Nursing diagnosis with anemia

So, in May 2023, my friend (Em f23) and I (f28) had a conversation that started off friendly. Just chit-chat and funny anecdotes from the day. She brought up a situation with her coworker she enjoyed. It involved tourettes and one of her coworkers' specific tics.
I made a comment that I genuinely didn't think much of at the time. It was just some trivia I knew of and thought was interesting. Specifically that people with tourettes can 'catch' or involuntarily copy tics from other people with tourettes. It's something I learned from watching content made by people with tourettes. She made a comment like, "Maybe it's not like that, in this specific situation with my coworker."
Here's where I should have realised she was not interested in my trivia. What I definitely didn't realise was that it in fact made her mad, but I kept pushing anyways because I felt I was correct, that the coworker had picked up the tic from a well know streamer because it was literally identical. Em then stopped answering, after a couple hours of silence I asked her if she was actually mad about what I said and she responded with "Its fucking fine." Cue her not talking to me at all for 3 days. On the third day, she said we needed to have a sit-down conversation about boundaries because she "is having big feelings." her words, not mine.
I was so confused about what would have triggered her wanting to talk about boundaries when the conversation we had was a mild disagreement at worst. I would understand if I said something offensive, but I literally just said a fact and my opinion on her coworker, I didn't try to force her to agree, and there's proof of the streamer with that specific tic so it wasn't like I was lying to be able to one up her or something? I don't know, this whole part of the situation is incredibly confusing to me because she never talked about why that conversation triggered her to give me the silent treatment in the first place or how it led her to wanting to talk about boundaries. In the end, the boundaries she talked about much much later had nothing to do with this conversation even though it seemed to be what caused her to want boundaries. Idk, I'm still very confused about what actually caused her to want to have the discussion after the three days of silence and a minor disagreement.
At this point, still May 2023, I was in severe pain, but I did not know it was cancer yet. I was barely making it through each day with how much I was in pain. The tumor is in my leg, growing out of the top portion of my tibia in a way that has made the tibial platue hollow, or essentially a whisper thin shell of bone filled with slime, sorry but that's the best way to describe it. At any moment, my surgeon told me this later, I could have broken that thin bone and had a collapsed knee joint. I say this so you you know when I talk about pain here, I'm talking excruciating levels of pain.
So walking specifically and everything else was extremely painful, and that was taking a lot of energy and brain space. I told her I was in a ton of pain. I was exhausted and barely scraping by just to keep working while waiting for my doctors visits to hopefully figure out what was wrong. I said I would try to find a day to have "the talk," but things just kept getting worse. By the end of July I had seen four different doctors, three of which thought I was just trying to get drugs, the last one was an orthopedic doctor and she took two minutes of looking at an xray and another minute of looking at my leg to say I most likely had a tumor.
The official on paper diagnosis came in September because of the waiting time to meet with the surgeon, but we knew it was a tumor in August. I was put on essentially bed rest from august to the day I had surgery September 27th. I told Em about the tumor the day I got the MRI results which I had in mid August to prepare for the appointment with the surgeon. Her response was extremely upsetting to me.
Em: "That's a lot to deal with. The possibility of having a malignant tumor is scary and can make you really question life. When you're put into a situation like that, it forces you to look back on your life and reevaluate. You find out what you really want out of life and what you waisted too much time dealing with. That's really tough. I'm sorry I made you feel like you couldn't talk to me about your pain. Being more supportive of each other was something I wanted to talk about. Hopefully, you have a sweet and easy recovery."
That response hurt, it felt like she was saying I had a lot to regret in life and like I didn't have much time left to live to fix my regrets. But I thanked her for the empathy she tried to give and moved on. After that she never checked in on me, never asked how I was or what the plan of treatment was. My surgery was scheduled for the end of Spetember, the day after her birthday. I wished her a happy birthday. Then I let her know after the surgery that everything went well and that I was going to be in the hopsital for a few days. I was loopy on strong pain meds so i also told her that my nurse drew me a cute doodle on my white board, she said ".That's great! Hopefully you heal fast so you can go on a date with her. 😉" which was totally out of the blue. I havent dated anyone in the time Ive know or been friends with Em. Im asexual, and an extreme introvert, dating is not really my thing and she knows this. So that comment was very weird to me. After that she never even texted to check in on me or tried to visit me in the 5 days I stayed in the hospital after the surgery. Keep in mind, we are supposedly best friends.
I almost considered our friendship over by then, but I reached out to her when I was pretty much back on my feet to see what was going on and asked her what the conversation about boundaries was about. I apologized for being too chicken shit to ask about it earlier because I don't do well emotionally with getting criticism even when it's valid and I know I need to hear it. On top of that I was (and still am) dealing with fucking cancer. Not an excuse, it is an explanation though. So I apologized.
Her responses here, copy and pasted from our messages:
Em:
"First off I want so say that it's very respectable that you are willing to admit what you did wrong. Thank you for the apology.
Secondly, I don't know if the the conversation is still worth having. I'd be lying if I said I was devastated that we dropped off and didn't communicate for months. To be brutally honest, my life has drastically improved in our time apart. I'm so much more effective and positive. I'm very proud of how far I've come.
That's not to say I believed that you were the soul cause of all of my misfortune. In fact one of the boundaries I wanted to set was actual planned dates instead of spontaneous ones. Because I realized that I was using you like a form of procrastination. I couldn't do the things I needed to do because I chose to hang out with you instead. With my main distraction gone I've been able to thoroughly work through my shit, mental and physical.
When we last hung out I remembered feeling dark and heavy afterwards because it was nothing special. It was just a normal outing for us. I remember feeling angry that what we should have talked about wasn't addressed. Annoyed that it seemed like nothing had changed and that I had not changed. And scared that opening up communication could lead to me falling back into the pit again.
I don't know if we should have the original talk because so much has changed for both of us. We both equally walked over our own thresholds of hell. What I had to say months ago, I believe was true then, but I don't think it will be true now. I think it's quite possible for us to start anew and correct and develop as we go. But I think it would be just as easy to admit our friendship was a great experience. We were there when we needed each other. But it might be time to go our separate ways.
I will say, if we collectively choose to merge back together. I WON'T let it be the same. I don't want you to tell me every tiny dark secret. But I do want you to tell me that you want to stop at game stop and ask me to take you somewhere. Without fear of gas. I want you to tell me if it pisses you off that I take you to only crystal shops or that I talk about spiritually. Because I want to improve. I have no intention of continuing a relationship that doesn't inspire growth or bring me positivity."
So she stopped talking to me, because she had no self-control. She abandoned me during the worst medical crisis of my fucking life, because she doesn't know how to manage her time or her motivation. She punished me, for her problems. To be very specific the spontaneous hanging out was nearly 100% on her. I would ask to hang out rarely, because I never had the chance to because she would be asking to see me multiple times a week.
I'm not a social person, so other than work I don't have much going on and she was my best friend. I wasn't going to say no if I didn't have any other plans. She never brought up that she was procrastinating anything by hanging out with me. Never a peep. Never a hint. Nothing. I had no idea any of that was going on. If I did know I would have been 150,000% there to support her by asking how her goals were going, how her chores were going. Hell I would have helped her do chores as our hang out if she had asked. I did help her with some stuff. Painting her head board, rearranging and cleaning her room, working on crafts when she needed motivation to finish a piece for a friend, being a study buddy when she needed to focus on her mental health books, things like that.
Also in what world is learning to be accountable for your own actions and vacuuming regularly the same as going through cancer? I don't like comparing pain or life struggles usually, but this was a crossed line for me. For her to say her dealing with procrastination was an "equal threshold of hell" as my bone eating tumor and excruciating pain and the fear of it spreading to other parts of my body, it infuriates me still to think about that.
So I am now hurt and angry as hell, that she stopped talking to me over seemingly nothing that I did. I had no idea what was going on with the tourettes coworker conversation that ended in "its fucking fine" from her and then her next message was about her needing to set boundaries. And then she says her life is better without me in it.
Friendship effectively over. Or it should have been.
Here's where I'm a bit of an asshole.
I took her back. I said we could try again. That we both needed to improve but that we could do it better this time. At the time I genuinely believed it. For a couple weeks.
Then the more I thought about laying in that hospital bed, alone, wishing I had someone to distract me from the pain and fear, the more I started to realise her reasons for cutting contact was bullshit. Her wanting to have this big talk about boundaries and the boundaries she wanted were literally nothing I could do they were all her issues with her own decisions and there's was nothing I could change about myself to fix the problem she was putting 50/50 on my shoulders. Her saying her life was better without me when that whole time I was crying over missing her and trying to figure out what I did wrong where I fucked up, what I could do or say to fix it. It all just added up too much and so I sent her one last message.
"I've been doing a lot of thinking and going through my emotions and I think I'm going to step back from whatever this friendship has turned into. I'll be honest I feel betrayed that you didn't even try to support me going through cancer. I understand things were rocky when I got my diagnosis, however if our friendship was important to you on any level I can't understand why you didn't even text me to see how I was doing for months at a time when you knew I was going through one of, if not the most, difficult medical diagnosis humans can get. I felt completely abandoned, especially since the reason we even stopped talking and hanging out was because of your own procrastination issues which I had nothing to do with. If you had even just told me that you needed to get things done before we could hang out I would have supported you unconditionally. Instead you gave a vague "we need to talk about boundaries and being more supportive of each other." And then never supported me in the darkest time of my life so far. It's taken me a while to get to the root of why I feel the way I do, but I don't think I can just let this go like I wanted to. I loved being your friend and it always felt like you valued my friendship too, until you were cutting me off because of your poor time management. I know that will sound harsh, I'm sorry, but it's true. I have my own issues that hurt you, I know that and I really am sorry. I am sorry I could never reciprocate financially, I'm sorry you were the one always picking me up and driving. I'm sorry that I never gave you the birthday or Christmas gifts you wanted. Thank you for all the amazing times. Goodbye."
To clarify the gift thing, I have been very poor for a long time. I am neurodivergent and I struggle to hold down a job. But I hand made her gifts, or cooked for her. The last thing I made for her was a crochet mandala blanket, please look up Radiance Mandala Blanket to see how much effort I went to, she picked the colors and I made her a lap blanket version for christmas 2022. It took her less than a month to complain that she wished she could have picked the colors. SHE DID. I told her to pick a pallet of colors specifically for her blanket and did my best to match the colors she picked with yarn I already owned. It wasn't perfect but I got it as close as I could. I don't like to make a big deal out of things I do for people because giving to the ones I love is literally the easiest thing in the world for me. But to have her act like I didnt try to make it as perfect for her as I could hurt so much.
Anyways, back to me telling her I was done. Her reply back pissed me off, maybe because I was already angry. It felt so patronizing and dismissive. But that might just be because of all the emotions I was already feeling at the time I read it.
Em: "Your feelings are valid. I'm sorry I made you feel abandoned in the hardest time. I wish you the best of luck on your way through life. Fall in love, have your farm, raise your kids, craft wonderful creations, enjoy the many YouTube videos to come, and don't forget to live your best self. I'll take this harsh lesson and apply it to friendships in the future. Live long and prosper, my friend, and have many pleasant wanderings."
Harsh lesson my ass. If it was harsh for anyone it was harsh for me to learn my best friend gave absolutely no shits about me and couldnt be bothered to try and support me through this medical crisis. We haven't spoken since. I have her blocked on everything. So, aita for cutting off Em? Even though I'm angry, I'm conflicted because I still love her, she was my best friend for 6 years.

