Posts by fadedheron18

Thanks😘 I just couldn't think of the word alkaline...

So, I’ve been hunting for a gynecologist and honestly, I’ve been scrolling through this thread so much I’ve practically had a drink or two. Right now, I’m seeing Dr. Miller at the local clinic and I’m not impressed. He can be polite occasionally, but it’s rare. His exams are incredibly painful, and all he does is say, "just relax, just relax..." Look, I’ve seen plenty of doctors in my life, and I know the difference between a careful exam and a rough one. 😠 A lot of you posts seem to confirm that. You have to book your appointment for the first of the month within a specific window, so if you can't get to your phone then, you're stuck waiting a whole month. Unless it's an emergency like heavy bleeding, obviously. 🙄 Last time, I showed up with a referral for a pelvic exam and an ovarian ultrasound. He decided I didn't even need the ultrasound—which is frustrating because I've never had one, and with my family history of uterine or breast cancer, I really should. This thread is getting so long I'm losing my place, so I tried to organize everything into a little list. 😬 If I got anything wrong or if things have changed, let me know (use += for positive, x=negative). Since I live in the suburbs, I'm also curious about Dr. Miller's colleague, Dr. Harrison. I've heard mixed things, but nothing from someone who has actually sat in her office. 🙄
PUBLIC HEALTH CLINICS
Dr. Sikanic ++ (at the community center, needs a referral, mostly sees kids)
Dr. Puvacic +/x
Dr. Kesab Marina +
Dr. Kos x (City Hospital)
Dr. Dmitrovic ++ (used to be at City Hospital, now apparently at St. Jude's)
Dr. Mador xxx (County Health Center)
Dr. Maria Gregov +/xx (Student Union Clinic)
Dr. Mirić +/x (Student Union Clinic)
Dr. Mandic + (Peterson Memorial)
Dr. Kovacevic x (District Clinic)
PRIVATE PRACTICE
Dr. Franulovic +++ (at the County Clinic, looks like they aren't taking new patients)
Dr. Curic + (Student Union Clinic)
Dr. Shedid +++/xx (the one on Elm Street)
Dr. Oskar Kirchbaum + (at the clinic near the train station, if he's still there)
Dr. Doko ++++/x (in the North District)
Dr. Marceta – (in the North District)
Dr. Wahid +++ (on Elm Street)
Dr. Stanic x
Dr. Susac x
Dr. Zlopasa + (Peterson Memorial)
Dr. Asad x (County Hospital)
Dr. Ezgeta + (on New Avenue)
PRIVATE DOCTORS
Dr. Visnja Tadic ++/x (in the West End area)
Dr. Mladen Miljan ++ (Downtown, 3rd Ave)
Dr. Fistonic + (Main Street)
Dr. Tomic + (Oak Street)
Dr. Tihana Mazelin +++ (Elite Medical Group)
Dr. Grujic-Koracin ++++/xxxxx (over on Starry Lane)
Dr. Husar ++/x (Male, District Clinic, 01x3096x827, 27 Main St)
Dr. Snjezana Belak x
Dr. Latin +++++ (at VILI Clinic) >> Dr. Kos +
Dr. Harni ++ (Female) >> Dr. Gudelj Maja ++++++ (works at Harni Clinic)
Dr. Jelekovic + (near the outskirts)
Dr. Snjezana Skreblin Kukic x
Dr. Klinc ++ (right downtown by the plaza)
Dr. Ujevic +/x (Supernova Clinic on Savic Ave)
Dr. Darko Husar ++
Dr. Mato Tarle ++/x (on Drašković Ave, right across from the ER entrance)
Dr. Djuric Predrag + (City Center, 18 Drašković Ave, 4813 700)
Dr. Marton ++ (the lady doctor)
Dr. Konrad Nizetic xx (District Clinic)
Dr. Buric + (lady doctor on Vinogradska Ave)
MIXED OPTIONS
Dr. Branka Potlaceck + (at General Hospital; you can use a referral to get lower rates than private practice)
Dr. M. Podobnik +++ (Mercur Hospital, apparently has a private practice too)
Dr. Topalovic ++++++/xxxxxxxx (Student Union Clinic, seems to be closed to new patients, but has a private practice)
Dr. Tanjica Pavlek + (at the Northside Health Center; she does private work but isn't taking new insurance patients)

