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Friday, November 12, 2010 – Daily News – 5A FEATURES Colonoscopy at 50? Worried wife’s wayward warrants DEAR DR. GOTT: I just turned 50, and my doctor keeps talk- ing about ordering a colonoscopy for me. I’m not sure I want to undergo one and haven’t even asked what one entails. Can you enlighten me? DEAR READ- Dr. Peter Gott ER: This is a simple same-day procedure, meaning that you will enter the hospital in the morning, have the proce- dure performed, and be discharged a short time after the sedative wears off. Colonoscopy is pre- ceded by a preparation that will be explained by someone from your doc- tor’s office. You will be given a solution to drink that will remove all solids from your digestive tract. Following that, you will be restricted to drinking liquids such as clear soup broth, fruit juice, ginger ale or tea the day before. You can work or function as you would ordinarily but will find yourself spending a fair amount of time in the bathroom. After you check in at the hospital, you will receive a sedative through an IV tube to help you relax. Once in the operat- ing room, your doctor will insert a flexible tube with a camera known as a colonoscope into your rectum. Air will inflate the colon as the colono- scope advances. Images from the camera will be sent to a computer moni- tor that he or she watches throughout the procedure. If polyps or unusual tis- sue are noted, small tools can pass through the scope to remove the ques- tionable material so the tissue can be biopsied. The whole process usual- ly takes an hour or less. You will then be taken to the recovery room, and once the sedative wears off, will likely be free to go home. Because of the sedative, it will be neces- sary to have a ride home. Some patients experience temporary gas and bloat- ing following colonoscopy because of the air introduced into the rectum, but this is nor- mal. Your physician will advise you to report to him or her if pain, bleed- ing, fever or other symp- toms occur. At your next appoint- 645 Main St., Red Bluff • 529-2482 We’re now booking gourmet catering for your Holiday Parties Call us to get a quote, or book your party www.californiakitchencompany.com ment or through a telephone conver- sation from your physician, you will be advised of the results. If all is well, you will likely be cleared from further test- ing for five to 10 years. Colonoscopy can be a lifesaver. It can detect cancer in its early stages, and any lesions can be removed early. Because of your age, your physician is timely with his recom- mendation. While the procedure may be men- tally daunting, it can save years of treatment when cancer is detected early. To provide related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “An Informed Approach to Surgery.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order made payable to Newslet- ter and mailed 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.co m. DEAR DR. GOTT: Is there some difference in the throat, mouth or sali- vary glands of a man from a woman that makes it necessary for them to always spit? You don’t see most women doing this. DEAR READER: Not to my knowledge. There are some traits men (and women) have that are rather unattractive, and spitting is one of them, particularly for men. I can understand that if a man chews tobacco, he might have an increased urge to spit. Belching, chewing food with your mouth open, scratching and toot- ing are but a few of the more mild things one should never do when not alone. 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. 35th Annual Dear Annie: I have been dating ‘‘Tom’’ for two years and am close to his family. Since early in the relationship, Tom’s cousin ‘‘Jeremy’’ and his two sons have been maintaining my yard. When they come over, I always talk to them because I consider us one big family. Recently, Jeremy’s wife, Annie’s Mailbox ‘‘Rachel,’’ accused me of having sex with her hus- band. She said she checked his cell phone account online and saw that he had spoken to me for 38 minutes. She went on to say that she heard he had been badmouthing her to some woman on the phone and concluded it must have been me. I assured Rachel that I was not sleeping with Jeremy, nor was I interested in doing so, and whatever their problem, it had nothing to do with me. I thought that would be the end of it, but Rachel then told Tom and everyone else in his family that I was having an affair with Jeremy. I had already told Tom about the confrontation, and he doesn’t believe Rachel’s accusations. But some of the other female cousins do and no longer want me around their husbands. I am totally innocent here. Jeremy has never been inap- propriate with me. I miss being around Tom’s family. What do I do? — Presumed Guilty Dear Presumed: Rachel doesn’t trust her husband and, because he by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar spends a great deal of time with you, believes you’re the Other Woman. Tom needs to speak up on your