Here’s my experience. It started with a nuclear scintigram scan. My results showed a much milder form of hyperthyroidism, which was eventually diagnosed as a toxic adenoma—what they call a "hot nodule." Then came the "clash of the specialists." An endocrinologist from the West Coast recommended I try Favistan (they might have rebranded it since 1985). Meanwhile, an endocrinologist in Washington, D.C. insisted that because the adenoma is a tumor, I should get it surgically removed while I'm still young and healthy. So, that's exactly what I did back in 1970. The surgery was a success, and everything went smoothly. Fast forward fifteen years, and I'm facing the exact same situation. I don't have any systemic symptoms, except for this sensation when I swallow where you can actually see the thyroid "jumping" in my neck. After getting a nuclear scintigram, the finding was clear: on that same "wing" of the butterfly-shaped thyroid, there was a toxic adenoma (the hot nodule) at the top and a "cold nodule" right below it. This time, my endocrinologist told me point-blank: "Dr. XY is a surgeon with a private practice; go see him immediately and schedule the surgery, because cold nodules have a nasty habit of turning into..." I went under the knife again. Honestly, the recovery was even better than the first time, and the scar is much thinner—strange as it sounds, but maybe surgical techniques have just improved over the decades.
The bottom line? If a scintigram shows any kind of tumor... get it cut out. Once you have all your test results in hand, you need to find a truly competent doctor. It might be worth seeing both a nuclear medicine specialist and an endocrinologist. If it isn't a tumor, then you proceed with standard treatment, given how many sub-diagnoses exist.
Look, you need to go where you live and find yourself a decent ENT. If you’re going private, then go private; if there’s a specific hospital you trust, pull some strings and get an appointment there. I mean, if you're young and everything seems fine, they can just tell you it's a circulation issue or claim it's nerve damage—but what happens once that's supposedly "exhausted"? Don't you think there has to be a more serious way to investigate this? Because here's the thing: even if the tinnitus stops, you'll just end up with constant ringing instead, so... They usually prescribe B vitamins because they claim it helps that nerve. Just try to actually track down a real specialist first. Back in the day, I was told my issues were caused by my thyroid, but the doctor just rolled his eyes and told me he'd never heard of such a connection. I ended up just ignoring the whole thing, and now, years later, it's obvious I have hearing loss even without doing an audiometry test. That's why you need to get to the bottom of this now and find the actual root cause before it's too late.
So, what exactly did the audiologist—or the ENT—tell you? I’m assuming you’re young, so there ought to be an underlying cause somewhere. And if you can actually pin down the cause, then maybe there’s some hope for getting help.
I deal with the exact same thing myself; it started with this constant ringing and buzzing, and now I can't even pick up certain frequencies, so naturally, everything has just gone downhill from there. But that’s a different story. I’m older, so in my case, the cause is just the inevitable passage of time.😁 Maybe it’s otosclerosis or something similar. Medication? I haven't even bothered picking any up. It’s usually just one of those things they hand out to seniors by the bucketload the second they complain about getting old.😁
All joking aside, if you aren't happy with what your doctor said, why not take those audiology results to a different ENT for a second opinion? By the way, do you happen to deal with frequent ear infections?
Keep your heads up, ladies. Sure, medicine has its limits where people start labeling things as "old news," but we’re seeing more and more of these cases lately. If you ask me, it all comes down to genetics—or what people like to call "individual luck." You see so many young women facing high-risk pregnancies, yet there are just as many others who breeze through it without a single hiccup. Take my colleague's daughter, for instance; she didn't delay because of her career, she just hadn't found the right partner yet, and she ended up giving birth at 37. Everything went smoothly, from the pregnancy to the delivery, and now the little guy is already starting first grade. On the flip side, a close friend of my daughter finally managed to conceive for the first time at 42 or 43. Naturally, her doctors are monitoring her way more intensely than they would someone ten years younger, and we’re all crossing our fingers for her. But really, why should anyone give up the joy of motherhood just because they're a few years late to the game?
