Home › Robert Hernandez11 › Posts

Posts by Robert Hernandez11

103 posts shown.

Best ways to save money right now? in Banking, Insurance & Loans · Nov 8, 2009

crimsonseal13 said:On the flip side, I actually see that as a downside. If you know you can pull your money out instantly without fees, it’s only a matter of time before you reach for it to buy something totally unnecessary. It's always smarter to have some funds tucked away in a CD and keep the rest liquid.

There's an old saying... Man is his own worst enemy... 😉

There’s truth to that... though it really depends on what you're aiming for. For me, the goal was buying a house—so I used a housing savings plan, kept some money in CDs, and for the last year and a half, I've been putting money into a money market fund... basically following that old "don't put all your eggs in one basket" rule.
Taking out life insurance was easily my dumbest move. I signed up for a policy that runs until I'm 60🙄, paying $255 a year, and honestly, God knows why I did it...🙄 Now I'm looking into changing both the premium and the term, though I'm not even sure if they'll let me switch things up.🤷
And as for those private retirement accounts? Total disaster, we already know that.☕

Zaba fan possibilities in Banking, Insurance & Loans · Nov 8, 2009

Michael Brooks732 said:Hey everyone,
just wanted to share a quick update with you all. I’ve been paying for an expert package for three years now, and since last year, I’ve added the dynamic coverage. Today, a pipe burst in my bathroom, so I decided to actually test out the home assistance through the World Bank—one of the perks included in the plan. I’ll admit, I was skeptical. But the operator took one look at my situation and told me a technician would call me within thirty minutes. Believe it or not, they were actually at my door in fifteen, swapped out the broken part, and they were gone. Honestly, I can't overstate how satisfied I am. Every single dollar I spend on this coverage feels worth it.🙂

I'm trying to wrap my head around this assistance coverage... when it says "coverage up to... this much dollars," what does that actually mean in practice? Does it mean I can use these services twice a year and I only end up paying out of pocket if the total cost exceeds that limit? 🤷
For example, home/apartment assistance:
Reimbursement for specialist bills for serviced appliances up to $367 -
What does that specifically mean to you guys???

Zaba fan possibilities in Banking, Insurance & Loans · Nov 8, 2009

I don't know what to tell you, but I am absolutely fed up with the constant noise on this board lately. It feels like every single thread turns into some massive, drawn-out drama that nobody actually asked for. Honestly, it’s exhausting. kaže:
I honestly think they’re basically forcing these service bundles on people just to get them through the door. Every single time I’ve walked into a Chase branch lately, there’s some teller trying to shove these packages down my throat like I don't have a choice. It's infuriating because I make it crystal clear every time: if they’re going to scrap the "one size fits all" pricing, then they better unbundle everything for me right then and there. But no, they just won't do it.
...

$20 Monthly x 12 months equals... what? Honestly, I don't even want to think about that number because it's usually just a fancy way to calculate how much money we're bleeding out every single year. $240 Every single year!
That's a hell of a lot of money.
Look, I’m using basically everything they offer: my checking account, savings, Mastercard, and I handle all my bill pay through online banking—which means I've got the security token and all that. Plus, I'm fully set up with Zbinvest Link and e-Trade.
I honestly haven't sat down to crunch the numbers on what those services would actually cost me individually, but I'm thinking it might be worth getting a quote just to see...🤷
I am absolutely fed up with these constant payment delays on my debit card. It’s getting ridiculous! If they’re actually offering this with zero interest and no hidden fees, then I'm all ears.🤷 The only good thing I can say about it is that I used my Go card exactly twice, and even then, it was only for larger purchases. As soon as I caught a glimpse of those interest rates, I walked away from the whole thing immediately!

Lab results - looking for opinions [PLEASE READ 1ST POST] in Health · Nov 1, 2009

Hannah Sanders78 said:I really need some help here

Total cholesterol 5.6
HDL cholesterol 0.8
Triglycerides 5

😢😢

Cholesterol—the goal is usually under 5.0 mmol/L—so you're just slightly elevated here.
Triglycerides—the target is under 1.7 mmol/L—which means yours are way up there.
Triglycerides are usually tied directly to what you eat, so you've got to cut back on fats, watch out for those hidden greasy culprits, and load up on more fruits and veggies. Doing that will probably bring your cholesterol down too.

