First off, I work in a high-traffic environment surrounded by tons of people.
Second, if I catch the flu, I’m definitely passing it on to everyone else in the office.
Third, getting hit with the flu means being sidelined for a week—aching muscles, fever, maybe even some sinus issues. Plus, you don't just bounce back instantly; that lingering fatigue can drag on for weeks after the initial symptoms clear.
Finally, there's always that small risk—which honestly creeps up as you get older—that a simple flu could turn into something much more serious.
Dealing with blood sugar issues? Are you constantly popping antibiotics?
Try eating yogurt once a day. Stick to loose-fitting shorts or skirts. Skip the tights. If you absolutely have to wear them, go with thick leggings or stay with just socks. Wash down there with water only. (Or maybe a specialized wash if you really feel the need).
Avoid using tampons. When it comes to pads, steer clear of those ultra-thin ones. Go for something slightly thicker—regular size, changed frequently—or even better, those old-school pads that aren't marketed as "super absorbent." Those high-tech ones can give you a fake sense of dryness.
After you pee, always wipe from front to back. Whenever you get the chance, go commando in some loose, comfy loungewear.
Roger Wright said:I think I read somewhere that laser surgery can fix this. But my doctor is insisting it’s just an inherent defect and there's no cure.
Fix what with a laser? A -16 prescription isn't a diagnosis.
You can fix nearsightedness with LASIK.
But high myopia—that heavy prescription—can stem from all sorts of things.
You're likely talking about amblyopia, aka lazy eye. If a kid has a squint during early childhood, they basically "neglect" one eye, and the visual cortex doesn't fully develop for it. By age six, you're running out of runway to fix it. You could try patching the good eye to force the brain to use the weak one, but don't expect miracles at this stage.
Jamie Clark74 said:... He’s psychologically checked out... just like anyone else hooked on a prescription or hitting the streets. He’s reached a point where he doesn't even want to see us, and worst of all, he can't even face his own kids.
I’m glad I managed to deal with chronic pain for 34 years and am still standing without being an addict... but man, it’s a grind. Everyone’s fight is different. Personally, I had to pull 24 years on the job, but that’s just my situation.
Drugs aren't the answer. They look like a silver bullet, but they end up destroying a person in the long run. Living with pain is brutal, but there are ways to adapt and manage it. At the end of the day, addiction is addiction.
Surgery is usually the move if you're dealing with serious nerve issues, like losing control over your bladder or bowels.
If we’re just talking about standard lower back pain, honestly, surgery doesn't offer much more of an advantage than sticking to conservative treatments.
Anthony Miller13 said:Is that actually considered "healthy" produce—loaded with vitamins, minerals, and all that good stuff—or is it just hype? Let's keep it simple: is this actually a net positive, or is it like eating chocolate? You know, something that feels good in the moment but ultimately does more harm than good? 😁
Haha! Now that’s a solid question. 🙂
Mushrooms are packed with protein but have zero fat. Honestly, they beat out chocolate any day of the week—maybe even milk. That said, you do get calcium from dairy, though you can pull that from eating fish with the bones in too. 😬 For real though.
These tablets are packed with enzymes. They work by breaking down protein buildup and clearing out any lingering bacteria. Don't worry about the silicone—the stuff used to make RGP lenses—it won't hurt them. You don't even need to polish silicone (aka those semi-rigid, rigid gas permeable)0 lenses. Polishing was a thing for the old-school hard lenses that nobody really uses anymore.
The specific brand doesn't matter as much as the type. Just make sure you're using solutions specifically designed for RGP lenses. Sometimes certain brands use preservatives that might irritate your eyes or trigger an allergy, so if you notice any issues, just swap to a different brand on the market.
I’m not trying to scare anyone here. My point is simply that nobody can give you a 100% guarantee when they say, "you don't have breast cancer." Even if your mammogram, ultrasound, and biopsy all come back clear—even after a lumpectomy where they've removed a suspicious mass—there's still a chance a malignancy could be hiding in another part of the tissue that didn't look suspicious at all.
