Posts by Sam Kim12

Angela Murphy33 said:Ugh, I can't give you a definitive answer right now—I'm not an expert—but I had my check-up at the start of this academic year. Was it September or October? At the time, they didn't tell me much; it was just about the exam itself. Then, a few weeks later, I got mail sent to my house asking me to confirm an appointment for September 2012. So, we're talking about a year gap there. Perhaps in your case, it's a more complicated surgery that requires a longer lead time? Honestly, I don't see why anyone would have to wait a full eighteen months 🤷.

No way—they told me there were absolutely no openings earlier, and I had to coordinate the whole thing with a nurse in the office next to the clinic. It ended up being a full year and a half because apparently, this doctor only operates one day a week. But, given how things are shaping up, I’ve decided I’m not going up north; I’ll be heading to the Oakland Warriors facility instead, since I managed to snag an appointment there in five months.😉

Angela Murphy33 said:I actually managed to snag an appointment with him too🙂

I honestly don't know—he compared the whole thing to getting tonsils out when I was asking questions, claiming it’s just a routine procedure. 🤷

Aside from that, all I've heard about him are glowing reviews.

Now, I wouldn't call myself a panicker by any means, but this recovery period is eating at me because I live my life through sports...

I ended up seeing him based on recommendations, but his bedside manner—specifically how he communicates with patients—is absolutely killing me. And frankly, even the wait—having to wait a year and a half for a slot—is enough to drive anyone insane.
In my case, I need FESS (functional endoscopic sinus surgery) plus a triple sinus reconstruction because I have a bump on my nose caused by a direct impact that caused an initial fracture.

When did you get your appointment (how long ago)?

ruggedpuma11 said:New question! 😁

I wear contact lenses, and I wouldn't even mention it unless someone asked me something strictly specific—without them, I am functionally blind. I've been wearing them for maybe 15 years now, and I know I can even sleep in them if I have to, despite all those "blindness" warnings; obviously, glasses aren't an option for me... so, is this a solid plan? 😉

How exactly do you think you can just not tell anyone?😕
Well, you definitely can't go under anesthesia while wearing contacts.🙂

Angela Murphy33 said:Why on earth would you think I’d need to be out of commission for two whole months? Don't try to scare me. 🙂

I have my septum correction scheduled for September—this isn't about aesthetics or anything fancy; it's purely functional. The hospital staff made it sound so incredibly trivial that I actually expected to just go right back to my normal routine the very next day. 🤣
I can only assume you all are talking about much more invasive procedures—otherwise, this seems... 🙂

On the flip side, my mother underwent a very similar procedure a year ago and dealt with significant bruising and swelling; she couldn't even eat and looked absolutely terrible for a bit. But even then, it was mostly just a two-week ordeal before she was back to her usual self, including getting back into sports. 🤷

Anyway, does anyone have actual experience dealing with the Rib?

Based on how you describe them treating it like a common cold, it sounds like we might have seen the same doctor—I’ve been waiting since April 2011 for my appointment with Dr. Poj in October, and they explained it to me as if I were just heading out for a quick coffee. However, I did hear a much more realistic version of the story over at the Oakland Warriors.

neongardener6 said:There isn't a single allergy to speak of in our family history—none at all. However, he did struggle with dermatitis when he was just a little thing; we actually had to rely on Mustela products back then because his face and the area around his eyebrows were constantly covered in those stubborn little crusts.

I’ll tell him to go ahead and request the referral for an iron panel...

Is it actually plausible—and I mean truly, biologically plausible—that my child is running a fever every three to four weeks on the dot, only for us to be told it’s just "allergies"? It sounds absurdly simplistic, doesn't it? To suggest that an allergic reaction could trigger such a rhythmic, recurring spike in temperature at such regular intervals... I find myself questioning if we're even looking at the right culprits here.

Since we’ve spent our lives training athletes—dealing with everything from dystonic syndrome to chronic hypotonia—we’ve also had to manage brain hypoxia ranging from level two to three. Honestly, at this point, staying healthy isn't just a goal; it's an absolute necessity if we ever want to step back into the gym or get through a serious workout session.

