04 May 2009

Hydroxycut again

So, the recall on Hydroxycut products is growing. Please make sure to look at the FDA site list and warnings if you do use these products. There is also a site put out by Hydroxycut directly that you can peruse. If you currently have these products, according to both sites, you can return them directly to the store where the product was purchased.

Still, Hydroxycut Hoodia and Hydroxycut Cleanse products are not included in the recall at this time.

01 May 2009

More...

So, it seems that Hydroxycut is now being recalled. This is a product that is quite well-known and advertised. I have seen it touted in the majority of magazines aimed at women, that I can say for sure... certainly in all of the women's fitness magazines. Now, it has been linked to serious liver injuries--including one that required a transplant, and one death secondary to liver failure. This is big!


Here are the products being recalled:

Hydroxycut Regular Rapid Release Caplets
Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Rapid Release Caplets
Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Caplets
Hydroxycut Max Liquid Caplets
Hydroxycut Regular Drink Packets
Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Drink Packets
Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Packets (Ignition Stix)
Hydroxycut Max Drink Packets
Hydroxycut Liquid Shots
Hydroxycut Hardcore RTDs (Ready-to-Drink)
Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed
Hydroxycut 24
Hydroxycut Carb Control
Hydroxycut Natural

Hydroxycut Cleanse and Hoodia are not being recalled at this time. And again, I will say, "Eating right and exercising are head and shoulders above any 'magic' pill."

29 April 2009

Just What We Need...

Boy, I sure haven't been here in a while. But, when I saw a certain FDA alert come across my email, I simply could not resist but put something here about it.

Apparently, there is a nail polish remover that could cause chemical burns to fingers. As if hand surgeons did not have enough to worry about, what with manicures and people accessorizing their fingernails.

Most chemical burns peel within a week like a sunburn would, but it is important to take a few steps if you should get a burn. First, stop using the product (simple, but important). If the chemical is dry (ie: lime), brush as much of it off as possible--wear a glove or do this with a towel so you do not burn the brushing hand. Next, take off any jewelry, rings, or contaminated clothing. Flush the affected body part with running cool water for at least 15 minutes. Apply a cool, wet cloth to relieve pain, and then dry and wrap loosely with a dry sterile dressing. Flush with more cool water if intense burning is still experienced. In the following days, wash the area with soap and water, dry thoroughly and apply a loose dry sterile dressing to the area until it heals. Once the skin has grown in, you can start massaging the area to lessen the chance of scar formation.

Seek emergency care if the victim feels faint, has shallow or rapid breathing, or is pale. Also, seek emergency care if the burn is over a joint, on the face, hands, or in the groin or is larger than 8 cm. If you are not sure what to do, call 911 or your poison control center.

03 February 2009

Badge of Honor (?)

I had already taken a gander at the X-ray of the fourteen year-old boy who sat in front of me this afternoon. I already knew he had a fifth metacarpal (Boxer's) fracture. But, I like to get the story from the horse's mouth, as it were.

"What happened to your hand?"
"I was play-fighting."
"Play-fighting? Looks more like you were fight-fighting."
(kid shrugs his shoulders)
"When did this happen?"
"Sunday--in church."
...? (I raised an eyebrow, and did not say a word.)
"I punched a kid right here." (As he pointed above his father's eyebrow--sitting proudly next to him--and they giggled together.)

It was an interesting bonding moment that I witnessed; one that I must say I did not understand. But not as much as I did not understand what came a little later.

I talk to my patients--a lot. I make sure that they understand what is going on before they walk out the door. If they have questions, they always know they can call, but they rarely do. (I would like to think that is because I explained it so well the first time around.) At any rate, I was in the midst of my fracture speech: showing the X-ray to the child and his father, explaining treatment, healing rates, dos and don'ts while in the splint... Well, at least that was the plan.

I barely had started to talk about the X-ray, and the father interrupted me, "Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know, you already said." I answered, "Actually, I haven't said, you interrupted me." He giggled and continued, "But I have a question. Is he going to lose his knuckle like me? Because I had the same thing happen a long time ago, and now I don't have a knuckle."

It was the only thing he was interested in, and I truly believe that the answer he was looking for was, "Of course, like father, like son."

14 January 2009

FDA recalls in the New Year

First of all, a wonderfully happy and blissful 2009 to one and all!!

So I know that mum's the word around here, lately, and I do hope to get up and running again, soon.

In the meantime, it seems mighty big that peanut butter is getting recalled left and right, so I thought I would let everyone of you [3 or so people that check in here :)] know.

So, here are the facts: Peanut Corporation of America (and here) is doing a recall of peanut butter for fear of Salmonella contamination. Likewise, Kellogg (yes, THAT Kellogg) is recalling--preemptively--all peanut butter-containing products. There was also a recall of peanut butter by King Nut 2 days ago for the same reason.

Since peanut butter is a major indulgence for many, I thought I would post about this. As always, stay safe and healthy!