Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/207411
Thursday, November 7, 2013 – Daily News 3B FEATURES Most eye 'floaters' a Grown son needs to check in now and then son interprets this as ''con- room, not your local restaurant. Dear My husharmless nuisance bandhave Annie:inwonderful trolling,'' although that is Thank you. — No Name, Please and I are our 80s. Dear No Name: We appreciate not the intent. He otherwise We three less. As you age, DEAR DOCthe vitreous fluid TOR K: At 65, I starts to get thickhave begun to er and denser, notice tiny threadleading to the like shapes in my clumps of cells vision. My doctor and proteins. calls them These changes in "floaters." Should the vitreous also I be concerned? Dr. K can cause suction DEAR READthat tugs on the ER: "Floaters" by Anthony L. describes the dots, Komaroff, M.D. retina. That can cause the retina to threads or cobwebs that we notice drift- tear or to become ing across our line of detached. When that hapvision as we get older. pens, a person suddenly You're more likely to sees new floaters and notice floaters when you flashing lights. In addiare looking at a page of a tion, the person often has book, a computer screen impaired vision out of the or a solid, light back- affected eye. That is not ground. Floaters move as harmless: It's a medical your eye moves and dart emergency. Prompt diagaway when you try to look nosis and treatment can save a person's vision. at them. So if you have a sudden To understand floaters, here's a quick refresher on change in the number of how your eyes are built. floaters or flashing lights, The light that enters your or sudden poor vision, get eyes through the pupil help immediately. If nothpasses through a crys- ing has changed with your talline lens inside the eye. floaters, then the question The lens focuses the light is how much do they bothon the back of your eye: er you. Floaters may break the retina. It's similar to apart and dissolve naturalthe lens on a camera ly. On the other hand, new focusing light on the film floaters can form. Floaters can be (or, these days, on the digremoved with surgery. Eye ital sensor). The retina is the light- surgery these days is much sensitive area where the more effective and safe whole image is registered than it was decades ago, before it is sent to the but there is always a risk brain. The brain then with surgery. One of my interprets the image. The patients had surgery and retina registers the tennis has been forever grateful. Most of my patients ball coming toward you; the brain estimates where just learn to live with it will be within the next floaters. If they become a second so that you can nuisance, moving your eye up and down or left move there to hit it. Between the lens and and right may shift the the retina is a fluid called floaters and provide temthe vitreous. Floaters form porary relief. in the vitreous. They are Dr. Komaroff is a tiny clusters of cells or flecks of protein. When physician and professor Harvard Medical light coming into your at School. To send eyes hits one of these little go to floaters, it casts a shadow questions, or on the retina. It's that AskDoctorK.com, shadow that you see, and write: Ask Doctor K, 10 Shattuck St., Second call a floater. Most floaters are harm- Floor, Boston, MA 02115. Medicare annual open enrollment The Annual Enrollment Period for Part D drug plans and Part C Medicare Advantage plans ends Dec. 7. Passages Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program (HICAP) is providing several community workshops titled What's New in Medicare for 2014 to help Medicare beneficiaries make the best choice possible for their health care needs in the coming year. These workshops will explain changes in drug plans, which plans will be remaining in the area, which plans will be leaving and will also be available to answer questions about Medicare Advantage plans. In particular, people who have Humana Medicare Advantage or Today's Options are encouraged to attend as these two plans are no longer going to be available in this area. Tatiana Fassieux, HICAP program manager wants Medicare beneficiaries to know that the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period should not be confused with the Insurance Exchange enrollment period. She warns beneficiaries to be on the alert for insurance agents using aggressive tactics to sell health care coverage that is meant for those seeking coverage through the Insurance Exchange. Misinforming beneficiaries would be considered fraud. Fraudsters are very active this time of year. Seniors and others on Medicare who participate in the exchange in error may experience complications with their coverage and potential premium penalties with Medicare in the future. Workshops are scheduled for the following dates: A Red Bluff workshop is scheduled for 1 p.m. Nov. 20 at the Red Bluff Community Center, 1500 S. Jackson St. Call to reserve your seat today at 1-800-434-0222 or 530-898-6716. HICAP does not sell or endorse any insurance products. For more information about Passages' services, go to www.passagescenter.org. PATH shelter schedule The PATH Winter Shelter for homeless peole in the community will rotate through several area churches starting Nov. 1 and running through April 30. The shelter will open at 5 p.m. and close at 8 a.m. the following morning. No pets are allowed. Nov.1-22 — St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 510 Jefferson St. Nov. 22-Dec. 13 — Abundant