Posts by velvetmoose9

coppergardener said:So, I had a bit of an encounter with a bee this afternoon—it stung me right on the inner part of my upper arm. I think I might have actually pressed down on it when it happened. I managed to shoo it away (which sounds incredibly silly, I know, but I honestly feel like it might have even stung me twice 🤣), yet I can't find a stinger anywhere. A little blister popped up along with some intense redness, though that part has since subsided. It looks quite alright now—you can barely even see where it happened—but there is this persistent, sharp sensation, almost as if someone is constantly driving a needle into the skin. 😕 Is it possible that a tiny fragment of the stinger broke off and got pushed deep inside where I can't see it?

On another note, is it safe to take Letizen alongside Normabel? Specifically, would a gap of about two hours be sufficient? I have the 10 mg Letizen and the 2 mg Normabel at hand.

Just to be on the safe side, I went ahead and took the Letizen because I've been dealing with a slightly more intense cough since dinner—I usually describe it as "my lungs are itchy"—along with some eye irritation. There isn't any swelling, and I've never had an allergy to bee stings before, but here is the thing: I ate and drank several things today that I really shouldn't have, and I've been under quite a bit of stress lately. So, perhaps this sting was just the proverbial icing on the cake. My breathing isn't labored, it’s just... irritating.

Thanks so much!

Generally speaking, you shouldn't run into major issues, though in this specific situation, it might be wiser to skip the Normabel (since it's diazepam) given the minimal—and I’d go as far as to say theoretical—possibility that it could impact your respiratory function, even if it seems slightly altered as you described.

Either way, if those symptoms persist, especially regarding your breathing, you definitely need to reach out to your primary care doctor (and please, try NOT to wait until the middle of the night)
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coppergardener said:thanks so much! 🙂 though honestly, I feel like I spent more time idling at the front desk than actually seeing the doctor. 🙏 but yeah, you aren't kidding—everyone seems totally frazzled because of this time of year, both the staff and the patients.

I've been dealing with some annoying urinary retention lately, and I'm genuinely wondering if taking a moderate dose of an anxiolytic is going to mess with my test results. It feels like my bladder is just... soft, while my sphincter stays way too tight. For the last few weeks, I've been taking that tiny 2 mg Normabel before bed to help with other things. I tried taking it in the morning once and it wiped me out so hard I had to just go lie down. I’ll give it another shot since I feel like its effectiveness is tapering off anyway, but I'm worried it might make the whole testing process pointless.

Man, if you're struggling with retention, then maybe sticking with Lexapro (oxazepam) or maybe some alprazolam (Messer, Helix, Xanax) might be a better bet—those usually have less of an impact on what you're describing compared to diazepam, though everyone reacts differently.

Anyway, just wear a diaper; it's a total lifesaver. 😬
Peace of God 🙂
If there's an accident, no big deal. 😍
Think of it like a seatbelt, or ABS and traction control in your car. 😉

By the way, how are you feeling regarding those urological issues when you're on the Normabel versus when you aren't? 😕

coppergardener said:I need to go in for urodynamics testing and I’m looking for a recommendation for a good urologist, or maybe just a solid clinic. Where should I even go? I’m open to both hospitals and private practices. Also, does anyone know how much it actually costs if you go the private route?

The thing is, my anxiety is through the roof, and I have a feeling this isn't going to go smoothly without some serious trauma. I know I have to get it done, but there's a non-negligible chance I might just bolt mid-test or end up having a total meltdown.

I went in for a standard checkup at Mount Sinai once, and honestly, the chaos at the front desk was just overwhelming. I don't know what the vibe is like at other hospitals, but I can't imagine heading back there with a completely full bladder. 😢 Mind you, when I asked my doctor if I'd need a catheterization—thinking about a cystoscopy—she was like, "Oh, nooo, you won't need that." So I felt this massive wave of relief thinking I was just getting a Flow rate test, only for her to write down urodynamics testing instead. I nearly died when the staff at the desk told me it was an invasive procedure.

I also got the impression that the communication between the receptionists and the doctors at Mount Sinai just isn't exactly top-tier.

