What Health Problems Do You Have That You Don't Talk about Much

[DEM FAN]

Here. Or Talk About At All. Me I Have Type 2 Diabetes. I Have Had Diabetes Since 1992. Also I Have Legg Perthes Disease. I Was Young When I Got Perthes. It's In My Right Hip And I Am In Pain alot.

[SeveneightyWhoa]

1. Type 1, Baby!

I've got the ol' type one diabetes, since the age of 3. So thats eighteen years now with this life-altering disease..

[LynzM]

47. Me too

Though I was diagnosed at 9, and am 23 now... The joys of chronic illness... :(

[IconoclastIlene]

59. for quick relief from IBS with constipation....

Take Zelnorm...

a made up disease for hypochondriacs to play with.

[Madrone]

2. You want the whole list, or just the top 10?

*L*

Fibromyalgia - constant, severe pain that at times cycles to excruciating.

Candida - systematic yeast problem

Back pain - constant, and severe, also cycles up to excruciating at times




What's perthes?

[alittlelark]

3. Anaphalactic nut allergy

and I drink more than I should...I have for about 3 years now.

[camero]

4. Hearing loss

Since age 7. I'm half-deaf and I wear a hearing aid in my right ear. It's not the PC term but it's ok by me.

Most here know about my now type 1 diabetes which I should have gotten shots for in the first place instead of farting around and withering away.

and compression in 3 vertebrae in my neck. Hurts alot sometimes but ibuprofen works. A stretched ACL in my right shoulder.

[REP]

19. DON'T TAKE IBUPROFEN!

Remember how freaked out you were when your tests were positive for microalumenuria? Taking ibuprofen or any NSAID is the absolutely worst thing you can do for your kidneys.

[camero]

22. Haven't taken any since then

I should update you on that. They took me off of the Altace because my BP dropped too low and I got the pinched throat thing. I've been trying to drink more water to flush my kidneys.

[REP]

24. Ask About Cozaar

It's an ARB, and doesn't have the same side-effects that ACE inhibitors do. My BP was already low (86/48) and it hasn't changed, despite taking 150% of the usual max adult dosage (and 120 mg Lasix!).

[camero]

26. I will, thanks.

I did ask if there was anything else they could put me on to help my kidneys but she didn't know of any other drugs apparently. I have to bookmark this. I went down to 82/50. Spent most of the time sleeping.

[REP]

29. Yup, That's Always Been My Normal Range

It means I lack out if I stand too suddenly, have frequent headaches and am tired a lot ... but it's good news for my kidneys!

Cozaar is the name brand; there's no generic yet. It did make my head ache for a few days, but it went away. No other side-effects (for me).

[camero]

31. My normal is 110/70

Thereabouts. I did google it and it said it was used for type 2 diabetics but maybe my doc can get more info. Thanks. :)

[MAlibdem]

49. Wot's BP?

I think my latest blood test said I had slightly elevated levels of it...

Edit: Blood pressure...doy...must've been something else I have elevated that sounds like that...

[acmavm]

5. Very high blood pressure. Had to argue with a dentist to get him to pull

out a tooth that HAD to go because of it. No insurance, so no medication. And let me tell you, living through this bunch of thugs in the White House just makes it worse.

[LDS Jock]

6. Bipolar Disorder aka Manic Depression

I stay OK most of the time with medication. The trade off is I feel drugged continuously. Also too when things get bad I completely remove myself from other people. Things can always be worse though.

[Ellen Forradalom]

43. High five! me too.

I have to err on the side of undermedication in order to function. Makes life difficult.

[DietVanillaCoke]

57. My ex...

was manic depressive, but untreated. I always wished he'd get on meds. Living with him was a nightmare, even though I understood the illness. It's good to hear the meds help you. :-)

[REP]

7. I Am Not Making This Up

Asthma, arthritis (inflammatory type), apnea, FSGS (kidney disease; my kidneys are failing), nephrotic syndrome (from the FSGS), ovarian cysts, venous stasis, diabetes, very early diabetic nephropathy (another kidney disease), migraine (classic and optic), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, inflammatory small bowel disease, ulnar neuropathy, tenosynovitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, lateral epicondylitis, DeQuervain's tendonitis, Meiniere's syndrome (mild), kidney stone disease and edema (from the kidney disease). Other than that, I'm fine.

Left off pulmonary edema.

[Madrone]

10. You just reminded me I forgot asthma -

and a post below about tinnitis reminded me I have some shit I cannot for the life of me remember the name of involving pressure in my inner ears.

But DAMN girl - I don't feel quite so bad after reading your post! :) I don't know what else to say but - I'm sorry!

[REP]

15. Probably Meniere's

Its symptoms are tinnitus, feeling of fulness in the ear, dizziness/vertigo and nausea. It's an inner ear disorder.

