Dirty Tractor

Sea Sickness and Inspiration in the North Atlantic

2011-07-10T17:20:00.008-04:00

Inspiration can come from the strangest places. In this case, it came from the top deck of a whale watching boat 30 miles out in the North Atlantic. It wasn't the whales that were inspirational though, it was the vomit.

Departing on a clear summer day from the rocky coast of Maine, my group decided to sit on the top deck of a double hull whale watching boat. Since it was calm seas, we figured we wouldn't get bounced around too much and the best view would be from the top of three decks. Much like a large airplane, there were rows of seats separated by two walkways running lengthwise; we sat down in the middle row of seats.

We pulled away from shore and motored slowly out of the bay. Everything seemed perfect – beautiful summer weather, cool sea breeze, smiles on everyone's face. Then, we picked up speed.

Accelerating to 30mph (fast for a 140 ft catamaran), the “calm” seas did not seem so tranquil anymore. We soon felt every wave as the horizon line in front of us went way up...then down...then up...then down again. After 45 minutes of continuous motion, many on board could not help getting sea sick.

That's when the screaming started. Nobody could figure out who it was, but a person standing towards the bow of the boat on the right side vomited - up and into the wind. Consequently no less than 15 passengers behind that person got rained on by chunks of vomit. The smell was horrific. A second person who no doubt was close to losing it themselves got a whiff; they too let loose – this time over the side but the fierce wind blew their stomach contents back up onto the poor passengers once again. Everyone was yelling and screaming, some started running for lower decks with their hands over their mouths trying to keep from throwing up themselves. Small children started to turn white with sickness and vomit into their backpacks, while their parents could barely help since they were also sick beyond what their will power could hold back. People were speckled with vomit from head to toe – on their hats, over their sunglasses, splashed on their jackets and pants.

About this time I began to remember the scene from the movie “Stand By Me” where one of the characters tells the tale of a pie eating contest that turned into a puke-fest. (Ironically, I also recalled how the movie was taken from a book written by Steven King who himself was from Maine).

Deck hands now rushed to the top deck with sanitizer and paper towels. As they cleaned, the stench of stomach acid lingered and was now getting mixed with the fowl smell of cleaning solution. Two more people threw up – one in a ziplock bag and another over the side. The people on the lower decks were either getting soaked or knew not to go upstairs.

As the remaining passengers on the top deck ran for cover, my group sat in amusement while trying to keep our composure. The vessel continued to surge onward. Little by little the crowd on the upper deck thinned out until just a few remained – determined to see wild whales no matter what they had to go through.

The message inspired from this adventure is PERSISTENCE: In less than 15 minutes after the calamity the vessel was surrounded by whales in all directions - we had traveled directly to their feeding grounds. Those who braved the journey on the top deck had the first and most spectacular view of all. The people who panicked and ran for cover were squirreled away in the belly of the vessel, wiping vomit from their faces.

I must admit, we decided to sit in the comfort of the bottom deck on the way back to the dock, but the memories of our whale watching trip will be of all the action up top.

Fresh Taxes on Alcohol: Opposing Views

2010-09-29T07:35:00.003-04:00

One week ago, coverage of a press release was published stating that new research has found that “boosting taxes on alcohol leads to lower rates of alcohol-related disease, injury, death and crime.” The headline of the news story covering the results contained words that are sore points for Dirty Tractor: “Alcohol-related problems” and “taxes.”

To be more specific, “alcoholism” is more of a touchy subject with us, but “TAXES” is a plain old four letter word.

The press release contained findings that led Bloomberg/BusinessWeek to say that doubling taxes on alcohol could result in a “35% reduction in alcohol-related deaths, an 11% reduction in traffic crash deaths, a 6% reduction in STDs, a 2% reduction in violence and a 1.4% reduction in crime.” But before we raise taxes to help society, let’s consider the source of the data: University of Florida students read 50 published papers on the subject matter and composed a study from a conglomeration of previous studies…

Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for public health, which no doubt has a great cause, we cannot question the study any more than that. Rather, we question WHO would be affected the most by double the taxes on alcohol. The groups most likely to lessen their drinking from higher cost would be:

College Students
Underage Drinkers
Um.. that’s probably it

Furthermore, if taxes are increased substantially on alcohol, the market for bootlegging and illegal distribution could be opened back up. There must be data somewhere on the new market for low cost cigarettes after taxes on those went through the roof – now costing more than $8 per pack in some places. If it becomes more attractive for people to break out the stills again, what will THAT do? Moonshine is no good on the liver or people’s behavior- The study did not take prohibition-type schemes into consideration…

On the other end of the spectrum from the university study, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States issued their own counter press release on the SAME day. In it, they state “this research does not account for the enormous economic impact a high tax policy prescription would have on the hospitality industry and its consumers. Not only would this proposal punish responsible adult beverage alcohol consumers, it would also hurt thousands of employees and small businesses in the hospitality industry in every town in America.” Another good point.

Raising taxes on alcohol in the Unites States is not the answer to help society; the repercussions for doing such would be felt across the world. Any benefits that might be gained could be outweighed by the increased health and societal risks of unregulated spirits and loss of people's livelihoods.

You want to get the numbers the news outlet published? Take a look at the age, sex and basic demographics of the people who cause the traffic deaths, STDs and crime. Focus on educating THEM.

Raising taxes would also have close to zero effect on that other touchy subject for us: Alcoholism.

Do Heavy Drinkers Actually Live Longer?

2010-09-03T06:33:00.004-04:00

After an August article in TIME Magazine on heavy drinkers outliving non-drinkers, news outlets have heavily covered the subject. I for one never bought into the “drinking is good for you” mindset, so the story took me by surprise.

I can understand how a drink every once in a while can help reduce stress and may help a little in the long run, but the TIME piece focused on heavy drinking. Furthermore, the way the piece was written leads me to believe it was more for justification to drink; almost to clear the author’s conscious.

There was a sentence that started to make sense of the glamorized findings though:

One important reason is that alcohol lubricates so many social interactions, and social interactions are vital for maintaining mental and physical health.

Dirty Tractor published a July post on the effect social interaction has on mortality rates (Friends and Family Equal 50% Less C hance of Death?) which ties in with the results the story was written around. What it comes down to is this: A social life helps you live longer; and whether it is at bars, parties, clubs, family gatherings and more, drinking does seem to bring people together.

What is the lesson here though - on a blog that often discussed liver disease?

Quite simply: Be sociable. Here’s an article published in a magazine trying to show drunks live longer than teetotalers, but it’s not because of some mysterious health benefits from alcohol, but the health benefits from the indirect effect it has by bringing people together.

So, for people who are living sober after recovering from alcohol addiction: Be sociable. For people who are battling illness: Be sociable. For family members dealing with a loved one’s sickness: Be sociable… You get the idea.

Healthy Liver Cells grown from Human Skin

2010-08-26T07:50:00.004-04:00

In a modern-day scientific breakthrough involving liver disease, researchers have discovered a technique to grow brand new liver cells from human skin stem cells. The research has brought hope to those afflicted with irreversible liver disease one step closer to feasible treatment.

This was not embryonic stem cell research; the skin cells were taken directly from patients who suffered from liver disease, then manipulated to act as stem cells, ultimately becoming liver cells.

Imagine… cirrhosis patients donating skin samples to grow their own new liver cells…

It should be noted that in this case the experiments were performed on subjects who suffered from hereditary forms of liver disease. Still, not only is this an exciting advancement for liver disease treatment, it also is opens possibilities for new techniques to treat and possibly regenerate other types of organs.

Cambridge University in the UK published its results in the Journal of Clinical Investigation and a brief news story on the subject appeared here.

Photo credit: diseased liver cells: University of Cambridge

Friends and Family Equal 50% Less Chance of Death?

2010-07-29T19:00:00.000-04:00

Time Magazine just released an article about people's social networks dramatically effect mortality rates. Apparently, the cumulative findings of 148 studies involving 300,000 men and women show an amazing statistic: Those with very few social connections had a 50% higher chance of death than people who have many friends and family close to them.

The article did not mention relationships built on online social networks, rather it discussed how the physical presence of people who share a common bond has an undeniable benefit to one's health.

