Stuff that makes life easier....or not.

Today's Simple Life tip come from Jenn of Jenn's Nook (posted on March 27, 2008). Her post shares an article she found on organizedhome.com which features some cheap homemade cleaners!

source=Pantry Cleaners: Recipes for Homemade Cleaning Products
Posted December 9th, 2007 by Cynthia Townley Ewer

Taken a trip down the cleaning aisle at the supermarket lately? If you believe the ad hype, you can't keep a clean house without loading your shopping cart with a different cleaner for each surface, floor and sink in the house.

Hogwash! Simple recipes using products from your pantry make effective household cleaning solutions. An added plus: these natural products are more environmentally friendly than commercial alternatives.

Stock your cleaning tool tote with these homemade cleaning sprays and solutions to make short work of household grime--without harsh chemicals or irritating fumes.

Try these easy recipes to clean your organized home faster, better and cheaper:

White Vinegar

Mildly acidic white vinegar dissolves dirt, soap scum, and hard water deposits from smooth surfaces, yet is gentle enough to use in solution to clean hardwood flooring.

White vinegar is a natural deodorizer, absorbing odors instead of covering them up. (And no, your bathroom won't smell like a salad! Any vinegar aroma disappears when dry.) With no coloring agents, white vinegar won't stain grout on tiled surfaces. Because it cuts detergent residue, white vinegar makes a great fabric softener substitute for families with sensitive skin.

Try these recipes to harness the cleaning power of white vinegar:

Homemade Spray Cleaner Recipe

Mix in a sprayer bottle:

1 cup white vinegar
1 cup water

In the kitchen, use vinegar-and-water spray to clean countertops, lightly soiled range surfaces and backsplash areas.

In the bathroom, use vinegar spray cleaner to clean countertops, floors, and exterior surfaces of the toilet.

For really tough bathroom surfaces such as shower walls, pump up the cleaning power by removing the sprayer element and heating the solution in the microwave until barely hot. Spray shower walls with the warmed generously, allow to stand for 10 to 15 minutes, then scrub and rinse. The heat helps soften stubborn soap scum and loosens hard water deposits.

Undiluted White Vinegar

Undiluted white vinegar straight from the jug makes quick work of tougher cleaning problems involving hard water deposits or soap scum.

Use undiluted white vinegar to scrub the inside of the toilet bowl. Before you begin, dump a bucket of water into the toilet to force water out of the bowl and allow access to the sides. Pour undiluted white vinegar around the bowl and scrub with a toilet brush to remove stains and odor. Use a pumice stone to remove any remaining hard water rings.

Clean shower heads that have been clogged with mineral deposits with undiluted white vinegar. Place 1/4 to 1/2 cup vinegar in a plastic food storage bag, and secure the bag to the shower head with a rubber band. Let stand for 2 hours to overnight, then rinse and buff the fixture to a shiny finish.

Add one cup of undiluted white vinegar to the laundry rinse cycle instead of commercial fabric softener. White vinegar softens clothes and cuts detergent residue--a plus for family members with sensitive skin.

Baking Soda

Baking soda's mild abrasive action and natural deodorizing properties make it a powerful replacement for harsh commercial scouring powders. Put baking soda to work in your organized home:

Sprinkle baking soda onto a damp sponge to tackle grimy bathtub rings, scour vanities, or remove food deposits from the kitchen sink. For tougher grime, make a paste of baking soda and water, apply to the tub or sink, and allow to stand for 10 to 20 minutes. Dirt, soap scum and deposits soften and are easier to remove.

Slow-running drains? Keep bathroom drains running freely by pouring 1/2 to 3/4 cup baking soda into the drain, and dribbling just enough hot water to wash the solution down. Let stand for 2 hours to overnight, then flush thoroughly with hot water. The deodorizing effect is an added bonus! [Do not use this method on blocked drains.]

Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol provides the base for an evaporating cleaner to rival commercial window and glass cleaning solutions. Use this glass cleaning spray recipe for windows, mirrors, chrome fixtures and for a shiny finish on hard-surface ceramic tiles:

Homemade Glass Cleaner Recipe

Mix in a sprayer bottle:

1 cup rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol
1 cup water
1 tablespoon white vinegar

Ammonia

A strong alkaline solution, clear, non-sudsing ammonia creates stronger window and all-purpose cleaning recipes than acidic vinegar.

Choose non-sudsing varieties of household ammonia for these cleaning recipes. Suds may look like they're working, but they're tough to rinse and remove.

Try these formulations for spring cleaning or tough chores:

Strong Glass Cleaner Recipe

Mix in a sprayer bottle:

1 cup rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol
1 cup water
1 tablespoon clear, non-sudsing ammonia

Strong All-Purpose Recipe

Mix in a sprayer bottle:

1 T clear, non-sudsing ammonia
1 T clear laundry detergent
2 cups water

Furniture Polish

Most of us no longer use hard-to-apply furniture wax, but rely on oil-based polish to keep furniture protected and shiny.

Our "salad dressing" version avoids the danger of silicone oil, found in most commercial polishes and sprays. Silicone oil can penetrate tiny cracks in furniture finish and enter the wood, causing problems in the event refinishing is needed. Lemon juice dissolves dirt and smudges, while olive oil shines and protects the wood:

Furniture Polish Recipe

Mix in a sprayer bottle:

1 cup olive oil
1/2 cup lemon juice

Shake well and apply a small amount to a flannel cleaning rag or cleaning cloth. Spread evenly over furniture surface. Turn cloth to a dry side and polish dry.

Mix in a sprayer bottle:

1 T clear, non-sudsing ammonia
1 T clear laundry detergent
2 cups water

Furniture Polish

Most of us no longer use hard-to-apply furniture wax, but rely on oil-based polish to keep furniture protected and shiny.

Our "salad dressing" version avoids the danger of silicone oil, found in most commercial polishes and sprays. Silicone oil can penetrate tiny cracks in furniture finish and enter the wood, causing problems in the event refinishing is needed. Lemon juice dissolves dirt and smudges, while olive oil shines and protects the wood:

Furniture Polish Recipe

Mix in a sprayer bottle:

1 cup olive oil
1/2 cup lemon juice

Shake well and apply a small amount to a flannel cleaning rag or cleaning cloth. Spread evenly over furniture surface. Turn cloth to a dry side and polish dry.

If you have any tips on helpful, or not so helpful, items out there, please send me your recommendations via email.

Can You See My Aura?

Your Aura is Violet

Idealistic and thoughtful, you have the mind and ideas to change the world. And you have the charisma of a great leader, even if you don't always use it! The purpose of your life: saying truths that other people dare not say. Famous purples include: Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Susan B. Anthony Careers for you to try: Political Activist, Inventor, Life Coach

What Color Is Your Aura?

Visiting the Vampires - Praying for Blood

For those who sent well wishes yesterday, I really appreciate your concern and support. I am feeling better today and my Sweetie and I even went out for lunch and ate some fabulous Indian food. Yum.

Yesterday afternoon, however, is a different story. I went to the Quest lab to have blood drawn for routine tests. Since I take a chemotherapy drug for rheumatoid arthritis, we have to make sure that my liver is happy.

I went to my favorite lab only to find that the ineffectual vampiress was on duty. Darn. (Note: I had formed a wonderful relationship with the previous phlembotomist who ALWAYS performed a successful stick on the first try.) Well, last month time I let this woman try three times, unsuccessfully, before choosing to wait for her colleague to return from break to stick me twice more.

Usually when the phlembotomist (tech) starts looking at my hands for veins, that's when I say, "whoa, not the hands, they NEVER work!!" It doesn't matter that I point directly to the one really good vein I have which runs alongside a tendon deep in the center of my elbow. Of course, there are a few other spots which have been known to produce blood in quantities enough to fill a couple of tubes but they're not nearly as reliable. The one thing I absolutely hate is a cocky tech who "blows through" a vein and produces one lonely drop of blood in the needle. This type of tech would also be the one to go on a fishing expedition in search of elusive blood from a tiny vein which probably just collapsed in fear or dred.

