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SEASON 5 for 2025!
91 Plays1 month ago
Back on the attack! Starting the new year with a bang. Recapping some holiday festivities, from the Midwest to the West coast to down south. Going over a few trending topics including Dry January, the nemesis that is Norovirus and the LA wildfires. A main topic that might ruffle a few feathers (antibiotics are not always needed for bronchitis)...and to end with a very detailed listener question.
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Transcript
Season 5 Kickoff
00:00:19
Speaker
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another episode of Chocolate with Decided Medicine. I am Dr. Sunshine, and I am joined by my lovely host. First, we get I gotta call on her first, because she yawning. You gotta wake up, girl. Dr. Chris. Hey, guys. It's my bedtime. It's past noon. Y'all, it is late. It is late. This might be a this might be a Chocolate M.B.'s After Dark.
Holiday Reflections
00:00:41
Speaker
ah Amy Jo M.D. What's up, y'all? And of course, Dr. Nono. Hey, guys. Long time no see.
00:00:48
Speaker
I know, I know. So we definitely are. Happy New Year. Happy New Year. Happy New Year. We hope your new year was good. We hope your holidays were good, the Thanksgiving, you know the Christmas, the Hanukkah, the Kwanzaa, the things, the new year. We hope you guys were all safe and you had wonderful you know festivities and things. And now we are in 2025. And this is also the start of season number five. Whoop, whoop, whoop. Oh, that goes along pretty well.
00:01:16
Speaker
Yeah, listen, listen, listen. And we are not starting off really nice at all. Y'all listen. it can't it started off no it it It started off with a lot.
00:01:26
Speaker
ah A lot, but um but you know we're back. And ah we're here to chit chat with you guys. um I was just telling the girls random side note, not related to absolutely anything. I was telling the girls that in general, I don't really um watch reality TV like that.
Reality TV Obsession
00:01:44
Speaker
It's not my jam. But recently, I was at the hair shop and they had on Love is Blind. And I think I found the new addiction. And I'm trying not to buy into it because when you're so
00:01:57
Speaker
so for the girl So for the girlies, so listen, so for the girlies, for the girlies who know, you know, when you sit and you get your hair braided, it's not a it's not a short experience. You're there for a while. So we were there long enough for me to watch multiple episodes of the newest season of Love is Blind. And I'm like, wow, where's this been all my life?
Is Love Truly Blind?
00:02:17
Speaker
Because you kind of get like, especially as like a physician and someone who's really into science, like I don't know, maybe I'm watching, I'm getting really deep with it. I'm like, man, this is really getting into like, you know, some experimental hypotheses, you know? It's like, huh, these people are talking to each other. They can't see each other. Is love really blind? They're making these connections. People propose into each other after like nine days of knowing each other. I'm like, yo, this is wild.
00:02:46
Speaker
And they're like, you know I don't even care what you look like. We've had such a connection. I feel like I've known you forever. I'm like, yo, it's been nine days. like Is this real? like This is crazy. it ah They really gonna let these people propose to each other. And they do. And they do. And I'm like, so when do they see each other? And incorporating my hair was like after they proposed. I'm like, you don't get to see them until after you are engaged. I'm like, this is an insane concept. And she's like,
00:03:11
Speaker
But girl, love is blind. I'm like, girl, stop. I can't. The only thing, the only your pose. If they don't, that's they're done. That's the end of the show for them. So they never know who they were talking to.
00:03:25
Speaker
No, no, no, they do until they come out. So they do they, you know, they put they're in the pods. And then when they're in the pods, the, you know, they pick their person, they propose, you know, yada, ya yada. And then they come out, they have the unveiling ceremony where they actually come out and meet each other. And that's the time where they see each other. And then the rest of the time, like, I think they spend a month together.
00:03:46
Speaker
living in the same quarters, getting to know like their family, friends. No, but that's after you propose. Yeah. yeah What about the people who don't? but I'm assuming the people who don't propose. They do bring those people for a job. Oh, they bring them. Right? Yeah, they bring them back. yeah After they like married in drama, like let's say. like there was this dude that was talking to the two of them and he was between the two. So guess what? They're going to arrange some type of meeting and then she pops up like, hey, this was the one that you thought you wanted and this is how they
Reality TV Drama Analysis
00:04:18
Speaker
look and they tend to look different from the others. Wait, you mean like a reunion special? like yeah Well, they do like outings and stuff and then they just bring other people in, you know, they got to do the drama.
00:04:28
Speaker
Listen, the problem starts off with you deciding to blindly pick someone. Yes. yeah So it's not like you get stuck in a room with somebody that's pre-picked. You are in a room where you are blindly talking to multiple people. No, girl, listen. So in the beginning, it looks like they're stations. It's like in the beginning, it's like all the girls are in front of like 13 different rooms. And then it looks like they're almost timed. It's like it's timed. It's like they have like 10 minutes in each room.
00:04:57
Speaker
And they got their little notepads taking notes. And they're like, huh, Tyler, room number seven. I like him. I'm going to circle back to him later. Order Josh in room four. It's literally speed dating, but you don't see the person. That's it. Right. But then after you feel like you make a connection, they can go back to each other. And she'll be like, keep going. Hey, Josh. Hey, it's Amanda. I thought we had something earlier. Can we keep talking? And he's like, oh my god, I felt it too. Yes, let's keep talking.
00:05:23
Speaker
And the next thing you know, they're like, oh my gosh, I grew up in Texas. Oh my god, me too. I'm from Texas as well. In fact, I but have a tattoo of Texas on my arm. Oh my god, me too. And then it's like this weird thing that's happening. It's a lot. It's a lot. Because they don't have they don't have access to TV or internet. That's all you have to think about. You've got nothing else. Nothing. What you're going to say is about the person.
00:05:46
Speaker
Girl, real world was like that too. When they did real world. You don't have any distractions. No TV, no nothing. You're not working. You ain't got no job. You know what they have? They got alcohol. They have alcohol there for them. Of course. That's always a problem. There's always been an alcohol. I feel like I have not been into reality TV since, you say that, since the real world. Like, like the real world was good.
00:06:09
Speaker
legit i do not I do not watch reality TV at all, but she put this on in the hair shop, but I was like, girl, she's like, you like it, right? I was like, I don't know why you don't. Temptation is great too. oh I didn't try that. I don't know. I
Holiday Travel Tales
00:06:24
Speaker
have not watched any reality TV like none. I've not seen any of these shows.
00:06:29
Speaker
Like I haven't seen love in hip hop. I haven't seen oh that um Big Brother. I haven't seen. But specifically, I do feel like love and love is blind is intriguing just because they they legit do not see each other. And it's just like the natural connection through communication. And I'm like, is this legit? Like and a lot of them are like talking about stuff that but but because you can't see each other, they have a false sense of like Like they talk about things they never talked about their childhoods and all this childhood trauma everybody has. And I'm like, Oh my God, like, what are we doing? No, they lay it on heavy in the pods. But then like, it's also interesting to see the interactions with the other contestants that they almost picked. And then you see a lot of people actually like sabotage their current relationship with their, the person that they picked originally. to be like, oh, let me, you know, she actually, we fit a lot better, you know, after they see them, you know, so you're wondering if that connection was like, Oh, is this literally just physical attraction? Or are you actually like, are we actually a thing, like an item? But like, I love this one came out like before COVID, didn't it not? It did. it's I mean, she, she put on season seven. She put on season seven. I was like, there's been seven seasons of this. I got, I got hooked on it during COVID.
00:07:46
Speaker
Season four is a good one. They're still together. They're still cute. Wait, which one? Season four, there you see them on Instagram probably. Oh wait, Cameron and, um, what's her name? ah She's from Detroit. She's from Detroit. They're so cute. But is love blind though? Don't you need both? You do need, I think you do need both. But then I also feel like But I also feel like when these people go there, they've made the decision that this is what they want to do. Like, I watched Marry that first sight, and I was just like, this is crazy. And then I watched it, and I was like, I don't know.
