Posts by Jamie Johnson6

Every single time I’m on public transit—and quite often with my little one in tow—I don't hesitate for a second to politely address the high schoolers nearby:
"Hey guys, would you mind giving up your seat so this child can sit down?"🤣 Since I work in education, I suppose I've just become conditioned to it. I’ve honestly never faced any backlash; it’s more that they simply don't think to offer it themselves, though I certainly don't expect much from today's youth. They are sweet kids at heart, just a bit lost, as if manners and traditional etiquette have become relics of a bygone era. They don't truly grasp what it feels like to be pregnant and why I'm asking, much like how we can't fully empathize with why the elderly might get under our skin.
I am currently seven months along, and truthfully, those first three months were the most taxing because my bump wasn't even visible yet, leading several busybodies to expect me to stand. I haven't dealt with much swelling or significant weight gain, but objectively speaking, any pregnant woman struggles with her center of gravity; it is incredibly easy to lose your balance and take a hard fall, and the last thing I want to think about is doing that while managing a three-year-old.
I remember once at a local clinic, an older gentleman nearly had me for dead. It was during the height of the swine flu outbreak, and since I'm pregnant and manage a chronic condition, I wasn't trying to cut the line; I just didn't want to sit in a windowless waiting room, so I asked if someone could just call my number when it was ready. This grumpy old man actually snapped at me, questioning why he should do me any favors instead of just coming inside like everyone else. I calmly explained that I was staying by the door because I was terrified of catching whatever he was coughing up, and I didn't want to risk passing anything on to him either. Ultimately, he could just take his antibiotics and be done with it, unlike me and my mother, who was also there waiting with a small baby. He finally shut his mouth.

granitefalcon26 said:I'd much rather spend my day scuba diving with dolphins or sharks than wasting time on family stuff.☕

Well, since you've already shared your thoughts on that, I suppose my response is simply a direct reaction to what you just said. 😕
You tend to repeat yourself because you truly believe that is the case. This one's for you. Is this simply a waste of time, or are you emphasizing that it’s a complete waste of time? I truly hope people like that never have families of their own—though, of course, I mean those who don't actually want them, because I personally know quite a few individuals who refuse to admit they don't want children and end up causing so much heartache for the women and kids in their lives.
I honestly don't see the issue when it comes to people who choose not to pursue romantic partnerships—and I’m specifically talking about life partners here, not just friends or siblings—or those who decide that having children isn't for them. It feels like a genuine victory that American society is finally maturing enough to embrace this kind of diversity, recognizing that marriage and parenthood simply aren't universal requirements for a fulfilling life. Not everyone is built for that path, and frankly, considering how crowded the world has become, perhaps it's for the best.🤷 I honestly don't see what the big deal is. If someone genuinely finds joy in raising children, then they should just go for it and be happy about it.

When it comes to dolphins and sharks, we have to be honest—it really all boils down to the bottom line. Of course, kids tend to blow through their allowances pretty quickly, so if you're working with a tight budget, choosing those types of experiences often feels out of reach for families. It’s just one of those things where, if you had someone like Brad Pitt looking after them, he could easily adopt a few more and still have far more disposable income than the rest of us to fund his hobbies and enjoy his free time. 🤷
On another note, unless your hobby involves daily sessions diving with sharks—which, by the way, I’m genuinely curious about, how many times have you actually been out there?—those few hours of diving you mentioned aren't really a conflict with having kids. It’s more about managing a lack of free time. Kids won't stand in the way of your passions, believe me; if anything, they tend to fuel that drive to make every moment count.😁 To be perfectly honest, even if I didn't have a child to provide for, my current salary wouldn't get me much further than Denver.
Once again, I find myself thinking about how having children—for those of us who truly desire them—is an adventure that far outweighs any thrill-seeking vacation, whether you’re scuba diving in Maui or trekking through the Rockies. It’s something much more intense, unpredictable, and honestly, a bit more stressful than any tourist activity could ever be. Perhaps you have a point; we end up burning through all our adrenaline on things like toddler tantrums, late-night ER runs, those first precious words, and the general chaos of parenting. It’s exhausting, really, and it always leaves me wondering if everyone is actually built for this lifestyle. Personally, I don't believe they are. It’s incredibly complex, and if you don't inherently possess that specific spark to find joy in the madness, then the whole experience can easily turn into a struggle.

redcanyon93 said:@Jamie Johnson6 — you’ve actually provided a rather poignant example here, and frankly, I suspect that man is perfectly content with the life he’s carved out for himself. In fact, I’d argue there is a certain merit to the fact that others have decided to stop "trying to help" him... because if he truly found himself in need of assistance, I am certain he would be the first to ask for it.
The only point where I find myself unable to concur is your suggestion that he is mentally ill; though, I assume you were merely using that as a figure of speech rather than implying a clinical diagnosis.
I personally know quite a few people who are married and are, in fact, profoundly mentally ill. It stands to reason that marriage and one's mental state are not inherently correlated at all...