Surprise - this is exactly what vampiress proceeded to do.

So rather than let her conduct an endless number of sticks, I asked to take my orders to a different lab as she was the only one on duty. I quickly hightailed it to another lab in a nearby medical building. OH NOOO... They were just about to lock the doors, so I begged and begged. Very pathetic I know, but I have to time the blood draws carefully to get really good readings. Either that or delay taking my weekly dose on the designated day, and after yesterday's discussion I think we can agree that it's important to stay on a regular schedule with meds.

I presented the first tech (yes there was more than one) with my good arm and pointed to the best spot. She was not convinced that it was a good vein, checked elsewhere, and tried a different one. And do you think that there was blood? Noooo. So then she wanted the other arm and I dutifully presented it to her. She thought maybe there was a vein, thought maybe not. Another tech came over, checked herself, and pointed to yet a different spot.

Another stick - another bloodless failure.

She started looking at the hands and I said, "Um no, not the hands." Tech number two didn't volunteer as she had already pointed out her top location for a stick. So tech number three was summoned and he looked first at the hands. And what do you think I said? He even contemplated my wrist...again uh-uh. "My best vein is right here, down deep, running right next to the tendon, really, trust me it's there." He takes a quick look at my left arm which had already been pincushioned sufficiently. And I repeat, "the best vein is here and the next to best vein is here," pointing to the appropriate spots.

Surprisingly, these two spots remained virginly unstuck even after going through three techs already. This guy tightened the tourniquet and waited for the blood to plump up the veins while I squeezed on a soft ball. He took a leap of faith and went deep. Hallelujah - Success!! The other two techs watched closely and were amazed that blood flowed quickly enough to fill the appropriate lavender and red lidded tubes. The tech suggested to me that next time I should point out my good vein (just as I had to him and three other ladies yesterday) and suggest tying the tourniquet really tight...oh...and to mention that the vein is really deep and runs next to the tendon.

If only people would listen to me, especially when I'm being very pleasant, upbeat, and trying to stay as relaxed and non-fainty as possible. I'm sure that my arms would appreciate it.

What happens if you skip your DMD?

Today, overwhelming fatigue has settled in - the kind where I'm trying to read new blog postings and I can't focus on the screen or even keep my eyes fully open. And I even slept a full night, waking only once around 5:30am to visit the bathroom. So today's post will be brief and didn't require any extra research but it still presents an important topic to discuss.

Have you ever skipped a day of injecting your chosen DMD? What if you skipped a week? and that week turned into two or three? Have you ever wondered if the DMDs really made a difference?

Well, I have to be frank and admit that at the beginning of February when I was caring for my dying cat, I didn't shower every day. If I didn't shower, I didn't take my Copaxone like a good little MS patient. My regular morning routine is wash my face, put in my contacts, brush my teeth, shower, self-inject, dress. I had many days which I skipped many of those steps. Do I think that this had an influence on my recent relapse (which was improving but now seems to be regressing)? It very well might have in addition to the added emotional stress of the events.

Just yesterday fellow MS blogger, Jenn, discussed insurance changes and the increased cost she will be facing to get her hands on Copaxone. She also tells of having skipped days and even stopping injections altogether not long ago. AND she is experiencing a relapse after MRIs only a month ago showed no new lesions since her diagnosis last summer.

Is there a relationship between irregular DMD usage and relapse rates? I don't have a definitive answer.

Then, Stu shares his personal story: "My Hiatus from My MS Medication - The Pros and Cons - A Valuable Lesson Learned." It is a worthy read, providing food for thought regarding the effects of the disease-modifying medications.

What are you thoughts? Have you ever skipped injection days? If so, why and did you experience any consequences?