Thanks.

Mayo Clinic is solid.
Mount Sinai isn't terrible per se, but hey, your gut feeling definitely deserves respect.

For short-term anxiety, 10-15mg of oxazepam (Lexapro, Oxazepam) about an hour before the test works okay, but considering what you're facing, maybe 5-10mg of diazepam (Valium, Diazepam) about two hours beforehand would be way better. It’ll relax you both mentally and physically, which will probably make the whole experience much easier to swallow.😉

Also, just a heads-up: when people come in for this specific test, it’s actually pretty helpful to bring an adult disposable brief (bring a spare one too). It gives you that bit of mental security, and honestly, the physical sensation of walking around with a full bladder feels a lot less awkward when you know you've got that backup.😉

Try to bring someone close to you—someone who’s assertive enough to actually stop you from running away.😬

By the way, everyone at those front desks is totally slammed (not that I'm making excuses for being rude).
Most doctors are just burnt out and exhausted, especially since it's flu season and we're dealing with major staffing shortages right now.

Digging up a thread from 2003 and quoting a post from back then that has absolutely zero connection to the current topic... even an American grammar checker would flag that as blatant trolling.&Co.

The moderators here really missed a beat by just deleting the post without handing out an appropriate "reward" for that kind of behavior on the forum.

The higher-ups in administration have access to all the documentation, so if the relevant authorities insist, we can definitely add a strike to someone's record retroactively—I honestly wouldn't mind.

Usually, when I see posts like this that don't make sense or contribute anything constructive to the discussion, I just wipe them out along with any replies that pile onto them. But, hey, if Chloe2 insists, then from here on out (at least for her, since she's clearly the only one complaining about this "mild" style of moderation), I might start handing out formal strikes, even though that’s not really my favorite way to handle things.

wiredotter12 said:Greetings, here is the update...

Five months ago, I dealt with a severe, long-lasting respiratory issue. It involved heavy nasal and oral congestion. After two or three weeks, I finished a course of Augmentin, and that finally cleared things up.

A few weeks later, my left elbow started killing me. Over the next couple of weeks, the pain intensified, spreading through my upper arm, forearm, and hand. It got so bad I was practically useless with that arm for weeks. My GP prescribed Advil (one 600mg tablet daily) and some Aspercrem, but after just a few days, the pain started creeping into my right arm, my neck, and my cervical spine too.

My GP bumped my Advil up to 600mg three times a day, but it trashed my stomach. I scaled it back to twice a day and just used Aspercrem on top of it, but that didn't do much either.

Two months ago, my left fingers started tingling. Now the numbness has spread to my feet, along with this strange sensation in my legs. The pain is migrating.
I called my father. He went through something similar decades ago—lasted a few months. He’s HLA-B27 positive, and Indomethacin was what actually helped him.
I started on Indomethacin 50 mg / 3 x myself. It provided some relief for about two or three weeks, but after a brief break, I couldn't touch it again. Every time I took it, the dizziness was unbearable—lasting three to four hours. Now, I just use Aspercrem twice a day on my knees, elbows, ankles, and hands.

I've switched to taking only Tylenol at night before bed, but now the pain has migrated from my elbows down to my knees and ankles. For the last two months, I’ve felt like I ran a marathon every single day despite doing nothing. My knees feel heavily swollen, even though there's no visible swelling. I'm still applying Gavex cream twice a day to my knees, elbows, ankles, and arms.

I’m dealing with occasional sharp, stabbing pains in my upper arms now, along with a sense of weakness and slight numbness. My knees feel almost constantly swollen; walking feels like I just finished running a marathon. On top of that, I've been getting nasty bouts of dizziness, especially over the last few days.

I just saw the rheumatologist. He says my symptoms point toward possible reactive arthritis. 😕 Labs are normal, X-rays look fine, urine tests are good, and stool samples should be okay too. I’m hoping it’s just hemorrhoids acting up. Right now, I'm only taking Tylenol at night before bed—avoiding NSAIDs entirely. I am still using Gavez cream twice a day on my knees, elbows, ankles, and arms.
The dizziness has ramped up again over the last few days. My knees feel even more swollen than usual, and walking feels like I just finished a marathon. 26 miles Marathon training. Also, I’ve been dealing with some nasty bouts of dizziness lately—especially over the last couple of days.

