6 B
SIUSLAW NEWS |
SATURDAY, MAY 13, 2017
TO YOUR
GOOD HEALTH
Reader Drank
Mercury From a
Thermometer!
DEAR DR. ROACH: You prob-
ably have never gotten a question
like this. How much mercury is in
an old thermometer? A month ago,
I wasn’t feeling well, so I took my
temperature with an old thermome-
ter that seemed to be taking too long
to work. Long story short, I broke
it into my hot cup of coffee, which
I drank before I realized that I had
broken the thermometer. I didn’t
fi nish the whole cup. What happens
to mercury when it’s in hot liquid?
Does it sink or fl oat? Is it visible?
Does it have a taste or smell? What
will happen to me?
I didn’t call the poison center or
my doctor; I was too embarrassed.
I did end up being sick for a long
time. I had a fever (I got a new ther-
mometer), sore throat, terrible head-
SALOME’S STARS
ARIES (March 21 to April 19) A
stubborn refusal to go ahead on a proj-
ect mystifi es colleagues who expected
more fl exibility. But once you explain
your position, they’ll understand and
even applaud you.
TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) A
relationship seems to be stuck in the
same place. Now it’s up to you, dear
Bovine, to decide how far you want it
to go and how intense you want it to
be. Choose well and choose soon.
GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) A
relationship progresses more slowly
than you would prefer. Best advice:
Insist on a frank and open discussion.
What is learned could change minds
and, maybe, hearts.
CANCER (June 21 to July 22) It’s
all right to be grateful to a workplace
ache that lasted for days, my blood
pressure was elevated and I vomited
on the fi fth day after ingesting the
mercury. I don’t know if some of
the symptoms were from a reaction
to the Nyquil I had taken, which has
never bothered me before. Any sug-
gestions? -- Anon.
ANSWER: I wasn’t embarrassed
to call the Poison Control Center
at 800-222-1222 -- you should
have called immediately, too. They
confi rmed the teaching I received:
The mercury in a thermometer is
elemental mercury, not the toxic
organic mercury salts, so it would
not normally be absorbed. Mercury
is very heavy, much denser than
water, so it would have sunk to the
bottom of the coffee quickly, and
odds are you didn’t even ingest
much of it. It stays bright-silver, but
you probably would not have seen it
through the dark coffee. The expert
I spoke with was just as concerned
about the broken glass you might
have ingested. I suspect the symp-
toms you describe have nothing to
do with the mercury.
Even though the news I give you
is good, I still would go to your
doctor and discuss it. If someone
came in to me with these symptoms,
I would look for other reasons for
them, not mercury.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a
68-year-old man with numbness in
my hand for the past seven years. A
neurologist diagnosed me with car-
pal tunnel syndrome and prescribed
special gloves. I have no hand pain,
only numbness when I elevate my
arms, which also causes neck and
shoulder pain. What can I do to get
some relief? -- B.W.
ANSWER: Carpal tunnel syn-
drome is caused by compression
of the median nerve in the wrist. It
may cause numbness and pain in
the hands. The pain can travel up
the arm, but rarely affects the arm
above the elbow, and neck/shoul-
der pain makes me concerned that
the nerve compression causing your
hand numbness might be originating
in your neck.
It is possible you have both carpal
tunnel syndrome and a “pinched
nerve” in the neck, but compression
of the nerve in the neck could cause
all the symptoms you are telling me
about. A careful exam usually sorts
this out, but an MRI may be neces-
sary to confi rm.
colleague who has done you a good
turn. But gratitude shouldn’t be a life-
long obligation. Th e time to break this
cycle is now.
LEO (July 23 to August 22) It’s
going to be especially nice to be the
King of the Zodiac at this time. A
recent money squeeze eases. Plans
start to work out, and new friends
enter Your Majesty’s domain.
VIRGO (August 23 to September
22) Before you make a commitment
on any level (personal, professional,
legal), get all the facts. Th ere might
be hidden problems that could cause
trouble later on.
LIBRA (September 23 to October
22) Personal relationships improve.
Professional prospects also brighten.
A job off er could come through by
month’s end. An old friend seeks to
make contact.
SCORPIO (October 23 to
November 21) Your senses detect that
something is not quite right about
a matter involving a workplace col-
league. Best advice: Follow your keen
instincts and don’t get involved.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22
to December 21) A prospect off ers
rewards, but it also demands that you
assume a great deal of responsibility.
Knowing you, you’re up to the chal-
lenge, so go for it, and good luck.
CAPRICORN (December 22 to
January 19) A favor you did a long
time ago is repaid, as a trusted col-
league steps in to help you with a sud-
denly expanded workload. A family
member has important news.
AQUARIUS (January 20 to
February 18) A new job off er could
require moving across the country.
But before you let your doubts deter-
mine your decision, learn more about
the potentials involved.
PISCES (February 19 to March 20)
Your sense of fair play doesn’t allow
you to rush to judgment about a
friend who might have betrayed you.
Good! Because all the facts are not
yet in.
Siuslaw N ews
!
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