Posts by Angela Wright

Betty Wood71 said:Unfortunately, here I am on your pages too.
I need help from the experienced people here regarding what to do—whether we should take my father somewhere out of state if there's any hope, or if this is just how it is.
My father (74 years old, he used to be incredibly vital with zero health issues) unexpectedly discovered and had surgery for colon cancer a year ago. It had liver metastases that couldn't be touched because they were so widespread.
A month after surgery, he started chemo with Avastin plus cytostatics via IV every 48 hours, and he actually handled it quite well without nausea; he even regained his lost weight and his blood work looked okay.
He finished 18 rounds of chemo, but then everything started spiraling downward. The chemo stopped working, and his markers shot back up to 1000 after being down to 70.
His liver started hurting, his CRP hit 170, and he ended up hospitalized on antibiotics. Since then, while the pain has lessened slightly, his feet have started swelling, he’s lost his mobility, and he’s struggling with a cough.
Right now, his blood work isn't in any condition to continue chemo, and Dr. Vrdoljak has changed his therapy, though perhaps he should have done that sooner.
We would take him somewhere else if there was any way to get help, but none of the doctors have ever mentioned such an option, so I see that Angela Wright understands this stuff pretty well and I wanted to ask for some help and advice.
Thanks.

It looks like fluid is building up in his abdomen because his liver is in bad shape.
Try sending his records somewhere for a second opinion, but since Dr. Vrdoljak is the one handling him, it's unlikely he'll backtrack. Right now, the priority is stabilizing him so he can actually tolerate a different line of treatment. Don't be discouraged; the starting position was already uphill due to those distant metastases, meaning it was an advanced stage from the jump. At this phase of the disease, treatment options are pretty limited everywhere, and they're more or less the same regardless of where you go.
Ask Dr. Vrdoljak if the K-Ras test for Erbitux has been done for him. If he has the wild-type tumor cells, then Erbitux is indicated. Erbitux is a smart choice, much like Avastin. I suspect he might still be able to move into a second or third line of treatment, though I can't say for sure.

You have to find a way to accept that at this stage, the goal shifts entirely to extending quality of life. Seek help with that mindset, because otherwise, you're just making things harder for him. I'm telling you this from experience. With the right targeted therapy, he can still get some good, quality time.

Betty Nelson71 said:My fiancé won't even set foot in a small town in rural America to grab a drink, let alone deal with someone messing around with his eggs.🤣
The other day, I went through a total meltdown. I missed my period, and the sheer panic that set in was overwhelming. My doctor sent me straight for a blood test to check my HCG levels, and honestly, that feeling of pure, unadulterated dread is something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. I am telling you, the fear is paralyzing. I refuse to ever go through that kind of mental torture again.
Every woman should have the absolute right to decide what she wants to do with her own body. Period.
I actually sat down with my doctor to hash this out, but he wouldn't even give me the time of day. Honestly, I didn't expect that kind of narrow-mindedness from someone in his position.
He just gave me this look of pure pity and said... 🙏Those women are going to end up regretting that decision sooner or later.😵
So, let me get this straight—am I understanding this correctly? Once a woman goes through a sterilization procedure, she’s effectively off the table for natural conception, but there's still a chance through IVF or other fertility treatments, right?

Is it possible for fallopian tubes to spontaneously reopen if they don't fuse back together over time? It’s rare, but it does happen—especially after a significant amount of time has passed since a tubal ligation. My OB-GYN actually told me a story about how she discovered a patient was pregnant at 45; the woman was convinced she had already hit menopause.
Technically speaking, yeah—if you’ve had your fallopian tubes tied, you can still get pregnant through egg retrieval and IVF. It’s definitely an option.

When it comes to laparoscopy, it’s just like any other laparoscopic procedure—it's basically surgery on and around the ovaries. Honestly, just Google the topic of laparoscopy if you want the technical details. I had surgery to deal with endometriotic cysts myself. You usually end up staying at the hospital for about three days, and since they work through those tiny 1 cm incisions, the scars are practically invisible after a year. Recovery takes about ten days before you feel mostly back to normal, though you should definitely avoid heavy lifting for about three months. As far as the procedure itself goes, it isn't even that hard to get through.

neoncyclist792 said:Personally, I feel that if a woman is certain she doesn't want more kids—or doesn't want them at all—she should be the one getting sterilized. I mean, people get divorced; why should he be the one penalized by being unable to start a new family down the road? From what I hear, places like Cleveland Clinic make the process pretty straightforward.

