Medical Examiner

AUGUSTA

+

FREE T AKE-H OME C OPY!

RECIPE FEATURE PAGE 7

TM

DOCTORS HOSPITAL • EISENHOWER ARMY MEDICAL CENTER • EAST CENTRAL REGIONAL • GEORGIA HEALTH SCIENCES UNIVERSITY • GRACEWOOD • MCGHEALTH • PRIVATE PRACTICE • SELECT SPECIALTY HOSPITAL • TRINITY HOSPITAL • UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL • VA HOSPITALS • WALTON REHABILITATION HOSPITAL

AUGUSTA’S MOST SALUBRIOUS NEWSPAPER • FOUNDED IN 2006

FEBRUARY 17, 2012

Heart Month beats on

Since February is recognized as a time to celebrate love, caring, and heart health, there is no better time to improve your own heart health or encourage loved ones to improve theirs by quitting smoking. About 130,000 cardiovascular disease deaths per year in the United States are attributable to smoking. Also, approximately 26% of heart attacks and 12-19% of strokes are attributable to smoking. The Surgeon General has concluded that cigarette smoking greatly increases one’s risk for heart disease. Being smoke-free and eliminating exposure to secondhand smoke is important to heart health.

Smoking and heart health When you smoke or are exposed to secondhand smoke, cells that line your body’s blood vessels react to the poisons in tobacco smoke almost immediately. Your heart rate and blood pressure go up. Your blood vessels grow narrower. Chemical changes caused by tobacco smoke also make blood more likely to clot. Clots can form and block blood flow to your heart. Your heart contemplates suicide (shown, right).

Smoking is one cause of dangerous plaque buildup inside your arteries. Plaque clogs and narrows your arteries. This can trigger chest pain, weakness, heart attack, or stroke. Plaque can rupture and cause clots that block arteries.

Completely blocked arteries can cause sudden death. Smoking is not the only cause of these problems, but it makes them much worse.

NEW

CONTROL YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE AND CHOLESTEROL High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of heart disease and stroke.

One in 3 U.S. adults has high blood pressure, and half of these don’t have their condition under control.

Similarly, high cholesterol affects 1 in 3 American adults, and two-thirds of them do not have the condition under control.

Half of adults with high cholesterol do not get treatment.

If your blood pressure or cholesterol is high, take steps to lower it. This could include eating a healthier diet, getting more exercise, and following your doctor’s instructions about medications you take.

Secondhand smoke and heart health Tobacco smoke hurts anyone who breathes it.

When you breathe secondhand smoke, platelets in your blood get sticky and may form clots, just like in a person who smokes. Research shows that even spending time in a smoky room could trigger a heart attack. There is no riskfree level of exposure to secondhand smoke.

Even brief exposure can be harmful to your health, especially if you are at risk for heart disease.

Quitting saves lives You have years of life to gain and love to give by quitting smoking. Your risk for heart attack drops sharply just 1 year after you quit smoking. In fact, even if you’ve already had a heart attack, you cut your risk of having another one by a third to a half if you quit smoking. + — Centers for Disease Control

Correction Like many other publications whose focus is health and wellness, the Medical Examiner tries to remind its readers of the dangers of smoking (see above). We keep our finger on the pulse of the latest research published on the topic. It is often said that smoking is “the single most harmful thing we can voluntarily do to our bodies.” In fact, we recently came across this statement published Feb. 7 by Dr. Gregory Calkins of the Miami

THE SKINNY ON HEALTHY HEART TIPS

University (Ohio) Student Health Center: “It is most definitively the most dangerous thing one person can choose to partake in.”

In a rebuttal The Miami Student published the following list of “behaviors we believe to be significantly worse than smoking: • shooting yourself • jumping off a cliff • standing in a nuclear reactor • standing in the path of a 65watt laser • fork in electrical socket

• overdosing • alcohol poisoning • mixing ammonia and bleach in your face • shooting at the White House • insulting Chuck Norris • not eating or drinking for a month • putting your head inside a hot oven and falling asleep • sitting in your car inside a closed garage with the engine running • going into outer space without a

SPRING PRINTS ARE NOW IN!!!

30% off

any printed top!!!

With this ad. Excludes clearance or sale merchandise. Now thru 3/16/12.

plus receive a free gift with your purchase!

space suit • drinking molten gold • riding a Great White Shark • taking a syringe full of air and injecting it into your bloodstream • eating McDonalds every day • drinking virus vials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention • swallowing a lit firecracker.”

— Alexis Denton Miami University Points taken. We stand corrected. +

EAT HEALTHY FOR YOUR HEART Try to: • Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.

• Limit sodium. Too much sodium can increase your blood pressure.

• Limit foods with high amounts of saturated fat, transfat, and cholesterol.

You can find this information on the Nutrition Facts label.

•Cook at home more often.

Whenever possible, select foods that are low in sodium or have no salt added. Limit sauces, mixes, and “instant” products, including flavored rice and ready-made pasta. + — http://millionhearts.hhs.gov

IF YOU DON’T

ESTABLISHED 1930 - SERVING AUGUSTA FOR 5 GENERATIONS

1216 Broad St • Downtown • 706-722-4653

YOUR SCRUBS, YOU NEED TO COME SEE US.

HOURS: Mon - Fri 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

VISIT US AT WWW.IUISCRUBS.COM

“LIKE” US FOR A FREE GIFT!

VISIT US SOON TO SEE HOW WE’RE MAKING AUGUSTA’S BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE EVEN BETTER!

HOME OF THE WORLD FAMOUS $19.95 SCRUB SET

+2

FEBRUARY 17, 2012

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

S LUTIONS

Ideas for health happiness and better living that are outside the realm of medicine

Not every problem in life can be fixed by a pill, a shot, or a scalpel. And that applies even to situations that can have a major effect on our health and wellness. Perhaps what regularly vexes us the most in everyday life is losing keys or important papers. Maybe it’s a troubled marriage, being late all the time, contentious teenagers, chronic procrastination or never-ending problems making ends meet. In this Medical Examiner column we tackle these troublesome issues and try to offer practical solutions.

Are you ex-rated?

Here’s a topic that every reader within the sound of this newspaper could probably write a book on: exes from hell.

Even with no personal experience, we all know someone whose life has been made miserable by an exhusband, an ex-wife, an exgirlfriend or ex-boyfriend.

In the Augusta area, Cayce Vice is but the latest of many, many lives tragically cut short by a current or former husband or boyfriend.

To then take the life of an innocent bystander just because she happened to be wearing a law enforcement uniform makes this animal’s crime infinitely worse.

But it actually gets even worse: her boyfriend also killed his own unborn child.

Unfortunately, those three deaths at the hand of one selfish and deranged “loved one” are just the tip of the iceberg.

Remember Karyn Grace? Six years ago, the Fury’s Ferry Road hair salon owner expected her two sons, aged 4 and 7, to be back home Sunday evening after spending the weekend with their dad in North Augusta.

Karyn and her husband were separated at the time.

Well, the boys never came home. They were murdered by the own father before he shot and killed himself.

And last week, the entire nation was shocked when a guy suspected in the unsolved

disappearance of his wife barricaded himself inside his Washington state home with his two boys, ages 5 and 7, and burned the place to the ground.

Authorities found evidence that he had apparently attacked both boys with a hatchet before the fire ultimately took their lives. Oh my.

What is wrong with people?

What’s even more tragic is that for every sensational case where a former family unit disintegrates in mayhem and murder, a thousand others die a slow and silent death.

These are the marriages or relationships that end — and then never end. Some ex-

10 steps for avoiding losers* 1. Do background checks on the men you date or are considering dating.

2. Don’t pick up guys in bars and parties where alcohol or drugs are present.

3. Don’t date married men- no matter what he says about leaving his wife.

4. Don’t date your friends’ exes. Not only is it bad form, you also already know all the dirt on them. Just steer clear of guys that have been involved with your friends.

5. Be confident and send out healthy, happy vibes to attract men of the same disposition.

6. Try new things. Consider blind dating or Internet dating. It’s possible you’ve maxed all of your local resources for meeting good guys and it’s time to search elsewhere.

7. Watch out for guys with no personal motivation to complete their goals- or guys who have no personal goals at all.

8. Walk away at the first sign of abuse. If there is any hint of abuse of any kind, walk away. Don’t wait for him to actually hit you or worse.

9. Take your time jumping into a relationship.

Things always seem great in the beginning and often turn out to be another loser. Don’t jump in too quickly and take time to get to know him first.

10. Beware of guys who have children they

don’t support or many children with multiple women.

Many women don’t realize they keep dating losers because they are attracting the wrong types of guys. One of the most important things you can do to avoid dating a loser is to get your own life in order. When you are a happy, confident contributor to society, you are much more likely to attract a better man.

Learn from your past mistakes in relationships. Are you allowing yourself to be used or abused? Are you setting yourself up for failure by dating men that you know are wrong for you? Are you going to the wrong places to meet men? Re-evaluate the steps you take to meet men and you are more likely to find Mr. Right- or at least someone you can have a good time with.

Written by Lisa M, WomanSavers Feature Writer www.WomanSavers.com

Other useful links: http://www.cdc.gov/ (click on “I,” then “Intimate Partner Violence”) http://www.womansavers.com/ http://www.bonusfamilies.com/ http://www.exfactorradio.com/ (listen to radio shows about ex issues and click on the “Help Articles” link)

* this article is addressed to women, implying that losers are usually men. Sad but true, guys.

However, the steps listed apply equally to people of both genders who want to live loser-free.

+

boyfriends never let go. They never tire of harassing the very woman they presumably left for greener pastures. They’re constantly giving the new boyfriend untold grief. They stalk their prey, physically and electronically.

There are ex-wives and ex-girlfriends who do the same, or who use lawyers to continuously harass their ex-husbands. They will maliciously fabricate charges of abuse, including child abuse that has never occurred.

That’s just plain evil. It matters not that they had a child (or children) together, and that the kids live with dad half the time. They don’t seem to realize that while they’re busily ruining dad financially and making life miserable for him, they’re also destroying half of the natural habitat of their own children.

Presumably these people are at least nominal Christians.

These ain’t no scripture-quotin’ Christians, that’s for sure. We wouldn’t expect them to know Moses from Malachi. But one would think they have at least heard of The Golden Rule uttered by Jesus himself: do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

How difficult is that principle to master? Is it written somewhere that the people in your own life, including your own little ones, are exempt from The Golden Rule? Who said anyone has the right to

tear apart the life of another person? What’s wrong with deciding to move on — and then moving on? Some people enjoy relentlessly hounding someone they supposedly once loved. Every time they practice their hobby, they prove their victim’s decision to leave was the right one. Sometimes the goal of their threats, violence and stalking is to convince their former mate to come back.

