Look, if we’re talking about Revit or anything in that software vein, I’m moving this conversation over to an alternative thread... but if we're just debating vitamins and minerals, then yeah, it can stay right here. Makes sense, doesn't it?
George Washington is legally classified as an illicit substance, and absolutely no one here has the authority to prescribe it as a medical treatment. This thread is now locked.
I just want to briefly touch upon the call-outs directed at the moderators in this thread, without getting dragged into the actual debate itself. Let’s be clear: moderators are nothing more than regular forum members who have been promoted to sub-forum editors simply because they behave themselves and contribute quality, constructive content. That promotion comes with the sole obligation to volunteer our time to maintain order within the sub-forum, perhaps steer a discussion back on track, and that’s it. Our primary duties involve merging, moving, editing, or deleting posts and threads, and issuing warnings to problematic users according to the site rules. When it comes to replying to threads or PMs, we participate just like any other user—entirely at our own discretion. Furthermore, just like everyone else here, we have a right to privacy; we aren't obligated to disclose our identities or professions to anyone.
Regarding the response from Casey Cook10—who, I should add, is an incredibly high-quality and knowledgeable contributor whose insights have helped many people here—I don't see anything controversial about what was said. I have no desire to open a second front over CCSVI, so I won't be offering my subjective opinion on that. From what I understand, this is an attempt to revive an old theory suggesting that venous insufficiency in the CNS is linked to the onset of MS. However, existing research hasn't yielded much conclusive data, and there are two main reasons for that. First, the studies have been conducted on relatively small sample sizes. Second, it is impossible to determine whether MS is caused by CCSVI or if CCSVI is merely a byproduct of having MS. Now, suddenly, there are these vague demands being leveled at health institutions to conduct specific research here in America... 🤷 But again, that isn't the point of this discussion, and I don't want it to become one.
Jessica Reyes51 said:I just picked up some Acnemycin—I have both the small and large tubes, but the instructions are in German, which isn't exactly helpful. How am I supposed to apply this stuff, and which tube should I be using first?
I’ve been thinking about this for a while now. It's one of those things that stays in the back of your mind, nagging at you, even when you try to ignore it. I remember being back in Chicago years ago, sitting in a cramped coffee shop, watching people rush by, and realizing how much of our lives we spend just reacting to things instead of actually deciding who we want to be. It’s a pattern. You see it everywhere in the States—this constant, frantic push to be somewhere else, to be someone else, to have something more. We get caught up in the noise. We let the chaos dictate our pace. And then, when we finally stop to breathe, we realize we've been running in circles. There’s a certain weight to that realization. It isn't light or easy to process. It’s heavy, like a sudden drop in barometric pressure before a storm hits the Midwest. You feel it in your chest. You feel it in the way you hesitate before making a choice. I don't mean to be cynical, but there's a difference between optimism and delusion. Being optimistic is fine, sure. But if you aren't looking at the reality of the situation—the actual, unvarnished truth of where you stand—you're just lying to yourself. And frankly, I’ve never had much patience for self-deception. It’s a waste of time. It’s inefficient. And in my experience, it usually leads to a much harder fall later on. kaže: First, you wash your face with a mild medicinal cleanser—something like an Eucerin gel—and pat it dry. Then comes the application process. You start by applying the white paste, which is actually the Acnemycin, and then you lightly layer the brown paste over the top to act as camouflage. 😁
I typically apply Acnemycin in the morning, focusing specifically on those stubborn, breakout-prone areas where the acne is most concentrated. When you pair that with Differin gel at night, it’s actually a powerhouse combo for moderate acne—so much so that you're seeing more and more American dermatologists recommending this exact routine. Just a heads-up: don't freak out if things look a little worse before they get better. There’s usually a slight initial flare-up, but you should start seeing real progress within about a month. That said, I wouldn't dream of suggesting this without telling you to talk to a doctor first, especially since Differin can be pretty intense on the skin. 👍
The quality of a forum user has absolutely zero correlation with their total post count. In fact, more often than not, it’s actually the exact opposite. I don't see why someone sitting at zero posts shouldn't be able to kick off a high-level, insightful discussion. 🤷 The only real hurdle is if they aren't quite familiar with how the site's interface works yet. As long as we have moderators on the clock, any low-effort or garbage threads can be wiped away in three clicks.
I see you’ve already been flagged for harassment on this forum, so I’m not even going to bother debating that point with you.
The only thing I’m doing here is locking this thread. With that kind of attitude and your disgusting choice of words, you haven't earned anyone's help—even if you were asking about something perfectly legal. You have no place left on this subforum.
Jesse Long2 said:Can we all just agree that the healthcare situation here is basically a mirror image of what you see in places like Mexico or Brazil?
We absolutely cannot agree on that, and frankly, that’s not even the point of this discussion. I’m asking you to dial back the trolling. You’re making me seriously consider locking this thread, though it’s more likely I’ll just start scrubbing your bait posts because I have no interest in letting one person derail a conversation for everyone else.
