Posts by Angela Wright

They say that constant cravings and binge eating are really just ways to plug an emotional void. It’s basically when you're feeling unfulfilled in some major area of your life, so you turn to food to manufacture a temporary hit of dopamine—trying to force a sense of comfort through eating because that satisfaction is missing somewhere else...
...it's a total mess😳

casualscout20 said:I wouldn't really call myself a nerd, because I guess I do understand the material perfectly fine; I can breeze through math problems and complex equations without much trouble, so it isn't that. It's more like... everything just slips out of my head after a while. It feels as though I have some sort of limited capacity where, every time I try to take in something new, I end up losing a little bit of what I learned before.😕

Ever heard the old saying that repetition is the mother of all learning? It's all still tucked away in there somewhere; you probably just need a little spark to trigger the memory.

casualscout20 said:Greetings to everyone.
I find myself grappling with some rather serious issues regarding my memory and my ability to concentrate, so I suppose I should provide a bit more context to help you understand the situation. Back in high school, I was a fairly mediocre student; I attended a certain high school—honestly, I am almost too embarrassed to even mention which one—where academic rigor was non-existent. Grades didn't really matter, teachers were lenient, and nobody gave a damn about a GPA. I probably studied maybe once a month, if that. On top of that, I fell in with a pretty questionable crowd, and I spent a significant amount of time regularly smoking marijuana, which, as you know, is quite popular among the youth. As graduation approached, I had this sudden realization that I had no interest in what I’d signed up for and that I wasn't going to achieve anything with that mindset. So, after finishing my diploma, I decided to put an end to all that nonsense, turn my life around, and enroll in college. I chose Chemical Engineering, which is what I am currently studying, and I started studying with a level of intensity I had never experienced before, especially since the entrance exams focused heavily on chemistry and math. That was the first time I truly realized that things weren't going to be easy, as I struggled significantly. Still, I managed to get in, despite my high school GPA dragging down my standing. Once I actually started classes, I began studying religiously and even signed up for a speed-reading course. That is when everything really clicked for me, or rather, failed to click. I never actually mastered the technique because I am incredibly easily distracted and simply cannot maintain deep concentration. After passing a few exams, I noticed a pattern: after a certain amount of time passes, I realize I have completely forgotten the material I worked so hard to learn and pass. It remains the same way today. Despite everything, I am passing my exams and don't have any failed credits, but I have to wonder at what cost. I spend entire days just studying and studying, only for eighty percent of it to evaporate from my brain within a few months. Last year, I went to see a doctor and a psychiatrist to explain everything; I underwent various tests, physical exams, and consultations, but everything came back perfectly normal. There was nothing unusual detected, and none of the results showed anything out of the ordinary. In fact, my IQ is well above average, but I suppose that is useless if I just forget everything so rapidly. I have even tried taking Lecithin, but it hasn't helped at all. I can't help but feel that this all stems back to that period when I was using drugs, and that might be the root cause... I considered going to a specialized clinic for more comprehensive testing, but I suspect my current finances won't allow for that. Regardless, I am feeling quite despondent and am in need of some kind of assistance. If anyone here has had similar experiences or perhaps knows of some solutions to these problems... well, I would appreciate it, because I don't think I can continue like this. Thank you in advance.!!!

That's because you never actually learned how to study with comprehension. You are essentially the textbook definition of someone who just "crams" and then grinds through rote memorization.
You'd be better off diving deeper into the material. Try studying with someone else so you can actually discuss what you've read. That's the only way it'll stick.

Nancy Gomez10 said:Thanks so much for the heads-up!!!! My aunt mentioned she’s already taking something similar (or maybe it actually is this exact thing) over at Rib (she couldn't quite remember the specific name of the medication).

Tell your aunt that she needs to stay fully informed and know exactly what's being done to her at every single step. She can't afford to be in the dark about which medications she's being given. It’s critical—if she isn't paying attention, she risks someone making a sloppy mistake or cutting corners with her care. She needs to be the one holding the reins here.

Angela Morgan3 said:But what's the point? In a hundred years, nobody is going to remember we even existed, so why bother? I still feel like this whole thing is some kind of cosmic joke. Humans aren't immortal; we don't get an infinite loop of rising, working, talking, and resting before eventually checking out. We’re just passing through. That’s why half the time I can't find the motivation to do anything,
while most people are sprinting through life trying to squeeze every drop out of their youth. I'm just not built that way—I'm stuck in my ways, and the years are just slipping by.

