![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 3 to 27 of 27. Go back in thread:
Posted by Phillipa on June 6, 2008, at 10:41:53
In reply to Re: 'Growing Up Bipolar' in Newsweek, posted by dbc on June 6, 2008, at 10:30:07
I agree as too many variables and seems like meds are for everything. Phillipa
Posted by linkadge on June 6, 2008, at 10:48:02
In reply to Re: 'Growing Up Bipolar' in Newsweek, posted by dbc on June 6, 2008, at 10:30:07
I agree that it is probably overdiagnosed in children. My brother had the worst temper and mood swings from 5-10 yrs old then he just kind of grew out of it. No doubt he would be labled bipolar these days even though he is not.
The meds aren't tested enough in children and probably impair brain function and development.
I think its the new ADHD, i.e. a diagnosis to licence the use of heavy meds in children. There are going to be kids whose parents just want them medicated.
Linkadge
Posted by Horned One on June 6, 2008, at 15:02:36
In reply to 'Growing Up Bipolar' in Newsweek, posted by yxibow on June 6, 2008, at 4:44:18
It sounds to me as though there might be a problem with the father, as if he tends to aggravate his son's behaviour raher than help it. I have a problem with some of the issues raised in the article. I have Bipolar I, and perhaps had some symptoms going back into childhood. I once told my mother that I felt suicidal when I was young, but she just laughed at me.
If I'd had outbursts like that though, I would have been smacked and sent to my room and ignored. I can't imagine my mother asking me "Are you going to start a fight?" and me answering "Probably. Let's just get it over with." That sort of behaviour just wouldn't have been tolerated. I wouldn't have been able to sit down for week after the hiding she'd have given me. I can't help but think a lot of this is a behavioural problem. I may have had some of the same impulses as this kid, but I was taught how to contain and control myself. Nobody saw me as having an illness, so my bad behaviour wasn't excused as such (not that I was ever really badly behaved).
I notice he was diagnosed when he was two (the article makes it sound as though he was diagnosed at seven, after his first suicide attempt, but that isn't the case). I can't help but wonder if the parents over-reacted and played into this diagnosis from the beginning. Also what effect the meds have had on that developing brain. On Zyprexa and Depakote at *TWO*. Ye gods! I also wonder if some of the meds had precipitaed suicidal impulses in him. I think behavioural interventions would be more appropriate as the first-line treatment for toddlers and young children. They need to learn how to cope with their emotions. If their emotions are medicated from such a tender age how can they learn to conduct themselves properly?
"Amy is still figuring out how best to discipline her son. He needs boundaries, but she admits she's a sucker."
I'm skeptical that you can really diagnose bipolar in a two-year old (of all ages). Problem is, once you've got a diagnosis, everything is seen through the lens of an illness. Everything is a symptom to be medicated. This comes through in the article: "And it was hard to look at Max, who has borne so much, and remember that the grin on his face was not a sign of childish goofiness but a symptom of an illness." Why see it like that? Would it not be better for him to just view it as a sign of childhood goofiness?
Another thing that got my goat:
"The mothers of bipolar kids often say their babies are born screaming."
Wow. How unusual. Is this how it all began?
-Horny
Posted by fleeting flutterby on June 6, 2008, at 15:08:58
In reply to Re: 'Growing Up Bipolar' in Newsweek, posted by linkadge on June 6, 2008, at 10:48:02
> I agree that it is probably overdiagnosed in children. My brother had the worst temper and mood swings from 5-10 yrs old then he just kind of grew out of it. No doubt he would be labled bipolar these days even though he is not.<
Yes, i agree too! Just think, if your brother was a child now-- he could have been put on such meds and who knows what kind of a future he would have had....... I think they are playing with fire in prescribing such strong meds to developing brains..... it's so sad.
