Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Condition

I don't want to look like W.C. Fields...

miss lynnster — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:10:42 -0800

Living with rosacea... tips please. I've been to the dermatologist. I've tried Metrogel and Doxycycline. They work ok but are expensive with my insurance so I am not on either right now. About once a month or so my right cheek and chin explode with outbreaks and I HATE it. Facials really do help, but I don't want to have to spend hundreds of dollars on facials every time I feel an outbreak coming on. I know that food intake is supposed to matter, but I haven't found that so much. I eat healthy and my alcohol intake isn't crazy.

Any tips on living with this and what to do when I feel an outbreak on the horizon? Is there anything that will help other than having an expensive facial or filling myself with expensive chemicals from the dermatologist? Right now my right cheek is almost purple with a volcano of healing-but-angry skin. I'm not a fan of looking like WC Fields on a bad day.

Oh, and no... I'm not more stressed than usual... actually I'm less so.

P.S. - Yes, I've read the other rosacea threads. Since a lot of them seemed to be answered by people who weren't going through rosacea themselves I figured it might not hurt to ask again and see if anyone had new comments.

Thanks in advance for the help folks!

Insert worried question about U.S. health insurance here.

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:54:34 -0800

Best U.S. insurance company for a pre-existing condition (depression) - advice please! Yet another question about U.S. health insurance. I'd like to have some basic health insurance that's not tied to an employer - I'm unemployed and don't know when I'll find work. The catch is that I have a pre-existing condition (well, two - chronic unipolar depression, and ADHD, both of which I've had since my teens). It means for me (at least) that I go through periods of unemployment, including right now. My coverage (under my ex-husband's plan) is about to end, and I'm panicking. AskMe has been invaluable about the topic, but I'd love some actual 'I have x company, and they're good/bad/good enough' testimonials. I've seen Tonik mentioned a few times on here and will be looking into them, although they don't cover mental health.

I'm primarily looking for basic physical health coverage (i.e. catastrophic, so that if I get hit by a truck I have *some* kind of coverage). While I'd love to have a plan to include mental health, I know that's going to be hard to find. I'm worried about even finding any basic physical coverage considering the pre-existing condition thing. I'm on medication (Zoloft and Adderall - prescribed through a psychiatrist covered by ex-husband's coverage) and am otherwise healthy (a few minor surgeries as a kid) in my mid-30's. The past year has been hell (for a number of reasons - let's start with divorce, death of a parent and losing my job), but hopefully qualifying for insurance won't be...impossible (she says, crossing her fingers hopefully).

I'm in California, a permanent resident (if it helps) and am willing to look around for community therapists etc. and already go to the local NAMI affilated support group, do the 'exercise, eat right' etc. etc. thing and have a therapist I'm willing to pay out of pocket for - and maybe get the meds via Walmart etc., if I have to. What I want is the basic coverage, since waiting for the folks in Washington to decide on health insurance is NOT an option. Basically, is there a way to have the physical insurance and mental health insurance be separate? When do I have to tell them about my mental health history?

Has anyone had any experience trying to get group insurance via things like the Freelancer's Union or AIGA? I'm a designer, and I'm open to suggestions. What about going through an individual insurance broker - any good experiences? Any advice is appreciated. I'm going through all the info I can find (on AskMe and elsewhere) and really appreciate any help, as my head is spinning and I'm worried to death.

I run daily but stairs still kill me. please explain why.

krautland — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 10:40:53 -0800

I run daily but stairs still kill me. please explain why. I run between 7 and 12 km daily and that at a decent pace: I recently finished a 10k race in 49.45 minutes and I'm working on getting down to 47 minutes by the end of october. so while I'm no bekele I'm probably not as abysmally bad as I used to be either.

I also live on the fourth floor of a pre-war building with high ceilings and the stairs are killing me. I am huffing and puffing with a flushed face every time I get to my apartment. some of that may be that it's summer and warm around here but shouldn't it get easier the more I train? how come I can run a 5.15 at cruising power (meaning I am using 70-80% of what I've got) but climbing stairs doesn't get any easier? the hill sprints certainly aren't killing me anymore!

I'll grant you these are two different exercises but I'm a bit disappointed that my workouts haven't made situations like this one much easier. mefi, can you manage my expectations?

stats: 32 y.o. male, 1,92m, 98kg, low heartrate (no high blood pressure here). I have a coach but I won't see him until tuesday and so I asked you.

New insurance and pre-existing conditions?

