Posts by rustypanther39

By the way, they’ve actually been using it for therapy over in Canada for quite a while now, and their health insurance even covers the costs. It makes me wonder if we'll ever see something similar happen here in the States😕so that it’s accessible to everyone.

Jason Rodriguez74 said:It’s been doing that same strange buzzing thing at my place lately, and then yesterday, it just went completely haywire like this. By the way, if you happen to know, what does that larger model run for these days? Thanks!

I can't say for certain since I don't have my mom here to double-check with her, but I believe it's around $10,000 $0.00. Keep in mind, they gave us a discount of about $650 when we traded in the old lamp. Just a heads-up though: the large one is a total game-changer compared to the small one because the surface area is so much bigger!

Jason Rodriguez74 said:I’ve been using my Bioptron lamp to brighten up my complexion for quite some time now, but when I went to switch it on today, absolutely nothing happened. No light at all. I figured I’d just let it sit there for a few minutes to see if it would kick in, but then—boom—I heard this sudden pop from inside the unit, followed by this distinct smell of something burning, and just like that, it was dead. It was honestly such a shock! I’m wondering if anyone else here has run into a similar situation with their device? I’m planning on giving Zepter a call to see what they can tell me, though I’m feeling a bit pessimistic about getting any help since I’ve had this thing for about ten years now, so the warranty is almost certainly long gone.

It sounds like it might have just reached the end of its lifespan, unfortunately🤷. I used mine—along with everyone else in my house—for about 8 years, and toward the end, it started making this strange buzzing sound. We used it constantly, and honestly, it was a lifesaver for all of us👍. A few months back, Zepter sent out brochures to all their lamp users offering a trade-in deal for a new model. If you had an old one, they seemed to credit you around $650 toward a new one, regardless of whether it still worked or not—as long as you were upgrading. The catch was they only offered the large model, so my mom ended up getting that one on a payment plan. Now, whenever I need it, I’m running over to her place like a little chick heading for an incubator!😁.

fadedlynx6 said:I know I will. I'm calling them Monday. Besides, Medicare will cover my travel expenses anyway...

Let us know if it works out! We'll all want to know for next time.👍

Jose Miller3 said:of course 🤷

At the end of the day, you have to look out for your own family first.👍😁

Jose Miller3 said:So, apparently if you head over to Gospić, they’ve got the newest and most high-end MRI machine in the whole country—and word on the street is there isn't even a waiting list 🤷

Just give them a call in Gospić... it's only about an hour and a half drive 🙂

Can we all give a big thanks to our Secretary of Health, that Lika native?👏😁

fadedlynx6 said:Oh yeah, I was laughing at that too—supposedly we have plenty of them, yet we still can't get an appointment😁, it would be hilarious if it weren't so pathetic, but whatever...🤷

It hasn’t been that long since we were all discussing MRI scans for the head and cervical spine—talking about wait times, costs, and everything in between. It seems like everyone here ran into the exact same roadblock with their referrals: the agonizingly long wait. For instance, my doctors at Rib ordered my scan back in March, but they didn't actually get me scheduled until February of 2011!😁Anyway, one lady shared some great advice based on her own experience, so I’m going to paste her post here for you. It’ll give you a clear picture of exactly how she had to wrestle with our healthcare system to get things done.👍 Since you're in a rush and need to get that checkup done right away, here’s my best advice: try this!

Ovo je njen post:
============================================
I went ahead and placed my order through Quest Diagnostics last month for May.

If you get a notice saying you need to head back for a follow-up in two months to review some imaging, here’s exactly how you should handle it:
You basically book your MRI as a self-pay patient, then once you've finished the exam, you file a claim with Medicare to get reimbursed. I remember someone mentioning on this forum that there are specific official forms you can use for that process. Last year, I just took the DIY route—I wrote up my request on a plain sheet of paper, attached copies of my medical records along with the original receipt, and boom: three months later, the money was back in my account!

