Posts by Ethan Gray4

coppergardener said:Thanks! I was just checking out Rebro online, and honestly, I ended up waiting at the container for about 12 minutes, though it was super quick once I got right up to the white building.

That’s such a relief to hear, especially since I’ve got to head back there again tomorrow. What time did you end up going?

Hey everyone, I was wondering if I could just go get my blood work done at a different local clinic since I recently moved, or am I stuck? My doctor uploaded my referral to the online portal and told me I have to visit her specific clinic to get it handled, but that’s a bit of a trek now.

coppergardener said:It’s actually up there, the one right next to the green building. That specific one is what everyone calls the "white building." There are actually a few of them, and you can see all of them marked out on the map on the Mayo Clinic website.

I was actually there just last week, and honestly, they make every single patient go through triage first. If you show up at the green building around 9:00 AM on a Friday, just be prepared to sit there for at least 45 minutes. The line by the white building seemed a little shorter, but I wouldn't count on waiting any less than 45 minutes regardless. My little tip if you have a bunch of stuff to get done is to do your triage over at the green building first, then when you're heading out, make sure you grab another slip so you can walk straight into the white building—that way you won't have to wait in that second line. Also, there was basically no line at all over by the nuclear wing.

goldenheron6 said:What's the point of that incision procedure?

Basically, it's about opening up the hymen. For some girls, it’s just too thick or shaped weirdly, which ends up causing issues—either when they're dealing with their period or during sex.

I figured I'd share my own experience in case anyone else is going through this... I actually just got back from seeing dr. Silva Babić over in Trnski. She gave me some local anesthesia and then used some instruments to stretch things out. Honestly, it only hurt for a split second, nothing crazy at all. I did have a bit of a tender feeling when sitting down afterward, but that passed pretty quickly. The whole thing, including the exam and the dilation, cost $133. They didn't even need to go in with a scalpel, but if the dilation doesn't do the trick, I'll probably head back for the actual incision. My boyfriend and I have been trying to have penetrative sex for over a year now without luck, so we finally decided to go see a gynecologist. I'm 24.

Grace Davis77 said:Dr. Burek at Imunomed.

Thanks a ton, 🙂

Hey everyone. So, I’ve been dealing with Hashimoto’s, which is an autoimmune thyroid issue, and I recently got a false positive for Hepatitis C. On top of that, I had Hepatitis A a few years back and some liver lesions caused by my thyroid issues. The infectious disease specialists ran a full battery of blood tests on my liver, and it looks like there’s an autoimmune component at play here. They referred me to an immunologist, but the earliest opening the doctor could find at the Mayo Clinic isn't until August 2020—which is literally two years away. Honestly, who has that kind of time? I feel like I'll be dead before I even get through the door.

I was wondering if any of you could recommend a good immunologist in Chicago, or maybe somewhere else in the US, for an initial consultation? I don't need anyone legendary or anything, just someone who won't make me wait forever. I'd actually prefer a major public hospital because I trust their quality more, but I'm totally open to a solid private practice too.

Also, does anyone happen to know if it’s possible to seek treatment over in Germany, and if so, what does that whole process look like?

Look, your liver and kidneys are already doing all the heavy lifting to keep your body clean. Everything else—those overpriced juices, herbal teas, protein shakes, trendy cleanses, even those weird enemas—is just a massive cash grab targeting people who don't know any better. It’s not even a legitimate alternative therapy because if it actually worked, it would be integrated into mainstream medicine. This whole "detox" craze is a total scam. Your liver and kidneys are absolute rockstars at what they do. If you have healthy organs, you don't need some magic potion unless you've gone overboard with drugs or alcohol, in which case you should be heading straight to an ER for a stomach pump or maybe even dialysis in serious cases.
If your goal is to have a "clean" body, just make sure your kidneys and liver are actually functioning properly (honestly, if you're worried, just go to a clinic like Mayo Clinic, get a full blood panel, and a urine test). Don't overindulge in anything, because toxicity is strictly about dosage—even water can kill you if you drink way too much of it. And just try to stay active.
Whatever you do, do NOT try fasting for 24 hours or more where you're living on nothing but water and similar stuff. You'll basically send your body into shock, making it fight for survival because it thinks food is scarce. You'll end up tanking your metabolism, which does you a huge disservice because once you start eating normally again, your body burns calories way slower, making it much harder to lose weight.
I really wish people wouldn't fall for every single thing they read on random wellness blogs, and instead based their lifestyle choices on actual, proven scientific facts.

