Posts by Sam Hall15

You really are quite the linguist 😁

It seems a colleague is being attacked through no fault of their own... a person has every right to an opinion, even if I don't personally agree with them...
As one of my professors used to emphasize—and likely still does: you truly understand a subject only when you can explain it to a layperson who has no clue about medical terminology. It is the same principle here; the goal isn't to show off a fancy vocabulary to people in need, but to actually heal them. That requires a level of interaction that simply fails if both sides cannot understand one another... If anyone happens to post a medical term that cannot be explained in plain English, please

Look, if you want to be one of those people who relies on anecdotal stories like "my neighbor said this worked for them," then go right ahead. But if you actually want to address the neurological changes that cause migraines, you really need to consult a doctor.
ps. Someone here seems to have confused a migraine with just a "regular" headache—I’d suggest doing some actual research before posting advice online.

If the individual remained conscious, we aren't looking at an epileptic seizure; rather, drug involvement becomes a factor if there was a disturbed mental state. If respiratory distress was present, pulmonary edema is a significant possibility.
In any case, the foaming at the mouth carries no clinical significance...

The simplest approach is to have her consult a doctor who can prescribe specific migraine medications. Usually, they’ll suggest a combination involving a blood vessel stabilizer, a diuretic, and an analgesic. It’s quite effective for managing an acute attack, though it isn't meant for long-term use; there are different medications specifically designed for migraine prevention rather than just treating the onset.

It isn't quite as simple as just saying it's a bacterium... we first have to determine which serotype we are dealing with. If it only caused an ear infection, it is likely a non-encapsulated type (biotypes 2 or 3), which aren't nearly as dangerous
However, if it is an encapsulated strain—most commonly serotype 2—then the situation becomes much more serious (think meningitis, sepsis, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, or pericarditis). In those cases, children under four who were exposed to the patient should be given prophylactic rifampin...

Nothing unusual here. You should probably head to the doctor; they'll likely prescribe some antibiotics. While streptomycin can be quite effective in these cases, you'll most likely be given something more modern nowadays.
It isn't the end of the world, really...

Are you sexually active?

hm....I don't want to overstep since I'm no expert on medical protocols, but I did witness an autopsy once where the pathologist mentioned they wouldn't open the skull if the cause of death was clearly identified elsewhere. Of course, if there's any suspicion of foul play, everything gets opened, including the head... In this specific case, there was some suspicion, but I've only sat in on two autopsies, and I can't quite recall if they performed a cranial exam for this particular doctor.
Though, if you ask my amateur opinion, the head should always be opened just to be safe.
As for the aortic dissection... hm... based strictly on the information we have available, that’s really all we can say for now.

Pathologists typically won't perform a cranial autopsy if they identify the cause of death elsewhere, most often within the heart...
But you mentioned in your initial post that you were told the autopsy findings didn't suggest a myocardial infarction that could be immediately identified during the procedure... So, I'm struggling to follow that theory regarding a heart attack; if they didn't indicate it was cardiac-related right after the autopsy, it's unlikely they would change that conclusion in the final report.

I am so sorry for the loss of your mother.
You're absolutely right that getting definitive answers is incredibly difficult, especially after a sudden cardiac arrest. It's nearly impossible to pinpoint the exact cause through an autopsy alone because, as those doctors wisely suggested, it was likely an arrhythmia triggered by a million different things—like Prinzmetal angina, which doesn't leave any physical markers for an autopsy to find.
Did you happen to see the autopsy report? I'm wondering what they said about the condition of her coronary arteries. Was she a smoker? This might sound like a cliché question, but had she been facing any major stressors lately? Or perhaps there was an underlying metabolic issue? An electrolyte imbalance could also be a factor, such as if she had experienced any bouts of vomiting or diarrhea, or even a more subtle metabolic disruption that led to such an imbalance. Was she taking any medications?

