Posts by rapidheron2

Zachary Rivera40 said:About three or four months ago, I started getting this sharp pain in one of my upper teeth on the right side. I honestly thought I just had a cavity or something. So, I went to see my dentist, and she told me it wasn’t decay at all—it was actually gum recession, leaving the tooth totally exposed. The culprit? A hard-bristle toothbrush. I tossed that thing straight in the trash and switched to an extra soft one immediately.
She also gave me some Sensodyne to rub on the tooth and the surrounding area. I’ve basically gone through the whole tube. It calmed down for a bit, but then a few days ago, the pain started creeping back. I’m low-key terrified that the same issue is resurfacing.
Is there any saving me here? Can this actually be fixed? I'm only 27, my teeth are usually perfect, and I feel like I just caused this mess for no reason.

Does anyone in your family deal with periodontitis? I really hope that's not what we're looking at here, because if it is, things could get ugly. If that's the case, you seriously need to hit up a periodontist ASAP to get a proper diagnosis and a treatment plan. Because, look, if things get out of hand, your teeth start getting loose and eventually fall apart, and then the only option left is getting them all pulled and dealing with dentures. I know a few people who ended up in that exact spot, even when they were young. You're probably lucky since it tends to hit women harder than men, but still, you should definitely act fast before it turns into a real disaster...

I guess I should probably just say hi? Not that anyone’s really asking, but here I am. says:
Look, I get that we're talking about little kids here, but I honestly don't get what people expect when they sign their children up for religion classes. Like, you chose to enroll them in that, so why act all shocked when it turns out the church isn't exactly big on Santa Claus? 🤷

I mean, I’m mostly on board here, but I’ve gotta add a little something to that: why even act surprised when things go sideways in religion class? It’s pretty obvious what kind of subject we're talking about, and honestly, it's on you if you sign your kids up for it in the first place. It’s actually kind of sad that over 90% of parents just cave to all the pressure and guilt trips from the Church, enrolling their kids in stuff like this anyway. But look, once you make that choice—just stay quiet about it. You picked it, so you get what comes with it! 😉

Jesse Cook4 said:Well, they can't act shocked when kids get told God isn't real during some other class, all while those teachers collect their paychecks on a lie.

Haha, spot on! Seriously, if they can just claim that God exists, then why shouldn't science teachers at, say, a local high school just tell everyone that God doesn't exist?! I mean, why not?

Jesse Cook4 said:The whole point of religious education is to completely shut down critical thinking. Honestly, it’s about as compatible with a real education as smoking is with staying healthy.

Exactly, couldn't have said it better myself! 👍

Jesse Cook4 said:I just picked up on a pretty wild detail, though I don't know if it's happening everywhere or just in my neck of the woods. During Advent, the religious ed teacher is insisting that the kids attend f**king early morning mass from 6:00 to 7:00 AM. Every single day, weekends included. 😵

Basically, this means during the week, kids are wandering around town freezing their butts off between 7:00 and 8:00 AM waiting for school to actually open. Since a ton of them commute, they don't even have the option to head home between church and class.

Look, on one hand, this whole situation is absolutely INSANE and just total chaos. But honestly? I wouldn't even put all the blame on the religion teacher. If anything, I’m looking more at the PARENTS here! Everyone knows exactly what goes into an American religious studies curriculum—that's just what the subject is. Plus, by law, kids don't even HAVE to take those classes if they don't want to. So... WHY did you sign them up in the first place?! Maybe try having a little common sense and just unenroll them, or if you're dead set on sending them, then maybe just keep your mouths shut. This is pure hypocrisy, if you ask me. 😉

brightheron64 said:It's such a difficult paradox to escape when you're dealing with this kind of power dynamic and this specific mindset...

You see these high-achieving kids spending their Saturday mornings in advanced math tutoring, or doubling up on foreign languages and computer science, all while religious studies remains a mandatory part of the weekly curriculum.

