Chars Life and Times

I just found out about this fantastic invention by Njoy that is a smokeless electronic cigarette. I’ve been smoking for 30 years and smoke about 2-3 packs a day. My doctor would love for me to quit smoking. 
The above video shows a demonstration of the electronic cigarette that you can use in places that do not allow cigarette or cigar smoking. I am not promoting any product and I don’t make any money off of this! I just want to inform you that there is a product available that you can smoke in public places. It does not have any tar in it and it doesn’t “smoke”, it just gives off vapor. 

It supposedly helps the smoker to still get the satisfaction of holding a cigarette and inhaling, but it does not throw off second hand smoke. You still get the nicotine. Since my state of Illinois became smoke free over a year ago, I have mostly stopped going to restaurants and eating in because I’m not allowed to smoke there anymore. I do mostly carry out and drive-thrus and just bring the food home to eat. I like to have my cigarette between my salad and my main entrée and especially at the end of my meal. I detest having to get up and go outside to have my smoke. If these work, I might feel that I can go back to eating out in restaurants again. 

The starter pack is about $80.00 so I’ll have to save up the money to try this, but I sure am going to think about it. If you are interested in learning more about this electronic cigarette, click here. 

I had two of my toenails removed because of toenail fungus back on November 25, 2008. You can read my original blog here. I have been treating the toes with Neosporin, bandaging three times a day and trying to wash it good at least once a day. Doc said the toes looked good and I now have to treat the toes with Neosporin once or twice a day along with bandaging and washing. He set up another recheck on January 6, 2009. At that time he said we will start “drying them out” whatever that means. :-) 

This toenail removal care has sure been a long drawn out procedure. Doc had warned me that the toenail beds would seep for about five or six weeks, but I guess I didn’t realize the careful treatment I would have to do for so long. The toes are not as painful as they were in the beginning, but they are still very tender, and I try to avoid hitting them with anything. 

I am sure that I will be glad I had this done after the toes heal. I know I will glad that I won’t have to worry about toenail fungus coming back since Doc put a special treatment on them so the nails will not be growing back. 

If you have read my past blog, you know that I had two toenails removed on November 24, 2008. I thought I would give you an update on the toes.

Today I had a recheck appointment with my podiatrist, and he said he was real pleased with the way they looked. Doc was looking for any extreme redness or infection, and he said there was none. I am to continue the same procedure with cleaning, apply the appropriate medication and bandage change three times a day. I have to continue to do this until my next appointment in 2 ½ weeks. That is getting a little annoying, but what can I say, if it makes these toes cured and pain free, I need to follow through. 

This last week, they haven’t hurt too badly. There is pain at times, especially when my dogs accidentally step on them. OUCH!! If I don’t get the bandages too tight, they are pretty much alright. They are a little tender if I try to slip my slippers on or wear shoes, so I try to avoid that. The tips of each toe are tender, and I avoid touching them when I put the medication on. I’ve been wearing a plain white man’s sock on the foot to try to keep it clean and dog hair free. 

I will blog on my next checkup which is on December 16, 2008 to let you know how it’s going.  

If you are at all squeamish about gross medical things, perhaps you shouldn’t be reading this so I am warning you ahead of time. I am going to talk about toenail fungus. I’m even going to put the photo of an example of toe nail fungus at the bottom so you can leave now if you want.

The reason I am writing about this is that I am diabetic and have had toenail fungus for years. Yes I tried the usual topical and oral treatment methods, none of which worked. My big toe’s nail had become very painful because the nail got real thick and gross stuff was growing underneath of it. (Hey, I warned you!) My regular doctor was concerned and sent me to a foot specialist, and we decided to take off two toenails on my left foot and two on my right. (the worst ones) They did one foot earlier today (November 24) and we’ll do the other foot in six weeks.

I wanted to let everyone know that the procedure is not as bad as it sounds. The worst part was when he shot the Novocain in my two toes. That really hurt badly! You would think a couple of little shots wouldn’t, but believe me, it almost had me coming off that chair. After the doctor got finished putting the two shots in each toe, I got to sit back and get my breath back for a few minutes while they became numb. 

The doctor then came back in and proceeded to take off my two toenails and scrape the gunk out. Meantime, I sat there talking about dogs with the nurse who was real nice. I think I felt two stings of small pain, but nothing I couldn’t deal with after those shots. In about fifteen minutes he was all done-no problem. I was amazed because I had been worrying about this procedure for days. The nurse wrapped my toes up in pretty blue bandages, gave me my instructions and off I went. 

I won’t have to worry about toe nail fungus on those two toes anymore. The doctor put some kind of medication on them so that the nail will not grow back, therefore no more toe nail fungus. Starting tomorrow, I have to change the bandages three times a day, after washing them with anti-bacterial soap, put on Neosporin on one day and some other spray stuff on alternate days, and go back to see the doctor in a week. I think I can handle that. 

The moral to this story is, if you have bad toenail fungus, and your doctor thinks you need to get your toenails removed, don’t worry about it. It’s no big deal. If I can handle it, anyone can handle it. 

