Posts by Ashley Ramirez

Maria Jones40 said:Well, have you actually reached out to a gastroenterologist yet?

I honestly thought I’d need a hematologist for liver stuff. I didn't think a gastroenterologist would have much to offer in this department... My plan is to stick with some Milk Thistle for a month or two first, and then I'll go get my liver enzyme tests done to see where things actually stand.

Emily Booth said:Are you taking any medications?

Is your cholesterol or triglyceride level running high?
Do you work around toxic substances? Dyes, paints, anything like that?

Silymarin should definitely help you out—it won't cause harm—but honestly, you really ought to figure out why your GGT levels are spiked in the first place.

I’m currently taking Imunomax (though I wonder if the shiitake mushroom extract might be disagreeing with my liver?

I'm not sure about this bolded part... I really should go grab my lab results to check those specific numbers too. I'll try to get them and let you know. Thanks, thanks, thanks...

For the most part, I don't take anything, I don't smoke, and I don't deal with paint. I usually sleep well, but lately, there's been a lot of stress and not enough physical activity... though I highly doubt such a massive spike in GGT would come from just that.

Emily Booth said:The issue isn't related to having had mononucleosis.

An elevated GGT level is actually most often a red flag for alcohol-related liver issues.

It can also spike due to exposure to other toxic substances.

If you've been drinking, you need to quit cold turkey right now and go get a liver ultrasound.

Look, I don't drink... maybe two beers a month at most... that's why I'm asking here. Thanks for all the input. I started taking Silymarin to see if that helps—I mean, it shouldn't hurt, right? Once I finish two bottles, I'll go back and get my liver enzyme tests done again.

What does it actually mean when your GGT is through the roof—say, hitting 100—but everything else like AST and ALT stays perfectly within the normal range? Could something like a bout of mononucleosis I had a decade ago have anything to do with this?🤷
Can I just expect things to settle back down by taking some Silymarin, for example?

Amy Hayes28 said:It all started when the "real" pain kicked in. It was this relentless cycle: constant mumbling under my breath, sleeping all day long, losing control over my bladder, and feeling this intense stiffness throughout my body. Then came the tightness in my throat, that bone-dry mouth, total constipation, depression, and even diabetes... Is anyone else dealing with this absolute nightmare?
There’s really nothing left to be done at this point. All we can do now is hope that the suffering doesn't drag on for too long.
The tumor is growing, the metastases are everywhere, and one has even broken through to the surface on my head.😢
We are all completely falling apart at this point. Mom has turned into an entirely different person, and honestly, I can only hope that once Dad passes away, things might finally settle back to some kind of normal. That’s just how it is. God forbid anyone else ever has to deal with this kind of evil.😢

Dear Drag Bibo, those who haven't lived through it just don't get it. They can't fathom how someone could feel a sense of relief when a loved one finally passes away after battling this disease. They judge, but they simply don't understand that with that passing, the patient is finally released from an impossible amount of suffering. Honestly, until I experienced it myself, I couldn't truly grasp the reality of cancer and metastasis. It’s pure horror—absolute devastation for the entire family.

I can tell you from experience that my family went through the exact same thing five years ago with my father, and honestly, we still haven't fully recovered as a unit. Even now, there’s this palpable tension in the room whenever these topics come up, even if they're just mentioned in passing. I know, it’s not exactly comforting to hear, but an experience like that definitely leaves lasting scars—it's practically like living with PTSD.

Stick together, everyone. Seriously, don't let him see any cracks in the foundation—don't let him catch you arguing amongst yourselves. Try to give him some peace. And please, don't hold things back from him; talk to him as much as his strength and will allow. You don't want to be left sitting there later, drowning in regret over all those unspoken thoughts or messages you wanted to share with one another. Good luck, people!

Not everything has to be cancer. People need to be way more careful when it comes to making a diagnosis. You absolutely have to seek out a second opinion—and for heaven's sake, don't mention your previous tests, because doctors tend to just parrot back whatever the last person said instead of actually looking at you.

Grace Grant10 said:Anyway, I honestly think people should stop putting so much faith in chemicals and start trusting nature a whole lot more.

The truth is, the human race doesn't trust anyone but itself. We don't need anybody else—just the universe and us... and that's exactly why we're going to go extinct.👎

Nathan Moore45 said:Hey everyone,

Reading through all your life stories really moved me, so I decided it was time to share mine too.

