Is it possible to contract diseases, other than cold and flu viruses, from smoking after someone? I recently hung out with a friend who has a slightly questionable lifestyle, and now my boyfriend is freaked out and wont see me till I get tested, and i want to be sure its actually possible before I spend the money for the test.
View 1 RepliesI have recently completed 2 stool sample tests that have rendered the same outcome, positive for parasitic organisms but unable to identify. Now I have to complete the exam a third time. I have still not received any treatment and have experienced some serious health problems over the past few years, including an idiopathic cardiomyopathy a little over 2 years ago. Two years before this I was hospitalized for a serious virus that could not be identified. This involved a very high fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and the start of kidney failure, however I went to the emergency room at the right time. One month later, I had mono, then 4 months later, had a palsy in my left foot, then less than one year after, started experiencing chest pain, serious headaches, and extreme fatigue. The emergency room kept sending me home telling me it was a virus. Finally several months had passed after numerous visits to this ER, I went to a different hospital where they found a cardiomyopathy. My ejection fraction was 35%. I am only 37! Just after this, I noticed one day that I had experienced severe itching in the rectal area with several days of white discharge that had an odor of infection. I waited for a couple of months to see if things would get better, and they didn't, so I went to the ER. I told the doctor about the cardiomyopathy and previous mysterious illnesses, he completed a brief rectal exam, and said it was probably internal hemorrhoids. I asked if a parasitic infection was possible, and he said it was very unlikely because I hadn't been out of the country in several years. So he never tested my stool. Two years have passed, and I have had the same/similar problems since, and have reported this to the doctors over and over. For the past year and a half, I have developed new symptoms. Extreme fatigue, weakness, joint aches, headaches, constipation and diarrhea, greasy, yellowish stools, sweat that smells like ammonia, skin peeling out of my mouth, gas, burping, bad breath, weight loss and loss of appetite. In addition, I have mysterious skin rashes with hives on a daily basis, and started taking pictures of them to document this. In December of 2012, I tested positive for lupus with a positive ANA, and my doctor ordered the test because my eosinophil percentage had consistently been flagged on my blood reports as high. I still was not getting any answers, so I switched all of my doctors and have been going to the city. This is a world renowned hospital. Upon meeting my new doctors, they ordered a repeat of blood tests. This time the lupus was negative. The doctors quickly dismissed the lupus results prior, and said that sometimes people just test false positive, with no further explanation. Back in April of this year, my doctor informed me that my vitamin d level was very low, 12, should be between 30-40 he said, so I have been taking prescription vitamin d. I met with an infectious disease specialist a month ago, and she said she didn't think that I had parasites, but she would test because of my eosinophils. Bingo, I do have them, and now the doctors are trying to say they are parasitic but may not be causing my symptoms. For several months I have noticed that there is strange looking debris after blowing my nose into a tissue. Last night, I am about 99% certain that it was a small worm, certainly looked like one, and I was a teacher, so I am fairly well educated. I saved it in the tissue and put it in a ziplock bag. I don't know whether to call my doctor or not on Monday morning, as I don't trust him, and think he will once again be dismissive. I already went through the HIV phase with him, and told him I didn't have it, as I've only had 4 partners my entire life, have never had unprotected sex, I don't rim, and had an HIV test. I haven't been sexually active in about three years, so I knew I couldn't have it. I retested a couple of months ago to satisfy him, and it was negative once again. I have asked him if any of my past symptoms are connected, and he didn't think so. I disagree. The only diagnosis I have is another one of idiopathic nature, urticaria, (spelling) and says my blood work is fine, which it isn't, because my vitamin d was very low, and my eosinophils are still high. Any advice on what I should do? Prior to all of this stuff over the past 5 years, I was very rarely I'll. now I can no longer do many of the things that I used to, as I don't feel well enough, and I would really like to get some normalcy back in my life. Is there a doctor who can answer this without telling me that I am imagining things? The test results obviously indicate that I am not.
View 52 RepliesHi I just had a friend pass away from what they believe was Sepsis. But they aren't sure just yet. His organs and fluids came back great. There doing blood tests and we won't know exactly what it was until mid March. I was just wondering if his family and friends should be concerned about getting it?