Has anyone dealt with similar symptoms? What do you recommend?

My rheumatologist wants me back for a follow-up in three months and ordered an HLA-B27 test. To be honest, I’m skeptical about the whole thing, and I've been feeling pretty lousy lately.

Thanks

It definitely makes sense to go ahead and get a consultation with a neurologist.

The CRP needs to be under 5

Seeing that CRP drop all the way from 380 down to 100 is actually a pretty solid sign; it shows the antibiotics they picked are hitting the mark and the patient is responding exactly how we'd want them to.

@restlessbadger2/">@@restlessbadger2, I feel for you 😢, especially if you were sticking strictly to the recommended dose and staying on it for a decent stretch.

Yeah, most people end up driving over to Canada to pick it up 👍 , though I'm not entirely sure if they even carry it in Canada 🤷.

I have to admit, I’m actually pretty blown away by how well Detralex works (even though my first instinct was just to roll my eyes and think, "Oh great, here's yet another scam from Big Pharma").

The feedback I've seen from a ton of patients (especially those who are genuinely trying to get healthy and just want to function like a normal human being again) is almost always glowing.
People often report feeling a subjective difference while they're still working through their very first pack 😲 (though you really shouldn't go rogue and ignore the manufacturer's instructions on dosage and timing!)

There was even a window where they dropped the price significantly—if I remember correctly, it was back in the fall 🤔—but then they hiked it right back up, riding high on the drug's clinical success.
Sure, people grumble about the cost, but the moment things start acting up again, they find themselves right back in the ring with Detralex 🙂 .

At first, there was a bit of friction at the local pharmacies if you didn't show up with a specific recommendation from a vascular surgeon, but they’ve since loosened those requirements quite a bit.

Michelle Sullivan87 said:Honestly, there aren't any musculoskeletal injuries to report.
So, I’ve been spending a fair amount of time lately looking into thyroid hormones, and man, it’s a bit of a rabbit hole once you start digging. It’s one of those things where everything seems fine on the surface until you realize how much those tiny little chemical messengers actually dictate your entire vibe—your energy, your mood, even how much you're sweating just sitting on the couch. It’s wild how such a small part of your system can basically hijack your whole life if things get out of whack. Honestly, it makes you realize that health isn't always about the big, obvious stuff; sometimes it's just these microscopic fluctuations messing with your head. I’ve never really been one to try and exert control over things.
I’m currently on Velafax XL, and honestly, it’s been quite the journey trying to figure out how my body is actually reacting to it. It’s one of those things where you’re just sitting there, wondering if you're feeling better or if you're just... different, you know? I've been keeping a pretty close eye on everything lately, just trying to navigate the ups and downs that come with adjusting to a new regimen. It's a bit of a process, but I'm just taking it one day at a time and seeing where things land. I’ve been thinking a lot about how Leponex and Prazina interact, especially when you're trying to find that sweet spot with your dosage. It’s one of those things where everything feels fine until you realize the balance is just slightly off, and then you're left wondering if it's the meds or just a bad day. I remember back when I was first adjusting my routine, I felt like I was constantly riding a rollercoaster, just waiting to see if the next bump was going to be a smooth roll or a total crash. It's a bit of a balancing act, honestly.So, I was thinking about normabel again.
I started putting on some serious weight after I went through that stretch where I was drinking a bit too much. So, I've been sitting here thinking about the whole Zyprexa situation, and man, seeing someone pack on 75 pounds in just a few months is absolutely wild. It’s one of those things that really makes you stop and think about how heavy-handed some of these meds can be on your metabolism.

So, we still haven't heard anything back regarding whether there might be a dip in overall physical activity lately? 🤷

Well, looks like we’re back to the old classics when it comes to Olanzapine. 🙄
Man, the pounds just seem to vanish into thin air...
I’m honestly a little worried about you—it feels like you’re heading straight toward having to commit to some seriously hardcore restrictive dieting.

