#How gastroenterologists can help

[healixhospitals24]

Learn about common digestive disorders and how medical gastroenterology can help. Discover symptoms, treatments, and expert care for better gut health.

Do Visit: https://www.healixhospitals.com/blogs/common-digestive-disorders-and-how-medical-gastroenterology-can-help

[femsolid]

Can I ask how does separatism show in your life? Do you have male relatives you have to interact with a lot? I assume you don't have male friends, have you ever had them in the past and at some point you decided "nah, this ain't it"? Are you in a job where you have to interact with men a lot? Do you reduce dealing with men when it comes to other things like avoiding places with men? Sorry I'm just curious about it from someone who lives a separatist life!

It's been very easy. I have no interest in men any more. I don't like their personalities and the misogyny of our daily interactions always jumps out to me (weaponized incompetence, interrupting women, disgusting jokes, main character syndrome, viciousness etc) and I just have no tolerance for it. I'm not a lesbian so I'd say there's 0.1% of men who aren't ugly but they immediately become repulsive to me when the casual sexism comes out, which it inevitably does. I don't understand the "radical" feminists who, after seeing men for what they are, don't feel such repulsion and even claim that we need men to be fulfilled. So I don't date men, don't flirt with men, don't take an interest in their lives, don't play the psychologist for them, don't put extra work for them, don't offer my help etc. I just don't care about men. There's no male relative I still see except for my nephew who is a child. I've cut ties with my father years ago specifically for his misogyny and homophobia. I stand by my moral principals no matter what. I don't have male friends and I never have because I never trusted males nor related to them. And I could never be myself around them. I have male co-workers though, I talk about work with them when I need it. I only have real conversations with my female coworkers. And I only joke with women. As a result, I've noticed, only women sit around me and talk to me at work. The guys have given up. However, my manager is a man which is quite annoying. I keep it minimal with him just like with every other males I'm forced to interact with. I keep it professional and cordial, not friendly and sweet.

I make zero effort to please men physically. No make-up, no tight clothes, no long hair, no shaving, no shutting up, no dainty mannerisms. I'm eating what I want, when I want to, and show no remorse unlike a lot of my female peers. And when I'm angry, I don't hide it. And if I need to say something, I say it. A lot of people assume I'm a lesbian based on the fact that I make no effort to attract men. And it's true that I make no such effort. But I also think that if, to attract men, you have to pretend to be a helpless little thing, you can't call straight or bisexual women "lesbians" just for refusing this humiliation. It's called dignity, not lesbianism.

I like women, I try to help them, prioritize them, support them, reassure them, defend them and push them forward. When a woman speaks negatively about herself, I always jump in to correct her. And when a man attacks a woman I intervene. I distribute compliments and encouragements to women. And I point out the misogyny they confront when they don't see it for what it is. I only debate women because I only value women's mind.

If I have to see a doctor, I'll look for a woman every time. Only and only if I can't find a female doctor close to me will I pick a male doctor. My general practitioner is a woman, my podiatrist is a woman, my psychologist is a woman, my radiologist is a woman, my gastroenterologist is a woman etc. Same with a hear dresser, a masseuse, a fitness coach: only women. I only read books from female authors. I try to watch movies with a woman or girl as the main character. Same with video games or music. Though obviously I'm only human and might enjoy a movie or song made by a male sometimes. I try to support female artists and creators by promoting them, buying from them, giving them nice reviews. I avoid places that are filled with men like a gym or café or profession or online space, and I gravitate towards places filled with women.

That's it, that's my daily life. It's taking care of myself and valuing women. It's easy because I enjoy it and it feels natural. I'm following what my guts have always told me. Feminism simply helped me verbalize it.

[pucksandpower]

It's ferritin-less girl here. I've been to every specialist my physician has sent me to - gynecologist, gastroenterologist, hematologist, you name it. I don't have celiac disease and my pylori test came back negative.

I know about caffeine, tea and alcohol reducing iron absorption. That's why I take my iron supplements minimum 2 hours after I had them. I also take 1 gram of vitamin C every day for about 2 weeks every month to help with period flow and iron absorption. I also regularly take folic acid.

My periods are normal I'd say. I don't bleed in between, no spotting or anything. Had uterus ultrasound, everything was fine.

Talking about iron from food, I eat meat basically every day. Chicken, turkey, beef, and I usually pair it with some kind of vegetable/salad. On weekends I try to eat fish like salmon, tuna.

My physician suggested to keep taking iron supplements and when I'm done, to just keep tracking iron levels and start taking supplements again when it starts to drop again.

Hi, ferritin-less girl! I appreciate the detailed update. It sounds like you’ve been incredibly thorough, which is great (but also frustrating when there’s no clear answer). Since you’ve ruled out the usual suspects, here are a few less commonly discussed factors that might be worth looking into:

Even if you don’t feel inflamed, low-grade inflammation (from things like chronic stress, sleep deprivation, or even mild gut imbalances) can mess with iron metabolism. Inflammation increases hepcidin, a hormone that blocks iron absorption and traps it in storage.

How’s your sleep and stress? If either is off, managing those could help iron levels stabilize.

Iron metabolism relies on copper and vitamin A to transport and store iron properly. Deficiencies in either can lead to stubbornly low ferritin despite good iron intake.

Copper sources: shellfish, nuts, seeds, organ meats, and dark chocolate.

Vitamin A sources: egg yolks, dairy, liver, and orange/yellow veggies (though animal sources are best for absorption).

Even without celiac or H. pylori, low stomach acid or gut microbiome imbalances can impact iron uptake. If you ever have bloating, indigestion, or feel like food “sits” in your stomach, that could be a clue.

Taking a little lemon juice or apple cider vinegar before meals can help with absorption if stomach acid is low.

Even with normal periods, you’re losing more than just iron. Magnesium, zinc, and B12 all play a role in red blood cell production and iron metabolism. If you haven’t already, it might be worth checking zinc and B12 levels, since deficiencies can make it harder to restore ferritin.

Your physician’s approach makes sense — tracking levels and supplementing as needed is a practical solution. But if you’re looking to get ferritin up and keep it stable without relying on supplements forever, these might be some new angles to explore.

[roo-bastmoon]

Supporting Seven

Test results came back and I have proctocolitis from my transverse colon all the way down. It gets more painful each day (today is not a sitting-up day for example). I will get to see my gastroenterologist tomorrow and I’m sure a biopsy via colonoscopy will be needed to see what is causing the colitis and what kinds of meds are needed. (In happier news, my heart looks healthy and so far no signs of cancer!! Just a few more weeks to get stable, I hope.)

I say all this to say I have a few fun posts in the queue and below the cut are ways to support Seven if you need guides or helpful links—but if I’m not around much for a while, please don’t read into it. (And if Jikook get to jikooking please someone let me know.) Otherwise, I’ll be buying and streaming but mostly resting offline. Please remember to be kind and take good care of yourselves. Sending you guys lots of love, Roo

Some simple tutorials about how to best use various platforms for charts are located here.

Streaming tips:

OT7 funding accounts:

Useful promotion links:

Links for US Radio requests (use the Song Alerts dropdowns):

[horsefreek151]

Two years of pain... fixed in 20 minutes.

I spent two years with a gastroenterologist who thought I had colitis and refused to look any further. Despite persistent symptoms I was brushed off. He kept upping the meds for it and I’m In so much pain at this point I spend all day in bed unable to bend over due to abdominal pain. I was bloating so bad I was bruising and my skin was flaking from being stretched so quickly. I cried so many nights and couldn’t sleep.

