Posts by vividsailor7

Sarah Wells23 said:...
Sediment presence
Leukocytes RARE
Epithelial cells A BIT
Mucus QUITE A LOT
Bacteria QUITE A LOT

I'm 24, feeling exhausted, dropped about twenty pounds in just a few months, and dealing with heart palpitations (though my EKG, Holter, and echocardiogram all came back normal). The working theory is that it's all anxiety-related (I'm on antidepressants), but I had blood work done just to rule out anything else.
For the last two days, I've been using topical steroid cream on the areas where I get sun allergies.
My cholesterol levels are what they are 🙄 despite eating healthy, but naturally, those elevated white blood cell counts have me worried. I don't have any obvious signs of inflammation that would cause them to spike.
Anyway, if anyone could help me interpret this—is this result roughly okay, or should I be genuinely concerned and head in for more testing? I would be so grateful for some insight. 🙏

Are you having any trouble urinating?
It might be worth getting a UTI test.

Donna Mitchell3 said:Ten days ago, I suddenly developed a severe bladder infection; there was visible blood in my urine. I started Amoxicillin capsules that same day, which I finished a couple of days ago. I checked my urine today, and the results show protein, 15-20 leukocytes, and some bacteria. What does that actually mean? Specifically, I'm wondering about that protein. Shouldn't the infection have cleared up already since I took antibiotics? Also, there's a chance I might be pregnant, and I'm worried about how much this infection could hurt the baby.

That means there is some protein present in your urine.
It would be wise to get a UTI test and a urine sediment analysis, making sure to follow proper hygiene before providing a clean sample.

Dennis Davis5 said:How much does Ozempic cost without a prescription?

Around 300 bucks$133.

Jack Sanders82 said:Has anyone actually dealt with something like this? A family member had a laparoscopic procedure where they accidentally punctured the gallbladder and had to pivot immediately to open surgery. It turned into a nightmare—sepsis followed, and after two grueling months in the ICU, the patient was discharged weighing 20 pounds less than before, still dealing with abscesses that cause constant fever spikes. This has been dragging on for eight years now, and they’ve been hospitalized four times already. There are swollen lesions on the liver, though other organs seem fine, aside from a tiny cyst on the kidney. Bloodwork looks okay, except for the sedimentation rate, which has been sitting at 105 for eight straight years and won't budge. The doctors just claim it's all fallout from the bile leakage and the abscesses and say there's no cure. They're cycling through three rounds of antibiotics every month, taking fever reducers daily, and just yesterday, the ER rushed them back in with a 105-degree fever. The CT scan came back clear, but there's bacteria in the blood, so they're on three different IV antibiotics. Honestly, the medical staff seems to be dodging responsibility for this case for years. Any advice? And I have to stress: despite the meds, the fever persists; it disappears for one day and then slams back the next. It even happens when the temperature seems normal. We even checked the prostate to rule out cancer, but that's out.

There isn't much advice to give, especially while they're currently inpatient. They're running blood cultures right now and adjusting the antibiotics based on those results (based on what you've told me, that's exactly what's being done).

Angela Wright said:Oh, really?😲 Then how do you explain the blood? How is it even possible for there to be traces of blood in there?

Sure, you can, but let's be real—the most reliable method, and what everyone actually uses, is a sputum sample.

Lisa Ross81 said:Hi everyone!

How do you actually detect lung metastases? What kind of test is considered the "gold standard"? What should we even do next?

Because for months now, we’ve just been running in circles, and now we’re right back at square one, repeating tests we’ve already done.

My mom had breast cancer surgery over two years ago (radical mastectomy, chemo, radiation).
Regular checkups—everything looked fine.
The lung scans show nothing wrong, but a family friend who happens to be a doctor noticed an irregularity on the image and sent us for more testing.
In the meantime, at his suggestion, she also got tested for tuberculosis (since she had this killer cough for a while, though she didn't have a fever, so her primary care doctor just suggested tea, honey, and lemon). The blood work suggests TB, but the sputum sample doesn't confirm it.
Regarding the PET/CT—they keep insisting there is no better way to find metastatic clusters in the body, that it’s extremely accurate, and once we do it, we'll know everything.
The conclusion? Increased glucose metabolism, which could point toward secondary growths, but could also be a million other things; they even mentioned a possible scar. Basically, the report is just a massive pile of question marks; there is no definitive answer.
Tumor markers, mammograms, biopsies—everything comes back normal. The oncologist repeats the same thing: the markers aren't spiking, so we are staying put.
Then, "No, let's do a bronchoscopy; that's the most reliable method. We'll take a sample and then we'll finally know."
And guess what? We still know nothing. Once again, the conclusion is full of question marks, and the oncologist just repeats that the markers look fine—WTF?
Basically, they can't prescribe further treatment because nothing is "black and white" yet. OK, great, but what are we supposed to do???
So we are right back where we started. Mom is going in for *another* PET/CT tomorrow!
Every single time, they convince us this will be the final word, and it is taking such a psychological toll on my mother; she's just exhausted.

