February 2009
Monthly Archive
Ways to Quit Smoking – Part 3
In this part were going to take a look at how you can quit smoking using nicotine gum.
Nicotine gum
Nicotine gum is identical to a chewing gum. Like a chewing gum, it should not be swallowed down the throat. It has to be used as prescribed by the physician or as written on the label. Overdosage should be avoided. The gum should be chewed slowly until a slight taste of Nicotine is felt in mouth. Once you taste Nictoine or a slight tingling taste, stop chewing. You might be tempted to chew more and feel the taste more. But you should keep the gum on the side of the mouth, between the cheek and either of the upper or lower jaw. Once the tingling taste fades away, again start chewing it. Repeat the process or about half an hour. Remember, you should stop chewing as soon as u feel the nicotine tingling taste.
The dosage varies from smoker to smoker. A chain smoker (more then 25 cigarettes a day) should start from 4 mg gum. About 25 gums should be chewed initially. If you are not a chain smoker, try with 2 mg gum. 25 gums per day is good to start with. Lesser gums you use better it is for you. Gradually start reducing the number of gums. If you are using 4 mg gums, try switching to 2 mg. The idea is to reduce the nicotine taken every day. If you feel like chewing something, try the normal chewing gum or try one without or little sugar. Any other harmless thing can also be tried. Avoid taking coffee immediately before or after chewing the gum.
Chewing can lead to minor ulcers or jaw ache or even upset stomach. If chest pain or breathing difficulty are felt, immediately spit out the gum and rush to the nearest doctor. If you are already taking some other medicine, do consult your doctor before starting the gum. Never ever take a cigarette, not even a puff, while on the gum. Overdose of nicotine may cause serious health issue. Women who are pregnant or planning to be one should not take the Nicotine gum.In any ciricumstances, anyone who plans to quit smoking, should first talk to his/her physician. The gums don’t require any special storage conditions. Dry cool place are good enough. Don’t try to mix anything in the gum or dip gum into any liquid before putting it into mouth.
The day you don’t feel like taking this gums, you have quitted the deadly habit of smoking cigarettes.
(The author is neither a physician or an expert on the subject. Do consult your physician before starting the Nicotine Gums.)
Rob Mellor owns the quit-smoking-expert.com website helping normal people quit smoking in less than 40 minutes. Please visit the site for more information to stop smoking
What Does the Term “Market Value” Mean?
When a real estate agent talks to you about listing your home, you’ll hear a great deal of talk about “market value,” but just what’s meant by that term? In this article, we’re only going to be considering your single family home, because different standards and calculation methods apply to commercial and investment property, but let’s examine what market value is, and how it’s determined.
Market Value of Single Family Homes
Put simply, a home’s market value is the price at which it should sell once it’s put on the market for a reasonable amount of time, which generally means thirty to ninety days.
Within that definition are two main variables that affect a home’s market value: the house itself, and the time period during which it’s to be sold. First, let’s look at the house itself. Every home sits in some kind of neighborhood, whether it’s in the middle of downtown or way out in the country, and the location of a house will have a large influence on its market value.
The neighborhood is important, but condition of the house is also an important factor when it comes to determining its market value. The nicest home in the neighborhood normally will have the highest market value, while a house that needs a great deal of renovation will be worth less, even if it’s in the best neighborhood in town.
The condition and location of a home will affect the market value in proportion to how quickly the owner wants to sell it. In order to attract a greater number of buyers and to sell the home more quickly, the price will need to be lower, which brings us to the second factor in the market value equation: time.
Regardless of where it may be located, if a house doesn’t sell with the one to three month marketing period, the chances are that it was overpriced. Even brand-new homes, in brand-new subdivisions, in the most desirable part of town won’t sell within thirty to sixty days if the price is too high. (On the flip side, if a home sells in a week or less, the chances are that the marketing price was too low. But most of the time, errors in calculating market value are made on the too-high side.)
Determining market value is both an art and a science, and a skilled real estate agent, armed with information about the area, other listings, and previous sales, can generally come quite close to a price that will get the home sold within one to three months. After all, it’s their job to help get you the best sales price possible – in a reasonable amount of time.
