Posts by Angela Wright

Acid reflux, some sauerkraut, plenty of tea—green tea to detox and peppermint to settle that stomach—aspirin, plus a temple massage while you sit quietly in a dark corner and wait for it to pass. You’ll be smarter about it next time, hopefully.😬

granitecrane38 said:Basically...

I have PCOS and was recently diagnosed with ovarian endometriosis; I just had laparoscopy..

On top of that, I've been dealing with kidney issues for almost two years now..

For the last six months or so, I've been running fevers, dealing with chills, sweats, and my overall health has just been trashed..😁
But that's beside the point right now..

I went in for a pelvic exam (my laparoscopy was about a month and a half ago) and they found four adhesions on my ovary plus something new I didn't know about—my doctor told me I have a bicornuate uterus.😬

Apparently, that means my uterine lining is split..

I can't find anything useful online... does anyone here deal with "bicornuate" issues? I'm dying to know more, I'm pretty curious..

Thanks so much, everyone..🙂

It sounds like you might be looking at a septum, essentially a wall dividing the inside of the uterus. It’s the kind of structure you see in certain animals that humans lost through evolution, but occasionally that ancient genetic blueprint resurfaces and someone is born with it.
If it really is a septum, it can be surgically removed—it’s not a massive ordeal and is usually handled via laparoscopy. A septum is often the culprit behind heavy bleeding and recurrent miscarriages.
As for those adhesions on your ovary, they're most likely a byproduct of the surgery itself. It'll be fine. The bottom line is that your ovaries function and your fallopian tubes stay open.
Regarding your health being totally shot, focus on boosting your immune system; honestly, there's an endless supply of supplements out there today that can help. Just search the forums for that topic—there's plenty of info and people sharing their own experiences.👍

Michelle Hernandez43 said:Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I feel like I’m losing my footing a bit, even though I know I need to stay composed.
Sending hugs to you and everyone else—may you all find the strength and love needed to keep fighting.

Man, if I could actually help you... I’d probably be helping myself in the process. All I can tell you is that this is just LIFE. It is what it is, and there isn't much we can do besides accept it and try to find a way to make peace with the reality. I personally try to frame things by looking at what benefits I've managed to squeeze out of this entire situation. You wouldn't believe it, but I've gained more insight from this than I did in my entire life leading up to
my mom's illness.
1. I broke out of my shell and finally realized that true security doesn't exist in this world. There is only the struggle to maintain the illusion of safety.

2. I made peace with that reality and accepted it.

3. I recognized God's pragmatism through His will and His divine providence. Honestly, witnessing God's providence has been one of the greatest realizations of my life. Throughout this endless struggle—through those moments where everything felt unbearable—the very things I was desperately praying for appeared out of thin air through the most bizarre circumstances, lightening my "cross" to bear.

4. I've learned how to somewhat accept God's will. That is incredibly difficult, and it's arguably the single biggest lesson a believer ever faces. Once someone learns to accept God's will with a sense of peace, there isn't an obstacle in this life they won't be able to overcome.

5. I realized how little you actually need to live. Things that used to be massive priorities for me have been completely ignored lately because I've realized I don't actually need them; they were nothing more than dead weight causing unnecessary stress.

6. I found out who my real friends are. Turns out, there are very, very few of them. I'm actually grateful for that filter.

7. I discovered just how adaptable a human being can be. I thank God for that gift.

8. I've started finding joy and excitement in the tiny details I used to overlook—details that reveal a whole beautiful, undiscovered world.

9. I've learned that positive energy has to circulate; when something good happens to me, I have to pass it on to others... keep the momentum going!

10. I have decided to keep fighting this disease, regardless of how my mom's illness ends. Every person battling this has a demon inside them, and I intend to spend my entire life breathing down that demon's neck!

Through her sickness, my mother has paved the way for a better, healthier future for me. I am truly going to live every single day to the fullest, as if it were my last!
Thank you, Mom.😘

neongardener6 said:URINALYSIS RESULTS
WBC 500 /µl; +++
Nitrites neg.
Urobilinogen normal
Protein neg.
pH 7.0
RBC 10 /µl; +
Specific Gravity 1.015
Ketones neg.
Bilirubin neg.
Glucose normal

URINE SEDIMENT
RBC 1-2
WBC 8-10
Casts /
Crystals some cystine
Cells plenty of epithelial cells, plenty of bacteria,
plenty of mucus

Can someone tell me what these results actually mean?

