Posts by Jamie Clark74

restlesshound18 said:🙄

He told me the best thing would be to just relax. He offered me xanax, but honestly, I'm terrified of taking it because of all the horror stories I've heard. I'll try to stay calm so I don't end up needing meds, ...Question: if I have these "panic attacks," does that mean I could have a heart attack right now at 17 or 18 years old??!!😲Is this a warning sign? Or do I actually have some kind of heart condition? Or what?
The EKG came back "normal," but my blood work showed low ferritin levels. Or whatever that was.
He also gave me some iron supplements to take, even though I’ve been on those kinds of supplements for about a month already... Okay, so I'm always tense, my heart races and everything. BUT I'm genuinely scared I have some underlying defect.........!I was thinking about how I react and wondered if maybe I have asthma issues (?!), but I'm not coughing or wheezing, and I don't think I'm allergic to anything... it's just that my heart starts racing heavily, I lose my breath for about 20 seconds or more. And you just absolutely terrify yourself!🙄
I don't know anyone my age who deals with this stuff. It really scares me—what is life going to be like when I'm older??
The doctor said I'm fine as long as I don't start having intense pain. Once that happens, he said we'll see...I'm done with drinking and smoking; this is truly a nightmare. Ugh, I don't even know what else to say...

First off, congrats on quitting smoking. I smoked until I was 46, doing 60 to 80 cigarettes a day, and after 10 or 20 years, my lungs improved significantly, which is lucky since I have asbestosis.
But by age 32, I was seeing the effects of smoking on my arteries, with about 40-45% blockage... which I monitor via ultrasound.

Alcohol is another big one; it's good that you stopped.
Basically, you've cut out two of the worst contributors to heart disease.

Secondly, I'm fairly certain your issue is psychosomatic... that doesn't mean the symptoms you're describing aren't real... BUT they are driven by emotional factors.

Low ferritin or iron in the blood isn't usually cause for alarm... unless it doesn't improve or keeps recurring, then you need to find the root cause.

Xanax = Valium = Diazepam is a benzodiazepine, used for several different needs.
It's used for short-term calming/anxiety, controlling epileptic fits (via Diazepam injections), sedation before surgery, helping patients through alcohol withdrawal, or managing muscle spasms.

People say all sorts of things, but I wouldn't worry too much about the rumors regarding Xanax... it's perfectly fine when used as prescribed and under control. It's just that some people abuse it, so naturally, there are problems.

For the last 39 years, I've taken just 5 mg of Xanax = Valium at night for spasms, because I've had two kidney surgeries and chronic sciatica that causes constant cramping. I also take Quinine.

Try following your doctor's advice... and most importantly, like I said before, you have to help yourself... which means trying to stay calm first and seeing how the Xanax works for you.

Also, don't forget, you are young, and we know so much today about "healthy living and nutrition" if you do end up having an issue.

To give you an example, my wife is 72, and she used to live in fear of ending up like her three brothers and one sister... who live in America (one brother lived in Australia).
The oldest brother died of a heart attack at 60. The second brother, who lived in Australia, also died of heart issues at 72. The third brother had a very early stroke, just like his sister in her 70s.

My wife just finished a very thorough medical exam—similar to the one I had last year. We both came back with flying colors; we're healthy and there aren't any concerns.

We’ve lived outside of America for 40 years now, and our diet has definitely evolved. From the start, we moved away from heavy fats; everything is chopped fresh before cooking, and we don't do those greasy stews anymore. Did it work? Well, even at 72, my wife is the only one of our five children who hasn't run into health issues.

Jamie Clark74

Steven Sanders59 said:There’s really only one way out of this.
A shooting range, an AR-15, and some targets: that’s🙂😁 ☕the
fix.

There's always some idiot🙄 willing to😁 take it that far.

Depression, panic attacks, anxiety, personality disorders... these have skyrocketed over the last 25 years. Honestly, I saw the rise even before I moved here to the States.
I mean, no offense intended, but many of you went through war, which certainly leaves its mark on the psyche.

Nowadays, maybe one in four or five people deals with these symptoms. The real issue is when someone tries to self-medicate with alcohol—it usually just makes things much worse in the long run.

Most of these psychiatric issues tend to overlap; one often leads to another.

A lot of us inherited these tendencies from our parents. It’s nothing to be ashamed of—we live in the 21st century, after all. Being prone to stress just makes you a bigger target than someone who doesn't really care how life unfolds.

Back in 1991, I worked in an office as an electrical controller and maintenance scheduler. I was managing three computers, seven phones, and monitoring 23 vehicles via radio.

The steel mill was cutting staff down from 6,500 to 3,500, and my group was under massive pressure.

I reached out for help, but they just gave me empty promises without actually doing anything.
Then one day, I simply didn't have the energy to get out of bed. Before that, I had been pulling 12 to 14-hour shifts, seven days a week.

To make a long story short, despite my best efforts, I couldn't shake it. I eventually ended up seeing a decent psychiatrist who had no trouble diagnosing me with Major Depressive Disorder, panic attacks, anxiety, and a major personality disorder.