View 1 RepliesSo last friday night, my cat bit me on my lower leg. I washed it coz my mom got mad at me with water and soap. Yesterday I feel fatigued (probably due to my brother's birthday and I cooked half the day ugh) and just this morning when I woke up my throat feels itchy and I have had chills. I don't have fever but feels like about to have a flu. I had myself vaccinated after waking up but still feels chilly. Is it rabies? My cat looks well anyway so I don't think she has rabies but I want to be sure. Everyone in my family has had flu last week so I'm not really sure.
View 1 RepliesWhat can I do while I wait to see what medication is going to help me. Predisone and hydroxychloroquine 200 mg
View 1 RepliesI got back from a 2 month trip across Eastern, Central and Southern Africa about 6 weeks ago. A few days after I got home I felt quite unwell, fever, headache etc and I was concerned I may have contracted malaria as I wasn't brilliant at remembering to take my pills. So I got referred to infectious disease department who tested me for lots of travel related illnesses. I was negative for malaria but came back positive for tick borne encephalitis and also Rickettsia (related to African tick fever) I think.
I am actually feeling fine now but they called me in for the results ... I'm just a little confused as from what I've seen on travel health websites is that you can't get tick borne encephalitis in africa! I didn't know this at the time so I didn't say anything to the doctor. You get it in Asia and Europe..I did go to Asia about a year and a half ago but would it be possible for this to still show up in my blood?
I'm just a bit worried as I know this disease can be potentially deadly or cause lasting neurological problems and there's no treatment. I'd feel a bit better knowing I definitely caught it from the earlier trip to Asia as then I know it would have made me much sicker by now if it was going to.
total thyroidectomy 2 months ago due to Graves disease, 3x since, I have experienced, edema of both eyelids, itching and redness, I am on Synthroid 0.1mg po/daily. The symptoms dissipate after about 2 days.Anyone post Thyroid removal ever have this happen?
View 2 RepliesWhat causes Immune systems to become useless and non functional ? Is it drugs too many, to strong ,killing off what is good stuff in our blood, ?
taking yet more drugs to compensate for blood disorders,to give the system chance to revive to fight back, but seemingly never does.
What happens when the immune system can't take any more drugs,
does it shut down totally, and then what?
I have been dealing with undifferentiated connective tissue diseases for a few years. I am now being treated for Fibromyalgia and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
These are very painful at times.
I had oral sex(Receiving partner-male) last week with unknown partner.I don't even cum into her mouth.Oral sex lasted only for a minute (I can say). Do I have any chances of getting STD or HIV/HPV ?? Do I have to take any medical tests ?? Please advice as I feel guilty and feeling disturbed.
View 1 Repliesi've recently noticed this few bumps on the shaft of my penis and i became really afraid of what it might be. i'm only sexually active with my girlfriend for the past 1 year and this few bumps has been here since a week ago. there's a little itch but nothing serious overall. no pain or whatsoever.
View 8 RepliesI woke up this morning and I took a shower, while I was in the shower I noticed Red bumps on my shaft of my penis but the thing is they don't itch or hurt, The day before they were kind of white but now their red, there's none on my head or around it, But I'm concerned because it happened last month but no burns when peeing or itchiness and nothing hurt.
I honestly haven't had sex in 2/3 months, and before that since last September of 2013. I used a condom. But she gave me oral without a condom....
I am a 29 year old female. Around 19 years ago, I had slipped capital femoral. Around 6 months ago, the same pain started to occur. I went for a dye injected MRI and the results were inconclusive due to the pins interfering with the magnets. The pain has gone away for the most part with a few outbreaks but about two weeks after the injection, I found a pea-sized hard movable lump in my groin, painless unless manipulated a lot . I spoke to my general practitioner about it going on 6 months ago, and he said keep an eye on it but confirmed it was a swollen lymph node. I am scared to go back but the lump has stayed consistent, possibly enlarged. Should I be worried? I have had insomnia and I have narcolepsy, so it's very rare for me. I am always tired, but again have narcolepsy and hypothyroidism .
View 1 Repliesi had unprotected sex on SUNDAY sept 1(pull out), plus oral and protected a week or two before that.
***note: it happened on burning man, with no shower, little water, a lot of sun, and i knew this guy was drinking a lot and taking drugs and not sleeping for a week. it was the end of the day 2 for me and i took a small amount of MDMA that day.]
5-7 days later i was feeling tenderness and a little tingling burning pain, but thought it was my period, which was unusually heavy as i`m on birth control.