> I think its the new ADHD, i.e. a diagnosis to licence the use of heavy meds in children. There are going to be kids whose parents just want them medicated.<
Yes, it sounds like the new ADHD to me too. But it might not be that all the parents want medicated kids-- some might just be putting too much trust into their doctor-- in hopes that they are doing what is best for their child-- which is also so very sad-- parents being mislead.flutterby-mandy
Posted by linkadge on June 6, 2008, at 18:23:48
In reply to Re: 'Growing Up Bipolar' in Newsweek, posted by Horned One on June 6, 2008, at 15:02:36
Thats a good point. There is evidence that some of these meds increase suicial tendancies in young children. They don't necessarily work in adults like they do in children.
For instance, benzo's in children can provoke excitation whereas adults the provoke inhibition. The same thing with antihistamines. The developing brain has different biochemical and structural makeups. Certain neurotransmitter systems develop before others and somtimes neurotransmitter systems play different roles over time.
Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on June 6, 2008, at 18:28:56
In reply to Re: 'Growing Up Bipolar' in Newsweek, posted by fleeting flutterby on June 6, 2008, at 15:08:58
>-- in hopes that they are doing what is best for >their child-- which is also so very sad-- >parents being mislead.
Thats true. There is a sparsity of evidence in how these meds work long term in the adult brain, let alone in the developing brain!!
You see things on drug package inserts like "the effect of zoloft for extended use (beyond 3 months) has not been systematically evaluated"
Like WTF?
I think you are right. There is some belief that this is more of a science than it is. Its certainly not a science in adults (who can at least tell you when a med makes them feel crappy).
When you give a two year old antipsychotics and mood stabilizers they don't have the language ability to describe what it does to them, they also don't have much other life experience to compare to how they are feeling.
Linkadge
Posted by yxibow on June 7, 2008, at 4:44:28
In reply to Re: 'Growing Up Bipolar' in Newsweek, posted by dbc on June 6, 2008, at 10:30:07
> Im BP2 although without normal hypomaniac features but rather completely neurotic crazyness instead and i dont respond to anti-psychotics in any positive way so using the words bi polar in my case is just a weird umbrella statement.
>
> My reaction to the story as an adult is complete indifference and lack of empathy. I really have a hard time understanding children being diagnoesed with all these disorders when their brain is still developing.Curious -- and you're entitled to your opinion, but is it the lack of empathy for medicating children (which complicated nonpsychotropic drugs also have to be prescribed for disorders) -- because I felt complete empathy for the family involved -- they absolutely had no idea how to handle their child. I don't agree with smacking or touching any child in any punitive manner, thats an absolute view of mine, but it is an ingrained ideology in a lot of cultures, western ones included -- I support laws against spanking and especially smacking children. Today there are much more effective ways of dealing with discipline.
What struck me though of course was that the streak of illness most likely ran through the father's side, though his male reticence made him wish to deny this possibility.
Posted by linkadge on June 7, 2008, at 8:01:02
In reply to Re: 'Growing Up Bipolar' in Newsweek » dbc, posted by yxibow on June 7, 2008, at 4:44:28
I'd certainly feel less offended as a male if the prase:
>though his male reticence made him wish to deny >this possibility.
was reworded to:
though his reticence made him wish to deny this possibility.
Women can be quite reticent too and this negative quality is expressed pretty much the same way acress sexes IMHO.
Thx,
Otherwise I agree with your views.
Linkadge
Posted by yxibow on June 7, 2008, at 14:12:25
In reply to Re: 'Growing Up Bipolar' in Newsweek » yxibow, posted by linkadge on June 7, 2008, at 8:01:02
> I'd certainly feel less offended as a male if the prase:
>
> >though his male reticence made him wish to deny >this possibility.
>
> was reworded to:
>
> though his reticence made him wish to deny this possibility.
>
> Women can be quite reticent too and this negative quality is expressed pretty much the same way acress sexes IMHO.
>
> Thx,
>
> Otherwise I agree with your views.
>
> Linkadge
I apologize if there was any sexism involved, I was trying to think of a way of phrasing it -- I am a male too.
