Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with health

accident involving lots and lots of soot-like dust and my bedroom...

krautland — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:01:04 -0800

accident involving lots and lots of soot-like dust and my bedroom... my landlady has a bunch of guys converting the loftspace below her roof into a proper attic she can store items in. one of them broke through the floor and into my bedroom below. we're talking a big hole here - he actually landed in my bed.

the whole room is covered in 2cm of soot-like fine black dust. it went into all the cupboards and closets. all my clothes are severly blackened. it looks sort of what you'd imagine the inside of a chimney to be like and the stuff it itchy and makes me cough.

if you have dealt with this kind of problem before, would you mind giving me some basic info on what to do? I'm not talking financial issues here, obviously that needs to be worked out but my questions at this point are more basic:

how do I clean that kind of mess thoroughly?
are all my clothes ruined or can I get that stuff out?
is this something dangerous beyond just a hassle or nothing to be too worried about?
I'm also not sure what to ask her to do before I go back and sleep in there again. the mattress is covered, the sheets are ruined, do we need professionals to clean this or how do I do it?

one more thing on the soot: I washed my hands four times now and I still feel it all over them. this stuff does not go away easily.

Is there any fool-proof way of inducing a sickness?

defenestratedego — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 06:49:44 -0800

I have found myself in quite a tricky situation and I think the only way to get out of this would be to fake an illness. Is there any not-harmful-in-the-long-term way to do this? It would be a plus if a reasonable doctor can't think of it. In case it helps, I live in New York and I can have most of the OTC medicines.

Info Sought on Childhood Leukemia

slowtree — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:51:30 -0800

Childhood A.L.L. Luekemia My 2 year old niece was just diagnosed with this today and we are scouring the internet trying to find out all that we possibly can. She starts CHEMO tomorrow. Any personal experience or ideas of informative websites would be appreciated. Not generic websites but detailed and resourceful sites. Her doctors will certainly keep us informed as we go but since we are in the very beginning stages its all we can think about. Anyone that has anything at all to offer, it would be appreciated. Even if its on info on CHEMO and its effects.

She had a biopsy done on a swollen lymph-node behind her right ear. Turns out it was 94% Cancer. They initially thought it was Non-Hodgkins Lymphona but a bone marrow biopsy distinguished that it is Leukemia.

Again any information or suggestions where to find information is appreciated.

How do I maintain a healthy lifestyle...

prunes — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:38:55 -0800

How do I main a healthy lifestyle while traveling for work? I work for a major multinational. Recently I was blindsided by the news that I had "volunteered" for a project that will involve significant travel, upwards of 75%, for around six months. There will be many different locations, so I don't think I will be staying in extended stay suites.

Now, I'm a very health conscious individual. I take great pride in not having succumbed to the obesity/grossness that plagues most people in my position. A large part of success is due to my near fanatical eating habits. I never eat fast food. I hate it. And after a day or two of eating out I feel gross. Daily I bring in to work multiple pieces of fruit; today I brought a pint of berries, two bananas, and a peach.

So my question, bluntly stated, is as follows: how will I be able to adapt to this new lifestyle with out my body turning to pudding?

Also, a related question while we're at it: given the great amount of responsibility and the crummy lifestyle I will be adopting, what demands should a person in my position reasonably be able to make (e.g. admiral club access, flying first class, health club access, etc.) ?

Please help me decide when I should go to the doctor about my eyes?

fan_of_all_things_small — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 06:19:19 -0800

Please help me decide when I should go to the doctor about my eyes? I am asking this question not because I don't have a doctor, but because I would like to determine how severe this problem might be before I do something crazy like call a doctor in the middle of the night, as it is currently the middle of the night in my time zone.

You know those weird squiggly lights you get in your eyes if you stand up too quickly? For the last few days, and only late at night for some reason, I've been getting those lights near the sides of my eyes if I do something like stand up from a sitting position, turn around quickly, or after I climb up the stairs, but generally from only slightly physically demanding actions.

