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NO
MEETINGS IN JULY AND AUGUST
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CONTENTS
From Barbara
Two Patients
National Stroke Awareness Month
Seven Easy Ways for a Healthier Future
Theft Warning
Member Response to Survey
Female Heart Attacks
Keeping Safe in the
Tips to Keep your Skin Healthy
Tips to Beat the Heat
Statins
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FROM BARBARA
Well, I went on a bus trip over Memorial Weekend to the west coast of
The first day we went to the Hard Rock Casino in
The second day the bus made a couple of stops at shopping areas and, as
I really didn’t need anything and didn’t want to do the bus steps more than I
had to, I stayed on board. We then went
to a Holiday Inn whose handicap room was also good and here they did have a
roll-in shower. They even had an ironing
board and iron – but the iron was so high up that it would be impossible for
someone in a chair to reach it.
Just an aside – both Holiday Inns had king size beds in them. Why can’t we make the hotel/motel industry
understand that many disabled don’t travel with spouses or significant others
but with caretakers who we really don’t want to share a bed with. Both Holiday Inns offered to put a fold-up
bed in for us, but that takes away space that we need for our scooters or
wheelchairs.
That second night we went to a dinner theatre in
Now, the highlight of the bus tour – the next day we went to the
In order to do bus trips like this it is most important that the tour
director and the bus driver know that you use a scooter and are willing
to be there to assist you when needed.
Also took another plane trip to Long Island, this time taking a scooter
back – it’s important to call the airline at least 48 hours before your flight
and remind (or tell) them that you are bringing a scooter or power chair on and
what type of batteries it uses. I had
forgotten this on my previous trip to
Believe it or not, I took the newer scooter to leave on Long Island and
am now using the older (1998) one here – reason:- the
mechanics needed for the remote door in the back of the mini-van took up too
much room for the slightly larger new scooter and I had a harder time putting
it in and taking it out of the mini-van so I decided that as the older scooter
works perfectly, why knock myself out each time I needed to take the scooter
out. Remember we now have to “conserve
it to preserve it” – and that’s what I decided to do.
No problems going up or coming back down to
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The below was e-mailed to us by member Bob Barry. Thanks, Bob – also, unfortunately its most likely true.
Two
patients
Two patients limp into two different
medical clinics with the same complaint. Both have trouble walking and appear
to
require a hip replacement.
The FIRST patient is examined within the hour, is x-rayed the same day and has
a time booked for surgery the following week.
The SECOND sees his family doctor after waiting 3 weeks for an appointment,
then waits 8 weeks to see a specialist, then gets an x-ray, which isn't
reviewed for another week, and finally has his surgery scheduled for a month
from then.
Why the different treatment for the
two patients?
The FIRST is a Golden Retriever.
The SECOND is a Senior Citizen.
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In today’s mail (May 30th) I
received the May/June issue of
Celebrate
May as
National
Stroke Awareness Month
Learn
how to prevent strokes and
the warning signs to look for.
Nearly
five million people in the
Strokes
are a leading cause of death and disability in older patients. For each decade after age 55, the risk of
stroke doubles for men and women. The good news is 80 percent of all strokes
are preventable.
This
is the perfect time to familiarize yourself with the
warning signs of strokes and learn how they can be prevented.
What is a stroke?
A
stroke or “brain attack” occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery or a blood
vessel breaks, interrupting blood flow to an area of the brain. This deprives oxygen to the brain, which
causes brain cells to die, and brain damage to occur.
When
brain cells die during a stroke, abilities controlled by that area of the brain
are lost. These abilities include
speech, movement and memory. How a
stroke patient is affected depends on where the stroke occurs in the brain and
how much of the brain is damaged.
If
the symptoms of a stroke resolve within an hour to 24 hours, the diagnosis is
transient ischemic attack (TIA), which is commonly called a mini or brief
stroke. This kind of attack may be a
warning sign that you may develop strokes in the future. More than one-third of all people who have
experienced a TIA will go on to have an actual stroke. Research shows there is about a 10 to 15
percent chance of suffering a stroke in the year following a TIA. Consult with your physician to reduce your
chances of suffering an ischemic stroke.
Warning signs
The
symptoms of stroke depend on the type of stroke and the area of the brain
affected.
Common stroke symptoms include:
·
Sudden
numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg (especially on one side of the body);
·
Sudden
confusion, trouble speaking or understanding;
·
Sudden
trouble seeing in one or both eyes;
·
Sudden
trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; or
·
Sudden
severe headache with no known cause.
Severity of symptoms
can differ depending on the size of the stroke.
