=sheila,
Thanks for the link to Neem Tree Farms. I was especially interested in the pet products they offer.
I will be placing an order and will add something for me since I like getting free shipping.
Robyn
" Gold Bond for rough and bumpy skin for her legs and arms… Amlactin seems to work to repair the small cuts I develop from slicing onions…
Each of those has some good compounds, but so many chemicals that have nothing to do with helping the skin. And Gold Bond has petrolatum in it. Which is derived from petroleum. Honest has a skin balm that prevents moisture from evaporating from the skin, just as petrolatum does—but it doesn’t have any ingredients that shouldn’t be there.
I would really recommend neem-containing products for both of those problems. Therneem’s salve is wonderful for skin damage of any kind. Put it on after you nick yourself, and put it on before bed, and it’s so much healing will have taken place by morning. For the skin bumps, I would take a look at the Neemtreefarms.com website and choose a skin lotion. Neem is anti-inflammatory, skin protective, skin normalizing, healing. And you won’t find any of these products filled with all sorts of chemicals that really should not be there.
=sheila "
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The lotions for DW’s legs were recommended by her dermatologist and alternate with medicated
steroids. She has had skin cancers removed from her legs about 4 or 5 times and suffered through a
bout of cellulitis a few years back. The doctor had also recommended Aquaphor - forgive the spelling
but DW felt the material was much like petroleum jelly and was just to yucky for coating a
large portion of skin.
Howie52
Natural products are fine, but in the case of DW’s dermatologist, we feel he saved her legs by
getting her admitted to a hospital a few years back. He and his group has removed cancers from
her head, arms and legs - apparently from spending a lot of her childhood outside doing chores
around her family’s farm in the sun.
Once upon a time, sunscreen was largely considered unneeded.
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The lotions for DW’s legs were recommended by her dermatologist and alternate with medicated
steroids. She has had skin cancers removed from her legs about 4 or 5 times and suffered through a
bout of cellulitis a few years back…
Most dermatologists know only the commercial products. I wish dermatologists were aware of neem, because the research is there. Neem has so many benefits that in its countries of origin—India and several African countries—people call it “the village pharmacy plant.” It is anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-microbial. It support skin healing from cuts and rashes and surgeries. I would suggest getting one of Neem Tree Farms’ products, and try it. That’s the only way you’ll know. If you’re unsure what to try, you can call and speak with Vicki Parsons, who founded and runs the company.
Did DH have significantly more skin cancers than others in her family doing the same outdoor chores? If she did, there may be a genetic component to having had so many. Wonderful that your dermatologist realized that she needed surgical attention.
And don’t forget that sometimes our doctors can learn from us. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been thanked by one of my doctors for learning about a skin-care product or supplement or Ayurvedic herbal treatment.
=sheila
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DW uses Gold Bond for rough and bumpy skin for her legs and arms - and it works pretty well in smoothing out bumps as they develop.
Keratosis pilaris? Has she been diagnosed?
I only had KP on my upper arms, and a very mild case according to multiple dermatologists I saw over the years, but it all but disappeared when I started taking better quality supplements (I think Garden of Life omega 3s was particularly good for skin. Cheaper omega 3s did nothing). I also noticed decades ago that whenever I ate chicken livers, kp seemed to clear up over night (vitamin A??). I had chicken livers last night–yup, bump-free instead of my usual 4 or 5 tiny bumps per upper arm (improved from 10-20 bumps of years past).
ASIDE re NEEM
About neem ointment. I bought some on Sheila’s recommendation for my husband’s stapled scalp gash last month. Except that neem is bright yellow and a bit drippy (and looks like it will stain), it works great. It washed out of the hubster’s pillow case.
I’ve had intermittent cracks behind my ears since puberty. They used to exude what I presume was lymph years ago when they got very bad. Now I just experience it behind my right ear, much more rarely, and not to the point of “lymphing.” Cortisone cream has always worked well for this (it’s what my family dr gave me as a teen–he’d give me a handful of tiny sample tubes), but it supposedly “thins the skin,” so I used to alternate between antibiotic ointment and cortisone for the occasional “flare.” Right up until I had neem ointment. Just one application once around a month ago and no reappearance of the itchy/weird crack since.
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oh, sorry, Howie. I should’ve read ahead more before posting.
How are you & DW doing?
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heh (dishwashers).
