A Health PSA: My sedation-free colonoscopy

I am now part of the 1%. No, not the ridiculously rich 1%, I am now part of the 1% of Americans who voluntarily choose to have a sedation-free colonoscopy procedure. Why would I? My main reason was to avoid unnecessary medications but there are numerous other benefits as well.

If I had to describe my experience in a single word it would be: Hilarious

Why am I describing it? Because early detection can prevent you from developing colorectal (aka colon) cancer and increases your odds of survival if found early if you already have it. So, I wrote this post in the hope of making the procedure ok to talk about so that some of you who may be fearful or embarrassed about scheduling an appointment will realize the exam itself is really not a big deal and you'll feel comfortable enough to make the call.

I'll start at the beginning. One of the first things I did just before I turned 50 last year was to call my doctor and ask about scheduling a colonoscopy. It's always stuck in my mind as something you're supposed do when you hit the big 5-0. LOL the few friends I mentioned it to thought I was crazy to call and request one rather than wait for a doctor to tell me it was time.

Over the years I've eaten more than my fair share of gastrointestinal-healthy foods. All of those breakfasts of brown rice, barley, or farro porridge, dark leafy greens, pickled Japanese plums, and pickled radish were both because I think they're equally delicious and healthy meals.

The cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, brown rice, beans, and random vegetables many people have made fun of me for eating for years...  It was time to find out if all of my efforts to eat conscientiously were about to pay off!

The Bowel Prep:

I guess I was so excited to have my first colonoscopy I got confused and started my bowel prep a day early by accident. LOL. What the what? Who does that? Me! Fred pointed it out when he realized it (he knew the dates because he was my designated driver) but it was too late. I made the executive decision to stop the prep (I'd only taken some laxatives) and continue with the prep solution the next day on schedule, which meant not eating for 2 days instead of the required 24 hours. This paid off in the end when my Gastroenterologist complimented my prep as one of he best he'd ever seen. It gave my surgical team a great laugh when I told them what had happened.

Because I want you to have a positive experience here are some prep-tips nobody else may tell you about but I will:

1. You can avoid a lot of soreness by the end of the prep if you follow just this one piece of advice: Do yourself a favor and get a package of baby wipes. Natural ones with no unnecessary chemicals or perfumes because this isn't the time to discover you have an allergic reaction to them. Trust me, you do not want to use toilet paper. Also, blotting is recommended over back and forth wiping motions.
2. If you live alone and don't mind smelling up the bathroom (hallway, eek gads maybe your whole house or apartment) go for it! If you don't live alone and are worried about embarrassing odors that may be unleashed during your prep try this: Before using your toilet add 2-3 drops of essential oil into the toilet bowl EVERY SINGLE TIME before you use it (any scent will do or buy some Poo-Pourri). It will create a film over the top of the water that holds all odors beneath it. I learned this trick on the Crunchy Betty website.
3. I brought my camping air mattress out of The Glampette and put it in the bathroom along with a pillow and blanket. It was easier than making a mad dash to the bathroom for the first two hours of the first 1/2 of the prep. When you have to go it's not like a normal bowel movement. You don't think to yourself "Oh, I need to go to the bathroom, after I finish whatever it is I'm doing." No! During a prep it's more like your colon suddenly yells at you: "YOU ARE GOING TO GO TO THE BATHROOM IN LESS THAN 5 SECONDS (and it will take less than 8 seconds to empty the entire contents of your bowel)!
4. Mix your prep solution (adding in the lemon flavor packet) at least one hour before you have to begin drinking it then put in your refrigerator because it tastes better cold.
5. If possible place a short stool beside the toilet and put your feet up while your relieve yourself. To sit upright is (surprisingly) an unnatural angle for our bodies to efficiently poop! The Squatty Potty website explains why in depth.

I made this illustration to show you what a colon looks like!

My No-sedation Request:

Spoiler Alert: The next images you'll see in this post are two small photographs of my actual colon taken by the doctor during my procedure. IMO it's not gross unless you think the inside of a squeaky clean pink vacuum hose is gross. Plus they were approved by my Mom and Auntie as "ok" to show the world when I ran this post by them first. LOL They're my official content censors. I included the pictures because I think it's important to demystify the process. I did't know what my colon looked like or was shaped like until after my procedure. The illustration above shows the outside, but the photos show the interior view. 

I'd called the doctor's nurse a few days prior to discuss the sedative given during the procedure because I've always had adverse reactions to narcotics (and lots of other medications in general). During the discussion she mentioned I didn't have to have pain meds or sedation if I didn't want them. . . What?????? No sedation? I liked the sound of that simply because I don't like putting chemicals in my body unless absolutely necessary. I know some of you are thinking there is no moment when medications are necessary than moments like this! LOL

After spending time on Google and talking to my procedure team I learned:

• Most of Europe and some countries in Asia don't offer any sedation for colonoscopies.
• There are two categories of people in the U.S. who typically decline sedation being those who have struggled with addiction and anesthesiologists.
• Also, that only 1% of Americans choose non-sedated colonoscopies, possibly because most don't realize non-sedated is even an option.
• From what I can tell (after reading pages and pages of articles online, here are just a few: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) is that most hospitals use conscious sedation but some are moving towards deep sedation using propofol which carries increased risks. I didn't like the sound of that. Hmmmm. I'd seen Katie Couric have her procedure on tv years ago. It couldn't be that bad could it?

I broke the news of my no pain meds/sedation decision upon my arrival. Everyone seemed quite shocked (like eyes got big and jaws dropped). They said it was very unusual for anyone to ask for no sedation or pain meds. I assured them I have a very high tolerance to pain by reciting a partial resume of injuries I've suffered through over the years. Though I did agree to an IV in the back of my hand so if I changed my mind they could immediately administer sedation and I'd be out in two minutes.