Good luck with that.

Cayce Vice, the Grace family and the Powell children in Washington have brought this sad subject to our minds, at least temporarily. But just like it’s not right to think about love one day a year (Feb. 14), neither is it right to dismiss this vital topic from our minds a week or a month from now.

Are you single? Dating?

Contemplating marriage? Take your time. Ignore doubts now and you will surely have to face them later.

Are you in a troubled relationship? Undertake repairs as though your life depends upon your success, because it just might. If the breach cannot be healed and there is even an implied threat of violence, take that very seriously. Don’t assume things will magically work themselves out.

And if they don’t work out, walk away. Move on. Live and let live. You wouldn’t torture a dog, would you? Then don’t torture your ex. Be a human.

Don’t be an ex-rated ex. +

Need a S lution? Please drop us a line - info@AugustaRx.com - with a question or a suggestion for a future column.

Georgia Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center • Skin exams • Mole removal • Psoriasis • Skin cancer surgery

• Rashes • Warts • Acne

DR. DAVID DOYLE, JR 14 Locations Serving Georgia

Caring for Patients Since 1969

706-733-3373

WWW.GADERM.COM

2283 WRIGHTSBORO RD (AT JOHNS RD)

FEBRUARY 17, 2012 I N

T H E

F I R ST

P E R SON

What’s your story?

Losing, yet gaining I

“She dropped the hose and screamed.”

Wednesday.

When I woke up Thursday morning, I thought, “Today is going to be a beautiful day.” My mother and little Sarah were going to spend the afternoon with me. After my morning routine, I drove to my mother’s house. Together, we got little Sarah and headed to my house.

It didn’t matter that I was weak and could barely lift my arm. It was going to be a fun afternoon.

We enjoyed a snack and watched Sarah play. Both of us agreed the late afternoon was too nice to stay inside.

Going outside to the backyard, we buckled Sarah into her stroller. She looked at both of us and laughed. She held out her tiny hand for her toys. As I handed them to her, I ignored the weakness in my right

arm. Noticing the flower bed needed to be watered, I went to pick up the hose. However, my mother said she would water the flowers and watch Sarah. Knowing all was well, I went inside to prepare Sarah’s supper. As I stepped inside the back door, I noticed how beautifully the sun reflected on the water of our swimming pool.

Putting Sarah’s food into the microwave, I set the timer and clicked the button. As soon as I heard the whirring of the microwave, I immediately hit the cancel button. “That will have to do,” I spoke out loud.

Without knowing why, I felt compelled to go back out to my mother and Sarah. Opening the back door, I saw only mother.

She was hard of hearing, so I walked quickly to her.

Touching her shoulder, I asked, “Where is Sarah?” Expecting to see Sarah in her stroller, my mother glanced to her right.

When she did not see Sarah, she dropped the hose and screamed, ‘The pool!” We both See LOSING page 10

Nearly all of us — even doctors and nurses — are sometimes patients. Perhaps you were recently injured playing your favorite sport, or years ago you somehow got hurt without even leaving your favorite recliner. Maybe you were diagnosed with a dreaded disease, mugged in a dark and lonely parking lot, or you stubbed your toe in the safety of your own bedroom. On the other hand, perhaps you needed medical attention 5,000 miles from home.

Whatever your medical experience, we’d like to hear your story for our Medicine in the First Person feature. It can be frightening or funny, ordinary or extraordinary, just a few paragraphs long or quite a lengthy tale. We’ll publish your encounters with the medical profession as often as we receive them. + Send your submissions for Medicine in the First Person to the Augusta Medical Examiner via e-mail: info@AugustaRx.com or to PO Box 397, Augusta, GA 30903-0397. (The Medical Examiner reserves the right to accept, reject, or edit any submission at its sole discretion.)

PAGE 16!

The

Money Doctor appears exclusively in the Medical Examiner’s 3rd Friday issue of even months, written by Augusta’s own Bill

Why subscribe to the Medical Examiner?

Why would anyone pay for a subscription to a free newspaper? That’s certainly a legitimate question.

The answer: as a major regional medical center, patients come to Augusta hospitals and physicians from all over the Southeast. The MCGHealth Medical Center alone sees patients from every single county in Georgia, not to mention South Carolina, Florida, and beyond. Add to that the regional reach of Eisenhower Army Medical Center and both Veterans Administration hospitals, the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital, MCGHealth Children’s Medical Center, Walton Rehab and University Hospital, and it’s clear that many people seeking treatment in Augusta are not local residents.

Furthermore, some of our most loyal readers are in town only occasionally. Or their treatments and visits to Augusta are only temporary. Even local residents may find it more convenient to walk to their mailbox than visit one of our many newsstands.

Subscriber copies are mailed the day prior to the issue date so they will be received by most readers no later than the publication date printed on the paper. Copies are sent by First Class mail in a sealed envelope so they’ll arrive promptly and in crisp condition. Rates are $16 for a 6-month subscription (12 issues), $32 for a full year (24 issues). Complete the form below and drop it in the mail with your payment. Thank you! +

Cleveland, a certified financial planner recently named

by Medical Economics magazine as one of the “150 Best Financial Advisors for Doctors” in the U.S.

Read it and reap AUGUSTA

M E DIC I N E

t was 1997, and springtime was just beginning. My husband, Dennis, and I were living the good life. We owned two flourishing Walden Hall Christian Montessori Schools.

We were active in our local church and enjoyed playing golf. Our two children were grown and happily married.

Sarah, our first grandchild, was eight months old. We were blessed, and gave thanks. Little did we know everything was about to change.

During a regular check-up that same year, my doctor told me that I had cancer in my right breast. I was shocked! Being an active, healthy fifty-two year old, it seemed impossible that I could have cancer. However, I remained positive and put my faith in God. After having a lumpectomy I had twentyeight treatments of radiation therapy. The last treatment was completed August, 1997.

My doctor reminded me I would have limited movement and very little strength in my right arm. I remember it was a

3+

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

+

MEDICAL EXAMINER

TM

AUGUSTA’S MOST SALUBRIOUS NEWSPAPER

www.AugustaRx.com The Medical Examiner’s mission: to serve as a central source of news within the Augusta medical community, to provide information on topics of health and wellness of interest to general readers, and to offer information to assist readers in wisely choosing their healthcare providers.

+

SUBSCRIBE TO THE MEDICAL EXAMINER

Submit editorial content to graphicadv@knology.net Direct editorial and advertising inquiries to:

By popular demand we’re making at-cost subscriptions available for the convenience of our readers.

If you live beyond the Aiken-Augusta area or miss issues between doctor’s appointments — don’t you hate it when that happens? — we’ll command your mail carrier to bring every issue to your house!

Augusta Medical Examiner photography: H + D Photography

NAME ADDRESS CITY

Daniel R. Pearson, Publisher & Editor

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER P.O. Box 397, Augusta, GA 30903-0397

(706) 860-5455

STATE

ZIP

Choose ____ six months for $16; or ____ one year for $32. Mail this completed form with payment to Augusta Medical Examiner, PO Box 397, Augusta GA 30903-0397

www.AugustaRx.com • E-mail: graphicadv@knology.net Opinions expressed by the writers herein are their own and their respective institutions. Neither the Augusta Medical Examiner, Pearson Graphic 365 Inc., or its agents or employees take any responsibility for the accuracy of submitted information, which is presented for informational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment consult your doctor. © 2012 PEARSON GRAPHIC 365 INC.

+4

FEBRUARY 17, 2012

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

Hope IS Possible

Love... for your emotional health

Helen Blocker-Adams he love holiday of the year, Valentine’s Day, has come and gone for another year. It’s too early for the latest results, of course, but industry experts predicted that sales would rise 5% this year, with restaurants leading the way. Last year the average Valentine’s splurge was $125.47 (which includes Valentine’s purchases of flowers, candy and/or restaurants), according

T

to Kimberly King, a business instructor at South University. $12 billion — yes you read right, billion — was spent on Valentine’s gifts last year. Wow, that’s a lot of candy, flowers, greeting cards, restaurant food, jewelry and other nice gifts…

So what is it about love that is so special? I have to admit I am a hopeless romantic. And it takes the right guy to bring it out in a major way. Yes, I work a lot and it doesn’t appear that there is room or time in my life for romance. I can assure you for the right man I would reduce activities on my schedule and make room for him. The right guy would be worth it. In a heart beat. I think that is what makes love so special. It’s special when a person is willing to make a sacrifice or simply allow his or her heart to open up for someone special.

God is love. I don’t believe people can love, real and true love, if they do not have

God in their heart. When one submits his life to God, the abundance of love for another person is profound. Love can be a positive force on your emotional well-being, too – but on the other hand, there’s a dark side to love that can be a negative force. But this column today is about positivity.

Webster’s dictionary defines love as: An intense feeling of deep affection: “their love for their country.” (noun). Feel a deep romantic or sexual attachment to (someone): “do you love me?” (verb).

I read an interesting article about ten characteristics of true love and I want to share them with you. Each of them had a paragraph explanation, which I will not include here though.

But I think it’s worth spending some time reflecting on these characteristics, and I hope you will too: 1. Cherishing 2. Challenging 3. Nurturing 4. Expression 5. Connection 6. Comfort

HERE’S A BRIGHT IDEA: ADVERTISE HERE!

CALL FOR INFORMATION TODAY!

7. Collaboration 8. Resolution 9. Giving and receiving And finally, 10. Self-ishness (This begs for an explanation, so here are the details. “Self-ishness is both people in a relationship putting themselves first in a healthy way. Why? So they have the inner resources and energy to extend themselves lovingly to their beloved. Without this sweet tension of selfishness, a relationship may end up co-dependent and unbalanced, with one party giving way too much, and neither getting what they really need to grow at a soul level.”

I watched a show on OWN the other night about couples in love. There were four stories: one was a couple married 50 years, another was a single father looking for a wife, another was an engaged couple and the last one was a recently married couple.

The married couple of 50 years were so adorable. The woman was 89 and he was 86. The enthusiasm this man

showed as he talked about and looked at his wife was pretty amazing. He acted like a man who had just taken his bride to be his wife. I was so taken by this couple and couldn’t help but think I would love that kind of long term relationship with a wonderful and adoring man.

Wouldn’t you? The optimist in me says God moves in mysterious ways.

I hope you had a fabulous Valentine’s Day. But love should continue to be celebrated. Every day. Why don’t you allow love to enhance your emotional well-being? + Helen Blocker Adams is President/ CEO of The HBA Group, Intl and Executive Director of the Southeast Enterprise Institute, Inc. Visit her website at www.helenblockeradams. com. If you like politics, visit her blog at www.projectlogicga.com.

