Posts by granitefalcon26

Melissa Sanchez59 said:I have to 🤷 I guess there are days when I feel okay, so I might delay or skip a pill, but that doesn't happen much. I'm pretty much constantly anxious. I'm actually on a different antidepressant now, but without my Lexapro, I'm stuck. I cut my dose in half over a month ago, and I'm barely hanging on—I can't imagine taking any less than this.

I have a quick question. I just realized I'm going to run out of my antidepressants right before the long weekend 🙄 I tried calling my doctor this afternoon, but couldn't get through—she was probably seeing patients all morning. Is there ANY chance I could pick up my meds without a prescription, maybe based on my medical history and stuff? Like, at the pharmacy where I usually go? My psychiatrist wrote my last report last week, so I have that, but I don't have a current script.

You might be able to get it if you show them your medical records.

David Vaughn75 said:Does Prazina actually cause dependency?

I was originally on Lorasilan for my anxiety, but then my doctor decided to pull the plug on that and swapped it out for Prazina (25mg) as a substitute. Man, getting off the Lorasilan was brutal—it felt like I was going through withdrawal every single hour, just constant misery. But honestly? I’ve been off it for two weeks now and I’m actually feeling pretty good.

The thing is, now they’re talking about tapering me off the Prazina too, and I’m low-key freaking out that I'm gonna end up right back in that same hellscape I dealt with during the Lorasilan crash.

A 25mg dose of Prazina is basically the lowest you can go. That was likely just to help you sleep. You really shouldn't be getting hooked on it at that level.

Michelle Evans said:You can certainly ask, but an ER doctor shouldn't really interfere with a treatment plan set by another specialist. Even though some people tend to try anyway...

Your best bet is to call the hospital and ask to speak directly with the doctor who prescribed the medication. See if you can get some professional advice over the phone regarding your next steps...

Actually, a family practitioner can adjust any specialist's treatment plan if they need to. They have the training to make those calls, so they're definitely allowed to manage your therapy.☕

Eric Mitchell55 said:Olandix 15mg, Haldol 3mg, Akineton 3mg, Prazine 50mg, Cymbalta 60mg

Honestly, I could probably sleep for twenty-four hours straight if I took enough of this stuff to knock me out. 😢

Man, seeing someone so young on a cocktail of meds like that... it really breaks my heart.😢😢

Taylor Vaughn8 said:If you actually sit down and watch their broadcasts, you’ll start to see how the Mexican media operates—it's all just a tool for their massive Mexican propaganda machine. For instance, whenever they claim they want to hear "the truth" from the other side, they don't actually look for balance. They just cherry-pick certain Americans who are happy to trash-talk America and feed right into the Mexican propaganda. You will never see them invite an American who actually speaks up in favor of American interests.

Dalibor Margetić is exactly that kind of traitor.🙄

Check out this thread about how they're reacting over in Mexico to the verdict against the generals: Surfing. 🙂

mistyotter35 said:From what I have gathered, the mod wasn't actually trying to justify the existence of Auschwitz; rather, they were pointing out that the real issue lies in the underlying causes and the sequence of events that led to it. I suppose the mod's only true failing was assuming that everyone reading their words would actually grasp the nuance behind them.

We totally got what they meant, but honestly, no matter how you spin it, it still comes off like an excuse for genocide.

To honestly feels like an attempt to justify why those concentration camps were even set up. Two million Jews were murdered at Auschwitz. That’s practically half of the entire population of a country like the US. Seriously? There is absolutely no excuse for genocide.😠
As for skipping the lecture by Branko Lustig, we really need to embrace what democracy actually means. Part of living in a free society is having the right to boycott a talk if you want to. We aren't living under some old-school authoritarian regime anymore, where the police would force kids to show up and listen to a bunch of washed-up old fossils. ☕

I just reported this post properly. Still, nothing happened—it wasn't flagged or taken down.
Danas, 11:43 #9174
I honestly can’t get enough of batik. There’s just something about that intricate, hand-dyed texture that feels so much more soulful than anything you'd pick up at a big-box retailer. It’s got this organic, lived-in vibe that makes everything look like a piece of art rather than just another piece of clothing. I'm a sucker for those patterns.
Registered user

Member since: July 2007.
Location: South Post
Total posts: 1,976
Quote:
antilles says:
This one’s better—classic Hollywood.

