#health tips after surgery

[cocoonhospital]

Recover Right: Dos and Don’ts After Laparoscopic Surgery

Recovering After Laparoscopic Surgery: Dos and Don'ts

Everyone's experience with laparoscopic surgery can differ, affected by factors like the procedure's complexity, the length of the surgery, and individual responses to pain. While laparoscopy is known for being minimally invasive, proper post-operative care is essential for a smooth recovery. If you've recently undergone gynecologic laparoscopic surgery, this guide will provide you with key do's and don'ts to help you navigate your recovery journey.

Dos After Laparoscopic Surgery

1. Follow Your Doctor’s Instructions After your surgery, your gynecologist will provide detailed care instructions. Adhering to these guidelines is vital for a successful recovery. Don’t hesitate to ask questions if anything is unclear.

2. Take It Slow Even though the procedure is minimally invasive, it still affects your body. Allow yourself adequate time to rest and recover. Your doctor may recommend taking a few days off work and avoiding strenuous activities until you’re fully healed.

3. Stay Hydrated Hydration is essential post-surgery. Drinking plenty of fluids helps prevent constipation, a common side effect of pain medications. Aim to consume water and electrolyte drinks throughout the day to stay energized.

4. Gradually Increase Physical Activity While you should avoid heavy lifting, gentle movements are beneficial. Start with light walking, which can help prevent blood clots and promote healing. Your doctor may suggest specific exercises to aid in your recovery.

5. Eat Nutritious Meals A balanced diet supports healing. Focus on high-protein foods, including lean meats, fish, eggs, fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Limit foods high in fat, sugar, and salt, as they can hinder your recovery.

6. Keep Incisions Clean and Dry Maintaining cleanliness in your incision areas is crucial to prevent infection. Follow the care instructions provided by your healthcare team to keep these areas safe.

Don’ts After Laparoscopic Surgery 1. Avoid Lifting Heavy Objects Refrain from lifting anything heavy, as this can strain your incision and delay healing. Your doctor will likely advise against lifting items over 10 pounds for several weeks.

2. Don’t Smoke or Use Tobacco Products Smoking can impede healing and increase complications. Nicotine narrows blood vessels and reduces oxygen flow to tissues, which is detrimental post-surgery.

3. Don’t Skip Follow-Up Appointments Follow-up visits are essential for monitoring your recovery and addressing any potential complications. Attend all scheduled appointments and communicate any concerns to your doctor.

4. Monitor for Signs of Infection Stay vigilant for symptoms of infection, such as redness, swelling, or unusual discharge at the incision sites. If you notice any of these signs, consult your healthcare provider immediately.

Takeaway Laparoscopic surgery offers numerous benefits over traditional methods, but proper post-operative care is essential. Follow your doctor’s guidelines, stay hydrated, eat well, avoid heavy lifting, and maintain cleanliness in your incision areas. If you notice any complications, seek advice from our experts at Cocoon Hospital, one of the top maternity hospitals in Jaipur.

[hairtransplant-stories]

Long Term Side Effects of Hair Transplant

Hair transplants have become increasingly popular over the years as a solution for hair loss. While the procedure promises to restore hair and confidence, it’s essential to understand the potential long-term side effects of hair transplant that may arise. Let’s delve into what you should know about these effects and how to manage them. 

What is a Hair Transplant?

A hair transplant is a surgical procedure that involves moving hair follicles from one part of the body (the donor site) to the balding or thinning area (the recipient site). This procedure is typically performed on the scalp but can also be done on other parts of the body.

Types of Hair Transplant Procedures

There are two primary methods of hair transplantation: Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). FUT involves removing a strip of scalp from the donor area, while FUE involves harvesting individual hair follicles directly from the scalp.

Short-Term Side Effects of Hair Transplants

While short-term side effects such as pain, swelling, and itching are common after a hair transplant, they usually subside within a few weeks. However, it’s the long-term effects that patients should be aware of.

Long-Term Side Effects of Hair Transplants

Risk of infection

One of the most significant long-term risks associated with hair transplants is the potential for infection. Although rare, infections can occur weeks or even months after the procedure, leading to complications and affecting the overall outcome of the transplant.

Scarring

Scarring is another concern with hair transplants, particularly with the FUT method. The linear scar left behind from the donor area may be visible if the hair is cut short, causing aesthetic concerns for some patients.

Hair loss shock

Some patients may experience a phenomenon known as “shock loss,” where the transplanted hair falls out temporarily before regrowing. While this is a normal part of the healing process, it can be alarming for patients who are unaware of this possibility.

Complications from Anesthesia

Like any surgical procedure, hair transplants carry risks associated with anesthesia, including allergic reactions and adverse side effects. While rare, these complications can have long-lasting effects on the patient’s health.

Psychological Effects

In addition to physical side effects, hair transplants can also have psychological implications for patients.

Emotional Impact

Hair loss can take a toll on a person’s self-esteem and confidence. While a successful hair transplant can boost self-confidence, unsuccessful outcomes or complications may exacerbate feelings of insecurity and dissatisfaction.

Body Image Concerns

Some patients may develop body image concerns following a hair transplant, especially if they are dissatisfied with the results or experience noticeable scarring. These concerns can affect various aspects of their lives, including relationships and career opportunities.

Depression and Anxiety

For some individuals, the stress of undergoing a hair transplant and the pressure to achieve desired results can contribute to feelings of depression and anxiety. It’s essential for patients to prioritize their mental health throughout the process.

Managing Long-Term Side Effects

While long-term side effects of hair transplants are a concern, there are steps patients can take to minimize their risk and manage any complications that arise.

Proper Aftercare

Following the post-operative care instructions provided by the surgeon is crucial for reducing the risk of infection and promoting proper healing. This includes keeping the scalp clean, avoiding strenuous activities, and taking prescribed medications as directed.

Consultation with a Dermatologist

If patients experience any concerning symptoms or complications after a hair transplant, it’s essential to seek medical attention promptly. A dermatologist or hair restoration specialist can evaluate the situation and recommend appropriate treatments to address any issues.

Potential Treatments

In some cases, additional treatments or procedures may be necessary to address long-term side effects of hair transplants, such as scar revision surgery or medication for infection. Patients should discuss their concerns and treatment options with their healthcare provider.

Conclusion

While hair transplants can be an effective solution for hair loss, it’s essential for patients to be aware of the potential long-term side effects associated with the procedure. By understanding these risks and taking proactive steps to manage them, patients can achieve successful outcomes and maintain their overall well-being.

[gezdrasz]

Signal boost!