You can reach her via email at hba@hbagroup-intl.com Helen’s new book, Unlikely Allies: 8 Steps to Bridging Divides that Impact Leadership can be purchased by visiting www.hbagroup-intl.com or www.authorhouse.com

“Forgiving means to pardon the unpardonable. Faith means believing the unbelievable. And hoping means to hope when things are hopeless.”

706/860.5455

—

OR VISIT WWW.AUGUSTARX.COM

G.K. Chesterton

SEND US YOURS TODAY!

“After I have the Cadillac surgery I’ll be able to see like new.”

+

MEDiCAL EXAMINER

“Reckon I may have to get Viagra. He said my limp nodes are infected.”

We’re proud to be NASW’s News Medium of the Year

“It sure is cold today. I wonder what the windshield factor is?”

HEARD A GOOD (OR BAD) MISPRONUNCIATION? PLEASE SEND IT TO US! GRAPHICADV@KNOLOGY.NET

FEBRUARY 17, 2012

5+

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

WHAT EVERYBODY OUGHT TO KNOW ABOUT GOOD THINGS THAT MIGHT LOOK BAD

by Bad Billy Laveau Back in the 50s, Caulie did manual labor, got paid on Friday, got drunk, and spent most of his check before coming home to a well-worn wife and three rag-tag kids.

When she complained of not having enough food in the house, Caulie beat her. He was the man of the house and didn’t put up with back talk.

Back then we had a Special Committee that handled such things. They rolled up in a pickup, called Caulie out and explained that he would not beat his wife any more nor get drunk nor spend all his money before providing for this family.

Caulie was still a bit hung over and belligerent as he launched into It’s-my-houseand-my-wife-and-I’ll-dowhat-I-damn-well-please.

A well-scarred fist hit Caulie’s midsection just before he crashed to the ground.

A few more punches and slaps found Caulie’s face.

The warning was repeated in solemn and meaningful tones.

The Committee retrieved two sacks of household staples from the Committee pickup. They apologized to the wife for her having to see such. They told Caulie they would be back if he acted up again.

Caulie was hard headed. He did it again.

True to their word, the Special Committee came back.

Without a word, a knee found Caulie’s soft spot. Many punches and kicks followed in rapid succession. Caulie’s throbbing, bruised body was left suffering in agony in the yard. Two more bags of food were unloaded. Their parting words were: Caulie, give your heart to Jesus. Because your ass belongs to us if you mess up again.

That time, Caulie got it.

No more wife-beating. No more drunkenness. No more unmanly behavior. Jesus accepted Caulie’s heart and soul when Caulie got baptized in icy February waters a couple weeks later.

Back then we had archaic laws on the books. Common law marriages required a legal divorce to end. A husband could beat his wife if the stick was not larger than his middle finger. Cohabitation was against the law.

Some laws were usually not prosecuted, at least in court. However, the Special Committee took a dim view of cohabitation and wife beating.

And rightly so, I say.

Yes, Dear Hearts, if you hadn’t already guessed it, the Special Committee was an active chapter of the Klu Klux Klan. They were not racist. Caulie was white. They operated in the sense the original KKK was designed

E

TH

t s e B for: maintain law and order and administer social justice in unusual situations.

Those days are long dead and gone. But is that a good thing? Look at a case presently in our midst.

Cayce Vice was a young lady whose life was in upheaval. She left her job at a North Augusta grocery store to work in a burger joint in Augusta. Her girlfriend/ roommate moved out because Cayce began cohabitating with a wild-eyed man named Joshua Tremaine Jones.

Cayce got pregnant by her cohabitant. He beat her up shortly thereafter. She went to the hospital and missed two weeks of work getting over the beating. She got a TRO (Temporary Restraining Order), but did not change the locks or move back in with her family for protection.

The ex-cohabitant returned

e n i c i d ME

and murdered her and the unborn child before killing an Aiken County police officer. He appeared at his court hearing looking like a character from central casting from a vampire movie. He was barely coherent. He looked evil. In contrast, his father looked and sounded like a man of principle.

Professional. Well mannered.

A solid citizen.

What if we still had a Special Committee that had taken over the management of Joshua Tremaine Jones when he first began cohabitating with Cayce? Or when he first beat up Cayce?

Now, you tell me: In retrospect, would Cayce be better off? Certainly, she would be alive. And had the Special Committee stopped the cohabitation, Cayce might not have gotten pregnant either.

Would Joshua Tremaine

Jones be better off? Sure, he would have had some bruises, maybe even a broken rib or nose, but he would not be charged with three murders, including his own child, spread over two states.

And Cayce’s family? They would not be grieving over a dead daughter.

As for Jones’ father? He would not have the horrors of a son who committed three murders.

And would you and I be better off? Certainly. Now we have to pay for a death penalty trial and then 10 years of appeals, followed by life imprisonment or an execution.

Come to think of it, wasn’t Clint Eastwood a one-man Special Committee in Dirty Harry? Or Charles Bronson in his Death Wish series?

Where are those kind of men when we need them? + Bad Billy Laveau is a retired MD with a pointed sense of humor.

Bad Billy speaks and entertains at public and private events for audiences not subject to cardiac seizure secondary to overwhelming laughter and glee BadBilly@knology.net or 706306-9397

The new MacBook Pro now at PeachMac

ATTENTION Compensation and medical benefits are available for covered illnesses related to exposure to radiation, beryllium, silica and toxic substances through the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program (EEOICP).

Over $420 million has been paid to eligible Savannah River Site workers or their survivors through this program.

Anyone with questions and/or potential claims is asked to contact the program through the Savannah River Resource Center, 1708 Bunting Drive, North Augusta, SC or call 803279-2728 or 866-666-4606.

YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION AND MEDICAL BENEFITS Visit our blog! http://www.augustarx.com/news/

ipads • macs • ipods • software • service

Washington Rd across from Club Car • 706.922.9020 • peachmac.com Augusta • Athens • Macon • Marietta • Peachtree City

ADVERTISE IN THE EXAMINER! CALL 706.860.5455

+6

FEBRUARY 17, 2012

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

Health 101

by Sandy Turner, RN, EdD, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Assistant Dean for Administration in the GHSU College of Nursing COMMON STOMACH PROBLEMS: REFLUX OR GERD hat abbreviation - GERD - is short for gastro-esophageal reflux disease. Basically that means that for some reason the acid that is normally in the stomach is moving up the esophagus or even up to the mouth. Most people who have a problem with reflux notice it initially when they lie down at night. Several things may be involved with this. If you overeat and have a distended stomach and then lie down, the pressure of the food against the top of the stomach can make food move back up the esophagus. The stomach is about the size of your fist or 1-2 cups so when food is eaten fast or in large quantities there is a greater tendency for it to move back up the esophagus.

Besides overeating, other things that can lead to reflux are eating spicy foods that can cause gastritis or irritation of the lining of the stomach and increase the production of stomach acids.

Hot, spicy or peppery foods

T

can cause chronic irritation of the stomach lining. Other foods that can increase stomach acid are oily and greasy foods, and fried foods.

Some diseases, like diabetes, can cause a slowing of gastric motility and a loosening of the top of the stomach. This problem is called gastroparesis. When food slows down as it moves through the system it can lead to bloating and reflux.

Excessive air in the stomach can add to reflux symptoms. Sometimes people swallow air when they eat if they eat too fast or talk while they eat or have gaps in their teeth. When air is swallowed it rises to the top of the stomach and causes bloating.

Any food that is eaten after the air accumulates may move up the esophagus when the air comes out. Burping is a sign of swallowed air.

Bloating can also be caused by gas-forming foods like cucumbers, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and similar vegetables which ferment

in the stomach and lead to gas. These foods should be eaten in moderate quantities interspersed with other foods to avoid build ups of gas in the stomach and intestines.

So, to help decrease the problem of reflux it is best not to eat large meals soon before going to bed. It is better to stay up - and sit up - for at least 2 hours after eating. Also, avoid overeating especially mixtures of spicy and gas-forming foods.

If problems with acid reflux arise frequently, it is important to avoid hot spicy foods altogether and to try some things that coat the stomach to allow the lining to heal. Liquid anti-acids taken at least every 2 hours may be needed to help with healing.

Medications that can help with reflux are H2 blockers like Zantac or ranitidine and Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI) like Prilosec. An H2 blocker blocks the production of histamine that is used in the production of stomach acid. A PPI actually turns off proton pumps that pump stomach acid in the top of the stomach. Over time those pumps will turn off naturally as we age, leading to slowing of the digestive process and other digestive issues. We still do not know what if any long-term effects using a PPI will have on people. + HEALTH 101 – Information to help you make positive changes in your life to improve your health by Sandy Turner, RN, EdD, Family Nurse Practitioner, Director of the Good Samaritan House, A Free Community Health Center Open Mondays 15 pm. 213 N Main St., Dearing, GA 706-556-9080.

Opening Doors to a Cure SEEKING STUDY PARTICIPANTS TO COMPARE CURRENT & NEW CANCER TREATMENTS: Breast Lung Prostate/Genitourinary Gastrointestinal

Hematological Malignancies Skin Cancer Prevention

We are a Minority-Based Community Clinical Oncology Program

For More Information Please Call 706-721-6875 Or visit http://www.mcg.edu/cancer/ for a list of all trials

GET HELP. GIVE HELP.

Editor’s note: Exceptional Living appears exclusively in the Medical Examiner each month, addressing issues that all of us can benefit from involving people with special — let’s call them exceptional — needs.

Exceptional Living

Unconditional Love

by Naomi D. Williams, MPH, CHES, CIC® Love as defined by Merriam-Webster means to hold dear if used as a verb, and if used as a noun it means to have strong affection for another. With February being heart health month and lovers’ month I thought it appropriate to talk about unconditional love.

Most often when I think of unconditional love I think of a mother’s love, and secondly marriage vows.

When you become a parent, your life is no longer your own. You have to care and provide for another human being, making sure all of their needs are met. The same could be said for marriage as well.

When entering into a union with another person the intention is to — Charles Kettering be committed to this other person, in good and bad, in plenty and scarcity, in sickness and health; it’s long term and unconditional.

With that said, not everyone should become a parent nor is everyone equipped to be married.

I was reading about Jimmy Graham, tight end for the New Orleans Saints, of how at the tender age of 11 years old his mother dropped him off at an orphanage in the middle of the night. No goodbye. No reason given of where she was going or why she was leaving, just gone. I also thought about Dave Pelzer, trilogy book author, depicting his physical, emotional and psychological abuse at the hand of his mother. How anyone, let alone a biological parent, can do the horrific things described in these books is beyond me. Then I began to wonder how people can say they’ve met their soul mate, profess their undying love, affection and adoration for each another, get married, and less than a year later they are divorced or their relationship is in serious trouble.

