silentdriver23 said:Can I ask a question? I just had a C5-C6 microdiscectomy at the NEA, and they installed an implant. Everything went fine technically, but some parts are really confusing to me. When they woke me up in the OR, I was covered in needle marks everywhere. My left arm and leg were bruised, and my right leg, along with my shoulder, was bruised and blue. They had me wrapped in one of those thermal warming blankets, and they’d taken off the bottom half of the clothes I was wearing when they put me under. My clothes were stuffed in a bag with a bunch of blood... it was pretty gruesome. What I want to know is, if I received a transfusion, are they required to list that on my discharge papers? Because my paperwork says everything was perfectly fine. Also, why did I have two bruises, and why the thermal blanket? Thanks.
Yes, they absolutely have to document that. And if you actually needed a transfusion, things definitely weren't "perfectly fine." Those thermal blankets are used for hypothermia. If you lost a significant amount of blood, your blood pressure drops, and your body temperature crashes too—especially during transfusions. The real question is how many units they gave you. As for the two bruises, it’s easier to stabilize a patient when you have two IV sites, but in your case, I’m guessing one was for the transfusion and the other was just a standard IV line.
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always been ahead of the curve. School was honestly too easy for me—even through high school—so I would breeze through with straight A's without much effort. To keep things interesting and feed my ambition, I’d constantly push myself by entering competitions and taking on extra extracurricular activities. Eventually, I decided to pursue a demanding university degree that would finally offer a real challenge and set the stage for a solid career path. Back then, I had this clear vision of myself as a high-powered executive or running my own company.
Everything changed during my college years when my brother passed away suddenly. That was the turning point for me. It was almost like a sudden realization hit me: so many things in life just aren't worth the stress. For instance, I stopped feeling guilty about postponing an exam or even failing one if I felt like it. Even so, I managed to graduate on time and landed a great job.
At the same time, while we were always close, I found myself growing even closer to my parents. They mean the world to me, and now, I have a wonderful husband and our family life is incredibly harmonious.
Now, after five years on the job, I’m feeling something I’ve never felt before: complete burnout. Even though my job is dynamic and actually pretty cool, I feel like there just aren't enough hours in the day to enjoy my own life. I suppose it’s a combination of - the fact that nothing feels challenging enough anymore. I work way faster than my colleagues, so I'm left with a choice: either pull a double workload for the same pay, or spend half my shift surfing the web or reading, which eventually gets boring. - my brother's passing and the realization that my happiest moments are spent with family and friends. Now, those eight hours at the office—plus the hour or so I spend commuting—feel like wasted time. - the fact that my husband and I managed to get ahead of our finances early on, especially regarding our housing situation, so I don't have that crushing financial pressure forcing me to stay. - the age gap at work; most of my colleagues are much older, so there isn't really any social buzz or grabbing drinks after work—it's just strictly showing up for eight hours and leaving. - watching the bosses and owners grind for ten or more hours every single day, living in constant stress over monthly targets.
I caught myself thinking the other day that by my late thirties or early forties, I’d much rather work just four hours a day at a relaxed pace, maybe something remote, or even just retire early to focus on being present for my family, future children, and friends. I honestly have no idea where that ambitious girl went—the one who wanted to be number one and a leader in her field.
I don't know what I want from this thread. Maybe I just need to vent, or perhaps I want to see if others have gone through this. Was this just a phase for you, or did it stick?
You’ve gained perspective from a few different angles. You have everything you need to actually enjoy life, so make the most of it.
Personally, if I could, I would’ve switched to a four-day workweek ages ago (honestly, if I didn't have to work at all, even better 🙂 ) just to spend that time on myself and my family.
Hannah Lee10 said:The main thing is I’m just not willing to waste my time seeing a doctor who’s going to put me on a waiting list for months... or paying out of pocket for a specialist who’ll just listen to my symptoms and hand me the same referrals I could have gotten myself without the massive bill$133 just to be heard. That's really the bottom line.
