About three_fourths

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  If Tylenol is bad for the liver (see slog discussion linked below) why is it the only OTC painkiller recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women?

  1 0 Tylenol is indeed "safe" for pregnant moms. While Tylenol does indeed cross the placental barrier, the therapeutic dose a woman would take would not adversely affect the developing fetus. Aspirin has different effects on the clotting cascade and can increase the risk of bleeding complications (like cerebral hemorrhage) in the fetus. Ibuprofen also crosses the placental barrier and carries some theoretical risks to the developing baby, but it hasn't been well studied. Also, tylenol is safe for children. It's dosed on a weight basis (typically 15 mg/kg). You are not supposed to give Aspirin to young children because of the risk of Reye's syndrome. Ibuprofen is ok in kids but is not recommended for children less than 6 mos. because it hasn't been studied thoroughly in this age range. It's true, if you take enough tylenol, you can do damage to/ kill your liver, but it's an effective analgesic if you take it properly, just like Aspirin or Ibuprofen. In fact, Aspirin and Ibuprofen can increase your tendency to bleed and people anticipating surgery typically need to abstain from these drugs for 7 days prior to surgery. Tylenol doesn't effect clotting. The people commenting on the slog are generally correct, but to demonize acetaminophen as a harmful drug is not a correct assertion. The therapeutic dose (~650 mg in the average adult) is much less than the "lethal" dose or the amount that would cause hepatic (liver) failure (it would take several grams). It's not like if you took 3 tablets instead of 2 that you would run the risk of liver damage. three_fourths answered in Health & Fitness about 1 year ago Answer, comment & read 5 more answers »

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  What are some good walking/traveling shoes that don't look stupid?

  0 0 I'm including the link from Zappos that shows the Simple New Original Clog. Hands down the most comfortable, versatile shoe I've ever worn. I work in a hospital and stand for hours in the OR and walk 4-5 miles a day in these shoes. They're nearly indestructible and they're easy to clean. I turned a bunch of people on to these at work and everyone loves them. They slip on/off easily for airport lines, they split the difference between casual and formal, and they're just plain cool. I've tried Birks, Eccos, Crocs, Danskos, Mephistos, Sanitas, Clarks, Doc Martens, Keens and Merrills. These are by far my favorite. And no, I'm not a shill for Simple or Zappos. Hope that helps. http://www.zappos.com/simple-new-original-clog-black-1 three_fourths answered in Trips & Travel about 1 year ago Answer, comment & read 16 more answers »

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  Am I a bad parent if I have children while I'm in medical school?

  3 0 You will ABSOLUTELY not be a bad parent if you have children while in medical school. I just finished a surgical subspecialty fellowship at the UW and I can tell you that while I was in medical school there was more than one female med student who had children during school or had young children prior to starting medical school. They all managed their studies and clinical rotations with aplomb and never complained that they felt they were neglecting their children. There were also several female surgery residents who had children during their residency and seemed to enjoy the satisfaction of motherhood and the rigors of surgical training. Being a man I'm not sure how they managed because I am incapable of that level of organization, but they managed. It is almost a necessity that you have a supportive spouse however. Residency will demand more of your time (unless you do rads or psych or something like that) and you'll need someone who is flexible and has a high frustration threshold. And, as already stated by ChrisMcCurry, there isn't going to be a lull in the action any time soon, so there's no better time than the present. The other thing to consider is that children may change your perspective on medical career choices. Some people can't decide between their passion for orthopedics or radiation oncology, but when children enter the picture lifestyle decisions become more relevant. Also, I've known folks with PCOS and it can take awhile (as you already know) to conceive, so I would not postpone the matter. three_fourths answered in Parenting Q&A about 1 year ago Answer, comment & read 7 more answers »

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  im a meth addict how can i stop being so self concious about my appearance and negative thoughts

  0 0 If you're currently a meth addict, you've got to do yourself a favor and seek out help to quit. Not to be preachy, but you could start by going to a 12-step meeting, like Narcotics Anonymous. You can find local meetings and times on the internet. Other than that, just like other folks said, Meth makes you paranoid and that's not going to help your self-consciousness. It won't take long to alter your appearance if you're consistently using meth. Changes in skin complexion and hair texture happen fairly quickly. This is hastened by poor nutrition and hygiene. If you're smoking it, your dental health and the appearance of your teeth will deteriorate quickly. If you want to get rid of negative thoughts, start by recognizing that drug addiction is not a moral failing and doesn't indicate you're a bad person. Addiction has been proven to be a disease deeply rooted in the subconscious. Your basic brain chemistry is altered at the molecular level. It affects the way you think in ways you can't fix on your own. You want to look and feel better. You've got to stop. three_fourths answered in Health & Fitness about 1 year ago Answer, comment & read 7 more answers »

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  Chiropractor or physical therapy?

