MYTHS ABOUT BOTOX

MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT BOTOX INJECTIONS:

In recent years, BOTOX has received much attention from the public. As a result, you may have heard some myths about BOTOX. This information is here to clear up some of the most common myths. Read on to get the facts about BOTOX treatment.

MYTH #1: BOTOX will give me that “frozen face” look. 

FACT:  Quite the opposite! BOTOX restores the balance in the facial muscles and creates that “relaxed” look. By injecting the right amount of BOTOX, you can reduce the fine lines and wrinkles and achieve that “soft” look.

MYTH #2: BOTOX can cause botulism. 

FACT:  BOTOX is not expected to cause botulism at the doses recommended in the labeling. The way it is given in clinical practice, BOTOX is prepared under strict quality-control standards. It is to be given to patients only by licensed Doctors or Certified Registered Nurses.

MYTH #3: “I am afraid the injections will be painful”. 

FACT:  Here I tread carefully, as we all know that pain is a very personal experience!  But to put this into perspective, your BOTOX treatment involves a few tiny injections that require no anesthesia. If this is your concern, talk to your clinician before the treatment. They can apply ice or a topical anesthetic, if this is required, although my experience has shown that this is rarely the case.  As with any injection, you may experience localized pain, tenderness, and/or bruising at the injection site. This is normal and usually mild.

MYTH #4: BOTOX treatments can cause my eye(s) to droop.

FACT: Studies have shown the risk of this side effect to be VERY RARE; less than 2%. As the effect of BOTOX is temporary, this effect will wear off in a few weeks, should it occur.

MYTH #5: I can only receive BOTOX once. 

FACT: BOTOX treatment typically lasts up to 4 months in most patients. Treatments can be safely repeated as long as your condition responds to BOTOX .

 If your between the ages of 18 and 65, you may be a candidate for Botox Cosmetic. 

 To schedule a free consultation with a Certified Registered Nurse IN THE ATLANTA AREA,

CALL 404-681-0000.

COLONOSCOPY PREP MADE EASY – TIPS FROM MY PATIENTS©

COLONOSCOPY PREP MADE EASY – TIPS FROM MY PATIENTS^©

(Based on author’s experience with more than 25,000 Colonoscopies)

CALL YOUR DOCTOR TO SCHEDULE A COLON EXAM

(IN ATLANTA AREA CALL 404 681-0000)

Frequently Asked Questions about Colonoscopy Preps (full volume)

1.       QUESTION:         What do I do if I am having trouble with the Colonoscopy Prep or if I have questions?

ANSWER:            CALL YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY IF YOU NEED HELP OR HAVE QUESTIONS  ABOUT THE COLONOSCOPY             PREP, THE TIME OR THE LOCATION OF YOUR COLONOSCOPY [In the Atlanta area, call 404 681-0000]

2.       QUESTION:         Do I have to drink the Colon Prep straight as it is or can I flavor it?

ANSWER:            YOU DON’T HAVE TO DRINK THE PREP STRAIGHT.  Try adding a small amount of your favorite clear liquid to each glass of the Prep. (Don’t worry about the sugar.  You are usually not taking enough calories to mess up your blood sugar, but if you are a Diabetic you should continue to monitor your sugar)

                                                                               a.            Apple Juice

                                                                              b.            Ginger ale

                                                                               c.            Cranberry Juice

                                                                              d.            Sprite

3.       QUESTION:         Do I have to drink all of the Colonoscopy Prep solution?

ANSWER:            YOU DON’T HAVE TO DRINK ALL OF THE COLONOSCOPY PREP IF YOU START WITH A FAIRLY CLEAN BOWEL:  Many of my patients have learned this trick:

                                                                               a.            Take a bottle of Magnesium Citrate after dinner on the night before you start your prep.  This will partially clean your Colon and make it much easier for you to get your stools clear when you are taking the Colon Prep. You can purchase the “Mag Citrate” from any supermarket or drug store

                                                                              b.              If you don’t like Mag Citrate, you can use any Laxative that you have used in the past that works for you.