Anonymous — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 17:40:40 -0800

Pre-existing condition and new health insurance, what do I need to know? I suffer from depression. I was diagnosed in late 2005 and received treatment through the beginning of 2006, covered by the insurance plan from my full-time employer at the time.

Since leaving that job in early 2007, my coverage has been spotty and sporadic, using short term plans just so I wouldn't be totally bankrupted if I got cancer or something. I haven't been covered for the entirety of that time, however... there were gaps of varying lengths between renewals, the longest was probably two or three months. I don't get coverage through my current employer.

I recently signed up for a full-fledged plan, and it starts soon. I disclosed my original depression diagnosis, but what I didn't disclose is that I've been experiencing a pretty severe relapse on and off in recent months. The application didn't ask for that info in explicit terms, but it did ask how I would categorize my mental state over the last few months, and I responded with something to the effect of "mildly depressed" (it was multiple-choice). Any of these may have been the wrong things to do, but they're done already so that's not my question. In my defense, at the time I filled in the application I was actually doing okayish so "mildly depressed" seemed like a reasonable average.

Now I have a letter from the insurance company reminding me that there's a nine-month waiting period for pre-existing conditions, including conditions for which "a prudent layperson would have sought treatment" within six months before coverage. Obviously my original diagnosis falls outside that limitation... my relapse does not, but there's no documented evidence of it other than possibly the response I gave on the application.

So here's my question. If I want to seek treatment for my depression and get it covered under this plan, what should I know? For example, is it going to throw up red flags if make an appointment with a therapist within the first week of coverage? Does it matter that I had short-term coverage during most of this time, but opted not to use it? Or am I overanalyzing the situation entirely?

Thanks.

Identify a Medical Condition?

WCityMike — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 08:12:56 -0800

I'm curious as to what medical condition causes something I saw a few weeks ago. I went over to my neighbor to ask him to turn down his television, which was blasting a bit.

When he opened the door, I noticed from the bottom periphery of my vision that he had a skin-covered protrusion -- almost cylindrical in shape -- jutting out about 9-11 inches from his chest, and really rather large in diameter -- maybe 6-10 inches in diameter, at a guess. (I admittedly could be wrong about the shape or measurements, as I didn't wish to stare and thus didn't let my eyes fix on it for more than a moment. I don't think so, but I could be.)

His shirt was open (of course), and I believe I remember seeing a nasal canula delivering oxygen/air.

He never said a word, and I'm not sure if that was just his thing, or if it was medical in cause, given that the protrusion might well be near the lungs.

Having never seen such a thing before, nor ever having heard of something causing that, I find myself very curious as to what condition causes that, especially given that it appears he need not be hospitalized, if he is living at home. (For example, if it was, say, cancer, I'd expect him (with something that size) to be in the hospital.)

If it matters, the gentleman in question is a senior citizen.

Just to clarify, by asking this, I don't mean any disrespect towards the gentleman in question. I just find myself curious as to the nature of what might be causing his condition.

He's neatly wedged under my laptop vent, having gleeful dreams while I worry...!

mu~ha~ha~ha~har — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 17:53:21 -0800

My kitty has a lump on the back of his leg. About the size of my thumbnail and under the skin. By 'back of leg' I mean that ruffle of fur on the edge of his flank/rump/upper thigh... bit. Should I post a pic? -Ask :) Anyway it's about in the middle of that section and slightly to the inside. It was quite firm but not hard and felt evenly textured (like a gummi bear? but more solid). He didn't even register when I stunbled upon it. It's not hot (infection) or 'ouchy' at all. I don't think it's hurting him. And I'm just about to investigate meticulously for more, but so far it's just that one. OMG!! My furry little man has cancer! Quick wise people... do you think it is? Maybe it's not, and before I wave him about in some poor vets face (and get billed accordingly!!) it's probably a good idea to ask. It could be nothing, right?

Insurance Pre-Existing Condition Woes

kmtiszen — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 06:41:19 -0800

My insurance provider wants me to fill out a pre-existing condition questionnaire! Help! After not being insured for about 18 months, I've finally started a job that offers me health insurance. Unfortunately, I have a chronic pre-existing condition (colitis) that requires regular medical care... including a colonoscopy every couple of years. Overjoyed with the possibility of not having to pay in full, first thing I do once I'm covered is run and get a colonoscopy.

But along comes a bill for $930 and a pre-existing condition questionnaire. My question is--is there anything I can do to get them to cover me? I'm in over my head here. I have a couple thousand dollars worth of bills that they're refusing to cover unless I return this questionnaire. But I know once I do, they'll probably refuse to cover me anyway. My only hope is you, hive mind, to help me do this an intelligently as possible.