There are many items I don’t put in the dishwasher…expensive Shun knives, Le Creuset pots & pans, cast iron skillets, wooden spoons & implements w/wooden handles, garlic press, Instant Pot lid, immersion blender & Vitamix parts, toaster oven parts, refrigerator shelves & drawers (cleaning fridge today 
Anyhow, my dishwasher leaked the last 2 times I used it–worse the second time–so I’m handwashing everything now while I try to decide whether to go for repair or just skip to replacing my dishwasher, which is 11 years old (lifespan averages 10 years, which has been true for me). [I’d love comments on that subject, btw-]
What I miss most about the dishwasher is putting the kitchen sink drain baskets in it–really shines 'em up! I didn’t have a dishwasher for about half my life, so it’s not as big a deal for me as it probably is for most Americans. And I kind of like washing dishes. And --plus it’s good for core and arm/wrist/hand strength. I have a thick, squishy mat to stand on, too.
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There are many items I don’t put in the dishwasher…expensive Shun knives, Le Creuset pots & pans, cast iron skillets, wooden spoons & implements w/wooden handles, garlic press, Instant Pot lid, immersion blender & Vitamix parts, toaster oven parts, refrigerator shelves & drawers (cleaning fridge today
I have solved that problem. I don’t have expensive knives. My moderately priced knives are in the dishwasher as we speak. All of my pots and pans are fine in the dishwasher. There are a couple that are too big to fit, though. I put my cheap wooden implements in the dishwasher. Have done so for a couple of decades. They’re all fine, if a bit worn. No garlic press. I chop them instead. No instant pot, so no lid. No immersion blender. No vitamix. Toaster oven parts go in the dishwasher. Fridge shelves are too big. Besides, I usually need them back in the fridge quickly to hold food.
(lifespan averages 10 years, which has been true for me). [I’d love comments on that subject, btw-]
My dishwasher is over 20 years old and going strong. It’s missing a trim piece that got mangled by a wheelchair a few years ago. But it works just fine without that bit of trim.
I did have a problem with leaking a few years ago. Cleaning a decade and a half of buildup out of the vent fixed that right up.
—Peter
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Natural products are fine, but in the case of DW’s dermatologist,…
To emphasize the reality that doctors, derms included, are unaware of the drawbacks of products they recommend for the skin, I want to mention talks I’ve covered by Dr. David Cohen, a dermatologist at NYU Langone who is an expert on products that are responsible for allergic and irritant reactions in the skin. He is greatly distressed at the commonly recommended products that should not be sold, because they are actually bad for the skin. Among the items he had talked about the first time I wrote up one of his talks were Neosporin and Bacitracin. They were always recommended for cuts, infections, etc. But it turns out they contain an allergen, so while they may get rid of some bacteria, they also really irritate and inflame the skin. Surgeons used to use them routinely in dressing an incision, and advise patients to use them at home. But surgeons no longer use them.
Dr. Cohen usually begins a talk by mentioning the current Allergen of the Year, which is voted on by the American Contact Dermatitis Society. In fact, checking that list now, bacitracin won the honor in 2003, and neomycin in 2010.
And how about cocamidopropyl betaine, a common surfactant in personal care products, which was the 2004 Allergen of the Year. Methylisothiazolinone, chosen in 2013. It’s a preservative in many cosmetics, lotions, and makeup removers. Corticosteroids were selected in 2005.
=sheila
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I do a lot of cooking. Each of my 2 Shun knives cost about the same as 2 meals out for the 2 of us at a nice restaurant. They make food prep faster and more fun. I love them every time I use them.
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Looked it up…
https://shun.kaiusa.com/damascus-tsuchime-san-mai-edge
So it is a solid core wrapped by a “softer” outside. Not actual folded steel (which is top of the line, like Kramer Knives, plus some artisans in Japan). But the wrapped core method seems to be favored by a lot of higher-end makers.
Nice to have a recommendation. Good knives are treasure for a cook. I’m always sharpening ours because they don’t hold an edge for very long. I want to replace them, but 1poorlady say they are “good enough” (i.e. she is frugal, and these knives do work if you keep them sharpened).
"How are you & DW doing? "
today DW was sent to the Rehab Hospital I was released from last week. She is awfully weak and
unsteady - but her sodium levels are nearing normal again.
I fell today but I think it was because of my stupidity rather than anything else. I started down
the stairs and thought about hanging a picture/print and maybe changing how the current crop of
pictures and needle-point thingies are located - and fell backwards onto the landing.
Scared the devil out of our son - and brought a whole new set of worries and doubts about my
abilities.
I tried to arrange a new family doctor/internal medicine doctor for me today but only succeeded
in getting my name on a call-back list - in a few days - maybe. I have a visiting nurse, a
P-therapist and an “exit- appointment” from the prior family doctor’s office with a nurses
assistant tomorrow - plus a trip into see DW and bring a few things for her. I have had about
three “review your time with us” phone-calls
- each supposed to take about 2 or 3 minutes but each actually taking more like 10 to 15 minutes -
even when I can guess the answer codes needed ahead of the questions. I really had great experiences
with the people - just the software and phone systems are a problem.
