Posts by Patrick Carter

Robin Hall4 said:I went to college in a nearby town. I’m not exactly a thrill-seeker—been in the same relationship for five years, and the most dangerous thing I ever do is miss a deadline at school. 🙂 Haven't traveled anywhere in ages. Nothing outside of the States since 2000. For all I know, I might have picked something up somewhere, but they've run tests for plenty of viruses, including hepatitis and whatnot. The only thing that popped up was an EBV infection, which is supposedly inactive—which I assume is a good thing? One doctor mentioned that certain infections can trigger this kind of reaction, leading to autoimmune issues... hm.

What kind of hobbies are we talking about? Sports? Water activities? Hunting? Fishing? Is there a river, a swamp, or some lakes near you? Any pets, or have you had any in the past?

If you have them handy, list your latest blood work results (full CBC and liver panel) and your urinalysis.

Are you still dealing with diarrhea? A rash? Any occasional fevers?

In my opinion, Gilbert syndrome definitely isn't your diagnosis. Aside from mild, intermittent jaundice and moderately elevated bilirubin, Gilbert syndrome doesn't cause any actual symptoms.

Kate Lee65 said:I’ve been dealing with this racing heart for about four days now, along with pains running down my left arm and these scary moments where I feel like I just can't catch my breath... I actually ended up in the ER twice already! My blood work showed my white blood cell count was pretty high at 11.5, and they ran an acid-base panel which showed a pH of 7.47, PO2 of 15.6, active HCO3 at 26.9, standard HCO3 at 27.5, TCO2 at 28.00, BEecf at 3.2, Be(b) at 3.2, and SO2 at 99... They ruled out a pulmonary embolism, though they were definitely suspicious of one since I had been taking Yasmin until back in March. They sent me home, but honestly, nothing has changed and I'm still feeling all these symptoms! All they gave me was some Xanax to take whenever my heart starts pounding uncontrollably. I am just so incredibly worried, so please, if there is anyone here who understands what's going on—especially any doctors—could you please give me some advice? Besides everything else, I was diagnosed with a heart murmur about four years ago, and now my chart says 😛 palpitation, tachycardia, prolonged AV interval, compensated heart, leukocytosis... please, help me... I'm desperate for answers...

The way you typed out those results is a bit messy, so it's hard to make sense of them. If you feel like it, retype everything and include your full CBC (complete blood count) and urinalysis—you can't get the full picture without the whole set. Did you get a coagulation profile done? What other blood tests did they run? I assume they did an EKG?

Your white cell count is only slightly elevated—nothing major—but without the rest of the blood work, there's no way to interpret it. How was your sedimentation rate? Check if there's a CRP level listed anywhere on the report.

That pH is slightly high, which suggests you've been hyperventilating—basically breathing too fast because you felt like you couldn't get enough air.

How old are you? Are you taking any other medications for different issues? When do these episodes happen? Is it while you're resting or after physical exertion? During the day, or at night? How long do they last? Do you work or go to school? Are you dealing with a lot of stress or problems in your life right now?

What you're describing sounds like it could be "hyperventilation syndrome" triggered by stress—maybe even stress you aren't consciously aware of. Some situation might be pushing you toward it—likely accumulated nerves, anxiety, or tension.

I doubt it's a primary heart issue, as you'd likely be seeing other symptoms.

Don't sweat the Yasmin—if you stopped three months ago, it's long since cleared your system.

Still, for your own peace of mind, go get a coagulation panel soon (that's the blood test that checks how well your blood clots).

Robin Hall4 said:Hey everyone—I need some outside perspectives because I can't make sense of my own situation anymore. Where do I even start? Here’s the deal. I’m 23. No drinking, no smoking, no drugs 🙂 For the last two years....

Let's rewind to two years ago. What was your life actually like before these health issues started cropping up? Did you travel somewhere, change jobs, or pick up any weird habits? Try to dig deep and let us know.

Terry Foster4 said:Hey everyone, here's the deal... I've got my checkup and cast removal scheduled for Tuesday, but my birthday is this Saturday. I'm thinking about just ripping the cast off myself tomorrow so I can actually feel like a normal human being at the party... how much of an idiot am I being here, and is there any actual risk?