There is no doubt friends and family are valuable to have close by in times of sickness and turmoil, so in some way it seems the studies have proved the obvious. We're skeptical of that 50% figure though, and don't think it pertains to people with severe illnesses. However, if having friends and family around can help an average person that much, surely it would have a measurable effect on everyone; regardless of physical condition.

To read the article, click here.

Changed Perceptions

2010-07-22T18:00:00.002-04:00

A few years back I began a subtle change of how I perceive life and death. It first started when I learned a close family member was diagnosed with irreversible liver cirrhosis. A year later another family member’s health took a turn for the worse from complete kidney failure. It was last year however, when the pregnant driver of Dirty Tractor Racing passed away from a brain aneurysm that my perception of life and death got suddenly real.

I suppose it could be called maturity, and everyone questions what the meaning of life is at some point, but so much has happened in addition to family and friend’s illnesses and passings that it seemed like life’s lessons were concentrated all together in an extremely short period of time. I often find myself relating to what an old Boss of mine use to say: “Stop the world, I want to get off!”

I am however finding silver linings more often than before. A perfect example happened this morning while driving to work. I heard the Jimi Hendrix song “Castles made of Sand.” In it he tells the story of a young Indian who dreamed of growing up and being a warrior chief. As a boy he would “play war games in the woods with his Indian friends.” When he finally was old enough and “he would sing his first war song… fight his first battle… something went wrong; surprise attack killed him in his sleep that night."

Up until this morning I always thought it was such a sad song since the Indian waited his whole life to be in a battle but died the night before it ever happened. Today though it seemed to be the perfect ending to his life though – he was able to die with dreams of a glorious fight and beating his rivals, without experiencing the cold and brutal reality of what it might have been like.

Something didn’t go wrong, it went right.

Unfortunately it seems only through struggle and hardship can some people (like me) see things for what they really are. I'm sure I have a lot more learning to do, so in truth I don’t want to get off the world - I just want the spinning to slow down a little!!

Thinking Hard About Beer Battered Food

2010-07-12T20:12:00.003-04:00

This past weekend, I had to recall how much alcohol is actually in beer-battered food. I was getting ready to begin frying some fish with a person suffering from late stage liver cirrhosis, so naturally the thought popped into my head “how much alcohol will be in this?” The answer is none; the alcohol evaporates quickly as the fish is fried, leaving only the taste of the beer behind.

My second thought was that this particular individual has not had a beer in three or more years after being diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. As a recovered alcoholic, I was worried the taste would cause him to crave it again. It turned out all the taste did was cause him (and I) to stuff our faces with not only the fish, but every veggie we could get our hands on in the fridge and dip in the batter – a good ol’ fashioned beer batter fry-a-thon.

However, my early hesitation was warranted. After struggling for years with medication regimens, doctor appointments, hospital stays and more, one afternoon of fun would not be worth a setback. This was walking a thin line as far as I’m concerned, but as of now the only thing we’re craving is to go catch more fish… And when a person might not have much more time left, he deserves an afternoon at the lake.

Liver Transplant... Almost

2010-04-24T10:15:00.003-04:00

I’m tired of getting startling phone calls in the middle of the night. Yesterday evening the house was quiet, everyone was sound asleep but me. I had just turned off the last of the lights and was walking to bed when the phone rang.

The sound echoed through the house as I stared at the relative’s number on the caller ID. I let the phone ring exactly three and one half times before I had the courage to pick it up.

“They found a new liver for him!” the voice on the other end shouted. “He’s on his way to another hospital for a transplant!”

Unbelievable. All I could say was “for real?!” Everyone in my house woke up and exchanged equal phrases of astonishment. After the call, we sat around the kitchen table and didn’t know what to say. I’m sure all our mouths were hanging open. The fact that a transplant may be a few hours away just seemed surreal. Of all the people who need new livers, I couldn’t help but wonder why all of the sudden there was one available for an old alcoholic. I’m pretty sure he was thinking the same thing himself. We would not be told who donated the liver, or the reason they didn’t need it anymore, but we are all beyond grateful that they made the choice to be a donor.

While the doctors involved were exchanging paperwork and coordinating efforts from remote locations, my relative was on his way to a metro hospital in the back of an ambulance. (He later laughed and said he got a free $10,000 ride). It was just two hours or so after receiving the news that a liver was available that he was in a new hospital beginning pre-op testing. Then he waited… and waited… and waited. Family members started to arrive to offer support and encouragement, but after the initial rush of joy that this may actually be happening, it was just a matter of hurry up and wait.

For a transplant to happen the donated organ goes through testing of its own. This is to make sure that before a team of surgeons performs the transplant they know the liver will be in the best shape possible and it will be up to the recipient’s body to accept it (with the help of anti-rejection medication). It makes a lot of sense from a practical standpoint also; you wouldn’t want a patient to go through such an extensive procedure to find out the organ was bad to begin with. Then they’d run the risk of being in worse shape than when they started and weakened from surgery.

As the whole family waited at the hospital or in their homes for updates the night wore on. It wasn’t until 7:30 am the next morning, approximately nine hours since I received the news that my phone rang once more. This time the news wasn’t so good though and the caller wasn’t too excited.

The team of doctors and surgeons made the difficult decision to abort the transplant procedure before it started. Through their testing they determined the liver was bad and the operation would not work with the organ they had. We were crushed. Every medical professional involved must have felt some sort or disappointment also – it takes so much effort and cooperation just to get a patient to a hospital and ready for surgery. It was then we found out that the whole event can happen 10 times or more until both the donated organ and recipient are a perfect match and in good enough condition to proceed.

My relative made it to the operating table, but never saw the knife – this time. We’re viewing it as transplant practice, but I’d be lying if I said none of us are upset. To be that close to a refreshed life and not receive it…

…Like winning the lottery and having it taken away nine hours later.

Reminiscing

2010-03-06T11:52:00.003-05:00

Lately I’ve found myself saying “remember when” quite a bit. It’s almost like a self defense mechanism to try and keep thinking positive. When visiting a relative in the hospital this week, we had a conversation on the very topic. He’s an elderly patient in intensive care who began talking about his childhood and how things use to be. I remarked how it’s funny his short-term memory doesn’t work, but he can remember events that happened 80 years ago perfectly. In his case, those memories were all he needed to start smiling, even while hooked up to half a dozen machines.

I’ve often hated how easy it is to compile all the situations that are wrong into one ever-sinking feeling; which is especially true for hospital patients. For those of us outside the hospital though, sometimes just a few quiet moments are all it takes to allow your mind to start adding up all the things wrong with life. Those are the times I try to force myself to remember the “good old days” - when hopes and dreams were just a little bigger and problems were much, much smaller.

Forced recollection is actually a technique some top athletes use to help perform their best. They train their bodies to be the fastest, strongest, etc., but dialing-in the best mental state for a competition is another matter – and quite often the difference between winning and losing. Before an event, an athlete may think of a time they performed at their absolute peak… they focus on it, relive the victory, remember all the feelings associated with it… and when the starting gun sounds they are ready to kick some ass.

The same process can be used to feel more like a winner in life. When everything seems to crumble around you, try thinking of a time when life seemed wonderful; when you were happy to be alive. A first kiss, an amazing vacation, even a perfect spring day with a cool gentle breeze and some warm sunshine. For myself, I usually turn on some music to help bring back some memories. For others, there's even magazines about the years gone by, like Reminisce which covers the 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s.

In my relative’s situation in the hospital, you could just tell he was grateful to have those old-time memories to cheer him up, even while equipment beeped and chirped all around him. Maybe recalling happier times will be all you need to bring a quick smile to your face too – and we all know how hard that is sometimes.

Liver Biopsies a Thing of the Past? New Technology Released

2009-11-23T16:23:00.003-05:00

GE Healthcare, along with the Mayo Clinic announced today the development of a revolutionary technology to screen for liver cirrhosis.

GE’s "MR-Touch" system uses low frequency sound waves to measure tissue stiffness, and display the results on a monitor; where soft to hard tissues are differentiated by bright colors (see image).

The technology has just been cleared by the FDA and is a non-invasive method to test liver tissue for hardness.

What this means is a way to test for liver disease without a biopsy should be available at more health care centers in the near future. It also allows for easier early detection of liver disease and early treatment of fibrosis of the liver.

Suddenly, the dreaded liver biopsy may be a thing of the past. You can read the GE article here.

Why are some people more prone to addictive behaviors?

