Cyclosporiasis linked to contaminated foods

Dear Doctors: I keep hearing on the news about a stomach bug that’s getting a lot of people sick. How serious is it? What are the symptoms that people should be watching out for? I’m always careful about washing produce. Is that enough or is there something else we should be doing?

New resident misses old way of living

DEAR HARRIETTE: I consider myself to be a social person. I recently moved to a more rural area in an attempt to experience a new way of living. I think there’s value in all different types of lifestyles, even those that are often seen as less glamorous.

DO JUST ONE THING

• Never flush contact lenses down the sink or toilet.

Reader’s rebellious sister is lashing out

DEAR HARRIETTE: I think my sister hates me. I’m in college right now, and my sister just finished her freshman year of high school. When I was away from home, she made new friends and started getting into trouble.

Numb limbs often result of sleep position

Dear Doctors: My wife often wakes up with one of her arms completely numb. As feeling returns, she experiences excruciating pain. Could this be due to her sleeping position, or does it suggest a problem with the nerves, neck or shoulder? Is there a way to prevent it?

Ghosted reader misses situationship

DEAR HARRIETTE: I recently was in a relationship with a boy who was never officially my boyfriend. However, we went on dates almost every week and often hung out. We progressed like this for three months until he went radio silent.

Sibling worried brother will flake on new job

DEAR HARRIETTE: My brother is moving to rural Vietnam for a year to teach English, and I don’t think this is a good idea. My brother can’t stick to any commitment to save his life, and this experience doesn’t seem like it is likely to go any differently.

Sharing lives, sharing gut microbiomes

Dear Doctors: I was at a wedding where, in his toast, the best man said that as well as a home, the couple would be sharing their gut bacteria. They’re all biologists, so it seemed like an inside joke.When I asked him, he said no, it’s actually true. Really? Do couples start to share gut bacteria?

DO JUST ONE THING

• You can make your home feel significantly cooler even if you don’t have air conditioning.

Great-aunt’s health causes desire to reunite

DEAR HARRIETTE: My great-aunt is in heart failure and was told she has less than a year to live. Growing up, we had an amazing relationship and she introduced me, as a little gay boy, to makeup and cosmetics; she would paint my nails and let me play with her makeup.