Products I Actually Endorse

Things have been unbelievably stressful and frustrating so I'm trying to force myself to think positively. In this vein, I'd like to share a few things that have had positive influences on my life.

1. The Point Breeze Veterinary Clinic

This is a local service, obviously, located in Point Breeze, PA, on the east side of Pittsburgh. I guess it wouldn't really serve anyone outside of the area, but I like to laud them anyway.

The story: We first moved to the Pittsburgh area in August '07 with my cat, Clara; who, by the way, is the loveliest cat ever. In early October, if memory serves, Clara started having problems eating. She would yelp when she tried to eat her hard food, which is the only food she will eat, and we noticed that the gums on the right side of her mouth were red and inflamed. This had happened earlier in the year, and the vet she went to said that she'd probably eaten a spider and been bit or had scraped her mouth on something. They suggested giving her soft food and letting it heal. Obviously that was incorrect.

I took her to Point Breeze and met with Dr. Caroline Simard who went through the usual options (infection, etc). Clara and I made numerous trips and she was put on soft food (which she wasn't fond of) and antibiotics. Finally, the diagnosis of (something I can't remember the name of nor pronounce) was made. It's a localised autoimmune disease. Whenever Clara would get any plaque on her teeth her gums would try to reject them.

The solution: all her side teeth had to be removed. This was done in two parts, as the right side was removed and the left side flared up. Clara was alto put on Atopica, which is an immune suppressant for dogs (she thinks she's a dog anyway).

I endorse this company because the doctors are amazing. Clara has seen Dr. Simard and Dr. Schroth many times and they've both treated her well and gone above and beyond to see that she's happy and healthy. They also compliment her softness and Dr. Simard refers to Clara as "her little peanut." The clinic also went against its policy and let me make payments on the surgeries, which was the only way I could have. Also, all the follow-up visits (and there were many) were free of charge. All in all, they're just wonderful.

Please see their website

"Look at my toothless mouth!"

2. The Netical Patch

The Story: A few months ago on a Friday, I woke up with inexplicable lower back pain. It was random and awful. It also didn't go away. After three weeks I finally decided to do something about it and resorted to the usual options: ibuprofin, Bengay, and light stretching. There was no change and the stretching was painful. I mentioned this ailment to a friend of mine and he suggested the Netical Patch. I took him up on that offer.

Now, I haven't tried many herbal or homeopathic remedies. Valerian root does provide a clear head and a great night's sleep and B vitamins do help, well, everything. Then I tried this. It's a cotton patch (in this case, an adhesive one) infused with the stinging nettle plant that one applies to the inside of one's clothing over the affected area (in my case, my lower back). I attached this to the inner side of my t-shirt and tucked it in, for maximum exposure, and waited. After two days and a much greener back my pain was gone. Completely.

It's been about two months and the pain hasn't returned. I'm just completely in awe of this. After a month of total life-consuming misery I'm back to normal. There are also nine more patches in the package in case something does pop up. I think $30 was quite the value to get my life and peace of mind back.

For more information please go here.

I had another product in mind but I've since forgotten. I'm sure it will come to me later.