Situation 1: Michelle, an international student, will be studying in Hualien County to obtain her degree and hopes to gain a better understanding of the National Health Insurance.
Q1: How and when can I obtain the NHI (National Health Insurance) card? A1: NHI stands for National Health Insurance, which is necessary for all individuals living in Taiwan. Of course, the process of obtaining NHI depends on your residency status as a foreigner living in Taiwan. Let's break down how and when you can get NHI!
Foreign Students If you've come to Taiwan to study at a university, getting NHI is quite straightforward. It's important to remember that foreigners can obtain NHI only after living continuously in Taiwan for six months on an ARC (Alien Resident Certificate), but you are allowed to leave the country once for up to 30 days during this 6-month period. After these six months, your university will collect insurance fees for each semester upon registration. As a student, you'll only need to pay the insurance fee, which is 826 NTD as of 2024, and then wait for notification from the university that your card is ready for collection. Insurance fees are collected from September to February in the first semester and from March to August in the second semester.
International students can be employed part-time in Taiwan. In this case, students with a steady part-time job should be registered in the program as employees through their employers. Don't forget to inform your university about this. The university will reimburse you a portion of the insurance fee you've already paid.
If you are seasonally employed, meaning you are a full-time student who only works during summer and winter vacations for fewer than 3 months and returns to school when classes resume, you do not need to change your enrollment status during the period of employment.
Foreign Workers A foreign worker must be registered in the National Health Insurance Program from the first day of employment. Therefore, those working in Taiwan are not subject to the six-month waiting period. Your employer should register you and be responsible for paying your insurance (formerly known as the "insurance registration organization").
If you're a company chairperson or owner, you need to set up your own insurance registration unit. If you have another primary job, you can be insured through that company or agency without enrolling as a responsible person.
If you're employed but don't have a fixed employer, like being a member of an occupational union, a farmers' or fishermen's association, or are actively involved in farming or fishing, you should enroll in the National Health Insurance through your respective union or association.
If you are working two jobs at the same time, then you should be registered in the NHI program through your main employer. Your main employer is the one where you work more hours; if the hours are similar, then income can be the deciding factor.
Unemployed foreigners If you are unemployed and qualify as a dependent, you should be registered in the NHI program through your employed spouse or direct blood relatives.
If you cannot be enrolled through your spouse or direct blood relatives, you are required to enroll in the program at the local administrative office where your household is registered, under the identity of a "regional citizen."
If you are an unemployed veteran or a dependent of a deceased veteran, then you can enroll in the program through the administrative office where your household is registered under the identity of "veteran."
For more information, please feel free to ask or refer to the NHI handbook (click the specific link below).
Q2: What medical services are covered by the NHI? A2: The National Health Insurance (NHI) in Taiwan covers a wide range of medical services, such as: Outpatient services Inpatient services Emergency care Surgery Laboratory tests Prescription drugs Dental care Mental health services Traditional Chinese Medicine Rehabilitation services The medical payments include diagnosis, assessment, laboratory tests, consultations, surgical procedures, anesthesia, prescriptions, supplies, therapies, nursing care, and covered hospital accommodations. Essentially, all essential healthcare services are included in the system.
Q3: How can I understand the cost of services under NHI in advance? A3: Under Taiwan's National Health Insurance (NHI), patients are required to make co-payments for medical services, including hospital visits, outpatient care, prescription drugs, and various medical procedures.
Let's see a breakdown of typical co-payments for various medical services under NHI! Visiting a hospital or clinic with a referral: Co-payment for Medical Center with referral is fixed at 170 NTD. For Regional Hospital it is 100 NTD. For District Hospital it is 50 NTD. And for Clinic it is 50 NTD. Visiting a hospital directly without a referral costs more: Co-payment for Medical Center without referral is fixed at 420 NTD. For Regional Hospital it is 240 NTD. For District Hospital it is 80 NTD. And for Clinic co-payment remains fixed at 50 NTD. For visiting dentist and traditional Chinese clinics, the co-payment is fixed at 50 NTD regardless of the level of medical institution.
Important to know For patients with a disability identification, the basic co-payment is charged at the Clinic rate (NT$50) regardless of the level of medical institution visited by the patient.
The following situations are regarded as visits with referral: Follow-up visits within one month of a medical visit with a referral sheet, limited to a maximum of four times. The first follow-up visit after outpatient surgery, emergency surgery, or discharge from the hospital. The first follow-up visit within six weeks after childbirth. Therefore, the co-payment for such visits is charged according to the standards of medical visits with referral, and hospitals may issue relevant certificates for patients. During a course of treatment, patients only need to pay the co-payment for their initial visit (excluding rehabilitative physical therapy and Traditional Chinese Medicine traumatology).
Emergency Care Co-payment Standard: Medical Center: 740 NTD Regional Hospital: 400 NTD District Hospital: 150 NTD Clinic: 150 NTD Near-poor Households/Individuals with Disabilities: Medical Center: 550 NTD Regional Hospital: 300 NTD District Hospital: 150 NTD Clinic: 150 NTD
Co-payment cost for outpatient prescribed drugs
Regular prescriptions: If the cost of the medication is equal to or less than 100 NTD: In Clinics and District Hospitals: Patients are exempt from co-payment (no co-payment). In Regional Hospitals and Medical Centers: The co-payment is 10 NTD. If the cost of the medication is equal to or greater than 101 NTD:
In all levels of medical institutions, an additional 20% will be charged for every 100 NTD. For example, if the price of medication is in the 101-200 NTD range, then the co-payment is 20 NTD; if in the 201-300 NTD range, then the co-payment is 40 NTD. In Clinics and District Hospitals: If the medication cost starts from 1001 NTD, the upper limit for co-payment is reached, and the co-payment is fixed at 200 NTD. In Regional Hospitals and Medical Centers: If the medication cost is in the range from 1001-1500 NTD, the co-payment is fixed at 200 NTD.If the medication cost starts from 1501 NTD, the upper limit of co-payment is reached at 300 NTD.
Refillable prescriptions: In Clinics: Patients are exempted from the co-payment. In District Hospitals, Regional Hospitals, and Medical Centers: The first time filling a refillable prescription follows the same rules as outlined above for regular prescriptions. From the second refill onwards, patients are exempted from the co-payment.
Important to know For Traditional Chinese medication co-payment, the same system as that of Clinics is used. Costs under 100 NTD are exempt; for costs equal to or greater than 101 NTD, an additional 20% will be charged for every 100 NTD. At Dental Clinics, outpatient prescription drug expenses are exempted from co-payment. Emergency Care Prescription: For Clinics and District Hospitals: 150 NTD For Regional Hospitals: 400 NTD. For Medical Centers: 750 NTD. I hope now you have a better understanding of how to calculate the cost of medical services under NHI. Feel free to ask more questions or refer to this webpage (click the specific link below).
Q4: What services are completely free under NHI? A4: With NHI, you can access a wide range of medical services at very affordable prices, and some services are fully covered! However, it's always a good idea to ask your doctor or a consultant at the hospital/clinic about which services will be covered.
Let's break down what kind of services can be fully covered under NHI: Basic Medical Examinations: These are routine tests to check your health, like measuring blood pressure, checking cholesterol levels, and assessing kidney function through urine tests. Preventive Services like Vaccinations and Screenings: This includes vaccines to protect against diseases like measles, mumps, and rubella, as well as screenings for diseases like cancer or diabetes. These screenings aim to catch health problems early for easier treatment. Essential Surgeries: These surgeries are necessary to treat a medical condition and improve health or save lives. For example, removing an appendix, fixing a broken bone, or treating a serious infection. Hospital Stays in General Rooms: This means staying in a hospital room shared with other patients (one room with 3 beds or more) and having basic facilities. General rooms provide standard care for conditions that don't require intensive monitoring or specialized equipment. Some Prescription Medications: Certain medicines prescribed by doctors are fully covered by NHI, so patients can get them from the pharmacy without paying anything. These often include essential medications for common conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and infections. Medications with a cost below 100 NTD will be fully covered or will require a 10 NTD co-payment. Dental care: Most medications prescribed by dentists are fully covered by the National Health Insurance (NHI). However, it's important to note that full-mouth anesthesia is not covered. Also, you have the right to receive two dental cleanings per year fully covered, allowing the general public to get dental calculus removal. People with tooth decay may be eligible, depending on a dentist's evaluation, for fluoride varnish treatment. As long as the cavity does not reach the pulp (where the tooth's nerves and blood vessels are located), it can be fully covered by the National Health Insurance (NHI). Generally, the National Health Insurance (NHI) will cover the extraction of wisdom teeth, supernumerary teeth, and impacted teeth. However, extractions for corrective purposes (teeth that are intact and without decay problems) will not be covered by NHI.
Medical expenses in Taiwan are relatively inexpensive, so don't worry about spending a lot of money when seeing a doctor. Therefore, don't be afraid to go to the hospital.
Q5: In which hospitals can I utilize NHI services, specifically at Hualien hospitals? A5: Here is the list of hospitals in Hualien in Chinese (the English version will be posted and updated later). But if we talk about the most popular hospitals in Hualien where you can definitely get assistance in English, then we can list these hospitals: Mennonite Christian Hospital Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital Hualien Hospital Smiles-Dental
Q6: Is it possible to receive NHI consultation in English? A6: Yes! It is possible to receive NHI consultation in English! The back of the NHI card has a hotline number for inquiries: 0800-030-598, or by mobile phone call 02-412-8678. Calling the number is free of charge.