I know if everyone thought like this, the world would basically collapse, but honestly, what can a person actually accomplish in a single day, especially when you're feeling low? And for me, that's pretty much a daily occurrence... so, very little.

That's exactly why you need to make the most of being here right now. Since you won't be around in a century, you have to seize your moment in the sun.
Life only holds the meaning you decide to give it.
You have the chance to build something meaningful and die feeling satisfied.
It's either that, or live a miserable existence only to die the same way... I don't know, but the first option sounds a lot more appealing to me.
And who says you have to sprint or fit into some specific mold? Spice up your life however you see fit. That's the whole beauty of existing.

Ryan Wood98 said:Reading this thread, I was reminded of a song by a well-known local group, the Rijeka-Kastav vocal instrumental ensemble "shell."

The lyrics go something like this:

Kill yourself, kill them all
why bother living without her.
Poison yourself, hang yourself
since you can see everything is ruined.
She’s sleeping with someone richer than you
and while she’s with him, it just creates this ache in your soul.
How can that pain ever pass?
Just cut it off and take some pills.

Not bad 😂
But the logic in those lyrics is totally tripping me up. First he says to kill himself, then he says to kill everyone else.😕 How can you kill the rich guy if you're already dead? And then there's that part about cutting it off yourself—how do you do that when you're already a corpse? 👍

A good buzz fixes everything. Trust me, I know.👍

Benjamin Grant6 said:If everyone possessed the strength of that young man, or if everyone received as much support for life as you are providing... no one would ever ask themselves "how to go on." We are all prone to despair, but the truth is that every hardship encountered on life's path is merely a challenge to overcome so that one may proceed even stronger...

There is always love to be found—my father used to say that quite often. But health? It is worth fighting for, though when it comes to one's own self, I believe in protecting my own wellbeing rather than lamenting over someone who clearly did not value me.

Look, honey, the thing is, we all have that strength tucked away inside us. The issue is simply that we refuse to embrace anything different or unconventional.
That power is truly within us; we're born with it. I've proven that to myself more times than I can count. Take yourself, for example—if someone had sat you down a few years ago and laid out everything you were about to endure, telling you that you’d handle it with grace and fight through it, what would your honest reaction be? I asked myself that exact question once, and my answer was: "Me? No freaking way! I'd rather die than go through that." And then what happened? What actually happened was that after six months of pure desperation and rejection—after hitting rock bottom—I finally accepted it, faced it head-on, and survived without losing my mind, which is the most important part. Sure, I still feel the fallout; my heart and soul ache when I look back, but I'm alive and I'm moving forward. I can see "better" on the horizon... it just takes time to let the pieces fall into place.

When Queen Victoria was born, her father, Edward August—who was desperately hoping for a son so he could secure the succession to the throne—remarked:
"Sometimes the paths of God's providence are the best...", and history eventually proved just how much Victoria achieved.

Tyler Booth40 said:I honestly don't even know why I'm starting this thread. It won't change anything... but I just need somewhere to vent. 😢

She left me for someone else. I've never loved anyone the way I loved her. It felt like we were meant to be... she was my first thought every morning and my last thought every night. She was basically my entire reason for being. 😢 Since I struggle with depression, I've lost all hope of ever being loved or living a normal life like everyone else. I have no friends left... no will to keep going.

Of course, everyone gets heartbroken after a breakup, but this keeps happening to me. I'm starting to wonder why I'm even here when I feel like a total failure. Nothing ever goes right, and everyone I care about eventually turns their back on me 😢 How do you find real love or actual friends????