2009-10-21T20:56:00.003-04:00

It's a question many of us ask who are fortunate enough to not be addicted to destructive habits.

We hear all the time about people being addicted to sex, gambling, drugs, alcohol and more, but what exactly is behind the cravings? I read a good article today, which speaks in plain english the medical and environmental reasons many can't control which contribute to addictions.

My favorite excerpt from the piece is:

"...genes alone do not cause an addiction. Researchers like to point out that, as with other ailments linked to lifestyle - heart disease, obesity, and lung cancer, for example - genes merely load the gun, while the environment pulls the trigger."

The article concludes with mention of gene screening and pharmaceutical treatment for alcoholism, future possibilities we'll be writing about soon.

The addictive behaviors post can be found here.

Time is More than a Unit of Measurement

2009-09-30T21:29:00.006-04:00

I’ve continued to hold onto a youthful view of time throughout my life. Time was represented by the numbers on the classroom clock that the second hand would slowly tick past; then time was how many minutes I had left to get to work before the boss would start looking for me; time was how long it would take before a red light would turn green.

Last month though, my view of time matured significantly.

The deaths of a young mother I had come to love and her baby was so unexpected, it did not carry the luxury of knowing it was going to happen (see Dirty Tractor Racing Driver Tragically Passes Away). It left friends and family in a state of shock, and caused most of us to reevaluate our lives. We just didn't have a chance to spend more time with her.

And that’s when is occurred to me- time is a luxury, not just a unit of measurement.

Time is an asset we hold; but it is an asset that trumps the value of all our other material possessions combined. Without it, what good are those materials things anyway? It is our time with family, friends and loved ones that holds true value – good times to be passed on, bad times to learn from, and everything in between. Time to feel a cool breeze or enjoy the company of others is more precious than I had ever realized.

It is this true value of time I did not have the ability to comprehend before. I now see it is much more than the ticking of a clock. Now that my my eyes are opened, I am even starting to enjoy those simple moments stuck at a red light; almost glad to be there.

What are you doing with your time?

Dirty Tractor Racing Driver Tragically Passes Away

2009-09-07T05:12:00.003-04:00

It is with utmost sorrow we announce Jill Cillan Lowers of "Dirty Tractor Racing" has passed away along with her son. Her sudden passing in the last week of August was due to a brain aneurysm.

Mrs. Lowers was pregnant and expected to give birth just one week later.

Mrs. Lowers raced in the female category of the Greater Washington Section-Mercedes Benz Club of America autocross circuit.

Words cannot express the sadness we feel. Her care-free, happy and loving personality will be forever missed.

We extend complete and deepest sympathies to her Husband Robert; may he find a reason to live again sometime soon.

Death by Alcohol in Russia - Taxation NOT the Answer

2009-08-13T05:48:00.005-04:00

There was an article by Fox News published this week showing results from a study on cause of death in Russia in the era following the Soviet collapse. The study concluded that 50% of deaths in Russia are caused by alcoholism; a truly astonishing figure. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev recently called alcoholism a "national disaster" for the country.
Some of the other published results include:

The average Russian drinks 50 bottles of vodka a year

The average Russian male lives to be 60 years old, dying 15 years earlier than his American counterpart.

Russian women die 13 years earlier than American women.

The story goes on however to say the problem is that Russia does not tax their alcohol and cigarettes like we do in the U.S., and if they DID it would limit the number of deaths attributed to drug and alcohol abuse. Taxation is not the answer, and lack of taxation is not the problem.

If Russian alcohol had the same taxes placed on it as in America, it would simply make the poor poorer, and government groups richer. Alcoholism in Russia is a societal problem at large, and one that should be addressed: First with better education than they have tried before, then offer progressive social programs to address the actual causes of alcoholism (such as depression, addictive behaviors, lifestyles), then stricter laws (including actual enforcement of a min. drinking age of 18), then purity laws on favorite liquors (vodka), and then, finally, taxation.

If the issue is so ingrained in Russian life, a gradual change of course is the way to go. Placing major new taxes on liquor right now will only generate disdain towards the government and even more hardship of the general populace. It could then lead to more depression and an increased shift towards cheaper and more devastating vices.

Another thought is that many of Russia's alcoholics wouldn't be effected by taxes anyway; so long as they continue distilling their own liquor. That's where education and social programs would have to lesson the problem, but it would be over the course of generations.

Sadly, there seems to be no apparent "quick fix" to the problem. If any pharma company is looking to begin human trials of an anti-dependence medication, it looks like Russia is the place to start.

What do you think?

Cirrhosis Support Group Recommendation

2009-07-25T16:13:00.004-04:00

On the Dirty Tractor Blog we try to stay light hearted and occasionally touch on emotional and sensitive issues surrounding liver disease. When it comes to dealing with a serious medical condition such as cirrhosis of the liver though, we recognize the definite need for more in-depth medical discussion and a variety of sources for information. This is why we’re glad an email came our way inviting us to take a look at an online Cirrhosis support group located on MDJunction.

The support group is made up of “a community of patients, family members and friends dedicated to dealing with Cirrhosis, together.” It carries articles, diaries and an impressive forum.

Upon review, I found the forum is unusually active for a medical group of this type and contains potent topics such as: "Dealing with the illness," "Fatigue with cirrhosis," “Ulcers on the antrum in stomach" and "Hepatic Encephlopathy." There is also plenty of discussion regarding how to cope with the disease for all affected parties.

If you’d like to check it out, visit http://www.mdjunction.com/cirrhosis, it’s even free to join.

A Dirty Tractor in Sin City

2009-06-04T21:00:00.002-04:00

Every so often, people are put in situations where they are totally lost and out of place…

Dirty Tractor recently took a business trip to "sin city" itself; Las Vegas. We are a laid back group, enjoy the country and like to be outdoors as much as possible. On top of that, part of our mission is to make people aware of liver disease causes and effects. So, when in a city like this, the only phrase to describe what we felt was “culture shock.” The only other people that probably felt more out of place was a pair of Mennonites walking through the ‘Vegas airport.

However, one thing we don’t do is preach against people’s lifestyles. Even though we deal with late stage cirrhosis sufferers on a daily basis, we STILL don’t bash alcoholics, or anybody who drinks for that matter. Why? Well, we understand the reasoning behind why certain people drink more than others, the benefits of light drinking on occasion and even letting loose every once in a while. But in ‘Vegas, letting loose is a daily and nightly event – 24/7.

What saddened me the most on this recent trip was seeing men in wheelchairs and on oxygen playing the slots, 70 year old singles playing blackjack alone and young people passed out on the streets. I guess after dealing with end-of-life issues for a while in the “real world,” seeing people waste precious time in casinos and bars is hard for me to watch. Add in the constant noise and lights and it's almost unbearable after a while.

For those who follow Dirty Tractor on Twitter, you read how we spent the last night of our Las Vegas trip in a hotel room eating chicken noodle soup and looking forward to a flight home. Some may say we are boring and didn’t give the city a chance; we did – we walked the streets, toured the casinos, even sat at a couple bars – and realized after it all that making the most of life is feeling good about yourself and spending true quality time with your family.

I just don’t see that happening in Sin City. “Viva Las Vegas” for those who like it, we’ll be enjoying a cookout in the hills.

Losing a Friend

2009-05-16T22:46:00.007-04:00

Knowing a little about alcohol induced liver disease and the symptoms people show as it gets worse, I've been worrying about one of my close friends.

Living a seemingly care-free, relaxed lifestyle his entire life, he's never hid the fact he likes his liquor. A few years ago a typical night would include a few drinks with dinner, a couple more at the local bar and about 6-8 more at home before bed. His personality was such that he would just brighten up a room if he had a few beers in him - laughing, joking and generally carrying on in the most lighthearted way. Doing this habitually over a few decades has begun to catch up with him though.

Last time I was at his house, after drinking two beers he was starting to slur his speech and get sleepy-eyed. If he were to have two more, I think he'd pass out on the spot. His liver just can't efficiently filter the alcohol out of his system anymore. He realizes it too, and obviously worried himself - usually when we talk now he asks a few questions about people I know who are suffering from cirrhosis - how they're doing, what their symptoms were and if there was any chance they'd ever recover.

It's sad to see my friend this way, but even after scaring himself over the fact he might not have much of his liver functioning anymore, he still continues to drink as much as he possibly can each night.

