Medical Topic of the day:
Today's Topic:  Today's topic is the first request ever!  Sort of anyhow.  We are talking about penile implants.  Not nuclear-powered ones though.


Off the top of my head:  I know they are primarily used to treat erectile dysfunction but I have no idea how they work or even what they look like.  I assume they are "activated" by some means on demand but I dunno if they have a remote control or what.  I guess a remote controlled boner could come in handy.  Heh, "handy."  Sucks if someone took the remote though.

My research today:  So all penile implants consist of a pair of cylinders wedged into your penis somehow. And there seems to be a few types of models.

There are inflatable models which have a pump placed in your scrotum that you sorta "pump up"  and may also have some sort of reservoir in your abdomen.  What the reservoir is for I have no idea.  You know what it reminds me of though:

Pump it up and air it out!  It's actually the same technology If you think about it.  When I was a kid people were killing each other for those shoes.  Times have really changed.

Speaking of.  Peep what I'm listing to today below.

There is another type called a "malleable" or "non-inflatable" that basically turns your weiner into one of those bendy-type toys like Gumby.  It consists of two cylinders the length of your penis that are malleable. It seems like it would be uncomfortable but no inflation is required.

The last model is what you would call the super deluxe model.  It is technically also inflatable but does so with a fluid reservoir implanted in your abdomen and a pump implanted in your scrotum.  You still have to pump it up though.  No mention of remote controls on any of these.  Which, I mean, come on.  This is 2012!  How can we not have that?

Quest to 180:
Current Weight:  226 - Stuck
Activity Today:  I don't feel good so just diet control today.  Will get back at it eventually.
Diet today: Ok.

Comments: Meh

The MAN:
Confidence Level:  Meh
Social Engineering Tactics:  Confidence
Comments:  Trying to focus on the positive.


Random:
Listening to:  Joe Budden - Heh It's relevant!
Watching:  New Girl - Because Zoey Deschanel is adorable.
Reading:  The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells

Something fun:  Manybooks.net - 29,000 free ebooks!

Want to be an expert in Tennessee whiskey?  You only have to buy two bottles:  One of Jack Daniels and one of George Dickel.  Congrats, you are an expert.  (There is only two kinds.)

Questions or comments can be submitted to dudaday@gmail.com

Disclaimer:  I am not a health care provider, any information presented in this blog should not be considered advice it is mealy an outlet to slake my curiosity.  You should always consult your primary medical provider for any concerns or illness.  Unlike Tylenol, I am not approved by the FDA or American Medical Association to treat or provide relief for any ailment.

Medical Topic of the day:
Today's Topic:  Today's topic is a personal favorite of medical esoterica. Nuclear-powered pacemakers.


Off the top of my head:  An early pacemaker design manufactured by Meditronic used heat from the decay of a small plutonium core.  They were pretty fancy for the time.  The half-life for the plutonium was good for the life of the person and the pacemaker.  The case was manufactured out of titanium alloy and designed to survive impact from most calibers of bullets and also cremation.  Let's look at the history of the

My research today:  Nuclear-powered pacemakers were first introduced in 1973 as a alternative to mercury-zinc battery pacemakers which had a maximum battery life of 3 years but was usually much shorter than that.  Nuclear pacemakers still work after 40+ years.   That is if you can find one.  They stopped using them in favor of  lithium battery powered models which were smaller and not radioactive in the mid 1980's.  Fewer than 50 people in the US still have one.

Here is the nuclear battery:

This has a small chunk of Plutonium-238 that decays at a constant rate creating heat that is converted into electrical energy with a thermocouple.


The whole thing with wiring and everything else looks like this in the titanium case:

I know what you are thinking:  "So how much radiation did this expose people to?"  Well, not much; radiation exposure per year to the patient was 0.1 rem total which is like 10 chest x-rays or 25 coast-to-coast airline flights.  It's not too bad.

Meditronic was not the only company to produce nuclear powered pacemakers, two other companies did as well (The Cordis Corporation and Coratomic Inc.) and each company had it's own variation in how the device worked.  In 1974 a nuclear powered pacemaker cost between 3500 and 4000 dollars.

If you can find one in a museum chances are it's still ticking.  However, the people that still have them implanted today must have them removed and sent to the nuclear research lab at Los Alamos New Mexico upon their death to be properly disposed of.

