Posts by mistyhound2

mistybear4 said:nothing is truly incurable...
maybe things are just UNTIL NOW unsolvable, but science keeps moving forward, right? .. 😁

And what, asthma is "incurable" too? ... 🙂 😂 😂 😂

Look, I don't even take you seriously, so I wasn't even reacting to your nonsense.😁 (I'm just surprised by how everyone else is reacting to it.)

John Adams4 said:I’ve got Graves' disease myself, and honestly, I didn't even find out until I was mid-vacation in Florida. One minute I'm just trying to enjoy the sun, and the next, my heart is absolutely hammering—like, hitting 130 or 140 beats per minute—so they rushed me straight from the ER to get bloodwork and a scintigraphy scan. Just one of those things, I guess.
So, here’s the deal... I finally got my first round of test results back. Just staring at them now.
So, I just got my lab results back, and holy hell... my T3 is sitting at 7.63 nmol/L. Looking at the "normal" range they printed on the paper—which is supposedly 1.29 to 2.60—I’m basically off the charts. Like, way off. It’s one of those things where you stare at the numbers, wait for them to make sense, and then realize your body is basically running like a Ferrari with the engine screaming at redline while you're just trying to sit on the couch. Everything feels... frantic? If that makes sense. Just a total system overload. Not exactly the "peace and quiet" kind of vibe I was hoping for today.
So, I just got my lab results back, and... yeah. My T4 came in at 201.1 nmol/L. Looking at the reference range they provided—which was 71.2 to 161.0—I’m officially sitting well above the line. It's not even a close call, really. Just floating up there in the "definitely out of bounds" zone. Honestly, seeing those numbers makes me feel like my internal thermostat is just broken and cranked up to max capacity. Not exactly the news I was hoping for, but I guess that's just how it goes sometimes.
So, I just got my lab results back, and... yeah. TSH is sitting at 0.016 mIU/L. Looking at the reference range—which is supposed to be somewhere between 0.465 and 4.68—I am basically cratering. Just staring at these numbers like they’re some kind of cryptic omen. It’s pretty much zero. If you’ve ever dealt with thyroid stuff, you know that feeling of looking at a decimal point and realizing your body is currently running a marathon while you're just trying to sit on the couch. Everything feels a little off, everything feels a bit too fast, and now I have this tiny little number to explain why. Just one of those things, I guess. Life comes at you fast.
So, I spent an entire year playing chemist with my own body. I was stuck on this endless cycle of Thiamazol—you know, the stuff that basically tells your thyroid to shut up and stop pumping out hormones—plus Levothyroxine, which is just the synthetic hormone you have to take because your system isn't doing its job. It’s a total balancing act, honestly. Just constant back-and-forth trying to keep everything from spiraling.

So, I went in for that first scintigraphy scan, right? Nothing much to report there—just some increased uptake in the right lobe. Then came the second one, and well, they actually found something this time: two tiny little nodules, one at 2mm and the other at 4mm. Both supposedly benign, apparently. Just more stuff to keep track of, I guess.
So, I’ve been off the meds for four months now. Honestly? Feeling a hell of a lot better. My hormone levels have finally leveled out and hit the normal range, which is a massive relief. I'm still getting my bloodwork done every three months just to stay on top of things, though. And those issues with my eyes—they’ve definitely backed off, which is good, but they haven't totally cleared up yet. Still lingering there, just... hanging around.

Look, over the course of this past year, I’ve been playing a little too much doctor with myself—just dosing up on meds here and there without much guidance. But honestly? Before you even think about touching anything, you really have to get your head around the symptoms. You need to know exactly what we're talking about when it comes to hypo- versus hyperthyroidism. It's a massive difference, and you don't want to be guessing.
I kept a close eye on all the symptoms—for me, it was stuff like my vision getting weirdly sharp one minute and then blurry the next, gaining weight out of nowhere, just being completely wiped out, sleeping all day, hair thinning, feeling super jittery, and that racing heart thing. Honestly, I could tell exactly which phase I was in just by how I felt, which helped me tweak my medication dosage accordingly. Of course, I wasn't just guessing; I stayed on top of everything with regular checkups and blood work through my doctor.