P.S. This picture is NOT of my toes!!! 

One of the world’s most common diseases, diabetes, could cost the United States over $218 billion. The first comprehensive estimate of the financial toll diabetes takes was released Tuesday, November 28, 2008. This study was paid for by Novo Nordisk A/S which is a Danish pharmaceutical company. 

That figure includes direct medical care costs, from pills and insulin for keeping a patient’s blood sugar under control to hospitalization and amputation costs. It also includes indirect expenses such as disability, early retirement and lost productivity. 

From what I read, the number of people diagnosed with diabetes continues to rise each year along with obesity. Since I have diabetes type 2 myself, along with my husband, I can see the increase of the prices in medicine and blood glucose testing tools. I can just imagine how that increases with the more people that get diagnosed with diabetes every year. 

I was diagnosed with diabetes quite by accident about 3 years ago by an annual exam and blood work. My husband was diagnosed, again by accident, when he had a bump on his back that wouldn’t heal. If people were tested for this dangerous disease earlier, it might be able to be kept under control earlier, therefore saving money in the long run.

Folks that drink green tea are believed to be less at risk to carcinoma than persons that don’t drink it. Clinical studies made public in Science Daily have formerly proven this. Green tea has been very notable for numerous years now. The ancient Chinese are acclaimed for drinking green tea for of its distinctive health rewards. These days, more and more people from all over the globe are drinking the marvelous tea. Cancer rates in countries that drink a lot of green tea are considerably lower and that is according to detailed information. The component of polyphenol in green tea is thought to effectively fight cancer cells from growing.

Tests on animals have proven that green tea can assist in lessening the growth of precise tumors in the esophagus, skin, prostate, bladder, pancreas and ovary. The consequence was due to the antioxidant composition of green tea. EGCG or epigallocatechin is the primary polyphenol which has anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Other polyphenols in addition have the same properties which can prohibit skin cancer and also skin tumors.

The Aloe Vera juices in the plant’s leaves have noteworthy medicinal uses, making aloe to be one of the most treasured medicinal plants. Modern researchers have acknowledged various details of why aloe hastens wound healing: It has antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties that assist in avoiding injury infections. The aloe plant contains properties that increase the immune system and also anti-inflammatory ingredients that aid in the skin rebuilding itself and also the making of collagen. Aloe gel has vitamins E and C, along with the mineral zinc. Aloe Vera gel is antibacterial, calming and promotes the healing of all kinds of wounds.

If you have your own aloe plant in your home, this is the freshest and greatest kind to have. You can cut off leaves up to one foot long from the plant with no harm to the plant. The best time of the day to cut off the aloe leaves is in the middle of the afternoon. This is the time that the plant has shifted most of its sap into its leaves.

Have a wonderful forever!   

Conventional dentistry focuses on oral hygiene and avoiding, diagnosing and treating oral disease. Cosmetic dentistry concentrates on enhancing the look of the teeth, mouth and specifically the smile.

Smile makeovers and full mouth renovation are two of the newest options intended to produce a gorgeous smile.

*Smile Makeovers

A smile makeover enhances the appearance of the smile by utilizing one or more cosmetic dentistry methods such as dental implants, dental veneers and teeth whitening.

A gorgeous smile is a quality that allows your personality to sincerely shine throughout. The benefits to your confidence and quality of life are invaluable.

Have a wonderful forever!  

Have you ever had an uncontrollable desire to be pierced by a bunch of needles? The majorities of people think of this with skepticism and even complete horror when the word ‘acupuncture’ is brought up. The fact is, in actuality, that this rather pain free ancient Chinese method has helped millions of people’s symptoms. Acupuncture can aid in the management of many medical troubles including persistent pain and tiredness when done correctly.

How does acupuncture work? Chinese conservative medicine practitioners have faith in energy surges. This energy, called Qi, surges through the body using paths called meridians. In definite areas of the body, meridians run very close to the surface of the skin and are able to be retrieved by needles. Medians are similar to plumbing and can get blocked or somehow end up going the wrong way and create health problems. The insertion of needles at these points is intended to remove blockages and return flow to normal.

To read the entire article, click on my Associated Content page on the left. Have a great day!

Green Tea & Caffeine

Numerous people feel that the disadvantage of green tea is the caffeine that is in it. These people are concerned that it may cause them to have trouble sleeping. Many people might feel that this is a problem, but people tend to disagree when they work the nightshift. It is a fact that green tea includes caffeine, but it has much less than coffee and other kinds of teas. Green tea also has a very enormous level of antioxidants.

Caffeine: What is it?

Caffeine is a kind of drug that works like stimuli, basically motivating the central nervous system and the heart. A person that has caffeine in his system can instantly increase their blood pressure but not have any blood pressure long term affects itself. However, if a person consumes too much green tea, long term blood pressure boosting would not be advantageous.

To read the entire article, click on my Associated Content page on the left. Have a great day!