But you still have to see a professional. Getting an actual diagnosis isn't that simple. We can guess all we want, but we aren't doctors and our bodies don't work the same way. Just remember that certain illnesses can hide behind some pretty vague symptoms. What you're feeling could be anything from gallbladder or pancreas issues to gut problems... basically a whole laundry list of stuff. You need to find the common thread in all those tests, and honestly, there's always a chance you'll end up wasting money on tests you don't actually need. Your best bet is to find a seasoned internist and bring them the results you already have.
If we view ourselves as emotional creatures, then Love is just one slice of that massive spectrum. If you split that spectrum into the good and the bad, Love definitely sits on the positive side.
But look, for anything to actually work, there has to be a balance between the highs and the lows. To actually feel good—to have a reason to get out of bed and enjoy life—we need to experience Love in some capacity. Constant hatred or staying stuck in a negative headspace mostly just destroys us from the inside out. You can't find lasting fulfillment in that kind of misery.
No emotion is purely "black" or "white." Love isn't always sunshine and rainbows either; it brings its own set of headaches and sadness. If we lowered our expectations a bit, maybe we wouldn't deal with such heavy disappointment. And if we were more emotionally stable, we’d bounce back faster. Whether we are this or that... it doesn't really matter.
Personally, I need it in my life just to keep things balanced. I don't think it's some magical cure-all. It's just a part of the whole picture.
The hardest battle you'll ever fight is just accepting that you're going to die. You don't have to dwell on it most of the time—honestly, you don't even have to think about it—but knowing it's coming and realizing it’s just how things are... that's the toughest part.
It’s not even about experience at this point... it’s just an attitude. Like, "I don't care" or "I'm over it." Glad you actually got some decent follow-up care.
Yeah, a lot of it is rotten. Personally, I tend to see that side of things more often.
A gynecologist can prescribe it too, not just your primary care doctor.
Daniel Foster59 said:Valium should only be used under strictly controlled circumstances and for the shortest time possible..
Who actually has the energy to worry about all those side effects...?
What "controlled circumstances" are we even talking about?
It’s not about obsessing over side effects. It’s about actual communication with the patient—explaining that Valium is addictive. Most doctors don't bother.
My mom's family doctor prescribed her Valium without ever mentioning the risks or saying there was a time limit on it. She just kept getting refills whenever she needed them. The doctor set the med and the dose, and that was it. People are left in the dark. They aren't informed, and while side effects exist for everyone, most people have no clue what they're actually facing.
slyhawk18 said:I'm trying to wrap my head around what makes these pills so "magical" that they have such an intense effect. The label clearly states it's a sedative, so it should be doing the exact opposite... It worries me that this isn't just happening to her, but potentially everyone else too. Sadly, I don't have any way to get in touch with the manufacturer directly, but being right in the middle of this daily "terror" is really getting to me.
Developing an addiction is only half the battle. Benzodiazepines cause cognitive issues so severe that some scientific studies actually link them to dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
But yeah, they're still everywhere, used by all kinds of age groups. Here's a link to a summary of one of those studies if you want to dive in. There are plenty more out there, too.
I'm not sure how reversible the damage is once it sets in, but they really should only be prescribed and taken as a last resort when there's absolutely no other option...
Amy Johnson2 said:Look, I dealt with this right after my surgery. At first, it was just hard to the touch, but then it turned all blotchy and red, and man, did it hurt for a while. I actually went to complain to my surgeon about it, and I think he told me it was some kind of keloid thing. He ended up prescribing me some Betamethasone cream plus antibiotics, and that finally cleared up the swelling.
Usually, a keloid grows outside the actual edges of the wound or the stitches. It is red, sure, but I've never heard of one just vanishing like that. Plus, you were on antibiotics... based on what you're describing, it sounds more like you had an infection.
There isn’t much you can do about it. It was a pretty significant injury, and while the surgeon stitched you up, the tissue just healed the way it was going to heal. It takes a certain amount of time—there’s no magic number since every injury and healing process is different—for things to finally "settle." You might see some improvement, or it might just shrink slightly or stay exactly as it is. Either way, there isn't any cream out there that's going to fix this...