Quest to 180:
Current Weight:  226 - Stuck
Activity Today:  Back at it.  Two miles walking.  Gonna try that trainer thing again tonight.
Diet today: Really good today.

Comments: Feeling much better but still tired.

The MAN:
Confidence Level:  Low
Social Engineering Tactics:  Confidence
Comments:  According to my research the sexiest thing a man can wear is confidence.  While I am developing my confidence I am probably going to wear pants too.


Random:
Listening to:  Nothing today.
Watching:  Hatfield's & McCoys on the history channel.  It is disappointing.  I sort of feel like they all deserved each other.
Reading:  Whipping Star by Frank Hebert
Something fun:  Ching-wah TSAO duh liou mahng - Learn to curse at someone in Chinese!

Are you an American?  Then probably over 85% of what you eat or drink contains corn.

Questions or comments can be submitted to dudaday@gmail.com

Disclaimer:  I am not a health care provider, any information presented in this blog should not be considered advice it is mealy an outlet to slake my curiosity.  You should always consult your primary medical provider for any concerns or illness.  Unlike Tylenol, I am not approved by the FDA or American Medical Association to treat or provide relief for any ailment.

Medical Topic of the day:
Today's Topic:  I am not feeling so great today.  So we are going to talk about two basic anatomical terms. Perineum and Peritoneum and why you should never confuse the two.


Off the top of my head:  One is your chode or "gooch" as described by Johnny Knoxville and the other is the lining around your organs.

My research today:  The perineum is defined as the area of skin rich in nerve endings that is located below (inferior) to your anus and extending to the vaginal opening for women and the base of the testicles for men.

The peritoneum is defined as the serous membrane that forms the lining of your abdominal cavity. It provides both support for your organs and serves as conduit for blood and lymph systems.

You can easily see here by definitions why it would be a terrible terrible thing to confuse one for the other.

For example:  Say I was a surgeon and I was doing a routine laproscopic appendectomy.  If I made an incision in the perineum to place my scope that not only sounds bad but it is going to be difficult to explain in court later.

Or if I was a dermatologist and I provided a patient with a peritoneal ointment for a rash I would probably never be able to write prescriptions at that pharmacy again in order to avoid ridicule.

I feel like they should start with different letters or something.

Quest to 180:
Current Weight:  226 - Stuck.  Trying something different.
Activity Today:  I think I broke something or overdid it yesterday, I dunno.  No workout today.  Only ate twice.  Probably not good either.  Will try again tomorrow.
Diet today: Is ok I guess?  I dunno.  I had a beet.  It was pretty good.

Comments: Feeling not so great.  Everything I eat is hurting my stomach.

The MAN:
Confidence Level:  Low
Social Engineering Tactics:  Interior decorating
Comments:  Nothing to report today.


Random:
Listening to:  Def Leppard
Watching:  New Tricks - Some strange British show about old detectives or something.  I did not care for it.  Damn Limeys.
Reading:  Whipping Star by Frank Hebert
Something fun:  Energy Fiend! - Find out the caffeine content of everything and how much you have to take of it to kill you!

Britain is the world's 8th largest island.

Questions or comments can be submitted to dudaday@gmail.com

Disclaimer:  I am not a health care provider, any information presented in this blog should not be considered advice it is mealy an outlet to slake my curiosity.  You should always consult your primary medical provider for any concerns or illness.  Unlike Tylenol, I am not approved by the FDA or American Medical Association to treat or provide relief for any ailment.

Medical Topic of the day:
Today's Topic:  Hypertrichosis


Off the top of my head:  I know hypertrichosis is the term for excessive hair growth over the body in men or women and can be an extreme condition in which hair growth occurs excessively in places where it does normally not all over the body.  I assume it is hereditary somehow but I don't know.

My research today:  Congenital hypertrichosis lanuginosa is a X-linked anomaly and and typically manifests other associated genetic anomalies.  The first case was documented in 1648 affecting the offspring of a noble family who had two daughters, one son, and one grandchild afflicted with the disease.

Here is a sweet drawing of the family:

I like the one in the dress.

