Medical Questions I'd Like Answered...

name_here · Post by **name_here** » Sun Dec 14, 2014 5:19 pm

Checking Mayo Clinic, apparently hietal hernias usually aren't treated with surgery and instead are handled with various medications to deal with the acid, with surgery reserved for cases where that doesn't work. Presumably because surgery carries risks of complications.

If you've already been on that medication, you should probably either get surgery or a doctor willing to explain why you shouldn't.

As for the chest thing, it's really weird that's your only symptom. I doubt it's from stuff clogging your lungs, since you aren't trying to cough it out and apparently don't have shortness of breath. It could very well be some kind of muscle spasm.

Username17 · Post by **Username17** » Sun Dec 14, 2014 5:23 pm

Fluid in the lungs isn't necessarily mucous. If you have to prop yourself up on pillows to sleep properly, that could be other things such as congestive heart failure. Without getting a stethoscope and listening to your various lung fields and possibly looking at a chest X-ray, I wouldn't be able to tell you what's in there.

-Username17

Count Arioch the 28th · Sun Dec 14, 2014 5:27 pm

fectin wrote:In the future, ask. If you don't get an explanation that you understand, strongly consider getting a different doc. You're essentially paying a general practitioner to tell you about his (expert) opinions; you're not getting what you paid for if you don't understand those opinions.

Not to worry about that, I am more proactive when it comes to my dealings with medical practitioners. I think nailing a doctor for almost two years taught me that doctors can be just as stupid as anyone else.

Count Arioch the 28th · Sun Dec 14, 2014 5:29 pm

FrankTrollman wrote:Fluid in the lungs isn't necessarily mucous. If you have to prop yourself up on pillows to sleep properly, that could be other things such as congestive heart failure. Without getting a stethoscope and listening to your various lung fields and possibly looking at a chest X-ray, I wouldn't be able to tell you what's in there.

-Username17

Oh, that would be a real kick in the teeth, lol. I finally have a life worth living and start making lifestyle changes and I get a fatal disease. I'm seeing someone on the 29th, let's hope that it is not that serious...

Prak · Post by **Prak** » Sun Dec 14, 2014 7:39 pm

So, I burned my thumb making pancakes earlier, and now have a good inch or so long blister forming. What's the best thing for me to do for my thumb?

Stahlseele · Post by **Stahlseele** » Sun Dec 14, 2014 7:57 pm

i assume you did immediately cool it under water?

Prak · Post by **Prak** » Sun Dec 14, 2014 8:01 pm

nearly immediately, yeah. I needed a moment to swear and let the water cool down from last being hot.

Maxus · Post by **Maxus** » Sun Dec 14, 2014 8:25 pm

Keep antibiotic ointment on it. Wrap it in a bandaid or something, too.

If it forms a blister with fluid inside, it -may- be possible drain the blister so it doesn't irritate you as much. Boil a needle and poke it if you have to, then neosporin everything.

Nachtigallerator · Post by **Nachtigallerator** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 12:43 pm

Being a "poor candidate" for surgery usually means that the risk of complications is higher than the possible benefits justify. Since a normal axial hernia (which I assume is what you have) is managable without the surgery, the bar isn't very high - still, if nobody gave you a reason, it's probably best to get a thourough physical on the 29th. My textbook says that large amounts of fat to cut through can qualify as reason to put off non-essential operations, too.

There are special plasters for blisters that could help with that - I've only used them on foot blisters myself, but I think there are larger ones available. What matters is that it sticks tightly and keeps the skin below it intact. The recommendation is to leave a blister undisturbed, even if you could arrange sterile incision, because it will heal better.
Unless it's irritating as hell, of course.

Prak · Post by **Prak** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 11:15 pm

Yeah, last night, after using bandages that suck and won't stick to themselves, that more fluid accumulates if the blister isn't held tightly to the flesh beneath it. So now I have the blister completely covered and held down, with fucking electrical tape holding the bandage in place.

TiaC · Post by **TiaC** » Tue Dec 16, 2014 8:59 am

You accidentally a verb there.

Prak · Post by **Prak** » Tue Dec 16, 2014 9:42 am

Don't think I did... but I'm keeping the blister drained and covered the best I can, trying to keep the separated blister layer held against the under layer to prevent more fluid from accumulating.

Edit: This is what I'm dealing with

TiaC · Post by **TiaC** » Tue Dec 16, 2014 10:24 am

Prak wrote:Yeah, last night, after using bandages that suck and won't stick to themselves, (Something goes here) that more fluid accumulates if the blister isn't held tightly to the flesh beneath it. So now I have the blister completely covered and held down, with fucking electrical tape holding the bandage in place.

Anyways, that looks unpleasant. I hope it's at least on your off-hand?

Prak · Post by **Prak** » Tue Dec 16, 2014 10:50 am

Oh "I found"

Yeah, no, right hand. But at least it's the thumb.

