Posts by Angela Wright

ironsailor22 said:A huge thanks to slyseal28 and everyone else for the advice!
I’m honestly spinning right now and have no clue what the best move is. About a week ago, I picked up a used wheelchair, but we really only use it when I’m maneuvering her from the bed to the bathroom—even then, it’s a lifesaver because she can't manage a single step on her own anymore. Now, I really need to get a medical bed; trying to prop her up in a position where she isn't in constant pain just so she can sleep is an absolute nightmare.
I spent the entire afternoon sitting in the waiting room at the Dugava Health Center today, just waiting for their computer system to come back online so I could pick up a prescription for stronger patches. It is unbelievable that a healthcare IT system can be down for an entire afternoon, leaving absolutely no one in the whole clinic able to pull up a referral or a script. And this isn't a one-time thing; it happens all the time. So, tomorrow morning, I’m heading back to the doctor again, praying I actually walk out with those patches. This is just how things work here—it takes two full days just to get one simple prescription.

Caritas has commode chairs with wheels in stock. They're basically stools with a built-in toilet. I’d put my mom on one of those and wheel her right over the toilet so she could go directly into it. It meant so much to her, honestly, because she still had that sense of privacy in the bathroom. I was the first one to grab a chair like that from Caritas (later I bought a new one at the hospital which cost about $400), and all you have to do is submit a request along with her medical history. You just write that you're in a tough spot financially and can't afford a specialized chair that would make caregiving so much easier. The key is to emphasize why having wheels is vital—specifically for moving her around the house, since they're basically the size of a standard chair. I used that chair more than anything; the standard wheelchairs mostly just gathered dust unless we were heading to the hospital. We actually got that one through a reimbursement from the CHIF after they approved the diagnosis code.
The same goes for hospital beds; Caritas often has them in stock too, so it’s worth asking.
Your other option is to call local nursing homes and ask if they have any hydraulic beds available for loan or rent. They might charge a fee of up to $300-$133 a month, but that is pocket change compared to the relief you get from having a bed like that. Make sure you also ask about an anti-decubitus mattress with an air compressor. Those things are amazing. It looks like an air mattress where a compressor constantly pumps air in, causing the mattress to vibrate slightly to boost microcirculation. My mom was completely immobile for a year and a half, and thanks to that, she never developed a single pressure sore.
Strict hygiene is absolutely critical to prevent infections. Definitely coordinate home health nursing through your primary care physician. It is such a massive relief to have a professional come in to handle personal hygiene—washing her, changing her, doing a full sponge bath once a week. On top of that, I’d wheel Mom into the bathroom once a week on that commode chair to give her a proper shower. She always came out smelling like a little doll. She loved using soaps from Lush... bless her heart.

shadowsurfer54 said:Here’s a quick update:

www.zadi.hr/PRESS-11-01-20.pdf

Press conference scheduled for January 20th at 10 AM, held at the HSDU offices, 48 Main Street.

Perfect!
I just hope they sent this via certified mail so they can't pull that "nobody received anything" excuse.
And here's a little bet for you:
At the conference, some high-ranking Undersecretary will probably show up—assuming anyone actually bothers to respond. Usually, when things get this messy, the administration just sends a sacrificial lamb to take the heat.😳

Dana Wilson33 said:Just wanted to let you guys know Mom is doing okay. They didn't find anything at the checkup. Thank God. Thanks everyone for the kind words, it really took a weight off my shoulders.
At least we finally have some good news in this thread.

I hope Mom and all of you take this as a lesson in actually listening to your body. Maybe it's time for her to focus a bit more on herself and what she actually needs.
The second lesson? Don't ever go running headfirst into a wall or stressing out over things when you don't have the full picture yet. You deal with an obstacle only when you actually hit it.
That’s the secret to a long, healthy life!

brightpilot12 said:I find myself wondering about the physiological consequences if one were to inject 5 ml of air directly into a vein.

It is frequently cited as a method of self-destruction, which leads me to ponder the specific mechanisms by which such an act induces fatality—is there a definitive certainty regarding death following such an occurrence?

