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Bug Bite ID

hgcrpd — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 09:02:24 -0800

Bug bite identification: is it dangerous? (more/photo inside) A little less than two weeks ago my girlfriend got bitten by something while sleeping in a hotel in Salt Lake City. She had maybe half a dozen bites on her arm, then another four or five on her neck. It wasn't so bad at first, but since then they've continued to itch and swell on and off (but have not expanded in area and no pain).

Currently, most of the bites are raised and flat on the top (like a plateau) with a small depression in the middle where the center of the bite is. The edges of the plateau are red, while the inside seems a little yellowish. Here is a photo of the bites on her arm.

Is it bed bugs? Ticks? Spiders? Something else? Basically, should we be worried about it enough to go see a doctor?

Easier way to walk baby

Blackwatch — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 04:55:27 -0800

How can I help my energetic baby to walk, without breaking my back?! Our 8-month-old boy wants to be on his feet ALL the time.
He can't yet walk on his own, so Mum or me have to hold his hands while he walks - or even runs - around the house.
He gets upset if we don't comply, but the constant bending over is killing our backs.
Any suggestions gratefully accepted. We live in the UK.
Thanks.

Adderall XR and Appetite Gain

alice_curiouse — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 02:04:06 -0800

Want to return regular Adderall but afraid of what my doctor will say. I have been on medication for ADD for several years now, and recently my doctor switched me from regular Adderall to the XR (extended release) version...now my appetite is really high! I exercise at the gym regularly, but my appetite is ridiculous when I am busy and stressed out -- and sometimes I make myself sick from overeating.

Can I tell this to my psychiatrist or will that trigger a "warning" bell that I am abusing the drug?

What should I say?

I am not trying to lose weight as much as keep myself from going crazy with the food.

Help with a witty name for my adult braces website

SRMorris — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:27:41 -0800

I am trying to come up with a name for a braces website but for the life of me, I'm failing to come up with any good ideas. The website would provide information and articles about braces with more of a slant to the adult community (not as in "adult").

If you spot any names others have suggestion, feel free to 'nth' it - I'm looking for a name that is clever and the people find memorable/like.

What dance lessons should I take?

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 18:50:50 -0800

I want to start dance lessons to get more in shape-- but I am awkward and uncoordinated. What should I take?

Are phimosis-like symptoms normal for an uncircumsized teen?

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:49:34 -0800

I'm a 16 year old male, and my foreskin doesn't retract at all when erected. I would say I have phimosis except I'm not sure if this is normal for my age...help? I only retract my foreskin in the shower to clean, and even then it's a little tight. When erect, there's absolutely no way to retract. I've heard that this might or might not be normal for a teenager, and I certainly do not want to see a doctor unless I know there's something wrong. First reason is our families lack of health insurance, second reason is general embarrassment that would come.

Thanks Mefi

What's eating my husband?

srrh — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:27:23 -0800

My husband has bumps appearing on his arms after sleeping. What are these? About a month ago, three bumps appeared on my husband's right arm, in a straight line. He assumed they were spider bites, and didn't think anything of it. A few days later, two more bumps appeared, on the outside of his elbow of the same arm. A few days after that, three MORE bumps appeared on that arm. He always noticed them in the morning after waking up.

I have not been bitten by anything in all this time, but even still, our first instinct was bedbugs. We tore the bed apart and inspected it very closely, but can't find any signs of bedbugs -- no bugs themselves, none of their gross shells or those weird stains they leave behind, nothing. A few days later, more bumps appeared on that same arm, so he finally went to the doctor on December 20th.

The doctor told him she wasn't sure what the bumps were, but was fairly sure they were not from bedbugs or scabies. Her reasoning was that the bumps didn't look right and weren't in the normal places you would find those bites. She said that her best guess was spider bites. That seems weird to me, because, again, nothing has bitten me, and would a spider really stalk him for weeks straight?

Anyway, she wrote him a prescription for Zyrtec, to relieve the itching, and sent him on his way. Two days later, we went on vacation for eight days. During the vacation, he did not get any new bumps.

We got back on December 30th. This morning, January 5th, he woke up with five new bumps, this time on his left arm (previously, they've all been on the right).