Some people may say "it's his own fault" or "he did it to himself;" while that may be true, words like that make the situation no easier to deal with. Watching someone you care about lose their health by their own hand is like watching a sandcastle get slowly and inevitably taken back by the sea. The same people that blurt out such inconsiderate things would say "maybe you shouldn't have built it so close to the waves." Well, maybe I liked it there - and maybe I liked my friend the way he was.

Deer Curious about Liquor Store

2009-04-03T23:09:00.005-04:00

Found this photo today. Haven't thought of a creative caption, but think it's funny nevertheless:

Six Year Old Beats Liver Disease

2009-03-19T16:07:00.005-04:00

I just read a great success story of a young boy in the UK who was diagnosed with was diagnosed with the liver disease Biliary Atresia Type III. The child, named Ben, was just 4 years old when he underwent a liver transplant.

After receiving a new liver, tests were done on the original with the results coming back as positive for cancerous cells in the removed organ. Now at age 6, he is both strong and healthy - a real testament to the countless operations he as already gone through in his short life.

Ben's Mom said "He is my hero. He just gets on with it. He is always very matter of fact about it." She added "We're trying to raise awareness even with GPs, (General Practitioners) who won't necessarily know about the disease. It's an extremely specialist subject."

From the story which can be accessed here, these are some startling bullet points on liver disease:

2 children are diagnosed with a liver disease each day.
Currently more children have a liver disease than childhood leukemia.
There are more than 100 forms of liver disease and most are life-threatening.
In most cases doctors do not know the cause or have a cure.

Is Hospital Staff Incompetent or Just Stretched Too Thin?

2009-03-06T12:00:00.006-05:00

After a recent incident at a hospital concerning a family member, I can’t help but wondering what the state of our healthcare system will be in a few years…

A loved one we recently wrote about on the Dirty Tractor Blog was suppose to be recovering nicely from surgery, when all hell broke loose in the middle of the night a few days ago. As we slept peacefully at home, our family member bled profusely throughout the overnight hours. The hospital staff called a single surgeon, who without looking at the patient, said they are doing fine and the bleeding was a normal part of recovery. No family member was called about a possible problem.

The first issue I have a problem with is the surgeon the night-shift nurses called was the one who performed the procedure – of course he’ll say everything is fine, he doesn’t want to face the fact that an operation he performed might be not be correct (and besides that, there is an ego and reputation to uphold).

On top of the wrong professional getting the one and only phone call about the situation, family members should be notified if a loved one is in severe distress. In and out of consciousness, the patient was alone, helpless and could do no more than lie in a pool of their own blood and fluid. I was under the impression that normal hospital protocol dictates a family member must be called in a life or death situation.

Convinced everything must be OK, and not thinking much harder about the event, the RNs, CNAs, LPNs and other staff continued on with their work, doing no more than changing a soaked and dripping bandage every once in a while.

When visitors eventually arrived in the morning, they stumbled upon a horrific scene, which would traumatize anyone not familiar with hospital life. Upon hearing the screams and becoming aware of the dire situation, the patient’s roommate apologized repeatedly – wishing he had known what was happening so he could at least have tried to help.

Only then, when visitors arrived, the staff finally began to pay serious attention to the patient, ultimately keeping them from bleeding to death. Suddenly doctors were called and a swarm of healthcare professionals rushed into the room to address what happened during the night.

What was the staff doing all night long? Why would a patient be neglected during their most critical hours?

The answer, I believe, is not incompetence or apathy – it is a matter of understaffed shifts and overworked employees – a crucial health issue just beginning to show its effect, with no improvement or solution in sight.

In the U.S., it’s no secret there’s a nationwide shortage of nurses. But the lack of manpower (or nursepower) is not the only cause of hospitals with too few professionals for the beds they have filled. The squeeze of heavy malpractice insurance coverage and revised Medicare/Medicaid regulations on hospitals and doctor’s offices bottom line was already being felt before the economy took a dive. Now, treating uninsured patients and/or people who simply can’t afford to pay their post-care bills is causing facilities to take a hard look at what parts of their business they can squeeze some profit out of; or in some cases, at least break even. Most unfortunately, in some facilities the amount of nurses on shifts is being looked at, as are as CNA/LPN support and specialty areas such as IV teams. All this leads to even more work and responsibility for the few remaining staff on a floor.

What does the future hold?

Sadly, the economic downturn is not helping anyone get degrees in the healthcare field. What was a bad situation with the shortage of nurses will surely get worse when nursing schools see a drop in enrollment. And as far as people paying their bills or getting insured? Well it will be a few years before the unemployed become employed. To top it all off – and this is the biggie – right about now is when the gigantic population of baby boomers starts to need healthcare in a big way, putting an enormous strain on a system already in distress.

As of now, my family member has been stabilized (again) and might make that full recovery we thought would happen. Even though things got bad, they would have been a lot worse if this all would have happened 10 years from now.

Something needs to change.

How can Some People Recover Repeatedly?

2009-02-18T07:02:00.007-05:00

Some people seem to take hit after hit and keep coming back for more. They usually end up like the Grandpa (pictured) in the movie Grumpier Old Men:

Grandpa: Well let me tell you something now, Johnny. Last Thursday, I turned 95 years old. And I never exercised a day in my life. Every morning, I wake up, and I smoke a cigarette. And then I eat five strips of bacon. And for lunch, I eat a bacon sandwich. And for a midday snack?
John: Bacon.
Grandpa: Bacon! A whole damn plate! And I usually drink my dinner. Now according to all of them flat-belly experts, I should've took a dirt nap like thirty years ago. But each year comes and goes, and I'm still here. Ha! And they keep dyin'.

I always thought it would be funny if John (Jack Lemmon) said back to Grandpa (Burgess Meredith): “That’s ‘cause you were the trainer in the Rocky movies!”

In any case, a few days ago I wrote an entry about a family member that ended up in surgery over the weekend. That person is still in the hospital, but now expected to make a full recovery from something that should have killed him years ago. This guy has been near death in a hospital bed so many times, and he always makes it through to laugh another day. Everyone was amazed he had lived so long with this particular problem going undetected – the pain should have been excruciating.

Which leads me to wonder, do the same people who have an extremely high tolerance for pain also the ones who seem to pull through multiple major health events repeatedly? The kind of events that would otherwise kill the average person? Is their pain threshold so high they keep surviving when other people's bodies couldn’t take it anymore?

I realize there is no real easy answer to the question, but the whole past week has got me thinking.

I actually know a few other older people who, by doctor’s opinions, should have been gone already. At this time I can only admire these elders and hope one day I’ll be the one eating the bacon laughing at the experts who said I shouldn’t have lasted through it all.

Waiting on News from the Hospital

2009-02-15T17:21:00.005-05:00

There are many types of phone calls I dread receiving. This Valentine’s Day, I got one which ranks among the top calls I’d rather not get.

After taking my wife out to dinner at her favorite Italian place, my cell rang. The person calling knew it was Valentine’s Day and we’d be out for the night, so right away it was obvious something was wrong. When the voice on the other ended sounded frantic, I knew something was VERY wrong. Unfortunately, a loved one was admitted to the emergency room with extreme internal abdomen pain, but with no outward symptoms.

I think ER staff is trained to triage in their first college course. What really messes up their groove is when someone walks in with a mystery pain and not bleeding from anywhere. No broken bones? No blood? No sickness? No chest pain? Their diagnosis might as well be a big question mark on a chart with a recommendation for transfer to any other floor with an open bed.

On a good note, luckily, the family member in agony did not have to remain in the waiting room too long; it was practically empty. Apparently it was too cold outside that night for people to be out doing anything stupid and going to the emergency room.

This is where the tough part begins though – the waiting for any type of news from the hospital staff. When a patient’s pain is not easily diagnosed, a string of doctors, nurses and specialists run a myriad of tests. Each professional has their own schedule and each test’s results take time to read, all accumulating to an eternity of waiting for an answer and next course of action.

In my case, I was not able to be bedside, so to deal with the waiting and stress I had to preoccupy myself. Since I was worn out from worrying so much, the first thing I did was sleep for 12 hours. Upon waking, I then

Cleaned the kitchen

Alphabetized a DVD collection

Moved archived files onto a new computer

Installed 6 pieces of software

Cleaned my porch

Brushed a very large dog who sheds excessively

Ate almost all the ice cream in the house

By this time, I finally got another phone call to the effect of “they still don’t know what’s wrong; they’re calling in two surgeons.”

