Username change request
in Forum Help! ·
Not gonna happen.
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Eating paper?
in Health ·
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions...d=13173&show=1
Ever heard of pica?
Basically, pica is an eating disorder where someone starts munching on things that aren't actually food, and they keep doing it for a month or longer.
So, what actually triggers this?
The term "pica" comes from Latin, and it translates to magpie. It’s pretty fitting because much like that bird, people dealing with this will grab at just about anything they can get their hands on.
We're talking about people eating stuff like paint chips, Play-Doh, dust, ice, or even laundry starch. While you mostly see this in young kids, pregnant women, or patients undergoing dialysis at places like the Mayo Clinic, it can hit healthy adults too.
Again, the name comes from the magpie—that bird just swallows whatever is in its path.
Common items people crave include things like dust, chalk, dirt, clay, modeling clay, starch, baking powder, coffee beans, cigarette ash, burnt match heads, feces, ice, glue, hair, buttons, paper, sand, toothpaste, or soap.
Now, while some of those things might seem harmless, pica is a serious disorder. It can lead to massive health issues, ranging from heavy metal poisoning like lead toxicity to iron-deficiency anemia.
Why does it happen?
Doctors don't have a single "smoking gun" for why pica starts, but there are definitely certain conditions and circumstances linked to it;
Nutritional gaps, specifically lacking zinc or iron, can act as a major trigger. It's worth noting, though, that eating non-food items rarely actually fixes those mineral deficiencies.
Weight loss attempts—sometimes people on strict diets try to trick their stomachs by eating non-food items just to feel full.
Malnutrition, particularly in impoverished areas where people might resort to eating soil or clay.
Cultural factors—it happens in certain families, religious groups, or communities where eating these substances is part of the learned behavior.
Child neglect—statistically, pica shows up more often in low-income households where supervision might be lacking.
Developmental disabilities, such as autism or intellectual disabilities.
Mental health struggles, including OCD or schizophrenia.
Pregnancy.
Ever heard of pica?
Basically, pica is an eating disorder where someone starts munching on things that aren't actually food, and they keep doing it for a month or longer.
So, what actually triggers this?
The term "pica" comes from Latin, and it translates to magpie. It’s pretty fitting because much like that bird, people dealing with this will grab at just about anything they can get their hands on.
We're talking about people eating stuff like paint chips, Play-Doh, dust, ice, or even laundry starch. While you mostly see this in young kids, pregnant women, or patients undergoing dialysis at places like the Mayo Clinic, it can hit healthy adults too.
Again, the name comes from the magpie—that bird just swallows whatever is in its path.
Common items people crave include things like dust, chalk, dirt, clay, modeling clay, starch, baking powder, coffee beans, cigarette ash, burnt match heads, feces, ice, glue, hair, buttons, paper, sand, toothpaste, or soap.
Now, while some of those things might seem harmless, pica is a serious disorder. It can lead to massive health issues, ranging from heavy metal poisoning like lead toxicity to iron-deficiency anemia.
Why does it happen?
Doctors don't have a single "smoking gun" for why pica starts, but there are definitely certain conditions and circumstances linked to it;
Nutritional gaps, specifically lacking zinc or iron, can act as a major trigger. It's worth noting, though, that eating non-food items rarely actually fixes those mineral deficiencies.
Weight loss attempts—sometimes people on strict diets try to trick their stomachs by eating non-food items just to feel full.
Malnutrition, particularly in impoverished areas where people might resort to eating soil or clay.
Cultural factors—it happens in certain families, religious groups, or communities where eating these substances is part of the learned behavior.
Child neglect—statistically, pica shows up more often in low-income households where supervision might be lacking.
Developmental disabilities, such as autism or intellectual disabilities.
Mental health struggles, including OCD or schizophrenia.
Pregnancy.
Eating paper?
in Health ·
jadesailor14 said:Honestly, maybe it’s her inner circle that actually needs a psychiatrist more than she does.
Sure, maybe the whole neighborhood needs a therapist, but as for her? Not so much. Sure thing..
Kimberly Nelson5 said:I ran into one of my daughter's friends today, and I couldn't help but notice that the girl is actually quite striking. It's intense. She lost weight.