I think my only glimmer of hope is that the GI that was treating me before being insured has completely quit his practice and has absconded with all my medical records. Nobody, myself and even his old hospital, knows where to find him or how to contact him. Would it be a bad idea to just leave him off the questionnaire entirely?

I don't know if it makes a difference, but I'm currently located in NYC.

Thanks for your help in advance!

Please help identify this medical condition

convex — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 11:19:57 -0800

My older brother was born with a medical condition that I would like more information about. Being from a third world country does not help finding a label or diagnosis for it, so I will try to explain it as best as I can and hopefully someone will pinpoint it. I have been a US resident for a while and I am unfortunately not with him to see a doctor and find the answers that I need. From what I know it is incurable but who knows, maybe there is something out there that can help him out. As a baby he looked normal, but as he started growing up, he was not able to use neither his left hand nor left leg. It is not paralysis, but almost the opposite, tight muscles, as if the tendons are short, his hand as well as leg are shorter than his right ones, and the muscles are always tight, he can't even open his fingers unless forces it with his right hand.

Since there is not so much activity the muscles are smaller as well. From what I know from asking my mother, she said something about the midwife not helping him breath well when born. I can only assume that he was born normal but due to maybe lack of oxygen some damage happened.

I estimate his IQ as 95-100 SD 16, not as brilliant, tends to forget a lot, but everything else functions normally.
I am suspecting that it is a common medical condition because I have seen a person with exact conditions before.

He is now in his 40's and he has seen a doctor that performed a surgery to extend his tendons, on both arm and leg, to release some of the pressure, and he underwent a long physical therapy, unfortunatly the improvement was very minimal.

Thank you.

Retirement for Handicapped

spakto — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 10:47:00 -0800

Please help with some early retirement advice: I am 35 and have a slowly progressive degenerative neurological condition. I would like to save money for the future because I'm not sure how long I will be able to work. I don't make a lot of money. I have a 401k at work, but what else would you recommend for someone in my situation. I've thought about opening an IRA, but am not sure what kind to get. I don't want to be penalized for early withdrawals.

Thanks.

How to make NYE party locations work for us?

kuperman — Mon, 31 Oct 2005 06:10:10 -0800

Where and how do we throw the mother of all New Year's Eve bashes ... in Baton Rouge ... on New Year's Eve? My friends and I just threw an amazing Halloween party on Friday, October 28. It was an unqualified success. I ended up dj'ing, and had a crowd of no less than sixty people dancing on the front patio, with more spilling out into the driveway, yard, and street. When we shut down at 2:30, people were begging us to keep going. With literally hundreds of neighbors streaming in to enjoy the music, and the cheap-as-free booze, and the great company, and you've got the recipe for some delighted monkeys.

It was such a terrific time, we swore that we'd absolutely do it again for New Years Eve. But, our planning hit a snag. Halloween weather was around 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Typically NYE weather around here is about 35 degrees.

So, how/where can we have the party while not freezin' our guests to death? Should we look into VFW and Knights of Columbus halls? Should we buy outdoor heaters - chimineas perhaps? Any ideas or pointers are welcome.

What on earth is this?

Jon-o — Thu, 18 Aug 2005 07:50:13 -0800

My cat has a mystery wound... So, I've seen cats scratch themselves until they get a cut. I've seen the little cuts that my cats inflict on each other (nothing ever hostile, just playing around). My folks also had a cat that would clean itself bald. But this, I've never seen. I was away for about 10 days, and a buddy of mine fed them every day, etc. I got home this evening and noticed that one of my cats has this strange wound on it. The other cat is unscathed.
The wound is between his shoulderblades and I'm having a hard time imagining how he would have done this to himself. I also don't think that it's a contagous skin problem because the other cat is totally fine. That fact also rules out some sort of insect or mite infestation.
It doesn't look like bites or scratches, either.
He's not showing any other symptoms. He's not any more lethargic than usual, he's not trying to paw, scratch, or lick at his wound, and it didn't seem to bother him too much if I touched it. It also does not appear on any other part of his body.
Here's a picture of the problem, if anyone can recognize it.
As much as I'd like a professional vet's opinion on this, I'm not going to be able to get him to one untill at least Monday, unfortunately.
So, has anyone seen this before? Is it a big deal? Is there anything I can do for him? Like, can I put neosporin or bactine on my cat (if he can't reach it to lick it off)?
Thanks, folks...