4549 posts shown.
There are over 4,000 toxic compounds floating around in cigarette smoke, and they call it "poison" for a very good reason. I’m honestly worried you’re going to have a hard time pinning down just one single culprit here.
To me, the culprits seem pretty obvious—take the CO2 and carbon monoxide produced by the combustion that you’re inhaling. That stuff hits your bloodstream and reaches your brain in seconds, effectively starving it of the oxygen it desperately needs just to function properly.
Patrick White said::
Is this just some automatic physical reaction to cigarettes? Maybe
they triggered my anxiety faster, or is there
some other response happening here—something purely somatic??
I’m looking for answers from anyone who actually knows or has dealt with this before.
I can just make stuff up myself 👍
Honestly, do you really think getting a technical answer to this matters?
Isn't it obvious enough from your own experience that your body is flat-out rejecting cigarettes? They're clearly hurting you. Whether it's a somatic response or not doesn't change the bottom line: are you going to need medical treatment just so you can smoke without discomfort, only to end up treating a different smoking-related illness down the road?🤷
Look, man, I don't think you have a problem😉.
Just embrace a healthy lifestyle and be glad you have a built-in defense mechanism preventing you from even lighting up. Most people don't have that luxury; they just get stuck in a permanent vacuum of addiction for life.
Amanda Miller69😢
Watch yourself, honey! You’ve still got your whole life ahead of you.🙂
Nancy Hernandez43 said:I happened to flip on the TV a little while ago, and I’m honestly so relieved that most of the ABC Daily News was dedicated to our struggles—specifically regarding diagnosis and treatment for malignant diseases!
I managed to catch Angela Wright on screen, and I assume the other woman was the fighter girl. You ladies are absolute legends!!!!
Oh yeah, we were on😁. They filmed us at 4:00 PM today and rushed the edit straight into the Daily News broadcast. We already posted the association's notice on the forum, and we’ll upload the full segment soon. Honestly, we covered way more ground and touched on much more critical issues, but they definitely gave us a bit of a hard time🙄
rustyscout31 said:Thanks for the insight, slyseal28.😉 Honestly, I want to throw my full support behind you because seeing you hold onto hope actually makes things a little easier for me, too—even though I’m fully aware I’m slowly losing my mother (I feel you, sis). But if nothing else, since we’ve pretty much tried everything already, I just want to help her enough to make her life as easy as possible. I used to guilt her constantly for taking way too many pills, and now the poor woman is actually enduring this sneaky, underlying pain just to avoid taking more medication. Now that I'm facing a completely different situation, my mom is just lost, bless her heart. A doctor I trust, along with several friends whose loved ones passed away from cancer, told me I should give her painkillers so she doesn't have to suffer. My friend, who's a physician, says he wouldn't even recommend chemotherapy because she's simply too frail and has such weak bone marrow (thanks to that damn osteoporosis😠). He thinks chemo would just break her.
The dilemma: push for chemo or just let nature take its course?
And another thing: should I let her take Voltaren and Tramadol as needed, or strictly dose them out? I'm terrified that soon, they won't be strong enough to touch the pain...
God, it's just so hard.🤷
Regarding the pain management, you should call the Pain Management Clinic at the MD Anderson Cancer Center at 713-793-5500 and consult with them on how to handle the dosing. Every case is highly specific and needs an individualized approach.
Laura Williams74 said:I’m sorry—I know some of you already have a diagnosis while I’m still waiting on anything official. Looking back, my last post was a bit much... I let panic get the best of me. About six months ago, I had to walk off the job because my heart started racing like crazy, my face went bright red, and I felt this sharp, burning pain under my arm. Basically, I ended up at the ER because it was yet another one of those episodes. That’s when the doctor who saw me first mentioned cancer. She told me, "These symptoms aren't anything to ignore; you need to run tests, because this could be a carcinoid tumor." When I asked where, she just pointed toward my abdomen and said it was somewhere in there...
I've got an ear infection and I'm generally feeling pretty rough... but honestly, reading through your posts has taught me so much. I've realized that this isn't just something that happens to "some doctor"—it's right here among us. It’s better to be proactive and get the testing done rather than just waiting.
