Ask MetaFilter

I'm a parent, and I've got trauma that I am about to get some treatment for. What are your favorite tips for self-care and trauma work when someone is also a parent? [more inside]
posted by crunchy potato at 2:00 PM - 1 answers

I’d like to get a Korean body scrub, but don’t want to spend all day at a spa. Are there any places in NYC or Long Island that offer body scrubs completely a la carte?
posted by ocherdraco at 11:50 AM - 1 answers

Part way through the night last night I woke up noting that one of my knees felt a bit swollen and didn’t like being bent the way I often bend one leg while sleeping. This morning, both knees are like this. Wtf? Should I worry? Should I treat it somehow? [more inside]
posted by olinerd at 11:51 AM - 7 answers

The skin on the back of my thighs is bumpy (from what seems like ingrown hairs) and I have a tendency to unconsciously pick at the bumps, resulting in little spots that bleed and sometimes scab or get hyperpigmented. I think exfoliating regularly will help. But what’s the best way to exfoliate the back of one’s thighs on a regular basis?
posted by ocherdraco at 9:39 PM - 13 answers

I've dealt with allergies/asthma for most of my life as well as mental illness. So basically I'm overly sensitive to everything. But this past year I've begun to suspect that allergens may directly modulate neurotransmitter regulation associated with mood rather than simply predisposing one to a negative psychological reaction. How strong is the evidence for this? [more inside]
posted by WhitenoisE at 6:46 PM - 13 answers

If you've ever recovered from disordered eating or an eating disorder and had to get through weight fluctuations and changes... what, aside from therapy, helped you get through this period? [more inside]
posted by fernweh at 5:43 PM - 10 answers

I am very skinny - thin wrists and skinny legs with a gut. What can I do? [more inside]
posted by kbbbo at 6:36 AM - 16 answers

Please help me find more songs like Ryn Weaver's "Reasons Not To Die." I'm looking for songs about resilience, thankfulness, humor, and love when dealing with depression. [more inside]
posted by cr_joe at 6:20 AM - 20 answers

Healthy and active female relative in early seventies is having laser outpatient surgery on one eye at a time for cataracts. First op is this week and I would like to get or do whatever might make things more comfortable. I am fully available to assist with tasks and I can throw a few quid at something that might make life easier or more pleasant around this time.
posted by Iteki at 5:47 AM - 11 answers

I am a woman whose new male partner has been dealing with jock itch (or another fungal condition) off and on for most of the last year, but who is currently asymptomatic. His last symptoms were 10 days ago. Should I have sex with him? If you're a woman whose partner has dealt with chronic jock itch, did you get it? Or, if you're a man who has had it, have you passed it to a partner? I know it can be passed to a sexual partner; my question is more about 1) the specifics of this situation and 2) your personal experience with it.
posted by anonymous at 11:06 PM - 7 answers

I’m seeking published first-person accounts from the 1980s—2000s from survivors or witnesses or caregivers during the HIV/AIDS epidemic, especially in the gay community. Any links are appreciated!
posted by Jason and Laszlo at 6:57 PM - 15 answers

Several points here I'd like input on: A) Any other chronic couch sleepers out there? What's your story? B) Is having a couch instead of a bed (as in, in your bedroom) a weird/unacceptable thing? C) How do I handle this? [more inside]
posted by snerson at 7:20 PM - 46 answers

I am allergic to All nuts, as well as peanuts. I am allergic to fish. (I am not allergic to shellfish). I am NOT allergic to their smell or even minimal contact, but I must not ingest these foods. I carry 2 epipens with me at all times, but obviously I don’t want to deal with super-high stress at every meal. Can I travel in Vietnam? In Cambodia? In Thailand? Thanks
posted by uans at 5:56 PM - 23 answers

Three days ago, my toddler was fine. Almost overnight, he and all 14 of his daycare pals have coughs and runny noses. I know how stuff spreads once it gets into a place like that. But how does it actually get in? [more inside]
posted by ficbot at 4:17 PM - 18 answers

You've probably heard about the very recent changes to the CDC's HPV vaccine recommendations, now stating that people 27-45 should get the HPV vaccine as well. My insurance company (Highmark) has not changed its coverage, though, which is frustrating since I'd get the vaccine today if it were covered. They didn't seem to have any plans to change their policy, either. Has anyone here received the vaccine when they were over 26? Did you have to pay out of pocket? Any advice would be appreciated.
posted by Seeking Direction at 12:56 PM - 11 answers

Help me figure out if switching insurance plans will make my care more affordable by sharing what your NYC-based insurance has been willing to pay as a reasonable and customary charge for out of network, outpatient talk therapy. More clarifying details under the cut. [more inside]
posted by socktastic at 12:22 PM - 6 answers

I have IBS and my stomach often makes embarrassing noises. I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions for how to stop/hide the embarrassing noises? [more inside]
posted by NoneOfTheAbove at 9:59 AM - 17 answers

I have bone spurs in my toes that make it painful to walk, and doctors have recommended shoes with rocker soles to reduce the pain. I’m experimenting with those and have found one that mostly works, but it’s challenging for various fit reasons, so I’d like to try some additional options. I have always been a toe walker and do not have any foot pain when walking barefoot in this way. What shoes will allow me to walk on my toes? [more inside]
posted by metasarah at 8:22 AM - 16 answers

Because Medical Reasons, it's been confirmed that my son's growth plate is closed and he basically won't grow any taller. He's about 5'8" now, though doc says he "might" get another 1/2 inch from his spine in the coming years. He's very bummed about this. Please help me help him work through it. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:34 PM - 64 answers

My adult child voluntarily stopped taking their ADD medication (Vyvanse) a month or so back due to panic attacks and anxiety. Now they are close to losing their new-ish job due to a decline in work performance, and they are very much panicking. They talked to their doctor about going back on the meds, but the doc does not want to start them up again due to the attacks/anxiety. How can my child convince their doctor to prescribe again? Or else does anyone know of ADHD specialists that take Medicaid and prescribe in the Cleveland area? [more inside]
posted by BuddyBoo at 8:50 AM - 6 answers