The thing about probiotics is that they are very popular right now, and also very heavily marketed. You see them on the labels of everything from soft drinks to cereal. I kid you not!

I do have some concerns that not all probiotics are as safe as people are led to believe. Everyone has a different immune system and a different digestive profile. It’s impossible to know how food allergies play out on the microbial scale.

More to the point, a little known fact is that probiotics can affect appetite and weight. I’m not saying that they are a substitute for the new anti-weight loss drugs–and please don’t use them that way–but I have noticed some effects. To many these would be welcome, but I happen to have a positive body image so I found it more than a bit perturbing. More to the point, there might in fact be some danger here. Especially for people who don’t have a lot of food in the house, whether due to food security issues — despite all the jokes about fat Americans, hunger is far more prevalent in this country than people realize — or because when you are sick, it is difficult and expensive to shop for yourself.

As far as what I came down with at the beginning of the year, I’m still not sure that my current diagnosis (chronic sinusitis) conveys the full picture. I don’t think it’s bird flu, although it does fit the symptom list. It is almost certainly a bacterial infection. I say this because getting prescribed antibiotics at the beginning of April made a huge difference in my health. I still had to be on them for over a month. The good news is that as of my last doctor’s visit, I was told that I did not need to quarantine or social distance. That is a huge and welcome change.

I have been trying for several months to figure out the best way to describe and treat what has been ailing me. My official diagnosis is chronic sinusitis, but I also have had a severe cough (at times choking), seizure-like events, and some symptoms reminiscent of meningitis, such as sensitivity to bright light and problems with coordination. Antibiotics help, but they are not a panacea.

What I know for certain is that I am not the only person to have this cough. Also, it is not COVID. It is very prevalent in the Pacific Northwest, in particular in Portland, Oregon. Last time I was there, nearly everyone I interacted with was coughing!

If you come down with this thing, I have to warn you: it is serious and hard to get rid of. Expect to curtail major physical activities. If you are training for a marathon, set that aside. Also, cancel all but essential travel. I made the decision — right or wrong — to make my way from the PNW to a warmer, sunnier place. This seemed like a rational decision, given that it is mid-February. I checked with my doctor first. He did not tell me not to go.

There are a lot of theories out there as to where this came from, and how it propagated. It seems to thrive in cold, damp environments —  such as the Oregon Coast, where I would be under all normal conditions. There, the white fog rolls in during the daytime and the night and it is sometimes difficult to even see across the street. I should also say that this illness is quite aggressive. Drink even a sip of contaminated water, or have someone sneeze in your general vicinity, and you will come down with it.

The threat of avian flu has been out there for years. Believe it or not, my ex-husband and I prepared for this eventuality — all the way back in 2006. We filled a large cardboard box with canned goods, snacks, medical supplies (including a thermometer, cough medicine, etc) and other useful items. Then we sealed it and put in the back of our storage closet. The idea was that if conditions got really bad, we could just stay inside for days or weeks.

Please note — I’m not sure that level of caution or quarantine is necessary. Also, it is possible to get over this thing. I am doing much better today than two days ago! But if you have even the suggestion of a cough, try to avoid close contact. If you are around seniors or children, take special care. I am not a medical doctor, so I am not going to give further advice here.

I am a populist libertarian. If you want to find out what I thought about the last election, scroll down two or three blog entries. Spoiler Alert: I voted for Kamala Harris.

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Essential Advice for At-Risk Seniors

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This came from Quora. My answer follows.

Q. I feel isolated and alone. I’m 67 with no family and no job. What should I do?

A. First priority: make sure you have a roof over your head. Especially in winter. You can die very easily, if you are relying on sleeping in your car or staying in shopping malls. All of these places close. An ice storm, even in a Southern state, could be fatal. Especially because cars do run out of gas. The reason could be as simple as a traffic jam that is unexpected. Gas stations can close or there can be unexpected shortages of fuel. So, if you know of a 24-hour gas station or truck stop and that is your lifeline, it’s just not a good way to go.

Second priority: even though you may not feel like you have a rational reason at every moment of day, make a promise to yourself not to commit suicide. Do not break that promise. Be aware that in some states, including the one where I live, suicide can actually be prosecuted as a crime. This isn’t just an ironic joke! Believe me. It sounds funny, but something that is even perceived as a suicide attempt could make it difficult for you to pass a routine background check.

Third priority: look on the bright side. You have an enormous one. You are past retirement age. You qualify for Social Security and Medicare. I don’t want to say that I’m jealous, but with 17 years to go, I have to conclude that those benefits are worth something.

I can’t solve your dilemmas for you, but there should be resources available in your community. Visiting a public library or even (gasp) a senior center is a great place to start.