Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/11663
8A – Daily News – Monday, June 7, 2010 Old flame sparking new concerns Milk thistle and hep C Dear Annie: I’ve been mar- ried to ‘‘Julia’’ for 30 years. Last November, she was contact- ed by an old bo yfriend through a reunion website. Since then, they have been trad- ing e-mails and text messages several times a week. Julia has told me about the e-mails and texts, but she deletes them as soon as she responds. I accidentally opened Julia’s e-mail account and saw that this guy has tried to convince her to meet secretly for lunch so they could hug each other and talk for several hours. He says he is sexually attracted to Julia, but is afraid of regrets if they ‘‘did something.’’ He also wrote that he does not have frequent sex with his wife. This guy has a cell phone with an unlisted number and an e-mail account unknown to his wife. He also has not mentioned this cor- respondence to her. I haven’t told Julia about seeing the e-mail. She knows I have con- cerns about this guy, but insists she isn’t attracted to him. She says she loves me and would not cheat. She hasn’t had an opportunity to respond to his lunch suggestion yet because we have been on vacation. Julia has offered to cut off the correspon- dence if I ask. Should I let this play out as two ships passing, if no damage is done? Just glimpsing at his tech- nique, I suspect he has done this before. Should I contact his wife and possibly risk destroying his marriage? — Internally Torn Apart Annie’s Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar Dear Torn: No. That would be overly aggres- sive on your part. We think your wife is having a flirtation and nothing more, but these things can take on a life of their own, and we don’t blame you for being con- cerned. Julia has offered to stop contacting this fellow. Take her up on it, and make sure she follows through. Dear Annie: I have been cleaning houses for years, and in all that time, only one client has given me a raise. I go above and beyond. If it takes me an extra 30 minutes to finish, I will stay and not ask for additional pay. Why do people think that cleaning help don’t deserve raises or bonus- es? These clients have found me to be trustwor- thy. Nothing ever gets broken, and I am always committed to being there. I never get a paid vacation and haven’t received a Christmas bonus in more than 10 years. What are the proper guidelines? — Appreci- ate the Cleaning Ladies Dear Lady: Most clients would give you more money if you asked. Otherwise, they don’t think you mind, and they are quite con- tent to continue paying the same amount. Tell them you have hairdressers, doormen and anyone else who provides an ongoing ser- vice. FEATURES DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a Dear Annie: Your response to ‘‘Devastated and Frustrated’’ made my blood pressure go up 10 points. She has a ter- rible daughter-in-law. You told her to find something to like about her because she could catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Instead of having her apologize to her snooty daughter-in-law, you should have advised her to discuss this matter with her gutless son and try to resolve it. But if that doesn’t work, she should cut all ties with these worthless people. If that means no contact with the grandchildren, too bad. I wouldn’t put up with the whole lot of them. I don’t think she can find anything to like in this daughter-in-law, especially after 12 years of her nonsense. — Out- raged Reader from Tal- lahassee, Fla. Dear Tallahassee: If one is willing to cut off all contact with one’s own child and the grandchildren, your solution is certainly one way to handle the situa- tion. We don’t believe most parents would want that, however, and advised accordingly. Annie’s Mailbox is raised your hourly rate, and cite a specific figure. Remind them if neces- sary. Bonuses are not mandatory, but clients should remember you during the holidays, the same way they do their 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. 60-year-old male with hepatitis C. I’m doing as much research as I can on this subject and would like your opinion on milk thistle and its benefits, if any. DEAR READER: There are six hepatitis viruses, A, B, C, D, E and G, with C commonly considered to be the most seri- ous. Dr. Peter Gott All forms attack the liver by causing inflammation that results in that organ’s inability to function nor- mally. With a long-standing diagnosis of hep C, cirrhosis, scarring and even cancer can result. Symptoms may or may not be pre- sent in the early stages of the disease. When they do occur, they present with liver tenderness, fatigue, nausea, mus- cle and/or joint pain, and poor appetite. As the disease progresses, low- grade fever and jaundice, a yellowing of the skin, eyes and mucous mem- branes can result. Common causes include exposure to contaminated blood, such as shar- ing needles from drug use; the use of contaminated needles for tattooing or body piercing; or receiving a blood transfusion before 1992. Before that date, blood-screening tests were not sophisticated enough to detect the dis- order. A woman with the diagnosis can pass the virus on to a newborn. Con- trary to some beliefs, hepatitis C isn’t ordinarily transmitted through sexual contact, although in rare instances it can happen. Testing is accomplished through a simple blood analysis. If the results come back positive, a physician might choose to measure the viral load in the blood so the best course of treatment can be decided. He or she may also choose to order a liver biopsy, a pro- cedure in which a small sample of tis- sue is removed for analysis. While this procedure isn’t vital, it will help determine the severity of the disease and will assist further with treatment options. Most people infected with hep C develop a condition known as chronic hepatitis, and cirrhosis develops in about 20 percent of patients. A posi- tive diagnosis does not mean treat- ment is necessary. Some people fight off the virus without treatment and without permanent damage. With minor abnormalities detected, a physician may choose to withhold treatment. That is a decision best left to the patient and his or her liver specialist. Standard treatment is week- ly injections of a drug called pegylated interferon alfa in combination with oral doses of ribavirin, a broad-spectrum antiviral taken twice a day for up to 48 weeks. This combination is up to 80 percent effective in clearing the virus from the bloodstream. Minor side effects of the duo that may improve over time include skin irrita- tion, insomnia, flu-like symptoms and more. End-stage disease treatment is done through liver transplant. Unfor- tunately, the number of people on transplant lists far outweighs the num- ber of available livers. On the home front, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, avoiding medica- tions such as acetaminophen and some prescription drugs that may cause liver damage, and reducing alcohol consumption are appropriate first steps. Milk thistle has been used for hundreds of years in Europe as a treat- ment for jaundice and some liver dis- orders. It will not cure hepatitis C, nor will it prevent healthy people from contracting the virus. What is known about this over-the-counter product is that silymarin, the primary ingredient, may help heal the liver because it appears to stimulate the production of antioxidant enzymes that neutralize liver toxins and reduce inflammation. To provide related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Blood: Donations and Disor- ders.” Other readers 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.AskDrGottMD.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. His website is www.AskDrGottMD.com. PAID ADVERTISEMENT I For information on participation in Kids & Families call (530) 527-2151 P.A.W.S. (Partners for Animal Welfare & Safety) A Volunteer Program Dedicated to the Prevention of Litters, Not the Destruction of Unwanted animals. HOW CAN YOU HELP? CALL US! 528-8018 Please leave your number we WILL call you back P.O. 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