I'm actually curious—where were you guys supposed to go to sign up? Is it true they really typecast everyone who signs immediately? That sounds like such an expensive and pointless way to do things... and who even handles that process here in the States?
Because from what I've heard, just having a standard donor card doesn't actually mean anything; you aren't officially registered anywhere.
darkbison81 said:just for kicks, you could always hit up a private lab to get checked for tumor markers or something for ankylosing spondylitis, or some other cheery stuff😁 it’s not quite HLA/MHC, but you still learn a thing or two about your DNA🙂
darkbison81, you definitely have a bit of a dark sense of humor, don't you😁? I can't stand getting blood drawn, let alone having them hunt for HLA B27 or—even worse—tumor markers (maybe even something like prostate markers, how lovely?)? ...Man, you really don't know my legendary fear of needles😁
darkbison81 said:By the way, in places where institutions are better funded, they might actually type you during a routine blood draw (for any other test) without you even realizing it. It makes you wonder... are we all already listed in some kind of registry somewhere?😲 total twilight zone territory...
I'm pretty sure they haven't typed me😁 The last time I had blood taken was six years ago at a lab that definitely wouldn't pull stunts like that. So, now I have yet another reason to avoid those little vampires😁
Anyway, in the US, doctors can basically take whatever they want once you've signed those consent forms... And unless you provide explicit proof that you're against it (which probably requires a notarized written statement), they won't stop the explantation process. A few years back, there was this whole scandal where organs were harvested from a young woman without parental consent under some pretty shady circumstances.
darkbison81, did you end up getting typed or not when they sent you to the lawyers?
If I actually wanted to learn something about my own DNA, I'd just send samples to that English guy to find out which one of Eve's seven daughters I am🙂 And who knows, since I'm studying anthropology, they do all sorts of things with DNA in New York City too... maybe we'll eventually get a chance to find out something about ourselves🙂
Man, I’ve been feeling pretty anxious about my HLA results lately... honestly, thank goodness there isn't some theory floating around that would require me to get typed. I usually try to dodge doctors whenever I can, regardless! 😁
Wait, seriously? They actually do that here in the States? That sounds absolutely chilling... If you don't mind, I'd love to hear more about how that works.
Ugh, don't let people like that get to you. I didn't catch the actual ad, but my gut feeling tells me it's not a good look at all. You really need someone who actually knows what they're doing. I have nothing against alternative medicine, honestly, but leave the manipulative stuff to the doctors and physical therapists. Unfortunately, I don't have a specific person I can point you toward right now, but maybe someone else on this forum can chime in with some solid recommendations...
Look, we need to clear something up: an MD and a Doctor of Chiropractic are not the same thing! Chiropractic isn't just a medical specialty; it’s an entirely different type of college program you study here in the USA, which usually takes about four years. Now, it's true they cover a lot of ground in classic medicine—and I honestly have nothing against chiropractors who do that—but I don't know how many people actually finish those programs, let alone what kind of students they were in the first place...
If you're really looking to dive deep into manual medicine, there's a great book called K. Lewit - Manipulative Therapy in Rehabilitation of the Locomotor System. If anyone is actually interested in reading up on it...
I just want to tell you all one thing: please, be extremely careful about who you let "cracking" and poking at your spine. It is definitely not harmless, and the complications can be absolutely devastating.
Have you guys checked out that other DM brand? Alverde? I actually think it's pretty decent—I’ve been using their wild rose shower gel lately and man, does it smell amazing. Haven't tried any of their creams yet though. Still 😁
The absolute best way to prevent damage is just staying out of the sun as much as possible and sticking to a solid sunscreen with a high SPF... And don't even get me started on smoking—it’s incredibly brutal on your skin.
Regarding creams: ...first it was all about Vitamin E, then collagen, then everyone went crazy for liposomes... After that came AHA, then Vitamin C, followed by some 155 different types of antioxidants, placenta extract, and God knows what other nonsense... Now the big things are Coenzyme Q10 and alpha flavonoids... I wonder what the next fad will be in a few years...
...but let's be real, nobody's actually going to have fewer wrinkles😁 from using those creams
Oh yeah, I've definitely heard about those antidepressant qualities too—if you've ever come across St. John's Wort, that’s the one. I noticed it's all over those big online herbal supplement shops lately. I did read somewhere, though, that it can have quite a few interactions with other medications. Luckily, I'm not on anything myself...
