LASIK - I'd love to ditch both my glasses and contacts. Have any of you had the procedure performed? In particular, I'm wondering if you have experienced any adverse or unexpected effects, and how much it cost.
posted by shoos
on Sep 16, 2004 -
24 answers
How unhealthy is it (in terms of residual toxins, etc.) to have an exterminator come around? And are there any realistic alternatives? (more inside)
[more inside]
posted by bingo
on Sep 5, 2004 -
6 answers
My pregnant sister is currently experiencing
placenta previa, which means she will require total bedrest for the next six weeks until the baby (her first) is delivered caesarean. Additionally her husband is undergoing both chemo and radiation for throat cancer until November. This means they will both be incapacitated for awhile....(MI)
[more inside]
posted by dhoyt
on Sep 4, 2004 -
19 answers
A very bright acquaintance of mine, personable, well adjusted, loving dad, relaxes by watching the same short scenes from a favorite movie (LOTR, Matrix, etc.). He'll watch the same scene every night for months. He says that when the line is delivered, he feels complete and can go to bed. Is this common? Does this behavior have a name?
posted by kk
on Aug 30, 2004 -
26 answers
Nutrition/Exercise: Does anyone know of a good skeptics/scientific guide to these topics? This should preforably be a magazine, newsletter or website -- not a book -- because there's new news all the time. [More inside...]
[more inside]
posted by grumblebee
on Aug 20, 2004 -
5 answers
What is the lowdown on
USANA? A friend of mine swears its great, but seems like a big scam to me... anyone had any experience with this sort of thing? Website is vague and pyramid-scammish.
posted by ac
on Aug 16, 2004 -
9 answers
My poop stinks more than it used to. What does this mean?
posted by swift
on Aug 1, 2004 -
23 answers
I'm looking for advice on dental insurance. My girlfriend's employer does not provide it and she generally doesn't need it because she has magic cavity-preventing saliva. seriously, she's never had a cavity, never goes to the dentist! But now, she can feel one of her wisdom teeth starting to act up and probably needs an extraction. (others should probably be extracted while she's at it.) Should she go with bargain insurance (and can anyone recommend a good dental insurance company), or should she just get the work done without insurance and pay it back over time? If it makes a difference, we're in the Bay Area.
posted by badstone
on Jul 26, 2004 -
14 answers
is it normal for your arm to be partially asleep for an extended period of time? i think i slept on it or something, now 6-7 hours later I only have partial feeling in my hand and I can't flex my arm muscles very much. It's very annoying.
posted by bob sarabia
on Jul 22, 2004 -
23 answers
Cat flu: I'm looking after a cat for a friend, and she recently (yesterday) got a runny nose, and coughs some. She also appears listless and bored. I'm stuck at work and will get her to the vet ASAP, but for now I need some reassurance that this isn't fatal? Thanks!
posted by jon_kill
on Jul 22, 2004 -
6 answers
The nibbler strikes! Why can't I just sit here and work (or read MetaFilter) without constantly munching on sunflower seeds, popcorn, gummi bears, and the like? Anyone here ever overcome a too-much-snacking-in-front-of-the-computer habit? Any advice will help. Thanks.
posted by whatnot
on Jul 19, 2004 -
28 answers
Anyone remember the site of a guy who maintained(?is maintaining?) a yearly progress log (with daily profile photos & all) of his workout regimen?
posted by Gyan
on Jul 19, 2004 -
9 answers
Fix my eyes (I think). My eyes seem tired at the end of the night. I'm 36 (soon 37) and without glasses. Options? (more inside of course)
[more inside]
posted by filmgeek
on Jul 11, 2004 -
11 answers
Frusterating condition filter, for the past say, 3 weeks I've had these weird stomach problems. Been to the doctor, prescribed Zantac, sort of helped but now not anymore, going again within the next few days. I'm looking more of the "Yeah I had that, no big deal", because diagnosing oneself by typing in symptoms is scaring the hell out of me.
[more inside]
posted by geoff.
on Jul 11, 2004 -
15 answers
Allergic Reaction to Metal Filter
I can't wear any kind of cheap metal. Week before I wore a belt with a cheap ass buckle. Now I have an ungodly itchy rash on the left side of my body from my waist to my knee. Anyone have any suggestions before I scratch myself to death?