Because of those illnesses—and because I was physically impaired due to a failed spinal surgery that wasn't fully recognized at the time—I was declared disabled at age 51.
We had to move from a small town to a larger city like Chicago.
For the first few years, my wife and I would see a psychiatrist for about an hour or two every few weeks. Even now, 18 years later, I am still a chronic patient who relies on medication to stay stable.

So, don't be surprised if stress sends your heart racing to 120 or 140 BPM, or if your blood pressure spikes to 220/90 even when you're trying to manage it.

I remember sitting up at night, checking my blood pressure and pulse, with a phone in my other hand ready to call 911... just staying awake like that all night.

Once you are on a regular regimen—and I had to cycle through about 15 different medications for depression—you end up taking something like Xanax/Clonazepam at 2-3mg for anxiety.

The biggest headache is that when you're juggling around 23 different drugs, the side effects and interactions become a nightmare.

Even today, whenever something unusual happens, I struggle immensely, even though I'm technically under good control.

But not everyone's situation is like mine. Many younger people will recover much more easily; by the time I hit 50, it was already too late for me.

I'm nearly 68 now, thankfully retired. I still deal with these issues, but they are managed, and I don't have to work. I've stayed very active on the computer, though, for over 30 years.

You are the most important factor in your own recovery. It’s easier to heal when you're younger, provided you approach life with a plan, give yourself time, and stay organized. If you don't take that initiative, doctors can only do so much.

Jamie Clark74

Michelle Smith14 said:Look, I’m not sure if anyone here will actually get back to me, but it feels worth asking. I’m in the process of buying a house—it's about 35 years old—and there are clearly Salonit sheets on the roof. That part is obvious. However, how am I supposed to know if there's asbestos hidden in the walls? What’s the actual protocol for checking that? The current owner isn't sure because she inherited the place from her parents and has never actually lived there herself. If anyone has some advice or knows the best way to handle this, please let me know.

I mentioned somewhere else in this thread about two elderly women who used to clean asbestos roofs with very stiff brushes—they didn't even use water, just rinsed them off afterward.

Whether you have asbestos materials in the house or not, "I can't say"... but you probably already know if the walls are brick or made of panels, right?

Basically, asbestos is fine as long as you don't touch it, crack it, strip it, or drill holes in it and kick up dust.

In any case, it's being replaced everywhere in the world. Over time, laws require specialized companies to come in, remove it, bag it up, and haul it away to a specific disposal site.

But since you're living in America... where people tend to say, "Who cares, it's not dangerous," right before they end up dying from it.

In Australia, doctors weren't even telling patients they were dying from mesothelioma until 1985 because the owners and the government told them not to—they just told them it was lung cancer.

That's about it.
Jamie Clark74

placidjackal36 said:That wasn't pure asbestos; it was Salonit, which contains it.
A lung X-ray shows changes in the lungs, but it won't show the actual asbestos fibers that get lodged inside them. For those changes to actually show up, you generally need long-term, chronic exposure to asbestos dust. Asbestos isn't like a classic poison—it just destroys your lungs if you inhale it for many, many years.
Judging by what you did and how long you spent working with that Salonit, you're going to be fine. 👍

Just another expert acting like they don't know anything!

I think I already described the consequences of contact with asbestos earlier... "how little it takes."

In the last few years in the US, women around 35-40 years old have passed away.

They died from mesothelioma... once you're diagnosed with it, you have anywhere from six months to a year left... there is no help and no cure.

All those women who died were just helping their fathers hold asbestos plates while he cut them during home renovations when they were children... so it wasn't even a case of massive or long-term exposure.

Usually, it takes 20 or more years for asbestos-related diseases to show up on an X-ray.
Most diagnoses happen "when patients go in for a different checkup by accident"—like when I went in for a pain clinic appointment—and they find out something is wrong with their heart or lungs.

After a standard CT scan, pleural plaque showed up... which is a consequence of Asbestosis.

Since I go for checkups/breathing tests twice a year and a CT scan once a year... we know that over 12 years, the pleural plaque has accumulated and will likely stay that way. Luckily, I quit smoking before I was 22... so my capacity is actually much better than the average healthy 67-year-old.

Only a little Asbestosis shows up... BUT only as a starting point.

I wrote before that there are only three diagnoses related to asbestos:

1/pleural plaque... which can lead to fusion and restricted breathing.

2/Asbestosis... it can be mild, but it can also be unbearable and require oxygen.

3/Mesothelioma... this is what kills you... there is no such thing as someone "who recovered or didn't die."

Vilko P. S.

Click the link below:

Bernie Banton passed away today.

Jamie Clark74

placidfox55 said:Hello? Is nobody interested?

Do you struggle with high fasting blood sugar? Or maybe you find yourself crashing into hypoglycemia right after a sugary meal?

Is your BMI over 25? Or maybe even north of 30?

Is your waist circumference over 35 inches for women or 40 inches for men?

If your waist-to-hip ratio is over 0.85 for women or above 0.9 for men, you might want to take notice. Weight around the waist is most dangerous.

Are you dealing with high triglycerides or elevated "bad" LDL cholesterol?

Is your "good" HDL cholesterol actually running low?

Dealing with high blood pressure?

The single best way to stop metabolic syndrome from turning into Type 2 Diabetes or other health issues? It’s all about lifestyle changes. Walk for at least thirty minutes, five days a week. Load up on fruits and vegetables, stick to lean proteins like chicken, fish, yogurt, or cottage cheese, and choose whole grains over refined starches. Toss in some healthy fats, too. Simple, but it works.

