#pregnancy and diabetes medicine

[heardatmedschool]

“What a stress test is for the heart, pregnancy is for the pancreas.”

About gestational diabetes.

[hrpdfrisco]

Pregnancy Doctors Near me

When you’re expecting a child, you need experts on your team to help guide you every step of the way. At High Risk Pregnancy Doctors in Frisco, Texas, Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist Violetta Lozovyy, MD, and her team provide high-quality care with a hands-on approach.

High-Risk Pregnancy Doctors practice is dedicated to the highly-accessible, patient-centered experience. The team understands that whether you are low risk, the low risk that can become a high risk, or have prior risks associated with a high risk pregnancy, you need expert care. As specialists in Maternal-Fetal Medicine, High Risk Pregnancy Doctors offer a wide range of services including extended hours for your flexibility to access the care you need.

Preparedness is essential when you’re expecting a child – make sure you have the best team behind you to help you succeed. Call High Risk Pregnancy Doctors to make an appointment or book one online today.

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved in our archive

"No big deal." "Just a cold." "Back to normal."

The proportion of babies born with a congenital heart abnormality increased by 16 per cent after the first year of the pandemic, according to research at City St George's, University of London and published today in Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Heart defects are the most common type of anomaly that develop before a baby is born, with around 13 babies diagnosed with a congenital heart condition every day in the UK and impacting one in 110 births globally . These include defects to the baby's heart valves, the major blood vessels in and around the heart, and the development of holes in the heart.

In over 18 million births, researchers analysed data from US birth certificates from the Centre of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) between December 2016 and November 2022 to evaluate the effect of the pandemic on the number of babies born with a congenital heart defect.

They compared the number of babies born with a congenital heart condition every month before the Covid-19 pandemic (1st December 2016 to 30th November 2019) with those during the pandemic (1st December 2020 to 30th November 2022).

This data was then compared to the number of babies born with Down's Syndrome - a genetic condition not affected by the virus. This was to help ascertain if any differences observed might have been due to Covid-19, or if they were a result of other factors including limited access to antenatal services during the pandemic.

A total of 11,010,764 births before and 7,060,626 births during the pandemic were analysed. Data was adjusted to account for mother's BMI, diabetes and blood pressure before pregnancy, age, number of times they had given birth and the season in which prenatal care started.

The number of births with a congenital heart condition increased by 16% after the first year of the pandemic, with 65.4 cases per 100,000 live births compared to 56.5 per 100,000 births in the period studied before the pandemic.

The number of babies born with Down Syndrome did not change for the duration of the study, suggesting that the increase in fetal heart defects were not due to a disruption of health services.

Studying this large US dataset has revealed an unexpected picture for how the pandemic has affected the hearts of unborn babies, but we need to untangle the reasons for this link. We need to determine if the SARS-CoV-2 virus directly causes the development of fetal heart problems during pregnancy, and if so, how the virus makes these changes in the heart.

We don't have this type of data set available in the UK, but it's important to see if this pattern is seen in other parts of the world.

Covid-19 is still circulating and is easier to catch in the winter months. These results act as an important reminder for pregnant women to get their Covid-19 vaccinations to help protect themselves and their baby."

Professor Asma Khalil, lead author and Professor of Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Medicine at City St George's, University of London

Source: City St George's, University of London

Journal reference: Khalil, A., et al. (2024). Congenital heart defects during COVID‐19 pandemic. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology. doi.org/10.1002/uog.29126. obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/uog.29126

[macgyvermedical]

Hi , I want to get an IUD that would last for a long time becuase idk what the fuck admistration would do with some of the contraception laws and I am just afraided because i just have some weird instances of groping and I am just thinking the worst and want to protect myself at all cost for not having a baby yet I am 21 and I don’t see hat for myself right now. I made th mistake of bringing it up to my mother and she just deduces everything to if you do not have a boyfriend then don’t get one and don’t artificial chemical in your body so idk man should I get one or not

Everything in medicine is a balance game. When we give a medication or therapy, our hope is always that the benefit outweighs the side effects. That being said, there is no medication or therapy that will be 100% good for everyone who takes it. And that's just where we are right now in technology.

