January 11, 2010

Later today, I go to see my surgeon for my post-surgical office visit. The incision is clean and dry, no redness (erythema), no drainage, no swelling and it appears to be healing very well. Nice and clean, with no signs of infection.
 
Of course, it’s a bit tender still, but nothing like it was for the first few days. As a surgeon myself, I know that it’s healing well, and I’m  grateful it is. But the doctor who treats himself has a fool for a patient, or so they say. 
 
So, I will dutifully go to the surgeon and get his official evaluation and his blessing, before starting back on my POWERHOUSE OMEGA FORMULA,  http://www.drbillsformulas.com  my garlic, DR. BILL’S MAXIMUM ALLICIN FORMULA (only available for those already on my fish oil), which enhances the lipid lowering actions of the pharmaceutical grade, enteric coated fish oil, to make it a net cholesterol lowering agent, as well as lowering triglycerides.
 
Especially since this cold snap and nasty, rainy weather lately has made me feel my incision more lately, than before, I’ve really missed its natural anti-inflammatory action. Did you know that in a number of clinical studies, fish oil was found to have an equivalent effect to NSAID’s, but without their adverse side effects? It’s true. In fact, in cases of rheumatoid arthritis, fish oil use allowed some patients to reduce, or eliminate NSAID’s. 
 
And, as I’ve mentioned before, inflammation is a necessary part of this hernia repair, allowing the ingrowth of fibrous tissue into the implanted mesh. So I have had to forgo the comfort of my usual dose. But, as a result, all my joints are “talking” to me, my back is aching and of course, the incision site aches, too. So I’ll be glad to get the OK to start it up again.
 
I’ll also be glad to start some mild knee pain exercises for my aching knees, like those in my newly redone and expanded PAIN-FREE PROGRAM and full length DVD  http://www.drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html
 
Combined with walking and isometrics, I can begin the long process of rebuilding my fitness, a step at a time. Luckily, he did a subcuticular closure, meaning there are no sutures to be removed–a long suture under the edges of the skin gives a hairline scar and a tight closure. There wasn’t even a drop of blood, when I took off the initial dressing. Good job, all in all.
 
So, I’m looking forward to a positive evaluation, now eleven days and counting, out from my surgery. This will take about six months to really mature, but this is a good beginning. Thank God! If there’s ever going to be a problem or a complication, it’s gonna happen in a doctor, guaranteed. 
 
Well, over the weekend, we had that plumber return and install a couple of new toilets for us. I went upstairs, to say hello and came up on him, kneeling on the bathroom marble floor, while setting the base of the commode. And, whaddyaknow…he was wearing KNEE PADS! Just like I told him to. 
 
You know, usually, I give folks good advice and more often than not, they ignore it. People often don’t respect or value what they don’t pay for. But not this guy. I told him I was proud of him. He said, “Hey, if I’m told something by a guy who knows what he’s talking about, I listen.”
 
Well, good for him. If he sticks with his new protection, he’ll be real happy a dozen years from now, when he DOESN’T have to suffer with patellofemoral arthritis. For more simple, but effective tips on preventing, or treating knee pain, try my LITTLE GREEN BOOK FOR ELIMINATING KNEE PAIN  http://www.drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html
 
So that’s it for today, my friend. Talk to you soon. Til next time, be well.
 
Yours for a pain-free tomorrow,
 
Dr. Bill
 
“The Wellness Warrior” TM
 
P.S. For DR. BILL’S LITTLE GREEN BOOK ON ELIMINATING KNEE PAIN, a concise, but complete handbook on the root causes and the various options for treating knee pain, go to  http://drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html
 
P.P.S. For DR. BILL’S PAIN-FREE PROGRAM: EXERCISES TO PREVENT OR ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN, please go to
 http://drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html 
 
P.P.P.S. For conventional and alternative treatments and exercises to relieve knee pain without surgery click on http://drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html 
 
P.P.P.P.S. For the giant, comprehensive ADVANCED MASTERS’ COURSE: HOW TO ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN–ONCE & FOR ALL!, everything you need to know on causes and solutions for knee pain and the complete exercise program, too, go to
 http://drbillsclinic.com/advanced_masters.html 
 
FREE BONUS CD with any order: THE HEALING POWER OF POSITIVE PAIN PERCEPTION
 
Copyright, 2010 by William Thomas Stillwell, MD, FACS
All rights reserved

January 8, 2010

As luck would have it, everything seems to break down, or go wrong, all at the same time. Ever notice that? We’ve just finished the stress of the Holidays, gotten past the loss of our oldest cat, Misty, had and dealt with my recovery from recent surgery and… wouldn’t you know it? The toilet breaks down and was running and running and running….and it’s only a week into the New Year.
 
