What is in our Vitamins? Featuring Avenleigh (5 yo)
The Pharmacist Answers Podcast
Avenleigh wants to know what is in our vitamins and why do we take them, so she asks the pharmacist!
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Episode 117 - Voice Troubles
The Pharmacist Answers Podcast
Laryngitis, known as inflammation of the larynx, is the most common cause of hoarseness and voice loss. It is very common in viral infections, such as a cold, flu, or adenovirus. Acute laryngitis is caused by an illness, while chronic laryngitis may be a secondary symptom of another problem.
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Episode 116 - Voice
The Pharmacist Answers Podcast
Notes coming soon!
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Episode 115 - Gag Reflex
The Pharmacist Answers Podcast
The gag reflex, as well as other pharyngeal reflexes, protect you from choking and ingesting improper things. If it does not follow the proper swallowing procedure, rarely does it get permission to enter.
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Episode 114 - Bad Breath
The Pharmacist Answers Podcast
Halitosis, aka bad breath, can have many causes. Some bad breath you can prevent with the choices you make, but some bad breath can be a sign of a more serious issue or disease.
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Episode 113 - Dysphagia
The Pharmacist Answers Podcast
While dysphagia can be very uncomfortable and lead to some unwanted side effects, the biggest concern is with the risk of aspiration, or breathing food or drink into the lungs, that leads to pneumonia.
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Episode 112 - Swallowing
The Pharmacist Answers Podcast
You never think to swallow until you start talking about swallowing. The voluntary swallowing process must be initiated before the involuntary swallowing reflexes take over. This includes when you go to the dentist and while you are sleeping!
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Episode 111 - Tonsillectomy
The Pharmacist Answers Podcast
The what, why, and how of a tonsillectomy. While a tonsillectomy is a frequent surgery for kids and adults, it is still surgery and requires preparation and care before during and after.
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Episode 110 - Tonsils
The Pharmacist Answers Podcast
Your tonsils are in the back of your throat. You can see them, you can feel them. They help protect you but can be a big pain while they do it.
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Episode 109 - Metallic Taste
The Pharmacist Answers Podcast
Over 250 medications can causes changes in taste. A metallic taste is the most common. Some are secreted in the saliva, others disrupt receptors or signals.
info_outlineAllergy Basics
Anaphylaxis = an out of control allergic reaction that can be life-threatening if medical treatment is not sought immediately
EpiPens are a first-step self-treatment in the case of a major allergic reaction or anaphylaxis.
My Allergy Testing Experience
I got 33 injections!!
Allergy testing started with a serum test as a baseline - just to see how strongly my histamine reaction was.
The injections are sub-dermal (under the dermis layer of the skin). It's the same level if injection that a TB skin test is done (to see if you've been exposed to tuberculosis).
The next step was a prick-test or scratch test - these plastic claw things that poke down in my forearms. This test required me to sit completely still for 20 minutes. COMPLETE TORTURE!
Numbers 1-20 are plants (trees, grasses, flowers). C = cat. D = dog (Good news - I'm not allergic to dogs!) M = skin mites (don't think about this one too hard). CL = cockroaches. The other letters are household and common molds.
The skin pricks on my forearm was a preliminary test to determine how much serum she was going to inject of each in my upper arms. The mites injection hurt the worse of all of them, but i had minimal reaction.
Slowest tattoo EVAR!
My Results
One of my higher reactions was to Fescue (this is the type of grass that Ken grows on the farm as hay to feed the cows!)
The one the nurse was most concerned about was Cocklebur.
They didn't want me to wash the mold markings off until I go in for a delayed reading a few days later.
The next step that they prefer you do is allergy shots - 2 years of weekly injections of what you're allergic to in hopes to desensitize you to those triggers. NOPE! Not doing it!
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Music Credits: “Radio Martini” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/