I’ve been reading through this whole thread and I honestly have to wonder: how does our healthcare system even function? Why prescribe heavy-duty antibiotics if the lungs are supposedly fine? If the X-ray comes back clear, why bother with antibiotics at all? And if it’s just a virus, why the overkill? It's all different meds for different pathogens—basically just shots in the dark. Franklin should have wiped it out. Personally, I dealt with a massive case of pneumonia—even while on Franklin—and the only thing that actually cleared it was AstraZeneca. But for me, it showed up clearly on the X-ray, though it looks like Nicole Martinez76 didn't see that, right?
Allergy testing needs to be redone. People can develop an allergy overnight, literally.
What about seeing an ENT?
Maybe it's unrelated to Nicole Martinez76, but my family keeps making fun of me, saying I don't even know how to cough properly. As if that's something you learn!🙄The slightest irritation—just enough to make me wheeze—and I'm literally gasping for air. I suspect it's a lingering issue from my throat, specifically after having two thyroid surgeries; ever since then, swallowing has felt incredibly difficult...
Nicole Martinez76 hasn't posted in a bit; maybe she's all better now?
stormylynx14, I tried refreshing my memory on home care options and here is what I dug up: 1. Using www.google.com, I searched for home care in Washington, D.C. and got a ton of results, though whether any of them are actually useful is anyone's guess.
2. On www.att.com, I hit the white pages and typed in "home care" area: Washington, D.C. and surrounding areas The list is endless. It feels like—maybe?—that the info about the eight o'clock thing came from Medialis, but that was three years ago, so who knows... There is also something involving the word Vitalis over on Vogelski Street in D.C. I actually have experience with them at their facility in a small coastal town in California (they have locations in both D.C. and there). My mother spent three months completely incapacitated by dementia. She received perfect care—not a single pressure sore—and they kept her on an IV once she stopped eating entirely. That was back in 2002. It looks like they offer home care now too. Still, if you can avoid a facility altogether, hiring a private caregiver is usually the better move. Try looking through the phone book.
When I stir my gray matter a bit (and believe me, I'm already a prime candidate for a retirement community 😁), it seems like I found my list of nursing homes the exact same way: www.att.com then the white pages, then the word "nursing home," then the location!
stormylynx14: Home care is an option if you actually have the cash to hire someone for half a day, a full day, or whatever else you need. Otherwise, a nurse—assuming your grandfather even qualifies, which his primary care doctor can confirm—only stops by for about 45 minutes on weekdays. Meals get delivered by facilities, but you still need someone there to actually serve them and help out.
Nursing homes? When I found myself in a similar spot, I went straight online, searched the Associated Press, and typed in "nursing home" or anything remotely similar to "home care." I printed everything out and started making calls. You really have to stick to private options, because the so-called state facilities are completely overwhelmed with years-long waiting lists, and I'm pretty sure they only take referrals from the Department of Social Services now. Once you've worked through a list like that via phone calls, you'll finally be able to figure out the best move based on your grandfather's condition and what's actually available. There are two private home care centers in Washington, D.C. One of them works on an hourly basis, though they give you a bit of a break if you book them for eight hours a day. To be honest, I can't remember the specific names or numbers since I was dealing with this three years ago. Be careful with private nursing homes. Some are fantastic, but others are... well, and they all cost just as much. Also, if your grandfather is mentally sound, he needs to be part of the decision-making process; forcing him into a facility could absolutely wreck his mental health, which will inevitably tank his physical state too.
