wanderingcanyon3 said:I was just trying to point out that the surgeon probably assumed this was some gynecological mess rather than a standard wart. Look, spending an entire year bouncing between OB-GYNs, dermatologists, and primary care doctors just because of a wart isn't normal. An OB-GYN wouldn't even bother running a swab if they thought it was just a common wart. No doctor sends you to another specialist for a simple wart unless they suspect something much more serious than that. (Which is why your GP sent you to the OB-GYN, and then this guy was doing swabs and all that nonsense... Hello?? OB-GYNs don't apply ointments or treat basic warts), and then you ended up at the dermatologist (now it makes sense, everything pointed toward some derma-venereology issue). That’s why the surgeon suggested getting a referral—meaning going back to your primary doctor so they can send you to the right specialist) It’s just, damn it, unfortunate that nobody bothered to explain that this wasn't just a regular wart in the first place...
You clearly weren't paying very close attention to what I actually wrote. I didn't even see a surgeon; I just spoke to some triage nurse at the intake desk, told her I had this massive, throbbing, painful thing in my groin area, and that was that. Based on those five words, she told me I needed a referral for a surgeon. Everything else involving doctors happened AFTER that. Let's just call this whole ordeal "The Quest for a Referral"... 🙄 And where, for heaven's sake, did you read that my OB-GYN was performing any kind of topical treatments 😕? She sent a swab for analysis because after cleaning it and treating it with Betrion a couple of times, the issue flared up even worse. By the way, that swab result came back sterile 😕. My primary doctor never even saw it, let alone examined it; she told me straight away that it had nothing to do with her. I went to the dermatologist on my own initiative months later when I realized there was zero progress with the OB-GYN, and she told me it wasn't anything serious, but that I should see a surgeon to have this hard lump surgically removed. So, that's where the whole thing actually started. Right where they required a referral. And now I'm planning to see a surgeon out of my own pocket. Because following the "referral route" just doesn't make any sense anymore...
wanderingcanyon3 said:And considering you spent an entire year being dragged from one specialist to another—from general practitioners to gynecologists, through endless swabs and tests—I highly doubt it was just a simple boil, and I seriously doubt that doctor gave you misinformation. Maybe you just misunderstood which referral you actually needed, if you ask me.
I see you’ve got the facts a little mixed up in this part of the conversation... THAT was when I had my very first encounter with this nightmare. My frantic pilgrimage through the medical system happened AFTER the fact, after some "genius" at the ER told me I needed a referral just to get seen. So, she handed me misinformation that triggered a whole year of useless attempts to treat the wrong thing on the completely wrong side of medicine...
How can you even reach the point of having a pulsing abscess that makes it impossible to walk without having tried something beforehand? Even the doctor must have wondered that while sending you home.
And how on earth would you know whether I had taken action or not? Just the day before, I called the on-call physician at my insurance provider's clinic to ask which type of specialist I should even be seeing in a situation like this (because back then, clearly, I didn't have the knowledge I have today). She told me to go to my primary care doctor. So, I went there, hoping she would finally solve my problem, but I arrived just after 2 PM right as her shift was starting. Well, she didn't even bother giving me a proper exam; she just stated that I should go to a gynecologist, who had already finished her morning rounds for the day. I called that on-call doctor again to explain the situation, and she advised that if things got worse overnight, I should head to the surgical ER. Doesn't anyone else here ever feel like doctors are just running you in circles like a lost child? And then you finally make it to the ER, only for them to demand a referral. It honestly makes you want to enroll in medical school just so you can actually help yourself, because apparently, nobody else is going to...
