From biological weapon to cosmetic product is crazy

    • LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net
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      2 days ago

      Dose makes the poison. Even the most toxic substance known to man can have benefits in a small enough dose.

    • spongebue@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      I was a part of the noburp community on the old site. In the last decade it’s been used to cure that. The body metabolizes it after about 6 months, but having that assistance often helps build the muscle memory and people can usually burp after that. I personally had it done twice and can still do small burps at last, and my daughter (toddler, born very prematurely) had it done at the beginning of the year. Her physical medicine doctor mentioned it as a possibility, and when I told him about the burping thing he basically equated Botox in the medical community with Windex in My Big Fat Greek Wedding

        • spongebue@lemmy.world
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          2 days ago

          The main ones you see almost universally are

          • excessive flatulence (it’s gotta come out somewhere),
          • bloating comparable with pregnancy (usually equivalent to what you’d see after several months in, but occasionally people look full term!)
          • Weird gurgling noises in the throat

          There are also things like hiccups, hypersalivation, constipation, and things like that that are common but not guaranteed.

          My daughter has been pretty underweight for a while. I realized she’s had massive farts, and a bit of a big belly given the rest of her relatively small size. She was super hard to burp as an infant (that varies a lot in adults with the condition) and it pretty much stopped after a while. Basically the bloat kills the appetite.

          • CybranM@feddit.nu
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            2 days ago

            Thank you for the detailed answer, first time I’ve heard of anyone not being able to burp but it sounds very unpleasant. So the Botox treatment can solve or at least alleviate the issue?

            • spongebue@lemmy.world
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              1 day ago

              Yeah, there’s basically a “valve” muscle in the esophagus called the upper esophageal sphincter (either a part of the cricopharynx, vice versa, or they’re the same… Not sure). It stays closed for the most part, but opens for swallowing and burping. Swallowing is generally fine, but burping not so much. You may have seen the term R-CPD in the thread, that stands for Retrograde (outward direction) Cricopharyngeal Dysfunction. There’s a similar condition called achalasia, which is also treated with Botox, but that also has swallowing issues unlike R-CPD.

              Anyway, the Botox helps that muscle relax. The body metabolizes it after several months, but in that time you have “training wheels” that help develop muscle memory to burp. About 80% of people are “one and done” with that one shot. I personally had a second and don’t really have “tasteable” burps, but I do have small ones that seem to help.

              It’s funny, because before I suspected that issue in my daughter we saw a pediatric ENT (the type of doctor who performs the procedure). Knowing it’s an obscure thing many doctors have a hard time grasping, I told him about it figuring it may plant a seed for some parent in the future. His response? “That’s funny, I don’t burp either. What you said makes sense though.” I would have loved to go back to him, but unfortunately he moved across the country in the meantime. Ended up going to another doctor in the practice who is amazing though!

        • spongebue@lemmy.world
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          2 days ago

          I would strongly suggest getting the treatment if you can! It’s a super simple procedure.

          • village604@adultswim.fan
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            2 days ago

            Luckily mine is only semi no burp; I can force it out with some effort. My theory is it’s because I played a wind instrument.

            • spongebue@lemmy.world
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              2 days ago

              Pretty much. It affects people differently, but one guy talked to manually any doctor who would listen. Dr. Bastian in Chicagoland has a YouTube channel about laryngology (basically all throat stuff) and that guy who had so many issues with not being able to burp contacted Dr. Bastian about it. He told him to get some Botox on the muscle of the throat that releases gas, and the guy ended up flying to Chicago to have it done. Dr. Bastian is pretty legendary in that community now. He also has a very impressive background even before that.

              I actually went to that practice for my first injection and was originally booked to see Dr. Bastian. He fell sick the week I was there, but another doctor in the practice was able to do it instead since I came from out of town. Honestly everyone there is great!

              But also, I saw similar symptoms in my toddler daughter, who was very underweight (getting better!). It was hard, because it can be difficult enough to find someone willing to do it for an adult, but a young child? Nobody wants to take that risk. Most specialists I talked to thought it made sense, but it really wasn’t their area (fair) or they’d get skeptical. The ENT we saw about it was HORRIBLE and basically chased us out because it was a zebra. Eventually I booked a telehealth visit with Dr. Bastian just to see if I was projecting my own experiences on her, and he was the kindest man. Sent a letter with his opinion for me to show other providers, and I think it really helped show I wasn’t insane.

              Daughter eventually had it done by a pediatric ENT doctor who has done it before. She did great for several days but snapped back after an endoscopy about a week later. We’re trying again in about a month and a half!

              Sorry to ramble, but this has been such a big thing for me personally!

    • sunbrrnslapper@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      Yes! It can be used to treat paralysis in the digestive tract too. It’s crazy what a little poison can do 😉