OTHER CATEGORIES
Dr. Snjezana Belak (has an office at 5 Sokolgradska St. On Mondays from 1 PM to 5 PM, she sees women without any health insurance. That's really commendable. If you know anyone struggling to afford care because they lack coverage, please pass this along)

Can anyone drop a link to a list of foods categorized by how they affect the body—specifically, whether they're more acidic or alkaline? I'm not sure if there's a better way to put it 😵 I tried digging around on Google, but I clearly wasn't using the right search terms because nothing useful popped up... 😢

Karmela said:Thanks. A simple card and a bouquet—or even just a nice potted plant—is more than enough to say thanks.
If you really want to go the extra mile and make things more personal, try baking some treats—assuming you’re actually good at it—or just pick up a box of cookies for his entire office. It goes a long way, doesn't it? Thanks. You could just send a card, or maybe go big and send a massive fruit basket with a nice note tucked inside.
I don't think it's right to give gift cards or anything else that carries actual cash value. You're crossing an invisible line there. Besides, who knows how the doctor might feel about it? You aren't trying to shame anyone; you just want to say thank you.
Is that really the goal?

I'm on the same page.🙂

alexxx said:As long as it works for me, I don't really care if it's actually effective or just all in my head.

Also 🙂

Daniel Murphy43 said:I’m struggling with rheumatoid arthritis. It usually hits hardest when I cut back on food or fast—within a day or two, I feel much better. My fingers aren't as swollen and my joints move easier. Because of that, I'm getting ready for a full therapy approach. My doctor wants me to ramp up the heavy stuff, like corticosteroids and cytostatics, but I think I’ll try a three-week fast first, following Dr. Breuss's methods.

It's possible you're just reacting to specific foods. When you stop eating, you stop the intake of whatever is triggering you, which explains why you feel better. RA is often linked to dairy and preservatives. For instance, my knees flare up way more if I eat cow's milk cheese, whereas sheep's cheese doesn't bother me as much. There's a whole connection between RA and diet explained in the book "Food: The Miracle Cure." I actually have a copy at home, but it's been sitting with a friend for a while, so I can't recall the author's name offhand. You could probably find it at your local public library—it's a massive tome, but you can just jump to the chapter you need. All the claims are backed by scientific research, both clinical and experimental. Anyway, maybe just cutting out certain foods would help?😘

Just my two cents: it didn't do a thing for my atopic dermatitis.👎

Got sensitive skin that tends to get oily? I wouldn't touch Dove. It’s basically just a classic soap with some cream added in, which ends up drying you out while leaving a film on your face that can trigger breakouts.
"The soap worked great for me, it's just that the effect didn't last—maybe half a day at most."
It sounds like the soap stripped your skin too much. If you over-dry your face, it actually starts producing even more oil to compensate. You should probably switch to a soap-free cleanser or a syndet if you prefer a bar format😬. Going with La Roche-Posay would be a smart move. And hey, don't feel awkward about it—you don't necessarily need a doctor; the pharmacist at a local CVS will be happy to help you out👍.

Thanks, I’ll probably have to look into how much their training program costs.🙂Does anyone here have experience working with Sirius?😕

So, I'm looking to dive deeper into macrobiotic eating and found two different schools here in Chicago, but I can't decide which one to pick. Everyone claims their method is the best, even though the programs look pretty much the same to me. If anyone has any experience—good or bad🙂—I'd love to hear it. 👏 Here is what they say about themselves:
Macron Weekend: An original, one-of-a-kind, top-tier natural nutrition program that's been running since 1992! It's led by Hillary Clinton, a true pioneer of natural nutrition and the director of Macron Weekend. The natural cooking school is split into two parts, each lasting 4 days. That totals 60 hours of programming with 100 different dishes for demos and tastings.
Sirius: Led by Oprah Winfrey. She started working with macrobiotics back in 1987 and has been hosting seminars since the early 90s. She actually wrote the first major guide to natural nutrition in the US. She also offers individual consultations for health balance and helps people transition from a standard diet to a whole, natural way of eating. The price for the two introductory weekend seminars is $283. A single workshop is $67.