Do you feel awkward at the gynecologist, or are you totally chill about it? in Women's Health · Oct 5, 2009

wiredcobra12 said:The one thing I absolutely cannot stand about getting an exam is the Pap smear!!! Ugh, seriously. Iron deficiency is such a massive pain in the ass to deal with. It just drives me absolutely insane...
:

You mean that speculum they use to spread everything open during an exam?😉
Honestly, that’s just plain uncomfortable.
I’m not feeling any pain myself.🤷
Honestly, I happened to catch a glimpse of that little device once... if I hadn't known he’d used it before and realized it wasn't actually a huge deal, I swear on my life I would have just stood up and bolted straight out the door.😁
Alright, I’m going to push back a little here... but seriously...🤣

Do you feel awkward at the gynecologist, or are you totally chill about it? in Women's Health · Oct 5, 2009

Look, let me be real: I am definitely not relaxed or happy about this.
I’ve been through two gynecological surgeries already, so trust me when I say I know what actual pain feels like.
Getting an exam or a Pap smear doesn't hurt. (I mean, compared to what I've dealt with, it’s nothing!
The awkwardness is the worst part, but I guess that’s just normal—if I actually enjoyed being poked and prodded like that, I’d probably be a total freak.
But honestly, the discomfort and any potential pain pale in comparison to the sheer terror of waiting for the results—wondering if the Pap smear will come back clean or if the ultrasound shows something scary...
When everything comes back fine, no amount of awkwardness can touch that feeling of pure relief.
My last surgery was a polyp ablation... yeah, it hurts, and yeah, it’s uncomfortable, but that’s peanuts compared to facing a diagnosis like ovarian or cervical cancer. It breaks my heart because I know several women, just a little older than I am—let's say, in their mid-30s😉—who have unfortunately received those kinds of diagnoses. They weren't keeping up with their regular checkups. I’ve even heard stories about women in their late 20s who ended up with incredibly serious issues because they skipped their screenings...

So, maybe this topic is a bit blunt, but you shouldn't try to "relax" through it; we should really be talking about why these gynecological exams are so damn important in the first place!
Anyway, that's my two cents...

Dealing with bad cramps? in Women's Health · Sep 13, 2009

Maria Nguyen2;22498469 said:
It’s the exact same thing for me—these terrifying pains. I can barely get out of bed. If it hits me while I'm at work or out somewhere, I just black out, start vomiting, and have no clue where I am or who I even am... it's horrific! I was basically in a coma for the first two days... then for the rest of the time, I still get these intense waves of pain, but honestly, compared to those first two days, it feels minor.
I was wondering if there’s anything else I could try that actually works? Not necessarily pills, though—I'm kind of done with swallowing medication all the time...
QUOTE]

I'm not sure if it'll help you since my issues were more of the "standard" type rather than what you're describing,😁 but usually, day one was brutal for me... Ever since I started taking PMS Free, nothing. I don't know if it's actually doing anything or if it's just a placebo effect, but hey, if it works, it works.👍
+ Also, try taking magnesium and drinking chamomile tea about 7-10 days before your period starts (have the tea in the evening to help you sleep).
Anyway, it won't hurt to try, even if it doesn't do much...

Dealing with bad cramps? in Women's Health · Sep 13, 2009

Ever since I started taking PMS FREE (by Encian), my cramps have completely vanished... It’s been three cycles now, so I can't tell if it's just a fluke or if this stuff actually works...🤷

Polyp ablation: What to expect? in Women's Health · Aug 28, 2009

Has anyone here actually gone through cervical polyp ablation?🤷

Lab results - looking for opinions [PLEASE READ 1ST POST] in Health · Aug 12, 2009

I just got my blood and urine results back after being diagnosed with cystitis, and honestly, everything looks pretty much perfect😕🤷
- WBC 8.5 (ref. 3.4 - 9.7)
- WBC - some MPV - 10.8 (ref.6.8 - 10.4)
- WBC - some RDW is 14100 (ref.9000 - 15.000)
Urine analysis - all negative
- WBC in sediment 1-2