There are medications available, too...

It’s worth knowing your family history, especially when dealing with health issues.
It looks like we really did inherit our DNA from our parents. Some people will just never have to deal with Type 2 Diabetes because their bodies handle everything perfectly, even if they don't watch what they eat.
I could also be one of those "skinny fat" types.

Type 2 Diabetes is becoming incredibly widespread these days. I remember back when I lived in Washington, D.C., seeing people who were overweight and then suddenly passing away from strokes or heart attacks while they were still so young.

How do you even begin telling someone that smoking is killing them? It's a tough conversation to have.
I smoked for 32 years, averaging about 60 to 80 cigarettes a day. I know exactly what those consequences look like—I even dealt with a clogged carotid artery in my neck. If I hadn't quit at 46, I honestly wouldn't be here today.

If you quit in time, your lungs can recover almost to the level of a non-smoker within ten years.

====
Let's get back to the questions.

I've been managing high blood pressure since I turned 40. After running for three years straight following quitting smoking, I went in for a checkup. The results were a bit humbling—they clocked my physical age at 48, even when compared to a healthy 22-year-old college student.

I'm 5'9", and I've always been a big guy. I was never one of those thin types where you can see your bones.
I’ve got plenty of muscle, but I'm carrying some extra weight too. I was at my absolute best when I hit 85 kg—back when I didn't have this belly and actually felt mobile.

Every single day. 3.1 miles I think it’s pretty straightforward. For anyone who is healthy, the most affordable way to stay fit is just through basic, regular exercise. You don't need an expensive gym membership for that.

I'm currently sitting right on the borderline for Type 2 Diabetes. I've started taking some medication to help get my metabolism back on track, mostly because I'm determined not to let the scale creep up any further.

My waist measurement has been sitting at 46 inches for about 15 years now. What does that actually signify? Even without factoring in a BMI of 30—which puts me in the overweight category—I’m talking about someone who has had very limited mobility for the last decade.

My cholesterol levels are fine, and my HDL looks great. Every few weeks when I stop testing my blood sugar, the numbers come back normal. Still, I keep taking Diabex just so I don't have to deal with the constant monitoring.

I’m struggling with way too many pills, and they’re wrecking my digestion. I've got constant IBS issues because of them.
They’re a constant in my life... honestly, I don't know what I'd do without them.

To be honest, I’m a bit of a medical case study myself. Not exactly the best example to follow, given that I’m dealing with both Apnea and asbestosis.

I've been dealing with chronic pain for 37 years now, and I’m stuck in a bit of a bind. I can't take anything for it because, frankly, I'm allergic to just about every narcotic out there. My body simply refuses to tolerate them.
=====

I’ve mentioned this before: once you hit 40, you really ought to stay on top of things. Even if you feel fine, getting a solid checkup and some blood work done once or twice a year is just smart.

Let's not wait until things reach a breaking point when all these health issues start surfacing—even if we are the ones responsible for them. It isn't too late to step up and help ourselves with the right medication.

But above all, it’s just like they say: prevention is always better than the cure.

A blood panel can reveal just about anything, from prostate issues and testosterone levels to simple vitamin deficiencies. In my case, it’s Vitamin D—living in a place like sunny California doesn't mean much if you aren't moving enough and your body just won't absorb it properly. My wife deals with something similar with Vitamin B12; her digestive system won't take it in, so she has to get monthly injections. I actually got teased for that once. People tend to brush off B12 supplements like they're nothing, having no clue that dealing with Pernicious Anemia is a serious medical condition.

I’m turning 66 soon, and honestly, looking around at my circle, nearly half have already passed away from strokes or heart issues and hemorrhages. The rest seem to be hitting that 72 to 74 range.

placidfox55, thanks... I actually wrote all of this about three or four years ago... just so people could laugh at me.

placidfox55 said:Hello, is anyone interested?

Do you have high fasting blood sugar? Or do you crash into hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) easily after a sugary meal?

Is your BMI over 25 (or even over 30)?

Is your waist circumference larger than 34 inches (for women) or 40 inches (for men)?

Is your waist-to-hip ratio higher than 0.85 (women) or 0.9 (men)?

Are your triglycerides or "bad" LDL cholesterol levels high?

Is your "good" HDL cholesterol low?

High blood pressure?

So far, the most effective way to prevent Metabolic Syndrome from turning into Type 2 Diabetes and other complications is lifestyle changes: walking at least thirty minutes, five days a week, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins (like yogurt, cottage cheese, chicken, or fish), and for carbs, sticking to whole grains... and some healthy fats...

There are medications, too...

It’s wise to know your family medical history!
We inherit DNA from our parents... some people will never deal with Diabetes because they're lucky enough to have bodies that handle it well, even if they
are "skinny."

Type 2 Diabetes is incredibly widespread today. I remember back in Washington, D.C., people used to be overweight and then just suddenly pass away from strokes or heart attacks while they were still young.

Try telling someone that smoking is bad for them.
I smoked for 32 years, about 60 to 80 cigarettes a day... I know the consequences firsthand. I had a cyst on my neck... if I hadn't quit at 46, I wouldn't be alive today.