Thanks for any input!

A definitive diagnosis of TB is established by isolating Kochov bacteria from the sputum.

Linda Baker51 said:My heart goes out to everyone mourning right now. It’s devastating to see such a battle lost. My own mother is still fighting, but it’s an uphill climb. Her oncologist won't even prescribe chemo because her heart just isn't strong enough to handle it. There's a silver lining somewhere, I suppose... but honestly, we've been dragging our feet through this ongoing issue caused by her mastectomy and lymph node removal. Basically, her arm is swelling up. I know lymphedema is common after those surgeries, but the real kicker is that none of her doctors seem to care! They aren't reacting at all, so I'm begging for some advice—what on earth should we do? Mom is taking John Smith (among other things) to help flush out fluid since she was hospitalized previously for pulmonary edema. Her arm had calmed down then, but now I can see it swelling and turning red again. Her primary care physician is completely ignoring it, so we're left to figure this out ourselves. She hates taking the John Smith because it tanks her blood pressure, but then she has to take her heart meds which push it back up, leaving her feeling terrible. Last year, they prescribed some therapies in Small Town, USA and suggested arm massages, but let me tell you, it didn't do squat. Does anyone have any actual advice?

You really need to sit down and write out every single one of your mother's diagnoses and all her current medications. You also need to list every test result if she’s had them—things like her TTE, creatinine, urea, urate, glucose, ALT, AST, GGT, Potassium, Sodium, CK, electrolytes, CRP, chest X-rays, and EKG.
And don't forget to note specific symptoms: for instance, how many pillows she uses to sleep on, whether there's visible edema in her limbs, any chest pains, shortness of breath, and so on.

Michelle Brown6 said:So, something weird happened a few days ago...

I was out on the patio, having my first glass of white wine and snacking on some sesame sticks, when suddenly I got this sharp pain—like I’d swallowed a whole apple and it was stuck right in my esophagus... (that's where it all started...)

I think (though I can't be totally sure) it happens when you burp and hiccup at the exact same time... probably some pressure thing. Anyway, for about 20 seconds, I just froze—couldn't breathe, speak, or move—just waiting for the pain to pass.

After those 20 seconds, I suddenly felt incredibly nauseous. I rushed to the bathroom, and just as I reached it, I remember that sensation you get when you stand up too fast and everything goes black and you lose your balance.

Then I blacked out (obviously, since I don't remember hitting the floor), and the last thing I recall is waking up on my back, my head slamming against the tile. (The result is a massive bump on my head that hasn't gone away yet).

I came to after maybe 5 or 10 seconds, once my girlfriend heard the thud and ran into the bathroom to find me.

Nothing like this has ever happened to me before. I've never passed out or had an episode of slamming my head into the floor.

Since everything happened so fast, I have a feeling it's all connected, starting with that painful sensation in my throat.

Just a heads up... I deal with GERD, but I'm not on any meds right now (stopped about 4 months ago). Things have been much better since then, so I'm really hoping to avoid going back on them... (Nexium 20mg/day).

To be fair, I completely overhauled my diet and lost 10 pounds in the process (over about 3 months—all fatty foods) without any exercise, which is a little worrying...

My diet is mostly bread, olive oil, salt, pasta, potatoes, rice, poultry, spinach, lettuce, zucchini, and carrots (mostly mild stuff) and for drinks, just water, sparkling water, and occasionally white wine. Since I can't do yogurt, I take powdered probiotics.

Is this something I should be worried about? Thanks!

You can't get a diagnosis on a web forum.
It could be orthostatic syncope, vasovagal syncope, arrhythmia, anemia, or something else entirely.
Basically, you need to get checked out properly. You should have them check your blood pressure while sitting vs. standing, run blood work, an EKG, and potentially a TTE or a Holter monitor.

Bradley Alvarez2 said:..hm
I honestly don't even know how to respond to all of that.
I'm actually going through something similar right now.
My back has been absolutely killing me for the last six months, and I am constantly exhausted.
My blood pressure hit 140/110 with a resting heart rate of 100.
I’ve done it all—EKG, stress test, Holter monitor, echocardiogram, ergometry...
Had my spine scanned too; nothing catastrophic, just the classic L5 and S1 issues.
Blood work came back fine.
Thyroid levels are normal.
And yet, everyone thinks *I'm* the weird one!