To me love is an action verb. I often marvel at couples I meet who’ve been married 30-plus years and are still in love with each other. Unconditional love gets you through the tough, dreadful, and scary times. Unconditional love holds the hand, gets the car, gives a bath and makes the food for their love going through a major health crisis. It is a husband telling his wife she looks beautiful and is as desirable as the day they got married despite losing her hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes to chemotherapy and losing her breasts to cancer. Unconditional love is sticking with your spouse when they return from war dismembered, blind or having suffered a traumatic brain injury. Unconditional love is providing simple pleasures and valuing the life of an elderly parent even though you see them reverting to an infantile state.

Unconditional love is choosing to have a child despite what the amniocentesis says. Unconditional love is not expecting the other person to be perfect, but accepting them as they are. Being willing to forgive and not hold the past as perpetual punishment.

Unconditional love is understanding that you have to compromise and learn to disagree without being disagreeable. Unconditional love is the willingness to take the hard road and attempt to get things right, instead of taking the easy road limiting possibilities.

Raising an exceptional child is not easy by any means. And yes, there have been times when I didn’t think I could continue on this road. A moment came when I contemplated giving my child up for adoption, thinking someone could provide for him better than I despite the love that I had for him. In the end it came down to our unconditional love and bond with each other. I truly can’t see my life without him in it. We compromise and many times agree to disagree.

Unconditional love doesn’t look for easy, just possible. +

“High achievement always takes place in the framework of high expectation.”

FEBRUARY 17, 2012

7+

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

What’s Cooking with Cindy

by Cindy Crawford, Owner and Executive Chef, Cindy’s Catering

Got a

Craving Junk Food??

Do you ever get in the mood for a specific food and you just can’t get enough of it?

Why is it we never crave something healthy like a salad with fat free dressing or a nice big bowl of healthy cereal with skim milk? We generally crave things like chocolate cake, peanut M&M’s, potato chips or chips and salsa. Here’s the thing about a craving‌.you don’t want a sliver of chocolate cake or a handful of chips. You want the whole cake and the whole bag of chips. Otherwise, what’s the point?

You all know what a health food nut I am, but that doesn’t mean I am not just as susceptible to the cravings for junk food as everyone else. I am currently having a hard time passing by that big red box of chocolates sitting strategically between me and the fruit bowl. While I intend to grab a handful of grapes, I will probably snitch one‌. or two ‌.or three pieces of yummy decadent, gooey filled chocolates.

Before you know it, I will have my poor husband defending himself as I inquire indignantly as to who ate all the chocolates!!

I know I didn’t! Poor guy!

I have read that if your body craves something like certain fruits or vegetables, then you are craving a vitamin you are lacking. How is the same thing not true of junk food??? Operating under the same assumption, it makes perfect sense if you are craving junk food, maybe your body “NEEDS� junk food!

I operate under the theory that because 99% of the time I eat crazy healthy, I can occasionally allow myself to indulge my junk foods cravings. All things in moderation, as they say.

Without further ado: the next time what you’re craving happens to be chips and salsa, try these super easy recipes. It takes the guilt out of it but none of the deliciousness.

SKINNY

ad budget?

Fresh Salsa Ingredients • 3 Whole tomatoes, seeded and diced • 1 red onion, diced • 2 seeded and minced jalapeno peppers • 1 clove minced garlic • 1 Tablespoon olive oil • 1 lime, juiced • Fresh cilantro to taste • Salt and pepper to taste Mix all ingredients and enjoy with chips (below) --------------------------------------------

ROGER M. SMITH, M.D.

Fresh Tortilla Chips

OPHTHALMOLOGY

Ingredients • Twelve 6 –inch corn tortillas • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil • Salt Directions Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Brush both sides of the tortillas with the oil.

Stack the tortillas and cut the pile into sixths to make chips. Spread the chips out in a single layer on two large baking sheets and season with salt. Bake until golden brown and crisp, rotating the baking sheets once, about 12 to 15 minutes. Serve with salsa. + Please feel free to contact us with any comments or if you would like to share recipes for future articles at www.cindyscatering.com Thanks for reading. Eat well and be healthy!

Article and Recipe are Property of Cindy Crawford, Cindy’s Catering, Inc.

Wounds Stop Here.

Walton Wound Care Center combines 60 years of experience in treating acute and chronic wounds.

Let our wound care experts help you get back up to speed.* Now accepting new patients/referrals.

Conveniently located inside Walton Rehabilitation Hospital.

Curb-side parking!

,QGHSHQGHQFH

706.724.3339 820 St. Sebastian Way • Suite 5A • Augusta, GA • • Medical & Surgical Treatment • • Cataract Surgery •

CALL US FOR SOME “PHAT� DEALS! 706.860.5455

PRE-K TO 3RD GRADE TUTOR FOUNDATIONAL READING, MATH AND LANGUAGE ARTS SKILLS TO PRIVATE, PUBLIC, HOME-SCHOOLED, AND HOSPITAL/HOMEBOUND STUDENTS

ELEANOR WILLINGHAM, ED.D. STATE & NATIONAL AWARD-WINNING EDUCATOR

706-737-8616 OR SETTINGFOUNDATIONS@GMAIL.COM

TIRED? Not sleeping well?

SLEEP INSTITUTE OF AUGUSTA ★ AN ACCREDITED SLEEP CENTER

$ELOLW\

Certified by the American Academy of Wound Management*

SKINNY is good.

Bashir Chaudhary, MD, FAASM

5HFRYHU\

DIPLOMAT, AMERICAN BOARD OF SLEEP MEDICINE

3685 WHEELER RD • AUGUSTA

(706) 868-8555 1355 Independence DrivE s Augusta, Georgia 30901 s Toll Free 1-866-4-WALT/. s WWW Wrh.org

SLEEPINESS • SNORING • INSOMNIA • PARASOMNIA • RESTLESS LEGS

Look at everything as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time. — Betty Smith, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

+

+8

OUR NEWSSTANDS Medical locations: • Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Ctr, 15th St., Main Entrance • Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Uptown Div., Wrightsboro Rd., main lobby • Doctors Hospital, 3651 Wheeler Rd, ER Lobby Entrance • Doctors Hospital, 3651 Wheeler Rd, Employee Entrance (near the Joseph M. Still Burn Center entrance) • Eisenhower Hospital, Main Entrance, Fort Gordon • George C. Wilson Drive (by medical center Waffle House and mail boxes) • MCG Hospital, 1120 15th Street, South & West Entrances • MCGHealth Medical Office Building, Harper Street, Main Entrance • MCGHealth Medical Office Building, Harper Street, Parking Deck entrance • MCG Hospital, Emergency Room, Harper Street, Main Entrance • MCGHealth Children’s Medical Center, Harper Street, Main Lobby • Medical College of Georgia, Laney-Walker Boulevard transit stop, Augusta • Select Specialty Hospital, Walton Way, Main entrance lobby • Trinity Hospital, Wrightsboro Road, main lobby by elevators • Trinity Hospital Home Health, Daniel Village, main lobby • University Health Federal Credit Union/ University Hospital Human Resources, 1402 Walton Way, Main Lobby • University Hospital, 1350 Walton Way, Emergency Room lobby area • University Hospital, 1350 Walton Way, Outside Brown & Radiology/Day Surgery • University Hospital - Columbia County, 465 N. Belair Road, Main Lobby • University Hospital Prompt Care, 3121 Peach Orchard Road, Augusta

Around town: • Barney’s Pharmacy, 2604 Peach Orchard Rd. • Birth Control Source, 1944 Walton Way • ASU Student Bookstore • Blue Sky Kitchen, 990 Broad Street • Columbia County Library, main branch lobby, Ronald Reagan Drive, Evans • Enterprise Mill (North Tower), 1450 Greene Street, Augusta • Daniel Village Barber Shop, Wrightsboro Road at Ohio Ave. • Hartley’s Uniforms, 1010 Druid Park Ave, Augusta • International Uniforms, 1216 Broad Street, Augusta • Marshall Family Y, Belair Rd, Evans • Mellow Mushroom, 12th and Broad Streets, Augusta • Southside Family Y, Tobacco Road, Augusta • Surrey Center, Surrey Center Pharmacy, Highland Avenue, Augusta • Top-Notch Car Wash, 512 N. Belair Road, Evans • Wild Wing Cafe, 3035 Washington Road, Augusta

Plus... 500+ doctors offices throughout the area for staff and waiting rooms, as well as nurses stations and waiting rooms of area hospitals.

FEBRUARY 17, 2012

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

P harm acy 41 1 EDITOR’S NOTE: Very little if anything about healthcare is inexpensive, and that includes medicine. Tiny pills can command large prices.

Over-the-counter medications may be less expensive, but are they also less effective? Find the answers to lots of your drug store questions in this column written by Augusta pharmacists Chris and Lee Davidson exclusively for the Medical Examiner.

HOW TO TREAT THE DREADED COUGH AND COLD There are many medications on pharmacy shelves for treating cough and cold symptoms. So how do you know what to use for your situation? Will any of these products cure a cold or an infection? When do you self-treat, and when do you need to see a doctor? Let’s look at all these questions one by one.

When to self-treat with over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and when to give up and go see a physician is the most important question you can ask. Typically physicians agree that congestion can be self-treated in the initial stages. Congestion progressively worsening despite taking OTC congestion medicine or lasting over ten days should be checked by a doctor. Ditto for any congestion that turns green or yellow after a number of days. This could signal a bacterial infection. If a fever starts or worsens during the course of the cold, please see a doctor.

OTC treatment options include antihistamines, nasal decongestants, expectorants and cough suppressants. None of these medications will shorten the duration of a cold and none of these products will cure an infection, whether viral or bacterial.

They will, however, treat various symptoms of a cold or other sinus condition to allow you to feel better and get on with your daily life. Two zinc products, Zicam and Cold-eeze lozenges, are touted to shorten duration of symptoms when facing a common cold. This may only be due to immune system boosting, but anything helps.

Remember that to get rid of congestion you must treat the root cause, not just the symptom. Sometimes this requires getting a professional opinion on what is causing the congestion. If you have a sinus infection, nothing is going to help without an antibiotic to treat the underlying bacterial infection. Decongestants are going to treat the congestion you have at that time (a symptom), but there will always be more due to the worsening infection.

Probably the most common question in the pharmacy is what to use to control nasal congestion. What’s better, a decongestant or an antihistamine?