Posted by linkadge on June 7, 2008, at 14:55:51
In reply to Re: 'Growing Up Bipolar' in Newsweek » linkadge, posted by yxibow on June 7, 2008, at 14:12:25
>I am a male too.
Well then :)
I didn't mean to sound picky, I guess I just took it the wrong way.
Linkdge
Posted by B2chica on June 9, 2008, at 14:05:56
In reply to 'Growing Up Bipolar' in Newsweek, posted by yxibow on June 6, 2008, at 4:44:18
that was an interesting article. thank you for sharing.
and i must say i agree with a lot of the comments.i have a child not even 2 and i'm hesitant to even give her the antibiotics the doctor Rx for chest colds...
but i do sympathize with being a parent and not knowing what to do and turning to a doctor for help. but i guess i'm in a position that i know these meds, and i just see so many issues with giving them to a child (as above mentioned).
possibility of increased suicidality, increased mood shifts, the slu of side effects, and most importantly the child being too young to truly tell you how the meds are effecting them.and for the record this is not a judgemental statement. these parents did what they felt they had to do.
but if the choice were mine, i would expire every other option first. before the heavy meds...i would ALSO question the diagnosis...very hard.
b2c.
Posted by yxibow on June 10, 2008, at 18:35:08
In reply to Re: 'Growing Up Bipolar' in Newsweek » yxibow, posted by B2chica on June 9, 2008, at 14:05:56
> that was an interesting article. thank you for sharing.
> and i must say i agree with a lot of the comments.
>
> i have a child not even 2 and i'm hesitant to even give her the antibiotics the doctor Rx for chest colds...
> but i do sympathize with being a parent and not knowing what to do and turning to a doctor for help. but i guess i'm in a position that i know these meds, and i just see so many issues with giving them to a child (as above mentioned).
> possibility of increased suicidality, increased mood shifts, the slu of side effects, and most importantly the child being too young to truly tell you how the meds are effecting them.
>
> and for the record this is not a judgemental statement. these parents did what they felt they had to do.
>
> but if the choice were mine, i would expire every other option first. before the heavy meds...i would ALSO question the diagnosis...very hard.
>
> b2c.
And you're perfectly entitled to your own view from a parent's point of view. Some people wish to explore other options -- there is always the option of a second opinion, which I forget if they eventually sought or not.I do agree that only a trained -child- psychiatrist with some experience should be determining diagnoses and possible drug regimens.
One has to remember though, over the counter substances are also not innocuous for children -- acetaminophen, which has serious consequences for exceeding its range not much more than the therapeutic dose, the child's formula, which is necessary because children can tend to get very high fevers actually, has to be dosed much lower, so its averaged by bodyweight and put on the package of Tylenol or whatever.
Antibiotics have been time tested in children, at least the ones given to them, and there runs a risk also of not giving them when they are warranted, because while it has disappeared for the most part in this country, strep throat can lead to rheumatic fever, which is a serious long term condition. The same, for people who are worried -- and again, entitled to their own opinion -- about mercury in vaccines and vaccines outright, are entitled in most places not to use them, but will not be admitted to schools. Why? Because unvaccinated chilldren can be carriers for diseases that have been eradicated in this country for decades.Anyhow just a comparison, I know psychoactive substances are a much more complicated issue in growing children, at least say up to 16 or so, or until past puberty -- but there at some point is a balance. Yes, in this case mentioned it was their only child -- but even the mother questioned "having another" because what if their genetics, recessive or whatever turned out to create another child that would be brought into the world with another unknown disorder.
Its a hard thing to think about when one oneself has a biochemical imbalance -- of course you wanted to be brought into this world, but without the symptoms, and after all what is really "normal" and why should there be a stigma.
Yet there are realities, and both the parents were hard working to support their child, as the instinct is, but even there you could see the tearings of a marriage as a possibility, and that would be even worse.
All these things I'm sure still go through their minds and would go through the minds of any parent in that situation.
