I find myself with one or more questions because I feel like I am truly losing my mind... They say two heads are better than one, and since there are so many of you here, perhaps I might receive some useful advice... Please forgive me in advance if this topic has already been covered; I have developed hemorrhoids and an abscess, though fortunately not a fistula. It all began with hemorrhoids about ten years ago; even though I was quite active and stayed very mobile, I never struggled with constipation. However, the bleeding was absolutely excessive, and the pain was simply unbearable... Naturally, I tried everything under the sun before finally seeing a specialist privately for laser cauterization. It was supposed to take three sessions, but I ended up needing seven... I should mention that this entire process spanned two years. I became pregnant, gave birth, and through it all, my condition didn't worsen—in fact, it actually improved. I had six years of absolute peace... No pain (well, maybe occasionally) and absolutely no bleeding at all. But then, after six years of relief, the excruciating pain returned. And when I say excruciating, I mean it literally... I could not even stand up. I went back to the same doctor who originally examined me, and he determined that blood clots had formed and required surgery. So, we scheduled a date, he performed the procedure, and then the damn agony began; daily pain as if I hadn't undergone any surgery at all. Every single time, he would insist that healing takes time, rambling on about skin elasticity and the quality of the sutures, explaining how everything stretches during bowel movements and then snaps back, blah blah blah... According to him, this recovery period lasts about nine months, sometimes longer for those who are more sensitive. And I, as it turns out, am quite sensitive...🙄 Over the course of a year, I attended eight or nine follow-up appointments where I persistently explained that the pain was so intense I couldn't function without Motrin, yet he just kept repeating those same excuses mentioned above. Then, about four months ago, I felt something hard on my gluteus. Of course, I went back to the same doctor, who diagnosed it as a perianal abscess. As time passed, it continued to grow, forming a significant swelling that moved closer to the anal area. He prescribed antibiotics and suggested he would rather wait for "nature to take its course." Since nature refused to cooperate, he eventually had to lance it, and pus drained out. That lasted for about a week. In the meantime, I decided to switch doctors. My new physician has referred me for an MRI (which won't happen until October), but I have already completed a colonoscopy; while there were no pathological changes found there, I have to wait for the specific results regarding my current state. I also have an abdominal ultrasound scheduled for next week. Meanwhile, the site where the doctor lanced the abscess healed up, only to reopen in a different spot. Yeah, nature really took its course, didn't it?🙂 And now the situation is such that it constantly leaks—pus, blood, a bit of spotting, and then more pus again. It closes up, aches for a few days, and then bursts again, and so on in a cycle. There is no end to it. If I can manage to wait, I would prefer to complete the MRI first and then find a surgeon to perform the operation (certainly not the one from the beginning of this story...🤦) So, I am wondering if anyone else has dealt with this? How did you heal, and is there any hope that this will resolve on its own, or is surgery absolutely necessary? What is the recovery process like, and what are the chances of it returning? Can I actually afford to wait until the fall? Right now, I wouldn't mind waiting, as long as the pain isn't as severe as it was, but I worry—could the situation become more complicated?
So, I’m looking for some clarity regarding my blood work results because, frankly, my doctor wasn't much help... she just gave me this vague reassurance that there weren't any "major" deviations, though she mentioned a few slight elevations but then admitted she wasn't entirely sure what they actually signified 😵 I am fully aware that I really ought to find a new physician, but until I can make that switch, I am hoping someone here might be able to shed some light on this for me. I had these tests done because I have an appointment with a gastroenterologist this Tuesday to deal with some ongoing gut issues, which have unfortunately led to hemorrhoids and a perianal abscess that had to be opened up today.
WBC 5.1 ref.int. 3.4-9.7 RBC 5.19 H ref.int. 3.86-5.08 Hemoglobin 159 H ref.int. 119-157 MCHC 357 H ref.int. 320-345
My white blood cell count seems perfectly fine, but I did notice these minor elevations in the other markers. Does anyone have any insight into what these specific shifts might indicate?
Jeffrey Roberts2 said:Good afternoon, everyone. I was wondering if anyone could help me out here... I've been taking Detralex for about a month and a half now, but I honestly don't feel any different. My doctor prescribed it at a dosage of just one pill in the morning and one in the evening, even though the package instructions say you should take six tablets a day for the first few days, followed by four tablets a day for several more. Well, I decided to follow her orders instead of the leaflet, and so far, there hasn't been any improvement at all. To make matters worse, my primary doctor is currently out on medical leave, so I can't reach her for advice. I did check in with the substitute physician—she's quite young—and she told me to just stick with the two pills a day, but again, nothing is changing. Is it okay if I switch over to what the prescription instructions actually suggest? I really have no one else to turn to, and I truly believe my regular doctor would have given me much better guidance than this younger doctor... so if anyone has dealt with a similar situation, I would be incredibly grateful for your help.