Recently my beloved cat has been diagnosed with tumours on her milk glands. She is scheduled for surgery on October 18th. The surgery co//st is quite a lot for me so any tips, com//missions or shares are greatly appreciated! The tumours are very small as they were caught early so her chances for recovery have been estimated as very high and she should be alright after the procedure. She has been with me since my childhood and she’s extremely dear to me. Even with her age (14) other than hyperthyroidism and an eye condition, she has been in perfect health. Both those conditions have been in check since they were diagnosed a few months ago and she’s a very happy and lively cat.

The cost has been estimated as about $520 + bloodwork that will be done on Monday and after surgery care. $1 = ~4 PLN so even small tips can make a world of a difference.

Thank you for any help!🐈‍⬛💔💔💔

The f/undraiser in Polish (you can translate that page into English at the bottom):

pomagam.pl/bpcghr

My Kofi:

[sommerregenjuniluft]

@jegulus-microfic june 1st — pride — 1804words — nsfw! aka regulus purchases something and james is fortunate enough to unpack for @itmeanssungod & @veryinnovative

It’s been a while since Regulus started toying with the idea of trying out packing for himself. 

He doesn’t have too much dysphoria during sex anymore—which he is grateful for—since he’s completely healed from top surgery and especially with partners he knows. 

But lately Regulus has found out it feels really fucking good to just- keep the strap on afterwards. Just haphazardly yank on his boxer briefs once they’re done, purple tip peeking out over the top of the hem, and sex drunkenly stumble into the kitchen to get himself a gatorade from the fridge. Evan prefers water, which they keep in the room, and Barty prefers to crank open a window and smoke one.

It’s empowering in a way, he guesses. He’s still living with his brother and James is over more times than he is not. Just liking the company of a busy house full of people he reasons with a shrug every time the topic comes up. Missing the old days in a dorm.

Regulus is pretty sure there’s truth in that statement but he’s also not stupid and convincing himself he’s only imagining the looks James is sending his way has only worked for so long. It’s near ridiculous to think he’s been oblivious to it for so long.

But Regulus isn’t anymore because when he’d gone to get his gatorade James had, to spell it out politely, nearly died from choking on his pasta salad when he’d looked up from his phone and at Regulus.

So with the arrival of pride Regulus had saved up and treated himself with the purchase of a flaccid strap on. It matches his skin colour nearly perfectly, the head showing from under the foreskin. It’s got a nice feel to it, it’s proportionate to his body when Regulus looks at himself in the mirror and it’s comfortable where it’s hanging between his legs and resting in his underwear when he puts his clothes back on. It’s a little ridiculous but he knows it’s important so Regulus allows himself to tear up about it a little. About how bone deep good it makes him feel about himself.

He’s in grey joggers and a form fitting black T-shirt. Regulus turns to the side in front of the mirror, cups himself through the soft material of his pants. Barely audible he can hear James humming to himself in the kitchen. Regulus smirks.

“James,” Regulus greets as he enters the kitchen.

“Oh, hi, Reg,” James says, lifting from over the stove and taking out his airpods from where he was bobbing his head to the music playing on them. 

Regulus plops himself on a free spot on the counter and picks up a bottle of sauce he doesn’t recognise to busy himself with reading the label. “What are you cooking?”

James hums and proceeds to explain to him where he found the recipe on social media and what health benefits it has and how good it’s going to taste.

Regulus half listens and half plots internally how he’s going to subtly make James aware of his newest possession.

“Can I do something to help?”

“Err,” James blinks for a moment, then he lets out a chuckle, “The Regulus Black offering to help in the kitchen on his own volition? How much money do you need?”

Regulus rolls his eyes and swats him in the chest. “I was very much being sincere, for your information. But I can go of course, if my presence is not needed,” he says and makes to stand up.

“No no,” James replies quickly, raising his palms in a pacifying manner. They’re closer now and Regulus can see where James’ brain has momentarily paused its task of persuading Regulus to stay in favour of simply staring at him. His curls, his eyes, his lips. 

Regulus raises his eyebrows.

“You– ehm,” James starts, swallowing, “You caaaan– set the table?”

“Are you asking or telling?” Regulus inquires, taking another half step closer and delighting in the small intake of breath from James.

“Telling,” James answers. “Please.”

Regulus nods, biting back a smirk, and steps around James to get cutlers.

After he’s set those out he waits for James to go back to stirring the pasta that’s cooking on one of the back burners, right underneath the shelf with the plates. 

Regulus comes up from behind and sets a hand on James’ hip. “Pardon,” he murmurs and then stretches up on his toes, pressing his crotch right into James’ backside.

It has its desired effect immediately.

James’ breath hitches and in the next second he’s making an aborted noise deep in his throat.

Regulus’ lips twitch upwards at the corners, “Something wrong?”

James shakes his head, his voice cracking on the m-mh he makes, not opening his mouth. His hand is completely still where he’s got the wooden spoon gripped.

Regulus hums, leans in impossibly closer, really rubbing himself into James’ ass. James lets out a wheeze. Regulus tilts his head, mouth right next to the other’s ear, “How many do we need?”

“Hm?” James’ voice is thin.

“How many do we need, James?” Regulus repeats, fingers over his hip tightening marginally.

“Ah- um, what? Sorry, I’m—”

“Plates, James,” Regulus tuts, grinding his hips forward slightly, “How many plates?”

“O-oh,” James seems to take a deep, steadying breath, “Five?”

Regulus hums and then with one last little thrust grabs the plates before lifting back down and extracting himself.

He can feel James’ eyes glued to him the whole while Regulus is setting them on the table, neatly next to the cutlery. It fills Regulus’ entire body with a warm feeling. Eventually he saunters back over, coming to a stop right next to James, who is currently indecently staring at Regulus’ crotch. If it was anyone else in any other situation Regulus would have already punched them in the nose but this is different. This is Regulus purposely instigating and James stepping right into the trap Regulus has carefully placed between the foliage.

“Something you wanna ask?” Regulus ducks his head, catching James’ gaze where it’s evidently trained on his lap. 

He doesn’t quite manage to suppress his grin this time. James seems to notice that, sputtering at first before realisation dawns on his face.

“You– oh, you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?” James replies, eyes narrowed slightly, flush high on his cheekbones regardless.

“Doing what?” Regulus asks innocently. He sets his elbows on the counter behind him, jutting out his hips teasingly.

James groans obscenely and then proceeds to cage Regulus right in, settling two palms on either side of Regulus’ elbows. 

“Regulus.” There’s a warning quality to the way James presses out his name.

“James,” Regulus purrs, angling his face to look up at the older man through his lashes.

James breathes out roughly through his nose, pupils dilating. “You’re packing, aren’t you?”

“I might be.”

“And you wanted me to know.”

Regulus makes a non-committal sound.

