Sam Hayes said:I wasn't entirely sure which subforum would be the best spot for this—and I really didn't want to clutter things up by starting an entirely new thread—but I’ve been giving some serious thought to organ donation after I pass. I was wondering, does anyone know how one actually goes about getting that official donor card? I suppose I should probably reach out to someone to register, or maybe there's a specific way to sign up online?
You should reach out to your primary care physician or contact the national organ donor registry directly.
You really could have started a new thread for this.
The most critical part was getting that fluid drained; they had to relieve the pressure on the heart and lungs immediately. As for the clot, if it isn't massive, it shouldn't pose a major threat within the pericardium—it’ll likely just break down on its own over time.
Try soaking your feet in warm water before you hit the hay. It’ll help get your circulation moving, and honestly, this idea that doing so will somehow cause your veins to dilate—in any kind of negative, long-term way—is absolute nonsense.
I couldn't agree more. Instead of seeing pity in your eyes, they should be feeling encouraged and optimistic. Medicine has actually made some massive strides in cancer treatment lately, so there’s really no reason to be so pessimistic. Why shouldn't they eventually pull through and get back to living their lives normally?
Lisa Sanchez64 said:I ended up with a cracked tooth—not like a chunk broke off, but more of an internal fracture near the root and the nerves, which shows up on the X-ray. It’s pretty obvious in the scan. The only solution is to just pull the tooth entirely. Now, if this were a back molar, I wouldn't care, but it’s right in the front. My dentist suggested replacing it with either an implant or a bridge. So, what are you all seeing out there with those? I can't exactly let him yank it out and leave me with a gap; I can't be walking around campus or hanging out with my boyfriend looking like I'm missing a tooth. Is it actually possible to get everything fixed in one go immediately after extraction?
You might want to move this over to the dental questions thread... you'll probably get much faster answers from the actual dentists and specialists over there...
Jessica Edwards39 said:I've got strep throat, and my treatment started out with two boxes of Augmentin 500mg—three pills per box—and now I just left the doctor's office and they gave me two more boxes. Honestly, I've been feeling like a brand new person for a few days now, so I don't get why I need this much Augmentin. What's the big deal if I take this many tablets? I'm asking because, come on, it's still Augmentin!!!!??? Thanks in advance
Just because you feel better doesn't mean the infection is gone. 😉
casualcanyon40 said:I really appreciate everyone chiming in with their thoughts. 😘
My doctor actually suggested I see a neurosurgeon, but honestly, the idea of being pushed toward surgery scares me off. 😢 For now, I’m not planning on doing anything drastic while the pain is still somewhat manageable. If I decide to try a chiropractor, I'll either look into seeing Michael over in Silver City or head to the Marriott to find those Americans; I've heard they're pretty highly regarded in the field.
Thanks again, everyone. 🙂
A neurosurgeon might suggest surgery, sure, but they can't force you to go under the knife. It's better to at least know what your options are...
There’s creams, there are gels, there are even sprays out there, but I honestly can't remember the specific names. You should probably just head down to a CVS or Walgreens and ask the pharmacist... In a pinch, though—old-school home remedies: try some black pepper. 😁
Benjamin Barrett11 said:we're talking about a disc here, after all. 😁 My suggestion would be to check out http://www.mayoclinic.org or, honestly, just get a second opinion from a specialist.
Yeah, but you seem to have missed this part:
casualcanyon40 said:here is what the report actually states:
MRI cross-sections through the lumbar spine area show reduced lumbar lordosis. The spinal canal width remains maintained. All vertebral bodies appear to have normal height and physiological bone signal intensity, except for discrete changes in signal intensity in the anterior aspect of the endplates at the L4/L5 segments, consistent with degenerative changes. There is visible minimalretroposition of the L4 vertebral body relative to the L5 vertebral body, measuring approximately 3 mm. Consequently, there is a slight reduction in the width of the neural foramina bilaterally at the L4/L5 level. The intervertebral spaces at L4/L5 and L5/S1 are narrowed, and the discs at the L3/L4, L4/L5, and L5/S1 levels show signal intensity changes indicative of degenerative changes. A very small left-sided paramedial subligamentous herniation is visible at the L4/L5 level; the herniated portion of the disc measures roughly 5x3 mm, compromising the left L5 neural root intraspinally. At all other levels, the findings are normal, showing no compression of neural structures. The distal part of the spinal cord and the conus medullaris are normally shaped and sized, with physiological signal intensity.
So, the vertebra is shifted, but we can't exactly say it "popped out." casualcanyon40, if I were you, I'd go talk to a neurosurgeon. They'll give you the best guidance on this. 🙂
urbangull25 As I was saying: The only thing that’s really weighing on my mind right now is this one nagging thought: what happens if I just lose it? What if a full-blown panic attack hits me while I'm sitting right there at the table?😲😕
Roger Wood50 said:About a month ago, my blood work showed elevated red blood cell counts and hemoglobin levels... I took a break from training for a month (hitting the gym) and cut out whey protein from my diet—everything else stayed exactly the same—and I just got my latest labs back yesterday, and everything looks normal now...
What could be the actual reason for an increase in erythrocytes and hemoglobin? And would there have been any reason to panic if those numbers had stayed high?
There you go. One of the main drivers is physical exertion. Your muscles demand more oxygen, so the body responds by ramping up red blood cell production to meet that need. Honestly, keep training. A slight bump in your erythrocyte and hemoglobin levels isn't a big deal. It wasn't the whey.
On a different note, some athletes use EPO (erythropoietin) to artificially spike their red blood cell count to boost performance. Obviously, that's illegal.
briskstag13 said:So, I just got my bloodwork back, and there are some deviations from the norm: white blood cell count (which is always a little high and my doctor doesn't say anything, but it worries me)—normal is up to 11, mine is 12.4 lymphocytes—normal is up to 4, mine is 4.4 iron is right on the edge—normal range is 8 to 30, mine is 9.6 (but it's always low, so I take iron supplements often)
Basically, the white cells and lymphocytes are worrying me (it's the first time the lymphocytes have been elevated)
+ sedimentation rate which is right at the limit, whereas it's usually much lower..
It isn't anything serious if you aren't dealing with any other symptoms. It’s likely just some minor inflammation. Just redo the tests in a week or two, then you can sit down with your doctor to see if it actually needs more attention. A slight deviation from the reference values doesn't mean a thing; those numbers are just based on standard statistical averages. A perfectly healthy person can easily have values that are slightly high or slightly low.
Just rub some Deep Relief on it and take it easy. If the pain starts getting actually unmanageable, you can always grab some Advil and call it a day...
Jack Lopez63 said:Look, I’m telling you, homemade castor oil—as long as it hasn't been sitting on your shelf for more than eighteen months—is hands down the best remedy for hemorrhoids. All those overpriced ointments they sell at the drugstore? Total rip-offs.
Speaking of old-school home remedies, I’ve heard plenty of people swear by eating boiled wheat to fix the same issue. If only everyone had easy access to stuff made the traditional way...
Just a heads-up: this thread isn't actually about specific medical issues—we aren't talking diseases, disorders, or treatments here—so it doesn't really belong on this subforum. If you're looking to vent or discuss the broader systemic failures, I'd suggest heading over to the politics section instead: The absolute disaster within the American healthcare system: Neglect, incompetence, and arrogance