Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/41330
Tuesday, September 6, 2011 – Daily News 3B FEATURES Sickly spouse sapping shekels Dear Annie: My hus- band has had several chron- ic illnesses during the past 20 years. He takes 15 dif- ferent prescription medica- tions a day and has frequent doctor visits and testing. Our medical bills are through the roof. When credit card interest rates went up, we were unable to meet our monthly bills. We have cut out all extras, but we are still having major difficulties. Both of us have full-time jobs, and I work as much overtime as possible, but we are sinking. Bankruptcy is not an option because it won't leave us enough money to buy my husband's medi- cines, and we earn too much to qualify for government assistance. Last Christmas, we were unable to buy our teenage son a gift, but still made sure to get something for my husband's nieces and nephews because he refuses to tell his family of our problems. His parents are well off, and I have suggested to my husband that he ask them for some help, but he won't hear of it. I even recommended he borrow the money and pay them back with interest, but he doesn't want them involved. My parents are deceased, and my sib- lings have similar money problems. I know his parents read your col- umn. Maybe they will see this and offer some help without questions because my husband is too prideful to ask. I am at my wits' end. — Sinking Fast Dear Sinking: Most parents would feel terrible if they were kept Annie's Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar in the dark about a problem they could alleviate. In the meantime, your husband should check with his doc- tor's office to see if they can offer assistance, and you can call the Information and Referral Service at 2-1-1 and explain the problem. It is also often possible to find free or reduced rates for medication directly through the drug manufacturers. Check their websites. Here are a few other suggestions: Needy Meds (needymeds.com); Partnership for Prescription Assis- tance (pparx.org); RxAssist and Rx Outreach Patient Assistance Pro- grams (rxassist.org); Rx Hope (rxhope.com); and Together Rx Access (togetherrxaccess.com). Dear Annie: Our family has been invited to a reception celebrat- ing the civil union of one of our cousins and her same-sex partner. My mother showed me the wedding card that she purchased for the occa- sion, which pictured the hands of a man and a woman. I questioned her about the card, and she said that the clerk in the store where she bought it told her it was appropriate. The clerk said that where two women formed a partnership, one of them would take on the role of ''the man.'' I am sure that our cousin's part- ner is not a transsexual, and both would be offended if we called one of them a man. Am I wrong, or should my mother find another wedding card? — Straight in Cana- da Dear Canada: Many gay cou- ples might find this card insensitive. Since you believe your cousin and her partner would be unhappy with it, please suggest that Mom save this one for a different wedding and find another card that is specifically for gay couples or is gender neutral. It shouldn't be difficult. Dear Annie: This is in response to ''Theresa in Florida,'' whose hus- band is apprehensive about receiv- ing a lung transplant. I received a lifesaving liver trans- plant 11 years ago and have been in excellent health since. Her husband can contact LifeLink Foundation for Western Florida in Tampa and Transplant Foundation of Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. I have volunteered for both. They offer meetings for pre-transplant patients and will help answer any questions her husband has. He can also meet others who have already undergone this transplant. I have met lung transplant recip- ients, and I am sure they would tell him to have the surgery without hes- itation. — Craig in Sarasota Dear Craig: Our thanks to you and all who wrote with words of encouragement. We hope Theresa and her husband will look into your recommendations. 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. Bag It featured at Chico film festival The 5th Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival will be held 5-9:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16, at the Sierra Neva- da Brewery Big Room in Chico. Bag It is just one of the six featured film shorts cho- sen for this year's benefit for Friends of Butte Creek. Bag It Try going a day without plastic. In this touching and often flat-out-funny film, we follow "everyman" Jeb Berrier as he embarks on a global tour to unravel the complexities of our plastic world. What starts as a film about plastic bags evolves into a wholesale investiga- tion into plastic and its effect on our waterways, oceans and even in our own bodies. We see how our crazy-for-plastic world has finally caught up to us and what we can do about it. Today. Right now. Bag It awards include: Best of Fes- tival, Blue Ocean FF, Audi- ence Choice, Telluride Mountainfilm. Bag It!, by the award winning director, Suzan Beraza, is a humorous and very international tour of our plastic world. The Majestic Plastic Bag (A mocumentary narrated by the Tony Award winning stage & film actor, Jeremy Irons) Truck Farm (It's a revolution in urban garden- ing - from the back of a pick-up truck) Eastern Rises (Adventure to the farthest most eastern river banks of the former Soviet Union - to fly fish) Incident at Tower 37 (An animated fable about water siphoning and shortage) Parallels North State water issues. The Greatest Migration (Salmon and steelhead flyfishing adventure to the former Soviet Union – "Like Alas- ka 200 years ago") Gordy Ohlinger and his all acoustic trio of bass, vio- lin, guitar/banjo, and har- mony vocals will begin the evening with their sweet creekside sounds of Ameri- cana music of 1930's swing, old-time rousers, vaudeville gems, Gypsy jazz, and romantic melodies. The Sierra