It triggers a heart attack, guaranteed.

Karen Smith34 said:Honestly, what brings me a bit of comfort in this whole situation is that nobody here has had to go through this nightmare—and I’m being dead serious, not sarcastic—even though I was secretly hoping for a little bit of sympathy. (Thanks, Barbara)
It doesn't matter, though. I’ve made up my mind: this illness isn't going to run my life. In a few days, they're going to cut all of this out of me, and once it's gone, I’ll be a healthy woman again. I am sticking to that decision with everything I've got.

As long as everything can be surgically removed before it breaches the abdominal cavity, you're looking at a stroke of luck that usually leads to a positive outcome.
Your mindset is exactly where it needs to be. It's healthy. Never, under any circumstances, let a diagnosis take the wheel of your life. You are the boss of your own body, and you'll do whatever it takes to get things back under control.
Stay strong and just keep pushing forward.
For more info on treatments and prognosis: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/uterine-cancer/symptoms-causes/mcw-20378661
Make sure to log in to the association's forum too. There is a huge turnover of people dealing with a diagnosis, so you are bound to find someone currently fighting the exact same battle.

Matthew Baker79 said:I felt it again this morning. It’s actually on the testicle, not the spermatic cord. Right at the top... it feels smaller than it did yesterday and isn't hurting like it was. I went to see my doctor, but he couldn't find anything specific during the exam. He gave me a referral for a urologist. Should I wait until Monday, or should I try to head into an urgent care tomorrow?

Tomorrow, only the ER will be open, but they aren't going to take you in because what you're describing isn't exactly a life-or-death emergency.
You'll just have to wait until Monday to get it handled.

Matthew Baker79 said:Hey!

If someone could get back to me ASAP, I'd appreciate it. For the last few days, my left testicle has been aching, and right now it’s actually hurting pretty bad. I tried feeling around and found a lump right in the center. It isn't directly on the testicle itself, but just next to it, in that soft area—I can't remember the name for it, and all I can find online are these complicated Latin terms...

Help!

There's really no other option than to see a doctor immediately. Get a referral for a urologist so they can give you a proper exam.
Don't panic; a lump doesn't automatically mean cancer. In fact, most of the time, it isn't.

Melissa James70 said:Alright, we’ve touched on potential causes—personally, I don't buy the idea that there's just one single reason; what applies to one person doesn't necessarily apply to everyone.

If you take an American teenager raised on McDonald's and massive amounts of other junk food, then I assume obesity is the result of a combination of socially accepted unhealthy, fatty, and sugary foods paired with the habit of overeating (which is also socially conditioned, given that portions can be up to five times larger than what a person actually needs).
Binge eating can stem from psychological states, much like food avoidance can.
In some cases, an excessive appetite might even be triggered by a physical disorder.

But the question remains: is obesity itself a disease? I recently watched a show about obesity where they concluded that obese individuals experience systemic inflammation throughout their entire body. If I recall correctly, they presented this as a cause rather than a consequence.

Since I'm not a doctor, I don't quite grasp what exactly this inflammatory process entails, nor how one would go about treating it.

I'd say we can categorize the causes of obesity into psychological, physical, and social (lifestyle) factors. Once obesity sets in, is it a disease in its own right (like that inflammatory process), or can a person be perfectly healthy and "just" have excess adipose tissue?

Does a disease cause obesity, is obesity the disease itself, or is obesity not a disease but rather a generator for other conditions (like high blood sugar, cholesterol, or blood pressure)?
It's an interesting topic.

Obesity isn't a disease; it's a condition, or a disorder.
From that state, all sorts of other diseases and disorders can develop.
Conversely, certain illnesses and disorders—whether they are mental or physical in nature—can lead to obesity.
For instance, there is a very rare genetic disorder called Prater Willi syndrome, where a person is born with a genetic deficiency that manifests as a total lack of satiety, leaving them perpetually hungry. Unless this disorder is properly diagnosed, these children typically gain weight and eventually develop diabetes and other life-threatening complications.

