ambermason16 said:and before you even think about asking at Kaiser Permanente— this thread just earned you 100 points. Between breaking the PDF rules (complaining about that), being "schizophrenic" (insulting people), and the chat spam (that whole rant about relish)...
Calling something "schizophrenic" isn't an insult... it's actually used all the time to describe things that are just straight-up contradictory.
"1 : a psychotic disorder characterized by loss of contact with the environment, by noticeable deterioration in the level of functioning in everyday life, and by disintegration of personality expressed as disorder of feeling, thought (as delusions), perception (as hallucinations), and behavior —called also dementia praecox — compare paranoid schizophrenia 2 : contradictory or antagonistic qualities or attitudes <both parties … have exhibited schizophrenia over the desired outcome — Elizabeth Drew> — schizo·phren·ic adjective or noun — schizo·phren·i·cal·ly adverb "
The free dictionary.com
schizophrenic [ˌskɪtsəʊˈfrɛnɪk] adj 1. (Medicine / Pathology) exhibiting symptoms of schizophrenia 2. Informal experiencing or maintaining contradictory attitudes, emotions, etc. n
Stumbled onto this interesting topic and was actually gearing up to reply... then I see the thread was shut down for absolutely no reason.
😕
Maybe the OP just didn't want us asking questions... But if you start a thread, you clearly want to hear similar stories, maybe some venting, or even just a little encouragement....
I don't see any valid reason for a mod to kill off a perfectly fine discussion....
Waiting on someone to weigh in here.....
The "What should I do?" thread got closed in a way that was polite, but totally nonsensical:
velvettrucker52: "Alright, you got it off your chest, but you don't want anyone digging further. Locking it seems like the best move."
Most of the time, it’s viral. There’s a whole lineup of viruses that cause this mess—Hepatitis A, B, C, D, E... plus stuff like EBV or CMV...
The big ones? Hepatitis A usually spreads through dirty hands or contaminated food at a restaurant. It hits you fast, but most people bounce back without much drama. There’s a vaccine for it.
Hepatitis B can be passed down through families—like from a mother during birth, which is common in parts of Asia or Russia—but out here in the States, it’s mostly sexual contact or bloodborne stuff, like sketchy tattoos, piercings, or needles... Hepatitis B can trigger an acute flare-up that clears on its own, or it can turn chronic. And if it goes chronic, you're looking at potential liver cancer. There’s a vaccine. There’s also treatment.
Hepatitis C is mostly spread via needles, though sex is an option too. Even snorting cocaine can do it if you're sharing a dirty straw. Sometimes it just clears out on its own. The catch is there’s no vaccine. You can get treatment, but it’s a grind with plenty of side effects, and how long it takes depends on the specific strain.
Chronic liver inflammation—whether it’s from a virus, heavy drinking, or even just being overweight—can lead to cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is a brutal disease that slowly eats away at your body...
It helps you steer clear of all that greasy, over-seasoned junk food. Also, try not to go ham on heavy meals within two hours of hitting the sack. Cut back on the booze, the smokes, and the stress too... It also helps to prop up the head of your bed a bit. Getting some incline can stop that acid reflux from creeping up your esophagus if your heartburn is caused by a hiatal hernia or just a weak lower esophageal sphincter.
Proton pump inhibitors (the prescription stuff) can help too. And look, if none of that actually works, you really ought to get tested for H. pylori. That’s something you can actually treat...
Susan Diaz91 said:Since I lost my baby about 20 days ago, they prescribed me Normabel at 5mg, three times a day.
I'm terrified to take it... worried about getting hooked. It says right there it can be addictive.
Has anyone here used this before? What’s your experience been with antidepressants, Normabel, Xanax, or similar stuff?
I am so incredibly sorry for your loss. You're going through the grieving process right now, which is completely natural. Grief itself isn't a reason to start antidepressants or anxiolytics. Normabel is an anxiolytic—basically for anxiety.
If you're feeling totally restless and just can't function during the day, maybe take a Normabel. If you've never touched anxiolytics before, even half a pill once in a while might help you settle down. There's no rule saying you have to take them religiously. Honestly, like you said, they can lead to dependency. If you can make it through the day without it, even better...
If you feel like you're sliding into actual depression, talk to your doctor about whether you need antidepressants. Usually, people who are just grieving don't need them—only those with a clinical diagnosis of depression.
Jessica Kern16 said:I’ve been reading that douching might actually be okay—some people swear by it, others say stay away... apparently, the catch is that it might even increase the risk of spontaneous miscarriage.
Douching was a thing back in the day before we had decent birth control options, when women would just rinse out with a mild vinegar solution after sex. Nowadays, we have much better ways to prevent pregnancy, and honestly, douching just pushes bacteria inside and wrecks your natural balance. You need those Döderlein bacilli to keep things slightly acidic and protect you from infections. If you wash those guys away, you're basically inviting an infection to move in...