I think you might have misread me a bit; this friend of mine is actually in excellent mental standing, believe me. 😁
While marriage and mental health challenges certainly can be linked, that is a much deeper conversation for another time.

granitefalcon26 said:In other words, why should she be the only one having a good time? There’s really no reason to be jealous.🙂
Back when I was married, I felt like I couldn't do anything that actually made me happy. Now that I'm divorced, I feel like a whole new person. I finally have plenty of time to focus on myself, which means I can dive headfirst into all the adrenaline sports I love. I even spent New Year's diving with sharks over on Coconut Island!373 miles I'm planning a trip to the coasts of Costa Rica soon, and then in just a month, I'm heading off to Tanzania for a mix of safaris and diving.
I'm loving life right now. 👍

Well, looking at it this way, a man like that isn't really built for long-term love or marriage... it’s such a shame you went through that marriage (I imagine it left you with a bit of a broken heart). Personally, your recent adventures don't sound unappealing to me at all—in fact, I’d love to experience them myself, though I can't quite fathom how one would manage all that while balancing kids and a marriage. But my main point is that, for me, a simple yesterday spent with my kid and my husband was much more beautiful than any of those activities (unless they were sharing those experiences with me... but that's a different story entirely).
It makes me think there are certain people who simply shouldn't get married or have children, because you can't raise kids just by showing them postcards from your travels; it's just a reality of life, and I don't see why it's so difficult for people to accept.
I have a friend who is honestly the ideal partner, with one major exception: he isn't cut out for the long haul. He's wonderful for a friendship—loyal, incredibly responsible, and reliable—but he finds so much fulfillment in a life without a family that he openly admits it, so everyone eventually gave up on trying to "fix" his situation. A large portion of people who aren't suited for marriage are individuals whose mental health is somewhat questionable; it's easy to maintain a hundred superficial friendships, look great, and even make good money, but marriage tends to reveal much more about a person than we might care to know—though I won't dwell on them, as that's a whole separate conversation.

I’m currently on the hunt for a good general practitioner in ST (and potentially a gynecologist as well), ideally somewhere on the east side of town. Does anyone have any solid recommendations they could share?

It seems no one has mentioned the protocol for when someone accidentally overhydrates! Should we be looking into electrolyte supplements or something similar to balance things out?

Thomas Collins60 said:Alright, if you don't mind me expanding the topic a little—can I touch on war? I was thinking about this while reading all those news reports about wartime conflicts and various criminal prosecutions. My takeaway was that while someone might be forced into killing because of their circumstances (like, say, a war), you can never really be "forced" into rape. To me, it feels like a predator who commits sexual assault during wartime would just do it anytime if there wasn't something stopping them. On the flip side, someone who wouldn't commit such an act would never resort to it, even in the middle of a war zone. It’s almost as if rape isn't a necessity for survival or self-defense—whereas people argue that killing sometimes is—so it suggests that some people just have that specific "glitch" or impulse inside them, and they just needed the chaos of war as an excuse to let it out...

I find myself agreeing regarding those rapists; there was certainly a massive wave of such violence during the war, but honestly, if a commander orders you to fire, and you shoot out of pure survival instinct, it is a world away from seeking out sexual violence or the depravity seen in concentration camps. I understand how propaganda works, but there are certain lines that simply shouldn't be crossed. For predators like this one and Bull, the war felt less like a tragedy and more like a holiday tailored specifically to their dark impulses.
It might be that they aren't inherently encouraged by their actions, even if they harbor those desires—there are many people who dream of such things but lack the courage to act due to selfish reasons or a total lack of empathy—but the war essentially gave them a green light. Consequently, I fear this entire region will remain haunted by this shadow for at least fifty years. 😢 These individuals weren't punished; instead, they were actually rewarded for their crimes during the war, and we are all fools for not standing up and acknowledging that all three sides were harboring maniacs. War is a filthy, messy business, and while I won't play the blame game, once the chaos starts, moral boundaries tend to evaporate. Because of this, families like the Beslics and the Billings have lost their entire future—parents, sisters, the whole lineage has been frozen in time, and things will never return to how they were... largely because of extradition laws and similar legal hurdles. It is profoundly tragic. 😢 The individual responsible for killing little Shushnar clearly harbored a hatred for women, much like all rapists, yet his own mother tried to shield him... it's such a textbook pattern that it almost feels cliché. I recall similar instances occurring back in Central California as well. These are often seemingly respectable people, some even active in local politics; they aren't some isolated oddballs living on the fringes, but rather productive citizens with families. I can only imagine the hidden dynamics within those households; it takes a significant amount of effort to cultivate a true psychopath or a maniac. 👎