Copyright © Jeanette J. Fisher
Jeanette Fisher teaches home sellers five ways to sell homes for top dollar–Fast. Get home seller’s tips and free “Design Psychology for Selling Houses” ebook at http://sellfast.info
Miscellany28 Feb 2009 12:22 am
Ritual Candles – Dressing Them, and More
As you read about rituals, candles, ritual tools and altar supplies, you’ve likely come across hundreds of opinions (all correct, of course) about what to do with candles. You’ve likely seen lots of information telling you to “dress” your candles prior to ritual.
So what does “dressing your ritual candle” entail? Do you make a cute little hat and dress for your ritual candle? Can you find some cute little shoes and a blouse? While you COULD do that, it would then be a bit difficult to burn the ritual candle, so perhaps this article should cut to the chase and tell you how to dress your ritual candle.
Please note: If you buy Enchanted Works Ritual Candles from Crystal Journeys, or other heavily pre-scented candles, they are ready for ritual, appropriately scented, and all you have to do is light them. They are “ready to go.” You CAN dress them if you would like, but they are so highly scented, that you may possibly get two highly incompatable scents that might make you see strange things. While hallucinations might be part of some people’s rituals, they are not always desirable. So please be careful out there, ok?
There are as many opinions on how to properly dress a ritual candle as there are on what color or style candle you should use for each working. In other words, as many opinions as there are ritual candles. These techniques are suggestions that you should take or leave depending on your own personal ideas. Don’t let anyone tell you there’s only “one true way” to dress a ritual candle. “One true way” ism is not Kestra’s idea of Wicca.
The ritual candle’s flame is the “head” of the candle, and signifies you. The bottom of the ritual candle is the “base” and signifies the world outside of you. This makes it easier to think about, at least from personal experience.
If you want to bring something to you, whether it be good health, happiness, positive thinking, or whatever it may be, dress the candle from the outside (base) to the top (head). Kestra likes to make a spiral by taking a drop of oil on your finger (make sure it’s not overly strong essential oil that will burn your finger) and working from the bottom of the ritual candle to the top in a spiral. Kestra goes clockwise for drawing spells, and does them in the waxing part of the moon phase. You might wish to affirm your intention as you do this, and ask that it manifest.
Conversely, if you want to draw something away from yourself, such as negativity, someone else’s energies from a tool, sickness, unhappiness, etc. all you need to do is reverse the process. Start at the head of the ritual candle, and sprial down to the candle’s base, counter clockwise, during the waning part of the moon phase.
Of course, if you find something that works better for you, by all means use it. There is no “one right way.” If it feels right to you, why not use it. The worst that can happen is that you offend the powers that be and get smitten with a lightning bolt
.
Kestra is a Wiccan Priestess, Master Herbalist, and Reiki Master, offering the best in practical information, unique and useful altar tools and ritual supplies at an online shop called Enchanted Works. Please check out our offerings at http://www.enchantedworks.com Guaranteed not to be your “same ole” Wiccan shop.
The Healthy Way27 Feb 2009 08:40 pm
Is Lasik Eye Surgery For You? Or Are You Too Sqeemish!
For those of you that don’t know Lasik stands for Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis. In Lasik the surgeon cuts a small flap in the cornea and uses a laser to reshape the inner area of the cornea. Problems with the cornea can be related to many vision troubles such as; Hyperopia or farsightedness and Myopia or nearsightedness). Also problems like Astigmatism can also be caused. The good news is that eye surgery and lasik in particular resolve many of these eye defects.
The sheer number of different of surgical procedures for correcting vison problems can leave you uncertain of the best one for you. However, whatever may be your procedure of choice, attaining excellent results is largely dependent on the expertise of your eye surgeon. lasik is by far the most preferred corrective eye surgery, and hence it is imperative that you choose an eye surgeon with a great deal of experience.
If you are thinking of going in for lasik eye surgery then this is what you can expect. Before getting lasik you will be examined by a qualified eye doctor or ophthalmologist. During this examination standard eye tests and computer images of the cornea will be taken to build up a picture of the eye and ascertain what corrections need should made. In addition your overall health is also considered when deciding if you will be a good lasik patient. Any conditions, such as dry eye syndrome, may affect your ability to get this type of eye surgery, but in these cases other treatment may be available.