When it comes to birth control, there can definitely be side effects. The copper IUD causes heavier and sometimes more painful periods and the hormonal IUDs can cause cramping, spotting, and acne (especially in the first 3 months). But these pale in comparison to the medical risks of pregnancy, which include preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, placenta previa, hyperemesis gravidarum, and many more problems that can happen to the mother or the fetus and can be life threatening.

Some people are willing to knowingly take the risks of pregnancy because they want a child, and that child it worth it to them. But if you don't want to be pregnant and there's a chance you might become pregnant, even if it's slim, the case literally comes down to would you prefer the side effects of a long term reversible birth control option like an IUD, or the risks associated with a pregnancy (plus, you know, the kid that comes with it).

If you're worried about chemicals (which is a whole other topic), consider a non-hormonal method like the copper IUD (you can get it even if you've never given birth). It's literally a piece of copper that creates a little bit of inflammation in your uterus that is toxic to sperm and eggs. It can work for up to 12 years and is 99% effective at preventing pregnancy.

All of that to say, you're 21 years old. Legally you can make your own choices about your body and as long as you can get a ride and pay for the procedure (or have it covered by insurance), your mom doesn't need to know.

[greenwitchcrafts]

Sage

Salvia officinalis

Known as: Common sage, green sage, garden sage, meadow sage, culinary sage & true sage

Related plants: A member of the of the mint family Lamiaceae that includes plants such as basil, mint, rosemary, sage, savory, marjoram, oregano, hyssop, thyme, lavender & perilla as well as catnip, salvia, bee balm, wild dagga & oriental motherwort.

Parts used: Leaves & stems

Habitat and cultivation: This evergreen subshrub is native to the Mediterranean region with it's mild to cool, rainy winters��& warm to hot, dry summers.

Plant type: Perennial

Region: Zone 5-8 your sage will grow as a hardy perennial. However in the humid climates of zones 9 & farther south, sage is usually an annual, as it does not easily tolerate summer heat & humidity.

Harvest: Harvest lightly in the first year to ensure the plant grows fully. After the first year, be sure to leave a few stalks so that the plant can rejuvenate in the future & If fully established, one plant can be harvested up to three times in one season.

Planting tips: Plant in full sun & plants should be two feet apart. Sage should be planted in well draining soil like a sandy or loamy soil with good drainage. Wet soils can cause rot and be fatal to the plant. The easiest and best way to start sage is from a small plant, but you can also sow seeds up to two weeks before the last frost date.

Medicinal information: Taking sage by mouth seems to improve memory and thinking skills in healthy adults & taking it for four weeks can improve menopause symptoms. One study found that drinking tea made from sage both raised antioxidant defenses and lowered LDL or “bad” cholesterol. It also could be used for pain after surgery, lung cancer, sore throat, sunburn, and many other conditions. Sage leaves have been used in traditional medicine as a treatment for diabetes.

Cautions: Sage is possibly unsafe when taken in high doses or for a long time due to a chemical called thujone. Too much thujone can cause seizures and damage the liver and nervous system. Thujone can also bring on a menstrual period, which could cause a miscarriage so taking sage during pregnancy is not advised. It may also reduce milk production while chest feeding.

Magickal properties

Gender: Masculine

Planet: Jupiter

Element: Air

Deities: Chiron, Consus, Jupiter, Obatala & Zeus

Magickal uses:

• Use the leaves for tea for communion of Jupiter or in any workings involved with the planet & grounding

• Burn to find clarity & wisdom while asking difficult questions

• Write a wish on Sage leaf and burn it to release your intention

• Place a Sage leaf in your wallet to attract money

• Include in feminine fertility spells to boost your chances of success

• Add Sage oil incense or herbs to any spell to temper the results with wisdom

• Burn during a funeral & memorial to facilitate healthy grief and bonding with the spirits of those who passed on

• Use spells to alleviate grief & steady emotions

• Put in a satchet to carry from protection from negative energies & influences

• Burn to cleanse your home, clear negative energies & increase your intuition

• Rub sage on your forehead before divination to increase the accuracy of your results

• Pick twelve leaves at midnight on Christmas Eve to see a vision of your future husband(without damaging the bush)

• Write your desire on a sage leafe & place it under your pillow for three days. If you dream of your desire, it will soon materialize. If not, bury the sage.