mistyhound said:Look, here's how I see it: if a healthy person wouldn't kill anyone regardless of how selfish they were, then why would someone like Paramount do what they did? It’s because they're sick. Honestly, the only thing that bugs me is all the name-calling—why not just lock them up and be done with it?

If we actually followed that logic, we would probably have to provide disability pensions to every single person who has ever stepped foot on a battlefield, so let's be careful about how we frame these arguments.😛

Tyler Miller52 said:But do they actually *want* to change? That isn't something anyone can control... What you mentioned applies to the most extreme cases. Our prisons are overflowing with criminals who could theoretically be helped, but they won't be because our system isn't built that way—it’s simply cheaper to throw someone behind bars than to invest in rehabilitating them. That’s really all I was getting at.

Society is what creates these kinds of thieves; figures like George W. Bush and his ilk are really just pawns playing by the rules that society established—more money, more influence, more control. Isn't that exactly why we still need to strive to fix what is broken and root out those primal urges for dominance that people seem to cherish so much? ☕

Where on earth are you getting the idea that they lack control?
Do you really think this is just some psychological impulse? People who truly can't control their urges—like kleptomaniacs—are a specific group, but everyone else has self-restraint.
Look at violent offenders—I know people who have absolutely no restraint, people who commit horrific acts against anyone in their path; let's just say they're beyond control.
But, imagine if they actually lacked control. Take someone like Paramount or Bullock—they aren't out there committing crimes in broad daylight in a public square or in front of an audience... they see young women on a beach, or perhaps they see their boss's wife, their doctor, or a police officer—do you honestly believe they don't exercise self-control?
From what I've read in certain testimonies, it seems like it doesn't even matter what kind of woman it is; it's logical because it isn't about sex, it's about hatred, sadism, and a desire to humiliate.

It is dangerous to absolve criminals of responsibility by labeling it a disease. Personally, I struggle with my weight because I have a weakness for chocolate, but I would never claim I lack control; I have it, I just choose temporary satisfaction over long-term health. As long as our brains are functioning, there are no excuses—it's not the chocolate's fault, nor is it biology; it's me. I have a friend who has ten thousand different theories about her weight because she refuses to admit she overindulges. She blames everything—hormones, pesticides, the water, the air, radiation, allergies—but she's the one choosing soda over water. She claims her body is "craving" it. Would I say she lacks control? Not at all. I'd say she's making excuses and refusing to face reality, and even if others don't agree, that shouldn't exempt her from the consequences.
In practice, inmates have access to medical care—but who asks how the victims are coping? If they aren't covered by insurance, they're basically on their own. Even if they are, they might not get full treatment because, for instance, there wasn't a specialized pediatric psychiatric ward in the greater Miami area (if there even is one now). So, Mr. Predator gets access to a chaplain and a psychiatrist in prison... while the child gets nothing.
If it were up to me, I would direct all resources toward helping the victims, while helping the criminals by toughening their sentences. Since we have to pay for it anyway. Who is going to foot the bill for their treatments? It's incredibly expensive, and many people simply cannot afford it. Most importantly, it doesn't seem to yield results. In legal proceedings, the experts should have the final word—they should be the ones determining if the perpetrator actually lost control. Unfortunately, I know of several cases where a judge concluded, based on certain statutes, that the offender couldn't control their impulses and offered an apology to the victims, resulting in a reduced sentence—even when the expert testimony pointed to a total lack of empathy.

mistyhound said:Hey everyone! I wanted to drop my take on criminals, killers, robbers, and all that, and I’d love to hear what you guys think too!

I'm sure everyone's heard about Paravinja. People call him 'Satan,' the face of evil, an executioner—you name it.

Personally, I feel like murderers, thieves, rapists, and anyone committing those heavy crimes are just born that way. It's not their fault they were born like that! I mean, if someone offered me all the cash in the world, I could never hurt even my worst enemy, let alone kill them. I'd honestly rather die than take a life. Don't get me wrong, they definitely belong behind bars, but maybe we shouldn't bash and insult them so much? I mean, who in their right mind actually *wants* to cause harm to another person?

