Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/21832
4B – Daily News – Wednesday, December 22, 2010 FEATURES Symptoms may indicate grand-mal seizures DEAR DR. GOTT: I am writ- ing about some- one I know. He is 40 years old and has had the fol- lowing symptoms for at least the past 10 years: fits of rage, seizure- like episodes (unconscious, body goes rigid, convulses, wets self, confusion, weakness and vomiting), hand tremors, neck and shoulder pain, and self-confessed faint- ing spells (although these may have been seizures). Two times fol- lowing seizures, tests gave no indication of having had a seizure. Do you have any sug- gestions about what this may be? DEAR READER: This individual has most of the symptoms of grand-mal seizures. This type of seizure is dramat- ic and is what most peo- ple picture when they hear the word “seizure.” His symptoms of fits of rage, hand tremors and neck and shoulder pain may be related brain damage caused by the seizures or the result of head trauma caused by falling or flailing around during the seizure. Another type of seizure, known as a frontal-lobe seizure, can cause emo- tional symptoms, such as rage, depression and euphoria. I strongly recommend that a neurologist see this gentleman for a complete examination and exten- sive testing. The special- ist will need to know what testing he has had in the past, whether he is on any medication, how much alcohol he drinks, whether he uses illicit drugs, how often the seizures occur, when his first seizure occurred and whether it directly fol- lowed anything, such as head trauma, and more. Your brief note does- n’t say whether he is under the care of a neu- rologist. If he is, why isn’t he on medication (which I assume is the case, since you don’t mention it) to help con- trol the seizures? Untreated seizure disor- ders can be life-threaten- ing, not only to the suf- ferer but to others. For instance, if he has a seizure while driving, he will lose control of his car, and if others are also on the road with him (or in the car), they are in danger as well. As for the normal test- ing, many people with seizure dis- orders can have normal MRIs, so this may not be indicative of any- thing. Dr. Peter Gott Unless he is ignoring the con- dition and refus- ing medical treat- ment, there is no good reason for him to have gone undiag- nosed and untreated for 10-plus years. He needs to get to a doctor before he does permanent/fur- ther damage to himself or harms those around him. DEAR DR. GOTT: Two things. First, do you have any help for hair loss (secondary to hypothyroidism)? Sec- ond, in nurse’s training, we learned that castor oil applied carefully on the eyelids at night and washed off with baby shampoo in the morning grew beautiful, thick lashes. A few weeks ago, I decided to wipe extra on my dry cuticles, and it helped. DEAR READER: Thank you for the tip about castor oil. I hope my readers will benefit from it. Now to your hair-loss question. If your thyroid hormones are not within normal limits, this may be contributing to your problem. If they are, you may be experiencing hair loss for a number of other reasons, such as a vitamin deficiency, genetics or a scalp condi- tion. If you have itching, scaling or other issues with your scalp, make an appointment with a der- matologist. There are several types of shampoo pur- ported to promote hair growth with various B vitamins and/or biotin. My readers have had suc- cess in the past with the Tresemme line. Rogaine is the other over-the- counter product shown to work in studies, but it can be expensive, and results reverse when the product is discontinued. You may wish to try adding a B multivitamin to your diet. 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. His website is www.AskDrGottMD.com. E-mail etiquette elicits exasperation Dear Annie: Why do intelligent, educated peo- ple fail to practice the most basic rules of e-mail eti- quette? Do they not realize how intrusive many prac- tices have become? One of the most flagrant abuses is to forward a mes- sage without removing the names and e-mail address- es of others. Another trav- esty is the chain e-mail that promises good luck if you forward it or, worse, pre- dicts bad luck if you don’t. Does anyone actually believe them? And what about those that insist you demonstrate your affection for the sender by returning the message? Please provide your readers with a refresher course in courtesy when sending personal e-mails. Thank you. — Shreveport, La. Dear Shreveport: Whether dealing with e-mail, phone calls or visits, it is common courtesy not to be overly intrusive. That means