Posts by velvetmoose9

Robin Foster5 said:I had my septum repaired about two years back, and honestly, it felt even more stuffed up than it did before the surgery... so a year later, I went under the knife again. Now? It’s like I can’t breathe at all, worse than ever. And there’s this weird, unpleasant smell I keep catching... I have no clue where it’s coming from, but it’s starting to freak me out. I finally went to see a doctor and laid it all out for him, but he just shrugged and told me my septum looks perfectly straight and he can't see what the issue is. Meanwhile, I'm sitting there struggling to get any air! It feels like someone shoved cotton swabs deep up my nose... it's a total disaster. Oh, and yeah... the surgeon was that guy Parasite, who's supposed to be some kind of legend.

That funky smell—it could definitely be some kind of chronic infection lingering in there. It really makes sense to go get a second opinion, and you should probably at least get some basic blood work done (like a CBC, metabolic panel, CRP stuff) along with a thorough ENT exam and some imaging to see what's actually going on inside.

Gary Diaz75 said:Yeah, about a week after my last grand mal, I had an EEG done and things looked pretty rough. We’re assuming I probably went a little too hard celebrating New Year's—you know, not getting nearly enough sleep over those few days and just being totally burnt out. Then on January 3rd, I had a seizure... No more late nights for me, it’s just not worth the trouble. 🤣

I'm honestly glad you managed to pull such a useful lesson out of such a crappy situation. 😉
Less partying, more sleep, fewer grand mals... if you actually manage to balance all that with a regular workout routine, you'll be unstoppable at this rate. 😉
Just take it one step at a time and stay steady; you're going to be just fine. 😉

Gary Diaz75 said:Yeah, so after going a full year without any seizures, I ended up having a grand-mal, which prompted my doctor to bump up my dosage and order this specific test. Honestly, things have been pretty solid for the last three months since that episode—no more seizures so far. I've got an EEG scheduled in about two weeks, so we'll just have to wait and see how that goes...

Man, hitting that one-year mark is honestly such a massive win 🙂
Do you think you and your doctor managed to pin down what might have triggered that grand-mal?
Keep us posted on what those EEG results look like once you get them 😉

Once you’ve ruled out all those "nasty" underlying reasons for why things are hurting, and even when you go ahead with everything else that’s supposed to help, you're still left with this absolutely brutal pain that just seems to drag on forever.
I'm talking about the kind of stuff where you've cycled through Aspirin, Lyrica, even the Fentanyl Patch—it's not unusual at all—and we've even given Carbamazepine a shot, plus tried Neurontin too...

Gary Diaz75 said:So, I just got my first blood test back to check my lamotrigine levels, and it’s sitting at 12.5 umol/L. Since the therapeutic range is supposedly somewhere between 4 and 55, I'm honestly stuck wondering if this is actually fine or if it's way too low?

Just for context, I'm 21 and currently on Arvind 150 mg daily.

Like vividsailor7 already pointed out, the most important thing here isn't the number itself, but how you're actually feeling clinically.
I'm guessing this medication was prescribed to help manage some kind of seizure activity—maybe related to bipolar disorder.
We really don't know what prompted the decision to check these levels in the first place:
-was it just a routine checkup?
-is the medication not doing its job (like, the seizures aren't stopping)?
-did an EEG come back showing something weird even though you feel okay, or maybe a clean EEG while things are actually getting worse?
-or something else entirely?

placidtinker9 said:The thing is, I wasn't really paying attention since the scratch wasn't even 0.5 cm... I don't even know how I cut myself—just moving some things around at the office and suddenly noticed a bit of blood on my finger. I think there was a tiny black speck inside, and I actually tried squeezing it a few times, so I'm pretty sure that caused the infection... maybe my hands weren't clean, or my nails...

I started some antibiotics on my own; the instructions for Almacin say they work against skin infections, so I'll take them tonight and tomorrow hoping it clears up.

Are these kinds of infections common, anyway? This is the first time it's happened to me—I've cut myself a million times before, even deep ones, and they usually just heal fine without any disinfectant or anything...

Look, I’m telling you this for your own good—please, just don't go making some potentially massive, total idiot move here.
Look, let’s be real here—you can't just go around handing out antibiotics like they're candy. That's strictly doctor territory. Unless you're a medical professional or someone who's basically spent their entire life studying pharmacology to handle those super niche, specific scenarios, you really shouldn't be touching that stuff.
So, you should probably head over to your doctor's office tomorrow for that wound checkup and whatever else is on the schedule. They’ll likely need to take a look at how things are healing, and honestly, it might be a good idea to see if you're due for a tetanus shot too. Depending on what they find, they might even suggest a little surgical debridement just to make sure everything stays clean and heals up right. Better safe than sorry, I guess.

