It is honestly just so disheartening to see how many young women—and their mothers, too—still take the "wisdom" of their elders as gospel, believing it’s somehow wrong to maintain proper hygiene during menstruation (yes, even washing your hair!). It is frankly baffling when you consider what actual doctors warn us about—like the stench and that stinging sensation you get if you don't stay clean, which is a glaring sign that things are going terribly wrong down there. But of course, some people think basic hygiene during your period is just some ridiculous superstition... I mean, hello? We aren't living in a medieval castle or some frozen cave where water is a luxury, so why on earth would washing up be an issue?🙄
1) Occasionally—if I’m feeling off, perhaps just completely blindsided by something, or maybe I have that delayed reaction where I finally snap and end up in even more pain than before—I find myself spiraling into these intense "what if" scenarios. I spend hours mentally rehearsing how I would resolve a conflict or handle a situation if there were absolutely zero resistance from the other side. It’s quite a whirlwind, really; my moods swing wildly from deep depressions to these almost hypomanic bursts, and my appetite goes haywire, accompanied by bouts of nausea and a total disruption of my circadian rhythms due to erratic sleep patterns.
2) My defense mechanisms are, frankly, far too pronounced. There are times when I don't feel any pain at all—or rather, I'm entirely unaware that I'm even hurting—and I carry myself like a stone wall. I act perfectly fine, even upbeat, though often in a way that feels cold; my emotions go numb, my empathy takes a backseat, or my reactions become somewhat misplaced—like, say, laughing during a moment that calls for absolute gravity. But then, the reaction eventually catches up to me in a delayed fashion (unless I manage to vent it through those fantasies I mentioned earlier). At one point, I might be utterly depressed; next, I’m acting hysterically spoiled, or perhaps incredibly clingy and tearful like a child. Other times, I am simply harsh and irritable, pushing everyone away and refusing to let anyone get close. If I’m feeling aggressive, I don't want others to suffer, but I certainly won't tolerate them either; in those moments, I either bury myself in sports and my hobbies, or I simply surrender to my misery and curl up in bed.
3) I also deal with occasional psychosomatic issues—things like hives, nausea, or various digestive upsets.
!) Though, for the most part, I tend to meet all of this with a heavy dose of sarcasm and constant self-deprecation. I laugh at myself quite a bit—perhaps even a little too much, if I'm being honest.
I suppose I should check in to see if anyone out there is having a harder time than I am.🙂.
quiethound45 said:Bloodwork, hormones, kidneys—everything is coming back totally normal. Is there anything else that could be causing this? Perhaps genetics? My mom tends to sleep quite a bit—though, admittedly, not excessively. Are there any other similar cases out there? 😬
Oh, I should probably add one more thing. In my case—and this is likely due to stress—my cortisol levels are elevated, which honestly can be quite draining. It’s exhausting! But looking at what you described, maybe nothing is wrong with you since you aren't mentioning any other "symptoms," though did you happen to get your cortisol checked as well? My blood sugar also leaves me feeling a bit sluggish, though mostly I just feel extra hungry rather than tired. My fasting glucose levels seem fine, but perhaps my glucose tolerance is slightly off? I haven't done a formal glucose tolerance test yet, but I find that I feel much better when I cut back on the sweets.
Ugh, man... 12 hours? Honestly, I thought *I* was the one struggling here. For me, it’s really a matter of getting a solid 9 to 9.5 hours—no less. If I manage to sleep for anything under 8, I end up dealing with massive acid reflux first thing in the morning (which is just a lovely way to start the day, isn't it?) and then I spend the entire afternoon looking pale and feeling absolutely useless. Often, it's accompanied by these nagging pains—especially when the weather is acting up and everything feels heavy—and I end up being so lethargic that the nausea and aches don't even let up until about 6 PM. Now, I don't usually sleep for 12 hours straight unless I've been traveling for days, or maybe if I went a bit too hard celebrating something, or perhaps if stress or a full moon has left me totally sleep-deprived... in those cases, I have to catch up, so I just crash and stay out for 12. But otherwise, I’m still pretty exhausted even if I get more than 9.5.