If you quit in time, your lungs can recover almost as well as a non-smoker's after ten years.

====
Getting back to the questions.

I've been managing high blood pressure since I was 40. When I was running for three years after quitting smoking, I took a test and my vitals looked like a 48-year-old's compared to a healthy 22-year-old college student.

I'm 5'9", and I've always been heavily built... never the skinny type where you see bones.
I have a lot of muscle but also carry weight... at my best, I was 187 lbs when I didn't have a belly and stayed active.

Every day, 3.1 miles I consider walking to be a normal exercise that is the cheapest option for any healthy person... you don't need a gym.

Personally, I am Borderline for Type 2 Diabetes. I take pills to help my metabolism and try to keep from gaining more weight.

My waist is 46 inches... it's been that way for 15 years. I don't know exactly what that means without the BMI, but I'm definitely over 30. However, I'm talking about someone who has had limited mobility for the last decade.

My cholesterol is fine, and my HDL is very good. When I stop taking my meds for two or three weeks and check my sugar, it isn't high... but I still take Diabex anyway just so I don't have to keep checking.

My main issue is the sheer amount of pills, which messes with my digestion and causes constant IBS
24/7... but I can't function without them.

As for the chronic pain I've dealt with for 37 years, I can't take anything "because I'm allergic to all narcotics"... I simply could never tolerate them.
=====

I wrote before that once you hit 40—or sooner if necessary—you should get a good physical and blood work done once or twice a year.

And that's not even mentioning the later years when illnesses start creeping in... even if we are responsible for our own health, it's not too late to help ourselves with medication.

But primarily, as they say... prevention is better than a cure.

Blood work will catch everything, whether it's a prostate issue, testosterone levels, or vitamin deficiencies. In my case, it's Vitamin D... I don't absorb it well and I don't move around enough.

I'll be 66 soon. Almost half of my acquaintances have died from strokes or heart issues/vascular problems, and the rest mostly die around age 72-74.

placidfox55, thanks... I actually wrote all of that about three or four years ago... just so I could be made fun of.

Asbestos is claiming a new generation.

by Pia Akerman October 20
October 20, 2007 06:00am

When most people think about asbestos-related diseases, they picture a man—someone whose face shows the grit and strain of a lifetime spent working heavy construction or on a grueling factory line.
Now we're seeing a new wave of victims—increasingly women, often called the "third wave"—and it looks like the numbers are about to skyrocket.
It’s heartbreaking to think about. Kids who used to run around their parents' feet while walls were being knocked down or home extensions were being built are now facing mesothelioma—that devastating cancer that attacks the lungs and abdomen after hiding for decades.

Forty years ago, Anita Steiner's parents decided to build a workshop next to their house in the leafy Adelaide suburb of Torrens Park. Four-year-old Anita watched as the workshop—made of asbestos—went up, and then again a few years later when it was demolished.
"I was far too young back then to really grasp what was coming," Ms. Steiner said. "I just remember hanging around the crew while they were building it, but I’m fairly certain nobody realized there was any kind of risk involved."

Back in May, while she was trying to conceive her first child, she received a diagnosis of mesothelioma.
Ms. Steiner is currently undergoing chemotherapy following surgery to remove portions of her lungs. She’s convinced that most homeowners tackling renovations are completely oblivious to the asbestos risks lurking in their walls, and she fears the count of victims is only going up. "I honestly think we're headed for a wave of issues," she noted. "It isn't just the DIYers doing the work—it's the families actually living in those houses while the renovations are happening."

It’s a prediction that many others working on the front lines of asbestos disease research and patient support are also making.
Armando Gardiman, the managing partner at Turner Freeman Lawyers—a firm that handles hundreds of asbestos-related cases annually—noted that they've seen a massive spike in people coming forward due to home renovations since 2000.
"The nature of these cases is shifting," he noted. "The demographic we're seeing is completely different now. Plaintiffs are getting younger by the day, and we're seeing more women involved because of these DIY-related exposures."
Across the US, the death toll from mesothelioma has been climbing steadily since the late 1990s. Looking back at the data from 2005—the most recent year we have complete figures for—522 people lost their lives to the disease. That represents a 25 percent jump compared to 1997.

The most significant spike in cases has happened in South Australia. This actually surpassed Western Australia, which held the title for the highest global rate of malignant mesothelioma per capita back in the late 1990s.
Illness among workers and residents of Wittenoom— 901 miles The high numbers in Western Australia were driven largely by what happened north of Perth, where blue asbestos was mined and processed from the 1930s through the 1960s.

The victims from the Wittenoom era are almost entirely gone now, yet we’re seeing a steady rise in cases among people just trying to renovate their homes.
A big part of why we're seeing so many cases in South Australia comes down to those old public housing projects in the suburbs. They were built using fibro cement, and then plenty of families went ahead and renovated them throughout the 60s, 70s, and 80s.

Jamie Clark74 commented:
Like I’ve mentioned many times before, this isn't just about an occupational hazard for workers—the danger is everywhere. You have children playing right under their parents' feet while asbestos plates were being torn down or old home extensions were being built, breathing in that dust. Now, thirty or forty years later, those same kids are falling ill.

