Posts by velvetmoose9

Sandra White10 said:I was dealing with a bladder infection, so my doctor sent me off for a urine culture.
Got the results back today. It was just a few lines on the page.
It says:
bacteria - aerobic
microbiological findings - sterile

What does that actually mean?

Basically, it means they didn't find any bacteria growing in the sample they tested at the lab.

wearytiger56 said:So, my grandfather is 83 now. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer about four years ago, and he’s been through the ringer with treatments—he was on Andrucom for a while, but they actually discontinued that and switched him over to Estracyt recently. Things took a pretty heavy turn two months back when he broke his hip, which turned out to be caused by a metastasis from the cancer. Since then, he's been having a nightmare with urination; the doctors couldn't even get a catheter in because of how enlarged the prostate is, so they ended up having to perform a cystostomy. Looking back at his discharge papers from two months ago, his creatinine was at 115, urea was 8.4, and his PSA was sitting at 1050.00. Honestly, he isn't in any physical pain, though he's obviously moving a lot slower now because of the leg situation. The doctors here are being incredibly tight-lipped about everything, so I'm basically flying blind and have no clue what we should be bracing for. If anyone here has dealt with something similar or knows more about how this typically plays out and what the prognosis looks like, I'd really appreciate some guidance. Thanks!

Honestly, looking at the forecast right now, things aren't looking too great. 😢 Given how old they are, what the diagnosis actually says, and everything we’ve seen clinically, I hate to be the one to say it, but things look pretty grim. Honestly, looking at the reality of the situation, modern medicine just doesn't have the tools to really step in and fix something this heavy right now. 😢
Coming soon. Probably. Then you start dealing with all sorts of bacterial infections kicking in—pneumonia, UTIs, and probably even pressure sores, not to mention the whole mess of potential inflammation around the cystostomy site...

When those pains start creeping up on you, the most important thing is to jump on it immediately before things get messy.

They really need to make sure they're getting enough proper nutrition—things like ProSure, NutrenFibre, or EnsurePlusAdvance—so you've gotta stay on top of that, along with keeping up with enough hydration too.
Just be there for him as much as you possibly can, you know? Make sure he actually feels that you give a damn and that you love him. Honestly, just showing up like that is about as much as any human being can do for someone else.

briskmaker3 said:Hi,
For about the last two months, I've been feeling lightheaded quite often. My diet is normal; even when I eat a huge meal, I still feel weak. Food isn't the issue, and I'm definitely not pregnant since I don't even have a boyfriend 😁
It usually happens in enclosed spaces with poor ventilation, though sometimes it hits me outside too. It’s happened twice during Mass where I had to step out because I thought I was going to pass out, and sometimes I get dizzy on the bus and have to get off at the next stop. It also happens at my university, mostly in crowded, stuffy lecture halls.
The symptoms are this: sudden intense heat, sweating, these waves of heat washing over me, shortness of breath, and a nasty nauseous feeling in my stomach. I feel like I’m going to collapse or faint, though I never actually lose consciousness or vomit if I manage to drink water, eat a piece of candy, or chew some gum in time. Usually, that stops it.
One day was particularly bad. I felt like I was going to drop. Neither water nor candy helped; in fact, it was worse that time. My stomach felt terrible, and I felt like I was going to throw up. I sat on a bench and drank some Cocoa, but it didn't help. I tried to eat something I had with me, but I couldn't even swallow. I honestly thought I’d have to call 911, but I was in such bad shape I couldn't even reach my phone. I could barely walk to a taxi. Once I gave the driver the address, I kept sipping Cocoa and started feeling better. I didn't end up vomiting or fainting, and eventually, I was fine. When I got home, I checked my blood pressure and it was 118/78. I’m not sure if that digital monitor is accurate, though; it has given me impossible readings before.
Does anyone know what might be causing this? Has anyone dealt with something similar? I'm rarely sick and don't go to the doctor much. I've just had chronic sinus issues and once, about ten years ago, an issue with iron levels.
Thanks

