Posts by Brandon Newman95

coppertrucker11 said:Hey everyone. I’m dealing with some health issues right now and doctors still haven't figured out what's actually going on, and honestly, it's making it impossible to function. It all started about three weeks ago with this constant, painless urge to pee every 10 to 15 minutes. It wasn't just a few drops either; it was a full, normal stream every single time. This lasted for about two days straight. Obviously, after the first ten hours of this madness, I went to see a urologist. He ran the tests and said everything looked fine—blood work and urine samples were totally normal. Looking back, I remember having these headaches in my forehead area right before bed over the last couple of weeks. Since this past Sunday, though, things have gotten weird. I feel drunk. Like, constantly. And I keep smelling stuff that isn't even in the room. My concentration is shot—I can't focus on basic daily tasks—and when I talk, I feel disoriented, like there's a lag between my brain and my mouth. On top of all that, I’ve lost sensation in pretty much my entire body. My arms, legs, head... it's like if someone took a lighter or a knife to my skin, I wouldn't even flinch. Even my genitals feel numb. I don't even feel the urge to go to the bathroom anymore; I just go "on autopilot" every few hours because I know I have to. Physically, I can move around fine, but there's absolutely zero feeling. My sense of smell is also pretty much trashed, maybe at 10% to 15% capacity (though taste and temperature sensitivity seem okay), and I don't have a fever. A neurologist ran some tests and said everything looks okay too. Had a head CT, an MRI of the brain, and MRIs of my neck and spine (brain was on a 1.5T machine, neck/spine on a 3T)—all came back clear. These bouts of numbness and total confusion come and go for a few hours at a time, then they just settle back in. I don't know if anyone else has dealt with anything like this or if there are specific tests I should be pushing for. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Get tested for COVID antibodies—whether you think you had it or not.

granitehound48 said:What’s the protocol for switching primary care physicians? Mine is, to put it mildly, a complete disaster.

Which city?

Grace Kelly39 said:Hey everyone, does anyone have recommendations for a family doctor in the New York City area, or maybe an endocrinologist?

I need some advice, and honestly, I just need to vent. I hope it’s okay to post this here... Basically, I want to switch my primary care doctor, someone I've been seeing for basically forever—like 15 to 20 years. I’ve wanted to make the jump for a long time, but I never felt a massive rush to leave since I usually only go once a year, if that. Plus, every time I looked into switching based on recommendations, there was never an opening. Now, I'm just sitting here absolutely fuming at myself because I wasted all these years staying put just thinking, "well, what if the next one is even worse?" And now, I really feel like filing a formal complaint about my current doctor. So, get this: the first time I went in asking for a referral for a neck ultrasound, they suggested I just go privately. So, being a total idiot, I did. Fast forward to now, I'm back asking for another ultrasound referral (between those two visits, I actually had two or three ultrasounds done during routine checkups). At first, they told me I could get an appointment as early as tomorrow, but then they pulled a complete 180 and said they wouldn't give me that slot because I wouldn't have time to get my antibody and hormone bloodwork results back by then. Okay, fine. I get that part. It's not even a big deal—I wasn't demanding an immediate appointment or trying to rush anything. I just explained that I needed a follow-up because it’s been over a year since my last exam and I was feeling pretty rough last week. I had this weird "pressure" in my neck, and for a few years now, I've had that sensation of a lump in my throat every once in a while. The response I got? They told me that doesn't necessarily have to be thyroid-related and suggested I just go see someone privately :O. I told them no, I'm not going private, so she just scribbled out the referral and practically kicked me out the door... If it's not an emergency, and if an appointment can be scheduled for tomorrow, why are they constantly pushing private care? Why am I paying into Medicare and supplemental insurance every single month if this is how it works? It makes me so angry—not even just because of my own situation, but because this kind of attitude is going to brush off someone who actually has serious issues. Am I wrong for thinking this kind of behavior deserves a complaint? :/ Sorry for the wall of text, I just really need to hear what you guys think...

Yeah, you definitely should complain about that kind of behavior.

restlesscobra13 said:Hey everyone, I’m looking for a recommendation for a private endocrinologist in New York City—just not the Lacic Clinic. It’s regarding thyroid issues.

Bates Clinic, Villa Clinic, Butterfly Clinic, Saint Roch Clinic, Saint Catherine Hospital in New York City, or Phoenix Clinic.

restlessbadger2 said:Does anyone know how to actually see a geneticist once you're an adult? My doctor is insisting there’s no such thing as an "adult geneticist" and that they only work within pediatrics, so she claims she can't even refer me. Has anyone dealt with this nonsense before? 🙂

My search keeps bringing up a genetics and metabolic disease department at Johns Hopkins Hospital, but it's tucked away under their pediatric wing. 🤷

Also, I really need a recommendation for a solid private immunologist or rheumatologist. I was thinking about seeing Dr. Bosnic, but honestly, the reviews from the last couple of years look pretty terrible...

I think they have someone at Johns Hopkins. For an immunologist, try Dr. Burek-Miski—she's over at Imunomed.

Grace Davis77 said:She works at the Mayo Clinic on Broadway in New York City. Also highly recommending this doctor—they really take the time to actually listen to you.👍

I don't think they're there anymore, but I can't say for sure.

