Posts by Angela Wright

If you need to get things moving, just pick up some liquid glycerin and a syringe, then inject about 2ml of the glycerin directly into the rectum. It’ll kickstart the process. To keep your digestion actually functioning on a regular basis, you're better off sticking to high-potency probiotics and plenty of fiber. A solid combo would be flaxseeds paired with some low-fat cottage cheese.

Go ahead and ask a linguist for an explanation if you think they’ll actually have one.

Pregnancy is essentially a secondary physiological state, which means it should be viewed as its own distinct medical condition.
Because this "secondary state" is so incredibly complex—considering how the mother's metabolism impacts the fetus and how the baby’s development, in turn, affects the mother—it creates a reciprocal biological loop where both parties' health are inextricably linked. From that perspective, it is fundamentally a medical condition.
The real issue here is that most people mistakenly equate the term "medical condition" exclusively with pathology or disease, when that simply isn't the case.

At a health food store in San Francisco. I wrote that this actually worked for me.

I was sipping on this tea while recovering from a pregnancy complicated by HELLP syndrome—which meant dealing with everything from low platelets to high blood pressure. Since I was feeling pretty anxious through it all, I’d take a spoonful mixed with some valerian drops twice a day. On top of that, I was also staying on my prescribed blood pressure medication.

Edward Brooks,
Recovery takes time. The brain is an incredibly sensitive organ. You have to wrap your head around how serious his condition really is and remember that everything we’re doing right now is strictly about extending his life. You need to be ready for anything and just focus on being his rock and his support system. Hang in there.

Douglas Reed4 said:Hey everyone!
I need some advice here.
We've decided to try hawthorn tincture, which is supposedly great for strengthening the heart muscle.
Our main concern is that these tinctures are usually made with 70% alcohol, and people dealing with heart issues shouldn't be consuming alcohol at all.🤔
Even so, you see people all over the internet raving about these extracts and recommending them highly.
Could someone clarify this for me? Is it actually a 70% mixture of alcohol and nutrients, or are we totally misunderstanding how this works?
Thanks.

The amount you're taking—just a few drops—isn't going to be a major issue. If you want to play it safe, just go to a health food store, grab the dried herb, and brew it as a tea instead.
In my own experience, it’s worked wonders as a supportive therapy for high blood pressure when I pair it with valerian.

So, basically, they aren't fully aware of their own situation, what's happening around them, or the reality of the events unfolding.

Unfortunately, there’s no rulebook for this. Some people wake up and hit the ground running like nothing ever happened, while others are left battling motor skill issues, cognitive fog, or massive gaps in their memory... a lot of things eventually bounce back during rehab, but some stuff just stays with you forever. You have to be patient and mentally prepared for absolutely anything.

I’ve noticed lately that pharmacists have started acting like they own the place, especially the staff over at CVS Pharmacy. I recently picked up a massive prescription for a bladder infection, and while I was looking through all that stuff, I realized I was totally out of antispasmodics. My dog has chronic gastritis, too, so I figured I'd just ask on the fly if I could grab some Spasmex or Buscopan without a script. The lady behind the counter just looks at me and goes, "Well, considering what you're dealing with, I'll give you those; they'll be much better for your bladder inflammation..." 😁
Honestly, Spasmex has never done a damn thing for me. I find Neofencic works way better, and I can get my hands on that without any hassle...
Live wire

Everything you're saying hits the mark, but honestly, doc, you’re driving my blood pressure through the roof every single day with that "nobody asks for our expertise" routine. Look, it’s not like you guys aren't doctors and actual members of this community. Get your act together. You have medical boards, professional associations, unions—use them! How is a line cook supposed to tell a doctor that a certain ingredient shouldn't be in a recipe or needs to be tossed? The real issue is that there's way too much ego and conflicting interests swirling around among you all, and that's what creates the friction. It would be a hell of a lot easier to reach our goals if we just stood behind you and backed you up, rather than having you hide behind patients because you're terrified of repercussions from various bureaucrats and hospital directors.
And while we're at it, I want to go after the employer and their OSHA representative. They don't even have a basic first aid kit available, especially not in a workspace like this. Out here in the States, they'd be shut down immediately for a violation like that.

Sure, why wouldn't I 🙂

Zachary Howard2, you really made my day 🙂
I've got my fingers crossed that everything goes perfectly, especially this first three-month stretch. If you need anything at all, you know where to find me 😉 Take care.

Alma's appetite is skyrocketing right now. You absolutely have to keep a close eye on her blood sugar because this stuff sends it through the roof.
The second line of defense involves a protocol using CCNU and Vincristine.

It wasn't Temodal that created Eden; it was the tumor. It’s clear Temodal just isn't doing the job anymore, though the doctor is still holding out hope for some kind of late-stage reaction. As for the doctor, you can rest easy—he's working incredibly hard and truly cares about his patients. Temodal is an expensive drug, too. I'm not sure if the Social Security Administration covers it here in the States, but they do back home. If she actually has coverage for this, she’s honestly living like royalty because she could have easily said "enough" after that first round of radiation.
Regarding the Dex and the injections, the combination of shots and pills felt like the best way to go for us. But man, those injections are brutal. I took three and my backside was sore for days. Just imagine having to jab someone multiple times a day... I would have lost my mind. It definitely takes a toll on the stomach, but Peptoran helps protect it. My Mom had a super sensitive stomach her entire life and never once complained about it causing issues.
To be honest, when it comes to another dose of Temodal, I’m afraid it won't make a difference. You all need to sit down and have a real, blunt conversation. With a tumor like this spreading without surgery being an option, there isn't going to be an improvement, and for some reason, surgery clearly isn't on the table anymore. Maybe try seeking a second opinion at a major center like Mayo Clinic or somewhere in New York... I am truly sorry. 😢