Thanks for the help...

Hmm, what’s actually in the cast and how long have you been stuck in it?

It probably wouldn't be a disaster if you actually know how to do it right—but still, give your doctor a call. Don't just wing it without a consultation unless you want them breathing down your neck later.

Besides, what's the big deal with the cast? Everyone can sign it at the party, and honestly, the photos might actually look more interesting that way. 😁

The results aren't positive—meaning the liver biopsy doesn't confirm the clinical presentation (the actual symptoms).

In a proper liver biopsy report, you'd expect to see the copper content in the dried liver tissue specimen—it should be sitting at about 250 micrograms of copper per gram of tissue. I don't see that specific data point in this description, but even if it were there, it still wouldn't clinch the diagnosis.

To actually confirm the diagnosis, you’d need a positive Kayser-Fleischer ring in the iris, low ceruloplasmin levels (l), plus neurological symptoms.

Other ways to back up the diagnosis (though they aren't specific to Wilson disease!) include checking copper levels in the blood serum and performing a 24-hour urine collection to measure copper concentration.

For a solid confirmation, the 24-hour urine copper concentration needs to be over 100 micrograms/24h (1.6 μmol/24h)—anything above 40 micrograms/24h (0.6 micromoles/24h) is just suspicious.

This looks a bit more complicated than just standard iron-deficiency anemia. Have you tried messing with folic acid or maybe some B-complex vitamins?
To me, it feels like an absorption issue—your body isn't actually processing what you give it. It doesn't matter how many iron supplements you swallow if your system can't actually utilize them.

Once you get those lab results back, post them here so we can take a look.

Drew Clark39 said:Diagnoses:
Extrapyramidal syndrome

and:
Wilson disease

Wilson disease—clinically known as hepatolenticular degeneration—is basically a genetic disorder where copper starts piling up in your tissues. Normally, your body only carries trace amounts of copper, but when this happens, the buildup triggers a mess of liver, neurological, and psychiatric issues.

The neurological side involves those extrapyramidal symptoms—basically issues with motor control. We're talking about being unable to move a limb voluntarily, losing control over movement once it starts, involuntary facial or neck grimacing, muscle rigidity, or tremors in the hands.

Psychiatric symptoms can range from depression and anxiety to full-blown psychosis—where reality gets distorted.

On the liver front, you’re looking at chronic fatigue, persistent inflammation, and an enlarged liver or spleen, which can escalate into much more serious complications.

Who's actually getting diagnosed with this? Usually someone younger. To be certain, doctors look for the "gold standard"—a liver biopsy—though they also rely on clinical symptoms, blood tests, ceruloplasmin levels, and checking copper concentrations in blood and urine. There's also a telltale sign called a Kayser-Fleischer ring—a brownish-red ring visible around the iris of the eye. Treatment usually involves penicillamine, though a liver transplant is the ultimate fix.

Emily Johnson6 said:So, here’s my question—and I’m asking because I actually know what an ultrasound looks like during pregnancy—HOW on earth is it possible to see two distinct bodies, only for one to vanish right near the end??? I get that one can pass away when they're just tiny little specks, but we're talking about seeing two heads, two spines, two heartbeats... both confirmed boys, both weighing around 6.5 lbs (which, okay, might be a bit much for twins)...
...

Does anyone have ultrasound photos from the pregnancy? And who was handling the prenatal checkups?

Of course it’s weird. Sure, a bicornuate uterus exists, but even with that anatomy, an ultrasound makes it crystal clear how many fetuses are actually there.

Morgan Wilson7 said:

If you’re still growing, don't mess it up. Stop smoking—it kills your growth potential. Cut out the booze, get at least eight hours of solid sleep at night, eat clean, and spend time outside in the sun. Stick to these basics and you'll easily tack on another two inches if not more.

Smoking stunts growth? Oh, wow. I'm definitely going to go crush a pack right now. 😁
Personally, I wouldn't want to be any taller. I'm 5'9" and that's plenty, especially since I dance. Height isn't exactly an advantage there.
God, I just hope I'm done growing. I'm 24. That's enough. Seriously, enough. 😁

Are you kidding me? You'll probably start shrinking as you age anyway. By the time you're 50, you'll be begging for those extra inches back. 😁 5'9" isn't even tall.

