Posts by Brandon Nelson3

Meditation, mantras, breathwork, some yoga now and then—plus family constellations and hiking.

Back in October, I caught COVID-19—had a fever and a brutal cough for four straight weeks. After that, I spent another two months just feeling completely drained and weak. Even now, I still haven't gotten my sense of smell back, and my sense of taste is still pretty much hit or miss.

Looking for some recommendations—based on actual, real-world experience—for a solid private cardiologist here in Chicago.

Dana Wilson said:Brandon Nelson3, thanks for the heads-up.. I'll definitely get back to you 😉
Those prices sound absolutely killer!

No worries at all—I know firsthand how much of a nightmare it is trying to find a bra in non-standard sizes.😉

Dana Wilson said:I tried checking out C&A too, but honestly, they didn't have anything that actually fit me right...
So, what about those shoulder straps over at Macy's? Are they flimsy or actually sturdy?
I’ve got this feeling I’m gonna be missing at least 5cm of coverage myself. 😁 Right now, the only size that works for me is at Anita. But man, those prices are insane... totally ridiculous! I already paid double for two of them before. $267 🙄

Dana, you should check out Triumph bras on eBay. You can find all sizes there for around $33!
I've been ordering that way for years—I wear a 34G, which you basically can't find around here without paying an insane amount. My last pair was this pale pink Triumph lace one for about $17.

If you need help with links or figuring out how to order, just shoot me a DM and I'll send over my list of trusted sellers I always use.

brighttiger77 said:Where else can I find more formal, larger-sized dresses besides Marina Rinaldi or Marks & Spencer? I need something urgently for a wedding in three weeks. Looking for midi or maxi lengths with a deeper neckline. Thanks 🙂

I saw some evening gowns at Macy's back in the winter—not sure if they still have them in stock, though. They weren't even that pricey.

Angela Martin2 said:Can you give me a concrete example of the size difference?
If you're rocking a Triumph 75E, you'd probably be looking at a 34D in Panache... just a guess—sizing can be such a headache between brands.

I picked up a Panache tankini in a 30G (65G)—normally I’m a solid 32F (70F) in Triumph bras—and while the band fits like a glove, the cups are just a hair too small. Honestly, fingers crossed they stretch out a bit from actual wear, because right now it's a tight squeeze.

I haven't actually tried Panache underwear yet—only Badiće.

Yeah, seriously—their underwear is way too big. You absolutely have to grab a size or even two smaller than what you usually wear.

Forgot to mention—if you're picking up one of those Pour Moi underwire bras, just go for a larger cup size. Trust me on this one.

Here’s the seller I used to grab a few of those thinner ones:
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Pour-Moi-Clearance

mellowseal20 said:I see you guys are struggling with bra sizing, so I just wanted to mention that Triumph actually has a minimizer line with about 3 or 4 different styles, going all the way up to a 110 F. I’m not sure if anyone else even carries that size, besides them. Mind you, the price tag definitely reflects that, sitting around $100.

If you're in the city, there's a shop called Anita over on Gundulic Street that has a massive selection of lingerie and bralettes—tons of variety and plenty of stock in the bins.

I think I read somewhere that Amadeus Jeans released a spring collection specifically for plus sizes. Though, honestly, if the fabric quality is as flimsy as their standard line, I probably wouldn't bother.

Wait, you mentioned finding B&B stuff at H&M? Which location was that? Was it down in Florida? Apparently, the stores in New York don't carry that section... and which C&A were you talking about?
By the way, Marks & Spencer is supposed to have a good amount of larger sizes available, maybe 16-20... especially their jackets. Peek & Cloppenburg is similar.

As for boots, if you're looking in the metro area, there are ARA stores—one is downtown and another is in the Westside Mall. Their footwear is top-tier quality, too; they offer several widths, including some cute patterned bootie styles. They aren't cheap, though—those ballet flats with a little extra sole and heel go for about $167—but they're worth every penny...

You can find Triumph$60 bras starting from size 70 on eBay UK. Obviously, we're talking brand new with tags here—they've got everything from tiny to huge. I managed to snag a Triumph Amourette for about 8 bucks, while back home they were going for 300 or $133, I can't remember the exact number. 😲 Since then, that's my go-to spot! 😍

Anita's bodysuits are way overpriced. If you want quality without the markup, check out Pour Moi on eBay—they're fantastic, and you won't pay more than $60 for a full set. 👍 Also, Panache is great, though their panty sizing runs pretty large, so I'd suggest sizing down. For the bras, though—especially the underwire ones—definitely grab a larger size.

Whenever I miss my period, my doctor just puts me on Blackstone 🤷

For the last couple of years, I’ve been getting my thyroid hormone levels checked over at Breyer—they always send the results over via email or fax the very same day. 👍

bluedriver2 said:It’s not too much if they actually needed them.