The bumps are small, about half the size of a mosquito bite, and pink in color. They itch extremely badly, and he has scratched a few enough to break the skin. No pus or fluid besides blood comes out when this happens. He only gets a few bumps at a time. They are not clustered like hives. Any ideas what they could be from? If I left any information out, please let me know, and I'll do my best to fill in the blanks.

Heal Thy Self!

Hydrofiend — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:26:43 -0800

How can I heal myself of a sinus infection? I just got over the flu. 1st time having it since I was a kid. Right at the end of it, I felt something funny with my nose. After some google MDing, it's pretty apparent I have some kind of sinus infection. The thing is, I went to my Dr. out of pocket (health insurance from new job hasn't kicked in yet) to determine the flu. I just can't fork up the cash to determine/treat whatever is ailing my nose. This is my 1st ever sinus infection(or whatever it is.) My question is:
What can I do to either heal, get rid of or make more dealable whatever it is in my nose? I've done nasal spray, neti pot, sudafed and advil. What else can I do? I know YANMD. Thanks!

Finally admitted to myself that I'm an alcoholic. Recovery strategies without AA?

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:33:41 -0800

I've finally accepted that I'm an alcoholic, and I need some advice. After many years of fooling myself and telling myself what I suspect are all the usual things, I've finally accepted that I am an alcoholic.

I don't really have a problem stopping...I've done it with varying lengths of periods of success a few times. My problem is staying stopped...after a few months, I start to think to myself "Self, you've been stopped for this long, I think you can let go for one night." One night leads to the inevitable 3 or 4 months before I get all teary eyed and finally find the courage to once again stop.

I have a few problems, the first two immediate, the third for further down the road a piece:

1-Endless insomnia. And by endless, I mean a week or two of hellishly long nights torturing myself over whatever mess I've most recently made and now have to face. Nothing works...not Advil PM, not weed, not Benadryl. By the end of it, when I start sleeping again, I'm a gibbering mess. Any other people in recovery have advice on this one?

2-I can't do AA. I'm almost totally solid on this....the higher power thing is incredibly unappealing to me. Without the thread turning into "Listen, you really should do AA," any alternatives?

3-I'm hoping that finally admitting to myself that I'm powerless over booze will keep me stopped. If it doesn't, and a few months from now I forget about all the misery I'm in right now and become tempted to start again, what (besides AA) strategies have worked for you? I really, really need and want this to work, finally, once and for all.

It's not your cooking, I swear...

forza — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:06:59 -0800

I seem to suffer from food poisoning way more often than most people. I know YANMD, but do you think this could indicate some underlying problem? (Gross explanation inside) Details: Probably about four times a year I show all the symptoms of food poisoning: sudden onset of nausea within an hour or two of eating; 2-3 hours of continuous vomiting, to the point that the last hour is trying to vomit up bile and my throat is so sore the next day I can hardly talk; persistent and severe abdominal pain that does not go away even when I do vomit; often (ew) it comes out both ends at once; lots and lots of sweating. And then, after 2-3 hours, it goes away and I am absolutely fine.

The things that make me worry are the following:

1. Never once has anybody who has eaten the same food also gotten sick. Not even mildly nauseated.

2. I know four times a year doesn't sound like much, but given that most people suffer from food poisoning maybe a handful of times in their lives, it is definitely way out of the norm from anybody I know. It is one of the most highly unpleasant things ever, and frequent enough that even normal bouts of slight nausea or indigestion fill me with dread.

3. There is no apparent pattern to the foods that cause it. In the past year, it occurred after: 1 - shrimp; 2 - fruit salad; 3 - unclear, but probably fruit salad, or pumpkin pie; 4 - bacon & eggs. For the latter I was already slightly hung over before eating the bacon and eggs, but it had been about eight hours since drinking anything, and it was a quantity I had drunk before with no ill-effects at all.

4. The frequency seems to be increasing. This last year was about four times. The year before, about two. Before that, maybe once a year. The first time ever occurred about eight years ago.

As far as I can tell, I have no other digestive problems. I'm not allergic to anything that I'm aware of.

