I looked in memories, but didn't find anything related to my problem. I've had thick, dry, dead skin on my feet for a long time, abot 5-7 years+. Especially on the outer parts of my big toe and under my baby toe, on the side. It gets very sore when I walk or stand for long periods of time, but now recently it's sore when I don't walk or stand at all. I've soaked and used a pumice stone as well as one of those metal scrapers for the longest time. I'm at my wits end since I recently got a job where I stand and walk for 8 hours+ I've bought clogs(big mistake) and some off brand insoles for my sneakers. I hardly have any comfort for my feet. I was thinking of forget trying to get rid of the dead skin, since I've failed for years on trying to get rid of it and just buy Dr. Scholl's gel insoles for my feet since I've heard they are good for feet, just to get a little more support than I am getting.

Any advice is greatly appreciated. Sorry for long post.

Tweaks and enhancements

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4. You'll now receive the Writer's Block Question of the Day in the body of email notifications. To sign up for Writer's Block notifications, visit writersblock and choose the Watch Community option. Next, update your Writer's Block notification settings by checking the box to the right of "Someone posts a new entry to writersblock."
5. Paid and permanent users can now view, add, and edit Notes of commenters. Notes will appear beside the username of comment posters (instead of stars) on S1-themed comment pages.

Send some lovin' thanks to your friends with our holiday vgifts!

Photos of the week

We're so delighted with the immense talent of our growing, global lj_photophile community that we've decided to introduce a poll. Each week, we'll choose a half-dozen photos (based on user comments and staff feedback) and ask you to select a photo of the week. The winning photo will be announced in the next newsletter. If possible, please limit photo size to 350x350 to ensure that images display properly on friends pages. We want to thank you again (and again!) for sharing your passion.

Check out this week's photo poll and more fantastic user content after the jump!

( Read more... )

Curtains

Thanks for joining us. To our American friends, have a fantastic Thanksgiving. To all of our international neighbors, we'll eat a little extra for you!

My last period was about 8 days due to taking Plan B. It ended, finally, about three days ago. However, just recently during masturbation I noticed that I'm spotting. My period isn't due again for another month. What is this???

Hi ladies. I'm currently staying in Taiwan where Hepatitis is a big concern. Because I had to fly here on such a short notice, I wasn't able to get my hepatitis vaccination looked at. I saw a doctor today who ordered some blood work for me in order to proceed (I've actually gotten all but the last Twinrix shots about 4 or 5 years ago) and I think he is going to check for antibodies? So, my question is, how do you know if the antibody is from having some immunity against hepatitis as oppose to currently having an hepatitis infection? Also, what are the possible scenarios that I could face? Can I just take the last shot of twinrix that I missed (after a long lapse?) Is it possible that I've lost all immunity and have to take the series of shots again? and is there any harm to doing the series again even if I have some immunity? - I'm sure the doctor will have an explanation for me after looking at my blood work next Wednsday but I'm curious.

Hello

I saw a GP today, I told her I wanted to get my moles checked as I have quite a few of them. I mentioned that I have a mole on my right breast, that appeared about... 8 or 9 months ago, started as a freckle, and has now become a 2mm or so raised mole. I've always been a freckly/moley person so I didn't think anything of it when it turned up.

She got a really worried look on her face and said I should go see a dermatologist for a specialist opinion immediately... she looked so concerned for me I'm kind of frightened. She wrote me a referral but I've called 3 dermatologists in my city and none of them have appointments until next February at least.

Is there any other way to get this mole checked as soon as possible?

I've been feeling lately that my neck has been getting kind of fat. Is there anything specifically I can do to stop/reverse this? Thanks!

So a couple nights ago I was sleeping at my friends house when I dreamed this:


( Wheeeeee! )

Hallo everyone. :) I'm new to the board and I'm looking around for answers to some questions relating to some minor lady problems.

My cycles seem to have changed a bit in the last few months and I'm not sure why. My flow got lighter, cramps started lasting longer, and my cycle got more 'regular' as far as arrival time. I also notice I have tenderness in both sides of my pelvis (where my ovaries would be) at various times...sometimes right before my period, always during, and usually for a few days after it ends. I wouldn't even really call it pain because it's not painful...just a little uncomfortable. I also feel like I'm bloating more than usual, but my clothes still fit and my waist measurement seems to be the same (I measure myself a lot since I'm trying very hard to lose weight). And sometimes when I use the restroom, I feel extra pain in those already-tender spots.

I'm a hypochondriac, so of course when I research these symptoms and see I have several signs of ovarian cancer, I'm going to freak out. The only real new symptom is the change in my periods...I have gotten random unexplained bloating for a few years and the tenderness has happened on and off for a while too. I tell myself I don't have cancer because I've never had an issue with hormones, I'm still pretty young (I'm 22), and as far as I know, there's no family history of any sort of female cancer.