4.       QUESTION:         What can I eat if I get hungry while I am taking the Colonoscopy Prep?

ANSWER:            YOU DON’T HAVE TO STARVE YOURSELF WHILE YOU DRINKING THE COLONOSCOPY PREP.  It is OK to eat any food that is a Clear liquid, no matter how many calories it contains

                                                                               a.            Clear Chicken Broth, Beef Bouillon or clear Fish Broth

                                                                              b.            Clear Jello

                                                                               c.            Clear Juices (Apple, Cranberry, Cran-Apple, Pomegranate, White Grape juice)

5.       QUESTION:         Is it OK to stop drinking the Colonoscopy Prep for a while if I start feeling too full?

ANSWER:            YES.  IT IS OK TO STOP DRINKING THE PREP FOR A WHILE IF YOU ARE FEELING FULL.  TAKE A SHORT BREAK AND WALK AROUND UNTIL YOU FEEL BETTER. HAVE SOME CLEAR LIQUID FOOD OR A CUP OF HERBAL TEA TO SETTLE YOUR  STOMACH. WHEN YOU FEEL BETTER, START DRINKING THE COLONOSCOPY PREP AGAIN.

6.       QUESTION:         Can I add Ice to the Colonoscopy Prep liquid to chill it?

ANSWER:            IT IS OK TO ADD A FEW CHIPS OF ICE TO EACH GLASS OF THE PREP BUT DO NOT ADD A LARGE AMOUNT OF  ICE TO EACH GLASS OR YOU WILL CHILL YOUR BODY AND MAKE IT HARDER TO DRINK THE PREP.

7.       QUESTION:         Why can’t I nibble on a little solid food if I get really hungry during the Colonoscopy Prep?

ANSWER:            It will mess up your Colonoscopy prep and prevent your doctor from being able to fully examine you colon.  He could miss things in your Colon like a curable early colon cancer).  IF YOU GET HUNGRY DURING THE COLONOSCOPY PREP, IT IS OK TO HAVE EXTRA CHICKEN BROTH, BEEF BROTH, CLEAR JELLO, ETC. (Please don’t cheat and nibble on solid food. 

8.       QUESTION:         Should I take my regular medicines on the morning of my Colonoscopy?

ANSWER:            NO.  YOU SHOULD BRING ALL OF YOUR MEDICINES WITH YOU TO THE OUT PATIENT SURGERY CENTER AND TELL THE NURSE THAT YOU HAVE NOT TAKEN  ANY OF YOUR MEDICINES.  THE DOCTOR WILL LET YOU KNOW IF YOU NEED TO  ANY OF THE MEDICINES 

9.       QUESTION:         Should I take my Insulin or my Diabetes medicines on the morning of my Colonoscopy?

ANSWER:            NO.  YOU SHOULD TELL THE NURSE THAT ADMITS YOU THAT YOU HAVE NOT TAKEN YOUR INSULIN.  THE NURSE WILL CHECK YOUR BLOOD SUGAR AND YOUR DOCTOR WILL GIVE YOU INSULIN IF YOU NEED IT. YOU SHOULD BRING YOUR ALL OF YOUR OTHER MEDICINES WITH YOU TO THE OUT PATIENT SURGERY CENTER

10.   QUESTION:         What do I do if I am taking ASPIRIN, PLAVIX, COUMADIN, or medicines to “thin my blood?”  Should I stop these medicines before having the Colonoscopy?

ANSWER:            YES. YOU SHOULD TELL YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT THESE MEDICINES AND STOP THE MEDICINES AS DIRECTED BY YOUR DOCTOR.  Always tell your Doctor about any Aspirin or any other “blood thinners” that you are taking.  In most cases the Doctor will ask you to stop taking the blood thinner for several days prior to your Colonoscopy and tell you steps that you can take to reduce your risk of forming blood clots during the brief period of your Colonoscopy Prep.