P.S.: Dealing with this autoimmune inflammation stuff... meanwhile, those nodules have definitely grown. My doctor insists they aren't surgical territory yet—she ran an ultrasound just a couple of weeks ago—and apparently, the antibodies have cleared out of my labs. For now, anyway.

Thanks. You pretty much hit the nail on the head, honestly. Maybe I should add one more thing to the pile, though...

So, look, you’re dealing with an autoimmune thyroid issue—which, let’s be clear, is a whole different beast than a tumor. You’ve got those so-called thyroid-stimulating antibodies (TSA) basically impersonating the TSH hormone, which just goes into overdrive, cranking up the production and release of your T3 and T4. And you already mentioned the eye stuff—that ophthalmopathy where the antibodies start messing with the muscles around your eyes. Then there’s the skin issues some people get, like that doughy, swollen texture on the shins. Plus, all the classic hyperthyroidism symptoms... the racing heart, being wiped out constantly, insomnia, hair thinning, digestive issues, messed-up cycles, night sweats, and the mental rollercoaster ranging from pure mania to full-blown psychosis. Honestly, you laid it all out perfectly. It's a lot.

You even mentioned it yourself—your T3 and T4 levels were through the roof while your TSH was bottomed out. It makes total sense, actually. Those antibodies of yours are basically playing dress-up as TSH, tricking your pituitary gland into thinking it’s already got plenty of thyroid hormone on hand. So, via that whole negative feedback loop thing, your system just shuts down the production of TSH entirely. It's a mess, honestly.

Look, it’s great that you’re in remission right now. Really. Let's just hope it stays that way. But, look—you know how this goes. You know there's always that shadow hanging over you where a relapse can just pop up out of nowhere. It’s a cycle, isn't it? Remission, then a setback, then back to remission... it can flip-flop like that for your entire life, even for people who aren't even on the formal treatment track. It's a grind. Unfortunately, this thing is chronic, and there's no magic "cure" button to press once and for all. That's why you can't let your guard down. You’ve gotta keep up with those checkups and stay on top of everything. Constant monitoring is the only way to play the game. 👍

I can't believe I'm even repeating this said:She actually had the nerve to tell that surgeon he wasn't even qualified to be giving out advice like that. Honestly, the audacity.

..........

And honestly, there’s just one more thing bugging me... is it just me, or does it feel like almost everyone who jumped in to reply to my post is dealing with kidney issues too? Seriously, what is it with this group and renal problems?
That's it. That's all there is to it.

Look, when it comes to endocrinology? Yeah, she’s definitely more qualified than some surgeon. Seriously. If you want someone who actually understands the underlying mechanics instead of just hacking away at things, she's the one. Surgeons are great and all, but for this stuff? It's a different league entirely.😉

Look, my kidneys are doing just fine—no issues there. I’m really hoping everything else stays that way too. Fingers crossed.

And look, for the record—nobody’s forcing you to take anything. I’m talking generally here, obviously. Every patient has the right to say "no thanks" to a treatment plan. You can always go out and hunt down a second opinion if you're feeling unsure, but honestly? That just opens up a whole new headache. How are you even supposed to know who's actually right? Is it the first doctor you saw, or this new one? It's a total toss-up.

mistybear4 said:ps: look, you can actually slow down tumor cell growth if the body actually has enough micronutrients and antioxidants in the system... 🙂

🤣

Whatever, fine. Have it your way. 😁 (since apparently some people just don't get it and never will)

John Adams4 said:I dealt with some thyroid issues myself.
My doctor basically flooded me with meds, and I ended up putting on 20 pounds by my sixth month... just total chaos.

.........

Anyway, I've been off the pills for almost a year now and my labs are looking totally normal.

If you don't mind me asking, what exactly was going on with your thyroid? Was it an adenoma or more of an autoimmune thing? Just trying to wrap my head around it.

mistybear4 said:See, this is exactly what I’m talking about... 👍

Look, Poglec, you and McGregor—and all you other folks who just don't seem to get how this works. The girl had a "tumor" removed. Now, listen, there are different kinds of tumors, benign and malignant. If I had to bet my life on it—and I'd say there's a 90% chance I'm right—it was a benign one, like a thyroid adenoma. Why? Because they only took out a piece of the thyroid, just the "sick spot." (When you're dealing with something malignant, you're usually looking at a total thyroidectomy, where the whole thing gets ripped out.)