If you choose a non-sedated procedure be prepared to pass gas as needed. Your doctor is going to pump you up with air or water. If air is used (as in my case) to try to hold it all in will cause unnecessary pain. I had almost no discomfort because my doctor used less air than normal, enough to inflate my bowel for viewing but not as much as he would normally have done had I been sedated. On the plus side I will point out that if your bowel is empty the gas has no odor to it whatsoever so nothing to be embarrassed about in that department. What little I did pass made no sound at all.

My Dr. was also snapping photos as he moved though each section of my colon. After it was over he gave me a a printed sheet of 8 photos. It was like I went to a colon photobooth and had the pictures to prove it :D When I asked Fred to scan them for me for my blog he looked at me like I had a third eyeball growing out of my forehead. As I recall he said "Aw come on. . . You've got to be kidding!" I tried to explain to him the post would be like a healthcare PSA to encourage people to not be afraid of the procedure but he just shook his head and walked away. LOL It took months to get him to do it for me!

So here you go, these are two pictures of my colon. I don't know, to me they aren't really anything other than interesting. I had no idea that I had a body part that looked like the inside of my mom's old Hoover vacuum hose. So, as the procedure was taking place I happily chatted away with the team and watched my innards on the tv monitor. My doctor asked if I worked in the medical field. I'm not sure if that was because I was so relaxed or because I knew more than the average bear about what was going on. I replied "No, I just read Google a lot."

Was it Painful?

Do be prepared for some discomfort. The small amount I felt was mostly around a level 3 (on a scale of 1 least and 10 most). I felt a little discomfort around each turn and on the final fourth turn my discomfort level shot up to a 5-6 for all of about 3-5 seconds. If you've ever had food poisoning, the flu, or menstrual cramps they are usually a 10 and last for hours or days. So this? It was incredibly easy to endure.

• As I laid on my side it literally took less than a second for the scope to be placed. There was no uncomfortable stretching or pain of any kind. Zero. Zilch.
• The first turn going in wasn't so bad.
• Neither was the second turn.
• The third? I felt what can only be described as something foreign to my body pushing against me. I gasped out loud and proclaimed "I've never been pregnant but this must be what it feels like when a baby kicks inside you!" Which made everyone on my team LOL.
• The fourth turn was definitely the most uncomfortable. It lasted several seconds and then the Dr. said "That's it!" Everyone seemed quite pleased and a bit excited that I'd made it though with no sedation. At that point my reply was that it felt like the scope was near my left arm pit. I then realized I'd tensed up during that last turn. As soon as I relaxed the arm pit discomfort went away. LOL
• There was no pain at all on as the doctor began to retract the scope and the show started on the monitor. There was quite a bit of yellow liquid (excess stomach acid) but he said that was just fine. It suctioned out quickly and easily revealing a perfect viewing environment. That was when My Dr. complimented me on having done such a good bowel prep.
• There were a few seconds of discomfort at each turn when the colonoscope was withdrawn. Most were barely significant. The notable exception was the last turn out but then it was all done and the surgical team made me feel like a colonoscopy rock star!

The Results:

Right there in the procedure room I was told I have the colon of a 20 year old and there wasn't anything I need to be concerned about. Later I found out I can wait a decade before my next check-up.

Post Procedure:

After, I was whisked back to the same waiting room I started in. I got to skip the recovery room since I wasn't sedated. One of the nurses who checked me in came by and gave me an inquisitive look from the doorway. I nodded yes (to let her know I made it through with no meds), and she gave me a big smile and thumbs up.

The nurse attending me told me I could leave as soon as I passed gas. LOL

Aside from getting to watch the entire procedure while it's happening (which was pretty cool), saving some money by not using anesthesia, and being able to leave sooner, another great benefit of going sedation-free was I could eat immediately after the procedure was done. Having not eaten in almost 48 hours I was starving and had brought a bag of cheese puffs with me to eat on the way home :)

Also, while the prep is necessary for viewing during your procedure it is hard on your body clearing out probably most of your healthy gut biota (aka microbiome). To help it recover quickly it's good to eat fermented foods (like yogurt, miso, tempeh, sauerkraut, or kimchi), bananas, and fresh cruciferous vegetables like kale and broccoli, blueberries, and beans.

All in all it wasn't bad. Turned out I didn't even need to have Fred go with me. Since I wasn't sedated I could have driven myself home.

I know no-sedation isn't for everyone. We all have different pain thresholds and if you have other gastrointestinal conditions that are already painful I'm pretty sure non-sedated wouldn't be advisable. But for some of us it is not only possible but really not a big deal at all to go without pain meds or sedation. I'm sure you'll know what's right for you. Just please, if you're over 50 and haven't had one yet, I hope you'll consider scheduling your first colonoscopy. It could literally save your life and maybe even give you a few good laughs along the way.

---

Disclaimer:

This post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Please seek advice from your physician or other qualified health professionals with any questions you may have regarding colonoscopy or any medical condition(s). This is simply my personal experience that I wanted to share with you to encourage others to be pro-active about their health.

Six year old Baylor Fredrickson needs a marrow match. Could it be you?

If you're on Facebook you've most likely seen this picture and post about six year old Baylor Fredrickson as it's been shared 426,789 times as of this morning. Author Michael Lewis knows Baylor personally and made the request for help that is now virally traveling across the internet.

This is a plea I've made on this blog many times before:

1. If you haven't registered to become a bone marrow/stem cell donor please consider doing so.
2. If you want to help but are unable to register please encourage others to join in your place. 

Both endeavors are equally valuable.

Like my cousin Tami did, Baylor currently needs a bone marrow transplant to save his life. He's fighting cancer and every day he has to wait for a match gives the cancer another advantage, wears him down, make his recovery post transplant (even if a match is found in time) that much harder to recover from. Cancer is bad, everyone knows that. But the very procedure that can save a patient's life when they receive a marrow/stem cell transplant has an arduous recovery period filled with complications like infections and graft vs. host disease. At that point a patient needs to be healthy enough to undergo and survive the transplant itself.