I have a quick question... When this was all being talked about, I was a bit younger, but I'm 21 now. Is it still possible for me to get the HPV vaccine, and where would I even go? Does anyone have any experience with the process or know how it works?

Back in November 2013, I ended up dealing with thyroid issues when I was only 19. Honestly, it probably started even earlier, but that’s when the physical symptoms really started hitting me hard. First, my liver started acting up, then my ovaries, and even my heart. I couldn't keep any food down at all, and I started getting these scary heart arrhythmias. For about a month and a half, I was just bouncing around the local infectious disease clinic because they were convinced I had hepatitis. Then they sent me over to Mercy Hospital, where I ended up in the ER four different times after passing out—which happened after I dropped down to a measly 99 pounds and was basically bedridden. My mom, who has dealt with thyroid stuff herself for years and knows the signs inside and out, kept begging the ER doctors to actually check my thyroid, but all she’d get was some condescending, "Are you a doctor or something?" It was infuriating. I was shaking uncontrollably, my thyroid was visibly swollen, and I was complaining about how hard it was to swallow. Instead of helping, they sent me to the ENT department, where I sat there for six hours just waiting for a priest to come by, bless the ward, and leave—and the staff acted all snappy, like heaven forbid a priest should actually see patients in the hospital. When I finally saw a doctor, he looked at my throat, told me there was nothing wrong, and said I could head back to the ER. And this was while my thyroid was clearly enlarged right there in front of him! We spent six weeks spinning our wheels until we finally bumped into a former neighbor at the ER, whom my mom asked to run a quick blood test for my TSH levels. The results came back in twenty minutes, and yeah, obviously, everything was messed up. I spent about two months trying to get treated at Mercy with a totally wrong diagnosis, but once I realized I couldn't deal with their stupidity, rudeness, and pure incompetence anymore, I moved my care over to Johns Hopkins. Now, I’m seeing Dr. Kuna. Honestly, I can't remember a time in my life when doctors and nurses have treated me with such respect. I seriously cannot recommend Mercy.

When I was a kid, I had tonsillectomies at their facility, starting when I was six, and they told me everything was fine and they'd removed them all. Fast forward a year later, and I somehow have a new tonsil. They told me one had grown back. So, I went in to have that one removed, and the second I woke up from anesthesia, I threw up. My older nurse was standing right there by my bed, and instead of helping, she started screaming at me—and I was only seven! She was yelling about how I dared to vomit on the bed, telling me the emesis basin was right there if I needed it, and then she literally threw the basin at me and stormed out of the room.

The doctors and staff are just completely unprofessional; they don't seem to know the first thing about their jobs and they treat patients like total garbage. Their behavior toward small children is honestly disgusting. Plus, the crowds and the endless waiting could be avoided if the doctors actually did their jobs instead of taking those collective two-hour breaks in the ER.

If you have any other choice, please go somewhere else. Personally, Johns Hopkins has been my best experience, but honestly, anywhere is better than Mercy.

lonehawk8 said:Honestly, I’m dealing with some massive aesthetic issues right now, and it’s just weighing on me so heavily. I actually called up Johns Hopkins Hospital the other day to try and get things moving, but the nurse there told me that Professor Jurlina is out on vacation until the beginning of August. On top of that, she mentioned that even when he's back, the waitlist for an actual consultation is about a year long. I don't even know how to process that. I’m honestly feeling pretty desperate because I wanted to get this sorted out immediately, especially since I’m supposed to start my internship by September. It looks like everything is going to hit a massive roadblock and won't go at all according to plan. :'(

😢 Man, I’m seriously sorry to hear that. I really hope you can find a way to get everything sorted out somehow. And hey, thanks so much for filling me in on all that info, too.

boldnomad45 said:I was wondering, do you happen to have any inside connections to get an operation scheduled? Because honestly, there is zero chance you're getting in for surgery before the fall without some serious help from someone like Dr. Miller.