I am not going to get into pathophysiology too much because I don't completely understand it.  There are multiple forms of hypertrichosis though that have different types of hair and genetic anomalies associated with them.  Hypertrichosis can be caused by certain medications and kinds of cancer.

The congenital type of hypertrichosis is super mega ultra rare with fewer that 50 reported cases worldwide.  Incidence is somewhere between 1 in a billion to 1 in 10 billion.  Symptoms are present at birth.  There is no racial of gender predilection known.  No known long-term morbidities associated with the disorder.

You will never guess what the treatment is.  If you guessed "shaving" you are not a genius but you are correct.  There is something called Vaniqa cream you can use along with other depilatory products/techniques.

Okay, that is all I really want to explore that topic today.

Quest to 180:
Current Weight:  226 - Stuck.  Trying something different.
Activity Today:  EA Active 2 training program for the Wii.  Only 10 bucks at Wally World.  I am actually kinda sore.
Diet today: Not great.

Comments: Feeling not so great.

The MAN:
Confidence Level:  Low
Social Engineering Tactics:  Interior decorating
Comments:  Keep an extra comforter draped at the foot of your bed cause chicks get cold.


Random:
Listening to:  Def Leppard - No serenade, no fire brigade, just a pyromaniac!
Watching:  The Dictator - It was ok.  I don't think Sasha Baron Cohen can go a movie without getting his dick on screen.
Reading:  Whipping Star by Frank Hebert
Something fun:  Gummy Bear!

The most famous case of hypertrichosis?  Fedor Jeftichew aka Jojo the Dog-faced boy featured in PT Barnum's freak shows.  Sour about that name.

Questions or comments can be submitted to dudaday@gmail.com

Disclaimer:  I am not a health care provider, any information presented in this blog should not be considered advice it is mealy an outlet to slake my curiosity.  You should always consult your primary medical provider for any concerns or illness.  Unlike Tylenol, I am not approved by the FDA or American Medical Association to treat or provide relief for any ailment.

Medical Topic of the day:
Today's Topic:  It's late, I'm tired we're talking about Caffeine.


Off the top of my head:  I know caffeine is a stimulant.  I know it is also a diuretic.  I do not know exactly how it works but I used to take a lot of it.  I know you can build a dependency on caffeine and I know that caffeine can cause withdrawal symptoms after extended chronic use.  I believe caffeine can be fatal with fatal doses starting at 10 grams orally.  But how does it work?

My research today:  Caffeine is designated a bitter white crystalline xanthine alkaloid.  It can be found naturally in multiple plants most notably tea and coffee.

Caffeine acts as a central nervous system.and metabolic stimulant mostly by antagonizing adenosine receptors.  Part of adenosine's role is to decrease or limit nuerotransmitter activity.  Caffeine increases neurotransmitter activity that would otherwise be suppressed.

Toxic levels of caffeine are between 150 to 200mg per kg of body mass.so for a 50kg human that would be between 93 and 125 cups of coffee assuming the coffee contains an average of 80mg of caffeine per cup.  However by the time you got to cup 20 your liver would be working over-time to eliminate the caffeine.  Probably should just consume about 7.5gm of anhydrous caffeine powder instead.

So that was fun, right?  We learned how caffeine works and how to OD on caffeine something probably even Keith Richards has never accomplished.

Quest to 180:
Current Weight:  226 - I should probably weigh myself again.
Activity Today:  I walked around Beaufort today.  That has to count for something.  I logged 13,000 steps.
Diet today: Pretty good except I had shrimp and grits for lunch which was tasty but high in calories.

Comments: Feeling pretty good today.

The MAN:
Confidence Level:  Medium
Social Engineering Tactics:  Interior decorating
Comments:  Chicks apparently dig clean bathrooms with big mirrors and no hidden cameras in them.  Who knew?!?!?


Random:
Listening to:  NPR.  Don't judge.
Watching:  American Restoration
Reading:  Whipping Star by Frank Hebert
Something fun:  Harvey Cards!  Just follow the instructions next time you need an idea.

Think you're a stud?  The race horse Mr. Prospector was the worlds most expensive stud horse raking in over 90 million dollars a year in progeny fees.

