Posts by Angela Wright

Kate Lee65 said:I’ve been dealing with this racing heart for about four days now, along with pains running down my left arm and these scary moments where I feel like I just can't catch my breath... I actually ended up in the ER twice already! My blood work showed my white blood cell count was pretty high at 11.5, and they ran an acid-base panel which showed a pH of 7.47, PO2 of 15.6, active HCO3 at 26.9, standard HCO3 at 27.5, TCO2 at 28.00, BEecf at 3.2, Be(b) at 3.2, and SO2 at 99... They ruled out a pulmonary embolism, though they were definitely suspicious of one since I had been taking Yasmin until back in March. They sent me home, but honestly, nothing has changed and I'm still feeling all these symptoms! All they gave me was some Xanax to take whenever my heart starts pounding uncontrollably. I am just so incredibly worried, so please, if there is anyone here who understands what's going on—especially any doctors—could you please give me some advice? Besides everything else, I was diagnosed with a heart murmur about four years ago, and now my chart says 😛 palpitation, tachycardia, prolonged AV interval, compensated heart, leukocytosis... please, help me... I'm desperate for answers...

My boyfriend went through every single one of those symptoms except for the blood work. It was terrifying for both of us. He would wake up in the middle of the night gasping for air, which just triggered more panic, making everything feel ten times worse... in the end, he was diagnosed with GERD. Just look closely at the symptoms. My theory is that your blood work looks like that because your GERD is being caused by H. pylori, which is essentially causing inflammation.
Go see a primary care physician, tell them about the GERD, and demand a referral to a gastroenterologist for an ultrasound, a gastroscopy, and a test for the bacteria.

Olivia Ward20 said:My whole world just started spinning out of control again today... after finding out I likely have a tumor back. I already went through one round—surgery, recovery, the whole thing—and it wasn't easy. I'm still recovering from all of that when they drop this on me today: it's probably a tumor again, likely in the same spot or somewhere right next to it (who can even keep track when you're in shock?). All I can hear echoing in my head is that word... tumor. I keep thinking about having to redo the entire process from scratch, and honestly, I don't even know how any of this ends. Now I'm just sitting here waiting for the medical board to meet and discuss my case to figure out the next steps, and the anticipation alone is killing me. I'm trying not to dwell on it, trying not to let it consume me, but I simply can't because it's stronger than my willpower. It’s even worse when I see everyone around me looking at me with nothing but pity; it just makes me feel worse. I don't know how I'll manage... I'm terrified of breaking down right when I need my strength most to endure this on my own. Maybe I should just have a good, honest cry and let it all out—all the anger, the despair... I really don't know anything else right now... 🙂 🙂

Just know that you aren't alone, and please, try not to fall into self-pity. I know how heavy this is, but I also know that every single one of us carries an immense reservoir of strength and power within ourselves that we aren't even aware of until it's tested.
How do you move forward? One step at a time, day by day, accepting things as they unfold in front of you. Surround yourself with positive people who don't view you as someone "marked" by a tumor, but rather as someone fighting a challenge who needs support in the form of treating you normally.
Think of this situation as a perfect filter to cut out all the negativity and toxic elements surrounding you and purge them from your life. Making those kinds of changes can actually have a massive impact on the healing process.
Wait for the medical board's decision and be an active participant in your own treatment. Be clear and decisive regarding your right to accept or refuse certain paths. You are the one who must take charge of your illness; never let it take charge of you.
Hang in there, stay brave, and fight with optimism!

My mother passed away from a highly aggressive brain tumor, a glioblastoma.
She was never a smoker, never touched drugs, and couldn't stand the smell of alcohol. She grew up in a coastal California town and lived on a Mediterranean diet, which most people consider one of the healthiest ways to eat.
She wasn't an athlete, and she dealt with some incredibly high-stress periods throughout her life...
Looking back at our family history, as far back as we can trace, there were never any cases like this.

So, what have I realized?

