Posts by Angela Wright

Sophia Reed6 said:About three months after giving birth, I started noticing these red patches around my toenails, then they spread to my back, and eventually, white spots appeared inside my mouth. Three months later, I was diagnosed with Liechen Ruber, an autoimmune condition. I turned down corticosteroid treatment because I wanted to keep breastfeeding. I tried homeopathy instead, and while the patches cleared up, my nails never grew back right. It’s been about a year now and nothing has changed. My doctors tell me there isn't much these supplements can do. What should I do?

If homeopathy worked for you once, why not give it another shot?😳 I know some women deal with all sorts of health issues following pregnancy, and some actually try to resolve them by getting pregnant again, thinking the body undergoes a total regeneration after each pregnancy that might clear the illness—though, if I'm being honest, that sounds like a double-edged sword to me.

Casey Mitchell3 said:Basically,
cardiorespiratory failure 😕
which is just medical speak for death😕

Can someone please explain what this means?
My grandmother passed away from this and I have no clue what the terminology actually implies, so I'm asking for some help here!

It means the heart and lungs both gave out. Cardio refers to the heart, respiratory refers to breathing and the lungs.
With elderly people, it’s often just how things end—the systems simply shut down.😳
I'm really sorry for your loss; hang in there.

Kate Cox2 said:But what about honey made from plants that aren't even in bloom until after May?
🤔

Look, if you can look me in the eye and swear up and down that there isn’t any of that stuff hiding in the honey, then fine. But personally? I wouldn't dream of taking that chance. I am definitely not about to risk triggering an asthma attack just for the sake of it.😳
Thank God we actually have alternatives like honey and propolis to fall back on when dealing with this kind of mess.

Jeremy Clark55 said:Not sure if this belongs here, but I honestly have no clue where else to start a thread.

So, I’m getting a tattoo on my inner bicep—you know, the upper arm area. When I was getting work done on my back, it hurt like hell, but I’m thinking this spot is going to be way worse since the skin is so thin and sensitive there.

So, question: does anyone actually know how to numb the skin in that specific spot? Like, my dentist always rubs some stuff on my gums and my whole mouth goes totally numb. Is there something similar?

A buddy of mine who's in pharmacy school suggested Deep Relief, but I’m not sure if that’s actually what you want for this. The label says don't put it on open wounds, but does that even matter if I'm applying it *before* the needle hits? Before the wounds even exist?

Anyway, if anyone knows anything, I'd appreciate it...

Tell your friend to drop out of college. I have never heard such nonsense in my life. If you're dead set on getting tattooed, just deal with the pain. The people who invented this whole thing believed that being able to endure pain is what makes a man a real adult. And hey, if you don't feel manly enough to handle it, just take some Advil or Motrin afterward.😉

slyfox26 said:Fentanyl helps, but it leaves you feeling pretty drowsy

Honestly, I think that’s the least of the worries for a patient dealing with pain so excruciating they'd rather just end it all than deal with another second of it.

Sam Hall15 said:Durogesic isn't morphine; it's fentanyl. I find it hard to wrap my head around someone on a ward dealing with metastases receiving an oral analgesic... one can only imagine how poor their gastrointestinal mucosa might be. It seems most appropriate for an anesthesiologist to step in and likely coordinate a cocktail of morphine alongside other analgesics... do they have rib PCA at the hospital?

They're getting 10 mg of Severus, which is basically morphine, right?
Can you take that alongside Durogesic? Like, do they start with low doses and gradually ramp them up?

Good grief, there's no way they're only giving him that. They’re almost certainly bundling it with something else. You should ask if they can just sedate him so he stays asleep; I know that's standard procedure for people dealing with severe trauma just so they don't thrash around from the pain. Maybe try catching one of the anesthesiologists for a quick chat. Anyway, the staff at the Mayo Clinic are usually pretty approachable. Rounds are about to start, so just hang out outside his room and grill them with questions.

