Toenail fungus carries a formidable medical name: it’s called Onychomycosis. If the infection
is just starting out, Onychomycosis is usually identified with a noticeable discoloration of the
nail, typically exhibiting yellow streaks and white patches, and sometimes accompanied by a
darkening of the flesh beneath the nail itself.

As it progresses, your toenails will tend to thicken, become crumbly, and turn brittle or flaky.

They could even fall off — though by that point you probably know something pretty serious is
going wrong with your feet.

No one wants his toenails to fall off. And let’s face it, fungus is fungus — and since it feels like
fungus (and usually smells like fungus), it’s not something you want to live with if you have a
choice.

If you have toenail fungus, you could have contracted it from any number of places:

• From damp or sweaty shoes and socks worn too long or too often.
• From an unsanitary foot bath (or unsterilized instruments) at a nail spa.
• From a public pool or the floor of a gym shower.
• From your own bath or shower, even — if it hasn’t been cleaned often enough.

Fact is, you could have picked up your toenail fungus infection in any number of ways, in any
number of places. Which leaves you now with only two important concerns:

First — You must get rid of the fungus you have, so your healthy nails can grow back.

Second — You must take precautions against contracting the infection again.

Now, getting rid of toenail fungus can be tricky. There are medications out there for the condition,
though these only work in a portion of the cases and even then can leave you with side effects
worse than whatever grief the toenail fungus was causing you. There are also various lotions and
creams available, but these are even less effective, and they’re messy on top of it all.

The latest and most effective approach to eliminating toenail fungus involves laser treatments.
Many of these are becoming FDA approved each month here in 2011. The benefit of these kinds
of procedures, besides how effective they are at destroying the fungal infection, is that they tend
to bring quick results, without any side effects.

Not all lasers are created equal, of course. Some are much better than others.

As an example of one of the finest approaches to eradicating toenail fungus, Dr. Joseph
Campbell and Dr. Brad Habuda in North Fort Myers are now offering extraordinarily effective
treatments with results well above 95% in completely clearing out the fungal infection. No
medications, no lotions or creams, no surgery. Just a quick, simple procedure, and your healthy
nails simply grow back in fresh.

Simple, quick, and effective.

If a stained wood surface gets a scratch and you can see the lighter wood underneath, all you need to do is get a walnut. Using the meat of a walnut, rub it across the scratch. The oils in the walnut will hide the scratch. I have never tried this on light colored woods (such as ash), but for oak, cherry and walnut finishes, this has worked wonders.
P.
The Family Ice Cream Party

Instead of taking our family to the local ice cream shop, which with a family of 7 could cost us upwards of $28, we buy a box of ice cream for $4 and head to the park for a night out with the family and a delicious ice cream.
Jennie C.
Finding Affordable Fabric

Sometimes I find large garments that have new or good fabric and purchase them with the purpose of cutting it up and sewing it into something wonderful. Anyone who sews knows what fabric is costing these days.
Marty C. M.
Charcoal Fire Starter Trick

I have a tip for all those people who love cooking with charcoal but have trouble getting it started. Use three or four large marshmallows. Lay them on top of your briquettes, lightly touch a flame source to them, and then stand back and let them do the work. They are mostly sugar and will catch fire quickly. They burn just long enough to melt down into the charcoal, starting them without any help from lighter fluid.
Faylee J. in Kingsport, TN
Flowerbed Protection

Something, probably rabbits, had been nibbling my roses and other bedding plants. I placed my used citrus peelings in my flowerbed around the base of the plants, and I haven’t had any more problems with nibbled down roses.
Christina S. in Wichita, KS
Kids Traveling Snack Tray

When my kids were small and we were going to be out doing errands during snack or meal time, I would use a covered ice cube tray (Tupperware) to make “on the go” snacks. I would fill each compartment with little finger foods like raisins, cut up fruit, veggies, meats, or cheeses. I would also add things like tiny crackers, and I filled one compartment with a “dessert” like chocolate chips or small kid-friendly candy. The kids loved it! We always got comments on what a neat idea it was, and as a bonus, when we were somewhere that quiet kids were appreciated, it kept them occupied and happy. You can’t beat that!
Jennifer S.
Frugal Air Deodorizers

To deodorize the air in your home, boil vinegar and water on the stove for about 20 minutes. The air will first smell like vinegar until the molecules spread and attack the odors, leaving behind a freshened room.

Another inexpensive, wonderful way to fragrance the air is to simmer cinnamon or cloves or pumpkin pie spices. Maybe add some vanilla. The entire house smells like you are baking an apple pie. You can use the same pan and do this over and over again, adding water as needed.
Carole
Exercise for Less

I bought a stationary exercise bike for $5 in a second-hand store. It has been one of the best bargains in my life. During the winter months, when I didn’t feel like going for a walk, I would go down to the basement and put some miles on the bike.