Resurrection in Palestine View on youtube
Check this out: Resurrection in Palestine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRz5W...feature=colike

Every time I watch this, I end up laughing my head off for at least half an hour.

Holy crap, what a mess!I mean, honestly, I’m totally floored. There’s just no arguing with this logic. Apparently, Palestinians are out here performing literal resurrections, killing themselves off with F-15s and F-16s, and then just staring down Merkava tanks—Mk. IVs at that—with nothing but pure willpower. It’s wild. They even build their own settlements and bring in actors to play the part of Israeli settlers. I'm officially stumped!
Everything about this video tells the story. You can see exactly who’s pulling the strings; all the faces are right there, and it’s obvious who was filming, when, and where. This isn't some polished propaganda piece—no way. It’s all too transparent.
Beer, man... just beer.

So, Cahit was complaining about how everyone who isn't actually involved is rooting for the Palestinians. Well, here’s a little reality check for him. It seems like everyone who doesn't have a clue what they're talking about is actually siding with the Israelis...
Last edit by batik: Today at 12:05 PM.

I’m really curious how much swearing and insults are actually going to be tolerated on this forum.
This post was reported properly, but instead of getting hit with a penalty, it just sat there untouched.
#9188
redpigscanfly
Registered User

Joined: Oct 2008.
Posts: 1,141
Quote:
granitefalcon26 says:
What marine facts? It’s all right there in the video.

Seriously, just stop trolling already. If you don't have anything better to do with your life than troll people on an internet forum, I honestly feel bad for you.
__________________
‎my dad is tougher than your dad

Kyle Lee7 said:You’re throwing numbers around like you work for the Census Bureau or some big data firm. 😉
What do you mean, 90%? Honestly, people aren't that gullible; they don't show up for kidney issues only to walk out with tests for their spine, thyroid, and a proctoscopy. They aren't walking into a doctor's office with a bag of cash ready to spend, nor is this usually their first visit for the exact same problem. For example, I once went to a private urologist specifically for bladder issues, and can you believe it? They actually performed a bladder ultrasound! It was ridiculous. ☕And they didn't try to upsell me on heart and lung exams, or even a stomach check. In fact, they didn't even bother offering a kidney or urethra screening, which would have been perfectly legitimate to suggest.

Sure, there are definitely doctors out there who might order one or two extra tests, but claiming that applies to almost all private practitioners and 90% of their patients is just plain wrong. You can't base an entire argument on a generalization fueled by a few personal anecdotes.

You’re speaking from your own experience, but I’m speaking from what I see while working with my patients. Most private clinics are driven strictly by profit. When a new patient walks through the door, the main goal is to squeeze every cent out of them. ☕

Kyle Lee7 said:You’re overgeneralizing there. Private practitioners didn't just graduate yesterday only to have their dads buy them a clinic. Most people running private practices have spent 20 or more years working in a major hospital system, or they still pull shifts there once or twice a week. My private gynecologist still works at the hospital one day a week, and she has over 25 years of experience under her belt. My neurologist, who also runs a private practice, actually retired from the hospital setting. Both are top-tier specialists, and honestly, with my work schedule, I don't have the energy or the luxury to wait months for an appointment, only to sit in a waiting room for hours—even when I'm scheduled for 9:00 AM and don't get called back until 2:00 PM.
For some strange reason, our nurses find it absolutely impossible to schedule patients every 15 minutes; instead, they just take 30 people and tell everyone to show up at 9:00 AM! It’s like they were only taught one number in nursing school: 9. So, I show up at 9:00, only to see 30 other people who were smart enough to arrive at 6:00 AM and have been sitting there for three hours just waiting for their 9:00 slot. It is such a blatant lack of respect for the patient—someone who is sick and would much rather be resting at home than shivering in a waiting room for five hours, all because a nurse found it too difficult to manage a proper schedule, or perhaps because they're busy and would rather not lose a whole workday for a 15-minute checkup.