Please, if anyone has any advice or just wants to comment... things are getting so dark that I've had thoughts of ending it all. I don't want to do that, though... not because of myself, but because of my parents and my family. 😢

Here’s why:
Look, you have the entire world laid out in front of you. You've got every possible chance to move past this and eventually meet someone who actually carries more weight in your life than she ever did.
You’ve tasted real pain. That’s just how it works—it's all part of the school of hard knocks.
We’re currently looking out for a 24-year-old guy who’s fighting a losing battle against cancer. It’s brutal—they already had to amputate his leg, but the disease has spread everywhere, and there’s really no coming back from this. He looks like a walking skeleton, yet somehow, his eyes are still absolutely brimming with life. He lost both of his parents during the war, leaving him with nothing but his sister to lean on. Honestly, he’s probably the happiest man on the planet right now just because we managed to bypass all the red tape and get him the oxygen he needs after some bureaucratic nightmare denied his request. He isn't suffocating anymore, so he's happy. He’s only 24, hasn't truly tasted life yet, and he just wants a chance to live.
Just give thanks to God that you're healthy and still have your whole life ahead of you. Everything happens for a reason—if that girl was truly meant to be yours, you two would still be together.
Life is unpredictable, and you can find yourself staring down a massive pivot point in the blink of an eye.
Everything is going to work out. You just need to give yourself some breathing room and start living every single day like it’s your last. Get out of the house, get active, find a volunteer gig, or lend a hand to someone who’s struggling more than you are. Maybe even sign up for a class. It’s all about getting back out there—that’s how you meet new people who might actually become real friends.
You have total freedom to do whatever you want. Don't just sit there—actually make something of it!

Sandra Adams39 said:Yeah, I'm from NYC... now I have to figure out which doctor is closest to me.😁

I read somewhere online that you actually have to pay for a socialized OB-GYN,$233 which totally floored me. I definitely don't have that kind of money lying around. Since I was dealing with some issues recently, I went to a different specialist near where I am living right now. He told me that when I go in to do the paperwork, get bloodwork done for birth control, and request swabs—basically some kind of cervical screening, blah blah—that I need to get all that done. Honestly, I couldn't even make heads or tails of everything he was rambling about.

Regardless, I already have to shell out about $33 just to get my Pap smear results processed, so adding a few hundred more for those swabs is way too much for me right now.

And do you happen to know how long it takes to get lab results back?

Ugh, I'm not sure anymore... if I remember correctly, maybe 5 or 6 days.
Look, those swabs are 100% free. I know because I use a private OB-GYN (I have supplemental insurance through a major provider that covers three specialist visits a year) just so I don't have to waste hours waiting for an appointment at a public clinic and being seen whenever they feel like it instead of when I'm actually scheduled. My specific policy only covers two swabs, not everything I might need, so my private doctor actually suggested I stick with the public clinic for those since they can fit me in between appointments and it won't cost me a dime. Otherwise, everything with a private doctor adds up, and all those swabs can cost up to $333 because the reagents are so expensive.

Sandra Adams39 said:I read somewhere that if you go through a private provider, you're looking at a bill somewhere around $500.$233 I’m honestly worried they’re going to slap me with that charge too... and where am I even supposed to take this? Which hospital handles that kind of thing?

Please, don't be ridiculous—it doesn't cost you a dime if you see a gynecologist who's in-network with Medicare.
You have to go to the health department for that. If you’re living in NYC, you’ll head over to the Arlington facility, otherwise, you're looking at the Mayo Clinic.
Just go talk to your OB-GYN; they'll know exactly where to send you.

Sandra Adams39 said:I'm trying to figure out if there's a fee for swabs at a community health clinic gynecologist. I'm not talking about private doctors here.

I need to get some swabs, a Pap smear, and things like that done. Usually, I've never had to pay for a Pap unless $27 because I wanted my results back within a week.

I know I have to take them to a hospital, so now I'm wondering if anyone actually pays for anything there, and roughly how much?

Also... which hospital should I head to? I haven't dealt with this before.

thanks

From what I understand, you don't pay a dime since they're part of a standard checkup. If you show up early in the morning, they'll usually squeeze you in before 10:00 AM because all those samples have to be turned in to the lab by 11:00.