Hello, fellow gastrointestinally-dysfunctional people! I just got my colonoscopy done this morning, and I wanted to share some of my experience so the next scared sod that comes across this subreddit can clear their mind off things.
First off, I’m 23F - I know, quite literally half the age that is generally recommended for this procedure. But fear not! All I was doing it for was to confirm that there was nothing structurally wrong with my colon to confirm an IBS diagnosis. I don’t know if this is the norm everywhere or with every insurance policy (I’m US based), but thankfully mine completely covered the cost of the prep and the procedure, so I was all good.
Secondly, the worst part was, of course, the prep. Words cannot describe how disgustingly salty Gavilyte is, even with the lemon flavoring packet. But still - get that shit done!!! Drink it nice and chilled through a thick straw, hang out by the bathroom, and most importantly, finish it. Your stooling water will look neon yellow-green with next to no sediment present once done - that is normal due to the natural pigmentation of bile, not to worry! And if you’re on any prescription laxative medications like Linzess, then go ahead and pop that before you start the prep as nice little kickstart in cleaning your bowels.
Lastly, the procedure itself was fantastic! I’ve never been hospitalized and have had an amazing immune system, so it wasn’t until I’ve gotten my current insurance as an adult that I’ve needed to do any procedures. I previously experienced propofol for a dental surgery, and that waking process was less than ideal (I walked out of the recovery room because I couldn’t find my nurses. Don’t do that!!). However, my CRNA was very kind, and he even asked what drink I wanted when I woke up (ginger ale, the superior drink). The least pleasant part was definitely the propofol - I was damn near crying at how much it burned as it spread. Once again, shout out to my CRNA - he rubbed my arm so sweetly when he saw that I was freaking out and kept reassuring me that it was almost time to sleep. I woke up in the hallway on the way to recovery, asking my RN if I could go to the bathroom, and nearly all my anal soreness gone with a bit of hemorrhoid cream - thanks, team! A near painless procedure, indeed.
My post-op results came back negative for structural irregularities. I’m so happy to be on the other side of this, and rewarded myself immediately by eating a soft, bread pudding slice. Many thanks to my scope team, and many thanks to all of you reading who do this on the daily! Every nurse, tech, physician, etc. who participated in my care helped me through this so well that it felt like a well-oiled machine in the best way possible.
For you 45+ folks who are getting your screenings, or for anyone who’s on the fence about rescheduling, please don’t be scared - if this 23F healthcare workegrad student who hates getting jabbed herself can do it, then you can, too! Best wishes, and take care of your colon.