You will be able to go home on the same day as you eye surgery and should have recovered within just a few days. Minor irritations may take up to a month to disappear. The vast majority of people who undertake this surgery will be able to see much more clearly straight after surgery and this improves still further over the next few days.
Some people may experience some side effects like light sensitivity or night time vision problems. In even more rare cases other difficulties like infections can also occur, but most often, if you follow your doctors orders these things can be avoided or cured quickly with eye drops of medication. Other side effects are more long term. These can occur for 6 months or longer. These are: dry eyes, blurred vision, difficulty seeing at night, light sensitivity, glares, and vision fluctuations. If you cannot handle any of this, then this eye surgery is not for you. Attaining excellent results is largely dependent on the expertise of your eye surgeon. Lasik is by far the most preferred corrective eye surgery for many, and so it is imperative that you choose an eye surgeon with a great deal of experience and who is using the best medical equipment available.
This type eye surgery has been big news over resent years as the changes to peoples vision and quality of life can be astounding. People who could not see without glasses are getting almost 20./20 vision and word of mouth about these ‘miracles’ spreads fast. With many people flocking to have the procedure done it has become one of the most popular eye surgeries. However, before committing to the surgery you should look into what lasik is and what it can do for vision in general and your sight in particular.
Before committing yourself ask to speak to people who have had the operation with the organisation you are thinking of using yourself. Ask about the good and bad points of both the operation and the company itself.
As lasik is a fairly new medical procedure the long term risks are not known and it is not possible currently to cure the need for reading glasses as this is problem is more connected with the weakening of the eye muscles over time rather then the corner. As a potential candidate for lasik you must discuss all your concerns and expectations with your surgeon before the procedure is carried out to ensure you completely understand the process and outcome possibilities for you as an individual.
Finally, many people can’t even think about anyone touching their eyes, never mind someone pointing a laser into them. If you are reading this article and are feeling a bit squeamish then perhaps lasik is not for you!
Richard is a prolific and diverse writer. You will find out more about lasik eye surgery at Lasik Resources.
Offshore Sports Betting Keeps Bettors on the Internet
Numerous risk takers will likely have spotted the expression “offshore sports betting”, though a few may not be entirely positive what that indicates. A foreign betting web site essentially performs outside of the control of any single nation instead it can be a machine-accessible betting website which has the majority of its host computer inside the borders of a state in which live wagering is not at this time illegal. In a nutshell then, it is a sports gambling organisation operating outside of the supervison of the country of the gamer. Machine-accessible gaming world wide websites are mainly governed by 3 structures. These organisations are OSGA (the Offshore Gaming Association), the IGC (Interactive Gaming Council) and the Fidelity Trust Gaming Association FTGA.
united state sports betting online
The OSGA are an independent “watchdog” agency that presently monitors the overseas sports gambling industry, they endeavor to offer the populace the ability to easily determine worthy internet enterprises to play games with. The agency endeavors to watch over the concerns of bettors, moreover they do not demand any affiliation costs. The agency is a well qualified and nonpartisan third party association which reveals non-biased viewpoints, based around customer feedback, impartial research, calls, insider advice and in addition dispenses industry information.
The IGC is a not-for-profit administration. The administration has been created to furnish an arena for concerned participants to talk over subjects moreover to communal worries in the worldwide online gaming trade, to ensure sincere not to mention efficient industry standard procedures and procedures that enhance consumer faith in web based betting commodities and benefits, also to serve as the gaming industry’s general policy representative and in addition it functions as an info clearinghouse.
The Interactive Gaming Council have made a regard for dependability, candor and in addition sincerity by virtue of its high ideals, and its appeal to honorable betting websites. The IGC regularizes offshore betting through advocating a specific ten-point code of practise moreover bills betting web sites fees for publishing their logo. Unhappy customers can, if they demand to, state any of their arguments to the Interactive Gaming Council.
