Justin Rogers5 said:I called Dr. Podobnik and a clinic in San Diego yesterday. Apparently, after 35, you can do it privately and they don't care about your pregnancy history. It doesn't matter. $4000You get the procedure, stay with them for two days. Same deal in Canada. Basically, if you've got the cash, you're good to go. If you're trying to go through insurance, they might approve it, but it's a nightmare. You have to face a board, and from what I heard from one woman, it’s a total mess up there...🤦 They'll only clear it if you have severe mental issues or some major physical disability.
I didn't really clarify earlier—I was talking about procedures covered by Medicaid. I'm not counting private clinics in that, because obviously, their whole goal is making money (even if the service is top-tier). But let's be real, these procedures aren't cheap. And wait, a priest? I'm not sure I buy that part.
darktinker4 said:So, I’m still dealing with this whole cholesterol mess, and my OB-GYN won't let me back on the pill because of it. Here’s the current breakdown: my latest labs show a total cholesterol of 6.0, my HDL and LDL are right on the edge, and my triglycerides are sitting at 4.02. Everything else looks fine, though. I was wondering if taking lipid-lowering meds could actually help get these numbers down enough so my doctor will finally clear me for the pill again. Honestly, besides birth control, those hormones were doing wonders for my skin, my cycle, and everything else. Thanks!
I swear, my hair practically stands on end whenever she gives me that condescending tone, acting like there are "other options" for contraception. I just want to tell her off—and maybe toss her stash of condoms too, since they honestly do nothing for me. I’m not sure about an IUD either; I’m hesitant to go through a procedure like that since I haven't even given birth, and while I hope to one day, I have zero interest in kids right now. It feels like a total Sisyphus task.getting screwed over 😠
It’s going to be tough to get her to clear you for the pill until you get those triglycerides under control first. But look—there is definitely an option for an IUD regardless of whether you've had kids. That shouldn't matter at all—you just need to find a willing doctor who won't start lecturing you about it. Unfortunately, tubal ligation isn't really an option here in the States until you hit 35—and even then, they tend to check if you've already had at least two kids... it's a total circus.
driftingbear29 said:The absolute worst kind of person to take one's own life is someone who, say, jumps in front of a train just to traumatize an innocent bystander. I really hope the folks working at Amtrak get some kind of mental health benefits for dealing with that... 🥱
Seriously—them and the first responders too. I’ll never forget this one scene where a young woman drove her car right into a train; I’m going to carry that image with me for the rest of my life. It was just... one of the most sickening things I've ever seen.
vividsurfer20 said:I’ve been lurking here for months—just reading everything—but I finally decided I had to say something. My 61-year-old mom was diagnosed back in February with advanced colon cancer that had already spread to her liver. She finished a round of chemo in June and, honestly, we thought she wasn't going to make it through the summer. Things seemed to stabilize for a bit, but then she started declining fast once fluid began building up in her abdomen. We had her ascites drained via puncture last week, but since then, she just won't eat. She's mostly sleeping, barely talking, and seems pretty out of it. They actually turned her down for the next round of chemo because she's just too weak—they're pointing us toward palliative care instead. I'm at a loss—I keep trying to offer her food, but she turns it away. It’s heartbreaking just watching her waste away. Is there any way to give her some kind of IV nutrition to boost her strength?
Maybe talk to the anesthesiologist about parenteral nutrition—I know places like the Mayo Clinic have options to help patients in this exact situation.
Brenda Mendoza said:Lately, I’ve been hearing this trend where people claim they just don't care about anyone else's business—that they're strictly focused on their own lane and that other people's opinions simply don't register. You see all these self-help gurus and psychologists preaching that if you want a fulfilling life, you have to stop peering into everyone else's affairs and tune out the noise of public opinion. But honestly, how realistic is that actually? It feels impossible. Everywhere you turn, you're confronted with someone else's choices, and whether you realize it or not, your brain starts processing that data and analyzing it automatically. It's the same deal with criticism; how can we truly be immune to what others think? Is this level of detachment even achievable, or is it just some psychological utopia designed to sell books?
I think it's possible, but you really have to train yourself to get to that headspace. It takes constant self-work. Honestly, once you're truly deep into working on yourself—especially when you're focusing on what you love most—you barely have the time or energy to obsess over what others are up to, let alone let their opinions get under your skin. That's when things finally click—when you're absolutely thriving, both spiritually and practically.
It sounds like you’re feeling crushed by what your parents expect from you. Honestly—you should find a gentle way to let them know that while you love them and respect them, you also need your own life and social circle outside of the family.
I get where you're coming from—honestly, I deal with clients facing this exact issue all the time. For me, though, it’s personal. I had this incredibly stupid situation back in the day where I actually got separated from my dad at a massive airport. After years of dealing with that trauma, my reaction to being left behind can be intense—like, paralyzing fear levels—but as I've gotten older, I've learned how to pull myself together when the memory pops up. You have to be patient with yourself during this kind of work, and it really helps to have capable people in your corner who can help guide the healing process.
hiddenbison6 said:Hey 🙂 Anyone know a solo singer out in California who does church gigs? Looking for something similar to Mark Skugor—just a solid vocalist with some guitar accompaniment. I know there are plenty of unsung heroes out there, I just haven't stumbled onto one yet 😁
Bradley Adams34, look—every medication carries some level of risk. If you were dealing with side effects from this, you would have felt them within three or four days. What you’re going through right now feels like something else entirely—unrelated to the Ciprofloxacin. Honestly, just finish the full course and follow what your urologist told you to do. There isn't really a direct substitute for this specific drug, unless we're talking about a modified version with a broader antibacterial spectrum.
mistyotter44 said:On one hand, you're building something solid, but on the other, everything feels like it's crumbling; you can't really be in two places at once. Of course, you can make it work if every single piece falls perfectly into place. I'd love to meet someone who actually pulls that off successfully.
