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Viral gastroenteritis sucks

It all started with little F’er 2.2 having some diarrhea. No biggie – it happens, or so they say.  Of course, it quickly turned into painful diaper rash on top of diarrhea.  Still nothing I haven’t been through before. But then little F’er 2.1 started to act crabby and seemed a little warm.  Then the diarrhea came from 2.1 as well.  And then the painful diaper rash.  And then more… Read More »Viral gastroenteritis sucks

Seinfeld solution

I just noticed it today. A funky smell when I got into the car. I don’t think it was there this morning, but it was definitely there when I went to run some errands at lunch time. Now to try to figure it out.   Yesterday evening the little F’rs did eat some chicken nuggets in the back seat but I don’t think they dropped any. There was one or… Read More »Seinfeld solution

What is it about matzo that makes us constipated?

Having just finished another year of Passover, I’m reminded of why Moses asked the Pharoah to “Let my people go”.  In the past, the saying had to do with being released from slavery, but in modern times the saying has more to do with the gastrointestinal consequences of the ritual intake of foods without leavening. Passover is the 8 day holiday in the Spring where Jews around the world celebrate… Read More »What is it about matzo that makes us constipated?

Recreational water illnesses for fun

Being spring break where I have the little F’ers for a week, I decided to take the four of them to the neighboring water park.  Oh how I love the smell of chlorine (not really).  It at least gives me the (probably) false sense of security that everything is being disinfected.  Aside from one of the little F’ers farting on the way there, and me worrying that they had contracted… Read More »Recreational water illnesses for fun

Don’t need to overcook that matzah brei

I made fried matzo also known as matzah brei this morning for me and the little F’ers.  I am not much of a cook, but usually I make pretty good fried matzo.  I couldn’t find my usual recipe so I think I made it a little different today (although I’m not sure how many different recipes there can really be – maybe just different ratios of egg to matzo).  As… Read More »Don’t need to overcook that matzah brei

Rat Droppings, GI Symptoms, and Hypochondriasis

I discovered a tag line for my blog:  “Learning Medicine Through Hypochondriasis”.  It came to me yesterday at our Seder when everyone was sharing their illness concerns and it became clear that we are a genetically hypochondriacal family.  Nonetheless, I realized that I was most motivated to learn issues in medicine when I was worried that I was dying from the particular illness. As I mentioned in my earlier post about rat… Read More »Rat Droppings, GI Symptoms, and Hypochondriasis

Rat Droppings in the Grill

After the nice cold winters we get in the Midwest, we took off the cover to our new grill we bought last year and the smell caused a flashback.  Not quite to PTSD criteria, but bad nonetheless.  Yes – as the title of the post gives away, there were rat droppings in the grill, or at least somewhere in the vicinity.  I’m sure it was the nice warm, sheltered cover… Read More »Rat Droppings in the Grill