mistyjackal842 said:What about my alkaline phosphatase levels since they're quite low right now? Is that actually a major concern?
From what I understand, lower is generally better; high levels are where the real trouble starts. This could just be a reflection of poor nutrition—at least that was the case for me, as my levels would drop consistently after finals week.
Kimberly Wright said:I'm heading to the doctor tomorrow for my prescriptions, and from what I can tell, she's already prepared a script for Rosul.
Rosul was a staple in my father's medicine cabinet too. Honestly, I've lost track of just how extensive our home pharmacy used to be.
ironpanther said:I need some help... a relative has been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer that has metastasized to the liver... she doesn't want to talk about it much or worry us, but I want to know how much time we actually have left... surgery is off the table, and she starts chemotherapy next week. I honestly have no idea if we are talking about months, days, or years.
That isn't good; in fact, it sounds quite grim. However, there is far too little information here to make any definitive statement, as every case is unique. That "timeframe" people often discuss rarely carries much weight. Has anyone else in her immediate family spoken with the doctors—someone who might actually have more clarity on the situation?
Kimberly Wright said:I picked up some Betadine at the pharmacy... The contraindications mention avoiding it before and after radiation therapy. 😕 How long is "before and after"? 😕 My mother starts radiation this Monday.
Hmm... my instructions from 2003 only list iodine hypersensitivity under contraindications. Clearly, guidelines have changed. 🤷
placidmarlin15 said:Hello everyone, I have a few questions if anyone is willing to offer some insight. We are looking at a 50-year-old male who struggled with low iron levels last year, but now it has recurred. Additionally, his hemoglobin is slightly low, and his Ferritin is sitting at 7, while the lower limit should be 28. He has been taking supplements for months, but they don't seem to have made much of an impact. Now, we are wondering what the next steps should be. We are currently waiting to hear from a hematologist, but if anyone here has experience dealing with this kind of situation and knows how to manage the anxiety surrounding it... Thank you all😉
I assume this has been sorted by now, but let's bump this thread anyway. 😉
There are several tests required because he is clearly losing blood somewhere; the question is just where. As far as I know, a gastroscopy and a colonoscopy are standard procedure. Generally, these types of deficiencies are more common in women due to heavy periods or fibroids. He likely received an iron infusion to replenish those Ferritin reserves while they hunt for the actual cause of the loss.
You people are irrational and prone to extreme generalizations. It’s clear there is no point in debating with you; no matter how well-reasoned an argument is, you simply double down on your own delusions. Your core takeaway seems to be that doctors are nothing more than heartless bureaucrats who do nothing all day but run around hospital halls looking for attention. 🙄 I'm done.
steelrider16 said:Well, I really appreciate it, redharbor23! 👍
It feels good to finally be believed... 😁
😍 For what it's worth, I side with the doctors. I'll actually be receiving my own medical degree in about a month, but that doesn't change the fact that I can't stand arrogant people who think they're God's gift to humanity just because they have a diploma.
Anthony Stewart22 said:People actually want the work you do. There’s money to be made. The real question is whether you’re actually putting in the hours, or if you're just one of those people collecting unemployment checks while picking up side gigs under the table. Then, in their downtime, they love to tear down doctors and intellectuals. It was the same back in the old days. People used to mock the educated class. They’d talk about how it should just be the laborers, the farmers, and the "honest" working class.🙄
Yes, I suspect you’ve attacked the wrong person. Read his post again. 🙂
Degrees are earned by those with persistence, not necessarily those with intellect. 😁 Only snobs and small-minded people believe that true intelligence is tied to a diploma.
Anthony Stewart22 said:Don't lecture people on things you don't understand. I've assisted in surgeries while running a fever more than once. Patients can't always wait, and there aren't enough doctors on call.🙄
Nurses making 8-10 $0.00??😂🤣 Nothing beats watching people talk nonsense about medicine when they clearly have zero clue. Even students and interns earn $2667.😂🤣
And "carelessness" usually happens because people are exhausted. 🙄
Exactly. Most people have no clue what the reality of the healthcare system looks like. Because certain specialists in private practice—like OB-GYNs—make good money, people assume doctors are just pulling cash out of thin air 🤣 🤣 In reality, every single dollar is hard-earned.
