My very mentally ill brother may be in a dangerous situation. It appears that his guardian has revoked the consent my brother gave so that I can talk to his caregivers. What the hell can I do now.
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posted by angrycat
on Mar 12, 2013 -
13 answers
I'm going into the health field and curious about cultural/ethnic health practices that are off the beaten path. For example, can anyone tell me the "what", "how", and "why" of cupping and coining? What other cultural/religious/traditional practices can you share?
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posted by mschief
on Mar 10, 2013 -
33 answers
Two days ago I had some sort of emotional/mental breakdown. I got help in the immediate sense, but I'm not sure how to process and get over it.
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posted by trogdole
on Mar 1, 2013 -
26 answers
After asking
this question, I am looking for a new doctor within an hour or so of the DC area who is willing to treat hypothyroidism with medications that aren't T4-only, and treat based on symptoms.
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posted by picapica
on Feb 28, 2013 -
9 answers
I was researching sequential eating and would like some advice, here are my thoughts and questions: It seems that it takes (on average) 2-4 hours for foods or beverages to leave the stomach.
I was wanting to eat/drink something specific every two hours.
I have 8 hours to sleep every night, and I like to eat right before sleep as well.
This leaves me with 16 hours in a wakened state. Or, 9 segments of eating/drinking. (I drink water right when I wake up)
On the basis of sequential eating, what are some useful tips/advice I could keep in consideration while putting together snacks of 1-3 things?
It's looking like 4 meals a day, 5 drinks a day, alternating every two hours. OR, what I would rather prefer, is eating 9 meals a day (fruit in the morning with my water), and drinking 6oz of water every hour on the dot. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
posted by JamesBlakeAV
on Feb 27, 2013 -
4 answers
My Mom drank a can of coke. She discovered after drinking there was a mass of live worms in the can. She probably ingested some of these alive. I AM VERY CONCERNED. Photo below.
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posted by instead of three wishes
on Feb 26, 2013 -
32 answers
What was your experience coming off of anti-depressants? When you were on them, did you experience blunting of feelings and emotions and when you were tapering or went off cold turkey, did you feel a return to your former self/return of your personality?
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posted by BlueMartini7
on Feb 25, 2013 -
14 answers
I am starting a new corporate job in the city next week after working in a casual semi-rural office for the past 2 years, where I could make toast for breakfast whenever I felt like it. I can't eat within the first hour of waking up so am looking for some great breakfast smoothies/drinks I can make that I can drink on the train to work that will actually fill me up until lunch time.
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posted by sunshine arakhan
on Feb 25, 2013 -
13 answers
Need a website or book that has daily workout routines. What I'd like is one that has a time for cardio and then a daily focus on arms, legs, or core, etc. Sort of like you'd get from a trainer but something you can do at home. We have an elliptical, awesome weight bench, and other assorted exercise equipment. Suggestions? (Woman, btw). I'd love it if it somehow tied into the BodyMedia Fit or Spark People, but it doesn't have to.
posted by Raichle
on Feb 25, 2013 -
4 answers
Can someone explain why old age or bone loss causes older people to have a hump in their upper back or neck? I think its called dowager’s hump.
posted by john123357
on Feb 21, 2013 -
16 answers
My wife, who has had an insulin pump for almost 18 years, has somehow never traveled more than one time zone with it. Next week she has 5 day business trip to the West Coast, and we live on the East Coast. Any diabetic MeFi's have experience crossing 3 time zones with a pump?
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posted by COD
on Feb 17, 2013 -
7 answers
Maybe you've felt this before. You are either running a fever or you are stoned on pain meds or cannabis. You're seated or lying down. You feel long, as if the distance from your head to your hands is maybe ten meters. Meanwhile you are anchored and somewhat paralyzed because it takes so long for signals to travel that vast distance of the nervous system.
I'm searching for a medical term for this. Any ideas? Am I just asking what the medical term for "stoned" is?
I am tracking symptoms for a doctors visit.
Thank you.
Dude.
posted by No Shmoobles
on Feb 15, 2013 -
4 answers
About a decade ago I started University in the UK. Towards the end of my first year a friend I made began to become paranoid. His behaviour towards me was particularly troubling, and eventually rumours circulated that he had been institutionalised. I have always wondered what happened to him, and if he is OK. My concerns linger these many years later, but tracking him down online has achieved nothing. Is there any way I can find out if everything turned out alright for him, preferably without causing too many ripples?