Tell the doctor she clearly doesn't have a clue.🙂 Basically, you should take Detralex according to the instructions—two tablets three times a day—until you start seeing some actual improvement, and only then do you scale back the dose.
Just checking in after my second surgery; I feel absolutely light as an airmail plane right now.😁 Now, I have one specific question on my mind: when can I actually start exercising again and head back to the gym? Just to be clear, I won't be lifting any heavy weights... Has anyone here gone through a similar procedure and managed to get back into a workout routine?
Michael Diaz4 said:That’s somewhat true. However, one of the underlying causes is the weakening of the blood valves, the reason for which remains UNKNOWN. Genetics might play a part, who knows. But you seem to be overlooking a significant predisposition: having excessively frequent bowel movements is actually one of the more critical factors...
Do you really think it's too frequent? (I honestly have no clue what a "normal" amount would actually be) Anyway, I just got back from the clinic—it was surgery under local anesthesia... hm... I suppose cauterization is a much gentler way to handle this sort of thing. Honestly, I could handle just about anything; if it hurts, fine—I know why it hurts, so I just power through it like a pro... everything is survivable, but the bathroom situation the very next day...🙂 Goodness gracious, I genuinely thought I was going to have to call 911 to come pick me up. I’ve been keeping fruit snacks and some Portalak syrup on hand, literally, just so that when the urge hits, I don't have to sit there debating whether or not I can actually make it to the restroom in time.😉 But still, it feels awful. Anyway, the doctor told me there is another procedure scheduled in about a month once this area has healed up. (If I survive, I'll let you know)
Brandon Brown29 said:Exactly.. Hemorrhoids can be managed, sure... Personally, I’ve been told that once you hit stage two, they just keep progressing—meaning, you can't really go back to how things were before—making everything harder and harder for the patient, which naturally complicates any potential surgery, and there's absolutely no 100% guarantee that things will ever return to normal.
Hemorrhoids don't just end up in that spot for no reason; now, surgery isn't even an option for me anymore, it's all about hunting down the root cause and actually fixing it..
If you actually find that... I'll sign the house over to you right now.🙏 I first dealt with this about 10 years ago. My job involved constant, exhausting walking from one machine to another, so there was zero sitting or standing involved that could be blamed as a cause. My digestion was regular—actually, if you ask me, it was overly regular😉 so that couldn't have been the culprit either. Plus, I weighed about 120 pounds, so being overweight was definitely out of the question. I hit the gym every single day and went to weight training three times a week (though I wasn't lifting heavy, so I can rule out extreme physical strain too). I ate home-cooked meals every day, lots of fruit and veggies, and I generally avoided bread altogether. Do you want to know what kind of hemorrhoids I had? It was bad enough that blood was literally gushing out every single damn time I had a bowel movement, and I was going 2 or 3 times a day (what can I say, I eat what I eat, and I go accordingly😁). I ended up on the verge of anemia because of the daily bleeding. Eventually, I went for laser cauterization. You're supposed to need three treatments, but I ended up needing six (six people! my goodness!!!)🙏, and then I had peace for about 10 years. But then, a month ago, it hit me so hard I couldn't even get out of bed... I went back to the doctor and, yeah... looks like it might finally be time for the actual cutting. If it were up to me, I'd cut half my backside off just to make this stop driving me crazy. And I keep asking the same question: why, why, why... I mean, dammit, if I only knew what I was doing wrong so I could stop doing it?! My quality of life is completely trashed again... my entire existence has been reduced to eating, lying around, pooping, washing, and applying ointments.🤦
You only decide to go through with surgery when things become absolutely unbearable, when you find yourself thinking, "I just want them gone so I can actually live a normal life again for a while." From what I’ve gathered, there are really two types of hemorrhoids; there's the polite kind that shows up and then disappears, and then there's the relentless kind that refuses to budge and just makes your life miserable day after day. Unfortunately, those are the ones I'm dealing with...😒
Michael Diaz4 said:Poor blood flow leads to thrombosis...