So Baylor doesn't just need to receive a transplant, he and all patients need to receive one as quickly as possible. It's their best chance.

Please don't make them wait any longer than they have to. Donating is not the painful ordeal many believe it to be. That donating marrow is like a spinal tap is a myth. The majority of donations are now made through a method called Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC) collection, which is similar to how plasma is harvested. Your blood goes out through one arm, runs through a machine that collects the stem cells, then the rest of your blood is returned into your other arm. Most people don't even need a prescription strength pain killer following their donation. Over the counter remedies are usually enough.

Donations harvested from the pelvic bones (not the spine) are done under anesthesia so the donor isn't even awake to be aware of any discomfort or pain.

I've always felt what's a little discomfort to save a life? If I am ever a match I'd be thrilled to be able to help someone in need. I've been in the registry since 1995 and have yet to be contacted but I'm holding out hope that someday I will be.

From ThePostGame.com

And though Baylor is half Asian half German I'm imploring everyone who reads this post to register. Though his match will most likely be found in someone of similar ancestry, there is a slim, rare, chance that it could be with someone from a different ethnic group altogether. (Marrow matches are made through chromosomes, not blood types, so this is why ethnicity is a factor.)

In the United States you'll need to be between the ages of 18-60 years old to register. The easiest way to register is through "Be The Match, aka The National Marrow Donor Program. If you are between the ages of 45-60 you would need to register online only by ordering a test kit from this link:

Order a test kit online:
http://bethematch.org/Support-the-Cause/Donate-bone-marrow/Join-the-marrow-registry/Join-now/

Locate a live drive where you live:
http://bethematch.org/Support-the-Cause/Donate-bone-marrow/Join-the-marrow-registry/Register-at-a-local-event/

Your stem cells can even be flown to Baylor if you live outside the U.S. in a country that is part of the International Cooperative Registry:
http://bethematch.org/about-us/global-transplant-network/cooperative-registries/

If you live outside of the Unite States and your country isn't part of the International Cooperative Registry you can still help other patients where you live through the following programs: http://marrowdrives.org/bone_marrow_donor_programs.html

Please join. Join to help Baylor and the thousands of other patients waiting and hoping to find their life-saving matches in time.

ETA: Author Michael Lewis just published a video with Baylor. Please watch it and read more about the drive to help Baylor:

Post by Michael Lewis.

Drowning doesn't look or sound like what you think it does

I almost never ask you to share posts from this blog. If you want to you're always welcome to but I rarely ask. Today I'm asking. This news report could help save lives this summer as people head to swimming pools, lakes, and beaches.

Click this link or the image above to visit the myFOX9 news website that created the video Investigators: Drowning is silent

I shared it on Facebook with this message but want to make sure as many people as possible see this video:

"A drowning child or person will most likely not throw their arms in the air and scream for help. Instead they will silently tip their head back in the water in an attempt to keep water out of their nose but in doing so allow all of the air being held in their respiratory system to exit the same way as tipping an empty bottle filled with air sideways while submerged in water. Please watch the video if you're around pools, lakes, or the ocean to see what drowning looks like.

. . . I now know what to look for and might see it happen... SInce most people don't. This is why sometimes kids drown in a pool full of people. At the end of the video they said it takes on average over 20 minutes for other swimmers to notice someone at the bottom of the pool. "

I usually don't but today I did

I did it. I got the flu shot. My friend Judy had been pushing me for a week to get one. Then I saw some news reports and realized it may be the best thing to do. The thing is I tend to have bad side effects from a lot of things. Antibiotics have made me break out in hives. Pain killers make me so nauseated several times I've gotten sick to my stomach and once I couldn't even stand up I got so dizzy I had to close my store and lie on the floor for hours until I felt well enough to drive home.

Basically it was really easy:

• I walked into a CVS pharmacy and filled out a short form.
• They needed a few minutes to process the form so I did some shopping and received 20% off my entire purchase for getting the flu shot.
• When they were ready they called my name over the store's PA system and asked me to return to the pharmacy.
• I was charged out at the register but was fortunate my health insurance covered the entire cost of the shot so I didn't have to pay anything. Friends had told me shots usually cost between $20 - $30.
• I went and received the shot. Yes, it hurt. But only for a couple of seconds and not nearly as bad as I'd be hurting if I caught the flu.

So when I got the shot this morning and felt fine a few hours later I thought I'd dodged the potential side effects of this year's influenza vaccine.

Then I took a nap.

When I woke up I felt like I'd been power lifting and/or had been hit by a truck. I had body aches in my arms, hands, chest, and legs. I also had the chills. I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening feeling like a sick puppy. I'm hoping I'll feel better tomorrow.

But the moral of the story is: I'm glad Judy talked me into getting the shot. I think it's her fault I feel so icky now but I wanted to thank her for being so concerned about me not dying from the flu that she cared enough to hound me for a week.

Please use caution when visiting Monastery Beach

Almost a year ago I wrote a blog post about Monastery State Beach in Carmel, CA. Yesterday I received a private message from someone who lost her family members when they attempted to help someone else who had been swept into the sea by the waves. The original victim was saved by another rescuer, tragically her husband and daughter didn't survive their rescue attempt.

Both to honor them and to warn others that though the beach looks peaceful and calm things can change in an instant, I'd like to repost the link to the original post: Beautiful and Dangerous: Monastery Beach, Carmel, CA

Please stay safe people. The life you may be protecting isn't just your own but those around you who would try to save you if you get yourself into trouble.