Most adenomas are euthyroid, which is just a fancy way of saying hormone levels stay within the normal range. Doctors usually only step in when things start looking "suspicious" or when the growth starts pressing against the rest of the tissue, which can lead to hypothyroidism. (That sounds like what's happening here.) Usually, the first move is starting thyroxine because it suppresses TSH—that's the thyroid-stimulating hormone—which in turn keeps the adenoma from growing further. It basically shrinks it down so it stops causing problems.

Hopefully, I'm making sense so far.😁

On the flip side, TSH—again, that hormone from the pituitary gland—doesn't just trigger the release of T4 and T3; it's also tied to how those adenomas grow (like I mentioned earlier). So, even if you cut the adenoma out and everything seems fine and hormones are steady, there's always that nagging possibility that the tissue might start acting up again on its own. By taking thyroxine, you're suppressing that TSH, which lowers the odds of a new growth popping up later. It's all connected.

Is that clear enough for you?

👋

🤣 🤣 🤣

Man, you guys are killing me with this thread. Seriously. 😁

And look, Mon: if you actually want to wrap your head around why hormone replacement therapy matters—and why taking Synthroid (or whatever they’re stocking at the local CVS) is non-negotiable—you really need to get how the thyroid actually functions. You don't need to go out and memorize a medical textbook on pathophysiology or anything, just... do a little reading. Get the basics down. Or better yet, just ask your endocrinologist (or even your primary care doctor). Maybe then you'll realize why thyroxine is such a big deal and stop thinking it's some kind of placebo or "woo-woo" remedy. Honestly, it’s a little scary when someone has zero clue about their own condition, isn't it?

John Adams4 said:Just take it because the charts say you have to and there's nothing you can do about the dosage.

I don't know what kind of "charts" you're looking at, but first and foremost, your dose has to be adjusted based on your T3, T4, and TSH levels. Have you even been getting your hormones checked regularly? And where was this happening, in the USA?

Adam Wells5 said:But look, being professional is LITERALLY THE JOB. Like, being polite, decent, and having a smile on your face most of the time is part of the deal because the doctor is there to SERVE the patient, not the other way around.

Instead, we treat doctors like they're little gods. I mean, can you blame us? They help bring a baby into the world or cut out a terminal tumor. All that stuff just goes straight to their heads, making them feel like some big-shot Hollywood celebrity.

A doctor is NOT your servant🙄. If you’re really that bitter about it, then don't go to the doctor—it's that simple. Who’s forcing you to see them? Nobody!

And honestly, being forced to grin ear-to-ear isn't exactly a core requirement of "professionalism." 🙄

Anthony Wood54 said:I think this really highlights the core difference between bulimia and anorexia...
People dealing with bulimia usually own up to it—they admit they’re struggling, both to themselves and everyone else. But with anorexia? They just flat-out deny it. That makes the road to recovery way longer and, honestly, a hell of a lot harder.

Look, it's not that simple. Anorexia nervosa actually comes in two flavors: binge-eating type and restrictive type. If you've got someone with bulimic tendencies but their BMI drops below 17, medically speaking, we're talking about anorexia. You can't just untangle those two concepts like they're separate things. Then there's restrictive anorexia, where guys or girls are obsessively counting every single calorie and basically living at the gym just to make sure they don't put on a single pound.

Thanks brightdriver8, I get the picture now. Seriously, best of luck to you.🙂

brightdriver8 said:Positron emission tomography

Please, if anyone has any intel on this scan... anything helps..
See, I need to get a PET scan done, but we don't even offer that here in the States...
Thanks in advance for whatever you can tell me.

Just jumping in to add to what nimbleskipper13 wrote: A PET scan is actually a killer way to spot dementia. Basically, it tracks glucose metabolism, which—take Alzheimer's or frontotemporal dementia, for example—is usually way lower than it should be. The thing is, these scans are insanely expensive, so there's always gotta be a really strict medical reason to order one. If you don't mind me asking—and totally fine if it's private—who sent you for this and what's the story?