The FTGA was formed in an attempt to construct a standard which will reform the criteria of world wide web based sports betting websites. The authority trust that by doing trade with credible websites, they are able to work out a coalition of the fairest and professional overseas betting companies multinationally. Essentially, these are councils which work to control the transactions of world wide web based gaming and which should through time assist to assuage some of the trepidation held by skeptics. Web based betting sites are at present actually safe, due to the fact that personal data shouldn’t be submitted and in addition the payments and the odds should be equivalent to an orthodox Vegas-style wager. They cut down the travel costs, but nevertheless keep of a gambling casino, but now you are enabled to gamble in the comfort of your home.
The Healthy Way26 Feb 2009 11:43 am
Superbugs, Antibiotics & Fear
I was witness to a TV program last evening on the rising crisis in Peru with multi drug resistant strains of the tuberculosis. This is another example of the “super bugs” that we are increasingly being threatened by in North America and Europe.
During the program a number of pharmaceutical representatives as well as physicians were raising fears that these super bugs could get out of control if legislation is not relaxed to allow drug companies to produce more cost effective alternative antibiotics for treating these new strains.
I need to say, that as a physician, who was taught to prescribe antibiotics during my medical training in the 1980’s I was acutely cognizant of the risks that over prescribing such agents could pose. Specifically, for those who don’t already know, the risk of creating and nurturing the proliferation of drug resistant strains of bacteria.
Sure enough, now 20 years later we are seeing exactly what I and others recognized could happen, a crisis of global proportions that is threatening to envelop the entire globe.
Although I find it unconscionable to see these drug company representatives and their physician supporters promoting the same solution (i.e. more and newer antibiotics) that caused the problem in the first place there is a more serious problem here
There is deeper level to which we can take this matter and one which may help release the global population from the scourge of having to become guinea pigs for another mass antibiotic experiment. Let me explain.
It is interesting how many choose to accept the faulty logic presented above by drug companies who employ the “fear of death” card to manipulate individuals into taking such toxic agents into their bodies (and please don’t take my word for it just look at the thickness of any physician’s drug desk reference; over 90% of it listing potential drug side-effects) after contracting a bacterial infection. The fear of dying, in my view, is the very thing that is the foundation of the problem that created the super bug issue.
It is this fear of death that leads many to lose their sense of judgment and ultimately winds up killing them. Interesting, isn’t it, that the “fear of death” does just what some “think” it is supposed to protect them from?
This is because the “fear of death”, if you notice what it feels like to be consumed by it, it leaves one feeling terrified, paralyzed, confused, indecisive, drained of energy, weak willed, helpless and ultimately vulnerable to being maimed. In other words it sets one up “for” dying!
Here I am reminded of a nurse working in my city in Canada during the SARS crisis. After she contracted and eventually became the first to succumb to the illness it was recounted how frightened she was before hand that she might have such a fate. In other words it has the potential to become a self fulfilling prophesy/fact.
But, as I said, you probably thought the converse, didn’t you? Well then, which is the truth? Does it protect or does it harm?
I will leave this for you to ponder.
I will suggest that it is possible to find another way out of this problem and if you wish to entertain it you are free to contact me at the web link below for an introductory consultation.

Dr. Nick Arrizza is trained in Chemical Engineering, Business Management & Leadership, Medicine and Psychiatry. He is an Energy Psychiatrist, Healer, Key Note Speaker,Editor of a New Ezine Called “Spirituality And Science” (which is requesting high quality article submissions) Author of “Esteem for the Self: A Manual for Personal Transformation” (available in ebook format on his web site), Stress Management Coach, Peak Performance Coach & Energy Medicine Researcher, Specializes in Life and Executive Performance Coaching, is the Developer of a powerful new tool called the Mind Resonance Process(TM) that helps build physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well being by helping to permanently release negative beliefs, emotions, perceptions and memories. He holds live workshops, international telephone coaching sessions and international teleconference workshops on Physical. Emotional, Mental and Spiritual Well Being.
Business URL #1: http://www.telecoaching4u.com
Personal URL: http://www.telecoaching4u.com/Spirituality_And_Science.htm
FREE: Metallic Leather Watch Strap | Email Kavin Hi-Tech Apparels Tirupurtamilnadu

Get Unlimited FREE Vouchers, Cash and Products EveryDay!