Brian Klepper hosts the Health Wonk Review

Hangin' with the Big Boys

This week's Health Wonk Review hosted by Brian Klepper presents an excellent array of health policy discussions bouncing around the blogosphere. Receiving more than 30 submissions, Brian separates the thoughtful posts from the mundane and gives us only the "best of the best."

Brian comments...

"But the nineteen remaining posts were, I thought, exceptional contributions from writers who continually plug away, asking themselves, “What really matters and how can I talk about it?” As ever, you’ll find a potpourri here of expert observation, analysis and commentary from every part of health care. It’ll take a little effort wading through it, but I promise you an illuminating and entertaining time."

Included in this potpourri is the topic of generic biologics discussed right here on my little ol' blog. Yay for the patient perspective.

Jessica's Story with Provigil Mirrors My Own

Recently, I blogged about pharmaceutical company Cephalon and the Federal Trade Commission. In that post, I discussed Cephalon's product, Provigil, specifically and mentioned that no financial assistance is available to patients such as myself, but I didn't discuss the hows and whys of the program. Basically their prescription assistance is non-existent to patients with ANY form of prescription insurance coverage, regardless if Provigil is off-formulary or exceeds coverage spending limits. NORD (National Organization for Rare Diseases) administers the program and is a stickler for 'the rules'. Even the 'big orange bus' offers no other suggestions for help with Provigil (and we all know how I feel about PPA.)

Today, I became aware of "Jessica's Story" which is strikingly similar to my own in struggling to afford prescription medication, specifically Provigil. Although she is 26 and has narcolepsy and I am 39 and have multiple sclerosis, we both have significant need to use Provigil on a daily basis to function and remain productive, tax-paying citizens who wish to avoid turning to Social Security Disability to survive. Sound familiar?

Jessica's Story is posted on the Prescription Access Litigation (PAL) blog. Before reading this post, I was unaware that there is now a class action lawsuit against Cephalon for their scheme to "pay off" the four generic drug companies who challenged Cephalon's patents for Provigil in 2005. This was the issue I discussed in Yippee! Yay! Go Federal Trade Commission.

Here's today's post from the Prescription Access Litigation (PAL) blog:

We recently posted an item discussing a New York Times article about Genentech’s drug Cerezyme . One reader posted a comment on that item, and her story is so compelling that we asked her if we could post it as a stand-alone blog entry. She agreed. Jessica’s story appears below, in which she describes the difficulties she’s faced in affording her prescription for Provigil, which she needs to treat her narcolepsy.

One of the reasons that Provigil is so expensive (about $200 for 30 tablets of 100 mg, and about $270 for 30 tablets of 200 mg) is that there is no generic version available. Why is there no
generic version available? Largely because Cephalon (NASDAQ: CEPH), the manufacturer of Provigil, filed patent infringement lawsuits against generic drug companies that tried to bring a less expensive generic version to market. Then Cephalon paid them off, to the tune of more than $130 million, not to sell generic versions of Provigil until 2011 at the earliest. PAL member AFSCME District Council 37 Health & Security Plan is a plaintiff in a national class action lawsuit challenging these payoffs.

Earlier this week, it was reported that Cephalon’s CEO, Frank Baldino, got $13.5 million in compensation last year. This is much more than CEOs at other, much larger, drug companies earned last year, including Pfizer and Bristol Myers Squibb. This news will certainly be of no comfort to patients like Jessica.

Without further ado, here’s Jessica’s story. At her request, we’re using only her first name. The opinions expressed and events described below are hers and not necessarily ours.

Cephalon makes a similar claim as Genentech’s to provide “the drug free, if necessary, so that no one goes without the product because of its cost.” Cephalon’s PROVIGIL Assistance Program is solely administered by the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). The NORD website asserts that their Patient Assistance Programs

“assist uninsured or under-insured individuals in securing life-saving or life-sustaining medications. In addition to the estimated 50 million Americans who have no health insurance, an increasing number of insured individuals have policies that do not reimburse for prescription drugs. Others have policies with low annual caps on prescription drug expenditures. NORD works closely with humanitarian-minded pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to ensure that certain vital medications are available to those individuals whose income is too high to qualify for Medicaid but too low to pay for their prescribed medications.”