I've had no other symptoms, no headaches or anything like that. About a week ago I started a low carb diet in where I try to keep around 20 grams a day of carbs, and I'm wondering if that might be what's causing it. I'm also exercising regularly and feeling no ill effects there.

So what's with the lights? Has anyone else experienced something like this? Is it cause for an immediate doctor's visit or do you think I can wait it out until it's convenient for me to go in a few more days? Thanks for any advice.

What are the Best books that list Best cosmtic surgery clinics or hospitals only in Bangkok, Thailand?

omaralarifi — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:50:29 -0800

Where can I buy book(s) that list best hospitals/clinics for cosmetic surgeries in Bangkok, Thailand? I am looking for the best clinics or hospitals in Bangkok, Thailand.
I prefer these books that list only the the best of the best clinics or hospitals specialized for cosmetic surgery only in Bangkok, Thailand.

Please I am only looking for books not websites.

Is the boogeyman real?

Anonymous — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 20:14:07 -0800

Anxieties about my own safety and that of my loved ones are making it hard for me to sleep at night. The onset of dusk makes my stomach knot. When I was a child and would see a scary movie, it would be hard for me to sleep for a few nights afterward. Every time I closed my eyes I would open them immediately, expecting an axe-wielding maniac to be standing over my bed. Ever since I had a child last year, I feel exactly as I did then. Like "they" are waiting just beyond my vision to cause harm to me and mine. It doesn't help that we had a spate of robberies in my neighborhood this time last year - the thieves came in to my neighbor's house through an unintentionally unlocked side door. Also fairly recently, a bright shining light in the community was at home in a very good neighborhood when two young sociopaths came into her house via an unlocked door, took her, drove her around and killed her.

Reading descriptions of movies like "The Strangers" and "Funny Games" doesn't help. I am obsessed with the thought that sociopaths, psychopaths, thieves and other amoral characters are roaming the streets right outside my house, just waiting for us to leave a door unlocked for a moment.

(and then I worry by thinking about it, I am somehow willing it to happen! aaaaahhh!)

How do I ever close my eyes and sleep again without all this worry? I am not a dog person (and besides, I know more than one person whose dog did nothing to scare off intruders) and we do have a security system. I'm starting to think I should sleep with a Taser under my pillow.

Diabetes, you are not invited to my pizza party

Anonymous — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:12:22 -0800

I want to be fit, but I loathe "fitness." I want to lose weight, but I become so angry at the whole concept of being another woman on a diet. How can I reconcile my anger with my genuine need to be healthy? I am a second-generation nerd, and I have a lot of the same body issues as many of you, I expect. I was raised by kindly, bookish people, and from my earliest experience, sports and fitness were only pushed on me by rough, uncaring, incurious authority figures. Physical activity was for boring, loud people who were impatient with my many shortcomings at the strange games no one had ever taught me. The smart, gentle people who were interested in me sat inside in the quiet, and never broke a sweat if they didn't have to. I was a grown woman before I glimpsed the possibilities of a deep, healthy enjoyment of your own body.

As for dieting, I have a truckload of issues that I'll just send around to the delivery entrance. Suffice it to say that I was put on a popular adults' diet at age eight, and it made me a food-hoarder and secret eater. As a feminist, I demand to eat. I love food and I am not sorry. I bitterly resent the way that diet writers speak to me. (The only exception has been the Hackers' Diet, and it is no coincidence that it was written for men. It's not very sophisticated as a diet, though.) It is very easy, when I'm craving sweets, to blame the patriarchy and have a Three Musketeers.

But. I want to do the right thing for my heart. I do not want diabetes -- it runs in my family and I do not want to let myself get it. I don't want to let this abdominal fat damage my long-term prospects for, well, having a long term. And I, not the people in my past, am ultimately responsible for my health, and for moving my own flat white ass.

How do you fight the resentment? How do you get over choking on the voice that says fuck you I'm not in second grade anymore and you're no better than me whenever you go to the gym? How do you diet with a full respect for yourself?

I thought it may be good, but maybe it's snot.