Now these are old toilets, original equipment in this house, which makes them about 19 years old. So even the old bolts are rusted. Because they’re located in guest rooms, on the second floor, they don’t get much use. 
 
We only found out there was a problem when my wife decided to sleep up there, so as not to inadvertantly injure me during sleep, in my postop recovery (belly’s still pretty sore, but getting better, daily). Naturally, with me physically out of action and my wife lacking the physical strength to turn a rusted bolt, or even turn off the water, we had a problem.
 
So, we called our plumber. Normally, he would come right over. But, as we were in the midst of a true “when it rains, it pours” episode, he was tied up installing a massive water heater for a hotel, in which 4,000 people had no hot water. Figures, right?
 
So, he sent over an assistant today. Nice guy. John’s his name. He’s only 28, next month. And he’s making his living as a plumber. We took him up and showed him the problematic toilet.
 
He knelt on the marble floor, while he opened the commode and saw what was what. Turns out that, given the age of the old unit, it would be smarter to simply replace the old appliance with a new one. Figures, right? 
 
He turned off the water, so at least we weren’t still wasting it, by letting it endlessly run. But because he was a young guy and a nice guy, I decided to give him some free advice, that will make a big difference to his future comfort.
 
You see, a plumber, like a bricklayer, roofer, rug layer, or any trade that must kneel on unyielding surfaces to do their work, all have the same problem. They MUST assume that position, but it eventually causes severe knee pain. That’s the plumber’s dilemma. Here’s the solution:
 
Never, NEVER kneel on a hard floor, especially marble, concrete, brick, porcelain tile, or even wood, without a knee pad, of some kind. Here’s why.
 
The knee joint is designed to bear weight from top to bottom, NOT front to back. In other words, the kneecap (patella) is not designed to directly bear the stresses of weight bearing. This has consequences for the protective cartilage coating behind the kneecap, over time.
 
These abnormal forces may lead to degenerative softening of that cartilage coating, leading to knee pain due to chondromalacia patellae. I describe this and what to do about it in great detail in my LITTLE GREEN BOOK FOR ELIMINATING KNEE PAIN, which you can get here:  http://www.drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html   and the specific, startegic exercises, that can relieve that knee pain over the long term, are outlined, step by step, in my newly re-written, greatly expanded PAIN-FREE PROGRAM & DVD, which was designed as the perfect companion to the Little Green Book.
 
http://www.drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html 
 
In the short term, knee pads are the way to go. The problem is that for some, like this guy, John, the straps of knee pads pinch and bind the backs of their knees, thereby discouraging their use.
 
So, instead, he should use a small pad upon which he can kneel, either cloth, a section of carpet, or a gel pad. In any case, the object is to spread out the body weight over a larger area. This effectively reduces the unit stress on the relatively small kneecaps, same principle as snowshoes, reducing pain and preventing compression damage to the retropatellar cartilage.
 
Simple. Easy. Cheap. And, most important, effective. And likely to keep this young man from developing knee pain and arthritis in the years to come. Keep this in mind, whenever you have a similar home care project, that requires kneeling. 
 
And be sure to take my POWERHOUSE OMEGA FORMULA,   http://www.drbillsformulas.com   an ultra pure, enteric coated, pharmaceutical grade fish oil, with maximal omega-3 fatty acids and potent, proven anti-inflammatory properties, that reduce joint pain, back pain and have numerous heart, brain and blood vessel benefits. I take it, twice a day, every day (at least when I’m not pre-or post-surgery). You should, too.
 
Well, that’s my tip o’ the day, my friend. Have a great weekend and be well. Talk to you again real soon.
 