00:08:24
Speaker
You know what's interesting though? I'll be honest. Looking at the people on the show, none of them is just like straight up ugly. Like I get it. Everybody's anywhere between a one to a 10, right? But most of the people on the show are like sevens to tens. No one on there is like, ooh. But think about it. But think about it. They probably do a whole lot of testing before and they put people that you will probably gel with already.
00:08:50
Speaker
not just random folks off the street. You know, they put some random people in there. no they They put some random folks in there to stir the pot. I feel like they put people in there that they think. they might find a gel, right? Because I feel like that's what they do. They don't say that that's what they do. Dr. Chris trying to break the fourth wall. She's like, no, listen behind the scenes. But marry that first sight, you fill out an extensive form and they literally match you with someone. And it's just you marrying them and then finding that connection
00:09:26
Speaker
even though you, personality-wise, you guys probably do well, but physically, you know, I don't know, like how you gel chemistry, that's what you have to figure out. But with Marion and First Sight, they actually have like counselors, like they help you, and Love is Blind, you you're doing this all on your own, you gotta figure that out. And that's why all the shenanigans happen. And I'm here for it!
00:09:51
Speaker
well I did not mean to get us down this rabbit hole, but that's just what's been going on with me. How how are y'all? You said I woke you up. How was your holiday? How was your new year? How's your 2025?
Holiday Challenges and COVID
00:10:03
Speaker
How's everybody doing? I mean, I worked the holiday. I know it's not a surprise to anybody on here. So, I mean, I was off, you know, Thanksgiving Day. I was off Christmas Day, but I worked the other days.
00:10:19
Speaker
I did, but you know what? It was good because I was working. It means that I did not host. Our families did not come down. And so I got to go to someone else's house and eat good food and get full and get the itis and then go home. And I didn't have any responsibilities and it was amazing. That's pretty dope. That's nice. That's pretty dope. And I was a good host, so I either brought alcohol or I brought i brought a deep fried turkey to to Thanksgiving. You brought a fried turkey? Yeah. Girl. It was great too. Listen. but You were an amazing guest. You were an amazing guest. I will have you over anytime. Yes. And I brought moonshine to Christmas dinner. I brought some moonshine. Well, you were everyone's friend. Oh, for sure. Yeah. Listen, I'm always here for a good time. Now, you know.
00:11:17
Speaker
i'm I typically am ah i'm gracious when I'm invited into homes. I am a good guest and a good roommate if I'm nothing else. so That is very true. um ah um i'll vouch I vouch for that. So yeah, you know since since I didn't have to do anything but just arrive, I was like, oh yeah, let me bring the stuff. So a good time was had. So it was great. It was great. And then, of course, you know,
00:11:41
Speaker
After I've worked my behind off all holiday, I recently just got over COVID, because some nice person decided to give me that. It was very kind of them. But I was the only person in my house that got it, so that was good. So everybody else was COVID free. So yeah, that was fun. I love COVID with that Christmas cheer. We'll spring from COVID. Under the mistletoe. Yeah, got that dog on Kofi. Cause your, cause your husband didn't get it. So it wasn't under the mistletoe. Maybe it was, it was sprinkled in the ornaments. You know, he always thinks it's him because you know, he gets it.
00:12:27
Speaker
You know, he's had it like three times. So when I came out and I was like, oh my God, I got COVID. He was like, wasn't me. You think it was me? Wasn't me? I don't feel, I feel fine. I don't feel anything. You feel something? What's supposed to feel? You think you got it from me? He was like all like, so concerned. And then he took a test and it was negative. And I was like, it's not you. Not you. So yeah. But then i did that was me. That was my whole- That sounds nice. and Yeah, that sounds good. Yeah, we were driving all over the Midwest like we had to go to the road tripping. Man, we went to everywhere. It was cold, but it was a good time. We went to Indianapolis, did like a Christmas, early Christmas thingy there. um We went to Thanksgiving. We do Thanksgiving. Oh my God. Weren't y'all in Michigan?
00:13:21
Speaker
Oh, yes, we were in Michigan. I forgot. Yes, we were in Michigan for Thanksgiving, and then we went back for Christmas. It was it was so much. like we As soon as I got off work, we drove over to Indianapolis. ah My partner's ah youngest sister and her now fiance had a proposal at Christmas, which was super cute. Congratulations. Yeah, it was really nice. And then they exchanged They exchanged presents like a couple of days before, which it was it was a lot of fun. um And then we drove up to Detroit and we did like a little staycation at a hotel up in Detroit. And I haven't been like there for Christmas and I don't know how many years but the downtown city is just
00:14:05
Speaker
It's, it's gorgeous. Like they had a giant Christmas tree. They had like an outdoor, um, like, like where all the local stores like set up shop and you could go in and like, you know, buy local stuff and all that stuff. And then, um, it was super cute. And then we were walking around, you know, show, um, showed my partner like downtown, uh,
00:14:26
Speaker
the spirit of Detroit and all that other good stuff. And we did Christmas at my brother's new house ah for the first time. And that was just pure chaos, but it was a good chaos. It was, everyone was there. Everyone was open up presents at the same time. And like, just like, it was just wrapping paper everywhere. And I'm just like, you know what, just, just go with it. It's fine. um And then we had, we had dinner there, which was great. um And then we all knocked out and drove back to Chicago the next day. So.
00:14:55
Speaker
Was your sister and your dad at your brother's place? Yep. Oh, that's nice. Yeah, they all drove down. It's only like maybe an hour away <unk>m from Detroit. We had to drive four hours up from Indianapolis. So that was a good little road trip. But, um, shut up. Right. Nice just being a guest. And I haven't the host this year, which is pretty nice. I enjoy it.
00:15:20
Speaker
I feel like I was a guest at my home, which I haven't felt like in a long time. I haven't been home for Christmas, low key, in like five or six years. Just because my parents were like, oh, don't come home during COVID. So I didn't go home for like 2020, 2021. And then I got married and I had the wedding down there and the wedding was in November. I'm like, I'm not coming back for Christmas. Long story short, I haven't been home in a while for Christmas. And then now since I have a child,
00:15:45
Speaker
You know, and my mom is, you know, Nana, she's a grandma. She's like, oh, my God, it's his first Christmas. You've got to come here. We've got to do the whole at Christmas year. And I got to set up like the jesus Jesus and the manger and the thing. I got to go all out like Christmas the way you grew up. And I was like, oh, my God. So of course, like, you know, we get there Christmas on like a thousand.
00:16:05
Speaker
Lovely. It was a lovely time. We stayed for a week. So me and my husband and our little one, we went to Florida, had a lovely Christmas in Florida, which I kind of forgot what that was like to doing Christmas in Florida because it'd be hot AF. And I kind of forgot what that felt like. I'm like, man, it is hot down here. I forgot.
00:16:22
Speaker
um how weird it is to not be somewhere where it's like a little cool, even a little chilly, little nippy. I'm like, man, i and I grew up in it. I just forgot. Anyway. But it was lovely. Yeah, Christmas in Florida, New Year's back in LA.
Festivities in Florida and Fires
00:16:36
Speaker
It's been kind of crazy being back since the fires and things have started. I don't know if we're going to talk about that in trending weekend if you guys want to. But aside from that, I'm safe. My family's safe. We're all good. So overall, the new year, the holidays were good on my end. What about you, Dr. k Chris? What you did? Where you went? You You cooked some Haitian food for somebody?
00:16:54
Speaker
No. You didn't cook for your sister and your dad in the crew? I did. I did for Thanksgiving. So that was cool. Okay, I was about to say. But I didn't cook. Oh, the ju-ju-ju. Ju-ju. How do you say that? Ju-ju-ju. Ju-ju. Okay. Yeah, for New Year's. But for Christmas, I had a great time.