[lifewithchronicpain]

Yeniifer Alvarez-Estrada Glick, remember her name because she is the first woman to be reported* to die from the fall of Roe and the Texas abortion ban. She won't be the last.

*There may be others we don't know about, but she is the first to make any kind of news that I have heard about.

The New Yorker link has limited access and I could only see it long enough to catch her name and find the response post that also includes details of her death. I first heard of this on the Rachel Maddow show. Here are some quotes:

Today, The New Yorker published a heart-breaking piece about Yeniifer Alvarez-Estrada Glick, a 29 year-old woman who died a few weeks after Roe was overturned. In the headline, the magazine asks, “Did An Abortion Ban Cost a Young Texas Woman Her Life?” The answer, without a doubt, is yes. So why is it so hard to say so? Anyone who works in the abortion rights world knows that bans have killed multiple people since Roe was overturned. The public hasn’t heard their stories, though, because families understandably don’t want their loved ones’ lives and deaths picked apart by reporters and anti-abortion activists. It’s only a matter of time, for example, before Republicans and conservative groups claim that Yeni’s death had nothing to do with Texas’ abortion ban. They’ll point to how the young woman could be inconsistent taking her hypertension medication, or the time she missed an appointment with a maternal fetal medicine specialist. They will find a way to blame her...

Yeni would be alive if she was given an abortion. Yet this young woman with hypertension, diabetes and a history of pulmonary edema was never even talked to about ending her pregnancy. Not when she went to the emergency room of a Catholic hospital just 7 weeks into her pregnancy with breathing problems, not when she visited an affiliated OBGYN who told Yeni she was at risk of having a heart attack and stroke. Abortion wasn’t even mentioned when Yeni was so ill that she had to be transferred to a bigger hospital where records stated she was at “high risk for clinical decompensation/death.” As OBGYN Joanne Stone, former president of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, told The New Yorker, “If she weren’t pregnant, she likely wouldn’t be dead.”

This is an election year and we are posed to either re-elect Biden who will appoint a judge that would bring the courts back to balance. Or Trump who is responsible for appointing judges specifically to end Roe v Wade.

There is so little the average American can do about this, but most of us have the power to vote. Please use it. And please pay attention to your local races too.

[aphroditelovesu]

Glad you're back! I was getting worried ngl.

Anyway, now that chapter 13 is out, I'm popping back in with my own thoughts again. It's only two parts this time, don't worry

Part 1: pregnancy (again)

The more I think about I think this pregnancy is scary, not just because it was kinda forced, but just how dangerous it is in general. Even today with modern medicine so much can go wrong from gestational diabetes and an ectopic pregnancy to an amniotic embolysm during burth. Hell, in ancient Greece, childbirth was the leading cause of death for women. The fact that it's twins (even though she doesn't know it yet) puts her at even greater risk.

On the note of twins, I do wonder if during the later part of the pregnancy, if she (and others) will suspect that there's more than one baby. I guess it will depend on how she "carries" her pregnancy.

Finally, while it's kinda obvious that everyone will be hoping for an heir (aka a boy) I imagine Alexander would low key hope for a girl, especially one that looks like the reader. He gives me girl dad vibes, and would no doubt adore and spoil his (literal) little princess. I don't know how he will or would treat a son in comparison though.

That's it for now. The second and last part is incoming soon!

--O-

I finally found your spiels in my inbox 😔 I'll answer them all now :)

For sure!! The Reader's pregnancy is not only forced but there is also every danger involved in her dying during childbirth, something very common for the time. But I've already thought about it and when the time comes, you'll find out. 😉

They will suspect it is twins eventually, due to the size of the belly and also other factors that will be discussed later. Oh boy, there's no doubt that Alexander is going to freak out about this, both ways.

Everyone wants a male heir but Alexander would love to have a girl with Reader and he will have a little princess!! Without a shadow of a doubt, he would love to spoil her and be protective in general with her. With a son, there will be a more old-fashioned upbringing, but Alexander will try to be a better father to his son than his father ever was to him.

