Posts by Douglas Ramos2

So, are you actually on vacation right now?😲

fadedhound69 said:I wouldn't go that far—it’s not complete garbage. There’s actually a pretty huge gap between the low and high ends (like 18 to 24), so plenty of people feel great anywhere in that range. I'm hovering near the top end right now at a 23, so I definitely feel a bit heavy 🙂 even though I'm technically still in the "healthy" zone
And let's be real, given my build and my age, there is zero chance I'm ever hitting that lower limit. I think I drifted away from that number back when I was twelve.

It’s not a stupid metric, but it doesn't tell you much either... it's just such a rough estimate that it almost feels unnecessary...
You can have two people with the exact same height and weight—meaning they have the same BMI—but one looks overweight while the other looks perfectly fit. Body fat percentage matters, and I agree with that, but you really have to consider body shape... like how some women are pear-shaped and others are apple-shaped. I'm definitely a pear. I'm 5'4" and 119 lbs... which gives me a BMI of 20.1... which should be "ideal"... but if you only look at my torso, you’d think I was way too thin... I have a 24-inch waist and you can see my ribs... but then I have curves... and if you only looked at those, you might think I was heavy... at least that's how I see it. I have friends who are the same height and weight as me but are "apples"... they have thin legs and no curves, but they carry everything in their stomach, chest, and face, so when you see them, you think they're chubby...
Also, where you carry that fat makes a huge difference for your health... apparently, belly fat is the worst kind... but that’s a whole different conversation altogether...

I mean, come on... if we all had the exact same bone structure, maybe those metrics would actually make sense. Honestly, things like BMI are pretty much nonsense... The only thing that really matters is how healthy you feel and being happy with yourself.😘

I’m actually wondering about the same thing... I have both farsightedness and astigmatism (cylinders) in both eyes.😲 It’s not extreme, though... I think my pluses are around +2.5 and +3.5, while my nearsightedness is just a slight -0.5.
Does anyone know what the typical cost for something like that looks like?

Douglas Morris2 said:Man, that's exactly what I was dreading hearing... thanks, hun. I might give that a shot.

I get it, you're probably thinking: how am I supposed to stay calm when everything feels like it's falling apart? It becomes this endless loop where everything is stressful because you're anxious, and you're anxious because everything is stressful...
The best thing you can do right now is run some tests just to prove to yourself that there isn't anything seriously wrong. Getting that peace of mind is honestly half the battle in getting better.
Hang in there.😘 😘

Douglas Morris2 said:So, here's the deal. I haven't been on here in a while, but I'm hoping we can catch up again. I had my Mayo Clinic checkup, and they told me I have "heart fatigue"—whatever that means. They said I need to work on my fitness, but it's nothing serious. Like I mentioned, I had my thyroid checked and my hormones are totally normal, aside from that cyst which apparently shouldn't cause any big problems either. Ever since my first and second pregnancies, my stomach has been a mess. I developed some mild gastritis, and they told me I have a sufficient cardia—basically, some kid explained that the muscle at the top of my stomach isn't closing right, so acid just leaks into my esophagus and causes havoc. I tried treating it with Controlock tablets and felt better, but I still feel like my stomach isn't quite right. On top of that physical stuff, my neck is killing me. That started acting up after my second child was born, so my neck and shoulders are constantly sore. But honestly, as bad as that is, the dizziness is worse. It hits me so hard sometimes that I feel completely wiped out. I've actually felt so dizzy I thought I wasn't going to make it. And then, to top it all off, came the heart palpitations. They just hit me out of nowhere, often triggered by sudden movements (which is weird). That's when the panic really sets in. I start thinking, "What am I going to do? My kids..." When I'm home, it's easier to calm down and let it pass, but when I'm out and about, it's not that simple. This whole thing is seriously ruining my quality of life. I don't feel free or relaxed anymore. It's driving me toward depression. And the worst part is that everyone thinks I'm just being depressed, but I truly believe these physical issues are what's making me so unhappy.
Whew, sorry for the vent...