That is precisely why I am so damn determined to pin down the actual cause behind these temperature spikes—I refuse to just sit here and wonder.

I’d bet my life that we’re looking at some kind of food allergy here—honestly, Sarah, do you remember when B went through this exact same thing around his first birthday? We were wandering around aimlessly with no answers until I finally tracked down an incredible specialist over at Mayo Clinic and another doctor from Mount Sinai. We narrowed it down to three specific ingredients, cut them all out completely, and—presto—the problems vanished. The thing is, we were dealing with constant bouts of diarrhea—sometimes hitting the 40+ mark—plus this recurring rash. Every single time I mentioned the rash, the folks over at Walgreens tried to brush it off as some random insect bite, despite the fact that I kept pointing out the pattern: the rash shows up specifically right after a fever hits, and it always appears in the exact same spots on the body. It wasn't a coincidence; it was a pattern.

Alongside those bouts of high fever, we were constantly dealing with these lingering low-grade temperatures—hovering right around that 99.5 to 100.4 degree range.

Well, even for us, seeing elevated IgE and CRP levels is nothing out of the ordinary—it’s exactly what you’d expect to see when dealing with food allergies.

EDIT: Sarah—if these symptoms don't clear up soon, you need to demand a referral for the Rebro metabolic specialists—especially if you start dealing with any diarrhea or vomiting.

Susan Foster45 said:I noticed someone asking what you actually need to bring to the hospital—well, aside from basic hygiene supplies, you absolutely must pack some straws, a roll of paper towels (which was a lifesaver for me since I was constantly coughing up blood after surgery), soap, and toilet paper... And for heaven's sake, don't try to drive yourself home; I certainly wasn't feeling 100% and wouldn't have dared get behind the wheel. I spent the week following my procedure just resting at home, and now, here I am, back at work all week as if nothing even happened :-)
Good luck to all the patients heading in for their corrections soon :-)
Best to everyone...

It’s as if the two of us weren't lying in the exact same hospital ward🤣—I was at the Oakland Warriors medical center just ten days ago, and they didn't bother asking me for toilet paper or paper towels once, because everything was provided in abundance🤷

As for the aesthetic side of things, that really just comes down to the surgeon—I asked my doctor if he could take out the bump while he's already working on my sinuses and septum, and he said it shouldn't be an issue😁 though he warned me that if we go that route, I should expect some bruising. But then again, we clearly aren't talking about the same doctor, since mine doesn't perform surgeries on Tuesdays.
Apparently, there is one certain surgeon (whose last name escapes me) who flat-out refuses to perform any cosmetic work whatsoever.🤷

My husband underwent this exact same battery of tests at Mayo Clinic—they practically stripped him bare for the occasion 😬. They did a full urine collection, an urethral swab, a manual palpation exam (the whole standard routine involving the testes, prostate, and bladder), plus a complete renal ultrasound. Mind you, that was over a year ago, so I might have glossed over a few clinical details, but that was the gist of it.🤷

ruggedpuma11 — strictly speaking, you really ought to have a consultation with the surgeon performing the procedure before you even step foot in the OR.
Now, since I’m currently prepping for my own septoplasty, I’ve done a fair amount of digging—and last week, I actually stayed in the hospital next to a girl who was getting her nose done. Honestly? She was in much better shape than I was after my tonsillectomy (plus, a close friend of mine had her rhinoplasty just two weeks ago).
Both of those women had their procedures at the Oakland hospital on Thursday and were discharged by Monday. They had the tubes and packing removed from their noses on the second day, and once they left the hospital, all they had left was that little reinforcing tape on the bridge of their nose. Both reported absolutely zero pain—the only real downside was having to breathe through your mouth. Neither one showed any swelling or bruising whatsoever.😁
>
For your hospital stay, you just need the basics for hygiene: pajamas, toothpaste, a toothbrush, a comb, shower gel, etc.—basically everything you normally use. (I personally hauled a mountain of facial creams and serums with me)🤣 Some people mention bringing toilet paper🤷, but I couldn't tell you how things stand at the local community clinic because I've never stayed in that specific ward, though at Rib or the Oakland facility, they provide everything you could possibly need.

