My mum has an illness but don't want to get it checked. Rather than medical treatment, she wants to go through traditional medicine more. I'm a medical student. What I'm seeing from her, the symptoms that she is manifesting, I couldn't help but to think of the worst disease possible. After all, that's how I was taught in my class.
At first, I tell myself to give her time. Then, I'll coax her to see doctor again but she won't budge. She said I'm stressing her out but I'm stuck between letting her know what I knew from my studies or making her more stress when she what I knew about my suspected diagnosis.
Now, she is always irritable because she is in pain. Previously for 3 year straight since I've been away from home, I'll facetime her every night or maybe once every 2 night if I'm busy. She is my therapy. My stress reliever. Now, she's cranky all the time because of the pain. She's lethargic, couldn't spend time with me if I'm home. Now, she sleeps early because she's too tired to do anything. I couldn't even hear her voice.
Fuck me because I miss my mum. I want to talk to her, about my day or my university or my friends. I don't know. Anything silly but I want her to be my friend again. I don't want to tell my friends this and other than my mum, I have no one to talk about this. I'm so sad tonight.

My cat will only eat Hills Urinary prescription food. He inhales the dry food and then throws it up because he refuses to chew even with a puzzle tray.
The wet food is $3 per can and I have to split each can between 2 cats because he would eat the other cats food if we fed it differently.
We split a cat in the morning and feed a bit of dry food in the afternoon/evening but it's practically wasted because he throws it up.
Any thoughts on what I should ask my vet about? They keep saying he has to stay on the diet permanently.
Diet backstory: we moved from an apartment into a small room and he was stressed significantly which caused FLUTD. We changed his diet to prescription and he cleared up, now he has more space and is less stressed but the vet isn't convinced.
This diet is so expensive but I don't want my cat to be in pain again (and cause me medical bills).