Hand on my heart, the arrogance you see among medical professionals here in the States is just... it's everywhere. From the doctors right down to the nurses. I honestly can't wrap my head around how someone could be so rude to a patient, or just start yelling at them for no reason. I don't think I've ever been that way myself—and God, I really hope I never am. Even though, let’s be real, there are definitely those types of patients who can drive you absolutely up the wall. But still, a little kindness goes a long way; it beats snapping at people when things get stressful. 🙂

Generally speaking, the whole culture of how people treat each other in the US is kind of lacking. It's something that desperately needs work. But look, I get it—the pay is often terrible, they're overworked and seeing way too many patients, and then you've got some patients who are just plain entitled themselves. It's a vicious cycle. 🙄

loneowl45 said:Medical malpractice suits? Please. They don't even exist here. It’s just like what happened with my old man—some doctor "misplaced" a PHD Software biopsy report that clearly showed cancer, then looked him straight in the eye and said he was perfectly fine. 🙄

And honestly, why on earth should doctors be perfect? They’re just people. Why shouldn't they mess up sometimes? Besides, how do you even know it was the doctor who swapped out the PHD Software results instead of, say, a lab tech? Pathology isn't just one guy in a white coat; it's a whole team working together.

.........

The truth is, doctors in America get paid peanuts compared to their colleagues in places like Western Europe. And considering everything they had to grind through just to get where they are... it's rough. Even after they graduate, they're basically struggling to stay afloat. Not to mention, from what I've seen, the level of expertise here is way higher than in some Western European countries where doctors make a killing, work in much better facilities, and frankly, know a lot less. Just my two cents. Zato Doc and Studentica. 👍

Look, I'm against corruption. Plain and simple. Once everyone is actually making enough money and getting paid what they're worth, the corruption will dry up. But when is that going to happen? When pigs fly.

I am seriously addicted to Diet Coke (or Diet Pepsi, depending on whatever happens to be in the fridge). I stick to the light stuff, obviously, because I have zero interest in gaining weight 😁, but regular Cole or Pepsi? Man, they just taste good. I can’t help it—it hits the spot. Look, I get it. It’s not "healthy." I know I should probably be sipping on sparkling water instead, but honestly, I don't have many other vices. I don't smoke, I don't touch alcohol, and I've cut back on coffee to maybe one or two cups a day since my pregnancy. I don't do drugs, and I try to watch what I eat (well, most of the time). I used to be a runner, always out on my bike, but ever since the kids came along, life just... happened. I haven't had the time, so that's gone. So why shouldn't I drink this "American junk," as my husband calls it, if it makes me happy? He gets such a kick out of lecturing me every single time I grab a few bottles of Diet Coke from the store. 😁 He actually tried to win this argument by telling me some horror story about how he once saw someone successfully dissolve rusty nails in a glass of Cole. 😁