Patients who have a small stroke may experience only minor problems such
as weakness of an arm or leg. People who
have larger strokes may be paralyzed on one side or lose their ability to
speak.
A stroke is a medical
emergency. The longer blood flow is shut
off to the brain, the greater the damage.
Knowing how to recognize the symptoms of a stroke is important because
every minute counts. Immediate treatment
can save lives and enhance the chance of a full recovery.
Risk factors
The risk factors for stroke include
increasing age, family history, race, prior strokes, high blood pressure;
cigarette smoking, diabetes, heart disease and excessive alcohol consumption.
One
of the most significant stroke risk factors is age. Ninety-five percent of strokes occur in
people age 45 and older, and two-thirds of strokes occur in those over the age
of 65.
According
to a study by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke,
older adults with sleep apnea may face a more than doubled risk of stroke. Researchers found undiagnosed sleep apnea
increased the risk of stroke by 2.5 times among the older adults.
If
you eat right, exercise regularly, don’t smoke, and manage illnesses such as
high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes, you can greatly lower your
chances of suffering a stroke.
Recovery
While
it is possible to recover completely from a stroke, more than two-thirds of
survivors will have some type of disability.
The effects of a stroke range from mild to severe and can include
paralysis, problems with thinking, problems with
speaking and emotional problems.
Numbness or pain may occur in patients who have suffered a stroke.
Rehabilitation
is an important part of recovering from a stroke. Through rehabili-tation,
patients can relearn or regain basic skills such as speaking, eating, dressing
and walking. Rehabilitation starts in
the hospital as soon as possible after the stroke and may begin within two days
after the stroke has occurred. Home
therapy or out-patient therapy usually continues as necessary after leaving the
hospital.
While
there are many rehabilitative treatments for strokes, the best way to keep yourself healthy is prevention.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Myths About Strokes
·
Strokes
are unpreventable.
·
Strokes
cannot be treated.
·
Strokes
only strike the elderly.
·
Stokes
happens to the heart.
·
Stroke
recovery only happens for a few months following a stroke.
Reality Checks About Strokes
·
Strokes
are largely preventable.
·
Strokes
require emergency treatment.
·
Strokes
can happen to anyone.
·
Strokes
are a “Brain Attack”.
·
Stroke
recovery continues throughout life.
Source: National Stroke Association
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Another one from Elder Update’s
May/June 2007 issue –
Seven Easy Ways You Can
Make
Choices for a Healthier
Future
It
is easier than you might think to live healthfully. Making small changes in your everyday life
can allow you to live healthier and feel better. Following these seven tips will help you
start feeling better today!
1. Work out
It is never too late to start moving
more. Physical activity can help manage
health problems like arthritis, osteoporosis and heart disease. It can keep your body flexible, keep your bones
and muscles strong, keep your heart and lungs healthy and control high blood
sugar. Doctors say even 10 minutes of
physical activity a day is enough to make health improvements.
2. Exercise your mind
Just like your body needs exercise to stay strong, your mind also needs
a work out from time to time. One way to
keep your mind sharp is by continuing to challenge yourself. An active brain produces new connections between
nerve cells that allow cells to communicate with each other more effectively. This makes storing and retrieving information
easier. Try learning to play a musical
instrument, play a game or complete a crossword puzzle, learn a foreign
language, take a class, read a book or start up a new hobby.
3. Adopt a positive outlook
Your attitude has a lot to do with how good you feel, but it may also
impact how long you live. A study by the
Mayo Clinic found that optimistic people decreased their risk of early death by
50 percent.
4. Adopt a Pet
According to the Center for Interaction of Animals and Society, animals
can help you more effectively handle stress and survive a heart attack. Owning a pet may help reduce stress, assist
in dealing with grief and loss, make depression less likely, and often
increased feelings of personal security.
5. Take a nap
Taking a nap in the middle of the day can decrease your chances of a
heart attack. According to a study by
the American Medical Association, people who napped occasionally had a 12
percent lower risk of dying from heart disease and those who napped regularly
had a 37 percent lower risk.
6. Volunteer
Helping out in your community is a great way to stay connected. A study by the
7. Go nuts
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration suggests
that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts, as part of a diet low in saturated
fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease. Though nuts are a higher-fat food, they
contain heart-healthy unsaturated fat and may help lower low-density lipoprotein
levels (LDL), which is often called “bad cholesterol.” Try eating a handful of walnuts or almonds a
day. They are especially nutritious
because they are low in saturated fat and contain calcium and potassium.
FECPPSG Editor’s Note:- Remember, these “tips” are written for able-bodied
seniors. Please be careful when
following some of these “tips.”
