• Life

    SiderAL Folic Iron Supplement

    February 28, 2025 - By 

    SiderAL, an iron supplement I had never heard of before this year, is the best-tasting iron supplement I have ever had. An immense positive is it does not have a very common side effect of constipation! That is an annoying side effect of iron pills that any woman who is on her period and takes iron supplements knows. A serving of SiderAL comes in a small packet that look like powdered drink mix. The packet is simple to tear—- no scissors required!—- and the taste is a palatable though very sweet orange. It is much easier to swallow than a…

  • Travel

    Finding an English-Speaking Doctor in Japan

    October 6, 2023 - By 

    If you ever need to find a doctor in Japan who can communicate in English, the US Embassy in Japan maintains a list of clinics/hospitals with doctors who can communicate in English. Because we are tourists without Japanese health insurance, we pay the complete cost and possibly get reimbursed by the travel insurance or regular insurance. (For example, my current Cigna plan reimburses for emergency or urgent care). Tourists are also sometimes asked to pay upfront. Most places take card if over a minimum amount (JP¥10,000 seems to be a common minimum) or cash. It is becoming more common to…

  • Travel

    Can I Fly With Damage to my Inner Ear?

    October 6, 2023 - By 

    The answer, in my case, was “yes”. I did only have mild bruising and there was no damage to the eardrum. As for how this happened, Small Sophie helpfully woke me up with a chopstick in my ear. I grabbed it, pulled it out, fought with her over it and ultimately won (because I am much bigger and stronger than a 2-year-old even while confused and sleepy), and said, sternly, “No putting things in ears!” She cried, probably because I rarely raise my voice. In a short while, she was in her own bed and sad, because she had no…