00:17:16
Speaker
I went to the Houston, Texas and the Houston and Baltimore Ravens game. And I saw Beyonce perform. It was great. I'm so jelly. Was it as amazing in live? But you didn't pick up the phone. I called you. Who's the you?
00:17:37
Speaker
me I called both of you. ah call she not side in um When I was at the Christmas table about to eat and she's like, but trying a FaceTime me like, Oh my gosh. Was it as good as it was on TV? Was it good? Live is what I'm so jealous.
00:17:58
Speaker
Well, so the thing is, where I was sitting, I had good, um my seats, I had good view of the field, but I wasn't like super close to the field, but I had good ah feel like I could see the whole field. No, I know exactly what you mean.
00:18:13
Speaker
But then there was the TV, and it looked like there was a delay. Because it kind of looked like she was lip syncing, but I'm like, she doesn't normally lip sync. So that's why I was like, that was strange. No, but on the screen on no but on the screen on the screen, it will look like a delay. Yeah. If you're watching her on the big screen and not like looking at her, yeah. Right. like I could see her, but then it was just like, I can't see her that well because I was where I was positioned. I could see the whole field. So it was cool.
00:18:42
Speaker
I mean, the game sucked. But I had a great time. I didn't open no presents or nothing, but that was great enough for me. I was happy. Dr. Chris owes us details on her connects and how she pulled that whole thing off. But she going to give us those off air, because she can't explain none of that on air. But just know that she, uh, she out here living. She out here living, y'all. Listen, aye I am thankful.
00:19:13
Speaker
Oh, OK. And I am excited for what this new year will bring. Listen, I'm happy. I'm happy for you, friend. Who got the trend in?
New Year Resolutions
00:19:26
Speaker
I do. All right. So I figured since we are now into the new year, everybody wants to get the body right for January. So I figured we could talk about dry January.
00:19:40
Speaker
um So yeah, so i'm I'm actually doing it right now. I do you miss a good glass of wine, but you know, it is what it is. But actually a new article came out. The US Surgeon General, Dr. Murthy, actually had released an advisory on actually putting cancer labels on, you know,
00:20:03
Speaker
alcoholic beverages, about citing like the increased risk of you know moderate drinking and development of six different cancers, sorry, seven different cancer types, including ah breast, colon, liver, throat, mouth, esophagus, and laryngeal cancer.
00:20:20
Speaker
um So there's actually there is evidence that you know when you break down the active ingredient in alcohol um into acetaldehyde, it can actually bind to your DNA and damage it, thus increasing the risk of you generating cancer.
00:20:36
Speaker
um So, so essentially the, ah so this kind of got people up in arms about like, well, you know, you see the Europeans drinking and, you know, Asian countries they drink, but, you know, they don't have nearly as high cancer rates as the US. So, you know, it can't just all be the alcohol.
00:20:55
Speaker
um And then, you know, people citing like, oh, the French, they drink, you know, french ah red wine, like all the time, Italians, they also drink, you know, red wine, but they live to be like 90 plus, you know, so what's going on there? um Which there's some true to that, you know, we have a lot of ultra-processed foods in our diet, which can also contribute, you know, to, you know, the risk of you developing um cancer and other cardiovascular effects that can, you know, impact your health.
00:21:23
Speaker
Um, so that was something that was kind of not mentioned in this, um, in this decision to like, Oh, put cancer label on it causes cancer. That's the end of it. So that was, that's kind of been up in arms and actually in the Facebook group of the physician group that I follow, a lot of people were kind of like mixed feelings on it. So, um, I thought that was a little interesting. So I figured, um, it'd be just some discussion about it. Yeah. What are they going to start this labeling? It already started.
00:21:50
Speaker
No, it was just like a, it's just like a thought. So, you know, was something that they wanted to ah promote, but I don't think they've actually got to go ahead to go ahead and do it yet. So that's still kind of up in the air right now. um But the recommendation was like ah praised by the American Cancer Society. So they are very much on board with like, yeah, put, put the label on it. You know, people need to see what's going on.
00:22:14
Speaker
I mean, there's already all these other labels on alcohol, like, please don't consume if you're pregnant and please don't do, like, it's, you know, please drink responsibly. that that So listen, you want to add to the labels? That's fine. I mean, I don't think it's going to deter people from drinking. No, absolutely not. I think they're still going to drink. And they're going to be so drunk, they're not going to even read the label. So it doesn't even matter. But more importantly, Dr.
Alcohol and Health Warnings
00:22:39
Speaker
Nono, how do you feel doing your dry January?
00:22:42
Speaker
I mean, I feel great. like I definitely have more energy. um I think I lost a little bit of weight. like so I don't feel bloated. you know like I looked in the mirror a couple of times and like my face isn't all puffy and stuff. um But I'm also substituting like you know more water and I'm walking more. I can't walk outside right now because it's like negative five, but um you know I do feel the benefits of like just abstaining from alcohol for a little bit. um and I was by no means like a heavy drinker by any means, but i they there's definitely benefits to not drinking as much. um and You do find like really good substitutes out there that can kind of help you along your journey.
00:23:24
Speaker
I will say there is no, I've tried at least 20 different types of non-alcoholic red wine. There is no, you cannot substitute red wine. That is, there's there's no substitute for red wine. I found a really good sparkling rose and a Negroni that tastes just like the real deal, but like red wine, I don't know what it is. it You just can't, you can't replicate it. It just tastes like fermented. Well, actually it is fermented grape juice, but. the the red wine, the non-alcoholic red wine that I found just takes like straight, great juice, like Welch's. Yeah, because I mean, you're taking away like the time and the fermenting and the barrels and the things and the, you know, you're taking away everything that makes the wine, the wine. Right. well It's hard to replicate that and not have it be wine. So I can i could see that. Yeah, but you know, to each their own, i I think it would, I think it's something that needs to be talked about more about, you know, more counseling for
00:24:18
Speaker
um people in regards to you know alcohol consumption and what's moderate versus heavy. So I think that line can be blurred with some people. They're like, oh, you know I just drink two or three glasses of whatever at night. And I'm like, that's a lot. you know And then they're like, oh, and we do that all the time. i'm like But still, that doesn't mean you know that's not having long term effects on your health. um So I think that discussion needs to be had. And then also there is a correlation between you know our current diet in the US and why that can also you know contribute to cancer risks as well. So yeah. I mean, somebody on the pod off air was just talking about moonshine. I ain't going to call them out.
00:25:03
Speaker
I mean, we talking about a fag sweets. I mean, we're talking about, we can talk about it. I mean, it was a holiday gift. I'm not telling you to drink alcohol all the other times, but I'm just saying, you know, if you can't drink moonshine during the holiday, when can you drink it?
00:25:22
Speaker
You were just being nice and you being a good guest. I was. Right? And that was a one very thoughtful gift. I brought a couple different, you know, I brought some with like the peaches in it. That one was good. And there was an apple pie one.
00:25:36
Speaker
um And I think it was a punch punch. Yeah, my cousin brought some moonshine to one of our gatherings. It tasted like straight diesel fuel. i No, these are good. I can't. I was like, oh my God, what is this?
00:25:53
Speaker
these were These were really tasty. like you like These were ones where people were like, oh, wait, this is moonshine? Oh, yeah, that's so good. I'm like, careful. Yeah? I don't think I've had moonshine. I will come on down. I'll make sure you're right next to the MD.
00:26:13
Speaker
Yeah. I'm just saying, I just put that out there. Girl, you can get, you can get some. You can be, listen, you can find some. I just put that out there. I'm just saying that I didn't get it. You in North Carolina, girl. I'm happy to help you with your do-over. I appreciate you. Cause I'm not, I'm not doing a dry January. I messed that up.
00:26:34
Speaker
Well, listeners, before we logged in, we also planned our wine night. So we're also doing that. This dry January for me is only for January. I'm part of a wine club. Yeah, we try and that we're trying to plan a Napa trip. ah I'm part of a wine club. I get wine. But I don't like it.