Of course, I’m hoping it’s nothing, but as time goes on, I’m losing that certainty. Again, I apologize for coming in hot with the panic before I even have a diagnosis. A few years back, my grandfather passed away from lung cancer. He lived in Miami, and since I hadn't seen him in years, I didn't really "process" it the way many of you did—you all who were right there caring for your loved ones. But now, it feels like everywhere I turn, no matter who I talk to, the word "cancer" pops up... including from that doctor that day...
Hang in there. Lately, I’ve been falling asleep to prayer—praying for my family, for everyone who is sick, and even for the people I'm clashing with. It helps me keep from holding onto any resentment toward them...
It’s almost like I’m trying to disperse all this negative energy surrounding me... but enough about that...
Honey, it’s going to be okay🙂. You’re facing whatever this is head-on, and you’re going to handle it. These symptoms could stem from a thousand different things, and cancer is just one of the worst-case scenarios. Don't spiral. Even if it turns out to be something serious—and it doesn't necessarily have to be cancer to be serious—you’ll deal with it just like anyone else deals with a crisis. Like I said before, the most important thing is not to make it worse by jumping to conclusions. No illness, especially cancer, should be allowed to hijack your life. We have to be the ones in control of the disease, not the other way around. Keep telling yourself that until it becomes your mindset; it's the only way to actually manage whatever comes your way. Right now, you *are* taking control. You’ve started the testing, and as soon as you have answers, you’ll start treatment.
What you can do right now is focus on boosting your immune system immediately. There’s been plenty of discussion on this forum about supplements and ways to strengthen your immunity based on people's personal experiences.
Laura Williams74 said:Honestly, thank you all so much,
I’ve actually noticed some changes today too... I usually follow this forum just to stay updated and find support for people dealing with cancer here in the States.
What scares me most is what happens if some jerk decides to target me while I'm looking after my little one. I'm a single mom, and lately, I've been missing quite a bit of work due to all these tests, which makes me feel terrible, but once this process starts, there seems to be no end in sight.
I'm waiting until Tuesday to go back for an ultrasound at the local clinic, and then I have to see my doctor again to get a referral—I'm not even sure if I should be seeing an oncologist or an internist next.
Trying to organize everything is such a nightmare because I have to drop my kid off at daycare every day, and I feel safest getting things done while he's there.
For instance, today I noticed these tiny red spots on my left hand; they appeared out of nowhere overnight. I know I probably sound like a hypochondriac, but I keep insisting to everyone close to me that I don't feel right. My cousin is a doctor, but she just brushes me off, saying it's just stress or because I'm a single parent, etc., etc... but I can feel that something is seriously wrong.
I've been reading through symptoms on the non-profit organization's site, and I recognize several of them, which is why I'm terrified. I know, I'm trying to stay positive, but when you have a child, your anxiety levels just skyrocket.
Thanks to everyone. As soon as I find out something on Tuesday, I'll update you. I plan on listing all my symptoms to see if anything shows up in the results.
I learned that 5-HIAA in urine tests are done when someone suspects carcinoid syndrome (I'm heading to the doctor tomorrow for orders and some acid so I can start collecting urine this weekend). If the 5-HIAA, histamine, and cortisol levels in the urine aren't right, there's a suspicion...
Wish me luck; I'm scared, but hopefully, we finally get some clarity.
Also, is there any way to check bone issues that's less aggressive than a bone scan?
Thanks again...
I'm honestly losing my mind with all of this; I'd give anything to just get a full-body CT right now. By the time all these individual tests are finished, so much time will have passed, and catching things early is everything. I'm feeling really depressed about it all...
Austin Evans4, please just chill out.😳
Stop jumping to conclusions and trying to diagnose specific types of cancer based on every little thing. What is wrong with you? Any healthy person can experience various ailments and find a massive list of symptoms that could potentially point to cancer.
I would bet money that you have shingles, but the doctors are clearly missing the forest for the trees.