When it comes to public healthcare providers who are solid, I stick with them. But if I find someone who is better in a private setting, I go private. I'll happily pay a few hundred dollars for a neurology consultation to spend an hour in the office where they can do a full exam, we can discuss everything on my mind, and clear up any doubts. They actually know who I am; it's not like they have to relearn my history every single visit. It means I get consistent, continuous care.
As for other things where I happened to encounter excellent doctors through the public system, I've been just as satisfied.
And yes, unfortunately, I've been seeing various doctors for different chronic conditions since I was a little girl, and I haven't yet had the misfortune of dealing with someone trying to run a thousand unnecessary tests on me.

I’m talking about those patients who aren't chronic cases—the ones just dropping in for the first time at private clinics. They actually make up about 90% of my caseload. Look, I don't have anything against them personally, but it feels totally excessive when someone comes in complaining about neck pain and ends up getting an ultrasound for their thyroid and abdomen. Not to mention charging them for a Voltaren injection they probably don't even need. It just feels like overkill. $167.🙄

Edward Murphy4 said:I hit up those types of clinics all the time, but honestly, I’ve never had a bad experience. Look, if I booked an ultrasound for my thyroid, that’s what I’m there for—not some random abdominal scan.🤷 I wouldn't just sit there and let that happen, and besides, nobody’s even tried anything like that with me.

As for whether they're actually "experts" or whatever—I don't think there's much difference. I go to them because it's just easier, everything's more straightforward, and I feel way more comfortable there.

You know exactly what you're looking for. Unfortunately, most people don't. They walk into an internist's office with a few symptoms, and then that doctor orders a mountain of unnecessary tests just to pad the bill. I'm not generalizing, but about 90% of my patients end up going through that exact cycle with private specialists. One more thing: sure, public specialists might be overworked, but there's a massive difference between running 50 abdominal and kidney ultrasounds a day versus doing maybe 5 to 10 a month. That's the real kicker. A specialist performing 50 scans a day is going to be way more experienced than someone only seeing a handful a month.
Now they've started letting general practitioners perform ultrasounds too, which is honestly a joke. They take a quick course, buy an ultrasound machine, and suddenly think they're experts. Their reports are basically just saying "everything looks normal size" without spotting any actual pathology, and then they suggest seeing a specialist. Of course, they charge the patient extra for that, too.😠

Most people who can swing it will do just about anything to dodge those endless waiting lists, so they head straight to a private specialist or a high-end clinic for diagnostics.
But what’s actually happening behind those closed doors? If you walk in complaining about neck pain, a private provider might run an ultrasound on your carotid arteries, sure, but then they'll tack on a mountain of totally unnecessary tests: thyroid scans, heart ultrasounds, or checking your abdomen and kidneys.
Patients don't realize this is happening; they genuinely think these extra tests are mandatory. Private practices take full advantage of that confusion to pad their pockets. You're looking at bills anywhere from $1,000 to $667.
Does it make patients any smarter? Not really. Meanwhile, private providers are just rubbing their hands together because they found someone they can fleece. In the end, the patient usually winds up back at a hospital specialist anyway. I've even seen cases where a standard Voltaren injection was billed at $167 under the guise of being some "specialized" medication. Seriously, how long is this going to go on???
There's more. I once had a patient complaining about lower back pain—specifically in the kidney area. She went to a private nephrologist who, instead of just doing a kidney ultrasound, insisted on a full-body scan. He told her everything looked fine. Since she was still in pain, I sent her to a specialist at the Mayo Clinic for a second opinion. They found a massive kidney tumor. She had to have surgery, and while she lost a kidney, she's alive today.
How much longer are we going to tolerate this unchecked behavior from private clinics that exist solely to gouge patients with astronomical fees? Their only real bottom line is profit, and honestly, the quality of care is often questionable at best.
If I ever have to choose between a hospital radiologist and a private practitioner, I’m picking the hospital specialist every single time. Why? Because a hospital specialist might perform 20 to 50 ultrasounds a day. That kind of experience is unmatched. A private doctor might only do ten a month. I think the math speaks for itself.
What have you guys experienced?

placidwolf2 said:Look, everyone, I think we might be getting a little too carried away with the idea that psychotherapists are miracle workers. Don't get me wrong—it’s incredibly helpful to advise someone struggling with mental health issues to seek professional help. Encouraging them, using kind words, or even helping them vet a high-quality doctor or find the right therapist if we can, is vital. But that isn't a magic wand that solves every single life problem. If someone were battling something like cancer, we wouldn't just tell them, "Go see a doctor," and assume they'll be back to their old, fully functional selves in a few months. If they even make it that far.