That self absorbed jerk accused me of wanting him to “wave a magic wand and fix my issues.” When all I was asking was help managing my persistent gastro symptoms. I just wanted not be in pain anymore, and have a plain to work towards that.

He retired and honest it might have saved my sanity.

Met a new doctor today who saw my sheets and narrowed his eyes in disappointment. He said the doctor was two years ahead of him in school (he’s an 80 year old man) and he didn’t know why I was diagnosed with the disease I was without better testing and with my persistent symptoms.

My new doc said I was probably in this situation because “it was easier for your previous doctor to just write it off as colitis.”

He also said he believes I am probably dealing with Leaky Gut Syndrome, because of how poorly I seem to be digesting and he knows that patents with EDS are much more likely to have it. He said that he trusts EDS patients because they know more about there conditions than he ever could and he wrote books on gastrointestinal issues.

This man works in the same hospital as my previous doctor and is only two years younger than him. He saw my suffering and orders a battery of tests to help rule out other issues. He changes my dosages to hopefully help the pain, gives me a digestive supplement that has helped other EDS patient of his and was so kind and patient.

I don't know how to explain how close to falling apart I was. I spent a month in bed sandwiched between two heating pads, throwing out my back so badly we had to take the ambulance. I'm lucky I'm on state healthcare. I had to stop cooking... I can only bend over a few times.

Today (three days after my appointment) I was able to go on some small walks.

I'm still in pain. I'm ok with that. I can function in pain, I couldn't function being in 8-9 most days. I couldn't function with my abdominal not only being covered in red angry ended stretchmarks up to my ribs, but also grotesquely bloated every day.

Two years of hell possibly fixed by a few weeks of tests and support. My whole medical team is super happy that I'm now getting looked at.

Ive always been a zebra among horses and sometime doctors don't want to look at the clear stripes. Now that I have a doc who is looking and I couldn't be more grateful for him and livid at my previous doctor.

[thebastardgerard]

Recently, after reading my friend @metalheadsforblacklivesmatter ‘s posts, I thought it was finally time to share my own story experiencing medical racism, transphobia and sexism.

TW: MEDICAL TOPICS, RACISM, TRANSPHOBIA, SEXISM AND EDS.

Somethings about me and disclaimers:

For those who don’t know me, hi hello, what’s the dealio? My name is Kuco, I’m a two-spirit black-indigenous mixed person. I am light-skinned, but most people can tell I’m mixed or assume I’m Latino, to the point where my medical documents mark me as Hispanic despite myself telling them to change it. I’m also AFAB.

While my experience is bad, it’s not unique to just me. Other people who are apart of the BIPOC community have faced the same or much worse. Regardless, please listen those in the community with darker skin. They often face much worse. If you’re only comfortable listening to those with lighter skin and feel more comfortable while claiming you’re an ally, you’re wrong and need to do better.

My story:

In 2021, I was experiencing nausea and vomiting after I ate. After a week of this continuously happening while working, I went to see a doctor who sent me to a surgeon, who sent me to a gastroenterologist to see what could be done without surgery.

This doctor was a cis white man in his late 60s who was apparently “retired.” After pointing out my symptoms and how they were getting worse, he looked through my medical history and noticed I had anxiety. He immediately went to the conclusion of a “brain-to-gut” connection, saying it was often found in woman. (Shock to no one, that wasn’t the case. Also, the issue was not my anxiety. My anxiety has progressive gone down and was at the lowest it had been in YEARS. My therapist at the time even confirmed this himself.) During this time, he also repeatedly referred to me using she/her pronouns, despite that my medical record points out that I am transgender and went by he/him pronouns at the time. (Despite me pointing this out, he continued to ignore this.) He gave me medications that were supposed to help, a doctor’s note (as I worked at the time) and sent me on my way.

Things only got worse. After 6 months of my symptoms getting worse and worse (to the point I could not eat solid food and started vomiting liquid) and several tests, he still believed it was a brain to gut issue. I had lost a lot of weight, to the point my own family noticed.

One of the last appointments I had with this doctor involved what’s called a gastric emptying test. For this test, a radioactive isotope (which isn’t harmful to humans) is put into some eggs and ingested. Pictures are taken of your stomach to track how long the isotope stays in your stomach after 2 hours, 3 hours, and 4 hours. Normally, your stomach is meant to empty at the 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hour mark. (By what I was told, mind you.)

My stomach emptied finally at the ladder end of 4 hours. This was considered on the way lower end of normal.

Once my doctor got this result, this was his response: The test says that your empty is at the lower end of what was normal, so that’s normal. Just keep taking your meds. It’s more common for Caucasian (white) people to have more serious gastric problems. Just so you know, I’m not writing you another note for your work, it’s not what I do.

This is what broke the camel’s back.

I called my primary care doctor and let her know that I wanted a different doctor who was a woman to see. I told her that he wasn’t listening to me nor taking me seriously and I refused to see him again. I also let her know that he was refusing to write me anymore work notes, despite the issue not being resolved. (A small time after this, my job let me go due to not having a return date. They said I was allowed to reapply afterwards, but I didn’t for different reasons. That’s another story for a different day.)

My primary care doctor sent me to a different doctor who was a woman and also happened to be a POC.

I had an appointment a week later, in which I told her all my symptoms and how I was barely able to eat it drink anything without being nauseous and vomiting. She listened to me while looking at my previous results from previous tests, in which she saw my gastric emptying test.

Her response was: Your test says your emptying is on the lower end of what’s normal, but by what you’re saying, it’s only gotten worse. Why didn’t he give you anything? I’m surprised you’re even talking to me right now.

I told her that he had said that due to my anxiety, it was a brain to gut issue, which was common for “woman” and continually insisted on that, as well as his other comments. She concluded I have a condition called Gastroparesis, or delayed gastric emptying. This is a condition that affects the stomach muscles and prevents proper stomach emptying. While there isn’t a certain idea of why it happens, it’s thought that those who previously suffered from EDs and have diabetes contract it more. (I had suffered from EDs when I was younger and have a history of diabetes that runs in my family, which is where I believe my causes came from.)

I suffered 9 months with this condition without proper treatment, in which my symptoms were prolonged, got worse, and almost passed, all because if ONE doctor.