When hearing news of multiple surgeons opening up a loved one, many people have different reactions. Some may cry, others may pray, me – well, I was hungry for more ice cream.

At this point, the situation reminds me of taking apart a car’s entire engine to find out what the squeak is under the hood. I just hope when the mechanics all get in there they find the source of the problem.

…and I’m still waiting for another call from the hospital…

Economy Got You Thinking About Drinking?

2009-01-23T12:58:00.003-05:00

Truth is, you’re not alone. Historically, when economies take a turn for the worse, sales of alcohol, cigarettes and guns increase. I know for a fact gun shops are packed (I waited on line in a few to be told items were out of stock or simply unavailable), I haven’t seen this many people smoking since the 80’s, and alcohol consumption reports are projected to show a ninth year of steady increase.

There is not a place in the developed world that you can hide from bad news on the economy. From downtown Manhattan to the bayous of Louisiana, people are talking about job losses, corporations collapsing and federal bailouts. The common saying nowadays around average people is “where’s my bailout?” The question may end up being awarded the catch phrase of 2009.

Americans most likely won’t see any sort of personal bailout; last I read, we may get tax cuts equaling around $500 per family for the year. All I can say is whoopity-doo; how’s a few dollars less taken out of each paycheck going to help me or the economy – if the company I work for crumbles and I don’t have a job?!

I personally am getting tired of hearing people talk about losing 40-50% of their 401Ks, or their investment portfolio tanking, or “my stock broker can’t guarantee returns anymore.” Like many of you, we were never able to have those things in the first place.

The people of Dirty Tractor have a saying which helps us feel a little better about the whole mess: “I’m surviving the economic meltdown… all I have to lose is debt anyway.”

And that, my friends, is also the truth.

Photo: The newest shirt at the Dirty Tractor apparel shop.

New Book Contains a Collection of Addiction Stories

2009-01-15T06:00:00.002-05:00

A new book called "Moments of Clarity" has just been released containing a collection of stories about the "harrowing life of addiction." It was featured recently on ABC News and has stories from both famous and everyday people who have tales to tell about their fight with drugs and alcohol.

The compilation was headed by Christopher Kennedy Lawford - a member of the Kennedy family. We try to keep politics aside on the Dirty Tractor Blog, so FYI - the Kennedy name has nothing to do with us mentioning the book.

What's important is the stories within and how they can help others with their addiction issues. The effort seems genuine.

An excerpt from the s ummary story on ABC News:

I thought, "This is bad. This is as bad as it can get." What I felt was just a little bit darker than what I'd felt the day before, but that little bit was enough to finally put me over the edge. I knew I could not exist anymore in that state. I had to either die or change, and I didn't have a gun to put in my mouth, so I had to change, and the only way I could change was to surrender. So I did. I said, to what ever was out there, "You know what? I give up. I absolutely, unequivocally give up. I'm not talking about, 'I give up so I can fight another day.' What ever you want me to do, I'll do it." And I realize now, that was it. That was the opening through which grace entered my life.

The book itself is featured on a Harper Collins Publishers page, and for a video clip from ABC News, click here.

It seems like it should be a good read.

Family, Holidays and Boilermakers

2009-01-04T20:42:00.004-05:00

“Fish & visitors stink in 3 days.” –Benjamin Franklin

With the major holiday season now over, we all have a little more time to reflect on what it was that just happened. Sitting in a room filled with already broken toys, a 8 foot tall dead Christmas tree and burned out yankee candles, it occurred to me once again that the holidays cause more stress than what they are worth.

This year I had made a whole-hearted effort to drink less than the previous years, and the plan was going along just fine… until the thought of family coming over pushed me back to a regimen of eggnogs and beer - holiday boilermakers, if you will.

Normally dealing with family is stressful enough, but add in the extraordinary cooking of traditional meals, the decorations all being in the perfect spot, the house smelling of northern pine (rather than burnt cookies), it’s difficult to cope. Many family members you only see once a year during the holidays, so you have to figure out what it was you did of importance over the past 12 months so you can sound like you’ve got things all figured out.

Unfortunately this year, when it came time to talk about all the great things I did since I saw the family last, all I could think of was “do we have enough eggnog left to get me through the night?” Truth is, I know I did a few great things over the past year, but because I drank a little too much the family probably thought I was a flake again and slightly aloof.

Stress and holidays… It has finally hit me what happened this season – I allowed circumstances beyond my control get the better of me again.

We can’t make everyone enjoy the decorations we have up, or like the food we serve; in fact we can’t even force them to have civilized conversation with each other. Why year after year after year should this be so stressful? You can’t control other people (especially adults) whatsoever – but we can control ourselves, and in doing so keep from feeling bad about breaking a promise to yourself… and making another new year’s resolution to "cool it" on the alcohol.

I think I’ll go pack up the decorations now with little reminder notes that say “it’s my house and if they don’t like how I do things, then they don’t have to come over… PS: stay away from holiday boilermakers – they think you’re a flake.”

Veteran's War with Alcoholism & Substance Abuse

2008-11-12T21:45:00.011-05:00

Yesterday was Veteran's Day; honoring all who served in America's military. VFWs across the nation proudly displayed the red, white and blue, schools taught of sacrifice and bravery, while a few lucky towns still got to hold a parade.

It's no secret that drinking, smoking have always been part of military culture. In present-day however, health trends about our men and women in uniform are monitored and studied before, during and after conflicts.

A detected rise in alcohol abuse among troops should be of no surprise. Fatalities are proportionately lower while all types of disabilities are higher. Of these disabilities, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is prevalent throughout the ranks of veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. PTSD is a relatively new measurable in the scope of war history; it was really only identified in the latter parts of the Vietnam war, and as such, contributes to higher rates of vets seeking VA assistance in later wars as compared to pre-1975 conflicts. Hand in hand with service people diagnosed with PTSD are substance abuse problems. To this day, Vietnam vets fight the stigma of "drunk vet." Hollywood is notorious for depicting soldiers of the era as alcoholics or drug addicts - just look at the character Lt. Dan from Forrest Gump.

Into the nineties, the population of veterans and awareness of their needs had been on steady decline. That is until now...

With the US engaging enemies on two separate fronts, NOW is when the data is flowing again on PTSD and addiction issues. The major influx of combat-experienced young people back into general population has spurred new reports focused on the rising substance abuse trends these veterans are dealing with. The statistics are alarming enough that the Veterans Health Administration announced it is expanding the previously shrinking alcohol and drug abuse programs. In May of this year, the US House and Senate passed new bills demanding the administration expand all substance abuse treatment services.

What are the figures that are causing alarm? According to the Pentagon's "post deployment survey:"

-12% of active-duty personnel returning from Iraq suffer from alcohol problems

-15% of National Guard and Reserve personnel suffer from alcohol problems

-It is noted that combat veterans are 30% more likely to develop binge drinking habits than service people in non-hostile environments.

These percentages are absolutely alarming, considering the US keeps somewhere around 200,000 troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, with about 1.7 MILLION total who have been served in the region during the course of the recent wars. Furthermore, non-Pentagon estimates place the percent of veterans turning to drugs or alcohol at a higher rate of 20% of all troops seeing duty. 20% of 1.7 million equals 340,000 individuals and counting...

Another study conducted by the State of New Jersey on National Guard members returning from the Middle East found that 55% of soldiers diagnosed with PTSD experience "problem drinking." What's curious about this particular report is 41% of these soldiers received mental health treatment for their PTSD, while only 9% received substance abuse help.

Maybe the expansion of government addiction programs are aimed at closing these gaps and oversights... or maybe PTSD treatment is on the front burner, while alcoholism is pushed to the back... We hope not too far to the back though, because there are many young people returning home who have no idea the life they'll be facing if substance abuse is not properly identified and corrected. If a Veteran goes through a PTSD treatment program, but continues slipping into depression or towards coping mechanisms (such as alcohol), they no doubt need identified and given help.

VFW outposts in rural towns across America have long been known as places to reminisce and drink present-day problems away. Let us hope that one day they will be centers for remembering the good ol' days while enjoying healthy, active senior years.