Look, you get good doctors and bad doctors in both the private sector and the public system, just like everything else in life. It all comes down to one thing for me: finding the specific specialist I actually trust. I made the switch to private care fourteen years ago after a breast screening ordeal. It was simple: if I wanted to see a particular doctor at the Mayo Clinic, I’d have to sit there for hours with no guarantee he’d even see me, even though he used to swing by a private clinic when he could. Once he stopped doing those visits, I stuck with the private route for the sheer convenience. It’s not just that; having access to a mammogram in the same building is a lifesaver, because if the machine at the Mayo Clinic is down, you're looking at wasting three whole days just trying to get seen. After waiting three hours for a great gynecologist, only to have to wait another hour the next day at a different CDC location, and then being told I had to trek over to the Mayo Clinic for a color Doppler ultrasound, I finally hit my breaking point. I decided to go private where I can get everything done in one single shot. On the other hand, I went back to the public system for my dentist, mostly because they aren't really "public" anymore—they have everything the high-end private clinics have now—and honestly, I’m happy with the work. When I recently came down with pneumonia, if I had tried to use the public system, it would have been a nightmare: see a GP, get a referral for Labcorp and an X-ray, wait two days for the lab results, and then travel to a completely different location for the X-ray. But since I went to my private clinic, I had a diagnosis within an hour. So, I basically broke my own rule about using private care for annual checkups. I save the private side for anything complicated. Here in San Francisco, if you want to book a specialist at the Mayo Clinic, you practically have to spend the entire morning glued to your phone on either the last or first day of the month just to get a slot, because those are the only days they take appointments. It’s gotten so ridiculous that I haven't even been able to get my husband in to see his urologist for two months now. He insists on going to the Mayo Clinic because he trusts the guy, but of course, we have to make sure he gets his blood markers checked privately beforehand, because the Mayo Clinic is constantly running low on reagents!
jadetinker85 said:How am I supposed to know? What exactly are the symptoms, and how much lead time do you even get before it hits? I’ve been feeling like absolute garbage all day today without any clue why, just this constant, nagging pressure in my chest.
On what grounds? Based on what exactly? If you’re prone to migraines, they tend to strike right when there’s something heavy in the air, don't they? Or maybe you start struggling to catch your breath, feeling as though someone draped a wet towel over your face and nose. It could be the arthritis acting up, too—that deep, nagging ache in your joints or where old injuries used to be. Even your mood takes a hit, leaving you sliding into depression or just feeling generally miserable. It seems like those disruptions are just ramping up lately—you know, the kind that stem from some underlying sickness or what people call a "malady." This usually pops up whenever the weather shifts—you know, when there's a change in air pressure from a cyclone or anticyclone, or when the humidity levels start moving around. Here’s some free advice: if you're feeling a little off, just check the local weather forecast on your phone or catch the news on TV. Once you see what's happening outside, everything will suddenly make sense, won't it? Then just wipe the slate clean and stop dwelling on it. Why let it take up any more space in your head?🙂
The Chief of Infectious Diseases is the ultimate authority on infectious illnesses. If you actually had symptoms of something serious, wouldn't lab tests easily catch it—maybe some hidden hepatitis or similar? Perhaps the smartest move would be to try and put these symptoms out of your mind for a few months. Or better yet, why not consult a specialist—maybe start with a psychologist and just talk it through? The reality is that people with health anxiety often experience "real" physical sensations even when they're technically healthy. But then again, you have doctors who are all too quick to write everything off as psychosomatic when a patient is actually suffering from something legitimate. So there's my version of "comforting" you.😁
Kenneth Hernandez67, you really are something else, truly one of a kind. No offense intended, but looking at how much humanity and warmth you bring to the table, it’s clear what kind of parents raised you. You’re a genuinely great person.👍
Look, I’m no doctor, but I’ve spent enough time being a patient to know how this works. It really bugs me when people just toss out some psychological excuse for symptoms that don't make sense; isn't that just the easiest way out when nobody can pin down a real diagnosis? Your vocal cords are incredibly delicate instruments. Even the tiniest little imperfection can completely alter your voice, usually making it sound deeper or raspy. Since a quick exam of the vocal cords is actually pretty straightforward—even if it is a bit uncomfortable—I’d say if I were you, I’d rule out any physical issues there first. They just spray a little mist in your throat, you stick your tongue out, and you have to yell Iiii, which ends up sounding more like eee, and that's it. I don't want to freak you out, but years ago, some "expert" told me my issues were all in my head, only for it to turn out to be a very real thyroid tumor. There are about seven red flags for potential throat issues, including hoarseness or changes in your voice and a persistent cough. And if you happen to feel "off" or foggy at the exact moment your voice shifts, couldn't that just be a subconscious reaction to the discomfort of your voice changing? It’s a total catch-22. Someone might call me out for playing amateur doctor here, but...😁
If I were in your shoes, I’d start by booking an appointment with a gastroenterologist to get your vocal cords checked out. Just to be safe and make sure there isn't anything else going on under the surface, like some kind of polyp or something similar.
