Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/16548
Monday, September 20, 2010 – Daily News – 5A FEATURES Daughter’s dramatic debacles Dear Annie: I have been mar- ried almost 30 years to a really good guy. We have two chil- dren together, and ‘‘Judd’’ has a 34-year-old daughter , ‘‘Toni,’’ from a previous mar- riage. I helped raise her. But Toni creates drama every time she visits and manipulates my husband into doing things without talking to me first. Judd feels the reason Toni makes poor life choices is because of his divorce from her mother. Even though his ex-wife was the one who wanted out, he feels guilty. I am so tired of her behavior that I do not want her coming here anymore. She ruins every holiday vacation, and I work hard all year and deserve some decent time off. I can’t get excited about Christmas anymore because I’m dreading her showing up. What should I do? — Sad Stepmom Dear Stepmom: This is Judd’s daughter, and unless he is willing to banish her from the house during the holi- days, you will have to tolerate her visits. That does not mean, however, that you must be held captive. Plan to do some fun things on your own — a trip to a day spa, an evening out with girl- friends, a hike in the woods, whatever you enjoy that makes you feel you are getting some vacation time. When you are more relaxed, it will be harder for Toni to ruf- fle your feathers. Dear Annie: Along with millions of others, I am being overwhelmed Annie’s Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar with letters and phone calls from charities request- ing donations. I average six requests a day for donations to wor- thy causes — medical, political, feed the poor, ani- mals, etc. They send me trinkets, T-shirts, calcula- tors and many thousands of return address labels that I could not use up if I lived a thousand years. I have already received five 2011 calendars. I am a regular donor to some organizations, but this is too much. I know all donations are voluntary, but many organizations send a fol- low-up letter if they do not receive a donation in response to their first request. The letters resemble an overdue payment notice, and I’m sure many people send money because they think they must comply. The government should take action to restrict nonprofit organi- zations. Aside from plac- ing them on the ‘‘do not call’’ list, I suggest requiring all such mail- ings to use first-class postage. It could make the postal service prof- itable, or it could end the mailings and save mil- lions of trees and reduce debris in landfills. I recently received a donation request from an organization that expended nearly 95 per- cent of its money for fundraising and adminis- tration. Only 5 percent was actually spent on the intended charitable cause. I’m tired of being overwhelmed by these scammers. What can I do? — Thomasville, N.C. Dear Thomasville: Contact the charities, and ask them to remove your name from their mailing and phone lists. You also can fill out a do-not-mail form through directmail.com/directo- ry/mail—preference. Anyone considering donating to a charity can check it out through the American Institute of Philanthropy (charity- watch.org) or the Better Business Bureau (bbb.org/us/charity). Dear Annie: I am writing in response to ‘‘Michigan Mom-to- Be,’’ whose mother has an alcohol problem. Your advice for her to contact Al-Anon was on point. Al-Anon can be enormously helpful. As a recovered alcoholic, I would like to add that her mother can get help through AA. No one suc- cessfully gets sober alone. AA saved my life. It is imperative that there be consequences for Mom’s choices, including not being around her or talking to her when she is drinking and, as you said, not allowing her near the baby when drinking. I wish ‘‘Michigan’’ the strength and courage she will need to get through this regardless of what her mother chooses to do. — Sober in Louisville, Ky. 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.n et, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Ste. 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. Does a patient with Hepatitis belong in restaurant? DEAR DR. GOTT: Should a person with hepatitis be a restaurant cook? Is there any danger to the customers? DEAR READER: Hepatitis refers to inflammation of the liver and to a group of viral infections that affect the liver. There are actually five types: A, B, C, D and E. A is contracted from the hepatitis A virus. It is spread through the ingestion of food or drink contaminated by infected feces. This is one reason why it is mandated that employees in the food industry wash their hands following a visit to the lavatory during their work shift. Dr. Peter Gott Diagnosis is typically made accidentally when a physician orders routine blood work as part of a complete examina- tion. If a problem is suspected, testing may include laboratory work or liver biopsy. While a biopsy isn’t vital, it can con- firm the severity of the disease and will likely have a bearing on the treatment provided. A positive diagnosis for C does- n’t necessarily indicate a per- son will require treatment. For exam- ple, a physician may choose to with- hold treatment if only minor liver irregularities are noted. B is contracted from people infect- ed with the hepatitis B virus. The highest concentrations are found in blood. While lower concentrations are spread through bodily fluids such as found in open, oozing wounds, vagi- nal secretions and semen. C is most commonly transmitted through contaminated blood and not generally through sexual contact. Contaminated needles for body pierc- ing or tattoos and blood transfusions received prior to 1992 are often to blame. Prior to 1992, advanced screening tests were not available; however, since then, infection through transfusion has been obliterated. Other common issues that could cause infection include alcohol, drug or autoimmune-induced hepatitis, people in the healthcare field who could inad- vertently be exposed to infected blood, people with hemophilia (a blood-clotting disorder) and those on hemodialysis because of kidney fail- ure. C is considered to be the most serious of the hepatitis viruses, so I will go into more depth, assuming this is the type of infection to which you refer. Most people with early-stage C are unaware they have a problem because there are no symptoms. When symp- toms do occur, they can be mild and are often attributed to other causes. A person may have muscle and joint pain, poor appetite, tenderness in the area of the liver and fatigue. As the disease progresses, the most common telltale symptoms are low-grade fever and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes). Standard treatment for C is weekly injections in combination with oral medication taken twice each day for an extended period of time, usually 24 to 48 weeks, depending on the type. D is transmitted through infected blood and mucosal or percutaneous contact and is found only in people who carry the hepatitis B virus. It is uncommon in the United States. E is transmitted through the inges- tion of fecal matter and is common in countries that have poor sanitation and contaminated water supplies. Vaccination for A and B are avail- able; however, there is no effective vaccine at this stage for C. Home remedies and lifestyle changes include avoiding any medication that has the potential for liver damage, avoiding illegal-drug use, needle shar- ing, tattooing and body piercing. Finally, to answer your question, it depends what type of hepatitis you are referring to, whether the person has been treated and whether he or she takes all possible precautions to pre- vent exposure. There are precautions and regula- tions in the food industry to prevent contamination. If you are concerned, speak with your regional public- health office to find out what your area’s restrictions are. 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. Box 8908, Red Bluff CA 96080 For information on participation in Kids & Families call (530) 527-2151 P.A.W.S. (Partners for Animal Welfare & Safety) P.A.W.S. SAYS...A FEW TIPS FROM HERE AND THERE Dogs, like people are often victims of habit. Your dog may quickly become fixed in his habits and be easily upset by change, in his/her old age particularly, They are often geared to their daily routine and any devia- tion may annoy them. He/She may even become irritable and snap occasionally. Be patient with these old fellows, remember the days when he/she did everything they could to please you? If the irritability increases, the dog should have a physical checkup; pain, as from a abscessed tooth, or other ailments can be responsible and treated. If introducing a cat to the household where there is already a well established dog, get a kitten. It will pro- vide easier adjustment for both. Female dogs often will adapt to a new critter faster than the males. Why do dogs or cats eat grass? Curiously it is seldom because they crave greens. They eat long bladed grass because their disgestive tracts are upset and the grass irritates the stomach and causes vomiting which rids the stomach of all the irritants. Of course if this activity last longer than one to two days it is time to see the vet. Accepting Enrollment for 2010-2011 Kindergarten through Eighth Grade Call (530) 527-7040 Serving Tehama County Since 1970 R H L C O O O H M C M S U N N T I A I Y S C T