Don't take no for an answer when you talk to the nurse; demand to see the doctor on call, and honestly, don't be afraid to be a total pain in the neck if you have to. The attending physician needs to authorize either some heavy-duty patches or IV morphine right now!

Kate Cox2 said:Now, if you really want to see some results, you ought to take a large bulb of onion and let it simmer away for at least two or three hours. It’s all about patience, really. You can't rush the process if you want that deep, concentrated essence to truly develop.

Once you have boiled it thoroughly, I suggest passing the liquid through a fine strainer and then adding as much honey as you personally prefer. Personally, I tend to be quite generous with the honey—it helps mask that heavy onion flavor!
Just make sure you take those by the spoonful every day—whenever you happen to remember, of course...

You should also try boiling about two to four ounces of bay leaves, letting that sit and steep for maybe half an hour to an hour, and then just strain it. Once you've got that liquid, go ahead and stir in some honey and fresh lemon juice. It’s quite simple, really!

To’s what works best for me—I always find that sticking to the home remedies we grew up with yields the most reliable results.

If you’re looking for some quick fixes, I highly recommend propolis spray—it provides instant relief for that raw, scratchy throat sensation. It was an absolute lifesaver for me when I started working at the local elementary school; between constant talking and lesson planning, my throat was just under constant assault! I also swear by cough syrup and those Icelandic lichen lozenges.

When I find myself dealing with a scratchy throat, I tend to follow a bit of a routine depending on where I am. If I'm just relaxing at home, I usually opt for some Robitussin. However, once I step out of the house and start feeling that telltale dryness kicking in, I prefer reaching for some propolis or perhaps some lichen-based lozenges to soothe the irritation.

Watch out with the honey and propolis, though, especially given those pollen allergies you mentioned. You don't want them hiding in the ingredients of the propolis or honey. You could end up having a nasty reaction.

Give the Iceland moss syrup a shot. It’s honestly great for that dry, hacking cough, especially when you're trying to clear out all the gunk.

Linda Campbell said:Just a quick update for everyone: the test results are back, and it’s bad news. The cancer has recurred right at the site where they removed her stomach. Within just four months of the surgery, this thing has grown to 15 cm, and her bile ducts are heavily thickened. That’s it. It’s over. My only hope is that my dearest won't have to endure unbearable agony—though she’s already suffering. I just pray that God takes her to Himself soon, just like He does for all those who suffer. God, are You listening? And now I have to go visit her and pretend everything is perfectly fine.
PLEASE, FRIENDS, I need your help with what will likely be my final pieces of advice for myself—what should I take to stay calm, something to keep me upright while still taking the edge off? Because, obviously, I HAVE TO GO TO WORK. I work for a private employer who has zero empathy for anyone's situation, and I have a little boy who is incredibly energetic and non-stop; he needs me more than ever. Also, if my mother starts experiencing intense pain (in case the hospital doesn't manage it), should I try to sneak her something or demand better care from the hospital? I'm terrified she'll die in excruciating pain or slip into a coma, just like my late father did when he passed away from lung cancer seven years ago.

Honey, I am truly, deeply sorry... I honestly don't even know what to say to you😳. What specifically did the doctors tell you?
Try taking Normabelle at 2 mg. It really helped me. It kind of numbs the edges. If that feels too weak, there are higher doses, but just be aware they might make you drowsy.
For your mom, ask the staff about Durogesic patches for the pain. They are excellent because they release that opioid analgesic gradually, and you can always supplement with Tramali if needed.

Chloe Moore11 said:I've had enough of this biased, one-sided nonsense.😲
My eye was bothering me all day yesterday too.

What could it be? 😲

A mosquito bite or maybe a venomous spider?
Try some cold compresses.

Here, maybe you can actually make sense of some of this.🙂

Linda Campbell said:DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW THEY DRAIN THAT FLUID FROM THE ABDOMEN?

Like I mentioned in my PM, they can also use diuretics like LASIK. My grandfather had heart issues that eventually led to kidney failure, and they basically had to "pump him out." He was flushing out 15 liters of water in a single day.
You'll see that they'll get it under control; the real question is why the fluid is building up in the first place. It doesn't necessarily mean there's a relapse.