How to unsubscribe from the Restoration Hardware Source Book

This morning a friend posted on Facebook:

"Entire rainforests must be decimated every time Restoration Hardware launches a seasonal ad campaign. We purchased one item on a 50% off store closing sale over a year ago and they've literally been mailing us pounds of catalogs ever since. This is their largest mailing yet, and it's a definite reminder for me to remove ourselves from their mailing list. . ."

I'd read a news article last September about the sheer volume of last fall's 5.5 lb, 992 page "Source Book." Because I'm fairly eco-conscious I found the link to unsubscribe on the company's website and posted it on FB for her and her two friends who also said they receive but don't need it. It only took moments and she was removed.

According to SF Gate in the article I linked to above "The hope, say industry insiders, is that the breadth of the catalog will keep consumers from chucking it into the trash after a quick flip through, and it will instead become a lifestyle guide kept on hand for months."

But I suspect some people keep it long enough to skim just part of it only once.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Restoration and their products, but I hate waste.

As a public service announcement to help end catalog paper waste I thought I'd share the link here so that anyone who would like to unsubscribe can do so in less than a minute online: CLICK HERE to UNSUBSCRIBE

Going Red on Facebook

As a country, for many years and in many ways, we have found ways to ignore the rights of many people at certain times for reasons that seemed just to some (or even many) at the time but with hindsight we've realized they were discriminatory. Because I believe all U.S. citizens deserve equal rights under our constitution today I am showing my support for marriage equality.

You are more than welcome to copy and use this image on Facebook, Twitter, etc.

As far as I can see there simply isn't enough love in the world and I support love so that's part of why I support marriage equality. I also have many friends who would potentially benefit from Prop 8 being overturned. The thing is, while marriage may be considered by many to be a religious institution, the benefits and privileges a religious marriage creates reach far beyond churches and into the realm of civil rights. So there should be a civil marriage option that affords all couples the same spousal rights and benefits that heterosexual couples have been enjoying for decades.

I know people will be changing their Facebook avatars today to support marriage equality as the United States Supreme Court begins hearing the oral arguments about Proposition 8 and will either rule it unconstitutional, will uphold it, or can dismiss the case. I hope they will rule against which will mean that marriage is a constitutional right for all Americans.

And if you're wondering if it's ok to copy and use this image, absolutely it is! Please feel free to use it as your avatar or to share on social media to raise awareness today or any other day.

To use for any other purpose please contact me directly and describe your project/need.

Hey world: William Tse needs a marrow match

William Tse was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with a rare chromosomal translocation in January of 2013. William was born and raised in Singapore, educated at the University of Southern California, and is now living in San Francisco, CA while undergoing treatment. His rare form of leukemia is very difficult to treat and a Bone Marrow Transplant (aka Stem Cell Transplant) is needed.

William is of Chinese descent, so his best chance of finding a match is someone of Chinese or Asian descent because marrow is based on a chromosome match, not blood type. Very rarely patients do find a match outside of their own ethnic group so please don't not join the registry because you aren't Asian. Even if you aren't William's match there's a chance you could save the life of another patient in need as many never find a match in time.

Visit William's donor drive website by CLICKING HERE

The most common donation method
Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC) is now the most commonly used donation method and is almost pain free for most donors. I've read the worst side effect is most commonly a temporary feeling of fatigue that lasts a day or two. You can read and see a donor's firsthand account of what PBSC was like because my cousin Tami's donor Scott took pictures and shared his story with The Flirty Blog.

This is how the donation process works.

Register to be a marrow/stem cell donor
 Here are some registries in various countries where you can sign up to be a donor.

• United States–you can register and order a donor kit via Be The Match.
• Singapore–you can register and order a donor kit via the Bone Marrow Donor Programme.
• Hong Kong–you can register at any of the 7 locations of the Hong Kong Red Cross.
• Canada–you can register and order a donor kit from the OneMatch Stem & Marrow Network.
• Malaysia–you can register at the Malaysian Marrow Donor Registry in Kuala Lumpur.
• Other Countries–you can find out if there is a registry near you from the Bone Marrow Donors Worldwide’s list. MarrowDrives.org also has an additional list of registries.

William before and after his diagnosis.

These are 35 Cooperative Registries worldwide who work together to provide doctors with a larger potential donor pool to search from. If you live in a country with more than one registry program please make sure your sample will become part of the international database as more than half of all matches are made between donors and patients who live in different countries. CLICK HERE to view the Cooperative Registries on the Be The Match website or CLICK HERE and click on the country's name to view them with contact information and links to their websites.

The larger the pool, the better the chances are for everyone who needs a donor. Vince and Marvin (William's brothers) have already registered as donors for other patients and hope you will too.

If you can't register what can you do?
If (due to age, health, or the absence of a local registry program) you are unable to join the registry the next best thing you can do is help to spread the word about William's need and the unfulfilled need of the many patients searching for a match. Without them, they will die and that's horrible, heartbreaking, and (worst of all) avoidable for at least some, if not many of them.

There are lots of suggestions of how to help at MarrowDrives.org.

In the four short years I've been involved with doing volunteer advocacy work for Be The Match I have seen too many lives cut short. Some were patients I knew only because I followed their blogs or joined their Facebook pages. Others I knew more personally emailing with them and even talking on the phone. Each loss has been devastating and I've needed time to heal before jumping back in to fight for another patient. Please help me fight for William now. Each day that passes without a match being found threatens his very future.

To join the registry in the United States:

CLICK HERE to use a zip code locator to find a marrow drive in your local area that you can walk into to register.

CLICK HERE to order a home registration kit that will be mailed to you, you swab your cheeks and fill out a form then mail back the postage paid envelope.

You can also help by attending a fundraiser that benefits the National Registry like the AADP's Laugh for Lives Comedy night. CLICK HERE for the event details. What began as the Asian American Donor Program (a recruitment arm of Be The Match) has become a multi-ethnic donor recruitment organization. Why ethnic specific? It was desperately needed because Caucasians make up the majority of the donor pool so if you are of any minority ethnicity here in the U.S., please consider joining for William's sake and all of the other patients in need.