But it turned out Cephalon was not as “humanitarian-minded” as NORD would have you believe. When my health insurance dropped Provigil from their formulary in 2007, my Provigil copay jumped from $50/month to $234/month in addition to a $500 brand name deductible and my $130 monthly premium. I’m not sure why my insurer took Provigil off the formulary (I asked them and they didn’t know either) but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was in response to Cephalon’s prohibiting the generic versions that were supposed to come out in 2006. I realize $234 a month is nothing compared to many HIV and cancer drugs. But $234 is a lot when you consider that my Narcolepsy prevents me from being able to work more than 15 hours/week (with medication) and that I am only 26 and will be dependent on drugs like Provigil for the rest of my life. I was barely scraping by with a $50/month copay so I suddenly found myself unable to front the costs to buy even a one-month supply of Provigil. I had to stop taking my medicine which meant I could no longer work at all.

Desperate to find a way to get my medicine so I wouldn’t end up on welfare, I called Cephalon’s PROVIGIL Assistance Program and requested financial assistance. I was still willing to pay part of the costs, but I hoped they could give me some sort of rebate. Cephalon told me that because I had some form of insurance I didn’t qualify for any assistance, regardless of how high my co-payment is or my financial situation. They told me that if I was uninsured they would pay up to $500 per month (which is the retail cost of a month supply for me). They actually suggested I drop my insurance plan. It seems strange (not to mention unethical) that they would rather I drop my insurance so they could give me $500/month instead of just helping me with a portion of my $235 co-pay. It is cheaper for them if I have insurance. And if they can afford to shell out $500 a month to every uninsured patient, why can’t they just reduce the price for everyone so less people will need their financial assistance in the first place? They would probably make more money if they charged less because patients like me wouldn’t be forced to stop taking the medicine all together.

I actually considered listening to them and dropping my insurance so I could get free medication, but that ultimately wasn’t an option because I have other health conditions and my pre-existing conditions would make it unlikely I could obtain new insurance in the future. I contacted NORD back in December to notify them of the discrepancy between Cephalon’s assistance policies and those implied on NORD’s website. I asked for their help or their clarification if I had misunderstood. 4 months later, I have yet to hear anything from NORD.

My neurologist was kind enough to give me samples which I now ration out for days when I absolutely must function. I can’t afford enough Provigil to work so I have been forced to apply for Social Security Disability Benefits (which I’m told will likely be denied). I’ve tried getting in on clinical trials but I don’t qualify. The thought of spending the rest of my life half-asleep and a burden to the people I love is so depressing I often think I’m better off dead.

Unethical drug companies have managed to take everything I’ve earned in my short 26 years of life and turn it into debt without any hope or means to get back on my feet. I don’t know about Genentech, but Cephalon certainly doesn’t care if their customers go without the product because of its cost. Cephalon has no interest in the well-being of the very consumers that support them.

Stories like these need to be heard. You can help spread the word by "digging" this story or you can choose to share your story.

We’re happy to post a response to this from Cephalon or NORD, if anyone from either of those entities cares to reply.

I can confirm Jessica's experience navigating the assistance program for Provigil as that was also my experience. Also, I have heard more than once the statement, "well, if you had NO insurance which covered drugs, then maybe..." from representatives of various prescription assistance programs.

Coincidentally, I found an insert in Sunday's Washington Post advertising Provigil. It was amongst the sale fliers for Target, Kohl's, Best Buy, and the comics. I guess Cephalon thinks that those people who look for things on sale and clip coupons would be the same folks, mostly woman and mothers, who need a "pick me up" to get through their hectic days. However, I fail to see a connection between frugal shoppers and an expensive drug like Provigil, unless Cephalon is looking to make it the next legalized "speed" on the drug market.