  0 0 I think the answer depends on what problem you're having with your back. Did you have someone diagnose a problem and then refer you to PT or are you self-referring? If you're being referred by someone else, I'd just stick to it. You could try PT since it's covered by your insurance and then if you aren't satisfied, seek the treatment of a reputable chiropractor to see if that helps. Just give it a few weeks first to make sure (if you can tolerate it). In terms of chiropractic medicine and it's reputation, it depends on who you talk to. Some states have very strict limitations on the scope of practice of a chiropractor and some are much more liberal. In some states they can prescribe medications, in some states they can't. Some people swear by the efficacy of chiropractic "adjustments" and some people describe it as pure hooey. Some insurances cover chiropractic visits and others don't. I just don't find a consistent opinion across the board. Sorry..that's probably not really helpful. three_fourths answered in Health & Fitness about 1 year ago Answer, comment & read 4 more answers »

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  Scar-reducing healing tips?

  2 0 I'm a plastic surgeon and get asked about this all the time. The first thing to know is that the scarring you're describing is normal healing. After a brief inflammatory phase, the wound produces a bunch of collagen to form the initial scar. You get exaggerated collagen production, which is why the scar is lumpy. Also, some people just form heavier scar than others. Some people form hypertrophic or keloid scars. There is precious little in the medical literature that is actually proven to work. Scar massage helps to soften the scar and keep it supple and can help flatten the scar if it's persistently raised and lumpy. Vitamin E oil isn't actually shown to produce any benefit. I know, it sounds like heresy, but it just doesn't shake out in prospective trials. The same goes for Mederma (the few studies are industry sponsored and lousy) but one of my partners recommends it to his patients and he anecdotally says it helps. If you're really concerned, silicone sheeting is the one thing shown to help. Not a gel or lotion, but a simple sheet of silicone that you can cut to the size of your wound. You have to leave it on as long as possible (at least 10 hours a day, more if possible) for 3-4 months after your laceration happened. You only need one sheet because you can wash the piece of silicone and reapply it. You have to find it online because it's typically not sold in stores. It takes 12-18 months for a scar to mature completely and take on it's final appearance. And remember, scar tissue will darken at a rate different than the normal skin around it in response to sun exposure, which is why you're supposed to avoid sunlight for a year or so...until it completely matures. And if all else fails, surgical scar revision is always an option later... Hey, it's job security. Hope that helps. three_fourths answered in Health & Fitness about 1 year ago Answer, comment & read 7 more answers »

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  Raising testosterone levels

  2 0 Decreasing testosterone levels as someone ages is normal. It, along with decreased levels of growth hormone, are the principal reasons we lose lean body mass as we age. I agree with Griffin, the first thing to do is establish why you have low testosterone levels...is it a primary endocrine abnormality or some other issue? Resistance training and proper training will raise your natural testosterone levels. If however, you're just low for no good reason, then prescription testosterone supplementation with a low dose, injectable testosterone ester would probably do the trick. A low enough dose shouldn't cause any of the androgenic effects (hair growth/hirsutism, deeping voice, acne, etc.) that women worry about, but would bring you back to normal and may even improve your libido (if you're worried about that sort of thing). Hope that helps. three_fourths answered in Health & Fitness about 1 year ago Answer, comment & read 5 more answers »

• Comment on Janet's answer…

  0 0 That's a first class answer. I think I'll eat local now that I have so many suggestions. three_fourths commented about 1 year ago

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  Doctor Break-Up Etiquette?

  1 0 It may depend on whether you're talking about your primary care physician or a subspecialist. Some physician you've been seeing for awhile may inquire if he finds out you've switched docs. Some specialty doc (like a plastic surgeon) you've only seen 2-3 times would not be as likely to take offense. In any case, you're well within your rights to switch physicians and there's no official etiquette or protocol in doing so. You should just make appointments with the new doc...unless you're involved in a complex treatment plan (like renal dialysis or multiple medications for a complex heart condition), and in that case you might do better to continue seeing your old doc and overlap appointments with the new one and let the physicians sort it out amongst themselves. Most of the time a physician wouldn't be offended if you sought a second opinion or a different provider altogether. You will probably have to sign a release for your medical records to be transferred to your new guy though. Hope it helps. three_fourths answered in Health & Fitness about 1 year ago Answer, comment & read 3 more answers »

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  Does getting an arterial blood gas hurt?

  1 0 An arterial blood gas (ABG) hurts about as much as getting an IV started. Although, some folks use a little bit of subcutaneous anesthetic (lidocaine) before they poke you for the ABG, which might help a little bit (either way you feel a poke). If you're relatively thin and you have a bounding Radial artery pulse it should only take one attempt. If you have bigger arms because you're a heavier set individual, it may take more than one attempt, which could hurt more. Overall, it's not so bad. three_fourths answered in Health & Fitness about 1 year ago Answer, comment & read 3 more answers »

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