Posts by Angela Wright

brightviper16 said:Maybe look into parasites (specifically pinworms) just to be safe, and check if you might be dealing with hemorrhoids. Honestly, those usually just need some Aspirin—that’s basically the gold standard when you want something more natural... also, try not to sit around for hours on end, stay on top of hygiene so sweat doesn't irritate things, and watch what you eat. Stick to high fiber and stay away from anything too spicy or heavy, and that’s pretty much the gist of it.

The only other thing is that whole "psychogenic pruritus ani" situation. If that's the case, try having some anal sex with your partner—I'm dead serious here—I actually passed my psychiatry exam with a 5😁...

😕Could you actually walk me through the logic on that one?

Alexander Lewis said:The logic behind a CT scan makes sense to me, but I'm struggling to see how an MRI—whether you're using contrast or going without—has anything to do with sperm counts.

There wasn't an MRI involved here, just the contrast agent. That stuff is radioactive, which means it can damage or even kill off sperm cells. A friend of mine actually went through this exact same situation as analogtiger98 and ended up at the Mayo Clinic; his sperm count plummeted because of the contrast, making him ineligible for IVF.

neonranger said:Is that yellow antiseptic liquid?

Yeah. But you definitely need to get a stool sample tested for parasites. Honestly, I'm also thinking it could be some kind of chemical issue.

analogtiger98 said:Since I'm dealing with lymphoma and facing chemo, I need to know if sperm banking is an option here in the States. From what I've gathered, it should be doable at the Mayo Clinic in Washington, D.C., but does anyone have leads on other facilities? Even looking at options in Canada would work.

Mayo Clinic. Just a heads up: don't head over there right after getting a CT scan or an MRI with contrast, because that stuff will wipe out your sperm count for a few days.

Charles Nguyen53 said:There’s a chance you might be dealing with pinworms. Honestly, just do a quick search online and then head over to your doctor; they can send you off for some lab work to confirm whether that's actually what's going on. It's also possible you're just irritating yourself if you're being a bit too aggressive with how you clean up down there... 🤷

I was literally thinking the exact same thing. You could have picked up some parasites, which happens easily if you eat salad that wasn't washed properly or handled right.
Basically, grab a sample in a small container and get it to a lab. Ask your doctor for a referral. It could also be a fungal issue. Stop scrubbing the area; just clean it gently with an antiseptic wipe and apply some Polymer.

Arthur Alvarez75 said:Hey everyone!

I'm not entirely sure if this is the right thread for this, but it feels like my best shot.
Basically, does anyone know where I can pick up vitamin ampoules for IV infusion—specifically B1, B6, and C?
The only thing I've found online is that they are "available via prescription at HEALTHCARE FACILITIES." So, if anyone has actually dealt with this, please let me know ASAP.

Thanks in advance!

Your best bet is checking with private pharmacies. For instance, dexamethasone ampoules are strictly for hospital use, meaning you won't find them even with a prescription at a local CVS or Walgreens, but we’ve been able to grab them from private clinics without any hassle or paperwork.

Eric Evans56 said:Basically, I need some expert advice here. About ten days ago, I slipped on some ice from maybe a foot and a half up and slammed my lower back. I’m pretty sure nothing is broken since I was able to get back up, but I think I might have strained something. It doesn't hurt when I'm just walking or even if I touch the spot, but the second I bend over or try any heavy leg movements, the pain hits me hard. That sharp pain usually lingers for about thirty minutes. It’s been ten days now, and while the intensity has gone down, it's taking forever to actually heal. If this is just a muscle strain, does it just resolve itself eventually, or should I go see a doctor?

I think you already know what the answer is. Go get an X-ray or an MRI. Anything is possible with back injuries.

Steven Kim84 said:



I just had foot surgery—specifically, they removed an alanthesis—and now there’s this blue, damn thing poking out (check the photos). It looks way too thick to be just some thread, and they didn't actually stitch it up; instead, they used those metal wires to join everything (see the last picture). I tried to grab it with some tweezers, but it won't budge, almost like it's tucked deeper inside. Does anyone actually know what this is? I really don't have the time to drive all the way down to the hospital just to have them tell me they botched the job, which would be incredibly frustrating. 😠

It looks like suture material; I've definitely had that same blue stuff before🤷. Just so you know, they also use internal stitches made from dissolvable thread that breaks down in your tissue.