The numbers are a bit high, but nothing to lose sleep over. You shouldn't ignore them, but there’s zero reason to freak out...
When liver enzymes spike, we usually look at a few things. What meds are being taken? Lanzul won't cause these levels to rise. Is there too much alcohol involved? (I mean more than one drink in 24 hours for women, or more than two beers in 24 hours for men. We aren't talking about a weekly average here—it's about how much the liver actually takes in a single day) Is there a viral infection lurking? (Hepatitis A, B, and C are the usual suspects). A lab test should clear that up, assuming the person isn't already in a high-risk group. Is weight an issue? People carrying extra fat around the midsection often deal with fatty liver, which also bumps up those enzyme levels. Or maybe there's a liver tumor, though that's pretty rare. To rule out a tumor or fatty liver, just get an ultrasound done...
Just use basic soap once a day. Skip the tampons if you can. And for the love of god, stop using vaginal douches!!!! They make it look like you're being clean, but they actually just trap moisture and basically invite yeast infections to move in. Better to just avoid them...
wearycobra48 said:basically I'm on Euthyrox 75 for Hashimoto's, and I've been dealing with a few anxiety attacks over the last year...
Like Dumbledore mentioned, tachycardia is usually just a byproduct of breathing issues or anxiety. You really gotta stay on top of both. Especially if those palpitations start hitting more often, you might need to tweak your Euthyrox dose or look into starting an SSRI or something else for the anxiety...
If the whole reason her lymph is backed up and her platelets and white cell counts are tanking is just because of an enlarged spleen, is she even a candidate for a splenectomy? Does anyone know a surgeon or a hematologist (or maybe just an internist) who could take a look and see if it's an option? How’s her health otherwise... Is there any sign of tissue inflammation? Or is she already on antibiotics for it?
goldenbison142 said:Hey... I'm Maya... and I have a question... 😢 I've used cocaine several times... and let's just say I'm planning to get pregnant this June... so I'm wondering how long it stays in my blood... or even just in my system... because of the baby's health? How much time does it take for me and my partner to get clean and be totally safe? Thanks in advance... this forum is great, a friend from Washington, D.C. recommended it to me! Best!
Cocaine leaves your bloodstream pretty fast. The real issue is if you're addicted—whether it's mental or physical—because cocaine is devastating during pregnancy. The biggest risk is placental abruption. And depending on how you're using, you could be looking at other serious complications like Hepatitis B, C, or HIV.
You should definitely try to find a rehab program or some kind of support to get back to a "structured" life. Good luck. And congrats on taking a massive step... you're actually starting to think about leaving the coke life behind... 👍
blueorca55 said:I’ve got a bit of a situation and could really use some help if anyone can weigh in. It happens randomly during the day, but mostly when I’m lying in bed trying to sleep—my heart just starts acting up. Like, it'll be beating normally, then suddenly skip a beat or stall, followed by this massive pounding, before settling back down... then it repeats. I am a smoker, and people have suggested it might just be the cigarettes and stress, but I can't tell if I actually need to go get more tests done or if I should just stop worrying about it. Thanks...🙂
You really ought to sit down with your doctor and go over your medical history and a physical exam. They're the only ones who can decide if you actually need more testing or not...
wearycobra48 said:so, I got my Holter results back and everything looks fine, but among other things, it says - average heart rate 80 bpm with the minimum od 41 bpm and the maximum rate od 130 bpm - the longest episode of tachycardia was detected with an onset ot 15:43:03, a duration of 0:08:50 and an average heart rate of 123 bpm. The fastest episode of Tachycardia was detected with an onset AT 15:18:43, a duration of 0:06:00 and an average heart rate of 125 bpm. There was no epysode of Bradycadria.
everything else seems okay...
but, I wasn't doing any kind of physical activity when it happened. (when the tachycardia hit). what does that actually mean?
Is this sinus tachycardia, maybe supraventricular? Most likely just your heart being overly sensitive to caffeine, or you're drinking way too much of it. Maybe try cutting back on the coffee or tea... Do you deal with anxiety? That could be another reason for the palpitations. You only had two short bursts of tachycardia in a 24-hour window, so it’s nothing to lose sleep over. Check in with your doctor about the meds, vitamins, or supplements you're taking. Also, watch the caffeine levels—coffee, tea, energy drinks, or even caffeine pills. If you weren't dealing with shortness of breath, dizziness, or chest pains at the same time, there's probably no need for more tests. Just talk it over with your primary care physician or a cardiologist.
Taylor Cox65 said:Hey there, my doctor recently sent me for a stool culture test because of some digestive issues, and this was the result:
"Candida species isolated in total coproculture at a 15% representation"
Can anyone explain what this actually means? Should I be worried? Is 15% considered a lot or just a little?