Factors that may also be relevant:

I lived for a year in a village in Africa about nine years ago. Perhaps I ingested something there that might have messed up my stomach in some way? I had one bout of some sort of dysentery-type thing (which the doctor monitored) but aside from that had no stomach-related problems the entire time I was there.

I have no problems with excessive weight gain or loss. 32 years old, no apparent health problems, exercise moderately, eat decently well (I eat meat and dairy, get a lot of vegetables, some carbs).

I am currently on no medications. I was on Concerta (methylphenidate) for about four years but stopped that almost two years ago.

I am the pickiest eater of anybody I know. In essence, I don't like strong flavours of any sort: curries, sauces, condiments, I can handle but at about 1/10th the concentration of most people. If anything I think the causal arrow may go the other way (i.e., I have effectively taste averted myself to many things what with the frequent puking) but I thought I'd mention it.

This could totally be nothing; I could just have an unusually sensitive stomach. But these episodes are so unpleasant that if anybody has ideas about what might be responsible, I am all ears. Or if you think I should see a doctor right away, say so. My bias is that it is probably not deeply concerning, though it is highly unpleasant. And I don't really know what sort of doctor would be appropriate to ask - it seems a bit out of the purview of a general practitioner, and the odds seem high to me that they'll just shrug their shoulders and have no idea. But it's sufficiently weird that my partner is somewhat worried, and I am too. Googling is of no help; I haven't found anybody anywhere with this particular complaint.

Can you recommend a good fitness DVD (yes, those New Year ones), but for males?

logicalsequence — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:43:07 -0800

Can you recommend a good fitness DVD (yes, those New Year ones), but for males? I am looking to add something to my mornings as part of a broader fitness plan, that will incorporate stretching and exercises that will increase my suppleness, kick start my metabolism and strengthen my body and overall fitness levels. I am looking for 10 - 20 minute workouts.

Ideally the DVD shouldn't require any equipment but I can source some dumb bells if need be. Also I am in the UK so it would be much easier if it has been released here.

Any offers?

Childbirth Class

kristymcj — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 13:58:49 -0800

Help me find a childbirth class in Austin, TX. I'm looking for something onthe South or central side of town. Nothing too dogmatic. I'd like something that meets multiple times soI can get to know some other moms-to-be.

Diaper My Baby!

miss tea — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:42:53 -0800

What diapers to use? Cloth? Partial cloth? Chlorine-free? My husband and I are expecting our first child (girl). We'd like to use diapers that are relatively environmentally sound, but we'd also like not to make ourselves insane. Doing laundry every thirty seconds is not an option. We were thinking some of the better disposables, but apparently even if they are biodegradable once they go into a landfill they are so compressed they don't degrade regardless...

But the options are, simply, dizzying. Disposable, partial disposable, g-diapers, diaper service (there is one in our area, I checked)...

I should also note that our budget is not unlimited, or even particularly large. We'd like to be economically and environmentally efficient if at all possible, while preserving our baby's comfort (hopefully nothing that will encourage diaper rash) and our own sanity.

Any input, including links to helpful review websites or guides, anecdotes, discount purveyors, etc., is much appreciated!

Why am I having speech problems?

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:12:25 -0800

I seem to be having some speech/language problems. What could be causing them, and should I be concerned? I know YANAD but I thought this might be worth a try.

For the last 6 months or so, I've noticed that I'm having more trouble talking. Occasionally a word or sentence will come out garbled/slurred unclear, I have more trouble finding the right word, and sometimes I end up saying a wrong similar word instead of the right one. For example, yesterday I remember saying 'wall' instead of 'edge' for no apparent reason, and I was recently on the phone with my friend and about 5 or 6 times I had trouble summoning up the right word.

This can't be chalked up to aging - I'm only 20, and should be in my prime. I'm a native English speaker. I've never had any language problems or learning disabilities. My reading, writing, and listening skills are the same as always. I don't have any health problems except for mild IBS and a possible case of depression.

What could be the cause of this and should I be worried? I keep wondering if it's really all that severe or if I'm just exaggerating something. One possible cause which worries me is Olney's Lesions, a potential form of brain damage caused by dissociative drug use. I've done DXM (a couple times in high school) and nitrous oxide (frequently in the past year) before, both dissociatives. Now I'm starting to panic that I have brain damage.