“God,” James curses, “You’re so infuriating. Do you know how hard it is to not—” 

He doesn’t finish the sentence. James’ eyes are roving over his face for clues and Regulus guesses if James is taking the inch, Regulus might as well give him the mile. Or, rather, the rest of the inches.

“You wanna see it?”

James’ mouth opens soundlessly. It takes a moment before he answers. “It?”

“My cock,” Regulus explains, licking his lips. “It’s new.”

James moans quietly, “Yeah, Reg, I wanna see your cock, fuck.”

Regulus sets his hands against the muscle connecting James’ neck and shoulder, “Can you get on your knees for me?”

“Is the sky blue?” James retorts, eyes glazing over as he sinks down in front of Regulus without further prompting. When he looks back up at Regulus with big, Bambi brown eyes from behind his glasses he looks so sweet Regulus considers briefly if he might be in over his head. “Can I?” James asks, gently hiking his fingertips into the band of Regulus’ sweats. 

Regulus nods and with that James pulls the clothing down.

There’s a little bit of nervous yet excited sweat breaking out on Regulus’ palms but before he has the opportunity to overthink, he already hears the groan punching out of James. 

“Fuck, Reg,” James whispers. “Oh, Christ, you’re so gorgeous. Look at him.”

Regulus sucks in an unsteady inhale and twists his fingers into the unruly mess that is James’ hair, having to hold onto something suddenly.

“You like it?” Regulus rasps.

James answers with a slightly delirious laugh tumbling out of him. He shakes his head in awe, fingers digging into the soft muscle of Regulus’ thighs. “Reg, don’t slap me, I’m just being sincere when I say I wanna take you into my mouth so badly.”

Regulus dampens a moan into a sigh, “You can.”

James rips his gaze away from his cock, a starstruck look in his pretty, dark eyes when he gapes up at him. Regulus nods his reassurance.

“Oh fuck.” 

Then James is sucking Regulus’ flaccid strap into his mouth. Working his tongue around it, hallowing his cheeks and really giving it his all. Like his goal is to get Regulus as hard as fast as humanly possible.

And Regulus knows it’s logically impossible but he swears he can feel James tonguing at him, getting terribly aroused by the image and feel of James giving him a fucking blowjob right there in the kitchen. A small noise slips out of Regulus and he accidentally tightens his grip in James’ hair. James responds beautifully, moaning around Regulus in his mouth and eyes fluttering like he’s getting off just as much on all of this as Regulus is. His lips stretch prettily around the silicone and Regulus thumbs softly at the stubble on James’ jaw.

There’s a moment where their eyes meet when James takes him all the way into the back of his throat, making the end of the strap push back against Regulus’ centre, where Regulus has the sudden realisation that he’s going to come if James keeps this up.

And that is decidedly the moment the front door opens, the laughter of their friends echoeing through the hallway.

James keens when Regulus pulls him off and quickly tugs the waistband of his sweatpants back up and pulls on James’ shirt until he stands as well. He looks like a kicked puppy as Regulus ushers him back to the stove, shoving the wooden spoon against his chest to stir the probably totally overcooked pasta. His mouth is twisted into a pout or maybe that’s just them being swollen from having Regulus in his mouth. 

Fuck it.

He takes James’ jaw in a loose grip to get his attention again. “Finish this after dinner?”

James’ answer is a bright smile and a quick kiss he steals himself against Regulus’ wrist.

[steviewashere]

In Sickness and Health

Rating: General CW: Discussions of Medical Issues, Referenced/Past Seizures Tags: Established Relationship, Married Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson, Future Fic, Older Steddie, Canon Divergent, Steve Harrington has Seizures, Eddie Munson is a Sweetheart, Steve Harrington is a Sweetheart, Breakdowns, Hurt/Comfort, Angst & Fluff, Eddie Munson Calls Steve Harrington Pet Names

For the @steddielovemonth prompt: "Love is giving them space when they need it."

💕—————💕

Eddie has learned to revel in quiet afternoons, even when he’s alone. The way the sunshine bathes the apartment’s living room carpet—his and Steve’s apartment. Their cat, Poncho, settled heavy and warm in his lap. A chilled glass of southern iced tea and a plate of crackers and sliced cheese. The television volume on low. Book open and set on the arm of the couch. It’s good, the quiet.

Yet, it breaks the moment the front door opens. He didn’t hear Steve stick his key in the lock. But he definitely hears his annoyed groans and huffs. The slam of the door, most likely shut with his hip. A muffled, “Damnit”, when he drops his keyring on the floor.

He peeks from the edge of the couch, eyes set and attentive at their front door. And Steve is there, wrestling with his puffer jacket, grumbling under his breath, kicking his legs and stepping on the backs of his sneakers—something he never does, he cares too much for those things. But here he is. One t-shirt stuck on a doorknob away from a breakdown.

Though, Eddie doesn’t chastise him for the way his emotions express. No matter how explosive they are. Steve just gets like this some days. Too angry to talk. Too begrudged to take care of his things.

What’s new, however, is Steve’s slightly splotchy, puffy face. Red and pink and white. The tears brimming in his eyes. Ever apparent even behind his glasses. A paper with professional scribbling on it—a doctor’s note. He had an appointment this morning. Made last night after an emergency room trip. A seizure is what put him there. Scared them both, Eddie too eager to make him take an appointment, to call in sick to work. He should’ve gone with, if this is how Steve’s coming home.

He plops Poncho on the couch, letting him stretch skywards and curl back into a little ball. Tea abandoned on the coffee table. And Eddie gently comes around the corner, hands hooked in front of himself, still dressed down in pajamas, eyes wide and expecting at Steve. 

“St—“

Steve shakes his head. A hand held out in front of him. Jacket and shoes abandoned by the front door. And he sidesteps Eddie completely, barreling down the hallway, slamming the bedroom door behind him, and locking it.

Eddie lumbers after him, slowly, cautiously. Face to the wood of the door. And through it, what breaks his heart, he can hear Steve’s soft cries. He resigns himself to some time on the couch. Steve always needs his space after breakdowns like these.

Needed it after Max woke up in the hospital, half-blind, limbs mostly healed. Needed it after Eddie came out of surgery, pock-marked and head shaved, half a grimace on his face. Needed it when Robin moved out of state for college. After Dustin and Lucas and Mike and Will and Eleven and Max all graduated high school, when they went their separate ways across the country, when they called once or twice a month. When his dad died, the grief a heavy blanket on his shoulders, his chest lighter, his brain angry at being relieved. 

Steve needed his space when Eddie brought home their cat (though he came out merely ten minutes later, an excited smile on his face, name on the tip of his tongue). Nightmares and dissociation episodes. At the grocery store, because he has to stick to a list, knowing that Eddie never does that. The first grey hair, which he then took in stride when Eddie called him a “Beautiful baby silver fox.”