So, look—there’s a study suggesting that IV proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are actually quite effective for treatment. Has your dad been on those kinds of meds up to this point?

Ask an internist about the possibility of switching him to IV PPIs (think omeprazole, pantoprazole—brands like Protonix—lansoprazole, or rabeprazole) now that the endoscopic therapy was successful.

One more thing—if you haven't already, check if he’s testing positive for *Helicobacter pylori*. It’s a sneaky little bacterium that doesn't show much symptomatically, but it's responsible for a good chunk of stomach and duodenal ulcers. Testing for it is straightforward. I assume they already ran the tests at the hospital, but it's worth asking just to be sure. If he's got it, he'll need a round of antibiotics (usually amoxicillin and clarithromycin for about 14 days) to wipe it out.

Thirdly, you’ve got to make sure he isn't popping pain relievers for other issues—things like aspirin. A huge chunk of over-the-counter pain and fever meds fall under the NSAID category (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), and they are brutal on the stomach and duodenal lining. There are buffered versions of things like aspirin that have a protective coating to prevent irritation, but they usually cost a bit more than the standard stuff.

A classic sign of a duodenal ulcer is pain hitting about 2-3 hours after eating—often waking him up at night—and then the pain actually subsiding once he eats something.

My personal take, alongside all that medical stuff, is to stick to a moderate diet, cut out the alcohol, and drink plenty of plain water throughout the day (around 1.5 to 2 liters). Don't chug it all at once, either—try a glass 20-30 minutes before a meal, another half hour after, and just sip glasses throughout the day. That can be a struggle for people who aren't big drinkers in general, but it really does help. And I mean *plain water*—not beer, soup, tea, coffee, or sparkling water. Those are different beasts entirely. ;-)

Good luck!

Alexander Rivera20 said:I saw this one thing on a website—Healthy Living.I’m reading: Most bleeding cases are handled pretty successfully through conservative measures—basically, sticking to endoscopic methods.

What does that actually mean? Is this some kind of procedure done directly through an endoscope or a gastroscope? Maybe they’re using a laser or electric cautery to treat the wound?

Does anyone know if they actually use that method over in Cleveland?

P.S. If anyone has any old-school home remedies—or just anything that actually works—for a duodenal ulcer that bleeds every now and then, let me know. This one’s for my old man.

A bleeding vessel gets pinched or tied off—essentially "clamped." Any surgical team should be able to handle that, though maybe a GI specialist at a hospital could step in too. Of course, the Mayo Clinic has the capability to manage something like that.

Once you’ve handled the immediate crisis—getting that ulcer under control—you can't just sit on your hands. You have to figure out what actually triggered it in the first place. It's like fixing a leak in your basement only to realize you haven't checked the pipes in years. If you want a permanent fix rather than a temporary patch, it comes down to lifestyle and diet. Change the habits, or you'll just be right back where you started.

What exactly is your dad dealing with? Is it pain after eating, or does it hit him before meals? And how long has this been going on?

rapidbadger26 said:The worst part is I’ve been fighting this anemia for years—my stomach is basically full of iron supplements and Pfizer at this point. Just when things seem to stabilize, the levels tank again after a few months. I used to think the heart palpitations were tied to the low iron, but now they show up even when my levels look fine. It’s probably a messy cocktail of the deficiency, panic disorder, and genetics (not to mention my lifestyle choices, unfortunately). Anyway, THANKS for clearing up all those confusing terms for me.

Post your blood work if you can—it'll help us figure out what kind of anemia we're actually dealing with.

How old are you, and have you been taking any prescription meds or over-the-counter supplements lately? Any recent hospital stays? Blood transfusion?

rapidbadger26 said:Can someone actually explain what hyposiderosis is?

Where are you seeing "hyposiderosis" listed—is this from a blood panel or something?