11.   QUESTION:         Is the Colonoscopy painful and will I be put to sleep for this procedure?

ANSWER:            THE COLONOSCOPY IS NOT PAINFUL AND YOU WILL BE PUT TO SLEEP.  You may feel a little bloated with air afterwards, but that feeling will usually pass very quickly

12.   QUESTION:         Can I drive myself home after the Colonoscopy or I need to bring someone with me to drive?

ANSWER:            YOU WILL BE WIDE AWAKE AFTER YOUR COLONOSCOPY, BUT THE LAW STATES THAT THE DOCTOR CANNOT ALLOW YOU TO DRIVE YOURSELF HOME BECAUSE OF THE MEDICINE THAT YOU WERE GIVEN TO PUT YOU TO SLEEP.   You will need to ask an adult family member or friend to drive you home.  

CALL YOUR DOCTOR IF YOU NEED HELP OR HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS

[IN THE ATLANTA AREA, CALL 404-681-0000]

COLON SCREENING CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE

A COLONOSCOPY CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE!

[Remember, this test can now be done with little or no discomfort to you]

TRUE STORY OF A PATIENT THAT REFUSED TO COMPLETE HIS COLONOSCOPY

(From patient’s sister. Name withheld to protect privacy)

“My brother’s Doctor advised him to have a Colonoscopy and gave him a Colonoscopy Prep (full liquid prep). About half-way through the Prep, he felt bloated and developed Nausea. He decided to stop the Prep and cancel the Colonoscopy without calling his doctor.  Two years later, my brother developed severe stomach pain and went back to his doctor.  He was hospitalized and had a Colonoscopy performed that showed “Stage Four Colon Cancer” – Cancer that had already spread to other organs). [Chances are good that his Colon Cancer could have been cured if he had completed his earlier Colonoscopy as instructed].  

CALL YOUR DOCTOR FOR TO SCHEDULE A COLON EXAM

(IN ATLANTA AREA CALL 404 681-0000)

Essential Oils For Flu Season

Influenza is all around...unfortunately. Flu most of times is very exhausting and unpleasant experience, but there are few things we can do to protect ourselves and speed up a recovery process. First, of course, get plenty of rest, drink enough warm liquids, stay away from sugar (which shuts down our immune system) and ask your friend, parent or spouse to make you a bowl of chicken soup!   Another very effective tool is to use Essential Oils of Eucalyptus, Lavender, Thyme, Myrtle, Pine, Lemon, Peppermint and Hyssop. These amazing oils help with nasal congestion, headaches, fever and cough. Essential Oils of Lavender, Thyme and Lemon promote production of white blood cells, which are essential to our immune system for fighting viruses and bacteria. Oils of Eucalyptus, Myrtle, Frankincense, Pine and Ravensara will help with nasal congestion and mucus. Usually, we pick up a virus in places like malls, grocery store, school where ventilation is very poor; a good prevention tool to avoid this would be to drop few drops of Essential Oils on a tissue and carry it with you throughout your busy day inhaling the vapors before stepping into crowded places.

Essential Oils rarely cause allergic reactions (unless applied undiluted directly to the skin or mucus membranes). Therefore, it's always better to consult with qualified aromatherapist. Pine, Cypress, Spruce and Cedarwood Essential Oils better to be avoided by people who are allergic to pollen.

Oils of Eucalyptus, Lavender, Myrtle and Frankincense are usually safe to be used in children (over 2 y.o) and elderly. For kids smaller amount of drops for inhalation should be used. For example - adults should use 5-7 drops of essential oil for inhalation and kids should use 2-3 drops.

All questions welcome!

Be well & stay healthy :)

Aromatherapy - Amazing Gift Of Mother Nature

What is Aromatherapy?.....It is surely has nothing to do with perfumes that are sold in malls and popular websites by posh designers like Channel or Estee Lauder or candles that are sold in grocery stores and advertised on TV.

Aromatherapy is so much more, because it comes to us directly from plants, herbs, flowers, twigs and leaves carrying their therapeutic properties and healing powers.