Reports show that about 500 people in the US die from mesothelioma every year. It makes you wonder about those of us dealing with asbestosis or pleural plaque. We have plenty of people facing that here, too.

With asbestos, you can deal with the consequences for 20 or 25 years—struggling to breathe and living with serious limitations.

The whole world is saturated with these toxins, yet there's so little concern about how we actually get rid of them. Safely removing, packaging, and burying hazardous waste in a secure location is incredibly expensive. Because of that cost, you see too many people just handling things themselves—driving around and dumping waste wherever they can just to save a few bucks. They don't seem to realize they're poisoning themselves and everyone else who ends up exposed to that junk.

USA, August 21, 2007

Bernie Banton is devastated by a new diagnosis of asbestos-related disease.

Anti-asbestos campaigner Bernie Banton says he was devastated to find out he's been diagnosed with yet another asbestos-related illness.
Mr. Banton, who has become the public face of the campaign for compensation from the James Hardie company, just received the third blow in what he describes as a "triple whammy."
Back in the 60s and 70s, Mr. Banton worked at a James Hardie insulation plant. That experience led to him contracting asbestosis, followed by ARPD (asbestosis-related pleural disease).
He’s just received a diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma. It’s an abdominal cancer linked to asbestos exposure, and typically, patients are looking at a prognosis of only six to nine months."I tried to act like I could handle it, but honestly? I was shattered. There isn't any other way to put it—just completely shattered," Mr. Banton told reporters at Concord Hospital.

Mr. Banton has pledged to take on this latest health battle with everything he's got.
In an ironic twist, the lawyers representing him have filed a compensation claim against the very fund Mr. Banton fought so hard to establish for the company's asbestos victims.

Tanya Segelov, representing Bernie Banton, stated that his mesothelioma was definitely triggered by his exposure to asbestos while working for James Hardie.
"In the US, the only known cause for mesothelioma is asbestos exposure, so there's really no doubt he contracted this from his time working at James Hardie," Ms. Segelov told ABC radio.

Ms. Segelov said Bernie was diagnosed on Friday and was still in shock at learning he had only months to live.
"In classic Bernie fashion, he's vowing to keep fighting," she said.
Ms. Segelov noted there were two main reasons why he decided to pursue more compensation.
She noted that while any money wouldn't do much for Mr. Banton personally, it would provide him some peace of mind knowing his family would be taken care of financially.
On top of everything else, Bernie Banton is hell-bent on securing the compensation he deserves for this devastating injury and ensuring the company is held fully accountable for what they did.

Rachel Brooks63 said:Jamie Clark74, let's not play games with old copy-pastes like this.

Should I just dig up that old thread of yours?

To the moderator;

I never asked for this thread to be reopened. It was originally started under
my name during what you called a heated argument between Kokice1-99 and myself.

Please just close the thread. I'm proud of what I wrote; I’ve received plenty of emails and PMs from people looking for help, and if I could offer advice based on my own experiences, I did.
====================================
Here are some of the health topics I've covered on the forums:

http://www.forum.us/showthread.php?t=29081
Men's Health Issues

http://www.forum.us/showthread.php?t=18544
Asbestosis

http://www.forum.us/showthread.php?t=48580
Lower back pain, protrusion, and herniated discs

http://www.forum.us/showthread.php?t=73639
Intrathecal Morphine Pumps for Pain Management!

http://www.forum.us/showthread.php?t=114795
The Pros and Cons of Antidepressants

http://www.forum.us/showthread.php?t=16736
Health... Doctors... and... Money?

http://www.forum.us/showthread.php?t=100443
A vaccine against Cervical cancer is in development...

http://www.forum.us/showthread.php?t=77630
What do men know about menopause, hysterectomies, HRT, osteoporosis, and other issues?

http://www.forum.us/showthread.php?t=21555
Everything About Sexuality... Him, Her, Them... and more!!!

http://www.forum.us/showthread.php?t=73487
Let's get rid of all the elderly and sick... thoughts?

http://www.forum.us/showthread.php?t=17495
"Psychiatry and Us": A thread for serious forum members dealing with these Diseases!

http://www.forum.us/showthread.php?t=17503
"Psychiatry and Us" // Discussions, replies, and Undergrowth!!!

http://www.forum.us/showthread.php?t=13236
Are you familiar with APNEA?

http://www.forum.us/showthread.php?t=61104
Jamie Clark74: That can't happen to me—I have Type 2 diabetes!

http://www.forum.us/showthread.php?t=60247
Jamie Clark74: 100 ways to live to be 100 years old!

http://www.forum.us/showthread.php?t=59925
The diet that works: THE AMISH DIET!

============================

Thanks for closing out this thread—even if I didn't get to pick the title myself.

🙂 😘

feralraven4 said:You remind me so much of my mom. Please don't take this personally, because I talk to her the exact same way. She seems to have every ailment under the sun, popping pills like they're candy. She’s constantly complaining and acting like she's an expert on her own health. Just like you, she talks endlessly about what hurts,
what specific condition she has, and honestly, she almost seems to relish it. She hides behind being sick to get attention and soak up some sympathy.
Your posts are truly something else; I've never seen anyone talk about themselves and their medical issues quite this much!!
If my mom didn't know how to use a computer, I don't know what we'd do!
I suspect there might be some hypochondria involved—who knows what your psychiatrist said. But I’d also throw in a diagnosis of "homodolorosus" (people who build their entire identity around pain).
Living with her, I've learned that people like this are hard to change because it's just their lifestyle, but frankly, people get tired of hearing nothing but your endless problems!!!!!!!!!
GOOD LUCK!!!