I’ve come to understand that we all carry something inside us that could potentially kill us—bad genes. At the same time, there are things in our environment that can kill us regardless of our genetics. There is a lifestyle, a specific way of living, that can be fatal.
It could be a little bit of everything acting together, or just one single thing serving as the trigger.
The reality is that we have zero influence or control over most of these factors. Thinking otherwise is just an illusion. The only thing we can actually do is consciously manage the variables within our reach—the ones we know for a fact are harmful. That is what I call taking a mature and responsible approach to your own health.
All we can do is try our best and hope it’s enough to live a high-quality life for as long as possible. Everything else is in God's hands.

Nancy Thomas18 said:I won't be able to make it... I'm not even in New York City right now, but my heart is with all of you. Yesterday I was at the oncologist with my CT results—they told me it came back, but they don't know where it is. Now they've sent me for a PET scan because they need to track it down. I'm scared; for the first time, I really am. It’s only been three months since chemo, and I was so certain I was cured. And now?

How can they know from a CT scan that it's back if they don't actually know where it is? If they're basing their suspicion on that scan, it should be visible on the CT.

Stay brave! Nothing is lost yet. This road is long and brutal, and you knew that from the start. Nothing has changed. Just keep pushing forward and try to arm yourself with some good vibes and optimism. I know that's easier said than done, but you have to find a way to shift your mindset internally. It will make things much easier to handle.

Grace Fowler said:Hey everyone!!!
I'm honestly hoping I can make it out to Central Park tomorrow.... I'm so close to home that I'll just have to dig deep and find some extra energy...
See you there.............
Bill Clinton

Oh honey, it would be wonderful if you did🙂. But seriously, don't push yourself if you aren't feeling up to it.

From a medical standpoint, extracting sperm from a deceased individual is practically impossible. But even if they could pull it off, doing so would be a legal nightmare. It’s the same story when it comes to using stored samples from a sperm bank after someone passes away—unless that person left behind clear, written instructions explicitly granting their spouse or partner the right to use it.

wanderingtiger7 said:I’m posting this for one very specific reason.
Last Tuesday, my mother-in-law was diagnosed with a brain tumor (3x4 cm). Before we even knew if surgery was an option, we started frantically researching the disease, treatment paths, and the best neurosurgeons in America. We found ourselves stuck in this incredibly heavy situation, paralyzed by uncertainty. While we were waiting in Rijeka for the neurosurgeons to review her head CT and give us their take, a friend of my father-in-law managed to pull some strings to get us connected in Washington, D.C. We were still reeling from the shock of the diagnosis, yet suddenly we had to make a massive life-altering decision within half a day—all without having enough information to guide us.
Initially, we looked into Dr. Paladin at the main hospital, who is considered the top neurosurgeon in the country, but we learned he wouldn't see her without an MRI first. So, we arranged for her to be admitted to the main hospital instead. Honestly, we were flying blind because we didn't even know if surgery was possible in the first place.
After sitting through the entire week from Tuesday to the following Monday without getting any real updates in Rijeka, we consulted with people who had been through this before, along with nurses and doctors locally. Ultimately, we decided to go with the facility in Dubrava.
She was admitted on Tuesday, and we just spoke to her on the phone today—right after her tumor surgery!!!
They immediately ran the CT, MR, and all the necessary tests; they prepped her for surgery on Thursday; she went under yesterday and was already awake by the afternoon; and today, she’s been moved from the shock room to intensive care and is feeling good. She was operated on by Prof. Jelicic and Dr. Hudik (if I remembered that name correctly).
In any case, they did a phenomenal job. For anyone else caught in this kind of limbo, wondering whether to head to Washington, D.C., I would highly recommend it. The reality is that it’s the hub for everything—the equipment, the specialists, the facilities, you name it.
My father-in-law was just telling me that the difference is night and day, and if he had known then what he knows now, he wouldn't have hesitated for a single second.
I really hope our experience can help someone else who might find themselves in this difficult and unfortunate situation.
Wishing you all the best—stay brave and stay strong.

Do they know if it's malignant or benign yet? I mean, you can't be 100% certain without a pathology report, but they usually have a pretty good idea of what they're dealing with.

I'm so glad everything went well😍, because you never truly know which centers will be touched during surgery or what neurological side effects might manifest later. Some people deal with total amnesia, losing the ability to speak, calculate, or walk. That said, many of those setbacks can be managed with therapy, and people gradually recover.

