Posts by Peter Stewart6

Roger Robinson682 said:What on earth are you talking about???? Since when is saying "I am a Christian" considered a provocation to anyone??? Since when did being a Christian and stating it openly become an offense to people who aren't???? Should I be swinging a baseball bat at Jehovah's Witnesses whenever they knock on my door trying to "convert" me? Because, my God, according to you, that would be the real provocation. If a sticker that says "Sorry, I'm a Christian" is offensive to some people out there, then that says way more about them than it does about Christians. And yeah, sorry, but I'm a Christian too.............🙄🙄

With respect, that's exactly what I meant right at the start of my sentence.
I see that you are a Christian, but... even Christians can offend the Virgin Mary, can't they? ☕

If someone is truly a Christian, they won't go around labeling themselves just to provoke those who aren't,
well, that's where the provocation starts. It's because others might feel less valued,
you know? That isn't what Jesus wants; to Him, everyone has value, and He wants
everyone to be saved. Even Savio was an atheist once... before he became Paul. Am I not allowed
to hang out with whoever I want? Honestly, I've suffered more from "Christians" than from
those who aren't... specifically from this habit of slapping labels on people, all under the
guise of... well, that's how God wants it. They dump burdens on others that they don't even carry themselves,
at least that's what Jesus says... and believe me, it's true. I could testify to that if I
really tried.

Jerry Martin19 said:🤣 🤣 🤣

and I 😂 🤣 🤣

A yellow armband or, if you want to put it another way, a yellow Star of David... it’s a mark used by
the Nazis to label Jews across Europe. We all know that history.
So, in my view... I think it’s pretty provocative when "Christians"
choose to mark themselves out like that voluntarily. It makes it seem as though the entire religion has been branded by the Nazis,
among other things.

That logo on the avatars—it's slightly altered, but basically says: "Sorry, I'm
Catholic." You could find stickers like that in any local parish sacristy
of a Roman Catholic church. They were usually meant to be stuck on front doors
so that Jehovah's Witnesses or various other sects would stop showing up,
ringing the bell, and bothering believers who had those signs posted.

The thing is, changing an avatar to say "Sorry, I'm
a Christian"... it doesn't accomplish anything besides provoking people who aren't, which just
creates more division and unnecessary competition. That isn't really the mark of someone who considers themselves
a Christian. Besides... Jesus didn't go around wearing labels; instead,
he let his life speak for who he was and who he stood for.

Forgive me, fellow Christians... but as a Roman Catholic woman, I have to ask:
I believe in the cross, which is where your very name comes from, but how exactly are you living out that faith?

crimsonbear66 said:Hi there...
So, I headed over to the clinic today and spent quite a while chatting with my doctor about everything. She actually felt the swelling under my eye and sent me for a sinus X-ray because of the pain... Apparently, she found the same thing in my medical records from an imaging scan seven years ago too... Polyp in my right sinus... So, I just got my new results back—not the old ones, the recent ones. It says there's edematous swelling in the lining of both maxillary sinuses and a deviated septum leaning to the left... though I have no clue what "leaning to the left with Christ" is supposed to mean. It also mentions hypertrophy in the lower respiratory system lining. Interestingly enough, that polyp I had actually vanished on its own... it’s just gone now. The doctor put me on Tafen and Belodin and sent me for allergy testing. She didn't tell me I needed to go right away, so I haven't yet. I'm wondering if it's okay to take the Belodin while doing the tests, or if I should finish the meds first? She did say to hold off on the audiogram for now, since she thinks dealing with this is the priority...

