Inkwell: Authors and Artists

    
more likely, the damage could come from aggravating a neck injury.
this could cause a major inconvenience (like wearing a halo cast for a
few months) to become fatal or worse.
  

    
primum est non nocere, but leaving out the 'est' did no harm.
  

    
Thanks for answering my question vis a vis whether you like being a
doctor. When I asked I was not thinking about the horror of HMO's,
which for real, caring doctors is probably just as awful as it is for
the patients! If it's not too off-topic, do you have any hope that
managed care might become more humane in the future? There seems to be
a backlash against it now and maybe something good might come of that.
Or, more on topic, what do you think about the law that was passed, I
think it was in FL, that repealed the helmet requirement for
motorcyclists on condition that they carry extra health insurance. This
seems discriminatory to me. I mean many car drivers do things which
are just as ill-advised as not wearing a helmet!

Regarding the question about aiding injured riders, I have seen many
riders with a sticker on their helmet that says something like "If
rider is injured do not remove helmet". 
  

    

It seems to me that flash could write a "My Turn" for NEWSWEEK about
why it's harder to be a doctor now, and why so many docs are quitting
practice.
  

    
i don't feel like i can speak for other docs, mike. i'm not that
connected with the medical "scene" as it were.

as to whether mangled care -- sorry, i mean "managed care" is going to
change: i think it will. i've seen public awareness growing steadily
about this issue for quite a while, and the increased connectivity we
have from online media (like this) will only enhance the process.

i don't know, tho', what the "answer" is, or even if it's answerable.
but i know it's good to have more folks discussing the issue.
  

    
Hi flash!  AS you know, I know nothing about motorcycles per se, but I have
a bit of experience as a "biker chick."  What makes a great biker chick,
that's my first question.

Also, I have another Viagra story for you...last night, my lover and I were
flipping channels on the TV, and lighted upon a gardneing show, where they
were talking about how to keep cut flowers fresh and lively in a vase.  The
"expert" revealed her secret potion..DILUTED VIAGRA...which she said just
perks them UP like nothing else.

xxxxx,  susie
  

    

Susie Bright has the gardening know-how!
  

    
hi sue!  that's a great question: what makes a good "biker chick"?

first of all, she's got to be willing to get on the motorcycle with
me. that rules out a substantial number of women.

next would be her willingness to be a good active passenger. this
involves not leaning in the opposite direction as we go around a
corner, as in "aaiiee!! the bike's leaning right -- so i better lean
left" and also involves what i call "consolidating the center of
gravity." this involves my being able to tell where her body is with
my back if we're cornering. 

other good traits include not moving around while we're stopped. i
recall one passenger back in the late seventies who decided to lean
over and see if her shoes had gotten dirty while we were stopped in a
restaurant parking lot. 

clunk.

at least she helped me pick up the bike.

of course, a good biker chick has to dress the part. a good leather
jacket is important, as are good, sturdy leather boots. leather pants
make the ride a whole lot more comfortable.  leather underwear-- well,
maybe this isn't the conference to discuss all the advantages of that
. . .

                        %^)
  

    
Mark Kaiser writes:

From mkaiser@socrates.Berkeley.EDU Tue Aug 29 16:24:28 2000
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2000 14:47:43 -0700
From: Mark Kaiser <mkaiser@socrates.Berkeley.EDU>
To: inkwell-hosts@well.com
Subject: vertigo and motorcycles

Dr. Gordon:

Have you ever addressed vertigo and m/c's? Sometimes, especially on an
empty stomach and on very twisty roads at speed, I'll start getting a bit
dizzy and have a touch of nausea. I slow down and take it easy for a while,
or if really bad, I pull over and wait it out. Is this common? I am not
particularly prone to car sickness. Is there a safe way to prevent vertigo
(dramamine (sp?)) so I can enjoy those roads? 
 
Thanks, 
Mark Kaiser 
Berkeley, CA
  

    

on an empty stomach, I'm thinking low blood sugar!
  