Aromatherapy is the science and the art of applying medicinal / therapeutic grade essential oils to bring body, mind and soul to balance.

Essential Oils have a very long history, being mentioned in the Bible and used by the ancient civilizations of China and India. In ancient Egypt, essential oils were used to embalm the dead. In India oils were and are being used for healing and spiritual development.  

While in the Bible, it was stated that the prophet Moses made anointing oils from calamus, cinnamon, myrrh and cassia. And hours before Jesus was crusified, Mary-Magdalena covered his feet with essential oil of spikenard, which produced sedative effect for him to suffer less. Aromatherapy was also extensively used by the Greeks for medical purposes and by the Romans for beauty. Frankincense and Lavender were used as a form of antiseptic during a plague in Europe.

Nowadays, essential oils used by qualified aromatherapists can help us with number of health concerns like anxiety, depression, headaches, respiratory congestion, muscle pains, lack of focus & concentration, PMS and many others.  

Please share your experience or knowledge in using essential oils. All questions and suggestions are welcome

Greetinngs

Fillers

Facial Aesthetics Program

Post Gastric Bypass Surgery

Red Bull Drink - Citing Reuters

Red Bull drink lifts stroke risk: Australian study

Supplements For The Skin

Botox

Vascular Health

LASER LIPO: Great New Tool To Trim Stubborn Areas

Dermatology

Endometeosis

On A[pril 14, 2008; I had emergency surgery for tx of endometeosis!!!!  I always knew this surgery would have to be done; but I was trying to accumulate sick time to take off for this rather than have to take a month of unpaid leave!!!   I was previoously being treated by hormonal therapy; a very high estogen pill(made u not sleep moody or depressed, BUT, kept the cysts and fibroids small!!! Then I guess my body started to rejet alll the yrs of hormone tx and multiple surgeries including an open c-sec laparotomoy for Endo...I am currently trying to work as a RN and heal at the same time.  I have been back to work a little over a month and it's been a struggle with being on my feet  for a long time but also trying to get proper nutrition fopr myself for the remaining insides that I have and experienced all this trauma.  If anyone would like to comment on their experience with this disease, please feel free!!!

WOMAN LIES ON FLOOR OF EMERGENCY ROOM FOR HOURS AND DIES WITH NO HELP?

CNN has just reported this very disturbing article and video of a patient who apparently fainted and fell on the floor while waiting in the Emergency Room of a major hospital in New York city. 

The security cameras in the Emergency Room showed that no one came to her assistance for hours and she died on the floor in full view of the cameras.  What does this say about the state of our Emergency Rooms?

 The link to the CNN Video is given below.  I warn you that this Video is very disturbing.   

 
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/07/06/esmin.funeral/index.html

CANADA MOVES TO RESTRICT CELL PHONE USE IN CHILDREN?

In what is believed to be the first policy of its kind in Canada, the agency is advising children and teens to limit the time they spend on cellphones until more is known about potential health effects.

The report from the city's medical officer of health recommends "children, especially pre-adolescent children, use land lines whenever possible, keeping the use of cellphones for essential purposes only, limiting the length of cellphone calls and using headsets or hands-free options, whenever possible."

Citing a dearth of research on cellphone use among children and the rising popularity of the devices, the health agency said the possibility that children and teens need greater protection from cellphone radio frequencies couldn't be ruled out.

"While scientists were pretty dismissive of any risk years ago, with the accumulation of studies, it appears people who have been using their phones for a long period of time are at greater risk of certain kinds of brain tumours. There is a pattern emerging," said Loren Vanderlinden, a Toronto Public Health supervisor and the report's author.

Vegan Diet

Thanks for your response to my questions about zinc.

I am still unclear on the exact amount of zinc I should take each day.

I tried to cut and paste my eating plan into this space but am unable to do it.  Don't know why.

Petunia

Please Comment On My Vegan Diet

Doc,

I am a Vegan and would like your thoughts on my nutritional regimen.  I recently emailed you a description of my eating plan and the supplements I take.

Thanks, "Petunia"