Yours for a pain-free tomorrow and your optimal health,
 
DR. BILL
 
“The Wellness Warrior” TM 
 
P.S. For DR. BILL’S LITTLE GREEN BOOK ON ELIMINATING KNEE PAIN, a concise, but complete handbook on the root causes and the various options for treating knee pain, go to http://drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html 
 
P.P.S. For DR. BILL’S PAIN-FREE PROGRAM: EXERCISES TO PREVENT OR ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN, please go to
 http://drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html 
 
P.P.P.S. For conventional and alternative treatments and exercises to relieve knee pain without surgery click on http://drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html 
 
P.P.P.P.S. For the giant, comprehensive ADVANCED MASTERS’ COURSE: HOW TO ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN–ONCE & FOR ALL!, everything you need to know on causes and solutions for knee pain and the complete exercise program, too, go to
 http://drbillsclinic.com/advanced_masters.html 
 
FREE BONUS CD with any order: THE HEALING POWER OF POSITIVE PAIN PERCEPTION
 
Copyright, 2010 by William Thomas Stillwell, MD, FACS
All rights reserved

January 7, 2010

Pity the global warming advocates. Here we are, freezing our butts off and they’re still pushing this bogus “man-made global warming” scam. I have yet to have anyone explain to me how they account for melting of the ice caps…on MARS, if Man is responsible. Ah well, I guess they figure if they say it often enough, there will be enough of the brain-dead among us to make it fly–despite the facts.
 
The sun shining today, brightly, but without much warmth, brings up the subject of what to do during the winter months, for our vitamin D requirements.
 
As you may know, Vitamin D is an extremely important substance, which takes part in many biological processes, including the absorption of dietary calcium from the gut (and therefore, in preventing osteoporosis) and, more recently, enhancing the immune system and preventing cancer. In many ways,  Vitamin D acts more like a hormone than a normal vitamin.
 
It’s one of those vitamins that our bodies can synthesize, in addition to its uptake in certain of our foods, like fish liver oil, green leafy vegetables and, of course, supplements. When skin is exposed to sunlight, the vitamin’s precursor, naturally present in the deeper layers of the skin, is converted by the ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation into a compound that is eventually converted into the biologically active form of Vitamin D, called cholecalciferol, or Vitamin D-3.
 
Supplements or dietary sources, unless they specify that they’re D-3, are instead a slightly different chemical form, called ergocalciferol, or Vitamin D-2.  Though it used to be thought that D-2 was inferior to D-3 as a supplement, more recent research shows that they both will lead to the active form the body needs.
 
One common mistake is to think that what is commonly called fish oil is a good source of Vitamin D. This arises because it’s been known for years that taking cod liver oil, for example, is a good way to increase vitamin D intake. But fish oil, unless otherwise specified, refers to fish BODY oils, which are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, but NOT Vitamin D.
 
Conversely, people think that because they take cod liver oil, they’re covered for their omega-3 needs. Not so. In fact, that could be dangerous, because fish LIVER oil contains the FAT soluble vitamins D and A. So if they were taken every day, as frequently as fish BODY oil, you might easily become toxic, with overdoses of both D and A.
 
It’s best to remember that omega-3 fatty acids and the fat soluble vitamins (A & D) are two seperate types of nutrients, that are best taken from two seperate sources. 
 
Though sunlight is the best source of D-3 (you can’t overdose on Vitamin D derived from the sun), cod liver oil, or supplements derived from that, are acceptable substitutes. Fish oil, like my own POWERHOUSE OMEGA FORMULA
 
http://www.drbillsformulas.com 
 
is best as an ultra purified, enteric coated, pharmaceutical grade source of omega-3′s with many health benefits, including heart, brain and joint properties that are proven to be very beneficial, in many ways, with virtually NO significant side effects.
 
These contaminant-free, ultra pure fish oil capsules can and should be taken every day, two to three times throughout the day, to balance the overwhelming amounts of inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids, so common in the Western diet, today.
 
Though a daily dose of 400-1000 IU of Vitamin D is commonly recommended, many people actually need MORE. How can you tell what’s right for you?
 