And a doctor isn't really an option as there is no insurance in the ol' damnitkage household.
posted by damnitkage
on Jul 7, 2004 -
14 answers
So I have some kind of color viewing impediment, but it seems rather nonstandard. [mi]
[more inside]
posted by abcde
on Jun 29, 2004 -
13 answers
Followup question: Recommend some good protein (and other nutritional) supplements to compliment my weight-training. [more inside]
[more inside]
posted by Gyan
on Jun 25, 2004 -
11 answers
Fasting. I'm healthy and have a normal weight, but I've been overindulging lately and thought of trying a two day fast. Can you juice fast without a juicer? What about just eating nothing but fruits, veggies, and water for a few days? I'm not considering it for spiritual reasons either, I just feel gross. Any experiences or advice?
posted by rainbaby
on Jun 24, 2004 -
22 answers
Neck pain. Sharp stabbing neck pain, you know the kind you get when you sleep in a odd postion and wake up with a "crick". I woke up this morning with such pain, and now I can't turn my head to the right at all. This has happened before, but never to this degree. I sneezed earlier and thought I was going to cry. What's the remedy? Wait it out? Heating pad? Ibuprofen?
posted by corpse
on Jun 23, 2004 -
17 answers
Sleep Apnea... some, ooh, let's say about 5% of the population has it. I'm starting to think I might, too: not feeling rested in the morning, snoring at night, breathing stops irregularly, etcetera. Anyone got personal experiences, stories, or advice to offer? I'm not running to the doctor yet... unless y'all scare me into it!
[more inside]
posted by five fresh fish
on Jun 20, 2004 -
33 answers
Question about mental health and the developing world. More inside.
[more inside]
posted by plep
on Jun 20, 2004 -
7 answers
Does anyone have any experience with
"greens plus"? Is it a waste of money, or can one really absorb 7 servings of vegetables with three tablespoons of powder? Google seems to be biased as to that question, and I haven't seen it mentioned in any of the other health and nutrition questions on here. Help?
posted by loquax
on Jun 18, 2004 -
22 answers
IANAMDFilter: My wife is in her 25th week of pregnancy and has developed costal chondritis -- that is, her last rib on the righthand side is being displaced a little bit by her uterus, making it inflamed, swollen and very tender. It was recommended to her by an OB doctor at her clinic that she take 600mg of ibuprofen (an anti-inflammatory) every six hours for a few days, and to repeat this if the pain returned. Wanting a second opinion, another doctor at the same clinic said this would be OK for a few weeks, but that during the third trimester, ibuprofen should not be taken because it contains prostoglandin, and during the third trimester, the baby is sufficiently developed to react to the increased prostoglandin levels, which can cause one of its heart valves to shut prematurely, resulting in, well, unpleasantness. Specifically, the second doctor said that the baby was sufficiently developed to have this reaction by week 32, and recommended taking ibuprofen no later than week 28. But my wife is a nurse from a family of nurses, and still thinks that taking a course of ibuprofen even at this stage is too much of a risk because, apparently, not a lot of research has been done with fetuses and ibuprofen. So, rather than medical advice, I'd like to ask: Does anyone have any resources they'd like to recommend that we consult? The pain is intense enough to make tasks like traveling by car or picking up our 19-month-old pretty unpleasant, so we'd like to be able to take something (besides percocet) to make things more bearable, but there's something ominous-sounding about a prematurely closed heart valve. Any pointers?
posted by blueshammer
on Jun 16, 2004 -
14 answers
Pharmacists, medical professionals: I take methylphenidate for ADD. A month ago my regular pharmacy was out so I went to a different one. The pill looked different but I'm used to generics varying in appearance. So I thougt nothing of it. Today I refilled the prescription and the pill looked so different that I got worried and looked it up. My perscribed dosage is 20mg 3 times daily. It seems that for the last month I'd been unknowingly taking 20mg
extended release 3 times daily (occasionaly four when I had to work late). I honestly didn't notice a difference, but now I'm worried. This shit is dangerous and I don't like to mess around with my mind. What dangers are there to the increased syrum levels I'd been experiencing? Considering that that the ER plateaus at something like 10mg for about 8 hours, I could have had as much as 30mg active in my body for several hours a day for 30 days. This is scary. Note, no information given will be treated as advice. If you guys scare me I'll reconfirm with a doctor and persue an appropriate course of action. So please, be honest. Is this a problem, or no big deal?