wanderingcanyon3 said:Oh, please, they turned you away simply because they didn't feel like dealing with it. You showed up at 8 PM, but he’s been on his feet since 8 AM. I know the staff over at Mayo Clinic pretty well, and believe me, the crew in emergency surgery is top-tier. But let’s be brutally honest here—they couldn't care less about your hemorrhoid when they’ve spent the entire day patching up ruptured organs and shattered bones. It sounds cold, I know, but that’s just the reality of it. He decided you could wait until morning, and frankly, he’s right. If you’ve been dealing with a hemorrhoid for days and then decide to show up during an overnight shift at 8 PM, I’d blow you off until morning too. You show up at 8 PM if you’ve been broken in half, fallen off a scaffold, had someone walk across your teeth, or if something sudden and life-threatening hits you. Not for a hemorrhoid that you almost certainly didn't develop this very evening. If you had been more persistent, they would have admitted you. And yes, you don't need a referral for emergency surgical admission.😉
How on earth am I supposed to know—or why should I even care—when their shifts start and end, or how many grueling hours they’ve already put in? And how am I supposed to know exactly what kind of crap is going on in my groin area, considering I didn't spend years studying medicine and I've never dealt with this nonsense before? If you look at how the average person reacts when something like this pops up (just look at shadowtinker21 as an example), do you really think I thought it was just some ingrown hair that would magically resolve itself or pop out on its own? Because you don't even know which freaking doctor you're supposed to see for something like this. Then suddenly, it starts pulsing under the skin and, God help me, it’s nearly 8 PM. I didn't get to pick the exact moment when panic sets in because of something throbbing so hard I can barely walk... But just because he’s fed up with a mountain of work after an exhausting shift doesn't justify them feeding me misinformation 👎👎. If they seem "fine" to you, well, they aren't fine to me. Everyone has a job to do—whatever it may be—and they should perform it with maximum professionalism, and honestly, there is no excuse for anything less. All five of them told me they couldn't admit me and that I should contact some random doctor during normal business hours. This way 🤮
Sophia Green67 said:😲 😲 Good grief, people are making such a massive ordeal out of a simple pimple... honestly, I’d be absolutely mortified to show up at my gynecologist's office over a "problem" like that.🙄 Just grab a needle and squeeze it out, it’s not like you're going to die...🙄
You clearly have no idea what you're talking about here... because this isn't just some run-of-the-mill pimple. And you are DEFINITELY NOT supposed to squeeze it. Even if you manage to empty it, it just fills right back up cyclically, so squeezing it doesn't actually accomplish anything at all... I know because I've been dealing with this exact nightmare for nearly two years now. @Amy Turner22/">@@Amy Turner22: using Betrion didn't do a thing for me; in fact, things actually seemed to get much worse once the treatment period ended. The only thing that provided even a shred of relief was that 3% hydrogen peroxide...
wanderingcanyon3 said: The reality is, those doctors are on call 24/7. They start at 8 AM and don't wrap up until 8 AM the next day. During that stretch, they aren't even in their regular departments; they’re stuck in the ER all night. So, honestly, you can't blame someone for losing their cool if you show up late at night—after they've been on their feet for over twelve hours and feel absolutely exhausted—just because you have some groin irritation you've been nursing for ten days and decided tonight was the perfect time to avoid a wait...😍 They’re usually just sitting there waiting for the paramedics to roll in with trauma cases or broken bones. So, by all means, show up on a Saturday morning; by 10:30 AM, they’ll be fully energized and ready to deal with you. Truly impeccable timing.🙂
When I went to the emergency surgery unit at Mount Sinai, they basically brushed me off and told me they couldn't do anything without a referral, even though I could barely walk because of how swollen everything had become. It was around 8 PM on a weekday. I ended up going home, and then the very next day, it just burst on its own, drained, and calmed down. After that, I spent months bouncing from one doctor to another—first my primary care physician, who sent me to a gynecologist, then back to the gynecologist multiple times for therapy, swabs, and tests, none of which actually yielded anything useful, and finally to a dermatologist. Eventually, after a whole year of running in circles, the dermatologist told me I needed to go to the emergency surgical clinic; I asked about getting a referral, and she told me I didn't even need one 😕😕. So, I just gave up... though, admittedly, it was mostly because the swelling had subsided significantly. Anyway, here's a little trivia question: who exactly is supposed to provide me with a referral for that?
Oh, and before I forget, the only helpful advice I ever got from the gynecologist was that rinsing the area with 3% hydrogen peroxide once it opens up helps quite a bit. I applied that consistently and desperately. I honestly think that was the only practical thing that actually helped reduce my symptoms.
