Is a silicone-based lube safe to use or can it lead to yeast infections? Whatingredients should you look after for that may cause infections? - Is a silicone-based lube safe to use or can it lead to yeast infections? What ingredients should you look after for that may cause infections?I have sharp stabbing pains started at the back of my jaw near pressure pointbehind left ear, now the pain was reached the top left side of my head. - I started to have sharp stabbing pains at the pressure point behind my left ear on thursday, then pains then started to move upwards, now the pains are around my ear to the top left part of my head. Plus the top of my head in a certain area is sensitive to touch.Potential early, mild heart failure - I'm a 21 year old very physically active male. I suffer from infrequent palpitations so I recently had a few tests done. My question involves the results from echocardiogram. I showed no signs whatsoever of DCM or HCM, but my EF% and FS% were on the low side, especially for someone my age and activity level. My EF was 52% and my FS was 22%. I understand that 55 and 25 are the normal, respective cut-offs for those two values. The only other abnormality on my test involved a few numbers with my mitral valve function. My deceleration time was pretty high at 392ms. Now, I have been doing some research to prepare myself for an appointment I have with a cardiologist this upcoming Monday, and I have become a little worried about these numbers. I'm kind of worried that the general fatigue and palpitations I have felt throughout my life are a sign of mild heart failure that may be in the process of being controlled by my highly active lifestyle. I always had the worst set of lungs of anyone in my class growing up. I just couldn't keep up with others, but as I got older and became fit that changed. However, compared to other people who train the way I do, I am quite slow. (mid 17's 5k, for example). I'm obviously worried about this, as I have heard that long term prognosis for people with heart failure is not good. I heard most die within 5 years of actually being diagnosed. I am also a little worried, because if either my systolic of diastolic function is low, it seems to be pretty idiopathic, as there is no underlying cause like a valve disease or CAD that doctors could try to fix. I have heard that taking a BNP blood test can rule out heart failure if it comes back normal, and may, but not necessarily for sure indicate levels of heart failure if it comes back high. I'm not sure if that's true, so I was wondering about that. I also want to know if it would be more likely that the diastolic abnormality with the MV deceleration time is being caused by mild systolic dysfunction in my LV or if it is more likely that it is the other way around. I also have mild elevated blood pressure (around 140/90), so I was wondering if HF could be causing that, or if the high BP could be causing the mild systolic dysfunction seen in my EF and FS numbers. If a BNP test or other forms of evaluations end up proving to diagnose me with any kind of mild HF, would it seem that I would have a better chance of responding to medicine and life style alterations better than some others given that I seem to have been able to keep my EF above 50 so far in my life? I've heard it's only possible to slow HF, but is it becoming more likely with new medicines like ACE inhibitors and the likes that they might actually be able to stop the progression of it altogether if that is what this is? Could low EF and FS%'s be caused by anything independent of true HF and if so, what? I know this seems like a lot of jumbled information, but it's just a little unnerving to me that my heart's numbers seem to be a little off and that the thing that could potentially be wrong with it holds such a grim prognosis. I'm just trying to seek out some advice and some hope, but I'm also realistic and looking for honest advice and assessments. I will list the important numbers from my echo on here in case it didn't all seem clear in my writing above: -Diastolic diameter: 4.9cm -Systolic diameter: 3.8cm -Diastolic volume: 117ml -Systolic volume: 56.2 -Stroke volume: 60.8ml -FS%: 22 -EF%: 52 -IVS Diastolic thickness: .88cm -LVPW thickness: .82cm -LV mass: 141g -L artrum systolic diameter: 3.5cm -Mitral E point velocity: 79.4cm/s -Mitral A point velocity: 48.3cm/s -E to A ratio: 1.6 -MV deceleration rate: 392ms.... I should also mention that on my Holter test that my QRS intervals and all those other prognostic indicators from that test returned normal, even during the PVCs and PACs. Hello. I am 36 yrs old and had my first child almost a year ago at 35. Priorto pregnancy, I became ill maybe every other year. When I started getting theflu vaccine, I was hardly ever sick. After delivery I have developed a fever 3times, not counting - Hello. I am 36 yrs old and had my first child almost a year ago at 35. Prior to pregnancy, I became ill maybe every other year. When I started getting the flu vaccine, I was hardly ever sick. After delivery I have developed a fever 3 times, not counting 1 bout with mastitis. I recorded my temperature regularly while trying to conceive so I know I usually run fairly low (97.5 ish). The first fever lasted only a day or two. The second I had for 4 days before being put on antibiotics, and persisted 4 days after starting them. The 3rd is happening now. I've had it for 2 full weeks now. Low-grade - usually between 99.0-100.2. At first, I had a sore, red throat and fever got to 101.6. I had a negative strep test. I was put on antibiotics (Cephalexin 500mg BID) for 10 days. For the first time in my life I developed what I assume to be antibiotic-associated diarrhea about halfway through my regimen that lasted about 2-3 days. While I no longer have full blown diarrhea, my stools look more like tiny, skinny tootsie rolls rather than the typical size in length and girth. I've been off the antibiotics for 2 days and the fever persists. I have also noticed an increase in the frequency of my bruising. I've always bruised easily but it seems there's much more now. I'm fatigued, have shoddy lymph nodes, normal appetite and no unexpected weight loss. My annual blood test in December showed an elevated lymphocyte count with no obvious illness at the time. I am under a great deal of stress right now. I also have been on 37.5 mg of Phentermine for about 6 weeks and 75 mg of Trazodone for about 3 mos. I am growing more and more concerned and am hopeful that either the phentermine or the exceptional stress is the culprit. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Hiatal Hernia/ Asthma-like symptoms/panic - Dear Sir, I am a 50 yo male & have a hiatal hernia which has displayed the usual symptoms at times, including thoracic discomfort, acid reflux, dysphonia, aches/pain between my shoulder blades, eroded larynx, belching, bloating and also asthma-like symptoms (which started a few years ago). I did have an endoscopy a few years ago and I recall the Doctor saying I had a hernia. Subsequently, for some reason my problems were written off as HVS (overbreathing). I control the reflux and associated problems with Omeprazole, motilium and anti-acids. And I am losing weight at present (I have lost 30 pounds since Xmas). My weight is now 240 pounds. My hernia always seems to be most mischievous when I reduce my food intake ! Q1 Do you suspect that abdominal weight loss may improve my condition - the symptoms got worse with age/increased weight? Q2 Have you any suggestions how to treat this related adult asthma-like problem - it seems to be worse after meals and during periods of mild anxiety, leading to frightening panic attacks. Could this also improve with weight loss ? When the hernia is up inside my chest I cannot fully inflate my lungs and this seems to be part of the cause of the asthma; when I do not control my reflux my lungs can go into spasm and lock-up. Any help or advice, especially with regards the breathing issue, improving my general condition and the panic attacks would be very much appreciated... Thanks, Andy