Even after they moved to Massachusetts in 2008 and got married. His emotions were so strong, so palpable, so rapid—he just needed a moment to debrief, take a hot shower, and then cuddle into Eddie’s side on their honeymoon bed.

Point is, Eddie knows when Steve needs his space. Knows that he cherishes that time to himself, to break down in contemplative silence, to let himself digest new information or old information or just get himself restrung. 

He wishes that Steve had been taught that it’s okay to breakdown in front of his loved ones. That it’s okay to ask for help and for comfort. But it doesn’t come easy. It makes him guilty. It makes him scattered like a headless chicken.

For the mean time, Eddie sets himself down on the couch, iced tea in his grip, volume turned up slightly on the television. Steve doesn’t like it when people hear him cry. Eddie doesn’t acknowledge it either, for the sake of saving Steve from another impending breakdown. He loves Steve with all his might, he just wishes things were slightly different. He’ll do this, ever reluctant he may be.

——— Around thirty minutes later, an average amount of time for Steve, the bedroom door creaks open. Eddie quickly turns down the TV and gently places his now empty glass on the coffee table.

Small, floating from the hallway, Steve calls out, “Eddie? Can you—“ He sniffles, voice still choked up. “Can you come in here, please?”

The sight that Eddie wanders in on breaks his heart a little further. Steve’s face is still a splotchy mess, his eyes downcast and teary, waterlines pink. His hair, grayer now, is askew. There’s a definite slump to his body, where it rests on the edge of the mattress. Hands intertwined between his legs, fingers locking and pulling one another, socked feet shuffling on the rug. He got out of his day clothes, now back in his pajamas from the night before—sleep shorts, grey t-shirt.

Eddie closes the bedroom door behind him. He scoots over and kneels down on the floor. Hesitantly, he sets his palms on Steve’s knees. He rubs the inner skin, warm and soft, with his thumbs. “Whatcha need from me, baby? Ask me to do anything, I’ll do it.”

Steve sighs, breath shuddering as it leaves him. His exhale ends on a little whimpered hiccup. Instead of answering, he grabs the paper he was holding earlier and passes it over. It’s edges are wrinkled, probably from being handled roughly, maybe even scrunched. And Eddie was right, it’s something from a doctor’s tablet. Signed off with a messy scrawl:

— Instructions for handling seizures. — What to do if a seizure lasts longer than five minutes. — Steps on how to start the process of getting a service animal. — Firm directions telling the patient to not drive. — Prescription for Tegretol CR 200mg

And the diagnosis in thick, blocky, bold black text:

Epilepsy

Eddie sighs through his nose. He swallows thickly and looks back up to Steve’s defeated face. He murmurs, “I should’ve gone with you. I’m sorry, love bug.”

Shrugging, Steve mutters, “Thought I was done with the after effects of the shit back in Hawkins. I’m so—Angry? Disappointed? I don’t know how to feel.”

The paper is set back on the mattress and Eddie pulls Steve into his chest. He rubs a hand down the length of his spine, the other squeezing around his waist. “You’re allowed to feel however you want. And it’s okay to take the time to figure that out, too. This is hard stuff, baby.” He sways them from side to side. Closing his eyes in relief as Steve’s arms wrap around his back. Something that, unfortunately, doesn’t happen enough when he’s in need of comfort. His hands grip tightly to the back of Eddie’s t-shirt. Eddie gently turns his head and kisses Steve’s cooling, still ruddy cheek. “We’ll start figuring this out. Like we always do. I’ll be right here for you, alright?”

Steve nods against his shoulder. Muffled into Eddie’s neck, he asks quietly, “Can I have some more space and alone time?” He shifts to slowly release Eddie. “Just for a little while. I promise I’ll hang out. I just needed to tell you, so that it’s not harder later.”

He pries them apart gently. Arms still encasing Steve, he holds soft eye contact. “You take all the time in the world. I won’t be offended, sweetheart.” He kisses Steve’s forehead now. When he sits back on his heels, Eddie brings up a hand and runs it through Steve’s hair, fingernails dully scratching at his scalp. His smile is lopsided, the youngest it’s been since the first confession. It comes easier now, “I love you, you know that? I love you so much.”

“I love you, too,” Steve murmurs, barely returning the smile, and yet it’s there. Eddie revels in that, too.

And when Eddie goes to exit the bedroom, door almost shut behind him, Steve calls out his name one more time. Looking back, Steve swamped in their comforter, glasses folded on the bedside table, wrapped up and warm, Eddie tilts his head in careful implore. He hums in question.

“Thank you for understanding,” Steve whispers.

“Thank you for telling me, I know it was hard. If you need anything, I’ll be in the living room, okay? I’ll keep the TV low, but tell me if it’s too loud.” Steve nods, shifting under the blanket further, fully supine on the mattress. He looks more relaxed. He looks a little easier. “Have a good nap, love bug. I’ll be here when you’re ready.”

[noybusiness]

Save Bugga!

People, please donate at least a little something if you see this; it's about saving a cat's health and life (as this condition will ultimately be fatal if it spreads) and it'll add up. Having lost my sweet Rumball recently to kidney disease, I hate the thought of anything serious happening to a cat when it can be prevented.

Below is the link and message from the creator of the GoFundMe. This is a housemate of a close friend of mine and my friend sees their cat every day, so I know for a fact this is for real.

(Oh, and I thought this goes without saying, but you don't need to tip GoFundMe itself when you donate, so please set the tip level to 0% and don't tip them anything if that would put you off from donating, just send the actual cat the money you want to send.)

"Hi friends!

Jaal [Bugga] was diagnosed with Stage III Peridontal Disease and requires surgery. With a grateful heart, I am humbly asking for help raising funds to help cover the cost of this upcoming procedure. I am just getting on my feet after years of my struggling with my own back to back surgeries, and my budget is very tight. Based on the preliminary examination, our vet predicts that he will need to have some teeth removed. The sooner Bug is able to have this procedure done, the more likely it is that the we can stop the disease from spreading so he may keep the majority of his teeth, and preserve his quality of life."

[hellbabyfromhell]

Hai love u blog been long time follower hope u feeling better health wise wanted to ask u have any tips on things to keep u busy while recovering from surgery?

i cannot overstate this enough and i promise i mean it in a genuine way and not a mean one:

GET A HOBBY!

pick something up. for me, it was discovering morning musume through loving rhythm heaven/tsunku…. through surgery, i invested so much time in watching variety shows, listening to music, and even learning katakana and hiragana so i could read onscreen text — i swear, having some hobby you’re obsessed with is incredible distraction! it carried me through!

also, if this is your first surgery, here is my small piece of advice: healing can be rough depending on where the surgery is, how big etc. when i got my ribs done, the first side, i had a moment where i was in so much pain i thought “was it a mistake to get this surgery?” obviously it wasnt lol my ribs were DISLOCATED and shortly after that thought i started healing pretty good. and i was like how silly of me but when i got side 2 i had that same feeling lol. so just warning you you might have a day like that, but it passes and then youre healed and all better ❤️‍🩹

good luck w surgery dont forget to love something passionately!

