http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSL2838269320080428?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0

And a lot of you had thoughts about Lasik.. here are some snippets!! I took out specifics about which clinic or doctor-- you'll have to do your own research if you're in the market, but here's the gist of the emails I got!!

Maggie writes: I had Lasik one year ago, and I went to a clinic at a hospital rather than a less expensive independent clinic. I picked the hospital location due to the cornea specialist backgrounds of the doctors. The pre-screening medical exam was very thorough, and increased my confidence that they would rule me out if I were not a good candidate. They measured the thickness of my corneas and the amount of moisture my eyes produced normally along with other tests. The surgery itself was painless and quick, and my recovery was the same. I now have 20/10 vision (I think I was 20/150 before.) I have no side effects at all now, and feel extremely fortunate to have had access and funding for this surgery. My heart goes out to those who have problems with their vision and eyes now due to surgery that didn't go as
well for them. I would still highly recommend this surgery to family and
friends, but would caution of the potential side effects, just like any surgery, and would tell them the only option is to pay more to go to a specialist rather than a store front shop.

Richard writes: It appears that the laser story is being blown out of proportion but as with any medical procedure, there are many things that can go wrong and many people loose sight of that. I went to three Lazer vision correction facilities before deciding on going ahead and who to do it. Along with the notes on the web, all explained reiterated the possible side effects such as halos, dry eye, etc. All of them ran a thickness test saying that I was a good candidate and also the tearing "tear strip" test relative to anticipating little chance of dry eye problems.

Another friend had the *RK* type correction done and was not happy with it and went back to glasses but still has the halos and glare remaining.

Jerilyn writes: from the segment I saw last evening (4/25), I think the conclusion from the Federal panel that was investigating this procedure is that the surgeon makes the difference the outcome. Fortunately, I had the ABSOLUTE best surgeon.

I had my surgery in 1996-1997 and [the doctor] was very careful to explain the procedure as well as the possible outcomes that were known at that time. I had all 4 surgeries on my eyes - PRK, AK, PK, and Lasik. Lasik was just coming into being at the time [and the doctor] did the original surgery. The effects were absolutely breathtaking for me. I saw the world clearly for the first time as my eyes had been very bad (20/400 and 20/600) before the surgery.

Over the years the only problem I seem to have was dry eye which can now be treated. [The doctor] had given me monovision - one eye attuned to distance and one to close work. I noticed in 2006 that the left eye, the one tuned to distance, was not working as efficiently as it had due to some astigmatism caused by blinking over the years. I went to [the doctor] and he did an enhancement on my left eye. It has been functioning quiet well since then.

I know that as I get older, I might have to wear glasses again, perhaps when I reach 70 (I hope). For now, I can fully enjoy God's beautiful world and I thank him for allowing the miracle to happen - again!

Vicki writes: I had Lasik 5 years ago. My doctor was very clear with me about the risks and potential problems, including dry eyes, blurred night vision, etc. I already had dry eyes which made wearing contacts difficult, so I wasn't sure I would be approved for Lasik. I also already had bad night vision.
Since having the surgery I have had no problems with dry eyes, night vision or anything else.
I appreciated then, and now, how brutally honest my doctor was about the risks of Lasik. I'm one of the successful patients and am very glad it was successful for me.
As with any surgery, patients need to research the pros and cons and risks of undergoing surgery.

Janet writes: When I was considering Lasik surgery, I had real concerns about anyone touching my eyes and doing permenant damage. When I went for my consultation with what my research proved to be one of the best regional surgeons, I asked the questions that anyone taking responsibility for the decision would ask. The doctor appeared to not want to be bothered with taking real time to assure me and talk to me about my particular situation, and any real concerns that may have existed that only an educated surgeon could inform me of. Instead, my concerns were treated as if they were unreasonable, and the doctor seemed more annoyed than anything.
Essentially I felt bullied by someone that believed they were far more intelligent than I. It seems that they just wanted to run the people in and run the people out at light speed level to hit quotas to make as much money as possible. With the way patients were run through the office, we might as well have been in the airport being rushed to the next gate. Greedy.
Thankfully the end result for me was positive. Although, I would not call
it perfection. I have some glare at night, and my eyes get dry and tired
in the evenings, sometimes to the point where I can't focus well. However, I can easily remember the hassles involved with wearing glasses and contacts and would easily trade those problems with the ones I sometimes have to address now.

Randy writes: I had Lasik done about a month ago and love it.So far there have been no bad side effects. My last eye exam (last thursday) showed improvement from the previous exam. I'm really looking forward to the boating season without glasses or contacts.