And don't bother bringing any medication; you'll receive every single thing you're allowed to take right there at the hospital. The only exception is if you're already on a specific prescription regimen—in that case, you bring your own meds, and you absolutely must disclose this to both your doctor and the anesthesiologist during your pre-op interview.😉

I might be wrong here, but I don't think it's wise to drive yourself home after being discharged.😉 You're going to be feeling pretty weak—generally speaking, there's no walking around on day one, and day three isn't much better.
Hope this helps.

Laura Booth56 said:I had my surgery seven months ago with an unknown surgeon, and frankly, nothing feels right—my bones haven't settled, my nose looks crooked, and I still have this prominent bump at the bridge that just won't go away. 🙄

Has anyone else dealt with this? I’m dying to know when things actually start looking normal.😕

Shouldn't everything have settled by now? Typically, you'd expect the nose to return to its baseline shape in about six months.😕

ironjackal20 said:To whom it may concern—I am reaching out because I am in desperate need of some guidance. I am currently nine weeks pregnant.

The results for the Toxo test came back—here they are:
So, I’ve been looking over the results—Toxo IgM came back negative. Just wanted to put that out there for anyone else currently spiraling through the same medical uncertainty.
The results are in—IgG came back at 140 IU/ml. It’s positive.

Is this lab result actually cause for concern, or am I just overthinking things again?

The results look fine—basically, you were exposed to Toxo and successfully developed the antibodies.😉

shadowfalcon43 said:I'm looking for some input here—please, give me your honest thoughts or whatever perspective you can muster.

I am currently 32 weeks pregnant—right in that thick of it—and I just got my urine culture results back. It shows 10,000 E. coli per 1 ml.
The doctor insists everything is perfectly fine—no concerns raised whatsoever—so I haven't been prescribed any treatment or medication at all.

And honestly, I’m also a bit preoccupied with the idea that I might not have collected a proper sample—since, given these pregnancy-induced bladder issues, I seem to be running to the restroom every five minutes. 🙂And honestly—my very first "morning" trip to the bathroom didn't even happen until two or two and a half hours after my last "nighttime" one—even though I could clearly feel my bladder was absolutely full!

Is it actually possible that a diluted urine sample could result in a lower bacterial concentration? It’s a valid question—one I suspect many people overlook when they're staring at lab results that don't quite make sense.

The urine sample was collected correctly—period. Look, you have to understand that during pregnancy, the fetus puts direct pressure on the bladder. It’s basic anatomy. That pressure reduces your bladder capacity and forces you to go way more often just because there simply isn't any room left. As for an EC count of 10 on 3? In most cases, we don't even bother treating that unless there are actual symptoms present—I'm talking about things like burning sensations, bladder pain, or stinging during urination. And honestly, you really need to rule out whether that frequent urge to go is actually an infection or just the physical reality of how your body is being rearranged right now. 🙂 Look, you can always just redo a urine culture—it's not like it's some one-time deal. And honestly, I really hope your OB-GYN made it crystal clear that you should be getting your Group B Strep tests done every two weeks until you actually deliver. You don't want to take any chances with those concentrations spiking at the last minute.

Amy Rivera5 said:What are your experiences with medical labs in Chicago? Where can I get the most tests done all at once? Where is the wait time longest? Who is actually reliable and fast? And what about pricing?

(I'm looking for actual user experiences here... my own run-ins with the local community health center have been pretty underwhelming. Does anyone have better luck with private labs?)

Go to the Labor center (Synlab) over by Bukovcev Square or on Breyer Ilica—they turn results around incredibly fast because they handle everything in their own in-house labs. Compare that to somewhere like Stella clinic, where you’ll be sitting around for eight hours just waiting on standard KKS results.

driftingotter51 said:Sanforf - per vias izolat 01
Isolate 01: Proteus mirabilis - 10(6) bacteria/ml
SED: 3-5 L

