about

I am 48 years old (yes that's old compared to some of you).


I have worked in nursing and/or healthcare management positions for 24 years. Primarily OB, Neonatal, Mental Health, Occupational Health and Geriatrics. In Jan 2008 I started my own business to board horses and do equine/human education. I am also a certified dog trainer.


I've been around the block so to speak and seem to be always helping others. I've been told that the reason people seek me out for advice is that I am approachable and caring. But on the same token even though I consider the person's feelings. I tell it like I see it. I've dealt with people in trouble with the law, dysfunctional families such as those with abuse & marriage problems. Not to mention problems with employees and employers.


I don't ever claim to know it all, and always keep an open mind.


advice

I have horrible anxiety in many areas and im sure i have an anxiety disorder. i'll end up talking to a dr about this, but i was wondering; what medications can the prescribe someone under 18 for anxiety disorders? Like, i'm thinking valium and lots of drugs like that are for 18 and over. Anyone know what they prescribe to teens? (i'll be 17 next month)

Valium is not the drug of choice for anxiety disorders anymore. There are better medications avaiable. The Dr will take several things into consideration before prescribing any medication for anxiety. In addition, I do not believe that medication is the only answer. Many of the drugs have dangerous side effects so you will have to be monitored closely. Your best bet is to go to the Dr, and then research the medication after it is prescribed, that way you don't go with any preconceived ideas about what works and what doesn't.

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I have a male Dachshund. 3 yrs old , He still pees in the house I cant hit him every more. He knows im cleaning it up and he runs.He knows hes doing bad. I had my female fixed 7 days ago I was hoping this would stop him. If i get him fixed will it stop? I want to keep him But i cant handle the pee much longer. Do you reccomend crate training or getting him fixed? Thank You N Wade

I recommend getting him fixed and crate training. Don't allow him loose in the house without supervision. The minute he sniffs and circles or lifts his leg grab him and run with him outside! When he does go outside reward him. He doesn't know he is "doing bad", he doesn't know any better because he hasn't been trained properly. Hitting a dog has never solved any training problem.

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Ok so a lot of people tell me i am too thin. I've done those online calculators and they say i am, but you can't really trust those things because they don't take in to consideration a lot of important factors, you know. So, I thought if people could look at my pic site and give me their honest opinion? Thanks. http://www.picturetrail.com/photos/blondina75

The BMI calculators just go by basic information, but they give you a place to start. If they say you are underweight, then you need to see a physician who can determine if there is a problem.

You want our opinions, but if you honestly have anorexia, you are not going to believe you are too thin no matter what we say. You need professional help, and not opinions from a message board.

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Dear Nallie,

I would really appreciate it if you could help me with my search for dog breeds. Here are the answers to your questions:

The hobbies that I have are exercising of all sorts like swimming, sports, running, walking and I enjoy reading. I am a pretty active person.

Children will be around this dog.

I do like to be in authoritative positions.

The weather is very hot in the summer and extremely cold in the winter and everything else in between. I need a dog who can withstand high temperatures and humidity along with very cold temps.

My yard is medium to large sized and is about 4.5 feet tall.

Thanks for helping me!

Hi,
Well, it's tough to meet all your criteria especially with the shedding part but you would at least do best with a dog with a short coat, so it would only need brushed 1-2 x per week. You would need to stay away from the breeds with the shorter/puggy type nose as they can't withstand the heat well. An active dog would fit your life style and if you start it out in a kennel or crate it could easily be alone 6 hours per day. Since the dog would be around children, there's several breeds I eliminated right from the get go and those are in the mastiff and working breed family. With your active lifestyle I would suggest a sporting breed, if you plan to do obedience training with the dog, the sporting breeds seem easier to train and are quick learners because they so want to please their owner. Although most young sporting dogs can be a little over friendly with small children (such as knocking them over) they usually seem to do well once they are trained not to do this. Perhaps a good choice for you in the medium dog size would be a yellow or a chocolate lab. If this size of dog seems too large for you it seems as if the 2nd choice would be a beagle. If you go with a lab get one from a reputable breeder where you can see the Mother dog for temperment reasons,and ask about a history of hip displaysia. You might also contact owners of previous litters and ask them. This is something you don't want to take a chance on. Because although there are treatments, more than likely a dog with hip problems will cost a lot of money in vet bills and will not be the active dog that you desire anymore. Best of luck and let me know what you decide.