Steven Kim84 said:



I just had leg surgery—to be exact, they removed my malleolus—and now there’s this blue, damn thing sticking out, looking somewhat like a suture (check the photos). Honestly, it looks way too thick to be just thread. Also, they didn't actually stitch it up; they used those metal wires to hold everything together (see the last picture). I tried to give it a little tug with some tweezers, but it won't budge, almost like it's seated deeper inside. Does anyone know what this is? I don't have the time to trek all the way down to the hospital just to have some doctor tell me they botched the job and leave me suffering through this absolute nightmare. 😠

It looks like suture material; I've definitely had that same blue stuff before. 🤷Keep in mind, doctors also use internal dissolvable stitches that just break down naturally in the tissue.

Walter Fowler6 said:Thanks for the input. 🙂
I've always drank this much water; it’s just what my body demands.
I don't take any birth control.
It really could be kidney-related, though I don't have any pain and my urine looks normal enough... 🤷

Try taking some Bayer Aspirin. It thins the blood, which improves circulation, and better circulation means better lymphatic drainage. You can pick it up over the counter. It runs about $6.75, and you should take it after lunch so it doesn't hit your stomach as hard as Aspirin. My late mother was constantly dealing with edema, and that was the one thing that actually helped her.

Jeffrey Martin46 said:God, you really didn't need to send me that link where people were already talking about urethral swabs... I just hope it's not like what some people are claiming! Honestly, it was hilarious reading those girls trying to explain how painful it is when they’ve clearly never actually gone through it (because if they had, they wouldn't be women), acting all tough like "we men could handle anything!" Look, it's not the same thing inserting a swab into a female organ versus a male one! Some people are just built differently, so yeah, that exam is definitely not going to be anyone's idea of a good time! 😉

Can you just tell me if I can get everything done in a single day and which one comes first?! I assume the hospital will tell me, but I figured I'd ask just in case! Also, I don't need to hold my urine for the first stream, right?! Because if I do, we have a major problem—it's a 45-minute drive to the clinic, and if I don't head straight to the restroom the second I wake up, I'm going to have an accident!

You should be able to coordinate it so you get everything finished in one day. If I were you, though, I'd handle some of it at home where it's more comfortable. Just grab a sterile specimen cup from the pharmacy ($0.67 it's cheap). Do the urine sample first, then see the dermatologist/specialist, and then the blood work. Actually, you'll probably have to take the swabs from the specialist and the urine sample over to the lab yourself.

Grace Edwards50 said:Angela Wright, I couldn't shoot you a DM because your inbox is totally maxed out—you've gotta clear out some old messages first. Best, Grace Edwards50

Yeah, thanks.😬

Jeffrey Martin46 said:Like the thread title says, I’m looking for some advice or insight regarding the following:

I need to get these tests done (per my referral):
1) Urine culture and antibiotic sensitivity test
2) Urethral swab for Chlamydia, mycoplasma, and ureaplasma
3) PSA test

Regarding the urine culture—does it matter if I use the first bit of urine, or does it not matter at all? My doctor didn't specify anything. Also, what's the deal with the urethral swab and the PSA? Can anyone tell me if I should fast or avoid drinking certain things beforehand?

I already know people are going to chime in saying I should have just asked my doctor... but if I had, I wouldn't be bothering you guys right now! 🤣

Thanks for any help! 🙏

Best, 👍

1. Urine culture: Use the midstream flow into the cup, and make sure to bring it to the lab in a sterile container.

2.Swab: You go to a dermatologist or an STD clinic, and a technician takes a very long swab, inserts it into the opening, and rotates it slightly inside. It’s uncomfortable, to say the least, but manageable. You also bring that in a sterile container.
Now, there is a less painful way to do this at Viro, but it’ll cost you extra. The staff there mentioned they can run tests using an ejaculate sample (collected overnight in a sterile cup), the second stream of morning urine (also in a cup), and a swab taken from the tip.
Basically, these tests are 100% reliable, and if they find anything in those samples, they can perform specific typing.
The whole thing costs about $400, which is honestly a steal compared to the discomfort of having someone shove a tube up there and scrape the walls.

3. PSA: This is a blood test used to measure prostate-specific antigen levels. Basically, they draw your blood, though I’m not sure where you should go to get it done.🤷 If you want to follow a specific order, just ask the dermatologist for a referral to a lab or a clinic.