Ethan Gonzalez39 said:Hey everyone... I honestly don't know where to start, but here goes: My dad, who actually had heart surgery 20 years ago, suffered a massive heart attack. By the time the paramedics got there, he was already without oxygen. We aren't sure how long it lasted. He spent a week in an induced coma, and now he’s in a vegetative state. He doesn't respond to his name, being touched, or any other external stimuli. Occasionally he opens his eyes, but not every day. The doctors are slowly telling us to prepare for long-term care because everything else—his breathing, his organs—is stable. He also picked up some hospital-acquired bacteria, so he's on antibiotics. I have a question if anyone knows... Is there an institution in New York City, that isn't just a nursing home, where you can pay for specialized care for people who "seem" to function but aren't conscious and whose condition is uncertain?
I've googled everything, but my dad needs specific daily care... all these facilities and homes offer satellite TV, hairdressing, and daily walks, but my dad doesn't need any of that. If anyone knows anything, please let me know.

Most private facilities include 24-hour skilled nursing as part of their standard services. Just because they offer extra perks doesn't mean they can't provide the specific medical necessities a resident actually requires.
Sit down, pick up the phone, and go visit the ones that look like the best fit for your situation.

quietviper18 said:That feeling when your labs look amazing after four years, and you’re actually expecting them to scale back your treatment. And then—boom—someone plays fast and loose with the protocol and you're hit with a fresh shock. I ended up hospitalized, lost my sight (which has since returned), and dealt with meningitis. Just lying there, completely helpless in a hospital bed, having to depend on someone else when you're only twenty. Things are okay now, but I still deal with balance issues, vertigo, and some minor vision trouble. But I'm not giving up; things are looking up. 😁
Watching people my age... I had a brief window where I got to experience a "normal" life outside the hospital walls. I don't know. I wake up in the morning, open my eyes, and realize my vision is still there, then I get up and realize I can walk. The pain becomes secondary. Most people my age have their sights set on getting drunk; I guess that’s just what "normal" looks like. I just want to meet someone who understands those of us living with chronic illness—someone whose goal is simply to see the world...
I honestly wonder if I'll ever find someone to respect me, love me, and for whom I feel the same—someone to lean on during the crises. Someone to share both the highs and the lows with. It feels like everything today is just about one night out, or everything is "perfect" as long as you're healthy. The second you need someone to brew tea, slice a lemon, or bring you a tissue, everything falls apart, let alone something much worse.
For us, every single day is a fight to conquer the world. I just wish I didn't have to do it alone.

Honey, I can't truly compare my situation to yours because I haven't been sick, but listen to my story:
I spent basically my entire youth picking the wrong guys. I was convinced I was destined to be alone forever... right as I finally escaped a toxic relationship and felt like I just wanted to die, I found out my mother was terminally ill. My whole world just collapsed. My mom and I had never really figured out how to communicate properly, and just as we were starting to bond, this happened. I blamed myself, thinking maybe it was happening because I had wished for death... and then began those months of absolute misery and depression for both her and me. I was teetering on the edge of anorexia. I remember lying in bed one night, shaking and crying, and I just started talking to God. I said, "God, You know me, and You know I can't do this alone. Please, send me someone. I won't survive this by myself." In my head, I pictured someone wonderful and kind coming along soon... and they did. We met online, totally by accident, without any intention of dating or meeting anyone that way. Here I am—someone who used to go out and party at all the coolest spots—meeting the man of my life in a way I always thought was incredibly stupid. Misfortune brought us together. After a few months of dating, he moved in with us. It worked out because my mom's job involved working on ships, and he was there to help her. He’d rush home from work to help lift her off the floor when she fell. My mom even gave him my grandfather's buttons as a wedding gift; she gave me her blessing to stay with him, and when she passed, he was the one who helped me wash and dress her... we truly went through everything together. Our relationship started in circumstances that would make most people buckle. We got married, we have two beautiful kids, he's a great husband, and an even better father.
...don't be afraid. There is someone waiting for you on your path—someone you might actually recognize *because* of your condition. Life sends us unusual but highly functional filters that we often miss because we're too distracted by what "normal" is supposed to look like.

Dear Alma, I’m so sorry... it looks like your situation is proving once again that Temodal is really just a mediocre drug that only shows any real teeth when it's paired with radiation. Once you move past that, there’s nothing left in the tank.
You guys are going to have to start making some real arrangements because we're looking at entering the terminal phase of this illness. At this point, the only thing that can truly help her is palliative care, just to ensure she can live out the rest of her days with some dignity.
Hang in there. 😢

When it comes to sarcomas, you really want the top-tier specialists—here in the States, that would be Dr. Santek and Dr. Duke at the Rib Hospital.
Generally speaking, the golden rule for treating sarcoma is surgical removal; you want to get as much of it out as physically possible. With that in mind, the whole point of chemo is to shrink the tumor mass down to its smallest size before they go in. Unfortunately, we're dealing with a rare disease here, and these tumors are incredibly picky about which drugs actually work. They also tend to be stubborn when it comes to radiation and chemo, often finding ways to come back as a recurrence 😢
The best possible outcomes always happen through surgery, specifically when they can successfully remove the entire tumor mass.

This topic isn't just for those currently fighting the battle; it's for everyone...
...regardless of the circumstances, I believe we need to lay everything on the table—speak up about our wishes, our pleas, and what we actually need. Just some food for thought to chew on.
As for that "dark hour" we all face... it’s waiting for us. It's that middle ground you have to endure, and let me tell you, it requires a constant, relentless fight.
You’re going to be okay. I truly believe there is still plenty of high-quality life ahead of you—weddings, grandkids, the whole works. 😉
Have you started any rehab yet, or seen a physical therapist or anything like that?