Posts by Jamie Davis17

Lisa Nelson70 said:From the CyberMed website:

HPV testing confirms the presence of the virus in a sample taken from the cervix, whereas HPV genotyping identifies the specific strain, which is crucial for assessing the situation if a Pap test comes back abnormal.

An HPV test is typically performed when abnormal cells are detected during a Pap test.

I give up.

And just look at this headline: There’s a reason women get cervical cancer, and it’s a virus

And who on earth gets cervical cancer, men maybe?

It's enough to drive you crazy.

Well, I guess that bolded part is actually right. If a Pap test isn't clear, you have to go find out what's causing it.
The Pap itself doesn't tell you if it's HPV, some kind of bacteria, or something else entirely.
The issue is that so many people think a Pap test only gives two possible answers: either b) you're perfectly healthy and everything is fine, or c) you have a bad Pap because you've clearly been reckless with unprotected sex, and now you're stuck dealing with the consequences.

Dana Barrett13 said:Hi everyone, I wanted to reach out because I’m dealing with something a bit stressful and could really use some perspective from you all... Last year, my gynecologist found some genital warts, so I had them removed. They sent the tissue for pathology, and the results came back somewhere between CIN 1 and CIN 2. Now, I have two doctors telling me to just stick to herbal teas for about three months and then come back for another Pap smear, but a third doctor is recommending a LEEP procedure. The most important thing is that my HPV tests are currently negative—I don't show any low-risk or high-risk types at the moment. Honestly, my head is spinning and I’m just totally overwhelmed... HAS ANYONE DEALT WITH SOMETHING SIMILAR? I'd really appreciate any insight... Best wishes...

Okay, let's break this down. First off: those warts are actually caused by certain strains of the HPV virus—specifically the low-risk types. It isn't possible to have those warts without having HPV present.
It’s entirely possible that your current Pap smear looks clear, or maybe the virus isn't active right now, but at the time you had the warts, the virus was definitely in your system.
Also, just so you know, CIN doesn't always stem solely from HPV, though that is definitely the most common culprit.
Please, try to breathe. You aren't alone in this; we have plenty of discussions here regarding HPV and CIN. It isn't the end of the world. CIN can fluctuate, and a LEEP is just one way to manage things. Maybe take a little time to research everything first? It isn't a catastrophe, and I promise you aren't the only one going through this.
Focus on boosting your immune system and maybe look into some dietary changes to help support your body.

ruggedscout91 said:Is there any kind of harm associated with using condoms?

Well, I guess you could potentially develop an allergy to them, though you'd definitely notice if that were happening.
If you haven't had any issues so far, I'd assume everything is just fine. 😉

I mean, honestly... just a total manchild. It’s one of those things that you just can't quite wrap your head around sometimes, you know? I guess I'm just being overly critical, maybe, but there's something about that specific type of behavior that feels so incredibly draining to be around. It’s like they’re perpetually stuck in this loop of avoiding any real responsibility, constantly looking for someone else to pick up the slack—which, let's face it, usually ends up being you. It’s exhausting. Truly. kaže:
If both your grandfather and your father have dealt with cancer, I guess there’s a pretty significant chance that you might be facing that same road ahead. It’s a heavy thing to think about, really... the idea that genetics could play such a massive role in your own health. It's definitely something worth keeping on your radar.

It’s heavy, isn't it? I completely understand why you're feeling this way. Losing both your mom and your grandma to cancer—especially when they were battling different types—is an incredibly heavy burden to carry. It makes sense that you'd look at that history and feel like you're just waiting for the other shoe to drop. But, if I can offer some perspective, it doesn't necessarily mean your fate is already written in stone. I guess... well, maybe it's more complicated than a direct line from them to you. While genetics definitely play a role in certain things, cancer isn't always a single, inherited "on/off" switch. There are so many factors involved—lifestyle, environment, and even just plain old luck. Having that family history is important, though. It doesn't mean you're doomed, but it does mean you have a reason to be proactive. It might be worth having a really thorough conversation with your doctor about what you know, just so you can stay ahead of things with regular screenings or whatever else they recommend. Knowledge is power, I suppose. Hang in there.

