As you might have read in the V-Day post, during my last yearly check-up I told my doctor that I thought I might have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is classified as a disorder that occurs when a person’s breathing is interrupted during sleep. My wife suggested that I speak with my doctor because there have been many nights where she would hear me gasping for breath and wondered if I would start breathing again. Initial...

As reported by most news outlets today, Abbott Labs issued a major recall of Similac powder baby formula, citing the possibility of the powder containing beetles. This immediately caught the attention of my wife and I because we feed our 5-month-old daughter Similac powdered formula (although we also mix in the liquid version as well).  When I got home from work I took our 3 Similac containers down to the computer...

…Continued from Vasectomy Diary – Part I Without further delay, the conclusion to one Dad’s vasectomy adventure. 11:00 – I am called and walk in to the hospital room, the nurse goes over some last minute things, reiterating that the procedure is to be considered “non-reversible”, asks me to sign some more forms and then tells me to disrobe and place a blanket over me, the doctor will be in...

Like many couples, my wife and I have tried a number of contraceptives, from condoms to IUD’s (Intra-Uterine Device), but each had some side effect attached with it. After our experiences with pregnancy and that we have 2 children, my wife and I decided that the time was right for us to explore other methods of birth control – the more permanent type. We looked into a tubal-ligation, but decided against it...

Dr. Gregory Levitin After writing a recent post about my daughter’s hemangioma and the approach my wife and I plan to take, an internationally recognized physician and specialist in hemangiomas and vascular malformations, Dr. Gregory Levitin, read the article and made a comment about laser treatment.  I asked Dr. Levitin if he would be willing to engage in an online Q&A session about hemangiomas and treatment...

Note: I’m not a pediatrician or dermatologist, but most of what I write here is information gathered from real doctors.  All situations are different, please always consult your physician when making decisions about your child’s health. My daughter was born with a hemangioma on the left cheek of her face and as of this posting it still appears somewhat prominently. Figured it would be helpful to post our...

Cancer From the Kitchen? New York Times, December 5, 2009 Recent op-ed piece in the NY Times by Nicholas D. Kristof positions some compelling evidence about everyday kitchen chemicals and usage within the national health care debate.  He begins by pushing for more exploration and research into the potential causes of cancer, which tend to be one of the most devastating diseases, both physically and financially. While...

Postpartum Depression Strikes Fathers, Too New York Times, December 7, 2009 When reading this article about how some fathers develop a postpartum-style depression after their child’s birth, I was sympathetic with the Dads who were subjects of the story.  Clearly, they had issues they needed to workout long before they had a child, but it just happened to manifest when the newborn was drawn into the picture. However,...