So many of my friends told me they bought exercise equipment or joined clubs for hundreds of dollars and then never used either. When I put down my $5 for the bike I thought, “What the heck! If I don’t use it, I’m sure I’ll be able to sell it for the same price.” But, it has paid for itself and then some.
Tamela
Garden Greens

This is the time of year when beets, onions, and potatoes are starting to bud. And when fresh greens are at a premium.

I planted my budding beets and onions, just as they were, in plant pots with chemical-free soil and watered them. Immediately I had lots of fresh onion and beet greens. The onion greens are great in salads and mashed potatoes. The tiny beet greens are wonderful in salads.

Eating budding vegetables is a bit less nutritious, as some plant energy is being sent into the buds and roots. Using them instead to grow fresh and free delicate greens is great tasting and saves money.

Put the pots in the sunniest window available. Mine are in the kitchen window for the ultimate in convenience. The “bulbs” will produce even in poor light for a short time.
Barbara T. in Toronto

By Judith Gannon Bircher

I love to hear that classic 1980’s song sung by the raspy voiced Bonnie Tyler, “It’s a
Heartache, nothing but a heartache, hits you when it’s too late, nothing but a fool’s
game.” Turn the CD player up and sing along to the top of your lungs in your best
off key fashion, “love him till your arms break, then he lets you down, nothing but a
heartache…” I was sitting at the traffic light on Cleveland Ave. on Tuesday, April 12,
when I made one of the most fateful decisions of my life. On that sunny afternoon when
the traffic light turned green Tyler and I were in sync to “when you find he doesn’t
care for you, nothing but a heartache,” when I turned into Lee Memorial Hospital’s
Emergency Room to get a quick EKG, ‘just in case.’ For about a week I had felt more
tired than usual and my heartburn was getting to the point that Nexium wasn’t helping. I
can tell you that I felt a little foolish and embarrassed, but those strange flutterings in my
chest were becoming more intense and more frequent and I was curious if perhaps it was
more than the normal stress monster knocking at the door. I truly wasn’t concerned that
I was having a cardiac event, but I did know that with Diabetes, Acid Reflux, and Stress
that I did have risk factors. So, playing this particular CD was not prophetic, but ironic.

Once inside the ER I was pleasantly surprised, no waiting! I was processed quickly and
efficiently and was elated when the EKG was finished and was told it was normal. Great!
I figured I would be home within an hour to feed and walk my poodles with daylight to
spare. But, not so fast, the doctor still had to see me. After a trip to X-Ray and another
review of my symptoms: shortness of breath, pains in the upper back, sharp pains in the
center of the chest, the doctor decided I should have an Echocardiogram, Nuclear Stress
Test and a Cardiac Catheterization. Things were taking a turn for the serious now, but,
I was fully prepared to come back at a later date and undergo all the tests; again, just to
make sure. However, that wasn’t to be. They called upstairs to get a bed prepared and
to schedule tests for early the next morning. Neighbors are the most wonderful people,
and mine are just exceptional. After a quick call to my friend Karen I was relieved that
she would go to my house and feed and walk Mr. Bogart and Louie and make sure their
television was on because Mommy wasn’t coming home tonight.

After the tests were completed on Wednesday morning (let me tell you how much fun
the stress test was) at Lee Memorial it was decided to transfer me by ambulance to Gulf
Coast Hospital to perform the heart cath. A heart catheterization is a procedure that
is done to look at your heart and its arteries, or blood vessels by inserting a long, thin
bendable tube into your artery and guided to your heart. Pictures of your heart are taken,
and the pressure inside your heart is measured. During the procedure doctors may find
and repair problems, and see how well your heart is working and how strong the heart
muscle is. Further surgery may be required, and this was my case. It was discovered that
I had multi- vessel disease, a blockage of four arteries and time was of the essence. This
was the beginning of my journey to educate myself about not only about my own disease,
but the difference between men’s and women’s heart symptoms.

Angina is a feeling in the chest area caused by lack of blood and oxygen to the heart.
This can be due to fat and plaque building up in the arteries that blocks blood flow to the
heart. Nearly ten million Americans have Angina. It can feel like a tightness, pressure,
burning, squeezing or pain in the chest and/or neck, jaw, back shoulders, arms. To me it
felt like bricks sitting on my chest and a sharp pain when I took a breath. I found myself
taking shallow breaths because it hurt too much to breathe in. For about a week I woke up
several times a night with acid reflux. This is a common occurrence for me but this time
it felt different. I would get up, take another Nexium and lay back down to wait for relief.
I was getting very little rest and sleep.

The 4 E’s that Can Cause Angina:

•
•
•
•

Eating a large meal
Exercise and other physical activity
Emotions
Extreme cold weather (no worries here)

Remember, call 911 if you are in distress. Do not attempt to drive yourself, as I did.