Man, I think I'm going to lose my mind. Honestly, I've never been the best patient... 😢

Edematous changes in the maxillary sinus mucosa.
It could be caused by a viral or bacterial infection, though there's also a chance it's just an allergy to...
So, I’ve got a deviated septum. It's leaning pretty heavily to the left. Honestly, it feels like a constant battle with my own breathing.
(turbinate), meaning the top part of the nasal divider that leans more toward the left side.
My nasal passages... they've shifted to this side.
Hypertrophic mucosa in the lower respiratory system (dry type). This could be linked to...
Because my nose is so stuffed up, I’ve been forced to breathe through my mouth. It’s making my mucous membranes feel incredibly dry. Just... parched.
If you're smoking, breathing in that air from a central heating unit can really take a toll. It’s also worth noting that staying hydrated becomes even more critical when you're dealing with those factors.
It’s also worth noting that you might be able to find some relief on your own. You could try picking up a mucosal moisturizer from a local pharmacy to help soothe things.
For my throat, I've been using Acidosalusov Lactobacillus, and for my nose, Nisita ointment... honestly, it’s way more effective than anything else.
Any kind of drops should work since they help moisturize the nasal mucosa. It helps with the congestion and makes breathing a lot easier.
It’s just nasal irrigation.
I'm glad to hear you don't have polyps anymore. I don't know... honestly, it feels like they don't always have to be there.
That's true. If the bleeding is actually related to that, maybe it just broke loose and leaked out.
It all sounds like earwax buildup to me, which is actually a good thing.

If you ask me, I’d probably go for an allergy test first. It just seems like the logical next step before jumping straight into an ultrasound.
Take Belodin and Tafen. Just... make sure you get allergy testing done tomorrow. Don't wait too long.
Kati, you should probably get started on those medications right away. It’s better to jump on it now so things don't take a turn for the worse while the infection is still acute.
It’s really important that you start treatment right away. She made an excellent point about making this a priority. Honestly, I think the best move is to just listen to her and follow her advice exactly.

You guys aren't going to lose your minds. You're being good patients here. It’s obvious you already went to see your own doctor...
You ask questions, you look for information, and you listen to what people have to say. Just keep moving forward. There's more to do tomorrow.
Just run the tests first. That way you'll actually know what you're dealing with. It might just be some random allergen causing all this trouble.
Which one of you is struggling? Just keep your head up and push forward. Be brave—it really isn't as bad as it feels.🙂

crimsonbear66 said:Thanks a lot, but unfortunately that link isn't working so I can't check it out... 🙂 I’m heading to my primary care doctor tomorrow to get a referral for an audiogram. My ENT told me to get it sorted ASAP, so I want to move fast... I'll ask her for some advice too. Honestly, I’m not exactly thrilled with the doctor over at the local clinic. He can be pretty cranky, which makes it hard to tell if he actually knows what he's doing. But I'll go see him tomorrow and just try to talk to him man-to-man. Hopefully, he'll just sit down and explain things calmly...

So, what else should I be looking for in terms of follow-up or more detailed checks? Just want to make sure I actually know my stuff... 🙂 What could that pain and tension under my right eye mean? Also, would a wisdom tooth have any impact on ear congestion...

Thanks...

Oh, don't mention it. Try Googling the Eustachian tube first, then take a look,
there's a really solid article on the upper respiratory system by Dr. Mark Kleončić,
m.kleoncic@example.com, everything is explained clearly there.
If you aren't happy with that doctor at the hospital, just ask your own GP
for a referral to the Mayo Clinic ENT Department; you shouldn't have to
deal with someone being cranky like that—you have other options.

They'll check your nose, ears, and throat, and they'll probably take some swabs, since there's
a chance you caught a viral infection that turned into a bacterial
infection. It's possible the pain is from a wisdom tooth coming in—that can be really un-
pleasant—but if you have sinus issues that haven't been treated, it could all
contribute to these symptoms. Don't worry too much; they most likely requested
the audiogram to see if there's any hearing damage caused by the
inflammation. The main thing is that you went to the doctor. Just take it slow, one step at a time,
be patient, stay warm, listen to whatever the doctor tells you, and everything will
be fine. Hang in there.🙂

crimsonbear66 said:So, here's the deal. I was at the Mayo Clinic ENT Department today, and the doctor immediately goes, "You shoved a Q-tip in your ear, didn't you?" I told him no, it just started happening on its own... He looks in with some metal tool and insists everything is clear, but swears I must have used a Q-tip. I told him again, I haven't touched my ears and we don't even have Q-tips at home right now...

He prescribed me some Operil spray and calcium + Vitamin C, then told me to come back Monday for an audiogram...