A truly flawless roadmap for the future. 👏👏:

Exactly—it’s a total joke! I mean, what are we even doing? We have all these religious studies classes taking up space throughout elementary and high school, while at the same time, the schedules for actual core subjects are completely butchered. So many essential classes just don't get the time they deserve. It's honestly pretty sad. 👎

silentraven6 said:Let them prove Santa doesn't exist, then let them prove that God exists.

It's actually pretty simple.

Haha, well said! Let them keep trying to prove themselves, I guess!

shadowcrane91 said:Oh yeah? Then you go ahead and prove God doesn't exist...

The logic here is totally backwards: if someone claims something exists, the burden is on them to prove it—it shouldn't be on everyone else to disprove it! I mean, seriously, if I tell you I’m a believer in the Flying Spaghetti Monster and join those Pastafarian folks who wear colanders as hats, that's on me to prove, right? 🤣 So, are you saying that now *you're* the one who has to prove it doesn't exist? Or do you think it would be more logical if I was the one stuck trying to prove it actually does? I mean, I guess it depends on how you look at it, but maybe we should rethink the whole logic here.

hiddenscout44 said:But if believing in Santa is BELIEF, then isn't Catholicism basically just the study of belief? (The word itself implies it). So, technically, you should be teaching about believing in Santa too. Or is this strictly limited to Catholicism? (And where does it actually say that?)

Unfortunately, that's exactly what it says. If this subject were some kind of "cultural studies" course where you'd learn about different religions, customs, and beliefs, it wouldn't be such a disaster. But this is CONFESSIONAL religious education, where they just dull your mind with the dogmas of whatever faith you pick—in this case, Catholicism. And honestly, this version of religion class covers more than just theory; it includes "practice," which basically means being forced to attend Mass and stuff like that! Either way, it’s a subject that really has NO business being in public schools!😠

restlesshawk26 said:Wide hips are the ultimate hallmark of a true woman—a symbol of pure fertility—and honestly, they make you want to throw those skinny jeans straight into the trash.

Hehe, you nailed it! 👍 I guess I’d throw in one more thing—why do women even bother with jeans so much anyway? Like, wouldn't wearing a skirt be way nicer? And hey, if you're really feeling the denim vibe, there are plenty of denim skirt styles out there!

silentwalker64 said:My ass is driving me absolutely insane; the itching comes in waves and it’s enough to make me lose my mind. Does anyone know how to treat this? Is there a way to fix it naturally? It’s been going on for about a month now, maybe a little longer. Honestly, when I’m taking a crap, it feels like the waste is just scratching me from the inside :S Any advice?

I don't want to freak you out or anything, but intense itching can sometimes be a sign of something pretty serious (though it could also just be something totally trivial). So, I’d definitely suggest you go see a specialist—like a proctologist—just to rule out stuff like a PERIANAL ABSCESS. If it actually is an abscess, that's a really nasty, life-threatening situation that needs immediate surgery, kind of like a burst appendix, and one of the early warning signs can be super intense itching... If an abscess isn't dealt with right away, it can easily turn into sepsis and spread... so seriously, please take this seriously! 😉

Nicole Campbell90 said:I heard about Professor Kovacevic over at Mount Sinai Hospital. He actually started performing colectomies about 3 or 4 years ago, and I think he's done it for maybe five kids where they had to remove a large section of the colon. Apparently, the head of gastro recommended him to everyone as the top guy in the US for this specific procedure. I guess getting a second opinion isn't a bad idea before diving into surgery.
Best wishes and hope everything goes well

I’ve also heard that Professor Kovacevic is pretty much the gold standard, so I’d definitely suggest going to him for a "second opinion." Though, honestly, you might not have a ton of options since this situation sounds pretty brutal—if your colon is stretched out like that and won't empty, you're in a tough spot. That surgery would probably be a total game-changer for your quality of life. The main thing is to see if they can just remove the dilated part and then reconnect everything back to the rectum, so you don't end up needing a colostomy bag. If they can pull that off, you could basically live a totally normal life because the root cause would be gone. And let's be real, the colon doesn't do much heavy lifting anyway; most digestion happens in the small intestine, while the large one just acts like a "storage tank" for waste. If that tank isn't working, it might actually be a lesser evil to just get rid of it than to keep suffering like this...
Anyway, I'm crossing my fingers for you! I really hope you find the best surgeon possible and finally get this issue sorted out for good! 👍