Fortunately where they lived, they could have special schooling up until a certain point, and finally made the decision after many trials not to medicate the child but to basically use therapy (the school) as a solution. And the child has grown more responsive as any child growing up, more aware of themselves. But as we know now about biochemical disorders they are a moving target -- there's no guarantee that it will get worse or better, so at some future point some medication may be necessary again, or maybe not.
-- something to ponder-- tidings
Jay
Posted by Phillipa on June 10, 2008, at 20:48:55
In reply to Re: 'Growing Up Bipolar' in Newsweek » B2chica, posted by yxibow on June 10, 2008, at 18:35:08
Sorry Jay I agree with B2chica. And usually motrin and tylenol are alternated for a child with a high fever. Many cases of autism have been traced to the vaccines children receive. Lived next door to a Mother who's second child was fine until vaccinations then he became extremely autistic. Her third child was unvaccinated and attends public school. Phillipa
Posted by yxibow on June 11, 2008, at 1:12:23
In reply to Re: 'Growing Up Bipolar' in Newsweek » yxibow, posted by Phillipa on June 10, 2008, at 20:48:55
> Sorry Jay I agree with B2chica. And usually motrin and tylenol are alternated for a child with a high fever. Many cases of autism have been traced to the vaccines children receive. Lived next door to a Mother who's second child was fine until vaccinations then he became extremely autistic. Her third child was unvaccinated and attends public school. Phillipa
You can too (I didn't ask, but thats fine) -- and I think my point was missed -- not alternated -- ibuprofen will -not- stop a fever very well, as a NSAID it stops chronic pain and tension headaches much more than being an antipyretic.
My point was that acetaminophen (Tylenol) is the choice of antipyretic (fever reducer) for most people, because it is the most effective for stopping fevers, other than aspirin, which is not given to people under 18 because of the rare possibility of Reye's Syndrome.
What I was trying to say and I guess wasn't carried across is that Tylenol can damage the liver in awful ways if one exceeds the maximum dosage not that much more than the maximum recommmended amount. And my point was in children, it has to be given in liquid drops or mini capsules because children by weight have much smaller livers.
Vaccinations and autism is an extremely controversial subject -- yes, there have been case reports of such things, but one has to remember they are case reports. Just as I have a disorder that I don't think anybody else has so I search, and I ponder anything, what caused this, how can I fix this, what will my life be like, its a very scary situation that I have never encountered.
The same thing can be said -- and I'm not trying to compare a complicated syndrome that can render some people unable to communicate with society even though they may be very bright, is that causation is not correlation, not always.
That is there may be different explanations why, if it is true, that a vaccine precipitated autism -- parallel things may have been going on at the same time, the vaccine may have been tainted.
And because autism is such an unexplored frontier, knowledge only beginning to be expanded -- frightened parents, rightfully so, search for every possible explanation.
Yes, 1 in a million people who get the flu vaccine can get a rare disorder, possibly --- but you also have to realize that 20 million people died in Europe from a strain of the flu in WWI, exceeding or being the same as the number of casualties of war.
Not to lessen that further, but my point is, if you remember the story of Typhoid Mary (it was estimated she infected 47 people, 3 who were casualties and had to be quarantined) -- a carrier, an unvaccinated individual who has a particular illness but doesn't manifest it, can in turn pass it on to numerous people around them.
This is especially true for children, because they play with each other in close quarters, and don't know yet that you shouldn't touch and rub your eyes or any part of your face after playing with your playfriends. (This goes for adults too, because those are the most vulnerable points of entry for any virus or bacterium)
It wasn't Mary's fault as an individual, how did she know, but that is and still holds today an example of just what can happen when people refuse to vaccinate their children.Mumps and measles have returned in university regions (close quarters again) -- illnesses that have been eradicated... and I'm not saying its all because of vaccines, strains may have been changing, but there can be connections.
--- anyway that's my belief, one is entitled to their own opinion, but courts have battled over this before, because it is so important to the rest of society not to have potentially fatal illnesses that largely have disappeared. Such as tuberculosis and I forget the others, that school districts will not admit, or colleges for that matter unless it can be proven that someone was already vaccinated. I had to do so for entry to university.