The real danger here is that they can lead to antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Usually, for kids with an ear infection, amoxicillin does the trick just fine. If that doesn't clear things up, you might move on to Augmentin—though you have to deal with the side effect of diarrhea. Azithromycin is really more of a fallback for pneumonia or patients with penicillin allergies.

Nikki, thanks! 😘

My daughter was throwing up so much this morning that there was just no way I could get her to take the antibiotic. I gave her some chamomile tea instead, and she’s finally sleeping now.

How should I handle the rest of the doses? She was supposed to take them at 9:00 AM and then again at 9:00 PM. Should I just stick to the regular schedule and give it to her at 21:00, or would it be better to give it to her earlier? 😕

Benjamin Murphy2 said:Look, prescribing any antibiotic—even Zithromax—for a cough that’s been hanging around for two weeks is just plain nonsense. On the flip side, you definitely have to treat an ear infection, and while Zithromax is usually the go-to, Kevin works most of the time too. But fourteen days? That's way too long!

The bottom line is that pediatricians overprescribe antibiotics far too often. Only about 10% of upper respiratory infections are actually bacterial, yet it feels like at least half of them end up with a prescription. A red throat isn't an automatic ticket to antibiotics! And you shouldn't be diagnosing pneumonia without an X-ray. But honestly, it's just easier for pediatricians—and even general practitioners—to scribble a script than to deal with the hassle of sending a patient for lab work or an X-ray and then having to follow up later.

Sorry for the ranting, I didn't mean to blow off steam, but I've seen it happen way too many times.

Parents need to stop demanding "something" for their kids, too. It would be much better if they insisted on getting a CBC and CRP test instead. That’s how you actually cut down on unnecessary antibiotic use.

What should we get tested for? I'd have to take her to a private clinic for blood work.
She had blood drawn at the ER last Thursday, November 1st. Her white blood cell count was elevated at 12.4 (the normal range is 3.80–12.00). The pediatrician at the ER said it’s the start of an infection and that the numbers will likely climb.

Should I give her Kevin for 10 days?

As for the coughing, she’s been coughing for over a month. She hasn't taken any syrup because she vomits whenever she tries (she can't stand the stuff), which led to her coughing for an hour straight every night. After seeing those blood results, the doctor prescribed Zithromax following that nighttime coughing spell.

coppergardener said:I honestly can't remember if you take it before meals or what—the instructions say one thing, but it's in capsule form...

Thanks a ton! 😘

coppergardener said:I’m not an expert here, but honestly, I think that's overkill. Kevin is powerful—like, seriously strong—and it really wipes you out. A few years back, I couldn't even finish my own course because the side effects were just too much. I didn't stop because of the infection; I stopped because the antibiotic was wrecking me. If they handed out Kevin at the ER (not sure how their protocol works there...), then you definitely need to get that kid back to her regular pediatrician.

And make sure you grab a probiotic from the pharmacy, and have her eat something solid before the pill. It's probably best to stick to probiotics or yogurt with added cultures for a while after the treatment ends, since this stuff can really irritate the lining and mess with the gut—especially since she's just a little thing.

Where am I supposed to buy a probiotic? And how do you even give it to them? My little one won't touch syrup, juice, or tea—she'll throw up anything I try to force down her throat! Should I just give her those yogurts with LGG?

The pediatrician said everything looked fine 🙄, but still suggested we head over to the Omaha ENT in the Vineyard area, and they ended up giving her an antibiotic after diagnosing a severe ear infection.

Ever since my 3-year-old started preschool this fall, she’s already been slapped with antibiotics twice.
First off, she was on Zithromax—just one spoonful a day for three days—to deal with this cough that dragged on for a month. I can't even give her syrups because she just vomits them right back up.
Then, fast forward two weeks, she gets an ear infection, we end up in the ER, and she’s prescribed Kevin for 14 days, twice a day.

Is this getting out of hand? Are these things actually doing permanent damage? 😕

They’ve got plenty of basic tees in larger sizes too—you can find their shop right on Main Street, tucked into that little walkway on the left side if you're heading toward the British Consulate. They also have a spot in the mall.
The shirts are decent—they aren't pure cotton, though; they’ve got some viscose or lycra mixed in. They go for about fifteen or twenty bucks.

steelpanther9 said:Was it some kind of unnecessary medical fee they charged?
Because that’s the only way this actually makes sense to me.

I don't remember her exact words—memory is fuzzy—but I'm pretty sure the woman was being incredibly stubborn about wanting a C-section, even though a natural birth was totally doable.

Five hundred bucks? That sounds like a total scam. A friend of mine heard the same thing over at the Mayo Clinic.
I didn't pay a dime for mine—at the local cathedral—and honestly, my family ended up just taking the picture home afterward.