Joseph Bailey41 said:Those temperatures are incredibly high; I doubt you'd feel anything at all, especially if you were already in a coma, because if you weren't, they wouldn't be crematiing you in the first place. Your idea works in theory, but I imagine coordinating two guns at once would be pretty tough—not to mention the embarrassment if you somehow actually survived that. 😁
Even worse, imagine you survive only to end up disabled... all because you couldn't get your aim straight.
It’s handled over at Cedars-Sinai, but you really ought to call ahead first... I've heard they run low on certain reagents needed for the testing sometimes. You can find the direct lines for the specific labs right on the hospital's website. Honestly, though, the last update I heard was months ago regarding when they actually order supplies for this specific test. Usually, you get the results back within a week if everything goes smoothly.
Douglas Rogers5 said:Look, that's my comfort zone, sure, but at the same time, my communication skills are actually pretty sharp. I don't have an issue presenting my work or chatting up strangers; honestly, I'm usually the first one to strike up a conversation, regardless of who I'm talking to. And no, I don't have anxiety attacks whether I'm facing one person or a crowd of a hundred. I've been into music and sports since I was a kid, and I've never once had a panic attack before a performance or anything like that. I get that skipping a concert just for the sake of staying comfortable isn't really the issue here. I've done Taekwondo my whole life, I've gone bungee jumping twice... (and let me tell you, there is zero "comfort" involved in that).
Like I said, my struggle is just swinging between two extremes—flipping from introvert to extrovert in an instant.
Honestly, you're looking for problems where there aren't any. Life isn't some cookie-cutter mold, and people aren't either. You're functioning, you're making money, and you're doing things that actually make you happy. Just stick to that. Who cares how much your lifestyle fits someone else's expectations? As long as you're good, that's all that matters.
Steven Cox5, I don't know which city you're in, but you should have been hospitalized and put on proper medication ages ago. I have no idea what's going on at that ER, but showing up that often in that condition only to be turned away is just plain awful.
I honestly don't even know what to say. 😢 I am so incredibly sorry this turned out this way. My heart goes out to you, and to everyone else facing similar situations where things spiral because the healthcare system is just too slow and lacks any real sense of urgency. It’s one of the darkest parts of how medical care works here in America...
Life has always been a bit more brutal for some people than others. And just as unpredictable. Honestly, you might’ve had better luck posting this on RID. You would've gotten some actual reality checks instead of just wishful thinking.
So, to have kids or not? If you ask me, the real deciding factor is answering questions like: will your life actually be better with them in it, or without them? Can you provide them with a solid upbringing? Are you truly ready for all the sacrifices involved... As for everything else, nobody really knows what's coming anyway.
As far as I know, you’ve always got legal options. Just make sure everything is put in writing and notarized by a public notary first. If they can't grasp the fallout their actions are causing you, then I don't see any reason why you shouldn't take care of those consequences yourself.
You really need to get rid of those pills. Benzodiazepines? They’re basically addictive; your body builds up a tolerance and suddenly you're chasing higher doses, not to mention what they do to your brain synapses. Do a little digging on Google—I remember stumbling upon an old American study once that linked them to dementia and Alzheimer's. I can't find the link right now, though.
Regarding everything else—the digestive issues—try changing your diet and cutting down on stress. It wouldn't hurt to get some more detailed bloodwork or tests done to see exactly where you stand. Certain medications might help while you wait for the symptoms to settle down.
So, does this mean you're ready to toss pizzas if you have to? Or maybe drive long-haul trucking?
Kevin Wells81 said:Not sure why I'm even bringing this up... I just have this weird feeling my ex-fiancée would fit right into all of this. It's just a thought in my head, though. Honestly, I doubt it would work in reality. That relationship was nothing but mutual abuse and exploitation...
It’s getting hard to even look in the mirror. I’ve spent my whole life being athletic, staying around 175 lbs with about 10-12% body fat. Now I’m down to 145. My digestive system is a total mess. My doctor says it's definitely some kind of chronic bowel disease, plus I've been dealing with gastritis and an eroded esophagus for a while now. So then I start obsessing over some stupid nonsense and I just snap.
