Posts by Steven Cruz53

Way too many pregnancy hormones floating around in here 😁

Honestly, what surprised me most was just how much pain pregnancy can actually involve...

Alright everyone, just wanted to give a quick rundown of my situation—I've been struggling with standard hemorrhoids for about 15 years now, and five years ago, I ended up with three fistulas, or something like that... basically, they just appeared. They bleed constantly, they hurt, and cleaning up is such a nightmare—I can only manage with wet wipes... I went in for an exam today and decided to finally try the rubber band ligation method for the first time. They didn't even give me any local anesthesia because they told me it wouldn't actually hurt. Now, the exam itself? Not exactly pleasant, but nothing major... but placing that band... oh my god. It only lasts a few seconds, but the pain is absolutely maddening. They popped a Ketoral plug in me and sent me on my way. It was over an hour's drive from Washington, D.C. back home, and honestly, the pain was so intense I was vomiting in the car. So now I'm just lying on my side, scrolling through what you all are saying, and I just took some Voltaren because the pain is unbearable—it's going to be quite the party when I actually have to go to the bathroom 😁—and I have no clue when this pain will subside or when those "dangly bits" will finally dry up...
I can handle this level of pain for maybe one or two days at most; if it lasts longer than that, I’m terrified to ever let anyone put those bands on me again 😁

Man, what a nightmare—I went way too hard on the drinks without eating anything first, and it absolutely wrecked me. I’m finally starting to feel human again after two days...😁

My old man's heading over there next week—honestly, I'm pretty skeptical about it. The whole review process is $100.

All I know is about thyroid hormones. They just pull some blood and you're good to go—though, obviously, don't eat beforehand.

Shouldn't this topic be moved over to the "health" subforum?😉

I’d say it sounds like a stomach bug. I seem to catch one at least once every couple of months—honestly, it's never fun to deal with, but you should feel better in two or three days. Try sipping some lemon tea or snacking on a few pieces of dry toast... just something to keep your strength up while it passes. And whatever you do, don't jump straight back into greasy comfort food once you're feeling better; your stomach won't be ready for that kind of heavy lifting yet.
Hang in there, it'll pass quickly👍.

P.S. I had this exact same thing about a year ago, and ever since then, it feels like I can't quite shake it—it just keeps coming back to haunt me...

I’ve been seeing a therapist—on anti-anxiety meds for about 9 months now. My family knows, my friends know... honestly, I haven't run into anyone yet who reacted with that old-school prejudice (not even my 75-year-old grandma, which was a bit surprising, actually). Even if I did stumble upon someone trying to mock me for it, I’d just laugh right in their face—it wouldn't get to me. At the end of the day, therapy and medication work, and that’s all that matters to me. Even though I’m super close with my family and my boyfriend—we can talk about absolutely anything—it’s still easier to open up to a psychiatrist. They can offer that professional perspective and clinical advice that my loved ones simply can't... their support helps, sure, but it's not the same thing.
It’s honestly hilarious that some people still think you have to be "crazy" to seek psychiatric help. And even if you were—well, people struggling with mental health are still people, right?😉
So, to all my fellow "crazy" folks out there: hang in there, stay strong, and let everyone else think whatever they want...👍

😲 Why would you even consider that?
You’d likely drop a few pounds—mostly just water weight, really—but the second you go back to eating normally, those pounds are coming right back...
Seven days on nothing but water is a long time. Your stomach might actually reject food once you try to eat again... not to mention the massive shock that would put on your system. I won't even get started on that...
It isn't the best way to go about it. You'd be much better off joining us on the UN diet—you'll see the weight come off without feeling like you're starving all the time.🙂
Health should always be the top priority, shouldn't it?

I’ve never managed to get an image to show up right away in my posts—it's not that I don't want to, I just can't figure out how... Any help?