Sourced articles/good reading: The New York Times "After the Battle, Fighting the Bottle at Home;" Reuters "Alcohol Abuse Rises Among US Combat Veterans"

Photo Credit: US Department of Defense

Hunting and Drinking

2008-11-06T21:03:00.004-05:00

Deer hunting season is upon us again, and there are two things guaranteed to appear every year at this time:

1. Dead deer splattered all over the highway
2. Drunk hunters driving their trucks all over the roads, yards, fields, woods, etc, etc

Don't get us wrong; we love hunting (and reaping/eating the rewards), but there are many hunters out there who have had to give up a favorite pastime for health reasons; they can no longer drink beer.

For you guys, here is a song to remind you of the ol' days. Maybe this season you'll be be only the sober one in camp and get to see all the drunkenness you've been a part of, except this year you'll actually be able to remember it:

The FAMOUS "Second Week of Deer Camp" song:

ITS THE SECOND WEEK OF DEER CAMP
I GOT A SWOLLEN HEAD
I'M LYING WITH THE DUST BALLS
UNDERNEATH MY BED

AN ICY BREEZE IS BLOWING IN
THROUGH THE TONGUE AND GROOVE
MY PANTS ARE FROZEN TO THE FLOOR
AND I'M TOO SICK TO MOVE

I DIDN'T DRINK TOO MANY
ONLY THIRTY CANS OF BEER
IT MUST HAVE BEEN THAT LAST SHOT
THAT PUT ME UNDER HERE

CHORUS:
IT'S THE SECOND WEEK OF DEER CAMP
AND ALL THE GUYS ARE HERE
WE DRINK PLAY CARDS AND SHOOT THE BULL
BUT NEVER SHOOT NO DEER
THE ONLY TIME WE LEAVE THE CAMP
IS WHEN WE GO FOR BEER
THE SECOND WEEK OF DEER CAMP
IS THE GREATEST TIME OF YEAR

I REMEMBER PLAYING POKER
THAT WEASEL MUSTA WON
HE'S WEARING MY NEW SWAMPERS
AND SLEEPING WITH MY GUN

HE'S SNORING LIKE A CHAIN SAW
THE CAMP SMELLS LIKE A DUMP
SOMEONE'S DIRTY UNDERWEAR
IS HANGING ON THE PUMP

MUKKUS IN THE WOOD BOX
EENERS PASSED OUT ON THE STOVE
HIS FLANNEL SHIRT IS SMOKING
I WONDER IF HE KNOWS

CHORUS

VITOS CRAWLING THROUGH THE DOOR
I THINK HE GOT FROSTBITE
HE PASSED OUT IN THE OUTHOUSE
AND HE'S BEEN THERE SINCE LAST NIGHT

THEN GOOFUS STUMBLES THROUGH THE DOOR
HE SAYS HE GOT A BUCK
HE WAS COMING FROM THE WAYSIDE
AND HE KILLED IT WITH HIS TRUCK

THEN MUUSTI CRACKS A BEER AND SAYS
ITS TIME TO CELEBRATE
GOOFUS GOT THE FIRST BUCK
SINCE 1968

A Familiar Sequence of Events/Song Lyrics

2008-10-31T16:32:00.001-04:00

There is a song released a while ago that tells a familiar story about drinking. It was by a group called the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Anyone who has battled a drinking problem can relate to the story of going to some run-down bar, or "dive," with the goal of getting wasted on cheap drinks. When the night is over, you once again are convinced you have an issue with alcohol (only to forget about your revelation the next day).

The people most familiar with this scenario are the ones who cannot remember how many times it has repeated itself in who knows how many bars, but one thing's for sure: the motive and outcome are always the same.

Here are the lyrics to "Another Drinking Song," by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones:

Gonna dive into a jive I've dove into before
Gonna haunt a haunt I've haunted
Like a million times or more
A familiar joint Where getting drunk's the only point
To frequent this place
With any frequency at all

Countin' on a remedy I've counted on before
Goin' with a cure that's never failed me
What you call the disease, I call the remedy
What you're callin' the cause,
I call the cure

Gonna sing a song, a song to you A song I've sung before
Belt out a ballad that I've belted out A million times or more
The words I'm gonna scream
And getting drunk's the central theme to the lyrics,
if you can Make the lyrics out at all

Countin' on a remedy I've counted on before
Goin' with a cure that's never failed me
What you call the disease, I call the remedy
What you're callin' the cause,
I call the cure

Just a devotion to a potion
Please no applause
A dedication to a medication - A crutch a cure a cause
What I've counted on to pick me up
Has knocked me to my knees
Before I hit the floor once more I'll call it the disease

Alcohol and Brain Shrinkage

2008-10-14T21:16:00.005-04:00

A new report in the news today talks about the discovery of smaller brain sizes in people who consume just moderate amounts of alcohol... and no, their brains were not small to begin with.

Apparently, research conducted by the neuroscience program at Wellesley College recognized the link between brain tissue shrinkage and alcohol when studying the phenomenon which occurs naturally as people age.

"Decline in brain volume -- estimated at 2 percent per decade -- is a natural part of aging," says Carol Ann Paul, who conducted the study originally at the Boston University School of Public Health. "However, we did not find the protective effect," says Paul, who is now at the neuroscience program at Wellesley College. "In fact, any level of alcohol consumption resulted in a decline in brain volume."

What causes the brain to physically shrink anyway?

Alcohol is "known to dehydrate tissues, and constant dehydration can have negative effects on any sensitive tissue," says Paul.

Before you get too upset about the results of this study, it is important to point out that there was no determination of decreased brain function because of less brain volume. It is an interesting study, nonetheless.

Stop Emailing While Drunk!

2008-10-01T20:15:00.002-04:00

Apparently emailing people while under the influence is a growing problem in our ever-digitized world. So much so that Google has developed a method to perform a “sobriety test” on people sending emails to each other during certain hours of the day.

The new Google method requires the sender to complete a few basic math problems before an email is sent during pre-set times, thus cutting down on so-called “e-goggles.”

It has become a sorry state of the times when there is a need for people to be checked for drunkenness before sending messages to one another. What’s next, passing a breathalyzer test attached to our cell phones before making a call?

Obviously, Google cannot be faulted for dreaming up the new safeguard. As usual, they’re running with unique programs and ideas they think will add more value to their user’s experience. The fault lies in the larger picture of a dysfunctional society that likes to say what they mean once their inhibitions are down.

Here's an idea: we’ve all had our experiences with angry drunks, mad wives and generally pissed off people who are perfect ladies and gentleman when sober. Maybe Google’s next undertaking can be to develop a system to determine if someone is predisposed to such behaviors and keep them locked in their house during pre-set hours of the day? Silliness – yes, good idea – yes again.

Anyway, the new feature is available through Google’s Gmail service is called “Mail Goggles,” and is available at Google Labs.

Obese Kids can Develop Liver Disease

2008-09-08T20:54:00.004-04:00

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease received a boost of attention in the news the past few days. The fresh coverage was from the results of recent studies showing this type of liver disease becoming more prevalent in children; more specifically, obese children.

The estimate given is 2% to 5% of American children over age five have the disease and suggested that up to 10% are afflicted.

With so many Americans overweight and so many children following in their parent's footsteps, experts are forecasting nonalcoholic fatty liver disease to be the #1 reason for liver transplants before 2020 (overtaking cirrhosis from hepatitis C).

Sadly, this type of disease can be averted, but I'm sure it's similar to alcohol-induced liver disease which saying "it could have been avoided" is easier said than done.

The full article about obese children and the disease can be found here, in Yahoo News.

AA is No Joke

2008-08-27T19:38:00.000-04:00

I can't recall how many times I've heard people make fun of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Mainstream America has joked about AA so much, it's become a cliché to say "hello my name is _______ and I'm a ______ (fill in the blanks)." Everyone seems to know this is the awkward opening line in the introduction circle at an AA meeting, and the ignorant seem to get a good chuckle out of it.

People who have actually been to a meeting will tell you there is much more behind standing up and simply uttering nine words. Just to get to the point of stepping into the room takes a lot of guts and a complete realization you MUST turn your life around.

Sometimes going to AA is so embarrassing, people lie to family and friends on where they are going. I knew a lady once who told a few trusted coworkers she started attending meetings, but she couldn't tell your own teenage boys. She wanted to tell them and explain the situation in order to teach them about addiction; unfortunately dealing with ending her dependence on alcohol was so much for her to bear emotionally, she didn't have it in her to bring her kids into the mix.

