Texagain

Here is a link to a disturbing article about a woman who died following a home colonic treatment and the resulting lawsuit. http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/colonsuit.html For those who don't want to read the whole thing, here is an excerpt: The complaint also alleges that Years to Your Life Health Center falsely advertised colonic irrigations as "painless" procedures which provided health benefits including an improved immune system and increased energy, as well as relief from indigestion, diarrhea, constipation, weight loss, body odor, candida, acne, mucus colitis, gas, food cravings, fatigue, obesity, diverticulosis, bad breath, parasitic infections, and premenstrual syndrome. In 1997, the FDA warned Girouard about safety violations and warned Tiller Mind and Body, Inc. (another defendant) about illegal claims and manufacturing violations. Colonic irrigation has no rational role in the prevention or treatment of any health problem. The Colon Therapeutics Web site actually states that "there are no proven medical benefits from colonics." Yikes!

Our APU, LD, OR, and Level 3 are all on the same floor, but our level 2 is one floor up as is the GN and PPU. We have 3 infant stabilization units in LD and each SU can handle 4 kids.

My cousins in law pick peas (and other things, seasonally) in West Texas. Generally, the only 'facilities' available are Port-a-Potties, picnic tables, and a water spigot. A hand-washing station would go a long way toward better health for all of us.

Cargal posted: "did anyone see the multiple ads at the right side of the screen for colon hydrotherapy? Is there a 900 number" It would be interesting to take that colon cleanser ad apart. I'm sure they are claiming many, many (dubious) health benefits. I'd like to see what the ingredients are, also.

When folks start talkin' toxins, I always ask "What toxins?".

Go Barb, Go Barb! :chuckle

At our facility, we have had about three 22 week survisors over about 6 years (that I know about- we were HIPPA before HIPPA was cool). One came back to visit. She was 8 months old, weighed about 8 lbs, and, as I chatted with her mom briefly, I watched her eyes roll around continuously and independently of each other. She still had o2, apnea monitor and G-tube. I did not ask the mom what kind of problems the child had. She was, however, a pretty little baby and seemed well cared for and loved. While my facility does not perform elective VTP's, we do lose pregnancies with some regularity. We are a regional specialty hospital with between 650 and 800 deliveries a month, and of course, lots of high risk pregnancies/deliveries. If we get, say, and 18 week PROM, we will evaluate everything and support the parents decision. An 18 week PROM with no fluid and no hope of fluid may choose a different course of treatment that an 18 weeker with a slow leak and an AFI of 4. There are families that want everything done, and some that are willing to accept a loss and move on. You simply cannot judge people in these positions for their decisions. When faced with such heart wreching decisions at work, you should first be thankful it's not you lying there. Some here know that I have an ex 23 weeker who will be six this month. At the time of my hospitalization at 18 weeks, I was also taking care of my elderly father who was greatly debilitated with Parkinson's disease. I had modified my home to include a handicap equipped apartment for him that included flooring, shower, commode, hospital bed, and wheelchair access, and was still paying for the modifications. And I had an almost 2 year old. Imagine the pure torture of feeling that you had to choose between 2 children and a parent. I had one memorable PROM patient whose baby had his foot stuck in her cervix which acted like poor cork for 4 long, leaky months. He managed to keep enough fluid to give him a fighting chance. He wound up on ECMO for a time following his delivery. I saw him when he was 2, and he was an unusual looking (from uneven development from the low fluid), but very alert fellow. He was seeing an ortho for his deformed foot and other bone problems. In the end, people need all the facts with which to make their very best decisions. Then they need to proceed, knowing they have made the best decision possible for themselves. Perhaps what someone else chooses to do is not what you would choose, but there are most likely other factors that you may not even be aware of influencing their decision.

posted by BarbPick: "If this is so, then why does "go lightly" work so well in a day for endoscopy? They take pictures to prove how well it works, I always thought G I Doctors had strange tolerance...yuk" Because you intestinal tract does have stuff in it- food, that is the process of being digested.

Thanks, Agnus. You are entirely correct.

I heard a commercial for "Colon Cleanse", a product that claims to remove the 10-15 lbs of 'sludge' that supposedly collects in the colon over time. The proof that it worked was in the large, ahem, stools that one would pass when using the product (according to the radio commercial). The primary ingredient was psyllium husk (if I recall correctly). Well, no wonder. Nothing like a bulk forming laxative to increase the amount of stool passed. Am I the only one that knows this? I personally don't believe that 'sludge' collects in the colon in anything but very small amounts at best. I mean, if it were true, how would the nutrients from the food you eat pass through all that sludge to get into your bloodstream and nourish you? Perhaps someone who work in GI can tell us more about what they have seen. Really, these kinds of claims need to be viewed with a critical eye. I'm not saying what you read didn't have any truth to it, I'm just saying I don't really believe it.

How many weeks? If they were alive and perfect (healthy?), why did they die so quickly? I'm sorry you are feeling so sad about it.

"She's told me I'm picking a different future for myself by resisting a change that I'm deliberately avoiding. (Which happens to be TRUE.) " Well, this is true for me also, so maybe she meant you a pass this message on to me! Let me speak to you: At times you are extroverted, affable, social, while at other times you are introverted, wary and reserved. You have found it unwise to be too frank in revealing yourself to others. You prefer a certain amount of change and variety, and become dissatisfied when hemmed in by restrictions and limitations. Disciplined and controlled on the outside, you tend to be worrisome and insecure on the inside. While you have some personality weaknesses, you are generally able to compensate for them. You have a great deal of unused capacity, which you have not turned to your advantage. You have a tendency to be critical of yourself. You have a strong need for other people to like you and for them to admire you.

Personally, I would never have a home birth. My personal experience included a perfectly normal hospital delivery (short and sweet with excellent care) followed 2 years later by a completely disastrous delivery with practically every complication possible. I understand the desire to have a pleasant birth experience. Who doesn't want that? Hope for the best, but plan for the worst. A birthing center would be an acceptable alternative for me (except I won't be doing *that* again!). Full court medical backup would be a requirement. JMHO

There is another thread on the board somewhere called "Would I be considered a difficult patient?" that asks a similar question, but from the other side. In my case (and I've had one of each), I don't care how the kid gets out as long as all are O.K. I sometimes feel there is too much emphasis on the delivery, when the delivery is an extremely small part of being a parent. JMHO

Purplemania- I don't think her situation is anything like Stephen Hawking.