E-Mail 'Medical Action Sheets, by K.B., M.D. - Part 1' To A Friend

18 Comments

1. Where can I buy a binder of these? They look like an incredible asset, especially in austere conditions.

   1. Brad, I always recommend printing anything that you think would be helpful and keep it in a binder. I do not know if you are the same way as I, but the biggest lie I tell myself is I will remember – where I stuck something for safe keeping, or something I would need in an emergency – thus, printing and placing in a binder. Should TSHTF, and you need to remember something critical, it is likely that you will also have about 50 million other things on your mind as well, and having something as important as this printed will be a very welcomed thing.

2. I did some research when I had shingles. I had a small rash over my right eye and the pain was on top of my head. I took a cotton swab and doused it with apple cider vinegar. This stopped the pain. I couldn’t believe it. I did see a doctor and got medication for it but it didn’t stop the pain until I used the vinegar.

3. Wish I had this information sooner!! I had an infected tear duct which turned into an abscess, due to delayed medical care. I had gone to the emergency room for treatment but they would not lance the abscess; they gave me antibiotics. My right eye swelled up to the size of a walnut before I could get an appointment to see an eye specialist. When I was finally able to get in to the ophthalmologist she lanced it, puncturing in three spots. Although I fainted with the pain, once the pus began to drain, the relief was immense and I was give 3 more types of antibiotics. It took 3 weeks to heal and my skin around that eye was blue for about a month.

   Please keep the information coming!!

4. My shingles experience was totally different. I had a stabbing pain that went through my chest and back when I bent over, coughed, hiccuped, or sneezed. Nothing else. No fever, no itching. When I finally went to the doctor, he examined my back and asked how long I’d had the rash. What rash? I hadn’t felt any itching or discomfort on my back. He gave me something to relieve inflammation and help the pain; it made me violently sick, so I tossed it. At KMart I bought every anti-itch medicine there was–and never used any of it. I didn’t itch. Once I knew what was causing the pain, I ignored it and in about a week it was gone. For me, it was much ado about nothing.

   1. I am MORE than thrilled that your experience with shingles was that ‘mild’ if you can call it that with stabbing pains whenever you bent over, coughed, hiccuped or sneezed. My grandma got shingles and was bedridden for over a month. She also lost over 60 lbs during that time, the pain was so terrible.

5. I have a question, I hear the vacinate-don’t vacinate debate and would like some feedback from others more knolagable than me. I am female, 61 years. A nurse has told me I should get EVERY vacination I can, as this will boost my immunity, so I will be more able to cope with situations that might arise. Others say don’t get any. Any input would be appreciated.

   1. VCC, to get every vaccination available is a big decision; I would think it would depend on your medical history and current health. Do some research on each type of vaccination and weigh the pros and cons. My parents suffered with shingles and don’t want to, plus I had chicken pox as a child so I got the vaccination.

6. Excellent information. Can’t wait for next installments.

   I’m on the vaccinate side. Like some people are allergic to penicillin a few may be allergic to a particular vaccination. I personally believe the odds are infinitesimal that any average person will have a problem.

   The people that do the research on the matter suggest vaccination. Go to the NIH site and other reputable sites to research what is right for you.

   I personally believe that the return of certain childhood diseases, which were alleviated as a result of vaccination, and which are coming back, are the result of parents listening to non-experts and refusing to vaccinate their children. But it puts others around them at risk also. Throw on a pandemic or other serious country wide health issue and we will be worse off for it. IMHO.

   Please do your own research on this matter.

7. Thank you Dr. K.B. for the information. This is one of the articles I will definitely print and keep for future reference.

   Elderberry should help with shingles as well, I know it certainly stops an outbreak of herpes in it’s tracks, but the knowledge that over the counter Tagamet helping as well is priceless. My grandma’s experience with shingles tells me to whack it with everything I’ve got in my arsenal.

   I looked up elder in my ‘PDR For Herbal Medicines’ and there is no listed interaction with Tagamet, so it would likely be safe to mix the two.

   Thank you for this article and in advance for the 3 others due over the next few days.

   1. @ Ladywest- How does not getting a vaccine put other people at risk if the other people have been vaccinated?

      1. Pregnant women, very young children, people with health issues preventing vaccination and people with health issues that severely lower their immune systems response. Plus many diseases are herd diseases in that they literally require a million or 10 million people living in the same environment for it to become epidemic.

         1. Hmmmm……. I didn’t know that pregnant women couldn’t get vaccinated but I do know newborns and young children are vaccinated. People with the health issues may soon be forced to get vaccinated by law the way things are going.

8. Hi CuzMike.

   Just in case Ladywest doesn’t get your message, I’ll jump in…with apologies. Your question regarding how opting out of vaccination puts others at risk is a good one. Before the medical explanation, a word about the political philosophy implications is warranted: unless you believe that all vaccines are a scam to make money, the decision boils down to two issues: 1) the risk:benefit analysis regarding the individual receiving the vaccine, and 2) the societal implications of this decision. In this day of politico-social polarization, we conservatives (I count myself in this camp) have a tendency to always place the interests of the individual over the interests of “society” (I believe this to be generally right, as “society” is a construct of individuals). Also, we have a tendency to mistrust government (well-earned!). Since societal benefits are often touted when vaccination is discussed, and since the CDC strongly recommends vaccination, I find that most of the anti-vaccine folks are generally more of my political leanings.