Is that really why you decided to impersonate her?

Some people just won't do things the right way.

In Australia, doctors and specialists make the diagnoses, not the patients themselves.
By the time someone hits 65, most folks are dealing with a few health issues, sometimes many more.

It all depends on what kind of work a person did and how hard they worked over the years.

🙂 😘

Finally, some ergonomic seating!

Rachel Brooks63 said:Jamie Clark74, let's not mess around with those kinds of copy-pastes.

Should I dig up that old thread of yours?

Those links were just for people who aren't quite qualified enough to understand the context. We have plenty of non-doctors here—nurses, students, you name it. Honestly, after all these months, it was actually quite nice of you to say hello.

And thanks for all the well wishes while I was recovering from surgery.😍

All the best to you too.
🙂 😘

Sam Hall15 said:Jamie Clark74, I'm still not quite following how your medical history connects to stroke prevention. Regarding strokes: they are preventable if caused by Atherosclerosis (which isn't technically classified as a disease itself). Of course, nothing in medicine is absolute—nobody can guarantee 100% immunity from any condition—but through lifestyle choices, monitoring, and treatment, you can reduce the risk of a stroke far beyond just statistical odds. Also, strokes can be treated, even though many people assume otherwise. One radiological intervention technique is MERCI, and anti-fibrinogen and anti-platelet therapies are used quite successfully too...

a/ We should probably remind people that alcohol ruins lives; that’s why we see folks passing away in their mid-50s or 60s from cirrhosis or liver cancer.

b/ And smoking... sure, tell people it's healthy and won't hurt anyone. How many millions of people die every year from smoking-related illnesses?

c/ Atherosclerosis isn't a disease? Fine, I guess you're the specialist cardiologist here..

d/ So, smoke, drink, eat greasy food, and everything will be just fine.

e/ My whole point was that if I hadn't been seeking help for something else, I never would have known about my carotid artery stenosis. I wouldn't have been able to track its development over the last 18 years via regular CT Scans. It reached a point where a plaque could have broken off and traveled to a cerebral artery in the brain... causing a stroke. Who knows how that would have ended.

f/ I wrote this because discussing existing conditions matters; many of the symptoms
I deal with are linked to lung issues, but they mimic the symptoms of a mild stroke.

g/ And I've been on blood thinners constantly.
==============

I could give you the statistics on how high my immediate stroke risk was before surgery—or how close I came to having one during the procedure—versus how low it is now
now that everything has been cleared out.

Based on your logic, you wouldn't even recommend operating on the other side... statistically speaking.🙂

P.S.
Definition:
Atherosclerosis is the most common and serious condition within the group of diseases known as arteriosclerosis, characterized by the thinning and loss of elasticity in the arterial walls.

That's all from me. Topic closed.

🙂 😘

Rachel Brooks63 said:Jamie Clark74, let’s not mess around with those kinds of copy-pastes.

Should I dig up that old thread of yours?

It's all just well-known names... don't worry, I won't bother posting it. It isn't worth sharing my
firsthand experience with you guys.🙂

Part two/
I was an alcoholic for ten years. I haven't touched a drink since 1968—that's 39 years now. My specialist tells me my liver feels soft, almost like a young person's, which means it has recovered.
I was also a heavy smoker from age 13 until I was 46. That’s 33 years of smoking. Back then, we didn't realize quite how dangerous it was compared to what we know today.
In 1987, on my son's 13th birthday, I quit smoking just to set a good example for him. He never picked up the habit, even though I had been smoking for 20 years prior.

Around 1989, I had a cervical CT Scan that showed calcification in my carotid artery.
Follow-up exams put me in the category of having about 60-65% stenosis/plaque. Because of that, I had checkups every 18 months and took 100mg of Aspirin to thin my blood. Two years ago, I had surgery on my lumbar spine at three levels—L3, L4, and L5—due to stenosis. The surgery itself seemed fine, but things went downhill very quickly. Two nerves got pinched, and now I can't walk more than about 300 feet. We aren't looking for any miracles to fix me anymore, and on top of that, my hips are giving out too.

At the same time, I started having numbness in my hands and fingers—more than usual. I knew it wasn't a stroke because I've dealt with spinal issues for years.

In 2005, before shoulder surgery, I had an MRI of my entire spine and shoulders.
The bottom line is that my whole spine and all my joints are damaged. Both shoulders need surgery to relieve the osteoarthritis, and my elbows need work too. Other joints might need steroid injections. In 2006, I had surgery on my right shoulder; it gave me back some movement, but the pain actually got worse.

I eventually decided I wouldn't undergo any more surgeries.
I often heard from my son's colleagues at work that people were dying between ages 45 and 60 from strokes... many from heart attacks... just in the last decade.

I think it saved me that I stayed away from alcohol and cigarettes, even though I was technically sicker than they were. I made sure to watch those two.
My blood pressure was under control, my cholesterol was low, and I was taking Aspirin.

