So I'm sick...what a surprise.....

I have ended up catching a cold likely from one of my students at Oxford, where I tutor twice a week. Parents keep them home from school, but send them there at night anyways. So I have been getting coughed and sneezed at (despite my protests and telling them to cover their mouths and wash their hands--i am right near the bathroom). So NOW I have a cold. No fever, so at least it's not the flu.

So this cold has made me think back to previous illnesses that I have had.

When I was in college (the first time), I continuously had strep throat. It was terrible. And since I was away from home, with no means of transportation I would go to walk in clinics. Doctor's kept giving me erythomycin, which I told them would not work since I was on it for years for acne, so my body seemed to have developed an immunity to it. Well, apparently that's not possible. Well, tell that to my throat that never healed. I finally went home at christmas and went to the doctor on call. She looked at my throat--actually JUMPED away from me- apologizing that it was an unprofessional reaction. I told her I understood, that it was terrible. My throat was unrecognizable as a throat, and just looked like a giant puss ball. Hmmm, I wonder if that erythomycin worked? *rolling eyes*. Well this doctor gave me Biaxin, noting that erythomycin should not be used for strep throat anyways. I started to feel better within a couple of days, and was able to eat solid foods in a week. I also got blood tests for mono which came back positive.

A few years ago I had a sore prickly feeling in my throat, which was very familiar with my continual issue of strep throat. I went to go to my doctor but they were closed, as it was new year's eve. They had a sign on the door indicating to go to the General Hospital. I got triaged, and the nurse indicated that I had a low grade fever. Which was a symptom that I normally got with strep. I got to see a doctor, and he said there was nothing wrong with me but that my blood pressure was elevated and wanted to know what I was stressed about. Possibly that I had seen white spots in my throat that morning and that's why I was there. He said that there were none there. I left and went, again, to a walk in clinic. This doctor took one look in my throat and said "yep, it's strep". I asked if he saw the white dots. He said "yes, there's no doubt that there's infection". I told him that maybe he should call the doctor at General Hospital and tell him he was wrong. He could not beleive that another doctor would not diagnose this. Again, Biaxin and I was healed in no time.

More recently I ended up with a bad cold in October. It was mainly in my sinuses, cause pain around my eyes and temples, and eventually going into my ear. I went to, yet again, a walk in clinic because I couldn't get into my own doctor's. The doctor there looked at me, told me I didn't need antibiotics and gave me nasal spray and a pain reliever drop for my ear. The nasal spray was causing nose bleeds (and I never get nose bleeds) so I talked to a pharmacist and they said go back to your doctor, it should NOT do this and that I need to discontinue use. I finally got an appointment with the nurse practitioner at my own doctor's office. She looked in my nose and my ear, telling me they are both REALLY red and enflamed, which points to a sinus infection. She asked about my sinus pain around my eyes, forehead, and in my nose. So then, I again was given Biaxin and was fixed within a few days.

I understand that doctor's aren't supposed to give antibiotics out for the littlest thing. But when there is obviously an infection (ie white spots on throats, red inflamed nasal passages with loads of green stuff coming out of me) then they might want to give a patient SOMETHING to get rid of it. Infections aren't something to play with. They can move into the body and a patient can end up with a blood infection. It scares me that I have to go to several different doctor's to get the appropriate treatment. Maybe they should do more swabs and tests. I haven't been swabbed for things for any of these (except the really bad strep that I had)....they would conclude whether or not I needed antibiotics.

If a doctor can't diagnose a simple infection, what's going to happen if I get something more serious?

Darkflames Thrifty Thursdays

Instead of buying canned soup...Make your own! Keep the vegetables that you use in season so then it's cheaper. I only use chicken stock for it, vegetables and any seasonings I have on hand. I get a pot of soup for my lunches and dinners that lasts a week and only costs $4.00-$8.00.

You can even use those veggies that are a little off, but not completely bad yet. Boil them up in the stock, then let cool, and you can puree it for a creamy texture. If it's not thick enough, just bring to a boil and add some cornstarch that has been disolved in water, stirring until it is the desired thickness...

This is also healthier for you, non fat, and full of flavour!

