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Friday, July 22, 2011 – Daily News 5A FEATURES Itchy ear canals respond to home treatment DEAR DR. GOTT: You heard from a reader with extreme itching of the ear canals. I, too, had this problem and tried anything to relieve it. My doctor suggested taking a new bot- tle of rubbing alcohol, remov- ing two tablespoons of it and replacing it with two tablespoons of white vinegar. I apply it with a cotton swab that I use to clean my ears and haven’t had the itching since. I used it with itch- ing in my bellybutton, and it cleared that up as well. I now try it first on almost any skin irrita- tion, and it resolves the problem most of the time. DEAR READER: Cotton swabs shouldn’t be used to clean the ear canals. They can push wax further into the ear, damaging the eardrum. I believe millions of peo- ple currently use cotton swabs to clean their ears, despite package warn- ings that they shouldn’t be used that way. All it takes is one slip of the hand for potentially seri- ous or permanent dam- age to be done. Even if that doesn’t occur, wax that is pushed further into the ear can build up over time and cause pain, reduced hearing or hear- ing loss, or lead to infec- tion — all of which require a doctor’s appointment. The ears are designed to drain wax out natural- ly; don’t mess with them by shoving in small, fluffy things, in an attempt to keep them clean. There’s a well- known expression that a person should not put anything into an ear smaller than an elbow! You will likely do more harm than good. It may even be that your itching ear canals are a direct result of your injudicious use of cotton swabs. Instead, I recommend you pour a small amount of the alcohol/vinegar mixture directly into your ear, let it sit for a few seconds, then drain the liquid. I have received several letters and emails recom- mending various combi- nations of rubbing alco- hol and white vinegar. The most common mix- ture ratio is 50/50. My only concern is that overuse may dry the ear canals and cause increased itching, so I’d suggest limiting use to no more than twice a day during treatment. DEAR DR. Dr. Peter Gott GOTT: I read the letter from the parent of a men- tally ill adult daughter who wrote to you. The daughter was hospitalized but refused to allow the par- ent to be involved in her care. Your response was good, but there was one bit of information you might have suggested that could be enormously helpful to the parent and daughter. Although the daugh- ter’s caregivers cannot legally provide informa- tion to the parent, they are not prevented from hearing background information provided by the parent. As a clinical psychol- ogist (Ph.D.) in practice for 20 years, I was some- times in the same posi- tion as the daughter’s caregivers. When family members to whom I could not give informa- tion called me, I explained that I could not even confirm or deny that I was seeing the patient, but if they had something they wanted to tell me, I would cer- tainly listen. It was always useful to hear how things appeared from the family’s stand- point. The young woman in question may have com- pelling reasons for not wanting her parents involved in her care; remember, you’re hear- ing only one side of the story. At the same time, the parent is clearly con- cerned for the daughter, and any information pro- vided is likely useful. By the way, I enjoy your column. DEAR READER: Thank you for pointing out that I missed some- thing. Your advice also carries over to physical illnesses. If a family member is concerned, he or she can certainly speak to the physician, even if the physician cannot speak back. 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 Militant mother miffs merchandiser Dear Annie: I work as a clerk at a clothing store. Yes- terday, a woman came in with a boy who looked to be about 13. She wanted him to try on a specific outfit, and he refused, saying it ‘‘looked stupid.’’ I silently agreed with his assessment. The outfit was ridiculous for a boy his size and age. The two of them got into Kansas Annie’s Mailbox an argument, and I heard her say, ‘‘I want you to look nice for the wedding. Try it on.’’ I walked over and gently told his moth- er, ‘‘I’ve heard this from other cus- tomers, and I can assure you, if he doesn’t like it, he’s not going to wear it, and you’ll be wasting your money.’’ The boy then said, ‘‘See, Mom? Listen to this guy. Even he knows this is stu- pid.’’ The mother then shouted, ‘‘No! I want you to look nice, and you cannot wear a dark suit with a dark shirt. You’ll look like a pimp.’’ The boy calmly replied, ‘‘Well, in that case, I won’t go.’’ Whereupon the mother said she’d make him wear a dress to the wedding and called him a moron. At that point, I politely told her she’d have to leave, and I escorted her out while she screamed that her son was an ingrate. Was I wrong to have escorted her out? My boss wasn’t angry, but I know he would rather have made the sale. I thought the woman’s behavior was inappropriate. — Sales Clerk in The Internal Revenue Service advises truckers and other owners of heavy highway vehicles that their next federal highway use tax return, usually due Aug. 31, will instead be due on Nov. 30. Because the highway use tax is scheduled to expire on Sept. 30, this extension will alleviate any confusion and possible multiple filings that could result if Congress reinstates or modifies the tax after that date. Under temporary and proposed regulations filed today in the Federal Regis- ter, the Nov. 30 filing dead- line for Form 2290, Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax Return, for the tax period that begins on July 1 applies to vehicles used during July, as well as those first used during August or September. Returns should not be filed and payments should not be made prior to Nov. 1. To aid truckers applying for state vehicle registra- tion on or before Nov. 30, the new regulations require states to accept as proof of payment the stamped Schedule 1 of the Form 2290 issued by the IRS for the prior tax year, ending on June 30. Under federal law, state governments are required to receive proof of payment of the federal highway use tax as a condi- by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar Dear Kansas: Screaming customers should be politely asked to leave, and that mother seemed particularly past cop- ing. However, clerks need to be careful. It doesn’t help to take sides and become the pay- ing customer’s adversary. You might have had better luck if you could have steered both of them toward an outfit that would have allowed for a com- promise. Dear Annie: You printed a letter from ‘‘Feeling Alone,’’ who has been married for 40 years and her retired husband is too busy to spend time with her. She wanted to meet an old flame for lunch. She got the same old advice from you: Tell your hus- band how you feel, find outside inter- ests, or get counseling. You just don’t get it. I’ve also been married 40 years, and my spouse is recently retired. I still work full time. When he retired, he became even more involved with com- munity affairs. He’s intelligent, well-spoken, a great problem-solver and a real ‘‘can- do’’ guy. The result is that I never see him. Even when he’s home, he isn’t really here — he’s on the phone or online, dealing with yet another com- mittee or crisis. I have shared my feelings of loneli- ness with him. I am involved in other things. What I don’t have is a husband who is interested in me. I didn’t get married so I could become an expert tion of vehicle registration. Normally, after a taxpayer files the return and pays the tax, the Schedule 1 is stamped by the IRS and returned to filers for this purpose. A state normally may accept a prior year’s stamped Schedule 1 as a substitute proof of payment only through Sept. 30. For those acquiring and registering a new or used vehicle during the July-to- November period, the new regulations require a state to register the vehicle, quilter, gardener and volunteer. These spouses are addicted to their outside interests and give their marriages whatever time is left over. ‘‘Feeling’’ should decide whether she is better off with or without him, and then act accordingly. — Lonely but Staying Dear Lonely: We agree that each spouse must decide whether or not to stay in the marriage. Discussing it is the first step. Finding other activities is best for those who choose to stay. We recommend counseling in order to air grievances and make the best decision. Too often, neglected spouses expect the other person to change, when that is not likely to happen. We appreciate your input. Dear Annie: I’m not an expert, but I recommend that ‘‘Itching in Ky.’’ and other homeowners with bedbug prob- lems place their guest bed mattress in a full mattress cover made of plastic or other non-penetrable material with a zippered closure. — Fellow Kentuck- ian Dear Fellow:With bedbugs such a problem, it can’t hurt to protect your- self before the critters move in. Some of these mattress covers also protect against dust mites and allergens. 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. Highway use tax return due Nov. 30 without proof that the high- way use tax was paid, if the person registering the vehi- cle presents a copy of the bill of sale or similar docu- ment showing that the owner purchased the vehi- cle within the previous 150 days. In general, the highway use tax applies to trucks, truck tractors and buses with a gross taxable weight of 55,000 pounds or more. Ordinarily, vans, pick-ups and panel trucks are not taxable because they fall below the 55,000-pound threshold. For trucks and other tax- able vehicles in use during July, the Form 2290 and payment are, under normal circumstances, due on Aug. 31. The tax of up to $550 per vehicle is based on weight, and a variety of special rules apply to vehi- cles with minimal road use, logging or agricultural vehicles, vehicles trans- ferred during the year and those first used on the road after July. www.rollinghillscasino.com