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posted by anonymous
on Feb 11, 2013 -
12 answers
For known medical reasons, I have recently starting to see swelling around/above the ankles. I know why - and the implications - so I'm good there. However, I have also started to notice that the tops of the low socks I wear leave a moderate impression in the swelling, suggesting that I am indeed cutting off some the circulation in the skin. And I believe I am seeing moderate discoloration in the top of the foot (and some times much more visible veins) as a result. Do I need to be concerned here? Am I doing damage worth avoiding? Do I need to look into a looser sock that does not grip as tightly (and therefore probably falls down more :-( ) ?
posted by Cardinal Fang!
on Feb 11, 2013 -
8 answers
A good friend of mine is working in a field that involves a lot of radiation. It's just sort of an occupational hazard. Just wondering, are there foods or a specific kind of diet that is healthy/has a proven ability to reduce the risk of getting cancer? I have heard anecdotal stuff, but am wondering if there is any proven (scientific) work out there on this. I want to protect my friend and I am curious for myself too!
posted by kettleoffish
on Feb 10, 2013 -
17 answers
My dad went to a doctor; the doctor told him, out of nowhere, he had early-onset dementia. What gives?
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posted by orangutan
on Feb 8, 2013 -
16 answers
Healthy 26-year-old woman in DC with private health insurance, planning to start trying to get pregnant at the end of the year.
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posted by crunchysalty
on Feb 8, 2013 -
16 answers
I have some documents that have been sprinkled with diatomaceous earth. How do I get the diatomaceous earth off so I can use the documents without breathing any in?
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posted by needs more cowbell
on Feb 6, 2013 -
6 answers
I live in northern New York where we have short hot summers of about 2 to 3 months and long cold winters. I have a variety of health problems, including joint problems, and hormone problems including low testosterone and higher than normal estrogen (I am a male) . I have noticed that in the summertime If I sit outside for one to two hours every day to absorb the sun I feel healthier, my joints hurt less, my hormones seem better, and I have more energy. Also if I have a cut or a twisted ankle It seems to heal faster then in the winter.
Assuming that it was the vitamin D from the sun that was causing this , I took vitamin D pills every day in the winter. However, I did not experience any of the benefits that I experienced with regular sunshine exposure.
This leads me to believe there is something else, some sort of other healing power in the sun that either science is not aware of yet or that I am simply not aware of. Is this possible?
posted by john123357
on Feb 5, 2013 -
23 answers
Is it safe to admit to a new psychiatrist that I have tried some anti-anxiety drugs given to me by friends who were trying to help me out?
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posted by anonymous
on Feb 4, 2013 -
19 answers
I have recently been diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I've been tested for this annually over the last five years ( standard health MOT tests, its not something I've been anticipating although my maternal granny has hypothyroidism since her 60s) In January it emerged that my TSH tests are
borderline abnormal and the antibodies test actually gave a strong positive . My GP explained that this indicates it may not be a big problem right now, but that it is something I will inevitably have to deal with sooner or later.
Frankly the thought of having to take medication every day is really depressing me and I'm reluctant to start it now if I can put it off till later in life. May not seem like a big deal to some folk to have to take one pill every day but for me to be dependent on any type of medication is such a grim thought. I plan to go overseas at the end of this year to Asia and last thing I want is to have to be worrying about a daily medication.
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posted by kudra23
on Feb 2, 2013 -
35 answers
I'm 24, and I live in the suburbs a half-hour north of Boston. I'm about to get health insurance that includes mental care. I don't know how the private healthcare system works. How should I get a mental-health diagnosis? What doctors and therapists in the area could help me with whatever problems I may have? Details inside.
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posted by Rustic Etruscan
on Feb 1, 2013 -
8 answers
Medical Issue: I have a subtle jittery/ticking sensation in my throat and I've seen a doctor and 2 PAs and no one seems to know what is going on. What should be my next steps? Important details inside.
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posted by anonymous
on Feb 1, 2013 -
11 answers
I'm not sure if i should discontinue my health coverage or not, and how to handle it - and if there's any way to *temporarily* discontinue my health coverage.
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 30, 2013 -
8 answers
Should I get a standing desk? Please share your pros and cons, and any tips!
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posted by Miko
on Jan 30, 2013 -
27 answers
Now that
WeEndure is going away, I need somewhere to track my exercise. There are a number of places that have biking and running, but not swimming. I'd prefer simpler to the more complex sites like MapMyRun (which, again, doesn't do swimming, from what I can see). I have seen
this and wondered what things are out there, four years later. Bonus: a place that I can dump all my WeEndure data into so I hit the ground running.
