Posts by Mark Smith48

+1 for reopening this, though you gotta admit, mod, you definitely went overboard!
Anyway, I saw a thread on another Reddit community about Chinese phones that suddenly blew up out of nowhere—just goes to show how much people actually need topics like this. 🙂
I won't dare mention which one, though, unless I want to end up getting roasted!

So... what, it won't fly without blank guarantees? That feels like a massive waste of time when you're already paying upfront... Is there any B2B service here in the States that doesn't demand that kind of collateral?
Importing from Germany? Hmm... sounds like a bit of a headache... though, I did just import a car for my own use recently. 😁

That actually caught my eye too!
Anyway, what other companies are out there doing B2B? Maybe there are some that aren't quite as intense about their protocols... though, obviously, in my situation, paying upfront is just a given. 🙂

Let me transplant a question from another forum over here.
Basically, I’m thinking about getting in on the action with a Mick Jagger partnership. See, I work for a private software firm, and over the years, I’ve built up quite a network—let's call it some decent IT street cred in my area. Now, it feels like every other day someone asks me for hardware recommendations, whether it's a desktop, a laptop, or whatever else. So, I usually just point them toward this local computer shop nearby. They’re a Mick Jagger partner, and their whole vibe is basically: "Need a PC? Let's see... yeah, we've got it in stock (on the Mick Jagger webshop), pay us upfront or whatever, we'll order it, it arrives tomorrow. blah blah blah..."
Now I'm sitting here wondering: why don't I just set up an LLC or a small business and become a Mick Jagger partner myself?
The real question is, what's the damage? How much does it cost, and what kind of hoops do I have to jump through to qualify? My guess is Mick Jagger probably doesn't give a damn who they sell to, whether it's a veteran partner or some newcomer like me.
If I really put my shoulder to the wheel, I could turn this into a nice little side hustle after hours. Everyone wins except maybe the local computer shop. The government gets its taxes, the customer gets my advice and the gear, and I get some extra cash in my pocket.
Anyone here actually have experience with this kind of thing?

My dad’s been tracking this suspicious little lesion—about 1 cm—for three years now. We've done several CT scans, two PET-CTs, and a handful of X-rays.
The results always show the same thing: nothing is growing. It's just sitting there. A surgeon at the local Mayo Clinic would probably suggest operating, but since my dad has heart issues, his doctors advised us to just monitor it every six months via X-ray, CT, or PET/CT instead.
Anyway, here is what the most recent CT from two months ago noted:
"...left apicoposterior, upper lobe - irregular nodule approximately 1 cm in size..." —that’s the specific spot we’ve been watching, and its dimensions haven't budged since day one.
"...In the upper mediastinum, left paratracheal, there is an oval lymph node measuring 1 cm long by 5 mm wide. Right paratracheal in the middle mediastinum, two lymph nodes are visible with clearly identifiable fatty hilums, inseparable from each other, measuring 21 mm in length. In the aortopulmonary window, an oval lymph node measuring 12mm x 6mm is visible. At the level of the carina, several very small lymph nodes are present.
None of the described lymph nodes have the typical appearance of pathology.
In the upper mediastinum towards the neck, right paratracheal, free air is visible measuring 10x4x14—pneumomediastinum."

That CT was taken back when my dad had a nasty cold, I think he even had a throat infection at the time...
Could those listed lymph nodes just be a lingering effect from that cold or something similar?
The SUV was 0.9 on the first PET-CT and 1.4 on the second.
We’ve just been scheduled for another PET/CT (after a two-year gap).
Is it actually possible that this isn't a tumor, considering we've been monitoring it for three years with zero changes? And if it isn't, is there any chance it could suddenly start growing?

vividsailor7 said:Personally, I wouldn't jump straight to those tests, especially since the results look pretty much normal.
Definitely redo the KKS.

Check out the first post.