I still feel this intense pressure, including around my eye, under the eye, and to the right of the eye... nothing is coming out of my ear anymore, but I'm still worried...

Diagnosis (based on a two-minute exam): Acute catarrhal rhinitis (guessing it's an acute sinus inflammation). Deviated nasal septum /sin/ and CATARRHUS TUBARIUS LAT.DEX. (not sure what that last one means)

BTW, I've dealt with sinus issues for years (especially during the winter), but I've never had any trouble with my ears or anything like that... I almost never get sick. I definitely haven't had a cold in the last 11 months, let alone the flu or anything...

Any advice?

Don't worry too much. It’s actually a good thing you went to see an ENT specialist. Dealing with acute rhinitis can be such a hassle.
Congestion issues. Dealing with a deviated septum and some nasal spine irritation. Also having trouble with my Eustachian tubes being blocked.
Right side; eustachian tube.

In short:
The Eustachian tube is basically this narrow little channel that acts as a bridge between your middle ear and your upper respiratory system.
The pharynx connects to the middle ear, essentially acting as a bridge that carries air from the nasal cavity over there. It’s basically what handles all that pressure regulation.
It’s all happening in the ears. Basically, the middle ear drains through the Eustachian tube and out through the nose...
It also acts as a drainage channel for secretions—which is exactly what happened in your case.
Divers often run into this issue quite frequently.

Here’s the link. It’s all laid out there pretty clearly if you want to take a look.
The upper respiratory system can be a real headache when things start going wrong. It’s basically the gateway to our bodies, handling everything from the nose down through the throat, and when inflammation kicks in, it feels like everything just shuts down. When you deal with issues in this area, you're looking at the nasal passages, the sinuses, and the pharynx. If there's an issue with the mucous membranes—like swelling or that heavy, congested feeling—it usually means the body is reacting to something, whether it's an infection or just seasonal allergies. That kind of irritation can make breathing feel like a chore. It’s easy to underestimate how much these small structures matter. Even a little bit of congestion in the sinus cavities can lead to pressure that makes your whole head ache. It’s a delicate balance, and once that equilibrium is thrown off, it takes a minute to get back on track.

Everything really needs to be closely monitored. If you feel like you need a second opinion from an ENT, go get one.
Go see an ENT specialist for a more thorough checkup if you aren't happy with this. It's your right.
Well, there you have it.🙂

crimsonbear66 said:Hey everyone, hope you're all doing well!

So, I noticed this afternoon that my right ear feels totally plugged up. I was just eating lunch when I realized that every time I take a bite, the pressure gets worse and I start hearing this ringing sound... eventually, it got so clogged I couldn't hear anything at all. I tried gently cleaning the area with a damp tissue and saw a little bit of blood... My brother took a look and there isn't any visible cut on the outside, but when I tilted my head, this small, soft red clot—maybe some semi-coagulated blood—just fell out of my ear. That actually gave me some relief. But about an hour later, everything felt blocked again. I used a bit of water to clean it out and found a few more bits on the tissue, which helped for a bit... then an hour later, the exact same thing happened. Right now, my ear still feels a bit stuffed and tense on the inside, but I'm not finding anything else on the tissue, and I don't want to poke around too much and make things worse.😢

I should also mention that the area under my right eye feels kind of "tense," and my whole right side feels like it's under pressure, if that makes sense...

Should I be worried? What should I do? Does anyone have any advice or suggestions?

Thanks a lot

Don't let this scare you. It doesn't necessarily mean anything terrible is going on, but you really should go see a doctor.
Honestly, you should just call 911 right now and tell them exactly what happened. They'll be able to get you sorted out immediately.
The best advice I can give? Don't panic. If you end up calling 911, don't let the fear get to you thinking they’re going to show up at your door within seconds. It's just not how it works.
Look, if you ask me, you should just stick with them. It’s the safest bet. At the end of the day, they’re the doctors. You can get all sorts of advice here, but... yeah. Stick to the professionals.
It’s all just guesswork, really. People spinning stories about this or that... sometimes you end up scaring yourself over nothing at all.