Morgan Wilson7 said:I’m talking about height here
We spend our entire lives evolving, everyone moving into their own dimension 😁
But at what point are we supposed to stop getting taller?
I heard for women it's around age 25

Most people hit their peak by 18 or 19—though you'll still find guys and girls who keep stretching out until they're 24 or 25.

Growth isn't just luck; it's a massive cocktail of factors: sex, climate, race, genetics, diet, living conditions, sleep, and how much sunlight you actually get.

If you're still in the growing phase, don't mess it up—skip the cigarettes (they kill your growth potential), ditch the alcohol, and aim for at least 8 hours of solid sleep at night. Eat right and get outside into the sunlight as much as possible. Stick to those basics and you might just squeeze out another couple of inches, if not more.🙂

It’s a bit odd that you caught mumps—given your age, you really should have been vaccinated against it. 🤷

Regarding how contagious it is: yeah, mumps spreads for a few days before symptoms kick in and stays active as long as there’s swelling in the face or neck. Your boyfriend could definitely catch it—and while he ought to be vaccinated too, you can never truly tell with these things...

Don't sweat the infertility stuff. If mumps hits the testes in men, it usually only affects one side.

Did your doctor run any blood tests to confirm the diagnosis?

Typically, what you see with mumps is elevated amylase levels in both the blood and urine.

Just stay home, rest up, and stick to soft foods—don't make your jaw muscles work harder than they have to. Use cold compresses. You can take some Advil or Tylenol if you have a fever (and you probably will have a moderate one).
Avoid going for walks outside; it's rare, but mumps can lead to complications like meningitis.

If your fever spikes or you get a persistent headache, call your doctor immediately.

Kate Martin64 said:Thanks for the reply, but what am I supposed to do... just fall apart every time I hear some bad news? 😢

No way. You said it yourself—it was something out of the ordinary. The stars aligned, things hit a breaking point, and you just reacted—hard.

Ryan Sanders4 said:I just got off the phone with my cousin over in California (specifically in the Malibu area), and she mentioned—just as a side note—that there’s a swarm of these "striped" black and white mosquitoes popping up that she’s never seen before.

Since I remember reading in a scientific journal about these specific mosquitoes—the ones with white spots on dark bodies that carry things like Dengue, Yellow fever, and other nasty stuff—I asked her if she could catch one and describe it to me.

The description she gave matches the Aedes aegypti perfectly: white spots and black and white legs.

Given that this is a known disease vector, seeing this mosquito show up here in the US is, I think, pretty concerning.

Does anyone know which epidemiological agency or local health department in the US or California I should report this sighting to?

My cousin lives near a stagnant pond where mosquitoes seem to breed (they haven't had sheep there for a long time), so I'm wondering if an agency could actually force the local municipality to treat the water or even drain it if it turns out this species really has arrived.

(Of course, I realize that seeing the mosquito doesn't automatically mean the disease is present; if they aren't carrying the virus, there's no danger. But still, these guys seem to have come out of nowhere...)

The CDC in Washington, D.C. is your best bet—though you could also reach out to the infectious disease specialists at the "Dr. Fran Mihaljević" hospital in Washington, D.C. There’s bound to be people there tracking this stuff, especially since mosquitoes are known to carry Plasmodium (that parasitic protozoan responsible for malaria).

Around the eye or right on it—are we talking sclera?

Just snap a quick photo of the eye or even just the skin surrounding it and upload it to an image host so we can actually see what’s going on.

It could be petechiae—those tiny little burst capillaries that pop up from physical strain—think things like intense coughing, heavy lifting, vomiting, or even just straining during a bowel movement. Have you noticed any similar little red dots anywhere else on your face or inside your mouth?

That’s a pretty intense physical reaction to bad news. People pass out from shock all the time—it's just how the body works.

It doesn't necessarily mean you have a heart condition, but if they're already suggesting medical tests, go get checked out just to be safe.

placidmarlin15 said:I’m looking for some help—can someone explain what it means when blood work shows morphological changes hypo ++? It’s for a man, and there's a bit of a panic going on because nobody can figure out what this actually implies. Any answers would be appreciated.

Post the full urinalysis along with it—this is too vague to make sense of.