It’s not just a theory for me; I live it!😁 Long before biometeorology became a trendy buzzword, I used to joke that if it started raining over France, I could just stand on my roof with an umbrella—like one of those little figurines from a roadside cottage—and predict rain here within forty-eight hours. Nowadays, whenever I get that strange, unexplained feeling out of nowhere, I’ll check the weather app or turn on the news, and sure enough, it matches up perfectly. Look, I might be an old lady with a thousand different medical diagnoses, but you’re probably younger, which doesn't mean you aren't sensitive to the weather too. There isn't some official medical diagnosis for this. It's more that if you DO have underlying issues—you know, chronic conditions—you’re going to feel them flare up when the biometeorological conditions turn sour. All you really need to do is check the forecast when those "symptoms" start acting up. My advice? Don't let it obsess you. Unless you're dealing with something truly debilitating, just listen to what the meteorologists have to say for the day and move on.👋
Coming from somewhere near Seattle, I don't want to sound like I'm being overly pedantic, but people keep calling him some kind of "coin collector." It’s hard for me to make a definitive call on the quality of care since some patients pull through while others don't, which obviously depends entirely on the individual patient's condition and all that other stuff, doesn't it?
County councilmen sound the alarm over unacceptable crisis at the Medical Center People are literally dying on the way to Washington, D.C. because cardiac surgery is being restricted Furious over the total shutdown of cardiac surgery in Seattle, where procedures have come to a complete halt, council members are demanding that both the Medical Center director, Dr. Herman Haller, and the head of the hospital board of directors, Dr. Darko Milinović-subtitle, show up to face them during next Thursday's session. In their statement, the council members and the county officials slammed Medicare, demanding the department step in so hospitals can actually treat patients instead of just chasing arbitrary budget caps set by Medicare—a broken and unsustainable way to fund healthcare. They’re also arguing that this mess is uniquely happening in Seattle rather than in Washington, D.C.
This comes straight from today's edition of The New York Times. Cardiac surgery is out of supplies and operations have stopped, yet when asked on "Sunday at 2" why the Seattle cardiac unit has been paralyzed, Dr. Milinović claims it's just because of summer vacations!!!! What an absolute lie.
I used to avoid using it because of all the hype about how unhealthy it supposedly was, but now that I finally have one, I honestly don't know how I ever lived without it. It’s just perfect for quick things like warming up milk for my coffee when I don't want to deal with a pot boiling over on the stove.😁 One weird thing I noticed is that if I use some random old spoon I found in a drawer instead of the one that came with the bowl—which is what you're supposed to use for liquids—the metal starts throwing sparks everywhere, so I definitely stay away from that. And regarding those concerns about monitors, have you ever seen what happens when your phone rings while you're sitting at your desk? The screen starts flickering first, and then the ringtone kicks in. So, really, what is there to be afraid of?
Setting aside the psychological weight or any religious debates, I still find myself thinking back to something a gynecologist told me years ago: every abortion is a step closer to the grave. If you understand the reality of what that entails, then everything becomes crystal clear, doesn't it? The risks are massive. That’s why it’s always better to think things through beforehand. Of course, there will always be situations where it’s absolutely necessary, and in those cases, it needs to be done legally in a hospital setting. Why? Because the fallout from an abortion—like infertility caused by complications from an amateur procedure or unsanitary conditions—could go a thousand different ways. Personally, I'm all for education rather than legal bans. After all, isn't a ban just going to trigger a surge of unqualified hacks instead of actually preventing anything?