Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/33292
8A Daily News – Saturday, June 4, 2011 FEATURES Mother’s multiple memories make me mad Dear Annie: My mother was physi- cally and mentally abused as a child. I know because I have been listening to the horror stories since I was 5 years old. I am now in my 40s and, quite frankly, am run- ning out of compassion for her. First of all, I resent her dumping this on me when I was so young. Second, I know plenty of people who had rotten child- hoods, but they eventually made peace with the past and stopped whining about it all the time. I understand venting as a part of the healing process, as I have been in therapy myself. But I don’t get any sense that my mother is trying to heal. We cannot have a conversation without her bringing up by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar some awful incident or begging me to tell her why my grandparents didn’t love her. She tells the same dreary sto- ries over and over almost word for word, and it sounds like self-pity to me. I don’t know why my grandparents didn’t love her. And she abused me, too, in exactly the same ways, but refuses to admit it. Is there any halfway polite way to tell her to grow up and shut up? Or am I just being a witch with a capital B? I once DEAR DR. GOTT: I really enjoy your news column. I am interested in your newsletters and would like infor- mation and pric- ing on a yearly subscription. DEAR READER: I do not offer a yearly Dr. Peter Gott subscription because I don’t offer monthly reports. For example, you may not be interested in vitamins and minerals but may want to learn more about hyperten- sion. By selecting the specific category you are seeking, you will not be burdened by receiving something in which you have no interest and might choose to discard without even reading. I update my Health Reports on a periodic basis. I was recently advised that Annie’s Mailbox suggested she get therapy, and she nearly screamed the house down proclaiming she’s not ‘‘nuts’’ and doesn’t need ‘‘a shrink.’’ Any suggestions? — Indiana Dear Indiana: Your mother isn’t ‘‘nuts,’’ but she absolutely needs therapy. She cannot let go of the past, nor has she found a healthy way to deal with it. She is also being abusive to you by bringing this up over and over and expect- ing you to somehow take away the pain. The next time she starts up, tell her it is too difficult for you to listen to her childhood stories and you will no longer be her emotional punching bag. Then leave. If she needs to vent, she should talk to a professional. Dear Annie: Are people no longer taught common cour- tesy? I am a neatly dressed senior citizen. Due to an accident, I have nerve damage to my face. Even though I have had extensive reconstructive surgery, the disfigurement is still visible. I have tried to make the best of what life has handed me and rarely think about it. However, I was walking through an upscale department store, not far from the cosmetics department. Two clerks there began staring and laughing. I was embarrassed and continued walking briskly when one of the Store Bullies yelled mockingly across the store, ‘‘May I help you?’’ even though I was no longer near their section. I was so humiliat- the fulfillment center I used in the past, which by the way was a genuine dream to work with, was instructed to use all old reports in invento- ry and not to print new mate- ✪ WE WILL PAY UP TO ✪ Windshield Replacement on deductible *Some restrictions apply starting at$ ✪ FREE Estimates $500* 200 530.527.6160 915 Madison St., Red Bluff The World Famous Palomino Room 1/2 off Lunch or Dinner entrée with purchase of 1 entrée must present coupon *equal or lesser value Lunch: Tues-Fri 11am-2pm Dinner: Thurs-Sat 4pm-9pm 723 Main St., Red Bluff 527-5470 www.palominoroom.com rial until all old reports were used up. This will no longer be the case. I want to assure readers they will receive the newest information I have available when they log on to my site at www.AskDr- GottMD.com and click on “Health Reports” to print out an order form for forwarding through the U.S. mail sys- tem. Orders should include a self-addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order for each report payable to Peter H. Gott, M.D., P.O. Box 433, Lakeville, CT 06039. They will be shipped within two days of receipt of the request if accompanied by a self- addressed stamped envelope and the appropriate fee. You bring up an interesting topic — informational literature and possible yearly subscrip- tions. This is something I had not previously consid- ered but should, perhaps, give some serious thought to. Each month recognizes an awareness of such topics as diabetes, heart issues, breast cancer and a great deal more. For example, July is devoted to UV safety and juvenile- arthritis awareness. Piece of cake! The more I think about it, the more I like the idea, and I have you to thank. Look for this free monthly column, on my website only, starting July 1. Keep writing and, above all, keep reading. DEAR DR. GOTT: What results can I expect when taking 80 milligrams of Crestor and 1,200 mil- ligrams of gemfibrozil on a daily basis? DEAR READER: Crestor is a cholesterol-low- ering statin drug that reduces low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and triglycerides, the “bad” cholesterol, while increasing high-density lipoproteins (HDL), the “good” cholesterol. The drug is used to lower the risk of stroke, heart attack and to slow the process of athero- sclerosis, which is narrowing of the arteries in patients with elevated cholesterol lev- els. ed that I left the store and have no intention of ever returning. I will happily take my business where I am treated with respect. I find this behavior totally lacking in class, consideration and intelligence. What should I have done? — Looks Aren’t Everything Dear Looks: You should have taken the names of those rude clerks and reported them to the manager. They are dam- aging the reputation of the store and should be reprimanded, not only for the way they treated you, but because they will behave this way toward others unless told to stop. Dear Annie: I read the letter from ‘‘Gone to the Gym,’’ who complained that there were overweight women in her doctor’s office. I have two doctors who smoke and drink, and nurses who smoke behind office doors. Even the lab tech reeks of ciga- rettes. It is the old saying of ‘‘do as I say and not as I do.’’ Health is a personal choice for the individual. I choose to be healthy whether or not my physician leads a healthy life. I see skin- ny people working at McDonald’s, but I don’t jump to the conclusion that fast food makes you skinny. Where you work has no bearing on how healthy you are. — Realistic in L.A. Reader questions availability of yearly subscriptions; Crestor results of those studied. Side effects can include headache, nausea, constipa- tion, abdominal and joint pain, yellowing of the skin and eyes, hives and more. Dosing is commonly in the 5- to 40-milligram range taken once daily. The higher dose should be considered only if a lesser amount is found ineffective. Gemfibrozil, classified as a fibric-acid derivative, works along the same lines in reducing LDL cholesterol and raising HDL cholesterol, but is primarily used to lower triglycerides. Similarly, side effects include abdominal pain, indigestion and diar- rhea. Less common side effects include blurred vision, depression, fever, chills, an irregular heartbeat, joint pain, headache, bruis- ing, fatigue and still more. Of significance is a dou- ble-blind controlled study of 2,046 patients that found gastrointestinal reactions in 34 percent of the individuals and symptoms of acid indi- gestion in almost 20 percent Dosing is in the range of 600-milligram range taken orally twice daily, 30 min- utes prior to meals. I am unaware of your total choles- terol reading and its break- down, nor do I know if other medical issues — primarily cardiac in nature — come in to play here. My guess is the 80 milligrams of Crestor should be more than suffi- cient, and adding the 1,200 milligrams of gemfibrozil would be the frosting on the cake, so to speak. The com- bination of both medications increases the risk of muscle pain and leg cramping, but I must defer to your physician or cardiologist who knows your complete history. If the medications were prescribed by the same physician, you might question whether they are both necessary, although it is an acceptable combina- tion for some patients. If two different doctors are involved, you should be sure they both are aware of what the other has ordered. 527-6727 243-2303 365-1429 Me