Joshua Anderson17 said:Give me a break with that cheap sentimentality. I am perfectly healthy, yet my quality of life feels just as bleak as those mentioned above, if not worse.
It’s that classic, old-school collectivist mindset... the idea that as long as you have your limbs and you can move, you should just get back to work and keep living. 🙏

Honey, I am far from "cheap and pathetic." That’s just how life works. You clearly haven't lived enough yet to realize that, so you can stay blissfully satisfied with yourself for now. Enjoy it while it lasts.👍

To anyone out there feeling completely done with life: before you decide to take the plunge off a bridge or whatever else, why not try doing something good for once? Just in case heaven and hell actually exist, go sign up as a volunteer for the Terry Fox charity run to help folks fighting cancer who are desperate to stick around.
On a different note, our team over at The New York Times is always looking for volunteers to sit with people who are nearing the end of their lives—to just hold their hand and be there. It’s a heavy way to get a real look at how brutal life can be, seeing firsthand how much people fight to stay in it, and witnessing what death actually looks like for both the dying and the families left behind.👍

goldenviper9 said:Hey everyone...
I took the morning-after pill... got my period, everything seemed fine... but now, about 20 days later, I’ve started having this pain in my pelvic area—it's tender, even when touched, and my stomach hurts too. It feels like my ovaries. I’ve never dealt with symptoms like this before. Some people say it might just be ovulation... is it possible the pill messed everything up like this, or could I actually be pregnant??

Look, the morning-after pill is basically a hormonal sledgehammer to your system. Your hormones and your cycle are just scrambled right now. If this happens more than once, it's nothing out of the ordinary. For some women, it takes a few months to get back to baseline after taking emergency contraception.
And you absolutely need to use protection moving forward, because since your cycle is all over the place, you have no idea when your fertile window is, which means you could easily end up pregnant by mistake.

Drew Allen said:The line that really jumped out at me was, "The procedure is simple, painless, and prevents tumor growth for the next ten years." Does anyone actually know anything about this?

Gamma Knife technology isn't anything new to us here in the States. That claim about preventing tumor growth for ten years sounds like classic cherry-picking—it was almost certainly pulled from context and likely referred to one specific diagnosis for one specific patient.
With Gamma Knife, certain tumors that were previously unreachable due to their location or how invasive the surgery would have been can now be treated.

Nicole Barrett69 said:Growth hormone can definitely have some pretty nasty side effects. Just look at one example: bones growing where they absolutely shouldn't. Isn't that enough reason to stop playing doctor with it yourself?

I caught a segment on this on TV a little while back. Even the doctors interviewed couldn't point to any serious negative side effects. There wasn't even a mention of bone growth issues. For the most part, it seems to just torch body fat, kick your metabolism into overdrive, and tone you up perfectly without you ever having to lift a single weight. It’s still illegal here, obviously, but people are constantly ordering it online. I actually knew about this guy in the States who had a pituitary tumor; after his surgery, he gained a massive amount of weight because his hormones were all over the place. His doctor put him on growth hormone, and in just two months, the transformation was nothing short of miraculous.

Nancy Garcia97 said:How did you even get those pills? Was it a prescription from your doctor or what?
I don't follow what you mean by "not being able to stabilize." Could you be a bit more specific? I've never used them myself, so I'm just trying to wrap my head around what that actually looks like...

She probably just grabbed some Red Bull on her own. The side effects aren't exactly subtle—you're looking at everything from annoying stuff like dry mouth to serious issues like high blood pressure and tachycardia. It’s supposed to be strictly doctor-supervised, usually reserved for people dealing with obesity (BMI over 30) when diet and lifestyle changes just aren't cutting it.

What really fascinates me, though, is growth hormone—the stuff Apple and Snoop Dogg use. Honestly, it doesn't seem to have any real downsides. 🤷

Linda Cox69 said:Who should I reach out to? Is there a link with more details?

Thanks🙂

Log in to our forum and send a PM to Dr. Jason Radic. She's actually the one who broke the news to us. She works over at Mayo Clinic.

Nancy Gomez10 said:Hi everyone,

I’m new here, so I’m still just trying to find my footing. To be honest—for better or worse—I have quite a bit of experience dealing with cancer, both from my time interning in oncology and through my own personal life. Right now, though, I’m facing a massive dilemma regarding my aunt. Her breast cancer has metastasized to her lumbar and thoracic spine, as well as her hips. She was prescribed Zaldiar for the pain, but honestly, it’s doing next to nothing since she’s only on a low dose, and we are talking about excruciating levels of pain here. I’m heading into a consultation with her oncologist soon, and I'm spinning my wheels trying to figure out if Sevredol combined with Durogesic is a better route, or if an MST and Durogesic combo would work better in terms of absorption and efficacy. And should Tramadol even be on the table at all? I feel like I'm losing my mind over this... If anyone can shed some light, I would truly appreciate it!

