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Friday, July 23, 2010 – Daily News – 5A FEATURES Flatulating father fumigates family Dear Annie: My husband has a problem with constant flatulence. He passes gas every 15 minutes, and it dri- ves me crazy. Our two teenage daughters run out of the room. I have asked him to see a doctor because I fear there might be something medical- ly wrong, but he refuses, say- ing it’s a natural bodily func- tion. Please help. We can’t stand to be around him. — Indy Dear Annie: When my Annie’s Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar Dear Indy: According to the Mayo Clinic, it is normal to pass gas between 10 and 20 times a day. People who are lactose or gluten intolerant or eat a diet rich in fiber are more likely to have gas problems. Check to see if it’s worse after your husband eats specific foods. You also can try over-the-counter remedies such as Beano, lactase sup- plements, medications like Gas-X and activated charcoal. If there is pain in the abdomen, however, it’s time to call the doctor. That could indicate diverti- culitis, inflammatory bowel disease or a partial bowel obstruction. widowed father required con- stant care, I tried repeatedly and without success to have him moved to my home, but was rejected by my siblings, as well as by my father, who wanted to stay in his home. I live quite a distance away and was unable to share in his care, although I did visit periodical- ly. The burden fell to my brother and sister, who hired a wonderful person to help. I have had strained rela- tions with my siblings for many years. When Dad died, my brother had him cremated before I could say goodbye. My family was purposely left out of the memorial service, and my siblings blocked my attempts to speak at the eulogy. I was devastated and appalled. I am successful, well-liked and respected in my community, and I’ve been married for 30 years to a wonder- ful woman. Both my sister and my brother have endeavored to discredit me within the family. Although the horrible lies they told were not believed by close relatives, doubts still linger with those who don’t know me well. The way my siblings have treat- ed me makes me terribly angry, but they don’t think they’ve done anything wrong. In fact, they expect me to apol- ogize to them. I tried this tactic once before and do not wish to made a fool of again. I have come to realize that I must either make all the effort to maintain any semblance of a relationship or remove them from my memories for- ever. Do you think reconciliation is possible? — Needing Closure Dear Needing: Anything is possi- ble, but it will take all of you to achieve it. Ask your siblings whether they would be willing to go with you for professional counseling so you can work on improving your relationship. It is truly the best way for each of you to air your differences under the guid- ance of an impartial observer, and is worth making the trip to their city or arranging it via phone or online thera- py. If they refuse, we hope you will get counseling for yourself in order to make peace with the situation. Our condolences. Resources for families in down economy It’s been called "trickle- down anxiety" – the effect a struggling economy can have on children. In this economy, families are tak- ing a less-is-more approach to money: Spending less — and talk- ing about it more. With many families paring down expenses as food costs rise and housing prices plummet, children are becoming all too aware of today’s stark realities. Unemployment figures are rising and state funded programs to help families are being slashed. Reality is – it’s bad and we are all feeling the crisis. The American Psycho- logical Association’s stress survey found as many as 8 out of 10 Amer- icans are worried about their personal finances and the economy. Studies show that when parents worry about their financial situation, their relation- ships with each other and their children can suffer. "The trouble with stress is that parents may feel helpless and can’t offer their children the essentials," said Denise Snider, First 5 Tehama executive director. "Mak- ing local resources and services readily available is more important than ever – and resources are being stretched in these difficult times." Several local programs offer services to help Tehama County families through this period of eco- nomic hardship. • The Corning Family Resource Center (NVCSS) is hosting the Summer Food Program in Corning. Free breakfast 10:15-10:45 a.m. and lunch 2:15-2:45 p.m. Monday through Friday for children 18 and younger. Program facility located at West and South streets in the Kindergarten Building, 1488 South St., Corning. For more infor- mation, call Carol Curry at 824-7670. • Health coverage is critical for families with children, and there are free and low-cost options for kids through state-funded programs, such as Medi- Cal, Healthy Families and Healthy Kids. To find out which program you quali- fy for and how to enroll your child, call your local family resource center: Corning Family Resource Center, 824-7670; Red Bluff Family Resource Center, 528-8066; and First Steps Family Resource Center in Los Molinos, 384-7833. • It’s essential that chil- dren visit the dentist at least once a year starting as soon as his or her first tooth comes in or by age one. If your health insur- ance program does not cover dental care or has a high deductible, you may qualify for free dental check-ups and treatment from the First 5 Tri-Coun- ty Mobile Dental Unit. For more information, call the Tehama County Health Services Agency, Public Health Division, at 527-6824. • The importance of nutrition cannot be ignored even in tough eco- nomic times. The Women, Infants and Children Pro- gram (WIC) provides qualifying families with vouchers to buy healthy foods such as milk, juice, eggs, cheese, cereal, dry beans, select vegetables and peanut butter. Breast- feeding classes and health education is also avail- able. For more informa- tion, call 527-8791. • Purchasing clothes and other household items can be especially diffi- cult when money is tight. Find quality and inexpensive clothing, furni- ture, books and household goods at: • Salvation Army Thrift Store: Call 529- 1590 • St Elizabeth Hospice Second Hand Store: Call 528-9430 • Hope Chest Second Hand Store: Call 527- 0270 • Child Care Referral & Education offers child care referrals and assis- tance for eligible families. Did you know they also have a free Lending Library and it’s is avail- able to anyone in the com- munity. You can select from developmentally appropriate toys for all ages, children's books and videos as well as resources for you as a par- ent, grandparent, child care provider or commu- nity member. CCRE has on hand hundreds of books and publications for children and we have many educational toys that can be borrowed as well. Call CCRE at 529- 3131 Here is an overview of the wonderful things in the Lending Library: • Children's Books and Toys for children birth to 10 years old • Early childhood learning resources • Information and resources for children with special needs Family activities are very important in building strong family relation- ships; however, they can also be expensive. The following summer activities are no cost options: • Free Sum- mer Reading Program at Tehama County Libraries – call Sally at 527-0607 to learn more: • Los Molinos – Mon- days at 10 a.m. • Corning – Tuesday at 10 a.m. • Red Bluff – Wednes- days at 10 a.m. • Free Summer Fun Flicks at Prime Cinemas in Red Bluff: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thurs- days @ 11 a.m. First come, first served. • Free Playgroups at Red Bluff Family Resource Center (NVCSS) each Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. and Thursdays at 10 a.m. at the Red Bluff Pool at the children’s swim area. • Free Corning Youth Fair – Back to School Kick-Off: Activities for kids of all ages, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 14, Northside Park on Colusa Street, Corning. Call 824- 7670. For additional informa- tion on local resources, please call First 5 Tehama at 528-1395 or visit www.first5tehama.com. Age spots on those with dark skin DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 50- year-old light- skinned black female with dark spots on my face. My doctor says they are age spots. I have never smoked or con- sumed alcohol, nor have I ever worn makeup. Is there any over-the-counter product that is affordable you might recommend? DEAR READER: Dr. Peter Gott Liver spots, also known as age spots, are common in people who are over the age of 40 and in those who may have had chron- ic sunlight exposure without protective sun- screen. The spots are harmless and do not require treatment. They typically appear on light- skinned people but can affect anyone. Exposure to ultraviolet light speeds up the production of melanin, the dark pig- ment in the outer layers of skin that give it color. Additional melanin is what creates the darker color, primarily in Cau- casians, known as a tan. When melanin clumps into higher-than-normal concentrations, age spots appear. What many of us fail to realize is that peo- ple of African descent are as susceptible to sun damage as are fair- skinned Caucasians. If you are put off by the appearance of the spots, start with a referral to a dermatologist. There are several treatment possibil- ities. Prescription creams that bleach the skin might fade the spots over a peri- od of several months. There are many choices from which to choose and this is the least expensive therapy, depending on how often the cream is applied and how dark the spots are. In order for treatment to be successful, the cream or lotion must penetrate through the top layer of skin where the excess pigment is located. This method of treatment might take weeks or months before progress is seen. Beyond creams and lotions, cryotherapy applies a freezing agent such as liquid nitrogen to the spots, breaking up the areas that contain the excess pigment. Laser therapy, while expensive, can destroy the excess melanocytes that created the darkened areas of pigment. There is no damage to the surface of the skin with lasers, and results are apparent over a period of several weeks or months. Chemical peel involves applying an acid applica- tion to the outer layer of the skin where the age spots appear. The skin then peels, new skin forms, and the spots are no longer present. Der- mabrasion sands down the surface of the skin with a brush that rotates rapidly. Again, this removes the surface skin, a new layer grows, and the spots dis- appear. This process may leave temporary scabbing and redness. To avoid future age spots, protect your skin — primarily that on the backs of your hands, face, shoulders and upper back — with a sunscreen applied about a half-hour prior to exposure. Then reapply it in a timely man- ner according to the man- ufacturer’s recommenda- tions. Wear protective clothing when out of doors that might include a wide-brimmed hat, long- sleeved shirts and long pants. Should any of your lesions change in color, enlarge, raise or modify in unusual ways, be sure to return to your physician for evaluation because skin cancer can develop from long-term sun expo- sure. To provide related information, I am send- ing you a copy of my Health Report “Medical Specialists.” 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 44091-0167. 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. His website is www.AskDrGottMD.com