Q: By wearing new shoes around your house, you can break them in while doing daily tasks and sitting at your desk.  Starting in the morning, wear the shoes with thicker socks and go about your day performing daily tasks such as doing the laundry, cleaning, or watching T.V.  Flex your feet to create more room in the shoes while you wear them around your home. This should provide immediate results, and this type of stretcher can be left in your shoes overnight.  Decide which area of your shoes needs the most stretching, and place the ball inside the shoe with the ring on the outside.  Put the arms of the stretcher together over the area of the shoes giving you the most problems. You should see progress immediately, but you can leave the stretcher in your shoe overnight to make sure it makes enough room for your feet. If the entire shoe feels too tight rather than one area, a two-way stretcher widens and lengthens the entire shoe.  Shoe stretchers come with bunion plugs that can be attached to enhance stretching in extra tight areas.  You should spray a stretching liquid on your shoes prior to using this device.  When the solution saturates the fabric, turn the knob of the stretching device one full turn every 8 hours. You may leave the stretcher in overnight. A professional can use a shoe-stretching machine to either widen or lengthen your canvas shoes. Cobblers charge between $10 to $20 to stretch your shoes. It’s also one of the safest ways if you don’t want to be bothered with a DIY method.
A: Wear your canvas shoes around your house if you can. Use a ball and ring shoe stretcher to widen problem areas. Use a two-way shoe stretcher to stretch the whole shoe at once. Go to a cobbler for a professional shoe stretching.

Q: Checking your strings regularly can help assure you that the Mirena is still in place. Most healthcare providers recommend checking the strings once a month, between periods. Some may suggest checking as often as every 3 days during the first 3 months after insertion, since this is the period of time when the Mirena is most likely to slip out. Wash your hands with warm, soapy water, and rinse thoroughly. Then dry off with a clean towel. Squatting or sitting will make it easier for you to reach your cervix. Get into a position that feels comfortable for you. Use your middle or index finger. Your cervix should feel firm and slightly rubbery, like the tip of your nose.  If you have a hard time getting your finger into your vagina, try coating it with a bit of water-based personal lubricant first. You may wish to shorten or file your nails first to prevent scratching or irritating your vagina or cervix. Once you have found your cervix, feel around for the IUD strings. The strings should be protruding slightly from your cervix, typically by around 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm). Do not pull on the strings! If you notice any of the following signs that the Mirena has started to move out of place, check with your healthcare provider:  The strings feel much longer or shorter than you expect. You cannot feel the strings at all. You can feel the plastic end of the Mirena device.
A: Check your Mirena strings once a month. Wash your hands before checking. Squat or sit down. Insert 1 finger into your vagina until you feel your cervix. Feel for the strings.

Q: Disclosing your diagnosis can be complicated and come with many reservations. No person is the same and neither will each conversation disclosing your diagnosis be. Telling those closest to you of your diagnosis is the best way to rally their support behind you. Asking yourself questions, like “What do I want this person to know?” or “What reactions do I expect once I’ve told them?” will help you prepare your disclosure. Telling your friends is the next step to creating a community and network of support. Not everyone needs to be told at the same time, so start with friends with whom you feel the most comfortable. As time progresses you may find that you’re willing to disclose your diagnosis to more people.  Asking yourself questions like, “What do I want this person to understand about my MS?” or “What is the best way to deliver this information: face to face, with a pamphlet, over the phone?” will help you determine how to disclose your diagnosis and therefore how to receive the most support.  Remember, it’s your diagnosis. You don’t have to tell anyone if you don’t want to. Seek a therapist if you would like to discuss feelings you have about how your diagnosis might affect your current relationships in an one-on-one atmosphere. See a therapist will also allow you to discuss personal issues you are not yet ready to discuss with your family, friends, or support groups. Consult your physician or rehabilitation center to ask for therapist recommendations.
A: Disclose your diagnosis to your family. Tell your friends about your MS. Seek advice from a therapist.

Q: A door failure can lead to serious injury or death during a catastrophe. Choose a door assembly that includes locks, hinges, frame, and attachment devices that have been tested to withstand the wind, pressure, and impact of serious storms like tornadoes and hurricanes.  Storm shelter doors are heavy and expensive, but common steel doors that are often used in residential and commercial construction can’t withstand the impact of tornadoes and hurricanes. You may be able to find storm-rated doors at home improvement or hardware stores, but you may need to go online to order a specialized storm room door. Use the measurements of the door you plan to install so you can create an opening that will fit the frame. Measure your door with a ruler or tape measure, then measure the height and width on the studs of the open wall. Use a pencil or marker to mark where you need to cut away the studs. Make sure the door frame is at least 7 feet (2.1 m) tall so you can fit through it. Cut evenly along the lines that you marked on the studs to fit your door frame. Remove just enough of the studs to accommodate your door frame. You can lightly sand the cut edges of the studs with 180-grit sandpaper if they’re jagged or uneven. Position the frame in the opening and then nail it into place with casing nails. Then, install the door by attaching the hinges to the frames as directed by the manufacturer’s directions. Make sure the door is level and the hinges are secure in the frame. Install any additional specialized attachment pieces that are directed.  Use any screws or nails that are included in the door assembly. Open and close the door to make sure it’s working properly. Use a level to make sure the frame of the door is even. Once the door is installed, place steel sheets over the open studs and secure them by driving #10X2-inch (#10X5.2 cm) screws into each of the corners. Then, cover the sheets with plywood and drive #10X2-inch (#10X5.2 cm) screws through them into the wooden studs to secure them. Install an additional layer of plywood to complete the wall.
A:
Use a door assembly rated to withstand tornadoes. Measure and mark the size of the door frame on the open stud wall. Cut away the studs with a circular saw to fit the door frame. Install the door in the opening according to the manufacturer’s directions. Cover the open wall with steel sheets and 2 layers of plywood.