[more inside]
posted by Grod
on Jun 11, 2004 -
23 answers
I'm 27, it's the hottest day in England so far, and I've just been diagnosed with chicken pox. Help?
posted by Katemonkey
on Jun 8, 2004 -
24 answers
YuckHabitFilter/NeedMoreToWorryAboutFilter: Say you tend to chew on plastic pens while working, despite efforts to stop. Aside from the obvious Googleable dental detriments (tooth wear) and, um, choking risk I guess, are there any other dangers, esp. ones not grounded in Freudian analysis? Are you ingesting scary levels of leeching plasticizers and resins?
If so, can you litigate? Kidding...
posted by tss
on Jun 8, 2004 -
8 answers
Alzheimer's.
Tonight I found out that my dad most likely has Alzheimer's (he's 71). My stepmom is bringing me up to speed in regards to his condition - depression, mood changes, forgetfulness, neurological and psychological workup. I've seen it - and attributed (*wishfully*) to his past heart surgery (3 years ago) and depression.
Supports groups, Good information, Medical advances. I want to be an expert and fast, fast, fast. Yes, I'm doing my google work. Yes, I'm going to talk to the physician(s) involved.
But MeFi is too big - someone else must be going through this; have gone through it, knows what to do, what mistakes they made. This is what the green is about, right?
posted by filmgeek
on Jun 7, 2004 -
10 answers
Extracting Wisdom: I've been putting it dodging it for years, but it's looking (and feeling) like I'm going to have to get my wisdom teeth pulled. I do have insurance, but I have to go to a specific provider - a provider I've never actually been to before. Any advice on questions I should ask or things I should look for? Is one oral surgeon as good as another or should I shop around and/or pay extra if needed?
posted by aladfar
on Jun 7, 2004 -
24 answers
My grandmother is nearing 90 years old and experiencing increasing effects of dementia. She's been forgetful for a while, but only lately has she started mistaking individuals for others - typically, she thinks I'm a niece of hers, instead of her granddaughter. As her confusion increases, so does my discomfort. I want to spend as much time with her as I can while she's still here, but when entire conversations are filled with misinformation and paranoia (she can't remember where she "hides" money and important objects, so she thinks people steal from her), it's difficult to witness. Any suggestions on how I can get over myself?
posted by ferociouskitty
on Jun 6, 2004 -
9 answers
KittyFilter! I think Skinny broke a toe. I saw him take a fall and he's been limping on one foot since then. It's improved steadily, he can walk on it now (though gingerly) but I can see some swelling in one toe. Before you tell me to take him into the vet, please read the [more inside].
[more inside]
posted by scarabic
on May 22, 2004 -
15 answers
After I brush my teeth, even if I have gone recently, I have a mild urge to pee. Why would this be?[lil bit more inside]
[more inside]
posted by PinkStainlessTail
on May 19, 2004 -
11 answers
Last Sunday I took my 7-year-old niece to the park. She said, "Bet I can swing higher than you." I said, "Bet you can't," and started swinging. I then got the most horrible, sickening, head rush/spins and had to stop. I tried repeatedly to swing, and even experimented with keeping my eyes shut, to no avail - got the head spins every time. Then later I went down the slide and got the same physical reaction, though not as intense. I've never had a problem with swings or slides before. What could this mean?
posted by orange swan
on May 11, 2004 -
12 answers
It's all the cat's fault. I have cat allergies and the only thing that's worked so far is Zyrtec. Great, only the problem is that my insurance company thinks that a fair co-pay for this particular miracle drug is $35 for a month's supply. A quick Google search turned up a lot of (supposedly) Canadian companies willing to sell me branded and generic Zyrtec at much lower prices. My question: is it safe to order prescription drugs -- assuming you've actually been prescribed them by your doctor, which I was -- through online Canadian sources?
posted by baltimore
on May 7, 2004 -
19 answers