thanks

Look, you've got a bladder infection. There’s blood in your urine and a significant amount of bacteria present. You need to get a urine culture done immediately so they can identify the exact strain and prescribe an antibiotic that actually hits the target. In the meantime, stay hydrated—drink cranberry juice or Advil, or honestly both. If you're dealing with pain or burning, you can take some Advil to manage the discomfort until the antibiotics kick in. Parsley tea is also great for this. Here’s the catch: if you go for that culture tomorrow, you might not see the results until Monday or Tuesday, and waiting that long without treatment while dealing with an active infection is asking for trouble. Ask your doctor for a game plan. I’m not trying to alarm you, but I've seen far too many people have their weekend ruined because a simple infection spiraled out of control. Bottom line: drink enough water to flush everything out! Stay home, keep warm, sip on fluids (skip the soda), and just rest.😘

Anonymous said:This is my first time posting here. My family is currently fighting cancer, too. It all started about two years ago, right around this time of year, when my dad was diagnosed with colon cancer. It hit us like a ton of bricks. After two surgeries and rounds of chemo, things seemed to be heading in the right direction, but he had a follow-up yesterday and it’s back. We’ve been sticking together as a family through everything so far, so I’m really hoping we can pull through this one together, too.
I am fully behind your ideas for setting up an association for families dealing with these kinds of illnesses. I know there's a massive uphill battle ahead of us, but I'm holding onto the hope that everything will turn out okay.

Welcome to the group!
I hope you've had a chance to look over the posts from lepine. He went through the exact same thing with colon cancer and a recurrence, just like your dad, and he managed to beat it his own way!

Mark Barrett2 said:Don't be an idiot and sit there waiting for "that manager" to come by for a water sample and "take it off" for testing... Jesus... don't let him play you! Just do it yourself! Go find out what's going on and take it in personally... make sure *you're* the one holding the lab results so this guy doesn't pull a fast one on you. Honestly, I just feel bad for people who buy bottled water... like, "spring" water my foot... give me a break...

Look, unfortunately, not everyone is lucky enough to have tap water that tastes as good as yours. Where I live, it’s absolutely terrible—overloaded with chlorine and has this nasty metallic aftertaste—so...🙂

Megan Lewis said:I stumbled onto this thread by accident. My dad passed away from pancreatic cancer last year, and let me tell you—we went through absolute hell.
I wanted to mention that if you're looking for psychological support, you might want to reach out to a hospice center—specifically the ones located in major cities like Chicago or New York. I don't mean to imply that you or your loved ones are beyond help, but they actually have professionals on staff who specialize in this. They were a massive help to us, and honestly, I’ve been thinking about signing up to volunteer there myself. It blows my mind that patients facing these kinds of battles and their families are often just left to fend for themselves against cancer. Thank goodness for the internet, though. Sending strength to everyone out there!

Thanks for the heads-up!
I’m familiar with how they operate. I actually reached out to them personally to ask for help, and while they did respond, it wasn't quite the level of support I was hoping for. But honestly, you can't blame them—they’re working entirely on a volunteer basis. From what I understand, they aren't receiving any federal grants or government subsidies yet because they're stuck navigating some ridiculous bureaucratic red tape. The way they run things is through a triage system; they prioritize their resources to assist low-income families and the elderly or disabled who have been left without anyone to look after them. Because of that, my situation falls into a lower priority tier. What I get is basically just professional medical advice and some volunteer assistance three times a week for an hour starting around 1:00 PM. Technically speaking, it doesn't move the needle much for me. All the heavy lifting and major interventions happen during the morning hours when I'm on my own, and by the afternoon, I already have my dad helping me out.
For the most part, I’ve got nothing but praise for them.👍

Check out this site regarding hospice care services here in the States:

Michelle Hernandez43 said:I am so sorry about your mom.
It’s especially tough when you can't just step in right now to ease her discomfort.
I don't know if I'm overstepping, but maybe try pushing the ER doctors to admit her immediately so they can actually administer the mannitol...
Or—and maybe this is a long shot—could they arrange anything at home? Like, could her ER doctor authorize mannitol and dexamethasone for home use?
Hang in there!

Well, she seems a little better today; she's more coherent when she talks, but the dementia is still very much there.
The ER staff could probably give her some mannitol to clear things up for half an hour, but my understanding is that they need clearance from a neurologist or an oncologist first, and honestly, I doubt the ER even carries mannitol in their standard kit. They have dexamethasone, but we already have plenty of those in pill form at home. When things get complicated like this, hospital staff often just sit on their hands and do nothing. It reminds me of that one time Mom was practically in a coma and the hospital wouldn't even take her in; we had to pull strings through a phone call just to get her admitted.