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Hello,

Recently, I have been searching for a dog. I definitley want to go to a breeder or an animal shelter. My question: I do not know what breed to get. I am gone for about six hours a day, so I need a dog that can be alone for some time. I plan on giving it extensive obedience training along with classes. I have a medium yard and when I get home I plan on exercising and spending time with it. I am leaning towards a medium sized dog. It is also important that it does not have a long coat, does not shed that much, because I really don't think I can spend that much time grooming it. (I am prepared to do it once a week.) Do any dog owners or dog lovers have any suggestions of breeds? Thanks!

Regarding breed selection there's a few other factors to consider other than the info you gave us.

I will ask you several questions and then you can post a private question to me with the answers if you like. What hobbies do you have? Are you normally an active person? Do you have children or are children going to be around the dog? Are you someone who likes to be in charge of others? What's the weather like where you live? Because sometimes it's hard to take a dog for walks in a snowstorm. Do you have a large fenced yard?

Let me know if you'd like some assistance from me. Thanks

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Hi,

We recently adopted a 3 year old male Saint Bernard. He was not eating at the shelter, and within a few days of getting him home, he developed pneumonia, which our vet is treating with antibiotics.

When we tried to give him dog food (pedigree dry, canned, and a mix of both), he backs away from the dish as if he's afraid of it. The only thing we've been able to get him to eat is food that I've cooked. Today he had a mixture of deboned chicken, homemade mashed potatoes, & lima beans. He has lost a lot of weight from his illness & not eating.

How can I get him to eat dog food?

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

St Bernards are working dogs, so this means they should work first and eat later...or basically they have a need to earn their food. The previous owner may have fed the dog table food, and in addition didn't make him work for it. Since he's been ill and is thinner it's all to tempting to give in and feed him people food. Most dogs will not starve themselves to death. If the only thing you provide is dog food he will eventually eat it. Mixing canned and dry is okay, perhaps try something with a chicken flavor. Don't leave the food out to free feed...because once he starts eating he will become overweight easily. When he's better you can take him for a long walk, then when you get back home, offer him his food. If he hasn't eaten the food within an hour, remove it and try later. Since he's sick now, you can work on obedience training or trick training in the house, in otherwords you will be exercising his mind. When you are through with your session offer the dog his meal.

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About a month ago I found out that my boyfriend's mom is pregnant! :) I'm so overjoyed, as is everyone else. At first it was a little secret, so I couldn't tell anyone. My boyfriend finally asked his mom if he could spread the word and she gave him the a-okay. This happened a week ago. I'm no longer happy. Everytime I try to tell my parents she's pregnant I feel sick. Not disgusted, literally sick to my stomach. I also feel embarrassed and ashamed and a bit hateful. Not at all hateful towards the baby or his mom but me. I chicken out. Now my boyfiends starting to get a little annoyed with me, as you can imagine. Just writing this makes me feel sick. WHAT SHOULD I DO?! Please, any advice would help Thanks. 13/F

Does it really matter if your parents know or not? I mean there is nothing they are going to do about it, there's no reason to be embarassed. Sure your boyfriend's parents are having sex, your parents would probably assume that anyway. Don't lose sleep over it and when the baby is born bring him/her over to meet your parents. It will be fine, I promise.

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Hey, I'm 13, on my mom's accont, I don't think this matter though?

-Anyways. I was thinking about going on an all protein diet. All I eat is meat.

Breakfast- Bacon [ the kind I buy is like 50 calories for 3 peices ]

Lunch - A few slices of Ham.

Dinner:

Monday- small hen.

Tuesday- baked chicken

Wednesday- steak

Thurday- baked fish.

Friday- ribs.


I'm 5'1...150 ilbs.

If I exercise for 30 minuetes everyday, Will I have a flat tummy by January?

Thanks!

Even if you lost weight it doesn't mean your tummy will be flat. You will need to do the right kind of exercise for your abdominal muscles. Usually scrunches or sit ups is what works. At 13 you still need complex carbohydrates for energy so be sure to add pasta, rice, whole grains, along with fruits and veggies to your diet.

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Lately ive been having large amounts of trouble sleeping im only 15/m andi just cant seem to fall asleep ive lied in my bed for hours on end with my eyes closed and i cant fall asleep even if im tired idk why im having so much trouble. can someon please give me ideas to help me the sooner the better b/c its 1 am not and argh!

Try exercising in the afternoon. Don't drink any drinks containing caffine. Make sure you drink plenty of water during the day. Take a warm bath in the evening. Make your room as comfortable as possible with a cooler temperature. Sometimes sleeping on something nice and soft will help. If you haven't fallen asleep within a half an hour after laying down, sit up and read for 15 minutes then try again. Sometimes we just need to divert our thoughts. Another good idea is to turn the clock around so you don't know what time it is. It only makes you more stressed knowing how much time has passed. More thank likely this is a phase you are going through and it will pass. If you can avoid medications it would be best.