But here is the kicker: everyone loves to lecture me about how I'm "wasting half my life" sleeping, telling me I need to force myself to be productive, or asking what I'll do once I graduate college and start a career, or when I have kids... they truly haven't a clue what it's like for me (and I suppose, maybe, it is all in my head?). I mean... look, if something isn't quite right with your brain chemistry and you find that 2 or 3 hours of sleep is enough to function at full throttle (and there are certainly people like that), it doesn't mean that because the rest of the population sleeps 7 or 8 hours, I shouldn't listen to my own body. I eat healthy and I exercise regularly, but I need sleep too! For me, caffeine, various stimulants, and synthetic antioxidant supplements just don't cut it—so I would much rather sleep exactly as much as I need than wake up early only to spend the entire day capable of nothing more than sipping tea in my pajamas.
Raymond Jackson38 said:must have a pretty nice ass if the GP decided to go digging in there himself. usually, they leave that kind of work to the surgeons and specialists😘
I recently had my first appointment with a psychiatrist—it actually lasted a good twenty minutes or so, which was surprising—and I've been dealing with these symptoms for about ten years now. On my clinical assessment, she noted progressive schizotypal personality disorder (which, truth be told, is what I had already diagnosed myself) and mentioned that there’s an observable progression of schizophrenic processes under observation. Now, here is the thing: I am resisting medication for the time being; I really wanted to see if psychotherapy could be my first line of defense. Of course—as I had already suspected—she informed me quite bluntly that no therapist in the States is going to take me on if I refuse to take medication. Since I don't have symptoms that would actively derail the therapy sessions themselves, and considering how overworked our American psychiatrists are—seeing fifty or sixty patients a day is not uncommon—I highly doubt anyone would bother talking to me unless I was medicated. I even asked her what kind of prescription she would suggest if I did decide to comply... and she said she wasn't quite sure yet. Well, isn't that just... something.
Can anyone here tell me what kind of medications are typically prescribed for schizotypal disorder? (To add some context: I deal with intrusive thoughts and elements that lean toward cyclothymia... though no hallucinations... if I were to list every single symptom, I'd practically be writing a dissertation 😁.)
And honestly, what on earth... if there is an organic basis for this, I have no way of knowing what it might be since I declined the meds right out of the gate. She simply told me that given the nature of my questions and my intellectual capacity, I could only find the kind of care I'm looking for through private practice—which, unfortunately, is simply not an option for me financially—and then she told me to reach out for a follow-up as needed. A follow-up🙄...
I certainly suspect that functioning properly without medication might be a struggle, but due to certain personal and health-related reasons, I have a massive amount of fear and resistance when it comes to drugs.
So... is there anyone else here living with schizotypal?
Just wanted to share a little victory lap... it's finally goooooneeeeee! Okay... okay... I still have my two little ones... but they're currently hibernating...
So, I was actually under the impression that my doctor would be referring me out to a specialist—you know, a proctologist—but no!!! He insists on performing that rectal exam himself... honestly... I think I would feel much more at ease seeing a specialist, since, well, that’s their actual area of expertise, isn't it? And now what... when I head back for my next appointment, I'll have to settle for that incredibly uncomfortable exam table of his just to deal with the whole finger-in-the-prep thing again... a damn.😠 I know, I know... there are certainly worse things in this life, but I really am not looking forward to it...
Oh, how foolish of me... I actually went ahead and wrote out a reason for my edit... I suppose I just thought it was a matter of basic courtesy or something? I told myself, "No, I'm never going to do that," but then—well, here we are... and now it's just sitting there for everyone to see.
:tuka:
I think I’m going to step away from things for a little while... perhaps until tomorrow evening at the earliest... this forum really isn't doing wonders for my mental health, you know? Honestly... I could probably spend an entire session discussing this with my therapist.
