The High Cost of Curry
April 6th, 2009“Medical” = Markup
Man, did I get burned yesterday. I went to Vitamin Shoppe to get curcumin and green tea pills. I don’t take tea in pill form, but I like to mix it with soap and water and moosh it onto suspicious areas on my skin; it does a real number on actinic keratoses, and it sure beats paying a dermatologist to freeze them or slice them out, leaving big divots in my face.
I got to the register, and the girl told me my total was a little over forty bucks. FORTY. For a hundred tea bags’ worth of tea plus a third of a pound of turmeric. Does that sound right to you? The only reason I take curcumin capsules is that turmeric is too disgusting to swallow in powder form. But at thirty-two bucks a bottle, it may motivate me to start using a spoon.
I usually use Vitacost.com, but I figured I could stand to pay brick-and-mortar prices for two measly items. Forget THAT. Today I’m going to Costco, and I’m going to make very sure I get a big jug of fish oil. That’s the only thing I’m missing right now.
I’ve also decided to get a memory-foam pillow. I can’t put up with congestion any more; I’m wondering if being around Marvin and Maynard has sensitized me to feathers. For thirty bucks, I can find out.
The other day I wrote about someone I know from Nowlive. He started having strokes. I don’t have all the details. I was told he was going in for an operation involving his heart and brain, and I was asked to put up a prayer request, so I did. I’m happy to report that he seems okay. Thanks, everyone who helped.
It seems like my blog is becoming a prayer clearinghouse these days. That’s fine with me. I can always use something positive on my record, to offset the bad things I do. I think it’s important to look for opportunities to do good deeds, because they won’t always come knocking on your door.
I got another request last week, but I didn’t post it, because a blog entry that goes up on a Friday is worthless. No one will read it. Here’s the draft I typed to keep me from forgetting:
Someone who frequents this blog sent me a prayer request. Had it arrived yesterday, I would have figured it for an April Fool’s joke, but since it arrived today, it must be serious. It sounds bad. I won’t say who sent it; if he wants, he can ID himself in the comments.
This individual has been suffering from Dupuytren’s contractures in his hands. This is a disease that causes the hands to contract and the palms to become tough. That has been treated surgically, and he is not happy with the results. Now he says he has been diagnosed with Peyronie’s disease. Look it up if you want. It’s a urological issue which can cause considerable suffering.
His wife has had cardiac problems and migraines. She has been treated successfully for a brain aneurysm. Now she’s having dizzy spells and falling for no reason.
On top of all this, they’ve both had cataract surgery.
These folks are having a bad time. I hope you’ll take a minute and put a word in for them.
I have to get on the road to Costco. I hope they have kosher Coke!
April 6th, 2009 at 10:56 AM
A few years back, the local hippie food & herb emporium used to sell empty gelatin capsules for those folks that wanted to take various powdered nostrums and not have to deal with a spoon. It’s kind of a PITA to fill up the capsules, but it can be done.
A word of warning… it’s entirely possible that a capsule full of cayenne pepper will lodge right at the base of the esophagus, and dissolve onto the upper stomach lining. An irritated belch can & will send clouds of perfectly dry cayenne pepper up the pipe to lodge in all the moist tissues it can find, up to and including tongue, gums and sinuses. This pretty much ruins your whole afternoon. Drink a LOT of water to wash those suckers down!
April 6th, 2009 at 11:23 AM
So…that’s the WRONG way to do it?
April 6th, 2009 at 11:30 AM
My mother just had minor surgery for Dupuytren’s contractures. As procedures go, it wasn’t bad. Since she tells me it is genetic, I figure I have to be watching for it.
Anyone who tells you that those hippie run health food and supplement concerns aren’t rapacious capitalists (who would make the railroad and oil barons of the 1800s blush), well, that person muxt have gotten a little too heavily into the medical marijuana.
BTW – I check in through the weekend. I would see a late Firday post on Saturday. Yeah, I know, I need more of a life.
April 6th, 2009 at 11:49 AM
I was going to recommend the capsules, too. That’s how I do it.
April 6th, 2009 at 12:14 PM
Depends on how you feel about masochism.
April 6th, 2009 at 2:31 PM
So is the next step modifying your Hornady to load all the little capsules?
April 6th, 2009 at 3:16 PM
I have those contractures, too. I had cortisone injections about 5 months ago, bad news for diabetics. My hand has stiffened up again so I will have to have surgery next. But wait, there’s more…., constant back pain for a year, and now the knee has gone south on me. I am getting old. Also have an appointment with the opthamologist next week. Hope I can get my cataracts fixed THIS YEAR. But while all prayers are welcome, I can cope with this. Pray for my friend who had a double mastectomy last week and another friend whose daughter has just been diagnosed with breast cancer. Pain and joints are bad, cancer is a killer.
Okay, I have whined enough for one day.
Seriously, Steve, it is a pleasure to read of the tools that give you so much enjoyment and your delight in the simple things. It is God working in your life. You (He) have/has completely changed your personality from when I first started reading your blog.
April 6th, 2009 at 8:16 PM
For what it’s worth, I get turmeric caps at Wal-Mart, 90 for about $8. 500mg. I’m too darned lazy to try filling caps on my own. As for loading capsules, my grandmother did that with epsom salts. Ick.