Bernie writes: I had Lasik 2 yrs ago and couldn't be happier. [The clinic] spent a great deal of time informing me of the positive and negative issues so I could make an educated decision. The procedure went exactly as they had described..

sstricklen@kgw.com

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hm4_Y2gN7uuJFU9yGiiiwV0BWDagD908RA500

But the question I posed this morning/afternoon/5pm: If you have had Lasik.. how did it go for you?

Email me here: sstricklen@kgw.com

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24277609/

Update: the c.diff story made a reappearance at 5pm. I thought it was a good choice for the newscast, since we're starting to hear more and more about it. Do you know anyone who has had it? And it's not just hospitals.. it can make it's rounds elsewhere. It's just that this study focused on hospitals.

This is an excellent c.diff primer courtesy of the Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/c-difficile/DS00736

I hope you find the information useful!!

sstricklen@kgw.com

My good friend and stylist Randi shares my love for a certain TV show. So, she gave this to me yesterday. I stuffed a business card onto it for no other reason than I felt like it. Can you name the show? Come on, only the cool kids are watching it........

Email me your guess-- I'll get back to you in a week!!
sstricklen@kgw.com

Good morning!! I'm feeling remarkably awake. I have no idea why. I'm about to go on the air and talk about the compound in plastics... bisphenol A.. or BPA. I've covered this before after local online parent forums started buzzing about it in plastic baby bottles and then retailers couldn't keep glass baby bottles in stock.

((Standby.. I have to go do my hit now...))

Okay. So, where was I.... the links. I know this is an important issue a number of you are interested in since we all use plastics in our life.. from our water bottles, to our plastic food storage, and more.

First, an overview I pulled from the LA Times: http://www.latimes.com/features/health/medicine/la-na-plastic16apr16,1,498138.story

Then a link to the full draft report: http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov/chemicals/bisphenol/BPADraftBriefVF_04_14_08.pdf

An an interesting related article out of Canada: http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080415/bisphenol_warning_080415/20080415?hub=CTVNewsAt11

NEXT story about how vitamins may actually shorten your life:

This vitamin story mirrors research published by the same team in JAMA. Let me give you today's link: http://www.cochrane.org/press/vitamins.htm

And here is a nicely balanced writeup: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080415194233.htm

That should hold you over... I hope this information helps!!

PS. I've been wearing sweat pants to work and Crocs.. which is why you don't see me standing up anywhere in the studio during my 4:30am newscast.

I had a second surgery to remove a tricky mole on my upper thigh-- an area that actually hurts because the skin stretches and pulls against the stitches.

I've had second mole removal surgeries before.. but they've been in better spots and didn't require much fuss to manage. Oh well. Want me to lecture you now about wearing sunscreen?! Or not using baby oil as a teen to essentially bake yourself in the sun??

sstricklen@kgw.com

But I'm dragging.

I do want to get you this link to Dr. Linn Goldberg's website, where you can learn more about the HEALTHY study. Click on the press release on the right for additional details!!
http://www.ohsu.edu/hpsm/healthy.cfm

As you know, I love love love covering these kinds of stories. I think school is such a huge part of a child's life and the healthy examples they learn there can mold them into healthy adults. I hope the researchers find the extra effort does, indeed, reduce type II diabetes. But even if it doesn't... isn't there something to be said for the students better overall performance in classes? I know that is based on one person's assessment.. you'd have to study that, too, to make sure it holds on a broader scale.. but it is nice to hear the kids are responding so well!

I'm going to the birds with this blog:

Sean sent me this cool photo of a woodpecker who is awfully fond of a bat box near his house. Must like the acoustics...

And McGorge Scott says the gobbler is back!!

You may or may not recall last spring he had to put up a board on his window because the turkey had figured out that a loud enough peck on the glass would get him food that he wouldn't have to share with the 20,000 other animals that all congregate at McGorge Scott's place.

I'm off to have one of those two moles I was telling you about removed. Again. Turns out it is a little dodgy and they don't want to take any chances. Oh boy!! Another two weeks of even more stiches!!!

sstricklen@kgw.com

Here's the full write-up from the Associated Press:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gTTpenmxHA38AS54_YVIKx0ZLTpQD8VSPQG83

And here is a link to the abstract of the study in the journal Pediatrics: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/121/4/e927

Look, the bottom line for parents is this: Dennis Quaid , as the Associated Press quoted him, is absolutely correct-- when someone walks into the hospital room to give medication, just ask how much are they giving and why. The same advice holds true for older parents, spouses.. anyone, really.