I know a bit about candidiasis, including the symptoms and typical treatments, but I'm curious why the report says "Candida species" instead of specifically "Candida albicans." Also, I'm wondering about that 15% figure...
Thanks for any help
What kind of digestive issues are we talking about here? Did you get any other tests done?
How long did the sample sit before it actually hit the lab? Candida is everywhere, so it's pretty easy to assume they just multiplied while waiting. Besides, doctors are supposed to treat the patient, not the lab report...
It’s hard to buy that 15% of your crap is actually fungus, unless you're dealing with uncontrolled diabetes, HIV, or something along those lines...
So, let's go through it: symptoms? physical exam? any other findings?...
Group B Strep hangs out in the genital area for both guys and girls pretty often. If you aren't actually feeling sick, there's no need for meds...
For pregnant women carrying Group B Strep, doctors usually suggest antibiotics during labor—just for those few hours—to help lower the risk of the baby catching an infection.
bluedriver2 said:I don't think people realize just how much produce you can actually cram into your daily diet—if you ease into it slowly to avoid all that bloating and digestive drama—to actually hit some kind of nutritional balance.
So, here's how you can sneak more greens into your day: 1. breakfast 2. snacks 3. lunch 4. afternoon bites 5. dinner
Are you guys eating greens with every single meal?
And what about working out regularly—like at least 30 minutes, five days a week?
Bad diet and sitting on your ass all day leads straight to obesity. Carrying extra weight, especially that belly fat, is a fast track to diabetes. The diabetes epidemic here in the USA is honestly terrifying. It’s starting to bleed into the rest of the world, too.
Diabetes triggers a whole mess of complications: high cholesterol, hypertension, kidney failure, heart attacks, strokes, vision loss (diabetes is actually the leading cause of blindness in developed nations), limb amputations from poor circulation, joint issues, sleep apnea... not to mention brain fog and mood swings...
Carol Rivera40 said:about a month ago I had some kind of infection, and my OBGYN gave me Betadine suppositories. It was my first time ever using anything like that; I've never dealt with infections before. My periods are super regular (every 28 days) and my ovulation is too. Ever since I started tracking, I haven't missed a beat. Everything was perfect until this month when I started those suppositories and suddenly my ovulation just didn't happen. This is a huge deal because I'm trying to get pregnant...😕 Does anyone know if those things could actually cause this?? I read that sometimes you can just skip ovulation, but I'm honestly pretty freaked out...😢 anyone know anything....
Betadine isn't going to mess with your ovulation. 🙂 But honestly, the stress from dealing with an infection and all those meds might have been enough to throw your cycle off. Either way, go talk to your doctor and maybe just take a pregnancy test. You might already be pregnant... 🙂
Anonymous said:I'm new here. Just had a question... is it possible to have regular periods (with all the usual stuff like sore breasts and everything else) but still not be ovulating? My doctor hasn't seen any signs of ovulation during my last two checkups. I'm heading in for hormone testing soon, but in the meantime, I wanted to see if anyone else has dealt with this...
Yeah, it happens. You can definitely have anovulatory cycles—basically, you get your period (usually pretty irregular), but there's no ovulation happening. Those are just infertile cycles...
What are we even talking about here? Is this about you? Where exactly did they diagnose you with osteomyelitis? And where’s the fibrous dysplasia at?
OM happens whenever bacteria finds a way into the bone. Could be from an injury, some broken skin—even just a tiny crack in your skin from a fungal foot infection—or things like using non-sterile needles (IV drugs, tattoos) or even endocarditis linked to bad gums.
Fibrous dysplasia... I’m guessing it’s on the skin, right around the entry wound? Like an "old wound" that never really healed properly. It’s not healthy tissue, but it isn't malignant yet. You just have to watch it so it doesn't turn into something worse. Maybe a skin graft?
Christian Myers2 said:So, I’ve got a situation here that’s driving me absolutely insane. I am dealing with this constant, relentless urge to urinate—it feels like I’m running to the bathroom every thirty minutes, if not even sooner than that. It’s becoming a total nightmare. About two weeks ago, the exact same thing started happening, and it lasted for a few days. Things seemed to settle down after that, and I was only heading to the restroom every couple of hours, but now? Now it’s back with a vengeance, and I’m practically sprinting to the toilet every twenty minutes. To be clear, I’m not experiencing any pain, stinging, or burning during the process or anything like that; there's just no discomfort, which makes the sheer frequency of it all even more frustrating. It’s just this endless, constant need. Has anyone else dealt with this exact same issue or something similar???
What’s your doctor saying? You should probably get a urinalysis done. Most likely just a bladder infection.