Ask your doctor to check your blood levels of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D, perhaps 3-4 times a year. Most investigators agree that this chemical is the best measure of your personal stores of this important vitamin. I personally take 2000 IU a day, as my tested 25-OH-vitamin D levels were only borderline, on 1000 IU a day. Remember, that was over twice the RDA. 
 
The key thing to take home from this is that everyone is an individual. Everyone is different. And everyone has different needs.
 
So measuring the actual stores you have, a few times a year, is the only way to really determine your personal needs. The RDA (recommended daily allowances) are almost a joke. Because they are average, designed to harm no one and “fit” everyone, they don’t address any single person’s actual needs. And even more aggressive recommendations, even mine, cannot be applied across the board, for all individuals.
 
So invest in the test. 
 
It’s easy, it’s relatively cheap and it is THE best way to be sure you’re getting enough Vitamin D. And enough Vitamin D is critical, not just for your bones, but even more important for this time of year, your immune system and resistance to disease, like the flu.
 
And do your exercises. Exercise has so many benefits, on virtually every physiological parameter, including your immune system, that it can’t be over emphasized. Try to do SOMETHING, every day. If you have knee pain (and, let’s face it, many of us do) these exercises in my PAIN-FREE PROGRAM and DVD are good for relieving knee pain, and will serve as general exercise, as well. 
 
http://www.drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html 
 
That’s it for today, my friend. Stay warm. Keep smilin’. Talk to you tomorrow. Til then, be well.
 
Yours for a pain-free tomorrow and your optimal health,
 
DR. BILL
 
“The Wellness Warrior” TM
 
P.S. For DR. BILL’S LITTLE GREEN BOOK ON ELIMINATING KNEE PAIN, a concise, but complete handbook on the root causes and the various options for treating knee pain, go to http://drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html 
 
P.P.S. For DR. BILL’S PAIN-FREE PROGRAM: EXERCISES TO PREVENT OR ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN, please go to
 http://drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html 
 
P.P.P.S. For conventional and alternative treatments and exercises to relieve knee pain without surgery click on http://drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html 
 
P.P.P.P.S. For the giant, comprehensive ADVANCED MASTERS’ COURSE: HOW TO ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN–ONCE & FOR ALL!, everything you need to know on causes and solutions for knee pain and the complete exercise program, too, go to
 http://drbillsclinic.com/advanced_masters.html 
 
FREE BONUS CD with any order: THE HEALING POWER OF POSITIVE PAIN PERCEPTION
 
Copyright, 2010 by William Thomas Stillwell, MD, FACS
All rights reserved

January 5, 2010

Once released from the hospital’s RIO unit, my wife drove me home. I was set up in a spare bedroom, with a lower mattress than my usual, to make it easier to get in and out of bed.
 
Luckily, the local anesthesia was in full force, so I remained comfortable and pain-free. I checked out the dressing, but it was clean and dry, with no sign of bleeding. So far, so good. Then, I got a cold seltzer to drink. Remember, I had been NPO (nothing by mouth) since 10PM the night before surgery, and only had ice chips in recovery, so I was pretty thirsty. Hungry, too. 
 
Then, I noticed I was tired. No surprise there. Surgery is a trauma to your body, so it induces a lot of stress. After drifting in and out of sleep, I had to go to the bathroom. That’s when things started to get interesting.
 
Turns out that when you try to get out of bed, especially without any leverage, you put a lot of stress on those new sutures, just placed in the surgical repair. YEOW! Only a momentary thing, but despite the local anesthetic, I felt that! I had to figure out how I was going to do this.
 
So, I decided to try using a cane, which I had handy, left over from my last surgery, an arthroscopy of my left knee in 2005. I discovered that of I pressed down with the cane in my left hand, I was able to get up with only minimal discomfort. How about that?

Further experimentation revealed that if the came was used in my left hand while walking, it relaxed my right abdominal muscles, by reflex. Now, I’ve known for years that the use of a cane reduces the joint reaction forces across the opposite hip and knee. In fact, I make a great point of that technique, as a way to minimize joint pain, in my LITTLE GREEN BOOK FOR ELIMINATING KNEE PAIN  http://www.drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html
 
But I never heard that it also relaxes the abdominal muscles on the opposite side from the cane. I don’t believe my surgeon even knows about this (but you can be sure that I’ll let him know, for his future patients). Keep this trick in mind, if you ever need to get abdominal surgery–it makes quite a difference.
 
