I was thinking about this today while watching some old highlights. We always obsess over the superstars—the guys who make the highlight reel, the ones with the massive contracts and the Hall of Fame stats. They get all the glory, but it’s almost never just about them.
In my own experience playing pickup games and even in my old job, I’ve realized that the most important person on the team is usually the one quietly fixing everyone else's mistakes. It's that one person who sees a gap opening up because a teammate went rogue, and they just slide over to plug it without saying a word. They sacrifice their own stats just so the "star" can keep playing aggressively.
It’s a weird dynamic, right? You have people who are willing to let someone else take all the credit just because it makes the whole unit function better. Without that silent support, the big plays wouldn't even be possible.
Do you think the "glue players" who hold everything together actually get enough respect, or is the world just too focused on the flashy stuff?
Claire, are you actually certain about this? From what I’ve been told—and I've heard plenty of conflicting things on this subject—the hereditary link for cancer isn't even 100% proven yet.
Casey Ramirez2 said:Just wanted to bump this thread—figured I’d share my experience regarding this whole thing.
Basically, after a long search—and ruling out those religious cults like Cenaccolo where "healing" just means "strengthening your faith in God," which, let's be honest, most of us aren't looking to get back from a priest—I narrowed it down to two groups with a more "psychological" approach: the Susret community in San Diego and Marjanovac in Austin. I've signed up for both, put in for medical leave at work, and hopefully, in the next few months, I'll be heading off to finally "clear the mental clutter."
Coas
Really glad to hear that, 👍, but try not to make those months last too long!
I'm not 100% certain, but I think Marjanovac might actually be a religious group too. At least, it was founded by nuns. In Austin, you also have the "Susret community"—that one isn't religious. They have a fantastic psychologist who actually knows what they're doing. If you want, I can grab their number for you...
It's already obvious you've got grit—you're going to push through this regardless of how the results turn out. I know that cocktail of fear and uncertainty you're dealing with right now all too well, but trust me, this won't last forever. Back in the day, darkviper5 told me: "Do your homework, keep reading..."—and I'm giving you that same advice. Getting informed will help you wrap your head around what's actually happening, and honestly, it'll make you feel more in control. If I've learned anything, it's to be stubborn—maybe even a little too headstrong. I've decided that nothing is over until *I* say it's over 😁; I refuse to let some diagnosis dictate my life. It's a much easier way to live, if you ask me.
Keep me posted. Reach out whenever you need to vent, scream, laugh, or cry... just whatever you need to do. But whatever you do, keep moving forward—don't you dare slow down. 🙂
A friend of mine has been battling asbestosis for years. Ever since he retired, things actually seemed to stabilize—he was almost back to being a healthy guy. His only real issue was those constant checkups that never showed any decline. Initially, it "only" manifested in his bronchial tubes, and he had to rely on some kind of breathing apparatus to get by. Then, about a month ago, he ended up in the ER with severe lung issues. After two days, his heart just stopped; they barely managed to pull him back. And then his liver started failing... On Monday, they performed biopsies on his lungs, liver, and stomach. They told us the results would take two weeks... By Wednesday, the doctors called his wife and daughter in for a meeting... There’s nothing left to do now except manage his pain with morphine. He has over 50 metastases. He doesn't know the reality of it—thanks to the morphine, he isn't in pain and has even started eating this specialized nutritional stuff (like astronaut food). We went to visit him on Friday and I was absolutely devastated😲—he lost 25 kg in just one month. But he’s happy because he's blissfully ignorant! He thinks he feels better because the pain is gone and he can finally eat 😢 He’s only 63...
Grace King7 said:Thanks—I already checked that, but I was wondering: if my Prolactin levels are within the normal range, does that mean I can be certain I'm not pregnant?!
I can't give you a definitive answer regarding the Prolactin Physiology—but if you're actually worried about being pregnant, wouldn't it be easier just to take a home test or head to a doctor? 😕
This takes me right back to my mother-in-law... She went to see her doctor about menopause—hormone therapy, I think it was called... Anyway, she heads to the pharmacy, picks it up, and follows the regimen for a while. For a bit there, she was convinced it was working wonders.😁 Fast forward a little bit—I drop by her place to visit a friend, and we get into this whole debate. She pulls out the prescription bottle, and my friend (who happens to be a doctor) just sits there staring at it. 😲 Turns out, the doctor had actually prescribed her something for prostate inflammation.😁 The woman barely understands medical jargon, and since the doctor handed it to her personally, she figured it had to be right.😁
Casey Ramirez2 said:Thanks for the links—now that I have all the contacts here in the States, I can actually start picking through them..