Honestly, this sounds exactly like a perianal abscess to me! I’d seriously suggest you get to a doctor ASAP. If it really is that, we're talking about a medical emergency that needs immediate surgery—it's pretty much on par with an appendicitis situation.
The symptoms you're describing seem like just the "tip of the iceberg"; there's clearly an abscess brewing deep inside. Especially since you mentioned some kind of "mucus"—that's likely just pus slowly leaking out from the abscess. Seriously, go see a doctor right away, because the longer you wait, the messier things get, the surgery gets harder, and you run a much higher risk of complications like a fistula or whatever else. If it starts feeling worse, just head straight to the ER. They can operate on you right then and there, but make sure you go on an empty stomach since they'll probably have to put you under with general anesthesia. Assuming nothing goes sideways, they might even let you head home the same day. And hey, don't freak out—the procedure isn't actually that intense; it's basically just an incision, a deep cut, and a drain to let all that pus out. Just so you know, an abscess isn't anything malignant; it's just an inflammatory process where a pocket of pus builds up, sometimes getting so swollen it looks like a tumor...

Peter Gray2 said:Honestly, I feel you on that. I’ve got pretty solid legs from walking all over the city, so every pair of jeans that actually fits my thighs ends up being way too baggy everywhere else. It’s like there isn't a single pair out there that actually sits on me right.

So why even bother fighting the uphill battle with jeans? I mean, maybe just rock some skirts instead? For people built like us, they definitely look wayyyyy better! 👍

Roger Clark said:Hey everyone, I really need some advice because my digestion is a total mess right now..

I hadn't gone for about a week—which was awful—so I tried an Ex-Lax suppository... When I finally made it to the bathroom, there was hardly anything there, just some mucus with traces of blood. It was incredibly painful, probably from the suppository itself...

Since then, people have suggested all sorts of things... I've tried magnesium supplements, taking Gatorade morning and night, eating dried prunes, drinking super sweet coffee, and I've even cycled through Activia, Sensible, Bio-Active... but absolutely nothing is getting things moving...

My gut is constantly churning and I feel totally wiped out—just exhausted and miserable. Everything aches, probably because those toxins are just sitting there... I can eat normally, but as soon as I finish a meal, it feels like I’ve eaten a massive feast. My stomach feels heavy and I'm dealing with constant cramps... I am drinking plenty of water, though...

So, I'm looking for suggestions... does anyone know of any homemade remedies or specific over-the-counter stuff that actually works? 😢

Well, you aren't exactly giving us an update on how you're doing or if things have improved. But seriously, if you haven't already—get to a Proctologist ASAP. What you're describing could be symptoms of a perianal or perirectal abscess, which is a life-threatening emergency that needs immediate surgery! That little bit of mucus you mentioned might actually be pus, and an abscess is basically a major collection of infection. An abscess can press against the end of your colon and block it entirely, so that constipation you're feeling might actually be caused by that. Plus, it can spread through your body and lead to sepsis. That’s why you need to run to a specialist right now to see if that's what's going on; if it is, it becomes a surgical emergency (just like appendicitis!) and you'll need to head into the OR immediately. I'm not trying to freak you out, but please take this seriously... Good luck, I'm rooting for you! 👍