Nicole Patel2 said:Hey there,

Does anyone have a recommendation for a gastroenterologist in Washington, D.C.? Ideally someone who sees patients privately but also works at a hospital. It’s kind of urgent, so I’d book him privately first, but if they find anything serious, it would be way easier to follow up if he's also on staff at a major hospital. Thanks!

Private option: check out Amrusev Polyclinic or just ask them which hospital they're affiliated with.

wanderingpanther68 said:I'm asking for my sister. She’s dealing with a severe case of Myasthenia Gravis—that's her diagnosis. Honestly, the neurologists here in Tampa have been pretty blunt about it; they basically admitted
they don't know much about this specific condition. Even though she's traveled to Washington, D.C. a few times and received plasma treatments, and once got immunoglobulin at ZD, nothing seems to be making a dent. On top of all that, she
had surgery to remove her thymus gland.

The treatment plan is always the same: just Mestinon and Decortin. It doesn't change anything. She can't move... well, she can barely walk a few feet before she's done. We usually end up carrying her or using a wheelchair.

From what I've heard—though I'm not sure if they're taking new patients or where they're located—Dr. Sostarko specializes in that exact issue.

Bryan Jackson12 said:Does anyone have a recommendation for a private neurologist in Washington, D.C.? Looking for someone who can help a middle-aged woman dealing with constant headaches.

I'm sending out DMs to anyone who needs them. Just hit me up.

Ethan Anderson35 said:Hey everyone,
can anyone recommend a good private neurologist in Washington, D.C.?

Bump

restlesscobra13 said:Anyone got a solid recommendation for a private immunologist or rheumatologist around the Washington, D.C. area?

ABR Polyclinic.

swiftstag83 said:Honestly, it could go either way.

Check your inbox.

swiftstag83 said:Hey there,

I'm looking for some recommendations for an orthopedist, neurologist, or surgeon who actually specializes in upper extremity issues—you know, hands, wrists, elbows—and specifically has experience dealing with overuse syndromes like carpal tunnel, tendonitis, cubital tunnel syndrome, and all that good stuff. Ideally someone in Washington, D.C. or the surrounding areas.

Thanks in advance.

Are you thinking private practice or through something like Medicare?

Rachel Sanchez46 said:Hey there!

Anyone here been to a private clinic lately? I’m looking for somewhere in Washington, D.C. where we can actually get an appointment quickly—ideally by early next week if possible.
I'm looking for a larger facility that can handle most of the testing under one roof (cardiology, blood work, thyroid hormones, endocrinology, OB/GYN, maybe even a psychiatrist).

It's for a woman in her 50s who's been dealing with tachycardia (heart rate jumping between 100-150 bpm) over the last few days. The ER said she isn't in immediate danger, but she's basically incapacitated because of it. We have no idea if it's a heart issue, menopause, stress, anxiety, her thyroid, or something else entirely. She needs to be seen ASAP since this has never happened before.

Let me know here or shoot me a DM. Thanks!

Try the Mayo Clinic or Bates. You can find their pricing online.

brightgull95 said:So, basically, the situation with the valve—assuming it's the mitral one—is at a point where elective surgery is actually on the table. Honestly, who cares about the JPMorgan Chase numbers right now? That's totally irrelevant. What matters is what's actually happening with that valve and just how bad the damage really is.

E.O.D.

3 to 4 plus

brightgull95 said:You wait exactly as long as the attending physician says you have to. Not a second less, not a second more. If anything else seems fuzzy, just ask them directly.

Man, this just gets me. (By the way, I'm actually sitting on a waiting list for surgery myself right now).

brightgull95 said:😕
Sorry, I’m lost again. If JPMorgan Chase dropped from 2000 down to 500 (whatever units we're talking about here), how long are we actually waiting for some kind of operation? What operation exactly?

Heart valve surgery

brightgull95 said:So, what's the actual question here?

How long can you actually sit around waiting for surgery?

brightgull95 said:Look, if the heart is failing, it's failing. It’s got nothing to do with JPMorgan Chase; other meds—if you were even prescribed them—still work just fine.

Alright, so a left ventricular diameter of 70 mm at end-diastole sounds massive, sure, but you have to account for how a person is actually built. Do this: calculate your body surface area (BSA) and divide that 70 mm by it. If the result ends up being under 31 mm/m², then you're still in the clear.

Nothing weird about amiodarone, though you aren't going to be on that stuff forever anyway.

So for now, just ignore that whole claim about part of your heart being dead.

Pulmonary vein ablation works every single time—meaning, they always get you back to a sinus rhythm. Staying in that rhythm long-term is a different story entirely. It's better to get it done sooner rather than later, but honestly, waiting 3 or 4 months isn't some huge deal; there’s zero evidence that makes it critical. On the bright side, your left atrium doesn't look too enlarged based on the diameter (46 mm).

I've got a question: what if the NT-proBNP is over 2000, but then it drops down to around 500 once therapy starts?

restlessbadger2 said:Where in Chicago can I get a CDFI vascular study done using a referral, specifically looking at the VB spleen?

If you really need it: maybe Saint John or Jankomir, but honestly, just hit up Vrapce—their neurology department is the way to go.