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By the way, if you go to any of the private clinics—or honestly, most of them—you can pretty much skip the headache and get seen in just a couple of days if you're paying out of pocket!👍

Jessica Brown7 said:She’s got glasses, but only for driving and reading—just a tiny -0.5 prescription. Her cervical spine hasn't been imaged, but it’s perfectly healthy. We’ve done every single medical test available and everything comes back clear, yet she’s still not feeling any better. The thing is, at the exact moment the pain hits, there’s no actual ache, just this intense pressure in her head that lasts for maybe a few seconds or minutes. Honestly, I don't see the connection to what you're going through, rustypanther39. Thanks.

Based on how you first described your symptoms, I definitely saw a parallel🤷. Now I'm a little confused about how it actually strikes her if there's no pain involved, but either way, I truly hope she feels better soon👍

Jessica Brown7 said:So, I’m dealing with this situation involving my sister. She’s getting this weird, intense pressure on the left side of her head. It happens whether she’s sitting up or standing, and it lasts anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. She says it feels like she’s about to black out—her legs go numb, she breaks out in a sweat, turns pale, and sometimes she actually does lose consciousness. It’s like her head is going to explode. Lately, she’s also been feeling some minor pain in the left side of her neck, but we’ve had everything checked out by doctors and all the scans come back normal. The only real issue is she’s struggling with short-term memory loss. Every single test comes back fine.

So, what is the medical consensus here? Has she seen a neurologist or a physical therapist yet? I actually deal with similar symptoms myself—well, I still do, though they’re much more manageable now thanks to therapy. I haven’t passed out, but I’ve dealt with intense pain. It started as sharp stabs at the back of my head, then moved to the left side of my neck right where the hairline meets the spine. From there, the pain radiates across the entire left side of my head, hitting my ear, eye, teeth, and even down my left leg from the hip. Sometimes it flares up for a few minutes, settles down, and then strikes again. My doctors suspect it’s all coming from my cervical spine, though I don't have a definitive diagnosis yet. I’m currently doing ultrasound and laser therapy; I tried electrotherapy before, but that didn't do much for me. Hopefully, this new approach finally brings some relief!

Austin Bennett793 said:I’ve been dealing with these headaches for the last two months. They hit me hard for four or five days straight—lasting all day long—and then they just vanish for a few days. On top of that, for about three months now, I’ve noticed my pulse feels irregular, so I’m actually heading in to wear a Holter monitor in a couple of days. My back and neck have been aching too, so I honestly thought the headaches were just coming from those issues. I hadn't really let it get to me until I started browsing this forum today. One specific comment really spooked me, though; I think the topic was about tumors. This girl mentioned she was diagnosed with a malignant tumor and had to undergo surgery, which caused her heart to struggle, and sometimes when she woke up, her whole body would go numb from the neck down for a few seconds. It hit me like a ton of bricks because I experienced that exact sensation once about a month and a half ago. At the time, I thought I was just dreaming, but clearly, I wasn't. Now I'm terrified. I kept thinking it was just my spine, but now I’m spiraling into thoughts of a tumor—maybe even a malignant one. It’s scary because that symptom seems so rare, even if it only happened once to me. If it were just nausea or something, I wouldn't be nearly this worried since everyone gets that along with a headache. I have a doctor's appointment next week. Should I be worried?

Look, I don't think anyone here can give you an actual diagnosis. All we can offer are guesses, and honestly, that might just end up making you more anxious. Just hang in there until you talk to your doctor; you'll probably have to run a mountain of tests to get answers. Personally, my neck and back are constantly acting up from sitting at a desk for too long, dealing with spinal issues and muscle damage in my back. I’m even dealing with this mysterious pain at the base of my neck that’s sent me to physical therapy for months now. So, please, try not to jump straight to the worst-case scenario like tumors. It could very well just be your spine acting up. As for the heart stuff, you'll get clarity once you see those Holter results. I know "don't worry" is easier said than done, but please try to stay positive.👍