A perfect example for me is my brother-in-law's father; the guy is quite overweight, yet he's absolutely bursting with health. His cholesterol is non-existent, his blood pressure is perfect, his heart is great, his lungs are clear, his liver is fine—everything is textbook ideal.
Who knows? 🤷

brisksurfer said:I honestly don't get it... my dad had lung cancer, and when I brought up the idea of getting oxygen prescribed, the doctors at the Jordanovac clinic looked at me like I was losing my mind. I can't even remember exactly who gave me the advice to look into it, but I know for a fact it wasn't just some random thought that popped into my head out of nowhere. It’s been eight months since that happened, and I still get worked up every single time I think back to that conversation with the doctor there!

My bad, I mixed up the diagnoses.

Look, I honestly don't get why some pulmonologists are being so stubborn about providing help when it's blindingly obvious that the patient actually needs it.
We’ve seen this pattern quite a few times now. Pulmonologists over at the Jordanovac clinic reach out to the doctors we collaborate with at the Rib hospital, essentially pleading for us to step in. They're looking for help with patients who don't technically meet the clinical criteria for oxygen therapy yet, but they're already in the terminal stages—struggling with lung lesions and literally suffocating—only to be sent home by the staff.
I guess it all comes down to the individual doctor, just like pretty much everything else in life. That’s why it’s always worth getting a second opinion on anything that’s bothering us or feels off.

Chloe Campbell85 said:Really interesting stuff. This is classic proof of that old folk wisdom: "We're all eating the exact same thing, yet they somehow absorb less than I do."

I'm trying to dig up the episode right now—if I can track down the link, I'll drop it here for you guys. It’s a fascinating watch.

Grace Campbell88 said:I managed to scramble and get an oxygen concentrator for my dad (who passed away this summer) because they sent him home from the hospital to die, and I just couldn't sit there watching him suffocate. After that, I reached out to his pulmonologist to see about draining the fluid from his lungs, and the woman literally screamed at me. She actually had the nerve to ask how I could be so "irresponsible" by giving my own father oxygen on my own, or even daring to get a concentrator for home use without permission. She asked if I even understood the consequences—that improper use could be fatal for the patient. Think about that: the man is literally dying right in front of me, gasping for air every single day, and I'm being treated like a criminal for trying to give him oxygen because the hospital refused to provide it.
Fucking unbelievable.

To be perfectly honest, the doctor actually had a point here.
You have to precisely titrate the oxygen levels and moisture, managing the intervals based on the specific lung capacity and overall condition, because if you don't, you end up making the person's breathing much harder instead of easier.
It’s also vital to constantly humidify the nasal passages; pure oxygen can seriously damage tissue and cause an intense burning sensation if the dosage isn't strictly according to protocol.
When she says "fatal," she doesn't necessarily mean immediate death, but rather adding unnecessary agony to a process that leads to death anyway. At the end of the day, we're all mortal, but quality of life is what actually matters.
That said, there is absolutely no excuse for a pulmonologist failing to suggest an oxygen concentrator for palliative home care.
Palliative medicine is a specialized branch of study taught at Medical School, and having a layperson just winging it isn't the most responsible approach, regardless of the circumstances. I am truly sorry you struggled to navigate the system and get your dad exactly what he needed. I just hope you were able to manage the dosage and timing somehow.

I’ve been watching this documentary on one of the Discovery channels lately about the microorganisms living both on and inside our bodies.
It featured a fascinating segment on the "good" bacteria residing within our digestive tracts—essentially little biological factories tasked with producing enzymes to break down nutrients that our own bodies can't process on their own. A lot of research has shown that some people carry an overabundance of these specific bacteria. Because they're so efficient at extracting maximum nutritional value from the exact same amount of food, these individuals tend to be heavier than someone who lacks that bacterial surplus. They actually proved this using mice; researchers transferred bacteria from one "gifted" mouse into one that didn't have them, and even when fed the same caloric intake as before, the second mouse developed obesity.
In a different era, having those kinds of microbes would have been a survival advantage, allowing you to squeeze every bit of sustenance out of meager rations during a famine. But in today's world of constant abundance, that evolutionary edge has clearly backfired.
A massive amount of current research is focused on targeted therapies designed to eliminate this excess of bacteria. For now, antibiotics aren't really a viable option because they act like a nuclear bomb, wiping out everything in their path instead of just the specific targets we want to hit.

brisksurfer said:Jane, thanks for posting this letter here.