MONDAY sept 9 i knew something was wrong. the tingling got worse and i went to some doctor i knew for blood test and he also gave me DOXYCYCLINE (he s not a gynecologist) i also asked for ACYCLOVIR in case have herpes. i started taking them at 4pm
TUESDAY morning i threw up with yellow stuff and had a lot of green/yellow/brown watery then cottage cheese discharge, which became yellow watery and by the end of the day pink. pain got worse
WEDNESDAY morning i went to free clinic, where they told me most likely it CHLAMYDIA or GONORREA, told me to continue doxy and gave me shot for gonorrea
THURSDAY i noticed the discharge got water and thicker, pain was still there. in the afternoon after a long flight and traveling i noticed red single BUMPS on my skin in my bikini area, between ******* and vagina and above the clitoris, some of the hurt, some itch, not considerably. 7 in total, plus one on the labia, just not sure if that`s a bump. the next day 2 of them had water inside. i immediately texted my friend i knew he has herpes and he said it looked like it 99% and we now can be in relationship ha! i wasn't sleeping all night, googling and googling, pain seemed to increase and the bumps itched a little bit.
FRIDAY i went to my gynecologist and he said it`s not herpes(the culture text will be ready in 10 days), not even STD, but YEAST. He said you are not supposed to be treated without knowing the reason and doxycycline is old and not supposed to be taken for a week but for 2 days. also the std test will show only in 2 weeks after the exposure.
stopped taking meds and taking xre of my yeast now, hoping for the best. and i got my lesson!!
any idea gave up smoking two months ago been ill two weeks doc said chest infection and pleurisy finished all antibiotics and painkillers still got pain in left shoulder and side doc said its because i gave up smoking and i am prone to infection anybody else been told this also got pain in left calf and down my left arm anybody got the same help me
View 1 RepliesHow can i stop smoking ? And what it's effect on body?
View 1 Repliesvery difficult to stop smoking
View 3 RepliesMy name is Ivar. I'm 21 years old, from Europe.
My profession is cook. But currently I'm working 2 jobs, sales agent and consultant in electronics store.
I also skateboard and play video games in my free time. Like any young adult.
Why am I here?
Well, I wish to quit smoking. That's the main reason.
So far I've come to two ends, which is:
First I will try hypnosis, and if that doesn't work out, then I'll get some champix and **** myself up.
I gave up smoking on 20th January after hypnosis. Thought by now I would be feeling fine. I just don't feel well. I have had panic attacks feel more breathless than I did before I stopped. Wish my doctors did an after care service but nobody wants to know. What are your experiences.
View 1 RepliesI smoked for 37 years from the age of nine. I have tried to quit many times but can say now in hindsight that I never really tried, I just pretended to myself that I was trying. Some times I stopped smoking and had a cigarette less than an hour later but made up an excuse and continued to "try" stopping. I never actually admitted to failing until I was back on my usual 20 or 30 a day.
In January I decided to give it a go again but this time I went to a stop smoking group. This will not work for all people but it did for me so I am happy. Somebody at the group came out with the idea that everyone at the group should get into their heads that the minute you have 1 cigarette then you have failed. I am a naturally competitive person and this really worked in gettting me motivated. I did not want to be the one that failed.
In the group we were given help with products and I chose to use patches and lozenges. I used the patches for 6 weeks and the lozenges for about 12 but do not use either now. There seems to be this perception amongst internet posters that if you use stop smoking products then you didn't do it properly and its far better to stop "cold turkey" Personally I think it's the result that counts not how you get there.
I have now gone almost 8 months without a cigarette and still get the cravings now and again. But I just keep saying to myself "if you have 1 cigarette you have failed".
I gave up smoking about 2 1/2 years ago and have been addicted to NRT lozenges ever since. I started on the 4mg, went down to the 2mg, then onto the 1mg.
I promised myself that if I could give up smoking, it was better to use NRT, unfortunately (in some ways) I now find NRT much better than smoking and find it difficult to give them up.
Ironically, they are expensive, so you can end up spending a lot on them. I went back to a give-up smoking group but they were more concentrated on the smokers than me with my addiction, so that didn't help.
I wish there was another grade down from 1mg, e.g. 1/2mg followed even by 1/4mg, to help those who can't come off the NRT eventually do it. I'm sure that would help in my case.
However I feel that once you're on NRT no one really wants to help any further, after all it's safe and it's making profits for the drug companies.