David Baker3 said:I was admitted to the hospital for four days because of pericardial edema.
I only have standard insurance, no extra coverage. The bill came to $567
. Everything would be fine if I hadn't seen the itemized list of services and materials they charged me for!!!
My mom is a doctor, and she claims this is totally normal—that they do this to everyone and there's nothing to complain about.
Some of these line items are just wild:
1. Monitoring
2. Miscellaneous - basically highway robbery...
3. Implant insertion - they didn't implant a single thing in me!?
4. Pharmacotherapy - listed twice with a quantity of 1.
5. Other physiological assessments -
6. Hearing function assessment - Give me a break, why are they even checking my hearing? It’s ridiculous.
7. Assessment - that's all it says.
8. Integrity assessment - ??
9. Independence assessment - what does that even mean for me?
10. Maintenance assessment -
11. Assessment - yet another duplicate entry.
12. Intake assessment - do they think I'm an idiot?
13. Patient assessment - ASSESSMENT OF WHAT??? MY BRAIN???
14. Other assessments - HELLO???!!!
15. Therapeutic intervention
16. Assistance with activities
17. Assistance with activities - nobody touched me or helped me; I'm 23 years old.
18. Assistance with activities - I'm an athlete; when I was sick, I could still run a marathon.
19. Monitoring or transport - ???
20. Serum glucose - I never received this.
21. Serum urate - never received this either.
22.
23. A few empty entries with a quantity of 1.🙏
24. Urinalysis - that never happened!

It's a disgrace that this happens in our country. If I tried to bill my services like this, I'd be in prison!

I can't remember the last time I laughed this hard! Your itemized bill and those comments are absolutely hysterical.🤣😍 I honestly cannot believe they charged you for all of that, let alone how much they tacked on. I'm not sure if you can file a formal grievance or sue them, but this is a total disaster... if I were in your shoes, I'd go straight to the hospital administrator or someone in charge and show them exactly which tests they actually performed versus what they just slapped on the bill.🤷 I don't get how your mom thinks this is normal.😕

The ultimate old-school remedy for coughs and chest congestion👍!

You take some thinly sliced pieces of high-quality smoked bacon, layer them right over your chest, cover them with some gauze, and then wrap the whole thing up with plastic wrap. To make sure nothing slides around, you can secure it all with a towel or a wrap so it stays put overnight. By morning, you’ll basically have some warm, cooked bacon sitting there😁—but honestly, it works wonders! It’s like it somehow draws the congestion out. I’ve tried this on myself and my kids, and anyone else I’ve shared it with has seen their cough and chest pain settle down significantly. You can repeat the process whenever needed, even a few times a day, though carrying it around under your clothes can be a bit awkward. People might think it sounds a little crazy, but once you try it, you'll see what I mean..

Steven Ross2 said:Hey there,

I was wondering if anyone knows what the deal is with waiting for an MRI if you're going through insurance?
I've been hearing horror stories about six-month wait times, but then I have this buddy who managed to get his done in just two weeks.

Does anyone happen to know a clinic or a hospital where I could get seen pretty quickly? Honestly, I can't really swing paying out of pocket right now.

You definitely won't have to wait at Mayo Clinic; they scheduled my brain MRI for February 2011 when I requested it in March of last year!😍

At Mayo Clinic, the wait was about three months, but most other private clinics I called that offer radiology don't even accept insurance. If you're willing to pay cash, you can usually grab a spot in just a few days $667😉...that's just the way things work here in the States.

fadedmarlin402 said:Very few medical professionals are going to recommend something like this to you—and hopefully, nobody will. When dealing with spinal issues, the goal should always be strengthening your core and back muscles. A device like the Cosmodisk actually works against that logic. Instead of teaching your muscles to do the heavy lifting, it takes the load off them, which can leave your muscles even weaker. Once you take it off, your spine ends up bearing all that weight alone, often leading to poor posture. My advice? Don't go rogue here. Talk to a physical therapist or an orthopedic specialist and stick to the exercises they prescribe.