Antihistamines and decongestants are the mainstays of treatment, but each has a very different action and works in different situations. Antihistamines are used to treat allergic conditions and help dry the nasal congestion. These should be used to treat thin, watery mucus that is clear. They should not be used if the patient has any chest congestion as this may precipitate pneumonia. Also do not use antihistamines if you have asthma.

They can make your asthma symptoms even worse.

Decongestants are used to treat sinus congestion and mucus caused by viral and other infections. This mucus is thick and packs into your sinuses, causing headaches or sinus pressure in most cases. The pressure and/or headache would be in your forehead, above your eyes, or in your cheeks adjacent to your nose. Do not take decongestants if you have high blood pressure or heart disease. They are notorious for causing a spike in blood pressure and/or racing heart rate. There are two decongestants marketed in the U.S., pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine.

Pseudoephedrine is now a controlled substance and is available from behind the pharmacy counter due to the fact that it is used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. You will be asked to produce a driver’s license to make a purchase of any product containing this ingredient. Phenylephrine is an equally effective decongestant for the majority of patients and is available over the counter in any drugstore. It carries the same benefits and warnings as pseudoephedrine.

Expectorants are used to treat chest congestion and work by thinning existing mucus. It is also a slower but safer way to treat sinus congestion in patients with high blood pressure or asthma.

There is only one expectorant available over the counter so far, and that is guaifenesin (Robitussin). When taking an expectorant, drink plenty of fluids to help it work better.

There is one main cough suppressant over the counter and that is dextromethorphan. It is the base ingredient in most all OTC products claiming to suppress coughs. “DM” is available in many formulations and combinations, both liquid and tablet.

Many of the older cold medications that we all grew up with have either been re-formulated, re-named, or are simply not available now. This can make it a little more difficult to go the shelf to find the product you want – you know it’s there, but where? Nyquil? Re-formulated. Robitussin CF? Re-named. Don’t be afraid to ask the pharmacy staff for help locating an item on the ever-changing cough and cold aisle.

Check with your pharmacist before taking or giving any cough and cold product to make sure it is not a duplication of another medication you or the the patient is already taking. Do not double up on any cough and cold product categories, and do not try to treat children without a pediatrician’s recommendation. + Questions about this article or suggestions for future columns can be sent to us at cjdlpdrph@bellsouth.net Written for the Medical Examiner by Augusta pharmacists Chris and Lee Davidson (cjdlpdrph@bellsouth.net )

Specialty Health Care Ser vices

INFUSION THERAPY Antibiotics • Parenteral & Enteral Nutrition Pain Management • Immunotherapy - IVIG Subcutaneous IG Remicaide • Rituxan • Reclast • Iron Home and Ambulator y Infusion Ser vices

3630 Wheeler Road • Augusta, Georgia phone: 706.447.4343 • tollfree: 877.436.4584

www.genesishealthllc.com Taking Care of You

®

+

www.drugofchoicecoffee.com*

“Coffee is good medicine.”

— J. Perkins Brewster III. Our illustrious founder

* about to emerge from hibernation.

Please visit us soon using your computing machine.

FEBRUARY 17, 2012

9+

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

Don’t Lick the Beaters and other interesting food facts

the lighter side of the wing.

by dietetic interns with University Hospital’s Augusta Area Dietetic Internship Program

What’s so great about cauliflower?

HOSPITALIZE

Anything?

I’m not sure what you all think of cauliflower, but it has not been my favorite vegetable to date. But did I give it a fair chance?

There are some great health benefits of cauliflower that you might not know about: • A diet high in cruciferous vegetables (which cauliflower is) has been linked to a significant reduction in the risk of some cancers.

• Cauliflower is a great source of dietary fiber, which is essential for optimal digestive health.

• Cauliflower contains a high amount of antioxidants, which are essential in the health of the

human body and which help prevent heart disease, cancer, and stroke.

• It also has anti-inflammatory properties with its vitamin K and omega-3s to prevent conditions such as arthritis and certain bowel conditions.

• Cauliflower is loaded with B vitamins, including folate (B9) that is necessary for a healthy pregnancy.

• It is a great food to include in a weight loss diet, because it is low in calories and can be prepared in a variety of ways Some of these great ways to prepare cauliflower are: • Mashed cauliflower. Think mashed potatoes.

• Cauliflower pizza (it’s in the crust) • Cauliflower rice (grate the cauliflower to look like rice) • Roasted cauliflower soup (add some herbs and spices like turmeric or ginger) • Cauliflower popcorn (coarsely chop and roast until edges are golden brown) There are hundreds of fun recipes out there for cauliflower that are easy to find courtesy of the internet. Cauliflower

doesn’t have to be limited to a lone role in your steamed vegetable mix.

White foods generally get a bad rap, but cauliflower is an exception... unless you have been fortunate to come across purple, orange, or green cauliflower… These varieties come with subtle flavor differences.

Purple cauliflower cooks a little faster than white with a slightly milder taste and higher Vitamin A content. Can you guess where the color comes from?

Anthocyanins - the same phytonutrients found in beets, blueberries, and red wine.

Orange cauliflower tastes a little sweeter and creamier than the white, but cooks about the same. The biggest difference is that the orange cauliflower has 25 percent more beta-carotene.

Green cauliflower is a cross between cauliflower and broccoli, often called broccoflower. When cooked it tastes more like broccoli.

Have you ever seen the green spiky cauliflower before now (above)? It’s called Romanesco, and it can be cooked just like regular cauliflower.

If you are looking to eat a healthy white food (there aren’t too many) or you are looking for more color to put on your plate – cauliflower is a healthy way to do either one. So let’s give it another chance. + — by Lydia Jolly University Hospital dietetic intern

M ED IC A L TU ES D AY S

Show Us Your Hospi tal I.D For 10% Off Your Bil . l!

(Discount applies to any valid Hospital Iden tification.

Applies only to ID holder.

Dine in only.)

Try our Incredible Chargrilled Chicken Salad

O course we hhave Of “The Best Wings South of Buffalo” in 33 different flavors, but there’s a whole lot more at the Wing as well.

Awesome Salads, Grilled Chicken Feathers, Shrimp Skewers, Wild Wraps & more!

the legend lives on.

3035 Washington Rd. • 706-364-WILD (9453) www.wildwingcafe.com

“If people sat outside and looked at the stars each night, I’ll bet they’d live a lot differently.”

— Bill Watterson

+ 10

FEBRUARY 17, 2012

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

LOSING, YET GAINING… from page 3 ran to the pool.

Our precious Sarah, still buckled in her stroller, sat quiet and still in nine feet of water.

Sitting on top of a drain, Sarah and the stroller were being held in a death grip. Diving into the water, I prayed for the strength to lift Sarah and the stroller.

The drain’s suction made it feel like I was lifting a ton. Pulling and pulling, I slowly was able to lift Sarah and her stroller.

Mother and I pulled Sarah and the stroller out of the pool.

Sarah was cold and gray. She did not move.

Praying again for help and guidance, I tried CPR. On the third time, Sarah took a breath as water poured from her mouth, ears, and nose. My Mother called 9-1-1. I picked up Sarah and ran to my next door neighbor. Paramedics arrived within a few minutes and took us to the nearest hospital.

A pediatrician was waiting at the emergency entrance. After he examined Sarah he told us she appeared fine. However, she stayed in the hospital overnight. Later, he asked me to give him the approximate time Sarah was in the pool. After

thinking carefully, I calculated Sarah had been in the pool for almost fifteen minutes. The pediatrician looked at me and said, “You have experienced a miracle.”

A week later, my mother and I discussed how this could have happened. She felt that she accidently pulled the hose under the stroller’s wheels.

The wheels were not locked, so Sarah and the stroller rolled into the pool. Looking at me with tears in her eyes, mother said she didn’t hear the splash because she’s hard of hearing.

Holding hands, we both gave thanks for God’s grace in allowing me to save Sarah.

In 2001, I felt some small nodules near the incision site of my 1997 lumpectomy.

I wasn’t concerned since my recent mammogram was normal. However, I went for a recheck and found out my cancer had returned. It was considered to be HER2/neu positive. (HER2 is the acronym for Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2. Some breast cancers get started with over-production of the HER2 protein. As a result, affected

breast cells grow and divide much too quickly.) Being classified as HER2/neu means I am prone to reoccurrence of breast cancer. After discussing the options, my husband and I agreed it would be best to have a mastectomy of my right breast to be followed by reconstructive surgery.

“It is in giving that we receive...”

— St. Francis of Assisi The nine and half hour surgery exhausted mind and body, leaving me tired and weak. The oncologist wanted to begin chemo treatments immediately after surgery.

However, I felt I needed time to heal and recover first.

At this point Dennis and I agreed to change doctors and hospital. We wanted the best cancer research in our area.

We discovered the excellent and dedicated Drs. Samuel

It’s far out how close we are We’re a lot closer than you think: less than a mile from the medical complex, golfing and downtown Augusta. New home prices begin in the $100s. Lots available from the $30s.

and Ritter at Georgia Health Sciences University. Their Cancer Center offers the latest research, clinical trials, and reconstructive breast surgery in the southeast.

Eleven years later, I am cancer free. As a breast cancer survivor, I knew I wanted to do more. I started a breast cancer support group at North Augusta First Baptist Church. I enjoyed leading these dear ladies with informative meetings, taking walks together and praying for one another. I decided to begin a breast coalition with the help of Dr. Margaret Devore, a retired anesthesiologist at the Medical College of Georgia. On May 12, 2005, the Breast Cancer Prevention Coalition was born. The BCPC is a non-profit organization with a threefold purpose: mentor newly diagnosed cancer patients, help staff Georgia Health Sciences Cancer Center with volunteers, and raise funds for breast cancer research at GHSU Cancer Research Center here in Augusta. Every dollar raised for research goes to research since BCPC has no administrative overhead. It is an all-volunteer coalition. After three years of fund-raising, the BCPC will donate $50,000 to GHSU Cancer Research Center.

I also volunteer at Georgia Health Sciences University’s Cancer Center. Volunteering in the Cancer Center Infusion Area, I am rewarded weekly with seeing both familiar faces as well as new ones. No matter what type of cancer the patients may have, I understand their fears and concerns. Hopefully, I may offer words and prayers of encouragement and hope.

Sarah fully recovered from her near-disaster and is a healthy fifteen-year-old. Like many teenagers, she enjoys swimming and softball. She also plays the violin, piano, and guitar. Sarah is in the Honors Program at North Augusta Middle School. She and I will always have a special bond.

I truly believe God has a purpose for everything that happens in each life. There are no coincidences in the Master Plan. He gave me the strength to save my grandchild, Sarah.

He allowed me to survive breast cancer. These are examples of God’s Grace. God’s Grace is the power of God to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.