I'm really uncomfortable going to the doctor at any rate, and a potential massive rant about the consequences of drug use hardly encourages me. Any advice is appreciated.

So, how likely is it that my wife has had undetected HPV for nearly 20 years, despite yearly gynecological exams?

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:12:18 -0800

So, how likely is it that my wife has had undetected HPV for nearly 20 years, despite yearly gynecological exams? The answer I derive from google is "not very". But can I be certain? The biggest variable in my mind is that she doesn't have a cervix, due to a complete hysterectomy before we met, so I don't know that a doctor would routinely do whatever tests would indicate its possible presence.

I was told that "they just started testing for it", which I'm pretty sure is not accurate.

Thanks.

Why does stress cause this to happen?

KokuRyu — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:11:54 -0800

Can stress cause ingrown facial hair? Gross details (you were warned!) inside. I was laid off from my job in November, and Christmas also came along shortly after that, so I have been experiencing some stress.

For the past two weeks I have also been experiencing some pretty annoying acne, and it's caused by ingrown hairs. The only relief I can get is by waiting for the tip of the hair to emerge from the skin, and pulling the whole damn thing out tweezers - shaving only prolongs the problem.

I noticed this happening the last time I was laid off from a job (about six years ago).

Why does stress cause ingrown facial hair to occur more easily?

As well, I should say that I ate all the bad foods over Christmas, I am overweight (which I think is a factor because of increased hormone production), I have low-grade folliculitis on my scalp and arms.

Help me shape up!

sabotagerabbit — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 10:50:57 -0800

I'm looking for a workout DVD that takes about 30 minutes and conforms to some specific criteria - your recommendations would be greatly appreciated! I am in my late 20s, and I'm in relatively good shape, but the winter is putting a bit of a damper on my regular exercise. When the weather was less snowy, I was biking every morning for 30 minutes (fairly hard), as well as biking to and from work (only 10 minutes each way). On days when I didn't feel like biking, I was swimming for 30 minutes. I'm now walking to work (30 minutes each way, at a decent pace), and I'm about to get back into swimming a couple of times a week. I also take one spinning class a week to stay in good bike shape for the summer.

All that to say that I would like to find an exercise DVD that I can do at home in the morning before I go to work. Ideally I'd like something that takes no more than, say, 45 minutes, with 30 minutes as my ideal time frame. As I said, I'm in fairly good shape, though I'm asthmatic so I have to be a bit careful with heavy cardio. I have a yoga mat and a set of 5 lb weights. I would be willing to buy a moderate amount of "stuff" (i.e. an exercise ball, some heavier weights) but I'm on a fairly tight budget and have limited storage space.

I'm pretty well-coordinated, and would be open to something dance-inspired, or really anything else. My "problem" areas are my butt and thighs, though I'm happy to work on core strength too to help with back pain, and building some more arm muscles wouldn't be too bad!

I hope this isn't all way too vague - and I know it's a lot of info, but there are SO many options out there that I don't even know where to start! If it matters in terms of ordering things, I'm in Canada.

Thanks for any recommendations!

Depressed and without health insurance

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:24:23 -0800

I don't have health insurance right now, but I do get an allowance through work to go toward a private, individual plan. I haven't purchased a plan quite yet, and I'm wondering if seeing a therapist now might cause problems for me later. I also don't understand how pre-existing conditions are defined when it comes to mental health issues. (I live in Washington state.) I have seen therapists for depression (and related issues) on and off for the last decade, and the last time I saw a therapist on a regular basis was in the spring of 2007. The therapist I saw at that time was through school, paid through student fees and not health insurance. The last time I took any sort of medication was early 2002. I saw a psychiatrist in 2007, at the request of my therapist, and while we did discuss a possible diagnosis of bipolar disorder, no medication was prescribed. Seeing a psychiatrist was also through school, not a health insurance plan.

Basically, I desperately need to see a therapist right now, but my past issues and experiences suggest that I need to see a fairly expensive therapist. I've found someone who looks to be a great match for me, but even with a sliding scale, it's going to be profoundly expensive. And I'm okay with that, but I have two questions:

1. If I were to find an individual insurance plan in the very near future, how long would I have to wait before I could use it to see a therapist? I know it must depend on the specifics of each plan, but I don't understand whether or not I would be considered to have a pre-existing condition. How long in the past can depression be considered pre-existing? Forever? Does it matter that I saw a therapist through my school, rather than a private therapist paid for by insurance?