Kimberly Nelson5 said:It’s like when you haven't eaten all day and suddenly everything starts looking like a five-star meal. She just eats a couple of napkins to fill her stomach and calls it a day, pretending she isn't hungry—and she's been pulling this same stunt for a month now. 😲
It’s pretty obvious. That’s enough. She lost weight, and it’s obvious she isn't swapping out her snacks for something else—it’s not like she’s chewing on cardboard instead of peanuts or chocolate. This is just who she is. The way people approach "nutrition" these days is almost laughable. If this isn't an eating disorder, then I honestly don't know what is. From where I'm standing, this is more than enough reason to go sit down and have a serious conversation with a professional.
It’s especially tough when you don't have a solid fallback plan, because if things are already strained with your parents, you can't exactly count on them to step up and help you out.
If you aren't seeing a psychiatrist, then you might as well be looking for any other kind of specialist to help sort this out.
Eating paper?
in Health ·
jadesailor14 said:I've got daughters aged 21 and 19, so I've heard just about everything there is to hear.
Hmm... I'm only 22. I haven't exactly encountered anything like this in my life. 😲 Clearly, I'm living in a completely different reality. 😁 But honestly, looking at the situation, it’s pretty obvious that this person needs to see a psychiatrist immediately. 😳
nimbletrucker132 said:quote: ... it isn't fancy meat... 🤣
It’s basically what happens when you throw steak into a Vitamix, hit pulse, and pour the sludge into a mason jar ==> meat shake. 🤣
Sam Howard8 said:DAY 1: vegetables - all of them
And what... you're supposed to eat... all the vegetables? In America? Anywhere else in the world? 😲 🙄
How much can you actually consume? You eat as much as you want, right?
Basically, here is the condensed version of this "kid's" logic: just eat your vegetables. All of them. And meat. And other food products. Basically everything edible, for the most part. 🤣 😂
Sam Howard8 said:This diet lets you drop 10% of your body weight in just three weeks, 100% of the time.
But they conveniently forget to mention how fast it all comes back, right? ☕
Eyes
in Health ·
Ptosis is essentially a condition where one or both eyelids droop, making it a real struggle to keep them fully open. It can be something you're born with, or it might develop later due to nerve damage or issues with the muscles responsible for lifting the eyelid. You'll often see it pop up in patients dealing with diabetes or myasthenia gravis. Treatment really just depends on what's causing it—sometimes it’s as simple as wearing glasses or contact lenses, though in other cases, surgery becomes the only way to fix it.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions
Best anti-nausea meds?
in Health ·
http://www.webmd.com/medical-topics/a_ae.htm
Nausea and vomiting are common side effects for a huge range of medications, but they can become a massive headache when you're dealing with things like:
chemotherapy drugs,
anesthetics,
opioid painkillers,
and dopaminergic anti-Parkinson's meds (think levodopa or bromocriptine).
Nausea and vomiting are common side effects for a huge range of medications, but they can become a massive headache when you're dealing with things like:
chemotherapy drugs,
anesthetics,
opioid painkillers,
and dopaminergic anti-Parkinson's meds (think levodopa or bromocriptine).
OCD: General Discussion Thread
in Psychology & Therapy ·
analognomad81 said:It was roughly six months ago that I came to the realization that I am struggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder. It became impossible to ignore the fact that something was fundamentally broken; I found myself trapped in a cycle of repetitive, compulsive behaviors that defy logical explanation. I don’t truly understand why I perform these rituals, yet if I fail to complete them, I spiral into a profound state of depression and intense anxiety. My entire focus narrows down to these singular, intrusive thoughts, and I feel an absolute, crushing necessity to carry out these strange little ceremonies every single time. While I used to be able to manage the symptoms with some degree of resilience, the situation has deteriorated significantly. It is worsening, and frankly, the increasing frequency of these episodes is becoming terrifying. Living with this constant mental friction is becoming an unbearable burden. Since I am currently based in Chicago, I am looking for guidance on where to turn. Who should I consult to discuss potential medication options? I believe pharmacological intervention might help stabilize my nerves, but I am also desperate for practical advice on how to manage this condition and reduce the frequency of these episodes. If anyone here has navigated similar waters or can offer insight into effective treatment paths, I would be deeply grateful.