Scott Allen10 said:Basically, any specialist can give you the green light for HBO—so whether it's a vascular surgeon or an endocrinologist, it doesn't matter. But, here's the catch: you won't actually step foot inside the Baroque Chamber until the doctor who specifically runs the hyperbaric oxygen therapy gives you the final okay, regardless of what your other specialist said. So, after you get that initial referral, you definitely have to pass a screening by the HBO doctor first. As for the blood pressure, if it’s well-managed, it shouldn't be an issue at all. Just to clear up any confusion, when people talk about "equalizing pressure" on that thread I linked earlier, they aren't talking about your blood pressure; they mean equalizing the air pressure in your sinuses and inner ear. It's a huge distinction. For folks dealing with diabetes, the results are usually pretty noticeable, and people definitely see a positive shift. Of course, everyone's body reacts differently, so it's hard to say anything with absolute certainty, but there is real progress there.
That particular consultation comes with its own fee, assuming Medicare isn't covering the cost. When I was at the Oxy facility in Newark, that doctor insisted on seeing my chest X-rays in addition to my entire medical history. I suspect this is a standard protocol for every single patient, because frankly, it seemed quite unnecessary to me given that there is nothing in my medical history to suggest any pulmonary issues, not to mention I am a lifelong non-smoker...🤷.
David Anderson56 said:Thanks for all the info, though I’m still feeling a little fuzzy on a few details here🤔
If we're talking about diabetic foot issues, which specialist should actually be the one signing off on a recommendation for the Baroque Chamber? Would that fall under a cardiovascular surgeon, or should I be looking toward an endocrinologist?
Also, does high blood pressure count as a contraindication even if it's being managed properly with medication?
Has anyone here actually gone through this? If so, what were your results like? I'm mainly curious about how effective it really is regarding specific medical indications.
I think I went in about eight times out of the ten sessions I was prescribed, mostly because things just became so incredibly hectic all of a sudden. It didn't restore my hearing, but I had been warned from the start that it was essentially a gamble, a fifty-fifty shot at best, since I waited quite a while to seek treatment. I had to cover the entire cost myself, as there wasn't a shred of a chance that Medicare would reimburse me for this, and my ENT specialist over by Salat basically just pointed me toward a clinic specializing in oxygen therapy located near the old Military Hospital. I didn't see a single athlete in the place; it was almost entirely patients, many of whom were on crutches and clearly struggling with mobility issues. I assume most of them were dealing with circulatory problems, though I didn't go around interrogating everyone about their specific diagnoses... Contact details for the Oxy clinic can be found As for the question about high blood pressure, I can't say for certain if it's a strict contraindication, but they do make sure to check everyone's blood pressure before they enter, and if your numbers aren't within the normal range, they'll push your session back to a later appointment. They actually sent me home once because my pressure was too low...
David Anderson56 said:I didn't want to start a whole new thread, but I have a few lingering questions regarding the Baroque Chamber. Specifically, I’m curious about how effective it actually is for long-term diabetics struggling with poor circulation in their limbs. Does it provide any real therapeutic benefit, or is it primarily used just to get a more precise reading on the exact stage of tissue damage?
Also, what does the referral process look like to access the Baroque Chamber? Do you need a specific specialist to sign off on it, or can a recommendation come from a primary care physician?
And of course, the big question: does Medicare cover the costs, or is this something the patient has to pay for out of pocket? If it's private, what kind of wait times are we looking at, and what is the typical price point for the treatment?
To give some context, my mother-in-law has been living with diabetes for years, and lately, she’s been dealing with vein issues and leg pain so intense she can barely walk. She saw a private phlebologist who suggested the Baroque Chamber, since there isn't much more he can do for her in his own clinic.
Medicare doesn't cover the Baroque Chamber, and if I recall correctly, about a year and a half ago, the cost per session was around $167, though I have no idea what it is now... thank God I haven't had to find out myself. When I went for therapy, there were quite a few diabetics present, but honestly, I think the best move is to schedule an initial consultation first, which, naturally, comes with its own fee. I believe they require a chest X-ray for that first assessment too. As far as I know, you don't really need any specific referrals or paperwork since everything is handled out-of-pocket anyway...
The atmosphere at Concordia just feels more inviting for gaming... 🙂 The space is smaller—only five courts, really—and while it sits a bit lower, it’s not nearly enough to be an actual nuisance, plus the lighting is much better and doesn't cause as much of a headache... honestly, it feels way warmer than the World's Fair too... My personal take is that Concordia is operating on an entirely different level than the competition...
Hey there... 👋
I actually headed over there myself recently, so I can personally vouch for everything you just said... 😉
Has anyone here actually played at Concordia before? I'm trying to get a sense of what the courts are like, specifically the lighting and if the heating situation is any better... I am still absolutely livid about how freezing it gets over at the State Fair...