It won't fall apart if you actually do the work properly. Honestly, mindset is huge here—you've gotta be tough enough to push through those moments when everything feels totally hopeless and pointless.
mistyotter44 said:No one can truly predict where life’s winding path will eventually lead you.
We simply cannot all exist within the narrow confines of someone else's preconceived notions. What kind of world would that even be? It would be like everyone in a small Midwestern town being forced to pair off with the exact same people just because it was expected.
There are two fundamental pillars that determine where you ultimately land in this life: your financial stability and your partner. Generally speaking, your ability to earn money is deeply tied to the foundation your parents provided, unless you manage to break away and carve out a completely new career path alongside a new partner.
The truth is, wherever you establish your income, that is where you will likely settle down. Whether you were born with a natural knack for a specific trade or you had to grind to learn it from scratch, you adapt. At the end of the day, a person is just living their life.
You might have a dozen different hobbies, but if you ask me, they often just serve to drain your energy. It is incredibly difficult to juggle two distinct professions simultaneously. Once you become a sought-after expert, the calls start coming in, but while you're still trying to make a name for yourself, nobody is calling. Trying to build two separate professional portfolios in today's economy is an uphill battle.
It really comes down to what kind of hobbies we're talking about—are they things that actually build character, or just mindless distractions?
Managing two professions isn't easy, sure, but it's definitely not impossible. I've actually pulled off building two full portfolios myself! It just takes serious dedication, crystal-clear goals, and some tight planning—plus, you absolutely cannot let people into your life who don't respect the choices you're making. Honestly, we shouldn't be complaining about the modern era; back in the day, getting a decent education was way harder, especially if you lived out in rural areas where people were just happy to have a local elementary school. Bottom line? We've got it better than ever right now!
We're on the hunt for some musicians for a church service. We have a wedding coming up here in Poland on June 2nd of this year, so if anyone happens to have a lead or a recommendation, let me know.
Brenda Johnson68, you might want to check out this article—it's about these cooling gloves designed specifically to protect against side effects like neuropathy and nail loss, which are such common headaches when dealing with Taxane treatments (basically the standard chemo used for breast cancer) https://www.curetoday.com/articles/f...-breast-cancer
Dana Martin87 said:My dad just went through another major surgery—one of those big ones where they have to remove organs and stitch everything back together—and this time they had to take out part of his liver. He’s recovering okay, mostly. But here's the thing: ever since the surgery, he can't pee without using a catheter. It’s been two months now. Dealing with both a stoma and a catheter... man, that is just tough. On top of that, the wound on his leg where they took the skin graft for his abdomen is healing incredibly slowly. Has anyone dealt with catheters before? Or maybe any ideas on how to speed up wound healing?
Dana, is anything still oozing from the wound, or is it dry? Regarding the catheter—it’s possible some nerves near the bladder were affected during the procedure, which would mean a much longer recovery road ahead. Just make sure you're changing the catheter regularly and having him drink plenty of fluids. Also, maybe check in with a urologist occasionally—there's a real risk of a UTI when you're dealing with a catheter.
Laura Ward98 said:Has anyone here dealt with an open wound following sepsis? It’s my abdomen, currently undergoing secondary intention healing. Right now, we’re looking at something roughly 8 inches long and 4 inches wide, with a depth of about half an inch. I’m out there every single day, redressing it with sterile gauze and saline. This whole ordeal has been dragging on for three and a half months already, and from what I can tell, I’ve got at least another two months of this ahead of me. Honestly, the wound is starting to get under my skin—literally and figuratively. I dealt with cellulitis along the way, which led to some significant drainage from the abdominal area. At this rate, I think I can officially cross liposuction off my bucket list for the foreseeable future. :/
Just saline? Is there any drainage or discharge coming from the wound?
Hannah Lopez94 said:He hasn't had an MSCT done before. To be honest, they found some cysts on his kidneys—so I'm really hoping those two lymph nodes might just be swollen because of that. They removed 12 stomach lymph nodes during the surgery, and two of them came back positive for cancer. If it counts for anything, his CA 19.9 is at 5.6 (within range)—anything up to 37 is considered normal.
Based on the marker levels, things should be okay—but those kidney cysts wouldn't cause those specific lymph nodes to swell. It’s true they aren't huge, though, so it could still just be some kind of inflammation in that area.
Hey B.B., I took a look at the results—the big question is whether there was already an enlarged lymph node in the retroperitoneum or the portocaval space before this. If there wasn't, then we might be looking at the process spreading. Also, that nodular lesion they mentioned in the lungs doesn't necessarily have to be tied to the tumor; it could just be from some old inflammatory issue or even an injury. For me, the lymph nodes are the priority right now—if you can, please check the previous MSCT scan if there's one available.
You’re looking at an average of about 30 calls. Honestly, this method is a total lifesaver for those endless wait times with the FBI. They also give you the option to reach out via email—plus, you can just order your therapy refills directly through them (assuming your prescription hasn't changed).
Ronald Anderson48 said:St. Jerome is actually a different parish, so getting married there isn't an option. At least, that's what I was told this year.
Otherwise, the chapel is just what's left of the "St. Stephen under the Pines" monastery. Regarding those comments about weddings being held at a cemetery—I wouldn't allow a ceremony there myself just for the sake of following some trend.
It's a former cemetery. And no, it wasn't about "trends," it was about "appearances."🥳 Does that make me any less of a faithful Catholic when it comes to getting married there?
Have you guys reached out to the priest at St. Croix yet? I'm pretty sure it's doable—you probably just need to go in and have a real conversation with him first.