While I got better for a time, I’m still battling with this condition, as well as other conditions that came along.

~~~~~~~~~

When those in the BIPOC community tell you we don’t trust white people, especially doctors, it’s because we’ve been shown time and time again the complete disregard for our care and safety.

Use your allyship for good and protect us.

I would like to thank my friends for your help, but especially with my partners and my friend @metalheadsforblacklivesmatter . They helped me so much through those 9 months, and even now continue to help and support me. I love you guys so so much. 🩵🩵🩵

[renshengs]

jwds wip snippet #2

happy wip wednesday i am still working on my post-canon fic in which jwds start living together and things happen both before and after. read after the break below!

—

“Inspector Han, what a surprise,” said Lee Dongsik with a grin that edged toward the unsettling end of wide. Someone must have notified him. “You know, I was prepared to walk down into my basement one evening and just find you standing there. ‘Lee Dongsik-ssi,’ you’d say. ‘I have reason to believe you’re the culprit behind yet another—’”

“Are you going to let me in?”

Dongsik studied him. His gaze was flintlike, dragged across Joowon’s face in search of something that could give a spark. “Come on in,” he said.

Stripped of its rows of decade-old cutouts, the walls of the house stood out nakedly, pale and plain and deceptively painless. Now they would pass under the eyes of outsiders, recede into the rest of the decor, as if they’d always been that way. But Joowon thought of the broken wall in the basement, gaping like an eyeless socket.

Dongik headed into the kitchen, where the stove was alive with a pot of something Joowon didn’t recognize. “Are you taking care of yourself these days? No terrible trips to the gastroenterologist?” Amusement bent his voice. He thought he was being funny.

“I’m fine,” Joowon said.

Dongsik had grown out his hair—now it was long enough to tie back. There was a tiny tail of curls sprouting from his nape. Joowon considered asking him why he’d used a rubber band instead of asking for a hair tie from Yoo Jaeyi, but the rest of the house was sucking away his attention.

A year of absence and some daylight made the place foreign again. That, or it really was the proper entrance that made it all so strange. Joowon had never asked before to be let in.

While Dongsik busied himself in the kitchen, Joowon cataloged.

Dongsik’s fishing rod stood propped by the door over a few sheets of newspaper, along with a pair of muddied gardening gloves. The windows hadn’t been scrubbed in months, but Joowon noted that their sills were clean where a few potted plants of varying degrees of liveliness sat in a row. Dongsik hadn’t cut the price tags. Over the mess of blankets on the couch scattered several more newspapers regarding missing persons cases, held in place by a yellowed notebook that revealed only blank pages when Joowon flipped through it. That was reasonable. He could hardly imagine that the workings of Dongsik’s mind could be written down. Could hardly imagine Dongsik writing at all, bent over a stack of papers like some private eye from those fifties Western films, chewing on a cigarette that lit his face.

Was he working cases again, unofficially? Was he helping out an old coworker? Joowon had thought it unlikely that Dongsik would want to go back to doing things like that. But what did he know?

“Nosing around in my business again, Inspector Han? What, are you here on a case?”

Joowon straightened and set the notebook back down, closed. “Are you working again?”

“I’m retired,” said Dongsik. The wooden spoon in his hand glistened and trailed steam. “Does it look like I’m working a job?”

Joowon gestured to the newspapers. “The plants,” he said. “And I didn’t know you gardened.”

Dongsik snorted. “I don’t. Nothing wrong with figuring it out as I go, right? At least if I accidentally kill a tomato plant, it won’t get me arre—” He stopped at the look on Joowon’s face. “Ah. Too soon?”

All of a sudden the air was thick, swam sludgelike in his lungs. “I’m sorry,” Joowon said, almost reflexively.

Softer, Dongsik said, “Joowon-ah, it’s been twenty years. I can hardly remember how to live like I used to. That’s all.”

[disabled-and-tired]

I have trouble keeping a physical journal, I always misplace it after only a few entries so here is my blog/journal. I’ll be posting my thoughts/frustrations/general life stuff. If this interests you or you relate you are more than welcome to stay and join me in this little journaling journey.

I guess I should introduce myself and give some important backstory as to why I’m making this blog. For reasons I will not be sharing my real name to strangers on the internet so you can call me Finch. Before I go into more detail I want to make it known that this page is not for me to gain any pity. That being said I am disabled (if I didn’t make that obvious) i was born with short Achilles tendons, had surgery for that when I was in the 4th grade, this surgery made it so i no longer strained my ankles walking on my toes, however the goal was to have my ankles at a 95° angle or more and my left only reached 93° while my right had to be recasted from 89° to 90°. Physical therapy was supposed to help the angles increase, unfortunately that didn’t happen. This has caused my knees, hips, and spine to be out of alignment. My right ankle has lost all cushioning between my bones, this is due to how I walked pre-surgery and caused over pronation in that foot. This has caused me to have chronic pain and mobility issues from a young age.

I would like to say that is my only issue, when I was very young we discovered I have POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) this would cause my resting heart rate to be in the 90s and constant heart palpitations. My mom, grandmother and sister all also have POTS. This condition also caused me to have fainting spells. Since my diagnosis I have worked with my doctors to find a way to manage the symptoms. When I was learning to read and wright it was discovered that I am dyslexic, this caused frustration as a child and to this day. I have been through some traumatic events which I may or may not discuss on this blog that caused me to develop C-PTSD (complex post-traumatic stress disorder) and during these traumatic times I was diagnosed with OCD which again my mom, grandmother and sister have. My sister had it worse than me especially with her having autism on top of it, however as a child I had no understanding of autism and had my own frustrations with her behaviors and how her disorder dominated the house and what we did as a family. I understand now why things were the way the were but little me couldn’t comprehend as much as I can now.

As I went into middle school I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. I was put on many meds for depression none worked. I would learn later with my new and current primary care provider that I have bipolar depression and not regular depression which explains why those meds just wouldn’t ever work and had odd side effects. In 5th grade when puberty hit I developed horrible allergies. Tropical fruits, certain nuts and the air were all causing me issues. Sesame was discovered to cause anaphylactic reactions weather I eat it or it’s cooked and in the air. A couple summers later I was having anaphylactic reactions to the pollen in the air, this prompted my mom to take me to the allergist and find out that I’m allergic to all plants where I live except cedar. I was promptly started on a 5 year allergy shot regiment.

During my allergy testing I was having severe gastrointestinal issues, acid reflux, esophageal spasms, and just feeling like crap after eating. I had an upper endoscopy done where I was biopsied and they informed me they fixed two things I didn’t know were issues. They found a hiatal hernia and a Schatzki ring. They fixed both and said they may happen again and since then I’ve had a second endoscopy very recently where I had both again and were fixed. The biopsy came back and my gastroenterologist had me make an appointment sooner than the one I had already made. I was informed that I had a disorder called EoE (eosinophilic esophagitis) the threshold to be diagnosed was >15 (eosinophils in one place on a slide view from pathology) I had >87. This explained a lot. I was told I had mild allergies to things I had been consuming frequently without knowing causing the condition to worsen. The allergies were found to be carrot and soy. I learned carrot is in a lot more things than you expect. After going off of anything with even trace amounts I was naive and thought I could have a blood orange soda with just bit of carrot added for flavor. Turns out I can’t and that made me feel very sick and itchy. Also turns out you can have hives on your inner eyelids, ears, nostrils, and stomach all of which I get when consuming carrot. Also I can’t have pear or bananas so that’s a bit of a bummer.