I spend a lot of time researching how our nervous system works and what may contribute to the development of Visual Snow and other symptoms. Remember that there is a lot of vital information that I do not know, and may greatly benefit our understanding of this condition. Visual snow is described as an "epileptic" firing in the visual system in the brain. (Tinnitus behaves very similarly but it is occurring in the auditory nerves) NMDA glutamate receptors, which are overexpressed after excitotoxic injury may well be the trigger of an increased spontaneous firing in the nerves. In turn, the brain would decode this increased firing as "visual snow" The idea is that remaining nerve endings have been damaged enough to overexpress NMDA Glutamate receptors, thus increasing their spontaneous firing.There are various factors that contribute to the development of this condition. Everybody first had an initial trigger, and this varies from person to person. Common causes include stress, trauma, recreational and prescription drugs, Lyme, mold, heavy metals, and other toxic exposures. But what they all result in is brain injury and neuronal damage. The severity varies from person to person. The consequences of such injury doesn't just cause break in communication between healthy neurons, but a cascade of events that can lead to further neuronal degeneration and cell death. That is where visual snow comes in. Think of a broken radio or a TV where it isn't able to receive and process incoming signals so the outcome is a lot of visual/auditory noise. Our brains behave in a similar manner when there is an interference with proper neuron function and communication.Another good example is a type of neuropathic pain called paresthesia where you experience tingling and pricking sensations in various parts of your body. When nerves are damaged, they can't communicate properly and that miscommunication causes symptoms such as pain, tingling or numbness.Medical researchers searching for new medications for visual snow often look to the connection between the nerve cells in the brain and the various agents that act as neurotransmitters, such as the central nervous system's primary excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate. Visual snow can be caused when damaged brain cells emit an excess of glutamate. Many treatments use ingredients that work as glutamate antagonists, or inhibitors. Communication between nerve cells in the brain is accomplished through the use of neurotransmitters. There are many compounds that act as neurotransmitters including acetylcholine, serotonin, GABA, glutamate, aspartate, epinephrine, norpinephrine and dopamine. These chemicals attach to nerve cells at specific receptors that allow for only one type of neurotransmitter to attach.Some of the neurotransmitters are excitatory; leading to increased electrical transmission between nerve cells. Others are inhibitory and reduce electrical activity. The most common excitatory neurotransmitters are glutamate and aspartate while the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter is GABA. It is necessary for excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters to be in balance for proper brain function to occur.Communication over synapses between neurons are controlled by glutamate. When brain cells are damaged, excessive glutamate is released. Glutamate is well known to have neurotoxic properties when excessively released or incompletely recycled. This is known as excitotoxicity and leads to neuronal death.Excess glutamate opens the sodium channel in the neuron and causes it to fire. Sodium continues to flow into the neuron causing it to continue firing. This continuous firing of the neuron results in a rapid buildup of free radicals and inflammatory compounds. These compounds attack the mitochondria, the energy producing elements in the core of the neuron cell. The mitochondria become depleted and the neuron withers and dies.Excitotoxicity has been involved in a number of acute and/or degenerative forms of neuropathology such as epilepsy, autism, ALS, Parkinson’s, schizophrenia, migraines, restless leg syndrome, tourettes, pandas, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, Huntington's, seizures, insomnia, hyperactivity, OCD, bipolar disorder and anxiety disorders.(Doctors use two basic ways to correct this imbalance. The first is to activate GABA receptors that will inhibit the continuous firing caused by glutamate. The second way to correct the imbalance is use antogonists to glutamate and its receptor N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA). These are termed glutamate or NMDA antagonists. By binding with these receptors, the antagonist medication reduces glutamate-induced continuous firing of the neuron. This explains why some drugs like clonazepam and lamictal are able to help relieve symptoms in some patients. They help reduce excitatory action in the brain temporarily)Anxiety, depression, brain fog, depersonalization, visual disturbances (including visual snow, palinopsia, blue field entoptic phenomenon, photophobia, photopsia) headaches, tinnitus, are all common symptoms associated with increased excitatory activity in the brain. Excessive glutamate is the primary villain in visual snow.I strongly believe there are some genetic components that play a huge role in the development of Visual Snow and makes some individuals more susceptible to developing it. Normally, glutamate concentration is tightly controlled in the brain by various mechanisms at the synapse. There are at least 30 proteins that are membrane-bound receptor or transporter proteins at, or near, the glutamate synapse that control or modulate neuronal excitability. But in Visual Snow sufferers, my hypothesis is that we carry a faulty gene that results in dysregulation of the proteins that control and regulate glutamate excitability. They are unknown as more research will be needed.We live in a society where we are stressed emotionally, financially, physically and exposed to a range of toxins in our environment. Combining underlying genetic susceptibility with these other factors creates all the ingredients for a perfect storm.Stress + Infectious Agents (if any) + Toxins + Genetic Susceptibility = Health ConditionIncluded below is a list of things that can lead to excitotoxicity. The list includes trauma, drugs, environmental, chemicals and miscellaneous causes of brain cell damage. (Keep in mind everybody's bodies behave and react differently to various substances)-Severe Stress (Most people that are stressed out don’t realize that once the fight-or-flight response gets activated it can release things like cortisol and epinephrine into the body. Although these boost alertness, in major concentrations, the elevated levels of cortisol over an extended period of time can damage brain functioning and kill brain cells)-Free Radicals – Free radicals are highly-reactive forms of oxygen that can kill brain cells and cause brain damage. If the free radicals in your brain run rampant, your neurons will be damaged at a quicker rate than they can be repaired. This leads to brain cell death as well as cognitive decline if not corrected. (Common causes are unhealthy diet, lifestyle and toxic exposure)-Head Trauma (like concussion or contusion) MRI can detect damaged brain tissue BUT not damaged neurons. -Dehydration (severe)-Cerebal Hypoxia-Lyme disease-Narcolepsy-Sleep Apnea-Stroke-Drugs (recreational or prescription) -Amphetamine abuse-Methamphetamines-Antipsychotics-Benzodiazepine abuse-Cocaine-Esctasy -LSD-Cannabis-Tobacco-Inhalants-Nitrous Oxide-PCP-Steroids-Air Pollution-Carbon Monoxide-Heavy Metal Exposure (such as lead, copper and mercury)-Mold Exposure-Welding fumes-Formaldehyde-Solvents-Pesticides-Anesthesia-Aspartame-MSG (Monosodium Glutamate is found in most processed foods and is hidden under many various names)-Solvents-Chemotherapy-Radiation-Other toxic exposuresInside the Glutamate StormBy: Vivian Teichberg, and Luba Vikhanski"The amino acid glutamate is the major signaling chemical in nature. All invertebrates (worms, insects, and the like) use glutamate for conveying messages from nerve to muscle. In mammals, glutamate is mainly present in the central nervous system, brain, and spinal cord, where it plays the role of a neuronal messenger, or neurotransmitter. In fact, almost all brain cells use glutamate to exchange messages. Moreover, glutamate can serve as a source of energy for the brain cells when their regular energy supplier, glucose, is lacking. However, when its levels rise too high in the spaces between cells—known as extracellular spaces—glutamate turns its coat to become a toxin that kills neurons.As befits a potentially hazardous substance, glutamate is kept safely sealed within the brain cells. A healthy neuron releases glutamate only when it needs to convey a message, then immediately sucks the messenger back inside. Glutamate concentration inside the cells is 10,000 times greater than outside them. If we follow the dam analogy, that would be equivalent to holding 10,000 cubic feet of glutamate behind the dam and letting only a trickle of one cubic foot flow freely outside. A clever pumping mechanism makes sure this trickle never gets out of hand: When a neuron senses the presence of too much glutamate in the vicinity—the extracellular space—it switches on special pumps on its membrane and siphons the maverick glutamate back in.This protective pumping process works beautifully as long as glutamate levels stay within the