I agree, women should be able to try this if they want.
Category Archives: Health
Intermittent Fasting
The health evidence continues to pour in.
Most days I don’t eat anything until dinner time, unless I’m traveling, or doing a business/social lunch.
Healthcare Insanity
I just got the doctor’s bill for my back problems. The doctor’s visit was $900, which seems crazy high to me for five minutes with her, but the insurance paid for it. The X-ray was a couple hundred bucks, but the insurance covered that, too.
But the insurance didn’t cover all of the back brace (which I only wore for a day or two, after deciding it wasn’t doing me much good). It only covered $4350 dollars, and I got stuck with the bill for the other $644. Yes, that’s right; they charged five effing grand for a lumbar-support brace.
After Christmas, I’m going to raise hell. There has to be some kind of mistake. If not, I’m going into the back-brace business.
[Update a while later]
Note: I haven’t been billed for the MRI yet. I can’t wait.
Hair Loss
It may become optional. This doesn’t sound like it would help people who have already lost hair, though.
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Wow. This guy had to have his spine broken in four places to be able to straighten up. Mars researcher Tanya Harrison suffers from this disease (and I’m always impressed by her accomplishments despite it). I hope they can come up with a cure eventually, if not sooner.
Coffee
I choke the stuff down every morning on faith, but this is the first time I’ve heard about it as a product for skin care.
My Back Problem
I had an appointment for an epidural on Monday, but after reading up on it, I decided to cancel. Seems like some risk involved, and I’m not in enough pain to bother. I really just need some strength training in my lower back. Unfortunately, the earliest appointment I could get for an evaluation for physical therapy is Boxing Day.
But I am feeling back to normal (that is, somewhat stiff in the morning when I get out of bed, but more limber once I start moving around, with little pain). I’ve been getting gradually better for the past couple weeks (it’s hard to believe that it’s been four weeks since it started). I managed a trip to DC this week with quite a bit of walking, including carrying a suitcase up and down stairs, and putting it in and getting it out of an overhead, so I think I need something more prophylactic at this point, so it doesn’t happen again.
Teaching Kids About Nutrition
The CDC says that schools aren’t doing enough of it.
That seems like good news to me, given how terrible the nutrition advice would be.
A Health-Care Win
Thanks to Trump, hospitals will have to disclose prices for procedures starting in 2021.
What a concept.
[Late-morning update]
Hospitals sue to be allowed to keep their prices secret.
Gosh, it’s almost as though they have something to hide.
Back Update
The bad news is that I can’t get an epidural until December 16th. The good news is that maybe I don’t need it. I’m no longer in back pain, though the problem has migrated lower into my upper thigh, making me a little gimpy. On the other hand, that’s getting better, too. At this rate, I should be back to normal this weekend. Now I have to start some strength training to prevent a recurrence.