The other thing that made a big difference in my comfort was the use of a rectangular cooler pack, stored in our freezer against emergencies, instead of a simple ice pack. The surgeon had recommended intermittent use of ice to reduce swelling, but this solid, cold cooler pack not only chilled the tissues, reducing local pain and swelling, but also acted as a buttress against any intra-abdominal pressure. When I pressed it against my surgical site, it kept the repair under pressure, so it reduced any tension on the internal sutures.
 
Between the cane and the cooler pack, I managed very well, indeed. I was completely comfortable, when at rest in bed. I only had some momentary pain, when attempting to get in and out of bed. Even walking was not bad, so long as I went slowly, using the cane in my left hand and holding the cooler pack against my lower abdomen, on my right.
 
In bed, I found by trial and error that a slightly bent fetal position, on my left side, with a pillow between my legs, made me very comfortable. Virtually no pain, at all. I still had taken no pain medication. In that position, I slipped off to sleep and slept all night long.
 
Next day, I found the same thing. Using the cane and the ice pack, I was comfortable enough that I was not in need of any analgesics, even though the local had surely worn off by then. I just took it easy, watched TV, read a bit and periodically took a nap.
 
Long and short of it is that, despite having filled a prescription for Percocet, just in case, I have not needed a single pill. Not one, to date. Just took off the dressing and the incision is healing fine. Of course, the real issue is the internal healing. And that’s the reason that I can’t take my twice daily dose of POWERHOUSE OMEGA FORMULA   http://www.drbillsformulas.com 
 
A hernia is a defect in the tough fibrous sheath across the groin, which is pierced by the spermatic cord, on its way to the testes. The descent of the testes leaves a potential weakness there, which in some people, under some conditions, leads to a tear, or rupture in that sheath. This tear allows loops of bowel (small intestines) to protrude, causing a bulge under the skin. In some cases, that loop of bowel can twist, cutting off circulation and literally dying. This is called strangulation and it’s a surgical emergency. That’s why I wanted this fixed, pronto.
 
In the old days (when I was an intern), the only repairs sutured the edges of the tear back together and to the big oblique inguinal ligament, that runs between the “point” of the hip (anterior superior iliac spine) to the pubic bone. But that repair is under a lot of tension and ruptures can recur at a rate of around 30-40%. With a new, tension-free technique, the surgeon covers the defect with a fine mesh of polypropylene and sews that to the edges and the ligament. 
 
Eventually, fibrous tissues grow into that mesh, which acts like a scaffold, and upon maturity reconstitutes the abdominal wall, obliterating the defect and restoring integrity to the wall. The recurrence rate for this technique is only 1%. The downside is that it needs inflammation to provoke the ingrowth of the fibrous tissues. So, since fish oil is so effective at reducing inflammation, I can’t use it yet. And the rest of my joints KNOW it, too.
 
Anyway, that’s what happened next. So far, so good. I walked a bit more today and went out for the first time. So, little by little, day by day…it’s getting better. Til next time, my friend, be well. 
 
Yours for a pain-free tomorrow and your optimal health,
 
Dr. Bill
 
“The Wellness Warrior” TM
 
P.S. For DR. BILL’S LITTLE GREEN BOOK ON ELIMINATING KNEE PAIN, a concise, but complete handbook on the root causes and the various options for treating knee pain, go to http://drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html 
 
P.P.S. For DR. BILL’S PAIN-FREE PROGRAM: EXERCISES TO PREVENT OR ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN, please go to
 http://drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html 
 
P.P.P.S. For conventional and alternative treatments and exercises to relieve knee pain without surgery click on http://drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html 
 
P.P.P.P.S. For the giant, comprehensive ADVANCED MASTERS’ COURSE: HOW TO ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN–ONCE & FOR ALL!, everything you need to know on causes and solutions for knee pain and the complete exercise program, too, go to
 http://drbillsclinic.com/advanced_masters.html 
 
FREE BONUS CD with any order: THE HEALING POWER OF POSITIVE PAIN PERCEPTION
 
Copyright, 2010 by William Thomas Stillwell, MD, FACS
All rights reserved

January 4, 2010

Finally, the Holidays are over. The confetti and tinsel are over for another year. And here we are in the beginning of a new year, of a new decade. Here’s hoping it’s a good one….
 