Just pull yourself together and wait for the lab results. If they come back bad, then come back to the non-profit organization's page or the main thread above. What you're doing right now is completely pointless.👎
Laura Williams74 said:I’ve been reading through all your posts for a while now... I just want to wish everyone the absolute best—most importantly, I hope you all find healing and things start looking up. May you find strength and faith... this whole situation has turned into an absolute nightmare.
And honestly, based on how my own health has been trending lately, I think I might be joining your ranks pretty soon... once I get an actual diagnosis...
I'm 31, a single mom, and I'll post an update once I get concrete news today. I read a lot here, and I truly believe it's vital that we all swap information—sharing what's happening with each of us, from those very first symptoms to the final diagnosis, the meds, and everything else that comes with it...
Fiza, Dina, and everyone else—I know how incredibly hard this is for you. It's brutal when you can't even get standard medical leave to take care of your loved ones, so hang in there... doctors can be so blunt and harsh sometimes that it makes it almost impossible to hold onto hope. I’m sending you all strength and hope, and I completely agree with what slyseal28 wrote.
God, this thing is such a cursed, low-life piece of filth....
Laura, hold your horses!😳 What you’re describing sounds more like shingles to me, just like I mentioned to you over in that other thread. Don't jump to conclusions; let a competent, dedicated doctor actually do their job first. Once you have a real diagnosis, then we can talk about whether it’s cancer and how to tackle it. What you're doing right now is pure panic, and frankly, it's doing you more harm than good. Pull yourself together, lady, and handle things one step at a time—which means stop trying to solve a problem you don't even know exists yet.
I don't believe you have cancer.
Grace Fowler said:Hey everyone!
I don't have much good news to share :-( Honestly, the lab results were pretty rough, so we had to push things back a week with the German doctor to see if her condition improves... (her markers and sedimentation levels spiked, plus CRP is up... we aren't even sure why yet???) But I'm just trying to stay patient and take it one step at a time.
Dear Fiza, I am so incredibly sorry to hear that the latest updates regarding your mom are this bad. Please, try not to take any harsh words she might say to heart—it’s not really her. That irritability she's showing is likely just a reflection of how much pain she's in because of everything she's going through.
Sandra Evans13, I'm praying for your mom, and for you and your sister too. I hope you all find the strength you need to get through this. I truly understand what you're feeling, because I went through something very similar two years ago when I had to say my final goodbye to my dad...
Best, Dina
Damn it all😠
Hang in there, girl, things will get better! We're all standing right here with you!
Sandra Evans13 said:Good luck to anyone still holding onto hope... mine has completely burned out... Sis, I'm so sorry...
Honey, I am so sorry... but please, remember that hope is usually the last thing to flicker out. Try to hold onto it, because you have to find a way to stand tall through this remaining time and be there for her. If you stay this broken, it’s going to be incredibly hard to give her what she needs. She needs you to keep believing and keep hoping. She deserves that from you, because at the end of the day, she's the one going through this—we're all just caught in the wake of it. Please, try to pull yourself together. Do it for Mom, do it for your sister, and do it for yourself... hang in there and fight. Life is essentially one long struggle, and we have to fight even when there isn't a shred of guarantee that we'll win. We don't have any other choice but to fight. The only time we can truly give up is when we close our eyes for good; that's the only time the battle of life actually ends.
Believe me, when a person throws up their hands in surrender, God only needs to move a finger to take control. I learned that lesson deeply many times while my own mother was sick.
Laura Williams74 said:thanks ...but the rash isn't exactly glaringly obvious, let's just say everything gets red after I shower or if it starts itching ...I don't know
What’s actually weighing on me more is this bone pain, plus the stomach and back aches... I'm trying to figure out where to even start, which tests to run, especially since waiting months for an appointment is the norm. Sure, I can pay out of pocket for some things privately, but I can't afford to do everything that way.
Maybe an internist? My gynecological stuff seems fine, aside from that issue with my period, but pills will sort that right out.
Anyway, thanks a lot,
Can you see the state of internal organs (tumors, cancer) on an ultrasound, or is a CT scan more reliable?
And this trembling, the pulsing—I don't even know how to describe it—and the pain on the left side of my waist near the abdomen is what's really killing me (is that what showed up on the ultrasound?)
thanks
This shingles situation might even manifest internally, affecting your actual organs.
