Trek beginnings

I am a Otolaryngologist with a fellowship in Head and Neck surgery (cancer surgery). I am doing a trek across America after graduation starting July 2nd. We are starting in Washington D.C. and will end up in Grants Pass Oregon. We will be following the Luis and Clark trail across the top of the United States. All who would like to participate are welcome. Since so far it is a trek with my brother in law and myself, more detail will be pounded out in the next upcoming months before the ride.

I am creating a web page. I will be placing a day by day synopsis of the ride with a link for people to donate to the Oral cancer cause. I will contact Fox news to draw attention to the cause as well.

Please feel free to contact me at huffari@yahoo.com

Drugs...legalize or not to legalize that is the question.

So, Maybe we should legalize all drugs. How our nation would plummet into non-productivity ... faster than the hell bent comet we are straddling already.

• Today, more than 6 million Americans are abusing prescription drugs—that is more than the number of Americans abusing cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, and inhalants, combined.
• Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that opioid prescription painkillers now cause more drug overdose deaths than cocaine and heroin combined.
• Today more new drug users have begun abusing pain relievers (2.4 million) than marijuana (2.1 million) or cocaine (1.0 million).

My info!

So in response to my sister's need for information, here is excluding some snide remarks of course. :)

We (Joe and I) need the following info from you for the purposes of adoption application paperwork.

1. Your current address

Carmel IN

2. Your education (highest degree or any certification and from where/ what institution-- include all-- good to brag on you (and I sincerely do feel that each of you is brag worthy! --i.e. Mich-- include aerobic certifications with B.S. )

B.S. Exercise science

D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathy) Otolaryngology

Fellowship training in Head and Neck cancer surgery -current

3. Your occupation (Richard and Todd no smart a** remarks with snot and cartels; Mom Dot--? soon to be retired from Condominium Rental Services but need your title there--owner/ partner?...; Heather-- include former Billabong title eventhough not current...; also feel free to include volunteer work/ major projects. wow, you read that one right. there goes my fun. :) See #2

Land lord -rental in OK

4. A physical decription of yourself--height, approx weight, eye color, hair color and length, and one overall comment (and if you don't want to do the overall comment, I can make that up for you)

I'm sexy and I know it...

Height: 5'10''

Hair: (none)Bald

Glasses: none (blessed lasik!)

Eyes: Blue

shoe size: 9 1/2

Glove size: 7 1/2 Microptic

5. please list your talents-- no less than 3 and no more than 15

Speak second languge: spanish

draw

Play piano

Handyman skills

sing in church (when I'm not sick)

sew on a button

was soccer coach

was ski instructor

Intermediate trail hiker (10 of the 56 14ers down)

Herbal cure for Migraines

A topic much discussed with not so much patients, but yet with friends and neighbors. The cause is much still very mysterious, ranging from dilation or constriction of blood vessels, to inflammatory mediators on the dura. There are some that believe there is even a direct correlation to tension headaches, cured every three months by relieving shots of Botulinum toxin to the occipital muscles.

Whatever may be the cause, the cure can be quite ranging as well. Quite and dark rooms, sleep, Imitrex, Excedrin, antidepressants, the aforementioned Botox etc. Well, there is one more added to the mix. It's an herbal called Feverfew

As I was perusing the news headlines, I ran across an excerpt from the Dr. Oz show. His researchers had found an herbal medicine which when taken upon the arrival of the migraine, has been proven or strongly suggested to reduce and if not eliminate the migraine altogether.

Now having erred on other topics such as Visiline for oral cancer screening, I'm just a bit skeptical. However the price is right. Where one pill of Imitrex has the same cost of one bottle of this Feverfew, it might just be worth a self clinical trial for those plagued with this atrocious problem.

Modern day miracles...they really do happen.