Once you're in Washington, D.C., you can schedule an appointment for a consultation and lay out your specific needs to the doctor, who will then make the final call on whether they'll admit you... Just be ready for the bill... if my memory serves me right, a single session in the Baroque Chamber runs about $167. And one more thing... this isn't exactly some walk in the park... for certain people, such high concentrations of oxygen can trigger symptoms that feel remarkably similar to an epileptic seizure—or so I've heard. You really ought to have your blood pressure checked before every session, because if it’s too low or too high, they won't let you through the door.
Ringing in the ears—whether you call it tinnitus or tin-nitis, I can never quite remember which one is actually correct... It isn't some death sentence; plenty of people walk around with this their entire lives and in your case, it was just a single episode You aren't going to die from it, but if you let the fear and panic take over for absolutely no reason, you're only making things worse for yourself... Generally speaking, if it persists, you go see a doctor... though if it’s accompanied by any sudden hearing loss, that’s treated as an emergency and requires immediate medical attention at a hospital like Mayo Clinic Just something to keep in mind for the future, God forbid🙂
Good grief!!! This is seriously spooky! What are the odds! I actually had a muscle cramp in my left calf wake me up in the middle of the night yesterday, and I practically bolted out of bed like a maniac. It didn't even start feeling better until I let my leg hang off the side of the bed for a bit to get the circulation moving again... though I could feel that dull ache all day yesterday... luckily it's gone today.. I'm probably not much help here and I don't really know what to suggest, but maybe try some Deep Relief gel or something similar...
How is your dad doing? Did he end up going through hyperbaric oxygen therapy? I personally went through it nine times, and honestly, it didn't do much for me, though I did wait quite a while before starting—about 20 days after my hearing dropped. I spent the first 13 days stuck at the Hospital District on pentylol (which is a vasodilator, by the way, not an antibiotic, despite what some people were claiming here), and then I just kept taking the pentylol while doing the hyperbaric sessions over at the General Hospital. There isn't much hope once you let too much time pass... I really only have myself to blame for that. I truly hope your father's hearing has returned to normal... P.S. For me, the whole hyperbaric experience was just way too stressful... I could never seem to breathe properly. And there’s that psychological weight of knowing you can't just step out of that "submarine" whenever you want, huh, it's intense. On top of that, the very first time I went in, this woman next to me suddenly fell ill and started shaking uncontrollably, almost like she was having an epileptic seizure... it was horrific... And it is so incredibly expensive...
I went to get an X-ray of my cervical spine based on a referral at the laboratory within the Community health center in my neighborhood, and they managed to squeeze me in the very same day. What a complete waste of everyone's time... I’ve already had this exact procedure done twice before, once six months ago and again two years back.
Listen, everyone, what ended up being the culprit for me was a dysfunction in my inner ear's vestibular system, which was triggered by poor circulation in those tiny capillaries deep inside the ear itself. Don't go playing games with this kind of thing; please, just see a doctor immediately, if only to rule out this possibility entirely. In my case, the treatment involved several days of IV therapy in the hospital. If you don't address a disorder like this promptly, it can lead to permanent damage because certain cells within the ear actually begin to die off... As a result of my last "attack" about five months ago, I’ve been left partially deaf in one ear and I deal with this constant, fluctuating sense of instability in my head that fluctuates in intensity... It really isn't something to take lightly. I truly hope none of you are dealing with this, but I felt I should share this information so you're aware...
Dr. Šantek, who practiced up near Kvatrić and used to head up some American chiropractic association or something similar... www.kiropraktika.com But if I were in your shoes, I’d honestly give acupuncture a serious look too...
Dr. Jane Miller over by the corner of Main Street 👍 - I’ve been seeing her for eight years now... which is quite the change, considering how some previous dentists used to practically butcher me, leaving me absolutely terrified of even sitting in a dental chair. Once she stepped up, took charge, and actually brought some order to the chaos, I started coming to her clinic regularly without hesitation. For about six years now, I’ve only needed her for routine cleanings, scaling, and check-ups, since there isn't much else that needs doing at this stage... 🙂 It’s a private practice, but because she accepts standard insurance, the cost for covered services is 50% lower for patients who are on her provider list. And honestly, looking at the prices being discussed in other threads, she isn't expensive at all....