Hi Guys, any advice would be great!
I'm currently a junior in my nursing program and I just finished my last semester until senior year. I was having vertigo the last month of school and was not getting better unfortunately the last week before my finals was the absolute WOST of it to the point I contemplated going to the hospital. I had been pushing through my symptoms up until that last week because I genuinely was so nauseous from it that I couldn't do assignments nor study. I was given medication prior to this for it but the medication is a sedative (cant be productive/ go to class/ be at clinical if I'm sleeping). I was not able to get an appointment with an ENT until this past week when I explained what was going I was put on medication and told due to the severity of my symptoms there's a high chance that if my medication does not work I'm looking at a possible diagnosis of Ménière's disease. Due to all of this ongoing stuff I wasn't able to study for my final properly and I failed my class by 1.2 points mind you prior to the final I was passing the class with an 80. Would a medical appeal be reasonable in this situation?

TL;DR - this is an extremely long rant, feel free to skip ❤️
Hey. Im a 17 year old male of British Bangladeshi ethnicity from South London. Ive just recently been diagnosed with ME/CFS, and it has truly ruined my life already within the span of 4 months; although they suspect that I had had the illness for nearly 9 years prior to the diagnosis.
I'm sure everyone on this page is familiar with the notion of this illness ruining people's lives. But I feel I must share more about my story to you all, because I need help.
When I was 9, my father was diagnosed with stage 4 blood (Hodgkin's Lymphoma) cancer, and 6 years later or so; having survived the initial cancer, he came down again with yet another stage 4 cancer in his bowel. I was there on the day of diagnosis of the first cancer, and never really understand it all as a child. Furthermore, I never really got to be a child. With my father being ill, i was stuck being almost a nurse for him at home, while trying to do my best in other aspects of my life. I didn't cry. I didn't moan. I would just try and help my mum as much as I could.
The issue then was at the time, I was suffering from major physical issues, where the possible diagnosis spanned from juvenile arthritis to just growing pains. It was a nightmare, but it was still liveable and I was still able to somewhat enjoy my time in my hobbies I had at the time and with my friends at school. This would turn out to be the initial showing signs of the ME that has struck me down 8 years later.
Fast forward to present day, I'm currently bedbound, or more sofa-bound, as our family has always struggled financially. I dont have my own room. I dont even have a wardrobe in this house to call my own. A place to put the things a 17 year old needs to put. But thats not the main issue. Im a young 17 year old man, yet I haven't gone to school in months. Currently in Year 12, having done extremely well in my GCSEs and having had a year 10 with a relatively symptom free year, year 11 was when it all really started. My school attendance for year 11 was 56%, yet I was just able to do well in my GCSEs because, lets be honest, in the grand scheme of things they're not very difficult. But for A-levels, with my current attendance of 31%, it is just not possible to do well in this way.
I was also a major talent in football. Ever since I was born, i had a passion for playing the sport, and had gotten pretty good at it; playing for Fulham academy for a while in the younger years when I was more physically capable. As i grew older, I attented trials at Crystal Palace and got in, but had to pull out due to 'injury'. This was my one passion. My only proper passion in life.
ME has ruined my life. I was seen as an extremely gifted individual in both academic and athletic aspects, but because of the brain fog and constant migraines and of course the fatigue and physical implications of the cfs, all of that has gone down the drain. I can't deal with this anymore. I've been stuck at home for months. I cant have my friends over because the house is too small. I cant get out of the house because standing for more than 5 minutes makes me dizzy (I also suffer from POTS). My father, who had become crazy from his double dose of max power chemo, and had already given up on life and is now depressed and stuck at home with me, is the only face I see in the mornings. My brother has a life to live at 21 years old, so he must ignore us in a way to protect himself. My mother. I want to kms for how much sufferage ive caused my mum. she didn't get married for this. she didnt have kids to live like this.
Ive been struggling with sever clinical depression due to the cfs, as expected. But, as is normal in an asian household for a young man, emotion doesn't exist. Even my depressed, crazy father doesnt see depression and sadness as an emotion, more just a defect of life. I need help. No doctors know anything about this stupid illness. therapists tell me to do some exercise and get out in the sun, even when i tell them i cannot stand and just attending the session is a huge challenge.
I miss my friends. I miss myself, Im not who i once was. I don't love football anymore. I cant learn anything like i used to enjoy doing when i was younger. even things as little as gaming has suffered, because i cant even concentrate and my eyesight suffers from the constant migraines. im going insane from the constant headache. how can a 17 year old live like a 90 year old? how can a boy remenisce on his life as if hes even lived it? the only time my brain seems to work is when im desperate at 3 am in the long sleepless nights the goddamn insomnia causes. there was a period where i didnt sleep for 3 weeks straight. the other people my age seem to be living life, actually growing and making memories. my closest friend group have made plans to go to spain for the summer. they know i cant go with them. this hurts. i cant even cry. i dont have a place in my house, and i was raised so that i didnt show any emotion other than happiness to my parents. i cried for the first time in my mature lifetime in front of another human being in my first therapy session. it didnt feel normal. I told my therapist, 'crying always felt like i was admitting defeat' and i still feel that way, but she pointed out that this was because of how i was raised. is this really what life is? ive always been an overly empathetic person and it has gotten to the point that i dont even want to meet someone in a romantic setting or get married or whatever, because i dont want whatever is happening to my mum to happen to my future wife, where she has to take care of a useless thing like me. im not worth that and i couldnt bare the guilt of ruining a girls life just to say i got married to her. the reality of my loneliness in the future is dawning on me, or even worse the reality of depending on my parents as a middle aged adult. id rather die.
It was always my dream to travel and leave England, and live and die in Spain or Chile. ive even learnt spanish, almost B level fluency after a couple years of learning. I guess id have to forget that now.

(Sorry this is so long.)
I went someplace a few months ago for a surgical clearance. This place came up on a Google search and had Sunday appointments -perfect! I never did see the doctor my appointmentment was supposedly with. I don't think she was there tbh.I saw a nurse for a few minutes who asked me basic questions, then I was alone with someone to take my blood pressure. She seemed pretty green (I've never had anyone struggle to take my blood pressure before but she did over and over and over.) Anyway, I'm super healthy and I just needed a couple of standard things, and these are medical things they've been trained on so I was sure it would be fine.
Anyway, she takes an EKG, and then says she has to do it again.. then she says she has to get the nurse. Nurse comes in and says they can't clear me because I have a (some word that means a badly damaged heart). I ask what that is. She tells me very matter-of-factly that this is damage my heart suffered during my last heart attack. I tell her I've never had a heart attack. She says I clearly did, it must have happened in my sleep.
I'm freaking out, but 2 medical professionals are saying this is true and seem to additionally think I'm going to go at any minute so I believe them. I'll never forget the way they both looked at me. They told me multiple multiple times to call 911 or go to the emergency room if I gave ANY heart attack symptoms.
My heart already was racing from the multiple increasingly painful attempts to get my blood pressure, and my anxiety - first over how long this was taking, and then.. all this new information about being a frail heart attack survivor.
Long story long, those feelings in my chest didn't subside. And I know it's stupid, but I kept trying to Google if this was a heart attack symptom or not and I could not get a clear answer. Finally I realized I'd rather be wrong than dead, and I went to the ER.
By that time I was fully accepting my fate. Ever since they had said that, I realized that this might be my last day on earth. By the time I went to the ER I believed there was a good chance it was. I was ugly crying because my will was out of date, and there were odds and ends I wished I could take care of first. But I mean, there's nothing I could do now, it's over. It's silly in retrospect but it was a really hard night.
Anyway, at the ER the EKGs did not show any heart damage at all. I had in fact, never had a heart attack. I had many EKGs over the corse of the night and they were all fine. I still had the paper printouts from the first place and I learned:
The charts don't even support the diagnosis they said of a badly damaged heart. Because the line would have gone up then down (or vice versa, I don't recall)
The most Sr. Doctor said he could tell exactly what happened. The stickers were not placed on me in the right places, they were too low.
The doctors at the ER were a combination of disgusted and amused that the bad EKG had landed me in the ER thinking I was dying.
So far I've had to pay around 5k for the nonsense that happened, mostly from the ER costs. Extra money I didn't and don't have.
The first place keeps sending me a bill for 300 bucks and they say it will go to collections. What are my options? I not only don't want to pay that, I want them to pay me back for all the other money I'm out from their negligence. I feel that's the least they should do given that they made me believe I was literally on death's door. I can't afford a lawyer I don't think, and I don't want bad credit, so maybe I have to just suck it up and pay it, idk.