asking whether someone wants to be on your mailing list for jokes, political rants, religious editorials and chain letters, and respecting the answer. It means deleting the e- mail addresses of others, along with any extraneous material, when forwarding something. When send- ing a personal e-mail, be friendly. Don’t type in all caps unless you are furious. And please do not send pornography. Dear Annie: My husband, ‘‘Bill,’’ and I have been married for almost two years. Bill was in the U.S. Army and served in Iraq. Annie’s Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar When he got back, we were married, but, Annie, he has totally changed. This past year, all we seem to do is fight. Bill gets upset about everything I do and say. I can’t even men- tion any of his behavior without it leading to a fight. A year ago, he got drunk and accused me of sleeping with one of his friends. He yelled at me so loudly that the neighbors called the police. I have tried suggesting we talk to a counselor, because nothing is helping us get along better, but he refuses. If he drinks, he treats me like dirt. When we are at a party, he’ll totally ignore me and spend all his time flirting with other women. I am tired of being treated this way, and I know the drinking is a huge part of it. I am eight months pregnant and an emotional mess. I’ve told him that fighting is not healthy for the baby. I believe he has Post-Trau- matic Stress Disorder, but he says he doesn’t need any help. I don’t know how much longer I can last in this marriage. I feel like I’ve lost the man I fell in love with. Please tell me what to do. — Don’t Know Where To Get Help Dear Don’t Know: It’s a shame Bill is unwilling to get help when he clearly needs it. He may be suf- fering from PTSD, or he may have developed an alcohol problem, or both. Whether or not he is willing to get help, however, you absolute- ly must. You can get information on PTSD through the Veterans Admin- istration at ptsd.va.gov. We also recommend you contact Military OneSource (militaryonesource.com) at 1-800- 342-9647. It is an excellent resource for service members, vet- erans and their families. Dear Annie: I beg you to recon- sider your answer to ‘‘Smokeless in Seattle,’’ who didn’t want to spend Christmas Eve with Grandma because she smokes. Please educate your readers about the dangers of third-hand smoke. This refers to contamina- tion that settles into the environ- ment and remains on clothing, upholstery, pets, etc. long after the smoke has cleared. Infants and chil- dren are thought to be in the most danger since they touch surfaces and then put their fingers in their mouths. I doubt you would advise exposing an infant to 250 chemi- cals just to keep Grandma happy. — Oncology Certified Registered Nurse Dear Nurse: We cannot live in sterilized bubbles. Parents are capa- ble of watching their children care- fully for an evening at Grandma’s once a year, although we concur that other family gatherings should be held elsewhere. 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, P.O. Box 118190, Chicago, IL 60611. Lassen Forest urges visitors to play it safe in the snow Almanor Ranger Dis- Lassen National For- est officials are asking visitors to use caution when engaging in win- ter activities, such as snowmobiling, sled- ding, skiing, and snow- boarding. Visitors are reminded to be prepared for the rapid weather changes that can occur on the Forest. They should also be aware of how snow can quickly camouflage dangerous conditions both on and off-road. Obstacles such as trees and rocks, as well as perilously thin ice, can easily be hidden by snow. Particularly useful in popular snow play areas, the following are some rules for engaging in safe play: • Maintain control of your recreation equip- ment (sled, tube, snow- mobile, etc.) at all times to avoid collisions • Watch for changing conditions; icy condi- tions can make it diffi- cult to stop and avoid obstacles • To avoid being struck, do not walk in or stop in sled paths, or linger at the bottom of the slope • Supervise children at all times • Do not build snow berms or jumps since they reduce your control and are obstacles to oth- ers. Safe practices and a little courtesy can go a long way toward ensur- ing a winter visit to the Forest is a safe, enjoy- able, and rewarding experience. For more information on winter recreation on the Lassen National Forest, please see its website at www.fs.usda.gov/lassen or contact the following offices: trict 258-2141 District 257-4188 District (530) Eagle Lake Ranger (530) Hat Creek Ranger (530) 336-5521 Supervisor’s Office (530) 257-2151