normal range. But the levels can rise sharply if a damaged cell spills out its glutamate. In such a case, the pumps on the cellular membranes can no longer cope with the situation, and glutamate reveals its destructive powers. It doesn’t kill the neuron directly. Rather, it overly excites the cell, causing it to open its pores excessively and let in large quantities of substances that are normally allowed to enter only in limited amounts.One of these substances is sodium, which leads to cell swelling because its entry is accompanied by an inrush of water, needed to dilute the surplus sodium. The swelling squeezes the neighboring blood vessels, preventing normal blood flow and interrupting the supply of oxygen and glucose, which ultimately leads to cell death. Cell swelling, however, is reversible; the cells will shrink back once glutamate is removed from brain fluids. More dangerous than sodium is calcium, which is harmless under normal conditions but not when it rushes inside through excessively opened pores. An overload of calcium destroys the neuron’s vital structures and eventually kills it.Regardless of what killed it, the dead cell spills out its glutamate, all the vast quantities of it that were supposed to be held back by the dam. The spill overly excites more cells, and these die in turn, spilling yet more glutamate. The destructive process repeats itself over and over, engulfing brain areas until the protective pumping mechanism finally manages to stop the spread of glutamate."Recent research has confirmed that hypermetabolism has been primarily found in the right lingual gyrus and left cerebellar anterior lobe of the brain in individuals suffering from visual snow. The definition of hypermetabolism is described as "the physiological state of increased rate of metabolic activity and is characterized by an abnormal increase in metabolic rate." Hypermetabolism typically occurs after significant injury to the body. It serves as one of the body's strongest defence against illness and injury. This means that the brain is trying to compensate for the injured areas in the brain by increasing metabolism to meet it's high energy demands. It is trying to function to the best of it's ability under the circumstances. Normally the body can heal itself and regenerate under the right circumstances. But it is extremely difficult for the central nervous system - which includes the spinal cord and brain to be able to do so, due to it's inhibitory environment which prevents new neurons from forming. That is where stem cells come in. Stem cells are an exciting new discovery, because they can become literally any cell in the body including neurons. This is an amazing scientific breakthrough and has the potential to treat a whole host of conditions. Scientists are currently doing research and conducting trials.Excitotoxicity can trigger your "fight or flight" response, as this is the body's primary response to illness, injury or infection. If the brain and the body remain in the sympathetic fight or flight state for too long and too often, it is degenerative; it breaks us down. If this cycle continues, then eventually the system burns out. It is this cycle that results in autonomic nervous system dysfunction. The results are disastrous, digestion is shut down, metabolism, immune function and the detoxification system is impaired, blood pressure and heart rate are increased, circulation is impaired, sleep is disrupted, memory and cognitive function may be impaired, neurotransmitters are drained, our sense of smell, taste and sound are amplified, high levels of norepinephrine are released in the brain and the adrenal glands release a variety of hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.I believe in order to find a treatment or cure for VS and it's accompanying symptoms, we need to address the underlying cause, reduce the excess excitatory activity in the brain, repair the damaged neurons, regain proper communication between neurons, rebalance the autonomic nervous system and prevent further cellular damage. We also need to figure out what genes, if any come into play. There is still a lot we don't know about the brain because it is such an remarkably complex organ.FAQsWon't lowering the levels of glutamate solve the problem? Well, not necessarily. That is just one piece of the puzzle. You have to remember that Visual Snow is a multifactorial and complex condition in which it stems from a number of different causes and influences. Based on my knowledge and the information I have gathered, I can conclude that the overstimulation of glutamate plays a huge role in VS and some other symptoms we experience. But there is still so much we don't know. That's why more research will be needed.Why is my condition worsening over time?That is a very good question. It is because the physiology, biology and chemistry of your brain and nervous system has been altered and has become dysfunctional since the initial trigger set off a domino of effects that leads to further degradation in the body. This puts a huge strain on your body and is constantly activating your stress response system. This will wreak havoc on your entire body. The stress response system was designed to deal with brief emergencies that threaten survival. It isn't supposed to last very long because the body cannot sustain itself for very long in this state. When you remain in "fight or flight" sympathetic state for too long, it becomes degenerative and breaks our bodies down. This affects every system in the body. When you are constantly under stress, the stress response system never turns off resulting in an ongoing destructive cycle. Stress can also exacerbate all your symptoms and makes you susceptible to developing other chronic health conditions. How is the gut related to VS?Having increased intestinal permeability is very common in this modern world because we are constantly being bombarded by toxins and stress. Our bodies weren't designed to handle such a huge burden. So we end up getting sick and become susceptible to kinds of diseases. Common causes include:-Poor diet (from excessive consumption of foods such as grains, legumes, sugars, alcohol)-Chronic stress-Toxin overload-Gut dysbiosis (It means you have a lack of beneficial bacteria in your gastrointestinal (GI) tract. They are overpowered and outnumbered by pathogens such as pathogenic bacteria, yeast, viruses, parasites)-Overuse of antibiotics When you have increased intestinal permeability, the epithelium on the villi of the small intestine becomes inflamed and irritated, which allows metabolic, microbial and environmental toxins and undigested food particles to flood into the blood stream. This event compromises the liver, the lymphatic system, and the immune response including the endocrine system. It is often the primary cause of the following common conditions: asthma, food allergies, chronic sinusitis, eczema, urticaria, migraine, irritable bowel, fungal disorders, fibromyalgia, and inflammatory joint disorders including rheumatoid arthritis are just a few of the diseases that can originate from having poor gut health.This sets the stage for chronic systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired detoxification, gastrointestinal dysfunction and immune system dysregulation.Some toxins have the ability to damage and destroy neurons, myelin sheaths, synapses and even DNA. An overload of toxins that the immune system is not able to get rid of disrupts normal brain function. This eventually initiates an autoimmune response where the immune system attacks the brain and nerve cells as it tries it’s best to eliminate the toxins.The mitochondria are the energy producing section of your cells. When they are damaged by the toxic overload in the brain cells and are not able to produce energy to fuel the cell, the cell dies.In order to stop this vicious cycle, the underlying biological mechanisms of VS needs to be understood. That is the first step that needs to be taken. Any other stressors also needs to be addressed in order to reduce the overall stress load.It is important to know that VS is just a symptom of underlying physiological stress in the brain. Symptoms are your body's way of communicating with you, letting you know something is wrong in the body.I've come across some research indicating that microglial activation and elevated nitric oxide is involved in some neurological conditions. Basically the microglial cells are our brain's immune cells and when something triggers an inflammatory response, they activate and release harmful neurotoxic compounds (such as nitric oxide and pro-inflammatory cytokines) which results in neuronal injury/death. Microglial activation can also result in a loss of synaptic connections in different regions of the brain. It's basically an autoimmune response in the brain. The neuroinflammatory process appears to be an ongoing and chronic cycle of central nervous system dysfunction. This can deplete glutathione levels in the body. Glutathione is the body’s most important antioxidant which is capable of preventing oxidative damage caused by reactive oxygen species such as free radicals, peroxides, lipid peroxides, and heavy metals. This only further exaggerates the problem, which only leads to a cascade of increased inflammation.Nitric oxide plays a vital role in this process. Elevated nitric oxide levels reduces and impair natural killer cells which leads to a vulnerable immune system that is susceptible to a variety of systemic infections. -Phobe Zhang

Hey guys
Since we are a heavy medical sub, I thought we should have a couple of placeholders where people could add their strain selections in the LEGAL canadian market, specifically for pain.
I will start
Girl Scout Platinum - Coast Mountain Cannabis
Pisol and Paris - Pink Goo
What are yours?
Tx

Yesss they just removed my drains and I'm cleared to shower tomorrow! I feel truly released 😀. Everything looked good underneath the binder. I wish everybody had such a smooth recovery, really!! I feel confident to slowly get off pain medication now. I will continue taking arnica, ptoteine and pineapple.

Details: 20F, no diagnoses or medications currently taken. I’m Asian & I weigh about 122 lbs (not sure if this needs to be included). I’m also vegetarian.
I have been having some terrible GI issues for the last couple of years. I have extreme nausea on a regular basis, and this nausea often leads to dry heaving which is extremely uncomfortable. These “episodes” come and go and usually last for a couple of weeks.
No matter what I eat, I have extreme bloating and issues with my bowel movements. It’s extremely painful and also uncomfortable. Either I’m having multiple bowel movements a day (and these are rather loose and unhealthy) or none at all for multiple days at a time. My stomach is in constant pain.
What could this be? I’ve tried cutting out foods, eating smaller meals, avoiding dairy, and nothing seems to be helping.
One thing I forgot to add: this issue seems to be worse around the times I’m stressed out.

Given my info below, what schools should I add/remove from my school list? I'm aiming for 35-40 MD's and 15+ DO's. A
1.cGPA: 3.80 sGPA: 3.78 2. MCAT: 504->506->509 (127 CP, 125 cars, 128 BB, 129 PS) 3. NJ resident 4. Southeast Asian 5. Undergrad: Biology major with Psychology minor 6. Clinical: 440 hours as nursing assistant, 230 hours scribing, 350 hospice volunteering 7. Research: 1000 hours in undergraduate with one poster, 230 hours in summer research internship at local medical school 8. Shadowing: rheumatology, pain management, vascular surgeon, orthopedic surgeon, 100 hours 9. Non-clinical volunteering: 100 hours through fraternity service events, 400 hours in assisted living facility, 100 hours in food donation program for underserved populations 10. leadership: 520 as fraternity president, 480 as president of organization that ran events to promote school's biology program 11. awards: deans list every sem except first sem (B- in one class, one of three B's in college), magna cum laude (pretty sure both of these implied by my GPA) 12. Other: graduated college may 2023, took mcat twice after graduating (first was beginning of senior year), applying this cycle, believe I have a well written application
School list MD: 1. Robert Wood Johnson 2. Cooper Medical School 3. Hackensack Meridian 4. Albany medical college 5. Lewis Katz (Temple) 6. Loma Linda University School of Medicine 7. Medical College of Wisconisn 8. Loyola 9. Indiana University 10. Robert Larner Vermont 11. Eastern Virginia 12. West Virginia 13. Geisenger 14. Michigan State 15. Wayne State 16. northeast ohio 17. Washington State University Elson S. Floyd 18. minnesota 19. george washingotn 20. kentucky 21. Rush 22. toledo 23. Drexel 24. New Jersey Medical School 25. University of Arizona Tuscon 26. Wake Forest 27. California Northstate 28. Quinnipac 29. penn state 30. NOVA Southeastern 31. Belmond Med School 32. Tulane 33. oakland beaumont
School List DO: 1. Western UCOMP 2. Rowan SOM 3. Kansas City University (KCU COM) 4. Phily Colege of Medicien (PCOM) 5. Touro Nevada (TUNCOM) 6. Campbell (CUCOM) 7. AT Still (ATSU KCOM) 8. Marian University College of Medicine (MUCOM) 9. NOVA Southeastern 10. NYITCOM 11. LECOM 12. Touro-NY 13. Des Moine COM

TLDR: Received a conflicting hernia diagnosis, two surgeons at Shouldice believe I do not have a hernia because there is no palpable bump/lump, ultrasound result and local surgeon believe I do have a hernia. I'm now very confused.
Felt something wrong in lower right groin area, GP wasn't sure what it was, sent me for ultrasound, then I received diagnosis of a hernia. Travelled to Shouldice, two surgeons examined me and both determined I don't have a hernia, but rather most likely groin strain - which I kind of bought into because it occurred after a few days straight of golfing and my hip/groin area had shown sensitivity in past after golfing. Was finally able to talk to local surgeon (no examination) said they there's likely a hernia because it was on the ultrasound image. There's no lump or bump, but something feels 'loose and out of place' for lack of a better description (pain not too bad but dull ache and sharp pain in some positions/movements). Feeling confused with different medical professionals providing different diagnosis and trusting different exams. (Note: not asking for further diagnosis - just wanted to tell story and hear if other's had similar experience.)
But has anyone gone through a similar experience of conflicting diagnosis?

I am female, 18 year old, i am 5’5, weigh 43kgs currently. I don’t have any medical issues right now.
All of my nails grow fine but this specific one was suddenly growing weirdly. I could feel discomfort around that nail, palpating sensation and a little bit pain as well. I thought it might be because I hit end of door or bed or something and injured that nail. But it started growing so outward, has weird whiteee colour and grew thickly and different compared to other nails. Then one day i just decided to cut all of that nail off( that is why that nail looks a little funky).
I did and it has been growing again weirdly. I still have some palpating or blood pumping sensation on that nail and around it. What is it?
Here is the image: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1prQGtYmTMCyAOdXSHHv9TeyUrxzCdf8F/view?usp=drivesdk

I had my hair transplant yesterday and wanted to share with you guys how it went since I saw very few detailed refuse I had my hair transplant yesterday and wanted to share with you guys how it went since I saw very few detailed reviews in the past. I contacted them initially through WhatsApp after I saw an ad on Instagram. The consultation process was fairly simple. They asked me to take a few pictures and they were able to give me out of estimate of the work that needs to be done. They also gave me the cost estimate and I opted to take the package that included the hotel reservation so I don’t have to worry about that. They asked me to send my flight booking for a confirmation but they did not ask for any down payment. I arrived to Cancun Sunday and they were very organized. They sent me a text message prior to my landing with the car picture and where the pick up location is supposed to be. I got to the hotel which wasn’t bad and had some restaurants urants downstairs. They texted me and asked me to relax for the day and that I will be picked up on Monday 7:30 AM. I went to the clinic on Monday morning. They performed an in-person consultation when we discussed the options and I opted to take the PRP and mesthotherapy based on the experience of few friends who did transplant in the past. Dr.Enes (who is Turkish like the entire staff) shaved my head and started drawing the hairline. I made a few minor adjustments to make it more even and once we agreed on the finalized drawing, we proceeded with the procedure. I would not lie, the anesthesia was so painful. The good news is it lasts for a few seconds only and its managable. The doctor himself did the harvesting, then I got a small break to go to the bathroom and they brought me back to numb the front which was even more painful than the back but again lasts for few minutes. When the implants started, they hooked me up and IV with painkillers and antibiotics. It was so comfortable that I think I slept for a few minutes during that part of the procedure. The whole process was done by the doctor himself. They provided lunch, but it’s cold, soggy, and tasteless so cur The whole process was done by the doctor himself. They provided lunch, but it’s cold, soggy, and tasteless so I would recommend getting your own lunch. I thought the process was easy and everything was done by the doctor and the final result looked great. I met another guy who flew from Texas and had similar experience. They will give medication bad with antibiotics, painkillers and some minor steroids. I would recommend them and I think its a bargain compared to what they charge us in the US.

I’m pregnant and due to deliver by c section due to medical complications. I had a c section with my last baby (now toddler 2.2 years) and I remember it took me forever to get in and out of bed; I couldn’t sit up or stand up for very long without pain until 2-3 months into the healing process. I can’t imagine how it would work having a toddler added into the mix.
My husband can take 2 weeks off of work but then has to go back - he has 12 hour days so I’ll be alone until he gets home around 6:30-7pm. Our family either have full time jobs or live too far away to be able to help, so no help from family at all.
My toddler will be 3 by the time the baby is here, would I be able to manage alone with a 3 year old - how difficult/easy are 3 year olds?
I did think to put all of our money together (saving over the next year; it would be about $1500 for a month for a nanny) and hire a nanny for a month or two but feel nervous about having a stranger in the house while I’m healing.
Did anyone here manage a toddler and a c section without any help from family or paid help?

My father was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in summer of 2022. He went through treatment and finished April 2023 . We followed up every 3 months for ct scans and he was told he was he was cancer free every time as recently as Dec 2023. He had some chest pain in Feb 2024. We went to local ER and they did a ct scan stating he had two new masses that were cancer. We followed up with his oncologist who said he needed to wait six weeks to do a pet scan because It was the only way that he would be able to tell if it was cancer. We waited the six weeks we went back for the PET scan, but my father was not feeling well that day, so we ended up not being able to have the test. He also ended up back in the hospital where they did another CT scan and the oncologist there said that there were two large masses and they were so large that there was nothing they could do, no treatment available. He was going to die within 4 months and they put him on hospice. I called his primary oncologist and they said that they trust the hospital oncologist and there was nothing they could do. He should just stay on hospice. I didn’t think this was possible so I ordered a PET scan about a month later and found out he is actually cancer free. He just had pneumonia and that was what was clouding the CT scan so they gave him a terminal diagnosis, and put him on hospice telling him that was it. Our entire family was dealing with his death. He was in grief counseling he gave away his stuff he was preparing to die. All of us were preparing for him to die. None of this should’ve happened. They should’ve ordered pet scan before giving a terminal cancer diagnosis and recommending hospice. from where I’m sitting, it’s negligent to say the least. They didn’t do proper testing and instead told him he was terminal and he was Facing his death! He is now on hospice for absolutely no reason. We had stopped all other medications for other things he's dealing with because we were told it was pointless. He now most certainly has PTSD from this. It's destroyed so much. People have come from all over the place spending money to say their goodbyes not to mention the emotional termoil we've all dealth with and especially him. I even changed jobs to be remote so I could be with him while in Hospice. Took of countless time from work etc. All things that never should have happened. The bottom line is he was told he had terminal cancer and he was gonna die. They put him on hospice and none of that was true. He had no cancer. He has been cancer free since April 2023 and during this terminal diagnosis it is caused our family unbearable grief, and lots of money. It could’ve been avoided if the proper tests were ordered, but they were not. Is there a case?

Many people face hair loss. If you are also suffering from loss, you may have tried different hair care products. Some people also try medications. But nothing seems to work. However, there can be one effective solution to this - a hair transplantation treatment.
Hair transplantation is a surgical process. It involves moving hair from one part of your scalp to another. Generally, hair grows in patches on your head. The back of your scalp generally has hair that keeps growing. This is called the donor area.
In this process, the surgeon takes hair grafts from the donor area. These grafts can have one to four hairs. The surgeon then makes small holes in the bald or thinning area, called the recipient area. They place the grafts in these holes. And eventually hair grows in this area.
If you are looking for the best hair transplant in Kolkata, consult an expert today.

Is Hair Transplant Effective?

Hair transplant provides effective results. The new hair looks natural. It grows at the same rate as your existing hair. However, a hair transplant's outcome depends on a lot of factors. They work best for people with stable hair loss. Here are some things to consider before opting for hair transplantation in Kolkata:

• Type of hair loss: Hair transplants work best for male pattern baldness. This is the most common type of hair loss and it affects both men and women.
• Amount of hair loss: If you have a lot of hair loss, you may need multiple hair transplant sessions.
• Quality of donor hair: The more donor hair you have, the better the results will be.

What to Expect During Hair Transplant Surgery

Hair transplant surgery is usually done as an outpatient procedure. This means you won't have to stay overnight in the hospital. Here is what to expect from a hair transplant procedure:

• The surgery can take several hours, depending on the number of grafts being transplanted.
• Local anesthesia is used to numb the area. You may also be given medication to help you relax.
• The surgeon uses a thin needle or blade to make tiny holes in the recipient area.
• They place the hair grafts in these holes.
• After the surgery, they bandage your scalp for a day or two.

Recovery After Hair Transplant Surgery

You may experience some swelling and discomfort after hair transplant surgery. This can be managed with pain medication. You may also see some scabbing around the transplanted hair. This is normal and will go away on its own within a few days.
Here are some tips for recovering from hair transplant surgery:

• Keep your scalp clean and dry.
• Avoid strenuous activity for a week or two.
• Don't wear hats or other headgear that could irritate your scalp.
• Be gentle when washing your hair.

Benefits of Hair Transplants

Hair transplants offer several benefits:

• Natural-looking hair: Transplanted hair grows and looks just like your natural hair.
• Permanent solution: Once the hair grows back, it should last a lifetime.
• Boosts confidence: Hair transplants can help you feel more confident about your appearance.

What are the Risks of Hair Transplant?

There are some risks associated with hair transplant, just like any other surgery. These include:

• Infection: This is a rare complication, but it's important to follow your doctor's instructions carefully to minimize the risk.
• Scarring: There is a small risk of scarring at the donor and recipient sites. However, these scars are usually very small and can be easily hidden by your hair.
• Bleeding: There may be some bleeding after surgery, but this is usually minimal.

Considering Hair Transplantation in Kolkata?

If you are considering hair transplantation in Kolkata, it's important to choose a qualified and experienced surgeon. Look for a surgeon who is certified by a reputable organization and has a proven track record of success.
Dr. Paul’s Advanced Hair & Skin Solutions is a leading hair transplant clinic in Kolkata. We offer hair transplantation treatment using the latest technique. We have a team of experienced surgeons who can help you achieve natural-looking and permanent results.

Conclusion

Hair transplantation can be a very effective way to restore hair loss. If you are considering this procedure, be sure to talk to a qualified surgeon. Discuss your options and determine if it's right for you. Dr. Paul’s Advanced Hair & Skin Solutions can help you achieve the thick, healthy hair you desire. Schedule a consultation today to learn more about our services in hair transplantation in Kolkata.
Many people face hair loss. If you are also suffering from loss, you may have tried different hair care products. Some people also try medications. But nothing seems to work. However, there can be one effective solution to this - a hair transplantation treatment.
Hair transplantation is a surgical process. It involves moving hair from one part of your scalp to another. Generally, hair grows in patches on your head. The back of your scalp generally has hair that keeps growing. This is called the donor area.
In this process, the surgeon takes hair grafts from the donor area. These grafts can have one to four hairs. The surgeon then makes small holes in the bald or thinning area, called the recipient area. They place the grafts in these holes. And eventually hair grows in this area.
If you are looking for the best hair transplant in Kolkata, consult an expert today.

Is Hair Transplant Effective?

Hair transplant provides effective results. The new hair looks natural. It grows at the same rate as your existing hair. However, a hair transplant's outcome depends on a lot of factors. They work best for people with stable hair loss. Here are some things to consider before opting for hair transplantation in Kolkata:

• Type of hair loss: Hair transplants work best for male pattern baldness. This is the most common type of hair loss and it affects both men and women.
• Amount of hair loss: If you have a lot of hair loss, you may need multiple hair transplant sessions.
• Quality of donor hair: The more donor hair you have, the better the results will be.

What to Expect During Hair Transplant Surgery

Hair transplant surgery is usually done as an outpatient procedure. This means you won't have to stay overnight in the hospital. Here is what to expect from a hair transplant procedure:

• The surgery can take several hours, depending on the number of grafts being transplanted.
• Local anesthesia is used to numb the area. You may also be given medication to help you relax.
• The surgeon uses a thin needle or blade to make tiny holes in the recipient area.
• They place the hair grafts in these holes.
• After the surgery, they bandage your scalp for a day or two.

Recovery After Hair Transplant Surgery

You may experience some swelling and discomfort after hair transplant surgery. This can be managed with pain medication. You may also see some scabbing around the transplanted hair. This is normal and will go away on its own within a few days.
Here are some tips for recovering from hair transplant surgery:

• Keep your scalp clean and dry.
• Avoid strenuous activity for a week or two.
• Don't wear hats or other headgear that could irritate your scalp.
• Be gentle when washing your hair.

Benefits of Hair Transplants

Hair transplants offer several benefits:

• Natural-looking hair: Transplanted hair grows and looks just like your natural hair.
• Permanent solution: Once the hair grows back, it should last a lifetime.
• Boosts confidence: Hair transplants can help you feel more confident about your appearance.

What are the Risks of Hair Transplant?

There are some risks associated with hair transplant, just like any other surgery. These include:

• Infection: This is a rare complication, but it's important to follow your doctor's instructions carefully to minimize the risk.
• Scarring: There is a small risk of scarring at the donor and recipient sites. However, these scars are usually very small and can be easily hidden by your hair.
• Bleeding: There may be some bleeding after surgery, but this is usually minimal.

Considering Hair Transplantation in Kolkata?

If you are considering hair transplantation in Kolkata, it's important to choose a qualified and experienced surgeon. Look for a surgeon who is certified by a reputable organization and has a proven track record of success.
Dr. Paul’s Advanced Hair & Skin Solutions is a leading hair transplant clinic in Kolkata. We offer hair transplantation treatment using the latest technique. We have a team of experienced surgeons who can help you achieve natural-looking and permanent results.

Conclusion

Hair transplantation can be a very effective way to restore hair loss. If you are considering this procedure, be sure to talk to a qualified surgeon. Discuss your options and determine if it's right for you. Dr. Paul’s Advanced Hair & Skin Solutions can help you achieve the thick, healthy hair you desire. Schedule a consultation today to learn more about our services in hair transplantation in Kolkata.

That’s wild.
Here I am, at 32, on multiple meds for blood pressure, anxiety, depression, and multivitamins. I’m on a strict diet too.
These dudes just smoke and drink and eat fast food like it’s nothing.
Yesterday this whole topic came up and they’re like, “I got aches and pains all over. I just ignore it. Something’s gonna kill all of us eventually. Stroke, cancer, something. Why pay money out the ass to put it off? Thats the medical scam in this country.”
This then veered off into my debt I’m worried about only to learn these same guys live tens of thousands in debt, and they don’t care.
“As long as I pay something they can’t do anything. I’ll give them $35 and they can’t do shit. I’ll die never paying it off.”
Is this the big secret? Just not giving a fuck?

I had a significant shoulder injury and surgery last August. Recovery has been painfully slow. Around January, the doctor placed me st MMI w/ 3% impairment and said that pain and ROM will continue to improve over next 18 months... It's not.
I have been back for 2 injections, 2ns MRI, and or PT.
I judge received a settlement offer and open future medical, but the 3% seems very low given the pain and n continued loss of function.
Is the any benefit to keeping the settlement open until the 18 months has expired to see of my shoulder improves? Any chance to have the impairment rating changed or adjusted then?
Why did he say I was MMI of he thinks it will continue to improve?

Hi guys! I’m a 28F and got the Nexplanon in Oct 2023. Prior to that I was on birth control patches (which worked great but gave me rashes over time) and due to heavy bleeding and cramps I was introduced Nexplanon.
Mood swings are a minor issue for me, it’s just the reoccurring yeast and bacterial infections along with UTIs that started around this year February. I’ll get diagnosed with BV and UTI, take meds, and yeast infection follows up. This has been a cycle and I’m tired of constantly taking medications over and over again. And yes, after getting repeated infections, sex became painful and this weird, swollen feeling in my vaginal area won’t go away.
My libido dropped right after the Nexplanon insert. My bf 28M came out clean for his tests while my doctors are suspecting him for cheating. We know for a fact we both aren’t not cheating and we would get different feelings everytime I get the diagnosis.
I did my research and noticed a lot of people suffer with this, should I get the Nexplanon removed if this is being the cause of everything? If so, has anyone got the Nexplanon removed and saw improvement of these symptoms?
I never got BV or yeast infections in my life so I’m quite confused about my body now..
Thank you in advance!

I’m seriously considering donating a kidney to my former boss. Before I discuss this with her and we see if I’m a match, I want to be 100% sure I’m aware of the whole process and how it’ll affect my life. I’m not sure what information is relevant so I’ll just state what I know.
She’s 40 years old and was diagnosed with an auto immune disease in adolescence. Currently getting ready to restart dialysis, she did have viable donor about a year ago but then became ineligible for a transplant because her kidney function increased. She has since regressed, no longer has a donor, and has been on the deceased donor list for 6 years.
I’m a 34 year old female. We’re of similar stature, similar ethnicities, she is about 50lbs heavier than I, idk if that’s relevant. I’m A-. I don’t know her blood type.
I have no underlying health issues. I do have a history of alcoholism but I am in recovery and doing well. A relapse for me is extremely unlikely IMO , and if it were to occur, it would be an incident, not a regression back into the lifestyle.
I smoke cigarettes. I plan to quit permanently and will quit for the process, obviously. I’m aware that smoking is nonnegotiable for this.
I have been diagnosed with hypertension at age 24. Have a family history of heart disease, father died of fatal heart attack at age 33. However, I have been off blood pressure medication and haven’t had any hypertension issues since I’ve quit drinking.
My mental health is decent. I’ve been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and bipolar 2 disorder. However, the bipolar diagnosis was a misdiagnosis- I’m 100% certain I am not bipolar and can have that assessed if needed. My only concern is that it is now on my medical record. I’m not currently struggling with depression or anxiety and take no mental health medications. I see a therapist for my mental health and that’s all.
I’m currently taking Subutex (buprenorphine) for my alcoholism. This is unorthodox since it’s typically used for opiate addiction and I’m not addicted to opiates. My psychiatrist prescribed it for alcohol cravings and so far it has been more successful than anything I’ve tried in the past. I would be willing to go off it if it’s absolutely necessary, but I prefer not to. I’ve been on it for 8 months.
My concerns are:
What is the medical fitness test like?
How long is the recovery, and what is it like?(Limitations, pain, etc.)
How will/could this affect my quality of life?
Will I be more prone to illness?
How are the medical expenses usually covered? I currently have Medicaid. I don’t know what insurance she has but I know it’s not government assistance.
I’m not looking for compensation, however I don’t know how much work I can afford to take off for this. It helps that I can plan for it, but would be a tremendous help if this is something her health insurance can cover. That actually sounds extremely unlikely now that I’ve said it, but again, I have no idea how any of this works.
We haven’t worked together for 2 years so her being my former boss shouldn’t be an issue. I simply want to help her be able to raise her children and be able to enjoy the rest of her life. She’s the type of person we need more of in this world.

I’m new to this subreddit and by the looks of it most of you in here can relate in some way so I figured why not confide in those who share my struggles even if it’s barely.
So I 19M am currently just wondering what the point is at this point. I’ve got some goods going for me, if you could even call them that. I have a job that not only pays amazing for someone who graduated from highschool 2 years ago, but also doesn’t need to have a degree to have so that’s an upside I guess. I have 1 one my dream cars (even though it doesn’t fucking drive at the moment). And that’s really it.