When I mentioned "good teams," I meant guys who’ve actually been through hell themselves and now spend their time pulling others out of it...
Anyway, the response to this thread has been pretty pathetic. Is there really nobody here willing to lend a hand to a struggling BBS member?
:P
I’d recommend looking into a community center over in Lourdes. I personally know two "angels" who spent time there. If you want to talk about this, then just TALK!!! Just because the engagement isn't huge doesn't mean people don't care or aren't listening.. I’m already listening..🙂 It’s huge that you’re even considering getting clean—that’s half the battle right there.. Fingers crossed for you. Just check back in so I can hear how things are going!!!👋
Word on the street is that the community in Lourdes is top-tier. Personally, I’ve seen how they operate firsthand, and I was actually really impressed... The guys have been at "Field of Life" since '91, and the girls have had "Field of Joy" since 2000..
Just wanted to brag a little—I finally whipped up some Barack Obama juice... Turns out I ended up with 4 liters instead of the planned 6... But man, it’s good. After all these years, that scent hits just the same,,,,🙂
swiftbison7 said:If C3 is a tumor marker, is it tested via urine?😕
Look, I’m a total amateur here—but as far as I know, C3 and C4 are proteins measured in urine. If those levels are spiked, you're usually looking at an infection, an autoimmune issue, or even liver damage. Infections could mean anything from malaria to sepsis, or even viral stuff like HIV and hepatitis. Autoimmune-wise, it could be rheumatoid arthritis (I don't know the specifics)... But it isn't used as a tumor marker.😁
Your MCH value basically tells you how much hemoglobin is packed into a single red blood cell. So, based on your doctor's lab report, yours is 32.3, while the "standard" range listed here is 27-31. That said, there’s another set of standards where the average range is 26-34 pg—if you go by those, you're perfectly fine. At least that’s how my own labs look... As for the urine test, it looks like a negligible elevation. It could be something, but it doesn't necessarily point to a major illness; it might just be a minor imbalance. In any case, go find a second opinion from another specialist who will run more detailed tests—and let us know what happens!
I have this friend who goes on these intense fasts every six months—it lasts a full seven days straight!!! She swears by it, claiming it’s the ultimate way to detox all those toxins out of her system. Apparently, she attended some seminar on the subject, so she thinks she’s an expert now... I don't know—personally, I figure it shouldn't do any harm, provided you actually have the willpower to pull it off. The body can technically survive without food, especially since you're still getting liquids in.
It’s just not true that there aren't tattoos that hold their color. I’m right about this—the shop where I got mine done actually offers those types of designs. We aren't talking about henna patterns here; we're talking about standard ink that fades away after a few years. I can't give you a definitive answer, so you'll have to do your own research. Personally, I also love white ink tattoos—they stay subtle and don't pop too much, but they look stunning in the summer once you get a tan. But regardless of all that, think long and hard before jumping in—you don't strike me as quite mature enough yet to make a decision like this.
Daniel Booth88 said:Dust mites are my absolute nightmare—nothing works. I went to see my doctor, and sure, they suggested some spray you can douse the entire mattress with, but honestly? What a joke. I tried it a few times, but it barely lasts a couple of days before everything goes right back to hell. 😠 For several nights straight now, I’ve been waking up coughing and choking like an idiot—my throat just feels completely blocked by phlegm. It's disgusting. I used Nasacort for a while, too, but didn't notice any real difference... I'm just over it at this point. 🙂
Alright, I'll share something, but please don't laugh. 😉 My dog has a massive allergy to dust mites—it was brutal. We went through a mountain of veterinarians and got zero help. I tried a million different sprays that would provide temporary relief... but nothing actually fixed it. Two months ago, our vet informed us they'd developed a vaccine for mite allergies, so we got her vaccinated. Since then? Zero issues. I know it sounds ridiculous since we're talking about a dog, but who knows—they might roll out something similar for humans...
I picked it up at IKEA, though honestly, I have no clue how long I've actually had it. It seems to pop up in every single flower shop lately—usually goes for about ten bucks. I’m living out in the Midwest...😢
Sean Doyle said:Monophasic pills—you know, the Celest or Diane types—are just one-note; they stay the same. But the triphasic ones, like Trinowum or Triquilar, actually cycle through three different hormone concentrations over those 21 days.
That’s true enough... but since she didn't specify she was looking for anything specialized, it's just common sense that she'd go with the standard stuff.