My latest carotid CT Scan report didn't look great. I know enough to realize that
I needed very urgent surgery... and that's exactly what happened. I saw the doctor on Friday, March 9, 2007, and had the surgery. They managed to squeeze me in for the evening of March 13, 2007. I knew how dangerous my situation was (I've known that for a long time), but I went in without being worried. My paperwork was, as always, all in order.
IT WOULD ALL BE FINE IF THE LEFT SIDE WASN'T WAITING FOR ME SOON.

som of The more Common reasons why Your doctor would order a carotid Doppler ultrasound include :
o Headaches
o Dizziness , poor balance
o Frequent fainting or Black outs
o Stroke symptoms including numbness or weakness
o Family history of strokes or artery problems
o medical diagnostic criteria

Sorry for the long post; everything seems to be connected for me.

Here are a few links;

http://www.mayoclinic.org/carotid-ar...s/image-lg.jpg

http://images.google.com.au/images?h...h+Images&gbv=2

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/s...ckgrounder.htm

http://www.mayoclinic.org/carotid-ar...-stenting.html

Best, Jamie Clark74
😉

😠 😠 😠 I just lost my entire post...😠 😠 😠

Monday, 3/19/2007
Jamie Clark74
Adelaide
Australia

Shared from Pfizer /writing in English for clarity/!

Atherosclerosis!

Atherosclerosis
Cardiovascular diseases

Definition
Atherosclerosis is the most common and serious condition within the group of diseases known as arteriosclerosis—conditions where arterial walls become thin and lose their elasticity. Specifically, atherosclerosis occurs when buildup (plaque) forms within the inner layers of the artery wall, which can restrict or block blood flow. The prevalence of atherosclerosis increases in postmenopausal women, bringing it closer to the rates seen in men of the same age. Vascular diseases affecting the brain, heart, kidneys, and other vital organs or limbs are leading causes of illness and death in the USA and most Western nations.Mortality from coronary artery disease among white men between the ages of 55 and 64 stands at 1 per 100.

It is believed that atherosclerosis results from high concentrations of LDL lipoproteins in the blood on one hand, and damage to the endothelium (the inner lining of the artery wall that first meets flowing blood) caused by various mechanisms on the other. The primary risk factors for developing atherosclerosis are age, male sex, and a family history of early-onset atherosclerosis.

Other risk factors include: elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), hypertension, smoking, diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity, increased homocysteine levels that can damage the endothelium, and infection with *Chlamydia pneumoniae*, which may also play a role in endothelial damage.

Clinical Presentation
Atherosclerosis usually isn't diagnosed until critical stenosis (narrowing), thrombosis (a vessel blockage caused by a dislodged plaque), aneurysm (a rupture in the artery wall), or embolism (a clot traveling to the lungs) occurs. Symptoms typically develop gradually as the plaque grows and narrows the vessel lumen. Initially, this manifests as an inability to supply enough blood to specific organs during periods of increased demand, such as chest tightness during physical exertion (angina pectoris) or painful pulsing in the limbs (intermittent claudication).

If a major artery becomes suddenly blocked, the symptoms are much more dramatic—for instance, an ischemic cerebrovascular accident (a stroke caused by a blood vessel in the brain being blocked by a dislodged plaque).

Diagnostics
Atherosclerosis is diagnosed based on the aforementioned signs and symptoms, though suspicion should arise if any risk factors are present. An obstruction caused by plaque can be confirmed via arteriography (an imaging test using contrast to check blood flow) or a Doppler ultrasound (a type of ultrasound where differences in blood flow through the vessel due to plaque are displayed in different colors on the screen).

Treatment
Treatment for atherosclerosis actually focuses on managing its complications: myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, arrhythmias, stroke, and so on. Because of this, prevention is incredibly important, involving measures to reduce the risk factors that contribute to the development of the disease. This includes a healthy diet low in excessive fats and sugars, regular physical activity, weight management, controlling blood pressure, and not smoking.

=============

Those who know me have an idea of how many ailments I deal with, but don't worry, I'm not dying from any of them just yet.
I'm 66, had two hernia surgeries... five different spinal levels involved. All my joints are worn down from osteoarthritis, along with the ligaments and muscles around the joints, for which I receive steroid injections.

Since I deal with depression, anxiety, and panic attacks myself, I’m on quite a few medications that feel pretty unavoidable at this point.

Not too long ago, I had shoulder surgery. It was successful in terms of range of motion, but moving it is still painful, so I'm done with surgeries for now. I actually needed work on my other shoulder and elbows too.

========
Back in February 2004, I underwent a three-level surgery that left me unable to walk very far; I also have three pinched nerves that just can't be fixed.

=======
Between 2004 and 2005, I started getting numbness in my hands and fingers on both sides. It wasn't a surprise, though—I knew it wasn't a stroke because I've been dealing with issues at C4, C5, and C6 in my neck for years. In 2005, before my shoulder surgery, I had an MRI of my entire spine which showed C6, C7, and C8 issues, along with ongoing problems in my lumbar section.
========

You might be wondering what this guy is rambling about and how any of this relates to a stroke.

I'll explain in my next post how it's all connected.

Just wanted to list my other conditions so you can see the full picture regarding STROKE risk.

