Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Scare

December 29, 2011 by

My right wrist has been sore for more than a week now. I was afraid that it might be the onset of carpal tunnel syndrome so I searched the net for signs and symptoms. Among the symptoms I found were:

  • hand and/or wrist pain
  • weakness in hand and wrist
  • loss of handgrip strength
  • loss of sensation in fingers and thumb
  • dropping objects
  • aching shoulders and neck
  • sleep interruption due to numbness in hands and pain in the wrist
  • pain radiating up to the forearm
  • loss of fine motor skills

I’m only experiencing slight pain in my right wrist and aching shoulders and neck so I guess that clears me from having carpal tunnel syndrome. But if you notice that you have quite a few of these symptoms, speaking to a medical specialist who can give you advice when it comes to treatment could be a good route to take, especially as it may get worse the longer you leave it untreated. It could be as simple as doing a quick google search into something like Orthopedic Surgeons Frisco (if you live in this area of Texas) in the hopes of finding a solution to having to suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome for much longer.

The pain in my right wrist is more likely caused by hours spent typing on the keyboard compounded by the many housechores I have had to do since we lost our househelp. I can’t do away with housechores since I want a habitable home. I also can’t do away with typing as my tutorial work and blogging are my bread and butter. I guess I should just trade my laptop for a decent desktop. A desktop with a more comfortable keyboard would probably be more friendly to my hands and also to my back. Now I’ll be on a lookout for cheap desktops with ergonomic keyboards. An ergonomic mouse would also help a great deal in easing the pain in my wrist.

While searching for symptoms of carpal tunnel, I also came across these exercises that are intended to help prevent carpal tunnel syndrome. Do these for five minutes before working:

  1. Extend and stretch both wrists and fingers acutely as if they are in a hand-stand position. Hold for a count of 5.
  2. Straighten both wrists and relax fingers.
  3. Make a tight fist with both hands.
  4. Then bend both wrists down while keeping the fist. Hold for a count of 5.
  5. Straighten both wrists and relax fingers, for a count of 5.

Repeat this exercise 10 times then let your arms hang loosely at the side and shake them for a few seconds.

If I don’t notice any improvements or my symptoms get worse then I might have to seek medical assistance. My friend who has been diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome has suggested I get in touch with hand surgeon Dr. Mark Pruzansky. For now though, I’m just hoping I start to feel better soon. I’ll let you know how I get on in my next blog post.

Filed Under: Mom's Corner Tagged With: ,

Munggo, Malunggay, and Kalabasa in Spaghetti Sauce? Yes! Del Monte Has it and My Toddlers Loved It!

August 17, 2011 by

Mothers know how important it is to provide nutritious food to growing children. Some moms though are so swamped with work, both at home and in the office, that it is quite improbable for them to spend hours in the kitchen and cook everything from scratch. Other moms like me simply have had no lengthy cooking experience that it is beyond our current capacity to cook everything from scratch. I admittedly belong to the latter.

Part and parcel of my grocery list are various ready mixes that make cooking so simple and fast. Among my favorites are sinigang mixes, pasta sauces, and barbeque marinades. While I was doing our weekly grocery shopping last weekend, I chanced upon a new product from Del Monte – The Del Monte Spaghetti Sauce with MMK. And, no, there’s no sob story fit for a Maalaala Mo Kaya episode there. MMK stands for the three new ingredients: Munggo, Malunggay and Kalabasa.

We still had a pack of colorful vegeroni pasta shapes in the pantry so I whipped up a sauce using the spaghetti sauce mix. It took me only less than 30 minutes to prepare and cook the entire meal. The toddlers love pasta and ate it with gusto without even knowing that there’s vegetable in the pasta sauce.

This really is another great product for busy moms (and moms who are still not that adept in the kitchen – like me!) who want more nutritious meals for the family. If you would like to find out my kitchen newbie version of Vegeronni with MMK Spaghetti Sauce, visit our Foodie Momster kitchen.

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Filed Under: Products We Love Tagged With: , ,

Bath Time Bubble Fun with Baby Care Plus+

June 19, 2011 by


Since our little girl was born, we have been searching for the Best baby care products and have tried around half a dozen skin care products that claim to be very mild for the sensitive skin of babies. Some were true to their claim, but there were a couple which still proved harsh for our little one’s skin. Our little boy’s skin turned out not to be as sensitive as his sister’s but we still always choose to use the same products on him.