Going back to puberty times I of course started my period. I was told cramps were normal so of course I assumed I wasn’t to complain about cramps since everyone got them. As I got older the cramping got worse and worse. Trying ibuprofen and Tylenol but eventually those didn’t touch the pain anymore. It got to a state of cramping when I wasn’t even on my period, however when I was on my period it was so bad I couldn’t move, pain was radiating down my legs, throughout strange areas in my abdomen, and up my back. There was no relief I was missing school and one day ended up at the ER, convinced my appendix was about to burst. They did many tests and to my surprise they found nothing. Not even in the ultrasounds. My doctor put me on a 24/7 birth control to keep periods from happening. I then went to a gynecologist who diagnosed me with endometriosis.

My ankles grew strange and have something called haglunds deformity. In 11th grade I had this corrected just on my right ankle. This surgery was intense, they had to disconnect my tendon, chop bone off, and then the tendon is tacked back down with two screws, two nails and a surgical thread forming an X between the hardware. This was a very intense surgery that didn’t fully fix the problem. We decided against having this done on the other ankle. My surgeon offered to have my ankle bones fused in my right ankle saying it would keep the bones from grinding. I declined because there was no guarantee this would stop my pain and I would no longer be able to move my ankle.

As of now I have been diagnosed with atopic dermatitis and am in the long (often 10 year) process of being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. For now my doctor has given a placeholder diagnosis of fibromyalgia while we wait for my symptoms to progress enough to have full positive symptoms. This is frustrating as I am on the cusp of testing positive for lupus. My grandma has autoimmune symptoms as well although she doesn’t like doctors so we will never know what exactly is wrong with her.

Because of my mobility impairments I was told at a young age I would need walking aids as I got older and possibly a wheelchair if things progressed. When I was told this I was too young to fully understand I was just told my body was going to continue to get worse. I now use a cane and hope things won’t progress.

In my next post I’ll will probably discuss my interests and what I do for fun so something more light hearted, later I will also talk about my frustrations with what the internet has caused in terms of a epidemic of mockery. Munchausens by internet is something that I have heavily researched and feel passionate about. A former close friend of mine started faking disorders that cannot happen late in life and making it painfully obvious that she only pretends to be disabled when it can’t inconvenience her. We no longer talk. But more on that later, if you read this all thank you, if you related to this in anyway welcome you are not alone.

[cats-journey]

And Then, I got my Hair Cut

Okay, so let’s start with the details of this whole situation - Since around August last year I was having more difficulty swallowing food (this has happened on the occasion while eating, but could be resolved with drinking water to push it down), and it became worse especially during stressful times and travel. I was getting to the point where I had to have 2 litres of water with dinner, just to get it down. By the end of November I decided to book in to see my GP to have it investigated, and he was off for the rest of the year (fair enough, he works hard). So I booked in at the start of January, he sent a referral to a gastroenterologist, and my endoscopy was booked for the 30th of January 2025.

My GP said that he did not believe anything sinister would be the cause, but best to get it checked out. The gastroenterologist said that she suspected it might be a narrowing of the oesophagus (apparently that happens sometimes). I went under, and had *such* a good nap I heard someone speaking Spanish in their sleep. I forced myself awake to figure out who it was, and of course… it was me. So fun new party trick, and while I was chuckling at myself over this the gastroenterologist walked in to ask if I wanted to know the results.

They found something. A tumour. It looked malignant.

She said something about referring me to an oncologist, and the rest was a blur until she said ‘we can let your family know when they come to get you.’

‘Please don’t,’ I replied, ‘it’s my mother’s birthday.’

The woman who had cervical cancer when I was 15, who was terminal and was able to have it removed and beat it. The woman whose line happens to be the one this strain comes from, adenocarcinoma. It’s aggressive and nasty, and attacked (now) 5 members of my familial line from the last 4 generations. So I wasn’t going to say anything, but the situation so happened that we got coffee and cake, then I held her hand and sat down to tell her that what I knew so far.

So I ended up telling the whole family then and there, we were all shell shocked and of course just tried our best to keep things normal for the babies.

Then it was a blur - my beautiful friends helped to clear out my place and cleaned it top to bottom, because the deadline for treatment was unclear. There’s still a lot of work to be done, but I am so so grateful especially to Cara, Snez and Cony for the amazing space that they made for me while also holding my hand.

I saw the oncologist, and it looked grim - possibly stage 3 or 4, the gastroenterologist feared it might have spread too far already to be operable and it might be a case of how many years of quality of life I had left. I had a CT scan and got bloods done, I had a PET scan and spoke to the vascular surgeon about having my port put in (he’s goofy and wore Star Wars scrubs so I knew I was in good hands. I have minimal scarring, so I was right). I saw the oesophageal surgeon about the plan moving forward, apparently normally and not in extreme cases like mine I would have seen him before the oncologist. But this is how it is, and he tried to tell me how major the surgery was. I clearly wasn’t getting it, so I asked the question ‘how much time do I need to take off?’

That’s when we were able to get down to how it will be - it will be an all day surgery, so for now I’m in training. High fat, high protein diet, mostly liquids or soft foods. Anything that won’t overwork my oesophagus or stomach. It will be so big, in fact, that my stomach will be brought up into my ribs to make it easier to operate on, it will be a big hole. I will have 2 big holes, and will have at least a week in hospital recovering. With a feeding tube. It is that kind of major surgery. On the plus side though, this is the best outcome because the tumour is in fact operable, and is contained. It’s also not attached to my stomach, as initially thought.

The tumour has been named Evita. Because of course it’s from a musical, and it makes sense that the wife of a dictator would deprive of the joy of eating bread and sugary foods (because oh this sweet tooth of mine), Evita was also wanted out of the country and you know… the history between Argentina and Chile (it’s nasty, wars were fought. They don’t typically like each other, it’s a whole thing).

Last week alone I had an endoscopy and laparoscopy in the one day because the oesophageal surgeon wanted to see things for himself; apparently a trauma too great for my body as I not only woke up from the anaesthesia speaking in Spanish, but also crying uncontrollably and ending the day with a delightfully long bout of nausea. Then a day of ‘rest’, before going under again to have my port put in. The tears were much less that time, and I did still wake up speaking in Spanish, because apparently I do that now. I then ended the week with my first treatment of chemotherapy.

So needless to say, this week has been one of exhaustion and trying to recuperate and find a new normal amongst it all. Things are looking up, as really starting at ‘you might not survive this’, to ‘let’s poison you to see if we can contain Evita further and get her out of here’, is a big jump and was a massive relief when I was told.

So here’s the treatment plan:

4 x rounds of chemotherapy treatment, to happen fortnightly over the next 2 months

Major surgery, and with all going well and being able to kick Evita out, one week or so in hospital with a feeding tube and then a couple of months of recovery

2-3 more rounds of chemo to make sure Evita is out of here

Sorry to start with a lot, but that’s the general picture of where we started to where we currently are.

A little shout out too to my beautiful friends who have checked in, called and brought home cooked meals. To the long-distance friends who sent me thoughtful gifts, and to the one fighting her own battle and still finding time for me through it all. To my little central group who have also taken me to appointments and taken notes so I didn’t have to, as well as keeping me safe so I could nap… I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but thank you. It is beyond words what it means that we are functioning as we can because of you. For my source of strength, and constant ride or dies, my family. Te quiero siempre. There are truly no words for you, I just couldn’t be prouder to belong to this one. Joshua 24:15 - ‘But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.’

With Love, as ever, Cat xx

[covid-safer-hotties]

Study Reveals How COVID-19 Infection Can Cause or Worsen Diabetes - Published Sept 13, 2024

Researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine have used a cutting-edge model system to uncover the mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, induces new cases of diabetes, and worsens complications in people who already have it. The team found that viral exposure activates immune cells that in turn destroy beta (β) cells, the pancreatic cells that produce insulin. The study was published Sept. 2 in Cell Stem Cell.