I'm not entirely following—did you actually lose consciousness during this period, or were you just "on the verge" of it?
You definitely need to check in with your primary care physician.
To start with, you really should get a full lab panel done, including thyroid hormones, and probably Fe, UIBC, and TIBC (it might be a bit early to jump straight to a Holter monitor, but given the sweating and those "heat waves," it's worth keeping in mind...), an EKG, a Holter EKG, a rhythm monitor, and an EEG (maybe even a sleep study)... then based on those results, you can consult an internist or a neurologist...
Did you notice if your heart rate sped up or became irregular during these episodes?
Does this happen while you're sleeping, or only when you're awake?
Does it help if you lie down immediately and elevate your arms and legs?
Are you taking any medications (especially anything new from the last two months), or have you recently stopped taking something?
Could it be related to any changes in your menstrual cycle?
Have you noticed any significant changes in your body weight lately?
Any stomach issues like heartburn or acid reflux?

-It is extremely rare (but it does happen) that what you're describing occurs—when there's heavy drainage from the sinuses, it can cause stomach issues (it can even lead to nausea, vomiting, and heart palpitations)—but again, I'm emphasizing, that is extremely rare.

Bottom line, you really need to talk to your doctor and get this cleared up. 🤔

Deluxe, nice work!
Just keep an eye out for any bright red blood in your stool. If you start feeling any sharp pains or if a fever kicks in, you need to head to the ER immediately. It’s possible there’s some mucosal damage going on or even an abscess forming, so don't mess around with that. 😢

Paul Long7 said:I’m thinking my best bet might just be heading to the ER

Definitely better to deal with it now than waiting until 2:30 in the morning, for sure...

Charles Martinez16 said:Hi there,
A few days ago, I experienced my first fainting spell. I was out with some friends, hadn't been drinking, and we weren't in a crowded or stuffy room—plus, I had eaten well that day (if that makes any difference). I felt absolutely wonderful all evening, but then suddenly, I felt this brief flash of heat. The next thing I remember is just sitting on a wall, surrounded by my friends. They told me that I simply collapsed onto the ground and was unconscious for about five minutes, so they had to carry me outside. Once I came to, I actually felt fine, 🤷 though I do have a bump on my forehead from the fall.

Should I be worried and go see a doctor, or is this not really that serious?
Thanks so much for your help.

You definitely need to schedule as soon as possible an appointment with your primary care physician to get checked out, likely followed by a referral to a cardiologist and probably a neurologist too (your GP will make that call once they have the full picture of your medical history and what happened).

Honestly, when you look at it compared to stuff like Red Bull (which is basically just 11-$4.00 grams of sugar) and all that fructose, Ensure is definitely the premium choice, both when it comes to the price tag and the actual nutritional value 😁

I mean, it’s definitely not your standard move, but if you're in a spot where keeping up with basic hygiene is becoming a struggle, grabbing something like Ensure might be a decent way to make sure you're actually getting the nutrients you need for a meal replacement.
Just a heads-up though, since I don't think you have a specific medical reason for it (as far as I know), that kind of stuff can get pretty pricey really fast.🤔

vividsurfer43 said:I’ve got a quick question here... I’m taking these capsules that are kind of a pain because they take forever to kick in—usually like an hour and a half or two hours after I swallow them—and honestly, they sometimes mess with my stomach. I was wondering if I could just pop the capsules open and let the powder dissolve under my tongue instead? I already do this with some of my other tablets, and it actually works way better than swallowing them, but now I'm sitting here with these specific capsules...

Just looking for answers from people who actually know their stuff... Thanks.

Don't do it.

There are plenty of reasons why big pharma bothers putting medication inside those fancy little capsules in the first place.
If you decide to dump the contents out, you're usually looking at one of two problems:
-your stomach acid might just destroy the active ingredients entirely
-the medication itself could end up irritating your stomach lining
-or, you get hit with both at once.

Austin Miller72 said:I think she’s drinking plenty of water. Today, the guys over at the ER mentioned they actually suggested a specific medication to her doctor—one similar to what you brought up. Look, I get that I need to watch my own health, but honestly, it’s an uphill battle. I haven't had any appetite myself lately, though I do try to force down a little something whenever I can.
I really hope she starts feeling better soon....