35f diagnosed with adhd at 23. Intrusive sleep since junior year of high school but only just now putting a name to it. Have had all the tests done- in high school they blamed it on sleep deprivation or suggested I was doing drugs. Slept through college. Would have slept through college round 2 if it weren’t for adderall thanks to adult adhd diagnosis. Can’t watch movies without falling asleep, get overwhelmingly tired after driving 30 minutes, where all I want to do is pull over and nap. But when I get to where I’m going I suddenly have energy. This is what happened at school too, I couldn’t wait to go home and take a nap, it was painful to stay awake, but then wasn’t tired anymore once I actually could sleep.
I’m wondering if anyone knows of any legit research on this or if anyone has been taken seriously by their doctor. I asked my adhd prescriber (NP) and she had no idea what I was talking about. I’m a school nurse and I see signs of intrusive sleep in a couple of my students - i would love to have more than just antecdotal evidence to try and help these kiddos. And I’d honestly love to not need adderall just to stay awake!

Hello, I’m a 32 year old female with no significant past medical history. Never smoked/did drugs, not currently drinking, sexually active, 200 lbs and working on healthy weight loss after years of yo-going. I’m a new nurse, working in inpatient oncology - so I have a healthy dose of health anxiety.
Been suffering with left ear fullness (no pain, random onset) since mid February. ENT just looked into my ear, said it was normal, chalked it up to Eustachian tube dysfunction and told me I had to live with it/“it might go away but no promises”.
Allergist recently diagnosed me with silent reflux and has me on a PPI, diet changes, elevated sleeping - initially this helped 80% of the way. I notice if I eat anything dairy/especially full fat dairy, it temporarily gets a lot worse. He also is treating my normal allergies/post nasal drip. Allergies are totally managed now. Last time I saw him he suggested debrox to clean my ears (even though they’re completely clear). The debrox made it worse.
New GI has a tentative diagnosis of dyspepsia and slow stomach motility for me and is doing the full work up - but I forgot to mention the ear fullness to him.
At first I thought it was allergies (allergist says no, because it’s not bilateral), then I thought it was intracranial pressure (eye doc and retina specialist say I’m fine), then I thought it was reflux related - which, since starting treatment for reflux in the beginning of April, has made a nice improvement but not a full resolution. Now I’m wondering if it’s a straight up dairy intolerance?
I’m thinking of seeing another ent for a second opinion.
I just hate this feeling! It’s a full feeling, mild pressure, with some pulsatile qualities when I’m physically exerting myself. If I close my mouth and hum really loud/hard/steady in a quiet room I can hear my heart beat. Even when I feel fine, I check to see if I can hear the heart beat - and it’s always there :(
All GI/reflux issues have drastically improved/nearly resolved - but symptoms presented like asthma (which is why I saw the allergist).
I don’t know what to do!!!!!!!!!

I stopped speaking to my aunts. Is it worth repairing the relationship?
My (23F) mother (59F) has been sick with a chronic illness since I was 12 years old. Her sickness has caused a lot of tension with me and her two older sisters, (not sure of their ages but definitely 60's). Even before her diagnosis, my mom's oldest sister took me out to lunch when I was 13 and called me a bitch because she told me my father (my parents are divorced) brainwashed me into hating her (they never got along). I know it sounds pretty one sided, that's because it is. I've been nothing short of kind, friendly, and welcoming at every family event. They truly believe my father has completely brainwashed me into hating them. News flash, he didn't, but now I hate them on my own terms.
After college, I moved back in with my mom while I tried to find a job. It took me several months, but I ended up getting a job in the same field that my mother used to work in. In the months of my job search, they used to call my mom and tell her how lazy I was and ask her if it bothered her that I didn't have a job. It's consistently been small jabs like that that have led me to making the decision to cut them off.
I'm an only child. My mother and I bicker sometimes, but we love each other very much. Think Lorelai and Rory Gilmore. Because of her sickness when I lived at home with her, I cooked and cleaned and helped her dress on the days where she struggled.
One day she and I began to bicker, and I decided to take a step back from the situation and spend the night at my boyfriend house. I came back and my mom called her sister, and told me to speak to her. Her sister told me that I was a horrible person who deserved every horrible thing that ever happened to me, and that I abuse my mother when we bicker. Then proceeded to tell me that I had 24 hours to stop behaving like that or I would be kicked out of my own home. I was so shocked that she spoke to me that way that I bit my tongue and said I understood. I have never ever been spoken to like that and to be called an abuser to the person I love most in the world absolutely shattered me. I still haven't fully comeback from that.
I decided in that moment, I didn't deserve that kind of treatment anymore and that I would be cutting them off. My mother would be moving into a nursing home, and they would be financially supporting her move. I knew this would make my situation more complicated considering I'm very involved in my mother's life, and so are they. I just can't take anymore of verbal abuse. I am so tired of crying and feeling worthless because of the ways they've torn me down over the years. I spoke with my therapist and talked to my friends, and I feel like cutting them off is the best decision that I could make for my own mental sanity at this point.
I've moved into my own apartment that I pay for with no ties to them. I intended for them to have my address, but my mom told them where I live. My mom also believes that I can reconcile with them and that cutting them off is dramatic. Today, I logged into my streaming services on my TV to find that they had intentionally deleted my profiles off of all of my mother's streaming services. It feels so petty to me that these 60 year old women are going out of their way to delete my profiles just because I'm not speaking to them. I know that this makes family events more complicated. I feel horrible. I just can't take any more of their behavior towards me anymore. I don't feel like I can win. I can either speak with them and fake smile and endorse their name calling tendencies, or I can keep them cut off and make family gatherings difficult. I have no siblings, so the weight of this feels really heavy on me.
Do you think I should continue to keep them cut off? Do I try to reconcile?
TLDR: my mom's older sisters hate me and have been calling me names, so I cut them off. Should I try to reconcile?