Cetfibuten S
Sulfamethoxazole — trimethoprim S
Nitrofurantoin R Norfloxacin
I’ve been looking into Norfloxacin for urinary issues—specifically regarding how it handles certain infections—and honestly, it feels like one of those classic prescriptions you see everywhere in the States. It’s a fluoroquinolone, which means it gets straight to work, but it definitely isn't without its baggage. If you're dealing with a UTI or something similar, this is often the go-to, though I always find myself wondering if we rely on it a bit too heavily before considering other options. It’s effective, sure, but you have to be mindful of the side effects—it can be a bit of a rollercoaster if your body doesn't take it well. Just my two cents on the matter.
Gentamicin S
Cefazolin S
amoxicillin

Please provide the analysis. 😁

It’s obvious to me that the moment doctors hear a symptom, they immediately start shouting drug names like they're playing a high-stakes game of charades.😁Basically, the isolated bacteria is sensitive to all those antibiotics listed with an "S"—meaning they actually work—and it’s only resistant to Nitrofurantoin. At this point, the doctor will review that entire antibiogram and make the final call on which specific therapy is the best way to go.😉

Thomas Newman77 said:Urinalysis—aerobic bacterial culture.
Microbiology report—culture results.
Sterile.
Leukocytes—negative.
Nitrites came back negative...
So, I've got these lab results in front of me—take a look—and I’m left wondering... is this thing sterile?
So, does this mean I'm sterile? Or am I just overthinking things—again?

No, that actually means the urine is sterile—meaning everything is perfectly fine.😁 And if you had actually handed over the microbiology results along with the ejaculate sample, then we might have been able to say everything was perfectly fine—but without that, we're just guessing. 😉

Charles Edwards8 said:A true, textbook autopsy requires opening the skull and conducting a rigorous examination of the brain.
It’ll provide you with an endless stream of details—in medical circles, we call it "slicing up the brain."
The reality is that this isn't always done—and the reason is straightforward: if the cause of death is already identified, nobody wants to deal with the headache of a cranial exam. Besides, a macroscopic analysis of the brain is incredibly demanding and eats up a massive amount of time during an autopsy.
However, when dealing with a forensic autopsy—the kind handled by the County Medical Examiner—there is absolutely no skipping the head; everything must follow strict protocol because, quite simply, there are "other people" watching the medical staff during those procedures.
As for the aortic dissection—I suspect that wasn't actually the cause of death, though I realize we're all just speculating here. The most important thing is to wait for the official autopsy report.

I can't get behind that bolded claim—my brother underwent an autopsy at the city morgue, and they didn't open his head at all.😉

Sam Hall15 said:Generally speaking, the electrical impulse in the heart that initiates the entire cardiac cycle is located in the right atrium. In cases of ectopic arrhythmia, that so-called pacemaker—the specific part of the heart responsible for triggering that electrical action potential—fails to function correctly, and the signal originates from somewhere else in the heart.

That was the exact cause of my brother's death—according to the pathologist, that rogue impulse triggered a clot in the left coronary artery, which led to a sudden pulmonary embolism, and he was gone in literally one minute.

analogbison13 said:The first question is whether they were truly heart-healthy, as you claim. Did they undergo a full cardiological workup, or did they just happen to be symptom-free? And were there any other risk factors that went unnoticed or unrecorded?☕

In my brother's case, the entire workup was completed because it was being done systematically for life insurance purposes, followed by a medical clearance for his pilot's license a few months later.😉

Anyway, this is an incredibly heavy topic😢 and I'm sorry you're going through this.

Sophia Harris96 said:Honestly... HUGE props to anyone who put this thread together—or even just thought about doing it. 😁

.....but if you let me stick my nose in here for a second,
you’d all be thanking Mother Nature for whatever nose you were born with in the first place. 😁

And hey—if you can't actually breathe, you’d probably have a very different take on aesthetics... 😉 For me, looks aren't even the issue—I've lived with this bump on my nose for 14 years—it's the functionality that's killing me. It's abysmal. One nostril is maybe 40% open, the other is at 50%; neither side functions the way a human nose is supposed to.

I’ve been guessing at the cause since I was 20, but now, every single little virus or common cold causes massive breathing issues that just keep getting worse.

placidcobra842 said:Does anyone have a rough idea of the current wait times for rib surgeries? Also—and this is crucial—are their surgeons willing to perform aesthetic nose corrections alongside the deviation repair if it's covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield? Specifically, I’m looking at getting a bump removed.