Nevada menu, Brewery's buffet specially created for the Festival by Brew Pub Chef Michael Iles, will include fresh Chico Farmer's Mar- ket produce and locally grown & harvested grains. Help Friends of Butte Creek save the "last best run of wild chinook salmon in California". Advance / Door Film & Buffet Ticket Prices: Films Only: Advance Adult $15/$20 Door ; Film & Buf- fet: Advance Adult $30/$35 Door; Films Only: Advance Youth $8/$12 Door; Film & Buffet: Advance Youth $22/$28 Door Buy your tickets at Pure Skin, 136 W. 3rd St. in Downtown Chico, Chico Natural Foods - Co-op, 818 Main St., at the Farmers' Market, or online at Brown Paper Tickets. For more information please visit www.butte- creek.org. Help Our Friends & Place Your business Info in the Daily News for only $25 "Paws & Claws" Adopt A Pet Page runs the last Saturday of every month. To be a Pet Sponsor call Suzy at the Red Bluff Daily (530) 527-2151 ext. 103 Let's all help the Tehama County & Corning Animal Shelters find homes for these pets. Tehama County Department of Animal Services, Red Bluff This pet sponsored by THE AQUARIUM & PETS 345 So. Main St. Red Bluff 527-4588 Jasper Border Collie [Mix] Male Corning Animal Shelter This pet sponsored by CABERNET APARTMENTS & DUPLEXES 15 Cabernet Ct. Red Bluff 529-0879 Mamma Mia Labrador Retriever Female Corning Animal Shelter This pet sponsored by SUNSHINE CLEANERS 238 S. Main St., Red Bluff 527-0363 Jack Russell Terrier [Mix] Male Nascar Hermit looks for relief from ulcerative colitis GOTT: I am 55 and have had the dread- ed disease ulcera- tive colitis since 1983. I realize there are a lot worse things that can happen to a person, but it has really screwed up my life. I would simply like to know if any progress has been made in recent years in finding an effective treat- ment or if a cure is any- where in sight. Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel dis- ease that affects the lining of the large intestine and rectum. Inflammation destroys the cells that ordi- narily line the colon, ulti- mately leading to ulcers that bleed and produce pus. It also causes the colon to empty frequently in the form of diarrhea. This dis- order can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms resemble those of other intestinal disor- ders. DEAR READER: DEAR DR. Dr. Peter Gott reserved for those with severe inflammation. Med- ication will provide relief from pain and control infection and diarrhea. Corticosteroids and immuno-modulators might provide relief. Immuno- modulators may take up to six months to be of full benefit. Ulcerative colitis is most commonly diagnosed in people between the ages of 15 and 30 and less com- monly in those between 50 and 70. It tends to run in families, with reports of up to 20 percent of people with the condition having a family member or relative with the same condition. Symptoms can vary from person to person. They may begin slowly or rapidly, being mild in some and quite severe in others. They include diarrhea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, fatigue, growth failure in children, anemia, and cramping that is relieved by having a bowel movement. Complications include severe bleeding, osteoporosis, kidney stones, severe dehydration, increased risk of colon can- cer, and skin, joint and eye inflammation. begin with a medical histo- ry and physical examina- tion by a primary care physician. Blood tests can check for anemia, which could indicate bleeding in the colon or rectum, or a high white-blood-cell count would detect inflam- mation in the body. Stool samples will detect bleed- ing or infection caused by parasites, a virus or bacte- ria. Colonoscopy and sig- moidoscopy are consid- ered the most accurate methods of diagnosis. In Diagnosis will likely extreme illness, colon rup- ture or the risk of cancer. Surgery to remove the colon and rectum is known as proctocolectomy. Researchers are investi- gating how and why the immune system is activat- ed, how ulcerative colitis damages the colon, and continue to study the heal- ing process. There are numerous ongoing clinical trials on the subject that may be of interest and can be followed through the National Institutes of Health sponsored website at www.ClinicalTrials.gov. On the home front, specific foods and bever- ages can aggravate your symptoms. Try to reduce or totally eliminate dairy products. Fiber from fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains may worsen your diarrhea. Consider steaming or baking your vegetables instead. Avoid beans, broccoli, popcorn, caffeine, alcohol and car- bonated beverages. Eat more frequent, smaller meals. Drink plenty of liquids, and don't forget to take a multivitamin because of your decreased ability to absorb nutrients. Readers who would like related information can order my Health Report "Constipation and Diar- rhea" by sending a self- addressed, stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 U.S. check or money order to Dr. Peter Gott, P.O. Box 433, Lakeville, CT 06039. Be sure to mention the title, or print an order form from my website's direct link: www.AskDrGottMD.com/ order_form.pdf. Local Businesses! Be True to your Schools! If your customers are teachers, parents and students of YOUR school spirit by being a part of the newspaper's annual Corning or Red Bluff High Schools, you'll want to show SHOOTOUT EDITION! Red Bluff Corning vs. Varsity Football Big game: Friday, September 16 Special Edition Published Thursday, September 15 Advertising Deadline: Thursday, September 8 Contact your Daily News advertising representative TODAY! (530) 527-2151 bleeding, some instances, a barium enema or CT scan might also be used. T reatment depends on the severity of the dis- ease and varies from prescription anti-inflammatory sulfasalazine or 5- ASA compounds to surgery, which is Up to 40 percent of patients with ulcerative col- itis ultimately have their colons removed because of extensive