Posts by Melissa Sanchez8

There is something uniquely intense about two people who have been competing against each other since they were kids. It’s not just about the win anymore; it feels deeply personal. Does anyone else think that kind of history makes a competition more meaningful, or does it just add unnecessary pressure?

mellowskipper said:And apparently, this is an issue exclusive to parents living in New York City. It's almost as if families in smaller towns like Des Moines don't have high expectations for their kids, which explains why those children breeze right into prep school without any drama.
That’s obviously far from the truth—there are plenty of parents everywhere who push their children toward straight A's, piano lessons, and French classes. Some handle the pressure somehow, while others end up on antidepressants or, worse, engaging in self-harm...
But claiming that a child needs a perfect 4.0 GPA just to be considered "prep school material" is complete nonsense—and it's a notion being actively supported by the faculty. It implies you have to be flawless in everything, that you need a passion for every subject, an affinity for every task...
So, I have to ask you all—when you take something up, does everything always go perfectly, or are you allowed to mess up occasionally without being consumed by guilt?
These kids are starting from such a massive disadvantage just to get enrolled. They study purely for the sake of the grade, rarely for the actual joy of learning. And as for the system itself—it isn't just flawed.
It is so deeply broken that it honestly should have been overhauled yesterday.

And it goes deeper than that. We're basically installing a fake set of values into kids whose personalities are still forming, giving them a totally distorted view of who they are and what they're worth. If that doesn't set off major red flags for everyone, I don't know what will. It's a warped society and a warped system.
Then everyone acts shocked when things go wrong. But we're the ones creating these tragedies by failing to teach these kids anything better.

High school shouldn't be some status symbol, and a perfect GPA doesn't define someone's worth... or even their actual intelligence.

mistydrifter73 said:I really doubt there’ll be much pushback, though. My principal is one of those people loyal to the Republican Party, and she'll probably sign the school up for this pilot program regardless of whether the staff likes it or not. Well, "likes it" is a stretch—most of them were against it at first, but they got swayed pretty fast by the promise of extra funding for their classrooms if the school makes the cut. I bet the exact same thing is happening in faculty lounges all over the country.

How can you buy someone off with classroom supplies when that doesn't even fix the actual problems? It certainly doesn't solve anything.
These people weren't even ready to stand up and fight, and they clearly aren't looking at the big picture...

Jason Morgan said:I can't say for certain right now, though I intend to conduct a more thorough investigation once I have my laptop back in hand.
Frankly, forcing an extra hour of mandatory tutoring after a full seven or eight-hour school day isn't going to help anyone. We’re already stuck doing this currently, and we all know it's a total disaster. These spins from the Department of Education claiming this will somehow magically prevent students from ever needing to study or do homework at home again are nothing short of an insulting lie.

Is federal funding being funneled into this reform?
There has to be some kind of incentive driving them to lie and try to turn schooling into a prison sentence instead of actual learning. No one can stay focused through 8 or 9 hours of instruction, let alone kids. It’s pure torture...

Personally, I’m crossing my fingers that teachers actually stage some kind of revolt against this experimental reform. It’s a total train wreck waiting to happen. Especially in a system where we’re already chronically short-staffed, where teachers are expected to be everything from counselors to social workers, where the laws don't even allow for real consequences for bad behavior, and where kids are just being buried under mountains of busywork...
And how do politicians respond to all those existing issues? They decide to pile on even more classroom hours. Give me a break.
As a parent, there is absolutely no way I want this for my kid.

You could always start by trying Option 3 first.
Option 2 feels a little extreme to me—pulling a wisdom tooth just because... I mean, it’s such a waste to lose a perfectly healthy tooth. I’ve been to a few dentists who really go out of their way to save what they can instead of just drilling away at healthy teeth to fix problems elsewhere.
Is there any way to replace the 6th tooth with an implant while leaving the wisdom tooth alone?
Implants feel pretty invasive, sure, but they get the job done. How much digging have you actually done into this...

So, an implant isn't even on the table for the future?
If I were in your shoes, I’d be way more worried about the bacteria lurking under those six teeth right now. Speaking from experience, leaving teeth in that condition is asking for an abscess or having the infection spread deeper into your jaw... You really ought to get a second opinion and weigh the risks against any potential benefits of keeping that specific tooth.

Kimberly Roberts3 said:I did, and they were a little bit below the line...
maybe that's why I was able to just make up for the selenium and zinc through my diet

then there was the anemia issue too...
the body is such a complicated machine, everything is so interconnected...

That’s exactly why I’m asking. My Vitamin D deficiency actually triggers my symptoms. Honestly, this whole science regarding mineral and vitamin sufficiency—or deficits—plays a much bigger role in how disease symptoms manifest than people realize... or will ever realize.