My mother—and I say this with all due respect—still hasn't gone for her mammogram; in fact, she refuses to see a doctor unless a migraine forces her into the ER: 1. Her (rather flawed) logic is that she avoids testing because she’s terrified they might actually find something... I mean...🙄 ...whether they find something or not, the reality remains the same... yet she just buries her head in the sand like a turkey... excuse me... anyway... I suppose I will eventually have to take her by the hand and drag her there... but when? Which brings us to... ...2. She works from dawn until dusk and is only free on Sunday afternoons, which isn't exactly ideal for scheduling an appointment. 3. And even when she did have the time, she would conjure up excuses such as "I don't have decent lingerie, we need to go buy this or that" or "we have to get you ready for your field trip/school/whatever"... what utter nonsense.
Since I am still young, I haven't been called in for a mammogram yet—just manual exams (ugh, I absolutely loathe it when they squeeze my nipples...) —but I wouldn't go for a mammogram myself if I could help it; if given the choice, I’d much prefer a breast ultrasound... specifically, since mine are quite small, I think I would actually die if they tried to crush them in that damn machine. And honestly, I couldn't care less about radiation—I've been stressing out for weeks because I need an abdominal CT scan, yet I haven't been scheduled for an MRI... let some 85-year-old woman who doesn't have much time left take the CT instead... I am young... the world still rests on my shoulders... you bastards!😠
Now, regarding OB-GYN visits... most people simply don't go out of sheer laziness or ignorance... they only start worrying about their health once something actually starts hurting. However, a very common reason is certainly the fact that women often feel like they're being processed in a concentration camp while sitting in those waiting rooms... I don't know... for me, the interior design plays a massive role... I despise seeing those clinics that look like they haven't been updated since 1945... or when I happen to run into frustrated staff members who clearly hate their jobs just by looking at them from across the room... those things make me incredibly anxious.
Hi everyone—I have a small request! When you mention a specific medication you’ve used, or if you’re asking about a certain treatment plan, could you please include the specific type of cancer involved? And if you happen to be recommending something, please include those details as well. It just isn't quite enough information to say, "this drug is good for cancer," don't you think? We need that context to really understand what we're discussing. Thank you so much!😉
Douglas Diaz2 said:I mean, if there's one thing I've learned from my own personal struggles, it’s that the absolute most important thing is making sure you aren't dealing with hard stools, because that just makes everything so much worse. In my experience—and I really think this helps—the best way to keep things moving smoothly is to start your day with some whole grains paired with milk, though I've found that using soy or oat milk might be a bit gentler, even if you do stick to dairy every single morning. If you do this, your movements should stay soft, which hopefully won't irritate those existing hemorrhoids you're dealing with. And honestly, I guess it wouldn't hurt to just cut out all the junk food entirely, like, every single bit of processed nonsense, if you want to see real results.
😁 I definitely can't afford to have hard stools when I'm trying to... well, I don't even know what I'm doing... but anyway, I've noticed there's this massive misconception that hemorrhoids only affect people dealing with constipation. It’s actually quite the opposite—certain things can trigger them just as easily. For me, dairy is absolutely my number one enemy. thx anyway!👍
Timothy Morgan38 said:Don't apply it internally unless you're actually having problems... Sure, internal ones are harder to get rid of and tougher to notice unless they're really flared up, but "if it ain't broken, don't fix it"...
Alright, thanks for the input! :brisesacelakapljicehladnogznojaodolaksanja:
Timothy Morgan38 said:If you aren't dealing with bleeding, itching, or actual pain, I wouldn't mess with too many variables if I were you...