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The following was e-mailed to me
earlier this year. Even though it’s
geared to the female body, I think some men can most likely relate to it. Barbara
THEFT
WARNING FOR WOMEN
Most of you have read
the scare-mail about the person whose kidneys were stolen while he was passed
out. Well, read on. While the kidney story was an urban legend, this one is
not. It's happening every day.
My thighs were stolen from me during the night a few years ago. It was just
that quick. I went to sleep in my body and woke up with someone else's thighs.
The new ones had the texture of cooked oatmeal. Who would have done such a
cruel thing to legs that had been mine for years? Whose thighs were these and
what happened to mine? Hurt and angry, I resigned myself to living out my life
in jeans and Sheer Energy pantyhose.
Then, just when my guard was down, the thieves struck again. My butt was next.
I knew it was the same gang, because they took pains to match my new rear end
to the thighs they stuck me with earlier. I couldn't believe that my new butt
was attached at least three inches lower than my original. Now, my rear complemented
my legs, lump for lump. Frantic, I prayed that long skirts would stay in
fashion.
It was two years ago when I realized
my arms had been switched. One morning I was fixing my hair and I watched
horrified but fascinated as the flesh of my upper arms swung to and fro with
the motion of the hairbrush. This was really getting scary. My body was being
replaced one section at a time. How clever and fiendish.
Age? Age had nothing to do with it. Age is
supposed to creep up, unnoticed, something like maturity. NO, I was being
attacked repeatedly and without warning.
In despair, I gave up my T-shirts.
What could they do to me next?
My poor neck suddenly disappeared faster than the Thanksgiving turkey it now
resembled. That's why I decided to tell my story. I can't take on the medical
profession by myself.
Women of the world...
WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE!
That really isn't plastic that those surgeons are using. You KNOW where they
are getting those replacement parts, don't you? The next time you suspect someone
has had a face "lifted," look again. Was it lifted from you? I think I finally found my thighs-- and I
hope that Cindy Crawford paid a really good price for them!
This is not a hoax! This is happening to women in every town... every night!
WARN YOUR FRIENDS!
P.S. I must say that last year I thought someone had stolen my breasts. I was
lying in bed and they were gone!!!! As I
jumped out of bed, I was relieved to see that they had just been hiding in my
armpits as I slept. Now I keep them hidden in my waistband.
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In our last newsletter
there was a survey “article” by the
Thanks, Rita.
===================
Member Response to Survey
How old are
you? 69 years.
What was your previous
occupation? Secretary for Western Electric for 6 years,
stay-at-home Mom for 17 years, part-time travel agent for 15 years.
How long have you known
you have post polio syndrome? 18-20 years
What would you like the
public to know about post polio? First of all, I'd like them to know that
there is such a thing. Most people are totally unaware. I'd like them to
realize that even though most of us "keep on going",
we suffer from weakness, pain and fatigue. That our present problems are
not just "growing older", but something we overcame years ago,
and now are struggling with again.
What hurts the most
psychologically or emotionally about having post polio? Not being able to
do many things I used to be able to do; having to miss out on activities
because I'm not sure about accessibility; having to set priorities on what I
can accomplish in a day; not being able to get into people's homes because
of steps. People not understanding how
difficult it is for me to get around.
What frustrates you the
most about your post polio? The resentment able-bodied people show when
special accommodation is made for handicapped people; i.e., going to the head
of the line, etc.
The discourtesy many show by stepping directly in front of my
wheelchair, failing to hold doors open when they see me coming.
(This applies to other disabled people also.)
What special or adaptive
equipment do you use to participate in normal living?
Braces on both legs, forearm crutches, back corset; wheelchair when traveling.
Grab bars in shower, raised toilet seat with rails, can only sit in chairs with
arms or I can't get up.
To better explain our
differences, complete statement for up to 5 problems you experience due to PPS:
I have to pace myself and plan my day in advance in order to get through it. I
try to rest after lunch and take a short 20 minute nap; and take frequent rest
breaks. Sometimes I have "pain episodes" that can last for weeks,
other times I have no pain at all.
I
stay active with outside interests, alternating between things I can
do on my feet and "on my seat".
I have had a very good life, and continue to have a good life, despite polio
and PPS and thank God every day for the ability to get up and stand on my feet.
FECPPSG Editor’s Note:- If you would like to send us your answers to
the questionnaire, we’ll put it into the newsletter also.
**********************************************
My sincere
apologies to our member who sent me the following article.