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i have smoked pot a couple of time....and cigerettes. my mom and dad know about the cigerettes...but not the pot. do i need to talk to someone about my problem....or should it phase?

If it has only been a couple of times that you smoked pot, more than likely it is not at the stage where it is a problem. You are probably feeling guilty about it and want to confess. That's entirely up to you if you do or not. However just so you don't create future problems in your life, stop now, and chalk it up to a bad learning experience. If it were me, I wouldn't tell, I just wouldn't do it again. If it were my kids and they learned from the experience and stopped, I wouldn't be mad, and I wouldn't care if I ever knew or not.

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Okay i really want a dog of my own that I take care of and I feed. Im ready for it. But we already have a dog and my mom always says "we are a one dog household" and i just want a small yorkie or a jack russel, or even a chi wa wa. How can i prove to her im ready?? I need advice.

It is much easier to have only one dog. It is sometimes very stressful to bring a second dog into the household. Perhaps if you can ask to volunteer at the local animal shelter that will fill the void of wanting your own dog for a while, and if you still insist that you want one, your Mom will then see how responsible you are with animals and may change her mind. Also you will be able to learn how to match dogs with each other, and with your family, so it will be a good fit and not a disaster.

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i love my dog, and i know she loves me too, because whenever im crying she always comes and licks me or lays next to me. But most of the time she follows my mom around and i cant get the feeling she doesnt like me, even though she does, you know? How do i bond with her, or get her to like me and maybe even follow me around??
I need help.

Your Mom is more of a pack leader which is good, but the fact that the dog licks you, means she sees you as a leader too, but not as high up in the pack order. The best way to bond with a dog is to take it for a lot of walks (on a leash of course) you can even practice in the house if you want to. Dogs love to explore with their pack, in the wild they would walk miles and miles following the leader. Always make your dog walk beside you in a "heel" position or somewhat behind you. You should also be the one to go through doorways first (before the dog)...that way the dog will see you as an equal pack leader like she does your Mom. It will take some time, but if you practice for several minutes each day that will help. Also, don't spoil the dog to make it like you, she will then think she's in charge and not listen to you as well.

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I'm pregnant and due in just one month, and we still haven't agreed on a middle name for the baby. My husband and half our friends and family like Emma Lynn. I and the other half like Emma Linnora.

Linnora is a family name with a long story that has to do with a fort being attacked by native Americans and my ancestors, Linnora and her brother, being the only ones to survive.

Also, our last name is French , like Leblanc or Lecarte.

Please suggest some names OR some ideas for a way to reach a compromise and break this 6 month long deadlock.

Why not spell the middle name Lynnora as a compromise? Nice story about the ancestor, It would be good to carry that name on in some manner.

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What do i do with a husband who doesn't believe he is cheating on me since he insists the relationship isn't physical? We will be going to marriage counciling soon but have to wait for an appointment. He has written love letters to her that i found. i can't just dump him, i have a 9 month old daughter to think about. He still wants to hang out with the girl and won't stop, even after i said it would hurt me and our relationship if he did. he doesn't think he is wrong. What would you do?

He is not taking your feelings into consideration, and that is not a foundation for a strong relationship. It must have been devastating to find the letters. I would get a divorce that's what I would do. Life's too short to waste it on someone who doesn't love you the way you love him. You can do better by raising your daughter alone without all the tension that he is creating.

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15/f

so i just found out the love of my life is goin away for 6 months. we were together for a month then we broke up but we still acted like we were together u know kissing and everything. he told me today that he was goin away. he wants to have sex and so do i but do you think this is rite?? so you think im gonna git my heart broken? all my friends think so but thats just because they dont know him. by the way im a virgin so this will be my first time. PLEASE HELP!!!!

Of course he wants to have sex, and he is using the "going away" as a manipulation tactic to get you to consent. "Poor me I will be so lonesome without you and I love you so much" I can hear it now.

You are more likely to get your heart broken if you do. To be honest, the first time for a female is not that great under those circumstances. Save it for a time when you can make a lasting commitment and it will be more special that way.