My name is Eddie, born September 11, 1981. When I started school back in '86 or '87,
I was about 7 years old. Things seemed fine at first, but by Friday, the nausea, headaches, and dizziness would hit,
and I’d end up vomiting. I went through countless tests, but nobody could figure out what was causing
all those issues. Even a CT scan showed absolutely nothing. It wasn't until later (when I was in 5th grade)
that I went to New York City for an MRI, and they finally found a small tumor on my brainstem.
Because of that tumor, the spinal fluid had nowhere to flow, which caused intense pressure
in my head—leading to more vomiting, headaches, and vertigo...
They installed a shunt. But toward the end of elementary school, the tumor started growing rapidly,
which threw everything into chaos, though I did manage to finish my primary schooling.
When I started high school, I began falling over on my way to class,
so I actually had to drop out halfway through the term. I was on various medications, but honestly, I can't recall the names now.
The tumor was inoperable. I don't know why, but they ended up removing the shunt.
I went through chemo and radiation, and when I was hovering right on the edge of death, one doctor finally
pulled himself together and said, "We can't go on like this; we have to try surgery, there's no other way."

After the surgery, I ended up in a wheelchair, 90% disabled—left side paralyzed,
and my right eye stayed closed because of nerve damage. That was all back in '98.
I've been doing physical therapy at home for over 10 years now, and things have improved somewhat.
I can walk slowly, provided I can steady myself with my right hand on a handrail.
My balance isn't great since I'm relying on just one eye. I spent 10 years stuck at home
24/7 because my parents wouldn't let me go anywhere. Now, for the third year in a row, I've been attending
the "Slava Raskaj" facility in Miami, and I'm also a member of the "Braveheart" Association for people with cerebral
palsy. It fills part of my day, but man, I still miss being out in the world.

Serious respect to you! You belong in the "Braveheart" Association!!!! Seriously, you've inspired me so much that I actually feel ashamed of some of the petty things I worry about, seeing how people like you find the strength and will to live after everything you've endured. I truly hope you have a long, beautiful, and fulfilling life, and that maybe some upcoming medical breakthrough can help you out...👍 👍

reddriver45 said:I spent the last two days right by my mom's side, painting her nails on her final day, while she was vomiting every five minutes... I don't even know how I survived it... When she passed away in my arms, I just sat there for two days after... just sitting next to her, you know?
I have to say, I'm actually glad she passed away at home. They only moved her back after we pushed so hard—our whole family was fighting it because we just weren't ready to let her go. But honestly, once there's no hope left, it’s better to accept it and let them go somewhere where they won't be in pain or suffering from disease anymore...

I hear you, dear... I truly understand what you're going through and what you're feeling right now... but I went through the exact same thing with my old man a few years back. Only, not all cancers are as merciful as yours was, letting someone slip away in two weeks. My father spent months dying in agony, in such intense pain that even massive doses of morphine couldn't touch it... So when you listen to your loved ones suffering right in front of you and you realize you can't do a damn thing to help, it hits you hard. I won't even get into the details of the end here, but it was horrific. We were all there with him, and of course, we're glad we could hold his hand in those moments, but it left deep scars on all of us—especially that crushing realization that we couldn't provide enough relief to ease his torment...
His sister would come by every morning, he was getting injections directly into the nerves near his spine and everything, but still, I don't think it was ever enough...

As for you—unfortunately, it is possible that this might happen to you, just like it did to me, more likely than it would to the rest of the population. But nothing is certain; if it were, they would have already found a cure for cancer. There are hundreds of different types of cancer, and they behave so unpredictably that scientists can't find that one specific weakness to turn it into something manageable like a chronic illness.

All we can do is hope for better medications and better care for people who have to leave this world in such terrible condition. I don't think our generation can count on a miracle cure just yet. I just want you to stay strong, because I know how incredibly hard it is to lose your mother when you're still so young... Damn... big hug, hang in there!

Look, I’m no medical expert, but honestly? If there's an option to get a procedure done over here in the States, you should probably just go for it. If things take a turn for the worse later on—God forbid—you don't want to be stuck in a situation where everyone turns their back on you the second complications arise. Why risk it? Don't get hung up on the price tag; at the end of the day, you're the one who has to live with the results!