So, what am I even supposed to do about it?! I've been taking some circulation drops, but honestly, they haven't done much of anything for me. Ever since I can remember, my circulation has been pretty lousy; my hands and feet are almost always freezing cold, no matter what I do to try and warm them up. On top of that, the veins in my legs are killing me—specifically the internal ones—and it’s enough to drive anyone crazy. It seems like a constant cycle: when it gets freezing outside, my capillaries start aching, then when it hits high heat, my legs flare up, and whenever the weather shifts, I get hit with both at the same time.🤦 I'm just really hoping this surgery manages to fix at least one of these issues...
I also wanted to ask something, if anyone happens to know; my medical report says I have a thrombus that requires surgery. Is a thrombus the same thing as a hemorrhoid, or is it... well, a bit more serious than that?
A few years back, I went through laser ablation... everything was perfectly fine for seven whole years, but now the symptoms have started creeping back in. I went in for an exam today, and my surgery is already on the calendar.🙂 Honestly, I just don't get people who hesitate or spend forever overthinking this; I'm actually counting down the days until this is finally behind me.
But why jump straight to such extremes? The gap between zero dollars and $250 is exactly $250. No one is suggesting this should be free of charge, but there is a massive difference between charging a fee and simply bleeding people dry. It particularly stung me to see that those battling tumors are being offered a discount of only $50. Does that mean everyone else fighting the same battle—people for whom this might truly be a lifeline—doesn't deserve to hear it? That is precisely what has set me off, and I find myself questioning how much truth there actually is to this entire situation... Personally, I have endured several traumatic experiences myself, and if I knew my own story could provide some semblance of comfort to another person, I would share it in a heartbeat without a second thought. Former addicts or survivors of assault often share their journeys specifically to lend strength to others, and I find that completely understandable. Now, if you choose to make a career out of that, of course you’re going to look for ways to monetize it, but what we are seeing here feels like pure exploitation. We are talking about a choice between something provided for free on one hand, and someone's entire monthly salary spent on just a few hours of rambling on the other.
Aaaah, things have really started heating up here, but my internet has been acting up for the last few days, so it took me a little while to realize the title had actually been changed (thanks to Retra, by the way—the new title is exactly what I had in mind) and to see all these fascinating replies. It isn't strictly just about Anita; I used her as an example because she’s the one in the spotlight right now, and honestly, that whole "discount" thing for people suffering from illnesses really rubbed me the wrong way. Thank God I’m healthy and don't have anyone close to me battling something like that, but I can only imagine it’s absolute hell, in every sense of the word. I sometimes find myself imagining how I might be able to help people in those situations—maybe through some advice or a bit of magic powder... whatever it takes—and if I did, I’d only ask for a symbolic gesture. I’d probably charge others double, but I certainly wouldn't take money from someone who is sick. And that is precisely what cast a shadow of doubt over Anita; until this happened, I actually liked her, and her stories always seemed to make sense to me. Again, I'll say it: I understand she has to make a living, and I get that everything in this world comes with a price tag... but this is just crossing a line for me. Personally, I’ve attended a couple of seminars (two, actually), and while it all sounds lovely on the surface, you can find pretty much all of that information in books on the subject or even just on YouTube. So, I truly don't see the point of paying for it.🤔
(and then there's that whole narrative about how we Americans have to pay a premium to truly appreciate something... such typical "enlightened" nonsense 😵)
I think we’re on the exact same page when it comes to spirituality...🙂 It isn't even about my own personal journey, it’s precisely what you pointed out; those kinds of vibes just push me away from the whole concept, and I honestly believe a lot of other people feel the same way too. I just can't help but wonder if there's any actual substance behind it all, or if they're just looking for any excuse to line their pockets.
Even though I've come across countless different techniques—and let's be honest, each one has its own merits—the real issue arises when people turn it into a massive corporate machine where the bottom line is the only thing that matters.