Lisa White54 said:Doctors are just indifferent! Why? They picked this career themselves. They pull in great salaries, enjoy high social status, walk around like they own the place, and everyone bows down to them. Whether they're on the clock or off, they always act like they're untouchable. And why would they fear the system when they’re the ones defining it? Patients should be the ones providing help and support so doctors aren't afraid to do their jobs and can comfortably provide for their families.

Where is the part of this argument about the people who actually earn those doctors' paychecks? Who is offering support and assistance to the unfortunate patients? Every single patient has a family desperately pleading for help. Some get lucky, some don't, and some...

I wouldn't completely agree with you. I have doctors in my own family, so I know exactly what they deal with and the kind of pressure they face.
In my view, the real issue isn't just money; it's that they lack cohesion. There's too much inertia and way too much ego involved, which kills any hope for teamwork—something that is absolutely vital for successful medical practice. That lack of cooperation directly compromises the quality of care. Not every single problem here is financial.
The issues mentioned are typical of the general state of American society, but we feel it most acutely through the medical profession because we've been dealing with them so much lately.

Maria Jones40 said:It’s honestly pathetic. I just don't know who's been feeding these poor souls these fairy tales—this idea that everyone is out to grab a handout—based on nothing more than rumors and hearsay without any actual substance. You can't judge an entire system based on a few outliers.

You keep obsessing over these "phantom" individuals. For crying out loud, just name one person! Give me a reason, explain the logic, and tell me exactly who among us is lying and where, but please, bring some actual arguments to the table. You constantly defend the status quo blindly and refuse to accept that we aren't just isolated cases; we are a massive collective dealing with identical struggles. Look at the facts: we all ended up on this same forum, all typing the exact same grievances. In your world, there must be some grand conspiracy designed specifically to make us look like we're attacking the system...😍👍
Honey, you're becoming downright ridiculous with these baseless insinuations about how pure and innocent the system is on one hand, while simultaneously admitting it's broken on the other—yet you stay silent because you have a kid to feed...
That's a bizarre analogy, and frankly, it makes me seriously question your supposed expertise. It's baffling to me how someone claiming to be an intellectual can be so blinded by their own bias while being so blatantly self-contradictory.😕

Maria Jones40 said:Why don't doctors revolt? It’s pretty simple, really. They have kids to feed just like everyone else. They’re terrified of the very system they work within. They get blamed for everything, they aren't getting any actual support from patients—which is the exact opposite of what you're claiming—they're under massive public scrutiny, and in our system, everything is run by political cronyism. They end up becoming completely apathetic; they just wait until they can get home and act like normal human beings.

With this post, you've basically shut your own mouth.😳
If you aren't going to actually do anything concrete, then stop whining and complaining. We all have children, and it’s precisely because of those kids that you need to step up publicly and fight for them and for yourselves. Anything else is just noise, especially when you're typing away on a forum for sick people, essentially shitting on us by implying we're the ones who are "unfit"... give me a break.🙄 ☕
If you've decided to just swim in and ferment in all this crap, fine, go ahead—but don't try to frame your way of life as some golden rule or demand that we follow it as the only fair and right path.👎

Maria Jones40 said:Yeah, there’s this constant bashing of doctors and medical staff happening here. It’s not just now, either—it’s been happening for ages. People are spreading blatant lies and calling for "confrontations" with physicians, which usually just boils down to being plain rude. That’s absolutely unacceptable. And you’re actually advising this lady to be aggressive toward them.
The lady you're talking to mentioned that at the hospital where her initial CT scan was done, she was told the tumor wasn't growing. But let's be real: she didn't provide the two subsequent CT scans that actually showed the tumor regressing. Now, she’s comparing today’s CT results back to that very first one. So, who's really at fault here? Is it the patient failing to provide a complete medical history, or is it the radiologist? She also noted that the bronchoscopy went fine, thank God, and now we're just waiting on the cytology results from the pleural effusion. What more was the doctor supposed to say? He said everything he needed to say—clearly, professionally, and without rushing to judgment. Once the cytology comes back, she'll have that info too. Nobody is hiding anything from her, unless she specifically asks that her family not be informed, which is a right we have to respect.
I always thought this forum was meant to be a psychological support system for patients and their families, not a place to play "medical expert" or a platform to smear the professionals who are actually trying to help you.