What’s written above is actually pretty eye-opening... especially since the doctor at the Jordanovac clinic just gave us this blank, pale stare when we brought up oxygen (which my father desperately needed during his terminal stage, yet the hospital refused to keep him!). And when I mentioned we managed to get some ourselves, he didn't even bother asking where we got it—which would have been the logical thing to do if he actually wanted to help other families. Honestly, don't hold your breath expecting much from doctors... 🙂 🙂

They only recently updated the CHIF coverage lists. Now, besides lung cancer and COPD, other indications involving lung metastases can qualify for home oxygen concentrators, provided there's a recommendation from a pulmonologist.

Nancy Hernandez43 said:Forgive me, Jane... I'm a little out of the loop here... but it feels like this response is more than positive, it's just that... in our situation, we're constantly at war with the doctors and fighting them on every single front. I'm going to take some time tonight to really dig into all of this... then I'll provide a much more detailed comment.

kiss

That is their official answer. So, please direct any criticisms, suggestions, or questions toward them, not us. I was simply fulfilling an official duty, if you want to call it that, because I felt that if we have information, we shouldn't just pass it around on our forum; we should post it here too so it isn't just "he said, she said," but rather someone's official word with actual accountability behind it.

I have my own personal opinion on the matter, but I think I'll keep it to myself.

As promised, here is their official response:

We received an official statement from the "American Association Friend of the Hospice," which I've included below. If you have any questions regarding their operations, suggestions, or critiques, please reach out to them directly via the contact info provided.

Quote:

Dear forum members, The American Association Friend of the Hospice is a non-profit organization. Like all such associations within the United States, we are primarily funded through domestic donations and private contributions. Our core mission—alongside providing continuous education for anyone interested—is providing hospice home visits for patients in the terminal stages of life resulting from progressive malignant diseases. Here is how the process works: If someone requires a hospice team—for instance, a medical team consisting of a doctor and nurses, though we also have psychologists, social workers, and clergy available—the caregivers should contact the Association. We hold a brief initial conversation to exchange necessary details (the nature of the malignancy, current medications, whether existing treatments are managing pain effectively, and the patient's general condition, including nutrition and bodily functions). Following these initial touchpoints, a home visit is scheduled. It is only during this visit that we can assess the true state of the patient and work alongside family members to improve their quality of life. At this stage, we request copies of medical records so the physician can be fully informed about the patient's history. It is important to note that while a patient is undergoing active hospital treatment, the Association does not intervene; we can only provide necessary information and consultations. In America, palliative care is designed to act as an extension of the existing healthcare system, stepping in when the medical system has reached its limit in terms of curative treatment and intensive care. Regarding the approval of aid: that does not fall within our scope of work. All our services are free of charge and based entirely on volunteerism, depending solely on the availability of our volunteers. There is no requirement to become a member of the Association to receive any form of cooperation or support. Decisions regarding the approval of supplies (diapers, pads, incontinence products, oxygen concentrators, etc.) are handled by the healthcare system, specifically the CHIF. Any issues regarding nursing supplies or home assistance equipment (walkers, etc.) should primarily be resolved with the primary care physician, who can provide guidance on what rights and benefits can be exercised. Any materials or resources held by the Association are acquired through donations. When we have items in stock—such as diapers or specialized waste bags—we provide them to patients in need. The same applies to walkers, beds, or mattresses; if we have them, we lend them out. If we don't have them, we simply cannot conjure them out of thin air, regardless of how much the family caring for a terminal patient might need them. I hope this provides enough basic information to clear up any misconceptions or misinformation regarding the American Association Friend of the Hospice. I remain available for any further questions or clarifications. Tihomir Bukvic, Medical Technician AmericanAssociationFriendofHospice@newyork.com