It is important that I share my stories. I hope they may help someone. + — Nita Zachow North Augusta, SC

What’s your story? We’d love to hear it.

See page 3 for additional information.

CSRA/Augusta Parkinson Support Group Will Greene 706-799-9998 cell 803-613-1641 office wgreene@hammondsferry.com www.hammondsferry.com

What: Dr. Kapil Sethi, Director of the GHSU Movement Disorders Program, will talk on the problems of depression, anxiety and impulse control in Parkinson Disease. Don’t miss this very informative presentation from an outstanding speaker, professor and internationally recognized leader in the field of movement disorders.

When: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 6:00pm

www.thomasandthomasdesign.com Home | Web Design & Hosting | Photography & Video | Apps

Where: St. John Towers dining room 724 Greene Street Augusta, GA Contact: Eva Erwin, (706) 364-1662

+

+

LIMITED TIME SPECIAL

3 YEARS WEB HOSTING: $99.95 Thomas & Thomas Design specializes in creating strong web branding for small businesses and nonprofits. We love working with organizations that want high quality web and photography services, from the look and feel of your site to the photos and graphics that will be used across all mediums including web, print, identity, and advertising. We also provide hosting services, domain registration, and domain transfer services for our clients. We can provide hosting for your website whether it was designed by us or not. Please check our portfolio online and contact us if we can help you.

MEDICAL EXAMINER

TM

AUGUSTA’S MOST SALUBRIOUS NEWSPAPER We publish on 1st and 3rd Fridays. Our next issue: March 2

FEBRUARY 17, 2012

11 +

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

The blog spot From THE Bookshelf

Posted Nov. 26, 2011 at http://lostonthefloor.wordpress.com/

The Tale of the Good Samaritan “He’s a 55 year old male found down by a bystander and brought in by EMS. He’s being admitted to you for altered mental status, ETOH withdrawal, hyponatremia and chest pain. Any questions?”

It’s a common story. A passerby sees a guy slumped over on the sidewalk, sleeping soundly in a drunken stupor and calls EMS. EMS comes and determines the guy is drunk as a skunk but “altered” so per protocol they bring him to the local ER. A workup by Dr. Caresalot show the altered electrolytes and altered mental status of a chronic drunk, but instead of giving him a banana bag and letting him sleep off the drunk, they admit him.

On admit labs his alcohol level is 456 mg/dl or .456 on a breathalyzer, more than 5 times over the legal limit. A level this high shows dedication and a long history of this kind of abuse, which means he is more susceptible to withdrawal symptoms at a higher threshold than normal. Guys like this start to have withdrawal symptoms when they hit the 150 mg/dl level, so the shakes, the autonomic symptoms, the hallucinations and agitation are already starting when he hits the floor.

Ativan is given in copious amounts over the next couple of hours to control the symptoms. Then while on the toilet he has a withdrawal seizure and bradys down, earning a trip to the ICU for more intensive Ativan therapy. He can’t protect his airway and aspirates while on the vent and develops pneumonia. A delirium develops during his stay in the ICU and when stable enough for the floor he needs a sitter to deal with his agitation while the delirium clears.

Every time he is asked about quitting alcohol he states adamantly “I’m never going to stop drinking.” So he stays with us for two weeks, detoxing him, curing his pneumonia, clearing the delirium, repleting magnesium, getting him fed, all of the healing that being in the hospital provides. After the two weeks with help from social services he is discharged to housing, clean and sober, ready for a new life. He then walks into the convince store around the corner from the hospital and walks out with an 18 pack under his arm to start over.

And the cycle continues over and over again.

I’ve lost track of how many times we’ve done this. More times than not, a good Samaritan calls it in. Instead of minding their own business, they take it upon themselves to “help” with no understanding of the events they set in motion. Instead of leaving the drunk to sleep off the drunk, they call 911 to get help. EMS is obliged then to treat and transport, starting the whole series over again.

I’m not against helping, I just wish people would think before they act, and our ED docs would not admit everyone who shows up on the doorstep. +

“

And so the cycle begins anew. . .

”

Of all the branches of medicine, one of the most fascinating seems like it would be psychology. The human mind is the most complex machine in the known universe, capable of storing and retrieving billions of bits of information.

But what’s even more complicated and mysterious is human behavior. This fascinating book by a social psychologist explores that aspect. All of us know the maddening ways the body and mind play war games every day: we know we need to get up at 6:00 a.m, but our body refuses obey the mind’s commands to get up; we know we’re on a diet, yet we cannot resist the scrumptious dessert placed before us; we know exactly the actions our personal moral code dictates in a compromising situation, yet we succumb to temptation. Despite that, we can lecture friends in the same situation, offering them all the reasons why the moral high road is the only way to go.

Author Jonathan Haidt quotes from the Roman poet Ovid (“I am dragged along by a strange new force. Desire and reason are pulling in different directions. I see the right way and approve

it, but follow the wrong”) and the apostle Paul (“What the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other to prevent you from doing what you want”).

We’ve all been there and done that, right? The question is, why? And how can we win the battle between passion and reason, especially when “the flesh” can so readily lead us so seriously astray?

Haidt offers 320 pages of insight that might well be summarized by this tidbit, the credit for which goes to Benjamin Franklin: “If Passion drives, let Reason hold the Reins.”

Of course, right about now our minds are saying, “Good point!” And our bodies are saying, “If you really think your passion is going to step to the side for reason, you are a bigger fool than I thought.”

Do you realize what happens when we practice what we don’t preach — even if the preaching is only the silent whispering of our conscience? When someone else does that, we call them hypocrites. So it’s only natural that, even with the vast human capacity for rationalization, when we ignore reason and let “the flesh” rule, we’re unhappy with ourselves.

Maybe the founding fathers realized how elusive happiness could be when they referred to “the pursuit” of happiness. Since the 1770s, moral guidelines have gotten extremely fuzzy, further complicating the pursuit: it’s tough to read a moral compass when the needle is spinning.

Maybe happiness is merely a hypothesis, but very few of us are ready to give up its pursuit. + The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom by Jonathan Haidt, 320 pages, published in 2006 by Basic Books

the

Clipping File The knee bone is connected to, well, everything Research presented at last week’s annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons concludes that total knee replacement (TKR) is also connected with a lower probability of heart failure and death. Sure, orthopaedic surgeons would say that, you’re thinking. Well, it turns out they simply followed TKR patients at one, three, five and seven years after surgery using Medicare payment for any and all causes as their guide. From Medicare data, the risk of mortality and congestive heart failure was half that of the non-TKR group at the three, five and seven year points. One possible reason: greater mobility with knee replacement, avoiding a sedentary lifestyle.

Bottoms up!

Correction: bottom up.

Singular, not plural.

Don’t go all hog wild over

this news, people, but a group of Italian researchers has found that moderate and regular consumption of beer can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Similar to the long-known similar effects from moderate wine drinking, beer drinking cuts the risk by up to 31 percent.

While presumably stone cold sober, the Italian team fell all over themselves stressing that their findings apply only to moderate consumption (defined as about a pint per day): “With increasing consumption the advantage disappears” and actually becomes a risk factor.

“What we are talking about is moderate and regular drinking.

I think we will never stress enough this concept. There is no place for binge drinking or any other form of heavy consumption.”

Ok already! We get it!

When you gotta go, go Ah, but when do you need to go (to the doctor) and when can

you self-treat? That is often a thorny issue for many age groups (and for parents with sick kids), but studies seem to indicate that baby boomers haven’t mastered the clues yet, a point that may be a factor in the millions of knee replacements performed every year.

An Associated Press story last week gave these general guidelines for lower body injuries: if you can bear to stand and put weight on an injury, it’s probably safe to self-treat, at least initially.

Injuries that cause excruciating pain that stops you in your tracks, that prevent the normal range of motion, and that cannot bear any weight are examples of injuries that require medical attention.

However, even an injury that initially seems minor is cause for a physician’s treatment if things don’t improve within two or three days. Swelling and pain that don’t start to diminish and unimproved range of motion are signals to call in reinforcements. +

+ 12

FEBRUARY 17, 2012

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

THE EXAMiNERS

THE MYSTERY WORD

+

by Dan Pearson

Says here that no one But don’t you have a over age 2 should I read that yesterday. bowl of cereal every I’ve switched to drink milk. morning? calcium tablets.

Well, how is it?

I do. Still.

The Mystery Word for this issue: PIIZSLHAETO

Crunchy. © 2012 Daniel Pearson All rights reserved.

Simply unscramble the letters, then begin exploring our ads. When you find the correctly spelled word hidden in one of our ads — enter at AugustaRx.com

VISIT WWW.AUGUSTARX.COM TO ENTER!

PUZZLE

1

ACROSS 1. Newborn score 6. Pertaining to bees 11. Tavern 14. Detective Drew’s nickname?

15. Liquid waste 16. Poet’s before 17. Area of land 18. Hill in Nashville 19. Nutrition label abbrev.

20. Seventh day 22. Rare-earth element 24. Pre-Inhibitor 25. Sewing case 26. Walking, medically speaking 30. Horse of mixed color 34. Item used in many sports 35. Helpful pointer 36. Blue beginning, sometimes 37. On the briny 38. Cartoon laugh 40. Employ 41. Completely cover 42. Mimic 43. The D of 21-D 44. Oxidant starter 45. How some things shouldn’t be taken 49. S-shaped molding 51. Predator’s target 52. Seventh planet 55. Sign up 59. Biopsy destination 60. Impassive 62. Steer 63. Naught 64. Aiken course 65. Pelts 66. Some 67. Former WJBF news anchor Rick 68. Surgical _____

20

BY

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

14

15

16

17

18

19

21

22

24 26

27

34 37

38

41

42

44

45

52

53

13

Click on “Reader Contests”

QUOTATION PUZZLE

23

25

28

49

12

29

30

35

36

39

31

32

33

40 43 46

50

47

O A L E U R H Y B G O T E E A R A H N D L B I I C S O R T L S T Y D T Y N E L H A N U O D S T H P

48

51

54

55 61

56

59

60

63

64

65

66

67

68

57

58

62

— Author unknown

DIRECTIONS: Recreate a timeless nugget of wisdom by using the letters in each vertical column to fill the boxes above. Once any letter is used, cross it out

by Daniel R. Pearson © 2012 All rights reserved. Built in part with software from www.crauswords.com

DOWN 1. Formicary residents 2. Legal lead-in 3. Midge 4. Something heaped up, often little by little 5. Located or directed to the back or in reverse 6. Fully informed; in touch 7. Prepare to say amen 8. IV preceder 9. Prototype 10. 60s jacket style 11. Medical prefix 12. Official language of Pakistan 13. Ray of light 21. Hopeless ER case 23. Bare skin 25. Great Lake 26. Manila hemp plant 27. Person who dresses stones 28. Sheep cry 29. Opposite one of two

in the lower half of the puzzle. Letters may be used only once. Black squares indicate spaces between words, and words may extend onto a second line.