How to make a DIY Electrolyte drink

Ugh. Food poisoning. I've had it pretty bad for the past day and a half. I know when you have the flu or food poisoning one of the most important things to do is to not become dehydrated. But did you know simply drinking water isn't always enough?

Since I've been sick for more than 24 hours I decided to do some research about whether or not drinking something with electrolytes was advisable. The Mayo Clinic and WebMD website said if symptoms persist for more than 24 hours to use an oral rehydration solution like Gatorade. But I don't like Gatorade and I don't keep Pedialyte around the house.

Desperate for relief I went online to see if it was possible to make a homemade electrolyte drink. Guess what? Not only is it possible, it's shockingly simple to make one without refined sugar and artificial colors.

I decided to use this recipe on the Cheeky Bums Blog. It calls for four simple ingredients I just happened to have on hand:

Water
Raw Honey (Except for babies visit the original post to learn why)
Lemon Juice (You could also use oranges or limes)
Sea Salt (Because it contains trace minerals iodized salt won't have)
CLICK HERE for the recipe on the Cheeky Bums Blog

ETA 6/26/15
Because the recipe is no longer viewable on the Cheeky Bums Blog I am adding her recipe and instructions to the post here:

Homemade Electrolyte Drink (Move Over Pedialyte!)

Ingredients
• 1 quart of water
• Juice of 2-3 lemons (fresh is preferable, but I've also used 1/3 c. lemon juice concentrate in a pinch)
• 1/3 c. raw honey (see my note at the bottom for an alternative for little ones)
• 1/4-1/2 tsp. sea salt

Instructions
• Warm about 1/2 c. of the water and place it in the bottom of a quart-sized Mason jar. Make sure it's not hot water, but warm enough to help the honey and sea salt dissolve.
• Mix the warm water with the honey and sea salt and until mostly dissolved.
• Add the lemon juice and remaining water (use cold water this time) to fill the top of the jar.
• Mix thoroughly and you're done.

NOTE FOR BABIES: It is not recommended that you give babies under 1 year of age raw honey, so instead, I (the original poster on the Cheeky Bums Blog) substitutes palm sugar to sweeten the concoction. It has a very low glycemic index and is rich in Potassium, Magnesium, Zinc and Iron.


Using raw honey and water no hotter than 95º F is very important as pasteurized honey is heated to 120º and heating the water too hot will both kill the valuable enzymes and prebiotics that naturally occur in honey.

From Wikipedia: Heating up to 37 °C (99 °F) causes loss of nearly 200 components, some of which are antibacterial. Heating up to 40 °C (104 °F) destroys invertase, an important enzyme.

I heated a small amount of water, tested the temperature with a candy thermometer, and when it got to 90º I added the honey and salt to allow them to dissolve, stirring them together with a spoon before mixing them in with the rest of the water and lemon juice.

I looked it up online and learned 1 quart of water equals 4 cups. I've been sipping it for an hour now and not only is it not bothering my stomach, I actually feel just a wee bit better.

This is a drink I'll definitely be making during the hot summer months from now on.

I still haven't blogged about my trip to NYC last summer but I will share with you it was so hot  and humid (90º F and 90% humidity) that even though I was drinking plenty of water I ended up succumbing to heat exhaustion one evening because I didn't have enough electrolytes left in me. I was literally about to collapse as we walked back to our hotel and had to sit on a road work barricade for about a half hour until my hands and arms stopped feeling numb and shaky and the sensation I was bout to pass out subsided so that I could walk again. I felt sick the rest of the night but was better the next day. That's how I learned that water alone isn't enough to stave off dehydration. Sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride, and magnesium are all part of the equation of lost nutrients you need to replace to keep your electrolytes in balance.

Needless to say I am not a medical professional but I always seek holistic treatments before turning to commercial products. If I experience any negative side effects I will update this post detailing them.

---

Disclaimer:

This post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Please seek advice from your physician or other qualified health professionals with any questions you may have regarding food poisoning or any medical condition(s). This is simply my personal experience that I wanted to share with you to encourage others to be pro-active about their health.

Please stop and help lost dogs

If you ever see a loose dog please try and help it find its way home if it's safe for you to do so. It's a small random act of kindness that can literally save its life.

Sunday night hubby and I were on our way to dinner when we saw a little dog running loose near a busy, 6 lane street. We watched as three pedestrians continued walking forward and the dog took off and crossed a smaller side street alone. Hubby said "Hey there's a dog." "Follow him" I ordered said to hubby. "Are you serious?" he asked. He should have known better than to ask.

I will never pass up a loose dog without trying to get ahold of it to see if there's a tag so I can call its owners. If there isn't a tag I'll try to catch it to take it to a local shelter so it'll be safe from harm. All I can ever think when I see one, especially  near a busy street, is it's going to get smooshed by a passing car and that I would want someone to stop and help Kitai if he ever somehow managed to get himself lost.

In the past five years I've returned six lost dogs to their owners. Four belonged to neighbors. Three of them I knew which houses they lived at but there was one where I had to let the dog lead me to his house. When I rang the bell the man was hugely relieved because A) He didn't even realize the dog was gone, and B) It was his wife's dog and she was out of town. He was very grateful. Two with no tags I had to take to shelters. I've learned a few things about trying to capture a loose dog I can share with you today:

1. When you approach the dog speak in a calm voice and gently whistle.
2. If a dog is watching you but not moving toward you keep talking to it and try sitting or kneeling on the ground closer to its level.
3. Angling your body slightly to the side so you aren't facing it head on might also be helpful.
4. Carry an extra leash in your car glove compartment. If the dog has a collar or harness on you can clip directly to it. If not, you can create a slip noose by sliding the loose end of the leash through the handle loop and slip the noose over the dog's head.
5. If you have the luxury of time to grab them, treats aren't a bad idea though I've only used them once.