Dana Wilson33 said:Thanks for saying that... maybe I got my dates mixed up, so the results might actually be coming in on January 10th. Everything is just a complete blur right now. She was crying today while talking to some lady about it... it’s just devastating.
I think she’s heading back to the hospital on the 11th, and now her only real "job" is figuring out what to do with her sister's kids—her grandkids. I can't take them, and when she actually said, "If I have to, they're coming to the hospital with me," I honestly wanted to scream from pure frustration. She’s constantly putting her kids ahead of herself, and honestly, that's exactly why things ended up this way. Her daughter couldn't care less about anything; she just shows up when everything is already cooked, cleaned, and laid out on a silver platter. Meanwhile, Mom does nothing but sit there and whine about them. 😢

This is clearly all about Mom's own choices. What you can actually do is sit down with your sister and have a real conversation about how Mom needs her own space right now to focus on herself and reorganize her life. Honestly, if you ask me, people ultimately do exactly what they want to do; you can rarely force someone to act against their own will.

You’re checking all the classic boxes for thyroid dysfunction.
If I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t just sit on this; I’d redo those tests and honestly, I’d go a step further and get an ultrasound. I’m also totally on board with the suggestion to get a full hormone panel done to see the whole picture.
Another thing that crosses my mind is having a specialist check your pituitary gland.

Dana Wilson33 said:Thanks for those comforting words, Angela Wright.
Even though Mom goes for her mammograms regularly, she can't help but worry about the absolute worst-case scenario happening.

I'll post an update here once we get the results back and know what we're dealing with..
Thanks again for the support.

Look, the whole point of these routine checkups is to catch anything potentially malignant early on. That way, treatment is significantly less intense and much easier to manage compared to women who wait until they start feeling actual symptoms.

Dana Wilson33 said:Respect to everyone... my sincere condolences to all who have lost loved ones..

I don't really know who to turn to, but I need some help! Two weeks ago, my mom had an ultrasound—it might have been a biopsy, I can't quite remember myself—and today she had to rush back in for a breast biopsy..
I looked at the report, but I forgot to write down exactly what it said. She needs to rest today. What does this mean?? Does this point toward breast cancer?
They took something out, I think they cut into it..

She’s been healthy all year (she goes for her mammograms regularly), but ever since my sister moved in with us and the kids.. she's constantly on edge and stressed out.. clearly, that stress has manifested as illness..
I'm really hoping it isn't the worst-case scenario because I honestly don't know how I'll handle it. I'll be there for her, but she's going to be constantly agitated, blaming all of us for this situation.. she was crying when she got home from the hospital.. I get why..
She even said one day during an argument with my sister that this would drive her straight into the grave..
I feel helpless and incredibly sad, but also angry because they let that older daughter get away with everything, and now she's just stressing everyone out. Every single fight we have is because of her..

I'm terrified of what happens when the results come in; they're supposed to call her. I think she mentioned January 8th.

I'm just as scared as she is, because I have no idea what's coming.. 😢

It sounds like they found a suspicious growth, so they wanted to perform a biopsy to figure out exactly what they're dealing with.
There is absolutely no use in panicking or living in fear. They do biopsies specifically so they can react early if, God forbid, something bad is actually happening. You have to stay grounded and rational, and just hang in there until the results are ready. Once you have them, then you can decide on the next steps, if any are even necessary.
Honestly, we are often our own worst enemies when it comes to stress; we create it unnecessarily by spiraling ahead of time. In life, you just have to face obstacles and tackle problems as they arrive. Worrying about things before they happen achieves nothing except stress, which is terrible for your health. Life provides enough trouble on its own without us helping it along.

urbanviper3 said:Absolute garbage.

Forget the compresses. There’s nothing you can do until that inflammation dies down. Try applying an antibiotic ointment like Betrion; maybe that'll take the edge off. As for the redness, just mask it with some high-quality concealer.

Honestly, don't let this kind of nonsense ruin your night. People get hemorrhoids—it’s a basic part of being human and it doesn't mean they can't have a good time and stay in high spirits.