Questions or comments can be submitted to dudaday@gmail.com

Disclaimer:  I am not a health care provider, any information presented in this blog should not be considered advice it is mealy an outlet to slake my curiosity.  You should always consult your primary medical provider for any concerns or illness.  Unlike Tylenol, I am not approved by the FDA or American Medical Association to treat or provide relief for any ailment.

Medical Topic of the day:
Today's Topic:  Priapisms or Why not waiting 4 hours to call your doctor is important.


Off the top of my head:  After working in the ED for 5 years I have only ever seen one priapism and it was a horrible, horrible blood bath.  I know that you should probably start thinking about calling your doctor  after 3 hours of having a boner and that pripisms are painful because the blood starts to clot in your weiner making your weiner ischemic.  Ischemia means tissue death which is painful.  I think they inject phenylepherine in your D and I know that ultimately you can have your dong amputated if nothing else works.  So lets explore this terrible topic. Hey, someone has to study this shit.

My research today:  Web MD says that a priapism is a boner that lasts for more than 4 hours without sexual stimulation.  The condition develops when blood in your wang gets trapped and is unable to drain.  It can occur at any age provided you have a wang to begin with.

There are two types of priapisms Low-flow and High flow.  Low flow is more common and has no particular known cause but can be more prominent in men with sickle-cell or leukemia.  High flow is caused by a ruptured artery from an injury to your penis or perineum.  So I guess a broken weiner could cause it and yes, you can break your weiner.

A lot of priapisms are caused from use or misuse of medications.  So don't take anyone else's weiner pills.  Cocaine and weed can actually cause priapisms.  Not together, although that probably doesn't help, but use of either one.

Ways of treating a priapism:

• Ice packs - that ain't bad.
• Surgical ligation - I.E. tying off the ruptured artery in your junk.  Probably sucks.
• Intracavernous injection - injecting junk, in your junk.  Like phenylepherine.  I am sure it sucks.
• Surgical shunt - Diverting blood flow to return normal circulation. Probably is not so great.
• Aspiration - Numbing your weiner and expressing old blood from it.  Has to 100% suck.
• Amputation of weiner - Actually called a penectomy. and no, I did not make that up. Can't suck any harder than this.

So there you go.  Interesting stuff.  Also horrifying.

Quest to 180:
Current Weight:  226
Activity Today:  On my bike for like 38 minutes.  Eight miles.  What?
Diet today: I made quiche.  Mushroom and spinach.  it was real good.

Comments: Feeling pretty good today.

The MAN:
Confidence Level:  Medium
Social Engineering Tactics:  Interior decorating
Comments:  Did you know that chicks don't think Star Wars posters are cool?


Random:
Listening to:  Def Leppard
Watching:  Jackass Number Two - Don't judge me!
Reading:  Whipping Star by Frank Hebert
Something fun:  Star Trek towels.  That's cool, right?

The first commercially available toilet paper was considered "too nice" to use as such.  What most people bought it for?  Stationery.

Questions or comments can be submitted to dudaday@gmail.com

Disclaimer:  I am not a health care provider, any information presented in this blog should not be considered advice it is mealy an outlet to slake my curiosity.  You should always consult your primary medical provider for any concerns or illness.  Unlike Tylenol, I am not approved by the FDA or American Medical Association to treat or provide relief for any ailment.

I had a little bit too much so today we are going to discuss alcohol intoxication.


Medical Topic of the day:
Today's Topic:  Alcohol poisoning specifically ethylene alcohol hereby known as etoh.  Methanol we shall discuss another time.


Off the top of my head:  I definitely know it is fatal.  I know that toxic levels start at 200mg/dl depending on age.  I also know that etoh poisoning causes CNS depression.  Lets see how it works.  Personally I believe that that the way a person acts drunk is their true self.

My research today:  Etoh causes all kinds of symptoms, from nausea to inhibitory behavior.  Etoh leaves the human body at a constant rate rather than an elimination half-life.  Typically 25mg/dl an hour depending on individual metabolism.  Etoh acts in the central nervous system by binding to the GABA-a receptor increasing the effects the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA.

Etoh can increase the effects of benzodiazepines on the CNS as well as other medications.  Basically etoh poisoning kills you by increasing CNS depression until your stop breathing.

Quest to 180:
Current Weight:  226
Activity Today:  In the pool for 30 minutes today
Diet today: Bad at night...so bad.