Exactly my situation too... I just need one checkup a year and that's about it.

Douglas Morris2 said:So, here's the deal. I haven't been on here in a while, but I'm hoping we can catch up again. I had my Mayo Clinic checkup, and they told me I have "heart fatigue"—whatever that means. They said I need to work on my fitness, but it's nothing serious. Like I mentioned, I had my thyroid checked and my hormones are totally normal, aside from that cyst which apparently shouldn't cause any big problems either. Ever since my first and second pregnancies, my stomach has been a mess. I developed some mild gastritis, and they told me I have a sufficient cardia—basically, some kid explained that the muscle at the top of my stomach isn't closing right, so acid just leaks into my esophagus and causes havoc. I tried treating it with Controlock tablets and felt better, but I still feel like my stomach isn't quite right. On top of that physical stuff, my neck is killing me. That started acting up after my second child was born, so my neck and shoulders are constantly sore. But honestly, as bad as that is, the dizziness is worse. It hits me so hard sometimes that I feel completely wiped out. I've actually felt so dizzy I thought I wasn't going to make it. And then, to top it all off, came the heart palpitations. They just hit me out of nowhere, often triggered by sudden movements (which is weird). That's when the panic really sets in. I start thinking, "What am I going to do? My kids..." When I'm home, it's easier to calm down and let it pass, but when I'm out and about, it's not that simple. This whole thing is seriously ruining my quality of life. I don't feel free or relaxed anymore. It's driving me toward depression. And the worst part is that everyone thinks I'm just being depressed, but I truly believe these physical issues are what's making me so unhappy.
Whew, sorry for the vent...

That’s exactly how it is for me too... what you're describing is GERD—gastroesophageal reflux disease. I used Controlock as well. Your stomach itself is actually healthy; it's not a stomach disease per se.

I get these frequent dizzy spells that just knock me sideways from time to time. Honestly, there have been moments where the spinning was so bad I thought I was actually going to pass out.

It might be low blood pressure.
At the end of the day, if I had to guess, I'd say you're dealing with quite a bit of anxiety. Maybe try seeing a therapist; you might find that these physical symptoms start to clear up once you address that. A lot of what you're feeling—from the stomach stuff and heart palpitations to back pain and dizziness—could be rooted in your mental health. It seems to me like this whole thing likely started around the time you gave birth, which makes total sense.

I totally get where you're coming from... I went through something pretty similar myself. The only difference was that I couldn't find anyone to talk to who actually understood, so I ended up having to figure things out on my own. Anyway, I'm on beta-blockers now.

It doesn't necessarily have to be a panic attack. Usually, panic attacks come with other symptoms besides just heart palpitations... and from what we've gathered, you aren't experiencing those...
Regarding your thyroid, it wouldn't be the cause unless a cyst was actually messing with your hormone levels, in which case you would have been prescribed medication... so, it's likely not the thyroid.
Your iron levels look fine too. That leaves a few other possibilities... it could be diabetes, so maybe check your blood sugar... or even a hiatal hernia... stuff like that.
Heart palpitations—specifically sinus tachycardia—are actually super common in young people. Most of the time, they are completely harmless, just really uncomfortable. They’re usually rooted in anxiety. I'm 99% sure that's the case for you, too.
If you're feeling really anxious about it, go see a cardiologist and ask them to run a 24-hour Holter monitor test... once that's done, you can rest easy knowing your heart is healthy...
I went through the exact same thing, but everything turned out okay. After running all sorts of tests, the verdict was that my heart was perfectly fine, along with everything else. They did find a cyst on my thyroid, but it wasn't a big deal. So many people have them without even knowing, and honestly, maybe it's better that way.
Anyway... I ended up being prescribed beta-blockers, which are meds that directly lower your heart rate. I've been taking them for almost a year now. The palpitations have stopped. There is one catch, though: they create a physical dependency... yeah, you really have to take them consistently. I take mine twice a day. Maybe my doctor was a little too quick to prescribe them, but I just wanted those palpitations to stop as soon as possible, and here I am: on heart medication at 23 years old.
There are plenty of simpler ways to handle this.
Hang in there, you're going to be just fine...😘

