How to Safely Dispose of Unwanted Drugs

Reading about "Drug Take Back Days?" If you have unwanted pills/capsules at your home, it's easier than you may think to safely dispose of them without driving a long distance or worrying about the water system. Simply place the pills in a small containter of very hot water. One the meds are disolved, pour the liquid over cat litter. The clay litter will immediately absorb the liquid, and the clay can then be placed in a plastic bag for disposal. Not only will this not hurt the water system, you don't have to worry about anyone down the line appropriating any narcotics or even less potent meds.

Nurse Nan

Rural King - Now Spelled Alexander Shunnarah

Judging from all the ads I both saw online and received in my mail, the advent of Rural King to Muscle Shoals was second only to Christ's return. Now Rural King is in just a spot of trouble.

But let me digress, or should I say regress, to my stint in nursing school. Ah, Quincy's, what a place to work. Just try to place any cleaning liquid on the same surface where one kept or worked with food. Let's just say if you did, your ears would still be ringing. There's a reason for this health department rule. The ADPH wants to make sure you aren't eating your yeast rolls with just a tad of oven cleaner on top.

Back to today and Rural King, just how does herbicide get into popcorn destined for customers? According to initial reports, approximately 40 individuals on Sunday afternoon consumed popcorn topped with glyphosphate, a herbicide. In case you're wondering, Monsanto markets glyphosphate under the brand name Round-Up.

While I don't think a brief exposure to glyphosphate will kill anyone, it has been linked to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In other words, it's better not to consume even a small amount since it can build up in the body. 

Was Rural King being regularly inspected by the health department? Just how does something like that happen? Herbicide shouldn't be kept anywhere near food. Obviously there's many more questions than answers. A lawsuit should be a last resort, but customers should expect to eat Rural King's popcorn without having to worry about consuming Round-Up sauce on top.

Oh, look! There's Alexander Shunnarah pulling up now.

Nurse Nan

Vitamin K: Drops Versus Shot?

In recent years there's been a resurgence of critics of the Vitamin K shot given infants (neonates) at birth. Most of the controversy revolves around the aluminum in the injection. 

Infants don't receive enough Vitamin K from their mothers, and without enough of the vitamin, their clotting mechanisms are insufficient to prevent brain bleeds and other loss of blood. Parents should have the ultimate say in their child's medical treatments, but they should also be making informed decisions. For those who don't want the shot, oral drops are available. This treatment is administered immediately after birth, with a second dosage in five days and a third in 30 days. There are studies which show the oral treatment is not as effective.

Speak to your physician about this treatment if you feel this is better for your child. He or she should be happy to discuss it with you and honor your request.

Now, as to the aluminum in the shot? The medication contains .05 microgram of the metal. A microgram is 1/1000 of a milligram. Think about that.

Next we'll be looking at aluminum in various vaccines. If you truly have a problem with vaccines and how they can adversely affect your child, do some informed reading.

Until next time...

I'm Nurse Nan wishing your infants a happy childhood.

Which Cold Therapy Pain Gel?

Several years ago, a friend offered us a roll-on version of Biofreeze pain reliever. Biofreeze, as its name indicates, uses cold to relieve joint and muscle pain. Some individuals use the medication for migraines, messaging it into the neck or even the forehead. Does Biofreeze work and is it economical?

Yes and no. Yes, it does work for some pain. While it might work for migraine pain for you, it doesn’t for everyone. Economical? Pain relief is worth every penny, but Biofreeze isn’t cheap. So is there an alternative?

This is where convenience comes into play. Biofreeze offers its gel form in a pump bottle. You can find it at Walmart in 8 oz. bottles for just under 25.00, tax not included. If you don’t mind a less convenient form of cold therapy, Dollar General offers the Rexall brand in a 12 oz. jar for only 2.25.

We’ve tried the Rexall version ourselves on hands, feet, and ankles and have been surprised at the degree of pain relief we received during recent cold and wet weather. Obviously the price takes away some of the pain as well. Rexall is an old and trusted brand, and we give it the two thumbs up over Biofreeze.

Nurse Nan

I Have What? Are You Sure About That?