I stopped speaking to my aunts. Is it worth repairing the relationship?
My (23F) mother (59F) has been sick with a chronic illness since I was 12 years old. Her sickness has caused a lot of tension with me and her two older sisters, (not sure of their ages but definitely 60's). Even before her diagnosis, my mom's oldest sister took me out to lunch when I was 13 and called me a bitch because she told me my father (my parents are divorced) brainwashed me into hating her (they never got along). I know it sounds pretty one sided, that's because it is. I've been nothing short of kind, friendly, and welcoming at every family event. They truly believe my father has completely brainwashed me into hating them. News flash, he didn't, but now I hate them on my own terms.
After college, I moved back in with my mom while I tried to find a job. It took me several months, but I ended up getting a job in the same field that my mother used to work in. In the months of my job search, they used to call my mom and tell her how lazy I was and ask her if it bothered her that I didn't have a job. It's consistently been small jabs like that that have led me to making the decision to cut them off.
I'm an only child. My mother and I bicker sometimes, but we love each other very much. Think Lorelai and Rory Gilmore. Because of her sickness when I lived at home with her, I cooked and cleaned and helped her dress on the days where she struggled.
One day she and I began to bicker, and I decided to take a step back from the situation and spend the night at my boyfriend house. I came back and my mom called her sister, and told me to speak to her. Her sister told me that I was a horrible person who deserved every horrible thing that ever happened to me, and that I abuse my mother when we bicker. Then proceeded to tell me that I had 24 hours to stop behaving like that or I would be kicked out of my own home. I was so shocked that she spoke to me that way that I bit my tongue and said I understood. I have never ever been spoken to like that and to be called an abuser to the person I love most in the world absolutely shattered me. I still haven't fully comeback from that.
I decided in that moment, I didn't deserve that kind of treatment anymore and that I would be cutting them off. My mother would be moving into a nursing home, and they would be financially supporting her move. I knew this would make my situation more complicated considering I'm very involved in my mother's life, and so are they. I just can't take anymore of verbal abuse. I am so tired of crying and feeling worthless because of the ways they've torn me down over the years. I spoke with my therapist and talked to my friends, and I feel like cutting them off is the best decision that I could make for my own mental sanity at this point.
I've moved into my own apartment that I pay for with no ties to them. I intended for them to have my address, but my mom told them where I live. My mom also believes that I can reconcile with them and that cutting them off is dramatic. Today, I logged into my streaming services on my TV to find that they had intentionally deleted my profiles off of all of my mother's streaming services. It feels so petty to me that these 60 year old women are going out of their way to delete my profiles just because I'm not speaking to them. I know that this makes family events, more complicated. I feel horrible, but it stresses my mother out. I just can't take any more of their behavior towards me anymore. I don't feel like I can win. I can either speak with them and fake smile and endorse their name calling tendencies, or I can keep them cut off and make family gatherings difficult. I have no siblings, so the weight of this feels really heavy on me.
Do you think I should continue to keep them cut off? Do I try to reconcile?
TLDR: my mom's older sisters hate me and have been calling me names, so I cut them off. Should I try to reconcile?

My (23F) mother (59F) has been sick with a chronic illness since I was 12 years old. Her sickness has caused a lot of tension with me and her two older sisters, (not sure of their ages but definitely 60's). Even before her diagnosis, my mom's oldest sister took me out to lunch when I was 13 and called me a bitch because she told me my father (my parents are divorced) brainwashed me into hating her (they never got along). I know it sounds pretty one sided, that's because it is. I've been nothing short of kind, friendly, and welcoming at every family event. They truly believe my father has completely brainwashed me into hating them. News flash, he didn't, but now I hate them on my own terms.
After college, I moved back in with my mom while I tried to find a job. It took me several months, but I ended up getting a job in the same field that my mother used to work in. In the months of my job search, they used to call my mom and tell her how lazy I was and ask her if it bothered her that I didn't have a job. It's consistently been small jabs like that that have led me to making the decision to cut them off.
I'm an only child. My mother and I bicker sometimes, but we love each other very much. Think Lorelai and Rory Gilmore. Because of her sickness when I lived at home with her, I cooked and cleaned and helped her dress on the days where she struggled.
One day she and I began to bicker, and I decided to take a step back from the situation and spend the night at my boyfriend house. I came back and my mom called her sister, and told me to speak to her. Her sister told me that I was a horrible person who deserved every horrible thing that ever happened to me, and that I abuse my mother when we bicker. Then proceeded to tell me that I had 24 hours to stop behaving like that or I would be kicked out of my own home. I was so shocked that she spoke to me that way that I bit my tongue and said I understood. I have never ever been spoken to like that and to be called an abuser to the person I love most in the world absolutely shattered me. I still haven't fully comeback from that.
I decided in that moment, I didn't deserve that kind of treatment anymore and that I would be cutting them off. My mother would be moving into a nursing home, and they would be financially supporting her move. I knew this would make my situation more complicated considering I'm very involved in my mother's life, and so are they. I just can't take anymore of verbal abuse. I am so tired of crying and feeling worthless because of the ways they've torn me down over the years. I spoke with my therapist and talked to my friends, and I feel like cutting them off is the best decision that I could make for my own mental sanity at this point.
I've moved into my own apartment that I pay for with no ties to them. I intended for them not to have my address, but my mom told them where I live. My mom also believes that I can reconcile with them and that cutting them off is dramatic. Today, I logged into my streaming services on my TV to find that they had intentionally deleted my profiles off of all of my mother's streaming services. It feels so petty to me that these 60 year old women are going out of their way to delete my profiles just because I'm not speaking to them. I know that this makes family events more complicated. I feel horrible. I just can't take any more of their behavior towards me anymore. I don't feel like I can win. I can either speak with them and fake smile and endorse their name calling tendencies, or I can keep them cut off and make family gatherings difficult. I have no siblings, so the weight of this feels really heavy on me.
Do you think I should continue to keep them cut off? Do I try to reconcile?
TLDR: my mom's older sisters hate me and have been calling me names, so I cut them off. Should I try to reconcile?

Back story...I took my mother for her second follow-up appointment today after she almost died of anemia 2 months ago. I basically saved her life by forcing her to go to the doctor for the blood test that put her in the hospital for treatment. She was so grateful at the time, but now that she's feeling better, she spent the entire appointment today sweet talking the nurses, love bombing the phlebotomist, and flirting with the doctor. Meanwhile, she undermined every attempt I made to give factual and pertinent information to the doctor about her progress and condition. She was trying so hard to make me look like an asshole with her snide and ugly comments. It's completely exhausting, I just stood there looking at her and wondering how any of this came about. So what do y'all think? Is this personality innate? Is it formed from childhood trauma? Would it help in dealing with them to know the difference?

24 F, no prior diagnosis or illness besides anemia which I do take supplements for. Non smoker, non drinker.
My families cardiac history is quite frightening though. My mom has SVT and has been cardio diverted twice and had a STEMI (the widowmaker) all in the past 5 years and she’s only 56. My dad had a bicuspid valve, which he had to have replaced at 37. He also has had 3 aortic aneurysms, one was fixed during his heart surgery and two the doctors say are being caused by his mechanical valve. The doctors said there’s no need to worry about the aneurysms being genetic as they’re from the valve itself. My brother is 27 on medication for SVT and has been cardio diverted once in his early teens. My extended family also has a number of cardiac issues on both sides but that would be a whole other post if we got into those.
I was lucky enough to not have any issues in my teenage years and up until now. my parents would take my brother and I to a cardiologist once a year for a check up and the only issues they ever found with me was a very small ASD that I was told would repair over time.
Recently, my health has started to decline very quickly. I’m fatigued all of the time, I have a constant headache that’s not as much of a headache as pressure behind my eyes, I have chest discomfort that regularly switches from gas pain to a squeezing feeling and I often feel not that I’m out of breath, but that I can’t catch my breath.
The strangest part is that I’ve started monitoring my heart rate since having the symptoms and noticed an odd pattern. when I’m at rest, my heart rate is insane when I am active my heart rate is normal. My blood pressure is always within a normal limit (about 125/70). for example, I was eating dinner with my family yesterday and after sitting for over an hour and a half my heart rate was 127 but I had mowed the lawn earlier that day and felt great the entire time and after coming in and checking, it was only 88.
Now this morning, I went to do the dishes and only got through half a sink before my body started shaking to the point where my legs collapsed. I couldn’t take my own pulse because of the shaking, but I could see, hear and feel how hard my heart was beating. The only other time it’s gotten this bed was roughly a month ago when I was laying in bed, literally a second from falling asleep, my heart started pounding so hard it woke me up. I started taking deep breaths and laid there for a second thinking that it would reside and all of a sudden it sounded like a train in my ears, I could no longer hear the TV, I couldn’t hear my fiancé talk to me all I could do was close my eyes and try to breathe.
How likely is it that I’ll have a heart attack or major cardiac issue in the next 30 to 45 days? I know it sounds ridiculous that I’m not in the ER or getting care now but I recently lost my job and insurance and am going through the long, drawn out process of getting state insurance. I did go to urgent care one morning when I felt out of breath, when I arrived my heart rate was in the 130’s, the Dr there said I also looked a little grey and sent me to the ER by ambulance. I don’t remember my vitals from the ER ride, I was calling my mom and also freaking out a bit. When I arrived at the hospital they said my oxygen was at 100, they did an echo and chest x ray, did say my heart rate was a little high but said ‘that happens’ and sent me home. I honestly feel like I got blown off because of my age and I’m now over $2k in medical debt because “that happens”. I sincerely can not afford to do that again and pay out of pocket for it, I HAVE to be able to wait for insurance. My biggest question is how likely is it that I can wait that long and am I doing like major irreparable damage to my heart by waiting? Without insurance to make a cardiologist appt as a new patient at the place that will accept payments is 3/4 weeks so with or without insurance I’m forced to wait it out.