I need you to get specific. Who exactly is spreading these lies, and where? Quote them and explain. Everyone posting here is just speaking from their own lived experience.
Unfortunately, this forum exists because people are being denied the information they have a fundamental right to access every single day. We aren't just talking about status updates; we're talking about treatment details and everything connected to it.
What you call "flaunting medical knowledge," I call wading through the mud just to try and make sense of things that are happening—or failing to happen—to us.
Everything these individuals have started—and I count myself among them, especially regarding our advocacy work and specific initiatives—is the kind of thing that should be organized at a federal or professional level in any healthy, functioning society. It shouldn't be the case that one girl, Ana Rukavina, has to organize a stem cell bank from a deathbed instead of some highly paid official doing their job.
So, don't try to sugarcoat things when the reality is as hard as rock. We have massive problems; frankly, the whole system is a total circus. Now, they're even quietly shutting down labs in local community clinics...
And yeah, we definitely need psychological support—not for the patients, but to deal with the outbursts from certain strange individuals who seem to think they're qualified to play God with our lives every single day.

Mark Lewis4 said:Do I need to see my primary care doctor first, or can I just head straight to a dermatologist? Will I need a referral?

You'll probably need a referral, but honestly, your GP can likely handle it or get you sorted.

Mark Lewis4 said:I searched through the forums, but couldn't find anything on this, so I figured I'd start a new thread.

I'm trying to figure out what the warning signs for skin cancer actually look like, how they usually treat it, and what kind of timeline we're looking at. I'm asking because a few weeks back, I noticed this tiny little thing on the top of my left hand—it almost looks like a small scratch, but over the last month or so, it seems to have spread slightly. It’s a pale reddish color and has an irregular shape.

Go see a doctor. Honestly, I don't think it's cancer. Sounds more like a patch of eczema to me.

granitepanther18 said:The thing I’m really stuck on right now is whether there is any actual way for her to go through with this without her parents finding out somehow😕!!

There is zero chance of doing this legally without parental involvement. Trying to go under the radar seems way more dangerous than just dealing with some tough conversations—or even getting yelled at by her parents—to handle this the right, healthy way.
An abortion isn't free; I think you're looking at roughly $3,000$1333 depending on how far along she is and which procedure the clinic uses, whether it's suction or a D&C.

I just really hope she steps up and acts more maturely and responsibly than she has so far (especially considering the unprotected sex), and doesn't make an even bigger mistake that could haunt her for the rest of her life. When I say that, I'm talking about an illegal procedure that could leave her permanently disabled. Honestly, thinking about anything worse than that makes me sick to my stomach.

boldmason25 said:I could really use some advice. My mom just got her diagnosis a few days ago: breast cancer.
Could anyone with experience or insight regarding hospitals in New York City let me know where they have the best success rates for treatment? I'm torn between MD Anderson Cancer Center and Mount Sinai...
Thanks for any help you can give.

www.healthinfo.com
There's a specific forum dedicated to breast cancer. You should also check out our top trending thread. We have a few women on here fighting this battle with incredible courage.

frozencobra25 said:My dad lost the hardest fight of his life this morning at 6:10 AM.

Another incredible man who was loved by everyone succumbed to a glioblastoma—a disease that forced its way into our lives on May 9, 2007, and changed everything forever.

My father was a hero who fought until his very last breath, and he spent those final moments surrounded by me and my mother. He finally fell asleep, exhausted and worn out, leaving behind a body that had been through hell. In a single word: he’s free.

Everything still feels a bit surreal. No matter how much I knew how this would end, or how much I tried to brace myself for the moment, it still arrived far too soon.

I am just so grateful that Mom and I were able to share these past few years making beautiful memories with him. He knew he was never alone; he was always wrapped in the love of the people who mattered most.

I want to send a massive thank you to Angela Wright, a guide who knows exactly how to speak when she’s clearly walked in our shoes.

Thank you.

Domino, I am so incredibly sorry.😢
I'm standing right here with you and your mom.🙂

George Jackson15 said:I’m looking for some kind of calming medication or something to help manage depression, ideally with a minimal risk of dependency. It would be most helpful if there were over-the-counter options available.

Thanks in advance...