Kevin Bishop10 said:Hey there.
I'm coming at this from Boston, 55 years old.
I'm checking back in after getting my third pathology report.
Back when they did a biopsy on a lymph node in my groin, and then later removed a whole node from that same area, they determined it was all stemming from a malignancy. Since then, I’ve gone through the ringer with CT, MRI, and PET/CT scans. Not a single one of those showed where the primary adenocarcinoma actually started. All they found were the lymph nodes in the inguinal region (deep in the abdomen) which are a result of the cancer. A ton of ultrasounds, tumor markers, and whatnot haven't turned up anything conclusive either. Now, the medical board has decided I need to start chemotherapy.

I have an consultation scheduled with the oncologist this Thursday to talk through the therapy options. Should I go ahead with chemo if nobody can pinpoint the primary tumor site? How much will the treatment actually help versus how much damage might it do to me? I’d really appreciate some insight so I can figure out my next move.

Look, an oncologist is a specialist who has spent a massive amount of time studying how to tackle these kinds of malignancies. If a full medical board is recommending chemo, you're looking at a consensus from a group of highly trained professionals. When a bunch of experts are all on the same page like that, it carries a lot of weight.
You can always push back a little—that’s basically why you’re having this meeting in the first place—by asking, "What are the EXACT other options available?" if you aren't ready to jump straight into the recommended chemo route.
Doctors don't just throw chemo at people randomly; they choose it very carefully. There is a very slim chance—almost zero, really—that they’d suggest chemo if there was a better or less harsh alternative sitting right there on the table.
It’s true that chemo comes with its own set of risks, but you’ve got to weigh the potential benefits against the certain harm that could happen if you decide to walk away from treatment entirely.
Since the primary site hasn't been caught (even after all those high-tech scans), chemo seems to be the only effective "weapon" we have left in the fight at this stage.
Just stay strong. If this many specialists are in agreement, there’s a pretty good chance they know what they’re doing and you should listen to them. 😉
Keep us posted on how the chat with the oncologist goes and what you end up deciding...

@Rachel Rivera19/">@@Rachel Rivera19, casualbison3, and all you other ladies who’ve dealt with that whole "bone callus" situation popping up after nasal bone surgery—I was wondering, what kind of imaging did you guys actually get done before the procedure? Like, did they run X-rays on the nasal bones or anything similar? Also, I’m curious if after the surgery you had any follow-up scans, and if so, how much of a difference was there between those initial shots and the control images?

Steven Martin13 said:If my experience ends up helping anyone out, I’ll be pretty stoked about it.

So, I grabbed about half the recommended dose after my workout today and, honestly? Felt basically nothing.
The only thing I noticed was that maybe my muscle soreness faded a little faster, but that’s about it.

I’m planning on sticking to the full recommended dose after my next session, so I’ll check back in then. 🙂

Big thanks to the guy who jumped in to answer my question earlier.

Definitely keep us posted with fresh updates every now and then—honestly, 😉
you could actually have a massive impact on everyone else dealing with similar struggles by encouraging them to get moving.
It’s a whole different ballgame hearing a first-hand account of how exercise helps tackle anxiety, tension, or panic attacks compared to just hearing some expert recommend it with the best intentions.
Taking an active role in your own recovery is really the most solid path to success. 😉
just stay brave and far 😉

Melissa Thomas35 said:I don't know. I've got a broken bone, and honestly, it looks pretty rough. I have zero intention of leaving my apartment anytime soon.🙂
I'm heading over to Pon for an appointment, so I'll see what the doctor has to say once I'm there. I don't know, I'm kind of skeptical that things are actually going to get much better.

Honestly, it’s one of those procedures that looks absolutely terrifying when you first see it, but after a few weeks have passed, most people find themselves feeling pretty (maybe even extremely) satisfied with the whole thing. 😉
It’s looking pretty likely, and honestly, I bet you're going to find yourself in the exact same boat. 🙂
Let me know how everything went at the appointment.

Morgan Palmer4 said:Since we're talking about rehab, does anyone have experience using hot springs specifically for physical therapy rather than just a vacation? I've had both my lower legs amputated, so I'm currently getting around on crutches, and my orthopedic surgeon suggested some thermal spas might help. I'm torn between checking out places in Colorado or maybe somewhere in West Virginia... Any thoughts? I'd really appreciate any insight you guys can share...

