Laurie T

For the last week or so I've been smelling a strong metallic smell - almost smells like blood. At the same time, I've experienced headaches - on both sides of my head and at the base of my head/neck. At one point, the two symptoms combined made me very nauseated.

About a month ago, I had fasting lab work done and my doctor noted that I had low iron and low protein levels - so I've been eating more protein (not more than the recommended amount, but more than I had been) and I've been taking a regular multivitamin that has 100% iron. It seems that these symptoms started about a week after I made these changes. Could they be connected?

I'm also worried that maybe these symptoms result from having a really old a/c unit in my home (I rent) - I was worried it might be due to some sort of emission or gas coming into the house now that I'm using the a/c more.

To be more specific: if you have insurance, but have not met your deductible, are you still charged 100% retail cost of the med? I take Advair and it costs $307 without insurance. I'm looking at the plans on the Marketplace and the ones I can afford don't cover meds until the deductible is met. So, in short, if I got insurance but hadn't met the deductible, do I still have to pay the full price of the med or is it a negotiated rate similar to other medical expenses?

I found what I thought was an amethyst geode in my late mother-in-law's belongings and thought it would be a good addition to my fish tank. I placed it in the tank and within an hour, all the "amethyst" had dissolved - like candy or something - and all that was left was what looked like a piece of concrete. What the heck? What was this thing made out of?

I've recently acquired quite a collection of fabrics (from my grandmother-in-law) and I've never used a sewing machine, nor do I have one. I would like to learn how to use a sewing machine and do something constructive with all this fabric - but I'd like to know what my "best bet" is for purchasing a sewing machine since they are so expensive.

My #1 concern is cost of ownership. Is purchasing a cheaper, used machine going to be worth it in the long run (are they fairly reliable appliances)? I am willing to buy something as old as me (33 years) if it's a sound purchase.

My #2 concern is ease of use. I'm a newbie - will a newer model really be that much easier to use than an older model?

There's a little more to this story than just having an uneven yard. Our home was built in 1961; in the early 70s, an above ground pool was installed (and still is there, although it's been replaced a few times). At that time, the dirt that was dug out for the pool was placed at the back of the yard in a giant mound. For several years, there was also a deck which dogs would get under and dig. So we have a mound area at the back of the yard (which as you can imagine is now very very large from nearly 40 years of settling) and one very large area that looks like a bowl in the ground where the deck was ... these are not small areas ... together they make up about half the yard.

Everything I've read online says to dig it up myself, but that really is a tall order considering the size and age of the problem areas. What kind of company do I call to handle this? A lawn care service? A construction company? I just have no idea where to start.

My 13 year old Blue Heeler has been panting more frequently lately and there's a rough sound to it like he has a frog-in-his-throat. I've listened to his lungs and they sound clear. This is a dog who's been extraordinarily healthy and active throughout his life. He hasn't shown any other signs of problems (he's not lethargic or restless and he doesn't seem to be in any pain).

He always gets his annual shots, he's on monthly HW preventative, and he has his teeth professionally cleaned regularly. Again, he is a very healthy dog in a very well pet-educated family. He's neutered. The only major problem he's ever had was a torn ACL that we had fixed a few years ago. They always say that Blue Heelers will get injured before they ever get sick! Oh, he's also on monthly flea/tick prevention drops.

His last vet check up - probably about 6 months ago - went beautifully. The doctor raved about his heart and lungs being in good shape and that "he only looks like he's 4 - not 13".

I live in a very old house with no landscaping in the front yard. There is a depression in the yard where a flower bed used to be. I would like to ressurect this area to create a new flower bed.

Problem is that this area hasn't been used as anything but lawn for 25+ years. The ground is HARD and it appears that the old flower bed had pebbles in it - that are still there, imbedded in the dirt. We've tried rototilling and the blades end up damaged from the rocks. If you could see my yard, you would know that this is the only spot where a flower bed can go - so I feel like I'm stuck. I can't get the ground tilled up.

Any ideas? Photos and links are appreciated! Thanks! Oh - by the way - I live in Oklahoma City (red clay soil).

I have pale skin and very little natural color to my cheeks. I have denim-blue eyes and medium brown hair with red undertones. I have grandparents on both sides of my family that were "ginger" - natural red heads with pale-pink skin.