Get Paid $5 – $295/Survey! Unlimited Surveys Available
Multinational Participating Companies: Cash and Free Vouchers from Microsoft, IBM, Apple, Nokia, Sony, Consumer Research, Panasonic, WallMart, Sears, Gucci, Guess, Dell, and thousands more!
This happens all the time because everybody relies on search engines which are horrible at showing you where the highest paying survey sites are Getting Metallic Leather Watch Strap and Email Kavin Hi-Tech Apparels Tirupurtamilnadu is simple. All surveying sites have their own way they want to pay you for your services, read on more about Metallic Leather Watch Strap. Long gone are the days that the only way to make extra income was to have a part time job. Also see Email Kavin Hi-Tech Apparels Tirupurtamilnadu. Can you really make any decent money with online surveys? You can make anywhere from $10 to $150 dollars an hour for completing online marketing surveys.
It might sound too easy but it works! Individuals on these forums are more than happy to share their experiences and results so it won’t take you long to know where to go and start getting the most cash online. Read on to find out more about Metallic Leather Watch Strap. Update it every time you participate in a survey! This will also help you evaluate which survey panel is the most active and which ones are paying well. Find out more about Metallic Leather Watch Strap and Email Kavin Hi-Tech Apparels Tirupurtamilnadu. It involves using forums. Then there are the surveys that you will be asked to partake in that you may not never even qualify for because you never appeal to the so called target group of the survey.
Join for Free now Below!
They are just going to give you a list of survey companies that you should join. Get Metallic Leather Watch Strap and Email Kavin Hi-Tech Apparels Tirupurtamilnadu 100% FREE at our website. Get all the info on Metallic Leather Watch Strap from our homepage. What you do need is a computer with internet connection and an opinion. Get paid survey network list absolutely FREE from our website! Absolutely no charge for joining the industry’s TOP 7 paying survey networks! Get FREE >> Toshiba Tv Instructions
Apply To Take Surveys (and Get Paid!)
AND to View 100% of Survey Results of Your Choice From EVERY Industry!

From personal experience, each of these consumer survey networks contains thousands of high paying multinational companies, ready to pay you $10-$300 for every survey done! Absolutely FREE to join.
Good Luck!
Finance Resources25 Feb 2009 11:42 pm
Tax Savings Tips for the Small Business
Deferring income
Shifting taxable income from the current to the next tax year is useful only if you expect your next year’s income to be equal or less than your current year’s one.
• Waiting for a bonus? Keep waiting. Applies only to Cash-Basis-Tax-Payers. See if you can receive it in January of next year. Doing so will exclude the bonus from this year W2 / 1099 (and taxable income) and reduce your taxes for this year.
• Postpone interest income – Transfer money market account balance (savings), to a Certificate of Deposit. Make sure that the CD pays interest only at maturity. Interest income generated by the CD will be taxable only when the CD matures, so you will still get interest income only it will be taxed next year.
• Selling gaining stocks – Sell gaining stocks (current market price is higher than your original cost) after January 1st of next year. There are two exceptions:
1. Exception that Price will decrease – sell now.
2. Own loosing stocks that can offset the gains.
• Converting regular income to long-term capital gain – In general, gains from selling stocks you hold for 12 months or more, are subject to a 15% long-term capital gain while gains from selling stocks you hold less than 12 months are taxed subject to your highest tax bracket.
Accelerate expenses
Cash-Basis-Tax-Payer will benefit from paying next year expenses before the end-of-the-year. Those expenses which will be paid anyways will be deductible this year if paid before December 31.
• Donation – if you are planning to donate cash or property, do it before December 31.
• Property taxes – pay next year real estate tax before the end of the year.
• State taxes – pay your state taxes on your capital gains and business income.
• Medical expenses – do so only if your overall medical expenses are over 7.5% of your Adjusted Gross Income, otherwise it is not deductible.
• Employee’s unreimbursed expenses – only if they are over 2% of your Adjusted Gross Income otherwise it is not deductible.
Maximize tax credits
• College / high education tuition – Paying tuition for you or a dependant? make the payment before the end of the year and benefit from a credit (note that the credit has very strict income threshold which causes you to loose the credit)
• Childcare credit – for two working parents (or students), you can get up to $480 per child. If you have flex plan to cover it – spend your unused “Flex” balance.