We chased this little guy behind some buildings into some parking lots. As we trailed him I told hubby to speed up and cut him off so he wouldn't run out a driveway and into the busy street. "But don't hit him, right?" asked hubby. Twice. LOL. "NO, DO NOT HIT HIM" I replied. I could tell the pup was basically running scared. He wasn't looking right or left, just moving ahead at the fastest walk his little legs could carry him.

Once hubby cut him off I jumped out of the car, called to him, and took a few steps towards him. He turned around, saw me and stared. I kneeled down and he immediately came running over. You could tell he was really happy to not be alone anymore. He tried to jump into the car. I asked hubby to unlock the rear passenger door. "What? Isn't this dognapping? Can't we get in trouble for taking someone's dog?" he asked. *Rolling my eyes.* "No, this is rescuing" I replied.

I could tell he was a loved pet because he was very clean, friendly, and well fed. Because he wasn't wearing a collar or tag I drove him out to the City of San Jose Animal Care Center. Then I drove home and posted a photo and info about him on Facebook because I thought maybe one of my local friends might know who he belonged to. Thirteen friends shared that post.

Later that evening I posted a second set of photos of him. Six friends shared that post including my friend Holly who shared it with a local "Mom's Group" on Facebook. Some of those members shared the photo on their walls.

At that point hubby was chastising me that I had "dognapped" a dog that was "minding its own business," and taken it to a "dog prison." LOL

The next day a woman was shopping at a mall near where we'd found the dog. She saw a "Lost Dog" poster and recognized it as the dog she'd seen on Facebook. So she took a picture of and emailed the poster to her friend in the Moms Group who had shared the image who in turn called the owner. There was no answer so she left a message to let them know their dog was safe and at the shelter.

The following day I called the owner to confirm they'd found out where their dog was. This time someone answered. I found out the pup had taken off after bolting through an opened door. By the time I called he was back home with his family, none the worse for wear. Yay!

People often say Facebook is a waste of time. I just wanted to share this story because I think it's a great example of the good social media can do when combined with a network of compassionate friends.

Health and vanity: Two reasons to wear sunscreen on your face

This year I'll be 48 years old. I'm sure genetics have a lot to do with why most people think I look younger than my real age but I also think using sunscreen on my face for the past 29 years has helped. A lot.

Why does it matter? Because today I want to talk about sunscreen and I couldn't think of a more honest example of why to use it than to share my age with you. I've been using facial sunscreen on a daily basis since I was 19 years old which was long before it was common to do so and way back when most sunscreens were super thick and greasy. I wore it in an effort to prevent skin cancer, which I blogged about once before, and to keep from tanning because I hate getting too dark, which my skin has a natural tendency to do.

My new facial sunscreen is MyChelle's Replenishing Solar Defense SPF 30

The thing is, last year I learned not all sunscreens are equally effective or user safe. And I learned the moisturizing sunscreen I'd been using for years was one to be concerned about according to the EWG (Environmental Working Group). Since then I've replaced it with Replenishing Solar Defense SPF 30 by MyChelle. While neither company conducts testing on animals, the MyChelle has UVA protection and doesn't contain questionable ingredients like the Ceteareth-20, PEG-40 Castor Oil, and DMDM Hydantoin that my old brand did.

I also wanted to point out it's important to read the application instructions. The MyChelle sunscreen instructs to:

"Liberally apply to clean skin 15 -30 minutes before sun exposure. Reapply every 30 minutes to 1 hour throughout the day while exposed to the sun and each time after swimming, towel drying or sweating. For daily use, allow the product to absorb completely before applying make-up. For use on children 6 months and older. For face and body."

It's rich but ultra-light, non greasy, and soaks right into my skin. In fact I have to use it in tandem with a moisturizing lotion. And since I'll need to reapply it every 30-60 minutes while out in the sun I guess I'll be carrying it in my camera bag when I'm off doing my blogging adventure photos shoots from now on. And wearing a hat.

Skin cancer sucks so wear a hat to block the sun

I don't remember exactly when I started wearing hats but I think it was sometime in the early 90's. Wide brimmed hats are good for blocking the sun. I also wear a lot of baseball caps because they're lightweight, easy, and better than no hat. The whole idea is to keep my face out of direct sunlight. In tandem with the sunscreen (and long sleeved shirts) that's about as good as it gets for me when it comes to sun protection.

Skin cancer is nothing to mess around with so go out in the sun, have fun, and be safe. If not for health reasons using sunscreen for vanity will produce the same end result and years from now you'll be glad you did.

I will say that revealing my age causes a bit of concern. Right now my Twitter handle is @TheFlirtyGirl. Lately I've been wondering if there an age when I should change it to @TheFlirtyLIttleOldLady? But that doesn't have quite the same ring to it as "The Flirty Girl." LOL

For your consideration: Are you a hunter who breasts out birds?

The other day I read an article titled "On Breasting Out Birds" on Hank Shaw's blog. It made me realize there is a situation in which I, as someone who no longer eats poultry, would consider preparing game bird meat. In it he describes how some hunters only take the breast of a duck, goose, or pheasant and leave (on the ground) or throw away (in a trash bin) the rest of the bird including the legs, wings, and organ meats.

Let me be up front in saying I have no issue with the concept of hunting in general but I do have an issue with wasting the meat of any animal that has been killed in the wild or in a commercial slaughter house.

Years ago when I did eat meat I always felt the most appreciation I could give was to be aware of and respect that a living, breathing creature died to put food on our collective plates and to not throw away any unused portions. When I was young I was raised in the Pacific Northwest and had, perhaps, a somewhat romanticized impression of the way the Native Americans hunted with reverence, took only what they needed, then used as much of each animal as they possibly could. I guess in a way this awareness made me a conscious eater long before the term became chic.

