Our topic this week is Lupus and how doctors are frequently considered to be gaslighting the patients in their care.   Our guest knows from first-hand experience that when you’re relatively healthy, you tend not to think much about ‘wellness.’ But when this slips away and lupus comes barreling in… your world gets rocked. That’s why she wrote the book, The Girlfriend’s Guide to Lupus, to help other women struggling with this chronic disease feel less alone and more empowered to take...

This week we will discuss Multi-Organ transplants with Zachary Colton.  Zach is 35 years old and recently underwent a successful 5 organ multivisceral intestinal transplant surgery at the Toronto General Hospital in his home country of Canada. The organs he received were: stomach, small intestine, colon, liver, and pancreas.   In 1954, the kidney was the first human organ to be transplanted successfully. Liver, heart and pancreas transplants were successfully performed by the late 1960s,...

This week we will discuss Ectoparasites.  The CDC says: "Although the term ectoparasites can broadly include blood-sucking arthropods such as mosquitoes (because they are dependent on a blood meal from a human host for their survival), this term is generally used more narrowly to refer to organisms such as ticks, fleas, lice, and mites that attach or burrow into the skin and remain there for relatively long periods of time (e.g., weeks to months). Arthropods are important in causing diseases...

Over 200 years ago Louis Pasteur was born in Dole, France. Among Pasteur's major contributions and their benefit to society, the most important is the heat treatment of foods and beverages to reduce spoilage and eliminate pathogens for consumers. Probably the greatest achievement of Pasteur was the process that bears the name of this famous scientist who perfected the technique: pasteurization. For liquids, this process does not involve boiling the product to sterility but simply applying...

In this episode we are talking again with our audio editor Jack Scaro.  The topic again is: spontaneous pneumothorax, or collapsed lung. Spontaneous pneumothorax is an abnormal condition of the lung characterized by the collection of gas in the pleural space between the lungs and the chest wall. This condition occurs without an obvious etiology and can be classified as either primary or secondary. Patients may present with symptoms such as tachycardia and dyspnea. The diagnosis is based on...

This week we will continue our coverage of Bile acid malabsorption (BAM),  a gastrointestinal disease. It’s a common cause of chronic diarrhea. When bile acids aren’t properly absorbed in your intestines, they build up, upsetting the chemical balance inside. Excess bile acids trigger your colon to secrete extra water, leading to watery stools. This week we will continue our coverage of Bile acid malabsorption (BAM),  a gastrointestinal disease. It’s a common cause of chronic diarrhea. When...

This week we will discuss Bile acid malabsorption (BAM),  a gastrointestinal disease. It’s a common cause of chronic diarrhea. When bile acids aren’t properly absorbed in your intestines, they build up, upsetting the chemical balance inside. Excess bile acids trigger your colon to secrete extra water, leading to watery stools. ​ What are bile acids? Bile is a substance your liver makes while filtering your blood. Your liver sorts waste products, such as toxins, dead blood cells and excess...

This week we will discuss a Veteran's hesitancy to receive healthcare at the government hospital system known as Veterans Administration or "VA".  Although many veterans may share the concern over receiving care through a government agency due to the medical care they got while in training or active duty; i.e. sucrettes and tylenol being the standard of care when Jean Marie and I were in training. Our guest, Mark Frerichs, has different reasons to question the quality of care. Mark, a Navy...

In this episode we discuss adrenal insufficiency  You can have either primary, secondary, or tertiary adrenal insufficiency. Primary adrenal insufficiency is also called Addison’s disease. When you have this type, your adrenal glands are damaged and can’t make the cortisol you need. They also might not make enough aldosterone. Secondary adrenal insufficiency is more common than Addison’s disease. The condition happens because of a problem with your pituitary gland, a pea-sized bulge at the...

Have you ever wondered "what would happen if you or a family member had a medical emergency while using public transportation"  Today we feature Bill H. who had a cardiac event after boarding a Chicago Metra train and the two bystanders that weren't about to let these be his LAST train ride!   Automated external defibrillators can help save lives during sudden cardiac arrest. However, even after training, remembering the steps to use an AED the right way can be difficult. In order to help...

This week we are speaking with Dani, AKA, Stoned Zebra. It took almost 7 years of her health declining after giving birth, until she finally received her EDS diagnosis. She was initially misdiagnosed with Lupus, Fibromyalgia, Neuropathy, or chronic pain syndrome.  Her gastroparesis, symptoms (bloating, nausea, early satiety, severe constipation, weight loss, dehydration, belching, belly pain) began July 2022, and after a ton of aggressive testing, she was diagnosed in May 2023.  EDS just...

This week we will discuss a topic that is of concern for millions of people: "Long Covid" and our guest this week is Grace Miller.  Grace is 20 years old, and lives in Iowa. Currently attending college, where she is president of the honor society and finishing up her gen eds. She plans on pursuing a degree in Communication Disorders and become a speech pathologist. Some of her hobbies include crocheting, singing, playing the piano, and learning.  Some people who have been infected with the...