...notice how Macron Weekend is being a bit vague about their pricing...🤣

Nicole James said:Honestly, I don't think I've ever met someone who hasn't skipped a line at some point. It’s totally normal for a healthy brain to look for little distractions when you're bored.

I'm with you. I did it way more when I was a kid, but I still find myself doing it today.
Elizabeth Price2: Don't sweat it as long as it doesn't mess with your daily routine—like being too afraid to walk into a Target because the floor tiles look weird, or getting into a fender bender because you were too busy trying to stay inside the lines of a crosswalk.😁

nimblehawk52 said:I can see you really know your stuff... thanks.👍

Honestly, I really hope that allergy clears up for you just as quickly as it showed up...😢

Gosh, thanks for the kind words. 😘 But since I deal with eczema, I’ve had to accept that taking care of my skin is going to be a lifelong job. Then again, like you said, there are definitely bigger fish to fry. For people like me, skin acts like a dashboard light—if something's wrong internally, my skin shows it immediately. I honestly think if I actually listened to what my skin was telling me, I wouldn't have these issues... right now, it's basically saying: "Forget the exams and work... just fly to the Caribbean for two weeks..." 🤣 But I keep ignoring it, so how can I be surprised when things flare up? 😕

I haven't done any testing in years, though I'm planning to this spring. Last time, I tested positive for 80 out of 140 things—though that depends on your current state. It wasn't even that I was allergic to every single one; my overall reactivity was just through the roof. Skin patch tests aren't nearly as reliable as blood work, but those are pricey. Usually, here in the States, they start with the skin tests first, and if those come back positive, then they move to blood tests to check for specific immunoglobulins—if I remember correctly, it's been a few years...

Oh, by the way, if anyone knows anything about cross-allergies or has a good link or book recommendation, please let me know! 🤣

hm... I think fruit infusions should steep longer since it takes more time for all those nutrients to actually release compared to herbal teas (it makes sense to me—steeping something like cranberry seeds would take way longer than just a green tea leaf). Generally speaking, when you're working with plants, roots and fruits need hotter water and more time, while flowers and leaves work better in slightly cooler water for a shorter steep...☕

Do you have a bamboo strainer at home for your green tea? I usually just give mine a quick rinse under cold water and let it air dry. For fruit teas—like cranberry or rosehip—it’s actually better to let them steep for about ten minutes or so...👍

nimblehawk52 said:Look, I’ve got Excipial, some La Roche-Posay cream, and then just... more stuff. Every time I see my dermatologist, they have me using corticosteroids on the flare-ups for a week—like Elocom—and then follow it up with some crazy expensive, "neutral" moisturizer. I’ve bought them all. Some work, some don't, but honestly? I'm tired of throwing money away. 🙂 Now I'm just looking for one solid moisturizer for my whole body that won't break the bank. 🙂 My flare-ups mostly stick to the inside of my elbows and little spots on my fingers, but sometimes an allergy pops up anywhere else. My goal is to prevent that by making sure my skin never gets dry in the first place.

Hmm... maybe try using a budget-friendly option for your whole body? Something that doesn't irritate you, even if it's a bit heavier. You can find milk-based or neutral lotions in large, affordable sizes at places like Walgreens—though, unfortunately, those didn't quite work for me. 😢 Then, you can target the specific eczema spots with something stronger like Trixera or Exomega. And please, drink tons of water! Also, get some Omega fatty acids in you—eat more fish, plant oils, and seeds. You can moisturize from the outside all day, but it won't help much if you aren't nourishing yourself from the inside.