Comments: I was feeling pretty good today.  I was.

The MAN:
Confidence Level:  Eh?
Social Engineering Tactics:  Direct Eye Contact
Comments:  Trying to make the ladies blink first.


Random:
Listening to:  Nuthin'
Watching:  Shooter
Reading:  Whipping Star by Frank Hubert
Something fun:  Shoe Nice! - Whatchu eatin?

In a very early draft of Raiders of The Lost Ark Indiana Jones carried brass knuckles instead of a bullwhip.

Questions or comments can be submitted to dudaday@gmail.com

Disclaimer:  I am not a health care provider, any information presented in this blog should not be considered advice it is mealy an outlet to slake my curiosity.  You should always consult your primary medical provider for any concerns or illness.  Unlike Tylenol, I am not approved by the FDA or American Medical Association to treat or provide relief for any ailment.

Quick one today because I am tired and typing on a small screen.


Medical Topic of the day:
Today's Topic: Aspirin

Off the top of my head: This probably isn't a simple subject and I am not going to explore the different coagulation/anti-coagulation factors that take place in the human body. That is a topic for another time. No, today we are going to discuss aspirin's origin and history.

My research today: Aspirin, or acetylsalicylic acid of which salicylic acid is the main metabolyte is found in many natural plants including willow bark and spiraea. Extracts from these plants are noted in Hippocrates journals and may have been used to treat pain and swelling as early as 460 BC.

Acetylsalicylic acid was first synthesized by a Frenchie in 1853. I'd look up his name but it is long and French. A bunch of chemists dicked around with the above frenchie's formulation finally pinning down the correct chemical structure of the compound in 1869. In 1897 chemists at Bayer AG were able to find a new way to synthesize the acid creating a formulation that was easier on your stomach than the pure acetylsalicylic acid. Bayer AG named this formulation "Aspirin."

Wow that was exciting. Will add achievement tomorrow when I have access to photoshop.

Quest to 180:
Current Weight: 226
Activity Today: Easy day. Walked for 30 minutes.
Diet today: Light breakfast and lunch.Larger dinner. Nothing too bad.

Comments: Very tired today. Did not sleep well last night.

The MAN:
Confidence Level: Medium?
Social Engineering Tactics: Direct Eye Contact
Comments: Wasn't really out anywhere I could use social engineering tactics. Wal-Mart doesn't count.


Random:
Listening to: Nothin'
Watching: Arrested Development
Reading: The Gift of Anger by Marcia Cannon
Something fun: Redneck Ninja - Now don't go ninjain' anybody that don't need ninjain'!

After World War II all of Bayer AG's drug patents were considered spoils of war and the allies scrambled to obtain and divide up as many as they could.

Questions or comments can be submitted to dudaday@gmail.com

Disclaimer: I am not a health care provider, any information presented in this blog should not be considered advice it is mealy an outlet to slake my curiosity. You should always consult your primary medical provider for any concerns or illness. Unlike Tylenol, I am not approved by the FDA or American Medical Association to treat or provide relief for any ailment.

 I accidentally deleted my post on the 22nd so I am going to re-write it.  Or try to.


Medical Topic of the day:
Today's Topic:  Globus


Off the top of my head:  Well I know a lot about it now but yesterday I didn't.  I thought it was a neurological issue involving swallowing.  I was half right.

My research today:  Globus hystericus is the feeling of having an object in your throat even though there is nothing there.  It can be caused by physical ailments like laryngitis or esophageal reflux.  Physical manifestation of globus sensation is usually from irritation or swelling in one or more parts of the throat.  Globus is also psychosomatic in that it can be caused by anxiety, depression, and many somatoform disorders.

Globus is Latin for "globe."

Quest to 180:
Current Weight:  226
Activity Today:  Walking two miles.  I think I did like 35 minutes on elliptical trainer at level 5
Diet today: I don't remember now.

Comments: Feeling pretty good today.

The MAN:
Confidence Level:  Meh
Social Engineering Tactics:  Direct Eye Contact
Comments:  No idea what I wrote yesterday, blah blah blah.  It really pisses me off that I accidentally deleted that post.


Random:
Listening to:  Cee-Lo
Watching:  30 Rock
Reading:  The Gift of Anger by Marcia Cannon
Something fun:  Lifehacker - Hack your computer!  Hack your table!  Hack your life!  Hack everything!