Miracles...here's one in this modern day... Sam Schmid, an Arizona college student believed to be brain dead and poised to be an organ donor, miraculously recovered just hours before doctors were considering taking him off life support. Schmid, a junior and business major at the University of Arizona, was critically wounded in an Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Phoenix, where specialists performed surgery for a life-threatening aneurysm. As hospital officials began palliative care and broached the subject of organ donation with his family, Schmid began to respond, holding up two fingers on command. Today he is walking with the aid of a walker, and his speech, although slow, has improved. Doctors say he will likely have a complete recovery. He even hopes to get a day pass from the hospital to celebrate the holidays with his large extended family. "Nobody could ever give me a better Christmas present than this -- ever, ever, ever," said his mother, Susan Regan, who is vice-president of the insurance company Lovitt-Touche. "I tell everyone, if they want to call it a modern-day miracle, this is a miracle," said Regan, 59, and a Catholic. "I have friends who are atheists who have called me and said, 'I am going back to church.'" Schmid's doctor, renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Robert Spetzler, agreed that his recovery was miraculous. "I am dumb-founded with his incredible recovery in such a short time," said Spetzler. "His recovery was really remarkable considering the extent of his lethal injuries." Hospital officials are crediting Spetzler with having a "hunch" that despite an initially dire prognosis, the young man would make it. But he said it was "reasonable" for others to consider withdrawing the patient from life support. "It looked like all the odds were stacked against him," said Spetzler, who has performed more than 6,000 such surgeries and trained the doctor who operated on Congressman Gabrielle Giffords after she was shot at the beginning of this year. During surgery, Spetzler clipped the balloonlike aneurysm in the blood vessel -- "as if I were patching a tire," a procedure that eventually worked. For days Schmid didn't seem to be responding, but what puzzled his doctor was that he did not see fatal injuries on the MRI scan. So he decided to keep Schmid on life support longer. "There was plenty wrong -- he had a hemorrhage, an aneurysm and a stroke from the part of the aneurysm," Spetzler said. "But he didn't have a blood clot in the most vital part of his brain, which we know he can't recover from. And he didn't have a massive stroke that would predict no chance of a useful existence." So while the family was given a realistic picture of Schmid's poor chances for survival, Spetzler ordered one more MRI to see if the critical areas of the brain had turned dark, indicating brain death. "If not, we would hang on and keep him on support," he said. "But I didn't want to give the family false hope." Schmid's mother said no one "specifically" asked if her son would be a donor, but they "subtly talk to you about quality of life." "At some point, I knew we had to make some sort of decision, and I kept praying," said Regan. The MRI came back with encouraging news during the day and by evening Schmid "inexplicably" followed the doctors' commands, holding up two fingers. "It was like fireworks all going off at the same time," said Spetzler. Today, Schmid -- his speech clear and sounding upbeat -- told ABCNews.com, "I feel fine. I'm in a wheelchair, but I am getting lots of help." Sam Schmid Has No Memory of the Accident He said he remembers nothing of the accident nor coming around after being in an induced coma. "It wasn't until I woke up in rehab," he said. "But they told me about afterwards." Schmid was returning from coaching basketball at his former Catholic school when a van swerved into his lane. The Jeep in which he was riding went airborne, hit a light pole and landed on its side. Schmid's left hand and both of his femurs broke and required surgery. But the worst were the traumatic head injuries, which were complex and nearly always fatal. All those involved say the support that Schmid got from family and friends -- and especially the care at Barrow -- may have made the difference. His brother John, a 24-year-old IT specialist, took a leave of absence from his job in Chicago to be at his brother's bedside. Family flew in from around the country, and Delta Chi fraternity brothers made regular visits, even creating a mural for their friend. "It seems like we were being led down a path to plan for the worst and that things were not going to work out," said John Schmid. "The miracle, to put it bluntly, was that in a matter of seven days, we went from organ donation to rehab. What a roller coaster it was." He said his brother's speech is slow, but he understands what others are saying. Sam Schmid's athleticism -- as a basketball coach and snowboard instructor -- probably helped, he said. "Honestly, I am at a loss for words," said John Schmid. "I am just so proud of Sam. He's got a strong constitution and he's very determined. But it's been quite an eye-opener for me -- a real learning curve. You can't take anything for granted." Sam Schmid's surgeon agrees. "You get incredible highs when you save someone facing neurological devastation or death," said Spetzler. "That is counter-pointed by the incredible lows when you fail to help someone." "In a way, his recovery was truly miraculous," he said. "It's a great Christmas story." Ever the scientist, Spetzler wasn't willing to speculate what a comatose patient hears. But he admits, "There are so many things we don't understand about the brain and what happens at the time someone is near death." "The whole family was at his side during the day and at night hovering over him, then to see there was a chance after being ready to let go," he said. "But I am very much a big believer that positive thoughts and positive energy in a room can only help."