As a hunter himself, Hank's wish for 2013 is to convert more hunters into diners who realize that game bird legs and wings are edible and shouldn't be wasted. In an effort to support his goal I'm asking you to share this post with any duck, goose, or pheasant hunters you know who currently take only the breasts of the birds they hunt. If they wonder how to cook these parts and some other unused bits they can try out some of Hank's recipes like Dark Duck Broth or. . .

Braised Duck Legs with Leeks

Wild Duck Buffalo Wings

Duck or Goose Confit

Duck Liver Ravioli

Duck or Goose Demi-glace

Duck Heart Tartare Puttanesca

English Duck Pot Pie

So if you're a local friend of mine who hunts fowl but only uses the breast, please bring home your legs and wings. I'll pick them up, learn how to pluck them, and at the very least make Kitai some nice duck jerky treats, pheasant pot pies, or mini goose meatloaves. I promise, no judgement on my part. I would just be appreciative to know that the meat is not being wasted.

And if you're a hunter, angler, forager, or home chef you might want to check out Hank's blog www.Honest-Foods.net. He has endless ideas and advice on all of the above subjects.

On breasting out birds Hank says:

"I understand why many hunters breast out their birds. If I were raised in a hunting community and everyone around me breasted and skinned our birds, chances I’d do the same thing. inertia and tradition are powerful forces. How a person perceives food makes a huge difference, too. If you view food merely as fuel, eating the animals you shoot becomes more of an obligation than a joy. You do it because you are supposed to, not because you prefer pheasant to chicken, or venison to beef.

But even though I understand why hunters breast out their birds, it does not mean I have to like it. For me, breasting out a bird shows disrespect for the animals we say we love. Consider this: As hunters, one of our strongest arguments when we’re trying to convince non- or anti-hunters that we are not in fact callous killers is that we eat what we bring home. Breasting out birds and tossing the legs, wings and giblets in the trash damages – some would say destroys – that argument." CLICK HERE to read the rest of Hank's post.

How to get home when you've drunk too much

I just saw this video on Facebook. As expected the moment of and aftermath depiction of the kind of accidents caused by DUI drivers is graphic but, imo, not gratuitously so. Every portrayal is an accident I've read about in the news over the years whether it was caused by alcohol or inattentive driving. Which really brings home that on New Years Eve you can celebrate, but be responsible.

I care.

For the sake of the person or people you are going to maim or kill, for your own sake, and the sake of your family, friends, and loved ones who will mourn you when you die, have to visit you in prison, have to care for you the rest of your life if you're severely disabled, or have to give you rides to and from work each day for a year after you lose your license, don't do it. Don't drive drunk.

In this day and age there are no excuses left. We all know better. We can even purchase keychain breathalyzers. If you've celebrated too much you have plenty of choices to get yourself (or a friend) home safely:

1. CALL A CAB

2. CALL A FRIEND FOR A RIDE

3. CALL A FAMILY MEMBER FOR A RIDE

4. CALL "Tipsy Tow" FOR A FREE RIDE HOME WITH YOUR CAR

 Call 1-800-AAA-HELP to see if Tipsy Tow is available where you live.

AAA’s Tipsy Tow Program offers a free tow for drinking drivers in Northern California – members and non-members alike – from 6pm on New Year’s Eve 2012 (Monday, December 31, 2012) until 6am the next morning, in Northern California, Nevada and Utah.

For Tipsy Tow in Northern CA call (800) 222-4357 (AAA-HELP) and tell the operator “I need a Tipsy Tow” for a free tow of up to 10 miles. Service is restricted to a one-way ride for the driver and his or her vehicle to the driver’s home.

5. CALL FOR A FREE "Safe and Sober" CAB RIDE HOME.
Serving San Francisco and Sacramento

Berg Injury Lawyers will be offering a Safe and Sober Free Cab Ride Home from 10pm on Monday, December 31, 2012 through 4am on Tuesday, January 1, 2013 through Luxor Cab and Yellow Cab companies.

San Francisco (within city limits), call Luxor Cab at (415) 282-4141. Tell them Berg Injury Lawyers is picking up the tab ($35 Limit)

Sacramento, call Yellow Cab Company of Sacramento at (916) 444-2222. Tell them Berg Injury Lawyers is picking up the tab ($35 Limit)

Cab rides are made available to area residents who otherwise might attempt to drive home after drinking. Rides are provided from bars & restaurants (not from house parties) to an individual’s residence and not to other drinking locations.

6. PUBLIC TRANSIT
Muni will run free service from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Caltrain and SamTrans will be free from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Zig Zag Bail Bonds

If you do drive, cause an accident, and get arrested I also know a bail bond company you can call: 1-866-677-BAIL (2245).

You may wonder why I'm friends with a Bail Bond company. It's because I built their website a few years ago and have stayed in touch ever since. I probably know far more about the bail industry than you would have thought I did. Maybe I'll do a post about how bail works sometime next year.

For now, have fun but please stay safe. The world needs you and the person or people you could take out if you DUI. And be safe not just on NYE, but every single day.

It's not just you and it's not just me

In a way I find it odd, sad, and a little comforting that I have something in common with two of my most favorite people I've never met.

Today I want to re-share with you my own story I posted two years ago today titled "Feeling Suicidal? It Gets Better." It's a first person account of the times in the past I was suicidally depressed. But then I decided to make this a group post of sorts by sharing two additional perspectives of what it's like to suffer from depression from my two most favorite bloggers.