I haven't heard much about its pain-relieving properties, but I have read that it has antibacterial and antiviral qualities (I even came across something suggesting it might help against HPV)...
mellowbadger8, let me try to explain, though I only know a little bit about this—basically, there’s a technique people swear by to help avoid an episiotomy, which involves doing certain things during the last two months of pregnancy. You take this or another type of oil and use it for massage, essentially trying to stretch the vaginal opening as much as possible. The idea is to improve the elasticity of the perineum. Honestly, though, I don't think there's any solid proof it actually works, or at least there hasn't been any really reliable research done on it yet. I'm still not personally obsessed with this kind of stuff 😁, but I guess I look into it from a professional standpoint. I stumbled upon the topic while browsing some other parenting forums (like BabyCenter or What to Expect).
As for Coca-Cola—it’s honestly pretty gross, and I don't see it ever getting better. I really don't get people who drink it; I’d actually prefer a soda that's watered down. And even then, I wouldn't touch it.
Regarding oxidation—those anti-aging creams that claim to be infused with oxygen are the absolute worst. I seriously can't tell if the beauty industry thinks we're all just complete idiots or if they're just trying to mess with our heads...😁
So, I was wondering if anyone here has tried ginseng or ginkgo biloba supplements? What are they actually good for, and how do they work? I heard they might help with focus and making studying a bit easier.
I'm not really big on vitamins, mostly because I'm just too lazy to stay on top of a regular pill schedule... I have a few different bottles sitting in my cabinet, but I only take them every once in a while.
When I feel like I'm coming down with a cold, I'll take a massive dose of that cheap Vitamin C from Pfizer... maybe around 3 grams. I also heard some old wives' tales about huge amounts of ascorbic acid causing miscarriages—something like 8-12g a day for five days straight, usually mixed with other herbs. Same goes for when I feel a bug coming on; I'll take 20 drops of Ehinacee tincture and a few drops of royal jelly (you know, that stuff from bees). Honestly, I haven't been sick in ages, so I think this combo actually works quite well.
I also take Nutrival every now and then; it's a hair formula with trace elements, B-complex, and some amino acids. It really helped when my hair was thinning, and it still helps since my hair and nails are naturally pretty weak.
I think I probably need to start taking some Calcium since I basically never eat dairy—no milk, no yogurt, and hardly any cheese. I know osteoporosis is primarily prevented through exercise, since that mechanical stress helps rebuild bone density, but still... Does anyone have a recommendation for a good supplement?
My diet is pretty terrible, to be honest—mostly just eating at college dining halls, where I doubt any vitamins or nutrients survive all that overcooking. Plus, I'm one of those people who isn't a fan of fruit. I can handle vegetables, but fruit... not so much.
thanks Kenneth Hernandez67... I've heard similar things too, and apparently some women even use it for gynecological issues. It's also supposedly used during perineal massages for pregnant women who want to help avoid an episiotomy.
Yeah, I get that, but I’d really love to hear what everyone else has experienced. This isn't exactly meant for aromatherapy—it doesn't have any kind of special scent. It's basically just olive oil that's been infused with St. John's Wort for about 40 days...
I just picked up a little bottle of homemade St. John's Wort oil recently. I've heard it’s actually pretty amazing for health and wellness, but I'm not entirely sure what all the best uses are... any ideas?
There is absolutely no way I’m going through with allergy shots. I can't stand needles... and honestly, I'm not even sure they work that well. Sometimes they help, but other times the allergies just come crawling back after a while.
Michael Perez5, it's not really about teaching your body how to "fight" the allergen; it's more about training it to just... ignore it. An allergy is basically just an unnecessary, unwanted immune response to things that shouldn't be causing a problem in the first place.
I actually decided to try my own version of "immunotherapy" at home using raw honey that contains pollen—which I am extremely allergic to. I just take a tiny little bit every day and slowly work my way up...
I’m allergic to pretty much everything—ragweed, tree pollen, grass, pet dander, dust, wool, even plant-based bedding... honestly, I might be forgetting a few things.
Then there's honey (probably because of the pollen), chamomile tea, and if I touch mango or pistachios, I go into full anaphylactic shock.
And don't go thinking that's the end of it—I'm actually allergic to the sun, too...
I try to keep my exposure to a minimum, but when things get bad, I reach for Claritin. If it gets to the point where I can barely function, I'll break out the nasal sprays like Flonase. It usually hits me hardest in September once the ragweed starts blooming.