As for me, I’m recovering from my recent herniorrhaphy (inguinal hernia repair), which I had done last Thursday morning, New Year’s Eve Day. The idea was to get this problem fixed, while in the old year, so I could begin the New Year with the surgery behind me and start a new chapter of my life, with healing. 
 
Now, my wife has a dim view of all things Floridian and would have preferred that I have my surgery in New York, with one of my old compadres. But my attitude was that, if I’m living down here, I’d better learn who’s good, on an elective basis, before any emergency occurs.
 
I was referred to Dr. Possada, a general surgeon recommended by my cardiologist, of whom I think very highly. I asked the correct question of him: “Who would YOU use, for this procedure, for YOU or YOUR FAMILY?” 
 
Very important point and the best teaching, with which to start the New Year: Never just ask for a referral. Depending on the doctor (or nurse) and the relationship they have with the specialist, you may get lucky, or you may get referred because of business reasons. I saw this many times in my years in private practice.
 
I got many a back-handed compliment: these guys would send all their referrals to other docs, for business reasons, but when it was someone from their own family, why then, they wanted them to come to me.
 
It’s considered “unethical” for nurses or docs in the ER, for example, to refer to the docs who they KNOW are the best. Instead, if asked for a referral, they are required to refer to the person on the ER call roster, who may or may NOT be the best choice for you.
 
The case for this is that they can otherwise “steer” referrals to their favorites and away from those not so favored. However, what they are NOT doing is looking out for YOU. They don’t know you. They have to live with all these guys, long after you’re gone and forgotten.
 
So, be smart. Ask instead who THEY use, personally. Different question. And not unethical to answer. Repeat this a few times, with different health professionals and the same two or three names are going to keep coming up. THAT’S who you pick from.
 
In Medicine, as in Life, “birds of a feather DO flock together.” The best hang around with the best. Always did. Always will.
 
Anyway, I met this guy and was immediately impressed with his manner, his confidence, his over 20 years of experience in doing this procedure. I trust my gut. And I like and trust my cardiologist. So that’s how I made my choice. I didn’t look up his credentials, or whether he had any malpractice suits, or any of that other crap that people think matters. It doesn’t. I know a good man when I meet him.
 
So we scheduled the surgery, in accordance with my wishes that it be done in 2009. And he accomodated me, despite a solidly booked schedule (another indicator that he has a good reputation and a busy practice–which he wouldn’t, if he was leaving dead bodies all over).
 
So, Tuesday, I went to the Florida Hospital, Orlando, for presurgical testing–simple blood work, interviews and collection of my medical history. Early…and I mean EARLY…Thursday morning, I got up at a little after 4AM, showered, dressed and drove with my wife to the FLORIDA HOSPITAL outpatient surgery unit, what they call their RIO, an acronym for Rapid In and Out. 
 
When you think about it, that’s a sort of unfortunate name they’ve chosen, with echoes of “A Clockwork Orange.”
 
Contrary to my usual tardiness, we were precisely on time, at 5:30AM. A nurse picked me up and took me, with my wife, to a patient station in the preop staging area. I undressed, put on thigh-high TED (thromboembolic disease) stockings, a prophylactic measure to minimize the risk of blood clots, during the immobility of surgery, a pair of socks with rubber treads, to provide non-slip surfaces, and a johnnie (those ridiculous patient gowns that tie up in the back, leaving your naked butt exposed).
 
Then, I was visited in turn by the preop nurse, who started an IV, gave me some preop antibiotics and worked through her checklist, then the OR circulator nurse, the nurse anesthetist and the anesthesiologist. The plan was for LMA anesthesia–laryngeal mask airway.  This is used for light general anesthesia, which my surgeon prefers, as it provides maximal muscle relaxation, a must for a good hernia repair.
 
I advised the anesthesiologist to forget that I was a surgeon, myself, treat me like any other guy off the street and do whatever he thought was necessary, at any time, even if that meant full intubation, with an endotracheal tube. That’s always the best way to survive. It’s when they think they’re doing you a “favor” and treat you different from the standard of care that you get into trouble.
 