Linda Campbell said:Mila, thank you for everything. It really bothers me that the CT scan failed—why didn't they just get this done sooner? Instead, she’s stuck waiting until her condition becomes incredibly critical. If they had actually listened to us and ordered an MRI, things might be different. I don't understand why the CT failed, but right now, what can we even do? She can barely manage three sips of soup or tea all day before throwing it back up. Yesterday, she managed ten steps before collapsing back into bed. They should have run these tests earlier so they could react properly instead of letting her suffer like this.

Actually, you've got it backwards. An MRI is superior to a CT. It's much more precise; think of a CT scan like looking through a magnifying glass, whereas an MRI is like looking through a microscope. In my opinion, those few days of waiting haven't fundamentally changed the biological situation, though I agree with you that if they'd acted sooner, she wouldn't be struggling so much. But hey, it is what it is, and we move forward. The only thing I can't wrap my head around is why they didn't perform an abdominal ultrasound, because that would have clearly shown the fluid buildup.

Linda Campbell said:She finished her first infusion, hasn't eaten a thing in two weeks, and her overall condition is just terrible. They had to run an MRI because the CT scanner was broken, and there's massive ascites—way too much free fluid in her abdomen. There’s a strong suspicion of a relapse, and word on the street is that the damn chemo didn't even touch it. It feels like we've hit a wall. I am honestly having a nervous breakdown right now.

Honey, hang in there. It isn't over yet. Everything you're learning right now is just data to help the doctors figure out how to actually help her. The reality of the situation hasn't changed since yesterday or the day before; the only difference is that now you finally have a clear picture of what's causing this. Things fluctuate. If things do take the absolute worst turn, there will be plenty of time for the despair and the tears later. Right now, the most important thing is for you to stay steady and keep your eyes on the fight.
I sent you a PM detailing everything else besides a relapse that could be causing that fluid buildup.

There are these new Fentanyl patches out now that release an opioid analgesic steadily to keep pain under control. You just swap the patch out every few days, and you can take Tramadol as needed while gradually ramping up the dosage. That said, you should definitely check in with the American Pain Society; http://www.hdlb.org/strucniclanci.php you can find all the contact info right at this link.

Get yourself to the ER right now.

Linda Campbell said:I had to cut my vacation short and rush home because my mom just finished her third round of chemo at the hospital. It’s been brutal—she was vomiting constantly and just can't stop spitting out excess saliva and mucus. The vomiting has finally settled down a bit, but she’s still dealing with this heavy buildup of phlegm and spit.
She hasn't eaten a single thing in nine days and is being kept entirely on an IV drip. Her labs are coming back within normal ranges, though. Since they removed her entire stomach, gallbladder, and spleen, we're planning to get an MRI or a CT scan done. She already had X-rays to check the surgical site and her intestines after the operation, and everything looks fine there. I'm wondering, is it possible this is all just a reaction to the chemo? This was the third cycle, and this specific reaction hit about ten days in. Has anyone else dealt with this? Has anyone gone through something similar? Please, I need some advice!

Look, chemo is a poison, plain and simple, and the body is naturally going to fight like hell to purge it. Reactions can get much worse than this, too. It’ll settle down eventually; she just needs to hang in there. I really hope she finds the strength to push through.😳

Grace Fisher31 said:Has anyone here had these lenses made, and what’s the typical cost? I already have my frames, so I just need to find a local shop to add a blue light filter to help with eye strain during long hours at the computer. I’d rather avoid getting ripped off at a random shop, so I wanted to check if anyone has experience with pricing in Washington, D.C. 😍

My boyfriend ended up paying $500 for his whole setup, and he's got a pretty light prescription. It shouldn't break the bank. You're looking at a huge range of options depending on the quality you go for, so prices fluctuate wildly.
Just head down to a local LensCrafters, see what they have on the table, and check the price tags. They have official catalogs right there, so they can't really pull any fast ones on you.