You really need to provide the actual clinical data—the EKG, TTE, stress test, both RR and EKG Holter results, and full metabolic panels—along with a description of the symptoms, family medical history, and any other conditions or medications you're currently on.

Sandra Bennett22 said:My dad was just confirmed to have bile duct adenocarcinoma yesterday. Everything is falling apart. Given his condition—he’s immobile, in excruciating pain, either sleeping or squinting through the agony—I honestly think he’s already entered the terminal phase. I don't even have the strength to type this out properly because the sheer weight of what has happened over the last few months is crushing me. A man who was healthy and full of life so recently... now, we're just counting the days.
What I need help with is how to manage this pain when he comes home. Right now, he’s in the hospital on a 25mcg Fentanyl patch and getting Fortral injections twice a day (I can't make out the rest of the meds)... and yet, the pain won't stop. He just endures it. I don't know if he's hoping for a miracle or if he's just stopped asking for relief after being let down once before. Can these patches and other medications be picked up at a local pharmacy, and is there anything that can substitute for those Fortral injections? .
Please excuse the rambling; I'm just a wreck. It's just my mom and me against this. We love him so much, and the only thing left to do is fight to keep him comfortable. We want him to die with dignity, because frankly, we can't expect that from our healthcare system. Our local family clinic is just one of many places that offers zero support and feels like they shouldn't even bother wasting money on expensive medications for patients like him.

That Fentanyl dose sounds way too low.
He needs Fortral tablets or some other opioid analgesic, though the primary focus should really be on titrating his Fentanyl dosage.
Best regards, Jane Doe

Michelle Mitchell17 said:I have a few silly questions since it's been a while since my last blood draw. Do I absolutely have to go on an empty stomach? Also, what are the usual hours for blood work at local community health centers? I need to get tested for strep and staph titers, plus CRP and L.

You don't need to fast.
But honestly, I doubt the East Community Health Center even offers those specific tests—unless it's just the L (which is basically a CBC) or the CRP, and even then, you'd probably have to pay extra for them.

Brenda Peterson29 said:I have a few urgent questions because I probably won't have internet access later:

1) Is it okay to mix diazepam with Johnson & Johnson? If not, what can I take it with: Bayer Aspirin, Tylenol Extra Strength, or something else?

3) I occasionally take Valium (as needed for mental health issues). If I take 10 or 20mg of Valium, how much alcohol am I allowed to consume that day? Should I drink right away, or do I need to wait a few hours after taking the dose?

4) If I take 10mg of Valium and two Johnson & Johnson pills on the same day, can I still have alcohol?

5) What kind of side effects could happen from combining these drugs, and at what dosage levels?

6) If I take 30-40mg of Valium one day, can I take 200mg of Tylenol the next? Does what I took the first day affect what I take the second, or does the body completely clear itself out after about 24 hours?

I'm looking for real answers here, not the vague, exaggerated fluff you find in the official instruction leaflets. Please don't just give me the "diplomatic" version straight from the fine print—I can read the instructions myself. I want to know what actually happens in reality. Does anyone have personal experience with this?

It would be great if a doctor could weigh in, since they’d actually know the best way to answer these.

Thanks in advance 😉

1. It's better to combine diazepam/Valium with Tylenol/Bayer Aspirin, or maybe an NSAID like Ibuprofen.
3. You really shouldn't mix alcohol and diazepam. But, say you take Valium in the morning and then have a small beer in the evening? Nothing catastrophic is going to happen.
Codeine will definitely boost the effects of diazepam and similar meds.
4. Same as my answer to #3.
5. The side effects are listed in the drug's packaging insert.
6. You can take them on the same day.
The maximum daily dose for Tylenol is 4g per day.
The maximum daily dose of diazepam depends on what's being treated—like anxiety, alcohol withdrawal, seizures, premedication, whether it's IV, etc.
Tylenol is hepatotoxic at doses exceeding 6-8g, but otherwise, it's a pretty safe drug.
Aside from the risk of dependency with long-term use, the side effects of diazepam are usually mild and temporary.

Sandra Rivera37 said:signature 😉

I was prescribed antibiotics because my ear was killing me. Of course, I didn't take them, and the pain just vanished on its own.🙂

Well, obviously. Most of those infections end up being viral anyway.

melloworca6 said:I’m just going to go straight to the doctor 🙄.

If they found a low count of bacteria, they should have sent you for a full urine culture! You need to know exactly which strains we're dealing with, their concentration, and—most importantly—which antibiotics actually kill them. You don't just play guessing games with prescriptions.

It’s pointless to go get tested right now. Just finish your course of antibiotics. Then, two weeks after you've finished the meds, go back for a follow-up culture. If that comes back anything other than sterile, that is when you demand a proper analysis.