    

flash writes:

'i don't feel like i can speak for other docs, mike. i'm not that
 connected with the medical "scene" as it were.'

Just speak for yourself, flash. I think you really ought to write about
this, and your opinion on "mangled care" should be heard by a larger
audience.
  

    
in an earlier post, vadim <krok> wrote

 There is one statement which I disagree with in the book: about disc
 brakes in the rain. Maybe author ought to have his front brake
 checked. I do not think rain water can cause serious malfunction in
 disc brake. In fact, everyone who ever locked his front wheel under
 the rain knows that problem usually that they do brake too well.


well, we're both right. i notied this month's motorcyclist magazine
has an editorial by gordon jennings, their tech editor, who's probably
been riding as long as me (38 years). he talks about how early disc
brakes had the problem of not stopping when wet, possibly because
they had brightly polished discs. but <krok> is correct in saying that
the newest, surface-ground satin-finish discs don't have this problem.
  

    
in another post, mark kaiser asked if there was a way to prevent
nausea and dizzyness when riding twisty roads on an empty stomach.

first, i'd absolutely recommend *against* dramamine, bonine, or any
other anti-nausea medication. they'll make you a little sleepy, which
you don't want when riding.

trust me on this.

since you note that the problem only seems to occur on an empty
stomach, i'd suggest you carry a few balance bars or other sports
snack with you and just eat one when you start to get hungry.

inner ear problems that cause dizzyness in response to head movements
tend not to respond well to therapy. you might have your doc look in
your ears and do a quick neuro check, but my advice would be "eat when
you're hungry."

works for me . . .

                        %^)
  

    

mmmm, food!

So flash, back to more m.d. kinda stuff -

I've always wanted to ask you: what was it like to work at the Haight-
Ashbury Free Clinic?
Any good stories to share?
  

    
boy, don't get me started.  there's probably another book in that -- a
lot happened there.

i remember one day in the late summer, right after i got back from
wavy gravy's camp winnarainbow. it was the first, experimental "adult
camp" that they'd had (i even got a t-shirt and a plaque certifying me
as an "experimental adult) and we'd spent the time doing improv
exercises and having lots of fun. i was having some difficulty making
the transition back to "serious" medical stuff.

a young guy stopped me in the hallway and said

"yo, flash: you got any more of that tetracycline you gave me for my
zits? it's working real well, man."

"sure" i said. i went back to our pharmacy and gave him a bunch. "have
you been having any trouble with it? any side effects?"

"well, when i first started dry swallowing it, i got a little upset
stomach. so, i opened the capsule, and it was this white powder. . .
and i said 'hey, i can just snort it! that way my stomach will be cool
. . .'"

"you've been *snorting* your tetracycline for the last 6 weeks?!??"

"yeah! i figured it'd be closer to the zits, too, and might work
better."

i must say that at this time, i was having great difficulty keeping an
appropriately serious demeanor.

i said "well, try taking it with a full glass of water, not dry
swallowing it."

"you think that might work?"

"give it a try" i said. . ."and that way you don't have to worry about
the milk powder in other things you snort making it inactive."

he nodded sagely.  "good idea."
  

    

  !!
  

    

  !!
  

    

On a different topic, Laird writes:

Flash, not that this is really a _medical_ question, but you have the
background to speak to it: My wife is a former Level 1 trauma and CC RN; this
has given her a somewhat prejudiced view of motorcycling.  (I.e., it's a great
source for organs, end of story.)

Given the statistics, particularly among the younger set, it's hard to argue
that on a logical level (not that that's necessarily the right level for
discussion anyway.)

I don't expect her to go out shopping for her own RS tomorrow, but have you
any suggestions on "managing" her (or the general public's, to widen the
question slightly) perceptions and acceptance?

Thanks!