   Here’s the truth (as far as a clinical pharmacist in practice for 36 years can see it): Though I believe vaccination to be one of the greatest medical advancements of the last 250 years, NO vaccine is 100% effective. The very best defense against disease is NOT BEING EXPOSED! When a substantial portion of a population has been vaccinated against a disease, with a vaccine which has a fairly high rate of seroconversion (i.e., induces our immune system to make antibodies against the disease for a long period), it results in “herd immunity” (don’t like being called a herd, but what ya gonna do with those silly epidemiologists?!?). This “herd immunity” drastically reduces transmission, and thus, exposure to the disease. So, as more and more people opt out of vaccination based on the belief that their personal risk:benefit analysis falls on the side of risk (notwithstanding some pretty good science to the contrary), the herd immunity is lost, the disease spreads, and more folks, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, are exposed and develop the illness (remember, vaccines are not 100% effective at preventing the illness).

   So, in my humble opinion, choosing to opt out of vaccinations (especially the major childhood vaccinations) may hurt those who have not been vaccinated, as well as those who HAVE been vaccinated, by creating an environment in which exposure to the disease is more likely.

   Now, there is, of course, some individual risk associated with vaccination. It varies somewhat with the type of vaccine, but the great majority of these adverse reactions are far milder than the disease! Of course, the risk of the disease is dependent upon how prevalent it is in the population in question, i.e., the status of “herd immunity”. On the plus side, consider how many friends you’ve lost to small pox lately. The analysis becomes somewhat harder when the question is, for example, assessing the risk:benefit of vaccinating a teenage boy against human papilloma virus. Do your research.

   Sorry this is longish…I think it’s important. I know there are many people who consider childhood vaccinations as nothing short of child abuse. I must respect the sanctity of parenthood. But, I would BEG you to review the data with a medical professional whom you trust (if there is such a critter) and evaluate the risks and benefits carefully, in light of the initial vaccination, as well as “the boomerang effect” of falling vaccination rates.

   For those who don’t wholly mistrust the government, much useful information can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/index.html.

   I wish you all the blissful afterglow of our Lord’s birthday, and coming excitement of a new year! Let’s make the most of it!

   Best Wishes from TX

9. I’ve had an encounter with Shingles. It’s nasty stuff. Mine was not a large rash, but painful. As the article notes, clothing or bedding contact is nearly unbearable. A topical steroid cream was more effective in dealing with it than the anti-viral. My mom’s case lasted 22 years…until she passed. Hers was on her head and face. Terrible pain! ER doctor was unconcerned and dismissive, possibly contributing to her prolonged case because of inadequate treatment at onset. The steroid creme is Triamcinolone Acetonide Cream USP 0.1%. This stuff also swats chigger bites, psoriasis outbreaks down with a vengeance. A tube lasts me for years. Use SPARINGLY. Prescription only.

   I had a dental abscess, and the cause was mold dust from moldy firewood I had handled. From contact with the wood to abscess was only a few hours. [Originally I thought it was a root canal gone bad] I mentioned the moldy firewood to my dentist and he prescribed metronidazole, an antibiotic usually used for Giardia, but also attacks anaerobic bacteria. Clobbered the infection in two days and surgery was avoided. To prevent repeated exposures I wear a dust mask in my firewood storage container when sweeping the floor. You should have a good stash of metronidazole for treating Giardia anyway. Doesn’t work on cryptosporidium. That requires a super-expensive drug.
   My physician knows me well enough to know I do not self-medicate and prescribes various antibiotics I ask for to have on hand for emergencies. If your doctor balks, there are more in the phone book. Antibiotics are very dangerous drugs, and should only be taken if the risk of NOT taking them is higher. Risk attaches to everything you do….including nothing.
   Useful article, will acquire the mentioned medications immediately.

10. Regarding abscess, I had one under my arm that would return every year. Usually when the weather was hot. That thing would blow up from nothing to walnut size within days, and have me in the ER getting lanced.
    Finally, when having surgery for something else, I asked the surgeon to also remove the residual capsule which was the nexus for the repeat abscesses. Since then, it’s never come back. I considered that surgery as part of my preparations.

11. Thank you for that reply SH in TX. I do appreciate your concern and the fact that you have been 36 yrs as a pharmacist. Duly noted……

    I won’t say that I am against all vaccinations, especially the ones tendered toward the major diseases like polio. But I have personally witnessed family suffering from vaccinations and so lean heavily toward caution when it comes to getting them. I appreciate what you had to say about prevention being the best and wholly agree. This would include a diet composed of mainly of fresh fruits and vegetables. Of course in a grid down situation that might not be possible unless a person is raising their own.
    Here is just one of hundreds of articles that are out there about vaccines. It is negative towards them but probably a person could find just as many positive ones.
    https://www.westonaprice.org/the-cdc-has-lied-about-vaccines-and-autism-for-14-years-lets-put-a-stop-to-it/

    Thanks again for your reply.

12. I have the issue concerning such a huge dump of crap in the first handful of vaccines a child recieves. It’s a lot of stuff that is foreign to a new born baby. I have to question it, given the articles I have read and the ingredients listed.

    I’ve also watched the CDC leave our borders wide open and then ship out busloads of illegals after they have been corralled for days on end exhanging their germs and all. What kind of CDC does this? The same kind that gives us endless vaccines. Then ya got Bill Gates and his statements over the years…etc….

    I do like this article, and wish I could stock some of these items….we will see.

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