2. If I go ahead and see a therapist and pay out of pocket, will that cause problems with finding an individual insurance plan in the near future?

What might be behind my right arm and leg feeling numb?

cadge — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 07:19:30 -0800

YANMD (and I am going to see one): Numbness in right arm and leg? No shooting pains, and I can use them both, but there's a general feeling of limbs falling asleep. I've been feeling weird numbness in my right arm and leg for over 1 week now.

It's not tingling and there are no shooting pains. I can use both of the limbs just fine, and my speech doesn't feel slurred. It's the feeling of "this arm/leg feels like it's falling asleep, and it's just going to be a numb piece of meat if I don't shake it a little."

I did sit in front of the computer a lot over November and December, and we were snowed in over Christmas vacation and wound up sitting even more (I was sitting on the floor when I first noticed it - my right leg feeling like it was falling asleep faster than my left). But now I'm back into moving around a bit more, and the numbness hasn't subsided.

I got a session of massage therapy on Sunday, and it felt like a temporary help, but it might've just been because the limbs were rubbed a bit. The numbness actually feels like it's getting worse - both the arm and leg feel more distant, tight, and meaty, maybe even like the leg might buckle under me in time. (It might be my anxiety, but sometimes it also feels like the numbness is in my right buttock and the right side of my neck, too.) I try stretching and walking around, but they don't help.

I've got a doctor's appointment this afternoon and another massage therapy session booked, but I was wondering if anyone else has run into stuff like this before and has any specific suggestions. Thanks!

Tae Kwon Dough

lester's sock puppet — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:52:10 -0800

So the not so little lester offspring (he’s 17) is in tae kwon do. He got his black belt last year. Are they being unreasonable with the promotion fees? So the not so little lester offspring (he’s 17) is in tae kwon do. He got his black belt last year. In the past couple of months, he’s been asked to attend classes on a daily basis … because he’s now doing a lot of the instruction for the younger students. Previously, he attended 1 class 3 times per week. Now he’s attending 2 classes daily, with heavy teaching chores for the first class.

This wouldn’t be so bad except he recently received a “promotion” to a second dan. Along with this was a second promotion was some additional weapons training. What bothers me about this is the extra cost—in addition to the monthly fee, he was asked to pay about $600 for the two promotions.

My question is this, for those mefis involved in martial arts: Is it common for upper levels to pay for their promotions even though they’re also shouldering the burden of class instruction?

why do i sweat when i'm not hot

nadawi — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:09:24 -0800

Why are my armpits dripping sweat when i'm not hot? when i sit around unclothed, often my armpits will just start pouring sweat - like enough for actual drops to roll down my arms/side. i feel like i'm at a comfortable temperature.

i am not a sweaty person by default. when i exercise or have sex i'm only ever covered in a sort of misted dew, never actual drops or accumulation. the only corresponding physical sensation is that my feet feel cool, but when i touch them they don't actually feel cold (as in, if i sit here and concentrate on my feet, the seem chilly, but to the touch they're just as warm as my knees and shoulders). if i put on socks, the problem gets better (i sweat less) but doesn't go away.

this happens a few times a week.

if it matters, i'm female, 28, curvy and soft (5'10, 190lbs, 36d-38dd)

How to help a crazy person?

Anonymous — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 17:19:36 -0800

Parent with mental issues (in Maryland) at end of her rope... how do I help without enabling or having to provide long-term financial support? So here's a rough one, I'm posting this anonymously with as much detail as possible, but also with a throwaway email account (randemail42@gmail.com).

I'm a 30 year old woman who had a rough childhood living with a single mother who was a few crayons short of a full box for much of my life. Starting when I was around 10-11 she started exhibiting behaviors like:

- Thinking people were coming into the house stealing things.
- Thinking there were "shadows" that were evil other worldly beings
- Thinking people were "after her"

As I got older, these fears/issues magnified into:

- Thinking *I* stole her things, for myself or for other people (and I was yelled at for hours for stealing them)
- Thinking that other people were coming into the house and taking things/making things dirty
- Thinking people were "after" her (including relatives)

She began cleaning obsessively, carrying bags of "important things" everywhere and talking/yelling at people who weren't there (not sure if she was thinking they were there or they could hear her, or what) almost all day long. She was very angry almost all the time.