The thing is, I had these tests done after I’d already started antibiotics on my doctor's advice—I'd already knocked back two doses about 12 hours apart—so is it actually possible the meds are already killing the infection so effectively🤷... and that those slightly elevated white cell counts are just a sign that my immune system and the antibiotics are doing their job? (Sorry if I'm sounding like a total amateur here, I'm just trying to figure out if it's really cystitis or if something else could be causing these exact same symptoms)🤷

Period talk: Questions and advice in Women's Health · Aug 10, 2009

steelangler88 said:Yeah, it’s constant. Like, I have to wear pads pretty much all the time, even if it's just light spotting.😠
It's been three weeks for me now. Right before it started, I was dealing with these weird pelvic pains, and honestly, I was convinced it was some bone issue or something. 🤷
I really need to get to an OB-GYN, but I just can't seem to find the time to actually make the appointment.☕

I finally dragged myself to my primary care doctor today because I’ve been suspecting a UTI or just some general inflammation down there. They put me on antibiotics and ordered blood and urine tests so we can figure out what's actually going on. I have a follow-up with my gynecologist scheduled for late August or early September. For me, the bleeding has actually been tapering off, 🤷, meaning nothing happened from the end of my period until yesterday (day 19 of my cycle), but I almost always see spotting after sex (like, three times yes, one time no, then back to yes again😁)... and I've already read a few things online suggesting E. coli could be the culprit. Now I'm just crossing my fingers that these antibiotics do the trick.

Spotting: What's your experience? in Women's Health · Aug 10, 2009

Kate Moore21 said:Hey, just wondering—were you on birth control when you had those spotting issues, or were you off them?
Because I was taking them for a month and ended up spotting for almost two weeks straight, only to find out later that I actually had E. coli. Now I’m stuck wondering if it was caused by the bacteria or if it was just my body adjusting to the pill?

Sarah Flores said:How did you catch that E. coli? Was it through a vaginal swab or a urine test? Even though my OB-GYN is at Planned Parenthood, I can always hit up my primary care doctor to check for that little beast... or pretty much any other bacteria...🤷...

Kate Moore21 said:A urine test.

I finally decided to actually start taking care of myself (since the symptoms I've been having are clearly some kind of infection—I've got lower abdominal pain and I'm peeing constantly, probably a UTI flare-up, but it's acting up again), so I got a referral for bloodwork and a urinalysis, plus some antibiotics... I'm not sure if they'll actually catch the E. coli from this urine test, or what...? Honestly, I just hope I can get this sorted once and for all. I'm heading to the gynecologist in late August or early September... which is about time after 14 months... ☕... I'm just praying I don't end up with a yeast infection after the antibiotics kick in...👎
Should I just load up on yogurt, or should I go ahead and grab some probiotics right away?😁

Spotting: What's your experience? in Women's Health · Jul 23, 2009

Kate Moore21 said:a urine test

Yeah, right, and then I'll probably sprint straight to my primary care doctor before grabbing a gin☕

Period talk: Questions and advice in Women's Health · Jul 21, 2009

steelangler88 said:Yeah, it’s constant. It’s pretty light, but I still have to deal with pads all day.😠
I'm actually on my third week today. Right before this started, I was getting these weird pains in my pelvis, and honestly, I was convinced it was some bone issue. 🤷
I really need to get to the Mayo Clinic, but I just can't seem to find the time to make the trip.☕

Could it be some kind of inflammation? 🤷
(I'm trying to get an appointment too, but since I'm on Blue Cross, I'm stuck waiting until late August...)

Period talk: Questions and advice in Women's Health · Jul 21, 2009

Looking at all these different stories people are sharing here, it honestly feels like we’ve just collectively decided that being treated like garbage is the new normal...🤷

Anyway, if any of you ladies actually manage to snag an appointment with a gynecologist and get through an exam, please, for the love of God, let us know what they say...🤷...just so we have some idea what to expect, since we're all eventually going to be stuck waiting in those endless lines for our own "routine annual checkups."😁...

Spotting: What's your experience? in Women's Health · Jul 21, 2009

How did you actually find out about the erythrasma? Was it through vaginal swabs or just a standard urine test? Because even though my OBGYN is covered by Medicaid, I could always swing by my primary care doctor to get this beast checked out... or really any bacteria for that matter...🤷...

