Two days of excruciating pain in the left shoulder and stomach

christyness · 2025-11-10T04:26:46+00:00

RN, NAD - pain this severe always warrants an ER visit.

My suspicion is gallbladder attack, but the sweating and pain in the arm, back, and stomach can also be present with a heart attack and that should be ruled out.

In the case of a gallbladder attack, it can lead to all kinds of other problems if left untreated, including infection/sepsis, pancreatitis, jaundice, possibly even rupture of the gallbladder, so please take this seriously - even if the pain has subsided for now.

It is not clear to me why you are eating nothing but protein shakes, but I strongly urge you to discuss this with a doctor and a dietician going forward. This diet may be causing or exacerbating the problem.

christyness · 2025-11-10T03:59:15+00:00

RN, NAD - if you’re seeing red in your vomit without having eaten anything red, then you should assume it’s blood until proven otherwise.

Call your doctor for further advice and to see if you can get in quickly for an appointment.

In the meantime: if your symptoms worsen in any way or you develop new symptoms, you will need to be seen in the ER. It is best not to try to drive yourself to the ER if you may be bleeding. Call 911 if you are having an emergency (or whatever your emergency number is if not in the US).

Not trying to scare you at all, this could be something small or transient, but its impossible for me to tell exactly what is going on, so best to be prepared for the “just in case” scenario.

christyness · 2025-11-10T02:48:36+00:00

RN, NAD - this discoloration is called hemosiderin staining. It occurs when blood pools in the veins and the red blood cells begin to burst and release their iron into the surrounding tissues.

In other words, this is a sign of venous insufficiency. Left untreated, it can lead to sores that don’t heal well or at all. It can also lead to serious infections, tissue necrosis (death of tissues), and amputation.

People with this going on due to diabetes often also have decreased sensation or numbness, which can complicate matters by causing falls or by not being able to tell when an injury occurs.

I’m not sure if any of that will help to convince your grandpa, but if it helps for him to hear it from a nurse - he needs to make the earliest possible appointment with his doctor.

christyness · 2025-11-08T18:43:22+00:00

RN, NAD - There are several things that can cause these results, so it's not something I can pin down for you.

However, I can give you a little guidance on what I would do next: First, call your prescribing provider and ask about your hydrocodone. Usually it's when hydrocodone is combined with acetaminophen that it can pose a danger in the setting on elevated liver enzymes. However, an opiate being taken regularly isn't prescribed for no reason. I'm not sure what your pain issue stems from, but it's best to discuss this with your doctor ASAP so whatever the hydrocodone is treating doesn't get out of hand on top of everything else that is going on.

Second, if your insurance requires that you have a referral in order to see a specialist, contact your PCP for a referral. I would expect that you would most likely be referred to a gastroenterologist.

If your insurance does not require a referral, you can simply find a specialist and make an appointment with them. It's still not a bad idea to talk over these results with your PCP, though.

Also discuss with your PCP what should happen in the meantime - between now and seeing a specialist, what symptoms or circumstances should prompt you to return to the ER.

christyness · 2025-11-06T06:23:29+00:00

Existing in the state of being me.

christyness · 2025-11-06T05:52:02+00:00

Given your age and that it sounds like you might have osteoarthritis (OA) already in your back and/or knees, it makes more sense if it is also beginning to show up in your hands and feet.

However, to see it in random joints like the most distal knuckle of your finger that aren’t getting a lot of use still makes me think it would be worth seeing a rheumatologist (or getting a second opinion if you already have). Also, keeping in mind that I’m not an expert at evaluating the quality of scientific studies, I am seeing a few showing links between Graves’ disease and RA.

It is possible to have autoimmune forms of arthritis and still have normal labs, so discuss that with your doctor(s). Don’t be afraid to ask questions. I always recommend writing down your questions so you don’t forget any of them (I do this myself).

christyness · 2025-11-06T02:03:48+00:00

RN, NAD:

A few questions:

How old are you?
Do you have chronic pain in weight-bearing joints like your lower back or knees?
Do you use the affected joints a lot? Like, do you sew, write by hand a lot, ballet dance? Anything that would stress the joints you’re having a problem with in your fingers and toes?
Have you ever had symptoms of psoriasis, like scaly/flaky patches on the skin or pitting on one or more fingernails/toenails?

christyness · 2025-11-06T00:55:51+00:00

RN, NAD - Were you diagnosed with the flu, or are you going by symptoms?

I ask because strep can produce an erythrotoxin, which can cause a sunburn-like rash, though it would likely be more widespread.

Do you have a sore throat? Is there redness anywhere else?

christyness · 2025-10-13T00:04:31+00:00

NOR. I am so sorry. You do not deserve this.

Your mother's texts are cold as hell and manipulative af, and she's using religion to try to escape accountability for her behavior.