Adolf Hitler instituted the first state sponsored anti-smoking campaign offering higher pay to enlisted men and officers that did not smoke.  Also he was a vegetarian, so take that vegans.

Questions or comments can be submitted to dudaday@gmail.com

Disclaimer:  I am not a health care provider, any information presented in this blog should not be considered advice it is mealy an outlet to slake my curiosity.  You should always consult your primary medical provider for any concerns or illness.  Unlike Tylenol, I am not approved by the FDA or American Medical Association to treat or provide relief for any ailment.

I accidentally deleted my post from the 22nd.  I will try to put something up in it's place.

Goal #2 Medical Topic of the day:
Today's Topic:  On this day in history Himmler committed suicide by taking a cyanide capsule, avoiding any justice at Nuremberg.  Today we are going to look at cyanide poisoning.


Off the top of my head:  I know cyanide is a common industrial chemical and that some polyurethane foams release cyanide gas when they cure.  I also know that cyanide used in capsules has an expiration date and is only effective during that time.  Many people over history have screwed up poisoning themselves with cyanide making themselves very sick instead.  Many other people have accidentally killed themselves in a lab or factory mixing stuff that released cyanide gas into the air and cyanide gas smells like almonds.  As for the mechanism of action, how it actually kills you; I got no idea.

My research today:  Cyanide poisoning kills you by making it so your body cannot utilize oxygen by screwing up part of the Krebs Cycle.  It essentially causes the adenosine triphosphate to form incorrectly resulting in a weakened chemical structure thereby vastly reducing the effectiveness of the enzyme.  Since you need oxygen for pretty much all tissue function this causes a problem. Symptoms are similar to suffocation and can be gradual in chronic poisoning or immediate in acute poisoning.

Tolerance for cyanide varies but shit starts to get real for most humans at an inhalation of approximately 100ppm.  300ppm is generally fatal within minutes.  Unlike some poisons cyanide exposure can be fatal swallowed, through inhalation, or even topically.

Symptoms include skin turning pinkish, difficulty breathing, headache, seizure, confusion, and pretty much anything else that could happen to you without oxygen.  Without treatment an acute poisoning is almost always fatal.  Factory workers in certain areas of industry can experience gradual poisoning over days or even weeks.

Cyanide poisoning can be treated three ways.  You can use a sulfur compound to make sulfur more prevalent in the bloodstream which apparently fixes the fucked up part of the Krebs Cycle.  Methaemoglobin formation agents can be used to make a large amount of ferric iron available which counteracts how the cyanide messes up the ATP molecular structure. You can also bind the cyanide to Cobalt reducing it's effectiveness.  However, I would imagine since Cobalt is a heavy metal it is going to give you heavy metal poisoning.  Lemme check.  Yep, it does, that sucks.

Welp, I have learned more than I wanted to and that was WAY more complicated than I thought it would be.  I will try to pick a simpler subject tomorrow.

Goal #1 Quest to 180:
Current Weight:  226
Activity Today:  Walking two miles.  Jogging two miles
Diet today: Mostly vegetables except for a one gigantic beer and a huge dinner.

Comments: Feeling pretty good today.

Goal#3 The MAN:
Confidence Level:  Good
Social Engineering Tactics:  Direct Eye Contact
Comments:  Celebrated my b-day today with a bunch of friends from where I used to work.  It was really nice of them to come out.  Big shout out to all my CGH peeps.


Random:
Listening to:  La Roux but only because it sounds like MegaMan stage music.
Watching:  Team America World Police.  I don't have a good reason.
Reading:  Whipping Star by Frank Hurbert
Something fun:  Play-Doh Cologne -  Unlike real Play-Doh, it probably doesn't taste like salt.

Anne Boelyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII was born with Polydactyly, having 6 fingers on her right hand.

Questions or comments can be submitted to dudaday@gmail.com

Disclaimer:  I am not a health care provider, any information presented in this blog should not be considered advice it is mealy an outlet to slake my curiosity.  You should always consult your primary medical provider for any concerns or illness.  Unlike Tylenol, I am not approved by the FDA or American Medical Association to treat or provide relief for any ailment.