The Holiday "giving" season

Well, I love it and hate it. Just to blow off some steam, it really hacks me off to hear sob stories about people not being able to pay for the basic things in life. Just to name a few: Formula/milk, piano lessons for kids, tires for their car, insurance. We all feel bad for these people because they can't "afford", these things we feel are basic necessities. Rightly so! I feel bad and want to help. But on the other hand, I'm sick and tired of donating my own personal money to those who claim these things, and yet as it turns out, make more money than I do! And then there are those families who are probably in the same "lower income" bracket as myself, complain, then on black Friday come home with 50 inch TVs. Fiscal responsibility people! If you can't afford it, then DON'T BUY IT! Stupidity breeds stupidity. Save your child from this curse and be a good example by being responsible with the funds.

Freedom of speech! What do you think?

God Bless the United states... Here's an article found on yahoo news... does she deserve 20 years in prison for this? ;) A Kansas City teenager is receiving backlash for a comment she made against her state's governor on Twitter. Emma Sullivan was attending a Youth in Government event with her classmates listening as Governor Sam Brownback spoke, when she tweeted, "Just made mean comments at gov. brownback and told him he sucked, in person #heblowsalot." The 18-year-old Shawnee Mission East senior is now declining her school principal's request for her to write a formal letter of apology to Governor Brownback saying she "isn't sorry and doesn't think such a letter would be sincere." In reality, Sullivan did not actually make the comment she tweeted, and said she was "just joking with friends." However Governor Brownback's office, which monitors social media for any posting with the governor's name, saw Sullivan's tweet and contacted the Youth in Government program. What followed was a verbal scolding from Sullivan's principal, Karl R. Krawitz, who instructed Sullivan to write a letter of apology and also offered talking points for how the letter should be written. Sullivan has refused, and people on Twitter are responding. Before the incident, Sullivan had 65 followers, currently her following has increased to more than 6,500. She said that she feels her tweet has helped to "open up dialogue" about free speech in social media. Sullivan has not heard from Governor Brownback or his staff, but says she is not opposed to conversing with the governor directly.  Sullivan has also said, "it would be interesting to have a dialogue with him. I don't know if he would do it or not though. And I don't know that he would listen to what I have to say." Sullivan also admits that she disagrees with Brownback politically, partly because he vetoed the Kansas Arts Commission's entire budget--making Kansas the only state to eliminate its art funding. So what does Emma's mother have to say about this Twitter controversy? Julie Sullivan said she is not angry with her daughter, but she could have, "chosen different words." She also notes that "[Emma] was talking to 65 friends. And also it's the speech they use today. It's more attention grabbing. I raised my kids to be independent, to be strong, to be free thinkers. If she wants to tweet her opinion about Gov. Brownback, I say for her to go for it and I stand totally behind her." As for Emma, she's still waiting to see if there will be further action against her since she has refused to apologize. On the other side of the world, Ampon Tangnoppakul, a 61-year-old truck driver from Thailand, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for sending cell phone text messages that were deemed insulting to the country's monarchy. The law imposes seemingly severe penalties for publicly or privately making insults or threats directed at King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 83, and his family.