Look, vasectomy is reversible, whereas for women, it’s a much bigger deal. The procedure for men is way less invasive.
And honestly, what does a potential divorce or starting a new family have to do with this? Everyone should decide for themselves. The real issue is that the decision affects both partners, yet it's almost always the woman who ends up carrying the weight of that choice.

stormytinker40 said:Hey there,

I've been going through physical therapy for my hand—doing electrical stimulation, lasers, and exercises—and also dealing with some cervical spine issues using ultrasound. Yesterday, this sharp pain shot up near my spine, maybe about five inches below my shoulder blade, if that makes sense. I'm pretty sure it’s hitting that C-vertebrae area. At times, my neck actually feels like it's locking up.

My follow-up appointment isn't for another three weeks, so I can't get back to my doctor immediately, and my MRI isn't scheduled until October. What should I do? What could this be? Honestly, I'm freaked out. I've never dealt with pain quite like this before.

Thanks,

It could be myalgia. There are cases where nerve compression gets intense enough to basically shut down an entire limb. In those situations, you're usually looking at massage, TENS units, and ultrasound as the primary ways to manage it.

Michael Mitchell10 said:An elderly neighbor of mine, she's over 70, is dealing with something strange. Sometimes everything in her room just looks red to her. She’ll also see red objects that aren't actually there—stuff like red mushrooms or red hearts, etc.

For a few years now, she’s been hearing singing in her head when things quiet down, like when she's sitting still or getting ready for bed. It sounds like old folk music from back in the day, or even her own voice singing songs she never even learned.

Otherwise, she talks to me normally, though her hearing isn't great, so I think she occasionally misinterprets what I'm saying.

The doctors told her it's a brain issue, but they haven't given a specific diagnosis. She already had some brain scans done.
They prescribed her Meredith.

Anyway, does anyone know what this could be?
What should we expect in the future if the condition keeps progressing?

She's also taking these: Diazepam (for spasms), Advil (for rheumatism and bones), and blood pressure medication.

This sounds like typical geriatric dementia, which explains why they put her on Meredith. Honestly, looking at her current meds, those hallucinations might actually be triggered by them—especially something like Diazepam.
As for what's coming next? You're likely looking at continued mental decline. My hope is that she has her affairs in order for when the time comes that she can't look after herself anymore, because that's where this goes for a lot of people. If she doesn't have that support system, you need to be prepared to call social services once you realize she's hit that stage.

Either you've pulled a ligament or you just overtaxed a muscle and caused some inflammation. Slather on some ibuprofen gel and take an Advil; you'll feel better soon enough.

Jamie Wilson50 said:It’s been a while since I’ve posted. Since my last update, I’ve basically been glued to my bed and the bathroom.
Back on April 2nd (at 7+4 weeks), I had my ultrasound. Everything looked great—we even saw the little heartbeat! 😊❤️ My OB/GYN didn't see anything that would explain this brownish discharge; he mentioned it might just be some old blood clearing out. I’m still on progesterone and staying on strict bed rest. I have another checkup next week once I hit the 11-week mark. The spotting is still happening occasionally, and even though the doctor told me not to worry, I can't help but stress. I'm terrified a hematoma might be forming, though honestly, if one is there, there isn't much more I can do besides resting and taking my meds. I should get my urine culture results tomorrow, so I'll call the clinic then. My swabs came back positive for that annoying mycoplasma, so I’m hoping they’ll finally clear me to start Sumamed for that little beast...
Has anyone else dealt with something similar? I’m scared, but I truly believe everything will turn out okay because God is watching over me and my little one... 🙏❤️

That discharge could be coming from her.
You absolutely have to treat it, and you'll need to be extremely careful to make sure it doesn't come back.

My dear, please accept my deepest sympathies... I honestly don't have the strength left to say anything else.
Hang in there and take care of yourself. You're in my thoughts often.

Keith Smith39 said:REM isn't actually deep sleep; it's just light sleep.