When I look at the veins in my wrist (which I've been told will indicate my skin tone) they are not green or blue, but rather a teal-ish green/blue/purple sort of color. When I wear deep red, my skin really pops and has a healthy glow but my eye color takes a backseat. When I wear blue or black, my eyes pop but my skin looks sallow and ashen.

So, I'm having a really hard time finding clothing colors and make-up colors that work for me. It's nearly impossible to find the right shade of foundation (right now the closest match I've found is Ideal Flawless from Avon in Creamy Natural shade ... but it seems too pinky).

Any ideas for a sure fire way to tell what my skin tone really is? I think if I dyed my hair blonde, I'd be a warm tone OR if I put in brown contacts I could be a cool tone. It's like I'm in between the two.

I've recently had several MRIs and CT scans and am all of the sudden being charged two separate copays. As recent as last year, I had an MRI and was only charged one copay ... now I'm being told that since March 2011, patients can be charged one copay for the procedure and another copay for the radiologist to read the results.

I've had MANY scans in my life (CTs and MRIs of my brain, knee, and abdomen) and have never been charged two copays. What the heck happened in March to cause this (since everyone is saying this change happened in March)? Does anyone know? Seems like a rip-off ... no one is going to have a scan and then not have it read by a radiologist ... should be all-in-one.

My oven is 50 years old ... so, I don't have a "self-cleaning" cycle. How can I restore my cast iron skillet another way?

I need come clarification on "reasonable accommodations". My husband has a non-work related injury that is preventing him from meeting the lifting requirement for his job. The job has put him on long-term disability; he works for the state.

Their idea of "reasonable accommodation" is to force him to stay at home and receive only 60% of his pay. There are plenty of other workers in his office who could do the lifting for him (while it's part of his job description, it's not a major aspect of what he does on a day to day basis for his position).

He's also qualified for other jobs in the company. For instance, he recently applied for another job within the company (a job he is overqualified for) and instead of just moving him over, they hired someone else.

On top of all of this, he's a minority (Native American). The person they hired in that position he applied for was white.

So, my question is: what can he do? Can he file a complaint with EEOC? Is this considered discrimination? Is forcing him to stay at home with 60% pay considered "reasonable" ... because it sure isn't to us. Should we contact a lawyer?

We live in a home that has never had any professional work done on it. Basically, since 1961, anything that's been fixed, has been fixed by an amateur. Now, we're paying the price. $3000 just to fix the electrical wiring, a few hundred here, a few hundred there.

We really like our neighborhood. Is it cheaper to bulldoze and rebuild? We owe about $15K on the house.

Sounds strange, right? Well, we got a new above ground pool and it is slightly smaller in diameter than our previous pool, so we have space all the way around that needs to be filled in. I'm new to this whole landscaping thing and I've heard I can get free dirt from certain places. How do I find those places (I live in Oklahoma City).

The one she hits Thor with (multiple times)?

I live in Oklahoma, which is semi-arid, but can have extreme weather (flooding, droughts, high winds, etc). I'd like to begin a container vegetable garden, but I'm having trouble finding what vegetables will grow well in containers ... and what size container is needed. Any advice? (Things I want to grow include: green onions, white onion, green beans, tomatoes, potatoes, okra, squash, soy beans, strawberries, jalapenos, etc).

I'm in my early 30s and have not been pregnant, ever. My menstrual cramps continue to worsen every year to the point where they are nearly debilitating. I keep hearing "old wives tales" that the reason they continually get worse is because I haven't had children yet and that, somehow, having children causes cells in the uterus to die off, thereby causing menstrual cramps to lessen.

It all sounds hokey to me. Has anyone heard this before or have any info on the subject? Inappropriate comments will be flagged.

I have chronic patellofemoral pain in my right knee from a "sliding" kneecap. I've done fairly well at managing the problem. A few days ago I was stepping down from a step ladder and felt excruciating sudden pain in my right knee accompanied by a loud cracking sound.

Since then I've had severe pain in my knee and pain radiating up the inside of my leg from my knee to my groin and pain radiating up the back of my leg from my knee to my buttocks. I have an appointment to see the doc tomorrow, but I'm really wondering what in the world might be wrong. Are these symptoms of a pinched nerve or torn cartilage or something?

My husband is holding on to this really old VCR and won't let me toss it or donate it. It's from the early 80's I think. It's got the wood veneer and knobs and it top-loads. I hate it. It takes up too much space and I don't think there's any "antique" market for it. What do you think?