On a different note.. WOW-- many, many.... many of you read Margie Boule's column on Sunday.

((Check it out here: http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/margie_boule/index.ssf?/base/living/1207166109263440.xml&coll=7 ))

I got phone calls at home.. and emails.. and even a call here at work on my voicemail. It'll take me a while to get back to everyone. Thank you for taking the time. It's just so humbling and kind of you to let me know what you think. And I really want to thank Margie, too. I'm not often on the other side of an interview, but she was totally willing to spend the time talking to me which made me feel like I made the points I felt were important. She even included the snippet about Joe Coelho warning people to stay out of floodwaters in the aftermath of his wife's death. I could not have asked for more.

See you tomorrow!!! sstricklen@kgw.com

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080330200640.htm

Green tea is definitely part of my morning ritual. If you ever spot a hastily placed coffee cup in a shot when I'm anchoring.. it's not coffee. It's my tea! And the New Seasons where I shop has a loose leaf chai green tea, which I was inspired to try after reading all 12,000 pages of Sacred Games (set in India and the characters drink chai constantly). Okay, it's not 12,000 pages, but it's a whopper of a novel and took me a spell to get through it.

Hey-- if you know someone who smokes.. here is another story that came up:
http://www.latimes.com/features/health/medicine/la-sci-lung3apr03,1,483181.story

And this one is a really big deal.. even if it doesn't seem like it at first blush:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-04-02-wellpoint-no-pay-errors_N.htm

Look.. I got some absolutely stunning flowers from three of my most awesome friends today: Kris, Gina, and Karen!!! It's my birthday. I'm 34. And I'm totally cool with that. I only had a small moment when I turned 30 but then I got over myself. :-)

And Willie in Master Control walked out two KGW balloons ((two because Jennifer Iveson also has a birthday)) during our 4:30am newscast..

Over the years he has produced flowers, balloons, a towel, and all kinds of other things at random times. I have no clue where he stashes this stuff!!! Thanks Willie!

Happy Thursday-It's-Almost-Friday!
sstricklen@kgw.com

I mentioned this in the wee hours of the morning, but I wanted to bring you more on the World Autism Awareness Day.. the producers here put together a little "wrap" of a few autism related stories. I think I'd like to offer up a few links so you can see how media in a few places around the planet are covering this...

India: http://www.ibnlive.com/news/autism-awareness-day-observed-today/62503-17.html

China: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-04/02/content_6584524.htm

A U.S. columnist: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/01/AR2008040102199.html

More on the premie autism story I mentioned: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-04-02-autism-premature_N.htm

Okay: PHOTO TIME!!!

McGorge Scott loves his photography. And we love seeing it. Do you know that some of you email me when he hasn't sent anything in a while? It's like he has to tell me when he's on vacation or too busy so I know what to tell you, lol. Well, he has some new photography toys and ever since we got on that discussion about spiders, he occasionally send along some arachnid inspired snapshots.

Here's what I can only describe as an extreme close-up of a baby black widow spider. Do you know how tiny they are??? And in the full size photo he sent me ((before I reduced it for this blog)) you can even see the hairs on its legs!

And a cricket.. showing the same larger-than-life detail:

And the wildlife... oh, the wildlife. McGorge Scott says he's not used to seeing this many elk out in his neck of the woods at this time of year.

Best wishes on this Wednesday to you! I got those suspicious moles removed yesterday.. one on each thigh. They hurt a bit more than I'd like to admit.. like a bad cut. And I'm not a fan of having to keep the stitches in for the next 10 to 14 days. Whatever. If only I would have known better in my youth-- I spent SOOO much time in the sun and now I'm paying for it. I'll keep you posted, but they are like moles #9 and #10 to come off so I'm not even slightly anxious about it. I've only had one that was bad enough to require a second removal. The scar on my arm is huge and I just tell people I got into a fight at a bar. No one believes me. :-)

sstricklen@kgw.com

I'm going to get to the new CPR guidelines here in just a second.. but let me start by giving you a nice, long link to the Vytorin story. It offers a ton of useful information and perspective if this is a drug you are taking.
http://www.forbes.com/business/2008/03/30/schering-vytorin-merck-biz-cx_mh_0330vytorinearly.html

Now.. here are the new CPR guidelines. The embargo on this just lifted and I don't see it (as of 1pm) on the AHA website... so I have to copy/paste it instead. My guess is it will go live here shortly, but this will do...