Among the baby skin care products that we regularly use is the Baby Care Plus+ line which my best friend always (and I mean always) gifts the toddlers with. All the products in the Baby Care Plus+ line have their own unique ingredients that address specific aspects of caring for your baby’s skin. The Baby Care Plus+ Shampoo has Cetiol Conditioners which moisturizes your child’s sensitive hair and scalp. Both the Baby Care Plus+ Soap and Baby Bath have Lamesoft Skin Protectors that form a natural barrier around your child’s skin to protect it while cleansing. 24-Hour Locked-in Moisturizers and Vitamin E from the Baby Care Plus+ Lotion seal in moisture making your child’s skin soft and smooth. The Baby Care Plus+ Powder has Allantoin that soothes your child’s skin and protects it against irritants. The Baby Care Plus+ Cologne doesn’t only provide lasting fresh fragrance; it also prevents skin from drying out with its Hydraplus Formula.

The full range of products provides your child with gentle cleansing and effective skin protection. They are all hypoallergenic and dermatologist tested. My toddlers have been using the Baby Soap, Baby Bath, and Baby Shampoo for months now and have had no adverse skin reactions or even minor irritations.

We also absolutely love the Baby Bath because it not only provides gentle cleansing but is also the best bubble-making soap we’ve had! We have not tried the Lotion yet as we’re still finishing a big bottle of another brand. I’ll let you know how the toddlers like the Lotion once we’ve tried it. As for the Baby Powder, our pediatrician has advised us not to use any powder on the toddlers lest it triggers asthma attacks. It does have a low-dusting powder that decreases the risk of inhalation so if your child isn’t asthmatic, you might want to try it also.

Filed Under: Products We Love Tagged With: ,

DEHP Contaminated Products

June 2, 2011 by

Several products from Taiwan have already been recalled due to possible contamination with DEHP.  When I first heard this on the news, I immediately checked our refrigerator and our pantry for products that may contain the said compound.  Thankfully, none of the products we buy contain the harmful substance.


But what exactly is DEHP and why are products being removed from the market? Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) is widely used as a plasticizer in the manufacturing of medical devices such as intravenous bags and tubing, blood bags, infusion tubings and nasogastric tubes.

Low doses of DEHP are generally safe but high doses or prolonged exposure to it can have harmful effects. Children are most especially prone to the harmful effects of DEHP.  High doses or repeated exposure to the subsatnce can lead to testicular effects, fertility problems, and toxicity to kidneys.

Taiwanese authorities have discovered that this plasticizer was illegally added to a food product raw material as a clouding agent.  Some products from Taiwan which may contain this implicated material may have been imported to the Philippines.  The FDA is currently monitoring these high-risk products from Taiwan to ensure that they are safe for consumption.

Here is the list of implicated products with DEHP:

Full text may be viewed at the BFAD website.  A list of tentatively identified selected brands of food products immediately recalled by the FDA may be viewed here.

If you have purchased any of these products that have been recalled, do not use them instead throw them away in a manner that prevents others from consuming them. Do consult your health care provider if you think you may have become ill from consuming any of the products listed above.

Filed Under: Products We Love Tagged With: ,

Mashed Vegetables Art

May 11, 2011 by

photo mashedart.jpg

No, those are not made of clay nor playdough.  We actually had those for dinner. Those are the mashed potatoes and carrots we had with our barbequed chicken.  I know that I have much to improve on when it comes to food decorating but my children are still toddlers who are still so very easily pleased.  (Good for me!)

This is one of the best ways we’re able to make our toddlers eat their food on their own and finish it up to the last bite.  It really makes mealtime fun for them and they look forward to what they’d be eating next.  The shapes don’t even have to be so complicated. My little daughter is easily delighted by a heart-shaped serving of rice.

We also do this with pancakes and sandwiches.  Pancakes don’t necessarily have to be round, we make them in all shapes and sizes. We even have fun figuring out or giving names to pancakes I messed up shaping.

Toddlers can be quite difficult to feed. At their age, all they want to do it seems is to run around and play.  Do try to create funny shapes with their food to make mealtimes enjoyable.  Pretty soon, they might even actually start eating by themselves.

Filed Under: Eat-Outs, Kids At Work Tagged With: , , ,
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