Thanks, doc! 🙂
Do you think taking some Natural Welth Ultra B-100 might help clean things up a bit? Also, how long should I wait after stopping supplements before the next KKS?

Just did my routine physical and blood work (37yo male).
WBC 6.0 (3.4-9.7)
RBC 4.22 (4.34-5.72) Lo
Hemoglobin 138 (138-175)
Hematocrit 0.413 (0.415-0.53) Lo
MCV 98.0 (83-97.2) Hi
MCH 32.7 (27.4-33.9)
MCHC 334 (320-345)
Platelets 255 (158-424)
MPV 8.0 (6.8-10.4)

The only other thing is cholesterol sitting at 6.3.

Bottom line: the report says everything is mostly fine, except for the obvious part—it flagged macrocytic anemia. Doctor recommended checking folate and B12 levels. Haven't gotten those tests done yet.
Just a heads up, I’ve always been kind of pale and thin; that's just how I'm built, I guess.
Is this anemia actually dangerous based on these numbers?

My dad got discharged from the hospital yesterday with these diagnoses:

Acute inferior myocardial infarction
Ventricular fibrillation
Post DC
Ischemic cardiomyopathy
Hypertension

Among other things, the discharge summary says:
"...the patient presented with an acute inferior myocardial infarction as the cause of current symptoms, and the arrhythmia was most likely precipitated by hypokalemia (K level at admission was 2.8)..."
"...Prior to discharge, a one-time stress test was performed at 50 W for 5 minutes, during which the patient remained free of angina and showed no significant ST segment changes..."
"...Follow-up with cardiology in 2 months, including a Thallium heart scan..."

So, what's next? It goes without saying we're all pretty terrified about whether that cardiac arrest will happen again, especially since the root cause isn't fully clear beyond that hypokalemia mentioned above (according to the doctor, those Lasix tablets might have been a trigger too...).
I just want the best for my dad; I feel like he deserves every single test that could actually help him.
Will the results of the Thallium scan show the actual state of his heart and indicate if he needs a coronary angiography? Assuming, of course, that there aren't any complications before then (early July).

Anybody?
My dad’s getting discharged tomorrow, and we still don't have a straight answer on what actually caused his heart attack.
It started with some pre-infarction stuff, then a mild one, then things got heavy... Honestly, every doctor seems to have a different theory.
But nobody is even bringing up a coronary angiogram or a scintigraphy. It's like they're acting like it's unnecessary because everything looks "fine."
Today he just did those tests on the treadmill, and that was supposedly it.
The doctor says the results look good and he can head home tomorrow.
I just want the best for my dad, but I can't shake this feeling that the healthcare system is cutting corners on him. Or anyone else, for that matter...

My dad was successfully resuscitated two weeks ago after his heart stopped.
Since then, he’s been recovering well—blood work, Holter monitor, and EKG all look fine.
We were really hoping they’d send him in for a coronary angiography to figure out if there's a blockage in a vessel that triggered the cardiac arrest.
But the doctor is saying there’s no need for an angiogram because the patient feels good and his labs are clear. And that's it. Just a dead end.
How is the decision actually made to go for an angiography? Is the doctor just trying to "cut costs" or is he playing games with us...
Not to mention, they are notoriously stingy with information here, so I’m stuck having to do my own digging...

Well, look at you, Adam Hill2! 🙂
Kudos on having the guts to actually do it. I’m genuinely happy for you! :claps:
And honestly? It’s all downhill from here. Once you start tackling those fears bit by bit—whether it's through some fancy cream, hypnosis, voodoo, or whatever else works—everything starts feeling easier.
BTW, hope the doctor's reports come back clean! 🙂

I mean, I’m pretty sure it says so right there in the instructions.
I usually just go with about half a small tube—though that depends on what size you're working with—and I make sure to seal that foil tight so no air gets in. That part is actually kind of crucial.
It basically just numbs out the nerve endings on the surface of your skin, but the cream itself doesn't actually soak in. You just peel off the foil, wipe away any leftover mess, and call it a day. Maybe there'll be a tiny bit of residue visible, but if anyone gives you a weird look, just tell them it's from your morning Fix. 😁 😁 😁
And don't go handing them the wrong hand, otherwise you're just flushing $58 down the drain. 🙂
Seriously, don't sweat it, you won't feel a thing. If you're paranoid, just test it out tonight on some other patch of skin first. You'll see how it deadens the sensation and makes that spot totally numb to touch...

