Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/87539
4B Daily News – Saturday, October 13, 2012 Wife's depression is just too much Topical medications for scabies January, I finally married the woman of my dreams. ''Julie'' was sweet and kind, with lots of love to give. Things went well for a few weeks, but then everything changed. Julie has always had issues with depression. She'd be over- Dear Annie: In refuses to get a job or even help out around the house. She spends her time talking to friends, sleeping and watch- ing videos. Annie's whelmed from time to time but always came to me for comfort. Suddenly, she did- n't want me near her when she was depressed. As hurt as I was, I gave her the space she wanted. It's been several months now, and it seems as if Julie no longer needs me for any- thing. All affection has ceased, and though I ask her to join me in every activity, she refuses. We don't even watch TV together. She prefers to do that on her own with her headphones on. Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar After months of beg- ging, she finally went for counseling. (I've been see- ing a counselor myself.) It seemed to help her depres- sion, but she still maintains a great deal of distance from me. Worse, we are beginning to get heavily in debt and are in danger of losing our house, but she love this woman, and I know these are all signs that she's still fighting her depression, but how much is too much? She barely responds to me when I try to discuss it. I promised ''in sickness and in health,'' but I don't know how much more I can handle. — Wishing for Better Times Dear Wishing: If Julie handles her depression by spending money, you need to be supportive without being indulgent. This is an area that is difficult for her to control. Put her on a bud- get and limit her access to your joint account. Then contact the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (dbsalliance.org) at 1-800- 826-3632 for information. Julie must put some effort into this for the sake of your marriage. I am miserable. I was diagnosed with multi- ple sclerosis 30 years ago. She was 42, active in her church, taught piano and was involved in our com- munity. She always took the Dear Annie: My mom time to visit or call friends. By the time she was 49, she was in a nursing home. At first, her friends visited reg- ularly. Now I'm the only one. Her sister and brother never come to see her. Her friends rarely ask about her. I realize we are all busy, FEATURES DEAR DOCTOR K: My daugh- DEAR READER: Scabies is a skin infestation by tiny, but it only takes a half-hour once a week to stop by and say hello. It would mean so much. I have told her friends that she would love to see them, but they make excuses, saying they can't bear to see her this way or she won't remember them. This breaks my heart. Mom is so wonderful and sweet. Even if she doesn't recog- nize you, she enjoys the visit. insects called mites. It causes intense itching. When a person catches sca- bies, female mites lay eggs in the person's skin. The eggs hatch, mate and lay more eggs, continuing the cycle. ter picked up scabies at her day care center. How should I treat it? And what can I do to make sure she does- n't get infected again? parasitic Dr. K by Anthony L. Komaroff, M.D. Basically, the person is the new home for the scabies mites. The person's skin becomes the "nest" where the mothers raise their babies. However, the mothers are not very loyal; they're always looking for a new home. In other words, scabies is very conta- gious. Dear Washington: Bless you for inspiring our readers to visit a friend or family member in a nursing home. These visits can mean so much. Annie, there are so many people left alone in nursing homes. Please encourage your readers to reach out. It's OK if they don't remember you. You remember them. Tell them stories about earlier days. Bring flowers. Take a guitar and play a song. A 15- minute visit can make a dif- ference in someone's life. And they might make a dif- ference in yours, as well. — Washington Scabies mites can be spread by direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. They can also be transmitted through cloth- ing, blankets, sheets, towels or furniture that has touched an infected person's skin. It's common for kids to catch scabies in day care centers or schools, where they are in close contact with other kids. Your daughter's doctor can perform vari- ous diagnostic tests. Usually, though, the visual appearance of the skin and the severe itching are the circumstantial evidence that leads to treatment. If there have been other cases of scabies in your daughter's day care center, that makes the diagnosis even more likely. The doctor can prescribe various topical medications to apply to treat your daughter's scabies. These include permethrin (Nix, Elimite), lindane (Kwell, Scabene) and cro- tamiton (Eurax). If your daughter is an infant or otherwise sensitive to these med- ications, her doctor may recommend sulfur in petroleum. pediatrician about giving her diphenhy- dramine (Benadryl) by mouth. This medi- cine can help her sleep and reduce the itch- ing, but some pediatrician colleagues of mine don't like to prescribe this medicine to kids younger than 4 years old. You and other family members must be treated for scabies as well, even if you don't have any symptoms. That's because some of the mothers may already have jumped to your skin and are in the process of laying the eggs that will make you itch in the future. In addition, you should wash all of your Topical scabies medications should be applied from neck to toes after bathing, left on the skin for 8 to 14 hours, and then washed off. In some cases, a second appli- cation may be necessary. Your daughter should stop being contagious within 24 hours, and her symptoms should improve noticeably within two days. In the meantime, to help control her itching, apply calamine lotion. If itching keeps her awake, ask her daughter's clothing, bedding and towels in hot water and dry these items in a hot dryer. This should kill all scabies mites and eggs. Clothing that cannot be washed should be sealed and stored for one week. To help prevent your daughter from catching scabies again: — Do not allow your daughter to share clothing or towels at her day care center. — Provide a pillow and blanket from home that your daughter can use at the day care center. Dr.Komaroff is a physician and professor at Harvard Medical School. To send questions, go to AskDoctorK.com, or write: Ask Doctor K, 10 Shattuck St., Second Floor, Boston, MA 02115. The busiest local information website in Tehama County! RedBluffDailyNews.com Please support these businesses that support 590 Antelope Blvd. Suite B-30 Red Bluff 26 Sale Lane, Red Bluff (530) 529-2192 www.Claytonredbluff.com Respecting People. 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