The Medical Thread

You misunderstand. The implanted organ is supposed to induce changes in the physiology and/or structure of other organs (in this case, the digestive tract).

Certain metals and non-metals that are intended to be synthesized into new compounds to be used in creating stronger bone tissue, for example.

These can probably just piggy-back onto the transport systems for metals, assuming that they are divalent cations not too different in size from calcium or magnesium ions.

<winces>

My brain revolted me by dwelling on the possible side effects if, say, the potassium arm of the Krebs "Cycle" got knocked out of whack due to any alterations made.

That's a lot of scary knock-ons with some gruesome effects, depending on whether too little or too much potassium gets absorbed at the wrong times.

Or, say, calcium.

Never mind accidental boosted absorption of, say, any heavy metal instead of the target element. Getting cocky because you think you can process most things seems like a great way to run into plenty of arsenic.

Okay, but how to ensure that enough of those elements are taken up? If they're not elements that the digestive tract would normally absorb much if at all of, then there needs to be some modifications induced to fix that.

You can try using a chemical compound that gets taken up and carries these elements. The pharma industry often meets this problem and that is one commonly taken solution.

Random concern.

I really hope that the Corona virus spread doesn't get worse because of the anti-vaxxers...

At this point a vaccine isn't even ready yet though research is already underway.

Yeah, I know. It's eventually gonna get developed someday and will have to be administered.

And it has to be effective. As malaria and HIV have shown, it's not always possible to make an effective vaccine for a condition.

And it takes months just to make a vaccine ready for testing. to say nothing of getting it approved and actually distributing it worldwide.

Hmm, didn't take that into an account. Fair points.

And nobody said it's gonna be quick, neither the outbreak nor the development of vaccine (if it happens at all, that is).

What is a good way to help the healing process of your right hand?

Embrace left-handedness for the duration and don't try to overtax your right, especially if the only thing you are trying to do is salve your ego to do a task "normally" when you're still working out how to do the basics one-handed. Also, it won't kill you to learn ask for help whenever you actually do need it.

Quick fixes tend to be poor fixes. Avoid.

Edited by Euodiachloris on Feb 4th 2020 at 12:29:57 PM

Obligatory reminder that (as far as I know) none of us are trained medical professionals and thus our advice shouldn't be treated as coming from such.

Edited by M84 on Feb 4th 2020 at 8:36:26 PM

Yup. There are better, more authentic place to ask this kind of questions.

Like Web Med.

Need advice as soon as possible concerning a certain issue I have been having as of late.

I don't know what it is, but this is starting to become a problem, personally.

My mind has been obsessed with "chewing" the last couple of months.

Not "eating" per say, but the action of "chewing" in on itself.

It's outright maddening

my jaws wants to chew, but the problem is, it got nothing to do with "food" (even if it is used as a way to satisfy the urge of "chewing", even for a short while at least, except that comes with a different set of issues, such as every meal, being a lot of food, just to make the act of "chewing" last for much longer.)

Which means that (and it's not junkfood or anything, but pure healthy foods, like berries, or mango, or eggs, or oathmeal and the like... so my weight stay the same) I feel horrible about myself the longer I keep the urge suppressed even when my jaws just want to move and satisfy the urge.

Is this some sort of weird "eating-disorder" or some branch of "OCD"?

I don't know.

Need help in form of advice.

It's getting worse.

(Haven't started chewing on my lips or gum or anything like that...yet.)

should I see a doctor or a shrink about this problem?

First of all, good idea targeting healthy foods instead of junk food, keep it up

Are you already eating more slowly, spending lots more time chewing each bite before swallowing? I would guess so — that would be the most obvious way to chew more without eating more. Of course you'd finish your meals more slowly, but in the day and age of fast food being unhealthy for reasons including being fast, that's not necessarily a big drawback.

If the urge to chew is getting that annoying, I think it would be a good idea to look up affordable doctors and shrinks, at the very least for an initial assessment. If you decide to get an appointment and the urge gets more annoying before that appointment, perhaps a single pack of gum would tide you over until that appointment. Otherwise, getting gum without seeing a doctor or shrink has a high risk of turning into a money sinking habit.

Thanks for the advice.

And I actually did try chewing gum not long ago (sugar-free zinc-gum, good for the teeth and other aspects, two gums after every meal, chew for at least twenty minutes before disposing of the gum afterwards), it was really relaxing, then I stopped to test something else. Really missing them. (and one package of 22 gums lasts only 3 2/3 days...)

I keep trying to find new and different things to chew on in order to find the things that brings the "urge" the most satisfaction, without making me sick in the process.

current results:

Meats

Pork: Disgusting, I feel like a zombie and the "urge" isn't satisfied at all.