Continuing a mini-series on obesity, we welcome once again Dr. Ifland.   She founded the online Addiction Reset Community (ARC) in 2016, www.foodaddictionreset.com. The Facebook group, ‘Food Addiction Education’ (2014) and www.foodaddictionresources.com (2014) provide free support.  Reset Week  is the first online live video program for withdrawal (2018).  ARC Manager Training is a program training future Addiction Reset Community leaders (2020). Dr. Ifland is the lead author of the first...

This week we will discuss the obesity problem for children in the US.  Our guest, once again, is Dr. Joan Ifland.  Dr Ifland has been creating breakthroughs in recovery from food addiction from 1999 with her first popular book to 2018 when her textbook, Processed Food Addiction: Foundations, Assessment, and Recovery was released by CRC Press.   ​ She founded the online Addiction Reset Community (ARC) in 2016, www.foodaddictionreset.com. The Facebook group, ‘Food Addiction Education’...

Skilled Nursing care, also known as Post-Acute Rehabilitation, is for those who need short-term care following an injury, surgery, or illness. The goal with this level of care is to successfully transfer patients from hospital to home, or senior living community, by providing the tools and resources for each phase of recovery. A stay at a skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and post-acute care center is meant to be a transitional period to help patients recover and return to their everyday...

This week we will discuss the confidence building in children with returning guest, Casey Hersch!   ​ ​Casey Hersch is a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, author, Latin ballroom dancer, health journalist, and animal advocate. She uses holistic and resilience-based models to help children and families cope with trauma, stress, and illness. ​A Regent’s scholar and CSU Chico’s social worker of the year, she has devoted her career to helping children, parents, families, and...

This week we will discuss severe Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).  Our guest is Galen Warden, the mom to six adult children, one being her son James Strazza.  Galen is now a full time caregiver to James due to the severity of his disease.  Here are her words:  "James was a healthy young man until he very slowly, because of medical ignorance and poor advice, became weaker and sicker following a severe case of the Epstein Barr Virus when he was just 19. After a...

This week we will discuss how to avoid toxins when cooking for a crowd.  The following comes straight from the CDC: ​ Prevent Food Poisoning During the Holidays Feasting with family is part of many holiday celebrations. Follow these tips to help prevent food poisoning, or foodborne illness, during the holidays. ​ Keep foods separated. Keep meat, chicken, turkey, seafood, and eggs separate from all other foods at the grocery store and in the refrigerator. Prevent juices from meat,...

This week we are talking about a rare condition, FOXG1.  This  syndrome is a rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a mutation in the FOXG1 gene. FOXG1 gene is one of the first and most important genes for early brain development and when impaired, causes cognitive and physical disabilities as well as medical complexities including epilepsy. Every child born with FOXG1 syndrome is unique as FOXG1 manifests as a spectrum where symptoms and severity vary between individuals. Our...

This week we will discuss M-RNA vaccines.  Our guest is Thomas VanCott, PhD.  Thomas VanCott is currently the Chief Scientific Officer for Combined Therapeutics, a Boston based biotech company developing targeted mRNA therapies.  Prior to this he served as the Chief Technology and Strategy Officer for Catalent Cell & Gene Therapy, a global CDMO manufacturing viral vectors for gene and cell therapies as wells as plasmid DNA & mRNA platforms based in Baltimore, MD.  He was responsible...

This week we will discuss how important it is to continue masking and keeping away from crowds as a chronically ill or immunocompromised person.  Our guest today is Veronica Hanway.  Immunocompromised individuals are not optimally protected by COVID-19 vaccines and potentially require additional preventive interventions to mitigate the risk of severe COVID-19. Veronica, a Latina mother and first generation Geography PhD student in her second year, is 35 years old and has had a lifetime of...

 This week we will be talking about Sick Sinus Syndrome (SSS) with Audrey Brown.  Sick sinus syndrome (SSS) is a disease in which the heart's natural pacemaker located in the upper right heart chamber (right atrium) becomes damaged and is no longer able to generate normal heartbeats at the normal rate. It may be a result of other medical conditions that damage the sinoatrial node (SA node) over time or may be a result of certain medicines. This can result in heartbeats that are too slow, too...

This week we are talking once again with Dan "Dry Dock" Shockley on "Staying Healthy as a Veteran"  For Veteran's Day this year we are featuring Dan because even though he has been dealt a hard blow with a hereditary colon cancer gene he is not letting that slow him down one bit!  As a matter of fact he is thriving and advocating for others around the globe as a hereditary colon cancer ambassador!  Here is some more about Dan:   Dan Dry Dock Shockley, retired U.S. Navy veteran;...

On today’s show, we are talking about knee replacement surgery with Dawn Richardson, a friend I met in my last couple of years in the Army. Dawn is a retired Navy Captain, former restaurant manager, and former Bed and Breakfast owner who is delighted to say she's now retired and finds fulfillment in her volunteer activities and personal pursuits.  About 4% of people 50 and older have knee replacements.  At age 80, that number is above 10%. The average age is 65 and more women than men have...