Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/13308
Tuesday, July 13, 2010 – Daily News – 3B FEATURES Nurse appreciates hospitalists DEAR DR. GOTT: This is in response to the reader who asked about her doctor no longer admit- ting patients to the hospital. As a staff registered nurse, I can tell you that we love it when a hospitalist is the admitting physician. This means that there is a 24- hour resource right there within the hospital — no calling and waking a doc- tor in the middle of the night. I feel patients get extraordinary care when there’s someone onsite to deal with any situation that comes up. I would in no way seek out a differ- ent primary-care physi- cian, but rather celebrate that I would have a spe- cialist available 24 hours a day, not just at rounding time! DEAR READER: From a medical stand- point, hospitalists are often considered a god- send by physicians, nurses and other hospital staff alike. However, not all patients think the same. Many who have a good relationship with their physician are uncomfort- able at suddenly not being able to see him or her. When a patient is in the hospital and not feeling his or her best and/or scared, anxious or wor- ried, someone familiar and comfortable is pre- ferred. The issue of hospital- ists is complex to say the least. They are as compe- tent and caring as physi- cians who maintain pri- vate or group practices, and they are available to assist patients in the hos- pital at any time. But, again, unless the patient is in and out of the hospital on a regular basis and familiar with the staff or is comfortable with the situ- ation, many will be uncomfortable having a stranger suddenly in con- trol of the situation. Thank you for offering your opinion on this mat- ter. I hope patients will come around to this increasingly common occurrence because it ben- efits them just as much, if not more, than their own physician. DEAR DR. GOTT: If something is gluten-free, does that mean it is also flourless? Dr. Peter Gott DEAR READ- ER: No. Gluten is a protein found in several common types of grains, including wheat, rye and barley. If a product is gluten- free, that simply means that the product is not made with grains and flours that contain gluten. To confuse the issue, some gluten-free products are flourless and others are made with flour, such as rice or corn flours that do not contain the protein. People with a gluten sensitivity or gluten aller- gy must maintain a strict diet that avoids all foods containing the protein because it can cause intestinal damage and troublesome symptoms, such as abdominal pain, pressure, bloating, diar- rhea and constipation. By removing the protein from the diet, the body can often repair most or all of the damage as long as it is avoided. People who are follow- ing my no-flour, no-sugar diet should remain vigi- lant about gluten-free products because they may contain sugar and other types of flour. Once the weight goal is achieved and if a person wishes to add a few foods that contain flour and/or sugar back into the diet, gluten-free products are an excellent choice. To provide related information, I am send- ing you a copy of my Health Report “Losing Weight: An Introduction to the No Flour, No Sugar Diet.” Other read- ers who would like a copy should send a self- addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092-0167. Be sure to mention the title or print an order form off my website at www.AskDr- GottMD.com. Dr. Peter H. Gott is a retired physician and the author of several books, including “Live Longer, Live Better,” “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Diet” and “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook,” which are available at most bookstores or online. 2010 FARMERS’ MARKET & Concert Series Wednesday Evenings from 5-8 pm July 14th L.T.D. Band - classic rock and blues Music takes place from 6-8pm On Washington & Pine Streets • FOOD • CRAFTS • LIVE MUSIC • FRESH LOCAL PRODUCE Sponsored By: D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Sponsored by RB/TC Chamber of Commerce Red Bluff City River Park every Sat. 8am-noon 28 Years Plus Experience Full Service Tax & Bookkeeping Service • Tax Preparation & Representation • Business & Personal Returns • Filing for Delinquent & Non-filers • Non-profits • Get out of trouble with both IRS and FTB • Sales Tax Returns • Tax Classes • Bookkeeping • Payroll Service Rose Hablitzel, EA • Rex Cerro, EA “Enrolled To Practice Before The IRS” Open Year-Round • New Clients Welcome Enrolled Agents: (530) 527-8225 208 Elm St., Red Bluff Lecherous life-partner likes to lure ladies Dear Annie: I have been married to the same man for decades. ‘‘Ralph’’ has always preferred the company of females, but lately, all he talks about are other women — their phys- ical attributes, how intelli- gent and personable they are, etc. He tells me about going out to dinner with them (supposedly with a group of people). He states in business e-mails how attractive they are. He tells me how he flirts and teases. He is very obvious about looking at other women while he is with me. I hear him on the phone speaking to them gently and softly, yet he never speaks to me that way. Ralph criticizes my thoughts, looks, opin- ions and feelings, yet when I ques- tion his behavior, he claims I am the love of his life and his rock. He tells other people that I am exactly what he wants. He denies adultery. He denies wanting out of our relation- ship. He states that whenever he is disrespectful to me, he doesn’t know why and feels bad about it. But his behavior doesn’t change. I feel like I