She had trouble maintaining any sort of regular job, but still had some money she had inherited to live on.

I finally left home and the crazyiness at 22 - though it was a bumpy departure. I never got the chance to go to college because my grades were destroyed in high school, but have become relatively successful in life by most standards.

The mother continued to call on almost a daily basis for some years until about a year ago I told her I couldn't speak to her anymore because her craziness was too much for me to deal with. Haven't spoken to her much since. Been much happier, overall.

Now, she's gotten back in touch with me and I suspect she has met the end of the line when it comes to money and will be asking me for help.

If I give her money, I know there will be no point when she is "back on her feet". She's mentally ill PLUS desperate the way people who have no money are desperate. I don't think she is capable of holding down a job, and I don't think in this economy she would even be someone that anyone would hire over anyone else.

I am torn between the guilt/obligation of family and not wanting to be involved or in any way giving up my hard-earned money to a crazy person who made my life hell (though I'm sure she couldn't help it.)

Is there something in between? Can I use this "rock bottom" to force her into some sort of mental hospital where she can get some help? How much does that sort of thing cost? I don't know what she would be diagnosed with specifically, but I'm pretty darn sure she's not right in the head.

Before she lost her marbles, she was actually a very intelligent, lively person who worked in politics and for a relatively famous author. She was not always "crazy".

Bonus questions:

Are there any services in Maryland that I can point her to for support instead of just giving her a handout? Or mental health places that deal with this sort of thing?

Why do ear plugs hurt so much?

that girl — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 17:05:04 -0800

I experience excruciating pain when putting in and removing foam ear plugs. Why? I never really liked ear plugs, but I find them useful in noisy hotels and on noisy airplanes. However, gradually over time, my ears have become resistant to the nice foam ear plugs. I am pretty sure I have about the softest ones available, and once they are in and fully expanded they don't really hurt.

But putting them in is like stabbing, and taking them out is even worse. I had my (not-ENT-MD) father look at them and he saw nothing particularly unusual, only perhaps a little redness.

Any suggestions as to why this might be happening or what I can do to mitigate it? Seeing a doctor is possible, but this is one of those issues where it is more of a hassle occasionally than a constant problem, so I am disinclined from trying to find a reasonable ENT I can communicate effectively with in semi-rural Japan. If I did go I'd like to have some ideas of what it might be beforehand so I can look things up and have some ideas of the appropriate vocabulary.

Make my knees more robust!

philosophygeek — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 10:18:49 -0800

I do a lot of social dancing, and after a long weekend my knees will get sore. I know that it's probably impossible to eliminate the soreness without cutting back on the amount of time I'm out dancing, but I'd like to do some conditioning exercises to build up my knees' ability to withstand that kind of use. You are not my physical therapist; having said that, what sort of exercises should I be trying, and how can I calibrate the intensity level of the exercises so that I am strengthening the knees without overexerting them? Other relevant details: I'm a male in my late 20s, no injuries or trauma, and I don't get any acute pain from dancing; it's more of a dull ache, primarily on the front and underside of the knee joint (where the kneecap meets the lower part of the leg).

Obviously, using proper dance technique will help avoid injury. However, for this question I'm more interested in what I can be doing away from the dance floor to keep my knees in good shape.

RSI specialists in Brisbane Australia?

springbound — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 04:33:27 -0800

RSI specialists in Brisbane Australia? Specifically looking for advice with regard to wrist, forearm and finger pain (also back and neck). GP(s) proving not much help. The only acupuncturist I saw may even have made things worse. (Though I'd happily see another if anyone knew any good ones.) I work in a pretty full-on computing services environment and play piano moderately seriously so maybe it was inevitable; but without the two I'm going to be... lost... to say the least, so am looking for some good advice fast. Seeing a chiropractor tomorrow but does anyone know of any specialists around town who are total shining stars with this sort of thing?