Then, they slipped a little Versed (a very short acting hypnotic agent and relaxant, that causes retrograde amnesia, as one of its little benefits) into my IV, started wheeling me out to the OR and….
 
When they roused me, a little later, I thought I had just dozed off and was now in the OR, ready to begin. But the procedure had already been done. I felt no pain, at all. My surgeon had infiltrated the repair and all the tissues with a long acting local anesthetic, with epinephrine (adrenaline, which constricts blood vessels, minimizing bleeding and allowing the local anesthetic to stay much longer in the tissues, keeping them stone numb).
 
Thanks to the short acting anesthetic agents, like Propofol (Deprivan, the same stuff that killed Michael Jackson, used incorrectly, but a great drug, when used by pros and monitored correctly), I was wide awake in a very short time. Very chatty, according to my wife, but hopefully, not too obnoxious to the nurses, who I’m sure are used to this. 
 
Hey, it’s like the old movie title–”Blame it on RIO.”  The residual anesthesia inhibits your inhibitions, like you were a little high. Well, that was my “drink” for the night….
 
A few hours later, once I was able to walk, urinate on my own and appeared to be stable, I was ready to leave. And so we did. All in all, everyone involved, start to finish, in the RIO did a simply an exemplary job. I was very favorably impressed. And comfortable, the entire time.
 
And that’s how I spent my New Year’s Eve, this year.
 
Tomorrow, I’ll tell you about the early recovery process and the new things I learned from this experience, that I didn’t know before. I still can’t start my fish oil, which I really do miss,   http://www.drbillsformulas.com   but for reasons I’ll explain, I can’t suppress my inflammatory response, just yet. Neither can I start my isometric exercises, as yet, for fear of stirring up bleeding. But soon, I’ll begin with these fundamentals from my newly expanded, completely redone PAIN-FREE PROGRAM & brand new DVD:
 http://www.drbillsclinic.com/execise_eliminate.html 
 
2010: This will be a different year, a new chance to get healthy, get fit and leave your bad habits and health care problems behind. And despite the wretched economy and the forces arrayed against us, from ignorant & arrogant fools in our own government, who would dare to use your life, your health and that of your family, as a political means to power, to Big Pharma plots to make statin drugs “preventive care” for everyone, to internationalist efforts to interfere in our personal rights, to use supplements as we see fit (Codex Alimentarius), against all these and more, we will join together and fight back, with the truth and with actions. 
 
This year, we will explore, together, the best ways to relieve pain, restore function, prevent disease and disability, lose weight; to be better, stronger, leaner, fitter, happier, healthier; to live as we ought to live, in optimal health, for as long as we may….plus many new surprises, new products, new features and more emails, to educate, entertain and amuse you.
 
And if you will stick with me, this year, continue to be part of our extended family of friends, one of “Dr. Bill’s Wellness Warriors,”TM and DO what I teach you to do, together we can all enjoy a brighter, happier, healthier future. So stick around and I’ll promise to do my very best to make you glad you did. Til next time, my friend, be well….
 
Yours for a pain-free tomorrow, with optimal health & wellness,
 
DR. BILL
“The Wellness Warrior” TM
 
P.S. For DR. BILL’S LITTLE GREEN BOOK ON ELIMINATING KNEE PAIN, a concise, but complete handbook on the root causes and the various options for treating knee pain, go to http://drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html 
 
P.P.S. For DR. BILL’S PAIN-FREE PROGRAM: EXERCISES TO PREVENT OR ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN, please go to
 http://drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html 
 
P.P.P.S. For conventional and alternative treatments and exercises to relieve knee pain without surgery click on http://drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html 
 
P.P.P.P.S. For the giant, comprehensive ADVANCED MASTERS’ COURSE: HOW TO ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN–ONCE & FOR ALL!, everything you need to know on causes and solutions for knee pain and the complete exercise program, too, go to
 http://drbillsclinic.com/advanced_masters.html 
 
FREE BONUS CD with any order: THE HEALING POWER OF POSITIVE PAIN PERCEPTION
 
Copyright, 2009 by William Thomas Stillwell, MD, FACS
All rights reserved