-- tidingsJay
Posted by linkadge on June 11, 2008, at 8:51:05
In reply to Re: 'Growing Up Bipolar' in Newsweek » Phillipa, posted by yxibow on June 11, 2008, at 1:12:23
Can't they create a non murcury based vaccine?
WFT?
Linkadge
Posted by B2chica on June 11, 2008, at 12:52:55
In reply to Re: 'Growing Up Bipolar' in Newsweek » B2chica, posted by yxibow on June 10, 2008, at 18:35:08
thanks for being so diplomatic, but as in written form i was being a little "dramatic". i do give my child antibiotics as Rx. but i guess i just don't like the idea of always giving her meds. However, i don't run to the doc i usuallly do try home remedies first for the first week or so (depending on what's going on of course) and using my instinct.
but its interesting that you brought up unvaccinated children. because i have worked with some children that have some disabilities because of a vaccine and because of that their parents chose not to have their siblings vaccinated.... (2 instances)
so there's another discussion.and i was quite surprised at that school. i do know there is NOTHING like that around where i live. and was interested to learn about such a place.
and i fully hope that medication DOES help the young man. he deserves to beable to function fully and enjoy his young life and if that means medications, then so be it.
Posted by linkadge on June 11, 2008, at 17:21:06
In reply to Re: 'Growing Up Bipolar' in Newsweek » yxibow, posted by B2chica on June 11, 2008, at 12:52:55
If I could go back and change one thing, I would have started omega-3 earlier.
I do attribute a lot of my improvement over the years to omega-3. Its the only supplement that I have taken consistently for about 7 years now and I feel considerably more normal than I ever remember being. Not proof of course, but if I could go back and done it again I think that starting omega-3 earlier would have helped prevent some of the things that happened.
Linkadge
Posted by yxibow on June 12, 2008, at 5:30:42
In reply to Re: 'Growing Up Bipolar' in Newsweek, posted by linkadge on June 11, 2008, at 8:51:05
> Can't they create a non murcury based vaccine?
>
> WFT?
>
> LinkadgeThey are making an effort.
You can read, at least in the US, at
http://www.fda.gov/CBER/vaccine/thimfaq.htm
and http://www.fda.gov/CBER/vaccine/thimerosal.htm
The amount of mercury in remaining vaccines is way down in the noise level. There are reasons for putting preservatives in vaccines -- you don't want a partially-killed virus to go awry, which is almost impossible, but more important you don't want any vaccines tainted with acquired germs to be injected into someone.
I know it is a big controversy with autism, so I can't touch that one. And then there is the even more controversial anti-amalgam alternative view which goes as far as extracting all mercury from ones teeth (which can cause mercury to fall into the body and increase decay tremendously not to mention cost ridiculous amounts).
I know its painful to find a reason for something -- I've been searching for almost 7 years to get my way out of an illness that though generalized depression and anxiety I can identify with, I honestly can't identify with anybody on here because I have never heard of this disorder. I may be the only person in my part of the world to have visual heightenednes/snow/etc and some audio somatic symptoms that are real, triggered by anxiety and some even baffle neurologists.
But another dramatic example -- just accidentally drop and shatter one of those "compact fluorescent lights" when its off on the floor. It contains about 5mg (not tenths of micrograms like in vaccines) of mercury.Of course US coal fired plants produce 50 tons of mercury as a biproduct every year in the air, give or take.
Sure, every fluorescent tube and lamp that is properly labeled says "Hg" -- but they're just tossed, not because the mercury is used up necessarily, but because of other chemical buildups that eventually make them fail. So mg after mg goes crushing into your garbage and into the landfills, which are usually double lined if you're lucky and live in a western country, but I'm just trying to make a dramatic point that mercury is ubiquitous.
I'm not saying to eat an old fashioned thermometer -- they're toxic, and contain many mg of Hg -- but there is no such thing always as being safer than safe -- and I do wonder, what happens to all these lights. Yes, there are programs of "take back lights" at big corporate stores, but that must be a fraction of what people can or will typically do.
