Christy,

While you have gotten a lot of good info on things to check out, you keep 
wondering about antenna problems.  If you have $150 to drop, the TW-2 
talking swr/wattmeter covers these bands and could help you sort out this or 
future antenna problems without sighted help.

There is also the TW-1 for HF and 6 meters which would be a huge help in 
your future  HF station.  Of course it's another 150 bucks, but nobody said 
it was a cheap hobby.


Perhaps moving your antenna to a different location in the apartment would 
help.  You seem very concerned about RF exposure, perhaps  a longer coax 
between radio and antenna will allow you to move the antenna around a bit 
and keep enough distance  so that you can increase power and still keep your 
mind at ease  about RF levels.

73, Steve KW3A