Just try staying consistent with these few things and maybe you'll see some improvement... - Make sure you wash up after every single bowel movement, no exceptions. - Ditch the standard soaps; they just dry everything out. Grab an Anthropic cleanser instead... - Use cool water exclusively... it doesn't have to be ice cold to the point of torture, but cooler is better to help constrict those vessels... just stay away from warm water because that dilates them and makes the hemorrhoids swell up more. - Stop using that aggressive wiping technique where you "drag" the towel across the skin. Just gently "pat" with the towel until you're dry... if you wipe normally by pulling the paper from bottom to top, you're just causing irritation and stalling the healing process. - Avoid anything that might "wake them up"—super spicy stuff, overly salty foods, blah blah blah—just stick to whatever keeps your movements regular and soft, at least until this passes. - Don't strain too hard when you're on the toilet; that just agitates them too. - If they get inflamed, for heaven's sake, don't take a bath. You might think a bath helps because it numbs the pain, but once you get out, it’s a total disaster... like I said, heat is basically fuel for them. - Personally, I've had good luck with Dorian cream... it kills the itching, the pain, the stinging, and pretty much everything associated with hemorrhoids... though you should definitely check with your doctor first. - Try to move around a bit more and stop sitting on hard surfaces for so long.
For three weeks straight, I couldn't catch a break. Couldn't sit, couldn't walk, couldn't lie down... any little movement felt like a sharp, stabbing pain. Mine flared up right after a bath... actually, they were already hurting quite a bit, but I went and sat in a hot tub for about two hours because it felt okay at the time since there was no pain... but once they cooled down... 😱 😱 😱
I had five or six of them, all severely inflamed...
I did exactly what I wrote above... it all started when I switched from FactSet to Dorian because FactSet wasn't doing a damn thing for me...
Then, after just two or three applications of two of the larger ones, they actually ruptured while I was on the toilet... it felt like being stabbed with a knife...
But that was it... the others didn't rupture, they just receded over the course of a month or two... the pain subsided after two or three days so I could function normally again, but the full recession took about a month and a half...
And since then, whenever I feel a little sting or notice sensitivity during wiping, or if I see a bit of swelling, I immediately wash with cold water, stick to the rules I mentioned above for a few days, and that's it... they recede... if there's a stubborn one that won't settle down after a day or two and starts itching or stinging, I apply Dorian two or three times and then it's gone...
I haven't had any major flare-ups since, though they have "woken up" a couple of times after my "sensible diet" (Mexican beans and such)... but I caught it early enough... 👍
And seriously, make washing up after every bathroom trip a way of life, because that's the easiest way to keep them under control... you can't fix them through traditional means... once they show up, those bastards just "hide in the shadows" waiting for the next irritation to strike...
Sometimes even surgery or cauterization doesn't even help...
But to avoid ever needing surgery or cauterization in the first place: wash thoroughly after every movement, always wear clean, fresh cotton underwear, don't sit on cold or hard surfaces, and that's really it...
Well, I suppose that covers most of what I know... I didn't exactly start out as an expert on these little pests, but I have finally begun to educate myself—though, curiously enough, everyone seems obsessed with discussing the larger strains! I was actually more concerned about whether these smaller varieties could cause bleeding, and I found myself wondering if I should be applying cream internally—provided, of course, that I even know if I have any internal issues yet? It feels somewhat nonsensical to worry about "internal" matters when there aren't any symptoms present, especially since I haven't had my checkup yet... but then again, I am fairly certain that topical cream won't prevent them from developing in the first place. I couldn't find any clear answers to these specific questions in the original thread, so I decided to pose them here on the forum for further clarification.
Thank you ever so much for such an exhaustive and detailed write-up—truly, I appreciate the effort! And as for those little bastards? Well, I can only hope they drop dead... permanently.😁
briskeagle39 said:Are you actually checking the thermostat in your apartment to confirm it's 91 degrees? Because—if I may be so bold—it might actually be a bit cooler than that.
Oh, goodness, I just remembered... though I suspect I might have mentioned this already... there was this New Zealand film—get this—the scene involves a woman attempting to collect bull semen into this little device to fertilize a cow... and she’s actually doing it... and the bull? Oh, he was absolutely massive! Apparently, all his blood rushed to his reproductive organs (I won't be graphic, let's maintain some decorum!) and the poor beast simply fainted right on top of her... and she passed away. 🤣
On a side note, I have never actually fainted myself, but I did have one instance where dehydration made my vision go so dark and dizzy that I surely would have hit the floor if I hadn't managed to sit down... in a shower stall... which happened to be the closest thing available 🙂... and then, once the curtain had lifted just enough, I crawled toward the phone just to hear a human voice while sipping some salt water.