More women lose life’s battle at home because they don’t associate their symptoms with
warning signs. Women’s most common heart attack symptom, as with men, is chest pain
or discomfort and heartburn. But, women are more likely than men to experience some
of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, jaw
pain, or pain across the back. Often, women have only vague symptoms, such as fatigue,
or just a feeling that something is wrong. Always trust your instincts!

My skilled surgeon, Dr. Michael P. Metke, completeted my quadruple by-pass on Friday,
April 15th. I knew I was in good hands when I heard his gentle voice explain the surgical
procedure and the recovery process in ICU. I was surrounded by family and friends who
loved and supported me with their presence and thoughts and prayers. They say you find
out who your friends are when you have a medical emergency, and that’s true. Part of
your recovery process is knowing that you have love and support to help you afterwards,
as well as during surgery. I spent two days in Intensive Care with a tube in my throat
and unable to move. You have a lot of time to think during that period and one of my
favorite topics for review was my future health. I guess we all go through the “promise”
stage. You know, get me out of this and I’ll do better the next time. I also thought about
the people in my life and how much they meant to me and how I’d like to do a better job
telling them so. You have plenty of time to also think about prevention and wishing you
had taken some preventative measures to stop your health from getting to this point.

Thank God for the caregivers who have chosen their profession. Not only do they spend
so many years learning how to take care of us sometimes careless people, they spend
even more time being caring and companionate. What a noble calling, the medical
profession, and all who assist them. I received expert care with the kindest touch from
everyone I came into contact with. I am so grateful to everyone who assisted with my
case. At night you have more of an opportunity to talk to the caregivers and I especially
enjoyed talking with RN, Heather Black, a recent transplant to Fort Myers from Indiana.
Her enthusiasm and dedication for her work shins through. When I asked her why she

chose nursing as a career, she shared, “Well, building relationships with my patients and
helping them get back to a healthier lifestyle is my reward. I love to help people.”

I am on the mend now, a slow and painful process. Dr. Metke says about six weeks
should find me good as new. But, I have to work at it, too. I will depend on home nursing
services for rehab, the help of loved ones, and my own determination. I urge all women
to re-evaluate their health. Anything that just doesn’t quite feel right? Get it checked out.

Lisa Harvey, RN, Inpatient Cardiac Rehab at Lee Memorial Health Systems, advises
us to find out what works best for each of us on our road to recovery and practice stress
therapy. “Deep breathing is so important,” Lisa explains. Her best tips to help with future
stress management:

•
•
•
•
•

Develop a regular walking program
Learn relaxation techniques tailored to you
Manage your time
Adequate sleep, sunshine, and fresh air
Nurture the relationships in your life

“Turn a negative into a positive,” she explained.

I went into the hospital with my theme song of “It’s a Heartache” and it sure turned out
to be one. However, I have now had a “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and I leave you with
words by a famous philosopher: “If you live to be one hundred, I hope I live to be one
hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you.” – Winnie the Pooh

You bring with you tributes to mothers, those amazing women who gave birth to us.
Those of us who still have our mothers with us are lucky indeed that once again we will
be afforded the opportunity to say “Thank You” for :

peanut butter sandwiches
dropping us off at the movies
standing in a food line to make sure we have something to eat
working two shifts to buy us a prom dress
coming into our rooms late at night and holding us while we cry over some
careless boy who broke our heart
• telling us how beautiful we are, when the prettier girl was chosen
• loaning us money, picking up after us, believing in us when we’ve stopped

God Bless them all, especially mine…Olga Troll. Senior Life staff members Judy
Bircher wishes her mother, Noreen Gannon a Happy Mother’s Day as does Laurie Pesek
wish a Happy Mother’s Day to her mother-in-law, Helen Pesek. President Andrew
Jackson once said of his mother, that her teachings were the only capital he had to start
life with. I think that’s true for all of us.

My staff and I will soon be heading to our annual CPF conference in St. Petersburg
Beach to meet with others in the publishing industry to honor this year’s awards for
excellence recipients. Can’t wait to let our readers know how well we fared in next
month’s issue.

This is our annual Health and Wellness Issue and we hope that we have provided you
with some pertinent health information. Our Community Affairs Editor, Judith Gannon
Bircher recently had quite a health scare herself and shares with us a personal first hand
accounting of her open heart surgery, with a plea to women to pay more attention to
their health matters and not to sweep critical symptoms under the rug when we feel we
just don’t have time to attend to them.

Have a wonderful May. Get out and do something fun with the family. Make memories.

All my best,

Be an Angel. Nominate someone to be an Angel.

Lalai Hamric, Linda Uhler, Brenda Tate, and Kathy Sturgis- Members of The Women’s Legacy Fund