In my opinion, you might actually get more practical help by talking to an anesthesiologist.
Also, starting Wednesday, August 26th, the Mayo Clinic is launching a new clinical study involving patients with HER 2-positive metastatic breast cancer who were receiving Herceptin as their first line of treatment. What makes this particularly significant is that they aren't testing a new drug against an old standard; instead, both drugs being studied (lapatinib and neratinib) are considered cutting-edge, innovative, next-generation treatments. Furthermore, patients with brain metastases can also qualify for the study, provided they remain asymptomatic. This study will also be conducted at Johns Hopkins Hospital and in Cleveland.
If you think you might be a candidate, or know someone who could be, please reach out!

Brandon Moore4 said:Hello everyone,

Here is the situation. My grandmother turned 83 today. She is battling oral cancer.

She’s undergone several surgeries over the last four years. It's benign, but it keeps coming back. At first, it just looked like some swelling in her cheek. We didn't realize what it was then—we thought it was nothing serious, and she refused to see a doctor anyway.

Once the diagnosis was confirmed, she had surgery and needed follow-ups. We missed one appointment because we misread the paperwork and thought we only had one scheduled.

Anyway, it reappeared about 18 months ago, leading to two more surgeries. Now, she's due for another one this September.

She has lost significant weight over the last four years. She used to be around 160 lbs, but now she’s hovering between 105 and 110 lbs. She drinks Ensure to try and gain weight, but frankly, it isn't doing much.

We are giving her plenty of supplements: Vitamin C, Selenium, Omega-3 fish oil capsules, turmeric, which is supposedly good for slowing cancer growth, Shiitake mushroom tablets for their purported benefits, plus green tea in both pill and liquid form.

We schedule these throughout the day, mixing them into fruit yogurt since she can't swallow pills any other way.

She still has a tracheostomy tube in her neck that I have to clean myself... nobody else in the family is capable of doing it, and they're too afraid.

MY QUESTIONS. PLEASE ANSWER IF YOU KNOW:

1. Is there any liquid, tablet, or syrup that helps reduce mucus in the throat? She can't cough it up, so it all ends up coming through the tube.

2. Are there any other ingredients I haven't mentioned that might help slow cancer growth?

3. Has anyone heard of AAR ALOR syrup? I read in a magazine called my destiny that it helped many people with cancer. Does anyone have experience with it?

4. Do you know of any foods that are good for weight gain in a puree or mash form, provided they aren't loaded with sugar? She can't handle solid food.

I wasn't sure if there was already a thread for this, couldn't find one... please, I need any help, answers, or advice you can give. Regards.

First off, Let’s get one thing straight: if it’s benign, it isn't cancer. Cancer is a malignant, progressive disease that spreads through the body via metastasis. Period. My grandmother has this benign tumor that just keeps coming back. It’s simply how it works with her body. And honestly, missing those follow-up appointments? That’s not going to help anyone. This simply cannot be allowed to happen.
There are chemotherapy treatments available even for benign tumors, specifically designed to slow down growth when all other options have hit a wall. You absolutely cannot navigate this alone; you need to have that direct, serious conversation with her doctor.
Ensure is basically a high-calorie powerhouse—one single serving is enough to act as a complete meal replacement. one Daily meals. Bottom line: you should be aiming for three doses a day.
You also have to factor in her age. We’re talking about an aging, worn-out system that just doesn't bounce back from these kinds of stressors like it used to. If she starts dropping weight at a rapid pace, you should probably talk to her doctor about getting her on a glucose IV to stabilize things.
If you're struggling with issues involving your canine, there might be a way to fix things. Get in touch with her primary care physician to find out more about the home health nurse that her grandmother is entitled to.
Stop wasting your breath on those "expert" rags like My Destiny and whatever other trash they’re pumping out. Stop wasting your breath on this nonsense you're posting online. You need to start focusing on actually seeing a doctor—they’re the only ones truly qualified to give you real advice or prescribe any kind of treatment. A physician is literally obligated to answer all these questions of yours, so here is what I suggest: write them all down, bring that list to your next appointment, and put them directly to the professional.