So, let's try to offer support in other ways too. Everyone has the right to become a parent. Whether someone is mentally healthy or dealing with psychological struggles, they both face the same heavy doubts when deciding whether to have children. Both groups worry about being good parents in equal measure. For people without these struggles, the questions usually lean toward finances, career timing, or trusting their partner. But for those dealing with mental health issues, the primary fear is often whether their own emotional instability will negatively impact or "pass on" to their child.

I don't have all the answers to these questions. The decision for an aspiring mother is deeply personal, and it's ultimately her call to make. Given the state of the world today, that choice is also a brave one. Maternal instinct tends to uplift any woman—with perhaps the exception of those facing severe psychosis—and children can serve as a powerful catalyst for anyone to grow into a more mature, responsible version of themselves.

No government legislation in the US prohibits people with mental health conditions from parenting, so please don't try to enforce it here with comments like, "Get treated first, then have kids." I've noticed this happening not just in this thread, but in others as well. Every mother deserves selfless support from her partner, her family, her friends, and society at large. No mother should be left to struggle alone—not the one working through her own stability while raising a child, and not the "healthy" one who is constantly chasing a corporate ladder. There are no guarantees about which child will turn out "damaged" or otherwise.

It’s true what ultraoptimism suggested: we bring whatever we carry inside ourselves into our relationships. But we should also allow ourselves the grace to let our children bring beauty into our lives, just as our loved ones and those who believe in us do. At the end of the day, a family is a collective unit, not a single cog in a machine that gets disqualified from parenthood just because it squeaks a little. With the right support from friends and a more positive outlook from society, all our children can grow up to be little engines of love, building a better future for the world.

Jason Martin4, based on your opening post, it's clear you're an incredibly rational, responsible, and kind person. I have zero doubt you'll be an amazing mother. 🙂

There are hereditary mental illnesses, like schizophrenia. People with schizophrenia really should think long and hard about whether they want to have children.

Anthony Foster17 said:I am so incredibly sorry you're dealing with this... honestly, I know kids and teenagers can be brutal with their comments, but I didn't think adults could be this primitive and disgusting... we're pathetic 👎

I don't even know what to say... normally I'd just tell you to keep your head up and ignore the idiots, but after reading what you wrote (about the physical abuse), I'm actually speechless

But look, get that idea out of your head—the part about throwing yourself under a car or whatever. Don't ever make life-altering decisions based on these morons and total losers (sorry if I'm being harsh, but I really don't know what else to call people like them 🤷 ))

And one question... why are people so cruel? Why mock someone for a disability or a physical flaw when I've never heard of anyone making fun of someone who lost a leg in a car accident

Honestly, it's because we're basically primitive. It feels like we're all still operating on the level of some unruly mob from the Middle Ages. 🙄