[a-high-femme]

1, 7, 24, 29, 41, 47, 48 please! ☺️

1. Selfie?

I look rough but here ya go

7. What was your life like last year?

This time last year, I was dreading going back to a job I hated (full-time substitute teaching) after the winter break. I was also getting ready for bariatric surgery— this week last year was the last few days before my 2-week pre-op diet. Last year, on the whole, was really really challenging. I had to make a lot of hard decisions about my health, my personal life, and my career. I left my job without having another lined up, started a job hunt that I’m still in the middle of, got a cat (she’s the best), got my wisdom teeth out, and lost 125lbs since this time last January. Last year was exhausting. It was upsetting. It was hard. But I’m looking forward to making this year a little better.

24. Height?

5’9”

29. Favourite film(s)?

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Howl’s Moving Castle, Emma (2020), Crimson Peak, The Secret of NIMH, Amelie, and a whole bunch more. But those are the big ones.

41. Relationship status?

Single.

47. Turn ons?

This is my more SFW blog so I’ll behave… Being really good at something. Being passionate about your interests. Being willing to read the books I recommend. Tipping well. Hand holding/little arm or waist touches, even in public. Hands. Hands. Hands

48. Turn offs?

Speaking in the third person. Hating Taylor Swift as a person (condemn her environmental impact that’s fine but people who make their whole personality hating this woman are exhausting). Not tipping well/being rude to waitstaff. Not committing to the bit.

[genderkoolaid]

idk if you're the best person to ask but you always seem to have great resources for all kinds of shit so I'm just shooting my shot I guess

tw: healthcare stuff?

I just got invited for my first cervical screening, and I am 100% legitimately terrified. I do not want to go. I know I should, I know its in my best interest, I know I'll probably have to anyway before my hysto that I've been referred for, but I am just. so scared

maybe it's just immense dysphoria. maybe it's fear over the state of trans healthcare lately. but the last time I went to my local hospital for anything, I got ferried straight to the women's services and was repeatedly misgendered to the point I disassociated the whole time. this was pre top surgery, but I was still out and no one even tried to address me correctly

I seriously don't know if I'll be able to go and I'm wondering if you or your followers have got any resources or advice I could use. anything would be so appreciated

I completely get being terrified, especially if you are going back to a place where you've already experienced transphobic mistreatment.

First of all, know your rights as a patient. The AMA has a list here. You may also want to check out the medical guidelines on trans gynecological care, and this Scarleteen article which goes into detail on pelvic exams, what to expect and your options.

You have the option to do the swab yourself. I would suggest calling or emailing your hospital, explaining that you are uncomfortable with a pelvic exam and asking about self-collection.

This article goes over medical self-advocacy tips for queer people. I definitely recommend asking someone you trust to accompany you to the screening, and/or to see if your hospital has patient liaison to help you advocate for yourself. Having someone to back you up, especially when you yourself will be in a vulnerable position, is extremely helpful. If there are any LGBT organizations local to you, you may want to contact them and ask if they have any resources or support that might help you. You can use the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory to find affirming healthcare providers near you (in the US and Canada). You can also check out this short list of words and phrases to use in an appointment that help you assert yourself and get what you need from your medical provider.

Assuming you end up making an appointment, you should practice ways of staying calm (breathing, affirmations, stim toys, etc.) and go over phrases you can use to advocate for yourself beforehand. Be compassionate with yourself and let yourself feel how you feel- and don't be afraid to feel angry if you are mistreated. It isn't right and you don't deserve it. If you can, plan something nice to do after the appointment to reward yourself. You should also educate yourself on reproductive health and keep track of things like discharge, vaginal pain, pain while urinating, etc., especially if you don't end up getting a screening.

[nestofsalt]

Rest in Peace Ava ~2013-2024

On Thursday, 8/22, Ava passed away. She had what the vet believes was a stroke, and they said the kindest thing was to put her to sleep. Ava came into my life unexpectedly 9 years ago in need of help. Her first owners had bought her for their kids and the kids had gotten bored of her long ago. They left her in the garage for the first 2 years of her life. She'd never had hay in her life, having eaten only Kaytee, she was overweight, and had one of the worst cases of ear mites the vet had seen.

She was aggressive at first, biting at anyone who reached into her cage. I'm sure this is something she quickly learned would keep prodding hands away from her in her old home, and the pain in her ears must have been pretty awful at first. The first few days we'd leave her cage door open, but she'd be too scared to explore. I remember when she finally took her first steps out of the cage, she never wanted to go back. She was frantic, running around for hours, flopping over for a few minutes, and going right back to running, jumping, and exploring. Ava'd likely never experienced a world beyond her cage and it was like she wanted to see it all before it was taken away from her again. In one infamous incident, she scaled a baby gate and broke the tip of a nail. Once she seemed to realize she was able to do this everyday, she calmed down, and there was no longer a frantic energy to her explorations.

After her ear mites were treated, she was introduced to our Dutch rabbit, Mordecai. The two hit it off instantly and were inseparable until Mordecai's death two years ago. We had once had a rabbit rescuer tell us Mordecai had terrible rabbit manners, and I think Ava was the same, and perhaps that's why the two of them worked so well.

Ava was fearless and feisty. She had a grunt that sounded like a deep growl and wasn't afraid to bat at you when she was pissed. She would run up and down the stairs, exploring the whole house without fear, much to the distress of Mordecai who was too scared to go down the stairs. He'd wait at the top of the stairs for her, until she returned or until one of us carried him down to join her.

Two years ago, Ava got really sick with an unknown infection. She had cysts in her face and lungs. A long course of antibiotic injections cleared the infection, but unfortunately the cyst in her face was behind her eye and was pushing on the eye and it had to be removed. At that point, she was about 9 and the surgery was her only option but risky. Ava went to the vet for her surgery, and that night, Mordecai took a sharp decline. It was like he had been holding out for her and once she was gone, he let go. Mordecai was rushed to the vet and it turned out he had cancer. There was nothing that could be done except keep him comfortable.

Ava recovered from her surgery, her illness, and losing Mordecai and we were lucky to have her in our lives for 2 more years. She was slowing down, she developed arthritis and had to eventually be put on Meloxicam for life, but was still as feisty as ever. She'd been doing really well these past few weeks, but unfortunately her age and health caught up with her.