Only a psychiatrist can write you a prescription for those kinds of drugs.
Anyone else dealing with Pikovit?
in Health ·
Northern Exposure (1990-1995)
in TV Series ·
He’s also the doctor from that series Chicago Hope.
Northern Exposure (1990-1995)
in TV Series ·
boldrider65 said:by the way, Maggie 😍
Ugh... I can't believe how much she's let herself go. 😲
Northern Exposure (1990-1995)
in TV Series ·
graniteraven6 said:I hope there isn't already an old thread about this
Of course there was a thread for that show. 😁
http://www.forum.us/showthread.php?t=205844
http://www.forum.us/showthread.php?t=158704
graniteraven6 said:is there really a place called Cicely in Alaska
No.
😬
General anesthesia: What medications are used?
in Health ·
Maria Reed44 said:and she’d probably keep that from her doctor, too
Bravo. Just my two cents. 🙏 🙏 🙏
Vegetarianism and health: thoughts?
in Health ·
We’ve already gone around in circles on this topic, but I’ll say it again.
In my view, those "people" are essentially mentally unstable, plain and simple.
There’s really no point in making broad strokes about vegans or vegetarians right now, because we're dealing with a unique breed here; this conversation belongs in a psychology textbook instead of a debate forum.
In my view, those "people" are essentially mentally unstable, plain and simple.
There’s really no point in making broad strokes about vegans or vegetarians right now, because we're dealing with a unique breed here; this conversation belongs in a psychology textbook instead of a debate forum.
Hit a nail in my finger: what do I do?
in Health ·
quietskipper24 said:The bottom of my foot is bruised purple, looking like some kind of nasty hematoma.
Haha, that happened to me the other day after I slammed my foot right into a coffee table... total nightmare. 😵 So, what now? Just waiting for it to clear up? 😬
Is vitamin supplementation actually harmful?
in Health ·
The other day I was watching this segment on an ABC morning show—I think it was called Life is Beautiful—where they were absolutely tearing vitamins to shreds... 😬
They were claiming, among other things, that you should only ever take vitamins if a doctor specifically tells you to for certain medical conditions. They went on to say that over in Europe, vitamins aren't even treated as supplements anymore, but as actual pharmaceuticals, and that soon they won't even be available over the counter. To top it all off, they insisted that for some specific vitamins, there’s proof they don't just fail to help, but can actually be toxic to your system. 😲 Of course, their big solution was that most people can just get everything they need through a balanced diet, making supplemental intake unnecessary for the average person.
Honestly, hearing that whole lecture made me want to toss my entire multivitamin stash straight into the trash. 😳 😁
They were claiming, among other things, that you should only ever take vitamins if a doctor specifically tells you to for certain medical conditions. They went on to say that over in Europe, vitamins aren't even treated as supplements anymore, but as actual pharmaceuticals, and that soon they won't even be available over the counter. To top it all off, they insisted that for some specific vitamins, there’s proof they don't just fail to help, but can actually be toxic to your system. 😲 Of course, their big solution was that most people can just get everything they need through a balanced diet, making supplemental intake unnecessary for the average person.
Honestly, hearing that whole lecture made me want to toss my entire multivitamin stash straight into the trash. 😳 😁
Right to a second opinion
in Health ·
Joshua Gonzalez49 said:My apologies if this topic has already been covered; I couldn't find it using the search tool. Here is the situation: my father needs heart surgery. He requested, and was granted, the right to a second opinion regarding the specifics of the procedure at a different hospital. The nurse told us we just need a referral from his primary care physician, but his doctor refuses to write one. She claims a second opinion isn't a service covered by Medicare. Meanwhile, the hospital insists that referrals for this are standard practice. So, where does that leave us? Is it actually possible to get a referral for a second opinion, and if so, is the service covered? If anyone has any information, I’d appreciate it.
I’m honestly not sure how things work regarding getting a second opinion, but if what was said above is true, I would just find a new doctor immediately.
Because I’ve been there myself—my physician refused to write out something she absolutely had to, so I just switched doctors and moved on. 😉
Bungee jumping: Any good spots near me?
in Hobbies & Leisure ·
bungee.
I haven't. Maybe one day. Who knows. 😁
I haven't. Maybe one day. Who knows. 😁