I feel like I need to step up and back the story on IP6, because it objectively helped my dad while he was going through chemo. He had noticeably more energy, his appetite actually came back, and he handled the nausea much better. Now, let me be crystal clear: IP6 IS NOT A CURE!!!! Don't go getting any ideas—a definitive cure for most types of cancer hasn't been found yet. But in our specific case, it was a huge help in improving his overall quality of life. What Grace Grant10 is saying is absolutely true.👍

Amanda Miller69 said:I’m so incredibly sorry you’re going through this. If I were in your shoes, I’d actually suggest looking into a long-term care facility out in the suburbs—maybe somewhere like the outskirts of New York City. It’s a bit more dignified than the facilities they have over in Marof. My own mother spent her final days there. Honestly, I couldn't have cared for her at home; she was immobile, incontinent, had a stoma, and was dealing with pain from metastases everywhere. At the hospital, she was kept clean, tidy, and fed (as much as she could handle), and they managed her pain and looked after her until the very end. We even dropped in unannounced once just to check on her—she’d been telling me things about needing help with her bathroom needs that weren't quite true—just to see how she really was. I am so deeply grateful to the doctors and nurses in that area for allowing my mom to pass away with dignity, something I simply couldn't have provided at home. Hang in there. Sending you a huge 🙂 because I know exactly what you're feeling right now.

Thanks so much for sharing that. To be honest, I’m not even sure how I’d manage visiting every single day all the way from New York City... How do they handle sudden emergencies there? Like, if an organ starts failing or there’s a bowel obstruction and they suddenly need to perform a stoma procedure? Is the medical staff actually competent? And most importantly, is the staff approachable? Did you feel like they were truly there for her when things got difficult?

brightgardener8 said:I can send you a private message with the name of the facility where my mother is staying—one I wouldn't recommend to anyone, even though we actually chose it because we heard nothing but glowing reviews. Unfortunately, she’s in such a state now that moving her just isn't an option.

It’s probably best if a parent stays home with their family, but I also get that it’s not always realistic. We all have jobs, we have to leave the house, and most of us just don't have the setup at home to handle such critically ill patients.
I tried doing it that way, too, but during those terrifying moments when Mom was in such bad shape that she needed machines or IV drips, I couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if she had stayed at home instead...

Thanks for that. Please, send me a DM letting me know which facility it is. I have a few "recommendations" for two or three places myself, and I want to make sure they aren't part of the same group.😲
Yeah, that last point you made is the real kicker. It sounds lovely in theory to have a patient at home, but they require 24-hour care for someone this sick—everything from bathing and incontinence to managing pain, potential feeding issues, and all the complications that hit toward the end, like heart failure, fevers, fluid in the lungs, and suffocation... ugh, it's hard to even list it all out. You know exactly what's coming, and honestly, I just wish it would be over for her sake as soon as possible, but this damn disease just knows how to linger and torture you...
I truly believe that even having nurses come to the house doesn't solve everything, because they don't carry the heavy medical equipment needed to manage these situations... cancer seriously sucks!!!😠

Well, unfortunately, we didn't beat it. My mother has been diagnosed with metastases, and naturally, we've been briefed on the trajectory of the illness ahead—it’s going to be a rough road. Since she lives alone, we're stuck weighing our options: Is it better to arrange for someone to come stay with her, or should we move her into a high-quality, compassionate facility where she can get proper care until the end, while allowing us to visit her every single day?
It’s a similar situation to what we went through with my father, but back then, we decided he should stay at home. The issue was that we just couldn't provide the level of medical care he actually needed, and I honestly have this nagging feeling that he suffered more than he should have, even though he was right there with us...😢
Does anyone know of, or can anyone recommend, a good care facility or nursing home in New York City? (To give you some context, the local hospital won't take her because they don't have space for patients in her condition, and neither does the MD Anderson Cancer Center)..thanks in advance..🙏

Anthony Wilson4 said:Look at it this way... I started working at this retail shop, and let me tell you, it’s no walk in the park. My back is absolutely killing me because of it. Now, I don't know if there's a direct link here, but my grandmother had spinal surgery, and ever since then, three of her fingers have been numb. They haven't come back to life even now, years later.

Maybe that's what's causing it.

Go see a doctor immediately to get your spine checked out. If you're already linking this to your back pain, we aren't talking about something minor anymore. This could be serious.

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