It’s important that everything drained out exactly like it was supposed to, especially if you're dealing with that right side of your face.
Under pressure, there's probably a possibility of internal bleeding that could be...
Found a way out. Honestly, it’s probably better that it drained rather than staying stuck inside. Someone needs the relief.
It can happen around the nose, too. There are just so many different factors to look into. Please, take your time and check everything.
You should probably reach out to your doctor right away. There's a chance that the spike in your blood pressure could be causing this.
I'm wondering... could it be some kind of impact to that side of your face or ear? Not that you've mentioned anything like that, though.
Registered. I mean, I’m not jumping to the worst-case scenario just yet, but I think it's probably best to head straight to the doctor to get everything checked out right away.
Don't panic. Just reach out and let us know what's going on, okay?🙂

mistyjackal842 said:Lately, it feels like people blame vaccines for everything under the sun. I’m not talking about Mark here on the forum—I’m sure he just found himself in a really rough spot while traveling far away from home on another continent. For me, I've never had any issues after getting vaccinated. That includes the last shot I got as an adult, back when I was 23 and took a nasty fall off a motorcycle, leaving me with two big wounds on my legs. I actually felt a lot safer getting a tetanus shot because I fell right on the edge where the dirt meets the asphalt and really did a number on myself. Vaccines are useful, plain and simple, and they've wiped out so many diseases. Our domestic vaccines are solid too; if some parents choose to buy expensive imported ones for their kids, well, that's their call. But you can't ignore the role big global pharma companies play with their aggressive marketing and the commissions they pay out to push their products.

It isn't really about blaming, though. It's just that sometimes the body has a very strong reaction
to a vaccine, that's all. Of course, I'm grateful and thankful that vaccines exist
—personally, I feel much safer being vaccinated than not being vaccinated.
Our medical supplies and vaccines are great—we just lack the funding
to really invest in developing our own pharmaceutical industry. We have the talent, both
in pharmacy and medicine—we just need a little more willpower from the people in charge
and I truly believe we could be top-tier globally.
Respect to you all, best regards.

Edit: Mark, what's going on? Where are you? Is everything okay?

goldencobra16 said:So, I just found out it’s actually an equilibrium disorder rather than just standard vertigo. Does anyone here know much about this? Any insights would be appreciated.🙄

I'm just really glad you finally made it to the doctor and got those tests done. It’s definitely for the best.
mistyjackal842 suggested that those balance issues actually stem from internal struggles.
Hmm, maybe it’s some kind of infection? It just crossed my mind—you were traveling for quite a while.
Flying? Yeah, those middle ear pressure changes can really mess with you. It’s enough to cause some serious discomfort.
It’s easy to forget that things like a lack of Vitamin B12 or folate can actually mess with your balance, too.
Acid reflux and this feeling of general weakness... the symptoms feel pretty much identical to what you're going through. I'd suggest getting some blood work done.
Doctors won't even touch anything until they've run the CT scans or MRIs first. And honestly, half the time, that's exactly what ends up being the case. It's just how it works now.
Push them to do that. I'm honestly only suggesting it because of the vaccinations I've had.
It’s been about two or three weeks since we got them, and you have to consider that the liver responsible for producing B12 also has to filter out the vaccine.

It’s possible that extreme physical exhaustion is playing a role here too. Between the long travel and the vaccine...
Dietary shifts, climate changes... all that stuff can really mess with you. I’ve been thinking about how much those things impact health, specifically when it comes to potential neck and cervical issues. It's a lot to balance.
Part of the spine, etc. I honestly don't know if they actually ran a full panel or all the other lab tests on you...
Thorough research? You just have to double-check everything. Don't be afraid to dig deep.
I honestly feel like there isn't much a doctor can't handle. If you're going through something, please, just speak up so we can hear your story.
Vas.👍🙂

goldencobra16 said:? 😢

Did you get vaccinated here in the States or somewhere else? Either way, you really ought to see
a doctor if there's any chance you can. There should be someone
on the medical staff where you are. It might just be a reaction to the shot, but it's definitely something
that needs checking out.