Happy National Plumber's Day

Happy National Plumber's Day! Do you live in one of the United States of America's Cloggiest Cities? Are you like us and have a toilet that requires tlc?

Bad Tummy Trouble Blogger

I haven't had much to say lately. The tummy troubles seem to have hit a nothing new point. Most days they are not too bad. More and more weeks go by where I don't go for a couple of days then make up for it all in one night. I really won't complain about that, since as we all know, it is easier to deal with tummy troubles at home than at work.

I am scheduled to have another colonoscopy on May 17. This time at the hospital so I imagine they are going to lasso the mystery bump at that time. I am not thrilled about it but maybe once that is done, doc will chill a bit.

tummy troubles, crohns, colitis, IBD, colonoscopy

Tummy Turn Offs

The people at Pennington Biomedical Research (Part of LSU) are doing studies on why the GI system shuts down and reject nutrition...for instance creating nausea and the like. This is all very interesting since of course, I as the tummy troubled one have my issues with nausea. I think also if they can solve all these mysteries, the research could lead to treatments for IBD as well as other GI problems. (YAY!)

It seems that the immune system uses a protein called TNR to fight disease, in part by causing normal GI function to stop, all well and good until it goes a bit overboard.

Thalidomide blocks TNR, however, that isn't really a great drug for a number of reasons, primarily really bad birth defects related to its use in the 1950s.

thalidomide, lsu, research, tummy troubles, Crohns, IBD, Ulcerative Colitis, autoimmune

Hand Washing

Washing hands is not fun, not usually. Getting sick is less fun. Getting sick because someone else didn't wash their hands happens ALL. OF. THE. TIME. It happens to you. It happens to me. It happens to folks with even less immune protection than me. I won't even tell you the horrid things I have learned from working in food safety land. Let us just say...the mayo in potato salad isn't the biggest food safety thing you should worry about at the party.

So, of course, at least I, would like for better handwashing habits to catch on like wildfire. So would the folks at Iowa State University Extension. They currently have a survey about which handwashing billboard you most would like to see, so go wash your hands and VOTE for your favorite.

food safety, food poisoning, billboards, handwashing

Spa Of Embarrassing Illnesses

UKTV Style : TV Guide : Programmes : Spa of Embarassing Illnesses : Spa Of Embarrassing Illnesses: Episode Guide: "It's estimated that 75% of people in the UK suffer from an embarrassing illness such as IBS, excessive sweating, bloating, obesity, psoriasis and piles."

Interesting idea for a reality tv show, though one has to growl about the fact that presumably these folks are going to be fixed with these alternative treatments...thus leading the "caring", "concerned" folks to have just one more thing to point to when they say "I saw on tv where all that someone with _______ had to do was stop _________ (or take up yoga, go to a ___________) and they were cured!" It might be true in some cases, but in more cases I think it tends to make the person feel like they are sick because it is their own fault.

On Target

On Target by Marcel Neundörfer: "Recessed into a urinal is a pressure-sensitive display screen. When the guest uses it, he triggers an interactive game, producing images and sound. The reduced size of the “target” improves restroom hygiene and saves on cleanings costs"

Ok, not tummy trouble related, but bathroom related.