behalf, particularly to his parents. They are more important than the cousins. Hopefully, Rachel and Jeremy will get over this outburst of insecu- rity, and when they do, the cousins will come around. In the meantime, hold your head up and make sure your behavior is above reproach. You can weather this storm. Dear Annie: I am married to a guy who has not seen a toothbrush for at least 10 years. He has severe halitosis, rotten teeth and gums, and massive cavities. He uses breath mints all day to try to cover up the odor and insists I’m the only one who notices because no one else has mentioned it to him. I explained that most people are not going to tell you your breath stinks, but he won’t listen to me. My friends have made sly remarks about it, but he either does- n’t pay attention or doesn’t catch on. Every room he goes into starts to smell as soon as he opens his mouth. I’ve bought him a new toothbrush and toothpaste for sensi- tive teeth, but he refuses to use them. His breath is so horrible, I refuse to be intimate with him. We haven’t had sex in years, and I am seriously thinking of leaving him. Can you recommend anything? — Living with a Stinkbomb Dear Living: Has your husband seen a dentist in the past 10 years? Does he know that gum disease is linked to heart disease? Can you get one of his friends, co-workers or family members to tell him he needs to take better care of his teeth? If the man is willing to endure bad breath and a sexless marriage, it sounds like he has a major phobia and may need psychi- atric help to overcome it. Try sym- pathy and understanding, and see if it motivates him to get help. Dear Annie: ‘‘Curious in Cali- fornia’’ said her husband ‘‘digs out’’ his hearing aid when they are in a restaurant. There has to be a reason he finds it necessary to remove his hearing aid. Either the noise is too much, or he has trouble hearing in that environment. He should see his audiologist and be checked out. It’s possible his hearing aid is not doing the job. — Sun City West, Ariz. Dear Sun City: Several readers suggested that the man’s hearing aid is not fitted properly or is not cali- brated correctly. We hope he will look into it. 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. It is November and the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex, located south of Willows, is bustling with wintering waterfowl. Everybody knows that the bird is the word If you go... Some of these birds have come from as far north as Alaska and Russia to spend the winter feeding on the plentiful bounty of food that the Sacramento Valley has to offer. At dawn and dusk, visi- tors can watch the "fly-off" as thousands of ducks and geese journey on and off Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). Visitors are encouraged to experience the amazing waterfowl from their vehi- cles on the 6-mile auto tour and observe the marvel of migration from the viewing platform. The auto tour offers visitors views of wildlife including snow, Ross’s, and white-fronted geese, northern pintail, northern shovelers, mal- lards, and green-winged teal. More elusive wildlife includes bald eagles, pere- grine falcons, deer, coyotes, river otters, and beavers. What: National Wildlife Refuge When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 7 days a week Where: 6 miles south of Willows on I-5 How much: $3 per vehicle While at the Sacramen- to NWR, stop by the visitor center to learn more about the Complex and the wildlife that call it home. The visitor center is open 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., through February. Staff will be offering win- ter and spring programs that include photography and bird tours, wetland walks, owl prowls, Junior Refuge Fire Fighter Day, and more. A Clean, Reliable, Trustworthy, Chimney Company... 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For more information about visiting the Complex and upcoming weekend programs, visit our website at http://www.fws.gov/sacra- mentovalleyrefuges/ or call (530) 934-2801.The Sacra- mento NWR is located along Interstate 5 just six miles south of the town of Willows. A pass for vehi- cles is required at $3 per day, or $12 for a refuge annual pass. Those who SUNDAY SPECIAL!! 30% OFF Excluding basic Wranglers Boot or Clothing item! Expires 11/30/10 any one Crossroads Feed & Ranch Supply 595 Antelope Blvd. Red Bluff, CA 95080 530-529-6400 Shopcrossroads.net hold a Federal Duck Stamp ($15) or an America the Beautiful-Interagency Annual, Senior, Access, or Volunteer Pass enter free with their pass. Come visit the Complex and see all of the wildlife that calls it home. The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to con- serve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the contin- uing benefit of the Ameri- can people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conser- vation, known for our sci- entific excellence, steward- ship of lands and natural resources, dedicated pro- fessionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.