Rest in Peace Ava and Mordecai, together again.

[starrz-n-waffl3-fries]

Official introduction post 🙂‍↕️

EDIT: I got tired of scrolling past this pinned post so I put a cut on it- woh :3c

Anyway!!! That’s me!!! :3

My real name is Maxfield or Max, but you can call me Starrz!!! Considering it’s my name online :D

I am a digital artist who is very flexible in their craft, I see art very structurally so I don’t really have a set art style, but rather multiple art styles depending on what media I am drawing for! <3

examples of this include;

YDB(You Deserve Better) art style

C+B(Cuts And Bruises) art style

SJ(Soweli Jan) art style

And my signature doodle art style I use for everything!! :3

Fandoms I’m apart of!!!

-Btd(boyfriend to death)

-ykmet(you kill me every time)

-Undertale

-Deltarune

Circling back to the drawing of me with all of the symbols and flags that I identify with at the start of the post; let me tell you about those!!! :0

Country flags

America— I live in America, self-explanatory

Michigan— I was born and raised in Michigan, a Midwestern state in America

Germany— most of my roots are from Germany, making me German American

Disability flags

ASD(Autism Spectrum Disorder)— I was officially diagnosed at seven years old with Asperger’s syndrome; an outdated term for high functioning autism. This is a learning disability, however people with this disability(myself included) are very capable of wonderful things and we are all very intelligent in our own right<3

ADHD(attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)— I’m not sure when I was officially diagnosed with this, however I was diagnosed with this later in my life(I think). This one overlaps with autism a lot as it is also a learning disability, however it tackles more so the inability to focus on tasks more so- but much like autism, ADHD is also a spectrum! So everyone experiences it differently and manages it differently. For myself; I like to keep checklists and stuff!!! :3

Disability pride flag— this one is a general term for anyone who has a disability. I already explained two that I have, but I also additionally have two more regarding mobility. I walked on my tip-toes ever since I learned how to walk and this hindered how long I can walk on my feet without it hurting like a bitch(even after surgery)- another thing that this caused was huge back problems that I have yet to tackle, so that’s fun! I don’t use any mobility aids as I am scared to ask for them, but I do believe I would benefit from them some days when I have to walk for extended periods of time.

Mental health related disorders

C-PTSD(complex post traumatic stress disorder)— much like regular PTSD, this is something that you get from traumatic memories from your childhood. Emphasis on memories, because regular PTSD is only from one traumatic memory. As for people like me, I have several things floating around my head that make it so that even today I am deeply affected by what has happened to me. Make no mistake, however; this disorder is not and never will be an excuse for any actions performed by a person with this disability. I am responsible for my own actions, and this disability does not define me. Although it very much affects me every day, it is not my only personality trait, nor is it a way to excuse any actions of mine :3

Depression and Anxiety— these are pretty well researched Disorders that I don’t feel comfortable discussing too deeply, as they are very difficult to manage for me and they are kind of distressing topics for me, however I fully encourage you to do your own research! Stay safe!!!<3

LGBTQIA+ Labels

Transgender(ftm)— I was born biologically female, however when I started puberty I quickly realized I did not like the body I was growing into, and somewhere in 2021 or 2022 I figured it out I was a trans man, and so far I haven’t had any identity crisis about my gender, so I think it’s a permanent label of mine! Which is very nice<3

Panromantic— much like pansexual, this means you experience attraction to anyone no matter their gender! Many people with this have gender blindness, I don’t know what that means, so you should probably look that up on your own time as well! :3 but the reason why I say panromantic instead of pansexual, is because I do not experience sexual attraction to people! Which we will get into in a minute🙂‍↕️

Asexual— little to no sexual attraction, this does not inherently mean you have a low libido, however- you can have a high libido and still be asexual, so do not confuse those!!! me personally, I am sex neutral and asexual! So I’m not inherently bothered by the topic, just make sure not to get me involved or I will sob in self defense! :33

Other labels

Age regression pride flag— so age regression is basically a coping mechanism for people who want to experience their childhood again, for some people that can look like re-experiencing childhood joys, or reverting back to a child like state to make up for the fact that they feel like their childhood was lackluster or they grew up too fast! Me core :3

Therian/otherkin symbol— people who are spiritually connected to animals!! For me, my therio-type is a red fox!! So I feel naturally connected to them- this does not mean that I believe I am a fox, nor does it mean I am a zoo- there is a huge difference, and I am tired of people thinking they overlap. They do not. I am aware that I am a human, however I believe that I am spiritually connected to foxes<3

Cool people in my circle that you should follow!!<3

@0lizard-shark0 -my lovely partner<3

@watermelonolemretaw -my other awesome significant other depending on how this polyamory thing goes!<3

@burntmarshmallowqueen -their sibling that is helping write ydb with both of us and has a very nice and detailed art style >:0c

@blueleon-blog -my awesome older brother figure and my ride or die🙂‍↕️

@finnsworldz -bestie with the coolest art I’ve ever fucking seen!!! >:3

@gourd-n-cord a really cool friend of mine that I go to school with!! >:33

@m0nst3r-clawz A guy- that is also blood related to me- you can follow him if you want, his oc is pretty cool :3c

I hope that my page brings some whimsy to your day or whatever٩( 'ω' )و🎉‼️✨

[ejzah]

A/N: Here we come to the end of yet another story. Thanks once again for for your support and love for this story.

***

The Other Shoe, Epilogue

One Year Later

Deeks moved around the kitchen, dicing some onions, stirring a pan of chicken, grabbing a couple of cloves of onion. He’d gotten home from work 45 minutes ago, and started in on dinner, knowing Kensi would be back later than him.

In the last year, a lot had changed. For one, he could walk down the beach, even run, without feeling like he’d collapse. He’d recovered from his transplant surgery better than could be expected. Although he had returned to most of his previous activities pre kidney failure, he had officially resigned as an investigator upon receiving his medical clearance.

Now, he supervised a team of NCIS lawyers and assisted with modifying agency procedures and guidelines as needed. Much like his job as liaison, he had a feeling that the position had been designed specifically for him. It was hardly what Deeks had expected for himself, but he found he enjoyed most of the work.

A timer on his phone beeped and he absentmindedly turned it off, grabbing the medication sorter off the counter, and popping the contents in his mouth along with a swallow of water. Humming a John Denver song under his breath, he continued cooking. He heard the front door open and close, and called out,

“I’m in the kitchen!”

Deeks looked over his shoulder as Kensi walked in, barefoot and in a tank top and jeans.

“Hey, welcome home, Lady Bird of my Heart.”

“Hey. Ooh, what’s for dinner?”

He grinned at her eagerness, nodding to the pan of peppers and onions. “Fajitas and semi-authentic rice. How was work today,?”