Then there was the guy I knew who repeadedly joined AA; it seemed like he was on a five year cycle, with each episode harder to manage than the one before. He'd let his drinking get out of control to the point of receiving a DUI - and that was the clue he needed to start turning himself around... again. It was usually not a case of leaving a bar and getting pulled over a few miles down the road though; he would drink WHILE driving to business appointments right through downtown Pittsburgh. He was so blatant about it he didn't even put the bottle in a bag anymore and he'd drive with his windows down. Everytime he'd make up his mind and get his act together it was even more of a struggle than before. For guys, it takes an amount of courage to swallow pride and admit you made a mistake, let alone the SAME mistake over and over again. He would always say "this is the last time I'm going through the program," and we'd all hope he wouldn't fall off the wagon in a few months. None of us would laugh about it though; we were just sad for him.

In any case, it takes bravery, humility, awakening and acceptance for a person to take a seat around an AA circle. It's no laughing matter, and I salute all who do - no matter what your story is.

Next time someone tries to be funny with the AA intro line, tell them they're unoriginal, ignorant and speak in clichés - that should shut 'em up.

Learning of a terminal illness: Getting to the acceptance stage and sensitivity dealing with others

2008-08-01T08:22:00.001-04:00

Sometimes a battle cannot be won. When you or a loved one is diagnosed with a disease deemed “terminal,” the news is devastating. Suddenly there is only one question on your mind; “how long?”

Many of us are familiar with the recognized stages of grief:
(in no particular order)
- Denial
- Bargaining
- Anger
- Despair
- Acceptance

Complete acceptance would seem to be the easiest stage to be in, and obviously the most peaceful. Although it would be fantasy to jump straight to acceptance after receiving terrible news, how can you get there quicker? Is there a way?

Unfortunately there really can be no time parameters set on each stage, and as far as we know, there is no pill to speed up the process. Each individual goes through the stages at their own pace, and in varying order. Some may experience anger first; others might begin by immediately bargaining with the doctor. To further expand the combinations, each traumatic event may elicit a different pattern of stages for each person.

Knowledge of the stages of grief and the understanding that everyone goes through them differently can make your life a lot easier when dealing with such sad news...

It’s very common for one person to make it to the acceptance stage (“I’ll be gone soon and then you won’t have to worry”), and another person to be in a different stage (“What do you mean you’ll be gone soon? Why do you say such stupid things?!”). If each person takes a second to remember the stages of grief and realizes a loved one is in a different train of thought, conversations can be less explosive and more like “I hope I can get to that acceptance stage soon like you did... lets go get some ice cream.”

Clearly, many difficult discussions are headed your way; there is no need to turn small talk into large arguments.

The Secrets to Relaxing before Doctors Appointments

2008-06-27T14:32:00.011-04:00

Most people put "going to the doctor" on the list of things they do only when there is an emergency; right between root canals and fighting tax audits. But when medical office visits become more regular, the anxiety of going should lesson because it becomes routine... right?

It would be nice, but when somebody is depending on the words and actions of doctors to stay alive, each appointment - no matter how many - carries with it a tremendous amount of pre- and post-visit stress.

"Will the blood test results turn out OK? What will the doctor say is wrong this time? Are there going to be more prescriptions? Will we be referred to another doctor? Are we closer to getting a transplant?"

The list of questions and worries quietly spinning around your brain can drive you crazy. How can the patient and family members cope?

Some say to simply change your view and refrain from worrying about what you can't control. "Just come to realize what will be, will be" and "you cannot change what is not yours to control." Few people really are in-tune with such eastern philosophies though. Even if they talk like Confucius to try to calm your nerves, it's doubtful they themselves can let "inner peace" guide them.

A few more realistic stress relievers are as follows:

1. Gardening &/or Landscaping
Many people find it very calming to work outside in their gardens. There's something about killing weeds and growing vegetables or landscape foliage which can be very satisfying. A lot of the best gardeners I know hold in more stress than anyone realizes, then let it loose on poor unsuspecting dandelions and patches of crabgrass.

2. Strenuous Exercise
What simpler way to clear your mind and get in shape than by exercise and counting. Counting reps, strides, laps, heart beats, miles, anything to monitor progress and focus on the basic math of 1...2...3...4...5. And who can't stand to loose a few pounds anyway?!

3. Artwork
Here's a stress-buster people mistakenly think only a few can do. There is a larger "artist community" out there than you think though - you may be one of them. For anxiety relief, crafts and music are just as good as pottery and sculpting. Some of you have enough stress built up to build a popsicle stick house 10 feet high while listening to the "1812 Overture."

4. Cleaning & Fixing
Cleaning seems to have a similar draw to the same type of individuals who can be avid gardners. The people who have the cleanest houses also seem to be the ones who worry the most. It also holds true for clean cars, boats, clothes, etc. Cleaning and fixing things really helps you feel better when there is a lot on your mind, with the added bonus of getting a job accomplished you were probably putting off.

5. Visiting Friends & Family
If you're lucky enough, you have a support network around you who are great listeners. For many people going through tough times, just talking to others and letting the words come out can help more than anything. It helps even more if you can get out of the house and visit someone to change your environment for a little while.

This is an abbreviated list of suggestions, of course. There are folks out there who have their own ways to burn off anxiety; like blasting targets with semi-automatic assault rifles... or surfing the net (and reading blogs)... or taking up boxing!

In all these suggestions, the common element is keeping yourself occupied. Staying busy works off tons of nervous energy and helps your head sort through the distortion worrying causes and focus on what's really important:

If you or someone close to you is suffering from liver disease, sometimes just being with them when the sun rises or sets is more important than stressing about a doctors appointment anyway.

I Wish I Had More Time

2008-05-10T20:20:00.007-04:00

A friend gives her view of an alcoholic diagnosed with liver disease:

As a step daughter who's step father is a recovering alcoholic who now is in the late stages of cirrhosis, all I want is more time. Why? Because I was so wrong, about everything...

When my Mum met Gene, I thought, why is she seeing this guy? My Mother, who can't even drink a shirley temple with out passing out in a stupor, goes out on a date to a bar, drinks fuzzy navels, then Gene has the guts to carry her through our front door?! Mum is just giggling, singing, and waiting to give me a big hug. All I felt was repulsed, this was not my Mum - the lady who was serious, always on time and always had a plan. Gene told me to relax, "she had a rough day, she just had a few drinks to calm down."

Not only did I hate Gene but my Mother also. I was 16, old enough to deal with my own life without her help. My mother married Gene, and I felt betrayed and alone. I was so angry. I was her daughter, and she chooses this guy, the guy who all he does is talk about his cars, how he fixes them up, how much he sells them for, and drinks cheap fart-making beer. When he had a "big day"at the auction he would then drink the good stuff - you know the kind of liquor - the stuff that smells like cough syrup.

Every family get-together ending with Gene being drunk, listening to my mother make excuses for him. "You know how much pain he is in from his car accident," or "it's just a couple of beers," as he can barely walk, let alone make it to the bathroom to relieve himself or throw up.

Eventually I went to college, got married and settled down in life. I was happy, living far, far away from my mother and Gene. Then 10 years later I got the call...

Since meeting Gene, I knew he was going to have problems with his liver. In my heart I knew his drinking would kill him. How could it not - drinking a case of beer a day? I never forgot to remind my mother (or anyone else who would listen) that Gene would pay for all his drinking, saying "that's what he will get, exactly what he deserves." To make things even, I never forgot to tell my mother (a heavy smoker) about the latest friend/coworker/neighbor who was just diagnosed with lung cancer, and that is what happens to those people who smoke.

When I got the call, all I could hear was my mother crying,"Gene might not make it. His liver is failing, he is in the hospital, having all kinds of tests done!" I heard my Mum for the first time - she loves Gene, the man, not the alcoholic.

That was when I saw Gene for Gene, not just his addiction. He was the man who helped my mum recover from the loss of her Dad, the man who would quietly listen to me rant and rave about what a jerk he was, the man who would sell off his favorite cars so that I could go on my senior trip or so my mum could go to the doctors, buy groceries, or pay the electric bill.

When my Mum had to leave her job due to a medical condition, Gene was the one who supported her financially and emotionally. Gene is the one man who loved my mum for who she was and is. He is the closest thing I would ever have for a father. Who was I to pass judgement?