31. Bay window 32. Pertaining to hearing 33. Destitute 38. Hand woven pictorial design 39. Fencing sword 46. Small spots 47. Non-profit URL ending 48. Equine sounds 50. Sudden bursts of wind 52. Arm bone 53. Precipitation 54. Skillfully 55. Asian grain 56. Periodic sea movement 57. Barbara of classic TV 58. Repose 61. Tree of the genus Quercus

Solution on page 14.

by Daniel R. Pearson © 2012 All rights reserved

E

8

X A M I N E R

5 2

S

1 6

8

5 2 9 3 3 1 7 1 8

7 8 4 4 3 1 9 4 3 5

6

by Daniel R. Pearson © 2012 All rights reserved. Built with software from www.crauswords.com

U D O K U

DIRECTIONS: Every line, vertical and horizontal, and all nine 9-square boxes must each contain the numbers 1 though 9. Solution on page 14.

Solution p. 14

Use the letters provided at bottom to create words to solve the puzzle. All the listed letters following 1 are the 1st letters of each word; the letters following 2 are 2nd letters of each word, and so on. Try solving words with letter clues and entering unique and minimal choice numbers (such as 4 thru 7 in this puzzle). A sample is shown. Solution on page 14.

N 1 2 3 4

1 2 3 K 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

W 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 O 1 2 3 1 2 3 4

4

5

6

1

2

1 2 — Socrates

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1.TTNIKIKOWY 2.NNNNOORISH 3.UUSTOOLE 4.WWHEYD 5.IIO 6.NMN 7.GG

SAMPLE:

1. ILB 2. SLO 3. VI 4. NE 5. D =

L 1

O 2

V 3

E 4

I 1

S 2

B 1

L 2

I 3

N 4

D 5

by Daniel R. Pearson © 2012 All rights reserved

WORDS NUMBER

All Mystery Word finders will be eligible to win by random drawing.

We’ll announce the winner in our next issue!

FEBRUARY 17, 2012

13 +

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

If you enjoy this newspaper...

23

1 2

...please support it by supporting our advertisers.

VISIT THE BLOG PAGE AT AUGUSTARX.COM. LOOK FOR “YOU GOTTA SEE THIS.”

Tell them, “I saw your ad in the Medical Examiner.”

+

MEDICAL EXAMINER

Subscription cost: $32.00 Feel like: $1,000,000.00 Your savings: $999,968.00 + +

SUBSCRIBE TO THE MEDICAL EXAMINER By popular demand we’re making at-cost subscriptions available for the convenience of our readers.

If you live beyond Augusta or miss issues between doctor’s appointments — don’t you hate it when that happens? — we’ll command your mail carrier to bring every issue to your house!

NAME ADDRESS CITY

STATE

ZIP

Choose ____ six months for $16 or ____ one year for $32. Mail this completed form with payment to Augusta Medical Examiner, PO Box 397, Augusta GA 30903-0397

+

WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR MEDICAL EXAMINER? +

In Thomson:

Among our Thomson stops: McDuffie County Hospital, Dr. Bieltz’ office, Thomson Family Y, LMN Pharmacy, Moye Pharmacy, FMC Dialysis, Thomson Podiatry, and Thomson Health & Rehab. See a list of many of our newsstand and drop-off locations in the center pages of every issue. +

+ 14

FEBRUARY 17, 2012

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

THE MYSTERY SOLVED The Mystery Word in our last issue was: VASCULAR

...carefully hidden (in the stack of papers) in the page 13 ad for MEDICAL EXAMINER SUBSCRIPTIONS Congratulations to Sally Mangual, who scores a $20 Wild Wing Cafe gift certificate, two free movie passes courtesy of Health Center Credit Union, a free Top Notch Car Wash gift card, and anything else we may be able to scrape together on short notice. Win this stuff!

The new Mystery Word is on p. 12. Start looking!

EXAMINER CLASSIFIEDS HOMES, APARTMENTS, ROOMMATES, ETC.

Townhouse, 1-car attached garage located off Pleasant Home Road $725 /mo 706-228-4655

HOUSE FOR SALE 3 bedroom, 2 full bath, 2-car garage. Off Dyess Pkwy near Ft. Gordon. $99,900. Call 706-3395548 or 706-210-4334

TOWNHOME 3 bedroom, 3 full bath townhome. 2 master suites, like new, end unit with extra parking, single garage, covered patio, $125,000. 706-799-0394

TOWNHOME large furnished room (dresser, bed, night stand, linens) for rent with private bathroom in convenient and very nice neighborhood near Doctors Hosp. $445 a month includes utilities and Internet service. Please contact 706589-0238 ask for May.

SERVICES HOME HEALTH CHECK-UP Biological and chemical contamination will make you sick. Help your doctor! We Cure Sick Homes. 706-772-9898 www.commandonow.com

The Celebrated MYSTERY WORD CONTEST

APARTMENT One bedroom, one bath garage apartment, $595/mo. TOWNHOME Two bedroom, 1.5 bath townhome, $645/mo. Quiet West Augusta area.

706.951.3598 or 706.855.5986

...wherein we hide (with fiendish cleverness) a simple word. All you have to do is unscramble the word (found on page 12), then be the first to find it concealed within one of our ads. Click in to the contest link at www.AugustaRx.com and enter. If we pick you in our random drawing of correct entries you’ll score our goodie package: gift certificates from Wild Wing Cafe, Top Notch Car Wash, Cheddar’s, and movie passes from Health Center Credit Union!

TOWNHOUSE One bedroom townhome in Town Club on Berckman Road. Gated community with security system. Minutes from ASU. Gym & pool on site. Info: call 706-564-1107

SAY IT THE WRITE WAY Online editing, proofing, writing and drafting service. Visit http://sayitthewriteway.webs.com or email proofing-editing@live.com

SEVEN SIMPLE RULES: 1. Unscramble and find the designated word hidden within one of the ads in this issue. 2. Visit the Reader Contests page at www.AugustaRx.com. 3. Tell us what you found and where you found it. 4. If you’re right and you’re the one we pick at random, you win. (WInners within the past six months are ineligible.) 5. Prizes awarded to winners may vary from issue to issue. 6. A photo ID may be required to claim some prizes. 7. Other entrants may win a lesser prize at the sole discretion of the publisher.

TOWNHOME Great location, everything new, 2 master suites, sunroom, all appliances. $98,000 (706) 504-4023

SPARKLING CLEAN Looking for offices to clean. No contract req. Husband & wife team have years experience and give FREE on-request estimates. Call 706.831.8552 or 706.831.8553

The new scrambled Mystery Word is found on page 12

31612

LYNN’S CLEANING SERVICE over 20 years experience in the CSRA with an eye for detail. Call 706.833.2658 or email lynn_dubose@hotmail.com 1612

12012

21712

HOMESBYOWNER.COM Sell • Buy • Rentals • 706.564.5885 WEST AUGUSTA Luxury 3 BR / 2 BA

BIBLE BY PHONE - Free daily Bible readings; for Spiritual Encouragement and Growth. Call 706-855-WORD (9673)

USE THE FORM BELOW AND MAIL IT IN, OR GO TO WWW.AUGUSTARX.COM AND PLACE & PAY CONVENIENTLY AND SAFELY ONLINE. THANKS!

(OURS IS COFFEE)

.75

1.00

1.25

1.50

1.75

2.00

2.25

2.50

2.75

3.00

3.25

3.50

3.75

4.00

4.25

4.50

4.75

5.00

5.25

5.50

5.75

6.00

6.25

6.50

6.75

7.00

7.25

7.50

7.75

8.00

8.25

8.50

8.75

9.00

(Copy this form or continue on additional sheet if more space needed.)

Send this form with payment to:

AUGUSTA MEDICAL EXAMINER, PO BOX 397, AUGUSTA, GA 30903-0397 Total ad cost by number of words as shown above: $

A

P

G

A

R

A

P

I

A

N

P

U

N

A

N

C

E

U

R

I

N

E

E

R

E

T

R

A

C

T

F

A

I

T

H

R

D

A

S

A

T

Y

U

R

D

A

M

A

O

I

L

A

T

E

R

B

E

T

U

I

O

R

Y

R

O

A

T

I

P

T

R

U

E

H

E

E

H

I

R

E

D

E

A

D

S

O

N

A

L

L

Y

P

R

E

Y

G

A M

B

U

B

A

L

L

A

S

E

A

T

C

O

A

T

A

P

E

A

N

T

I

P

E

R

E

E

O

G

N

E

I

B

U M

N

U

R

A

U

S

R

E

I

S

T

E

R

L

A

B

S

T

O

I

C

G

U

I

D

E

N

I

L

T

R

A

C

K

H

I

D

E

S

A

N

Y

S

Y

K

E

S

S

T

E

N

T

QUOTATION PUZZLE SOLUTION: Page 12: “Laundry is the only thing that should be separated by color.”

— Author unknown

AD COPY (one word per line; phone numbers MUST include the area code): .50

CAREGIVER/COMPANION Need a ride to the doctor, store, etc. or someone to come in to visit and help you. Great References, reasonable rates. Call (706) 589-1698 or email msmagic4@yahoo.com.

QUOTATION

In case we need to contact you. These numbers will not appear in the ad.

.25

PERSONAL TRAINER Certified by United States Sports Academy in Science of Bodybuilding and Strength Training for Athletes. Significant improvements for all sports at all ages. Natural techniques for relief of all common sports-related injuries employing positioning and myofascial release. Rapid recovery and strength gains.

One free session to 1st 10 applicants.

E-mail Hme3065805@aol.com or call 803-257-5421

SEE PAGE 12

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING FORM Name Address Work number (if applicable) ( ) Home phone ( ) Category of ad (leave blank if unsure):

LAWN SERVICE Commercial, residential.

Call Vince: (704) 490-1005

THE PUZZLE SOLVED

SENDING US A CLASSIFIED? WHAT’S YOUR DRUG OF CHOICE? Augusta Medical Examiner Classifieds

NOTICE! ATTENTION! If any current or past employer has failed to pay you min. wage or time and a half overtime pay, you may be entitled to an order from US Federal Court awarding you twice the amount of your unpaid wages plus atty. fees. For info, call Arthur H. Shealy, Attorney at Law, 803-278-5149, 1010 Plantation Rd, North Augusta SC 29841. You may be entitled to a similar award for unpaid wages if your employer required you to perform duties during your lunch hour, before clocking in, or after clocking out.