Nicole Edwards76 said:Jane, did you get a hold of the doctor? Please, just give me the short version—what exactly is mannitol, and why are they using it?
Best,

Dad called Dr. Gamulin, and she managed to get an MRI and a consultation scheduled for three weeks from now. Honestly, it makes me sick to my stomach that someone can't just be stabilized and sent home immediately. I doubt the ER will bother coming out, but if things stay this way for another few days, someone’s going to have to show up. It’s physically impossible for us to carry her upstairs on our own because she has zero balance and can't move at all.
Mannitol is basically a sugar solution used to treat brain edema, though it's most common in cases of physical trauma, like car accidents. When you're dealing with tumor-related edema, you run into a "yo-yo" effect where the swelling drops suddenly only to surge right back up. That's why, with tumors, they usually pair it with dexamethasone. They use the mannitol to force the swelling down quickly, then rely on a steady dose of dexamethasone to keep everything stable.

Michelle Hernandez43 said:Dear Jane, I really hope your mom is feeling a bit better and that she's able to communicate what she's going through.
You truly are such a wonderful, brave soul.
Thank you for starting this thread.
Sending you hugs, strength, and so much love.

Thank you for reaching out. My own mom is doing terribly. She has an MRI scheduled for next month, but looking at how things are heading right now, I’m terrified she won't even make it to that appointment.
I have to tell you, the second I saw your username, I was flashed back to that one moment when my mom first came home after her diagnosis. We had this little ritual where we’d both crash on the bed after lunch just to talk. I can still see her lying there on her side while I sat right next to her, holding her, just staring out the window at the clouds drifting by. It was easily one of the most painful, heartbreaking moments of my life; in that exact second, I could feel the weight of all the suffering and pain waiting for us down the road.
My mom, just like yours, was so full of life—a true, fiery Southern belle with a real spark, yet so incredibly fragile underneath it all. I miss her so much; I’ve been crying over her constantly these last few days.
She was so excited about the renovations happening along the Boardwalk, because her favorite thing in the world was heading back home for Easter at Home, then sitting out on the Boardwalk after lunch to relax, grab a cappuccino, and eat some cheese biscuits. When she goes, an entire chapter of my life goes with her—all our rituals, our private jokes, our laughter...
I know exactly what you're going through, but don't give up. Try to find some happiness in the fact that you still have her. My mom is right here, and yet, she’s already gone.
And remember, God's creations are complex, and your fight isn't over yet. There might still be something left to do.

neonmoose17 said:Is endometriosis basically just another word for PCOS? I hope this doesn't sound stupid, I’m really not an expert on any of this.
What do you know about it? I want to have kids someday.

No, endometriosis is a completely different condition. The similarity is that both involve cysts that can mess with your reproductive system. You can definitely still have children, you'll just likely need to be on birth control until you're ready to try for a pregnancy.🙂
Regarding all those questions and worries you have, people have already covered this topic extensively here, so take a look at 👍

Amy Fowler85 said:Look, a patch does essentially the same thing as a pill, except the patch delivers it straight into the bloodstream... which actually makes it more reliable than just swallowing pills.

I deal with endometriosis myself, and for me, that wasn't even an option. I was prescribed Yasmin because it basically forces the ovaries into complete dormancy.

ironsurfer8 said:Would hormone patches be an option? Like, are they strong enough to actually work?
Talk it over with your OB-GYN.

I'm worried those might not be the right move either. From what I understand, they basically manipulate how the ovaries function, and when you're dealing with PCOS, the whole goal is to let the ovaries just rest and stay quiet.
That said, there are plenty of low-dose pills out there now, something like Yasmin, but you'd have to stay under constant medical supervision.
I know both paths are doable because I have a friend dealing with Hepatitis B and significant liver damage who still takes birth control to manage a messy cycle caused by other health issues. She’s constantly in and out of the doctor's office for checkups, but she manages to push through it somehow.

Rebecca Miller61 said:I picked up some Herbion tablets that mention "red echinacea juice." Any recommendations? My immune system is definitely shot after everything I've been through lately.

There’s a thread over on Reddit where we actually dive into this exact topic.http://www.reddit.com
Everything mentioned there has been vetted by people who have actually used it, so just look through and see what fits your needs best.
Personally, I swear by Native Propolis (www.naturemade.com).

Are you taking anything to boost your immune system, like some kind of antioxidant or something else?

