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Posts by Douglas Green31

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Changes in my prescription in Health · Dec 8, 2009

wearybison14 said:Fine, I will. But I was just wondering if anyone actually knows if my vision could have improved on its own? I’m trying to give this doctor at least a little credit. :-)

It's possible, though unlikely.
Especially since you mentioned your vision feels worse lately.

Dealing with astigmatism and shifting prescriptions can be a headache.
I actually had an eye exam recently because I noticed my vision slipping.
Everything looked crystal clear during the tests, and the ophthalmologist gave me a prescription that seemed perfect in the office.
But once I actually got my contacts and started wearing them, I realized I needed a stronger prescription after all.
It makes no sense, considering I passed every test he gave me.

Even now, my vision fluctuates between being sharp and being blurry.
I'm blaming it on astigmatism. It isn't severe—they don't even make lenses for my specific cylinder measurement—but clearly, even a small amount is causing issues.

You need to get a second opinion.
I get why you're frustrated, but what else can you do?
Keep struggling with an incompetent doctor?

I know it's a hassle and it's infuriating, but go see a specialist who knows what they're doing so you can actually fix this.

A +0.75 change isn't massive, but it's enough to be annoying.

As for the subtitles, that's likely the astigmatism talking.
If you truly have a farsightedness issue (+ prescription)—which is a bit odd given how young you are, since that usually hits later in life—you'd struggle with reading up close, but distance vision should be fine.

Anyone still running Windows 7? in Software · Dec 7, 2009

Hi everyone.

I'm a relatively new Windows 7 user, and so far, I'm satisfied.

However, I do a lot of video editing and subtitle work.
I'm running into an issue with Subtitle Workshop—the usual headache—where there's audio, but no video.

I've seen plenty of discussions about this online with tons of suggested fixes, but none of them seem to be permanent for me.
The thing is, Subtitle Workshop will open some movies perfectly fine (both audio and video), while with others, I only get sound. It's even happened where the same movie works one time, but then fails to show video the next time I open it.
Sometimes renaming the file to remove spaces helps, though I've found that isn't a consistent fix.

VLC Media Player handles all these files without any issues, so I doubt the codecs are the culprit.
I currently have the K-Lite Codec Pack installed.
Are there other codecs worth installing, or is there even any point in trying?

Does anyone have an idea what might be causing this?

Should I try using a different subtitle program instead? If so, which one?

Blue fingernails and toenails: what could it be? in Health · Dec 4, 2009

Go see a doctor and show them those bluish tints on your nails.
That could be a sign of low blood oxygen levels, and there are plenty of different reasons why that happens.
Emphysema is common, but it could be anything—or nothing at all.

Bottom line: get to a doctor and tell them about the discoloration.

Corneal Neovascularization: What do you guys know about this? in Health · Oct 22, 2009

Hey everyone.

This issue was touched upon briefly in the "contact lens" thread, since it's most common among contact lens wearers.

Here is the definition from Wikipedia:

Corneal neovascularization is the growth of blood vessels from the limbal vascular plexus into the cornea. It is caused by oxygen deprivation; normally, the cornea receives its oxygen from the air via the tear film and to some extent from the anterior chamber, as a healthy cornea contains no blood vessels. One of the most frequent causes of corneal neovascularization is wearing contact lenses, particularly prolonged use. In later stages, the condition can threaten vision, which is why ophthalmologists recommend routine exams for contact lens wearers, even if they aren't experiencing symptoms.

Essentially, the issue stems from oxygen deprivation caused by wearing contact lenses.
Since I was recently diagnosed with this myself, I’m starting this thread to hear about your experiences. I want to know how people deal with this—specifically, how to manage it effectively without having to give up contact lenses for good.
I also want to understand exactly what kind of damage this can do to one's eyesight and overall eye health.

Supposedly, this is a reversible condition that clears up once you stop wearing contact lenses.
I'm looking for any alternatives to just quitting them entirely.
Hearing from anyone who has dealt with this would be appreciated.

Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion] in Women's Health · Sep 9, 2009

Richard Jones13 said:I’ve been on Trinovum for about two and a half years straight now. Honestly, I feel fantastic and haven't noticed any side effects or anything weird at all. I KNOW, I really need to get myself checked out by my gynecologist 🙈 but I just wanted to pop in here and see what you guys think...

It really comes down to the specific pill and how your body handles it.
Technically, breaks aren't mandatory if everything looks good, but regular checkups and blood work are non-negotiable.
If your labs are clean, there’s no reason to stop, regardless of how long you've been on them.

For instance, I've been on them for three years with perfect recent blood work. Meanwhile, a friend of mine had to quit after just six months because her liver enzymes spiked.
It’s entirely individual.

Proposed bill on IVF regulations in Women's Health · Jul 20, 2009

feralwolf30;21648684 said:
You probably meant to say that a child isn't worth whatever torture you might end up going through. 😕😕

Exactly.
And just like I said, that’s my personal stance, not some universal rule.

