Text 10462, 174 rader
Skriven 2008-07-13 14:57:24 av Janis Kracht (1:261/38)
  Kommentar till text 10403 av Ruth Haffly (1:396/45.28)
Ärende: summer gardens in ny                                     [1]
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Hi Ruth!

> Sometimes the "let it be" principle is better than disturbing it. (G) I
> had to do my fair share of dusting as a kid, and again now that the
> girls are gone.

I typically hire people to clean once in a while (not that frequently) - if for
some reason I just can't get it done like when I was on those pills.. would
have made it impossible to do anything of consequence.

> (moderately severe, somewhat controlled).  The next time I saw the new
> doctor, I got an apology--he said that he learned to listen to the
> patient (I'd tried telling him that the test wasn't a good idea.). He
> also monitored me extra close after that.

That could have been such a bad situation...

>> there is some reaction going on.  Our other lab, Priscilla, doesn't
>> bother her at all .. that I find interesting.

> It is interesting; you would think the dogs would have similar body
> chemistry.

Two different litters from different breeders, both in from Louisville though.
It is just weird :)  Labs have different types of heads too..  one type of
black lab is called "Block Head", where the head of the dog is very square.
Toby is a 'block head' lab (in MORE ways than one hahaha).  You'll see the
difference when you see Priscilla.

>> Tea always worked better for my daughter.. Our pediatrician said it
>> had more theophylline in it than coffee, but I don't know if that's

> Interesting; I'll have to do some research on it. I do try to have a cup

According to the 'expert of the day' (wikipedia), it is tea that has the higher
amount... :)

>> asthma.. "Mrs. K, please give your daughter a cup of weak tea with 1
>> teaspoon honey and 2 teaspoons lemon juice - and if that doesn't help,
>> open the window in her room and put her head out in the cold night
>> air!!" (g).

> I can see the first part of advice but the 2nd................cold can
> easily trigger an attack.

Well, I suppose that would depend on the type of bronchitis/asthma a person
had.. how low down in the lung the congestion was, etc.  In this case, he'd
seen her recently and knew her general state.  He'd been treating her for
bronchitis/asthma when this one particular night, my daughter did literally
turn gray from not being able to breathe.

> Last time I was up in NY during the winter, I
> made sure I grabbed a scarf to put over my nose & mouth every time I
> went out.  Still came back to AZ with bronchitis.

In her case, she went from turning gray to being able to breathe again.  The
cold night air cut through all the garbage in her lungs.. I was a bit relieved.
(g).  With my daughter at least, it seemed the only time she got bronchitis
(which would then run into asthma very often) was if she'd gotten a cold passed
on by someone else.  I think her allergies to food kept her in a more
susceptable or weakened state so that something like the common cold (that most
people might barely notice having) eventually would cause such congestion...
When it got very bad, the pediatricians  put her on asthma drugs which we were
instructed to give her at the first sign of a runny nose.. to keep it from
turning into bronchitis/asthma.  Who knows how they would treat a baby like
that today, though.  I know they have so many more drugs available.. if I
remember correctly, drug researchers were even able to create drugs that
dilated only the lungs, not the rest of the body, like theophylline did? (boy
did she hate that medication, and I couldn't blame her :( ).

>> Yes, a small amount.. I think tea has the most of the lot though.  I'd
>> have to check, but that's what I'm remembering now.

> Please let me know what you find out; it sounds interesting.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea
Tea contains catechins, a type of antioxidant. In a fresh tea leaf, catechins
can be up to 30% of the dry weight. Catechins are highest in concentration in
white and green teas, while black tea has substantially less due to its
oxidative preparation. Tea contains theanine, and the stimulant caffeine at
about 3% of its dry weight, translating to between 30 mg and 90 mg per 8 oz
(250 ml) cup depending on type, brand[13] and brewing method.[14] Tea also
contains small amounts of theobromine and theophylline.[15] Tea also contains
fluoride, with certain types of brick tea made from old leaves and stems having
the highest levels.[16]

I thought this was interesting:

Theophylline was first extracted from tea leaves around 1888 by the German
biologist Albrecht Kossel. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophylline)

So, from tea leaves, not coffee beans.. and interestingly, the page on Coffee
at wikipedia doesn't mention theophylline but I've read elsewhere that it does
have a small amount.

>> leg which is outrageous only in that a drug that was supposed to stop
>> spasticity in my legs made everything else about 100X worse.. Oh

> No fun! Did you feel like you were made of rubber? (G)

Hmm.... no, just extremely weak legs that didn't want to listen to anything I
"said" to them (bg).

> I had a reaction to Singular a couple of years ago--it's supposed to
> help asthma & allergies. Not me; after 2 doses, I thought I was coming
> down with the flu. Dr. said to discontinue it, which I did, and the
> symptoms cleared up as fast as they'd come on. I saw him (same

It kills me that some of these drugs we are now so lucky to see advertised on
TV sound so bad for people..

>> how they work.. they make your muscles weak to stop the spasticity..
>> too bad you can't walk like that (bg).  I'll stick with coffee and
>> beer - (grin).. Seriously, beer relaxes the muscles more than anything
>> else.  As long as I don't overdo it (grin).

> I don't drink beer or coffee.  But, I've read about beer and new nursing
> moms--it's supposed to help them relax to allow their milk to "let down"
> easier.

I've heard that as well, but alchohol is passed through mother's milk on to the
child IIRC..

> Don't get so relaxed that you're a danger to yourself in the
> kitchen tho.

That wouldn't happen - that's what I meant about not overdoing it. Unless Ron
is there to hold me up (vbg).


>> I can understand that one.  We're used to living like that for the
>> most part.. Sometimes it just has to be that way.

> And it is nice to have an understanding husband. (G)

Yes, that's true ..


>> isn't as bad as it was early on right after the treatment.. he still
>> mentions it though, so I know he's still feeling it - when he goes for
>> longish walks, that kind of thing. So take it easy and keep eating
>> good food and maybe your exhaustion won't be as long lasting as his


> Overall, I am eating fairly well; Steve sees to that. We're using some
> of the meals I put in the freezer before my treatment started; I'm

That's good.

> cooking healthy ones and (most) of the time staying a way from junk
> foods. Steve got word at work the other day of something that will
> change our trip plans a bit but it will give me a few extra days to get
> ready. The down side is, a bit less time for the trip so I will really
> have to keep myself paced the first week of it so I don't crash.

Moderation in all things (bg)

>> seems to be. That's one thing I'd like to get through to him (g) (good
>> food, not junk (g)). Though he and his girlfriend did ask me about the
>> grass-fed meats that I've been buying so I think they are trying to
>> eat better.

> That would be good--and as your garden produces, encourage him to take
> advantage of the fresh produce.

They do, when there is something that they like, like carrots and potatoes -
This year no carrots planted though.

Take care,
Janis

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