Posts by Angela Wright

Kimberly Nguyen70 said:My fiancé had an X-ray on Friday, and this is what they found:

The findings indicate multiple secondary changes in the liver, pancreas, right adrenal gland, upper abdominal retroperitoneal lymph nodes, and a suspicious area on the left adrenal gland, though the primary site isn't clearly defined. One of the focal lesions on the pancreas might be the primary site. Other organs examined appear within normal limits. A chest X-ray and abdominal CT scan are recommended. Given the pain, follow up with a family doctor immediately.

He’s 44... about 15 or 20 days ago, his stomach issues started getting intense. He was dealing with bloating and burping, but since he already suffers from gastritis, he didn't think much of it until he started feeling pain in his back—specifically in his kidneys. That’s why he decided to go get an Ultrasound.
On the Ultrasound, the doctor didn't see anything wrong with his kidneys, just a little bit of sediment.

The doctor didn't tell him anything directly, but she whispered to me that these look like cancer metastases, and we have to figure out where the primary tumor is located.😢 Is there any chance they aren't metastases? And if they are, is there any hope? I am DESPERATE; I want to save him, I would do anything...
I've never been in a situation like this before. I couldn't even imagine what people who go through this actually endure...

I’ll be blunt with you: things don't look good here. It looks like an advanced case of stomach cancer. It’s all very textbook; this disease is incredibly sneaky. It doesn't cause any real trouble until it gains momentum and starts racing ahead, and by then, the symptoms finally show up.
Given how widespread this appears to be, it seems like palliative care will be the only option—focusing on slowing the progression and managing the symptoms...
...I am so incredibly sorry. I wish I could give you something positive to hold onto.😢
You both need to pull yourselves together as much as possible. You have to be his rock and his support system. You'll have to find the strength to face this head-on and navigate whatever comes next.
Hang in there, both of you.

Forgive me if I missed something, but I’m genuinely struggling to understand what specific medical steps you've actually taken to address this issue?
Dealing with helplessness is easily the hardest part of the whole ordeal. But once you start tackling the problem head-on—specifically by pinpointing exactly what is going wrong, which is a prerequisite for any real fix—it becomes much easier to manage the entire situation.
Nobody ever reached the root of a problem or found a solution by sitting around wallowing in self-pity or feeling sorry for themselves, whether they were dealing with incontinence or anything else just as awkward or uncomfortable.

Zachary Howard2, maybe it really is just a kilo. Look, let's not get ahead of ourselves here; we should just wait until the doctor weighs in on that abdominal issue before the final cycle starts. They can run an Ultrasound at the outpatient clinic based on his referral to see what's actually going on.

From what you’re describing, it sounds like you're dealing with physical damage to the Sphincter caused by inflammation. It’s pretty clear that during the day, you’re consciously "clenching" to hold everything in, but once you drift off to sleep, those muscles relax and that's when the accidents happen. You really ought to see a urologist for a checkup and start doing some Kegel exercises to strengthen the muscles responsible for bladder control.
http://www.tena.com/women/information/overactive-bladder/

Amanda Miller69 said:I just noticed he was put on an antibiotic called Ciprofloxacin, which is used to treat urinary tract infections, kidney issues, and things like that.
It’s probably because of the infection. At least he isn't urinating blood anymore; the urine looks clear now.
They ran some blood work, and his kidney values were poor, and his blood pressure was low at 90/60.
The doctors told him his oncology team needs to handle the rest of it.

Get him some Urofar; it’s an excellent natural remedy for flushing out the urinary tract since it contains D-mannose. Also, have him drink plenty of parsley tea.

Amanda Miller69 said:My father-in-law started seeing blood in his urine. He had to skip today's treatment because of that, along with low blood pressure and poor blood counts.
The doctor told him it could be a side effect of the therapy or caused by the tumor itself.
I'm terrified it's the latter—like it's spread to the bladder or something similar.
Should we rush him back to the doctor or what? What else could be causing this bleeding?

It could be the prostate, it could be kidney-related, or maybe just a bladder infection... honestly, given how bad his blood work looks, I wouldn't be surprised if it's an infection. Chemotherapy absolutely wrecks the immune system, and for older patients, bladder infections are pretty common.
Has he had any other tests done yet, like an abdominal ultrasound or a urine culture?

hiddentinker19 said:I can walk fine, but it’s getting harder by the day.
I can't even pinch anything properly, and my running has slowed to a crawl because I have to lift my feet higher just to move. When I'm hiking uphill, I feel this intense tightness—it’s not agonizing, but it sure isn't comfortable. My balance is off sometimes too, so I’m constantly on edge just trying to walk straight. It’s a tendon issue, but on top of that, my toes look terrible. I notice people staring at them all the time. It makes me miserable, and honestly, I’d love to wear sandals, but I'm just too embarrassed.😢
I haven't heard of anyone doing that. An acquaintance of mine went to a clinic for free skin removal after she lost weight, so I was wondering if there might be some way to get toe corrections done for free too.