[scientia-rex]

Hey saw your post about weight loss and I'm a big fan and it makes total sense. Just curious how being overweight affects pregnancy. I feel like because I'm overweight I'm going to have a high risk pregnancy. Not pregnant at all right now but it's been on my mind lately

Oh boy. Weight in pregnancy is a WHOLE other topic, and not in my wheelhouse--I haven't delivered a baby in over two years now. (They love to show up at 3am and I love sleeping.) The short answer is that if you gain more than the recommended amount of weight during pregnancy, baby is also likely to be bigger, and that's a problem because your pelvis is not capable of expanding, so you run a higher risk of shoulder dystocia, which is where the baby actually jams in the pelvis on the way out, which is typically fatal to the baby within 5 minutes if we can't get them out because they can't breathe and their umbilical blood supply is cut off so the oxygen is not available. There is also a higher risk for gestational diabetes, aka high blood sugars in pregnancy, which also raises the risk of a larger baby. HOWEVER, a lot of this raises questions current research doesn't really answer--are fatter people at more risk in pregnancy because they're fat, or are they fat because they're high-risk? And a lot of people who deliver babies, whether they're OBs or family medicine or midwives or, God help us, lay midwives, will go full-on raging fatphobia, which makes it difficult to parse out genuinely helpful advice from terrible bullshit. Obstetrics in general is the least evidence-based medical field, because no one wants to be the asshole who ran a study that somehow hurt babies, so instead we just fumble around blindly in the dark a lot of the time going "well this SHOULD work" and hoping. Also, racism! Huge thing in obstetrics. Black women have 4 times the risk of dying in pregnancy/childbirth as white women, and of course racism and fatphobia dovetail, where fat Black women get treated particularly badly by the medical establishment.

Long story short, the best way to prepare for possible pregnancy is to take the best possible care of YOU--that means exercise and eating lots of veggies, not because that will make you thin, but because it improves your blood vessel and heart health, your bone health, your stash of nutrients that baby will raid during development, your muscle strength, and so on. And take the time BEFORE you want to get pregnant to find a doctor who delivers babies (whether that's an OB/GYN or a family doctor) who treats you like a human being.

And, controversially, I do think it's best to have a doctor for most pregnancies. Not because midwives can't provide excellent care, but because obstetrics is all about the situations where something goes wrong, and we are very bad at predicting who will have something go wrong. The worst delivery I was ever in looked fine on paper. First-time mom, dilated fine, pushing went great, no problems on the fetal heart monitor, baby descended just fine. Then baby crowned, got shoulder dystocia, my attending had to take over for me and do the maneuvers to free the baby, baby comes out and has to go straight to resuscitation, and I look back over at mom to realize more blood is coming out of her vagina than should immediately after delivery, by A LOT, and we almost had to call a massive tranfusion protocol for her. She hemorrhaged 2 liters of blood in minutes. Then she developed post-partum preeclampsia, which can be fatal if you don't have medical management right there. We had to put her on a magnesium drip to prevent seizures. That was the worst delivery I ever did, and I'm counting the 17-year-old primipara (first-time mom) I worked with while a med student, who delivered in the back-ass of nowhere, spoke Spanish only with an attending doctor who spoke English only in a hospital that didn't bother with interpreters until active labor, and needed forceps, a technique fewer and fewer doctors even practice. No epidural. Forceps without an epidural is, no joke, something that scares me to the point where I simply would not do an unblocked birth.

One of the major causes of maternal death is hemorrhage. If you have an IV in someone's arm pouring in fluid, you can survive with as little as about 1/7th of your original blood. Red blood cells can do a LOT of heavy lifting. And that buys you time for someone to get up to Labor & Delivery from the first floor with the on-hand packed red blood cells that then go into the IV and save your life. Blood transfusions are life-saving, and they are life-saving every single day in the US.

And hemorrhage risk goes up with subsequent babies. Someone giving birth for the first time is at higher risk for a lot of things, but someone giving birth for the 5th time who figures they're OK with a home birth because their other births went fine can bleed out in minutes.

I don't like or trust the medical establishment, and I think OB care has a LONG way to go in the US, because we create PTSD in about 11% of people who give birth. Maternal PTSD is far more prevalent in the US than combat PTSD. I would still have a medical doctor be my obstetrical care provider, because I don't want to die like that.