In a physician's exam room in a universe that may be closer to home than you would like to think:

Doctor: Good afternoon, Mr. More, what seems to be the problem today?

Patient: It's very odd. I have a fever, headache, nausea and vomiting, and I'm hearing Barry White on a loop pounding against my eardrums.

Doctor: Ah, yes, BeeGees fever; it's going around right now. I'll give you just the thing to clear that up in no time.

Patient: Uh, no, Dr. Robertson Justice, it's not Barry Gibb. It's Barry White...completely different.

Doctor: Well, nevertheless, these pills for BeeGees fever should clear it up in no time. If you're still sick in a week, come back and I'll redo your meds.

What just happened here? Number One, the physician was thinking if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, then it's a duck. Number Two, the patient was thinking that he knew his body better than the doctor did, and that the physician obviously wasn't paying attention to him.

About ten years ago, a local physician was treating scores of children with a common respiratory complaint. He had no qualms about diagnosing a two year-old girl with the same malady. Unfortunately, the child had something much more serious and quickly passed away when it was untreated.

Right now, we're seeing several of our friends who have been treated for a cold-like lower respiratory illness only to discover they actually have bronchitis. You know your body better than anyone. Unless you're a card-carrying hypochondriac, you're not making up symptoms or turning freckles into the plague.

If you have the money or the insurance, get a second opinion if you're not totally satisfied with the first. It's your body, your health, and your right to know what's wrong.

Here's hoping everyone enjoys a healthy late fall and a robust winter...

 Nurse Nan

Vaccinations & Circumcision? A No Brainer…

A traveler walked down a country road in India. After traversing a few miles, he came to a fork in the road. The traveler knew that the two roads reunited after another mile or so, but he also knew that man-eating tigers roamed the woods.

An old man sat at the fork in the road, and the wise traveler decided to ask him what to do. The old man replied, “I can’t tell you what to do, but I can tell you this. During the past month, 100 men ventured down each road. Of the 100 who traveled the right road, five were eaten by tigers; of the 100 who traveled the left road, only four were eaten by tigers. It has been this way for as long as I can remember.”

Which road did the traveler take? Did he think he would be totally safe if he took the left road, or did he think only that he would be taking the safer bet?

Modern vaccinations and circumcision are choices facing parents every day. The bottom line of medical statistics tells us that, while vaccinations and circumcision may create problems with some patients, there is a better outcome for a higher percentage of children who receive these procedures.

It’s a no-brainer. Our new president can authorize all the studies he wants with our hard-earned tax dollars. They won’t change the facts.


Nurse Nan

Bottled Bug Sprays to Battle Zika

Zika virus is here. Each week seems to bring a new report of how it might be transmitted, but we know that mosquitoes are the prime carrier. Those pesky little buggers also carry other diseases, not to mention leaving ugly little whelps where they bite you. In short, if you’ve never thought too much about insect repellent, now is the time to start.

These over the counter repellents also protect from summer’s ubiquitous fleas and assorted biting flies. You can purchase them in various dispensers, with or without DEET, scented or unscented, and at various prices.

Which should you use? It's best to forego the do-it-yourself concoctions you’ll see showcased on various web sites. Now is not the time for hit or miss.

DEET? If a repellent works for you without that much maligned chemical, by all means go for it. If you’re major mosquito bait every summer, you may wish to stick with the formulas that contain DEET, at least until the Zika crisis has passed.

Remember to read the directions; basically don’t rub the spray into skin or don clothing while skin is still damp with the spray. Check after first use for any adverse skin reactions. Don’t let pets come in contact with anything damp from the spray.

What are your best choices? Here are six major brands packaged in atomizer type spray bottles:

Off - 4.99 for 6 ounces

Cutter - 4.99 for 6 ounces

Repel - 5.99 for 4 ounces 

Greenerways - 7.99 for 6 ounces

Coleman - 4.99 for 5 ounces

Eco-Defense - 9.99 for 4 ounces

Most of these sprays are fairly economical and last 12 hours or so. In extremely hot weather you’re more apt to perspire, so you may need to apply twice during a day spent outside, or in homes where fleas may be present.

Hoping nothing more than an attractive vampire bites any of you this summer!



Nurse Nan