“There has long been a hypothesis in the field that certain viral infections may trigger type 1 diabetes," said co-corresponding author Dr. Shuibing Chen, director of the Center for Genomic Health, the Kilts Family Professor of Surgery and a member of the Hartman Institute for Therapeutic Organ Regeneration at Weill Cornell Medicine. “But we were able to show how this happens in the context of COVID-19 infection.”

“When someone has severe COVID-19, of course the first priority is to treat the life-threatening symptoms,” said co-corresponding author Dr. Robert Schwartz, an associate professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine and a gastroenterologist and hepatologist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. “But moving forward, there may be a way to develop clinical therapeutics that help avoid later injury to organs like the pancreas.”

Dr. Liuliu Yang and Dr. Yuling Han, who were postdoctoral fellows in the Department of Surgery, and Dr. Tuo Zhang, an instructor in microbiology and immunology at Weill Cornell Medicine, were co-first authors of the paper.

From the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors caring for sick patients observed that the virus affected a number of organ systems, including not only the lungs, but also the heart, liver, colon and pancreas. For the current work, the researchers started with samples of pancreatic tissue from autopsies of people who had died of COVID-19. They observed that the pancreatic islets, the parts of the pancreas that generate the insulin to regulate blood sugar, were damaged.

They then used an analysis technique called GeoMx to study the samples in more detail. This revealed the presence of immune cells called proinflammatory macrophages in the tissues. The job of these macrophages is to kill off pathogens, but they sometimes cause collateral damage to healthy tissues.

To learn more about this activity, the team used a model system developed in the Chen Lab that had never been used before; pancreatic islet organoids (mini organs) that included both a vascular system and immune cells. “If we want to use organoids to study how a disease progresses, it’s important to be able to include components of the immune system in these models,” said Dr. Chen. In this case, after infecting the organoids with SARS-CoV-2, they found the macrophages appeared to be killing off the β cells through a type of cell death called pyroptosis.

The team also used the organoids to study how the pancreas responds to infection with another infectious virus — coxsackievirus B4, which has been implicated in the onset of type 1 diabetes. They found a similar macrophage response. “Moving forward, this organoid system is going to be useful for looking at other viruses as well,” Dr. Schwartz said.

Further research on the signaling molecules that activate the macrophages also suggested potential interventions for protecting β cells from damage in patients with severe infections. Although it is too early to begin testing any treatments, this is something that may be possible in the future. This work could also help shed light on the underlying causes of long COVID, a condition that is believed to affect more than 15 million people in the United States.

Many Weill Cornell Medicine physicians and scientists maintain relationships and collaborate with external organizations to foster scientific innovation and provide expert guidance. The institution makes these disclosures public to ensure transparency. For this information, see profiles for Dr. Shuibing Chen and Dr. Robert Schwartz.

The research reported in this story was supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, through grant numbers R01DK137517, R01DK124463, R01DK130454, R01DK121072. The study also used data acquired from the Human Pancreas Analysis Program (HPAP-RRID:SCR_016202) Database), a Human Islet Research Network consortium (UC4-DK-112217, U01-DK-123594, UC4-DK-112232, and U01-DK-123716); and the Integrated Islet Isolation and Distribution Program (IIDP), NIH grant UC4DK098085.

The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Study Link: www.cell.com/cell-stem-cell/fulltext/S1934-5909(24)00293-5

[healixhospitals24]

Common Digestive Disorders and How Medical Gastroenterology Can Help

Digestive disorders affect millions of people around the world, impacting their daily lives and overall health. These conditions can range from mild to severe, and in many cases, they require medical attention for proper management. Understanding digestive disorders and how medical gastroenterology can help is essential for anyone experiencing persistent digestive issues. In this blog, we will explore common digestive health problems, symptoms of digestive disorders, and the role of medical gastroenterologists in providing effective treatments.

At Healix Hospitals, we specialize in gastroenterology treatments and provide advanced solutions to improve your digestive health. Whether you're dealing with chronic gastrointestinal conditions or seeking advice on managing digestive system diseases, we’re here to help.

Understanding Digestive Disorders

Digestive disorders refer to a broad range of conditions that affect the digestive system, leading to symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and changes in bowel habits. Some of these conditions are temporary and can be managed with lifestyle changes, while others require more intensive medical intervention.

Causes of Digestive Problems

There are several causes of digestive problems, ranging from poor diet and stress to underlying medical conditions. Some common causes include:

Poor eating habits: A diet high in processed foods and low in fiber can lead to digestive issues like constipation and acid reflux.

Stress: Emotional stress can affect the functioning of the digestive system, leading to conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Infections: Bacterial or viral infections in the digestive tract can lead to conditions like gastroenteritis and food poisoning.

Chronic diseases: Conditions like Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and celiac disease can cause long-term digestive health issues.

By understanding the root causes of digestive issues, patients can better address and manage their symptoms with the help of a gastroenterologist.

Common Digestive Health Problems

1. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common digestive disorders, affecting millions of people worldwide. It is a functional disorder of the digestive system, meaning that the symptoms are not caused by any structural abnormalities, but by a malfunctioning of the digestive process.

Symptoms of digestive disorders related to IBS include abdominal cramping, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation. IBS can be triggered by stress, certain foods, or hormonal changes.

How gastroenterologists can help: Medical gastroenterology offers effective treatments for managing IBS, which may include dietary changes, stress management, and medications that regulate bowel function. In some cases, endoscopic procedures for digestive diseases may be used to rule out other conditions.

2. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic condition where stomach acid flows backward into the esophagus, causing symptoms like heartburn, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, and regurgitation.

Causes of digestive problems in GERD include a weakened lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and factors like obesity, pregnancy, and certain medications.

Treatment for stomach issues caused by GERD may involve lifestyle changes, medications to reduce stomach acid, and, in severe cases, surgery.

How gastroenterologists can help: Medical gastroenterology provides a comprehensive approach to managing GERD. Doctors may recommend endoscopic procedures to assess the esophagus and make accurate diagnoses. In some cases, minimally invasive surgery may be necessary to correct structural issues.

3. Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine. It can cause symptoms like bloating, diarrhea, fatigue, and nutrient deficiencies. If left untreated, digestive system diseases like celiac disease can lead to serious complications.

How gastroenterologists can help: A gastroenterologist will perform blood tests and endoscopic procedures to diagnose celiac disease. The primary treatment is a strict, lifelong gluten-free diet, which helps heal the intestine and alleviate symptoms.

Also Read: https://www.healixhospitals.com/blogs/common-digestive-disorders-and-how-medical-gastroenterology-can-help

[arctic-hands]

Weight talk and discussion of ozempic/wegovy under the cut

My gastroenterologist mentioned that ozempic might be useful for my condition, not because I'm fat (which I am) but because the gastric side effects being reported in people using it might actually have the opposite effect in people with IBD (she suspects I also have IBS and rapid gastric emptying on top of the Crohn's, which she says ozempic might also help calm down). Which is an off label use, but she thinks it's worth looking into.

