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Medical Tourism to Appalachia? + Cool Stuff & New Blogger

Medical Tourism

Many of us who direct our own health care get lab tests to see our levels of vitamin D, triglycerides, hormones, etc. Living here in freewheeling Indiana, I can order my own, but at least one member of Dr. Davis's Inner Circle drives from Pennsylvania to West Virginia for labs since Pennsylvania makes you get a doctor's permission slip. Coincidentally, one of my neighbors with special medical needs sees a doctor in Kentucky. 

Photo from Pixabay.

Others may be joining them in their medical tourism to Appalachia. New York's 80,000 health care vacancies, brought about by the new governor's vaccine mandate, are supposed to be filled by national guardsmen and health care workers with foreign or out-of-state licenses. There was already a shortage of health care workers, and there are bound to be inefficiencies in bringing in a bunch of new staff. Meantime, there are hospitals in Kentucky allowing health care workers to have weekly testing in lieu of vaccination. Likewise in Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, which aren't in Appalachia, but close to the Kentucky border. They're an hour's drive from my house should the hospital systems here in Indy--all of which have vaccine mandates--be full up. Lawsuits are in the works against the federal mandate (OSHA hasn't written the rules yet), but most hospitals aren't showing any sign of correcting course. Hesitant health care workers just need "more education." 

Alternatively, there may be a free market health care provider at a more convenient location to you. (I don't have any affiliation with them.)

Cool Stuff

Shortages are still on, but I've found or made a few things I love.

Stick Blender

I like the idea of making my own mayonnaise or hummus because I don't use seed oils, but cleaning the blender or Cuisinart is such a hassle that I often buy an acceptable (and expensive) version or do without. But the stick blender I just bought makes it faster and easier. It came with a small bowl and blade, so I can mix hummus, remove the S blade, and put it straight in the refrigerator. When I blended canned coconut milk, I only had to clean the blade and stick. There was no liquid splattering around, like there is with egg beaters, no blender to take apart and clean, and no lumps. I bought the Oster--I decided against the Cuisinart because reviewers said it now has an inconvenient safety switch on top that you have to press while using. It would take both of my child-size hands to operate it.

Lypo Gold 

This is an enzyme to help digest fat, but it also has enzymes for protein and carbohydrate digestion. It's made a major difference in how I feel--my stomach is calmer after meals, my heart isn't pounding, and it completely cured my diarrhea. I buy it from Amazon (I'm not an affiliate with them, either). It's expensive, but it has a high number of enzymes. 

Homemade Kimchi

This is almost as easy to make as yogurt and has the benefits of Lactobacillus brevis: it's good for GI health, helps normalize blood sugar, reduce allergies, and has other benefits. I used jalapeño peppers instead of Korean paprika (I'd have to go out of my way to find it, whereas jalapeños grow in the garden). But while I was massaging the cabbage and daikon radishes with salt, it occurred to me that I was sterilizing the jars, as the recipe called for, while rubbing the ingredients with my hands, also as the recipe called for. Next time, I will just wash the jars, same as I do for yogurt. Course correction--it's a wonderful thing!

New Blogger

Alex Berenson, investigative journalist, book author and former New York Times reporter, has been blogging about the unreported truths of the pandemic and especially COVID vaccines since before he was kicked off of Twitter for observing that the vaccines are really just symptom relievers. He's paying special attention to places like Israel and the UK where they vaccinated widely and early. If you like spicy takes and miss lively comment sections, head on over to Unreported Truths.

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