Beef: Not even the "Urge" wants to chew on that, even once.

Chicken: Too easy to chew, the "urge" isn't satisfied and it is too heavy for me to stomach.

Fish: Mackarel in cans work as a snack and the "urge" gets a strange satisfaction from how soft it is, but ordinary fish? No, the "urge" just keeps on chewing and chewing and I end up overeating on it in the end, every time. (only stopped by the amounts I buy, thank god.)

Eggs: Hard-boiled only. Fried eggs makes me sick and doesn't satisfy the "urge". As long as I don't make too many at the time.

Fruit & Vegetables:

Mango: I LOVE mango, both as a fluid and as a fruit. Wonderful texture in the mouth and the "urge" can keep chewing on it for almost an hour on end without ending up eating the fruit up too fast. I drink a gallon of it every day just to keep my "urge" in check while at work. Luckily enough.

Blueberries: Yes. They work just fine, and they are many and small, so the "urge" gets happy as well.

Avocado: Fresh ones only. Frozen ones comes with food poisoning and the texture only work on the "urge" if it is fresh. It is really difficult to find any though without buying them first, and they are expensive.

Blood oranges: Meh, they work...if only they weren't so acidic.

Strawberries: Yes. They work too. Only frozen though, as it put the "urge" on caution when biting into something really cold.

Passion fruit: If only they weren't so expensive...but they are really good and the small seeds gives the "urge" a challenge so they work.

Frozen vegetables (broccoli, carrots, mini-corn, etc...) It works.

Dried plums: Sticky, but o boy do they give the "urge" a challenge to chew through...

Lettuce: Definitely a must, eats it every day, both for resistance and the freshness.

Milk products:

Milk: the "urge" isn't affected and it's just a drink.

Cottage Cheese, protein-version: It works. plenty to chew and kind to the stomach.

Quark: Wonderful texture and gives the "urge" a soft thing to chew into to both of our satisfaction.

Greek yogurt: See "quark"

Oatmeal: It works in the morning and it gives plenty for the "urge" to stay silent for a good six hours...and then strike at full force right afterwards.

As said, I keep testing new things, but it's not that easy... and I have to eat a "lot" to keep the "urge" in check every day...

It can easily get expensive if I am not careful.

Edited by TitanJump on Feb 18th 2020 at 8:27:12 PM

If it bothers you, find some CBT and see an ear, nose and throat specialist just in case (after all, if there's, say, an underlying sinus issue beneath it all, sorting that out should take precedence).

Preferably before you find out how well you'd cope with having your jaws wired after, say, a car accident.

Because Sod's Law can do stuff like that.

Edited by Euodiachloris on Feb 18th 2020 at 8:23:51 PM

Gosh, I did not think of the possibility of an underlying sinus issue. If you're gonna be thorough, that's one more thing to investigate. I was thinking more about texture and nutrient patterns and the possibility of some deficiency that your body is looking for, maybe there's some nutrient that it associates (correctly or incorrectly) with a certain texture.

Have you tried nuts? They're crunchier than the other satisfying foods you mentioned. So far, the pattern suggests that nuts on their own might be a little too crunchy, but if you mix them into yogurt or cottage cheese... As for expenses, here's a tip: Unsalted, raw and whole nuts should be cheaper than roasted, salted, broken into pieces, and combinations thereof.

Edited by Miss_Desperado on Feb 18th 2020 at 1:53:36 AM

My mum was a psychiatrist. Her rule of thumb? Do a thorough physical, especially on patients incapable of speech.

Because the number of times an "irrational behavioural issue" turned out to be 1) an allergy/ sensitivity/ dietary imbalance, 2) tinatis, 3) inner ear infection, 4) chronic sleep deprivation because of somebody else's sleep apnea, 5) the wrong meds because 6) a previous misdiagnosis...

Ooh, almost forgot: deafness/ blindness getting confused for "confusion", "disorientation" and "they've become very stubborn for no good reason". Well, yeah: they've been trying to tell you for weeks that they lost a sense and nobody tested the obvious.

Edited by Euodiachloris on Feb 18th 2020 at 11:48:35 AM

People really need to stop asking for medical advice here. Why trust random internet strangers over an actual doctor?

Maybe that should be a header or something on this thread?

Edited by M84 on Feb 18th 2020 at 9:20:49 PM

Because the price of a Doctor's appointment is your soul and the sacrifice of three three-eyed goats to Shub-Niggurath?

@M84 - Hmm, nothing wrong with the idea.

I've activated the header. Yes, this tendency has been bothering me a litle lately.