00:26:54
Speaker
so Dr. Chris and I are the same! I don't get it, but I get one. every Yeah, you store it. You store it and make it look pretty and give it to guests. I get it every quarter, like every three, four months. Wait, how many? I was looking at one, but I didn't like the club I was with, so I canceled it. Do they send you like, like what, six bottles at a time or how many? No, I get like three or four.
00:27:16
Speaker
Oh, okay. I said, I said six. like Oh no, that's too much. Like three or four is not a lot, but I know you were like, Oh my God. i was like oh my No, I'm with you. I wanted to sign up for the premium and get bottles on bottles. My husband was like, absolutely not. It's really bad. And then right after that, I got pregnant, and I couldn't even drink anything anyway. He's like, now you see? Now you see? Look at you. Look at you. i't I don't even drink it. And half the time, like I get it like mailed to me. Half the time, i'm I'm never even home, so it doesn't even really come to me. The only time the only reason why it wasn't dry this month, because I happened to be home, and I received the wine. I'm like, oh, shoot. I get wine. So I drink. Nice.
00:27:58
Speaker
All right. Well, that was one of my trending. I have two more, but two more. yeah One of them is really short you can do rapid fire. Oh, yeah. So pretty much.
Norovirus Outbreak Discussion
00:28:11
Speaker
So right now we're in January, which is like peak season for all these viruses to come out.
00:28:17
Speaker
and wreak havoc on your gut and your lung system. um So what I think is, it's not funny, but it's it's just like, i I think being with um this current job and position, I never saw like so many cases of norovirus before in my medical career, but I've had at least Man, I, we, we admit maybe 50 people a night and I think 30 of them like came in was like norovirus. Um, it's, it's, it's terrible. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy, but, um, so norovirus is like, uh, you know, kind of like when you get the stomach flu. Um, so norovirus is one of those bugs that can give you a really bad stomach flu. But the thing is, is that your, your belly isn't just cramping.
00:29:02
Speaker
It's like you're it's coming out both ends, so you're pooping nonstop and you're also throwing up nonstop and this can go on for a couple hours and some people it's like maybe two to three days. um But when you get it, it is very, very intense.
00:29:18
Speaker
And usually people come to the hospital. They're like, doc, just give me something to make it stop. Um, the thing is, is that it just usually runs its course and it's, it's out of your system, but people are usually coming in because they're super dehydrated. Um, cause you know, you're losing a lot of of water when you throw up and you're, you're pooping and I'm not saying poop in like, Oh, they're going to like maybe three or four times a day.
00:29:41
Speaker
I literally had a guy come in and he counted the amount of time ah times that he had like liquid diarrhea, and it was at least, I think he counted about 30, around that range. and It's just you're pooping out water. like that It gets to that point. um so The way it's transmitted is essentially a fecal-oral route. so if you You know, cooking or eating something and someone did not wash their hands before and the little particles of poop get into your food. You eat it, it incubates for about 24 to 48 hours and then the symptoms start up. And the thing with norovirus is that it does not, you don't need a whole lot of virus particles or
00:30:20
Speaker
Yeah, particles to essentially get you really sick. so um And the thing is that this virus is also extremely hardy. So it can it can really last for a really long time. you know Even in the Chicago climate, um it can last on surfaces if you don't disinfect them properly. And this is actually one of those things where hand hand sanitizer does not work. um You need to use like straight up bleach. ah And that's how you disinfect your countertops if you you know if you're cooking and whatnot.
00:30:49
Speaker
um Yeah, but usually you see outbreaks and like anywhere where there's like people in close ah quarters. So essentially prisons, hospitals, cruise ships are notorious for this. I remember there's a really bad outbreak maybe like two years ago on like a Carnival cruise line. I'm like, you know what?
00:31:10
Speaker
I don't think I'm going to go on a cruise anymore. So um those things are very common because people do not, again, practice good hygiene. They don't wash their hands for at least 20 seconds after with soap and water um to prevent the the particles from staying on your hands and and getting onto your food. um but yeah I'm always surprised that people I see that come out the bathroom, they squirt that soap on there and they like,
00:31:37
Speaker
literally move it amongst their fingers and they run their hands in the water real quick and they're out and i'm like that didn't clean anything no no it does not and the thing is yeah go ahead i was gonna say neuro virus in particular it's actually it's also becoming well i know like over here on the west coast there was a bunch of outbreaks in daycares. And typically when you think about daycares, you think about Rota, but Lenora virus took out like all these daycares. And of course these are all kids, right? And the kids give it to their parents, their parents go to work, give it to people at work. And I'm like, yo, it was just like a virus that was just terrorizing like all of Southern California for like a good two, three weeks. And I'm like, what is happening? But you know, you see it in clinic because you're just like,
00:32:19
Speaker
I'm just like, oh, hey, have you been around these sick contacts? Oh, do you have kids? Oh, they're like, yeah, and the daycare sent out a message that said other kids are sick too in the daycare. And I'm like, yo, like, this is wild. So the thing is, so Dr. Sunshine brought up a good point in that rotavirus can also cause similar symptoms. But we have a vaccine for that. So that's something that's usually given the kids, you know, but definitely before they go into like, like childcare and whatnot.
00:32:46
Speaker
ah We cannot make a vaccine for norovirus because it's kind of like the it's like the structure of the the virus. It's constantly changing and shifting. So we cannot make a a good vaccine to actually target the virus. So even if you get infected with it once, there's not saying that you can get reinfected with it again and also like within the same period. So like I said, if you don't disinfect your surfaces, like if you had an outbreak go like throughout your entire house,
00:33:13
Speaker
You need to like put everything you own and like bleach and just bleach the hell out of it. Clean down all your surfaces with you know bleach and whatnot and that will actually kill the virus. But you can get reinfected really easily if there is any any virus kind of lingering around in your general area. Probably need to bleach your toilet too. Oh, that too.
00:33:35
Speaker
Because it sounds like when you got this, you you that's where you spend most of your time. Oh my god. It is terrible. but these guy was ah This guy was telling me, I'm like, sir, I am so sorry. Let's just let's just admit you and keep you for a day, because you've been through it. My god. So yeah, that was my. Where the toilet at? Let me sit there. That's crazy. Yeah.
00:33:59
Speaker
So my last topic um also will not be long, but um we're definitely not shying from the fact that we started this year with like one of the biggest, it's probably the biggest wildfire in l LA's or California's history.
California Wildfires Impact
00:34:15
Speaker
um You know the palisades fire and with that, you know, actually comes a lot of other health concerns that we need to be concerned about um So i'm I'm definitely not there but dr. Sunshine is like right down the street from it um but you know, you get the plumes of smoke that you can see the um the intense heat of people that are kind of stuck in the fire, you know also lead to getting burn injuries and And then also, you know, it's been a problem in l LA but like the air pollution that can also directly be the kiln from a wildfire can also compound that that effect as well. um But there's, you know, my my heart really goes out to the people that are dealing with this and I hope
00:34:59
Speaker
I know the winds are supposed to, you know, kick kind of back up, um, in the next, you said a couple of days or so, or actually this week, this week. So ah God, I really pray for some rain, but then I don't want any mudslides to occur because of that either. So it's, it's kind of like, uh, yeah, you re you guys really need, need something, uh, something to kind of get these, get these under control. Um, yeah.