Howie52
I am very very very tired and falling has not helped the pain. I am back to regular pain schedule
- knowing when the darted things are due about 30 minutes before I can take one.
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Except that neem is bright yellow and a bit drippy (and looks like it will stain), it works great.
Sometimes I find that a new tube is a little drippy when I first open it, but the oil seems to have accumulated at that end, and it’s there only briefly. And it doesn’t always happenl.
Right up until I had neem ointment. Just one application once around a month ago and no reappearance of the itchy/weird crack since.
How nice to hear. I had an experience like that years ago with cold sores, pretty early in my experience with neem. I used to get a large, nasty coldl once every winter, always at the same spot on my bottom lip. At that point I used to keep a small bottle of neem seed oil, which is highly antimicrobial (and it’s one of the ingredients in the Theraneem salve), on hand. So as my annual cold sore emerged, I began applying a few drops of the neem oil to it. It was almost gone in 24 hours, completely healed in 48—and that was the last cold sore I ever had.
=sheila
“Anyhow, my dishwasher leaked the last 2 times I used it–worse the second time–so I’m handwashing everything now while I try to decide whether to go for repair or just skip to replacing my dishwasher, which is 11 years old (lifespan averages 10 years, which has been true for me). [I’d love comments on that subject, btw-]”
Every 3 to 6 months, a dishwasher seal strip should be wiped clean and checked for damage. The
seals can leak if they are impacted or cut or coated - or if they shrink and fail to cover the lower
portion of the dishwasher. If a gap is low - water will leak out - if the dishwasher drain is also
partially or fully plugged - say with label residue from glass jars or from small items knocked off
the shelves.
Howie52
Calling a repairman is not a bad thing every so often - just be sure to have the person tell you
how to avoid the problem in the future.
Also, read the manual for the device - there is typically a troubleshooting section that might help.
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Sometimes life just seems to pile on 
Hang in there!
Did the docs ever determine what caused DW’s low sodium?
PS–Old folks and stairs are not a good combo (sez the ol’ lady who broke her leg on a set of 5 steps). I know you were thinking about remodeling for DW’s convenience, but I recommend moving to a one-story house with accessibility features or a senior facility (apartment with accessibility features). Meanwhile, can you avoid the stairs or is your bedroom upstairs? If so, I;d consider moving the bedroom necessities (bed, dresser, night tables) to a downstairs room, at least till you & DW are in better health.
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(((Howie &DW)))
Agreed. One-story house with NO basement (i.e. that’s just a two-story house that is partially underground).
I know the Count had a stair lift for either his, or the Countess’s, parents. It worked, but was very slow if you would have to go up and down the stairs frequently during the day.
1poorguy
Howie — hoping for rapid improvement for both of you! And for getting connected with a helpful doc! What an anxious and difficult time this is. So sorry to hear.
=sheila
“Did the docs ever determine what caused DW’s low sodium?”
Not really - but they have restricted the amount of water she is allowed and that appears to have brought the sodium levels near normal. She has been avoiding salt for years - since her BP has
been running high - alarmingly high. But with her recent weight loss, the BPs are reduced a bit
and so perhaps she can be taken off the meds - one of which caused the hospital folks some possible
worries - but they returned her to some of her pain medications. Unfortunate in a way since she
is out of refills and that doctor does not want to refill the prescription until she goes into
see the doc.
Visiting nurse was here and re-did my bandaging.
Visiting P-therapist was here and gave me some exercises to practice.
I now get to go to visit the old doctor’s practice - and arrange to have records transferred -
to wherever. Also, maybe talk to whoever about the continuing swelling in my extremities.
Really bothersome if I have to get out.
Our house allows for DW and I to be on a single floor. But the laundry room is on the lower level
and I am there now. We will likely move sometime fairly soon - but - but - but.
I don’t know where or the specifics of how quite yet. We really have yet to talk through the
“senior issues” questions - and certainly have not talked over what might be needed with the
family. I can’t see us actually moving in under a year or two.
Howie52
first and foremost, I still have to convince myself that we really need to do this. Then convince
myself that I want to do this. Then the how, and the where.
I suspect that the procrastination quotient in the discussions alone will kick things out for
months.
I remember when we bought this house, the idea was that there would be space for DW’s parents
to live downstairs. Then we had my mother live with us for a year or so when my father passed away
unexpectedly as my mother was released from a rehabilitation hospital in another state.
I don’t ever think we expected that we were the ones that we would eventually need the care.
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Could you have somebody else run the laundry? (Or move the W/D upstairs?)
I don’t like to think about you breaking your arm or leg–or neck.
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