You are 100% right about the importance of consulting doctors, sticking to prescribed therapies, and not playing doctor on your own. But speaking from experience, my mom followed every single rule in the book for years. She did the PT, the specialized exercises, the magnetic therapy, electrical stimulation, medications—you name it. Nothing worked because she’s dealing with chronic spinal damage, arthritis, age, and extra weight. For her, the Cosmodisk is the one thing that actually provides relief and keeps her from living in constant pain.🤷

boldsurfer11 said:First off, if there’s already a thread about this, please just drop the link!

So, here's the deal: I've been dealing with constant lower back pain, especially when I'm trying to sleep at night or right when I wake up in the morning. For years now, sleeping on my stomach has been out of the question. Doctors have already told me it's a herniated disc, so I wanted to see if anyone here has actually tried a CosmoDisk. I've heard some good things from a few people, so I'd love to hear some firsthand accounts.

Thanks!

I can definitely speak to this—well, second-hand through my mom, but I know for a fact it works wonders for her👍. I recently ordered her a brand new one; I think it costs around $167, but her old one was completely worn out after years of use. She’s been putting off getting a replacement for months because her Social Security checks don't leave much extra cash, even though the pain is brutal. With gardening season kicking off, all that bending over is making everything so much worse. 😉 Basically, she can't imagine life without her CosmoDisk, just like her brother, who lent her his for a bit before she had to give it back quickly.😁

Grace Davis77 said:Could anyone else share their perspective, or perhaps an expert weigh in, regarding the effectiveness of acupuncture for my specific neck issues and general spinal discomfort?

An excellent 🙏 👍

Great 🙏 👍

Short and sweet🙂. Thanks!👍

Casey Palmer5 said:There’s honestly nothing worse than spending most of your workday staring at a monitor that’s sitting slightly off to the side. I think we might have just pinpointed one of the main reasons you're feeling so much discomfort. You should definitely try to get everything lined up straight... Just do a quick search on some ergonomics websites; a bad desk setup can cause some pretty nasty issues, but it’s usually something you can fix without spending a ton of money.

If this isn't my only issue, it's certainly one of the biggest! I've been reading up on ergonomic setups lately, and it really clicked for me😕. I've been dealing with this pain for months now, going through various treatments, yet I spend seven hours every single day at my desk with my head turned toward the right... so it's no wonder nothing seems to be working! I did try moving the monitor directly in front of me—I'm no expert, but even I could tell my posture was totally off—but honestly, what can you do when the cables are too short? I'll have to make some real changes once I'm back from vacation🙂.

Could anyone else, or perhaps an expert here, share their thoughts on using acupuncture for these neck pains and general spinal issues?

Casey Palmer5 said:Since we've ruled out the TMJ and your neck X-rays came back clear, there's a good chance the pain is coming from tension in your trapezius and those muscles running along your spine—basically where they attach at the base of your skull. Honestly, that’s probably better news because it means your joints are fine. You might want to take a look at your posture while you're working; check if your setup is actually ergonomic, like how high your monitor is or how far away it sits if you're glued to a computer all day... I can't really offer much more help than that 🙂

Hang in there, things will get better 🙂

I have to admit, my workspace is anything but ergonomic 👎. Now that I think about it, I’m working in a totally unnatural position. My keyboard is centered, but my monitor is off to the right, and the absolute worst part is that my printer is sitting on a separate desk to my right. This means I spend the entire workday twisting my head to the side, which is likely irritating my neck muscles 🤷. Oh man, if that really is the cause, then I'm in trouble—especially since I rotate through different workstations and can't just set things up my way. I'm stuck with whatever fits the space 😕. I definitely need to come up with a plan...

So, I just got back from my doctor's appointment, and honestly, there isn't much of an update. The big news is that she’s officially ruled out any issues with my TMJ. According to her, the pain I'm feeling is actually coming from the base of my skull—that spot where the head meets the neck—which is nowhere near where the jaw joint is located.🤷..
On the treatment side, I've been prescribed 600mg of Tylenol three times a day until things settle down and I can start tapering off. I also need to stick with my physical therapist and continue with the electrical stimulation and ultrasound treatments. She even suggested I give acupuncture a shot!