Both of those facilities have pretty solid, well-oiled teams when it comes to their rehabilitation programs.
Given what you're dealing with, I'd say your best bet is to pick whichever one gets you in the door faster—getting started sooner will definitely make the whole training and treatment process more effective. 😉

neoncrane83 said:Hey everyone. Life just threw me into this incredibly weird and heavy situation, and since I’m basically starting from zero here, I’m hoping I can find some answers on this board. To give you the short version... about a month ago, this distant relative of my mom's—someone we hadn't even spoken to in twenty years—suddenly reached out to my mom looking for me. She wanted me to come over because she was all alone in her apartment waiting for surgery. She lives by herself, has a dog, and isn't married; she has family living in the unit right above her, but clearly, something is off if she felt she had to make this move after all this time. I don't know why, but I just had this gut feeling she needed help, so I showed up. I don't know the woman, I don't know anything really, but I decided I’d look after her place and take care of the dog. After a few days, the doctors decided she needed an amputation... and they went ahead with it. I've been visiting her at the hospital and giving her as much support as I can. (By the way, she’s had a deformed left leg her whole life and struggled to walk because she was hit by a truck when she was seven... and now that she's in her mid-50s, tumor sites started showing up, so they opted for the amputation). Sorry, I don't have all the medical details down yet; I'm still trying to wrap my head around everything. And now, today, they sent her home—even though she didn't want to leave. No follow-up instructions, no wheelchair, no crutches... nothing. We have no idea if she’s supposed to go to a rehab center or a spa facility. That relative upstairs just left her there in the apartment, so now the whole weight of this is on me, and I’ve never dealt with anything like this before. I honestly have no clue what to do. 😢 She's lost, and I'm even more lost... I couldn't just leave her hanging because I don't have it in me, even though we aren't close and I don't owe her anything. I took on this responsibility, and now I need help figuring out how to actually support her. Will the doctors send her to rehab? Why aren't they saying anything? What’s the standard procedure? We managed to grab some crutches, and she’s hobbling around with them; she made it to the bathroom twice today, but she fell once because she has no sensation in that area yet, and I barely managed to get her back into bed. I don't even know what else to ask, if anyone knows what steps I should take or how to find out more, I would be so incredibly grateful. Take care, everyone.

That is such an incredibly human and warm way to step up for someone else.🙏
Look, the situation is pretty complicated and needs to be handled very carefully moving forward.
Generally speaking, I agree with Angela Wright about needing to involve the Department of Social Services.
Here’s what I suggest. Make photocopies of her discharge papers and her ID (that should be enough to get things moving) and take them down to the local Department of Social Services to explain the situation. I'm sure they'll be cooperative. If the local office doesn't step up or provide adequate support for the person you're caring for, post about it here, and we can brainstorm a way to handle it together.😉
Also, you should take those discharge papers to her primary care doctor so they can sort out whatever benefits or rights stem from the diagnoses listed in the paperwork.

Charles Cook4 said:I'm 26 years old, and I've been dealing with asthma since I was five...
It was incredibly severe before puberty, but things have settled down now... If I don't push myself physically, I can go six months without an attack...
However, I want to start running... Just a little at a time... I know I shouldn't overdo it, but any advice would be appreciated from anyone else out there living with asthma who runs recreationally...
Even the practical stuff, like where to keep my inhaler while I'm out on a run...🙂

Running is a pretty massive umbrella term (we're talking anything from a quick 100m dash to 400m sprints, hurdles, or even a full-blown marathon), and the approach changes drastically depending on what you're doing. To be honest, I’ve always been a bit skeptical about recommending running as a primary way for people managing Asthma to get their cardio in.
That said, when it comes to the intersection of exercise and respiratory health—specifically regarding advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases studied in the Netherlands—there’s actually some pretty encouraging research coming out.
Specifically, Dr. Peter Klijn over at the Asthma Center suggests using what’s called non-linear periodization for your training schedule.
The beauty of this type of training is that if you work with someone who actually knows their stuff—like a certified physical education or health instructor—alongside your own doctor to tweak your meds or run some labs and spirometry tests before and after training blocks, it’s totally manageable.
Just a little tip: they say this kind of training is great because it allows those neuromuscular energy systems to recover properly, which helps you avoid that nasty "overtraining" wall where you just feel completely wiped out.