rowdypanther13 said:So, I have muscular dystrophy. I’m not sure how many of you are actually familiar with the condition, but frankly, it doesn't matter. In my case, it is a heavy, agonizing burden. I am mobile and relatively independent, though I can't handle anything remotely strenuous—lifting something heavy or getting up from a squat without bracing myself against the floor or grabbing onto furniture is out of the question. That is my reality. Because my muscle weakness causes secondary issues with my joints and tendons, my disability is visible. Physically, I look perfectly fine, but when I walk, I waddle, and my feet drop like a duck's. There is nothing I can do about it. Not that I’m intentionally shaking my ass at everyone passing by, but anyone watching would notice.
That is why I’ve become terrified of going anywhere alone. My troubles really started back when I was living in a dorm during high school. It wasn't just kids; adults would shout all sorts of filth at me. They'd claim I had soiled myself, call me a wreck, or suggest I was some slutty girl looking for attention by "flaunting" myself. I heard those comments almost every single time I ventured out solo. Once, I even overheard a group—they probably thought I wouldn't hear them because I had headphones in—saying someone should grab me in an alleyway and rape me because of the way I walk. Another time, an old man actually charged at me on a bicycle and told me he did it because it was what I deserved for "mocking" people with my gait. (Though I honestly have no idea who I could possibly be mocking.)
And it hasn't just been verbal abuse. On several occasions, I have been physically struck in the park simply because of how I walk, right in broad daylight.
Because of this, walking alone has become a source of genuine fear. If I go out, I bring my mother or my boyfriend along; then, suddenly, everyone stays quiet. Sometimes I will drive my car just ten yards to avoid being seen walking. If I absolutely have to walk, I put my headphones in and blast music at max volume just so I don't have to hear the insults.
Whenever I have tried to snap back at an insulting comment, the situation escalates into threats or senseless outbursts.
Since I own my own car and carry a legal disability placard, I use the designated parking spots. A few times now, someone has actually run over to the parking enforcement officer to report that a "young, healthy girl" was using someone else's permit.
There are plenty of other indignities, but I’ve reached my breaking point. I’m rambling, and frankly, I’m scared for my life. No one ever stops to consider that I walk this way because of a medical condition; they just assume I’m some girl looking for trouble or that I'm being lazy while climbing stairs.
Sometimes, I feel like giving up on walking entirely and just switching to a wheelchair. But if I stop walking, I’ll lose the ability to stand at all.
I have considered buying a stun gun. If someone makes a comment about my walk, they can get a shot to the ribs. Given how much pain I endure daily because of my disease, they can certainly handle a little pain of their own.
What kind of society are we living in? Is being sick a privilege reserved only for the elderly?

I am so incredibly sorry.😢 I know what that disease is, and unfortunately, it tends to be progressive. We are just a wild, primitive, and uneducated bunch. That’s the environment we live in.
All those people who write our laws really ought to spend a day wearing a blindfold. Let them try navigating the streets and see what blind or visually impaired people deal with. They should be put in wheelchairs, too, just to see what it's like. Mocking someone's physical limitations is low, bottom-of-the-barrel behavior, and it says everything about a person's character.
Sadly, it looks like your only options are having your mom or boyfriend accompany you, or just driving everywhere.
I deal with agoraphobia and panic attacks, so when people see me struggling, they tend to get nervous—almost like they’re afraid my anxiety might be contagious.🙄

Roger Sanders said:Check out this absolute madness:

A woman was in an accident, but since she doesn't have health insurance, they're hitting her with a $700,000 bill. I can't wrap my head around it—her medical treatment costs $150,000, and then they're charging $560,000 just to transport her home.

What kind of high-end drugs are they giving her to justify a $150,000 bill?
And what kind of starship are they using to drive her home that it costs $560,000?

I'm not sure how far the transport had to go. Usually, the price includes the whole medical escort—doctors, nurses, and drivers—plus the trip back.
I remember a guy we know who was brutally beaten while visiting Chile. He ended up in a coma. People actually had to organize charity concerts just to try and cover his medical bills.
Honestly, it’s on her. I travel all the time, and I never leave the house without travel insurance that covers medical emergencies.
If something like this happened to us here in the States, we'd be forced to sell everything we own, take out massive loans, and beg for donations. Even then, it probably wouldn't be enough.
Just like everywhere else, there's a set price list, and that's what you get billed. Hospitals aren't charities, and if you don't have insurance, they charge you for every single service.
Over there, people can literally collapse on the floor, and the staff won't even give them a second look until they see how they're going to pay the bill.

Does she have a boyfriend? What’s her workout routine? She’s 19 and still hasn't decided on a college. It feels like she's already missed the boat for this year.
The worst part is that you're all just enabling her. She’s using emotional blackmail on you. Honestly, if she truly wanted to end things, she wouldn't need these hysterical outbursts to do it. More often than not, she’s just looking for a reason to lash out at herself.
You really need to start giving her daily tasks to complete.

Kenneth Barnes2 said:Thanks for all the support, everyone...

They're basically hoping they can flip the house and move to the city at any moment... besides, I've been used to this kind of grind since high school.
It’s going to be exhausting, especially with a three-hour commute, but I'll find a way to manage...
Anyway, I just checked and the application window for this year is already closed... so I guess I'll just aim for the next one.

In my experience, the students who travel or live in dorms always perform the best and actually graduate on time. They're usually driven to finish up fast so they can start their independent lives. What's your major?