Yeah, I'm selfish. So be it. At least I'm honest enough to admit it to myself and everyone else.

Proposed bill on IVF regulations in Women's Health · Jul 20, 2009

Man, this discussion has gone completely off the rails.
If someone is religious, they should just live by their own principles and leave it at that.
Laws shouldn't be based on church interpretations, and what does God or the Church have to do with whether a specific law is actually good or not?
The topic here is a specific piece of legislation, not IVF.
You can't force your views on people just because we live in a "Christian nation."
People are conflating things that have absolutely nothing to do with one another.

Besides, this law wasn't even passed based on church doctrine, because if it were, IVF would be banned entirely.
In my opinion, this whole mess regarding the marriage certificate is some kind of compromise since they can't fully ban it.
That makes the entire law a massive exercise in hypocrisy and discrimination.

I honestly don't get people who feel the need to shove their beliefs down everyone else's throats; you see it on both sides of the aisle.

What do Bible quotes or mentions of God and the Church mean to me when I'm not a believer? And why force those views on people who simply don't hold them—which they have every right to do?
Then there's Spike's comment about "you'll see when you can't have kids... etc."

To be clear, I personally would never undergo assisted reproduction and would rather not have children at all, but that is my own choice alone. To me, a child isn't worth going through that kind of torture.
However, I absolutely support couples who want to have a child through those methods.
What's wrong with that stance? At least I'm being fair and I'm not imposing anything on anyone.

Proposed bill on IVF regulations in Women's Health · Jul 19, 2009

Personally, I would never opt for IVF, and my stance isn't rooted in religion since I’m not a believer.
I simply don't consider artificial insemination to be "treating infertility." If I can't conceive naturally—and my own health issues suggest I might struggle there—I would just accept that it wasn't meant to be.
Some people face obstacles to having children for various reasons.
It's hard to put my perspective into words, but it doesn't really matter.

What I am trying to say is that despite my personal distaste for IVF, I am revolted by this law because it is blatantly discriminatory and hypocritical.
As far as I know, couples undergoing fertility treatments pay a massive price—mentally, physically, and yes, financially. They deserve access to procedures that maximize their chances of pregnancy, regardless of whether they are married.
I understand the need to prevent the manipulation of reproductive cells and embryos, but what does a marriage license have to do with that?
Or restricting the process so severely that the attempt itself loses its purpose?

This just fuels my resentment toward the Church, as I am certain they have their hands in this.
Even though I am fundamentally opposed to IVF, I recognize that many people don't share my view, and I have nothing but empathy for them.
Ultimately, I don't even have a strong desire for children myself, so I have no business lecturing couples who are suffering because they cannot conceive.

Vaginal itching... help! in Women's Health · May 13, 2009

rowdyotter76 said:She’s basically crying to me about what she should do or what kind of ointment to pick up at the pharmacy because everything down there is swollen. :S

Crying, complaining, and venting won't fix anything.
Besides, nobody on an online forum can diagnose her or tell her which creams, ointments, or oils to use.
It’s irresponsible behavior.
If she actually wants to solve this, she needs to see a gynecologist immediately before things get worse.
If she’s picked up an infection, it isn't just going to vanish on its own.
There is simply no other way.

Lumps in my breasts? in Women's Health · Mar 22, 2009

Those lumps are usually nothing to worry about—just swollen glands or fibroadenomas—but everywhere I look, the consensus is that nipple discharge is something you have to take seriously.
I'm dealing with a pretty large fibroadenoma myself, but discharge isn't normal and definitely needs a medical evaluation.

Mixed flora - "incompatible bacteria" (sex) in Women's Health · Dec 3, 2008

I’m dealing with the exact opposite issue.
Basically, it's my boyfriend who has the problem.
Every single time we have sex, his skin gets irritated and "rough," and he deals with itching.
We both went through all the tests and everything came back clean—we guessed everything from chlamydia to an allergy to laundry detergent, but nobody could pin down the actual cause.
It only affects him; I never had any symptoms, discharge, or anything of the sort.
He’s seen urologists and dermatologists and everyone else under the sun, so as crazy as it sounds, the theory about "bacterial incompatibility" actually seems logical to me.
I’ve done swabs, Pap smears, ultrasounds... nothing, all my results were normal.

The issue has eased up slightly since he started using a topical treatment immediately after sex.

Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion] in Women's Health · Oct 22, 2008

slybadger22 said:I’ve been away from my screen for a little while, so I’m checking back in. I was wondering—can those two actually grab a drink together?
Thanks.

You can.
It just depends on which specific antibiotics are involved.

Birth control and pregnancy risks in Women's Health · Oct 1, 2008

swiftviper23 said:Hi! So, I've been on birth control for about six months, and tomorrow I'm taking my last pill
and then I'm stopping completely. How many days am I still protected after that last dose? Does that 7-day break actually count if I'm not going back on them? Thanks.