Meanwhile my psych team, especially my therapist, thinks I might have some sort of binge eating disorder bc I suffer insane cravings that eat away at my budget. They recognize that I do in fact need more sugar and salt than the average person bc I'm so sick with multiple things (including POTS) that throw my system out of whack, but it is true that I get insanely bitchy if I can't eat what I'm craving. I never paid this too much mind bc I genuinely enjoy eating and the only problem I ever thought in regards to it is that my budget is too thin to safely afford ordering my insane and random cravings. And wegovy has been shown in multiple studies to curb food cravings.

On top of that is my compulsive shopping (or shopping addiction, I can never remember which I have), which also eats at my budget severely and makes me feel twitchy when I don't shop often enough and comes with a release when I actually buy something even if I get nervous about how much money I've spent. And wegovy looks promising in curbing shopping impulses too.

There's ALSO the fact that type 2 diabetes runs in my family on both sides, my paternal grandmother being diabetic and my mom being pre-diabetic, and I'm starting to develop some mild yet significant kidney and liver issues, the latter of which may be weight related, all of which ozempic was MEANT for.

But also I HAVE been feeling low about my body image bc of the constant social media and even mainstream news coverage of ozempic (my local CBS LOVES covering this "miracle drug") and like am I just using all the above to justify weight loss? I feel like such a traitor to the fat acceptance movement just for considering it. And also I'm worried I'll lose my love of food, something I'm not afraid to say I enjoy. I have had ARFID in the past but I think it was medicine related bc it slowly fade after I went off it.

Anyway I feel torn about it all, is all

[thejudgingtrash]

Yass, time for adult!Percy!

I was wondering about life past the current Riordanverse and I really like the idea of gathering different possible jobs for Percy, for fics and for fun.

So here’s a few:

1. Teacher/Counselor

First of all, what kind of teacher? Is he an elementary teacher? Does he teach AP classes in high school? Which subjects? Public school or private school (let’s not forget, Percy spent a good chunk in his life in private schools as the token poor negro kid and was surrounded by awful arrogant rich kids like Nancy and Matt)? Montessori school?? And most importantly: no, I absolutely do not see it.

Percy’s ofc very compassionate and aware of surroundings, so he’d be on high alert with his students but with the current and former state in schools I don’t think he’s willing to get traumatized each and every single day at school.

2. Marine Biologist

Call me basic but since it’s essentially canon, Imma stick beside him (tbh I can’t remember anything past PJO lol). But marine biology is such an interesting and diverse field?? Like c’mon now!

Yes, it’s a lot more chemistry and math and physics than one might think but the possibilities? And the benefits with his powers? Let Percy get a minor in psychology and study animal behavior by actually interviewing them, IT’S A GENIUS MOVE IF YOU GET THE VISION!

3. Marketing Manager

Hehe. My field of study. Am I biased? Of course I am! Was this part of my fic Oh. It’s Them Again? Yessss, mama!

Again. Such an interesting field with many possibilities! And he’d get more than just a good check in NYC if he switches positions enough! Like… is Percy a digital marketing manager? How much does he hate Google, Meta, Amazon and co.? Is he working in strengthening brand awareness and if so, how? Is he forced to work in newsletter/email marketing? Is he a sales machine and constantly on the road? Or is he a key account manager and simply focuses on a handful of important clients?

Is he, as a disgruntled millennial, forced to work with spoiled gen z influencers he hates and has to figure out the TikTok algorithm like a grandpa on the sofa whilst unhelpful Annabeth is laughing at him (shut up Annabeth, we all know you use IG reels and occasionally YT shorts at best!!)? Does he accidentally go viral and HATES everyone calling him daddy in the comments??

Oh, the possibilities.

4. Firefighter/Paramedic

Hell yes. I saw someone else posting about this ages ago (if you can remember, feel free to @!). But this is so interesting. If you want to somewhat stick to canon and let Percy use his powers, this could be an option.

I see it, helping and saving people that way could be an option. Still, also more on the traumatizing side but I actually think this is more interesting than a teacher. And oh, the possibilities in stories are endless! Saving people and pets from burning houses. Coordinating shifts in the station, being a first responder… oof.

That said…

5. Doctor

Oof, I should really work on The Wedding Dance in the future even tho it’s hella minor plot point…

Hospital doc? Owning his own practice doc? Doing 1 first and 2 next? What type of doctor is he? Simply an internist? A gastroenterologist? Pediatrician (could be traumatizing)? A surgeon to let out his god complex? Okay, let’s note down surgeon for Annabeth… a neurologist? Endless opportunities. Where’s the PJO x Grey’s Anatomy fic we all need??

6. Hotelier

Whilst the service industry is incredibly fucked (pre- as well as post-Pandemic), this is also interesting. Let Percy and Sally own a bed and breakfast. What does it look like? How many rooms are there? How much do they hate booking.com and AirBnB for taking a good chunk of commission?

Where’s the hotel located? In Montauk? In Manhattan? In Greece?? What are the roles? Does Sally do the cooking and house keeping whilst Percy does repairs and is the receptionist/clerk?

Who are the guests?? You decide!

7. Chef/Baker

Ahhh… Chef!Percy my beloved, you will always be welcomed. So. Much. Stuff. To. Think. About. And yes, this will actually be relevant for one of my fics, IFYKY. Head chef, deputy chef, junior chef… did Percy go the Institute of Culinary Education? Did he go to Italy or France for a few years to hone his craft? Or did he purposefully say f Europe, let’s head somewhere else? What is his specialty? How much sleep does he get per week?

Also I’m never letting go of Baker!Percy and Sally who own their sweet cupcake shop and sell all kinds of sugary shit!

8. Stay at Home Dad

My fave trope, don’t get it twisted! While I think Annabeth and Percy realistically have one kid max plus two or three pets, I love the idea of Career and Business Woman!Annabeth and SAHD Percy who’s trying to make her life as easy as possible whilst tending the baby, trying to clothe the toddler and reminding their elementary school aged kid to pack their lunch.

A chaotic, yet amazing and rewarding life (which is still stressful! Just a different kind of stressful!)

Sooooo…

What do you think? Agreements, disagreements? Anyone who’s interested/in school for/already working in any of these fields? Do you think it’s unrealistic? Is it realistic?

Mayhaps, I’ll think about other demigods and what they can do in the future 🧐🫡

[fictionplumis]

So I went to a dermatologist last week, and I gotta say, we both definitely left an impression on each other. She proved to be a better rheumatologist than the rheumatologist I'm actually seeing, she left me with three stitches, and I'm pretty sure I traumatized her.

To preface, I am going through mysterious symptoms that I've had for about three years now, which suddenly got nearly debilitating these last six months or so. It hasn't been easy to see doctors due to my lack of insurance, the American healthcare system, and the fact that the only people with cars in my family work full time and can't take time off. I finally fixed the lack of insurance the beginning of this year, but, y'know.

Anyway, after some testing done at a very cheap local clinic for poor people, bless them for existing and offering labs for $3, they suggested I have an autoimmune thing and needed specialized tests, and referred me to a rheumatologist.

Now since I've had nothing but time to research my symptoms in a desperate hope I can save myself some money by going, "Hey, I think it's this, can we test for this?" me and my family have a theory that it's polymyositis.

Well, technically, dermapolymyositis because I have a rash on my back that my mom noticed six months ago by sheer coincidence. We don't know how long it's been there, I was helping her with something and the back of my shirt rode up and she saw it. Doesn't hurt or itch, I've tried three different prescription creams on it that do nothing, it's just there.

Keep in mind that me looking up my stuff up online isn't just, like... WebMD.

My mom is a medical assistant for a company that does house calls. My sister is a pharmacist who just finished her BA to become a physician's assistant. She's shadowed with my PCP for about three years and we have his personal number on speed dial in case any of us need anything. For regular medical stuff, I am SPOILED.

This rheumatologist is the first specialist I've ever had to see and apparently she doesn't want to be there because she would rather blame my symptoms on everything BUT something in her specialty. She's also apparently never seen a poor person before, because the ideal that I haven't seen every other specialist under the sun before her is just BAFFLING to her.

"Your heart rate is over 150? Have you seen a cardiologist?" NO. Because my PCP has done EKGs on me and determined that it's fast but not actually an immediate problem, and probably a symptom of a larger problem.