Maybe you'll think I'm just trolling, but seriously, think about it—these are sick people. Or hey, feel free to prove me wrong if my perspective is totally off!!

*Sorry in advance for any typos!

That is such an interesting question to ponder. On a personal note, I can say with certainty that I would never dream of taking credit for a colleague's hard work, though I see people doing exactly that at my office all the time. Do they need help? Not really, because they aren't looking for the kind of assistance we try to offer... they are perfectly content with their ways... right up until they get caught. Because of that, I believe society needs to become much more efficient at identifying these crimes and enforcing much harsher penalties; providing that deterrent is actually the greatest help we can give, ensuring the risk simply isn't worth the reward.

I haven't always held this perspective, as I used to believe that we could somehow enlighten people or reform bad behavior, but over the years, I seem to encounter far too many examples that prove otherwise. For instance, would people have stepped up to help Sanders? Or would they have insisted he face justice? Personally, I wouldn't be able to stomach that much money...🤷

Tyler Miller52 said:I really find myself agreeing with you on this one. People like that actually need support and guidance rather than just being condemned by society. There is a massive difference between committing a crime out of pure greed and doing so because of a mental health struggle, even if modern society still tends to toss them both into the exact same bucket... And honestly, it’s just like you said—you wouldn't dream of crossing those lines even if you were offered all the money in the world, yet for someone else, they just see an "opportunity" and their impulses simply take over.

The most heartbreaking part of the whole situation is that these individuals are rarely given a real chance at recovery, mostly because of how primitively we view them. Isn't it much easier to just lock someone away in a prison cell and isolate them from everyone else instead of actually trying to heal them? It would be so much more productive to understand the root cause of their behavior and help them reintegrate, especially since there are plenty of therapeutic techniques available to do just that. Every time I stop to think about it, I am genuinely stunned that we are living in the 21st century, yet our approach remains just as hollow and ineffective as it was in the early days.

Serial offenders have been the subject of various long-term studies, many conducted at places like the Goethe Institute, used primarily to train specialists and featured in outlets like ESPN, yet despite using supposedly cutting-edge methods, the progress is essentially zero. There hasn't been any real movement. As soon as they are released, the cycle repeats. Any psychiatrist will tell you there is no true "cure," and in my personal opinion, that is because medicine and morality intersect here in a way that involves free will, where you eventually hit a wall. I am not talking about everyone, but regarding those truly predatory types—what used to be called psychopaths, though we have much more sophisticated definitions today—they don't actually want to change; they want to hunt and violate, but they obviously don't want to go to prison, so they simply become better at hiding their tracks. Real healing would mean feeling genuine remorse for the victim and regret for the act itself, rather than just feeling regret because they got caught or because society hates them.
At the end of the day, whether they are technically "guilty" matters less than the outcome; since many of these offenders were once victims themselves, the priority must be removing them from society to break the cycle.
If the experts can prove there is a way to treat this, then by all means, let them work on it—I'd even be willing to foot the bill...

Maria Fisher46 said:Based on what you’ve shared, I can tell you that regarding your white blood cell count, having a lower number of neutrophils paired with an elevated lymphocyte count can be seen in viral infections, among other things, but there are certainly OTHER POSSIBILITIES. However, I can't say specifically what is happening with you because you haven't mentioned what symptoms you're experiencing, nor have you provided the full lab report, so I don't know what your total leukocyte or lymphocyte counts actually are. 🤷

A reduced erythrocyte volume alongside a lower hemoglobin concentration suggests microcytic anemia. This could certainly be caused by the blood loss you mentioned, though you didn't specify the nature of that loss or when it occurred. It is also worth remembering that during breastfeeding—which I assume you are doing—anemia can occur due to the body's increased demand for iron. Anemia needs to be addressed once the underlying cause is identified, which, naturally, isn't something we can determine here on this forum. 😢

As for the platelet volume, you didn't mention how high the value actually is, and without knowing your total platelet count, it is impossible to properly interpret the MPV.

On top of all that, there is the issue of your thyroid running wild, which definitely needs to be brought under control if you haven't managed to do so already.

Please view this response almost like a reading from a crystal ball, as there is simply too little data here to weave together a truly reliable answer.

Because of all this, I kindly ask you: please find some time to consult with your primary care physician! 😉

Thanks! I actually agree with you completely. My TSH is 0.01, and usually, it runs high, so I take Euthyrox. Now I just need to carve out some time to see an endocrinologist... I lost blood during childbirth.