Period talk: Questions and advice in Women's Health · Jul 20, 2009

Sophia Thompson93 said:My stomach has been hurting for 2 or 3 days now, like I'm about to get my period, and everything feels slightly swollen—it just doesn't feel normal at all. Plus, it’s more brownish lately. I went to see my OBGYN yesterday, but they couldn't even perform an exam; please, can anyone tell me if this has happened to you too or what else it could be?

So what did the doctor say? Why couldn't he examine you?🤷 Did he give you any ideas about "what it could be"?🤷

steelangler88 said:Girls, please help. I've been bleeding for three weeks straight now. The flow stays exactly the same, neither heavier nor lighter. It isn't heavy, and my stomach doesn't hurt or anything...

Three whole weeks, non-stop, constant?!?🤷
That is honestly a bit much, even for me...🤷...
For me, the last 3 or 4 months have been like this: about 5 to 7 days before my period, there's some very light spotting, mostly just brown discharge... then my actual period comes for 5 days, then usually around day 13 or 15, I get another couple of days of really light bleeding again (maybe ovulation?🤷), and then after a few more days, around day 21 or 22, it starts up again—pre-menstrual style...
And I know I need to see a specialist, but my doctor is currently on maternity leave, and I simply couldn't make it in three months ago because it's so hard to find a window during those few days when I'm not bleeding...🙄...
About 10 months ago, everything was fine (Pap smear and ultrasound)... so I don't know... maybe it's hormones? 🤷 Right now I'm taking PMS free (from Encian), which I started exactly a month ago, so I'm waiting to see if it works... maybe next month... though I'm losing hope...😁... I have an appointment scheduled for late August, so I'll find out then...

Spotting: What's your experience? in Women's Health · Jul 20, 2009

Ashley Cooper52 said:one simple question, yet somehow everyone has a thousand different answers 😢

I’ve dealt with plenty of that irregular bleeding myself. Honestly, I don't know if they all stem from the same thing, but ever since I finally ditched diet pills :holy crap: they've completely vanished—and that was six months ago.

Did you have any other symptoms besides the bleeding? I'm starting to suspect some kind of infection myself...🤷

Brittle, peeling nails: any tips? in Health · Jul 4, 2009

Steven Rivera7 said:I’ve been, how do you say, "at war" with my own nails. Seriously, I’ve tried everything under the sun. I even spent three whole months popping those "miracle" Merz vitamins, but it was a total bust—my nails were still peeling like cheap paper tissues.
Then it hit me: I haven't used Trent nail protector in ages. You can grab it at any local drugstore; they have the clear shiny version and a milky matte one. I used it daily for two weeks—just stripping off the old layer and applying a fresh one every single day. Total game changer! Now, I just dab some on once a week just to stay safe. My nails look absolutely stunning now. They can be short, long, polished with color, or totally bare—they just look great.
And here’s a little pro tip. Now that my nails have fully recovered and look flawless, I apply a topcoat strengthener over my colored polish. I picked it up at Walmart, right by the manicure station near the entrance. It cost about $18. It’s basically a clear coat you layer over your color to keep it from chipping for up to two weeks. For real. I even tested it out while on vacation, with my hands and feet constantly in the water. Trust me, ladies, it's a lifesaver. We all feel so much more confident when our hands look manicured, and you can't pull that off without healthy, perfect nails.

Any idea what the damage is on the price?😉
P.s. I am putting my money on this olive oil trick. You just have to be disciplined about it. You really need to massage that oil into your nails for at least 10 days straight... and you can't be doing any manicures during that time if you want it to work.🤣

Period talk: Questions and advice in Women's Health · Apr 29, 2009

I am honestly getting nauseous dealing with this impossible cycle... first, I’m five days late (and the discharge was weird for almost eight days straight😲)... then I get one day of heavy bleeding followed by three days of just barely anything... and now, it’s only day 18 since that light spotting started the day before yesterday, but it looks like my period is coming back early, which means everything is happening on a 21-day loop😲... okay, so on average, we’re hovering somewhere around day 28😁
P.s. I haven't made it to the OBGYN yet because life has been crazy, and now my period has "surprised" me again by showing up way too early...
Like someone once said... I guess this is just perimenopause kicking in🙄😲😠