Bathtub Bobsled — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:25:39 -0800

I've been eating my boogers/snot for the last 24 years or so, are there any comprehensive long term studies that show any positive or deleterious effects of this? I've found this Ask Mefi thread, and this Mefi FPP, but they don't answer my question. Should I try to quit? Also, should I be up front about this habit to my current girlfriend, or should I just continue to keep it my own little salty secret?

How to climb out of severe depression?

Anonymous — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 20:05:47 -0800

How to climb out of severe depression? I am severely depressed, to the point where I've been forced to leave my job and move back in with family members. I am seeing a therapist and am on medication, but so far have experienced few positive results. I basically am completely unmotivated to do anything but surf the internet, watch TV, and exercise. I've gone from being a successful young professional to doing essentially nothing, all day, every day. This feeling of "doing nothing" worsens the depression, and I'm thinking that achieving some simple goals might help by giving me some small feeling of accomplishment, which might improve my depression. What are some simple goals that I can set or simple projects to attempt so that I can feel like I am doing something? Preferably things that don't require leaving home, because I'm also dealing with social anxiety, but anything is welcome. Also welcome are alternative suggestions for dealing with the depression, besides the standard "exercise" or "get outside". Thanks so much.

This is a bad idea, right?

furiousxgeorge — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:59:36 -0800

What are the health risks of moldy pot? Would such a substance be safe to smoke?

Can HPV be transmitted through oral sex?

Anonymous — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 07:39:07 -0800

How common is it for the human papillomavirus to be transmitted through oral sex? I've seen conflicting information about this. I'm a 20-something female. I've had four sexual partners in my lifetime, and until three months ago, had never engaged in vaginal intercourse - only oral sex/touching, with vague ideas of "saving myself for marriage." I went to my first-ever gyn exam a couple of weeks ago, and was told yesterday that I am HPV-positive and my pap test showed abnormal results. The doctor wants me to come in for a follow-up colposcopy, and I'm freaking out. Can cervical HPV be transmitted through oral sex?

PAP test

arcticwoman — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:48:54 -0800

How important is getting a PAP test for a twenty-some bi/lesbian? If it is important, how do you convince someone to get one when she a) had a bad experience in the past and b) thinks she doesn't need one because she is (mostly) gay? I've heard that both mammograms and PAP tests are mostly unnecessary - that there hasn't really been much evidence showing that early diagnosis helps. Is this true? I have also heard that since nuns don't get cervical cancer, lesbians don't need PAPs (really, I had a doctor refuse to examine me once), but what about lesbians who have had sex with men in the past?

A particular person whose life and reproductive organs are pretty important to me flat-out refuses to get a PAP test done based on the above reasons and the fact that she had the shit scared out of her with a false positive for cancer at one point. Is it worth it to try to convince her to go? How do I do so?

Why is my penis falling asleep?

drleary — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:40:26 -0800

Within the past 2 weeks or, I'll just be sitting around and my penis will fall asleep. This has never happened before to me, but it's happened at least 5 or 6 times now. Should I be worried? Is this something I should see a doctor for?

Do commercial colon-cleanse products actually solve the myriad of problems they claim to?

Anonymous — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 11:01:37 -0800

Do commercial colon-cleanse products actually solve the myriad of problems they claim to? Some background:

I'm a 33 yr old male, programmer. I play sports a couple times a week, but am fairly sedentary in general. I don't eat as well as I should. I am chronically fatigued, high-stress and plagued by persistent adult acne.

I also don't have regular bowel movements, and because of my sedentary nature, I often don't get up to have a BM even when I should.

If you've seen advertising and marketing for commercial colon cleanse products, you'll know that they promise to cure all these things by getting rid of excess internal bacteria. I don't want to sound like a complete rube here - I realize advertising is full of empty claims. But is there some legitimacy to the cleanse approach? Has anyone in my situation had positive experiences?

Make my first visit to a brothel a happy one.