The Sudoku Solution

COFFEE IS GOOD MEDICINE VISIT DRUGOFCHOICECOFFEE.COM FOR YOUR REFILLS TODAY

9

8

3

4

1

6

2

5

7

4

7

5

2

9

8

1

3

6

2

1

6

5

3

7

8

4

9

7

6

8

9

2

4

3

1

5

3

5

4

8

7

1

6

9

2

1

2

9

3

6

5

4

7

8

6

3

1

7

5

2

9

8

4

8

9

7

6

4

3

5

2

1

5

4

2

1

8

9

7

6

3

WORDS BY NUMBER “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”

— Socrates

Multiply by number of times ad to run: x Total submitted: $

The Augusta Medical Examiner publishes on the 1st and 3rd Friday of every month.

Your ad should reach us no later than 5 days prior to our publication date.

Thanks for reading!

www.AugustaRx.com

FEBRUARY 17, 2012

15 +

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

The Patient’s Perspective

by Marcia Ribble Today while I was doing the dishes, I realized that sometimes the questions doctors ask us don’t elicit the information they want.

For example, my physicians usually ask me at the start of every appointment what my pain levels are. Naturally, this question is asked when I am comfortably seated and not doing any tasks with the parts of my body that hurt.

Usually my answer is that I’m not feeling much pain at all, a two at the most. But doing the dishes, on the other hand, brought me to stunning awareness of the pain I live with daily. My fingers burned and throbbed and it was hard to grasp the dishes, pots and pans, and silverware and hold them securely. So I dropped a lot of things, including a big pan, forks and spoons and knives, and a bowl (which thankfully was plastic and didn’t shatter). When I bent over to put things in the dishwasher or to take them out when they were clean, my right knee felt like it had knives sticking in it. And my back easily hit a 9 or 10 that stopped me in my tracks from nothing more than standing up for so long.

It took me three hours to get all of the dishes done except for some pots I left soaking. It took three breaks to sit down and let the pain diminish enough to keep going.

Because of lymphedema, my legs feel like tree stumps that are hard to move. That’s not as painful as it is scary because it’s hard to lift and

Talk is cheap.

Not talking can be deadly.

move them without falling, so I can’t move around the kitchen easily like I used to. I always have to hold on to the counters or the stove or my walker — in addition to the dishes, pans, forks, knoves and spoons.

Yet if I am asked about the things I can do for myself, I always include doing the dishes, even though it takes many times longer than it used to. Going to the grocery store is another marathon task that can take two or more hours.

Most of our grocery stores do not have places for seniors and others with physical limitations to sit down for a bit and get those little rests that let the pain subside so we can keep on shopping. Lots of times I have gone home without things on my list because I ran out of energy or because the pain in my knees and back was too severe.

Then there’s putting the food away, something I dread, because just getting it out of the car and into the house is painful enough, and generally speaking what’s painful is also tiring.

Sometimes it takes me several days to get up the desire to eat strong enough

to force me to shop and cook and do dishes.

I’m not sure, but I’m guessing that my doctors don’t know these things about me. I don’t like to complain. I don’t like feeling helpless or inadequate. I’m determined to keep taking care of myself and living in my own home.

And I’m not unusual. A lot of folks have the same problems with caring for their own needs, and a lot of caregivers are poorly informed about these issues, even when they are trying to seek that information.

How can we bridge the divide between doctors and other caregivers and patients?

Perhaps open-ended questions like “What things do you avoid doing that you used to do easily? Do you avoid them because they cause you pain? What kinds of things would you like to do that you are currently avoiding? Do you skip outings because you can’t drive yourself? Do you stay home from outings if you don’t have anyone to go with?”

My list of things I’d like to do includes going to the movies, fishing, going to the library, going to plays and concerts, and finding a group of writers to talk about writing with. +

“Serving the Medical, Dental and Education Communities since 1976” Visit us at any of our 5 locations or at www.hccu.coop 706 434 1600

Marcia Ribble received her PhD in English at Michigan State University and recently retired from the University of Cincinnati where she taught composition. She has taught writing at the college level since 1985, and loves giving voice to people who have been silenced. She can be reached with comments, suggestions, etc. at marciaribble@hotmail.com.

I MY

IS THIS YOUR BUMPER STICKER? IT BETTER BE!

+

THANKS FOR SUPPORTING OUR ADVERTISERS!

+ 16

FEBRUARY 17, 2012

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

FISCAL HEALTH

The Money Doctor

Contribute early in 2012 to receive Georgia tax credit

I

t has been interesting to see the evolution of the HB 1133 tax credit. Several years ago, the state of Georgia passed the law HB 1133. The intent of this law is to provide lower income families with the opportunity of giving their children a private school education if they are not reaching their full potential in public school.

For making a contribution to a qualified student scholarship organization, Georgia taxpayers can receive a state income tax credit for up to $2,500 per couple and $1,000 for individuals. The law also allows C corporations to contribute significantly more than this. Donors also receive a federal income tax deduction as a charitable contribution.

In 2008, many individuals I discussed this tax credit with were skeptical; it sounded too good to be true. In 2008, only $6.2 million of the $50 million allowed by the state for the program was claimed. In 2009, that rose to $25.4 million; 2010, $41 million; and last year the full $50 million was claimed by early November. If you would like to participate in

the program this year, you will need to make your contribution early in the year.

While the last recession was tough on everyone, it had a significant impact on those without a high school degree.

According to calculatedriskblog. com, as of late 2011 the unemployment rate was over 13% for individuals 25 years and older without a high school diploma. This compares to a little over 4% unemployment rate for those with a bachelors degree and higher.

The process of getting a quality education and good study habits starts when a child is very young. We are fortunate in this area to have good schools. For most, public schools are a good environment to get a quality education. For some students though, they are not getting the specialized attention and instruction they need, and results show they can perform at a higher level in a private school environment. Unfortunately, up until the last several years, private schools have for the most part been reserved for those with higher incomes.

The Georgia GOAL Scholarship Program is the leading qualified student scholarship organization that administers the program.

You can see their website at www.goalscholarship.org for a list of local schools, taxpayer

filing guidance, and general information on the program.

Heritage Academy is one of the schools in our area that is using this program to make a significant difference in our young people. According to Darlene Walters in the school’s development office, the average household income for students on GOAL scholarships at Heritage is $17,000. With the annual tuition rate at Heritage at $6,000 per year, it is obvious many of these students would not have the opportunity to attend this great school if not for the GOAL scholarships and private contributions from our community.

If you do not have the funds readily available, consider making an adjustment to your state income tax withholding in your paycheck so that you do not have to wait until you file your return. This is a great topic to add to your discussion with your CPA over the next several months. As always, please consult with your CPA or advisor prior to doing this.

If you are as skeptical as I was initially, I encourage you to do more research on the GOAL scholarship at their website noted above. I encourage you to arrange a tour at one of the schools like Heritage Academy and see firsthand the impact these scholarships are making (please email Darlene Walters

at ha.augusta@gmail.com). I understand that this tax credit is a little confusing, so please ask your CPA or please email me at bwc@preston-cleveland.com.

While I can’t give you specific tax advice, I am glad to answer any general questions.

Because only $50 million is allocated for the entire state, it is up to the local Augusta community to make sure we get behind this program for our local schools. If we do not, the funds will easily be claimed by many other schools and communities who have the advantage of a large alumni base. There is not much else

I can think of that is better in life than having an impact on a child and providing them with the environment they need to learn and excel. Many of these students stand at the crossroads of two different paths in life and through GOAL we now have the opportunity and ability to make a difference. +

by Bill Cleveland, CPA and certified financial planner (CFP) with Preston & Cleveland Wealth Management, LLC (www.preston-cleveland.com) in Augusta and Atlanta. Medical Economics magazine has called him one of the 150 Best Financial Advisors for Doctors in the nation.

GOT A STORY? Seriously, who doesn’t?

Tell us about your medical experiences in Medicine in the First Person

More info, page 3

M E D I C A L S E RV I C E S D I R E C T O RY Knob

Hill

ASSISTED LIVING CENTER, INC. A specialty care community offering:

Spinal Cord Injury Care • Traumatic Brain Injuries Respite Care • Specialized Rehabilitation Care Specialized Dietary Requirements Adult Day Care • Alzheimer’s Care

Approved for VA and Medicaid and private pay Knob Hill Assisted Living Center is just off Washington Rd. near Windmill Plantation, approx. 3 miles from Evans WalMart

For more information or to make a referral, please contact us: KNOB HILL ASSISTED LIVING CENTER Ryan Hunt • huntglobalinc@gmail.com 2822 Knob Hill Farm Road • Evans, GA 30809

706-860-0541

Family Care Center CENTER FOR PRIMARY CARE Primary & Urgent Care

No appointments • All major & secondary ins. accepted 3686 WHEELER ROAD GROVETOWN

(across from Doctors Hospital)

(old Post Office Building)

706.922.6300

706.434.3500

FAMILY MEDICINE

CPC-EVANS

CPC-SOUTH

363 NORTH BELAIR ROAD

2011 WINDSOR SPRING ROAD

706.650.7563

706.798.1700

CPC-CENTRAL

CPC-N. AUGUSTA

www.urgentmd.com

706.868.7380

803.279.6800

Home Health Check

CPC-CROSSROADS

Mon-Fri: 8am-7pm; Sat: 9am-6pm

Mon-Fri: 9am-6pm

NEW PATIENTS WELCOME • SIMPLY WALK IN

BACTERIA, MOLD, MYCOTOXINS, VIRUS AND VOCs Cause Asthma, COPD, Fibromyalgia, Fatigue, Congestion, Eye Irritation, Respiratory Problems, Stuffy Head, Sore Throat, Skin Conditions and more.

39

$

COMMANDO SERVICES

LOCAL HOME INSPECTION

3614-D DEWEY GRAY CIRCLE

105 HUGH STREET

CPC-AIKEN

1701 MAGNOLIA WAY (OFF DYESS PARKWAY)

410 HITCHCOCK PARKWAY NEW CPC OFFICE AS OF AUG. 1

706.922.6600

803.649.6941

Evans, South, Crossroads, Central and North Augusta offices open 8:30 am-8:00 pm Monday thru Thursday and 8:30 am-5:00 pm Friday Aiken office hours, effective August 1: 8:30 am-8:00 pm Mon & Tue and 8:30 am-5:00 pm Wed thru Fri CPC-Crossroads open weekends for CPC patients with acute care needs. Please call ahead.

CALL TODAY!

706-772-9898

26 PHYSICIANS • EVENING HOURS • 6 CONVENIENT LOCATIONS •

TO ADVERTISE HERE CALL 706.860.5455