I am male, and I apologise in advance that I may potentially offend some individuals.
There is a shortage of Male MHWs, in Scotland. I wonder what this ratio is, in other parts of the world ?. ( please inform me )
After experiencing female Psychiatrists and , several times getting my diagnosis wrong, proscribing inappropriate medications, and generally doing and saying inappropriate toxic stuff, as well as having poor listening skills. And I include the mental health wards female nurses also.
There is a scientific difference between men and women . And at any one time a male patient who may be in a very sensitive state, and doesn’t need a person on their minstrel period, “schizoing out” at them for their own personal reasons and shortcomings.
I think a solution to this problem would be to require female MHWs to declare when they have their periods.
They would only have to work 2•5 — 3 weeks per month compared to males working the whole month, but be paid an equal amount as the men do for the whole month.
I think this would be great, for the industry and beneficial for both mens and women’s wellbeing on both side of the divide patients and the staff, that have to put up with us.

Hi all.
A malignant tumour was found during a colonoscopy my Gran had at the beginning of the month. She’s had her MRI + CT scan, and a chat with a colorectal surgeon/specialist already, however it’s now a 3 week wait till we find out what stage and what happens next. This was difficult to accept as the not knowing is really hard on us, but my Gran mainly of course. She’s strong and positive, but is also very information driven, so really wants to have a proper formal diagnosis (we’re still going off colonoscopy diagnosis) and wants to know exactly where she stands. But that’s not possible for three weeks. 😕
We really don’t know what to do in the meantime, though. My Gran is having some really uncomfortable + painful symptoms: having to empty bowels several times a day — basically anytime she eats, blood in stool, urgency, pain in her rectum, back pain. The colorectal nurse just said to manage symptoms like she has been before, but that’s the thing: she wasn’t “managing” her symptoms! That’s why she ended up having a colonoscopy; the previous methods used to manage her symptoms of what she was told was IBS, had stopped working and they became more frequent and difficult to manage. It’s especially hard for her now as she is aware that the symptoms she’s experiencing are because of the malignancy in that area, so every time she experiences these symptoms now she feels even more anxious and stressed.
How did any of you manage your symptoms (if you had any) while you waited to progress to surgery/treatment? I can’t believe she just has to deal with it for three weeks while knowing it’s cancer.

Yesterday I went to the hospital because I've been having a higher than normal resting heart rate (around 120BPM) after my first AC treatment this past Wednesday. Oncology Nursing line said it could be anxiety or a blood clot, but I should go to emergency to rule out a clot. I haven't had shortness of breath or anything, just a couple episodes of palpitations and 2 instances of AFIB I caught on my Apple Watch. I've also had 2 back to back colds because I have a toddler who catches all the illnesses, so I've been having coughing/sinus issues on and off for a couple of months. I still have a lingering, productive cough.
A slew of blood tests were ordered, plus X Ray and CTPA. X Ray came back normal, CTPA showed no blood clots and also showed no enlarged lymph nodes, yay!
However, under lungs there was a note of a 2mm nonspecific lung nodule.
My previous PET at time of diagnosis showed no metastasis, potentially some lymph node involvement, but my lymph node biopsies (FNA + repeat core) came back with no evidence of malignancy. The MRI didn't catch anything in the lungs either, just the tumor and 2 potential nodes.
I see my surgical oncologist Thursday, and MO next Monday, and I will obviously be asking them all the questions, but I am so incredibly anxious about this new discovery.
I am partway through treatment, and according to my most recent ultrasound just over a couple of weeks ago when I had just barely completed 11/12 taxol carboplatin, my initial tumor shrunk 97% in volume. I was pretty relieved about these results a couple of weeks back.
Now this?? Could it be possible this new spot is mets? I need positive stories because I am freaking the eff out.
Edited to add context

I'm newly diagnosed with chronic migraines and a little annoyed that my doctor (an MS specialist, that's what the other docs thought I had) didn't tell me at ALL about over use of triptans. If this is the right diagnosis, it's causing issues all over my body (numbness, weakness, feeling wet were I am not, neck/coat hanger pain, difficulty swallowing).
So, like a dumbass, I took the Maxalt and it helped, no sleepiness and was as close to pain free as I've felt in three years!! But when the medicine wears off I'm right back at square one. So... I took it for seven days straight 😬 then Saturday I had what I can only assume was a rebound attack. Insomnia, couldn't move, throwing up and throwing down. Having that one good day was so amazing 👏🏻
Now my son has two important concerts two days in a row I need to attend. Light doesn't seem to be a trigger, but noise sure as hell is. I smell rubbing alcohol when the pain is going to be very bad (though haven't read others who smell the same thing). Too strong of smells can also bring an attack on.
I'm still trying to navigate this, and my doctors nurse is setting up a telehealth visit to discuss the MRI they didn't have from 2022 (I waited 5 months for my appointment and called ahead of time to make sure my records were moved but it didn't get done (?)). I got a migraine app to help me record my symptoms and try and make sense of my triggers.
What would you do in my situation? Can I take two more days of Maxalt to get through these concerts? I left a message with the nurse, but they don't call back for a couple of days.
I do not access MyChart as I have health anxiety as it is and do NOT want to see what doctors write about me or have the opportunity to look at results without someone being able to explain them to me. I will have 11 years clean from opiates May 25th, and have a lot of anxiety about reporting pain to a doctor. I still get accused of addict behaviors even if I start the visit with "I'm an addict in remission, I will not take any addictive medications", but it's worse if I don't bring it up at all.
If you read this far, thank you so much. I feel so lost and CANNOT disappoint my son by missing his concerts. I am prescribed gabapentin, but it hasn't helped and I'm trying to wean off of it (did you know gaba withdrawal is frighteningly similar to opiate withdrawal?!?). I take magnesium citrate, B6, and B12. I cut added sugars out completely and went gluten free/low carb in March to try to get a handle on my neuropathy, which, again, I was told for the last 2 years was caused by "suspected MS". I was also diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia in 2023, which my new doc says is also a misdiagnosis- that all of this gestures wildly is caused by migraines. You do not want to know how much fucking money I wasted on the fun Specialist Carousel 💸
I've seen 5 specialists in all areas of the hospital (gastro, rheum, neuro, gyno, and dermatology) and this is the first doctor to even mention migraines 😡 but since the Maxalt works, I think this doctor finally got it right. I can't find anywhere on the internet that says triptans help with any other condition besides migraines.
Thank you again if you stayed for the whole TED Talk, any help or insight greatly appreciated. This all feels too much and I feel very alone 😔 I hope you're feeling as good as you can feel today!!!