“Good. I taught a baby agent how to disassemble an incendiary device hidden inside a truck,” Kensi told him excitedly. Deeks turned around completely, his eyebrows high enough to touch his bangs.

“You what now?”

“It was a simulation,” she clarified quickly. Deeks visibly relaxed.

“Could have led with that, baby.” He left the stove to wrap his arms around her, and kissed her temple. Kensi tipped his chin down to kiss him more firmly on the mouth.

“Sorry. I just got excited,” she explained. “As much as I don’t miss the danger, I do miss the adrenaline rush that comes with fieldwork.”

That was another big change; shortly after Deeks settled into his new position, Kensi decided resign as well. Kilbride hadn’t been pleased to lose two of his team within months of each other, but ended up recommending Kensi for a supervisory position as well. She now trained incoming agents fresh out of FLETC to prepare them for their first real field experiences.

“I know you do,” Deeks said softly. He also knew his health crisis had played some part in her decision to step down. Thought Kensi insisted it was for many reasons.

“How about you? How was your day?” Kensi asked, reaching over his shoulder to sneak a piece of chicken.

“The new edits to the handbook were accepted. Finally got the definition and duties for an NCIS investigator clarifies more thoroughly.”

“That’s been bugging you for years! Congratulations.” Kensi kissed him again, as though he’d performed some impressive feat.

“I mean, it’s not nearly as exciting as yours,” he pointed out.

“Hey, don’t downplay your efforts. Because of you, future investigators won’t have to wonder about their scope of duty. Of course, it also means they won’t be able to use it to their benefit like you did.”

“True. It was fun to mess with you guys.”

“Yes, I know,” Kensi said dryly. She slid a hand up into his hair, leaning into him. He felt the gentle rounding of her stomach pressed against him, and he brushed his fingers over it.

“And how’s Baby Deeks-Blye today?” he asked.

“Happy and hungry.”

“Dinner will be ready in a few minutes.” He grinned again, squeezing Kensi against him. “Does baby want salsa tonight?”

“Definitely,” Kensi responded immediately. She slid out of his arms, heading for the cabinets. “I’ll set the table.”

Deeks watched her for a few moments, overwhelmed by the simple delight of it all. Last year, he thought he might die, and here he was healthy, happier than ever, a baby on the way.

Yeah, a lot had changed. He’d always be on medication, he had to watch his diet to a degree, and his days chasing bad guys were gone forever, but he found it didn’t matter as much as he thought it would.

In the end, he was just happy for a second chance.

***

A/N: Sorry for the slightly cheesy ending. Hope you enjoyed this final bit of lightness after all the dark and angst.

[leaflandtm]

some teeth brushing tips/facts that have helped me improve my teeth brushing habits:

it doesn't matter what time of day you brush your teeth! just aim to brush them twice a day!

start with a cheap waterpik if you can't get into flossing right away. it helps you get used to the feeling! (my waterpik is from five below)

you should care for your teeth in this order: floss, mouth wash, brush teeth, tongue scrape.

when brushing, make sure to gently brush your gums and the roof of your mouth :)

use a soft bristle tooth brush!

use apps to help you! for the longest time i used pokemon smile to help me get back into brushing my teeth.

alternatively, use a physical tracking method! after i had an intense dental surgery i knew i needed to take better care of my teeth. i decorated a giant poster and put rewards on the side of it, whenever i finished a row (or two!) i would choose a reward! every time i brushed my teeth i would put a smiley face sticker.

you don't have to stay stationary the whole time while brushing your teeth! i am constantly walking around the house while brushing.

i, personally, do not trust teeth whitening products.

use a physical timer!!!!! i found mine at primark for a dollar but i have also seen them at the dollar store/online! it helps me SO MUCH to physically see how much time i have left to brush my teeth!

the dentist TERRIFIES ME. i will admit, i am terrible at going and i know it's really expensive. but PLEASE prioritize going to the dentist if your teeth get really bad. your mouth health affects so much of your life.

lastly, the thing that helped me the MOST: i always pee before i go to bed. i started to say to myself, 'well if i'm already here, why don't i just brush my teeth?' it has helped me start a whole night routine simply because i am ALREADY in the bathroom.

[librarycards]

hey there cav. this is sort of a fraught question but. how do I engage with psychiatry when I'm antipsych? I need treatment but I have so much distrust and I feel like it's all bullshit. I don't really have a support system and there's few peer support resources in my area. I can't do this myself but I cant trust this system. soooo... tips for finding therapists that don't suck & getting the most of it? really appreciate your blog and posts, thanks

thank you for entrusting this message to me, I appreciate it! I have answered questions like this a few times before (they're buried somewhere, if you can't find them in my "ask" tag, lmk and i'll try to dig them up!). it's definitely fraught inasmuch as we're never (as people who hate psych but need specific, urgent support that communities aren't by default set up to provide) going to get an answer that we 100% want, but also very not-fraught inasmuch as most of us agree that surviving in this sea of partiality is something we can do together, with love and nonjudgement.

so, for context: i was in therapy - first behaviorist OT as a toddler and elementary school child, and, beginning at 7, talk therapy - nonconsensually basically from the time I could remember until adulthood. i likely would never have tried it again, except for the small hiccup of needing letters for Transing Genders. so, this was when i first sought out "trans affirming care," as it were, and i didn't expect much. i went to my college's health center and got a list of possible providers, and ended up getting an excellent PCP, as well as a therapist who was a genuine cis accomplice: she wrote letters for Mad/psych disabled clients whose genders wouldn't typically qualify us for surgery/hormones in the eyes of the M/PsyIC. i did not share with her the things i "ought" to have shared, but she knew I had survived abusive therapy / forced institutionalization, and accepted that, and accepted my cynicism along with it. i was also first genuinely understanding foucault at this time, so rest assured i was quite a little shit (affectionate).

when she left to practice elsewhere, i went to a therapist at the same practice she recommended. she was fine, but not what i needed. by this time, I'd gotten the requisite procedures, so my therapy attendance wasn't required. i basically just ghosted this new therapist around the time covid hit.

when i came to grad school, i initially wasn't looking for therapy, though i had idly considered something for OCD, which I was (and am) managing in part through medication. after getting outright rejected for, essentially, being too crazy for normie OCD therapy, i directed my search specifically for Mad/abolitionist providers. i began by going through some of the archives of places like the National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network, and some people who have posted guest articles on Mad in America / The Fireweed Collective -- many are providers seeking to disrupt/abolish the system. That provided some leads, though no openings (there are very few of them, and they are, understandably, in high demand).