Chest compressions alone, or Hands-Only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), can save lives and can be used to help an adult who suddenly collapses, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement.

The new statement is intended to increase how often bystander CPR is performed. It emphasizes the importance of “high-quality” chest compressions — deep compressions that allow for full chest recoil, at a rate of about 100 per minute — with minimal interruptions.

I have some fun pictures from McGorge Scott, but let me post this one first.

That's Fancypants. I was wandering around on NW 23rd in Portland the other day and walked into this new dog boutique-- and lo and behold.... Fancypants! Kelli, the gal who adopted him, used to work in Vancouver at the dog boutique by my house. Well, turns out she's gone into business for herself. What a random coincidence!! He's the coolest dog. But normally he has this intense stare he gives you-- with these beautiful yellow eyes. So, to see him looking, well, a little smiley and silly (considering she snapped him mid-blink) makes me laugh.

McGorge pics to come... he's got new spider photos!!! See you soon!! sstricklen@kgw.com

Have a WONDERFUL weekend!!!!! sstricklen@kgw.com

Well, the program won an award from the Bicycle Transportation Alliance http://www.bta4bikes.org/ and Ann (the co-organizer of Bike First) said she was so happy she's still teary over it:
http://www.bta4bikes.org/btablog/2008/03/24/2008-Alice-B-toeclips-award-winners/

Congratulations, Ann!!!

McGorge Scott has a new super duper close up lens.. so expect some cool wildlife photos from him here in a bit.

And finally, a heartfelt thank you. 60 emails later about last Friday's breakdown and not a rude one in the bunch... I just want to run around hugging everyone, which I know sounds ridiculous. Forgive me. I'm humbled and have some amazing insight into how you watch the news. Many of you are deeply bothered by stories that involve crimes against children.. and not just a normal bothered.. but either outraged or upset to the point of tears. Almost universally, you see your own children in those stories. And while I don't have children myself, I found myself paying close attention to some sad stories we had in our newscast this morning. I was wondering if any of you were watching.

9/11 came up a lot, too. It is an event that has so plainly scarred America. But in each of those emails was a story about exactly where you were when you heard the news.

Anyway, thanks for being so kind.

sstricklen@kgw.com

Before I link you to the clip.. let me set it up.

When I come in to read scripts before the show, I read my part.. not the verbatim transcript of the interviews. And usually if we have very compelling interviews in our newscast, a producer will mention it before you go out on the set. But it was a very busy morning with the Barack Obama stuff and it just didn't happen.

So, I hit the story... which (imagine this) is about a firefighter who gets a call about a woman stranded on a bridge. He responds. I'll leave it at that-- you can watch what unfolds.
http://www.kgw.com/video/index.html?nvid=229007&shu=1
And that awful 20 seconds of silence that follows is me in a sheer panic because I am now bawling and have to continue on with the newscast. There is no other anchor because Russ is off. So, I sat there and did my best to get it together and, well, you can see that, too.

I plowed through the rest of the next story thinking, "Just get to weather... get to weather." And god bless Nick who took over and gave me the minute or two I needed to compose myself.

You know, I'm going to admit this here and now: during stories about funerals, soldier deaths, 9/11, Katrina, crimes against children when an emotional parent is giving the interview-- basically anytime someone is sharing their excrutiating pain on the news... I try to distance myself from it. I do. So this exact thing doesn't happen. And many, many, many times I have failed and ended up misty-eyed.

But I have never, ever totally lost it like this. I was just watching the story so intently.. not expecting him to say those things.. that I had zero distance on it. I didn't know it was coming. And the thing about the news: it isn't Hollywood, people. This is a real human being.. a man in terrible agony.. who will never ever be able to shake the image or her words from his head. It will haunt him forever.

As soon as I got off the set I was dreading the emails, but, I read some very thoughtful, very kind ones from Joshua, Bob, and Liz. So a heartfelt thank you for making me feel better about what happened this morning. My little emotional ourburst is nothing compared to what many people who find themselves interviewed for our newscast are going through. I wish that firefighter, Joe Coelho, all my best from the very bottom of my heart.

sstricklen@kgw.com

Here is the Johnson & Johnson webisode I mentioned. Click on Tina's link (and yes, yes... I know it's all Johnson & Johnson advertising on the website, but this is their deal and the webisode is quite good.)
http://www.iVillage.com/familyroom

Bye bye!!! sstricklen@kgw.com