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I have been throwing up for a very long time....it feels like in between where my ribs meet is swollen and my tummy also gets very bloated? could soemthign be wrong with me? im very scared

A very straight answer here. There could be something seriously wrong with you. You need to see a physician and tell them what you told us on this board. No one here can diagnose you or give you treatment advice. Your life is at risk and you deserve to get the right answers so do your self a favor and do the right thing by seeing the doc.

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how do you calculate your period, like if i got it today will i get another one in 28 days or will i get it 28 days after it ends?

Since you are not asking about birth control...I don't see where one of the previous answers even applies. And since when is 28 days two weeks? LOL Anyway, the length between periods vary for different females but the average is 28 days, It could be 21-30 days however. The first day of your period is considered the first day of the menstrual cycle so your calculations should start from that day.

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if you have sex. and you;re supposed to get your period about two weeks after...will it just be late or will you completly miss it? i never under stood that..

If it's late, that means it has arrived, but not on time. The absence of a period is the first symptom of pregnancy. So techincally it will be "missed"...or won't happen it all.

Sometimes spotting can occur with early pregnancy, but this is not really a period and should never be considered normal.

If a woman is not pregnant and her periods are usually regular, the period should not be late or missed simply because she had sex.

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I went swimming, I had a "Charlie Horse" in my foot. It lasted long, it always does for me. After that.. I got out and went in the bathroom to change.
So I was kinda.. sqautting to get my bathing suit bottoms off. The toe next to the baby one, POPPED out of joint. It freaked me out so I smacked my foot against the ground. It went back in place and then popped out again.. Finally it went back into place...So I have it wrapped. Is there anything else I should do? It's kinda numb and stuff, so tomorrow.. is it gonna hurt like hell? (I took vicodin a while ago)
Is it going to feel like it's not there?
Is it going to pop out again?
:[
I have always had a fear of breaking my toes or something, because my feet are so tiny and yeah.. It scares me.

Well if you have it wrapped and "it's kind of numb" you need to take the wrap off. If you have a muscle spasm in your toe, it will pull on the joint and make it look crooked. Rather than wrap the entire toe, use a strip of tape or bandaid and buddy tape the painful toe to a toe next to it. The biggest reason people have muscle spasms in their toes is because of tight or improperly fitting shoes, when you take the shoes off they will still feel cramped and can go into spasm. Be sure to wear shoes that are wide enough with a high enough toe space. Elevate your foot as much as possible today and use a cold pack on your toe 3 times a day for 20 min each. If you continue to have problems or if the toe continues to look crooked see your doctor for an exam.

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I lost touch with my dad when i was 9 (long story) last year was the first time i got in touch with him. i also met aunts that i never knew my whole life. before we lost touch i last saw him a few weeks before i turned 8. the whole thing is i'm jamaican and my dad left jamaica when i was 2 then came back to visit when i was 4 . so i really don't know him. he left jamaica and cheated on my mother with another woman that he has 2 kids with now (10 and 11) i finally came to the US when i was 6 but i lived in new jersey and my dad lived in florida and he still does currently. after losing touch i moved to conneticut but last year on the internet i found his name and phone number. i was so excited that had always been something i yearned for over the years. now it's a year later and he still hasn't visited me. i haven't ben able to go because of the situation at home. my mother is a single parent and has another child my younger sister. she couldn't afford for me to leave when she has to work. so i have to wait till some other time to visit my family. my aunts came up to see me last summer but my dad hasn't. i just became disinterested in him over time because i thought he would have been here by now. i haven't seen him in 10 years i'm 18 now and i think it's messed up that he wants to come to my graduation but couldn't come here just to visit me. he also works at the airport in miami so that's not a problem. he stopped calling me which i don't care about because it's akward talking to him when i don't know what to say. my aunt's always have somthing to say when i try to point out the fact that he hasn't visited me yet. he has 2 other kids with him and i feel really out of place the least he could do is visit he sends money every month but it doesn't make up for everyhting else. does anyone else beside my bestfriend see's where i'm coming from?

I understand where you are coming from. It's difficult to grasp why a father would not make an effort to see his child. Of course you are becoming uninterested in seeing him now because you feel rejected, and have every right to feel that way. Since he hasn't been in your life for a very long time It's probably not even that you miss him, but you miss the father that you want him to be. For now focus on your Mom and younger sister...and whatever else is in your life at this time. If your Father comes to your graduation, then just be casual and polite. Perhaps he will want to build a relationship after that, but if not, there is not a lot you can do. Almost any man can father a child, but not all of them can be a Dad. They just don't think of the long term consequences and will probably be very lonely in their old age. Someday you may have your own children and can move on from there, and not make the same mistakes your Father has. Best of luck to you.

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