The reality is that we still don't know everything there is to know about breast cancer. It’s only really in recent years, following massive awareness campaigns, that research funding has actually started to surge. Before that, discussing breasts was practically taboo in our otherwise incredibly conservative United States.
Now, we’ve swung to the opposite extreme. People toss the phrase "breast cancer" around casually, and many women view it as the single most terrifying threat to their health.
In truth, breast cancer still ranks relatively low on the list of actual causes of death. The number one killer remains heart disease and cardiovascular issues. And honestly? There is a lot more you can do to prevent those.🙂
I don't know how things work elsewhere, but in the United States, the patient's own perspective is a huge factor in deciding the next steps. You have some women who are perfectly fine living with a certain level of risk if it means preserving their bodily integrity—because let's face it, breasts are a massive part of a woman's identity. Then you have others who would rather sacrifice that part of themselves just to get a good night's sleep. As it stands, no doctor should be forcing one choice over the other.
Of course, you'll always deal with people who rush into a decision, maybe because they're already spiraling from irrational anxiety. That’s where a doctor comes in—to help identify the psychological side of things and talk someone down if they're just panicking for no reason.
placidfox55 said:Even so, mastectomies are performed globally without a confirmed histological malignancy if there's a strong genetic component involved.
nimbleskipper13:
Here in the States, unfortunately, Medicare doesn't cover BRCA 1 and 2 testing, which you can get done at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and it costs about $1,000. On top of that, the surgery itself isn't covered by a standard referral...
I'm glad we agree that in certain situations, the patient decides whether to go through with a mastectomy based on their own anxiety levels and how much they trust current medical methods. That pretty much dismantles your annoyed claim that you aren't just a waitress. (A doctor shouldn't take it personally when a decision is made under the influence of a layperson—their patient).
And for the record, I really didn't appreciate that patronizing smiley face you used to try and maintain a sense of superiority.
nimbleskipper13 said:The term "clinical" refers specifically to the physical exam. To actually "figure out what's going on," you need lab work and imaging—essentially full diagnostics... which is a much bigger lift than just "clinical recognition."
Thanks for the lesson. I’m not trying to get too deep into the weeds here... but please look over what I wrote... and tell me if I used the terminology correctly.
It’s a shame that American doctors often have to earn respect through sheer aggression. Maybe in a few more years, people will learn how to maintain a professional relationship. I’m not saying you haven't been attacked for no reason before—sometimes you really do have to stand your ground for your own dignity. But honestly, the less you fight back, the less you sink into the quicksand. Save your energy for the actual calling.
And one more thing, let me pose a question: ... once you've had a needle biopsy and a mammogram, how can you be 100% sure an open biopsy wouldn't show malignancy? Basically, the clinical exam and the mammogram are what you base the decision for a puncture or an open biopsy on. Naturally, a mastectomy only happens after the histology comes back. However, mastectomies are performed globally even without proven histological malignancy in cases where there's a strong genetic component.
nimbleskipper13 said:@ darkviper5: Oh, sure... you're totally right... I’m not about to waste my time trying to fix your frustrations... or your biases... that sounds like a Sisyphus job to me. 👎
Look, if you actually know more than I do (or she does), skip the condescension and just teach me.
Honestly, it's hard to believe you're a surgeon when you fold this easily. 😢
🙂
The thing is, here in the States, the choice between a needle biopsy or a core biopsy usually lands on the patient. It's because clinical diagnosis isn't always black and white; some women would rather go straight to a mastectomy just to be safe, while others are willing to take the risk and see how things evolve. But leaving that call up to the patient is exactly why doctors end up facing a mountain of malpractice lawsuits. Letting the patient decide doesn't shield a surgeon or an oncologist from being sued later for a misdiagnosis.