Real deep sleep is what we call Slow Wave Sleep (SWS), which happens when your brain starts pumping out those delta waves during stages three and four of non-REM sleep.

And let me tell you, SWS is the heavy hitter—it's the most critical phase of the whole cycle.

The problem is that benzodiazepines (like Valium, Pfizer, or Klonopin) might help you stay under longer, but they don't actually improve the quality of your rest because they essentially wipe out your SWS.

If you want to boost SWS, you're looking at antidepressants (like Paxil or Trazodone), antipsychotics (think Seroquel or Zyprexa), or certain mood stabilizers like Lyrica or Neurontin.

Even what you put on your plate matters. A diet loaded with sugar and carbs is going to wreck your deep sleep, whereas sticking to a ketogenic, high-fat, meat-based diet can actually help support it.

Instead of us sitting here playing philosopher, it's better to just drop a link where this is all laid out clearly:http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/sleep-101

Chloe Garcia10 said:They didn't take an X-ray of the foot... should I head over to Trauma?

I would, especially since the blood work doesn't show any signs of gout.
It’s more likely you just strained a ligament and caused some inflammation. Taking some Ibuprofen should do the trick.

Chloe Garcia10 said:Hey everyone!
Yesterday morning, I woke up with this swollen big toe—specifically around the joint and the pad of my foot. It’s red, puffy, and hurts like crazy. Since it wasn't letting up, I headed over to the local urgent care last night. They suspected gout and handed me some Indomethacin, telling me to rest up and head to a lab today. Well, I got my bloodwork done, and they aren't pointing toward gout, though my CRP is right on the edge. I have no clue what’s going on, but it feels just as bad today. I didn't trip or twist my ankle, but is it possible I strained something during my workout that caused this kind of swelling and pain (I can't even bend the toe)? Or could it still be gout even if my uric acid levels aren't elevated?

Help, any experiences?

It sounds more like a mechanical injury from working out that you didn't notice because you were already warmed up.
Did they do an X-ray on your foot?
In any case, some Ibuprofen should help ease the discomfort.

wiredbear81 said:Hi everyone. I’ve been reading through your posts for about six months now, ever since I found out my mother has Stage 4 lung cancer. She’s finished three rounds of chemo, but things have taken a turn for the worse—it’s metastasized to her brain, and one side of her body is incredibly weak. I had a consultation, and they basically told me it’s just a matter of time. They’ll call her in for radiation, she’s waiting for that call... but the doctor mentioned that if they suspect any bleeding in the brain, they might not proceed with the radiation at all. It’s just devastating. I have three kids, including a baby, and every time I come to see her, I have to leave her behind, never knowing if it’s the last time. There aren't enough words to describe watching her fade away like this. I feel like I’m constantly preparing myself, yet I’m never actually ready. I find myself wondering how she feels, if she's sad... she always greets us with such a smile. My mom is only 56. Forgive me for venting, everything just hit me at once.

It’s always gut-wrenching. Age doesn't change the weight of it. Mine was dealing with a brain tumor starting at 57.
I’m certain she’s struggling.
Call the hospital every single day and stay on their case about that radiation. Brain metastases are extremely sensitive to treatment timing. Don’t sit around waiting for them to give you a ring; you be the one calling them every day until they get her scheduled. Her situation is urgent, and they have no right to strip away whatever precious time she has left by dragging their feet!

Terry Booth2 said:We picked up some Apple royal jelly ampoules at a local pharmacy (1mg per ampoule—which is actually a heavy dose). We just went to the one nearby since the terms were supposedly identical to what was advertised online.
Apple’s website puts their 30-day money-back guarantee right at the top, promising satisfaction regarding quality and results, but
there's been zero response. We went through three full packs, both of us ended up getting sick, and we didn't see a single bit of the benefits they promised.
When we reached out for a refund, they ignored our emails for two weeks. When we finally got a reply after a second attempt, it was just a curt message about their "procedure." Once you get into it, the bureaucracy is more intense than anything else I've dealt with, and the bottom line is—you aren't getting your money back.
Apple is nothing but pure marketing fluff with no substance behind it! If anyone has had similar experiences, I’d love to hear them—not just regarding Apple, but about royal jelly and boosting immunity in general. Thanks.