Anthony Wood54 said:How many of you were watching that exposé last night about the girl struggling with anorexia?
How many of you just sat there thinking, "What an idiot, someone needs to give her a reality check so she'd stop talking this nonsense..."
I bet a lot of you did—at least that’s what the girls in my college dorm were whispering...
Not one single one of them said, "Hey, she's actually sick"... except for me..
And yeah, maybe I'm sick too....
Just by admitting it... I feel like I've finally stepped out of my own little bubble...
Anyone who’s read "The Glass Castle" knows exactly what I mean...
« ... most of all, I just want to help myself. Just me. There are voices inside me that have been screaming for so long, begging me to let them out, to show them to the world. I was ashamed of myself. I hated myself, but now I don't even have the strength or the will left, and I just want to find myself again. I'm writing this for me, and for all of you.»
That’s right near the beginning of that book...
So, what am I supposed to write here???
It all started when I was 22... after all those diets—which failed, obviously, because I wasn't disciplined enough, wasn't strong enough to hang in there... and then everything just spiraled...
On November 30th, I weighed 175 lbs. By December 6th, I was down to 130 lbs. I think you get the picture...
I broke up with my boyfriend, bombed an exam, ended up totally alone, and just locked myself in my room... when I finally ventured back out into the city a month later, people didn't even recognize me...
My excuse was... "Oh, it's just stress... I broke up with my guy, that's all..."
Everyone "bought" it... but does it even matter if they believed me? My weight... those 45 pounds... doesn't mean anything to them... but my period is gone, my head constantly aches, I'm a nervous wreck and....
My whole life just flipped on its axis. Suddenly, from being invisible, I became hyper-visible to everyone...
The part that hurt the most was: "Where have you been hiding all these years?"..
But I stayed the same person; it was just my body that changed... and then everything else started shifting too... my behavior... everything...
Now, a year and four months later, I'm still a slave to my own body... the bathroom... the eating... the binging and the lies...
I can't do this anymore...
Most of you won't understand, and honestly, you probably won't have a clue what I'm talking about... only those of you actually "living" the life of bulimia—the ones purging five, six, seven times a day... you know how it feels... and you know what I need...
Just like how I couldn't stick to a single diet because I wasn't "tough" enough... I can't seem to stop this either...
If you have the time, go read that book.....

I believe every word you're saying, and I don't agree with any of the people attacking you. Not from personal experience (not that I'd claim to be lucky), but from a professional standpoint. You're dealing with a heavy illness; most likely, you definitely have a dominant, intense personality (if not something more than that). Since nobody here actually knows you, could you describe a bit how things are with alcohol or drugs? Self-harm? Partners? School (did you finish)? Are you working?

College girl, lol.👍 😁

Michelle Patel78 said:The hepatitis A virus is one of those incredibly tough little bastards.

Sunlight, UV rays, just drying it out—that kills it pretty fast. It can't really hang around outside a host for long (like if you left it on a bag or something).

It loves water, though. I think at 140 degrees Fahrenheit, it might last an hour. At a full boil, you probably need about five minutes to kill it off.

If it's hanging out in water, it can survive longer, but honestly, I don't know the exact math on that. Probably what you said, though. That’s why we still get those hep outbreaks. A. Quote

Hepatitis B can be found in saliva, and I read somewhere it could even spread through kissing—not like a normal kiss, but more like... I don't know, "performing a tonsil exam with your tongue."😁
Ugh, I feel slightly nauseous.🙂

Yeah, but it doesn't spread via saliva unless both people have bleeding gums or something, but then we're talking blood-to-blood contact, which isn't really just "saliva" anymore.

shree_kali said:hold up, my friend's mom was acting like some total teenager, getting high on some sketchy weed and smoking B... how the hell did she end up with that then? 😕

You're mixing up A and B. Doing it that way, she could have just ended up with A, and only A.

And if there's B involved too, well, she got that through some other way entirely.

shree_kali said:Look, if you want my two cents, just go get vaccinated against Hep B... You won't catch Hep C that way, obviously, but B is a real threat, and you can actually prevent that one.

Wait, what????
Hepatitis B and C spread through blood or sexual contact. Hepatitis A is totally different—that’s an oral thing.

We all know how unhygienic some of our local grocery clerks can be. I mean, they’re practically licking their fingers before grabbing plastic bags and stuff, so it makes me wonder: how long does a hepatitis virus from their saliva actually hang around on a bag or the food they touched?

Listen, B and C are a whole different ballgame when it comes to transmission. Hep A is an enterovirus—meaning it's fecal-oral—and it basically dies the second it leaves the body. It might hang out in water for a bit, but even a little heat, maybe like 122°F, would probably kill it. As for saliva? There's a negligible amount of A, B, or C virus in there anyway. Honestly, why are you even stressing over these idiots? But hey, good on you for asking.

psssst, don't tell a soul... I took... 😁

Ashley Rogers4 said:A total waste of cash and time. The European Union is gonna pop like a soap bubble, leaving millions dead in its wake because all those national bureaucracies are just going to start turning on each other... I’m giving you five years of peace, max, and after that? Just another massive global war.

Why would it collapse in five years? Only because you’re living on the other side of the world. Total bullshit. It’s actually just going to get even stronger.