-- just a thought-- Jay
Posted by yxibow on June 12, 2008, at 6:07:22
In reply to Re: 'Growing Up Bipolar' in Newsweek, posted by linkadge on June 11, 2008, at 8:51:05
> Can't they create a non murcury based vaccine?
>
> WFT?
>
> LinkadgeI guess I didn't answer the question completely.
Mercury has been routinely used as a topical antiseptic since I can't remember.
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/040723.html
I routinely remember as a child Mercurochrome in the medicine cabinet. Iodine was there too.
It was withdrawn in the late 80s, because it was ruled to be ineffective and outdated, just as I remember other tinctures of this and that disappearing from shelves as ancient.
So that's probably one source of the history of it -- also there was an early case of staph infection in a diptheria vaccine that did not contain thiomersal, and killed half of over 20 children that got the vaccine.
Today, actually still the best antiseptic is povidone-iodine (Betadine). It is used in hospitals. Just don't drop it on your shirt, it will produce a nearly unremovable stain.There are others, for lesser injuries, the usual Neosporin, and ones with combinations without neomycin which can cause sensitivities, etc..
As said before, there are also the autism issues I can't address -- it is possible that some children who possess genes that are prone already to some abnormality which can be sensitive to mercury may be more susceptible to a disorder that could already develop anyway.And there's the even more controversial chelation therapy issue about mercury, which while some compounds may not be lethal, there have been deaths from use of some chelating agents.
Chelating agents have their place -- EDTA can remove real amounts of heavy metal poisoning from people who have been exposed in mines and the like or lead paint in children, which are medically accepted uses, but like any injected substance, there are consequences.
EDTA is used in cleaning agents, as a preservative in small amounts, laboratory science, etc.
Posted by linkadge on June 12, 2008, at 8:06:01
In reply to Re: 'Growing Up Bipolar' in Newsweek » linkadge, posted by yxibow on June 12, 2008, at 5:30:42
I'd certainly get my fillings removed. My friend works for Environment Canada. He says that when somebody with murcury filligs goes up and breaths on one of their environmental mercury detectors the indicator registers a huge spike.
There are supposedly processes for removing murcury fillings that do not result in acute elevations in murcury.
About murcury in fluorecent tubes. Even if one breaks theres no way you're going to ingest the whole 5mg of murury.
Linkadge
Posted by Phillipa on June 12, 2008, at 20:35:47
In reply to Re: 'Growing Up Bipolar' in Newsweek, posted by linkadge on June 12, 2008, at 8:06:01
In the hospitals if you break a mercury thermometer and yes some docs think they are the most accurate. You're not allowed to clean it up enviormental people must do it toxins they say. I did have all mercury filling removed years ago and replaced with crowns. Phillipa ps also unable to have hepatitis B vaccine. Had two when working in the hospital my mouth developed some wierd thing. Infection control reviewed and said I could not have the third vaccine. And they tested me for antibodies and I had none to hepatitis B. So must be very careful around blood and other body secretions. Love Phillipa
Posted by yxibow on June 13, 2008, at 3:53:05
In reply to Re: 'Growing Up Bipolar' in Newsweek, posted by linkadge on June 12, 2008, at 8:06:01
> I'd certainly get my fillings removed. My friend works for Environment Canada. He says that when somebody with murcury filligs goes up and breaths on one of their environmental mercury detectors the indicator registers a huge spike.
>
> There are supposedly processes for removing murcury fillings that do not result in acute elevations in murcury.
>
> About murcury in fluorecent tubes. Even if one breaks theres no way you're going to ingest the whole 5mg of murury.
>
>
> LinkadgeI didn't say ingest, I was making a comment that one could theoretically inhale mercury vapor as it warms up on the ground after breaking. And that microscopic amount probably exceeds the level of mercury in vaccines. Fortunately fluorescent tubes today don't contain the even more toxic fluorescent compound, beryllium used in the 40s and instead use zinc, calcium and complex rare earth doped compounds for specialized purposes.