I’m locking this thread because we already have a separate discussion going over at regarding these exact same issues, which is where I've moved the original post to keep things organized.

quietridge5 said:I’ve seen plenty of doctors at this point, and look, everything with my bladder is fine, but they did mention there's a chance a hernia might be developing—though honestly, if it’s been sitting there for over a year and a half, I doubt it. The other possibility they floated was some kind of gut issue. When I pressed them on how to handle it if it actually is an intestinal problem, they told me a gastroscopy would be the next step, but they aren't exactly pushing for it. Their logic is that if I’ve managed to live with this for eighteen months without a crisis, it probably isn't anything life-threatening, and if it isn't dangerous, they’d rather just leave well enough alone. But here’s the thing: I can't even go out and swing an axe without feeling the pain.

1. "A lot of doctors" is a pretty broad way to put it. A little more detail would help—like, were you seeing primary care, a GI specialist, a radiologist, a urologist...?
2.What specific tests did you actually have done, and what were the results?
3.Have you dealt with any major health issues before—surgeries or anything like that?
4.Are you on any medications?
5.Any allergies to meds or food?
6.Has your weight stayed steady, or have you been losing/gaining lately?
7.Does anyone else in your family (parents, siblings, grandparents...) have a similar stomach shape or deal with similar issues?
8.Was there some specific event that kicked off these pains and issues? (Like a hit, a fall, or maybe drinking way too much?)
9.Do you work (or did you work) a heavy physical job?

A hernia can "grow" for decades, honestly.
If the "issue" is in your intestines, then you're probably looking at a colonoscopy.
A gastroscopy is used to check the stomach.
Did they happen to mention a hiatal hernia?

Look, there are certain medical interventions you can pull in those first few hours after an injury that can seriously speed up your recovery and lower the chances of you dealing with permanent ankle issues down the line, but honestly, figuring out exactly what needs to be done—and when—is something only a doctor who’s actually looking at you can decide.
I’m not going to sit here and tell you to go grab some ice packs or start popping pills and slathering on creams or gels to try and knock down the inflammation or save your joint structures, because that just wouldn't be right of me since I haven't seen the damage myself.
So, just think about it for a second: do you really want to do everything in your power to get back on your feet faster? Or are you just fine with whatever timeline happens to roll your way?

Joseph Smith3 said:So basically, I twisted my ankle at practice last night and I actually HEARD this crunching sound—like something scraping together—so I’m honestly not sure if I tore something or just gave it a really nasty sprain 😢 Is there any way to check if it's broken without having to run to the doctor for X-rays? And now I'm reading that recovery takes like 6 months? I really don't want to be out that long because that would mean I wouldn't be back in shape until the end of summer... maybe some exercises or creams could help? Anyway, I can't put any weight on it at all, though I can wiggle it a little bit (the swelling isn't too bad, you can barely see it)

But right now you're sitting there reading about how that could actually take way longer than 6 months; if you don't get it treated properly and right away, you might end up questioning whether that joint will ever even work normally again
Look, if you genuinely want to speed up the healing process, you need to start packing your bags. Get someone to help you wash up if you can't reach it, grab your insurance card and whatever medical records you have, and get yourself to your primary doctor or an Urgent Care immediately (if your regular doc is closed today)...

It sounds like your doctor is just getting you squared away for that neurology consult, so I’m pretty sure they’ll hand over all your test results and get you pointed in the right direction 😉
Honestly, it’s a huge relief that things aren't getting any worse and that you can still go about your day without everything falling apart 🙂

Jonathan Morris40 said:The EEG results finally came back, and apparently everything looks totally normal according to the report.

That’s great news.
But honestly, how are you actually feeling? Are you noticing any shifts at all, or are you still dealing with the same old symptoms?

The other type of antidepressant could potentially be a bit tricky when you mix it with tryptophan, though if we're talking about someone using Whey as a dietary supplement, the chances of actually hitting a dangerous level of serotonin syndrome are pretty slim—but hey, nothing is ever a hundred percent certain.
Honestly, trying to map out how exercise and diet might tweak an SSRI regimen is such a massive, complicated rabbit hole that really goes way beyond what we should be tackling on a forum like this.
It’s awesome to hear that you're feeling those positive vibes from working out; I really hope that keeps you hooked on the routine, because taking that kind of initiative is a huge part of the journey toward getting better 😉
For sure, just stick with the Prozac for now, at least until your doctors tell you otherwise 😉