I’m asking because I know someone who would just say "yes" to absolutely anything, without even realizing they have an issue... Honestly, I suspect they might be schizophrenic and really need some help. It's hard to say anything, though, since we aren't close—I just run into them every once in a while. How do you all react to stuff like this? Would people actually believe that someone is genuinely communicating with the dead or something? If they're struggling with their mental health, it makes sense that they'd believe those things... I get that.
...

I have a few questions for anyone here who has experience dealing with schizophrenia:
1. Do you ever get the sense that certain people just negatively affect your vibe for no apparent reason? Like, just being in their presence feels off, even if they aren't saying anything stupid or doing anything out of the ordinary.
2. Do you ever feel like you can actually predict things? Whether it's happening in a dream or just out of nowhere while you're awake...
3. Have you ever felt like you could communicate with people who have passed away, or like you possess some kind of supernatural ability?
4. Do you struggle with sleep? Things like restlessness, insomnia, and stuff like that.
5. Do you find yourself talking a lot?
6. Does your concentration constantly jump from one thing to another?

Just to be clear, I’m asking about how things feel when you aren't on medication. If anyone knows someone living with schizophrenia and wants to share their experience, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks.

Here’s how we measure the illness:
When you look at brain research on people living with schizophrenia using today’s most advanced imaging techniques, it’s pretty clear that the symptoms stem from disruptions in brain structure and/or function. There are distinct physical differences between the brains of those struggling with schizophrenia and those who aren't. For instance, many patients show enlarged ventricles—those fluid-filled spaces in the brain—along with a reduction in the area known as the hippocampus. Additionally, there is diminished activity within the prefrontal cortex, which is the part of the brain we rely on for thinking, memory, and learning.
In those dealing with schizophrenia, there is also an imbalance of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters.
Most experts believe the primary driver behind the symptoms is an imbalance of dopamine and serotonin within the brain.

James Gonzalez11 said:I feel the same way too.😉
I think there’s some truth to that old saying about the thin line between genius and madness.

It's pretty clear you're living a much more intense life than most people out there. Most folks just drift through their lives stuck in these basic emotional loops, basically acting like zombies and missing out on all the best parts.

...sorry, but I have to say, this is totally wild...
Schizophrenia is an actual medical condition. You can't really claim that everyone without schizophrenia is just some kind of primitive zombie.
Maybe your post actually proves this point:
Schizophrenia makes it difficult, distorts, or even completely prevents a person from distinguishing between real and unreal perceptions or experiences. Because reality is perceived incorrectly, logical reasoning loses its usual bearings and follows paths that seem incomprehensible and illogical to the rest of us.

I was asking because I’ve noticed—though maybe I'm just seeing patterns where there aren't any—that people living with schizophrenia often come from dysfunctional families, much like those dealing with other mental health struggles.
In my opinion, schizophrenia is really a combination of both genetics and the environment we grow up in.

briskgull27 said:Usually it’s just this choking sensation in my neck; nothing in my chest so far, thank God.

Choking in your neck? Can you describe it a bit more? I get these episodes myself where... well, I get this feeling like someone is physically pressing down on my throat.

So I just got off the phone with my stepmom.

Are your parents divorced?
What kind of relationship do you have with your mom and dad?

I’ve actually known a few people dealing with schizophrenia, and in every single case, it seemed to surface right around age 18....

Honestly, I rarely find myself thinking about how beautiful the sunshine is either. It’s almost never on my mind when I wake up, but that doesn't really mean much in itself... I'm curious though, was there a specific turning point for you—or maybe someone else you know—where it finally clicked that this wasn't just a lack of willpower or something similar, but an actual, serious illness?

Come on, tell me how it all started... when...

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