Try some Valerie drops. Anything else requires a prescription and carries a real risk of getting hooked.
One more thing: try to take a rational approach to whatever is dragging your mood down. Deal with the actual issues or change how you perceive them. There isn't a magic pill that's going to solve your life's problems for you.
Sometimes the best "sedative" is just taking a solid timeout—something to shut off the emotional noise so you can actually tackle the problem logically. Everything else is just a band-aid. I'm telling you this from experience.

stormyheron4 said:I’m not some bigot just because I wouldn't date someone living with HCV.Just because you would be with someone in that situation doesn't give you the right to label everyone else a discriminator for choosing not to.

I have a close friend who is HIV positive, and I’ve never treated her any differently than anyone else—she's just my friend. But deciding to put your own health and your entire life on the line for the reasons you listed? That's a personal choice, not discrimination, regardless of how you want to spin it.

Discrimination is treating people like second-class citizens or acting like they're somehow less valuable. Avoiding intimacy with someone due to the risk of infection isn't hate; it's basic self-preservation.

Look, I’m not out here labeling anyone; I’m simply stating facts. If you see things through a different lens or draw your own analogies, that's your prerogative. I have every right to voice my opinion. Everything in this world comes down to personal choice, but you have to admit that certain realities are clearly defined—it just depends on how willing a person is to face those definitions head-on.

p.s. I’ve never been with an infected partner, but if someone dear to me suddenly fell ill, I wouldn't walk away. Likewise, if I were single, I’d allow someone in my life, because a diagnosis doesn't define a person's soul. Personally, my definition of "staying healthy" is much broader than yours, because it includes spiritual well-being. I’d feel absolutely terrible—to the point where I couldn't function—if I turned away someone with incredible character just out of fear of catching something. These kinds of people are becoming rare in the world, and I certainly wouldn't let some stupid disease prevent such nobility from entering my life.
I'm truly not judging anyone, but I've lived through certain experiences—quite traumatic ones—that have completely reshaped how I perceive and accept illness, especially when it involves serious infectious diseases.

I know some of you might laugh at the example I'm about to bring up, but think about Mother Teresa. She dedicated her entire existence to helping the critically ill, including those suffering from horrific diseases, nursing them through constant physical contact. She lived a long life and never contracted anything. I truly believe she was rewarded by God because she wasn't afraid; her love for others and her ability to accept people exactly as they are always came before her own comfort.

Laura Jackson56 said:I’m not here to start a fight. That’s just how your warped mind perceives itself.
You’re just sitting there, waiting for someone to throw a punch so you can play the martyr.

Give me a break. Just leave me alone.

I wanted to see if anyone else was running into the same issue I am, and as you can clearly tell from the thread... it looks like I'm not alone. A few people have already chimed in saying they're going through the exact same thing.

No.

Yeah, I spend my days treating lung cancer patients, purely out of some twisted sense of perversion.☕
I just reported you to the moderators for the way you're acting here. Seriously, go back to the chicken coop if you want to post your twisted little requests and inquiries. This kind of behavior is completely out of line for this community. Have at least an ounce of decency or dignity left in you and try to act like a civilized human being.

Look, I’m not sitting here playing the martyr or pretending to be some saint. I actually am righteous. You, on the other hand, are out here acting like you have a moral high ground, and frankly, you're doing a pathetic job of it.😳

Nancy Thomas18 said:Hey everyone, I’ve been quiet for a while because my CT scan results were absolutely devastating. They're saying there aren't any clear metastases, but there's fluid buildup in my abdomen and trapped between the loops of my small intestine... and honestly, everyone is just shrugging their shoulders at me. My surgeon is pushing for a PET CT, but the oncologist thinks it’s unnecessary—they won't even give a formal recommendation. To top it all off, my stomach is being compressed or shifted out of position. I’m genuinely lost right now. I feel like I'm losing my will to fight.

If there aren't any metastases, you're winning. It’s that simple. Honestly, I just don't get what some oncologists are thinking with their endless complications.🤷

I'm signing off on everything gentlemoose62 wrote.👍

To add my two cents:
Just say it one more time—tell me how you’re losing heart. I’m going to hunt you down and give you the absolute beating you deserve. Did you hear me?🙂