00:35:25
Speaker
but Within the city, there's about, so it's not just one fire. There's about six different fires now. They all have names. There's the Eaton Fire in Pasadena, the Palisades Fire in Malibu. There's the Kenneth Fire in Hollywood Hills. So long story short, the way that LA is formed, it's basically um it's like a basin. It's basically a big valley. So you have all these mountains that are surrounding the city of l LA. And then on the western border, you have the ocean, of course. So the people who live kind of in the mountains up there with the brush,
00:35:53
Speaker
whenever the wind speeds get too high, which we have them every year, it's called the Santa Ana winds. They're really high in January. Long story short, the winds get really high, the brush kind of scratches amongst itself, and then it lights things on fire. um There's been a lot of, I think, poor PR. um The local LA PR about like the fires and getting information and how much is contained and everything. Our local news has been excellent. I think it's probably been the best coverage of any emergency I've ever seen. But I also grew up in Florida with hurricanes and FEMA, and we don't do a good job in Florida. So maybe my my bar has always been low. Anyway, but they're very efficient here.
00:36:33
Speaker
um But I feel like the ah the national news and how they're covering some of the fires has been um a little problematic. There's lots of dramas and conspiracy theories and lots of mixed feelings about you know what's happening here. But I can let you know as someone who lives here, that people are going above and beyond to help evacuees. There's pop-up shelters here in Long Beach where I am. um We're basically hosting everyone from Pasadena here in Long Beach because it's a highway that connects us it connects us from here to Pasadena.
00:37:03
Speaker
um and And predominantly, it's a very mixed group of people who've lost houses. It's not just the celebrities that you hear about on the news. The news is really focusing on all these celebrities who lost their houses. um That's only from one fire, the Palisades near Malibu. That is the affluent area. The other fires are actually in very mixed communities. The community of Altadena next to Pasadena is a historically black neighborhood. So a lot of black people lost their houses to blacks and Latinos.
00:37:32
Speaker
So there's a lot of different people that are impacted. We're all coming together as a city. If you guys want to help out, you guys can make donations to the redcross.org. um And you can donate whatever you want. It could be socks, it could be food, it could be money, it could be whatever. um And we will rebuild LA.
00:37:49
Speaker
um In terms of where I'm at, everyone who lives kind of closer to the water, like where we are, like Long Beach, Redondo Beach, along the beaches, we're all fine. But remember, the beaches are the furthest away from the mountains, right? So we can see the smoke from afar, but everyone's evacuating towards us here.
00:38:06
Speaker
um so So... That's where we're at. um But I co-signed everything Dr. Nono said about the air quality, which has been trash. We haven't been outside at all. I've been running the AC indoors, which I like never do. Because Cali is always kind of cool with a nice ocean breeze, because I'm but under the ocean. But it's weird to like run the AC during the day and be like inside all the time. It's kind of weird. But we're doing what we can to help. And that's where we're at.
00:38:31
Speaker
You know, yeah, I hope it feels so bad friend for everybody and Cali families, people who walked home. That's a big deal.
Potential TikTok Ban
00:38:41
Speaker
yeah I mean, I heard about the fires actually through tictok um um on this TikTok. I mean, it's be gone. I literally downloaded. I spent two hours downloading all my data because I have a bunch of like travel videos and home improvement stuff on there. So I didn't want to lose that. And I did. I went and just went.
00:39:00
Speaker
ah and then follow the creators like on Instagram somewhere. But I just wanted to actually physical video. Is TikTok leaving? ah It sounds like it. be yeah What? They actually said the Shark Tank guy might was in talks to possibly buy it. but But I don't think that's going to happen before the meeting. Was this about TikTok's like influence over there in Asia and like them hacking into like people's? Oh. So this actually, oh, OK. Got it.
00:39:28
Speaker
So we're here to get Congress to yes, to um say, you know, this is definitely a well, Congress said, hey, this is a this is a national security problem. So either someone is not that we can't have TikTok, but China can't own it. So China has to sell it in order for it to stay here in the States. Of course, China is like I'm not selling anything. So when the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court supported the decision that it's either under new management or it's not, but that's not happening. So essentially what's going to happen is um TikTok will stop at the end of the month. um If you already have it on your phone or if you already have the app, you'll be able to keep the app, but you won't be able to get updates and stuff like that. So, you know, as as those things go, it'll essentially become obsolete because the version that we'll have will be old and you'll phase out because there'll be no updates happening.
00:40:20
Speaker
o So yeah. Wow. I'm not even a tick soccer. I mean, it's it's pretty handy. Like I found some different news outlets on there. And then like I said, like just random like cooking like home improvement stuff. And it's pretty helpful for that. And people.
00:40:38
Speaker
The big issue is that people make their lives work like on the stuff they sell and advertise on TikTok. so Yeah, they do. um They have millions of people that are now out of work because they're going to get rid of this entire app. so In this economy? Yeah, right. If I'm looking for some place that's trendy or where to go, I'm looking on TikTok. I got so many travel recommendations from TikTok. like It was was very helpful for that.
00:41:06
Speaker
so I don't know what's going to happen. not Not at the expense of, you know, the United States of America. They're like, i they're like data breach. Can't do it next.
00:41:22
Speaker
and So I will. um So in that, sorry, we kind of flipped the switch on that. So back to the fire. I'll post some resources that I found that are actually very helpful for the, um, you know, for the fire for the wildfires. Um, but that's, I just wanted to give a little brief intro about that. Um, I, we didn't talk about really the injuries you can get from a fire, um, which we can probably go into a later episode, but, um, but yeah, I just wanted to, you know, say, no, we love you guys. And, you know, if you need.
00:41:53
Speaker
anything you have any questions, you know please reach out and I'll include those resources to help you get through this terrible, terrible time. And for the LA listeners, if they tell you to evacuate, just evacuate. Please. Because that's been the biggest problem. People are trying to be like, no, I want to stay here on my property and defend my house with this water hose. And that's why people are dying. And I'm like, yo, you can't. it's like That's not how fires work. like I grew up with a healthy respect for nature, and I didn't get that everyone's not built that way. But when you start talking about hurricanes and fires and tornadoes and stuff, like look, protect yourself, get your loved ones, take the necessities, and and peace.
00:42:30
Speaker
so They're doing really good with like monitoring the evacuation orders and sending it to your phone based on your location and stuff. So they tell you to evacuate, just peace out. It's not worth it. And that's it. Amy Jo, what you got? I know you got a topic. What are you going to talk about? What are you talking about? You know, I'm going to keep it real short because the holiday season has come and it's gone. And as you know, we've already talked about earlier, some of us have arrived with some viruses. And I just want to just really quickly go through it because I think sometimes people are
00:43:08
Speaker
often frustrated. I think that sometimes people come in a little bit too early. And so just wanted to give a really quick, high level, we're not going to get into too deep of details on like how we, what we think, right? So I know a lot of people are calling, you're probably calling right now. I got to talk to my, my doctor. I have bronchitis. I have a sinus infection. I have, um,
00:43:33
Speaker
I think I have pneumonia. you know I think I have one of the above. And so it's always you know this. And so i' been I don't know about you all, but I have been getting a whole plethora of you know these messages. Hey, doc, my sinuses are
Cold and Flu Management
00:43:50
Speaker
congested. Can you send some excuseus send me an antibiotic to pharmacy? And I got to send you back a whole note.
00:44:00
Speaker
That's not how we treat your sinuses. So congestion in itself is not it. So um you know most of us right now are in flu and cold season. We call it flu and cold season. We should probably call it upper respiratory virus season because as RSV has you know, kind of made its statement and COVID is still out here hanging out here in these streets. We all got influenza. um this And then there's all these all these other unnamed viruses that we know exist that are there. There's lots of respiratory viruses that happen. And for most people, respiratory viruses don't come with just, you know, cough. Some people get sinus congestion. They get all these things. And so you guys are calling because you don't feel well and and it just makes sense to just kind of, you know,
00:44:53
Speaker
call to see if you can get something, but those are not really the recommendations. And so, you know, trying to help you guys navigate that. So by the time you call me, it's actually something we can do, it'd be great. So I get, I don't know about y'all, but like, I'll get somebody that's, you know, is in my office and they're like, oh, um my sinuses are congested. And I'm like, when'd your symptoms start? Yesterday. But I made an appointment because I'm trying to, you know, get on top of it. Listen, there's nothing to get on top of.