I am certainly not offering medical advice here on this forum, but since I have a two-and-a-half-month-old baby at home, my schedule is absolutely non-existent—which means I haven't been able to make it to see Dr. Miller 🙄 either. I decided to go ahead and get some private blood work done recently, and looking over the results, there are quite a few things that seem to be out of range, and honestly, I am feeling a bit lost regarding what it all means...

My neutrophil granulocytes percentage is low at 33 (normal is 55-75).
My lymphocytes are elevated (both the percentage and the absolute count, whatever that implies).
My MPV is low. My hemoglobin within the erythrocytes is also low (which I suspect might be related to having lost some blood previously).
My MPV is high.

My thyroid has been acting up lately, though I was already well aware of that.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!🙂

Alex Patel96 said:I’m honestly left feeling pretty disappointed today by how much discharge I ended up with.😲
From what I could tell... it was thin, almost transparent, but there was seriously a lot of it.🤷
It's weird. But I'm not going to freak out just yet!🤣

Could it be ovulation?

Thank you all so much!
On a personal note, I’ve been dealing with some nerve inflammation on one side of my face lately. It’s actually starting to turn a corner; for a few days there, I couldn't feel my face at all, which was quite unsettling, but now the main issue is just some pain near my ear and gums whenever I try to chew. I’m really crossing my fingers that this discomfort means things are finally heading in the right direction rather than taking a turn for the worse, because I honestly don't have the patience to wait around for more symptoms to show up.

I noticed there isn't a thread dedicated to the administrative side of things, such as how the logistics actually work, and I think it’s incredibly necessary because every department seems to have its own little set of rules. It often feels like they just assume you already know the drill, which can be a real headache if you end up wasting five hours sitting in a waiting room without realizing why.

I’m looking for some insight regarding the ORL department at Mayo Clinic, as I just received a referral for an exam. Does one need to schedule an appointment in advance, or do you just show up, grab a number, and wait? Or is it a bit of both? I'd love to know how long the wait times have been lately. Also, if a situation is urgent, am I correct in thinking that should be explicitly noted on the referral? Has anyone here dealt with this recently? (I'm not currently in Chicago, and I'd really rather not make the trip just to hunt down this information.)

Chris Lopez59 said:even better if possible 😉

The conception part is tricky; it’s rarely a matter of "easy" versus "hard." It's just whether it happens or doesn't.

Honestly, you can't really apply those kinds of rules at the OBGYN; there isn't a scale for "easier" or "harder." You either conceive or you don't. My doctor once mentioned a patient who only had two periods in her entire life but still managed to get pregnant, which just goes to show how unpredictable things can be—at least as long as you have functioning ovaries. On the flip side, I have a friend who dealt with PCOS and all its usual complications, yet she ended up pregnant quite unexpectedly the very first time she was intimate without protection. When it comes to reproduction, trying to do the math doesn't really work; someone might find it difficult, but for someone else, it could happen on their very first try regardless of the odds.

Chris Lopez59 said:even better if possible 😉

Getting pregnant can be a bit tricky, though it isn't impossible, even when things feel stalled. It’s definitely tough when you're trying to conceive and it just doesn't happen right away.

Actually, I wasn't referring to that part at all; I was talking about those "cysts"—it’s not quite like some physical thing you just remove and have it gone forever, but rather... well, to be perfectly honest...

Chris Lopez59 said:Well, honestly, what would you even gain from doing that? The existing cysts are almost impossible to get rid of on their own.

Chris, please don't spread misinformation😉. Those follicles can actually disappear quite easily... if you happen to be lucky enough😁... In one of my cycles, my ovaries looked just like a string of pearls, but then during the next ultrasound, everything was completely clear with just one dominant follicle ready for ovulation—all without any hormone treatments. After a few more cycles, though, I dealt with that same old frustration, and now I've had to start taking Dabroston and birth control pills just to give my ovaries a much-needed break.

It isn't true that having PCOS makes it impossible to conceive... if that were the case, the world population would likely be significantly smaller by now; it seems to me that every third woman I know deals with PCOS, yet half of them get pregnant without any issues at all. A diagnosis doesn't always equal infertility.

Carol Brooks41 said:I can't speak for everyone else, but I’ve been feeling incredibly anxious lately and just can't seem to focus on anything at all. While I haven't noticed any specific physical symptoms yet, the fact that my period has been missing for two months straight is definitely taking a toll on my mental state.

I completely agree.

It makes total sense that you're feeling this way; honestly, it would be much stranger if you felt perfectly fine while dealing with such hormonal fluctuations. I'm going through the exact same thing myself—it’s all about that delicate feedback loop between the pituitary gland and the ovaries, and once that balance shifts, everything else follows.