[my-autism-adhd-blog]

I'm autistic, and I'm very much confused. I saw a post saying that difficulties in pregnancy can lead to the children of said pregnancies having autism.

I wonder if that really is true, or if it's just another "vaccines cause autism" thing...

Hi there,

There is evidence that autism is genetic and there have been some studies about pregnancy and autism. According to Autism Research News:

The baby’s earliest environment — the womb — is critical: Because the fetal brain produces about 250,000 neurons every minute during pregnancy, experiences that interfere with that process can affect the developing brain in lasting ways. Studies have linked autism to a number of factors in pregnancy, among them the mother’s diet, the medicines she takes and her mental, immune and metabolic conditions, including preeclampsia (a form of high blood pressure) and gestational diabetes. Other preliminary work has implicated the quality of the air she breathes and the pesticides she is exposed to. And some research suggests that birth complications and birth timing may also play a role.

The relationship between many of these factors and autism is still speculative. “That question of causality, it’s a burden that is very difficult to fulfill,” says Brian Lee, an epidemiologist at Drexel University in Philadelphia. This is generally true of research into environmental exposures, and particularly so for studies in pregnant women: Researchers cannot ethically expose pregnant women to possible risks; observational studies can only identify correlations, not causes; and the results of animal studies do not always extrapolate to people.

There isn’t one single cause of autism. Several factors may play a role. However, I’m not an expert in this, so I can’t really say.

I hope this answers your question. Thank you for the inbox. I hope you have a wonderful day/night. ❤️

[hrpdfrisco]

Obgyn Specialist in North Texas

When you’re expecting a child, you need experts on your team to help guide you every step of the way. At High Risk Pregnancy Doctors in Frisco, Texas, Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist Violetta Lozovyy, MD, and her team provide high-quality care with a hands-on approach.

High-Risk Pregnancy Doctors practice is dedicated to the highly-accessible, patient-centered experience. The team understands that whether you are low risk, the low risk that can become a high risk, or have prior risks associated with a high risk pregnancy, you need expert care. As specialists in Maternal-Fetal Medicine, High Risk Pregnancy Doctors offer a wide range of services including extended hours for your flexibility to access the care you need.

Preparedness is essential when you’re expecting a child – make sure you have the best team behind you to help you succeed. Call High Risk Pregnancy Doctors to make an appointment or book one online today.

[pamsimmerstories]

this pregnancy is great huh?

transcription

[pop up: aurora has developed a pregnancy complication called gestational diabetes. she will need to monitor her blood sugar by eating healthy, hydrating, exercising, and if need be taking insulin. but overall, pregnancy should progress without major issues, though there is an increased risk of induction or s-section] [geoffrey]: i got the results of your blood test and you have gestational diabetes. [geoffrey]: since you’re already seeing a nutritionist i won’t worry about it. but we need to keep look closely. but we were already doing that since you’re pregnant with triplets… aurora: but how serious is this? [geoffrey]: if you take care of your diet and exercising… you’ll be fine. [wolfgang]: are you sure, geoffrey? [geoffrey]: medicine is not precise. one day she’s fine and the other she isn’t. but for now, yes, aurora and the babies are fine.

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved on our archive

By Stephanie Soucheray, MA

Maternal COVID-19 infection during pregnancy may adversely affect the development of the newborn's heart, resulting in congenital heart defects (CHD), researchers suggested yesterday in Scientific Reports.

The study was based on outcomes seen among women who gave birth at the Shanxi Province Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine Hospital in China in 2023. The study included 119 pregnant women with COVID-19 and 412 pregnant women with no recorded COVID infections.

The two cohorts did not have a significant difference in adverse obstetric history, which was observed in 1.68% of the COVID-19 cases and 3.16% of the controls. Similarly, the incidence of diabetes, thyroid disease, and preeclampsia were not significantly different.

The researchers did, however, find a statistically significant difference in the prevalence of cardiac ultrasound abnormalities: 10.08% of the newborns in the COVID-19 group had abnormalities, compared with 4.13% in the control group.