An ultrasound lets you see the internal state of your organs by showing changes in size or shape, or perhaps spotting certain shadows or darkened clusters. However, an ultrasound isn't a definitive diagnostic tool that can give you a 100% guarantee regarding malignant diseases. It’s more like a compass for a doctor, helping them decide which direction to take with further testing because it provides a solid basis for suspicion. A CT scan works similarly, though it's much more precise when it comes to detailing specific conditions compared to an ultrasound. Ultimately, only a biopsy of suspicious tissue can provide a 100% diagnosis. Don't spiral over this; I really don't think it's anything of that nature. My advice is to find a solid internist who will look at all your lab results holistically and map out your next steps.
Ask about shingles. If that's what we're dealing with, getting started on treatment immediately is critical.
Laura Williams74 said:Hey everyone,
Here’s the deal: about six months ago, my period stopped. After taking a course of testosterone, it came back, but I've been dealing with a bunch of other symptoms during that whole stretch. I've had temporary heart palpitations, facial flushing, an urgent need to use the bathroom, and skin itching. Now, the itching and a sort of mild hives/rash are mostly concentrated on my chest and shoulders—it feels like they're burning, then it itches.
But over time, the pain started setting in. It's in my left abdomen and radiates up into my back, specifically toward my shoulder blades. I get mild nausea, and lately, my pelvis hurts, along with my left foot and heel, which makes walking difficult.
I also get frequent headaches.
As far as testing goes, I've had a head CT—everything looked fine there. I had a gastroscopy, which resulted in a diagnosis of gastritis. An abdominal ultrasound suggested there might be stones in my left kidney, so I was told to get an X-ray to confirm if they are indeed stones (just to rule out a blood clot), but my doctor immediately waved that off, saying the ultrasound is more reliable and why bother with radiation?
Should I get an abdominal CT? I just feel so off—exhausted, anxious, and the pain is constant. Sometimes it feels like my entire body is aching, almost like it's in my bones.
My doctor keeps insisting I'm too young for anything serious and that everything is fine, but sometimes I feel this sharp, shooting pain that seems to radiate toward my heart.
It’s hard to suggest specific tests to my doctor because I feel like I should be relying on his guidance.
Would it be a good idea to run tumor markers? Some people at the ER mentioned them (though I'm not entirely sure what they entail), or maybe a bone scan, though I'm having a hard time getting an appointment for that.
I already waited two months for that abdominal ultrasound... so while I'm waiting, what else would you recommend?
Also, I frequently feel these pulsations or "fluttering" sensations in my abdomen, my buttock, and my lower left ribcage.
Thanks.😢
🤷 But honestly, some of those symptoms sound a lot like shingles to me. I knew a guy who went through the exact same thing while on vacation a few years back. If you have a link, look up the symptoms.
Look, just ask. Who knows?🤷
That "24-hour urine" thing is basically just collecting your urine in a container over a full 24-hour period.
Casey White98 said:The legal system works fine in a practical sense; it’s just that right now, it isn't protecting her rights. There’s a reason for that, as mentioned above.
I don't really see how her faith in the system provides any advantage over actually verifying facts and taking action. Then again, maybe if I try hard enough, I can manifest a laser beam using nothing but pure willpower.
I don't see the logic in taking anything away from her, especially since she always has the option to handle these things herself using the law and a yellow highlighter.
On the other hand, expecting someone—even the government—to do that kind of work for free? Gimme a break.
Sorry, I didn't quite catch that, especially the part about someone needing to work for nothing.😕 Just because she has that option doesn't mean her grievances will actually get resolved. As for his tax evasion, he'll surely collect a salary at a rate any American neurosurgeon would kill for😉, and maybe even a slice of some real estate. We can all bet on that; it's a safe wager.👍
Look, no matter how you slice it, the woman isn't at fault, nor is she responsible for the damage. She believed in the legal system and the agencies meant to oversee real estate transactions. Honestly, I’d probably be just as naive as she was—probably like 90% of the country. The other 10% are either dodging taxes, have criminal minds looking for loopholes, or they already blew it long ago and are just staring blankly at the wreckage.
brightgardener8 said:...