Ostentatious

I once had an incident when I showed up for a Wednesday meeting in my scrubs because I had come directly from work and didn't want to take the extra time. Time included, driving home, changing, pulling the kids off me then driving back to the church. So, I came in scrubs. One of the quorum members pointed out in a joking manner how ostentatious I was being by coming in my scrubs. Both he and I know why it must be this way, especially for the time being (residency), where every ounce of time is very very precious. Precious because I only have a limited amount of it during each day, and every single minute of it is demanded in one way or another. Lest I go off on another tangent on how people abuse the time I give them, I will stere back.

So, I hate going out in the public in scrubs. You might as well pin a sign on me that says, "Here stands a mighty surgeon...or dentist". Though thoughts of putting on a jacket and stripping off my pants has crossed my mind, I think this idea (especially the latter) may pose a worse outcome.

It is the reality in which I live. There is only so much I can do. However, there are things which can be done. So, you doctors out there...take note on a few suggestions I have, off the top of my head...

1. Don't go to church in scrubs! This just gives the wives extra "I'm above all the other ladies becuase I married a super doctor-dude" (see #2). If you do wear them, then be ready to bust out the pen and prescription pad.

No one else comes in their overalls from the machine shop. Show some decency and go to work in a shirt and tie on the weekend, change in the hospital, then change back before going to church. Show some respect to the Lord. Put some effort into showing Him that you care enough to put some thought and effort into Sunday worship. You're there to worship Him, and not for people to worship you. Show the people at work where your heart is on the Sabbath day.

2. Write/Tell your wives a prescription of humility which strips them of their haughtiness and pride. They must think outside of their superiority "clicks". Ask more questions of others and not just be ready to talk about "themselves, and their latest up-do, fingernails, future ginormous home, etc." Challenge them to ask 5 questions to another woman who is not married to a doctor. Amazing how interesting people are other than YOU!

3. Doctors recieve a lot of respect and attention. Rightly so! They sacrifice heavily, and spend a lot of time to become such. However, they put their pants on one leg at a time just like everyone else. Where they are superior in some ways, they still lack in others. You can be the smartest man alive, and yet a fool at the same time.

The great Mayo Clinic...

Even the great Mayo clinic is not an exception when it comes to misinformation screw ups.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tinnitus/DS00365/DSECTION=causes

Here they have listed the anti-cancer agent called Bleomycin listed under "Antibiotics that cause Tinnitus (ringing in ears).

Dang! thats one potent "antibiotic". Please don't give that one to me!

Woman shot...probably republican fault :)

San Diego Woman Shot in Head Linda Burnett, 23, a resident of San Diego, was visiting her in-laws and while there went to a nearby supermarket to pick up some groceries. Later, her husband noticed her sitting in her car in the driveway with the windows rolled up and with her eyes closed, with both hands behind the back of her head. He became concerned and walked over to the car. He noticed that Linda's eyes were now open and she looked very strange. He asked her if she was okay, and Linda replied that she had been shot in the back of the head and had been holding her brains in for over an hour. The husband called the paramedics, who broke into the car because the doors were locked and Linda refused to remove her hands from her head. When they finally got in, they found that Linda had a wad of bread dough on the back of her head. A Pillsbury biscuit canister had exploded from the heat, making a loud noise that sounded like a gunshot, and the wad of dough hit her in the back of her head. When she reached back to find out what it was, she felt the dough and thought it was her brains. She initially passed out, but quickly recovered. Linda is blonde, a Democrat and an Obama supporter, but that could all be a coincidence. The defective biscuit canister was analyzed and it was determined to be Bush's fault. Of course it was Bush's fault! Dang capitalism! If she hadn't gone to the grocery store to buy the biscuits, and instead only had one loaf of bread to choose from like every other decent socialized country, she wouldn't have this terrible and emotionally disturbing incident! Plus, she probably pumped tons of CO2 into the environment from hyperventilation! How awful! Poor woman, she should be given social security, medicaid, medicare, food stamps, government housing and whatever else she needs for the emotional damages she has received from living in this horrible and corrupted capitalized country! Hmm, was it hot enough to bake the dough? I'll have some. ;) RKH