Anonymous — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 15:18:22 -0800

Visiting Reno in October, looking for advice on visiting a brothel. I've never been to one before, but I'm toying with the idea as it sounds like it could be fun and the chance to live out some fantasies I may never find a woman (or 2) willing to participate in. So, some questions:

Anyone have any recommendations for a nice place to go? I'm looking for one that isn't TOO sleazy (I know, it's a brothel, but still), with attractive women, hygenic, enjoyable atmosphere, etc. I've seen "Cathouse" on HBO about the Moonlight Bunny Ranch... is that place really all that?

Prices... How much do the "services" tend to cost? Do they charge by the hour? By the act? By the woman (or do you get a discount for group activities)? Is there any sort of negotiation? Are you expected to tip? Again, on the Bunny Ranch, are its prices exorbitant because it is on HBO, or is it comparable to other places?

Finally... hygiene and health questions: I assume that part of their licensing is that the women get tested regularly. Can anyone give me the details on this? Are they tested for everything (herpes, etc) or just the biggie (HIV)? Do the brothels have a strict "safe sex only" policy? And, last but not least... what kind of, ahem, cleaning regimen do the women go through between clients? I don't like the idea of tasting some other guy's sweat and... other fluids on someone's body.

Since I'm sure many people will not want to post publicly, you can email me at mrsecret@email.com
I appreciate the opinions of those of you who may have moral qualms with this, but I'm not looking for that kind of input, thanks.

A garden enclosed is my sister

Julia F***ing Sugarbaker — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:49:04 -0800

How can I help my sister come to terms with her mental health issues? My sister and I have shared a home on and off for several years. She was at the top of her game for a long time, but has always been very volatile, with hairpin-turn mood swings and anxiety problems. This past winter she went into a tailspin; she broke up with a boyfriend who had been a constant disappointment, and that same week got fired from her job. Neither situation was black/white, but she immediately fabricated a mentality that allowed her to blame herself for all of it.

Since then she has had severe anxiety attacks, deep depressions, lost several more jobs, put on about ten pounds, and spends almost all her free time sleeping, smoking pot in her room, and watching movies. She's flat-broke most of the time, thanks to the job bouncing, and turns down invitations from almost everyone who offers. It's been 7 months of this.

This week I moved into a new place by myself, which resulted in days of crying jags from sis-- because of how much she will miss my cats. She called everyone we know to cry about losing them. I got a lot of embarrassing phone calls from concerned friends, wondering if she was okay.

I've tried to get her to seek treatment during a few substance-related nadirs, but no dice. She sees professional counseling as something she'll simply never be able to afford, and doesn't really listen to advice that says otherwise. She's on an antidepressant (Paxil, I think?) but I don't know how that interacts with alcohol and weed. I've been pretty supportive, so I don't think she has any idea how freaked out I am by her at this point.

I know it's impossible to diagnose her, but looking at descriptions of Borderline Personality Disorder, I am pretty astonished at the similarities. Looking at this list of symptoms, she is seriously afflicted with practically all of them:

* Manipulativeness
* Suicidal threats or gestures, and self-harming acts
* Impulsiveness, jumping into relationships quickly, and without knowing the other person
* Promiscuous sexual behavior
* Drug and alcohol abuse
* Eating disorders
* Unstable relationships
* Sensitivity to the reactions of others
* Tendency to idealize or devalue other people
* Fear of abandonment
* Shifting moods and emotional outbursts
* Engaging in reckless behavior
* Unstable self-image
* Strong dependency on others
* Paranoia and other delusional thinking

Almost everything I read about BPD reminds me of her. I think she's gotten so used to being miserable that she doesn't even remember what normal feels like; normally something changes by now and she gets moving in a new direction. I'm worried, and I don't know what to do to help her. I'm the only family member geographically close enough to see how serious this has gotten-- she's VERY good at only calling our parents when her outlook is temporarily brighter.

I've kept my suspicions about the seriousness of this to myself. But when I try to point things out to her, she just makes jokes or changes the subject. However, whenever disaster strikes (and it strikes several times a week) she calls me in tears wondering what to do. Now that I'm out of the house, I'd like to be a little more honest about how worried-- and often offended-- I am by her behavior.