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posted by notsnot
on Jan 29, 2013 -
9 answers
Need private health insurance for my partner, my workplace will be reimbursing all his private health insurance instead of adding him as family/dependent. So cost is minor issue, more concerned with good, specific coverage. We would like to go Blue Cross/Blue Shield due to previous positive experiences. Confused as to what plan will work. He works in a high-stress, very physical outdoorsy job. Without fail, he makes a few urgent care/ER visits a year and would appreciate some therapist coverage to deal with anxiety related to job. Being able to see specialists, get bloodwork and labs done without breaking the bank would be appreciated as well. Any advice? Florida here, if it matters. Looking for low deductible, fixed doctor and hospital visit costs.
posted by caveatz
on Jan 29, 2013 -
6 answers
I would like to finally find a routine I can follow to eat healthy during the week and I am looking for book recommendations. Unfortunately, most nutrition/cooking books are very one-sided (only contain recipes, only discuss cooking skills, or only nutrition theory) and very biased towards some radical approach (vegatarian/vegan, very low-carb, very high-protein etc.). I am looking for the opposite - ideally a single book for learning about nutrition, cooking and planning your groceries and cooking so all the good advice is actually actionable considering having a 40-hour workweek; also without going into any dietetic extremes and based on sound science and actual practice. Details inside.
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posted by jarekr
on Jan 27, 2013 -
17 answers
My cat is sick. I have next to no money. Is there a really-truly-worth it pet insurance company you recommend? Or is there a place I can apply for financial assistance?
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posted by greta simone
on Jan 26, 2013 -
15 answers
I'm looking for visual representations or imagery that can be used as an analogy/representation of how drinking (too much) alcohol clouds one's judgment. (explanation inside)
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 24, 2013 -
4 answers
I'm having a hard time dealing with feelings of profound loneliness and paranoia about the states of friendships which in turn affect my dreams and my moods (being a vivid dreamer) and I don't like the affect it has on my happiness. Is there any good literature or advice that you can give to help me conquer these feelings and appreciate what I have in my friends or branch out to finding others? Any communication advice to being clear with friends and alleviating my paranoia without insulting them or sounding weird?
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posted by Recca
on Jan 22, 2013 -
6 answers
I have always had a very irregular menstrual cycle. I am interested in learning about any natural ways to make it more regular.
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posted by JoannaC
on Jan 22, 2013 -
22 answers
Ok, HiveMind, I want to sharper my memory. What have you tried/implemented with success? I decided to pick up Sudoku again, but, what else is good for a mental workout and more focused on memory strengthening?
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posted by TRUELOTUS
on Jan 21, 2013 -
13 answers
Where in Melbourne, Australia can I be tested for STIs? I live in the eastern suburbs, so the
Melbourne Sexual Health Centre isn't particularly convenient - though if it is cheaper/quicker for testing/results, I will consider making the trip there.
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 18, 2013 -
4 answers
I'm trying to figure out the best choice for individual health insurance for myself, and I'd like to have it pay for my currently-out-of-pocket therapy, but I have questions about how this works. Does therapy count as an "office visit"? Do I actually want insurance to cover therapy? (I'm in the US.)
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posted by mysh
on Jan 17, 2013 -
10 answers
Just experienced a very weird dizzy spell...suddenly the room started spinning and I literally had to lay down on the floor of my office for about 10 minutes.
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posted by rainbowbrite
on Jan 14, 2013 -
17 answers
My psychiatrist, who practices holistic/integrative medicine, says non-food-based brands of vitamin B are useless because the body does not actually absorb them. Is this true?
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posted by shiggins
on Jan 13, 2013 -
22 answers
Beyond the initial challenges of quitting smoking, what are the longer-term effects? How does life actually change?
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 13, 2013 -
34 answers
Pedometer recommendation: is there an open source alternative to Fitbit? Or should I go back to a cheap Omron?
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posted by kristi
on Jan 8, 2013 -
4 answers
The aroma and flavor that garlic and onion in any form yield stay in my system way longer than reasonable. I need to be able to eat these two foods to help my immune system and my sinuses function better, but I can't stand the aftermath anymore (and now that I have a boyfriend again, I'm extra sensitive to yucky breath and stuff). What can I eat or drink to counteract these side effects so I can keep onions and garlic in my diet?
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posted by These Birds of a Feather
on Jan 6, 2013 -
12 answers