Retirement Planning
There are several retirement plans that allow self employed and micro business owners to make contributions and achieve both:
1. Tax deductions to offset self employment or business income
2. Financial planning for the future
(SEP) IRA
———
A simplified employee pension (SEP) IRA allows an employer to make contributions toward his or her own (if self-employed) or employees’ retirement. Employers can contribute a maximum of 25% of an employee’s eligible compensation or $42,000, whichever is less.
Self-employed’s contribution is based on the net profit from the business (self employment income and not the gross income).
Per IRS regulations employers must include all eligible employees who are at least age 21 and have been with a company for 3 years out of the immediately preceding 5 years.
For calendar year corporations with a March 15, 2006 tax filing deadline, SEP-IRA contributions must be made by the employer by the due date of the company’s income tax return, including extensions.
The contributions are deductible for tax year 2005 as if the contributions had actually been contributed within tax year 2005.
Sole proprietors have until April 15, 2006, or to their extension deadline, to make their SEP-IRA contribution if they want a 2005 tax deduction.
Solo 401(k)
———–
Established by the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, Solo 401(k) plan provides a great tax break to micro business owners. In addition to the possibility to shelter from taxes a large portion of income, some Solo 401(k) plans offer a loan feature for cash-strapped small business owners.
Eligibility for a Solo 401(k) plan is limited to those with a small business and no employees, or only a spouse as an employee. This includes independent contractors with earned income, freelancers, sole proprietors, partnerships, Limited Liability Companies (LLC) or “S” corporations.
The key benefits of the Solo 401K plan include:
• High limits on contributions: elective salary deferrals and employer contributions allows sole proprietors to contribute up to $42,000 ($45,000 if age 50 or older) in tax year 2004, based on salary deferral plus profit sharing (see below).
• Contributions are fully-tax deductible and are based on compensation or earned income.
• Assets can be rolled from other plans or IRA’s to a Solo 401K. There is no limit on roll-overs.
• The account holder can take a loan that is tax-free and penalty free from the Solo 401K, if allowed by the plan, up to the lesser of 50% or $50,000 of the account balance.
The contribution limits depend on how the business is established. Overall, the total of deferred salary and profit sharing that can be put in one of these accounts in one year is limited to $40,000:
• For businesses that are not incorporated, the salary deferral and the profit-sharing contributions are based on net earned income. The maximum contribution limit is calculated based on salary (max deferral of $12,000) and profit sharing up to the current max contribution. Contributions are not subject to federal income tax, but remain subject to self-employment taxes (SECA). The owner receives a tax deduction for both salary deferral and employer contributions on IRS Form 1040 at filing time.
• For corporations, the maximum elective salary deferral amount for 2003 is 100% of pay up to $12,000 ($14,000 if age 50 or older). The maximum employer contribution (profit sharing) is 25% of pay, and is based on the W-2 income. It is not subject to federal income tax or Social Security (FICA) taxes. The salary deferral contributions are withheld from your pay and are excluded from federal income tax but are subject to FICA. The business receives a tax deduction for both salary deferral and employer contributions.
Keogh plan
———
A Keogh plan is a tax-deferred retirement savings plan for self-employed. In general self-employed individual may contribute a maximum of $30,000 to a Keogh plan each year, and deduct that amount from taxable income.
Profit Sharing Keogh
——————–
Annual contributions are limited to 15% of compensation, but can be changed to as low as 0% for any year.
Money Purchase Keogh
——————–
Annual contributions are limited to 25% of compensation but can be as low as 1%, but once the contribution percentage has been set, it cannot be changed for the life of the plan.
Paired Keogh
————
Combines profit sharing and money purchase plans. Annual contributions limited to 25% but can be as low as 3%. The part contributed to the money purchase part is fixed for the life of the plan, but the amount contributed to the profit sharing part (still subject to the 15% limit) can change every year.
Taxes are due when the individual begins withdrawing funds from the plan. Participants in Keogh plans are subject to the same restrictions on distribution as IRAs, namely distributions cannot be made without a penalty before age 59 1/2, and distributions must begin before age 70 1/2.
Setting up a Keogh plan is significantly more involved then establishing an IRA or SEP-IRA.