00:45:24
Speaker
Absolutely nothing. Amy Jo, why are you? I hate this too because they give you they want an antibiotic for something that's a virus and antibiotics work for bacteria.
00:45:38
Speaker
They don't work for viruses. I'm trying to tell people that they don't want to listen. They don't want to be sick for long. I get it. But it's not going to matter. But that's what they think, right? It's like you're going to give it to them and then they're going to feel magically better. And when they don't, they'd be like, you got it wrong.
00:45:55
Speaker
like like You know what used to happen though, you used to they used to like go i'll go to urgent care and they would get antibiotic and they'd feel better. But you know what I have seen recently? That people are coming in and they're like, yeah, I went to urgent care, I got an antibiotic, I still don't feel better. And we weren't expecting you to completely get better because most most of you have a oops most of you have a virus.
00:46:20
Speaker
But there would be some like anti-inflammatory properties you would get from using antibiotics and that would help. But recently, most people are coming to see me because they're like, yeah, I took the antibiotic and and it didn't work.
00:46:39
Speaker
And I think it's just such a waste. And so just trying to help you optimize your your time would be very helpful. So, you know, if you've got a cold, now, if you, I think everybody should at least get tested, right? So know your virus is important because if you've got the flu or you have COVID or something that we can call by name, we probably have an antiviral medication that we can give you to treat. And this is where Dr. No is like, please and thank you because
00:47:09
Speaker
We just, you know, we I don't want you to waste your time. You already feel bad. And there's no sense in you not optimizing an appointment with your primary care doctor. Like we can give you, if you have the, you're coming in to like an urgent care yeah ER, they'll stick that little RP2 or respiratory panel swab up your nose. And then that can tell us like in maybe 10, 15 minutes, like what type of virus you got, if any.
00:47:38
Speaker
if you got tamma If you get influenza, we can give you Tamiflu. If you got COVID, we can give you Paxovid. If you're not hypoxic, then you may be in the hospital. But um RSV is a little tricky because usually we don't give that medication out unless you're considered immunocompromised. And that's only if you're showing like really, um you like you're really, your action levels are really low and you really look really, really, really sick.
00:48:03
Speaker
um So usually that that medication is an IV medication that's reserved for people when they're admitted to the hospital. But again, the the RSV will also clear on your own in ah what we consider an immunocompetent individual. So you know someone that's otherwise healthy, you get RSV, the virus will go away on its own. It will. It really will go on its own. And and i and I get that.
00:48:30
Speaker
You all, like everybody, are thinking, I don't have time for this. I feel you. You know, being out of work for a week um last week because I had COVID was inconvenient. But there was nothing really that I could do about it at that point, except for, you know, treat my symptoms and ride it out. So I know people are like, what did you do? So I will tell you in advance that did not get the antiviral.
00:48:57
Speaker
um I didn't feel symptomatic enough that I thought I was going to need it. So i I had a sore throat and I had some congestion. um One of my things that I recommend, which I followed, you know, um last week was no dairy, no sugar. So I typically will cut out the dairy and cut out all like the simple sugars because I think they make you mucusy. They keep your your mucosal lining inflamed and so your congestion never gets better. Lots of fluids, lots of liquids, and then Tylenol and ibuprofen as needed.
00:49:31
Speaker
um if uh if you're having like any headaches chills body aches anything like that outside of a headache that's really all i had so you know most things we want people to do are gonna be you know over the counter but i'm fine if you i'm fine if you're showing up because you're like i need to get tested although you can now do that you know really in the stores, like they now sell you know rapid flu and COVID kits. But if you're thinking, I don't have time to go to the store, I'm not sure that I have um COVID. um My kid is at home not feeling well and they tested negative for flu and COVID, but we have something and you want us to do a viral swab. We're happy to do that. But once you learn what it is, I think that i think that's fine.
00:50:18
Speaker
Um, the rest is really going to be anecdotal treatment. So treating your symptoms, making your stay well. Typically you need to be sick with, especially when it comes to pharyngitis and sinusitis. So we also now, the recommendations are now that we, you know, do a point of care swab but for strep, which is going to give you pharyngitis to see if you have it or not. Most adults don't have it. But because people's throats are so sore, probably from COVID, that you need to kind of figure out, you know, what this is because people are coming in and feeling like they just swallow razors. And most of the time when I swab them, they've got COVID, not strep. But you know, that that's a whole other thing. So we will swab you to make sure you don't have the things. But here's where I think it gets disappointing for you as a patient, is that you don't have anything bacterial that we can test you positive for, so you don't have strep. You're negative for flu and COVID, but you're like, so when do I get the antibiotics to stop the congestion? We do not give out antibiotics because your nose is congested.
00:51:24
Speaker
We give out empathy and sympathy, because it sucks, I know. They don't want that. But not antibiotics, I know. And y'all don't want that. Y'all want magic. And I don't have magic. And it seems these viruses have gotten a little bit more robust, because they're not even going for it. So I think you've got to remember to treat your symptoms,
Home Remedies Effectiveness
00:51:43
Speaker
right? Tylenol, ibuprofen, if you're in pain, or if you're having a fever, or a body aches, lots of fluids, because you're probably breathing a little bit higher race. You're a little more dehydrated than you would be.
00:51:52
Speaker
um Rest. We underestimate rest. Everybody is like, give me something because it is Thursday and by Saturday I've got to be 100% and that's just not going to happen. You got to go home and lay down.
00:52:08
Speaker
It's some ginger ale, put on some prices, right? It's some saltine crackers. You know what I think people underestimate? Vicks vapor love. I love that. Oh, I love that. Just pull it all over you and just knock out. It's great.
00:52:24
Speaker
It is an old wives tale but that there's something in there that menthol will help actually decongest your sinuses and it does work. The only people who likes Vig's vapor rub more than Black people is Latino people. They rub it on everything. They do it on everything. You got an ache, body ache. Did I tell you that my in-laws brought me back some what they call it the good vapor rub that they got from Columbia? Oh my god.
00:52:51
Speaker
Listen. so That's a straight menthol, probably. Y'all. All I know is that whatever messes they have in Mexico, they not lying. Them things be nice. So like um when our little one was congested, he had to be like maybe like, I don't know, three months old. And he started getting like stuff being congested. They wanted to get from this Colombian vix. I'm like, absolutely not. First of all, number one.
00:53:15
Speaker
You're not even supposed to give put regular Vicks on kids. They got the little Vicks with the little pink top. It's like the baby, baby Vicks. That's what you're supposed to use. And they're like, oh, he's never going to get decongested. like He's never going to. I'm like, y'all, I cannot with y'all right now. They're like, no, it's the good stuff from Columbia, the good stuff. I'm like, this might have some cocaine sprinkled in. I don't know what news is it. It's from Columbia, and it works immediately. I'm like, no. I'm bet you don't get to be fine.
00:53:43
Speaker
They may not be wrong. so So there was an ADFP article about treatment of the common cold. and And for children, it said acetylcysteine established safe and effective treatments for kids. Acetylcysteine, honey for children one year and older. um It was like nasal saline.
00:54:04
Speaker
um Inhaled Ipertropium, atopical applications of of ointments with camphor, ah menthol, and eucalyptics oils.
00:54:15
Speaker
Y'all, that sounds about right. I'm just saying, your AEP said that you're um your-laws are on the money, okay? So they were gonna slather that menthol on and the next one is gonna be like, that's right. Listen, I, no.
00:54:34
Speaker
uming her I showed her the baby vix with a little pink top. She opened the smell and she's like, No bueno. I was like, what? Not strong enough. um Not strong enough. Not strong enough. She's like, be the last time he has a congested nose. She's like, not for my grandson. This is not strong enough. It's not going to do anything. I was like, She's like, I'm just following the AEP guidelines. I don't know what you want from me.