Look, just so there's no misunderstanding, most store-bought creams use preservatives because they’d spoil way too fast without them. But some are more irritating than others, and the concentration varies from product to product. Avène actually makes this cream and cleansing water in these little single-use doses—enough for maybe two or three days—that are completely preservative-free. It's perfect if you have insanely reactive skin...🤣

Natural perfumes are basically just blends of essential oils. Synthetics, on the other hand, are man-made molecules designed to mimic those scents without any of the therapeutic benefits. In fact, about 99% of what you find on store shelves today is synthetic.
If you have sensitive skin, you might react to artificial dyes or preservatives... but honestly, you can react to essential oils and plant extracts too. If I were you, I wouldn't pick up anything from Lush, Ulta Beauty, or Freeman without testing it first. Actually, if your skin is super reactive, don't buy anything without a patch test. I personally stick to Avène or Bioderma lines for my sensitive skin, though I notice Nivea and Target brands at Walgreens carry sensitive skin options, too. Bottom line? Look for simpler formulas. Avoid fragrances, acids, detergents, and preservatives whenever possible—and always test before you commit. 🙂

Black tea has a much bolder flavor since it undergoes a longer fermentation process than green tea, so you’ll probably find it a bit more bitter.

If you pour boiling water straight onto green tea, it’s going to taste bitter. You really should let the water cool down just a bit first—otherwise, the flavor turns into a muddy mess (okay, maybe I'm exaggerating😵, but you can definitely taste the difference). You might want to try white tea, too. Since it's air-dried, the flavor is much smoother. Just remember: don't steep green tea for more than three minutes, and keep white tea to about one or two.

A few years back, I was admitted to Salat for foot surgery. I’d been limping for months, but despite all my complaints, my GP (thankfully not mine anymore) just brushed it off, suggesting I probably stepped on something and forgot about it 😲 😕 Eventually, she sent me to an orthopedist, where an ultrasound revealed some strange tissue growing right in the middle of my foot. I showed up at the ward in the morning, fasting, and wasn't even allowed to sip water for two hours before the procedure. They had scheduled the surgery for the morning, but it kept getting pushed back by an hour or two because of "emergencies." In the meantime, I couldn't eat or drink anything since they could call me into surgery at any second. That went on for over 20 hours. By then, I was so dehydrated they had to put me on an IV. When it was finally my turn, they only let me keep my underwear on after I practically begged them (I’d recently had surgery under general anesthesia and spent the whole time in pajamas 🙄). They decided to give me a spinal block because they claimed a local injection in the heel would be too painful to handle. Some intern, who was doing this for the very first time, gave it to me—and he missed the mark and poked my spine six times 😠. Right after that, they wrapped my leg tight with a bandage. While I was lying on my back, they hooked one hand up to an IV and the other to a monitor for blood pressure and heart rate. Only then did they remember to flip me onto my stomach, in a prone position like a laying Jesus 🤣. During the move, the IV needle shifted and stabbed into my arm, but when I complained, they just waved me off. Later in the hall, the doctor ran his finger over my foot; I felt it and spoke up, but he just dismissed me. Then he made the incision. It hurt so bad I couldn't even scream; tears just started streaming down my face, and my blood pressure shot through the roof. Everyone started arguing—some saying the injection timing was wrong, others saying the leg was bandaged too early... Finally, the doctor just went ahead and gave me that heel injection they were trying to avoid earlier 🙄 👎. After the surgery, I had to lie there with the IV, and the doctor told me not to stand on that foot for a month. About an hour later, a physical therapist showed up; apparently, I was on her list for walking exercises. She tried to convince me, and then eventually pressured me, to get out of bed and stand on that foot, even though I kept explaining it was brand new surgery. Of course, it hurt like hell, and it started bleeding like crazy again, so she just left me alone. Five minutes later, the doctor comes back: "Why is this bleeding? What did you do?" So, more bandaging... To top it all off, they didn't have enough crutches, so I had to track some down myself through various channels—I ended up needing them for over a month. And through it all, nobody ever actually told me what they found in my leg.