I'm also dealing with seizures... my EEG results weren't great either. I ended up using benzos because they helped me mask the alcohol withdrawal syndrome quickly, but then I started having seizures even when I wasn't drinking...
Anyway, I have no clue what kind of lifestyle I should be aiming for. It's never too late to fix the body. But I'm trying to rely on my memory a bit... Last time I tried to get back into it, I jumped straight into max 1RM training during the first month. I was pushing 135 on bench and stuff, and I ended up tearing a bicep tendon dead in its tracks.
So now I just can't bring myself to train. Actually, even typing this is a struggle... What kills me most is figuring out what to actually do for a living. I don't have any real skills and I'm not getting any younger. I'd much rather be a tradesman or something. I have a degree, but it has absolutely nothing to do with anything useful.
Family—when parents pass away, who's stuck with their massive debt? Is it Saint Peter, the government, or you? If it’s the third option, you definitely have a say in how the money and assets get handled.
Health—you've really run yourself into the ground. If you actually want a better life, take care of yourself. Forget the gym and the muscles for a second. Your health is the only thing you truly own, and you're throwing it away.
Career—everything you've done up to this point hasn't taught you much besides some languages. Try putting those skills to use, and prepare to start from scratch with everything else. Are you ready for that? Honestly, maybe a total change of scenery wouldn't be bad either... even moving abroad.
Relationships—once you get yourself sorted, that part will follow. But you need to realize that not all women are the same and stop making the same old mistakes. And if you actually want a wife and kids, you've got to ditch the vices and the pills.
Just find some peace. Let go of those old ambitions and the need to impress people who don't matter. Why carry that weight? It serves no purpose. Your life belongs to you. You aren't living for others, you're living for yourself... and hopefully, you want something better for yourself than what you've had so far. If not, you really should.
I don't know, you're struggling through this without any real progress, whereas if that abscess had just been drained, you'd already be on the mend. Honestly, if you ask me, you're just burning through a ton of antibiotics for nothing right now (not that their prescribing habits are exactly rational)... and you'll end up needing them anyway once the procedure is done. People survive much more intense surgeries than this because there's just no other way...
It’s always an option to get a second opinion. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. There is some pretty detailed info on mastitis on this site:
casualowl33 said:My little one was such a calm baby, especially during those first couple of months... She slept regularly and for long stretches, waking up just to eat, get changed, have a tiny bit of playtime, and then it was right back to sleep. It's just us, and my husband works long shifts. During exam season and stuff like that, I didn't do much housework; he handled the laundry and things like that while I focused on cooking and basic tidying.
Once she hit eight months, I started working again, and at that point, she was only being watched by my family.
Things actually got tougher for me after about a year and a half or two... It wasn't until she turned four that things felt "normal" again because she wasn't completely dependent on me anymore.
And yeah, she teethed after her first birthday, started walking at eighteen months, and even then, I didn't feel like I had to be constantly chasing her down... She just wasn't the type of kid to grab things she shouldn't touch. If you told her once, that was usually enough. And that's how she is now, and I really hope she stays that way.
I'm actually a bit nervous thinking about what she might be like later on...
Honestly, I don't understand some of the comments from people on these forums at all. Not all kids are built the same! Just because someone has a demanding child doesn't mean there aren't children out there who aren't demanding at all... and vice versa. And it shouldn't be necessary for people like Charmed and me to constantly justify how we manage to balance everything alongside a baby.
It’s not about making excuses; it’s more about how moms with "easy" babies sometimes act condescending toward others. They imply it's foolish if you can't get everything done, but they aren't walking in your shoes. Look, I know every child is different... it's just that the ones with easier kids tend to brag about how they've mastered the perfect balance. There's usually a reason why things are getting done, and half the time, it isn't just because the baby is easy. I've known colleagues who would boast about how life hasn't missed a beat since the baby arrived—saying they still have time for hair appointments and social lives—only to find out the mom has a nanny, her mother-in-law cooking, and her husband handling everything. People love to polish the truth...
It's great when you pull it all off, but we also need to acknowledge that a mom who can't even find time to cook or shower is doing just fine. She isn't disorganized, she isn't "difficult," and she certainly isn't a bad mother.