Life Fellowship, 21080 Luther Road Dec. 13-Jan. 10 — First Church of the Nazarene, 900 Johnson St. Jan. 10-Feb. 14 — First Church of God, 1035 S. Jackson St. Feb. 14-March 14 — North Valley Baptist Church, 355 David Ave. March 14-April 18 — First Baptist Church, 501 Pine St. April 18-30 — Presbyterian Chuch, 838 Jefferson St. seems to be a good son, so kids, all married, who live please try to compromise. nearby. We have always Some people avoid phone been close. calls because they require an The problem is, one son actual conversation. Perhaps thinks I am trying to control he or his wife would be willhim. He never tells us when he is planning to go out of Annie's ing to send a group text or email to both sides of the town. If we can't reach him family, including you or one for days, we worry. He rarely answers his cell- by Kathy Mitchell of your other children, who phone on vacation, and and Marcy Sugar could then let you know he's out of town. Ask whether when he does pick up, he this would work better for him. gets angry. We believe, out of respect for us, (Facebook is not a good way to do he should give us a quick call letting this — strangers can learn that your us know where they are headed and house is unoccupied.) Dear Annie: I have worked in an when they arrive so we won't worry. It's not like we would call them on emergency department for 30 years. their vacation. I am certain that his Please tell your readers not to call wife, whom we also love, texts or their local emergency room for uses Facebook to let her family medical advice. They cannot see your ankle injury, evaluate your know where they are. Are we unreasonable? He rarely potential heart attack, or determine calls us even when he is in town. We whether you are having a stroke or see him once every two weeks when whether your laceration needs he stops by for a few minutes. We stitches. Please do not curse at the don't require any assistance from ER employee on the phone when him, financial or otherwise. I know they explain this to you. They are he reads your column faithfully, so doing this for your own good. Do not call your local emergency we would greatly value your opinrooms and ask whether they are ion. — Concerned Mother Dear Mother: Some children busy. If you have time to get on the understand a parent's fears and will phone and ''hospital shop,'' your call regularly, not only so Mom and emergency must not be all that Dad don't worry, but also to check urgent. Do not call your local emerand make sure the parents are OK. gency room and ask how long their But not all kids think this way. Your wait is. They are an emergency Mailbox your comments. Please, folks, they are called ''emergency rooms'' for a reason. Dear Annie: I can relate to ''Lonely for Friends.'' I am 42 years old and happily married. I, too, have had trouble making friends for as long as I can remember. I have had only two close friends in my entire life. I consider myself an introvert. I get along well with many people, but it never becomes more than an acquaintanceship. I was in a needlework group for 15 years and never truly fit in. I am involved in my church, but have not made any friends. I suspect it may have to do with reading body language. I can't interpret the signals I'm getting and don't realize when I need to make the next move. Counseling didn't supply any revelations. Over time, I have come to enjoy being alone. I love my husband's company, but I sometimes wish I had someone to go shopping with. — Not Quite Lonely in Virginia Annie's Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please email your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie's Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. Honey, I shrunk your sweater Dear Mary: Thank you for your many helpful articles. In a past column you wrote about how to un-shrink a wool sweater. All I can remember is that it involved baby shampoo. Could you print the instructions again? Thanks! --Linda L., IL Dear Linda: Sure, here it is: Mix a solution of 1 gallon lukewarm water and 2 tablespoons baby shampoo. Soak the garment for about 10 minutes. Now the important part: Don't rinse! Simply blot out all the excess water with a dry towel, and very gently lay it flat on a fresh towel. Reshape slowly, and carefully stretch it back to its original size. Keep out of direct sunlight or heat while drying. This tip comes from the Wool Bureau, who verifies this technique will work provided the fibers have not become permanently damaged. Dear Mary: Will I get my husband's pension, 401(k) and IRA if he dies? --Riley G., email Dear Riley: Yes, provided your husband named you as the sole beneficiary of those plans. Most plans have a stipulation that if the beneficiary is anyone other than the spouse, the husband or wife must consent in writing. Upon your husband's death, the rules that applied to him for getting his pension, 401(k) and IRA, will and have read and re-read it. I wish now apply to his beneficiary. For example, if your hus- that I could have been exposed to band dies before the mini- this wisdom as a young man. To know that "money is not to mum withdrawal date (age 59 1/2), you will have to spend, but to manage" has changed my life. If God allows me to wait until that live long enough I will be date to withdraw debt-free in 44 months. I funds without a can't begin to express to you penalty, regardless of my gratitude. Thank you for your age. giving me hope and God Every plan has an bless. --Billy