Hey brightgardener8, what’s the deal? How are things going with you, your mom, and your sister?
Anonymous said:I didn't have the energy to post sooner; my aunt passed away last week. She just fell asleep... Thank you all for the support. Please stay strong for me; she was a true fighter who fought until her very last breath, fighting so hard not to drift off. I am proud of her with all my heart.
😢 I'm so sorry.
Your aunt had a niece who loved her deeply. That connection is everything, and it’s why she was happy.
Just ship the package to them with the shipping costs set to receiver pay.👍
feralraven4 said:I just borrowed some cash from my sister, so I’m going to call a private clinic on Monday to get myself scheduled. My OB-GYN seems to give zero damn about HPV.
I tried asking her all sorts of questions, but she’s just being incredibly brief and dismissive. She even went as far as telling me she’s "sure" it’s just low-risk HPV because of the warts, which isn't how any medical diagnosis works. Basically, she doesn't even want to bother with typing tests... I'll keep you guys posted!!!
Genital warts are indeed caused by low-risk strains, but that doesn't mean you aren't also carrying high-risk types alongside them. This woman is clearly incompetent. In a more civilized country with actual medical standards, someone would have reported her to the state medical board and she’d be losing her license already. What a piece of work!😠
Hang in there and don't let her get to you. I really hope you can find a reliable gynecologist elsewhere.😉
Look, if you want my honest advice, put your health above everything else. Don't get hung up on whether it's "right" or "wrong" to switch OB-GYNs so quickly. If I were in your shoes and short on cash, I’d honestly just borrow some money to see a private specialist. It's not worth the risk.
Personally, I solved this by getting extra coverage through an insurance provider like Blue Cross Blue Shield, paying $37 a month for supplemental health benefits. That covers two specialized exams a year, routine checkups, and labs like Pap smears and swabs. Now, I go to this super high-end specialist twice a year; she does my Pap smear and I have the results in a few days. If I need swabs, I head over to the local community clinic. I don't mind spending those $37 because I’m walking into a top-tier office where I can book an appointment with just three days' notice—and if it's an emergency, they squeeze me in immediately. I spend my wait time, which is never more than 15 minutes, lounging in a comfy armchair reading a fashion magazine and sipping my Nespresso.😍
The community clinic is hit or miss; I've had some good days and some pretty bad ones there. It really depends on her mood, which isn't surprising given all the crazy complaints she deals with, and her sister is completely disorganized and clueless.🙄 Basically, once I figured out the logistics, I started using the public clinic for the "dirty work" like swabs, since the private specialist would charge me extra for those outside of my primary insurance policy.😛
Do yourself a favor and treat yourself like royalty whenever you can.
swiftangler91 said:My gynecologist is seeing me this Thursday, and I have to head back for a follow-up anyway... I already tried explaining everything about my period to him, but he just wouldn't stop talking long enough to listen properly.
Honestly, guys, I am genuinely baffled by what’s happening here😕. While browsing this PDF today, I’ve already stumbled upon several different threads where women are complaining about their OB-GYNs completely ignoring them🤷. Look, ladies, you need to be a bit more assertive and decisive when you walk into those offices. If they choose to stay deaf to your concerns, remember they aren't the only doctors in the entire country😲. When you see him on Thursday, lay it all out again clearly. Demand that he actually explains what is going on, and for heaven's sake, do not walk out of that office until you get an answer that actually satisfies you. When it comes to your health, you don't play nice—you advocate for yourself, period
.
swiftangler91 said:I was expecting my period to show up, but nothing yet... For the last three days, I've had this brownish, bloody discharge, similar to what I dealt with last month right before my cycle started. Now, in the meantime, I'm dealing with this cottage cheese-like discharge. Is it possible for a period to be late because of a yeast infection, inflammation, or whatever this discharge actually is?
Let's toss some beans at it and see what happens.🤷
Go to the gynecologist. Something is definitely wrong here. The missed period and the yeast infection don't necessarily have to be related.