Posts by Megan Wilson3

Can someone help me make sense of my D-dimer levels? About a month ago, I went into anaphylactic shock from an antibiotic, and they ran a D-dimer test at the ER. It came back at 1.67. I ended up staying in the hospital for three days, and they told me I should follow up with an internist regarding some hypertension issues and the D-dimer. Ten days later, I retested, and now it’s sitting at 2.1. I’ve got a month to wait before I can see a cardiologist, so I'm wondering—how much of a red flag is this value?

I know plenty of people have dealt with dental issues caused by lead poisoning. I see it firsthand because I work with tin and lead alloys, and if you aren't careful about protecting yourself from those fumes over time, your teeth really take the hit. Even organizations like Vitraja warn us about these risks.

It could also come from wearing jewelry that contains heavy metals.

I’ve got a Fittronic 2 sitting around. I picked it up back in 2004 right after my spinal surgery, on my doctor's recommendation while I was at a rehab center. I don't really have a use for it anymore, so...

Calling all my friends out in Seattle... There’s a beautiful Tiffany lamp up for grabs at the Old Town Gallery on Kandler Street from September 23rd through the 30th. Every single cent from the sale is going directly toward medical treatments for a young girl in the area facing a serious illness. Who wouldn't want to help out?

From what I’ve dealt with, that sounds like prostate issues. I went through those exact same symptoms, even though my tests always came back clean—no bacteria in my urine or anything. I can't even remember the specific name of the pills the doctor prescribed, but after about 5 or 6 days on them, everything cleared up.

She gave me that diagnosis even though I told her about the dizziness and this constant, pounding headache that just won't quit, no matter what pills I take. She just asked if I was feeling any numbness anywhere and that was basically it. Now, my follow-up is scheduled for two months from now instead of the usual six. When I asked if this could be caused by a sudden blockage—you know, everyone keeps talking about those issues—she said the only way that happens is the classic way. She isn't planning on operating; she's strictly sticking to diagnostics.
Should I just wait until the Stenosis Aca gets worse, or should I get this handled right now?

A few months back, Trevor gave me a solid breakdown of what I was dealing with, but my latest follow-up shows things have shifted. My stenosis jumped from 60% to 70%, and it’s just on the left side. My doctor wants me to get an MS CT scan, and they already mentioned surgery might be necessary. Right now, all I'm really feeling are headaches and dizziness. I don't smoke, my blood pressure is low, cholesterol is fine, and my blood sugar is normal... so I honestly don't get why this stenosis is getting worse.
The issue is, you can't just get an MS CT anywhere—it has to be done at the Mayo Clinic, and the waitlist there is brutal.
So, here's my question: Is it better to pull the trigger on this now, or should I wait until it hits 80 or 90%?

Now he's claiming hospital staff planted money on his friend. Look, he might be a top-tier surgeon, but as a human being? He's a total zero. There are about thirty people lined up for surgery right now. What happens if one of them is someone who kicked back some cash and is now stuck in a corner?

They’re saying if you report it, they'll let you get treated abroad, but I can't help wondering where exactly: I mean, is Mexico even considered "abroad"?
What do the doctors on this forum think about this situation?

Man, what's the deal? This guy was just trying to put food on the table and buy books for his kids. If people actually spoke up and reported things every week, maybe they’d finally think twice about what they're doing. But instead, he'll just fade into obscurity and nobody will even care.

They usually suggest eating dried prunes soaked in warm water after surgery. Honestly, right after the procedure, you can't even sneeze without tearing up. But man, I haven't thought about those things in over 10 years.

Listening to that woman claim anesthesia shaves ten years off your life... honestly, it sounds like it was written by someone who’s already six feet under. People just make stuff up and somehow stay alive. Don't sweat it.

It’s really not as bad as people make it out to be. Those who get the procedure done end up coming back. I was actually performing these surgeries about 12 years ago, and I haven't had any issues at all. They just trim both the external and internal parts under an epidural. You spend three days in the hospital, and after about 20 days, you're basically as good as new.

Does being a smoker actually change how anesthesia hits you? And why is there so much paperwork involved with signing consent forms anyway? It's not just some legal loophole for when things go south and nobody can do anything about it, right?

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In my experience, going with the general anesthesia is the better way to go. I've been through both. With an Epidural, once it starts wearing off, it’s honestly miserable. I felt the most intense chill of my life—like I was buried under a mountain of ice. General is a bit of a trip until you get something to calm your nerves, but once you settle down, you're just itching for them to knock you out and get it over with. When you wake up, your mouth feels like sandpaper, and you can't drink anything right away. On another note, does anyone know why they wrap your legs in those elastic bandages? I felt like a total mummy after my spinal surgery.

They claim all this testing is confidential and the data is strictly protected. So how does word get out? I’ve gone through testing for everything over and over again because it was required for my job on a ship, but if I had actually tested positive, would that really stay private? Or is it just one of those things that’s an open secret in this country?