I don't know about Environment Canada, and this is never going to be a rested idea, because people have their own belief concepts about mercury and amalgams and its their own choice. Some in the alternative community have even caused changes in government views about the whole idea, such as bans on mercury fillings in Norway, which is ironic as a fish-eating country, one would get more mercury from eating fish than any of the fillings or vaccines.
The ADA has stood clear that for more than 100 years they have stood up to safety tests, so have other governmental agencies, FDA, CDC, American Cancer Society, and the WHO.
It remains an open question -- I won't say that 100% of either side can prove 100% of their view, but one thing I can say is that removal of dental fillings would potentially introduce more mercury into the system and leave decades old cavities at extreme vulnerability not to mention it would cost out of pocket for someone with numerous cavities thousands of dollars.
At this point, dentists do have a choice and you have a choice to use epoxy/bonded or amalgam fillings -- the difference is that the plastics are generally used in the front areas and do not last as long, while the amalgam can reach areas behind and last much longer and protect teeth from decay which far surpasses any issues of mercury.
Its an open question I admit, and there are still ongoing longterm studies, both because agencies want to answer people with alternative beliefs, and to lay to rest conclusively with evidence based studies as to what is the best solution.
Posted by yxibow on June 13, 2008, at 4:08:31
In reply to Re: 'Growing Up Bipolar' in Newsweek » linkadge, posted by Phillipa on June 12, 2008, at 20:35:47
> In the hospitals if you break a mercury thermometer and yes some docs think they are the most accurate. You're not allowed to clean it up enviormental people must do it toxins they say.
Yes, there are grams of mercury in mercury thermometers and they are more accurate than alcohol based thermometers, but electronic ones have replaced them and are probably as accurate as the original mercury ones.
Yes, it must be cleaned up by people in the moonsuits more because of liability than anything else, although traipsing mercury all over the hospital after stepping on a broken thermometer isn't the best idea. It reminds me years ago of chemistry in elementary school, the entire grade room had to be evacuated when mercury was spilled accidentally on the floor. An environmental cleanup company was hired and people were sent home until they vacuumed it up or whatever. That kind of put the end on the chemistry segment of the class.
I did have all mercury filling removed years ago and replaced with crowns. Phillipa ps also unable to have hepatitis B vaccine. Had two when working in the hospital my mouth developed some wierd thing. Infection control reviewed and said I could not have the third vaccine. And they tested me for antibodies and I had none to hepatitis B. So must be very careful around blood and other body secretions. Love Phillipa
Yes -- it is important, not just for homosexuals at risk and at risk drug users, but for health workers to have Hep A and B vaccinations. In fact, some medical schools and hospitals will not let in health practitioners such as without Hep B vaccinations unless they sign a waiver of a reason (as you mentioned) of contraindication.I'm not sure for the reason of the removal -- crowns are used for other purposes in dentistry where decay warrants it. By the way, crowns are also made of amalgams, although there are more complex ceramic ones as well.
Posted by linkadge on June 13, 2008, at 7:51:38
In reply to Re: 'Growing Up Bipolar' in Newsweek » linkadge, posted by yxibow on June 13, 2008, at 3:53:05
>Norway, which is ironic as a fish-eating >country, one would get more mercury from eating >fish than any of the fillings or vaccines.
That depends how poluted their fish are.
Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on June 13, 2008, at 7:57:58
In reply to Re: 'Growing Up Bipolar' in Newsweek » Phillipa, posted by yxibow on June 13, 2008, at 4:08:31
I see toxic compounds in factors. Why say "its only a small amount you ingest much more from such and such.."
To me, one should look at eliminating or reducing all possible sources of a toxin since it is the accumulaton and combination of toxins that likely to lead to problems.
If Norway wants to ban unncessary murcury fillings then go for it.
It shouldn't be a question of "is this amount safe" but rather "if the safety is at all questionable then do we need it?"
Linkadge
This is the end of the thread.
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