Make sure you get those thyroid hormone levels checked within the timeframe they gave you—seriously, don't put it off. 🙂

Prazina is actually a solid medication, but it can definitely mess with your electrolyte levels sometimes—especially sodium. It’s kind of like how olanzapine loves to throw a wrench in the works with your electrolytes too. I've also noticed that it can occasionally make your heart rhythm act a little funky.

Honestly, looking at those symptoms you mentioned, I’m not entirely sold on the idea that we can pin all of this squarely on the medication.
It’s actually pretty common to see people cutting back on physical activity while they're on this specific treatment plan—and honestly, there are a bunch of different reasons why that happens. But if you find yourself needing to dial things back, you really should just lean into it; it's definitely necessary. If you’re looking to actually drop some weight, you really can't just wing it. You need a solid plan for regular physical activity, and honestly, it's way better if you have someone who actually knows what they're doing guiding you through it. Having an educated pro overseeing your workouts while you focus on cutting down body mass makes a massive difference—it turns a guessing game into an actual strategy. .

So, looking over these results, they’re a little bit outside the standard range, but honestly, nothing to lose sleep over just yet. It’s not like we're looking at a total meltdown or anything dramatic.
Nah, I mean, there’s really no way around it—you definitely need to have a competent GP take a look at this first and give it a proper assessment before making any big moves.

I don't have the full clinical picture here, so I can't give you a definitive diagnosis, but looking at what's been laid out, it sounds like we're dealing with some pretty uncomfortable symptoms—though they probably aren't anything life-threatening. Most likely. Honestly, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it just yet. If you're looking to pin the blame on anyone in this group, here’s who's actually responsible:
Honestly, I feel like most of us are just stuck in this loop of being way too sedentary. It’s that classic struggle where you know you should be moving more, but life just kind of gets in the way, you know? Between grinding through work and then just collapsing on the couch to scroll through your phone, it’s easy to realize at the end of the week that you basically haven't moved an inch more than necessary. It’s not even about being lazy—it's more like we've just become part of the furniture. We aren't getting nearly enough physical activity in, and honestly, it starts to take a toll on how you feel mentally, too. Everything feels a bit heavier when you haven't broken a sweat in days.
Honestly, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the whole weight struggle. It’s one of those things that just feels like a constant, uphill battle, you know? One day you feel like you've finally got a handle on your diet and everything is clicking, and the next, you're staring down a greasy burger at a local diner feeling like all that progress just went right out the window. It's exhausting, really. Dealing with excess weight isn't just about how you look in the mirror—though let's be real, that's part of it—it's more about that heavy, sluggish feeling that follows you around from the moment you wake up until you crash at night. I remember back when I was living in Chicago, I used to think I could just outrun my problems at the gym, but it turns out you can't really outrun biology. It's such a slow, grinding process to find a balance that actually sticks without making you feel miserable every single day.
There’s a chance we might be looking at some blood pressure fluctuations, though honestly, we don't have any hard numbers to go on just yet.
I guess we should probably touch on the meds too, since they’re most likely non-negotiable at this point.

So, here's how I see the whole situation playing out in your story. It’s honestly such a relief knowing there’s actually a decent amount of stuff you can take matters into your own hands with when it comes to your health. You don't always have to be stuck waiting on some specialist or feeling like you're totally helpless; there's plenty you can just do for yourself to stay on top of things. 🙂
It would be honestly pretty sweet if they’d just drop some regular updates here to show us how much progress is actually being made. 😉

It’s definitely a solid start on the clinical exam and history taking.
Adding to everything

-Any old injuries to the musculoskeletal system (especially the spine)? Dizziness, numbness, that kind of thing...
-Degenerative changes in the spine (maybe occupational?) ...
-Thyroid hormone levels?
-Which medications EXACTLY? Some antipsychotics or antidepressants can trigger a "critical" drop in RR compared to whatever baseline the body was balanced at for years—it would be incredibly helpful if she knew what her previous RR readings were versus where they sit now. It would also be a huge help to keep an RR log right now and make sure she takes measurements the second those symptoms hit. Has she done an RR Holter monitor yet?
-She really needs to avoid jumping up too fast from sitting or, even worse, lying down.
-How much weight gain are we talking about in total, and did it kick in right after starting the antipsychotics or antidepressants?
-Did a significant drop in physical activity happen just before these symptoms started?

