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It looks like it's time for a new doctor for our ninety-year-old relative. How can we find a good one? We haven't been able to find a gerontologist in the area by web searching. They need to be located in or near Laurel, Maryland, or in Howard County. She has good private health insurance and savings. Maybe we should be open to concierge care, although we hate the unfairness of the whole idea. [more inside]
posted by chromium at 11:56 AM - 1 answers

It may be premature and a self-diagnosis, but I believe I've developed agoraphobia/anthrophobia of a sort while on lockdown. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:42 AM - 11 answers

I have Hashimoto's since about 10 years. During the last three years the hormone replacement therapy seems to not work any more: despite ever increasing dosage and taking the meds faithfully, the symptoms persist. Searching various Hashimoto's fora a large number of people describe similar problems and often claim that treating "Adrenal Fatigue" is the answer. [more inside]
posted by 15L06 at 2:45 AM - 9 answers

My sister (48) was diagnosed with glioblastoma three weeks ago and given 1-2 years. [more inside]
posted by Dragonness at 10:42 PM - 17 answers

Two years post-surgery, I have developed a long incisional hernia around my umbilicus. Surgeon wants to mesh it, remove my belly button (common site for infection), and stitch me up. Until she gets in there, she won't know where the mesh will actually be attached. She warned of ongoing issues including chronic pain and a need to redo the surgery later. I am after personal experiences of incisional hernia repair, and recovery tips. Can you help? [more inside]
posted by Thella at 4:51 PM - 6 answers

I've had chronic iron deficiency for many years, and am scheduled for another round of IV iron starting a week from now. When I get really low it starts to cause anxiety. I was doing fine on the anxiety front but I just had the most godawful 12-day period and lost a ton of blood and it seems to have been the last straw. What can I do about anxiety that's purely physical? Meditation, watching All Creatures Great and Small with my dog on my feet, etc., don't have any effect at all, because it's not actually a mental thing.
posted by HotToddy at 11:51 AM - 21 answers

I've been in physical therapy for pain in both shoulders for about seven months after talking to my Primary Care about persistent issues. Both shoulders were making great improvements until two months ago my right shoulder totally freaked out and I started getting more pain than I've had in over a decade. PT suggested I check in with an orthopedist who ordered MRIs on both shoulders and found issues in both. I have surgery scheduled on Wednesday, which should I get fixed? Lots of details inside. [more inside]
posted by aloiv2 at 11:02 AM - 11 answers

I am looking for an infographic, or visual representation to help me understand the relative risk of underlying conditions or risk factors as they relate to likelihood of serious Covid cases (hospitalization, death) [more inside]
posted by walkinginsunshine at 10:03 AM - 6 answers

For the last couple of weeks, I've been having large hives forming on my arms and hands. Bilastine prescription helps a bit. YANMD, YANAD, but … what gives? [more inside]
posted by scruss at 5:34 PM - 17 answers

My BMI technically allows me to get the vaccine now, but should I? [more inside]
posted by greta simone at 7:39 AM - 47 answers

Help! I’ve had a headache for 6 days. I’m being treated for migraine(?) and a bulging disc in my cervical spine (C5,c6). I have an appointment tonight with the spine doctor and want to know if it’s possible for a nerve block to show whether my pain (at this time) is cervicogenic or migraine. I plan to talk to him but I’m in Germany and language is a tiny bit of an issue so I just want to know if this is practiced before I ask! Thank you in advance.
posted by pairofshades at 4:56 AM - 7 answers

I have had persistent ball of foot pain in the joint of my second toe for the past two months. After trying almost all the more conservative treatments, I'm wondering if there's anything else I can try that isn't surgery. Any ideas? [more inside]
posted by dean_deen at 7:08 PM - 12 answers

Backstory: Nearly 4 years ago, I severely pinched my left thumb between two boards when I was cutting them with a chop saw. It hurt like Hell, but nothing was broken, except the nail which was split midway between the base and tip across the entire width. The base part of the nail was slightly embedded, and the rest of it eventually detached over time. I kind of forgot about it except that I think I have some permanent nerve damage as the tip is slightly numb to the touch, but it really doesn't bother me pain wise. [more inside]
posted by lobstah at 3:56 PM - 5 answers

Several times in my life when I've been working or exercising in the heat (or even the cold!) I push myself too hard and my body retaliates. No pain no gain, but when should I worry? [more inside]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 1:54 PM - 7 answers

Where and when do they happen? I’d love some personal examples and anecdotes please. This is research for a story I’m writing. Thank you!
posted by Jason and Laszlo at 10:49 AM - 29 answers

I have a dust mite allergy, and have been using a corticosteroid nasal spray (fluticasone furoate) for many years. I have a very unfounded worry that long term use of such nasal sprays might be bad for me, like say leading to nose cancers due to the constant application of a medication to the nose. I googled around a bit but didn't find anything definitive. Am I just being silly?
posted by destrius at 6:26 PM - 6 answers

On a 2019 trip to Germany, my wife found antacids that really, really work for her. Since then, we've been importing rather marked-up packages from the Balkans. Is there a good reason why Bayer sells hydrotalcite everywhere but here in the USA? [more inside]
posted by jackbishop at 1:51 PM - 5 answers

I'm thinking of getting a trampoline so I can break up my sedentary workday with a little activity. Looking for testimonials or complaints from anyone who's got one. Wondering how easy it is on the joints. Do you recommend a particular brand? Thanks.
posted by gigondas at 1:55 PM - 22 answers

Vaccines prevent severe illness, yay! But...(how to make sense of the numbers?) [more inside]
posted by DMelanogaster at 9:41 AM - 18 answers

I'm considering spine surgery (fusion) for cervical myelopathy. If you've had this or know someone who has done this: what was the progression of symptoms like prior to surgery and what was recovery like and how long did it take? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:23 PM - 6 answers