I know that substance abuse programs say that a person has to fall far enough and land hard enough to decide to make changes on their own, and I'm prepared to allow her to do that. How do I deal with her in the interim? She's a lovely person who I adore, and who looks to me for support (despite never taking my advice). I've bailed her out so many times, financially and otherwise, but now I'm wary and fatigued. I'd like to know what I can or ought to do to help her take treatment options seriously and handle disasters in the interim.

What defines a physically fit person?

pixlboi — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:00:55 -0800

What performance measures, tasks, challenges or metrics should be included on a comprehensive list of human fitness? In order to keep myself challenged and motivated I am trying to create a comprehensive list that defines fitness. This is proving harder than I thought since people do not necessarily agree on what being "fit" means.

Nevertheless, certain limitations aside, what are some measures of fitness that you think a physically fit person should be able to achieve?

I have done some Googling on physical exams for police and fire depts but I'm not having much luck finding comprehensive lists of measurable tasks. So far, I have: being able to jog 5K, being able to bike 30K, doing 100 push-ups and 100 sit-ups, completing a 75 yard dash with small obstacles and turns in under 17 seconds and having a body fat percentage of less than 15%.

What is a good swimming metric? Leg strength? Flexibility?

These tasks should be challenging, a true measure of fitness that takes training to achieve but does not require elite level skills (for example, completing an Ironman-level triathlon is a bit over the top).

Ideally, the list would cover cardio endurance, muscle endurance, muscle strength and flexibility across the entire body.

I am 6'2", 180 lbs, male and workout regularly if that matters but I am seeking a more general list of challenges that could apply to almost anyone in great shape.

I am not seeking diet or exercise advice nor asking for workout plans on how to meet the challenges, just help making a list of challenges. Thanks.

Herbalife:Does it Work as a Product?

vac2003 — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 01:13:11 -0800

Herbalife: Can anyone point me to sites about the efficacy of their products? I been on it for two months (no sniggering in the back, please), have lost some weight but I wonder what I am putting into my body. I know many regard it as MLM cult, etc (promising wealth and prosperity, but almost always meet with failure.) but I am interested in the actual products and whether there is any evidence they actually work.

I hate the smell of lighter fluid in the evening

bugsoup — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 19:10:41 -0800

My downstairs neighbors use lighter fluid for their charcoal grill and the fumes fill our condo if we aren't home. What are the specific health hazards of the fumes from charcoal lighter fluid? The condo I live in has three floors of identical units. We left the sliding glass door that leads to our porch slightly ajar while we went to eat. Our downstairs neighbors have a charcoal grill (not allowed to have propane per condo rules) on their porch directly under ours and I came home from dinner tonight to a house that smells like lighter fluid. It's actually hard to breathe and I got light-headed just running around opening the rest of our windows.

I'd like to buy them a chimney starter as a good will gesture and ask them to stop using the lighter fluid for their grill. I figured it would be good to know the health hazards of the fumes and smoke from the buring fluid before I stomp downstairs and complain, but I'm having a hard time finding information.

Any information for the health risks of inhaling burned lighter fluid fumes would be great.

If you have any advice or experience dealing with downstairs neighbors and their barbeque hazards, those could be useful as well.

How to deal with age difference among friends?