I don't want to freak you out or anything, but I'm kind of worried this might be a sign of something more serious. Like, if it's just some minor local infection right at the navel, it’s probably not a huge deal—though you should still definitely see a doctor! But it would be pretty nasty if this is actually a symptom of an abscess deeper in your abdomen. It could be some internal infection trying to work its way out through your belly button, which wouldn't be great, so you really ought to get to a doctor ASAP! 😉 Obviously, don't panic, everything will likely turn out fine and it probably isn't super dangerous, but just please don't hesitate to get checked out. If you wait too long, things can get messy fast... I'm crossing my fingers that everything turns out okay! 👍

brightcobra20 said:Everything seems to be somewhat relative, I suppose... I usually wear a size 4 in pants, though for certain styles I might go up to a 6, and for skirts or tops, a 2 might work better. My body type is such that I have pretty wide hips and a narrow waist, so finding pants can be a bit of a struggle if they don't have any stretch in them, I guess. I noticed nobody mentioned Marks & Spencer when talking about larger sizes, which is a shame because they really have everything... they carry up to a UK 22, but a 16 or maybe an 18 in jeans fits me just fine.
I'm not quite sure why anyone wouldn't want to wear dresses... personally, I think knee-length summer or winter dresses look much better on me than pants do, since they hide my hips and my calves aren't too heavy, plus they highlight my waist. For someone with a fuller figure, wearing heels probably looks a hundred times better than just wearing a baggy shirt and some loose trousers, maybe.
Anyway, I'm currently on the hunt for some skinny jeans, and I'd rather not trek all the way to the H&M in downtown Chicago to find them. Does anyone happen to have a suggestion?

Tara, you are spot on! Just to back you up from a guy's perspective, 😉 skirts and dresses really do look wayyyyy better on curvy women than pants do! 👍 Obviously, I'm not talking about micro-minis 😉 but more like knee-length or longer styles. If the cut is right, it can totally hide extra weight or camouflage things like wider hips or a bigger backside...
Honestly, the worst thing to see is when curvy women try to squeeze themselves into these super tight jeans where everything looks like it's about to "explode." It’s just not a good look... I guess I really don't get why some fuller-figured women think they look better in pants?! 🤷

So where did this happen to your friend—like, what part of the country was he hiking in when those ticks got him? Man, I feel so bad for him. Sending all the good vibes his way; I really hope he pulls through and everything turns out fine! 👍
On a side note, about ten years ago, I got hit pretty hard by a tick myself. Luckily, it wasn't meningitis, just some other nasty infection. After that ordeal, I decided right then and there that I wasn't leaving anything to chance again—so I went for the vaccine. 😉
Honestly, I’d recommend that shot to anyone who spends time outdoors. It’s seriously not a big deal or even uncomfortable. The injection is basically like getting a flu shot; you barely feel it, and they just do it in your arm. The only catch is the schedule: you have to get it "now," then again in a month, then at three months, then at nine months, and after that, you just do a booster once every three years. Since then, I've made sure to stay on top of that three-year booster, so I guess I'm feeling somewhat protected for now... 🤷
That said, I am a little worried because it seems like these diseases are getting way more intense lately. I can't help but wonder if the virus has mutated, and if the vaccine actually still holds up against whatever is out there now, or how much it even helps. 🤷

It’s super likely that’s what we’re talking about, bruh—that little guy right near your belly button. Honestly, those tiny ones can be way more sketchy than the bigger ones you get in the groin area. You should probably hit up a doctor ASAP; they’ll most likely just tell you that surgery is the move, and sooner rather than later...
Hang in there! 👍

Casey Thomas4 said:Guys, I need some help... a couple of days ago, I noticed my foot (down by the big toe) starting to get a little swollen and red. Now it’s actually pretty swollen and really red, even though I know for a fact I didn't stub it or hit it against anything. It just hurts, it's puffy, and it's looking pretty angry. If anyone has any idea what might be going on, I'd really appreciate it....

Look, in any case, I'd definitely suggest you go see a doctor! I mean, they're actual professionals, unlike us random people on this forum, and it's super hard to "diagnose" things based on a description alone without actually seeing it—it would be way easier if you could just post a photo!
I don't want to freak you out or anything, but stuff like frostbite or similar issues can lead to tissue death and gangrene, which ends up requiring an amputation of the toe. 😢

Sophia Thompson93 said:Can anyone who knows about this tell me what might be going on? I'm honestly freaking out a bit. I didn't even know if I had hemorrhoids—I've always dealt with irregular bathroom habits, but if I did have them, I figured they were just internal (though I haven't actually seen a doctor), since nothing ever bled. Well, I was constipated for a few days, finally went yesterday after taking some meds, and today while washing up, I felt this little lump right at the entrance—kind of like a tiny ball or a pimple, I don't even know how to describe it. This has never happened before. Is this a hemorrhoid? It hurts, too—not excruciatingly, but just this dull, nagging ache, and it's even throbbing while I sit here now. Please, someone help me figure out what this could be.

