Worth a Read – Fosamax Article in More Magazine

June 7th, 2010. By AbiK

Finally got to catch up on some reading this weekend and found myself flipping through the latest More magazine. The one with Sharon Stone on the cover—looking great at 52 (not to take away from Stone’s smarts or her three adopted children, but my response to any “hot body over 40” (or 50) press is, ok, but has she gone through childbirth?—and sans plastic surgery? if so, then let’s talk; otherwise, get real.) But I digress.

What I really want to talk about is the article by Katharine Davis Fishman that’s a bit further back in the June issue. Page 119, to be exact. Title: Boning Up on Bone Drugs. It’s about Fosamax and femur fractures.

And it’s worth a read—particularly if you’re a woman, of a certain age—or nearing that age, or one who’s been taking bisphosphonates—either as a result of a diagnosis of osteoporosis, or as a preventative measure against such bone degeneration.

Fishman presents her own incredible journey through osteoporosis, Fosamax prescriptions, and then a seemingly out-of-the-blue femur fracture after tripping on a rug. Her description of the incident is enough to bring on a palpable wince in the reader. Heck, I got up mid-article and popped a Caltrate D.

The part of the article I found most interesting was the delineation of what Fosamax (and others of its ilk like Actonel, Didronel, Boniva, Aredia, Reclast, Zometa, Skelid) was initially intended to treat, and where it’s evolved to. Bisphosphonates are prescribed to help prevent the breakdown of bone—to help prevent hip fractures—which according to Fishman’s article have a harrowing statistic associated with them: Around 24 percent of elderly men and women who suffer a hip fracture die within a year of the fracture; another quarter wind up incapacitated in nursing homes; and the remainder typically never walk “right” again.

With that kind of prognosis, if I hear the word “osteoporosis” uttered in any examination room I’m in, I’m asking for a Fosamax scrip right then and there.

But wait a minute—that’s the problem. Apparently, Fosamax has been prescribed more and more as a preventative measure—it was approved for such in 1997, two years after its Read the rest of this entry »

United Healthcare Out of Network Settlement – Progress Update

June 7th, 2010. By AbiK

Ok. So one of our readers, Scott, asked a great question in his comment on my first United Healthcare (UHC) Settlement post. To paraphrase, he asked how you’re supposed to handle dependents for this settlement if you’re the policy holder and you had claims for dependents.

Hey—I’m in the same boat! And I’ve already submitted my request for my information (January 1, 2002 to May 28, 2010 only)—but under MY policy number only. Another “oh crap!”moment in this process. So here we go…

My UHC Out of Network Settlement Experience: DAY 2

Upon scanning the FAQ’s for the UHC out-of-network settlement, I see this one:

(Note: the FAQ’s are not on the unitedUCRsettlement.com website—that would be too easy; they’re over at the Claims Administrator’s website, berdonclaims.com)

Q12: I am a primary insured. Should my claim have information for the medical services and supplies I personally used, or those used by my family (myself and the dependents listed in my coverage)?

A: You need to submit one claim form for each Insurance Policy ID number. Your claim should include information for all family members covered by your policy. 

Hmm. Ok. So the next question is…

What are the Insurance Policy ID numbers for all of my dependents? Do I have them? Where do I find them?

Lucky for me, I’m anal-retentive when it comes to saving files. I hate paper. I hate clutter. I love CYA (“cover your ass” for those of you in the dark on that one). So I go Read the rest of this entry »

Fix the BP Oil Spill Idea-of-the-Day (#3)

June 4th, 2010. By AbiK

This one’s from Dean V. Timely advice given what’s been happening with the BP Oil Spill and efforts to stop the leak. Seems Dean has experience in all-things-pipe given his experience with lawn sprinkler systems. Here’s what he has to say—and it seems to make sense (fwiw, friends of mine have said similar).

Idea-of-the-Day to Fix the BP Oil Spill (#3)

“This is Dean V., do not cut the pipe. You must crimp it closed. Crimp it closed, it will work. I am a under ground lawn sprinkler man for 30 years.”

Got an idea you’d like to share? Let us know. Or email our editor at .

Thanks Dean!

Let’s Get Real about David Carradine’s Death

June 4th, 2010. By AbiK

I’m a David Carradine fan. Well, I’m a fan of David Carradine in movies. I didn’t know David personally, so I can’t say if I’m a personal fan. And be that as it may, I’ve tried to separate out his on-film image from the images conjured up by the reports of his death in Bangkok last year.

The images of David being found dead in a hotel closet with ropes around his neck and genitals.

I didn’t need to know that David. But thanks to the widespread press, I now do.

Why do I bring this up now? Because now David Carradine’s widow, Anne, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the French production company that was managing Carradine’s final film.

Anne’s lawsuit alleges that the production company, MK2 SA, could’ve prevented the actor’s death if they had provided him with “all the best amenities” and “sufficient assistance”.

I’m not sure just what the hell that means, but after reading several (ok, many) news sources on the story, it appears that David et al were supposed to go to dinner on the night of his demise. When someone from the production company (that would be his aforementioned “assistance”) called to arrange picking David up, David did not answer the phone. So the dinner party left without him. David apparently called a bit later and the dinner party was already across town—so he was on his own to get himself to the dinner.

He never made it. We know where he made it.

The above crossing of the wires re: dinner plans is apparently part of the “negligence” Read the rest of this entry »

She’s Not Right, She’s Not Right…Cocaine

June 3rd, 2010. By AbiK

“Don’t forget this fact, you can’t get it back…Cocaine…”

This latest bit of news on the cocaine front may just give new meaning to that classic Clapton line.

Speaking of lines, used to be that while coke users would hear stories of blow that had impurities, the worst they’d have to deal with while doing a line might be a nick or a cut. You know, like, “Dang! I just cut my finger when I picked up the blade”. Or some sharp glass-shooting-through-your-nose sensation.

Ok, maybe some folks found themselves on a bad kind of trip from coke that had other crap cut into it.

But now, a report from Annals of Internal Medicine (6/1/10), discusses two cases of coke users who showed up at a hospital with “purplish plaques” (pretty!) on their cheeks, earlobes, legs, thighs and buttocks.

Seems the coke they’d been using had levamisole in it. Levamisole apparently used to be used for cattle, sheep and pigs—as an anti-worming (more pretty!) agent. It was also used on humans to treat cancer, autoimmune diseases and kidney problems—but it’s no longer approved for such. Because of its nasty side effects, which would be…

The purplish plaque which then becomes…rotting flesh.

Yes, rotting flesh. Skin lesions start showing up due to the death of skin tissue—caused by levamisole. This is the type of thing I’m used to reading about in connection with Stevens Johnson Syndrome—not recreational drugs (and, not that I partake—I’m just passing the info along here…)

So levamisole is used outside the US to cut coke before it lands inside the US. On your mirror.

It gets better—here’s the kicker—healthfinder.gov reports that according to Dr. Juliet VanEenwyk, who’s an epidemiologist with the Washington State Dept. of Health, until a few years ago, coke probably had less than 10 percent levamisole in it. Now, experts suspect 80 percent does.

Well, if that ain’t a holy sh!t moment for any coke user out there. 80% suddenly up’s your odds of snorting some levamisole along with your blow. That would give me pause given the rotting flesh thing.

And, hey, I’m smart enough to know that when something’s dead, “you can’t get it back”.

Cocaine…

Note: the author of this post neither approves nor condones the use of illegal, recreational drugs nor does she use them. She prefers Peche Lambic (summer only) or a nice glass of Pinot instead. Take note as the holidays will be here before you know it.