After reading it, I forwarded it on to a cardiologist I have faith in
and who sent it back stating it was an excellent article and should go into the
newsletter – HOWEVER, the name of the original sender got deleted. Please let me know who you are so we can
credit you in the next newsletter. – Barbara
====================
FEMALE
HEART ATTACKS
Did you know that women rarely have the same dramatic
symptoms that men have when experiencing heart attack...you know, the sudden
stabbing pain in the chest, the cold sweat, grabbing the chest & dropping
to the floor that we see in the movies. Here is the story of one woman's
experience with a heart attack.
"I had a completely unexpected
heart attack at about
"After that had seemed to
subside, the next sensation was like little squeezing motions that seemed to be
racing up my SPINE (hind-sight, it was probably my aorta spasming), gaining
speed as they continued racing up and under my sternum (breast bone, where one
presses rhythmically when administering CPR). This fascinating process
continued on into my throat and branched out into both jaws.
"AHA!! NOW I stopped
puzzling about what was happening--we all have read and/or heard about pain in
the jaws being one of the signals of an MI happening, haven't we? I said
aloud to myself and the cat, "Dear God, I think I'm having a heart
attack!" I lowered the foot rest, dumping the cat from my lap, started to
take a step and fell on the floor instead. I thought to myself "If
this is a heart attack, I shouldn't be walking into the next room where the
phone is or anywhere else.......but, on the other hand, if I don't, nobody will
know that I need help, and if I wait any longer I may not be able to get up in
moment."
"I pulled myself up with the
arms of the chair, walked slowly into the next room and dialed the
Paramedics... I told her I thought I was having a heart attack due to the
pressure building under the sternum and radiating into my jaws. I didn't
feel hysterical or afraid, just stating the facts. She said she was
sending the Paramedics over immediately, asked if the front door was near to
me, and if so, to unbolt the door and then lie down on the floor where they
could see me when they came in.
"I then laid down on the floor
as instructed and lost consciousness, as I don't remember the medics coming in,
their examination, lifting me onto a gurney or getting me into their ambulance,
or hearing the call they made to St. Jude ER on the way, but I did
briefly awaken when we arrived and saw that the Cardiologist was already there
in his surgical blues and cap, helping the medics pull my stretcher out of the
ambulance. He was bending over me asking questions (probably something
like "Have you taken any medications?") but I couldn't make my mind
interpret what he was saying, or form an answer, and nodded off again, not
waking up until the Cardiologist and partner had already threaded the teeny
angiogram balloon up my femoral artery into the aorta and into my heart where
they installed 2 side by side stents to hold open my
right coronary artery.
"I know it sounds like all my
thinking and actions at home must have taken at least 20-30 minutes before
calling the Paramedics, but actually it took perhaps 4-5 minutes before the
call, and both the fire station and St. Jude are only minutes away from
my home, and my Cardiologist was already to go to the OR in his scrubs and get
going on restarting my heart (which had stopped somewhere between my arrival
and the procedure) and installing the stents.
"Why have I written all of this
to you with so much detail? Because I want all of you
who are so important in my life to know what I learned first hand."
1. Be aware that something
very different is happening in your body not the usual men's symptoms, but
inexplicable things happening (until my sternum and jaws got into the act ). It is said that many more women than men die of
their first (and last) MI because they didn't know they were having one, and
commonly mistake it as indigestion, take some Maalox or other anti-heartburn
preparation, and go to bed, hoping they'll feel better in the morning when they
wake up....which doesn't happen. My female friends, your symptoms might
not be exactly like mine, so I advise you to call the Paramedics if ANYTHING is
unpleasantly happening that you've not felt before. It is better to have
a "false alarm" visitation than to risk your life guessing what it
might be!
2. Note that I said "Call the
Paramedics". Ladies, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!
Do NOT try to drive yourself to the ER--you're a hazard to others on the road,
and so is your panicked husband who will be speeding and looking anxiously at what's
happening with you instead of the road. Do NOT call your doctor--he doesn't know where you live and if it's at
night you won't reach him anyway, and if it's daytime, his assistants (or
answering service) will tell you to call the Paramedics. He doesn't carry
the equipment in his car that you need to be saved! The Paramedics do,
principally OXYGEN that you need ASAP. Your
Dr. will be notified later.
3. Don't assume it couldn't be
a heart attack because you have a normal cholesterol count. Research has
discovered that a cholesterol elevated reading is rarely the cause of an MI
(unless it's unbelievably high,and/or
accompanied by high blood pressure.) MI's are usually caused by long-term
stress and inflammation in the body, which dumps all sorts of deadly hormones
into your system to sludge things up in there. Pain in the jaw can wake
you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive...
A cardiologist says if everyone who
gets this mail sends it to 10 people, you can be sure that we'll save at least
one life.
**Please be
a true friend and send this article to all your friends you care about.**
**********************************************
Once again reprinted
from the May/June Elder Update newsletter. This is their
“Summer Survival Guide” and still applies even though this is our July/August
issue (it also goes for the other 49 states).