B., Florida administrator who will Dear Billy: You have no be able to answer all of idea how much you have your questions. Call his encouraged me. You affirm HR department at work what I so strongly believe, to find out how to contact that there's always hope the administrator. Mary and a way out. I think Dear Mary: I am a 70you'll be debt-free sooner year-old single male with than you think. a decent income who My only concern is faced the stark reality of what I will do with all the bankruptcy. I have spent letters I get from 70-yearmy entire life doing old single females who everything wrong when want your address. it comes to finances. While rearing my family, we lived Mary invites questions at well, but with a lot of stupid debt. I mary@everydaycheapskate.com, have never saved, seldom invested wisely and gave consistently -- or c/o Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. though at times very unwisely. My Box 2099, Cypress, CA 90630. poor awareness of the proper way to This column will answer questions handle money left an old man grop- of general interest, but letters ing for a way out. With a debt load cannot be answered individually. of over $36,000 on a fixed income, Mary Hunt is the founder of a I entered a CCCS debt management www.DebtProofLiving.com, program (NFCC.org). Shortly after, personal finance member website I saw an advertisement for your and the author of "7 Money Rules book, Debt Proof Living. I bought it for Life," released in 2012. Hunt Everyday Cheapskate Logue installs Obamacare hotline SACRAMENTO – North State Assemblyman and Chief Republican Whip Dan Logue is asking Californians throughout the state to call his telephone hotline to air their concerns and share their stories regarding their personal experiences with the Affordable Care Act. "Time and time again, I have warned California families that the Affordable Care Act would mean people losing their current health coverage, having to pay more out of pocket for lower quality care, an out-of-control government bureaucracy and rising costs for taxpayers," said Logue. "Since the implementation of the ACA more than a month ago, the problems with Americans having difficulty accessing the website and signing up for a plan have been well documented. I want to hear from Californians everywhere what their experience has been so we can gauge the impacts of Obamacare by listening to people's stories." Logue's hotline is open to anyone throughout the state that would like to share first-hand the difficulties and frustrations they experienced since the implementation of the ACA. "I'm fully aware that I can't solve all the problems that the ACA is causing," Logue said. "However, the purpose of this hotline is to monitor the current state of Obamacare in California so we can find out where the real problem lies. We realize that many of the issues concerning Obamacare are on the Federal level, but we want to hear from you. I want to know how this is impacting you and your families. The more we understand, the more we can help." The number for the hotline is 916-443-5688, and is open to the public. You can also share your stories by emailing Assemblyman Logue at Assemblymember.Logue @assembly.ca.gov. Logue represents the 3rd Assembly District in the California Legislature, which includes the communities of Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba. Start a new tradition with Social Security By Jennifer Cooper Social Security Manager in Redding The holiday season has arrived — a time of year that is steeped in tradition. Different families may have different holiday traditions, but most have roots in a society or culture and thus are observed by many people. Essentially, tradition is all about passing along certain beliefs and customs from one generation to the next. We'd like to suggest that you start a new tradition. No, we're not suggesting you do away with the Christmas tree or menorah. Break the tradition of trudging to an office when you need to do business with Social Security. Replace the old-fashioned way of doing business and embrace the new, easier, more convenient way — online. Sometimes it's a good idea to break an old tradition and make a new one. Some traditions evolve. Many of the things your parents or grandparents did in a Social Security office you can now do online. For example, if you're not receiving benefits, you can request your Social Security Statement or use the Retirement Estimator to get an accurate picture of what your future benefits will be. You can read or listen to our publications, find out whether you qualify for benefits — even apply for Social Security disability, retirement, and spouses benefits online from the comfort of home. Set up an online my Social Securi- ty account to get your benefit verification letter, check your information, benefits, and earnings record, change your address or phone number, and start or change your direct deposit. You also can go online to get a replacement Medicare card or appeal a medical decision made about your disability claim. You can do all this and more at www.socialsecurity.gov. The holiday season is a time filled with family and tradition. Go ahead and enjoy the light displays and holiday music. Maybe even cut a slice of fruitcake to go with your egg nog. But when it comes to doing business with Social Security, join the millions of people and start a new tradition: forego the sleigh ride to the office by going to www.socialsecurity.gov.