Don't rely on those seven days. You won't be taking a pill on the eighth day, which means ovulation could technically happen then.
Basically, if you had sex a few days prior (days 4, 5, 6, or 7), there is a risk of pregnancy.

I'm not entirely sure how long sperm can survive inside you—some sources say three days, others say up to five.
So don't gamble with it. Start using another form of protection as soon as you finish this pack.

Logest vs. Yasmin: Which one is better? in Women's Health · Jul 23, 2008

From what I understand, you need liver function tests done every few years if you're on birth control.
As for everything else, I had some blood work done when I first started on Triquilar—I can't quite remember which specific markers they checked.

But honestly, that's just preventative. Those results won't tell a doctor which pill will actually work for you; at that point, it’s just trial and error to find the right fit.

I'm currently on Logest and had to get a coagulation profile done because birth control increases stroke risk (and my OB/GYN mentioned the risk is slightly higher with Logest compared to other brands).
The tests are just to ensure you can take oral contraceptives without worrying about a stroke, but they don't dictate which specific brand is best for your body.
Even if they test your hormone levels, everyone reacts to different pills differently. You won't know if one works until you try it.

So, unless you're in a high-risk group or have known clotting issues, some gynecologists don't even bother ordering these tests.
If it makes you nervous, just ask your doctor for a referral and get it done.
Your primary care physician can handle it too.
My GP wrote me a referral for a coagulation profile since I see a private specialist and didn't want to pay out of pocket for no reason.

Period talk: Questions and advice in Women's Health · Jul 23, 2008

Olivia Carter21 said:I have a question
2 days ago (21st) in the evening, I thought my period was starting—just that light spotting I always get at the beginning—since it wasn't due until tomorrow, so being a day early didn't seem like a big deal. But yesterday morning nothing happened, and today is the same.
I don't think it's anything serious, I just want to know if anyone has had similar experiences so I can estimate when it might actually show up 😕 because I don't want to find myself in the wrong place at the wrong time without protection 😁

Are you on birth control?
Give us more details.
Is there a chance you could be pregnant?

Birth control and pregnancy risks in Women's Health · Jul 22, 2008

swiftangler91 said:just two days after my period ended..

You shouldn't even be fertile right now.
You know perfectly well there’s zero safety net there, but I wouldn't lose much sleep if I were you.
Getting pregnant doesn't just happen by accident like that.

I read somewhere that if you have unprotected sex once a week, the chance of getting pregnant within a year is only about 35%—and that’s assuming everything is medically fine on your end.

Birth control and pregnancy risks in Women's Health · Jul 21, 2008

swiftangler91 said:I don't want to start a whole new thread, but what are the odds of getting pregnant if a condom breaks during sex and I'm in my non-fertile window?

If those days were actually non-fertile, then zero.

The real question is how certain you are that those days were actually non-fertile.

Drug test help, any advice? in Health · Jul 20, 2008

Dennis Bailey4 said:That’s precisely the issue—the fact that he’d actually bring someone else's urine into the house just to pull those stunts. He was literally pissing right in front of me, which is why I find the whole thing so unbelievable.
Regarding the money, we've looked into it; he always seems to have cash on hand, even though his allowance never exceeds $100 a month—and lately, it's been even less. Dealing? Maybe.
(Thanks for the help🙂)

Are you certain he was actually smoking weed?
Kids will do anything when they're backed into a corner.
Maybe he just smoked some oregano; who knows, or maybe the whole thing is being blown out of proportion.
You mentioned his friend claimed he's using everything under the sun.
First off, how would that kid know unless he's right there in the middle of it?
Second, if it's just your son and his buddies talking, they might just be acting tougher than they really are.
Regardless, you need to sit him down and talk.

It is entirely possible he used someone else's urine to cheat the test.

What is his side of the story?

Birth control and pregnancy risks in Women's Health · Jul 20, 2008

Ashley Lopez37 said:I want to know: what are the actual odds of getting pregnant while using condoms?
If I know they didn't break, I won't get pregnant, right? Or...??
I'm panicking because my cycle gets all over the place whenever I'm stressed, so now...🤷

I heard about one ridiculous pregnancy case once. Honestly, I don't even know if I believe it.
The girl found out she had some kind of STD—maybe hepatitis, though I'm not 100% sure which one.

Anyway, because of that, she and her partner always used condoms.
She still ended up pregnant, and apparently, the condom didn't break, slip, or anything "irregular" happened.
Supposedly.

How that works theoretically? No clue.

Swollen but no pain—is this normal? in Health · Jul 20, 2008

Man, my gums swell up constantly, especially when I'm eating popcorn and a kernel gets stuck between my teeth and the gum line.
I must have particularly sensitive gums; no matter how thorough my brushing is, the second any food debris gets lodged there, the swelling starts immediately.
It clears up after a few days.

The problem is, it usually hurts like hell.