If you had checked in with a professional beekeeper first, they would have explained that royal jelly needs to be freshly harvested to provide any real benefit.
Unfortunately, just like in anything else in life, there is no absolute guarantee that it will shield you from every single virus or bacterium out there.
It acts as an immune booster, sure, but your own internal immune system is ultimately what calls the shots. That system is influenced by a massive spectrum of factors, ranging from your genetics to your lifestyle, stress levels, and dietary habits.
So, I’d say things aren't quite that black and white.

Angela Wilson53 said:Lately, I’ve been getting about 5 or 6 hours of sleep and functioning totally fine. I don't feel like I need more, though I do spend my mornings lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, but my brain just won't shut off. Still, I'm a bit worried about my health because all the standard medical advice insists that 8 hours of sleep is mandatory for staying healthy. When I do a little digging online, I see conflicting stuff—some articles suggest that 6 hours is perfectly adequate as long as you feel okay. Then there are the completely opposite takes, like those claiming that getting only 6 hours a night has a cumulative effect, meaning after two weeks, you might feel like you haven't slept at all. Both sides present pretty weak arguments, so I wanted to get your take: how many hours of sleep do we actually need to function properly?

From what I understand, it's somewhere between 6 and 8 hours, but the specific hours matter less than the REM cycles—that deep sleep phase essential for keeping your brain running right. We aren't in REM for all 8 hours; it cycles through different stages. For some people, 6 hours is plenty because they're getting enough time spent in REM, so they don't need any more than that.

boldridge3 said:They managed to get the bronchoscopy done, but she didn't really panic about it. Lately, so many people I know have had to go through a bronchoscopy that she just treated it like any other routine procedure. We made an agreement that if we absolutely have to tell her about the cancer, we’ll frame it as a benign growth that’s just causing issues—mostly because she won't understand how something can be "benign" when she feels so terrible. Now that they've drained the fluid, she can breathe without oxygen, and the doctor says her heart has returned to a "normal state." Right now, my biggest priority is that she hasn't viewed the hospital as some final destination; she actually treats it like a hotel. She keeps saying it feels like staying at a hotel because everyone is so nice to her, the food is great, and even the nurse brought her a TV. Plus, there's another lady in her room now, so they’ve become great friends after being alone for three days. I'm sitting here trying to piece things together in my head, realizing that this is just how life works—eventually, we all have to go. At least I got the chance to thank her, to tell her how much I love her... some people never get that luxury because life just slips away too fast.

I'm hoping this stability lasts long enough for her to actually start some kind of therapy. Unfortunately, that fluid buildup tends to recur, and with her, it happens with a vengeance. Once they perform the puncture, it builds back up even faster than before. I assume she's on some diuretics.
For now, I'd say this is okay. Let's just hope it lasts and remains high quality.

boldridge3 said:Hey everyone. We just got confirmation today that Mom has lung cancer. Surgery is completely off the table since the tumor has spread to both lungs, and her overall condition isn't great. Chemotherapy isn't an option either. They’re doing a bronchoscopy tomorrow just to pin down the specific type of lung cancer. For now, the doctor told us not to say anything to her until she stabilizes. She had some heart failure, so any sudden shock could be fatal. I'm struggling with how to handle this on my own—how am I supposed to face a situation where there isn't even a shred of hope for a cure left? Instead of hoping she gets better, my only hope now is that she just falls asleep and never wakes up, because I can't bear the thought of her suffering through the intense pain that's coming.

Don't give her the whole truth. She has a sick heart, and honestly, that's enough truth for her to carry.
As far as the pain goes, that can be managed quite effectively. But since the disease is already at such an advanced stage, things take time to unfold. The real question is whether her heart is strong enough to endure the process.
I don't believe she'll die from the cancer itself. It might cause some pleural effusions that eventually speed up her heart failure, but that's about it. I don't know if that offers much comfort, but I don't think she'll suffer in the way terminal oncology patients typically do.
Try to find the strength to pull yourself together so you can live out these remaining moments peacefully and make them meaningful. As a family, there is so much you can do, and in the end, that's what matters most in life for all of us.
Hang in there; you're going to be okay. You'll probably surprise yourself with your own resilience.
🙂

p.s. Think about the actual purpose of that bronchoscopy. In my opinion, it makes zero sense. It’s just going to exhaust her and trigger anxiety and bad feelings, all just so some doctor can check a box regarding the exact stage and malignancy level. For her, that data is totally irrelevant given that her heart is failing.

Chloe Anderson said:My mom is 59. Wouldn't a PET CT scan pick up bone changes? Or is a bone scan actually required?

Unfortunately, a PET CT is primarily designed to look at soft tissue. If you want to get a clear picture of the bones, you really need a bone scan or targeted X-rays.

Jamie Wilson50 said:So, I went in for my beta test and ultrasound this past Saturday. My beta levels shot up to 1545, which is a fantastic sign. 🙂 My OB/GYN insisted on doing the ultrasound because she mentioned that once those beta levels cross the 1000 mark, we have to double-check everything to rule out an ectopic pregnancy. During the scan, they spotted a tiny little sac in my uterus, so things look okay for now. 🙂 The spotting has stopped for the moment, but I can't shake this nagging feeling that my period is about to start—even though my doctor told me not to worry about it, that little voice in my head just won't shut up. Right now, I've been told to take it easy and stay on bed rest for at least 10 days, maybe more, since there’s absolutely no rush. After that, we'll do another ultrasound where we should finally have some real answers. I'm a total mess of excitement and pure terror; I am counting down the days until that next scan, praying that the sac stays right where it belongs. Based on the timeline, since I'm roughly 5 weeks along, we might even be able to see a heartbeat soon...
I'm just praying every single day and trying to stay positive...

You should probably get a urine culture and some swabs done just to be safe.

Chloe Anderson said:Hello everyone, and much respect to you all for your courage and for looking out for one another.
Unfortunately, my mom’s devastating diagnosis has brought me to these forums. I’m asking for your help, especially from Angela Wright, because it’s clear she knows her way around this and has walked through this same hell with her own mother.
Basically, about 2.5 months ago, my mom ended up in the ER at a pulmonary clinic due to a pleural effusion. After testing, it came back negative, but she spent three weeks in the hospital practically without a diagnosis. In the meantime, they ran every test imaginable, performed a pericardiocentesis to drain pericardial effusion (700 ml of bloody fluid), and did a lymph node biopsy which, unfortunately, came back positive. Following that, a PET scan showed changes in the lymph nodes, and she was referred to have them removed. Meanwhile, complications arose from a recurring pericardial effusion—this one being much worse—so they had to combine the surgery for the lymph nodes and the drainage of the effusion. I should mention there are metastases in the lymph nodes, but the primary carcinoma hasn't been pinpointed yet at this stage. To make a long story short, after dealing with the effusion, complications hit and she ended up in the ICU. She was in a coma for eight days, and the doctors were giving us the worst possible news, but somehow, she woke up and regained contact. The results came back, and it looks roughly like this:
CARCINOMA MAMME METASTATICUM
HER-2: POSITIVE (SCORE +3)
Ki67: 62.4%
TUMOR IMMUNOPHENOTYPE: Luminal B, HER-2 positive
Estrogen receptors: 90%
Progesterone: 25%
This sample is from the pericardial tissue and the lymph node; both are identical.
She received her first round of chemotherapy yesterday, and once insurance approval comes through, she will start targeted therapy.
I know the results are grim and the prognosis looks bleak, but please, if you can, explain these findings to me and offer any advice you have.

So, we are looking at breast cancer with metastases. If I were in your shoes, I’d push for a bone scan to see if there’s anything hitting the bones—especially the spine, because that’s where the devil loves to hide—since that would require immediate radiation.
Your mom will likely need a mastectomy, possibly bilateral depending on the findings, once she gets through some chemo. She'll be getting Herceptin later.
How old is your mom?
To be honest, right now it’s a stalemate, especially with that effusion. As soon as you puncture it, more builds up, and it can do serious damage to both the heart and lungs. I’m hoping the tumor stabilizes and recedes under the chemo so the fluid stops accumulating.
Metastatic disease is definitely not the best scenario, and HER-2 positivity isn't ideal either, but despite everything, she still has a fighting chance—especially if the targets are limited to the lymph nodes.

Look at it this way: she’s actually lucky they found the primary site. So many people never find the source and don't get a real chance to fight; they're just shooting in the dark.