Anonymous — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 00:10:02 -0800

How does a woman in her mid-40s keep her self-esteem in an sea of thirtysomethings? I am a woman in my mid-40s, married to a man 10 years my junior. Our relationship is very good, so no problems there. We are okay with our age difference (within our marriage) and truly love each other. However, our circle of friends consists of mainly early 30somethings--his friends--who I met through him. Although I have managed to fit in socially with his younger friends (because I have relatively good social skills), sometimes I feel like I'm way too old for this group of friends, and that I have nothing in common with them, as my priorities and interests are often completely different from theirs. I feel as though I need to "hide" my age from these friends because most of them have made numerous, rather insensitive age-ist comments that make it clear that they see anyone over 40 as ancient. (I won't go into details here, but let's just say that this is a very youth-oriented social circle that is very interested in partying and youth culture in general). Unfortunately, this makes me feel ashamed about who I am, and has had a definite effect on my self-esteem. I want to be okay with who I am, and with my age, despite the fact that I am socializing among people a full generation younger than me. Any suggestions on how to deal with this situation? Should I try to convince my husband to move back to my city of origin, to be with my accepting and familiar circle of 40something friends (he has met all of them and likes them and relates to them)? Or can I summon some strength from within myself, that I didn't know existed, to make me feel better about myself--or at least NOT feel like a grandma at social functions? I pose this question to you Mefites, as there is a wealth of wisdom and experience out there, and I welcome your comments.

Looking for a fully covered swim suit

tom123 — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:57:25 -0800

I am looking for a women's swimwear, which is fully covered. Can you pl. recommend some shopping store. The reason i am looking for fully covered is i have some marks on my upper arms and legs (on the thighs) due to skin surgery/transplantation and i want to cover them, so that they are not visible.

How to stop being a miserable wretch and start living

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:20:52 -0800

I seriously need some inspiration here. I'm female, 32, single, miserable in my job, cannot seem to get it together, and don't seem to find enough hours in the day to simply HANDLE MY LIFE. Ok, I know this question has been tackled in various forms over time, but I seriously need some inspiration here. I'm female, 32, single, miserable in my job, cannot seem to get it together, and don't seem to find enough hours in the day to simply HANDLE MY LIFE. I'm obsessing over the guy who just dumped me, my friends are all getting married and having babies, and I live alone in a wreck of an apartment, struggling to pay off mountains of student loans and sinking further into a depression. I've been seeing a psychologist, who has helped. I've been exercising tons, which has helped. But I just saw photos of myself that actually frightened me because over the past year I have declined so much physically that I barely recognize myself. I look old and tired and faded. I feel frustrated and alone and ugly and terrified.

I know: Boo-hoo. I understand that this is life, that these feelings and the experience of aging are not unique to me. But I feel like I need to make some radical changes and I do not even know where to begin. If it was as simple as getting a new job, I'd do it. If it meant getting a new apartment, great. If packing up my belongings and moving to Sri Lanka would help, I'd, y'know, give it some thought? I just don't know. I volunteer. I eat healthy. I socialize. I'm just not getting anywhere.

Any ideas on how to come back to life again?

Staying Fit While Traveling in Europe

gm2007 — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:41:18 -0800

Going on vacation to Germany and Italy for 2 weeks. Looking for ways to try to stay fit while traveling. We will be staying with friends in Germany and may have access to a Gym, but will be staying in a house in Italy with no gym access. Any ideas for this? Possibly equipment that I could take that would assist?

Please tell me what to eat!

Anonymous — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 09:24:51 -0800

I make bad food decisions. I would like someone to tell me exactly what to eat for every meal, every day. After a bad few years, I need to get myself back down to healthy weight but I fail at food. I know all the principles of a healthy diet in theory, but that knowledge does nothing to make me eat better, it just makes me feel guilty.

I am tired of thinking about food. I don't want to try to figure out what to eat, or feel bad about what I do eat, or keep making excuses for why eating a giant bowl of pasta and some chocolate chip cookies is probably not that bad, right?

I've tried a couple diet plans, but they are all so open-ended and full of choices that I find it really, really easy to justify even more bad food decisions.

Are there any people or books or websites or diet plans or anything that will tell me exactly what to eat and how much, in order to lose weight and be more healthy? I don't want 'cheat days' or my choice of dessert or a list of 100 'serves 4!' recipes for me to put together and modify myself. I don't mind spending money or cooking, but I don't like wasting food, so having to buy a head of lettuce or whatever for one meal, one day, and then throwing the rest away wouldn't be good. I'd like the meal plans to make sense in grocery-shopping, weekly-planning way. Does anything like this exist?

(And just to be clear, I'm looking for the type of healthy diet that includes whole foods and common sense, not any fad diets)