Your best bet is to book an appointment with an orthopedic specialist; they'll give you the full rundown.

In extreme cases, excess skin can seriously tank your quality of life.
For instance, I have a shortened fourth metatarsal bone, which makes that toe look smaller than my pinky toe. Since it’s purely a cosmetic issue and doesn't actually hinder my daily life, I'd have to pay out of pocket for a surgery that is incredibly complex.

hiddentinker19 said:Does anyone in the States actually do this, and can I file the claim through the Social Security Administration?
This issue has been a constant thorn in my side—it’s a physical defect. On top of that, my tendons are shot, so I can't stay active like I used to. 😢

What kind of defect are we talking about here?
If it's something that genuinely impairs your mobility or balance—something that fundamentally tanks your quality of life—then yes, those types of procedures are typically covered by Medicare or Social Security. But if it's purely cosmetic? Then you're on your own.

bluewalker9 said:For six months now, I’ve just felt weak. At first, everything seemed within the normal range, but things have been spiraling lately, and I'm starting to think there's an underlying illness left unchecked.
If I go for an hour-long walk, my muscles are so inflamed for the next two days that moving becomes a struggle. If I do any manual work, my forearms are sore the very next day. No matter what I do, the muscle soreness follows me like a shadow.
I initially assumed it was just my diet, so I started loading up on magnesium, minerals, vitamins, and all that stuff...
But nothing worked. I went in for blood work, and the results were perfectly fine—actually, they looked great.
The doctors suggested I see a neurologist, but when I finally sat down with him, he dismissed the idea, saying it wasn't his field, and told me I should probably see an immunologist instead.
I did some digging online, and honestly, it feels like I might be dealing with some form of muscular dystrophy.
I’m 19 years old. I don't touch alcohol or cigarettes. I used to play sports recreationally, but now, it's physically impossible.
On top of everything, I’ve gained 20 pounds in the last month alone.
Does anyone have any idea what could be going on? What should I be doing while I wait for my appointment with the immunologist? Is there any chance my body can get back to how it used to be?

I would personally get my hormone levels checked. I’d also schedule an abdominal ultrasound... to me, this whole thing screams excess cortisol or something involving the adrenal glands—maybe Houston syndrome.
You definitely need to see both an internist and an endocrinologist. I'm not sure if an immunologist is even the right specialist to handle this given how backed up they usually are.

redranger2 said:To me, this sounds exactly like a panic attack, which has a nasty habit of showing up without warning and absolutely terrifying whoever it catches.

Exactly. You start worrying about your heart, which triggers more anxiety, and then the whole thing just spirals out of control... my husband went through that exact same cycle.
The Republican Party is a mess.

mellowviper162 said:Thanks so much for the help. Honestly, today was just the breaking point. I finished lunch, sat down in my car to drive, and suddenly I'm drenched in sweat, gasping for air like I can't catch a breath, my heart is racing, and my whole body feels tingly. It happened right near the ER, so I just pulled in. They did an EKG and checked my lungs, and everything came back fine. But now my left arm is feeling a bit sore. That's why I wanted to post here, to see if anyone else has dealt with this. I've been reading up on GERD, though it seems like they mention a burning sensation which I haven't really felt. The worst part is definitely that feeling of suffocation and the tingling while I was driving... thanks again for the info.

Don't mention it.
That could be weakened by poor posture from sitting wrong. Grab yourself a lumbar pillow for the car to keep your spine aligned so you aren't slouching, and start working on your core and back muscles.

mellowviper162 said:Hey everyone 🙂. Since I’m new here, I was hoping someone who’s dealt with something similar could weigh in. Over the last three months, I’ve ended up in the ER four different times. Out of nowhere, I get hit with this intense shortness of breath, my heart starts racing, I break out in a sweat, and my whole body—especially my arms—starts tingling. There’s this crushing discomfort in my chest that just feels wrong. Every single time at the hospital, they run an EKG and check my lungs, and everything comes back perfectly normal. Once the chaos dies down and I finally calm off, I spend about half an hour dealing with constant burping. It isn't exactly sharp pain, but more like someone is twisting or squeezing my chest, and I suddenly feel incredibly hot. Has anyone else gone through this? Is it just a panic attack hitting me out of the blue without any trigger, or could it be something else entirely? What should I be asking my doctor to check? Thanks a lot

You’re describing textbook symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux, or basically a shortened version of GERD. This isn't a heart issue; it's your stomach and esophagus. Specifically, the sphincter that acts as the gatekeeper between your stomach and your esophagus has weakened, allowing stomach acid and contents to splash up toward your sternum and heart area, which creates those sensations.
Google some info on GERD. Regardless, you need to see a gastroenterologist and schedule an endoscopy. Don't brush this off—acid reflux can cause lesions in the esophagus that potentially lead to cancer. On the bright side, it's very manageable and treatable. For immediate relief, stay away from heavy meals, alcohol, soda, chocolate, and especially anything with menthol for at least two hours before bed. Also, try sleeping with your head elevated.