So, whether it actually works or not is debatable, but personally, it did the trick for me.
Even if you don't feel that actual sting or pain, it helped a ton with the mental game. Knowing for a fact I wouldn't feel the needle made everything easier. 👍
Why was I so sure? Well, a few days before the procedure, I ran some tests. I applied the cream, waited an hour, then poked at myself with a sterile needle, pinched the skin, even used a toothpick... Nothing. Zero. That gave me all the confidence I needed.
Once my head was in the right place, my self-assurance just shot up.
Not to mention, they use this kind of stuff for tattooing all the time out here...
I haven't actually gotten inked yet, but hey, maybe one day... 😁
Hang in there, Adam Hill2, let us know how it goes!

I’m not really sure how much help I can be here, since you can't just find that cream at every local drugstore in my neck of the woods. I actually spent some time scrolling through CVS and Walgreens sites, checking their inventory and calling pharmacy after pharmacy. Honestly, your best bet might be to start calling places in Washington, D.C.; maybe one of those pharmacies could ship it to you via overnight mail.

You can find those creams in most pharmacies around here. I’m not from Washington, D.C., so I wouldn't know how things work in the big city.
One tube comes $22.

It’s been a good two or three months since my extraction, so I realized I totally forgot to check back in here.
What can I say? EMLA actually worked for me. 👍
A big part of it was just being mentally prepared. Since I was convinced there wouldn't be any actual pain during the needle prick, the anxiety just wasn't there.
Honestly, I didn't feel a thing. Getting through the whole process was a breeze. I’m telling you, it's not just that the pain is gone—knowing you won't feel it makes sitting around waiting for your turn to get extracted way easier to handle.
Anyway, it did the trick for me. Maybe it'll help someone else out too... 🙂

Kenneth White6 said:Please, let me know how it goes and if it actually worked... I've got my own issues when it comes to getting blood drawn...

I don't know what to tell you. Haven't gone in for the draw yet, but ever since I picked up some emla 5, I feel a bit more chill about it. Sure, it probably just proves the issue is all in my head, but whatever, I'm using the cream. If it works, maybe I'll actually have some guts for the next time I have to deal with needles.
Anyway, I'll check back in later...

Well, I finally managed to snag the last tube of Emla 5% cream at a local CVS. They even threw in a couple of those specialized patches to cover the area once you apply it. My only real concern is going to be getting that film to actually stay put on a skin fold; the instructions claim the cream loses its potency if it's exposed to any air.
Anyway, the stuff is out there in pharmacies, you just have to do a bit of digging to find it. Usually, one 5g tube goes for about $22.

Look, I get that fear isn't exactly caused by the pain itself, but somehow it feels like I’ll be totally chill right up until the moment they pull it out. And honestly? I shouldn't even feel that burning sensation. But man, if I do... that's going to suck!!! It's clearly obvious that my pain tolerance is basically non-existent...

I've got a blood draw coming up soon, and honestly, I’m freaking out. I have this massive phobia of needles—it’s not even funny. Every single time I have to get blood taken, I start feeling lightheaded or just straight-up nauseous. I know, I know... half of you are probably going to tell me to grow up, stop being such a wimp, and just man up. But hey, I am who I am, right? :-
I was scrolling through some stuff online and saw that EMLO cream is actually pretty decent at numbing things down and cutting the pain.
Is it actually okay to use that stuff, and does anyone know where I can pick some up around here?