Look, if she's struggling to eat or drink enough to stay hydrated, she definitely needs to talk to her primary care physician about the possibility of using a nasogastric tube or getting some professional advice on supplemental nutrition (like NutrenFibre, EnsurePlusAdvance, or whatever else they might recommend based on her situation)—even if it's just for a short stint.
Also, Torecan suppositories can be a solid option for managing nausea and vomiting at home, but obviously, you've got to run that by her doctor first.

Angela Cook9 said:Just wanted to dig this thread up because I’ve gotta share my experience—I was also prescribed Klimicin to take. After I popped my third pill around 10 PM, I headed to bed, but by 2 AM, I woke up with such intense chest pains that I honestly thought my whole insides were going up in flames... The next day, I tried skipping the morning dose just so I could take one in the afternoon instead, but within half an hour, the exact same thing happened all over again 😢. It was absolutely brutal, and I am never touching that stuff again; even a month later, I'm still feeling the physical fallout from how crazy that reaction was 🙂

Clindamycin (Klimicin) is actually a top-tier antibiotic when you've got the right specific issues it's meant to target.
The thing is, Klimicin can be pretty aggressive toward your stomach lining, which is why doctors sometimes pair it with gastroprotection (like an acid reducer, maybe a PPI like pantoprazole or something similar), and you should definitely NOT be taking it right before you crash for the night 😲

electricangler32 said:I had an EKG done because I'm scheduled for nose surgery during my first month of pregnancy.
Could someone please walk me through what this report actually means? Is there anything here worth worrying about, and am I still good to go for the surgery? I'm 27.

EKG: Sinus rhythm 86 bpm, slight R wave progression delay in V2 and V3, intermediate left axis deviation.

Honestly, if the EKG is your only concern, you could stay exactly like this for the next 73 years and still hit 100 without any issues at all.😉

Angela Wright said:I had my first abdominal ultrasound done in the ER, and my doctor just sent me home with a strict diet to follow. I really should have gone back sooner for a follow-up liver panel, but honestly, between having a baby and a two-year-old running around at home, I kept pushing it off. Things seemed to be settling down, so I figured I'd wait—until I ended up with a bladder infection and that sharp, stinging sensation came back, mostly in the morning when my stomach is empty. It totally caught me off guard; I really thought those levels would have normalized by now. For context, I had my baby at 7 months via emergency C-section because I was facing the threat of recurring preeclampsia and HELLP, but once I was discharged, my labs looked fine, and they were monitored regularly throughout the pregnancy without issue. At the ER, they told me I likely picked up some sludge during the pregnancy, which apparently isn't that uncommon.
When I asked my doctor if I should still see an internist, she basically brushed me off, saying there was no point since she’d just tell me the same thing—stick to the diet and wait—because you don't operate on sludge. But now she's telling me I need to get my liver tests and this other thing (maybe mononucleosis?) checked out first before we decide on a plan. She's giving me a hard time about the fact that results won't even be ready until January 3rd. I barely managed to talk my way into being seen ahead of schedule.
The ultrasound from September 17th—done by two doctors, one of whom I think was a resident—noted:
Abdominal ultrasound performed in the Emergency Department outpatient setting shows a distended gallbladder with thickened/sedimented contents, but no thickening or layering of the wall.
No focal lesions found in the liver parenchyma, which appears diffusely hypodense, suggesting steatosis; no dilation of the bile ducts.
Spleen, pancreas, and both kidneys show appropriate morphology.
No free intra-abdominal fluid.

I chatted with my kids' pediatrician, and she suggested it's possible some of that material migrated into the bile duct, which might be why my liver is feeling the strain.

To be honest, I'm pretty freaked out. I have no idea how long I can stay in this state before it causes permanent liver damage. Should I just go ahead and handle this privately right away, maybe get a new ultrasound?

It's also possible that things actually *did* start normalizing during those three months leading up to now, especially since my bladder infection and the trip to the doctor lined up perfectly with this renewed stinging sensation. Man, I really should have just gone for that liver panel sooner...

I've been taking Silymarin and Rowachol on my own initiative.

The enzyme levels haven't shown much movement over the last three months. It's hard to say for sure, but if there isn't a significant worsening of clinical symptoms, there's a chance this isn't cause for panic.
However, further investigation is definitely needed to figure out why the enzymes rose in the first place and why they aren't normalizing.🤔
The timing is a bit awkward since everyone is on vacation, but I know from experience that a decent internist won't just brush you off like that.
If your symptoms take a turn for the worse, HS is always an option.