He does not deserve to have advanced liver disease, just like the smoker who dies of lung cancer didn't deserve to die, or the person who did not wear her seat belt and now is a quadriplegic. We are human, we make mistakes, we make wrong decisions, and sometimes become addicted to the one thing we thought would always bring us comfort.

Gene has to live with his own mistakes, but for me, I have to accept Gene for who he is, not what I wanted him to be. I still hate his drinking, but I have accepted him, just as he did me so many years ago. I want for my mum and Gene to have many long years together, for us all to have the best relationship we can have.

For so long, all I wanted was Gene out of my life, and now all I want is more time, time to make up for all the anger and hurt. I want time for my Mum, so that she and Gene can live out their lives as they planned. I want my children to know their grandfather.

I don't know how much more time he has, or even how much time any of us have, but I know now - I don't want to waste a minute.

Starting to Eat Again? Time for an Apron:

2008-05-08T17:21:00.005-04:00

When someone is a heavy drinker, they’re appetite usually diminishes. This is because their body gets accustomed to getting its calories from alcohol. Not only are the calories from alcohol filling, but they are empty; which means they have no real nutritional value. When a person’s appetite for food is replace by an appetite for adult drinks, their body is forced to process the alcohol while being malnourished.

Once the cycle of calorie replacement is stopped, a person’s appetite gradually changes to crave real food once again. The money saved from not drinking beer anymore is now spent at the grocery store (a frustrating experience with today’s food prices).

The sting of the high price of groceries should be lessened by the knowledge that the ex-drinker is getting some nutrition. And with medication (if needed), a balanced level of hydration (with water), and the right foods, that person should start to feel better than ever.

To celebrate the people we know who have got their appetites back, Dirty Tractor Apparel has released its first apron. Boldly claiming “It’s NOT sausage unless it’s made with cows or pigs,” it takes the words out of our favorite character’s mouth – ol’ Jim.

You just cannot quickly introduce an old-timer to the idea of sausage made with poultry. The look on their face when you try is priceless, and the opinions they speak are libel to cheer people up for a while.

Visit the ol’ Jim section of the Dirty Tractor store to take a closer look. Happy eating!

Is it OK to Drink Around Someone Forced to Give up Alcohol?

2008-04-30T20:58:00.010-04:00

When a family member or friend has to give up alcohol, is it OK to drink again around that person? Even worse, when that loved one has developed advanced cirrhosis of the liver it is a tough question in the midst of a difficult situation. The only other circumstance I can relate it to is when someone quits smoking.

When somebody kicks the smoking habit, it's usually pretty awkward for everyone around them used to that person always having cigarettes close by (aside from the grumpiness). This is especially true for the ones who would normally "bum a cigarette" from them, or go out on smoke breaks together. The result is the new non-smoker's friends sneak out to avoid hurting feelings or being reminded that they too, should quit.

In the case of sobriety, the situation is similar - awkward - especially for the people around them who still drink themselves. When the new non-drinker is facing a life or death situation if they start up again, those around them know they definitely don't want them to "fall off the wagon." Thus, the usual jovial attitude smokers and non-smokers have with each other cannot be compared when an alcohol situation is dire.

Sometimes, a forced-sober individual will say it's fine to drink around them - they "don't mind," BUT people with healthy livers should know better; because when the mood is relaxed and people say things in a casual atmosphere, THAT is when a beer would go real nice with this bar-b-que, and wouldn't it be great to have a glass of wine with this baked brie and chocolate cake?

The reality is, when a loved one can no longer handle alcohol and their life is at stake, you CAN control yourself and wait to have a drink away from them. I wouldn't sneak out in a group because the recovering alcoholic is probably depressed enough... However, if they catch just one or two of you in the basement with a secret stash of booze, just say you're doing it for them - they'll understand and probably have a good laugh.

10 Main Causes of Liver Cirrhosis

2008-04-22T21:32:00.000-04:00

Most people that have heard of liver cirrhosis will automatically attribute it to alcoholism. In fact, there are a number of causes for the disease; Here is a simple list of 10 of the more common ones:

1. Alcoholism
2. Chronic Viral Hepatitis
3. Chronic Bile Duct Blockage
4. Primary biliary cirrhosis
5. Primary sclerosing cholangitis.
6. Nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases
7. Abnormal Storage of Copper or Iron
8. Certain Drugs and Toxins
9. Autoimmune Hepatitis
10. Cystic Fibrosis and Alpha l-Antitrypsin Deficiency

Not surprisingly, Alcohol does happen to be the #1 cause of liver cirrhosis. Excess drinking can be attributed to 9 out of every 10 cases of cirrhosis in the U.S., and is also the third leading cause of death in people age 45-65 (after heart disease and cancer).

A distant second place to alcoholism is hepatitis Type B and Type C; both viruses.

Liver Transplant Basics

2008-04-14T15:59:00.000-04:00

When scouring through the internet looking for info on liver transplants, you soon realize there is way too much information to be able to read it all. While sorting through "information overload," and getting headaches and blurry eyes trying to figure out which website to save as a favorite, I decided to simply start again with wikipedia.

For those of you who don't know, wikipedia.org is the top publicly-constructed encyclopedia online. Its users/editors are fanatics of facts and referencing data, and I have found less errors on the wiki's pages than in textbooks.

For the basics on liver transplants, start with wikipedia It's a good place to begin an earnest search of relevant medical facts - in plain english.

Cure for Cirrhosis Discovered?

2008-04-01T12:16:00.000-04:00

Japanese scientists have discovered a way to cure liver cirrhosis in rats. They believe the technique could also be used in humans. They say the drug might be ready in a "few years"...

If it is true, and a drug is created for people, does that mean it will be ready for patient dispensing in a few years? or maybe just for human test trials?

This is good news though, because it signals that there are PhDs working on total cures for cirrhosis, without getting a transplant. The discovery was made in Japan, but with the way the pharmaceutical industry is going, any drug development overseas will eventually go global, with a timeline depending on demand... AND considering this story ranked #1 on yahoo's most read news - I'd say demand will be high in the states:

Here is the story on the cirrhosis cure.

New T-Shirt Design Released

2008-03-27T17:28:00.000-04:00

Dirty Tractor’s online shop has just released a new T-shirt design. Foretelling of products to come, the store released its “I Must’ve Stepped on a Bullfrog” shirt, referring to an original excuse for a very embarrassing moment.

The idea for the shirt actually came from one of the store’s main characters, ol’ Jim. Supposedly full of goofy and “matter-of-fact” lines for all sorts of situations, ol’ Jim is the inspirational non-fiction person on which Dirty Tractor is basing its style and attitude.

Many more designs are in the works, but “Stepped on a Bullfrog” apparel is available now at: http://www.cafepress.com/dirtytractor,

in the ol' Jim section, of course.

3 Types of Alcoholics

2008-03-26T17:42:00.000-04:00

Contrary to popular opinion, there are not two, but three types of alcoholics. They are functioning, non-functioning, and transparent.

1.) The “functioning” are the ones who work next to us, we might live with them, or see them on a daily basis. These are the coworkers who every once in a while give a hint of their habit, but all in all it does not effect their ability to fit in with others. You might notice a bit of shaking in their hands, or extremely minty-fresh breath after a lunch meeting.

2.) The “non-functioning” we are all familiar with. These are the people who simply cannot fit into society because of their drinking. Commonly referred to as “winos,’ “drunks,” “bums,” and other nasty terms. These folks are the ones made fun of and ridiculed, but really don’t seem to care.

3.) The third group are the “transparent” alcoholics. Called transparent because drinking is such a part of who they are, the people around them hardly pay attention to it; like they can’t see it. These are the ones who drink beer like it’s water, and any side effects are just part of their personality. Obviously not “angry drunks,” or even drunks at all; they just like to drink and in many cases have been doing it as long as they can remember. They are separate from the functioning group because the functional alcoholics seem to stay away from “the sauce” when they know they have to (like at work). The transparent group on the other hand is just happy to drink all the time and really don’t see a problem with it, or care to hide it during any part of the day. They are beyond functional; drinking is part of who they are - 24/7.

All three groups have challenges when trying to shed light on their “problem.” Functioning say they are functioning just fine, non-functioning don’t care, and the transparent group thinks you’re nuts!