I’ve been waiting to see Dr. Sam Kim12 since four months ago earlier this year, and my actual appointment isn't until October 2012—so, to put it bluntly, a full 18 months. Regarding the cosmetic side of things, from what I understand, they do handle that; they’re going to fix mine because I have a bump from improper healing. It’s basically going to be some sort of triple nasal reconstruction plus sinus surgery, but honestly, I don't mind the wait—most of these procedures are done via laser nowadays, though the unfortunate reality is that you can't do everything with a laser.😁

I was observing people in the waiting room who were just there to get their stitches removed after a week, and frankly, nobody looked swollen at all.

By the way: at the local community hospital in the suburbs, you're looking at about a two-month wait for nasal surgery.

briskstag13 said:I have a question. As a typical woman, I am never quite satisfied with my measurements...🙄
I’m on the shorter side—about 5'3"—with a 24-inch waist and 35-inch hips. However, when I look at taller girls, they seem to have so much more going on, so it feels like I'm just carrying extra weight. For those of you who are roughly my height, how many inches are you measuring? 🙄 Also, what’s your hip measurement at its widest point?

Measurements are honestly irrelevant—at least when we're talking about female body proportions.🤣
What actually matters is your overall frame, and let's face it, we aren't all built the same.😉 Take me, for instance—I have 35-inch hips and a 28-inch waist, which looks perfectly proportional on my 5'5" frame, even though my bust is also 36" and I've got a pair of twins up there.😂 BUT—and this is the key part—it's because I have a wider ribcage that my bust hits 36.🤣 Because when someone hears my measurements, they immediately think, "Oh, she's petite, she's definitely got a great chest," and then—bam—not even close.🤣

Sarah James93 said:On the bridge.
I had a deviated septum—so I went under the knife—and since my nasal pyramid was also a bit wonky (meaning a larger, irregular nose with a prominent hump😁), they decided to address that as well.
As for how it looks aesthetically? Honestly, who knows—I’m still stuck wearing a splint.

If you don't mind me asking, who performed your surgery?
I went in for a follow-up the other day and, naturally, I’ve got bilateral deviation plus a frontal nasal fracture that resulted in this hump—not to mention chronically swollen mucosa. For now, they've put me on Claritin tablets and Flonase spray, and I'm just waiting for the next check-up to see what the plan is regarding surgery. To be honest, I was examined by this young doctor with such an odd name that I can't even recall it.😂

Anyway, word on the street is that Mladin is sending everything through perfectly fine now😳 whereas back when he was working at the Salad place, he was completely against it🤷—and the doctor who saw me actually told me that if it were up to Mladin, he’d have scheduled my surgery immediately.😲

Maria White97 said:I took it twice a day—once in the morning and once at night—right after I gave birth because my iron levels were low. My iron is perfectly fine now.

Thanks for the insight, but how many milliliters should one actually be taking?😁>

Brenda Hughes34 said:I’ve been sticking to Gerber tonic—the herbal kind—and occasionally tossing down some prenatal vitamins I have left over from my pregnancy!

Does anyone actually know how you're supposed to take that tonic?.. I ended up with a massive stash of those little single-serve bottles from the girl at the CVS where I always shop, but there isn't a single instruction anywhere on how to use them—and I simply cannot find the time to swing by the pharmacy to ask.😁

Steven Harris16 said:Because I have to—that's the reality. I wouldn't choose to have a wedding right now if it were up to me, but we don't really have a choice. My partner and I aren't making the calls here because our financial situation is such that we're essentially forced to let them take the lead. We'll let them pay, but we fully intend to pay them back, and we're praying that the gifts from half the guests will cover the remaining costs. The hardest part is knowing that I'm hurting both myself and my baby with all this tension; my partner and I end up bickering over every little thing, which leaves us both feeling miserable afterward. 😢 It breaks my heart that I won't actually get to enjoy my own wedding, instead just swaying around heavily 😢 and counting down the minutes until every single guest finally heads home.😢

Hold on a second—if they're getting paid back anyway, what business do they have making the decisions? I’ve always had a distaste for blackmail, but this is crossing a line.😲