[camero]

17. They thought I had meinere's at one point

But it turned out I had Juvenile Endolymphatic Hydrops. Same symptoms but not the same things. In that the fluid in the inner ear gets drained all the way to the hearing nerve.

Edit: I've been told it is so rare that I was one of only two cases in the US that was found in a child. It happens to mostly adults.

[Madrone]

20. That sounds familiar!

Probably it. I think I discarded that one as soon as I heard the only possible cure was drilling holes in your skull, and even then there was no proof it ever worked. OKAY - what CAN we fix, doc?

[REP]

23. Inner Ear Surgery is an Option for Severe Meniere's

For others, Meclezine and Promethazine do the trick.

[sir_captain]

27. Meclizine

also known as non-drowsy Dramamine, or Bonine (for those over the counter self-medicators...)

in fact, the usual prescription of meclizine is 12.5mg, and there's 25mg in 1 bonine.

[REP]

30. I Just Take Generic Meclezine

25mg x 3/day when needed. It's dirt cheap; something like 3.50 for 100 tablets.

[camero]

25. If you can

find a good Ear, Nose, and Throat Doc. It could be Hydrops also. They use coagulates for that.

[Dogmudgeon]

8. I'm the Man Who Has Everything!

Diabetes (early stage)
Deaf in the left ear
Severe tinnitus (perceived as 40-80 dB)
Vertigo
Migraine (fortunately without pain)
Nervous system damage from an MS-mimicking virus (mainly left leg and arm)
Starting with congestive heart failure
RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystonia) from surgery, 2 car accidents, a near-fatal mugging and being burned in an explosion
Sleep paralysis
Cataplexy
Narcolepsy (well-controlled)
Sinus bone damage (from the mugging)
Pain syndrome -- possibly fibromyalgia, but difficult to differentiate from RSD (see above)
Colitis ... "just because"

I'm also ugly, perverted, mean, and probably a threat to children, pets, and wildlife.

--bkl

[SeveneightyWhoa]

9. Damn, how old are you folks?

Please tell me you're not younger than 70.

[REP]

11. I'm 39

My kidneys started to fail about 4 years ago. I'm a very idiopathic kidney patient; too young, wrong sex and gender, with a history of very low blood pressure. It's also highly unusual for a person to have more than one kidney disease; I may have as many as three (four, if you count the kidney stone disease).

[camero]

12. lol

36 here. We're getting younger and younger. BNK reminded me I get tinnitis at times also. Not that much anymore though.

[Madrone]

13. And I'm 31 -

Had these problems for at least 5 years - likely many more.

[Dogmudgeon]

14. I'm under 70

I'm 45. I look about 30. I feel like a kid. But I was a sick kid, too.

I love life.

But I've had a "storied" life, complete with muggings, car accidents, survival through an explosion and two fires, heatstroke, two major episodes of medical malpractice, and growing up in a high-cancer-rate neighborhood.

I can honestly say that I do not perceive any of these problems as anything greater than annoyances. I wasted too much time agonizing over aches and pains and worse that wouldn't go away, and figured that it's just the dues for having a body of animated, moderately intelligent meat.

What the hell. I'm going to be dead for a real long time. I might as well make the most of what I have while I'm here.

--bkl

[Madrone]

16. BKL - HTF do you have a no-pain migraine?

I thought a migraine by it's very definition REQUIRED pain?

How the heck does one have one without pain? What's it do to you? I'm very curious.


edited to add re conjestive heart failure: Are you on a very low sodium diet now? And do you watch how much fluid intake you have? I just learned a bit about this because my stepfather had a massive heart attack on NYE and was as good as dead. He was a true miracle as he survived - but he's on a VERY strict and pretty funky diet. He can only have 2 liters of fluid per DAY, and that includes anything at room temp that turns liquid, such as jello and ice cream. He's also on a very strict sodium restriction. If you're not following that stuff now, not to be pushy or anything, you should start. My stepfather was in ICU for over 2 weeks, initially on life support, and had a breathing tube down his throat for a full 2 weeks. It was horrid, and I'd hate for someone else to go through what he did. He's got congestive heart failure now, for sure - if he didn't have it before.

[REP]

18. Optic Migraine

I have both kinds - classic and optic. Optic is gradual onset of blindness in one eye that lasts 1-4 hours with a gradual return of vision. It's often accompanied by an aura that many describe as looking like a colored neon outline of a tablesaw blade. Optics don't hurt, but are disorienting.

[Dogmudgeon]

39. The BKL Optical Migraine Experience

Similar to LSD, except vaguely unpleasant, with nausea, disorientation, sensitivity to light, and intrusive thoughts of Bad Things -- not hallucinations, just depressing and paranoid thoughts. Some of the same brain structures are probably involved.