I mean, honestly... how? I'm just sitting here wondering, like, how is that even possible? It's wild. Truly. Maybe I'm overthinking it, I guess, but there's just no way. Just... wow. 🙄

Angela Wright said:It turns out, as it were, that they generally ended up facing the exact same health struggles as their adoptive parents. It’s a bit of a striking pattern, really. Since they were stepping into an entirely new family dynamic, they essentially picked up all those specific daily habits and lifestyle choices along the way. And honestly, I guess that turned out to be the deciding factor when it came to developing certain types of cancer. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is that our genes aren't necessarily the whole story here... it’s more about how we actually relate to them, you know? It's less about the code itself and more about our relationship with those genetic traits we carry around. Maybe that's the real key.

That’s just how I see things, I guess. Maybe it’s a bit of a stretch, but that’s my take on the whole situation.
It’s possible, I suppose... but then again, it might not be. It really just depends, don't you think? Maybe. Or maybe not.
I can't help but feel that I’m living a much higher quality of life than the two generations of women who came before me, really. It’s quite a leap, isn't it? And because of that, I suppose I find myself investing more heavily into my own well-being—trying to proactively lower those risks and just... better my chances for the future, I guess.

Rebecca Morris2 said:It’s just because I finally looked it up online at home and realized that a wart can actually be a symptom of HPV. We didn't even have direct intercourse, so... 😢

Unfortunately, condoms don't really stop the spread of the HPV virus since it shows up in a much wider area than just the genitals. It's possible it could have been transmitted through hand contact? 🤷

Look, before you read everything else and start spiraling—this isn't the worst thing that could happen. There are ways to get rid of them. Your immune system is honestly so important here; if yours is strong, those warts might not even keep coming back.
It might be a good idea to let the person you were hanging out with know, just so they can see if they're spreading it too.

I mean, why didn't you just check in with your gynecologist about this?
There are actually some really great deep-dive threads on STDs here if you want to take a look. Apparently, those warts are just one specific strain of the HPV virus—and thankfully, it's the much milder version.
The thing is, you can pick it up through skin-to-skin contact, so it doesn't even necessarily have to involve sex.

Charles Ramos7 said:Actually, it doesn't sound that crazy. Go to any hotel that offers packages, and the main dining room is strictly for guests—there isn't even a way to ring up outside customers. I've honestly never seen anyone from outside the hotel eating in those dining areas anywhere in the world. Besides, they probably wouldn't be able to handle ala carte orders anyway since everything is pre-planned on set menus. Some larger hotels have separate ala carte restaurants nearby where outsiders might be able to eat, though usually only with a reservation.

Legally, they could probably register it as a separate entity, but maybe they just don't have the space and can't risk hotel guests waiting for a table. 🤷

I'm not taking sides here, I'm just guessing what the situation might be.

Actually, I have—and I used to work in the tourism industry myself.
The hotel I’m talking about... it wasn't packed or anything; it wasn't even full.
But seriously, have you really never eaten at a hotel without actually being a guest there?

Charles Ramos7 said:Maybe they have all-inclusive packages where meals are baked into the price, and they just don't have the setup (or the register system) to handle walk-ins. Nothing too unusual, really.🤷

By the way, even a small farmstead looking to start something like what Harold Jackson32 is planning wouldn't be able to offer food service to non-guests unless they actually opened a restaurant.

Alright, let me try to wrap this up:
So, you're telling me someone running a hospitality business can't serve customers because of some cash register issue? Doesn't that sound just... unbelievable?
Plus, we're talking about a little roadside motel here; people pull over when they're hungry or thirsty, plain and simple.
I'm no legal expert on what's strictly allowed under the law, but the whole idea that they won't provide meal options feels really strange to me.
They have a full restaurant and a terrace too (unless, I suppose, there's some rule about registering outdoor seating separately).