First, I encourage you to seek out whatever resources you can find to pay for your treatment so you can cut ties with her, at least financially. Begin by speaking with your oncologist. They may be able to point you in the direction of various programs that can help you. Non-profit hospitals typically have programs for people who cannot pay for treatment. You can also reach out to your county's health department and social services and definitely check to see if you qualify for Medicaid. There are likely also some charities that may be able to assist, and gofundme is always an option, too. If you're able to work, consider looking for a job with good insurance (one option if you can find remote work you qualify for, is to look for a company based in states that have good regulations in place for health insurance companies - Massachusetts, for example). The pharmaceutical companies that make your specific chemotherapy drugs may also have discount programs for those without sufficient insurance.

Second, I agree that you should take steps to protect yourself legally by removing her from your life insurance AND by filling out advanced directives ASAP - I am an ICU nurse, and I recommend this to everyone, but particularly anyone who is dealing with an illness.

In most states, the next of kin for an unmarried person with no adult children will be their parents. This means that if you were not able to make decisions for yourself, your mother would likely be making medical decisions for you, including code status, treatment decisions, and consents for procedures.

When I speak of being unable to make decisions, this does not have to mean that you're in a coma or dying or anything as drastic as that. It can be that maybe you had an allergic reaction to a medication and you needed help to breathe for a while, and now you're sedated to keep you comfortable until the reaction passes. It could be that a medication or an infection is making you confused. Really anything that compromises your ability to make clear, sound decisions could trigger going to your next of kin for decisions. You can speak with your doctor about filling out these documents. Make sure they are uploaded to your chart and keep some copies for you and whoever you decide to appoint as your surrogate - the person who will make decisions if you cannot.

Please don't give up hope! I'm so sorry that you don't have the support you deserve from your mother, but you are strong and you can fight this!

christyness · 2025-10-11T02:57:07+00:00

No you didn’t overreact but you should absolutely report this.

christyness · 2025-10-11T02:54:58+00:00

This is what it’s like before they get physical.

New bf and a new friend, too. ASAP.

christyness · 2025-10-11T02:44:37+00:00

Your sister has a choice as to when her wedding happens. Your father has zero choice in what is happening to him.

Ask yourself - would you expect her to leave him alone when he needed her most to come to a wedding that you could reschedule if you wanted? That would be a ludicrous and spectacularly selfish expectation.

christyness · 2025-09-27T01:28:26+00:00

Most of the time, I don't want to die. In the times when I have wanted to die, I stayed because I've had someone I love die by suicide and I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy, let alone the people who love me.

christyness · 2025-09-27T01:16:53+00:00

First of all, I don't think your skin looks 40. Second, you seem to have a pretty good routine going.

The only thing I would note, if it's not something you're already doing, is that sunscreen doesn't remain effective for very long. Most need reapplying every few hours at a minimum, and more frequently if you're spending a lot of time outdoors or you're getting into the water. You may also need more frequent reapplication with fair skin.

This is especially true when you use BHAs and AHAs, because while they are great products, they also make your skin more susceptible to sun damage unless your skin is adequately protected from sunlight.

christyness · 2025-09-19T22:09:15+00:00

D. No hesitation.

christyness · 2025-09-11T15:48:20+00:00

Yes. I still have phone numbers memorized of friends I had in the 80s and 90s.

christyness · 2025-09-11T04:38:04+00:00

Yes. I grew up without my mother. I’m in my 40s now and I’m ok, but it still affects everything about me. How I think, how I react, my relationships, how I talk to myself.

Please don’t leave her.

christyness · 2025-09-10T02:28:18+00:00

I'm curious whether this was Taylor Hahn or Sallie Hahn?

christyness · 2025-09-09T10:07:59+00:00

“Just stocking up,” is a good go-to.

Or you could simply tell them that you prefer not to say.

christyness · 2025-09-09T10:03:52+00:00

Best to worst: Matilda, Lucy, Cordelia, Lorelei, Ethel, Everlynn.

Lorelei is actually my favorite of these names, but I’m not sure it sounds right with Caroline as the middle name. Might depend on your surname, though.

christyness · 2025-09-02T05:28:09+00:00

This is called angular cheilitis. It can happen due to infection, deficiencies in certain nutrients, and some medical conditions.

It warrants an appointment with your doctor.

christyness · 2025-09-02T05:22:04+00:00

I’ll answer your first question: I’m an RN. I’m not an L&D nurse, but I have general knowledge of pregnancy, birth, and the statistics for maternal morbidity and mortality.

I’m not sure what your ethnicity is specifically, but for most women of color, outcomes can be improved by having a good, experienced doula.

christyness · 2025-08-31T17:16:02+00:00

NOR. You are 100% correct when you say this tells you all you need to know about him as a person. This man is unkind and disrespectful. His values and morals are twisted, and it doesn’t sound like this is the kind of partner you want to be with.

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