None of this is overwhelming or anything, just annoying.

As for CHF, no, I'm not on a low-sodium diet, and I drink a lot of fluid because it keeps me urinating. That's how I avoid diuretics. I am also on a low-carb diet that is modified to be high in non-starchy vegetables. Exercise also helps, though I was laid up for a while this winter with foot and leg problems.

In general, I'm doing pretty well. My glucose and blood pressure were high in February, but they have recovered nicely.

I've seriously considered the low-salt, low-fluid approach, but the low-carb approach does a much better job of controlling the problem. I'm hoping I can "be cleared for" skiing again this coming winter.

--bkl

[SarahB]

21. I'm a lucky girl

Truly, I've been quite blessed in life in this regard thus far and I'm grateful. My health issues consist of myopia, too many cavities, mild hay fever, and the occasional split end in my hair. I used to have chronic back and shoulder pain, but since I lost weight and my chest went from hugely huge to pleasantly pleasant, that's no longer an issue. :)

Here's to long and the healthiest possible of lives for us all, in all our forms, for mortality is a part of us all. :toast:

[Taverner]

33. Don't forget you're a babe-o-holic

and you need serious help!
:P

[SarahB]

34. Thanks, I try

Thanks for reminding me so I can go to sleep, in order to get up and have a morning workout (it's been 3 days) to continue my quest for babedom (and healthy bones, good heart, etc).

Unless, you mean I'm addicted to babes. In that case, my assorted mental focuses can be rather an enigma at times.

:yourock:

[BiggJawn]

28. I don't wanna talk about it.

It's psychological, I think it's left-over shit from my last marriage.

I'll talk your arm off about my Type II, my hypertension, my obesity, hell, I'll even tell you how I figured out Avelide was making me limp, but let's not talk about my problems with women and trust....

[carols]

32. I smoke too much

It really depresses me - especially when I think about the wasted money. On the upside I exercise regularly. On the downside, I have found that it is possible to do curls while smoking...
Carol

[Skittles]

45. lol.......carols

I exercised regularly for eight years and when I finally quit smoking, for a year I couldn't make it through a workout without coughing - I guess it was my lungs cleaning out because I had never had a smoker's cough.

Hey - you can do it and you'll get lots of support in the DU. I used the patch for a couple of weeks and moved in with a militant anti-smoker. And yes, the money saved for me has been the greatest benefit. :D

[rucky]

35. My butthole won't stop itching

serious. it drives me nuts.

[marzipanni]

41. Google "pinworms",

a possible cause of your problem.

[fishnfla]

56. That is a symptom of diabetes

do you have any of these following symptoms

excessive thirst
frequent urination
blurred vision that fluctuates
feeling run down, tired all the time

if so, you should have your blood sugar levels checked

[chicaloca]

36. I have strabismus...

It's the eye problem that Mike Meyers' character had in "View From the Top" (which, by the way, is a crappy movie that I wouldn't recommend to anyone with an IQ above Bush's). My eyes don't cross like Meyers' character, although they did until I had surgery when I was little. Basically, it means I can't drive because I don't have depth perception...And to make matters worse, I live in the Twin Cities, where the bus drivers have been on strike for 37 days now, and of course our repuke governor could care less about it. DAMN TIM PAWLENTY (MN governor) AND ALL HIS REPUKE BUDDIES!!! :mad: :grr: :cry: :argh: :grr:

I also have a repetitive strain disorder, which is really one of the only reasons why I don't spend every waking hour on DU. :)

[kevinam]

37. chronic heartburn

Every damn day. I am keeping rolaids in business. Probably has something to do with poor eating habits, too much coke(soda, not other stuff), smoking, and alcohol, but a man has to live doesn't he :) It isn't an awful awful thing, as the message said, just something I don't talk about much...Kevin.

[DietVanillaCoke]

58. Me too

Bulimia is what has given me very bad heartburn. And my excessive consumption of diet sodas.

[Susang]

38. CFS, Anemia & Hashimoto's Thyroidism

'nuff said!

Now, what about the one's I like to talk about? }(

[Red State Rebel]

40. Lyme Disease - I lost the tick lottery!

My first problem was when it gave me Meningitis about 5 weeks after the tick bite. I've never been so sick in my life - the hallucinations were awful.

I don't think I've had any major problems from it since getting over hte Meningitis - my husband says my memory has never been the same since that.

[opiate69]

54. My Mom had that!

On the brighter side, though, it was back in the mid-80s, and the doctors up in Boston were still conducting a bunch of studies on the disease, so she ended up getting all of her treatment for free. Of course, the downside is she now has some problems with Fibromyalgia, which the docs attribute to her having had Lyme.
As for my medical problems/issues... let's see... 20-30 pounds of extra weight to get rid of, chronic sinusitis, horrible teeth, and I smoke way to damned much.