I was just thinking... you mentioned feeling some kind of insect bite there. If you were scratching at it, you might have actually pushed some exotic bacteria or even the herpes virus deep into your tissue.
It actually reminds me of a case from about ten years ago down by the coast. A neighbor of mine developed these sores all over his back—they looked almost like pressure ulcers, but they weren't. He was originally from Boston, and doctors spent months cycling through every possible diagnosis without hitting the mark. Eventually, he got fed up, went to the beach to swim, and that’s when the pain really flared up. Since my cousin was the only doctor in town during the summer, he called her when the discomfort became unbearable. She’s a general practitioner working in a small rural area outside of Sedona, and she’s seen just about everything, from hip issues to much worse. She recognized immediately that it was herpes, ran to the pharmacy for some liquid topical treatment for chickenpox, and he just kept swimming in the ocean and applying it afterward. Within about ten days, everything had dried up and cleared.
You mentioned your immune system is down, and that's exactly when herpes likes to strike—right when your defenses are completely bottomed out. 🤔
As for that stinging and itching in your nose and eyes, it might not even be related to this skin issue. You could try taking some Claritin for those symptoms. You can pick it up over the counter at any drugstore, and if it is an allergy, you should start feeling relief after the very first pill.
Of course, everything I'm saying here is just my own speculation; I'm certainly no doctor. I truly believe a good physician—maybe even a specialist in a private practice—will be able to identify exactly what this is and get it sorted out for you.

Rebecca Miller61 said:http://www.medscape.com/content/2001...06.10.fig1.jpg

Something like this, roughly the same size.

Look, any layman could guess and be wrong. My grandmother used to get sores just like these from her diabetes. Honestly, it even reminds me of a herpes lesion.
Are you putting anything on it to help those scabs heal?

Can you give me a bit more detail on what that wound—or whatever it actually is—looks like?

Rebecca Miller61 said:The deal is, back in October of last year, I was at the local public health department getting a mountain of vaccinations done—about ten different shots—because I was heading to Africa for five weeks starting in November. About halfway through the trip, I noticed what looked like an insect bite, which slowly started spreading into this sort of ulcerated sore that would slightly open up. Once I got back, they sent me to infectious diseases where they actually panicked, suspecting cutaneous anthrax. Without any actual serological proof, they just jumped straight into treating me with penicillins and various pills. Around that time, my skin and eyes started feeling itchy, but I just assumed it was a side effect of the medication.

Once they realized nothing was changing, they referred me to dermatology. They initially suspected Leishmaniasis or Pyoderma. They ran a biopsy, but couldn't find any traces of Leishmaniasis. Prof. Smith concluded there was a 99.9% chance it was Pyoderma. He prescribed the treatment I mentioned and ordered a hospital stay.

I’m at a loss. Every time I read about Pyoderma, people talk about intense pain, but I don't feel a single thing. Is there a private clinic or a hospital I can go to? Money isn't really an issue for me right now.

You know what? If I were in your shoes, I’d run every single one of those basic tests from A to Z. And I’d definitely take it easy with an allergy test. Honestly, I don't even understand what kind of diagnostic tools they could possibly have to claim they can diagnose Pyoderma with 99.9% certainty. From a layman's perspective, everything you described they did sounds incredibly sloppy.
The second thing I’d try is an alternative approach. I’d go see a reputable herbalist or a folk healer to get a fresh set of eyes on it.
For heaven's sake, do you really need to be hit with a barrage of chemical injection bombs when the issue might be something totally unrelated, like a stomach problem that hasn't surfaced yet (just playing devil's advocate here).
Third, and most importantly, stop ignoring your gut feeling that something is off with their diagnosis. Your body often screams at you, but we just don't know how to listen.
Go see a tenth doctor and have them run every test under the sun, but don't mention that they originally diagnosed you with this nonsense. It'll 100% turn out to be something else entirely. Thank God we have private clinics now where doctors will actually lie down with you and give you a thorough, detailed exam, rather than rushing through it like the doctors in public hospitals who just breeze through patients because they're overwhelmed by the workload.

slyseal28 said:I remember catching wind of that case too; I think I stumbled upon a post or an article about it online somewhere, though I can't recall the specifics. 👎

What’s your take on radiation therapy?

Look, it's definitely a double-edged sword, given how many cancer cases have been linked to past radiation exposure. Unfortunately, medicine hasn't stumbled upon a superior way to wipe out malignant cells than chemo and radiation.
We all understand what radioactive activity entails, right? It’s a vicious cycle. Only someone actually living through that nightmare can truly grasp the impossible dilemma and the sheer struggle involved—something neither the patient nor the doctors, who aren't personally facing the cancer, can fully comprehend. Both sides have valid points, but the reality is far more layered and complex than anyone wants to admit.
As for me, I’ve come to terms with the fact that there isn't anything else she can do for my mother, especially since we've already exhausted those options. There's no room for resentment or grief here; it is simply the reality of the situation.