Posts by analogfox3

The vascular surgeons over at Mayo Clinic are top-tier. Some of them actually transitioned there from Johns Hopkins, so you can definitely count on them for solid advice or a reliable second opinion. Plus, Mayo has some of the best radiologists in the country when it comes to prepping cases and gauging how serious the underlying issues really are. It looks like they’ve even expanded their scope beyond carotids to include procedures similar to coronary artery stents. It’s worth getting their take before you make any final decisions...

Angela Wilson4 said:I really need to get a kidney ultrasound and a full consultation with a nephrologist, but I have zero interest in waiting two months at a public hospital. I’d much rather just see a private specialist.
Can anyone give me a recommendation? I haven't found many nephrologists online—honestly, I can't find any! Meanwhile, there are endless gynecologists, gastroenterologists, and cardiologists available.
Please help! 🙂 Thanks 😉

Going private doesn't always mean you're getting the best care. If I were in your shoes, I would actually head over to the Los Angeles Lakers clinic to see prof. Galešić... It might be worth checking his current waitlist to see if it's manageable.

Antibiotics can be a lifesaver sometimes, but more often than not, you end up on the operating table. It’s not all doom and gloom, though. These procedures are routine. You'll likely only be stuck in the hospital for a day or two, if that. In most cases, anyway.

It’s obvious why it carries that name, given that its primary ingredient is the antibiotic erythromycin. There is also an alternative version containing clindamycin. You can actually have a pharmacist compound it for you—all you need is a prescription from your primary care physician or a dermatologist specifying all the ingredients so they can mix it right there at the pharmacy. Alternatively, there is a manufactured clindamycin lotion sold under the brand name Clindamycin, though that option tends to be more expensive...

If you're looking at doctors from the Mayo Clinic, I’d specifically point you toward the team over at Mount Sinai. They are truly wonderful people—kind, compassionate, and incredibly skilled. I would recommend them to anyone without hesitation. As for which specific doctor to see? Well, that really depends on what kind of urological issue you're dealing with.

I don't buy this idea that Latin is being used just to confuse the average person or drive a wedge between doctors and their patients. In fact, if a physician takes the time to write out a diagnosis properly using Latin, colleagues anywhere else in the world will know exactly what they’re dealing with. I can't help but wonder how someone would manage if they needed a second opinion abroad and showed up with medical records where every single diagnosis was written in American vernacular...
Furthermore, I find it hard to believe that doctors aren't prepared to explain things clearly and in plain English to a patient or their family. Of course, there are exceptions—there always are in everything—but we shouldn't paint everyone with the same brush.
At any rate, what bothers me more is the illegible handwriting and the constant scribbling instead of just using a typewriter or a computer if they won't do anything else...

Endocrinologist: the aforementioned Dr. Zmire from the Mayo Clinic
If surgery becomes necessary—meaning an ENT specialist—I would absolutely recommend the team at the Sisters of Mercy. There simply isn't anyone better.

Elizabeth Jackson88
So... I'm heading to the beach on August 7th and I really need my period to not happen then. I want to either delay it or maybe speed it up if that's even possible. What kind of pills should I be taking? When do I start, and what's the daily dosage?

It seems you're cutting it a bit close with the hormonal manipulation. Honestly, looking at the other smart women on this forum, trying to perform some kind of medical magic just ten days before hitting the coast isn't exactly the brightest move. Is a little spotting and using a tampon really such a massive catastrophe? Or did you have some other, shall we say... specific plans that a period would ruin?

Timothy Morgan38 has already shared a wealth of solid advice here. For what it's worth, my humble take is that at your age, the risk of cancer remains quite low, but if you persist with the smoking habit...
I'm hoping the checkup confirmed I was right about everything 🙂

I'm not entirely sure if this is still relevant, but since I run into thyroid issues almost every single day, I figured my perspective might be helpful here. From what I can gather, the surgery hasn't happened yet, which means this preliminary diagnosis was likely based on an ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration. That would explain why the diagnosis is so vague—just mentioning a tumor without specifying whether it’s benign or malignant. Regardless, the definitive answer won't come until after the surgery and the subsequent pathology report. The term "Google cell" essentially refers to morphologically altered cells within the thyroid's follicular epithelium (the part responsible for producing thyroxine). These types of cells can show up during various conditions, including non-cancerous ones like Hashimoto's thyroiditis. So, it might not even turn out to be a tumor at all. If it does turn out to be one, it's worth noting that the benign version (a Google cell adenoma) is significantly more common and doesn't require any follow-up treatment. If, heaven forbid, it turns out to be something malignant (Google cell carcinoma), everything will depend on the size and how far it has spread. Keeping my fingers crossed for you!