Let's start with this 😉

Hey, you might want to move this question over to where it fits a bit better.

I haven't dealt with this firsthand, so my take is more of a second-hand observation.
From what I’ve seen, once someone goes through with the recommended procedure, their quality of life tends to see a massive jump. It's pretty common for most patients to feel like a whole new person after the dust settles.

Looking at all the data we have here, I honestly think it's an option worth giving some serious thought to.🙂

-citiraj pod 2. iza dvotočke upit.
It couldn't be any more obvious than that.

3a. Gastroprotection (PPIs, like pantoprazole...)

1. You really need to see an oral surgeon or a maxillofacial specialist to get that wisdom tooth pulled. Make sure they prescribe a solid antibiotic, like Clindamycin 600mg, twice a day.

2. Also, you should probably have a direct conversation with your primary care doctor. Ask them specifically about antibiotic prophylaxis for things like bacterial endocarditis, rheumatic arthritis, or glomerulonephritis—basically any kind of "-itis"—since there's a pretty high chance we're dealing with a bacterial infection here.

3. To speed things up, I'd suggest getting a digital panoramic X-ray done before your actual appointment. It makes the diagnostic part way easier and helps the surgeon move faster if they decide you need to go under.

4. Just keep me posted on how everything goes, okay? 😉

Amanda Taylor44 said:Hey everyone, I'm looking for a recommendation for a solid private neurologist around the Washington, D.C. area who specializes in treating neuropathic pain.

Thanks

Honestly, you might want to check in with an anesthesiologist too—someone who really lives and breathes pain management...

The mast isn't really getting deep enough to actually do much for the healing process.

How on earth did you manage to pull that off? 🙄

Well, look, you can run if you want to, provided it doesn't actually hurt when you do.
You definitely need to steer clear of anything like heavy punching, push-ups, or any other activities that might aggravate or put extra stress on the injury.

I’d also say make sure you get a follow-up X-ray just to be safe, especially since those types of injuries have a nasty habit of developing non-union issues where the bone fails to knit back together properly.😢

Walter Brown30 said:I’m digging up this old thread, but honestly, I’m wondering if anyone has gained some actual, long-term experience with Flonase since I last posted. It’s one thing when the manufacturer puts a massive list of warnings on the box, but I want to hear the truth "from the trenches"—or at least from people who have actually lived through it. Does this stuff really tank your immune system across the board? If it does, how long does it take for your immunity to bounce back to baseline? I get that everyone's body reacts differently, but there has to be some sort of general timeframe or data out there. Also, how much of an impact does it actually make for sinus issues or seasonal allergies? And before I forget: what’s the best way to use it so you aren't just dumping the medication straight into your system? Just looking for some real talk here. 😁

Honestly, manufacturers warn you about "everything" just so they can protect themselves from every possible lawsuit, real or imagined.

First off, regarding the idea that mometasone crashes your immune system—the systemic absorption is incredibly tiny. If you're sticking to therapeutic doses, it’s clinically insignificant, especially if you’re using it the right way. You know, shake it up, take a deep breath, don't point the nozzle directly at the septum, start inhaling, and *then* give the pump a firm squeeze so all that aerosol lands where it’s supposed to instead of just dripping down the back of your throat.
If your sinusitis is allergy-driven (you mentioned pollen, so I’m assuming it is), and your sinuses aren't completely blocked, and—again!—if you use it correctly, it works wonders. It’s especially great when you pair it with things like antihistamines or leukotriene modifiers.

So, I tried messing around with some powdered Vitamin C once—I just wasn't really feeling the citric acid vibe at the time 😁—and honestly, the sourness hit way harder and sharper than I expected. It went down way too fast, which made it kind of tricky because I was actually trying to gauge how much of a difference that Vitamin C would make as a preservative compared to using standard citric acid.