[HEyHEY]

42. Bad shoulder

dislocated twice, now a sligh little knock and it'll hurt

[mopaul]

44. as a rule, folks don't wanna hear all this stuff

no one wants to hear about other's aches and pains, but when it's them, it's a different story.

but here goes:

born with a major kidney infection. surgery, huge scar on side.
age two: contracted polio, almost killed me, left whole left side paralyzed. full use of both arms now. left leg atrophied, 5 inches shorter than right. spent half my childhood in shriner's hospital for crippled children in st. louis. numerous corrective surgeries, released at age 13.

age 15: head on collision from drunk driver. glass in eyes, over 400 stitches on face, several years of plastic surgery for cosmetic purposes. numerous scars on face.

age 44, hypertension, and a heart attack in 95.

been in a wheelchair for over 10 years, can still walk with crutches, chronic pain from post polio syndrome, a slow deterioration of muscle tissue and overall lack of mobility.

through it all, i'm still here, and still trying to raise hell.
it gets a little harder for a person to be cool at times, but still trying. i still take meds for hypertension, but for the most part, i'm holding steady. wish i could excercise more and lose some poundage, but it's very limited what i can do.

i certainly can sympathize with anyone who is not in tip top shape.
most folks don't realize how good they got it of course, and there is always someone worse off than you. just count your blessings, and try to make omelets out of broken eggs.

[DietVanillaCoke]

61. Wow.

Okay, I'm making an omelette now. Good to know that despite all that, you're still here with us! :)

[Bertha Venation]

46. Hepatitis C, contracted in 1963 or 1970 from blood transfusion

fatty liver
eating disorder

[eyesroll]

48. Irritable bowel and vertigo are my Top II

I do blab about the vertigo, though -- it hits me when I'm traveling, or from elevators/escalators. People who don't know me well feel better if I let them know beforehand that I might have to stop and grab something to steady myself. The IBS, nobody wants to hear about. Go figure. ;)

I'm lucky. Neither of those is life-altering or -threatening; just annoying. (Both of those I inherited from my dad's side.)

I do have cancer all over both sides of my family -- both grandmothers/breast (with maternal grandmother eventually dying of liver cancer years after the original), paternal grandfather/thyroid, maternal uncle/breast , paternal aunt/breast (went undiagnosed for too long; she won a malpractice settlement but died at 39), paternal uncle/leukemia. I'm probably missing someone. My doc wants me to have a baseline mammogram soon (at 30, rather than the usual 40 or so) because of the history.

[bleedingheart]

50. i talk about mine every once in a while when they flair up

i have a severely herniated disc (c6 c7) and i supposedly have asthma.. due to the bad attack and hospitalization I experienced last year.

[kodi]

51. priapism. i've led a hard life.

but i do have gout, which if you don't have it, consider that someone is lighting a match to the nerves in your joints.

[annonymous]

52. I'm fortunate that I don't have too many problems.

I get tension headaches from time to time. I usually end up taking Advil and getting my husband to give me neck massages to relieve them. I'm severely allergic to smoked fish, blue cheese and red wine, but as long as I avoid them my health is not affected. I also have sinus problems occasionally, sometimes due to colds, sometimes due to dust and mold.

So far, I have been blessed with good health. My BP, blood sugar and cholesterol are normal and I exercise daily. There is a history of high blood pressure, breast cancer and osteoporosis in my family and I will have to be careful so I can avoid these problems.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

53. Seasonal allergies

migraines, and in recent years, the beginnings of osteo-arthritis.

[DietVanillaCoke]

55. Anorexia and bulimia

I don't talk about it offline, except with close family and friends. I've had an eating disorder since I was 13. Woo. I'm in recovery now, and am working to keep it that way. I feel better than I have in a very long time with my weight finally stabilized.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

63. me too

i dont talk about it at all though

[DietVanillaCoke]

64. ...

Well, I don't plan on talking about it after I move in the fall. I would just as soon not have anyone up there know about it, although I plan on seeing a nutritionist or something while I'm up there because it would be so easy to relapse without being held accoungtable by somebody. I don't know anybody where I'll be moving except for a few other eating disordered people whom I know online.

But it's hard to not talk about when you come back to your hometown a year after leaving 30 pounds lighter than you were before you left.

It will be a relief being able to separate myself from my eating disordered identity which everyone in my hometown knows about.

[m-jean03]

60. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

I've been actively recovering from it for 2+ years... Spent 4-5 years actively developing it.

[Padraig18]

62. I have arthritis and Reynaud's syndrome...

Both are well-managed, but ... :shrug: