I been spotting for the past couple of days and today my AF was due. I had little blood only when i wiped is this a fine or bad sign?
I took HPT today and it was a BFN

Anyone out there?

I am 17 years old.

I have read that lumps could easily be cysts; and even testicular cancer.

I keep putting off getting a physical, as I am scared to death of having cancer. When I press on the lump, it will create a pain. I do have shortness of breath, but that could also be because I never do any exercising anymore. Once I entered highschool, and we didn’t have to have physical education, I have grown more and more out of shape. I don’t notice any tenderness in the breast area. I have experienced pain in the lower back, but that only happens while I am at work (fast food); when I am standing for 4-6 hours straight, and I imagine that is attractive normal.

The only pain I really get from it is that every now and then, I will get this dull ache in that testicle; and the pain from the lump.

I am truely worried, but also scared. I imagine that many of you have went through this process, and some were probably scared to get it checked out, but most probably went right away.

I believe I should have went right away, as I have had this lump since I was ATLEAST 14 years old, and it seems like I got it around puberty (12-13 yr old). I did have to have stitches in my testicle area when I was like 2-3 years old, which could have an affect on it.

Dr. said keep getting the selective nerve root injections if there helping. He said it sounds like my pain is comming from scar buildup on my nerves , he said the injections may shrink the scar tissue..He want’s me to mail the MRI and CT’s to him ASAP. He also said my neck is ok. He never gave me a reason for it hurting tho ?

I also ask him about how could the L4-L5 be bulging if there is no disc there ..He said when they removed my disc from the back , they couldn’t get to a little section of it in the front he said it’s no biggy and shouldn’t cause any pain.

Ok so all this is about scar tissue.. And a possability that my hardware is causing some pain as well. I see him again in March. It’s really hard to swallow that scar tissue could be the cause of this terrible pain.

Hope everyone has a great day. ( Go Eagles )

I may not be on too much tomorrow depending how I feel after them, so be patient if it takes me a day or two to get caught up with any posts. My office is in the beasement level and the bedroom is on the second floor. I’m hoping they aren’t going to to throw me out of wack too bad.

God Bless

Carol

I’m four months post-op from a two level lumbar fusion with cages, rods, and screws L5-S1 & L2-L3
(I had said five months earlier, but I’m actually four months post-op now, I’m getting ahead of myself now)

I’m at a stand still with PT, I just can’t seem to get rid of this stinking swelling problem, and until I can address that, this stupid buldging muscle won’t go down. (It runs through the swelling area)
I still do the PT three times a week, I feel like it’s making me worse, as stupid as that sounds.

I stated taking Vioxx, and that hasn’t helped with the swelling either. The swelling did go down a little, but is now right back to where I started.
I still can’t lean my back on anything, and if I touch my lower back, I go through the roof http://www.healtheffect.net/ubb/frown.gif
It feels like I’m raw under the skin where the swelling is, it is very tender.

I can feel the metal 24/7 the doc says it’s the muscles rubbing on the screws. He tells me to be patient, and he will re-evaulate me in July. Sitting is a total nightmare, I have a feeling like something is pushing on my low back from the inside.(The metal)

I think it is the screw placement that is causing all of the swelling, the X-Rays show I’m fusing great, but that doesn’t mean anything to me now. I asked for a MRI, but was told to wait and see how I am in July when I return to see him. I see the PA at the end of April, but he won’t be any help.

Does anybody know what testing is done prior to instrument removal ? I would assume an MRI or cat Scan, but I’m just not sure.

I don’t think this problem is disc related, I firmly believe it is related to the metal placement.

My old pain is gone, but I’d take it back in a heartbeat if I had the chance to un-do the surgery.
This new pain and problems are way worse than what I was dealing with before I had the surgery.

I hate the choice I made by having the fusion, I feel like I’ll never live a normal life, I can no longer do my normal activities, I’m constantly reminded that I have had surgery 24/7.

I know it takes a year to see the most results, but I’m getting very worried now, as I think I should be feeling alot better than I am at this point.
Most days I feel like my doctor is just down playing my symptoms.

I really think the problem is instrument related.

Does anybody have any answers or advice. I’d hate to have a repeat surgery.

I need to return to work on May 5th, I need to see some major improvements by then. I have no choice but to return to work, if I don’t, I’ll be wiped out financially, and I can’t have that happen. I’m still appealing the LTD company (thanks to the Bitc* from my doctors office)

Oh Well, sorry for the venting, I just felt like I had to post something, or I’d blow my top.

Thanks for listening http://www.healtheffect.net/ubb/smile.gif

Have a super evening http://www.healtheffect.net/ubb/dance.gif

Go S.U. http://www.healtheffect.net/ubb/bouncing.gif (I’m watching right now)

Baxter http://www.healtheffect.net/ubb/love2.gif

——————
Two level laminectomy fusion L5-S1 & L2-3 done on 12/6/02.
Fifteen inch scar from the very top of butt crack (sorry), to the bra line.
BAK cages, rods & screws.(Titanium)
My pelvic bone was used for grafting.
Praying that the other two discs in between, won’t have to be fused later, as I was told it was a possibility, due to the other two discs in between, not being in that great of shape.
Doc didn’t want to fuse four levels, unless it is really necessary.
I would hate to repeat the surgery, as the recovery period, is so very painful.
I also have a free fragment in my T11-12 area, that I’m still refusing surgery for, at this point in time.
That surgery is way too dangerous for me to consider, until if affects my being able to walk.

[This message has been edited by BAXTER (edited 04-08-2003).]

I post on the Bowel Disorder (re-section surgery) and Knee and Hip Boards (2 total hip replacements), and here I am with some questions for you all.
Seems I’m falling apart here!

I’ve had back issues for a long time…however, nothing as severe as what’s been happening lately. I know I have degenerative disease…was told that years ago. Also some bone spurs….was told that by the anesthesologist trying to insert the spinal for my last hip surgery. Haven’t had an MRI…yet.

Symptoms: I simply cannot walk any sort of distance without my left leg cramping up with a burning pain on the outside of the calf. Not down the buttock into the front. Sometimes the pain seems confined from the knee to the foot. The scary part is the foot goes numb and, along with the severe pain, the leg gets numb….like there’s nothing under me to hold my weight. I sit or lean to get the weight off my leg and can continue to walk a little…until it starts again.

I am thinking it’s stenosis and nerve compression? I have an appt. with an ortho back specialist. Just so frustrating, because I bit the bullet and did the hips….now the back is worse than ever. Too, I’m not really even. It’s very obvious on my hip x-rays that my right pelvic area is higher than the left.

Symptoms sound familiar? If so, what did you do….or, rather, what did the docs have you do? Did you get relief? This pain’s been waking me lately.

Thanks in advance for any info.

Linda

I had an abdominal hysterectomy a little over 2 weeks ago. Since being home I have had a horrible time with what I feel is digesting food. It’s my upper abdomin area and I feel almost like gas bubbles slowly moving through, but they never seem to leave. I almost hate eating. It’s worse right after eating a meal too, and also if I drink soda or eat anything gassy at all.

I asked my Dr. today at my 2 week check up and she suggested some over the counter antacid things to try and then told me that if my symptoms don’t disappear in a week to go to my general Dr.

Has anyone experienced this? Could it be from the surgery and all of the air that gets trapped in your stomach or could it be something else?

Thanks!

I had my gallbladder removed last July days afterwards were awful the surgeon ended up injecting a long needle where my gb was taken out to numb the area the pain was unreal, as the shot was that never helped either only made it worse !!! 3 months later IBS set in- that’s awful !

I had 2 ultrasound tests done later cuz I still wasn’t feeling right..they seen 2 cysts that I didn’t have before surgery… said don’t worry– k—

( 2nd surgery was taking out my last ovary from a cysts that had filled up with blood and had burst opened, what I thought was going to be a 1 day surgery, turned out to be complimcated and I stayed 4 days–surgeron tried to remove it from the belly button, said there was too much inside so cut me again with the bikni cut– just had that done 6 months prior for a hysterectomy 1st sugery ) the surgeon told me there was so much inside he thought it was going to be cancerous- thank the Lord it wasn’t ! But I had keep telling my dr that I still wasn’t feeling right- he thought it was a hernia, sent me to a another surgeon, said I had something but wasn’t a hernia, sent me back to the oby-gn surgeron…. arrghhhhhh….

now last week I had a upper GI series test done, they called said that looked fine but———-

they wanted a better look at a cyst that maybe the reason I am having a problems— so I went for a radiology MRI test yesterday…. can hardly wait for the results….

I haven’t felt "right" since the 2nd surgery…. I am being treated for High Blood Pressure— hormone theraphy– depression - and Fibromyglia—

I have applied for ssi - I can’t do what I used to– my body and mind just aren’t the same any more… and I just turned 45 on Wed.. am to young to feel this old….

just wondering if any one else has ever had these cysts inside ? I know they run in our family– my kids have them , so does my niece and nephew

thanks for listening… just having one of them days…
take care & God Bless

Since i was about 5 I have also have alot of obbessive, anxiety provoking intrusive thoughts realted to the health of my fami8ly and friends.

At the moment my Brother isn’t doing great, he has been depressed for years and punched a wall the other day, breaking his hand. He is going to need surgry and is seeing a specialist tommorow.

I had no real emotional response to this but since the incident i keep getting flashes of him ending up dead, waking up in A&E…Having overdosed on pain killers. I keep going to text him to see if he is okay, keep crying and wanting to go and check up on him every two minuites.

I -know- this is really irrational, and he is in no significant danger of doing this.

When i get anxious like this the only way i can calm myself down is too read first aid books, medical journals, online searches…i think you get the idea.

These thoughts are driving me insane today. I pull my hair out, and i don’t want to. I hate hate hate ending up with bald-patches.

I spend all my time watching reality tv programmes about ill kids.

I hate going out because i am scared that when i come home the house will have burnt down and everyone will be dead. Or they will have crashed. Or choked , or had a heat attack. I feel as if i have to be there constantly to check them and make sure they don’t die.

I keep wanting to hurt myself badly enough to have to go to A&E because i feel safe there and these obbssieve thoughts subside..although, i know i won’t. I can’t cause that amount of worry to those around me - and at the moment i am in no real danger of causing any damage to myself

I constantly check on my friends to check that they arn’t ill. My bestfriend self harms, as do i, but i get so so scared she is going to kill herself, although, realistically i know she has lots of support, isnt activly suicidal and will always talk to me first. I know that. Yet i can’t stop these thoughts, these repeatitive thoughts.

Any advice?

Thanks for any help you might be able to give.

I should not have spoken so soon. I have had a cold virus which turned into pnuemonia (walking pnuemonia -again). Of course it has gone into my sinuses and into my bad ear. My ear drum has been throbbing painlessly but it makes me dizzy. I can tell that the pressure is from my inner/middle ear as I feel it throb from the inside out iykwim? I’m dizzy and freaking out all over again however it is not as bad as the first time it happened in May ‘05.

The difference this time is that I know it won’t last forever. I’m driving and going to work this time, whereas last time I just lay there a freaked out and vomited over and over again.

I have also been posting on the TMJ disorders board here because I have TMJ disorder from clenching and bruxing which adds to my dizziness. I am being treated well for my TMJ disorder which maybe helps a bit. But the "in your brain" dizziness from the inner ear is truly a hell of its own.

My ENTs reckon this started with a viral form of labyrinthitis. My question is that if it was viral to start with, why or how can a super-duper cold that ends up as pnuemonia turn into a dizzy hell when it reaches my ear?

Ps: I saw a new GP/Dr last weekend. She *told me* to start taking Olive Leaf extract daily to try to build my immunity. I started today. It tastes GROSS. Anyone else heard of this?

The prognosis was not good. She has a large hole in her eardrum and it borders the edge of the drum. The surgeon does not think a typanoplasty is an option at the moment, and worryingly he thinks it may never be an option as there is no skin on one side of the hole to graft onto. He is currently recommending a long wait - perhaps ten years - before even considering surgery.

I am, frankly, extremely worried and depressed by this news. My daughters hearing problems are one thing - she has less than 40% hearing in the bad ear - but possible a greater concern I have is the complications that may arise from her condition. Her inner ear is now exposed to the world - obviously we will take all precautions we can but I don’t like the risk, and it is risk that may persist for her whole life.

I will do anything humanly possible to improve her situation, and I would be grateful for any advice. If there are any routes to encourage the skin to grow back (diet etc.) then I would like to hear. If there are world renowned experts out there who are more skilled in these areas than the average specialist then again I would appreciate direction. If anyone knows anything about where the risks lie, and how to avoid them, then I would be grateful to hear. Any comments gratefully received.

I jsut need some feedback from anyone who has a depressed parent. My mother is addicted to cigarettes. SHe lives and breathes them. She also doesn’t ahve the $ to support her habit. She keeps calling me and today..resorted to "begging" for a pack of cigarettes. She called me crying stating that my sister had come over there to give her catfood for her cats and they had an arguement. My mother called ME up crying, i thought she tried to hurt herself or something, and then as I talked to her.. she calmed down considerably and I stated that I couldn’t buy her cigarettes. She immediatley said http://www.healtheffect.net/ubb/tongue.giflease’ and I replied" why don’t you get the patch. SHe was upsetting me sonsiderably
My mother has this pattern of manipulating people to do for her. This behaviour has made all 3 of us kids to really not want to have much to do with her.
What makes it hard is that now, she;s had a mini stroke and some arthritis and really deosn’t ahve any money for herself.
I’m the oldest and she has relied upon me because I’m the one who’s helping ehr with food on my own limited income. I have a 14 yr old and I need to take care of him 1st.
I’m tired of helping her. I’m in therapy for myself and I tell you, these phonecalls upset me greatly.
Is anyone else out there experiencing this.
ps: she’s tried the suicide thing many times over crap like this.

Do any of you have both of these items? I am thinking about purchasing a jumperoo or door jumper but am not sure if there is a big difference from the activity center. Thanks!

I do have knock kneees and flat feet which I know definitely doesn’t help but surely can’t be the cause of all this pain can it? I have no pain on the right hand side at all.

Desiree’

I have had to go on SSDI and I cannot drive, work or talk sensibly since. I forget words, stutter a lot, tremors in my hands and a loss of balance.

I was fine the day of, working as a corporate administrator, and basically incapacitated ever since. I have trouble sometimes even writing a check, I forget what to do. I did have to have two blood patches for the terrible headache.

Before I ever left the hospital I was unable to turn my neck at all and still don’t know if this was normal. There is no recourse via malpractice as no lawyer wanted to go up against the big name hospital and told me I would have to have another dr prove what they did wrong.

Any ideas anyone???? Anyone else heard of this??

I take 20MG/day. Raised my HDL from a very low 31 to a still low but much better 41. Over the last 8 years, which included at least 16 lipid profiles, my HDL never went above 31. After 8 weeks of taking 20MG/day of policosanol the two most recent lipid profiles both indicated 41. Also lowered my LDL by 25%.

Very safe. Many, many clicial trials. No known side effects. Made from Sugar cane. Nothing works for everyone, but it is worth serious cosnideration for anyone looking to lower cholesterol without using statins or other prescription drugs.

Policosanol is a mixture of fatty alcohols derived from the wax of sugar cane. These active substances work to lower cholesterol levels by several mechanisms. It inhibits cholesterol manufacturer but does so prior to HMG-CoA reductase. In addition policosanol also exerts exceptional effects on LDL-cholesterol metabolism. Specifically, policosanol increases LDL receptor processing. It exerts this effect by increasing the binding of LDL to its receptor, improving the transport of LDL into the liver cell, and significantly enhancing the breakdown of LDL cholesterol. In addition to lowering LDL, policosanol has also been shown to increase HDL, protect against free radical damage to LDL-cholesterol, and inhibit excessive platelet aggregation.

The clinical studies have included short and long-term, randomized, placebo-controlled and comparative studies versus statins (lovastatin, pravastatin and simvastatin), fibrates (bezafibrate and gemfibrozil), acipimox, and probucol involving nearly 3,000 subjects. In these studies, policosanol in dosages ranging from 5 to 20 mg/day, has demonstrated significant improvements in LDL-C, total cholesterol, HDL-C, and the ratios of total cholesterol to HDL-C and LDL-C to HDL-C. Policosanol produces cholesterol-lowering effects within the first 6-8 weeks of use. At a daily dosage of 10 mg of policosanol at night, LDL cholesterol levels typically drop by 20 to 25% within the first six months of therapy. At a dosage of 20 mg, LDL levels typically drop by 25-30%. HDL cholesterol levels typically increase by 15 to 25% after only two months of use. The combined LDL reduction and HDL increase can produce dramatic improvements in the LDL to HDL ratio.

Go to the following site, sponsored by the US National Library of Medicine. [url="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=search&DB=PubMed"]http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=search&DB=PubMed[/url]
Type in policosanol then press GO.

You will find a significant amount of peer reviewed studies on the effect of policosanol on cholesterol.

I have a condition known as vulvar vestibulitis, basically chronic irritation around the vagina in the absence of disease or irritant. In order to have a sex life, I use lidocaine on the affected tissue immediately before intercourse. If I don’t, it’s extremely painful.

With the lidocaine in place, it is impossible to have sex without a condom. Otherwise, the lidocaine hits his skin, and, well, the results would be detrimental to his pleasure and performance.

At some point, not now but not terribly far off, I want to become a mother. I can think of a couple of options, artificial insemination or just enduring pain, but that’s not how I want to create my children. Does anyone have other ideas? What would happen if we used a condom with the tip cut off?

Again, not an immediate concern, but a question that’s been on my mind.

I have never smoked or been around much second hand smoke. I do, though, have a long history of long lasting chest colds - every winter, from the time I was little, I’ve gotten colds that last 4-8 weeks. I’m mid 40s now. Sometimes I’ve had fevers with the colds (100 degrees); when I was in high school, I collapsed a lung from coughing. I’ve had an intermittant productive cough for over a year now - no blood, no weight loss (rats!). Some wheezing/abnormal chest sounds, chest tightness. My Acid reflux isn’t causing this (docs have eliminated that), neither is sinuistis (clear sinus ct).

My lung doc says that the next thing is a chest CT to check for damage from all of my chest colds - would that give me a dx of Chronic Bronchitis or what? Even with my normal lung function tests? I’ve never had an arterial blood gas test, but my oximeter oxygen levels are always above 90.

I’m tired of coughing - some days are worse than others, and today is one of those days (I’m whining - sorry). My Flovent helps some - it’s keeping me out of the ER breathing treatment deal - but I still don’t feel that great…and the uncertainty (and never ending tests) are tiring. I often feel like I’m breathing through a filter - bad days, the "filter" feels thicker.

(thanks for letting me whine…and any ideas about what I’ve got? I do cough more when I’m tired, when I use my voice or talk on the phone - if that makes a difference)

She has tried all of the main drugs and nothing has worked. She has been to two psychs who only wanted to play with her drugs. I wanted to beat them senseless because they didn’t really do anything. We finally went to a GD who had diagnosed her mother with Addisons and Cushings 10 years ago. He was very certain that my wife had it too since she displayed many of the symptoms and it is hereditary. He scheduled her for blood and urine tests. Today the results came back and according to him everything is normal. We’re now back in the dark and it feels like we’ve had the hope taken from us.

Could she have Addison’s and these tests not show it? Anyone else get similar results only to later find that they had Addisons? I cannot believe that these intense side effects are simply caused by anxiety attacks. If it is not Addisons…could it be something else?

I appreciate all responses. We just want to begin our new life together…being normal and happy. Thanks.

Fiona

Right now im on doxycycline,using apple cider vinegar on my lips(as reccomended on here) and 100% pure shea butter as a moistureizer

Thanks,
Lisa

——————
"Life is not a problem to be solved, but a gift to be enjoyed."

I hope that I can find others who are suffering from what I have.

In 2004 I suffereda an anaphalactic shock from taking an Ibrufen tablet and after having some sensitivity tests done I found that had sensitivity to Yeast, hazelnuts and Ibrufen.

Recently I have started having multiple lip, chin, cheek, hand foot, swelling episodes from multiple sources that seem to many to count,I now seem to be allergic to almonds which I didn’t before and to vitamin C!!!

over the last 3 weeks dizzyness, lethargy and constant headaches and sinus pain has joined the party…It’s marvelous really!!

Is anyone else suffering from such varied swellings and what can be done.

thanks

What brand? Where do I get it, does it have a ton of othr things in it?? I actually noticed hair loss on Clonopin on a LOW dose and then worse hair loss on Depakote. I’ve heard to take D and E? That was from a doctor, HA!

I’d appreciate knowing what brand you took, and how long it took to see less hair coming out in the shower! I have long hair and it is everywhere around the house . … .

Oh God, please help me…someone!!! someone who understands??!!!

PLLLEEEAASEEE

This doc has the personality of a rock and me being a nurse, I am not going to blindly accept a change like a sheep, because I know what does NOT work for me. I have some attractive bad side effects from the Cymbalta and hear that it is not all it is cracked up to be. However, the last doc decided I had run the gamut of all anti-depressants and put me on nothing. Bad idea!! I cried all the time and ended up taking an overdose.

I am going to really pray for some relief here and that she comes up with something. But what??? I have no idea what it would be. I have to get up really early which I am not used to, so I hope my brain is functioning enough to be able to talk to her sensibly. I am not a morning person.

I am about ready to go to a spiritual healer, a voodoo doctor or something drastic. So tired of this roller coaster. Happy/sad/happy/sad. Mostly sad though.

I have not heard from you guys…what is up with you all??

Love,
k51

Guess we’d better start a new one - we’re at 40 replies and AP will get her http://www.healtheffect.net/ubb/hammer.gifs out… LOL

I said I would post this so brid could see mine and Frango wanted some of Dr. Crist’s interpretations.

IGM

18 kDa -
22 kDa -
** 23-25 kDa - (this is what Quest & ******* said was pos.)
28 kDa -
30 kDa ++ (this is what should be grouped with 31 and thus a pos.)
**31 kDa -
**34 kDa -
37 kDa -
**39 kDa IND
**41 kDa ++
45 kDa -
58 kDa ++
66 kDa +
73 kDa -
83 kDa -
93 kDa +

Of course by CDC/NYS standards this is a negative because this test says 2 of the following bands must be present 23-25, 39, and 41 kDa. What I find interesting is that Quest and ******* both said band 25 was reactive in the past but Igenex didn’t show this. If it had and you added my ++ for 39 & 41 you have a positive.

Dr. Crist has all the positive and ind bands highlighted and red marks all over the place stating why to him this is 99% positive. He writes IND = almost positive. Actually positive as far as he’s concerned.

On my IGG test the only thing that showed positive was the **41 kDa with a +.

Of course then it says "Diagnosis should not be based on laboratory tests alone. Results should be interpreted in conjunction with clinical symptoms and patient history. Blah, blah, blah.

Personally I think this is attractive conclusive. What do you all think?

Supposedly this handout doesn’t go into as much detail as the first sheet he gave out but I think it is attractive good. This is for my bands and if you want to know more about "your" bands (if they are different) tell me the numbers.

30 kDa is outer surface protein A, like the 31. It is in the medical literature that they are the same and I (Dr. Crist) have talked to one of the world experts on ospA and she said the 30 and 31 are the same. It is just like the 23,24,25 being the same outer surface protein but of different weights. This lab (Igenex) does not put two "**" in front of the 30 but it is a classic hallmark Lyme antibody with 97% correlation wi