I want to say it's not cancer because it's not really even pain...it just kinda feels like strained muscles, and it also has not worsened, nor is it constant. I can't go to a doctor because I no longer have insurance, there's no women's clinic around here, and I have no means of transportation...which is why I'm here asking about what these symptoms could be a sign of. Has anyone else here ever felt like this?

65redroses
Eva is a vibrant young woman with Cystic Fibrosis who survived a double lung transplant. Read about her difficult recovery and personal triumphs over pain, isolation, and fear. Back in school, Eva now works part-time in a children's center and enjoys running and cross-country skiing. A documentary on her story, entitled 65 Red Roses, won three awards at the Vancouver International Film Festival.

meet_other_moms
A warm and welcoming "Add me" community for moms of all ages and backgrounds from around the world. If you're a mom, just post a little about yourself and start connecting with other mothers based on similar hobbies, musical interests, book/TV/movie preferences, or taste in humor! A great way for busy moms to socialize online.

kitchenfaq
Want to share a fabulous home recipe for coconut bread? Suddenly run out of confectioner's sugar with company on the way and need to find out a quick in-house substitute? Searching for tips on what to charge for a custom-designed wedding cake? Whether you're a professional chef, an aspiring culinary wizard, or a happy home-baker, you'll get delicious guidance from fellow and sister foodies.

hey, i know that teeth are usually very common symbols in dreams, but i've looked everywhere and i can't figure this one out, i want to know if you guys have heard anything specific about this:


i keep having dreams about biting down really hard on my teeth.

( to be more specific: )

I know they've both got their issues, I mean my sister is a drug addict and my mother is a poor, heart-broken woman. But I can't help feeling like, a bout of jealousy, maybe.. They are both recognizably underweight. And, I feel guilty for the way I feel (I often do), but I'll try to describe it as best as I can:

I tried really hard to change my life around; though I wasn't in as deep as my sister is, and I just may have been as depressed as my own mother is, but I still feel, to this day, terrible for the grief I caused my family last year. I find it entirely unfair that they are more underweight now. Even though I am 99.9% happy with my body now, I still have this longing for it.

I know, I'm a terrible, terrible person. Of course I try to get my mother to eat more, but she hasn't got the appetite lately. Just very sad, she is. And my sister, well she's an 18-year-old oxycotin addict. She "detoxed" twice (didn't last long) at my house, and the last time she threw it in my face. "I like being skinny," she said. I've gained 15 lbs, I mean not just to save them grief, but to help myself too, obviously. And yeah, I'm happy with that. I don't know what I'm getting at. My feelings suck.

I'm not sure where to start with this. I'm just miserable lately. I think it's menstrual, because it was worst last month just before/first day of my period. Now, I'm about a week before my period, and I'm miserable. My moods are everywhere, I feel like a failure at everything (despite the fact that I'm doing relatively well at most things right now), I hate myself to the point of "i wish i wouldn't wake up in the morning", I'm doubting my ability to cope (I even took my razor out of the shower last night). I don't know how to deal with this, it hasn't happened except for last month. I've been trying to numb myself completely by taking a shower with only the hot water on. I can't seem to numb out tho...I used to do it, back when I was cutting. Last month, I resorted to that...the cutting. I'm scared I'll do that again this month. The cuts weren't deep last month, more like weak scratches than anything. Cutting isn't the worst thing I could do anyways, at least I'm taking it out on myself instead of my fiance, our cats, friends, or whoever/whatever else I might get pissed off at. I literally can't even keep up with my moods. One second, I can't stand our cat because he's so dumb/goofy, the next I'm laughing at him, the next I'm almost in tears because he doesn't get along with our other cat. All this within about 30 seconds. I'm exhausted within a couple hours of getting up because I can't keep track of how to contain my current mood. Can anyone help me? I need a home remedy for this because I have no health insurance and there's no free clinic except for people under 18 within 50 miles of me. I have $100 to make it until Christmas (I don't pay bills, I drive 400 miles a week to and from school). Please help me, I'm losing my mind.

Cross-posted to Better Ideas

Yesterday I found a strange lump on my abdomen. It's on the right side, like right along my rib cage. It's fairly large and hurts when I press on it and I can kind of move it around.

You can't see anything from the outside, like if it were a zit or something (and the lump is much larger than that).

Does anyone know what this might be??



I have a Dr. appt. on Tuesday (for pains in my stomach area, between my rib cage) so I'll mention it then. With all this stuff happening in the same general area I'm feeling a little freaked out.

For as long as I can remember, my #1 fear (as stupid as it sounds) has always been falling and knocking out my two front teeth.