Adventures in Depression

Allie Brosh, from Hyperbole and a Half (whose blog I enjoy so much I had to dress up as her not once but twice for Halloween), wrote Adventures in Depression in October of 2011 and hasn't written a new post since. It's a cartoon about how she feels when she's depressed. If anyone had ever told me it was possible to write a funny post about depression I wouldn't have believed them. But she did. When I read it I was moved, laughed at the end, and appreciated that she shareed her story with her millions of readers.

I haven't asked anyone else but I'm sure we're all hoping she's feeling better and has been riding her bike, watching lots of movies, and eating lots of Skittles. You'll have to read her post to get those references.

And then there's Jenny Lawson, the only other woman who can make me laugh as hard as Allie. You may know her as The Bloggess. The first post I ever read by The Bloggess (about her giant male chicken Beyonce) had me laughing out loud for so long hubby actually came into the room to see if I was ok. Jenny is HILARIOUS, suffers from depression (read her post titled The fight goes on), and a few other mild to chronic conditions like anxiety and OCD. And she talks about them. And deals with them. And she's truly fantastic.

Depression lies

Her post titled Depression lies is a video where she accurately describes how when you're suffering from depression, your brain tells you lies. And another part of your brain believes the lies. And then your mind gets confused and that confusion can drive you to harm yourself. She also points out something I also believe: That suffering through the depths of despair when you're clinically depressed has a silver lining of sorts (my words, not hers) because for those who have been there, the level of joy you are then able to experience is directly equal to the pain you've endured during those worst of times.

Just a few days ago Jenny, her family, friends, and community suffered the loss of someone they dearly love who ended his life by suicide. Her post titled Today and forever made me want to share her post and re-share mine too.

Surviving depression is hard. But it's so worth it. Here are two pictures and a brief excerpt from my previous post. It may be sad to read but just remember I've felt better for years and most people who know me now probably can't even envision me, the fun and flirty girl, as a depressed person on the verge of suicide. But I was. And I got better. And you or the person you care about can too:

"The easiest way for me to explain the difference between sadness and depression is by using pictures:

We all experience sadness from time to time in the same transitory way we experience all other emotions like elation, anger, embarrassment, etc., perhaps for seconds, minutes, hours or sometimes days. Depression is different. Depression may be a physical, mental, chemical, or genetic illness that causes emotional suffering that ranges from sadness to anguish to despair and can last for weeks, months or years and can intensify over time. It made me feel alone even when I was surrounded by family and friends. It felt like being in a deep, dark hole from which escape was hopeless and impossible. I felt like a failure (stupid, and insignificant) and was certain that, after the initial shock, people would move on once I was gone. I had lost both family and friends to death. I knew that there is a period of anger and grief but then there is acceptance and life goes on. At the time I thought it was ok to go because in my depressed reality, I was already gone. I felt so empty inside, like who I used to be didn't exist anymore. That made it ok to leave physically, because inside (mentally, emotionally, and spiritually) I felt like I was already dead."

Click Here to read the rest of the post.

Seriously people, we need to get rid of the archaic stigmas associated both with suffering from depression and especially for seeking help if you need it. That's why I bring this topic up from time to time. Because hiding it, not talking about it, ignoring, guilting, and/or shaming people clearly hasn't made the problem better for those who suffer from it.

---

Or reach out for help or share the following information with a loved one who may need someone to talk to.

If you ever feel that suicide is your only option please call the suicide hot line and talk to a counselor before taking your own life. I'm telling you that you do have another choice. Asking for help is the other choice to suicide.

Their national numbers are

National Suicide Hotlines USA

United States of America

Toll-Free / 24 hours a day / 7 days a week

1-800-SUICIDE             1-800-273-TALK

1-800-784-2433            1-800-273-8255

Deaf Hotline

1-800-799-4889

Worldwide Suicide Helplines can be found at Befrienders Wordlwide.

Hilarity ensues in an interview with Lawrence Gowan

This is my new favorite episode of hubby's public access tv show John Wants Answers. Last month he had the opportunity to sit down with Lawrence Gowan of STYX at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga, CA. The two hit it off. Seriously. Gowan immediately understood hubby's sense of humor and was more than amused at how big of a fan hubby has been of his solo career in Canada. See for yourself:

We were told Gowan would have 15-20 minutes to chat with John but instead the interview went on for 38. LOL if there hadn't been a STYX concert just 2 hours later I think he would have stayed even longer.

And congrats to hubby for his three episodes that are semi-finalists for 2012 WAVE Awards. WAVE Awards are like the Emmys for Public Access TV. The episodes are:

Finalist for Documentary Issues:
Being Gay - Guest Armando Sarabia


Finalist for Magazine:
Dental Hygiene and the Netherlands - Guests Deetrian Meacham and Henk de Kwaadsteniet


Finalist for Live Show:
Bone Marrow - Guest Stacie Tamaki

Do you live on the West Coast? Have you seen David Goeser?

Yesterday I saw a post on Facebook asking people to help publicize that David Goeser, a UCLA Honors Student, is missing. There wasn't much of an explanation as the caption so I went to Google and searched his name. I found this article "David Goeser Missing: Car of UCLA student found in Pacific Palisades, LAPD say"

On medication and struggling with depression, David has been missing since July 22, 2012. Combing through a Facebook page started to help find him, it was mentioned he may be in Southern California, Northern California or possibly Mexico.

His Facebook page is asking people anywhere on the West Coast to please print and share this flyer in English and Spanish.

I hope and pray that David is found safe.

---

If you are or know someone who is suffering from depression please reach out for help or encourage those who are suffering to not hide it, don't try to handle it on your or their own. Anyone suffering from depression needs a support system of people who, even if they don't know how to help, that they are willing to try to understand is an important breakthrough for those who have tried to deal with depression on their own. Depression has touched my own life, and the lives of those around me in many different ways. In 2010 I wrote a blog post in the hopes of beginning a conversation that will help others who battle depression know they aren't alone and things can and do get better.