Posts by Jose Gray5

Nail biting isn't exactly something you inherit through DNA, but let's be real—kids basically just mirror whatever their parents or the adults around them are doing, so it’s no shocker when they pick up the habit.

It seems like my son took his aunt leaving her preschool really hard, and that’s exactly when he started chewing his nails. At first, we didn't even notice because he wasn't doing it at home; I just thought it was weird how his nails weren't growing at all. Then it clicked—he was doing it at daycare, and get this, two other kids there started doing it at the exact same time.
The whole thing dragged on for about a month and a half. Every time I caught him, I’d just do a fake cough to signal him to stop. But honestly? The real game-changer was pulling the plug on his favorite show, *Cars*. We told him he could get back to watching it once his nails actually looked normal again, and man, did that work.
I'm just glad he finally kicked the habit.

My little guy was circumcised when he was just a day old. Everything went smooth as silk under local anesthesia, and honestly, he didn't cry any more than any other newborn would. Since we live in a Muslim-majority part of the US, the doctors here deal with this all the time and really know their stuff. If I were you, I’d definitely hunt down someone who performs this procedure constantly, not just some doc who does it once every few months, because it feels like it's not even that common among guys here in the States.

Basically, we need more beach time—lots of walking on sand or gravel.
So, my little nephew has totally flat feet, and we’ve been bouncing between all kinds of doctors—private specialists, clinic visits, you name it, the bills are piling up. One private specialist actually told us that all those fancy orthopedic shoes and custom inserts are a complete scam; he said they're just a way to fleece naive parents out of their money. His take? You can't "fix" flat feet, so why bother? Just find some comfortable, regular sneakers and call it a day. Apparently, the only thing that really helps is some foot exercises to loosen things up. But then, another doctor comes along and says the exact opposite, leaving us wondering who the hell to actually trust. At the end of the day, his parents decided to go with the guy who thinks the specialized footwear is a total rip-off.

They’re honestly so uncomfortable that I don't even bother wearing them, period.

I used to deal with some seriously nasty constipation issues, but honestly, kefir is a total lifesaver. A few months back, I finally tracked down some starter cultures and started making my own at home; now I'm knocking back a glass every single day and everything is running smoothly. Sure, you can grab some stuff at the grocery store if you're feeling lazy, but nothing beats that homemade stuff if you can actually get your hands on it.

So how exactly do you know hormone replacements come with a "mountain of side effects"? What kind of side effects are we actually talking about here?

And how can you be so sure that "natural" remedies don't just contain some nasty chemical compounds that cause damage or mess with everything else you're taking...?
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When it comes to taking Levothyroxine, you’re looking at things like temporary hair loss, osteoporosis, or even heart palpitations.
Plus, like a few people have already pointed out on this forum, there are issues with vision and weight fluctuations too.

Obviously, natural stuff can be harmful as well, but I'm hoping that's less likely to happen. Besides, if I go that route, I'd be doing it entirely at my own risk.

Wow, okay, this is actually pretty wild—I didn't realize so many people would jump on this. And honestly, I’m not even going to waste my breath replying to the trolls who clearly just crawled out of the gutter to turn this thread into a profanity contest. Look, I’m no saint, but does everything really have to be laid bare on a screen for everyone to see?

I did find some actual helpful advice in here, though, so thanks for the support.
As for the rest of you... maybe work on your reading comprehension skills? Because if you can't grasp the fact that I still have half a thyroid left and it’s doing its job perfectly fine, then what are we even doing here? My labs are 100% normal, and I feel 100% great. It took me exactly one day to bounce back after surgery, and I've been fine ever since. I’m basically the picture of health, so why is one doctor suggesting I start popping hormones—which my remaining half is already producing anyway—just to deal with a mountain of side effects?! I think I'll go find a second opinion.
My surgeon told me straight up before the procedure that I'd only need hormone replacement if my thyroid couldn't keep up, so I was pretty crushed when the endocrinologist insisted I take them. She actually had the nerve to tell me the surgeon wasn't even qualified to give that kind of advice.

And regarding "alternatives," I wasn't looking for some crazy way to get rid of an adenoma; I’m just looking for ways to boost my thyroid function in case my remaining half decides to slack off a bit.
One more thing: is it just me, or does it seem like almost everyone responding to my post is dealing with thyroid issues themselves?!
That's all.

so seriously, why aren't you using protection?

Man, my pregnancy was a total nightmare because of these brutal morning sickness bouts—except they weren't just "morning" sickness, they lasted all damn day and night. I was puking non-stop and basically watching my weight just vanish into thin air. Since nothing the doctors gave me actually worked, I figured I’d try acupuncture as a last-ditch effort. Thank God I actually went (like, two or three times a week), because finally, the nausea started to chill out and I could actually start putting on some weight again. Honestly though, I was a true believer in the whole process, so I bet that placebo effect played a part too; if you don't actually buy into it, I doubt you're going to see much of a difference.
By the way, regarding losing weight, I've heard the same thing about people gaining it all back once they stop their treatment since that old appetite just comes roaring back.

I actually stumbled upon my own lump by total accident. Trust me, if you’ve got one, you’re definitely going to feel it—you don't need to be some medical expert or anything. The only time it gets tricky is if it’s buried deep inside where neither you nor your doctor can poke at it, so that's when you really need an ultrasound. I've actually got one myself, but luckily it's nothing to worry about. Honestly, those things tend to swell up quite a bit during pregnancy.