 Nothing else is going good for me and it’s making think what to do. I got injured at work and am currently in a lawsuit with the state because of it. Due to missing work so much because of this injury I am around $3,000 in debt because of a loan I had to take out to pay for the medical expenses. I’m at risk of losing my job also due to my attendance because of this injury. I haven’t had car insurance in almost 3 months now because once again, no money. Very few friends 1-2 of which don’t feel comfortable around me because i don’t express myself or act like they do in public (im a very introverted person and have to keep my behavior in check because if i just let loose and let my mind and body act as they want im probably gonna kill someone), no girlfriend (for a number of reasons but primarily im not good looking and trust issues). I barely talk to my parents because i feel as if they’re disappointed in me and that’s why they wanted another son so badly. I’m not particularly smart. Dropped out of college before the semester even started because I knew I would fail since I barely graduated high school. And am in constant pain for various reasons. And to top ALL OF THAT OFF, I’m also black (mixed but it’s not like people can tell the difference) so I also have to deal with racism and discrimination everywhere I go. So to sum all of that up, I’m broke, lonely, have trauma because of a bunch of other shit, depressed, tired, in pain, ugly, hated because of my skin, stupid, and a disappointment. So I ask you people of Reddit. What the fuck is the point of going on with life. I know it’s not all sunshine and rainbows and the world’s not fair. But idk how to keep going. I’ve been dealing with depression for the past 15 years and the other day my mom asked me while i was visiting her if i was depressed because im also constantly tired. KNOWING I WAS. I didn’t even answer I just looked at her. And when I told her why she stared at me and didn’t know what to say. Not even my grandmother who is a licensed therapist had any words to give me. Makes me think that if not only a therapist can help me then what’s the point. Here’s the other thing that sucks. I have so MANY thoughts that run through my head but if I share them with family or friends. I’ll lose the last bit of familiar interaction I have. I have a lizard to keep me company at my apartment but I’m barely taking care of him. He’s doing even better than me. Free food, water, shelter, entertainment. 

I want nothing more than to die but nothing scares me more than death. Ironic isn’t it, how the thing I want most is also my greatest fear. Almost poetic. So please, tell me what to do suggestions are welcome.
PS: for those who wonder what my job is I’m a correctional officer. I can’t say what state for a few reasons but it’s in the Midwest.

I’m seriously considering donating a kidney to my former boss. Before I discuss this with her and we see if I’m a match, I want to be 100% sure I’m aware of the whole process and how it’ll affect my life. I’m not sure what information is relevant so I’ll just state what I know.
She’s 40 years old and was diagnosed with an auto immune disease in adolescence. Currently getting ready to restart dialysis, she did have viable donor about a year ago but then became ineligible for a transplant because her kidney function increased. She has since regressed, no longer has a donor, and has been on the deceased donor list for 6 years.
I’m a 34 year old female. We’re of similar stature, similar ethnicities, she is about 50lbs heavier than I, idk if that’s relevant. I’m A-. I don’t know her blood type.
I have no underlying health issues. I do have a history of alcoholism but I am in recovery and doing well. A relapse for me is extremely unlikely IMO , and if it were to occur, it would be an incident, not a regression back into the lifestyle.
I smoke cigarettes. I plan to quit permanently and will quit for the process, obviously. I’m aware that smoking is nonnegotiable for this.
I have been diagnosed with hypertension at age 24. Have a family history of heart disease, father died of fatal heart attack at age 33. However, I have been off blood pressure medication and haven’t had any hypertension issues since I’ve quit drinking.
My mental health is decent. I’ve been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and bipolar 2 disorder. However, the bipolar diagnosis was a misdiagnosis- I’m 100% certain I am not bipolar and can have that assessed if needed. My only concern is that it is now on my medical record. I’m not currently struggling with depression or anxiety and take no mental health medications. I see a therapist for my mental health and that’s all.
I’m currently taking Subutex (buprenorphine) for my alcoholism. This is unorthodox since it’s typically used for opiate addiction and I’m not addicted to opiates. My psychiatrist prescribed it for alcohol cravings and so far it has been more successful than anything I’ve tried in the past. I would be willing to go off it if it’s absolutely necessary, but I prefer not to. I’ve been on it for 8 months.
My concerns are:
What is the medical fitness test like?
How long is the recovery, and what is it like?(Limitations, pain, etc.)
How will/could this affect my quality of life?
Will I be more prone to illness?
How are the medical expenses usually covered? I currently have Medicaid. I don’t know what insurance she has but I know it’s not government assistance.
I’m not looking for compensation, however I don’t know how much work I can afford to take off for this. It helps that I can plan for it, but would be a tremendous help if this is something her health insurance can cover. That actually sounds extremely unlikely now that I’ve said it, but again, I have no idea how any of this works.
We haven’t worked together for 2 years so her being my former boss shouldn’t be an issue. I simply want to help her be able to raise her children and be able to enjoy the rest of her life. She’s the type of person we need more of in this world.

Hi everyone! I (F23) have been on Wegovy for about a month now. Last week I had gotten my period, and it was the worst I’ve ever had in my entire life. It was super heavy and painful. I went to the OB and they had prescribed me medication to make the bleeding stop. I’m supposed to go for an ultrasound and bloodwork as well. Fast forward to today, I woke up with it again?? I messaged my doctor and I’m waiting for a response. But has anybody else had weird period changes since starting ??
Backstory; I have PCOS and recently came off of birth control in July. Since then my periods have been OK, but sometimes abnormal.

I know a lot of people complain about the fact that emotional blunting is a bad side effect of antidepressants, that they don’t feel like themselves anymore. However, I just came out of a final exam and while everyone was extremely nervous about the exam, I was cool as a cucumber.
I really don’t miss being stressed out and anxious all the time. It’s true that I don’t feel intense emotions much anymore so scary movies or rollercoasters aren’t as thrilling anymore, but I can handle that trade-off. I think that some people just feel emotions far too deeply and while it can have its benefits, it’s usually just a painful and miserable experience. I also don’t see myself realistically stopping my medication because I genuinely do not like how my emotions are “naturally”. Just because something is “natural” doesn’t mean it’s good for you, just like how anthrax appears naturally doesn’t mean you should ingest/inhale it.