Keeping
Safe in the
Skin
cancer is the most common type of cancer in the
Ultra
violet radiation from the sun is the main cause of skin cancer. There are three common types of skin cancers.
Basal cell carcinomas are the most
common, accounting for more than 90 percent of all skin cancers in the
Squamous cell carcinomas also rarely spread,
but they do so more often than basal cell carcinomas. This type of skin cancer commonly looks like
a red, scaling and thick patch on the skin.
When this type of cancer goes untreated, it can develop into a large
mass.
The
most dangerous of all cancers that occur in the skin is melanoma. Melanoma can
spread to other organs, and when it does, it’s often fatal. Most melanomas are brown or black looking
lesions. Signs that might indicate a malignant
melanoma include change in size, shape, color or elevation of a mole. The appearance of a new mole, pain, itching,
ulceration or bleeding of an existing mole should be checked.
The
good news is all skin cancers can be cured, if they are discovered and brought
to a doctor’s attention before they have a chance to spread. Make sure to check your skin regularly for
signs of abnormality. The most common
warning sign of skin cancer is a change on the skin, especially a new growth or
a sore that does not heal.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tips
to Keep Your
Skin
Healthy
The
best way to maintain healthy skin is to completely avoid prolonged sun
exposure. However, it is impossible to
avoid the dun at all times. While you
cannot erase the effects of the sun on your skin, you can easily prevent more
damage and protect yourself against sun related illness.
Stay out of the sun during peak hours
Avoid
the sun between
Use sunscreen everyday
Sunscreens
are rated according to a sun protection factor (SPF), which start at SPF2 and
reach up to SPF50+. The higher the
number means the longer the protection.
Products with at least a 15 SPF are recommended. Look for products whose label says “broad
spectrum.” This means the sunscreen
protects against both Ultra Violet A and UVB rays. Also choose a water resistant formula, which
will stay on your skin longer, even if you get wet or sweat a lot. Do not assume that buying a high SPF sunscreen
will automatically prevent sunburn, no matter how long you stay in the sun. Always remember to reapply the lotion
throughout the day if you plan to spend a long time outdoors.
Wear protective clothing
Look
for sunglasses with a label stating the glasses block 99 to 100 percent of the
sun’s rays. Wear loose, lightweight, clothing
made from natural materials like cotton when in the sun. This will allow your skin to breathe
better. Also wearing a wide-brim hat
will shade your neck, ears, eyes and head.
Check your skin often
Look
for changes in the size, shape, color, or feel of birthmarks, moles, and
spots. If you find any changes that
worry you, visit your doctor. Yearly
skin checks by a doctor are recommended as part of a regular physical exam.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tips
to Beat the HEAT
Prevention
is the best way to avoid heat related illness.
The following are some easy ways to stay cool throughout hot and humid
summer months.
1. Stay hydrated with cool non-alcoholic
beverages.
2. Wear lightweight clothing.
3. Limit strenuous physical activity.
4. Seek out air-conditioned environments.
5. Take a cool shower or bath.
6. Remain indoors during peak heat hours (
**********************************************
The following article is reprinted
with the permission of the San Francisco Bay Area Polio Survivors’ Newsletter
editor, Phyllis Hartke, who very kindly e-mailed it
to me to save my retyping it. Thank you,
Phyllis!!
STATINS:
Benefits
and Risks
For
Polio Survivors
Elizabeth Sandel,
MD;
Chief of Physical & Rehabilitative
Medicine
Kaiser Permanente Foundation,
Presentation to:
Transcribed
and by edited by Phyllis Hartke, with editorial
assistance of Stella Cade and Dr. Sandel
© Copyright
2007, SFBAPS
Reprint permission
must be obtained directly from SFBAPS. Email sfbaps@aol.com.
INTRODUCTION
When I was asked to speak I thought
that I should make this relevant to my practice and to your lives. The one
thing that kept coming to mind was the issue of statin
drugs. They are one of the most commonly prescribed medications and for good
reasons. This issue comes up a lot in my
practice, not just for people with a history of polio. Other people too also
have had symptoms that are suggestive of possible side effects to the
medication. So that is why I chose the
topic. I hope it will be of interest to
you.
I will not ask for a show of hands
of number of people who are on statins. I can imagine
probably it is in the range of 40 to 60 percent.
Q= What are nongeneric
names for statins?
A= lovastatin is Mevacor, simvastatin is Zocor, atorvastatin is Lipitor, pravastatin is Pravachol. Vytorin is actually a combination drug. Vytorin is Zetia plus