00:54:59
Speaker
She's like, this isn't even regular Vicks. This is the baby Vicks. She's like, oh, this is nothing. I'm like, she's disgusting. Yeah, but for the scientists' congestion and stuff like that, they recommend using nasal saline. Just saline? Yeah. Kids and adults. Yeah. But the babies, though, they have that, what's that? Like, nobody wants to use a neti pot. It's like a rocket that they, yeah. Or the nevage. Love a good nevage in a neti pot. Y'all. And I'm just like, use it. They're like, I don't want to.
00:55:30
Speaker
ah I know, I'm so heartbroken every time somebody says no. Listen, y'all, Navage and Neti Pots will save your life. um Distilled water, no tap water, make that saline solution. It would do the things that you all are wanting to get done from the antibiotics um or from Sudafed or from Afrin, two things that I really wish you all would stop taking. yes um Because what I think what bothers people most is when they feel that that upper,
00:56:00
Speaker
upper respiratory yeah congestion, but this will flush you a little bit, right? So that you don't, first of all, pulse and nasal drip all day and then cough all night. And it'll get some of that mucus out of your system and help you flush those sinuses. You will feel so much better. And yes, for the kiddos, Dr. No, you're right. There's the one because obviously they don't sit still, but there's the one that you can blow.
00:56:23
Speaker
or you can push and it will shoot the water through for them. um And for kids that are super congested, if you've ever seen the videos, it's so- So gross. So satisfying though. And they're always looking so surprised. They're like- That came out of my nose. That was a lot. So yeah, saline saline goes a long way. Ointments go a long way for adults. So we talked about just the kids, but for adults, you know, um Tylenol ibuprofen, zinc, um nasal decongestants with or without antihistamine, and even apertropium for them for your cough um is helpful. I love giving people some albuterol, you know especially for like um people who don't you normally use it. So you know people are like, I'm coughing, I'm coughing, I'm coughing, I need something for the cough. And they always want the, you all always want the the cough syrup with the codeine in it.
00:57:18
Speaker
I actually think that Albuterol or Ipertropium, the inhalers, would be better because for some of you all, your cough is a bronchospasm and not a congested common cold or uprestory virus cough. So, you know, there are other things to try.
00:57:37
Speaker
um And I know most people are like, all right, I hear are you saying it, but when are you going to give me the antibiotic? Okay, fine. I hear you. Listen, we're listening. You need, the the literature varies. and At minimum, you need 10 days of worsening symptoms.
00:58:01
Speaker
plus or minus. It depends on who who yourre who's in front of you, who's doing the asking. But if you have been trying over-the-counter remedy remedies and you are persistently having symptoms that are not getting better or getting worse for at least 10 days, then I think it's ah not unreasonable to come back to say, let me tell you all the things I've been doing. Let me tell you the symptoms that went away. Let me tell you what's not you know going away.
00:58:28
Speaker
Or if you were, you know, thinking, I'm so proud of myself, I thugged it out, I have been getting getting great and getting better, then all of a sudden you get worse. Like you feel like a truck ran you over.
00:58:43
Speaker
If that's the case, then yes, that is a really good reason to come in and see us because we can you know make some magic happen. So antibiotics are never completely off the table, but you know day one of your congestion, it's probably not a good time to start them. um That is a good time for data gathering and know you know know your virus, if we can name it, call it by a name. And then if you just do not get better after 10 days,
00:59:10
Speaker
or if you get better and suddenly get worse, then that is a good time to sit down and say, so what do we do now? um Obviously, if your respiratory virus causes you to feel shortness of breath where you think, I can i simply cannot breathe, and know you could have a pneumonia. And so we need to investigate that. It is always my pneumonia page to the one that stay home too long, right?
00:59:35
Speaker
So by the time I see them, they're like, yeah, I've been turning in blue. My lips been turning blue for the past three days, but I was trying to thug it out. Like, no, can you please come in? You do a chest ache where you're like, you have pneumonia. So we still, we do want to know if somebody has pneumonia. So that's a good reason to come in too, because we want to listen to your lungs. You know, um, we, you know, we can, we can auscultate and sometimes hear things that, you know, do not sound um normal We can order chest x-rays. Most offices can get you a chest x-ray same day, real time. You do not have to go to the emergency room for a chest x-ray. You do have to come into our office early enough. Early enough. My four o'clock appointments are not gonna get a chest x-ray. I'm just saying. But um they can get one, but it's shut down because it's converting over to emergency room only. But you know we can do some of those things. But I just want people to know that you're not wrong taking your zinc,
01:00:29
Speaker
You can take your vitamin C. There is literature that support that those things can be helpful. You know, it's flu and cold season, so have your Tylenol, your ibuprofen on hand, any event that you go down. um You can go run with a neti pot or a navage. You um manage your time well, so rest when you don't feel well. um And more importantly, it's harder to put together a plan when you are having mild symptoms and you walk in my office one day after your mild symptom start, there's not a whole lot I can use to go go with that. But um coming in when you when you've gotten worse or you've just not gotten better after 10 days is the best approach to trying to figure out how to manage your respiratory viruses.
01:01:19
Speaker
That's all. I just want y'all to not waste your time or your money and and really recover in a way that's going to be good. And when you do come to see me, we've got all of our ducks in the room. We can really optimize your time that you spend in my office when you've been not feeling well. Great job. Good talk. Love it. She's trying to save y'all some time and energy and grief and us as well. This is ah this is a win-win. I hope y'all was listening.
01:01:48
Speaker
It is. It's a win-win. And I don't, you know, um now this is where we might get into some trouble. I know some people have to come because your job makes you, you know, see someone because you need a letter, you know, to to take time off, stuff like that. Call your doctor.
01:02:04
Speaker
i can't I can't say on this here podcast what your doctor is or is not going to do, but that is one of the joys of being established with the primary care doctor that knows you and you know them, and they know what kind of job you have and stuff like that. So there are some times where I've got somebody calling me and they sound horrible. They're at home, they're doing all the right things. I didn't want to spread my germs. I stayed home. I'm taking my Tylenol Ibuprofen. I made soup. you know im i am I'm tucked in, I'm doing fine, but this is day two going into day three that I don't feel well. I think I'm going to be home for another day.
01:02:42
Speaker
you know, cough, cough, sneeze, sneeze, you kind of hear them going through it and they're like, what do I need to do? I will tell you that there are some cases where I will, I will write the letter to say, you know, this is the, this would be exactly what I would have recommended. So in my, in my opinion, based on the person I'm talking to and listening to their history and kind of hearing, you know, some of their symptoms, I think we should do XYZ. Every, every doc is going to be different. Some of them are going to say, I, you got to have an appointment.
01:03:11
Speaker
And most of the time I want to see you. I want to lay your, I want to lay eyes on you. I want to make sure we're not missing anything. But I have had some people that are just like, ah I see tomorrow, but my, my, my, I made the point for you tomorrow. My, my job wants me to have a letter today. We do accommodate those things. Like there's a part of having a good relationship that we can make it comfortable for you. So.
01:03:38
Speaker
you know, call us can ask us those questions. I'm not saying we we can do lots of things for you. I just, my point is that typically the first thing on my agenda is not to hand out an antibiotic for you. You know what employers are the worst as in like these people always need a letter. You guys have any patients that work for Amazon?
01:03:58
Speaker
Yes. Oh my gosh. It is the worst. They can't do it. Patience. Patience that works for Amazon. Everything. Everything. Every appointment you ever have. like Amazon is clocking them. like like It's wild.
01:04:13
Speaker
And I'm like, as soon as my patient sends me a message, I'm like, I already know. I'm like, I already have her letter made for her before our appointment even begins. I'm like, all right, that was nice seeing you. Here's your letter for work. I know you have to go back to Amazon. Or how about like American Airlines, any little time you have to like fill out some like. Oh yeah, I got a couple, I got a couple flight attendants too. Listen, they don't play any amount of time. I feel like Verizon is like there too.