I then turned to my community connections: over the years, I've amassed a large number of Mad colleagues in various fields. Many are a half-step from radical/antipsych circles, so I asked them. This time, I asked specifically about a possible therapist who was interested in critiques of "eating disorders" as a category, who had an abolitionist, harm-reductionist, and anti-"health" approach to care, and who, accordingly, refused to cooperate with institutions of psychiatric confinement. I was directed to a list of people, of whom my current and beloved therapist / colleague / comrade was the first to respond.

my trajectory with her has been a steady building of trust through a shared ebbing and flowing of closeness, frustration, enlightenment, and curiosity. it has been close to a year and a half now, and we only began speaking frankly about more "dangerous"/"risky" topics a few months ago. early in our relationship, i did a great deal of boundary-testing, and reacted with anger and shutdown the first time she asked a question that proved risky/activating for me. my biggest recommendation when engaging with ANY provider is to ask them explicitly, repeatedly, and critically about their relationships with your own risk/harm level, their ongoing history wrt patient institutionalization / "referrals" to "higher levels of care". take note about the way they reference past patient situations, as well as their own past experience. take note of how they respond when you choose not to provide the information they seek.

also take note of what info they're willing to provide upfront, including at a consult: what methodologies do they work with, what was their training, how do they feel about said training? what are their politics? ask whoever recommended them to you, too. look at reviews. this is obvious -- what might not be is looking up their work on google scholar. who do they cite? what do they advocate, who do they associate themself with?

i think that it's also a good idea to ask them explicitly about their experience in other/"higher" levels of care - most therapists have done some kind of rotation during their education, often in a hospital, group home, halfway house, similar. if you have ever been institutionalized, you may have even spotted / been abused by some! observe how they discuss these experiences. take note.

if and when you've established this person as someone you want to continue working with, trust notwithstanding, think personally about what you are actually looking for. they will ask you about your goals, surely, but it's a good idea first to think about your own personal goals outside of the verbalized relationship between you two. do you need a confidante, and of what kind? what sort of accountability do you need, and what are you willing to try to figure that out? *what are you paying this person for that you feel others cannot or will not do*? what part of this person's expertise can be of use to you, and for how long?

i think one interesting approach to therapy is to regard the provider as a teacher - they're there to share knowledge with you, and you're free to accept or reject it. they have some kind of training/experience you don't have, and you seek them out because you think it may be of use in your own life, and perhaps even to redistribute that knowledge if and when you gain it. at the same time, you also have knowledge to share with them - not to be extracted, but to be incorporated in their own work and practice. the biggest insight on the practice of good therapy i've gleaned is that, ideally, you're both teaching and learning forever. this is true of all good relationships. there is an exchange of knowledge based on shared trust - values - priorities. once you are in a space where you know that this person shares your general relational orientation (aka, doesn't want to institutionalize, etc. you and people like you) it's possible to begin sharing knowledge in a way that benefits from this imposed structure. the benefit, imo, is that it's okay that you "monopolize" the convo and direct the knowledge-production toward your needs, because that's the service you're paying for!

i guess, to close, i'll return to the classic Mad Pride framing of us as "psych users/consumers." this isn't the perfect term, but i think it's enlightening, as we can and should be able to seek out services that work for us. just like i go to a person who knows wtf they're doing when, say, i need my nails done or my car fixed, so too do i go to an expert interlocutor when i am interested in developing my self-/relational knowledge and/or am seeking support in times of emotional tumult. this doesn't confer them a status as superior to me, just like someone isn't superior to someone else by being a nail tech or mechanic. it simply means that we are entering into a relationship where my needs and their expertise meet. seek a therapist who understands this, and understands themself as someone who can learn from you, too. this approach to therapy, and to care, mean that you can't just throw someone away or lock them up when they say things you don't like. it means that, even in those moments, there is something to be learned, and that the relationship will grow in that process of edification.

[hellyeahsickaf]

If you want to get mad about how fucking awful some doctors are, here you go

With my post about medical discrimination against addicts and disabled people gaining traction again I got a few people asking about how I'm doing after my kidney infection and what happened in the ER. I'm better, could've been much worse but when I was seen they gave me antibiotics before anything else- it was the one thing they did right

I knew I had a kidney infection, I told them that I had a UTI and checked off all of the boxes for a kidney infection which is potentially deadly and leads to sepsis in as little as 12-48 hours if untreated. Pro tip because I'm an idiot- always see a doctor for UTIs, you can't just self treat them even if it seems to be going away as was the case for me. That's how it reaches your kidneys. Whoops 🥴

I waited a few hours which is expected but I got progressively worse. I also reported my pain as an 8/10 (9 by the time I was seen), migraine, fever, chills, weakness, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, probably some other things. I was shaking, crying, curled up, truly some of the worst pain I've ever felt next to gallstones. Maybe others handle this kind of thing better. Or maybe most grown ass men they see in this condition either have serious injuries or are addicts putting on a show. In which case they'd still be truly suffering. It shouldn't matter if they're an addict if they're in the ER desperate for relief in that moment. But yeah, I was ignored for most of the night aside from being given antibiotics and Tylenol. I just reread my clinical notes from that night actually and got mad again lol

I saw the doctor for under 5 minutes that night. He asked why I was there and how I was doing. I told him how awful I felt and he didn't carry out any examinations, it was the first time I'd gone to the ER and wasn't even asked to wear a gown. Either way he was extremely neglectful. Had the nerve to report exams for ENT, eyes, cardio, abdominal, skin, etc that never happened. He didn't lay a finger on me. Reported answers to questions I was never asked like whether I've had past surgeries (he put no when I have). And at the end of his clinical notes he states the following:

"..While I considered a CT abdomen/pelvis, I do not currently feel it is necessary based on the patient's physical exam and clinical history and review of any labs that were ordered. Patient is otherwise well appearing; feel it is reasonable to discharge the patient home at this time with close outpatient follow up."

So he claims he considered a CT scan but based on the results of exams he never performed and clinical history he never asked for and the fact that I was "well appearing" (felt like I was dying), he felt it was "not necessary" to order a CT scan. Only at the end of my visit- 6 hours later was I given an effective painkiller. This negligence genuinely could have killed me and I didn't want it to happen to someone else so I reported him for malpractice. They carried out an investigation and concluded there was no wrongdoing on his part. The woman that was in charge of being in contact with me during the investigation was really nice and also pissed off on my behalf and rightfully so. Also some days after my visit I got a lab report indicating that the strain of infection I had was fairly uncommon and pretty fuckin dangerous with some strains being immune to antibiotics

Maybe I should have advocated for myself better but the condition I was in, I could hardly talk at all. I just hate that he just gets to keep practicing medicine and jeopardizing the health of his patients to make his job easier despite the fact that it could kill someone. It's fucked up how easy it is for doctors to get away with this shit really.