Among 12 infants with cardiac ultrasound abnormalities in the COVID group, 11 cases involved mothers who were infected before 8 weeks of pregnancy, while 1 case involved infection at 23 weeks of pregnancy.

Abnormal cardiac findings rising since pandemic The authors also analyzed the prevalence of CHD in newborns at the hospital since 2020.

"The data demonstrate an increasing trend in the incidence of CHD over the 4 years, with a notable rise during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2023. The incidence rate of CHD in 2023, during the COVID-19 pandemic, was significantly higher at 5.46% compared to previous years," they wrote. The incidence in 2020 was 1.12%.

"The significant increase in congenital abnormalities during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the early gestational infections associated with specific types of cardiac abnormalities, emphasizes the need for ongoing monitoring and support for children born during the pandemic," the authors concluded.

Study link: www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-76690-6

[bonefall]

I will say that as much as i adore mom!briarlight, it would be all but impossible for her to give birth to kittens on her own without without human intervention. I did a lot of research about paralyzed cats and pregnancy recently, and was only able to find examples where the cats underwent a c-section to deliver the kittens. Without being able to use her hind legs, it seems like it would be very difficult for her to give birth

I went and checked myself and I need more data, I found a decent but brief paper on it which uses one cat as a case study, but it doesn't specify at which vertebrae the spinal chord was severed which is SUPER important to compare with the human data I have

The paper: Özdemir Salci ES, Güner B, İpek V: Dystocia caused by spinal paraplegia in a cat with superfetation. Kafkas Univ Vet Fak Derg, 26 (6): 839-840, 2020. DOI: 10.9775/kvfd.2020.24689 (WARNING: CONTAINS PHOTOGRAPHS OF EXTRACTED FETUSES AND ORGANS. MEDICAL PAPER.)

If you can get me your sources I can give us both better data-- but the paper itself says that the reason the 4-year-old cat had issues giving birth was related to the nervous system itself plus loss of control over abdominal muscles, not necessarily leg positioning, which sounds a lot like an injury higher up in the spinal chord which makes me curious

(Injuries around T-10, the second-to-last of your thoracic vertebrae, is generally where humans lose sensation of childbirth. Aside from needing to be monitored for blood pressure issues it is possible for a person of nearly any spinal chord injury to give birth naturally)

(Also an article on pregnancy and delivery with a spinal chord injury for humans. Obvious TW for birth here. Also unfortunately the language is not very inclusive)

Though that said, I wonder how much of this would change even with just the one paper I have + sapient cats. Medicine for them is entirely cat-based and they make do with what they have, as opposed to humans where obviously the safest and easiest option is a cesarean.

Additionally, and I guess most importantly, it wouldn't be the first time I completely ignored cat anatomy because it was incompatible with human disability representation needs.

For example I exclusively reference Human Diabetes, NOT Feline Diabetes. This is because feline diabetes does progress from Type 1 to Type 2, and both types are treated with insulin injections. I was personally asked by a disability advocacy blog to not portray it Cat-Accurately, because Diabetic type progression does not happen in humans AND is a common misconception.

Plus several folks in my audience have basically asked me to make a version of metformin (oral supplement) to better represent their Type 2, which wouldn't happen if I was only referencing feline diabetes. (I caved guys it's going to be derived from Goat's Rue <3)

In the end we are humans, and I do extra fun fixes to Clan Culture based on cat accuracy (like making the kitties obligate carnivores and crepuscular!), but I am ultimately writing this for me and all the other queer disabled goofballs in the audience.

(and give advice based on that, in this situation, since they came and asked me personally y'know?)

[lonelynpc]

Hey, why do doctors ask students such hard questions? Is it to embarrass them?

(GDM is gestational diabetes mellitus and only occurs in pregnancy)

do you want to write a fic about medicine or med school? consider using "pimping"!