Tax USA Inc.
————
Tax USA, Inc. is a complete tax, accounting and financial management firm specializes in small businesses, corporations and high income individuals. Tax USA Inc.’s mission is to exceed clients’ expectation by providing superb tax, accounting & financial Management services. We offer our clients tax, accounting and bookkeeping services, CFO Outsourcing, Budget Review and Business Plans, Cash Flow Management, Payroll Services and Entities’ Incorporation.
Our Clients
We focus on small and mid size businesses, non-profit organization and high income individuals. Client list comprised of corporations, non-profit organizations and high-tech employees. Our corporate clients operate in various industries:
- Security
- Information Technology
- Internet
- Retail
- Manufacturing
- Transportation
- Real Estate
- Project Management
- Business Development
Brush With the Dark Side
It started basically just like any other day. You couldn’t tell from its beginning what it would bring, and how it would come so close to damaging our lives irreparably. That’s how life is when you have a diabetic in your midst; particularly one who doesn’t take care of his diet, and who doesn’t follow doctor’s orders.
In retrospect, it’s hard to imagine that a tiny incident, over in a matter of seconds, almost rendered my husband a permanent invalid, but for the grace of God . . .
The Event
So what was this event? My husband, a diabetic of fifteen years, and very poorly controlled, was touring his latest building site. He suddenly noticed that there was a piece of wood attached to the sole of his foot. As he has a degree of peripheral neuropathy, he felt no pain, but knew he must have stepped on a nail. Since he was in a hurry to go to a meeting, he pulled the plank away from his foot, finished arrangements with his workmen, and took off.
That was in the late afternoon. Around eleven O’clock that night, he came home tired and hungry. I fed him, and as we were chatting, he casually mentioned what had happened on the building site earlier. He showed me the small puncture mark, which at that point in time wasn’t even pink, never mind red. I was horrified and told him he should go to the emergency room there and then. He laughed at me. “What for?” he asked.
He went on like this for a few days.
Crisis Point
Eventually he was getting impatient at me for nagging. I was distraught. In the end, and most predictably, infection set in. On the advice of a doctor friend (who he spoke with on the phone), he got himself some strong antibiotics. By this time, five days after the event, it was too late. The antibiotics didn’t stand a chance against the raging infection that rapidly took hold. By the next morning he could hardly stand, and needed someone to help him walk.
Aggressive Medicine
He gave in and went to the hospital. Even I was surprised at the speed with which they admitted him. They began intravenous antibiotics immediately. We all stood by with baited breath. The first type didn’t seem to be doing anything, so the doctors (by this time there were three or four on his case), decided to try a stronger one. When I stood by on the second morning, I could see the concern on the doctors’ faces. They were trying to keep his morale high, as of course this is essential to any patient. On the third day they decided to perform surgery to clean out the wound and try and give the antibiotics a better chance of beating the infection. By this time we were on our fourth different type of antibiotics.
Truth Dawns
My husband, previously oblivious to his plight, smiling and cheerful, and highly attentive to visitors, was beginning to see that this could all go horribly wrong. I knew exactly what the score was, and every time they brought in a new, stronger type of antibiotic, I would grab the vial to read its name. I knew that when we reached Vancomycin, we would have reached the end of the line.
Immediately upon admission, the endocrinologist insisted that my husband follow the special diet that was written for him. The reason this was so critical is that if blood sugars are high, the infection (any infection) actually feeds on the glucose in the blood and grows stronger. This is, in a nutshell, why infections of any kind are so devastating to diabetics. Besides, this was a wonderful opportunity; they’d been trying to bring his blood sugars under control for years, and now he was just where they wanted him!
When infection sets in at the lower extremities it can be doubly destructive because peripheral neuropathy is the result of restricted circulation. As a result of numbness, many diabetics don’t even notice when they injure themselves. Even a tiny cut can quickly become infected, and if not treated will eventually lead to wet gangrene.
A healthy circulation is the first line of defense against any kind of microbial attack. With diabetes, the situation becomes ripe for gangrene. The higher the blood sugars are allowed to remain, the more likely gangrene becomes. It can be very difficult to stop once it sets in, and almost always leads to amputation.