Amanda Miller69 said:The fourth round of chemo really knocked my father-in-law sideways. He’s saying he feels completely drained. He’s also struggling with a lump from his surgery—when he tightens his belt, he says he can barely breathe, which wasn't an issue before. He’s also feeling pain from a mass in his abdomen, though he doesn't realize yet that it's a metastasis. On the bright side, he isn't losing weight, or at least he's maintaining it, and his appetite is fine.
The breathing thing has me worried; I'm terrified it might have spread to his lungs.
He’s also still coughing and hacking, and he admits himself that it doesn't feel right.
I try to calm him down by suggesting it's just the chemo, and maybe some of it is—the fatigue and lethargy are expected—but I'm scared it's something worse.
He starts his fifth round this Tuesday, then heads to the doctor for a check-up. Once he finishes the sixth round, they'll finally run a PET Scan to see where we actually stand.
This month marks one year since the diagnosis. I just hope he lives long enough to meet his grandkids (my sister-in-law is due in two months, and I am in December) and gets to enjoy them even just a little bit.

Oops, if I were in your shoes, I’d get him a chest X-ray and an abdominal ultrasound immediately. That shortness of breath sounds like it could be fluid buildup in the abdomen or the pleura. You need to get eyes on that right away so the doctors can decide if he needs to start on Furosemide immediately.

Elizabeth Fisher13 said:... but her face is completely deformed because of them. Her whole face is just swollen.

That’s what they call Cushing syndrome. It’s a metabolic breakdown where fat starts depositing in the face and the torso.

Thanks again for all the advice and to everyone else on these forums—wishing you all the best from the bottom of my heart. Sometimes I don't even recognize myself; I don't understand where this level of strength and grit comes from. She’s my mother-in-law, and honestly, people think it's weird how hard I'm fighting for her. I lost my own mother when I was only 17, with absolutely nothing I could do to help her. But for my mother-in-law, I am fighting with everything I've got, as much as humanly possible.

None of us truly realize our own inner strength until life slams us with situations like this. Humans might be fragile creatures, but we are also incredibly resilient animals capable of adapting to anything. Maybe it’s only after everything settles down that we realize we’ve been enlightened on certain things. For example, I’ve turned into a total hypochondriac.

Elizabeth Fisher13 said:I just wish she didn't have to be in pain—at least, I'd love to see her avoid that part.

The only way you all can actually help her is by being more assertive—maybe even aggressive—by constantly hammering home her right to the best available care, support, and pain management. You have to shove those rights right under their noses. Make them do their damn jobs.

Casey Hayes7 said:I’m starting this thread because I want to know how many of you spent your youth at this incredible sanatorium. I live in the Miami area, and let me tell you, the place is a wreck now. The main building is falling apart, and the bungalows in the complex are just as bad. I spent three months there back in the day dealing with bronchitis, and I made friends from all over the old Soviet Union. That place holds a special spot in my memory, and I really don't want us to let it fade away into nothing.😁

Just wandering by... 😢 I never actually went there for treatment, but I vividly remember the whole complex getting absolutely gutted by a massive fire back in the eighties. It hasn't truly recovered since then.
I'm not entirely sure what the deal is, but it looks like a total mess of unresolved property disputes and legal red tape.

Robert Newman3 said:Sadly, my father-in-law didn't make it. Metastatic cancer is just a brutal, unbeatable beast, and by the time we got the full diagnostic picture, it was already too late. Neither radiation nor chemo did a single thing to help.
I want to thank everyone here on the forum who helped out with advice or shared their own experiences.

Best,

I am so sorry 😢
Please accept my deepest condolences.

Michael Cruz28, they’ll most likely run a bone scan and a PET Scan to figure out how far this has spread. Either way, they’re looking at surgically removing that slice of tissue, and radiation or chemo is definitely on the table—depending on the stage and whether there are distant metastases or not.

Take a look at this:http://www.healthboards.com/boards/b...ste-smell.html>
It’s entirely possible this is coming from your thyroid.
Honestly, you can just rule that out once and for all by hitting up a private lab for some basic thyroid hormone testing.

darkpuma58 said:So, I ended up in the ER, and they ran a CT scan which apparently came back clean, so the official diagnosis is just a massive headache. They’re recommending I get an MRI and follow up with a specialist at a headache clinic.
Honestly, things aren't getting any better—I still can't taste anything sweet or salty, and my entire left side feels completely numb, from my face and the back of my head down to my tongue and palate. On top of that, I'm feeling nauseous and dizzy as hell. Yesterday, the pain actually let up a little thanks to some Tylenol and a Normabel injection, but today? It's right back to square one. I have no clue how I'm supposed to show up for work tomorrow; there's nobody to cover my shift, and I seriously can't afford to take sick leave right now.

I don't know which hospital you went to, but as a layman, it sounds completely insane to discharge someone from the ER who is experiencing neurological deficits just because they labeled it a headache.
If I were in your shoes, I would have expected to be hospitalized until they could dig deeper into what's actually happening.
Honestly, if I were you, I’d find a way to get to a different hospital immediately.