Personally, I wouldn't recommend those supplements until we have a clearer clinical picture.
Some of my colleagues and I don't see eye-to-eye on this.

Angela Wright said:I've got some sludge in my gallbladder, found out at the end of September. When I went to the ER, they found the sludge plus a lesion—apparently, they're saying it's fatty liver. My liver enzymes were:
AST 104
ALT 217
GGT 515
The attacks have calmed down, so I redid the tests yesterday and now they're:
AST 124
ALT 249
GGT 511
Everything else looks fine, cholesterol and triglycerides are totally normal.
Basically, my doctor is telling me this can't be caused by my gallbladder, even though I'm starting to feel some symptoms again. They're sending me off for hepatitis markers and EBV and CMV serology.
Is it really impossible for these levels to be because of the gallbladder? Surely if there was an issue, the ER would have flagged that as a separate problem.

Hmm, I find it hard to believe that just having some sludge in the gallbladder without any signs of cholestasis could be responsible for GGT, AST, and ALT values like those—especially since they've been pretty much stuck at that level for three months now (meaning there hasn't been any significant change!). 🤔
I don't know the full clinical picture or all the lab results, but honestly, you definitely need a more serious and thorough workup here; your doctor is right to push for more testing.
What did the follow-up ultrasound of the liver show?

Kimberly Miller6 said:I've got a creatine kinase level sitting at 1700, what am I looking at here?

Creatine kinase is actually a pretty vague marker for all sorts of things.

It can spike if you take a nasty tumble and bruise some muscle, even just from getting a standard shot in the arm, or if you've been hitting the gym hard—especially those high-impact contact sports. But honestly, it can also climb because of various medical issues, like a heart attack, a stroke, myositis, or even certain types of cancer.
It’s going to be a lot easier to figure out what's actually going on once you have a bit more context to work with. 🤷

Lily, I am so incredibly sorry for your loss...

swiftbear86 said:Garasone eye and ear drops -containing gentamicin and betamethasone.

Maxitrol -with neomycin, polymyxin B, and dexamethasone

Tobradex -tobramycin and dexamethasone)

Tobrex-just tobramycin.

Maxidex--dexamethasone.

Some of you might remember Dexamethasone-Neomycin drops from about 8 to 10 years ago. They’ve pretty much become a thing of the past, and ☕Garasone has basically taken over their spot in most prescriptions.

If my memory serves me right, those ones had that specific little tip design and a super short shelf life once you cracked the seal (but honestly, that’s just how it goes with most eye drops anyway. 😬 ))

Rachel Ross66 said:starting a new thread here:

I’ve had this silver ring with a semi-precious stone for years, but I took a break from wearing it for a while. The other day, I decided to pop it back on, and suddenly the skin under the stone is all swollen, red, itchy, and just generally irritated. I took the ring off immediately, obviously, but I'm wondering if this is actually an allergy—and how on earth it could show up now after I wore the exact same ring for nearly 10 years without a single issue 😕

It doesn't necessarily have to be a "classic" allergic reaction.🤔
It could honestly just be mechanical compression, where the tissue in your finger isn't quite "used to" having the ring there again after such a long break.
Maybe try wearing it for just an hour at a time for a couple of days, and then we might get a better idea of what's actually happening.
There's also the possibility of some weird interaction between, say, the ingredients in your soap or hand cream and whatever metal the ring is made of.🤔

How long have you been wearing it this time?
And did the swelling and redness go down once you got the ring off?

Grace Lewis6 said:Alright, boss!

Man, we really gotta baby these things and watch our step... 😉

Grace Lewis6 said:thanks 👋

The other stuff—cholesterol, triglycerides, liver enzymes, potassium, glucose, creatinine, uric acid, bilirubin, urine tests—it all looks totally fine.
We're looking at an 80-something-year-old woman who is generally in really great shape 😍. Since we had the bloodwork done at a private clinic like Quest Diagnostics rather than through her regular doctor, I was just wondering if she should still show these results to her primary care physician.

Absolutely, and honestly, she definitely SHOULD.
But based on what you've shared here, there’s really nothing to worry about 😉
.