01:04:42
Speaker
I was like, man. I was having to write a letter because somebody had a, I don't remember, they were urinating more than they should, which meant they were taking more breaks than what, it's like they had to have a letter for an extra bathroom break.
01:05:00
Speaker
Are you serious? Oh my god. Yeah, it was crazy. Some jobs are very strict with that. You have to have a letter to do like every little thing. Everything. Yeah, for every accommodation. And I'm like, yo, if I write another letter, and then they'll be like, oh, well, my job only do this combination for like three months. You gotta to write another letter. You gotta write another letter. I'm like, yo, this is wild right now. It drives me nuts.
01:05:22
Speaker
But yes, Amy Jo, excellent topic that you picked. I hope you guys were listening. Tis the season for viruses and bacteria. It was going down. Basement. Stay safe out there, my friends. From the poo viruses and the coffee viruses. And wash your hands. Oh, yeah. More than 20 seconds. All right, y'all. All right. OK, guys, here's the question.
Permanent Birth Control Options
01:05:53
Speaker
All right. Hi there. I guess this isn't a specific question, but I was wondering if you all could go over the basics of vasectomies versus getting your tubes tied. I recently married and although my husband and I have always been on the same page of not wanting kids, we aren't sure how to avoid that. I currently have an IUD, d but am wanting to get completely off birth control because of negative side effects.
01:06:19
Speaker
I've experienced are different kinds for the past 10 plus years. He said he doesn't want to have a vasectomy and asked why I won't just get my tubes tied. Hoping to learn more about both surgeries.
01:06:32
Speaker
ah Well, one, vasectomies are easier to get. They are outpatient procedures, so they're the less invasive of the two procedures. Yes. So, you know. Amy JoMD, what do you mean by invasive? What do you mean?
01:06:48
Speaker
So the kind of surgery you need to have to make this happen, right? For the woman in this particular case to essentially do a permanent sterilization, which is what getting your tubes tied is. And I want to clarify that because there I was just I was somewhere on this here internet out here in these streets and I was a little bit surprised to find out that some women did not know that getting your tooth tied was a permanent sterilization. So to do that, you got to have a whole surgery. It's a big deal. Most women do it on the back end of having their last kiddo.
01:07:25
Speaker
And you've got to declare that you want that at enough times so you can't just walk in there and labor and be like, when does baby come out? Cut my tubes. It has to be thoughtful, it has to be planned. The paperwork has to be in place. But that's a major surgery. So if you didn't have it while you were actively in labor, you'd be coming to the hospital for a doctor to go back into your abdominal cavity in the name of tying your tubes or cutting the pathway so that eggs do not end up in your uterus for for fertilization. That is what you'd have to do. The vasectomy also is a form of permanent serialization, but you can do that outpatient. So the recovery time is less. You typically do not need as much anesthesia. um You get local medications, they send you home, and your recovery time is easier.
01:08:20
Speaker
so Vasectomies typically are thought to be a little bit easier to do than a tubal ligation. Now, it doesn't sound like you're pregnant, so you guys are both kind of staring across the table at each other trying to flip a coin to see who's going to go. That's a hard decision. The only thing they i tell you from a surgery standpoint is easier for him to do it than you.
01:08:45
Speaker
But there's more that goes into it than just who is it easier for. You got, got emotional things happening. So I don't know how to answer that on which one you're going to do. Lark methods, which you already have, you know, are great, but they're hormone induced, most of them, unless you get a copper IUD and you get a copper IUD depending on how old you are. Let's say you're, I don't know, 38. You need a copper IUD, keep it in for 10 years.
01:09:11
Speaker
pull that puppy out at 48
Menopause Planning Without Surgery
01:09:13
Speaker
and the chances of pregnancy would be so low that I would think you could coast in the period menopause or menopause depending on where you were at that time, because keep in mind the average age range of menopause starting is somewhere between 45 and 55. So most of the time when I'm trying to help women negotiate when they, should you know, should they get sterilized, should they not get sterilized, when they're in their, you know, late 30s, early 40s, where most times saying, let's get, well, let's plan to get
IUDs as a Surgical Alternative
01:09:44
Speaker
you to menopause. So for women who really like, I don't want to do a surgery, we're just trying to get you to menopause, because menopause will solve all of this.
01:09:50
Speaker
So it just depends on how old you are, how close you are to potentially being a menopause or pyramid apology. You could probably talk to your gynecologist to see what your levels look like. In that case, you may be able to do an IUD and not have it in forever. Buy you some time, avoid immediate surgery if your partner really does not want to do it and still mission accomplished, not end up with an unwanted pregnancy.
01:10:15
Speaker
Right. And with the copper ID, you still have your regular period. So just not hormone. So you don't get the side effect of the hormones. Right. But it's a hard question because it really all depends on who's going to do it. There's no right answer. There's no one answer for this. And there's no right answer because it really does depend on the couple.
Sterilization Choices and Emotions
01:10:38
Speaker
You know, what's your experience that I don't, you know, we don't know your complete experience.
01:10:42
Speaker
You know, some people are, you know, uh, procedure, uh, avoidant. They want to not do them at all costs. So it, you know, there's a lot to, you know, a lot to talk about. So I wish this was a black and white decision, but it, it, it has an emotional component that's important to not ignore. And, um, just trying to figure out what's best for you all as a couple.
Discussing Sterilization Hesitations
01:11:03
Speaker
Dr. Sunshine, you really say something.
01:11:05
Speaker
This is your hen house for women's health. No, you guys hit on like all of the things. The only other thing I would add is that a little tip that I have for you in terms of discussing this with your partner. I think that you should probably start with discussing the hesitation for each of you.
01:11:21
Speaker
for each procedure that when you can listen to each other and figure out what's your partner's hesitation to the vasectomy, you can verbalize what's your hesitation for getting your tubes tied. I think that's a good place to start because I think it's going to help you guys to communicate really well because like they said, this there's no right or wrong answer to this. and there's no And no one should feel obligated to be like, oh, well, I have to do this for the couple because you don't want to build resentment if you know if you're forced into a decision you really don't want to make. so Avoid all of that, communicate well, talk about your hesitations on both sides, and then hopefully you guys can come to a wonderful decision, whatever that may be.
Vasectomy Misconceptions
01:11:58
Speaker
That's all. Well, I was going to say that maybe sometimes I think men hesitate with doing vasectomies because they probably think that they can't like ejaculate the same. like Your ejaculate is going to be the same. It's just no sperm in it. you know like and that's goingnna It's not like it's going to change your function.
01:12:16
Speaker
Like you can still get erect. You can still, you know, ejaculate just fine. It's going to look normal. It's not going to look any different. You're just not going to have sperm in the ejaculate, you know? So I don't know if your partner might think that that's going to change and that's not really going to change. So like, I don't know if that provides some comfort or, or, you know, just maybe just education about it or just Maybe mean just going for a consultation and just seeing what the urologist says, you know? Because it literally could be done in the office. At Coastline, that's a really good question.
01:12:58
Speaker
Thank you for the question, listener. That's something to say? Oh, I saw No-No had her hand up. No, at Coastline, I literally had her hand up at Coastline. Oh, that was a thumbs up. I thought you were like, and also. Oh, no, no, no, no.
01:13:10
Speaker
I'll say that for later. mom yes No, I agree. So yeah, that's the end of our first episode of 2025. I love it.
Listener Interaction and Contact
01:13:22
Speaker
OK, so as always, you guys can find us. Check out our website, www.thechocolatemds.com. ah Feel free to send us questions in our little chat box at the bottom of the web page. Also, you can send us questions to our Gmail. Again, it's thechocolatemds.gmail dot.com. And also feel free to check us out on Facebook, Twitter, X, less so, I don't know, and Instagram.
01:13:51
Speaker
ah So feel free to check us out there and stay tuned for more episodes. All right. Have a good night, guys. Good night, y'all. Bye.