"You're shaky and claim you have muscle weakness. Have you seen a neurologist?" NO. Because the shakiness is a direct result of the muscle fatigue and worsens whenever I do any physical activity, and it's also not on just one side of my body, so we suspect and it's a symptom of a larger problem.

"You have a rash, have you had a dermatologist biopsy it?" NO. Because it's not causing me distress and we believe it's a symptom of a larger problem.

"You have problems with heartburn, have you seen a gastroenterologist?" NO. Because we believe it's a symptom of a larger problem and I'm fucking poor and don't have a lot of available rides to doctors, so we're starting with the most pressing issue, which is that I can't stand for more than 30 seconds without my legs shaking from the strain and after some blood tests we think it's autoimmune related.

"Do you have an exercise routine?" NO. I cannot. Physically. Just taking a shower is exercise.

"This could be because you don't exercise." HONEY. The week before this started I was building bookcases in the living room and toting heavy boxes to the garage in an attempt to reorganize my entire house. I am only 140 pounds, not that weight is any indication of health, but you seem like that kinda person.

"Have you tried doing water exercises in a pool?" The nearest pool is a fifteen minute drive, I have no one that can drive me there and back on a regular basis, no energy to struggle to put on a bathing suit, and plus I have to pay to enter.

"You marked down that you have depression and you're taking antidepressants, depression will do this." I also marked down that I've been dealing with my MILD depression since high school, I know what it does to me, and I didn't start taking those antidepressants until my symptoms got so bad I couldn't do any of my hobbies or leave my house for more than doctors appointments and thus was crying constantly because I was stressed, scared, and didn't know if this would ever get resolved.

"It's low B12." BITCH.

Anyway. We decided the dermatologist would be easy to see first, since that one would be a go in, get a biopsy, and wait for results instead of a ton of different tests and followup appointments, we did that first.

She asks if I've had any other symptoms besides the rash, so me and my mom explain a quick rundown of all that's been going on and the first thing the dermatologist-- wait, no, sorry, the dermatologist's PA because we weren't even seeing the actual dermatologist--she goes, "Have you ever heard of something called dermamyositis?"

Me and my mom just laugh.

So technically, Myositis is the actual illness, right? When you add poly to the front, it just means that the condition is affecting a ton of different parts of your body, like say, your kidneys making stones (I've had two, I'm not even 30), or your heart, or your nerves, or your digestion. When Myositis comes with a skin reaction, like a rash, you add derma to the front. If I have myositis, I would technically have polydermamyositis. Just a fun fact.

Unfortunately, she's not a rheumatologist, and the most she can offer is to biopsy the rash.

Now, I'm a cocky little shit with a very high pain tolerance and no fear of medical procedures unless they happen to be OBGYN related. I've had one medical punch biopsy done, and a dermal punch used on me four times in a non-medical setting. That's how piercers do microdermal piercings. They use a dermal punch to punch a hole in your skin and then they push the jewelry in. Without any lidocaine, mind you, because they're not a doctor.

So I'm like, "Look, I know the lidocaine burns, we can just forgo that. I have scars on my chest from piercings that used a dermal punch. Just do the thing."

And she was Not About That.

Not because she doesn't think I can handle it, she hastes to point out so my ego isn't bruised! But because she wouldn't be comfortable with it and it would terrify her.

I relent, and her nurse starts to prep the lidocaine.

And sutures. Which is when I get the sneaking suspicion that this is NOT like the other punch biopsies I've had done.

My mom picks that time to mention my very fast heart rate, which the PA is like, "Is it fast right now? We should check, now I'm curious, because you've only been sitting there talking to me for the last thirty minutes." She's fascinated about what's going on with me outside of her specialty.

She tries to check my pulse in my wrist manually to count it, but she's my holding my hand in a way that's making my thumb jerk and shake. Because it just. Does that. Sometimes. If my hand is turned the right way. If I point my foot, my whole leg will jerk up and down. It's a Whole Thing.

"Huh. Either it's too fast for me to count or your shaking is throwing me off."

They get a machine. My heart rate is around 120.

She turns to the nurse laying out all her stuff and is like, "Hey, can you, uh... Remake that lidocaine shot without epinephrine?"

Probably a good call on that one.

She plans on doing two biopsies. Her nurse gives me the shots, but it's weird because I don't feel the prick or the burn of the first shot, and I feel the prick but no burn on the second shot.

They wait about fifteen minutes and then the PA starts the procedure. It's a deep dermal punch. I was right about it being different. I was also right about the lidocaine shots being weird.

She asks me the typical questions doctors ask after numbing you and starting to do something. "You can't feel anything, right?" Clearly expecting the answer to that to be no, especially since I am Not Moving An Inch.

And I very calmly say, "No, I do."

To her credit, she barely pauses what she's doing but sounds very freaked out when she goes, "Wait, you DO? You DO feel something."

And I very calmly say, "Yes. I do. I feel what you're doing."

Probably not the whole brunt of it, but I've had stitches before. It's a weird tugging sensation that's only uncomfortable because you mentally know it's not a natural thing for you to feel. She's working behind me, so I couldn't see what she was doing, but it felt like she had done the punch and then had to dig around with her little scissor things to pry the chunk of my skin and fat out of the hole.

She wasn't. She was doing the inside suture but that's what it felt like.

I can handle pain. Unfortunately, my body has been doing this thing for the past three years, where about one in every three blood tests I have, it goes, "WE'RE DYING, WE'RE DYING, OH GOD THEY ARE KILLING US." Usually it's not a big deal. I just get really hot all over and feel kind of nauseous. I don't mention it to the person drawing my blood, they don't notice, it goes away a few minutes later, and we all move on with our lives.

So my body goes and has an absolute shitfit, only it's more than a blood test so it decides to be extra dramatic.

The PA asks if I'm okay.

My mom goes, "No, she's not."

I go, "No, I'm not. Can I get a bottle of water?"

I am clammy. My mom said I went sheet white, which I absolutely believe. She stands up to make sure that I don't tumble to the floor if I pass out. The PA, ever the professional, is still working but is asking me every questions every few seconds while the nurse goes to get me water.

"Are you okay?" Mhm.

"Still with me?" Yup. "Still good?" Still good.

Everything sounds like it's muffled in cotton. I eventually have to kindly push my mom back because I am overheated. The nurse gives me a cup of cold water which helps IMMENSELY. And when my theater kid of a body calms down, I'm like, "Maybe we should just do the one biopsy today."

I don't think the nurse got the lidocaine deep enough. I definitely felt the derma punch go in, definitely felt the first inner stitch and a dulled pain of the first outer stitch, but I didn't feel the second outer stitch. Hurt like FUCK, but it definitely bothered the poor PA way more than it bothered me.

Mostly I'm just upset that my body decided to embarrass me like that. Like bitch, c'mon, I was JUST bragging about how I could handle this without lidocaine and you had to do me dirty like this? Nevermind that I didn't realize this dermal punch would be big enough to need STITCHES, you couldn't just let me cool this ONE time?

I see her again in a few days to get the stitches out, I hope I didn't freak her out too bad.

But hey, she'll probably never think of me as "just another patient" and if you're going to have someone half-numbed who almost passes out on you in a medical setting, you probably want me, because I'll be super chill about it.

[stargazer-sims]

Yet more hospital staff!

Actually, I think I'm done making side characters now. I'm extremely happy with how all of them turned out, and as usually happens with me, I'm sure a few of them will be promoted from supporting cast to something a bit more important.

Anyway...

Dr. Lauren Scully, endocrinologist - She puts up with being called "Agent Scully" (but only from people she likes). She's a diabetes specialist.

Gabriel Duke, Ph.D., paediatric psychologist - He's most noted for being fluent in sign language and having an older brother who's a famous athlete.

Dr. Daniel (Dae-Won) Kim, gastroenterologist - He looks like he can't take a joke, but he's actually quite funny once people get to know him. He's most known for aging well, and for his "mail-order husband". in actuality, Daniel met his (much younger!) husband on an online dating platform. Their engagement was very short, and they eloped, after which they had a lengthy long-distance relationship while Seung-Ri finished his residency. After that, Seung-Ri joined Daniel in Willow Creek and came to work at the hospital.