My partner went through the exact same thing just a month or so ago—he was practically in tears from severe hemorrhoids. I ended up using a warm compress and some Voltaren for him. It might not be the "official" medical protocol, but hey, it worked... and that's what matters.🙂

Honestly, hemorrhoids are just the worst. I started dealing with them right before my period every month—thankfully they aren't as painful as the first time they flared up, though. I actually cried for four days straight because the pain was just unbearable. I tried using some Preparation H cream, but it didn't do much at all. The hardest part is definitely having to go to the bathroom—you're literally tearing up. You just have to be careful about how you sit and watch your diet, and hopefully, things will improve.🙂

P.S. I was honestly cracking up reading that the OP tried to use a razor to "fix" things... I can't decide if that's hilarious or just plain reckless!🤣 please don't ever do that again, EVER

I’m dealing with the exact same thing—my internist told me to come back for a follow-up in six months, but it’s already been a year and a half since then... and I still haven't gone. Basically, if they find the nodule has grown, I'll just have it removed. I'm planning to head in next week.
Look, there's really no reason to panic. They can just take out that specific area, or even the whole thyroid if needed—we'd just take hormone replacement pills for the rest of our lives and be totally fine. Even Simone Biles and Allyson Felix live perfectly normal lives without a thyroid.

Hang in there—God forbid anything worse happens than this...😘
Let me know how it goes once you get your results back; since we're in the same boat, I'm genuinely curious.

P.S. My hormone levels are fine too—everything is right within the normal range.

Well... it’s not exactly a rule, but coffee usually comes paired with a cigarette—at least in my family—so I wouldn't exactly say they're living longer...😁
I honestly can't remember a single person in my family who doesn't drink coffee, so I don't really have anything to compare it to—as of right now, we all drink it, and I guess we'll just see how it plays out...😉

How do you think coffee drinkers actually get ahead in life? Like, what kind of connection could there possibly be?😕

Look, lemon juice isn't a bad call. My mom swears by apples, my sister relies on milk... personally, sometimes a bit of fizz helps—maybe some sparkling water or a Coke—or just a couple of ounces of syrup, and then I get a massive burp that🙂 actually does the trick.

crimsonpuma48, I know smokers use it as an excuse for everything—just so doctors can get rid of us faster. I show up with bronchitis (which I've had since birth) and they say it's the cigarettes; I have heartburn—it's the cigarettes; dizzy spells—again, blame the cigarettes🙄 once I finally deal with this heartburn, I'll have much bigger health issues to worry about, so this isn't exactly my top priority right now

P.S. If you're dealing with that burning sensation in bed, you absolutely have to sleep on your left side—it seriously works. When I sleep like that, it’s great, but if I roll over even a little bit, the burning comes right back...

I’ve already got a stomach ulcer—so great. And honestly? I’m really not looking forward to a doctor’s visit... I already know exactly what they're going to lecture me about: quit smoking and cut back on the coffee. Look, a woman has every right to her habits, but I just don't have the patience for the finger-wagging—especially since I'm fully aware of the consequences myself.
Basically, I brought this on myself, so there's really no point in complaining.😁

I get heartburn every single time I take even a tiny bite of food.
It used to be triggered by specific things—tomatoes, bananas, oranges, you name it—but over the last few months, it’s become constant... just non-stop.
Neither antacids nor cucumbers seem to touch it; the only thing providing relief is a little baking soda after every meal. It’s definitely not a healthy long-term fix, but it gets the job done...

Hershey's housewives, Hershey's treats, Hershey's sweets, and all that good stuff...
as long as it’s sweet and makes me gain a few pounds, I'm happy😁

For the first couple of days, I make sure to take some Voltaren—Ketonal always messes with my stomach—and then just sink into a hot bath. I know, I know, it’s probably not the best idea... but honestly, it feels amazing...
On all the other days, there isn't any pain at all.

I'm with you on this🙂
I honestly don't get the appeal of that mainstream country-pop stuff😕. Around here, we have plenty of that kind of music too—thankfully, it’s mostly confined to the outskirts for now (at least, that's the hope)—because I haven't heard a single club in downtown Chicago playing it yet, and let's pray it stays that way🙂

As for those parties where they start blasting it? That's a given... usually right after midnight once everyone is already pretty much wasted (maybe that's why people switch to it—they can't follow the lyrics to pop songs anymore, so they just go with the flow... hey, as long as you hit the notes, you're fine, right?)😉

I’ve got a massive phobia when it comes to dogs—honestly, I’m pretty wary of animals in general, but dogs? They are my absolute nightmare...

Spillman sure loves to brag about how their town is the most athletic place in America—maybe even "in the world"...
What do you all think—which city in America takes the crown for being the most athletic? If we’re looking at where our greatest sporting legends tend to emerge from... which specific cities actually "produce" the most successful athletes?....