So here is the general format:


Goal #2 Medical Topic of the day:
Today's Topic:  Porphyria


Off the top of my head:  Porphyria AKA Vampirism is a blood disorder causing anemia and specifically lack of iron in the blood stream.  I think it is a genetic abnormality that is double recessive.  The lack of iron in blood can cause interesting cases of Pica including dirt eating or craving for animal blood to replace iron and trace minerals. I think Porphyria does not always manifest at birth and will manifest in adolescence and adulthood.  Symptoms can be severe and I believe Porphyria is eventually fatal and greatly lowers life expectancy.


My research today:  So Porphyria is a group of rare blood disorders encompassing multiple types but all having a malformation of heme (An iron atom contained in the center of a heterocyclic porphyin ring - hence the name.) in their hemoglobin.  It looks like it causes a build up of porphyin without the iron causing metabolic imbalance.  It is not the lack of iron but the malformation of the heme that causes the issue.

It is very rare and hereditary. Symptoms include pale skin and photodermatitis; sun can actually cause rash or blistering.  Neuropathies and other nervous system anomalies can manifest including seizure.  Severe electrolyte abnormalities from acute attacks can cause a wide range of symptoms like muscle cramping, abdominal pain, personality change, and hypotension.  An acute attack can be fatal causing respiratory failure or paralysis.

Attacks can be triggered by certain drugs, antibiotics, alcohol and hormone therapy or can be spontaneous.  Oddly it is one of the few illnesses that can be treated by blood letting.

I think I was wrong about the Pica.

Interesting stuff.

Goal #1 Quest to 180:
Current Weight:  226
Activity Today:  Running one mile, Walking two miles.  Total time appx 53min
Diet today: Skipped breakfast.  Rest of diet pretty good, lots of vegetables and lean meat.  Greek yogurt.

Comments: Dogged the run, trying to get used to barefoot running style.  I am trying to run on pavement with toe shoes and it is difficult to do without damaging your feet.  I run better with tennis shoes.  Working on it.  Peel those blisters off and keep going.

Goal#3 The MAN:
Confidence Level:  Medium
Social Engineering Tactics:  Direct eye contact
Comments:  I had no idea how much direct eye contact communicates intent and increases perceived confidence; especially for women.  Some men seem somewhat intimidated by it which I am amused by.  The younger the person is the better it works it seems.  I will experiment more.


Random:
Listening to: Alex Clare
Watching:  30 Rock
Reading:  2600 - Everyone should be reading this
Something fun:  Geeks and Sundry, Felicia Day is boss as hell.

Coca-Cola is the second most understood word in the world. The first?  Okay.

Questions or comments can be submitted to dudaday@gmail.com

Disclaimer:  I am not a health care provider, any information presented in this blog should not be considered advice it is mealy an outlet to slake my curiosity.  You should always consult your primary medical provider for any concerns or illness.  Unlike Tylenol, I am not approved by the FDA or American Medical Association to treat or provide relief for any ailment.

Welcome to Duda's Epic Quest to Epicness.

I want to be awesome, more awesome than I already am.  I want to be EPIC. To help me achieve that goal I am going to blog about it every day for the next 365 days without fail (barring extraordinary circumstance) or I have to donate $1000 to Scientology which would be detestable to me.

I have three goals I want to achieve in the next 365 days:

1)  I am on a quest to 180 pounds and good physical shape.  Currently I am at 226 pounds and have lost 24 pounds since January. I want to reach 200 pounds by fall and 180 within the next year.  This means I will be doing a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise daily as well as modifying my diet and discussing this activity here.

2)  I want to be accepted to the PA studies program at ECU or another masters level program for PA studies by next fall.  In order help obtain this I will be discussing random medical topics on this blog in two ways.  The first way will be what I already know off the top of my head.  The second will be research on the subject to learn more.  I will take suggestions or questions from the readers.

3)  I want to be the man.  THE MAN.  I want to be able to pick up chicks anywhere and everywhere I go.  I have never been able to do this and have always envied those who could.  Everyday I will be developing my confidence and social engineering skills and documenting it here.

I will also post whatever is on my mind.  If you would like to join me on this journey or submit questions, topics, hints, or tips then please feel free to read.  Positive feedback only.  Haters to the side.