In a similar vein, I simply cannot stand those tiny, windowless waiting rooms packed with (chatty) people. Frequently, you find yourself forced to sit on the floor because someone refuses to budge—perhaps they’re too busy solving a crossword puzzle—and since you aren't a hundred years old, you figure it shouldn't matter if you collapse. Now, I am not the type of person to beg, especially when it concerns someone else... for instance, if a man walks onto a subway with his arm in a cast (that always gets me!), yet a group of high schoolers sits there pretending they don't see him, or those heavy ladies from the farmer's market spread their seven grocery bags across two seats... well, I won't hesitate to give them a stern talking-to. But when it comes to myself? I will simply pull myself together and take a seat on the floor. Let their own lack of manners be their conscience.
I already posted this under "hemorrhoids," but I highly doubt I'll get an answer there anytime soon—so, moderators, please look the other way and let me keep this up as its own thread for a few days (come on, admit it, you've seen much stupider things than this 😁) because I am quite frankly terrified and impatient.
About a week ago, I noticed an external one—I am 99.9% certain it’s a hemorrhoid—about the size of a grape, maybe slightly larger, but irregular in shape; it isn't one of those massive purple things you see in all the medical diagrams. I didn't let my doctor perform a physical exam—I know, I'm being foolish—but it felt awkward since I was dealing with some digestive issues. I suspect it might be due to my digestion (I've had loose stools for about ten years now), and perhaps my muscle tone is weakened because I have suspected Cushing's syndrome. I stay active, I watch what I eat, and I am extremely diligent about hygiene; the only downside is that I'm carrying some extra weight (around 175 lbs at 5'4", but I am going doooown). It doesn't itch, though sometimes there is a slight stinging sensation—or rather, a pulsing feeling—after showering and applying ointment, but perhaps that is just subjective? The sensation isn't alarming, even if I can't help wondering what might come of this. For the first few days, it was painful to the touch, though it's a bit better now. It's embarrassing because my doctor is only available for annual checkups, and since I won't be near my clinic, I likely won't get an exam until early September. So, I have several questions:
-?- Can a hemorrhoid that small actually burst, or bleed? And when it does burst (if it's that tiny), does it get on your clothes? It does, right? And... does that only happen during a bowel movement or when touched, or can it just happen spontaneously?
-?- Could a doctor drain it or something if it is that small? I would love to just be rid of it by autumn... I also have another little swelling, almost like a mosquito bite, and I fear it might grow.
-?- Is it possible for that stinging sensation to be caused by the ingredients in the cream or ointment? Also, does it stain your laundry? I'm using FactSet, and the ingredient list is just overwhelming—I honestly have no idea what half of it means, so I'll have to do some Googling.
-?- If I haven't been examined and therefore don't know for sure if these are just external, should I apply the ointment rectally just to be safe, or can I just apply it to the external area? (I practically scream in disgust at Voltaren gel tubes, let alone those dreadful applicators.)
-?- Does horse chestnut help the veins only when used topically, or does it provide benefits if taken orally as well?
That is a tough one to unpack—really quite complex. Have you perhaps had a chance to sit down and consult with your primary care physician? It truly all depends on the specific nature of the disorder—specifically whether therapy is even recommended in this case—because, you see, someone might highly recommend a particular therapist who may not necessarily be the right fit for your daughter’s unique needs. Unfortunately, we also have to account for the financial side of things—it is often the case that you might have better luck opting for private practice rather than relying on an insurance referral, though that isn't a universal rule, of course—and even with the most skilled and willing specialists, their services can be incredibly difficult to access due to overwhelming patient volumes. I truly hope your daughter feels ready and willing to engage in the process.
khm... well... khm... I certainly knew that all along... it wasn't that I was feeling unsure myself... I was simply... khm... putting you all through a little test (adopting my most serious chemist persona) 😁