My father has mild to moderate dementia (final diagnosis pending), and I'm looking into options for him to transition into assisted living/nursing care. He is currently living with us in the short term, but we have a very young family (including a newborn) and it will not be sustainable or safe to be his full-time caregiver in the long term.
He has some retirement savings + social security that will hopefully be able to cover expenses for a bit, but he will likely need to transition to Medicaid eventually. I know talking to an eldercare lawyer is an important step, but until I have a narrowed down list of states I do not want to spend the money on state-specific elder lawyer feedback. He previously lived in Florida and has extended family in Indiana - those are the two states where I have started looking at options. However, most of the family is very spread out, so we are open to moving him to any state that has benefits or more cost-effective eldercare.
Some questions for the community because I truthfully do not know where to start in finding him a long-term option:

• Are there specific states that are known to have better or more affordable assisted living facility options?
  
• Are there any state programs (e.g. Medicaid vouchers) that we should consider to help drive our decision? Is there an easy way to compare from state-to-state?
  
• Anything you wish you considered when selecting a facility?
  

Thank you in advance!

Hi. New here. I'm 25 and I suffered a concussion back in 2016 and have just kinda been bleh ever since. Recently a nurse that I work with commented that I sound like a pots patient, I have never heard of this before and once I looked into it I'm nervous that I might have it so any helpful perspectives are welcome. Pls be nice to me.
I've been in and out of the doctor since I was 17 with all these weird symptoms for years. Never knew what any of it was and my doctor at the time just assumed I was a "high-stress" person that shows stress psychically thanks to good ole college. Headaches, stomach cramping, temp regulation, tunnel vision every time I stand, heartbeat hammers in my chest for no reason, etc. I believe her and we all move on.
Now fast forward, I've graduated college (also I don't really get stressed....I'm just not an anxious person at all) and still have all of the same symptoms plus some new fun additions. I fainted for the first time last fall. Super weird, I jumped up off the couch to grab a snack during an ad break and woke up on the floor. Pretty sure I seized as well, not a seizure but I think my body seized as a reflex. I don't know. Anyway, I got to my doctor and she told me she doesn't know and to let her know if it happens again. I move on, life goes on.
Every time I stand from a chair or get out of bed, I get dizzy, and have tunnel vision, I've lost vision completely before and had to lay on the floor in fear that I'll collapse or smash into something, and now each time it happens (every day) I'm nervous I'm going to faint again because these are all symptoms I had the day I fainted. I just thought it was normal, this has been my life since I got that concussion.
Finally, I have my own insurance and I go to a new doctor in a new state. I explain everything. We go through all of these tests, EKG, heart echo, heart monitor for two weeks, the whole deal. Bill me 2K and no answers, they tell me my heart is totally healthy and my blood pressure is always a bit low.
Here is some of the data I've collected at home with an approved heart monitor
62-114 bpm 1/30/24 standing up from bed.
86-132 bpm 1/31/24 standing up from bed.
65-107 bpm 4/1/2024 standing from the desk chair.
69-109 bpm 4/1/2024 standing from desk chair.
73-120 bpm 4/3/24 standing from bed.
68-121 bpm 4/4/24 getting out of bed.
76-115 bpm 4/9/24 standing from desk chair.
73-128 bpm 4/11/24 getting out of bed.
74-118 bpm 5/1/24 standing from a chair.
70-118 bpm 5/14/24 getting out of bed.
62-99 bpm 5/16/24 standing from chair.
​
I tried to be consistent, I definitely forgot for a few months. But it's consistent and while my symptoms are heavily influenced by my period, it happens in all phases of my cycle so it's not like it's symptoms from my period alone.
I have a tilt table test TOMORROW at mayo and I am so nervous that this is going to be that cardiologist appointment all over again where I'm not listened to and dismissed. I'm ok if I don't have POTS, I'm not feining for a diagnosis or anything. However, I am desperate for HELP! I'm really freaked that something is going on and why am I close to fainting every day? I believe that I fit the POTS criteria but I'm the unluckiest person in the world and I'm nervous I won't be "potsy" enough to warrant any help. SOS. I need a pat on the back.

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I recently completed my 2nd round of IVF. I just got the call and was told that my results are “amazing” and that I currently have 9 blasts, and three more embryos likely to form into blasts tomorrow!
Some background: I’m 35 and I have PCOS. My last cycle was not great. I did full stim, and went into OHSS. During my 3rd monitoring ultrasound, the nurses were counting and measuring my follicles aloud. I was trying to keep track but lost count at around 50 follicles! At the end of the ultrasound, I asked how many follicles I had, and they said “too many to quantify” and informally categorized it as a “shit ton”. It was extremely painful and became difficult to do routine things, like getting out of bed or up from a chair. Because of the OHSS they told me to stop taking shots, and replaced my trigger shot with one without HCG. I was still extremely optimistic because if I have so many follicles, there would have to be a few good eggs in that batch, right? I was wrong. Out of all of those follicles, I only got five embryos, and by day 7, I got one poorly formed early-blast (4CC) that had so few cells that they couldn’t biopsy it because it would get damaged.
This time around, I did a MINI stim IVF cycle (about half the dose) and I took an hCG trigger shot. My doctor said her aim in the change of protocol was to get quality over quantity, and to avoid me going into OHSS. I still ended up with 23 eggs, which made me a bit nervous about what the quality would be. But 20 of them were mature, 17 fertilized, and on day one I had 13 embryos being monitored. I received my update call and was told I have 9 blasts:
Day 5: 2 blasts (4AA and 4BC) Day 6: 7 blasts (two 5AB, two 5BB, and three 5BC)
And the doctor’s office says there are three more embryos likely to turn into blasts tomorrow (Day 7). So I may end up with 12!
Given the results of my first cycle, my PCOS and a recent endometriosis diagnosis, I was extremely nervous about my post retrieval update. I am extremely hopeful and optimistic this time around and I’m praying I receive more good news when I get the PGT testing results. Maybe I’ll even be able to have my first retrieval this year. Fingers crossed!

First off, there’s no question to whether I have it or not, I do. I am an addict, 31. Been injecting since I was 17. My case is really complicated bc I have an infected wound on my foot and had a hemoglobin level of 5. I got 3 blood transfusions so now I’m at 7.6. I got endocarditis for the first time in Feb 2023, I thought I was dying and still didn’t go to hospital. I have my reasons. I spent two weeks with severe, scary symptoms but eventually it got better and I don’t know if it went away or i was just asymptomatic. I was taking oral antibiotics that I had from something else.
I got the infection again about 7 weeks ago but it was much much worse this time. Like I thought my heart was failing bc it wasn’t pumping blood at full capacity. Anyway, my question is, what can a cardiologist do to diagnose me? I’m looking for one today, and hopefully getting an appointment. When I was in hospital there were no signs on CT, TTE, or EKG. I was tachycardic, have an enlarged spleen, a high d dimer, a crp of 187, & an esr of 84. Blood cultures negative. The issue is they blew it off and just attributed it to my anemia and foot infection. I’ve had severely low anemia and this foot infection for two years. Neither would make my labs that high. It’s been 7 weeks untreated but I am on oral antibiotics and Motrin and I am finally feeling normal again. I’m thinking if they take labs when the inflammation in my heart is down, they’ll see the levels are much lower and that could make them see that it was never my foot infection that caused the levels in the first place? But that wouldn’t exactly be an iron clad diagnosis.
So my question here is what else can they do for a complicated case like mine to get diagnosed? Would they just go straight to heart biopsy? Bc if the hospital couldn’t see it when my heart was so inflamed and my symptoms were so severe, I feel like how would they see it now? Is a heart biopsy the only way?