Medical interns earn between $4,200 and $1533, depending on their location. Once licensed—meaning they are practicing physicians, not yet specialists (keep in mind general practice itself requires a five-year specialization)—salaries hover around $5,000 to $2000, though emergency medicine pays more due to on-call shifts and irregular hours. A specialist, following six years of medical school, one year of internship, and five years of residency, earns $3000, which increases significantly if they work hospital shifts. Go ahead and try to compare those salaries to the training required for janitorial staff. This isn't about disparaging anyone; it's a matter of fact. You don't need even a high school diploma to clean, whereas a physician's education spans over twenty years.
It’s just an accepted social norm at this point. You know the old saying, "The priest and the doctor are the pillars of the community." 😉
There are all kinds of people out there, including doctors, just like in any other profession. The only difference is that their level of responsibility far outweighs almost any other field (though pilots are up there too). Personally, I know plenty of physicians and med students, and they come in all varieties—for heaven's sake, we're only human. You’ll find arrogant jerks, and you'll find genuinely wonderful people. But regardless of personality, they are underpaid . When you consider the years of grueling study, the sheer amount of effort required, the massive responsibilities they carry, and the extreme stress of the job, how much can they actually be paid???
wearycobra36 said:Could someone who actually knows their way around pharmacology please weigh in here? It seems like everyone in this group is exclusively on Zoloft, but my psychiatrist decided to throw a two-for-one special at me by prescribing both Klonopin and Fevarin—which I assume is basically just the same thing as Zoloft. I tried questioning him about why I need both, but he’s dead set on the idea that I need the combination, which honestly doesn't sit well with me. If an antidepressant alone did the trick for wearycobra36, why can't I just stick to one? For those of you taking Zoloft, what kind of dosages are we talking about? Currently, I'm sitting at 100mg of Fevarin a day.
Klonopin is an anticonvulsant; frankly, I have no idea why he put you on that. Tylenol is an SSRI, typically used for OCD. My sister takes it at 100mg, but she’s bumping up to 150mg next week. She will likely eventually reach 300mg.
Have you experienced any side effects from it yet? It took my sister about a week to stabilize. She dealt with insomnia combined with extreme lethargy—basically feeling exhausted constantly but being unable to actually sleep. After a month and a half, we are finally starting to see the effects kick in.
My sister is 18 and struggles with OCD. To be honest, I can't pinpoint exactly when or how it started. Even as a little kid, she had her little rituals—like making sure her slippers were placed in a specific spot at a specific angle—but back then, it wasn't a major concern. As she got older, however, it escalated to the point where she has to count to 15 or 19 during every single task. It applies to everything: washing her hands, getting dressed, or even just picking up a glass of water and having to wait before taking a sip. It’s reached a point where she's late for school almost every day because it takes her two hours just to get dressed, and showering or washing her hair takes an entire afternoon. These compulsions are actively preventing her from living a normal life. She went through some difficult things during her childhood—things a kid shouldn't have to witness or experience—which undoubtedly played a massive role in how this developed.
This past summer, she finally started seeing a psychiatrist. At first, she was forced into it and was in tears, but we are finally seeing some movement. It took her a few months to actually admit what her problem was once she realized she couldn't live like this anymore. She has been taking Fevarin for about a month now. We were told that the first real results typically show up after about two months, so we are waiting. For now, she isn't in psychotherapy; she just does follow-up appointments with the psychiatrist, which usually last about 10 to 15 minutes.
As much as she is suffering, it’s just a different kind of struggle for us at home. I truly hope things start looking up for her, and soon. 🙂
I just wanted to say how incredible the work being done on this subforum is; you truly deserve all the praise. I stumbled upon this community by chance about a month ago, and I’ve been impressed ever since. It has taken me some time to gather the courage to finally post a few words. My father lost his eight-year battle with multiple myeloma three months ago. There were so many times when neither my mother nor I could talk to our close friends about it, simply because they couldn't understand—only those who have lived through it can. We had no one to provide reliable information; we were essentially stumbling in the dark and just pushing forward. I spent my time reading medical texts, scouring the internet, and chasing down doctors. I am relieved to see that there is finally a dedicated website available with all the necessary information regarding myeloma. We had to learn everything the hard way. This disease is brutal, but if I can assist anyone through advice, shared experience, or even just psychological support—which is ultimately what everyone needs most—I will gladly do so. A person facing illness requires every possible form of assistance and support.
Stay strong, everyone. Don't let this break you. There are many of us who understand exactly what you are going through, and you are not alone. Take it one day at a time. Even knowing his condition was incurable, my father never once faltered; he possessed an incredible faith and a profound will to live. Keep fighting. I wish you all strength and success. 👍