1. Honestly, they shouldn't have even run a urinalysis in the first place.
2. The results look perfectly fine; the patient isn't even experiencing dysuria or any other symptoms.
3. A UTI isn't even indicated here, let alone antibiotic treatment.
4. When it comes to urinary tract infections, the issue isn't usually about prescribing the wrong antibiotic. In a massive amount of cases—up to 90%—the culprit is E. coli. Most of the time, doctors can just follow standard guidelines for treating acute uncomplicated cystitis using
nitrofurantoin-Macrobid
norfloxacin-Noroxin
cephalexin-Keflex
sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim-Bactrim
amoxicillin-clavulanate-Augmentin—which can also be used for more complicated cases like pyelonephritis
ciprofloxacin-Cipro—which is almost exclusively reserved for severe and complicated infections
at the appropriate dosages.

Dennis Davis5 said:What happens if I start taking those weight loss pills while my weight is already in the normal range? Would there be side effects?

For heaven's sake, just read the medication guide online.
Most of the side effects from Ozempic are centered around your GI tract.

redcrane22 said:my blood work looks fine,
but my urinalysis just shows those specific bacteria exactly like I said before
my primary care doctor thinks maybe that’s what made me feel so lousy
and by "lousy," I mean I was dizzy and actually felt sick...

so she put me on antibiotics for these "rare" bacteria
what does "rare" even mean?
which ones are we talking about here?

And then we’ll all act shocked and outraged when everyone starts talking about antibiotic resistance.🙂🙂🙄☕
It's truly disturbing and frankly terrifying, but unfortunately, this isn't some isolated incident—it's becoming the standard practice for most doctors.

redcrane22 said:levels: 30-ish 😁
tested because I was feeling terrible lately
bacteria: rare

no serious illnesses
not sure what helped

To cut to the chase.
I have no idea how a urine analysis relates to you feeling like garbage, but based on what's here, the results presumably look fine—though, again, the full report hasn't even been transcribed here.

Dennis Davis5 said:Got it. Is it still okay for me to take if I'm 5'10" and about 163 lbs?

No. You have a perfectly healthy BMI.

redcrane22 said:I had blood and urine tests done last week. 😁
Most of the time, my urinalysis just shows "rare" bacteria.
What does "rare" even mean?
Do I really need to start antibiotics? My doctor prescribed them, but I’m just not feeling like they're necessary. 🤷

For the love of God, read the very first post. Is asking for basic reading comprehension really that much to ask?

Angela Smith32 said:Hello,
my husband is going through absolute hell with hemorrhoids. He took two boxes of Pilex $267 over 14 days, but the pain just came roaring back even worse than before, and the bleeding is more intense than ever. Even Always pads aren't doing the trick—wherever he sits, he leaves a trace. He was in the ER last night, and honestly, they just exhausted him with exams in surgery and sent him home with a prescription for Daflon $40 and instructions to follow up in seven days. The pain isn't stopping and the bleeding hasn't slowed down at all. I read here that Lidoproct is good, so I'm wondering if anyone knows where we can buy it around here? We're in San Diego. Tomorrow we’re calling clinics in New York City to see who can get him in for surgery ASAP; I'm assuming he's at stage 4. In the meantime, can anyone suggest anything for the pain or to help reduce the bleeding just so he can hold out until the surgery? Fingers crossed it happens quickly. Thanks so much, and greetings from San Diego!!

Michael Diaz4 said:Google... I am so sorry to hear that...😢 I know firsthand how brutal hemorrhoid pain can be. Whatever you do, don't let him take Metamizole because it can actually increase the bleeding. I'm not sure where you'd find Preparation H locally, maybe someone could bring some in from Canada? But honestly, there's no time to wait. Get him to a doctor in New York City. There have been people here who successfully dealt with this through surgery. Good luck...

In the US, Tylenol is an alternative to Preparation H.
As for Metamizole—it belongs to the pyrazolone group. Even though it has a very strong analgesic effect, it carries a massive, unacceptable risk of serious side effects. It's rarely prescribed in America these days; it used to be popular, but it's been replaced by much safer painkillers.
My recommendation is Paracetamol—Tylenol—up to a maximum of 4g per day, or if the pain persists, a combination of Paracetamol and Tramadol.

Dennis Davis5 said:I was wondering if I can pick up weight loss pills over the counter, and if so, what kind of price range are we looking at?

Look, if we’re talking about what’s actually FDA-approved specifically for treating obesity, you're looking at Orlistat—basically Ozempic—which requires a prescription. There is an over-the-counter version of Orlistat available, like Alli, but keep in mind that's only about half the dosage of Ozempic.