Lawrence Torres56 said:Look, $250 might seem like a fortune to some people, but then again, to others, it’s pocket change... honestly, her "talks" are all over the internet anyway, so if anyone actually gives a damn, they can just listen for free... so there really isn't any point in getting all worked up or angry about it...😁... And hey, don't forget she’s the one footing the bill for travel, hotels, renting out venues, paying organizers, and all that other stuff... it adds up fast. Who knows, maybe the woman is barely scraping by on a few measly bucks from all this🤷 Besides, why does it even matter if you're physically in the room? She's just sharing her life experiences, not trying to practice medicine 🤷
That is precisely where the issue lies; I have no desire to sit in judgment of anyone, but this feels so wrong, especially since it seems like those who are actually sick get some kind of discount. I mean, we can't ignore the fact that $250 could be half a paycheck for some folks. It makes it feel as though the right to achieve this kind of "enlightenment" is reserved only for a select few who can actually afford the entry fee. I used to watch her videos quite often, and at the time, it all seemed very meaningful to me. But once I saw the price tag attached to it... man... it somehow made the whole thing feel hollow. I realize there is a massive amount of overhead involved, just like you mentioned (did you say 🤷 ? ) and that all those costs have to be covered, but still, this is just way too much. I don't see the point of it all if everything can be viewed online for nothing? Why on earth is it priced so high? And I don't think it's just about Anita; it applies to all these other seminars and techniques that claim to teach you things—it all comes with a hefty price tag. To me, it starts to feel like if you want to be "spiritual," you also need to have a lot of money. In short, I think everyone here gets what I'm trying to say...😁
I really loathe starting new threads, I truly do, but this has been weighing on my mind so heavily lately... and I just haven't been able to find a single existing discussion where this would actually fit properly... We’re talking about Anita Moorjani, a woman who was battling end-stage lymphoma when she unexpectedly slipped into a coma... and it was during that profound state of unconsciousness that she underwent an incredible near-death experience... which completely changed everything... Here is the link, just in case anyone wants to take a look...
Apparently, after all that, she finally had this massive epiphany about the true meaning of life—you know, all that stuff about universal love and finding your purpose... and since then, she’s gone on to publish several books and travels all over the States hosting workshops that are supposed to help people find their way... So, looking ahead to March, they’ll be heading our way, and the cost to attend those two days is exactly $275—not a penny more, and certainly not a penny less...😲 Those who had the sheer misfortune of landing in an oncology ward have been granted a special concession, meaning their cost is reduced to just about $160... [Applause]
I mean, good grief...? For some people, that amount represents almost their entire paycheck... It seems to me that survivors of sexual assault, as well as those who have successfully fought their way through alcoholism or addiction, often feel this deep-seated compulsion to reach back and pull others up behind them... They want to share everything they've learned from their own struggles to help others heal, yet more often than not, they end up doing this work entirely for free... In this particular instance, I don't necessarily believe it should be offered for free, but the gap between a zero-dollar price tag and a $250 charge is quite literally a massive leap... It’s honestly so ugly and heartbreaking all at once that this entire situation just feels completely hollow to me... I honestly feel like that money should be used to just silence the doctors, if only to stop them from continuing to validate her whole miraculous healing narrative... I honestly just cannot wrap my head around this level of sheer greed... and please, don't take this personally, I truly mean no offense by it—but for me, there simply isn't any other way to describe it... It is truly heartbreaking to think about how much these poor souls battling cancer have to endure, yet they’re only being charged a mere $160... And what about those who don't even have access to that? Do they simply have no right to hear this story...?
It’s exactly that kind of mindset that pushes me away from the whole thing... I’m certainly not suggesting that everything comes without a cost, nor am I implying that someone should just ride around on a donkey and live off the charity of others... That’s one extreme right there... and then you have this other side of the spectrum. Is it just me, or does this entire situation feel incredibly off-putting? I would truly love to hear what everyone else thinks about this...
Of course I would, honestly. A few years back, right before I had to undergo surgery, they handed me one of those donor registration cards and I signed it, giving my consent to donate my organs after I pass away. To be perfectly blunt, I don't really dwell on whether I'll end up helping someone—though I suspect I will—but the truth is, I did it mostly out of this lingering fear that I might not wake up... and let's face it, we all know those cases exist. And given how much of a mess my health is right now, it’s not like I’m expecting to pull through easily...😁
I’m dealing with the exact same thing in my right wrist... I've actually started connecting it to that strain you mentioned. I’ve been following the same exercise routine as you, so I suspect there might be a direct link somewhere. Come to think of it, that little lump popped up right around the time I finally started doing proper push-ups properly.😁
rustydriver said:So, you think Susan gives you legs that are too strong? Are you kidding me?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKfWgnB4h38
This is just more of the same nonsense... it's what almost every girl says when they head to the gym, only to spend their entire time on the stair climber, the stationary bike, or the treadmill. And if you actually ask them why they won't pick up a weight, it's always because they "don't want to get bulky." Honestly, right... because everyone knows you can just suddenly turn into a bodybuilder in two months using nothing but five-pound dumbbells...
I find this whole thing absolutely fascinating, I really do...🤣 I know so many women who think this way, acting like, "Oh my gosh, I'm going to end up looking like a pro wrestler!"😂 And no, absolutely not, but you simply cannot reason with them or explain the science behind why what they're tripping on is physically impossible... "I'll get huge," they say. Yeah, sure, just by lifting a tiny little four-pound weight...🙄