I have a nail that is tearing off and was wondering if it’s safe to work with as a mechanic (it gets oil all through it.) as well as I have had the flu the past few days making me feel very unwell, throwing up daily and missing work. I’ve been asked for a doctor's note for the flu but thought I might ask about my nail as well.

August 26th, 2023

I recently moved to Vietnam from the Philippines for work, and I've started to notice that when I blow my nose in the mornings, there's a little blood, but not like liquid blood, more like in lines/strands. I do blow my nose quite regularly as my family runs a sort of rhinitis, so we all have runny noses quite often. What could be causing this and what should I do?

December 8th, 2023

I was diagnosed with tonsillitis about a week and a half ago, finished the antibiotics, and still have significant swelling in my left tonsil. I went to the ER, where they ruled out an abscess and prescribed new antibiotics, but there has been no improvement. The swelling is constant, overlaps with my uvula, and causes pain when swallowing and neck pain on the left side. I'm currently taking Prozac, Buspirone, and Abilify for depression/anxiety, and my only allergy is to tree nuts. I've been on two different antibiotics, the first for 7 days and the second for 3 days, with no change in swelling. I'm concerned about the swelling affecting my ability to talk and breathe, especially during sleep. I also have tonsil stones on the left side. What could be causing this persistent swelling, and what should I do next?

June 25th, 2023

I have high cholesterol, which I believe is stress and anxiety-related, not diet-related. I eat a clean diet, including organic foods and avoiding seed oils and other 'icky' things. I am 5'4" and 138 pounds, not overweight, but I am chronically stressed due to motherhood, fear of COVID, and other life details. My doctor gave me 3 months to lower my cholesterol. How can I lower my cholesterol if stress is the main cause, and what steps can I take to manage my stress?

March 11th, 2023

I have had stomach pain on and off for months, recently tested positive for occult blood on a home FIT test. I have noted fatigue for one month, lower stomach pain, and upper left quadrant pain intermittently with a history of moderate GERD. Bloodwork today shows RBC 5.14, Hgb 16.1, HCT 46%. I have a GI appointment in May 2023 but would like to know the possibilities of occult blood reasonings -- could a hemorrhoid cause this (I have lower external ones and maybe internal ones)? What else could cause this FIT test positive? Is 15.6-16.1 Hgb ok? Is occult bleeding less or more serious typically versus overt bleeds such as black stools? What should I do prior to my appointment? Medications to take? Dietary changes?

April 2nd, 2023