Recently I've been scared that my teeth are coming loose. I started putting my retainer (the top part) in at night a couple of weeks ago because I know I grind my teeth at night, this being a reason why I think my teeth are coming loose. I'm 23 and have always had really healthy teeth; I brush twice a day and floss and use mouth wash at night. I didn't have my first cavity until I was something like... 17.

Is there anything that I can do to ease my mind, or am I just being crazy?

Hey,

So last night I had an extremely bad nightmare. Maybe someone can help me here.

So my sister, Meg and I decided to go to the theatre together. A bunch of people our age (early 20's) were there. We were all hanging out, having a good time, when all of a sudden we heard some scream bloody murder. Turns out the owner of the theatre was killing us off one by one, and she was the only person who knew who would be next, and for what reason they would die. She explained to us how it was like a game. Break a tiny little rule, and you die. Be good students, and you will be able to leave with your lives. So, I am sitting in a different section away from Meg and her friends. I look over at her and see her playing a card game with her friends. The owner decides that she's going to join them in one card game. Meg ends up winning the game, but one of her friends laugh at her, saying that she cheated. Meg laughs and pulls hidden cards out and says, "yeah, it's true. I cheated." She continues laughing, as the owner gets up and walks away. I turn around, and a minute later, I hear Meg scream! Then I hear nothing, and then a liquid sound being poured into a container, like a bucket. A minute later, the owner stand right by me with a bucket. She then lifts the bucket over my head, and pours the contents on top of me. She smiles and says, "I hope you like my treat." Right then I freak out, screaming, because I know it's Meg's blood. The owner walks away. Then a group of guys behind me get up and say that they are leaving. I turn to them and ask if they can do that? They say, yea, so I follow. As I walk out those doors, the owner just looks at me. Once outside, I run for deer life.

Any ideas? This is mad freaky shit. No lie. By the way, thanks in advance. :)
~Jilly~

naturesbeauty
Always on the lookout for compelling images, we were delighted to discover this flourishing community of artists who share a love of nature. Honoring the subject with photographs, paintings, sketches, prose, poetry, and
other creative works, you'll be simultaneously riveted to your monitor and inspired to run helter skelter towards the nearest wooded dale.

Hi Folks,

There are several calls to action contained within this blog entry. I've el-jay cut the bulk of the content, so see below.

PLEASE CALL Your Senators and the White House TODAY and urge them to support the following:

1.) Please call or write the White house Comments Line at: 202-456-1111
Or via the net at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/CONTACT/

You don't need to leave your name or address at the White House, as they do not take that information.

Ask President Obama to remain committed to reproductive freedom and Pro-Choice. Tell him that while you would prefer the Hyde Amendment to be repealed, the current language put forward in the Senate version of the health care reform is something that you can live with in the short term, provided that the Stupak Amendment restrictions are permanently REMOVED in the FINAL BILL as signed into law by the President. Remember to inform the White House that you DO NOT support the Hyde Amendment and that you feel that the current language is AT BEST A COMPROMISE THAT STILL UNDERMINES WOMEN'S HEALTH. Tell them that you will be working with both national and grassroots organizations in the future to REPEAL the Hyde Amendment.

2.) Please also support the following Pro Choice Presidential Nominees:

a.) Tell President Obama that you are happy that the Senate confirmed Pro-Choice Judge Hamilton to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday. This is GREAT news for Pro Choice supporters, because Judge Hamilton was crucial in overturning a parental notification law in Indiana in 2001.

b.) Tell President Obama that you are supportive of Pro Choice Attorney Dawn Johnsen being appointed to President Obama's Office of Legal Counsel . Currently, she is three votes shy of confirmation in the Senate and has been facing obstruction to her post by conservative Republicans.

c.) Tell President Obama that you are supportive of the appointment of openly lesbian candidate, Chai Feldblum, to the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission [EEOC]. Feldblum is Pro-Choice and was instrumental in authoring language for the the American's with Disabilities Act [ADA] and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act [ENDA]. Feldblum has passed her confirmation hearings and is expected to be voted on in the Senate by the end of next month.

2.) Call your Senators and tell them that you phoned the White House and repeat similar comments as above.

Sign the NARAL Online Petition to encourage the Senate to Confirm Dawn Johnsen, which can be found here.

Remember to leave your name and address with your Senator's Office, so that they can confirm that you vote.

3.) Sign the White House and Senate Pro-Choice Online petitions and if you can do so, RALLY IN WASHINGTON, DC on DEC. for reproductive freedom!

Excerpts from the Senator Reid's Health Care Bill regarding the abortion language can be found beneath the cut, as well as a link to the recent analysis by George Washington Law School regarding the long term negative impact of the Stupak Amendment on abortion services and women's health.

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