Count Arioch the 28th · Tue Dec 16, 2014 11:16 am

I deal with blisters by holding the tips of a pair of scissors over a lighter until I'm sure that nothing is alive on them, then snipping a couple decent sized holes in the skin. Wrapping helps because that fucking hurts and it will cause it to be less irritated. But yeah, cut big enough holes in the blister and it will weep but not fill back up.

Disclaimer: don't do that.

Prak · Post by **Prak** » Thu Jan 01, 2015 5:18 pm

Burn's doing well, almost healed. Probably shouldn't have peeled the dead skin away, but, eh. It's healing.

Now, for a super uncomfortable question, but it's physically uncomfortable enough for me to be a bit embarrassed if it makes me less in pain.

So, for a few months now, I've been occasionally getting bad pressure in my abdomen at night when I go to bed. Bad enough that it prevents me from sleeping well, and no position alleviates it.

Experentially, it's typically when I eat late, before going to bed, but that's a "usually when I have it, I ate late the night before" not "usually when I eat late the night before, I have it."

My typically sleep schedule is"go to bed between 2 and 4 am, wake up 8-10 hours later"

Now, last night, I went out to dinner about 8pm, and after went for coffee. Last thing I consumed (caramel brulee latte) was finished by probably 10, 1015. I went to bed at 3am, and got up about an hour ago because the pressure in my abdomen was unbearable, and I've taken three gas-reliever tablets (two when I got up, one just now), taken a shit, and a shower, and I still fucking have this pressure.

In the opinion of the more learned/experienced members, what is the likely cause of this, what's a good preventative measure, and what the fuck do I do to deal with it when I have it?

Username17 · Post by **Username17** » Thu Jan 01, 2015 6:59 pm

"The Abdomen" is a pretty big area and has a lot of things in it. Since you've noticed a connection to eating, that suggests something GIT related. A Duodenal Ulcer might be most uncomfortable a few hours after eating. A Stomach Ulcer might be most uncomfortable right after eating. In either case, that would be expected to be be felt as a burning or tearing rather than blunt pressure for the most part. In the same vein as a duodenal ulcer but more likely to feel uncomfortable in a pressurized grindy way are Gall Stones and Pancreatitis.

But really, we got to narrow it down more than "in the abdomen." Front or back? Left or right? Top or bottom? Does it hurt more or less or the same when people poke you in the belly over it.

-Username17

Prak · Post by **Prak** » Thu Jan 01, 2015 8:29 pm

front, stomach. When I'm standing with my arms crossed, resting on my stomach while suffering this (I'm fat, no surprise), it increases the pressure and pain.

Count Arioch the 28th · Fri Jan 02, 2015 10:04 am

Okay, so I'm on bupropion now to treat my depression and ADHD. I am having trouble sleeping, and I'm not sure if it's because the drug can cause that, or if it's because of the fact I have a lot on my mind at the moment (encounter with a ladyfriend that went way outside my normal boundaries, but in a good way...) I'm wondering if I should call my doctor or just take some sleeping pills and deal (insomnia is not unusual for me, nor is faster heart rate when I have things on my mind that I'm excited and/or angry about)

Nachtigallerator · Post by **Nachtigallerator** » Fri Jan 02, 2015 10:42 am

I just checked the package insert online and it says sleeplessness is a common side effect, possibly avoidable if you don't take your daily dose in the evening.

Increased heart rate is less common, but also mentioned. I think it's actually rather likely that you would notice this when you're excited, since the drug potentiates the effect of noradrenaline. In short: Do call your doctor, you might be dealing with a side effect.

What kind of sleeping pill are we talking about here?

name_here · Post by **name_here** » Fri Jan 02, 2015 5:14 pm

ADHD meds tend to be stimulants, so they cause trouble sleeping. Take in early morning.

fectin · Post by **fectin** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 3:46 am

@Prak
I had some similar issues, which went away when I started wearing looser pants. Sometimes simple answers work.
(I also have at least one family member (in much better shape than I) with the same issue who solved it by going gluten free, but that seems less likely to generalize.)

Prak · Post by **Prak** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 4:44 am

Huh, interesting.

I pretty much never wear my pants at my waist (only for interviews and other dress occasions), instead wearing them at my pelvis, because, again, fat, so it's never been comfortable to me. I do tighten my belt quite tight, but that's because my actual pants are fit to be worn at my waist. So I doubt that's the issue.

Gluten, I likewise doubt, but it bears paying attention to, at least.

Count Arioch the 28th · Sat Jan 03, 2015 5:42 am

I am not a doctor, but sometimes when I'm backed up I feel like that too. I'm a fan of Metamucil for poop issues.

Prak · Post by **Prak** » Mon Jan 05, 2015 10:40 am

Ok, I know I've fucking asked this before, but I can't fucking find the posts, so

Frank- how much water is a person supposed to drink per day, and does anything with a high water content (tea, coffee) count, or should it be just water?