Darkflame's Top Tens

Top ten dead persons still said to be alive:
http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-dead-persons-still-said-to-be-alive-after-death.php

Darkflame's Musical Monday

Well, anyone who knows me knows that over the summer I ended up being obsessed with Finger Eleven. I saw them live at the Festival of Friends, and although I had always *liked* them, they ROCKED MY SOCKS OFF! LOL.... So then I took a road trip with my sister and a friend to Tecumseh's Corn Fest to see them a second time, "my fairwell to summer going back to work" treat.

During this time I also found out about a side project that James Black and Rick Jackett were doing as well. Blackie Jackett Jr. It is an alt-country band, completed by Jimmy Reid, Sandra D, Scott Brewer, Tino Zolfo, and Neil Angus McIntosh. I was very excited about seeing them live, but have yet to have that chance.

I did pick up their CD, I happened by it at Sunrise records. Surprise! I was very excited and it has lived in my SUV's CD player ever since. They are heading into Burlington on November 27th for a show at The Dicken's and this will be my EARLY birthday present for me. It's almost a month early, but it's the BIG 3-0 so I think I deserve this one ;-)

So here are some videos of Blackie Jackett Jr:


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Balloon Boy Hoax

I find it sad that parents are willing to use their children for this kind of publicity, and I am very glad that the authorities are pressing charges, and looking into trying to press something more than just a misdemeanor. Child protective authorties SHOULD be contacted as well.

I don't understand why someone would create such an anxiety in their child that he is throwing up when asked about things. Obviously it's his body's response to the stress of lying and dealing with what his family has made him do.

I am hoping that someone smartens up and DOES get child protective authorities involved. No child should have to deal with a parent using them like this. It is emotional abuse.

Darkflame's Views: Raw Diet for Dogs

Darkflame's Views: Raw Diet for Dogs

Raw Diet for Dogs

My dog, Ruby, eats raw meat and bones. Yes, raw meat and bones of dead animals. When she was a puppy she was constantly dealing with diarhea. It was terrible. She went to the vet several times, put on medication, food changed (which causes more diarhea), then she started to refuse to eat.

My boyfriend and I were thinking about the raw diet for some time, being told about it, and benefits of it from friends at the dog park. We looked it up on the internet, I got a book from Chapters called "Raw Dog Food" by Carina Beth MacDonald. It was an easy read, made feeding raw seem much simpler than I thought, and got rid of the few anxieties I had about feeding raw.

We then went and bought some chicken quarters to start Ruby on. We had to start by cutting it up, heating it up lightly in a frying pan, and she slowly started eating. I wasn't concerned about her not eating much since while she was on kibble she didn't eat at all. As she progressed with eating the bones and meat easilyI started to include different meats, finding a great store in Hamilton for meat. As well as a poultry supplier for carcasses and backs. It has ended up being a cheaper way to feed as well, since Ruby had been on Nutro and several other expensive "high quality" kibble.

While she's been on the raw diet she has started eating regularly, I can tell what causes a stomache issue and eliminate it from her diet, her fur is shinier and silkier, her teeth are VERY white, she is also full of energy, and her muscles are developing perfectly.

She has yet to go to the vet since the diet switch, and when she does go for her shots in December I will be going with my Raw Dog Food book in hand. A lot of vets are against this type of feeding mainly for the "cross contamination" of raw meat while preparing dog food. Well, being a former prep and line cook I can tell you that there are more issues of cross contamination in most restaurants that you eat in than there are in my kitchen. And so far, after almost 6 months of her eating raw dog food, we have not yet gotten sick from it.

My parents were very against this switch. Or should I say my mother. She thought it would cause Ruby to become aggressive. Which has not happened. And while watching the transformation of her form a sick dog to a healthy vital pooch my mother's thoughts have changed and now she keeps raw meat and bones in her freezer in case Ruby is there during her dinner hour.

I have met many people who feed raw, it is a very interesting way to meet people, and a lot of people who don't even feed raw are very supportive when they hear about the changes in Ruby.

I love the fact that I control what goes into my dog. And now she even gets table scraps (which admittedly really isn't part of the raw diet but she likes it, and I'm just happy that she's eating and enjoying food the way she should be). I am very passionate about my dog, and I am very passionate about my dogs health. She is one of the healthiest happiest dogs I have ever seen.