Man, I really hate to be the one to scare you, but there's a chance it might NOT be hemorrhoids—it could actually be a perianal abscess. Seriously, though, you should probably get to a doctor ASAP. If it is an abscess, that’s an urgent surgical situation, kind of like a burst appendix. If an abscess gets too bad, it can spread or even lead to sepsis, which is no joke. So yeah, definitely head to the doctor quickly! Don't panic, though; everything will likely turn out fine. They'll probably send you home an hour or two after the procedure. Just a heads-up, you'll need to go on an empty stomach because they'll have to put you under with general anesthesia for this kind of thing... But seriously, stay brave. I'm crossing my fingers for you! 👍

mellowsurfer15 said:So, I just got my seasonal flu shot (not the swine flu one). It also just hit me that I have a party to go to tonight. Since I’ll probably be drinking a decent amount of alcohol, I was wondering if there could be any side effects or complications? And how long should I wait before I start drinking?
thanks

Here’s the deal: I don't think there's any interaction between the two, so you should be fine... Honestly, on the same day I got my flu shot, about an hour and a half later, I was out with friends and had a shot, followed by two glasses of wine, and I felt totally fine... 👍 Plus, I grabbed the info sheet for the Pfizer vaccine at the clinic, and nowhere does it say you can't drink alcohol! Like they say, "if it isn't explicitly forbidden, it's allowed," right? 😉 I'll admit, I was a little worried myself that it might mess with me, but it turned out to be useless anxiety... Even so, I did end up drinking a bit less than I would have if I hadn't gotten the shot. So, my advice? If you're feeling okay and aren't having other side effects before you head to the party, just relax, forget about the shot, and enjoy yourself—but seriously, DON'T overdo it. Don't get wasted, and maybe just take it a little easier than usual! 😉 👍
I'd just add one more thing, even though this is slightly off-topic: People often get this same kind of fear when taking antibiotics, thinking they can never drink while on them. But if you actually look at the instructions, you won't find it listed for almost any antibiotic! I've proven from my own experience that it doesn't hurt, though I didn't go overboard either... So, a little caution is fine, but panicking and avoiding everything entirely? No way, it's just not necessary! 😉

velvettiger90 said:Wouldn't it just be easier to slap a Band-Aid on them—since they're basically just scratches anyway—so nobody even notices🤷

Haha, what a hilarious idea! 😁 Look, this would be one thing if we were just talking about aesthetics, but it’s clearly not just that—it's a functional nightmare too! You listen to this poor girl explaining why she can't wear the shoes she actually wants, and you probably think she’s just being difficult or having some random whim... but it goes way deeper than that. 🤷
Just do a little digging online and you’ll see that this isn't exactly a rare occurrence; honestly, it happens way more often than people think. Here in the States, plenty of orthopedic surgeons deal with these kinds of deformities all the time, and globally speaking, getting them corrected is pretty standard practice. There are actually a bunch of different ways to handle it, too—ranging from non-surgical options to, in really extreme cases, just removing the toes that are causing all the trouble, which usually makes things feel a lot better afterward. One of the newer methods involves a partial amputation where they remove the middle section of the toe and then reattach the top part, which basically just shrinks the whole thing down significantly. These kinds of procedures (even the more radical ones) are actually pretty straightforward and have a quick recovery time, so I guess there's really no reason to avoid them if they're actually necessary.
Look, this isn't some joke or anything, but seriously—we really need to step up and encourage her to go see a specialist ASAP. She needs our full support to get in front of a doctor and just let them handle it however they see fit. 👍