Where on earth is my post?
Basically, if it hasn't cleared by now, you really need to see a doctor. You should get it imaged so they can pinpoint the exact location... don't take any chances here, as the worst-case scenario involves a bowel perforation.
Whatever you do, please don't try using laxatives or purgatives without a physician's guidance.

Maxitrol is a potent blend of a strong corticosteroid and an antibiotic, so you shouldn't rely on it too heavily without guidance. These changes definitely suggest an inflammatory process, likely infectious; since the drops might be sustaining the infection, I believe getting a microbiological diagnosis wouldn't be a bad idea.
I also happen to agree with everything Charles Edwards8 said, naturally 😁 he really knows his stuff... if you follow his advice, you won't run into trouble.
You should certainly go get your prescription checked, as that probably isn't related to the drops, and while you're there, an ophthalmologist can give you their professional opinion regarding these eye issues.

Those varicose veins aren't such a big deal; if they're bothering you, you could always chat with a doctor about an outpatient procedure...
As for forcing yourself to vomit... I suppose that's fine, provided it's kept to a moderate daily frequency...😁

Regarding the swelling, you likely have a varicocele; it’s quite common for someone in your age group and nothing to be terrified about... if it turns out to be a thrombosed vein, it's just the body's natural healing process forming a clot, so there is no need for alarm.
As for the urine, that's simply due to concentration levels. Overnight, a significant amount of blood is filtered while you aren't urinating or drinking anything, leading to a higher concentration of metabolites compared to the daytime when you're hydrating and voiding regularly...
I commend your awareness... even though I work in this field, I suspect I wouldn't find it easy to pull the trigger on seeing a urologist if I were in your shoes.

I suppose I was just trying to soften the blow, though it’s hard to find the right words for such irrational spending... It’s great if the progress is moving in the right direction, but all these supplements can’t truly replace natural nutrition due to those heavy additives, even if they aren't quite as bad as people make them out to be today... At any rate, at least our moderator is capable of being back at her computer within thirty minutes of a break 😁

And then they turn on poor general practitioners just because they provide a high-level expert diagnosis like status febrile and consider themselves beyond reproach 😁
...

There is quite a lot of fuss over a little bit of diarrhea, though I suppose that is just how our esteemed moderator operates (not that anyone else is any different)
And now we are calling it enterocolitis? It seems everyone is suddenly an expert at diagnosing viral infections to explain away some loose stools... Have you considered trying that vitamin supplement—I can't recall the exact name—the one with B vitamins and probiotics designed to restore gut flora?
PS: Michelle Cook83 probably meant to say stool culture instead of colonoscopy...

P.S. Regarding high fevers: this refers to the point where proteins begin to denature throughout various parts of the body, which ultimately leads to death. I am not referring to these specific readings, but rather temperatures exceeding roughly 106 degrees Fahrenheit. The exact threshold varies by individual, especially since clots forming in different areas can lead to vastly different clinical outcomes.
Such a condition must be treated before the temperature reaches those critical levels. This should primarily focus on addressing the underlying cause, though symptomatic relief is often necessary because targeted treatments—like antibiotics—do not always work fast enough during an emergency. Note that hyperthermia is not managed with antipyretics (fever-reducers), so one must not allow the situation to reach that stage...

Both of you have valid points, though I find myself agreeing more with Chloe Ward44. My only issue with her perspective is prioritizing alternative remedies over conventional medicine 😁
. The sheer volume of medication being used today is excessive, often driven by self-diagnosis. This highlights why we must emphasize the dangers of hypermedication, particularly when it occurs without physician oversight. That said, this doesn't mean we should avoid medication entirely; they are essential when clinically indicated. No one should have to endure unnecessary pain—modern medicine has advanced far too much for that—but we must present patients with clear options regarding pros and cons. In many cases, enduring some discomfort is preferable to flooding the system with various drugs. On the other hand, ignoring necessary medication can lead to severe, yet easily preventable, illnesses via pharmacological means...
Just a quick note: you should stop treating a fever once it exceeds 100.4 F, as the body loses certain beneficial effects, such as improved leukocyte chemotaxis
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