Thank God, eventually they gave him Vancomycin, at about the same time I decided to intervene myself. I brought a supply of 1,000 mg vitamin C tablets to the hospital. Of course I’d have loved to do a lot more from the alternative medicine point of view, such as a complete nutritional support program designed for diabetics, and supplements to kick the immune system into high gear. But when you’re dealing with skeptics, you have to choose your battles. I knew that administering vitamin C intravenously would have been far more effective, but I also knew that I could well be up against five medical men. I chose my battle, and I chose stealth mode! When no one else was in the room, I told my husband (who is used to my alternative health ways), that I was sick of standing by and doing nothing, and that I wanted him to take one tablet every hour. He raised his eyebrows, but under the circumstances he knew we were backed into a corner here.
Why Vitamin C? Vitamin C is of major importance to the immune system and to tissue integrity. It can help the body fight infection and is a superb antioxidant. It can play an important role in tissue repair. It has also been proved that vitamin C can be a major player in combating bacterial and viral infections. It is a weapon of choice for many alternative medicine aficionados.
Within a few hours, either the Vancomycin, or the vitamin C, and possibly the combination, had started to work and I was profoundly relieved when I saw the smile on the surgeon’s face as he unwrapped my husband’s wound. From then on, remarkably, improvement was very rapid. On the eighth day he was discharged and we continued the treatment at home. Although we were not out of the woods yet, and although we had many weeks of vigilant wound-watching and dressing-changes still ahead of us, it was like the sun coming out from behind the clouds.
I Love That Nail!
When we’d been at home for only an hour or two I was reflecting on our near-miss. My husband smiled at me and said “You know, I love that nail! If I knew which one it was I’d frame it and put it on the wall.” I knew what he meant immediately. His blood sugars have been fluctuating between 350 and 500 for years. Despite constant warnings from his endocrinologist, he hadn’t done anything serious about controlling his diet. He was relying solely on medication. Since the “nail incident” I’m thrilled, and very proud to report, his blood sugars have only hovered around 200 on a couple of occasions as a result of temporary insanity, as I call it. For the most part, we are now very serious about every morsel that goes into his mouth, and blood sugars are steadily around 100-120. As any endocrinologist will tell you, medication is only of limited effect with diabetes. The primary line of defense is diet.
Writing was always a preferred from of communication for me. Helping others through the written word is my profession and my passion. An obsession with alternative medicine spanning thirty years, a critical support tool; a knack for Internet research is another. I have had three books published, and am now working on my fourth: Polycystic Ovaries Revealed.
Strengthening the Ties that Bind You and Your Dog with Dog Training
Having a dog that can perform tricks and is very obedient and well trained is a pride and joy of every dog owner. Having a dog that actually listens, hangs on to every word and obeys its master would certainly be loved and rewarded; this would solidly reinforce the relationship. Not only that, a well-trained dog knows how to “socialize” well with other dogs and people.
Dogs are the most well loved pets all around the world; they are welcome in more homes than any other domesticated animal ever. While they are generally warm, loving and loyal, they can be trained to be more obedient. A well-trained and behaved dog is more welcome in any family and is shown more love and attention. The times you spent with each other doing tricks and training equals to a bond that grows stronger everyday.
You will feel confident in bringing your dog almost anywhere, to the beach, park, vacations, if you know they will be behaving well.
Knowing How your Dog Feels
While animals are not considered as sophisticated intellectually as humans are, people can make the difference. Dog training allows us to understand how the dog feels and acts.
Dogs are pack animals, they belong to groups and needs a leader, and we will be their leader. In dog training we will learn how to act like their leader and tell them what to do. When we have established our role as their “pack leader”, the respect and loyalty follows next.
But aside from that, our dog is a part of our family, as every member of the family has their roles to play, so does the dog. A dog training session would let your dog understand his or her role and responsibilities. In knowing this, each one would be comfortable to co-exist with one another providing a good environment and a strong happy relationship.
Article written by Hector Milla, editor of http://dog-training.win-10.com/ , they have recently published a free online guide :: Dog Training :: visit his weblog for daily news about dog health and training at http://dog-training.win-10.com/dog-health-news/ , thanks for publish this article in your website or ezine keeping a live link.
Next Page »