Dr. Seung-Ri Park, paediatrician - Seung-Ri sometimes goes by his English name, Henry, but actually prefers his Korean name. He is best known for his May-September relationship with fellow physician Daniel Kim, and for constantly being asked by patients' families, "Are you sure you're old enough to be a doctor?" He loves being Daniel's "trophy husband" and getting mistaken for a K-pop idol everywhere they go. Seung-Ri loves kids and is trying to convince Daniel they should adopt one.

Sunday Adebayo, registered dietitian and nutrition consultant - Sunday and his team work directly with patients across various departments. Their job is to help patients develop food plans that align with their treatments, and to help them maintain good health following their diagnosis. Sunday also works with patients who have eating disorders and who are chronically ill. He's most noted for being the hospital's most talented singer, and he can often be heard singing in the corridors.

Ali Ibrahim, chief in-house legal counsel - As the hospital's primary lawyer, Ali's job is to advise administrators and staff on various legal and ethics issues related to service delivery and patient care. Ali and his small in-house legal team also represent the hospital in the event any member of staff (or the hospital itself) is involved in any sort of legal proceeding. He is the husband of paediatric nursing supervisor Laila Alhadi.

Ivy Clarke, Manager of Patient Experience - Ivy is essentially the hospital's PR lady. She and her team field complaints from patients and their families, and do their best to settle any issues before they find their way to Ali's office. Ivy is also the hospital's spokesperson, delivering official statements any time one may be required by the media. She's best known for being the plant lady; her office looks a bit like a jungle.

[patel55]

Navigating Neurology: Finding the Best Neurologist in Jaipur for Your Needs

Brain health is a crucial aspect of overall well-being. Neurological disorders can significantly impact your daily life, from headaches and migraines to more severe conditions like epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and strokes. For those living in Jaipur or nearby areas, finding the right neurologist in Jaipur is essential for diagnosing and treating these conditions effectively.

In addition to neurological care, Jaipur also offers access to some of the finest healthcare services, including the best urology hospital in Jaipur, best cancer hospital in Jaipur, and experienced specialists like the gastroenterologist in Jaipur. This article will guide you through the top neurologists in Jaipur and provide insights into other specialised care available in the city.

Why Brain Health Matters

Your brain is the control center of your body, responsible for regulating all vital functions. When neurological disorders affect the brain, spinal cord, or nerves, they can cause debilitating symptoms such as memory loss, coordination issues, and chronic pain. This is where a neurologist in Jaipur comes in, helping diagnose and manage a wide range of neurological conditions.

Common Neurological Conditions

A neurologist in Jaipur treats various conditions, including:

Epilepsy: A disorder characterised by recurrent seizures. Neurologists work to manage seizures through medication and, in some cases, surgical interventions.

Parkinson’s Disease: A progressive neurological disorder affecting movement and coordination. Early diagnosis by a neurologist can help manage symptoms and slow disease progression.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS): An autoimmune disorder that affects the central nervous system. Neurologists provide treatment to manage symptoms and improve quality of life for MS patients.

Migraines and Chronic Headaches: Frequent headaches can severely impact daily functioning. A neurologist can help identify triggers and recommend effective treatments.

If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s crucial to consult a neurologist in Jaipur for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

How to Choose the Best Neurologist in Jaipur

When searching for the right neurologist in Jaipur, there are a few key factors to consider:

1. Experience and Specialisation

Not all neurologists specialise in the same conditions. Some may focus on movement disorders like Parkinson’s, while others may specialise in epilepsy or stroke rehabilitation. Look for a neurologist with experience in treating your specific condition.

2. Patient Reviews and Testimonials

Reading patient reviews and testimonials can provide insight into the neurologist’s expertise and bedside manner. Positive reviews can help you feel more confident in your choice.

3. Hospital Affiliation

Ensure that the neurologist you choose is affiliated with a reputable hospital that offers advanced diagnostic tools and treatment options. Jaipur is home to many top-tier medical institutions, including the best urology hospital in Jaipur and facilities that cater to various medical needs.

4. Accessibility

Choose a neurologist who is easily accessible in terms of location and appointment availability. Neurological conditions often require regular follow-ups, so convenience is essential.

Other Specialised Medical Services in Jaipur

In addition to neurological care, Jaipur is a hub for other specialised medical services. Patients can access world-class treatment in urology, cancer care, and gastroenterology. Let’s take a closer look at some of these services.

Best Urology Hospital in Jaipur

The best urology hospital in Jaipur provides top-notch care for urinary and reproductive health issues. Whether you're dealing with kidney stones, prostate problems, or bladder issues, urologists in Jaipur offer advanced diagnostic tools and minimally invasive surgical options to ensure optimal care.

Urological Conditions Treated:

Kidney Stones: Common but painful, kidney stones are managed through medication or surgery.

Prostate Enlargement: A prevalent issue among older men, prostate enlargement can be treated with medication or surgery.

Bladder Infections: Recurrent bladder infections are managed through specialised care, ensuring long-term relief.

Patients seeking treatment for these conditions can rely on the best urology hospital in Jaipur for comprehensive and personalised care.

Best Cancer Hospital in Jaipur

Cancer treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach, combining surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. The best cancer hospital in Jaipur offers specialised care for all types of cancer, including breast, lung, and colon cancer.

Why Choose the Best Cancer Hospital in Jaipur?

Advanced Technology: The hospital offers cutting-edge treatments like robotic surgeries and targeted therapies that minimise side effects.

Expert Oncologists: Patients benefit from the expertise of oncologists who specialise in different types of cancer, ensuring tailored treatment plans.

Holistic Care: The hospital also focuses on palliative care, providing emotional and psychological support to patients and their families.

Whether it’s early detection or advanced cancer treatment, the best cancer hospital in Jaipur ensures that patients receive world-class care close to home.

Gastroenterologist in Jaipur

Digestive health is critical to overall well-being, and a gastroenterologist in Jaipur specialises in diagnosing and treating digestive disorders. From acid reflux to more severe conditions like Crohn’s disease and liver problems, gastroenterologists offer comprehensive care to ensure proper digestive health.

Common Conditions Treated:

Acid Reflux and GERD: Frequent heartburn can lead to more severe conditions like GERD. A gastroenterologist can provide treatment options, including medication and dietary changes.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): A common but complex condition, IBS is managed through medication and lifestyle modifications.

Liver Disease: Liver problems, including hepatitis and cirrhosis, require specialised care and regular monitoring.

Consulting a gastroenterologist in Jaipur is essential if you are experiencing persistent digestive issues that interfere with your daily life.

When it comes to specialised healthcare, Jaipur offers a wide range of options to meet every medical need. Whether you're looking for a neurologist in Jaipur to address brain health concerns, seeking care at the best urology hospital in Jaipur, or exploring treatment options at the best cancer hospital in Jaipur, you can be confident that you will receive high-quality, patient-centric care.

Additionally, with access to skilled specialists like the gastroenterologist in Jaipur, Jaipur residents have comprehensive medical services at their fingertips. By choosing the right healthcare provider, you can ensure that you receive the best possible treatment and care for your health needs.

For neurological concerns, early diagnosis and treatment are key to maintaining your quality of life. If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of a neurological disorder, don’t hesitate to consult a neurologist in Jaipur and take the first step toward better brain health.