David Palmer5 said:Look, of course you’d go to the ends of the earth for someone you love or a family member. You’ll do absolutely anything to help them out, even if what they're asking makes zero sense at the time. I wasn't even going to comment on that part—mostly because I would never dream of making you feel like an idiot for being a good person. And by the way, those were YOUR words, not mine.
I was just commenting on YOUR foot soak. Is that okay?

No, it’s not okay, because you’ve been blatantly taking me out of context, and you're doing it again right now. What I actually wrote was a response to a guy asking how I felt during and after the soak. And just so we're clear, that silky smoothness isn't even remotely close to what you get from slathering your feet in lotion. Also, I didn't set aside money to buy a device; I'm using my poor old one that belonged to my late mother, so it's basically free for me, and it's certainly not some chemical cream. That's why I told you to go back and read the thread from the very beginning.

As for the detoxifier, I still don't have a solid opinion on it, and I won't have one until I see the results from the water analysis.

Elizabeth Diaz60, I truly feel for you😢
Take some comfort in knowing you handled this whole situation with incredible courage; you should be proud of yourself. I’m certain your mother is looking down on all of you with so much pride. I believe she’s in a peaceful, special place right now, much like my own mother is. I don't know if you've noticed, but there was a common thread among everyone we've followed here who has passed away. They were exceptionally kind, noble, and selfless people who lived through love every single day. In my view, people like that are the very reason this world exists in the first place—because of the pure, selfless love they pour into those closest to them. Even though they left us far too soon—partly because they are our kin, and partly because a world filled with sorrow needs souls like theirs—I am convinced they closed their chapter in the most meaningful way possible.
May they rest in peace, and may all of us who have lost loved ones, especially you today, find peace in our hearts and souls. They left us with a legacy of exactly what they believed in and lived by.

David Palmer5 said:Isn't that a bit overkill for a sport just to get some softer feet? I mean, you could always just rub on some lotion... 🙄

Oh, you're clearly a genius and I'm just a complete idiot.🙄
Go ahead, read the whole thread from the beginning and realize that even a genius can look like a total moron if they start pulling things out of context—not to mention how easy it is to make an idiot out of someone who is literally trying everything in their power to save his wife's life.☕

You've got a yeast infection. Go grab some more Monistat—get the combo pack with both the cream and the suppositories. For your girlfriend, just applying the cream isn't going to cut it; she really needs to use those suppositories too. You guys also need to totally hold off on sex while you're treating this. Honestly, you should both ask your doctor for a prescription for Diflucan. That pill is a total powerhouse, and when you pair it with the Monistat, it should knock this thing out for good.

Amanda Miller69 said:Yeah, eventually. I just want all this death and sickness to finally stop.

Do you honestly think that’s even feasible? Or are we just chasing ghosts?😕
Honestly, I don't think so. As long as there are people, there will be sickness and death. It’s just the way things work, and it's completely natural. The real issue is that we haven't come to terms with it. The sooner you accept that reality, the easier it becomes to focus on the actual fight—that constant effort to live your life as healthily and as long as possible. Beyond that, whether things work out is ultimately up to nature or the will of God.

jadeheron59 said:Angela Wright is getting a detox... we'll see if her feet start breathing soon enough.🙂

I don't really use the thing that much myself. My old man bought it back when my wife was sick and needed it. For me, I just soak my feet in it every now and then; it feels fine, nothing groundbreaking, but my feet end up feeling silky smooth afterward. And, if you’ll excuse the TMI, I definitely have to hit the restroom right after a session. Someone mentioned you could get that same silky-smooth sensation from those cheap bubble tubs you find at the drugstore, but let me tell you—that's a total lie. I own one of those budget tubs too, and it just doesn't cut it.

Amanda Miller69 said:If I didn't have enough going on to keep life from getting "boring," my uncle—who passed away from heart failure just a few days after my mom did—has left us with a new nightmare. When I called his wife today just to check in, she dropped the bomb: her son, my mom's brother, was diagnosed with bladder cancer and has been stuck in the hospital for several days now. It feels like we’re being targeted, like someone is systematically picking off my family one by one, ever since my dad passed away three years ago. Honestly, I'm just sitting here wondering what kind of hit is coming next.😢

Things will get better.