Everything has its pros and cons. I’ll grant you that this makes navigating the forum a bit more of a headache for everyone here, but on the flip side, it definitely cuts down on the clutter and chaos of endless PDF files. That said, we already have specific threads dedicated to things like wisdom teeth extraction and orthodontics, so I don't see why we couldn't just spin up another one for something like prosthodontics. Personally, I think general dental repairs should stay right here in this main thread. Most surgical stuff usually boils down to wisdom teeth anyway, so there isn't much need for a separate category there either. As far as I'm concerned, let's move prosthetics to its own topic. Besides, you've got three or four dentists active on the "General Dental Questions" thread at any given time; you don't even really need to go hunting through old posts. Just drop your question and someone will get back to you.
Sorry for the late reply. Things have been pretty hectic on my end lately... 👋
silentlynx24 said:What even is hematocrit? My lab results show it's up at 46.0, but the reference range is listed as 0.415-0.513. What does that actually mean???... thanks in advance...
In the simplest terms, it's just the percentage of blood cells compared to the plasma and everything else in your blood. You said 46.0? That likely means 46%, which is perfectly normal. Double-check those numbers.
It’s an established fact that pathogenic microorganisms are the direct culprits behind various respiratory inflammations, but science hasn't definitively proven whether a drop in body temperature actually triggers the onset of inflammation. That said, plenty of studies have pointed toward a correlation, even if we haven't nailed down the exact mechanism yet. My take? It’s most likely that losing heat puts the body into a sort of shock state. The system pours all its resources into trying to compensate for that lost warmth, which simultaneously leaves the immune system vulnerable. This creates the perfect window for infections—pathogens that were already lurking in your system—to finally strike when the guard is down. I can't say for certain how much sitting on a cold stone bench contributes to this, but it's a safe bet that the body loses heat proportionally to the contact. I just want to point out that this common-sense wisdom shouldn't be dismissed as primitive nonsense.
Look, I’ll point you in the right direction, but the heavy lifting is on you. You’re the one who needs to go out there and do the actual legwork to dig deeper.
Basophils are slightly elevated, but honestly, it’s negligible. Nothing to worry about.
Regarding your urine results, that leukocyte esterase reading points toward a urinary tract infection. You really ought to get a urine culture done to pinpoint exactly what you're dealing with. Your urine is also looking cloudy and amber-colored because of elevated bilirubin levels. That brings up the question: why is it high? Usually, we're looking at liver issues—something like hepatitis or perhaps a blocked bile duct. I noticed you've been posting in other threads about abdominal pain as well. My advice? Go get an abdominal ultrasound to check out your liver. There’s a real possibility you’re dealing with gallstones, which could very well be the root cause of everything you're feeling.
It would be helpful if you could dig up some previous lab results so we can actually compare the two.
Sarah Wells23 said:The last colonoscopy was two years ago. Today, the doctor decided to skip the colonoscopy and just move forward with an endoscopy. His reasoning? He thinks the black stools aren't coming from the lower GI tract at all—he’s pointing toward the stomach instead. 🤷
That's spot on. Tarry, black stools are often a primary indicator of upper GI bleeding, like a peptic ulcer. The tricky part is that "black" is subjective; people describe colors differently all the time, but in medicine, you can't afford to be vague about those details. I'm hoping for the best here.
Black stools combined with an elevated ESR point toward gastrointestinal bleeding. When was her last colonoscopy? That’s something that definitely needs to be monitored.
Abusing anabolic steroids carries a massive range of health risks. We’re talking everything from superficial issues—like acne, gynecomastia, or excessive body hair—to life-altering conditions like liver cancer, cardiovascular disease, hormonal imbalances, and severe mental health struggles. I wouldn't recommend this route to anyone. In the beginning, you might feel like you've won because you're packing on mass without the grind, but you'll eventually pay for it when the side effects hit and you spend the rest of your life bouncing between doctors' offices.
What I actually suggest is sticking to a high-protein diet and putting in the work at the gym. That said, that's really more of a topic for the guys over at Muscle & Fitness; they’re the experts on that stuff, and there's plenty of info online too. The truth is, the natural path is much harder, but trust me, you don't want to wreck your health for good.
Besides, since anabolic substances are illegal, I'm closing this discussion.
That popping sensation usually happens because your Eustace tube is temporarily acting up due to a cold, seasonal allergies, or even pressure changes from diving. In most cases, it just clears up on its own. However, if you’ve been dealing with this nonstop for two years straight—meaning it persists even when you aren't sick or dealing with allergies—you really need to stop guessing and go see an ENT specialist. They'll likely order some actual diagnostics, such as tympanometry, an audiogram, or perhaps an MRI or CT scan, just to rule out any chronic issues with the Eustace tube or the middle ear.