New Post on Medicana

I've finally posted on my medical blog, Medicana, again. If you're interested in unsual medical conditions, check out my post on "Alice in Wonderland Syndrome."

New Post on Medicana: Updates on Alzheimer's Disease

Our recent experiences with my mother-in-law prompted me to post an update about this disease on my other blog, Medicana. I've included some tips about preparing for difficult situations and some new research.

New Post on Medicana: Colon Cancer

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with colon cancer, please read my latest post on Medicana.

Even if you don't know anyone with colon cancer, please read it anyway - if you are at risk for it or are 50 or older, you should be getting tested regularly for this disease, which is preventable and very curable when found early.

New Post on Medicana: Prostate Cancer

A very good friend of ours was just diagnosed with prostate cancer through a routine PSA test. Luckily, it is at an early stage, and his prognosis is excellent.

As a result of his diagnosis, and that of another very good friend about three years ago (he's doing fine), I decided to do my next post for Medicana on prostate cancer, for those who want to know more about this very common cancer in men. So go check it out - and men, don't forget to get your PSA tests!

Using the Internet to Search on Health Issues?

Be careful out there!

Go to my Medicana blog to read more.

Also, in case you didn't already notice, I have a recent post over there on the subject of the latest media frenzy: MRSA.

Oh, and you know what? I am totally counting this toward NaBloPoMo! This is a post, however short!

Today's Haiku:

Today is Monday
I blogged on Medicana
It's all I could do.

Tomorrow is another day!

New post at Medicana

I've been quiet this weekend as I've been working on a new major post on Medicana. This one is about my experience with oral cancer and includes a full description of the risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis and prevalence of this type of cancer, which seldom gets the notoriety that other cancers receive.

If you're curious about it or have any reason to be worried about having it, this is the post for you.

New Post on Medicana

Ever wonder whether you've been diagnosed incorrectly with an illness? Check out Medicana to learn how to make sure this doesn't happen to you!

New Post at Medicana

Stressed out? Hope Alzheimer's doesn't run in your family. Check it out:

Medicana.

Worried About Your Health?

Check out my latest post on Medicana,"When it Pays to be a Hypochondriac." In it I tell you a list of symptoms that should checked out by a doctor.

The Eyes Have It

Or they might. If you're worried about your eyesight, check out my new post on Medicana. I'll tell you all about Macular Degeneration and what you can do about it.

Keep on rockin'!

I am honored to report that Kuanyin of Who's Yo Mama? recently nominated me for a "Rockin' Girl Blogger" award! Thanks so much, Kuanyin!

And, as is the tradition, I will now nominate some others that I feel deserve this award. I know I've already nominated some for the Thinking Blogger Award so this time I'll try to pick some other blogs you may or may not have noticed on my sidebar.

The first is Inside Betty's Head. Elizabeth's blog is beautifully written and her subject matter always worth reading, as her observations and stories are full of insight.

Rhea of the The Boomer Chronicles writes an entertaining blog that any Baby Boomer will relate to, and everyone will enjoy. Her blog is updated daily and her subjects are always interesting.

Third is Miss Doxie. Many of you may already know that Leigh has three adorable dachshunds (hence her blog's name), a boyfriend named Dukay, and humor to spare. Her dad recently was seriously ill so she has not posted since late June, but you can entertain yourself for days in her archives until that wondrous moment when she posts a new entry. Be careful if you're reading at work, as most of the time her blog will make you laugh out loud. Sometimes, though, you may cry. Both are difficult at work. And please, keep her dad in your thoughts.

Also...there is a new post on Medicana if you'd like to check it out.

TIred all the time? Maybe you have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome!

Or maybe not. But if you're worried about it, or if you're a hypochondriac like me and would like a new disease to worry about getting, check out my latest post on Medicana.

New post on Medicana

This entry covers Alzheimer's Disease. If you know someone who has it or who you suspect has it, please read it so you'll understand more about their condition and deal with it better yourself.

New post on Medicana

Depression - could you have it? If you do, what to do? Check it out:

http://www.medicana.blogspot.com

New post on Medicana

If you or someone you know has high blood pressure, you may want to check out my latest post on Medicana (http://www.medicana.blogspot.com).

Something new

Just wanted to let you know I've started another blog, called "Medicana." I have put the link to it over on the side on my links list.

I haven't talked about it yet here but I have always been a raging hypochondriac. Both of my parents were in medical writing and I was exposed to medical information early on. In addition, I had a baby sister who died at 4 months old when I was just under three myself. She had a congenital heart defect that, at that primitive time in the 1950's, was not able to be corrected surgically when she was still so small. Now she would have lived. Although I was so very young, I still remembered my sister being there and must have understood that when she was no longer there that something bad had happened to her. So perhaps that was the beginning of the hypochondria. I had the same heart defect she did (a hole in the ventricles of my heart) but it was much smaller and has now closed up.

I've always been fascinated by medical information and as I've mentioned previously, love all those shows like "Medical Mysteries," "Mystery Diagnosis," and of course, "House." I lust for the Tuesday New York Times that has the Science Section, and read the health-related part thoroughly each week.

It always amazes me when I talk to people about diseases or conditions and find out they know so little about them. This can be a danger if something does go wrong and they end up in the medical system without the necessary knowledge to deal with it. In these days of managed care, you really need to be your own advocate and not take "no" for an answer when you consult a doctor. Often they are too busy to really listen to you and you may get sent home with a pat on the head or a useless prescription when you have something seriously wrong.

The only way to deal with this is to do your own research, understand what you might be dealing with, before even going to the doctor. Then you know the questions to ask.

So the purpose of my new blog is to inform readers in a lighthearted, easy to read way, about various diseases and conditions. I'll write about common ones, but also not so common, or just plain ghoulishly fascinating, medical conditions. Have you ever heard of the Guinea worm? It gets into your system as a larva and when it becomes a grown-up worm it has to come out. It does this by coming out through your skin, causing a nasty looking boil. The way to get it out is to grab it by the head and pull. Is that gross or what? I read about that in my 1982 Merck Manual, which was my only source of information back in those days, since there was no Internet to browse. Luckily the Guinea worm does not exist in New Jersey so I've never had a sore on my arm and thought it was the Guinea worm. If Guinea worms did exist in New Jersey undoubtedly I'd be convinced that I had it.

So, if you have any interest in medical conditions or diseases of any kind, please check out Medicana. My first entry is on Appendicitis! Enjoy!