Neti Pots---Scarier Than They Were

OKAY I NOW HAVE ANOTHER REASON TO AVOID STICKING A TEAPOT IN MY NOSTRIL!

By The Associated Press
Fri, Dec 16, 2011

Louisiana health regulators warned residents Tuesday about the dangers of using neti pots improperly. A neti pot, which looks like a genie's lamp, is commonly used to irrigate sinuses. The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals issued its warning following a second death this year caused by Naegleria fowleri, the so-called brain-eating amoeba.
A 51-year-old DeSoto Parish woman died after using tap water in a neti pot to irrigate her sinuses and became infected by the deadly amoeba, which entered the body through her nose. In June, a 20-year-old St. Bernard Parish man died under the same circumstances.
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Safe Neti Pot Use

"If you are irrigating, flushing, or rinsing your sinuses, for example, by using a neti pot, use distilled, sterile or previously boiled water to make up the irrigation solution," said Louisiana State Epidemiologist, Dr. Raoult Ratard. "Tap water is safe for drinking, but not for irrigating your nose."
It's also important to rinse the irrigation device after each use and leave open to air dry, he said.
The very rare infection typically occurs when people go swimming or diving in warm freshwater lakes and rivers. In very rare instances, health experts said such infections may also occur when contaminated water from other sources, such as inadequately chlorinated swimming pool water or heated tap water less than 116.6 degrees, enters the nose when people submerge their heads or when people irrigate their sinuses with devices such as a neti pot.
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Be Wary of Symptoms

DHH said the amoeba causes the disease primary amebic meningoencephalitis, a brain infection that leads to the destruction of brain tissue. In its early stages, symptoms may be similar to symptoms of bacterial meningitis and can include headache, fever, nausea, vomiting and stiff neck. Later symptoms include confusion, loss of balance, seizures and hallucinations.
After the start of symptoms, the disease progresses rapidly and usually causes death within one to 12 days.

Holiday Funny

Sammy Catapari

Sammy has the holiday spirit....notice that Santa is lying under the tree and Sam's lil paw is slowly moving toward his next victim.

My Christmas Wish

Beautiful Day

You might ask yourself why I titled this post Beautiful Day.  It is raining and chilly outside with a flood watch for our area.   So why am I smiling?  Two reasons.  North Carolina lost this weekend.  Tarheels can suck it! That beautiful loss moved Kentucky up in the rankings which is directly related to my second reason for extreme happiness.....         

                    UK IS NUMBER ONE BABY!

Heard Today on the Massage Table

Last week I had several clients show up with stiff backs.  The deep tissue massage was not a pleasurable experience.....

"Is that my PAINcreas?"

"And to think I was actually looking forward to this.  DAMN!"

"You could be a wrestler with all that strength.  If I say 'I give', will you let go?"

"Sometimes I could swear you have a knife in your hands."
                            
"I need a massage after my massage!"                           


Thankfully not all my clients left grumbling....

"Have I told you that I love you?"

"I get the oddest sensations in my body when you are working on me, but I can tell that I am feeling better because I have cut way back on my Advil and instead of taking pills I can stretch and get instant relief."

"You know I have to book my massages a month in advance because you are so busy, but I would rather wait for you than get a massage from anyone else."

Like Fine Wine

Aging does not have to be a bad thing.  I mean if you are getting older it beats the alternative...  If you are pushing up daisies it is a tad late to make changes.  Sure, some things that used to set up high and taut might be pointing southward and sagging, but that is just part of the aging process.  While I might grumble about my waistline not being the size it  was in my youth or that my body feels aches and pains after doing chores that used to not make me break a sweat, I am not obsessing about my weight nor am I trying the newest diet fad to correct my perceived imperfections.  Instead I am taking a page from one of my very wise clients who at age 60 made some changes for the better and now at age 70 she has made a few more.

My client told me at age 60 she committed to "fixing" herself.  This fixing included having her eyelids lifted because she thought they made her look too old.  She had surgery on her feet which was somewhat cosmetic but also improved her gait.  Then she bought herself a convertible.  She told me that she used to think sixty sounded so old.....til she arrived there and she knew that she was not going to be an old woman so she did what she could to feel younger.

Last week my client decided seventy was not the age of an old woman and she made a few more changes to improve her health.  She said she was not going to hit golf balls out of sand bunkers anymore.  She started doing yoga because she thought she was too old to take up running.  Then lastly she decided that massage therapy was going to become part of her regular health maintenance.  She told me when she was MUCH younger she had always considered massage an extravagance that had no real health benefits, but her 74 year old gal pal had persuaded her to see me for shoulder pain and she now knew that therapeutic massage was not "just rubbing".

This lovely young at heart lady said she would let me know her new list when she turned eighty. :)