Asbestos, sleep apnea (using a CPAP machine), IBS, high blood pressure (controlled), Type 2 diabetes (on the edge but controlled), and chronic pain management.
My cholesterol usually sits between 3.5 and 4.1. My sleep has been a mess for 16 years; I nap during the day or not at all, sometimes going 24 to 36 hours without sleep, followed by being heavily sedated for 11 or 12 hours.

I'm also on medication for depression, panic attacks, and occasionally claustrophobia and sensitivity to smells. Not much else to say.

🙂

February 1st, 2004

Adelaide, Australia
Adelaide Sunday Mail
Reporter: Craig Clarke

Translated by: Vilim Vilko Kovacic

SHIPBUILDERS OF DEATH!

The Adelaide Sunday Mail (with a circulation of about 750,000) has launched a special investigation into the Whyalla Shipbuilder and the victims of Asbestosis. This report draws on accounts from workers, the Union, and Professor Douglas Handerson, a specialist in asbestos-related diseases.

The shipyard opened in early 1941 to meet the WWII demand for smaller patrol vessels. In total, 60 ships were built there.
Opened in 1941 and closed in 1978 due to competition.

During that period, about 20,000 people worked there—some for a short time, others for their entire lives. Many learned the trade there, and when the shipyard closed, they moved over to the steel mill.

I won't dwell too much on the effects of asbestos; anyone reading this likely knows the following:

1/ Mesothelioma is a cancer that usually kills within 3 to 9 months of diagnosis.
It can take 10 to 50 years from the initial exposure to asbestos before the disease actually manifests.

2/ Lung cancer is most common in smokers who were also exposed to asbestos. If caught very early, surgery might remove the cancer, but that rarely happens.

It usually takes about 15 years or more after contact with asbestos for the consequences to show up.
Symptoms include coughing, pain when breathing, weight loss, respiratory restriction, and eventually, a painful death.

3/ Asbestosis is the diagnosis for those heavily exposed to asbestos. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, coughing, bluish skin discoloration, and lung constriction. The disease only progresses, there is no cure, and it ends in death due to respiratory failure.

4/ Pleural Plaque involves particles forming on the lining of the lungs. Over time, these plaques fuse and calcify. Patients feel intense pain during even slight physical exertion because of reduced lung function. There is no cure, and the condition only worsens.

Generally, this hasn't been widely reported or tracked. Many workers were only there briefly before moving on... whether they became ill or passed away remains unknown.

Finally, the company is being attacked for failing to protect its workers for 37 years, despite knowing the dangers of asbestos.

In a short period in Whyalla, 17 people have died from mesothelioma, and 50 from lung cancer linked to asbestos.

Another 150 are suffering from Asbestosis or Pleural Plaque.
A representative from the Union for "asbestos victims" stated that managers knew about the danger but failed to protect people... many have died, and many more will die in great agony.

A medical specialist stated that based on data from other shipyards, averages suggest another 800 people will die from mesothelioma and lung cancer... and how many more will suffer through other asbestos-related illnesses?

Right now, there are 30 cases in court. Just remember: you often have to be dying before you can even sue.

Lawyers say they are preparing for a massive wave of lawsuits because they are hearing from people who are just now showing symptoms. It has also come to light that many who previously died from asbestos exposure were never officially recorded as victims.

Personally, in my own articles, I’ve mentioned that we all thought we knew what was happening, but nothing was done. I also happen to know quite a few doctors—I used to do private work for them—who told me exactly what was going on.

(In my case, I am 62 years old. My Asbestosis first appeared in 1998, though I have been getting regular X-rays for years due to lung issues.
I didn't work at the shipyard, but at the steel mill, where the situation is just as bad.)

The Sunday Mail spent months investigating documentation spanning 30 years, looking through Union records, safety commission files, legislation, and shipyard documents.

Here are just a few brief statements from the workers.

"As an electrical scientist, back when we were learning the trade, we used to make little clumps out of asbestos (just picking up dust off the floor)
and play with them," said Geoff Pope, 59, who is currently dying of cancer.

I just wanted to mention how much today hit me. My wife actually hid the newspaper because she didn't want me to see it—there was a four-page special feature. But then my younger son emailed me asking if I’d read it, thinking about my friends.

Two men passed away in a very short window: 57-year-old Derrick Williams and 60-year-old Ray Isles. We had known them for 30 years, and both died from mesothelioma.

I won't go on about assigning blame or pointing fingers, but like I've said before, millions of people across the world are going to die in terrible pain.

I won't even get into the descriptions of how asbestos used to float through the air like snow, or all the other things that seem impossible to believe when you look back just 30 years.

I've been writing about this for two years now. I've been laughed at, and I know I'll be mocked again by those "smart people"... the ones who treat asbestos like some kind of game and are too foolish to realize they could easily become victims themselves. Honestly, I wouldn't waste a tear on them.

I know all those people who are sick but haven't passed away yet, and that makes it harder for me. I see what they go through day in and day out, night after night. I share their fate, and I can't help but wonder how much longer this goes on.

It's everywhere—in residential use and commercial settings. For instance, you see people using AC units where the pipes are insulated with asbestos in older buildings.

And then there are the idiots who say, "You're sick because you wanted it." As if being positive about life would somehow prevent you from getting Asbestosis.