I’m not entirely sure if this belongs under Agritourism—though we are talking about a rural location and a hotel that offers horseback riding and things like that—so if it doesn't fit, please feel free to move it elsewhere.
A situation caught me completely off guard a few days ago. We were driving back from the coast using the old road, and near the area around the NP, we decided we really wanted some lamb for dinner. We pulled up to this one hotel, only to be turned away because they apparently only serve their own guests. 🤷That is literally what the guy at the front desk told us. I mean, there is zero food available for anyone just stopping by. Honestly, how is anyone supposed to succeed in business with an attitude like that? How am I meant to conclude that they are good hosts or even consider booking a weekend stay there if that’s my first interaction with them? I was just so disappointed. I keep seeing all these reports in the news about how the government isn't investing enough, but when owners take this kind of stance, 👎they are really just doing more harm to themselves (kind of like the example brisknomad6 mentioned this past winter).

In the end, I didn't actually end up using any kind of cream. Since the scar is on my back, I can't even see it myself, 🙂 so honestly, it doesn't really bother me

$50 what would you suggest for a scar about 1 cm long? 😕

Alright, so I’ve officially reached the next stage of recovery 🙂
The nurse just took my stitches out today, and she suggested I pick up some kind of scar cream.
It’s not like it’s a massive scar or anything, but, honestly, having learned my lesson after using Neosporin before, I wanted to reach out and ask—is there a specific ointment you guys would recommend? And... do I even really need to bother with a cream at all?

Scott Allen10 said:Bivacin and those other antibiotic spray powders are basically useless—definitely not worth the money. Now, something like Octenisept is a different story; that actually makes sense. For treating wounds, I guess just cleaning it out with a good disinfectant and using a sterile bandage if you need to is plenty. You really don't need all that Bivacin stuff.

This is definitely good info to keep in mind for the future. 🙂 I actually have some at home right now because the folks over at the local clinic told me to use it to spray down areas where there were maggots.
I went in to get my bandages changed today, and my doctor was saying the exact same thing—that there's really no need to be using Bivacin.

That’s great! My doctor actually recommended Bivacyn to me just yesterday. I really hope it isn't harmful, especially since I heard it was being pulled from the market. I mean, shouldn't pharmacists be kept in the loop about stuff like that?
And seriously, if it's been recalled, how is it even possible to still find it on the shelves?

Yeah, I mean, the real headache is that there isn’t a single production date anywhere on the packaging, and even when you look online, they don't bother to list the shelf life in months. Honestly, I'm just not looking to risk an injury because some product went bad on me. 🙂

Well, it’s going to run me about $23, and I definitely won't be using up the whole bottle at once.
I think I'll just swing by the CVS after work and see what's what.
I already reached out to the supplier, too, but they're basically giving me the runaround right now 🙂

Regarding that itching sensation, I mean, it’s entirely possible you might be reacting to something specific—maybe it's the fabric of your clothes, something you ate, dust, pollen, or even just the soap you use in the shower.
It might be worth seeing a doctor to get some allergy testing done. I'd also suggest trying to track what you're doing right before it starts up. Personally, I can't use a lot of those common drugstore body washes without running into issues myself.

I went in to get a mole removed, and my doctor suggested I use Bivacyn on the area to help it heal.
So, I picked up the spray yesterday, but when I got home and checked the bottle, I realized the expiration date is 07/2024—which is basically next month. I'm wondering if it's actually normal for these things to have such a short shelf life, or if they maybe just handed me something old from the back of the shelf? I’m planning to head back to the pharmacy after work to chat with them about it, but I really don't want to be confrontational if this is just how these types of medications usually work.
thanks for the help

Elizabeth Jackson64 said:I know you usually need a full bladder for a standard ultrasound, but does that rule apply to this one too?

Actually, I don't think you need it to be full... though, honestly, they'll probably just tell you to go hit the restroom before they even start anyway. 😉

Here, I thought you might find this interesting... give it a read when you have a moment.