I’ve been there. I actually ended up getting rushed straight to the nuclear medicine department at the Mayo Clinic because of her. It happened so fast, too. :/ I guess I’m just wondering how effective those kinds of connections actually are when things get serious. 🙂 Look, if I don't get my act together and sort this mess out right now, I honestly don't see myself getting another shot at this kind of opportunity until 2019 rolls around. 🙂

Hey everyone, it's me again. 😁
I was hanging around here a year ago, bugging you all and asking way too many questions. Based on some solid recommendations I got back then, I decided to look into seeing Dr. Jurlina over at the Mayo Clinic. Is he still as amazing as people say? Also, does anyone know how long the waitlist is these days? I haven't actually had any nose work done there yet, but right now I’m being treated by Dr. Toncic over at the nuclear department. I had my checkup with her today and asked if I could go ahead with nose surgery despite my thyroid issues; she gave me the green light and said she’d sign off on everything for the anesthesiologist and all that. Anyway, I just want to get this whole nose mess sorted out as soon as possible. I’ve been dealing with this thyroid drama and wasn't sure if I'd need surgery for it, but since my doctor confirmed today that I won't need the operation this summer, it would be incredible if I could get my nose fixed before college starts. It would be such a relief to check at least one thing off my list. 😁
It's a deviated septum. I've actually broken my nose twice, so I've got this big bump that looks pretty rough, and my nose drifts to the left because I slammed into a pole once. So, I definitely need the cosmetic side of things handled too. But hey, the lovely people on this forum told me that Dr. Jurlina at Mayo does both functional and aesthetic work, and that he's fantastic at it. I'm really hoping he's still taking new patients. I guess I'm mostly wondering—what are the realistic chances of having my nose looking good by October 1st? I'm heading in for an ENT appointment as early as next week.

Alex Moore62 said:Hey rebro, Dr. Martin Jurlina 👍

Just make sure you have supplemental insurance so you don't end up paying a dime at the hospital 😉

Good luck 🙂

I just saw this now, but thanks so much! I actually have supplemental coverage through my student plan, so I should be fine 😁 But honestly, I’m dealing with some health stuff right now and it's not exactly easy, so they aren't going to rush me into surgery anytime soon because of my heart issues 😢 Still, I really appreciate the heads-up, and in a few years, I'll definitely be looking to book an appointment with Dr. Jurlina!

Alex Moore62 said:Honestly, just head to a hospital and find a doctor you can actually trust. When they go in to fix your function—you know, dealing with that deviated septum—they should also take care of the breathing issues caused by that old injury from the pillar, since that definitely messed with your nasal function too. You shouldn't have to pay extra for the fixes because everything gets handled as one package deal; just make sure to hash that out beforehand with whichever surgeon you end up seeing.

Seriously, don't even think about going private if you aren't prepared to gamble with your health, your life, and your bank account. I haven't been following this thread closely lately since I had my own surgery a few years back over at Mount Sinai, but looking back in now, it still blows my mind how people are so willing to throw their lives on the line for cosmetic procedures. They go to these random private clinics that don't even have a proper anesthesiologist on staff, paying a fortune for horrific, amateur surgeries that end up being total disasters—not just for how the nose looks, but for how you actually breathe.

Thank you so, so, so much! I honestly don't trust those private places anyway... I’ll just head to one of our wonderful major hospitals and see what happens. 😁 So, is Mount Sinai any good? I live near the Vineyard area, so I was wondering if there’s somewhere else better... and which doctor in Chicago is actually reliable? I really hope I don't have to slip someone 5,000 bucks under the table just to get the hump straightened out... I feel like I might have to sell a kidney just to afford it.

But yeah... any recommendations for a specific doctor or hospital? Mount Sinai?

Oh awesome, I finally stumbled upon the right thread on the forum! 🙂

I’m really curious about how things have been changing with healthcare lately... So, I’ve got a deviated septum, and since I'm still a student, I'm relying on my supplemental insurance and all that. Some people tell me everything is covered for free, while others swear you have to pay out of pocket for everything. I would be so incredibly grateful if someone who actually knows the ropes could give me the real scoop. Also, a friend of mine mentioned that her doctor actually tweaked the shape of her nose during her septum surgery, and she didn't end up paying a dime extra for it. It would be absolutely amazing if I could get that hump fixed too—you know, the one I earned from slamming my face into a pole back in the day. I just want it straightened out because, honestly, it's leaning a bit crooked. But yeah, being a student means my bank account is pretty much non-existent right now. 😁
I mean, I could totally wait a few years to deal with the cosmetic side of things, but I’d much rather just get it all handled at once so I don't have to go through the pain of nose surgery twice for no reason.

So, yeah, kind souls of Washington, D.C., please help a girl out! 😁