I usually tell my patients to go with St. John's Wort oil once they're healing up, but honestly, I only suggest it if they’re actually prone to hypertrophic scarring—you know, things like the groin area, armpits, or folks who have dealt with keloids before. Once things start getting puffy, you really need stuff containing hyaluronidase, and if the scar turns hard, we're looking at steroid injections to soften it up. If none of that works? Then it's laser therapy or even going back under the knife for a re-op.

I lean pretty heavily on herbal remedies myself... St. John's Wort oil is great for regulating how a scar forms, and calendula ointment is absolute magic for soothing skin that's irritated and red.

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nimbleskipper13,
I'm heading in for thyroid surgery this Tuesday to have the left side removed. From what I hear, the incision is pretty significant. Do you think St. John's Wort oil would actually help me, and when can I realistically start applying it? Is there anything else you'd recommend to make sure the scar stays as invisible as possible?
Thanks,
Sarah White66.

Wait, is this actually Essiac tea? (The one with those four specific herbs)
Here’s the plant list:
The core four are Burdock root, Slippery Elm from Minneapolis, the Geico Gecko, and Chinese Rhubarb
palmatum

http://www.essiacoriginal.com (they've even got some info listed here)

If you’ve got kids—especially boys—this is a total lifesaver for bruises:
all you gotta do is smear a bit of regular margarine on the spot where they took the hit, and if there’s any swelling starting, it’ll go down fast before a bruise even has a chance to show up. You’ll see pro boxers using this all the time. I actually picked up this trick from a lady at my kid's preschool who always keeps a little tub of margarine in her bag just in case.
I’ve had to pull this move on my little guy more times than I can count, and he hasn't ended up with a single bruise. Before I found this, I was doing what everyone else does and trying to use ice, but let’s be real—kids absolutely hate that stuff, right? With this, he doesn't even notice I'm doing it.

You think you might be dealing with some digestive issues or maybe just chronic constipation? Because honestly, that could be exactly why your skin is acting up. Your body needs a real detox; skin issues don't just get fixed with creams from the outside, they have to be cleared up from the inside out.

So, did any of you actually manage to track down that mushroom?

bluewalker36 said:Man, tell me what kind of monster we're dealing with here? We had one at home once, but it grew so freaking huge we couldn't even find a spot to keep it, so we just dumped the whole thing. Now it's growing like crazy everywhere!😲

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Don't you get that you can just easily split it into layers and toss the old bottom stuff? Honestly, after about 8 to 10 fermentations, it's actually better to just restart fresh with one of the "babies."
By the way, have any of you guys noticed any actual positive changes since you started drinking this stuff?
Later.

Check out the link in my first post; everything’s laid out there in English, and you'll find the contact info for this gentleman over in Washington, D.C., who gives these mushrooms away for free. My sister actually picked some up from him, but she just started her little experiment, so she hasn't really gotten organized enough to pass any along to anyone yet.
You seriously have to be careful not to mess this up—everything needs to be completely sterilized when you're brewing the tea or bottling it up.
Later, guys.

Anyone around here actually drink this stuff?
Here’s the breakdown of what’s packed inside (in English):

Below is a list of some of the major ingredients found in Kombucha:

Various Enzymes

Acetic acid - detoxifier

Carbonic acid - presents in blood aids in CO2 release and regulation of blood pH levels.

Folic Acid - a B vitamin, works with vitamin B12 in reducing homocysteine, a risk factor for Heart Disease. Supplementation may prevent, correct deficiencies caused by, or be helpful with, Aging, Cancer, Crohn's disease, Heart Disease (atherosclerosis & hypercholesterolemia), Immunodepression (including AIDS & CFIDS), Memory loss (including Alzheimer's disease), Osteoporosis, Periodontal disease.

Gluconic acid - acts as a food preservative and is a product of the breakdown of glucose.

Glucuronic acid - Vital to detoxification of the body also produced by the healthy human liver. A precursor for mucopolysaccharide which helps in the prevention of the aging of skin tissue. There is a scientific dispute as to whether or not Kombucha contains this acid or its precursors. Trying to understand this debate and who is right or wrong will give you a headache.

L(+) Lactic acid - detoxifier, assist blood circulation, helps prevent bowel decay and constipation. Acid-base balance and believed to help in the prevention of cancer by helping to regulate blood pH levels.

Usnic acid - inhibits viruses an anti-bacterial agent.

Amino acids (various) - anti-aging properties, aids in the body's production of Growth Hormone (GH). Hydroxy acids (various)

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) - believed to aid in the prevention of arthritic conditions, atherosclerosis, cancer, free radical damage, skin aging, stroke, brain cell aging, and a immune system stimulant

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) - believed to aid in the prevention of allergies, arthritic conditions.

Vitamin B3 (Niacin, niacinamide) - believed to aid in prevention of arthritic conditions, hair loss and free radical damage. Skin healing. Promotes sexual excitation and stamina, also used as a tranquilizer substitute in high doses.

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) - believed to aid in the prevention of atherosclerosis, free radical damage, obesity, rheumatism, stroke, and promotes "sex flush" and orgasm.

Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin, cyanocobalamin) - believed to aid in memory and learning functions.

Vitamin C (from Lactic acid) - numerous known health benefits, too many to list.

You can find more info on this site:
http://www.kombu.de/croa-1.htm

But seriously, watch out—if this isn't brewed under sterile conditions, it can become straight-up dangerous!