"PIMP" = Put In My Place

pimping is when your consultant, lecturer or supervisor asks a student or junior doctor an obscure or very difficult question on the spot. it generally happens to assess our gaps in knowledge or thought process.

malignant pimping is what you usually see in TV shows like grey's anatomy, where they are asking solely to embarrass the student or staff member. that's not right and thankfully, not generally how it's done.

i've had a few asks about this kind of thing so i figured i'd quickly do a little post about it! i'll put some of my experiences with pimping under the cut!

got asked what the half-life of a specific low molecular weight heparin was. this was asked when i was still a student, i did not know the answer.

asked to do specific acid-base calculations in front of my peers and the treating team. i forgot my 9 times tables and started doing the finger trick to figure it out . . . i basically started counting on my fingers in front of a potential future employer.

what mechanism would we see that causes a posterior shoulder dislocation rather than the more common anterior shoulder dislocation. i was a student and i only knew it because i had been put on the spot in a lecture with that same question. electrocution, tonic-clonic seizures and anterior-directed shoulder trauma.

what the antidote for heparin was made from. he accused me of looking it up and i pointed out that he had told me a month ago, he said, "man, i am a good teacher". (the antidote comes from salmon sperm)

exactly 20 rapid-fire questions about obscure anaesthetic drugs, reactions and emergencies. these were also asked by the consultant above when i was a student, when i got them right he said that i should consider anaesthetics. and when i say obscure, i mean that he was asking how long it takes to prepare dantrolene (including the time it takes to draw the water into the syringe), the six genetic mutations for MH, the physics behind every piece of equipment that we have, etc.

the guy from the last two points is the one in those texts! i love him, he's fantastic.

[madamlaydebug]

Ginger is a flowering plant also known as Zingiber officinale. Its root (or rhizome) is a popular ingredient in cooking, but it has also been used for thousands of years for medicinal purposes, particularly in Asian, Arabic, and Indian cultures.

Many of ginger’s professed health benefits have been supported by scientific research:

1. Aids in Digestive Function

Compounds in ginger are known to stimulate bile and saliva production and to increase mobility through the digestive tract. Those who suffer from indigestion may find relief by consuming ginger.

2. May Help Prevent Gastric Ulcers

Gastric ulcers are painful open lesions on the inside lining of the stomach. Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like naproxen and ibuprofen, can lead to the development of gastric ulcers. Bacteria called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) can also make the gastric lining more prone to ulceration. Ginger, however, inhibits the growth of H. pylori and can prevent the occurrence of stomach ulcers caused by NSAIDs.

3. Reduces Nausea

Ginger has been shown to be effective for relief and prevention of nausea and vomiting related to pregnancy, chemotherapy, and post-operative conditions. While ginger can help reduce nausea induced by motion sickness, it seems to have no effect on the prevention of vomiting caused by such.

Consuming 1 to 1.5 grams of ginger (or 1 to 2 small- to medium-sized pieces of crystallized ginger) can help provide relief for these various types of nausea.

4. Decreases Pain and Inflammation

There is evidence that ginger can be beneficial for pain management. By helping to reduce inflammation of joints, ginger can decrease pain associated with arthritic conditions. Daily supplementation of ginger can also improve exercise-induced muscle pain. Women who experience severe pain during menstruation may find some relief with the consumption of ginger as well.

5. Promotes Sweating

Ginger is a diaphoretic, meaning that it can stimulate sweating, which allows your body to eliminate toxins. After taking ginger there may be a sense of warming from within, which is why it is popular for soothing symptoms of colds and flu.

6. Improves Cognition

With antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, ginger can mitigate age-related cognitive decline. There is evidence that ginger can enhance attention and cognitive processing.

7. May Lower Cholesterol

There are studies that have demonstrated significant reductions in LDL cholesterol and blood triglyceride levels associated with the consumption of ginger.

8. May Lower Blood Sugar

Ginger has been shown to lower blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetic individuals. In the same study, HbA1c (a marker used as an indicator for long-term blood sugar control) also improved. While these are promising results, more research is needed to confirm this benefit.

Tips for Taking Ginger

There are many options for consuming ginger. It can be found fresh and dried. It is available in capsules, tinctures, and lozenges. There is also ginger oil and ginger extract.

Side effects of ginger are rare. However, if you take excessive doses, you may develop heartburn, diarrhea, or mouth irritation. Avoid ginger if you have a bleeding disorder. Before starting ginger supplementation, check with your healthcare provider if you plan to take it regularly, if you have gallstones, or if you are on any blood-thinning medication.