I honestly feel like you’re just pulling our leg here, haha! 😉 😁 Because if this were actually such a massive deal, you would have posted a photo by now so we could all take a look and give you our two cents...
Look, if this is for real, why make it so complicated? What do you mean, "payment"?! I mean, you probably have health insurance, right? Just head over (I'm assuming you're in Washington, D.C.) to the Salad clinic or some other hospital with an orthopedic department. Just tell them what's going on! 👍 It shouldn't cost you a dime there, and they'll help you out. I mean, this definitely isn't just about looks; it sounds like a functional issue, which makes it an orthopedic matter. If you go in there and explain that you'd really love for them to remove those toes because they're just getting in your way, believe me, an orthopedist will look into it seriously. And I bet if they decide it'd actually be easier for you to live without them than with them, they'll definitely perform the amputation. Honestly, for pinky toes, it's a super minor procedure, so don't sweat it! 👍 However, you've got to weigh the pros and cons: maybe they'll decide that losing that toe might mess up your gait, or maybe they'll figure out that walking would actually be easier if the toe has no function and is just a nuisance. But, a PRO needs to evaluate that and decide what's best for you through a consultation! 👍 So, yeah, just go get an appointment, and then come back and let us know how it went, what you decided, etc. I'll keep my fingers crossed that everything turns out great and you're happy with the result! 😉

Scott Allen10 said:Not a single one... It's just way too risky. Surgical departments in hospitals are the only places where this happens.

Man, Scott Allen10... I hate to do this to you, especially since I totally respect your medical knowledge, but I'm gonna have to disagree here! 😉
Check out this page:

So, apparently, at the Hippocrates Clinic in the city, they handle all these abdominal surgeries along with a ton of other super complex procedures:
Abdominal Surgery:
laparoscopic gallbladder surgery
laparoscopic hernia repair with mesh
appendix removal
removal of skin tumors, warts, lipomas, and sebaceous cysts
So, yeah, you actually CAN get this done PRIVATELY at a freaking CLINIC! Thoughts? 😉

Alex Foster6 said:http://www.mayoclinic.org/?section...mptomi&id=34-0

I mean, I’m still leaning towards the idea that this might be a deep perianal or perirectal abscess. The reason it might not be hurting like crazy could just be because some of the pus found its way out through spontaneous drainage—so the pressure isn't building up quite as much, which explains the lack of pain, I guess... wiredpilot27, check your DMs, I sent you a little advice! 👍
Keep an eye on what that discharge actually looks like and see if it seems like pus. If it does, then yeah, it's probably an abscess...
Either way, it's pretty hard to play doctor on a forum like this. You really should go see a physician to get it checked out so you can stop worrying. And seriously, I'll say it again: if it is an abscess, you can't mess around with that. It requires Google-level urgency for surgery, otherwise, things could spiral into a life-threatening situation real fast!

wiredpilot27 said:...I need some input here... lately I've been seeing this weird, translucent-white discharge coming from my colon.
Has anyone dealt with this before—is it a sign of something serious?
Should I be freaking out?

Thanks...

Oh man, yeah, you definitely SHOULD be worried!!!! Tell me, besides that, are you feeling any itching down there? Or maybe some occasional pain in that area? Just eyeballing it, I'd say it sounds like it could be a PERIANAL ABSCESS, which means you need a google search right now and an URGENT trip to the doctor for potentially EMERGENCY surgery! An abscess is basically just a pocket of pus forming near the exit, where a big collection builds up inside. You might be lucky that it's leaking out a little bit, but you really need a surgeon to handle this. The procedure isn't usually a huge deal—most people go home the same day—but they'll put you under general anesthesia, so you'll be asleep. Don't freak out though, it's not as scary as it sounds! 👍 I'm crossing my fingers for you, but seriously, GO TO THE DOCTOR ASAP. The longer you wait, the worse it gets, and if you wait too long, it could turn into sepsis, and then: oh boy, we're in trouble!