--
Laird
'96 R11RT
  

    
the way i see it, life itself is invariably fatal. nobody gets out of
it alive. what matters to me is the quality of the life you have.

for me, riding a motorcycle gives me great pleasure and satisfaction.
i'm kind of a type a personality ("kind of!" i hear certain people
sniggering. . .) and hate being stuck in traffic or not finding a
parking space. on my bike, neither are issues. i lane split a lot, and
park on sidewalks in front of where i'm going. very soothing to my
spirit.  and since i've had a bunch of angioplasties, i figure
anything that lowers my stress level is good for my heart. so you
could say i ride for health reasons . . .

                %^)

of course, this may not work on your SWMBO. but give it a shot.
  

    
flash, I know that the helmet law in California is controversial for some
motorcyclists. And I've seen plenty of riders wearing what I presume to be
old-style helmets that don't appear to be particularly protective.

Where do you stand regarding the "enforced" safety of California's helmet
laws?
  

    
back before the laws, i used to say that i was against the law, since
not having one would help upgrade the gene pool.

still, considering the cost to society of head injuries in folks who
are without health insurance or assets, it's probably worth it to
require helmets.

i know that if my helmet were stolen and i was a few miles from home,
i'd take a cab rather than ride my bike.
  

    

Yeah - being someone who has always ridden in the time of helmet laws, I
definitely feel "naked" riding without it - even if it's just to move the
bike from one side of the street to the other...

So flash, how did you get started riding motorcycles?  What were your first
few motorcycles like?
  

    
wow. well, back in '61, i turned 14 and got my first motorized
transportation. it was a solex: a tiny motor mounted over the front
wheel of a bicycle, driving it with a friction roller. to engage the
motor, you tilted the whole thing down so it was in contact with the
font wheel. 

starting it was easy: you started pedaling the bike, and once moving,
lowered the motor. it started right up, usually. to control the speed
(advertised top speed was 20 mph, but that was optimistic -- maybe
with a tailwind) you had a right-thumb operated throttle.  normally,
it was in the full open position; when you wanted to stop, you pulled
the lever in and slowed down the engine.

occasionally, the little injector for the gasoline would clog, and
you'd have to take it out, blow thru it, and get things going again. i
still have a scar on my right thumb from when my wrench slipped. . .

after the solex, i moved up (barely) to a honda 50. great little
bulletproof bike.  i recall once having the oil drain plug fall out
when i was riding. i knew something was wrong when the engine suddenly
stopped dead. i noticed the oil dripping out, and followed the trail
back 'til i found the plug; kicked the bike into neutral so i could
push it to a gas station; filled it up, and rode off.

other bikes after that included a zundapp 250, a honda 450, yamaha 750
triple, and eventually my first bmw in 1979.

 
  

    
Flash, if you could be 'drug czar', what kind of "drug education" would you
promote in public schools?  I'm serious!
  

    
well, i've done some, myself. i went to talk to <onezie>'s elementary
school class a while back, and the kids all had prepared questions.
some were of the "how do you like being a doctor?" type; but i recall
that "why do people use drugs?" came up, too.

i explained that some drugs worked by going into the brain and pushing
a button that gave people the feeling of "feeling good." i told them
that this button was there to help learn some good things to do: if
you were thirsty and drank, the "i feel good" button got pushed: if
you were hungry and ate, ditto. i said that people who use drugs a lot
were trying to get the "i feel good" feeling without earning it; in a
way, it was like cheating.

in fact, i told them, people who use drugs a lot can stop doing things
like taking care of themselves by sleeping and eating and exercising
because they just want to keep feeling that button getting pushed, and
that sometimes they get sick and sometimes die.

i have to say that i have *zero* background in public education, and i
*don't* think it's a field for amateurs. i *do* believe that there
should be an integrated program that starts teaching kids about all
drugs (including those most dangerous ones, alcohol and tobacco) very
early.

however, i have served on the board of directors of an organization
named DOC (Doctors Ought to Care), a national organization that helps
educate the public, and especially young people, about the major
prevantable causes of poor health and high medical costs in today's
society, which are alcohol and tobacco use. DOC uses humor (so i fit
right in). see more on DOC at http://www.bcm.tmc.edu/doc/ .