear to have any body fat. Bravo!

As kids, do you remember an elder correcting you if you leaned over in a slouched position that could cause bad posture that would affect you as an adult? I do. Yeah, there are times where people have congenital problems that cannot be avoided. Other issues come from machine operators where one side of the body gets stress causing the body to be twisted. I knew a guitarist who played classical guitar for hours upon hours and his posture from so many years holding the instrument had his body twisted that required chiropractic treatments to help straighten his shoulders.

When I see someone with a hunchback, I'm always reminded to SIT STRAIGHT!

As a public health measure, I sometimes encourage women who smoke in their efforts to quit. Some are nurses, and many have little ones at home. Few are matches, the habit correlating so strongly with low levels of income and education. Sure, I've received some angry responses. It's none of my business. Not true, as it costs us all in insurance costs. Most say they are trying, but that it isn't easy, and they are right. It is hard to quit, but lots of help is available on line, in your provider's office, etc. And health care providers just expressing concern about a patient's smoking results in a small but real number of smokers moving in better directions of their health. Quitting the coffin nails is one of the best things you can do for your kids, family, finances and yourself.