am living with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. What is going on with my husband? Is he cheating on me? — S.O.S. Dear S.O.S.: We don’t believe Ralph is cheating, but it definitely sounds like a few screws are loose. Any unexplained change in behav- ior could indicate a medical prob- Annie’s Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar lem, so first suggest that Ralph see his doctor for a complete workup. Then ask him to go with you for coun- seling. He is not behaving in a respectful manner toward the woman he supposedly loves, and you both need to find out why. Dear Annie: Years ago, parents used to put up plac- ards in their children’s bed- room windows to let firemen know where they were in case of fire. That proved dangerous because pedophiles also knew which bedrooms the children were in. Now parents are putting up stick figures of their families on the back of the car windows, including how many boys and girls they have. Yes- terday, I saw a car with two soccer ball emblems in the back window, each with the name of one of two girls. I assume those two girls were their daughters. To me, this is as dangerous as the window placards because any pedophile could follow the car home and target the children in the future. Should I be concerned for these children? — New York Dear N.Y.: You have raised a valid point. Parents are eager to show off their kids, but they should be mindful of the circumstances. Publicizing the fact that you have young children by displaying emblems on your home or car win- dows (especially with names) can invite trouble. While it is extremely unlikely that a pedophile would fol- low your car home, it is still a pos- sibility that should not be ignored. It’s the same reason you don’t leave your front door unlocked even if you live in a safe neighborhood. The chance of a break-in is remote, but not impossible. Dear Annie: I can identify with ‘‘No Photo Op,’’ the woman who was handed an envelope containing pictures of her mother lying in her casket. When my grandmother died, I was pregnant and lived 1,000 miles away and could not attend the funeral. Months later, I received a letter from my mother that con- tained photos of a trip she and my dad had taken. In the middle of those photos, I was horror stricken to find one of my grandmother in her coffin. My grandmother was Irish and a lively person. That’s how I would like to remember her. But 31 years later, all I can picture is my grand- mother in her coffin. Your advice to ask first was spot on. — Still Stunned in Vermont Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Ste. 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. Groundwater-testing program meeting The State Water Resources Control Board and the U.S. Geological Survey will present information Thursday, July 15, on a large-scale study of groundwater quality they are launching in northeastern California. The study area will cover Modoc County and parts of Siskiyou, Shasta, Lassen, Tehama, Plumas and Butte coun- ties, and will include the cities of Alturas, Susanville, Tule- lake, Burney, Weed, Dorris and Mount Shasta. The meeting is set 1-3 p.m. July 15 at the Mount Shasta Community Center, 629 Alder St., Mount Shasta. Maps, an agenda and other information are available at www.waterboards.ca.gov/gama/. The Water Board is collaborating with the USGS and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories to conduct the Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment Pro- gram. The main goals are to improve comprehensive statewide groundwater monitoring and to increase the avail- ability of information about groundwater quality to the pub- lic. The USGS California Water Science Center is the pro- The California Depart- ment of Transportation will host a public workshop in Red Bluff in cooperation with Shasta and Tehama counties and Red Bluff, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 21, at the Red Bluff Community and Senior Center, 1500 S. Jackson St., in the Westside conference room. The purpose of this event is to provide the public the opportunity to discuss the future of State Route 36. Input will assist Caltrans in developing a long-range planning document for the route called a Transporta- tion Concept Report, to address the next 20 years. ject lead for the Priority Basin Project. With the voluntary cooperation of local water agencies and well owners, USGS is testing water in California groundwater basins over a 10- year period. The Cascades-Modoc study unit is one of 35 study units across the state. It includes 55 volcanic and sedimentary groundwater basins, as defined by the state Department of Water Resources. Starting July 12 and continuing for about 12 weeks, sci- entists will collect water-quality samples from an estimated 90 wells. A report on the data is expected to be available in about a year. The project is designed to characterize water quality in groundwater basins. It does not evaluate the quality of water delivered to consumers. After withdrawal from the ground, water for public systems is typically treated or mixed before consumers receive it to maintain water quality. More information is available at www.waterboards.ca.gov/gama/ and ca.water.usgs.gov/gama/. Public workshop scheduled for State Route 36 Caltrans welcomes any suggestions or comments the public may have regard- ing the future plan for State Route 36. Comments can be pro- vided to Laura Rose by call- ing 225-3139, sending an e- mail to laura_rose@dot.ca.gov or mailing to Caltrans District 2, Attention: Laura Rose, P.O. Box 496073, Redding, CA 96049-6073.