Kimberly Roberts3, have you actually checked your magnesium, selenium, and zinc levels? You mentioned you started a new regimen based on some reading you did, but did you confirm you were actually deficient in those minerals first?

Has anyone here actually tried taking Tranexamic acid tablets to help manage heavy periods?

Gerald Gomez43 said:Hello, everyone.
I went to start a new thread about interpersonal dynamics—friendships, romance, the whole spectrum—only to realize this one already exists.
I’m really looking for some real-world perspectives from others.
To be blunt, due to a mix of past traumas and my own inherent nature—I’d describe myself as quite guarded and emotionally distant—I have this recurring impulse to dismantle my relationships once they settle in. It’s a tendency toward self-sabotage, likely driven by a repressed fear of being hurt again. I find myself sabotaging both friendships and romantic connections constantly. This isn't the kind of sabotage where I act out to torment someone else or play the victim; rather, I tend to retreat into myself, pull away, and succumb to this nagging feeling that I simply don't deserve the people in my life. Eventually, the connection withers under that distance and just snaps. Naturally, most people don't have the patience for that kind of emotional withdrawal, so my inner circle has become quite small over the years. If anyone here has dealt with this and found a way through it, I’d love to hear your thoughts. And if you're still struggling with it, please feel free to share; I'd just like to know if I'm alone in this. I recognize the root cause, and while I've considered seeking psychotherapy, I wanted to see if there is any specific literature out there or if people can just share their experiences first.
If anyone feels too uncomfortable posting publicly, feel free to send me a private message.

You've got to break those old habits. And change how you see yourself, too. Step out of your routine and get out of your comfort zone. Just... do things differently. Confidence matters, and you build it by facing your fears head-on. Try being more open. Stop putting everyone else on a pedestal above you. We’re all just human, flaws and all. You’ve got your struggles, and they’ve got theirs.
Honestly, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Accept the parts of yourself you can't—or shouldn't—change, and focus on evolving the rest toward the life you actually want to live.
Don't let the bad stuff from your past hold you hostage. Don't let it define who you are.

It's tough at first, and there will be moments where you just want to quit... but stay persistent.

Robin Diaz4 said:With all due respect to the medical professionals, I honestly feel like addiction is the absolute least of anyone's worries when they're facing a terminal illness.

Exactly. Where I'm working right now, we give oncology patients high doses of IV morphine without a second thought. We use heavy doses of both fast-acting and extended-release morphine tablets too. There are zero restrictions. It's all about managing the pain and making it disappear... because at the end of the day, that's the only thing that matters.

Chloe Bennett5 said:For pain, she’s currently on Matrifen 50 tablets, Oxigerolan 20mg, and using Dronabinol oil drops.
I’m going to try to get her to an anesthesiologist through the pain clinic today to sort out her meds... we can't even touch her without it hurting. She says everything hurts.

I really hope they bumped up her prescription. Honestly, speaking from my own experience and my background as a healthcare worker, I think the American healthcare system is just heartless when it comes to oncology patients' pain. What they prescribe is basically nothing. All someone in her position needs is to spend what little time they have left with as much comfort as possible...

Nicholas Mendoza60 said:So things just get worse from November through maybe March?
My blood pressure is always sitting at 90/70...
Once I have my coffee, man...

Low pressure is way better than high.
Just eat a bit more salt, drink plenty of water, and you're good to go.

Nancy Chase3 said:Hey everyone. For almost a year now, my health has been a total wreck. I went to see my primary care doctor, and she basically told me nothing is wrong and that I look fine. Blood work, urine tests, OBGYN visits, thyroid, blood pressure, blood sugar—everything came back perfect. She says there’s no point in doing more serious testing because I’m "healthy."
To make a long story short: I'm 24, work in food service, smoke, and eat pretty normally—neither healthy nor junk. I get some exercise and haven't dealt with major stress.
But over the last nine months, things have gone downhill fast. It's reached a point where I can barely function. My mental health is trashed, and physical stuff is piling up too. First, my hair started falling out like crazy. Then came the constant constipation and bloating. It lasts for days, and even when it settles, the abdominal cramps and pains won't stop. I'm sweating buckets constantly, even when it isn't hot. I get five-day headaches that just cycle on and off. My joints swell up, my spine hurts like hell, and my veins are acting up. My periods are irregular and way lighter than they used to be. The headaches give me nausea, I get dizzy, and I can't focus on anything. I’m starting to forget things, and I can't even laugh at stuff anymore... I've become depressed and emotionally unstable. I'm terrified of everything; I'm scared to even walk to the intersection on the road I've driven for five years. I don't want to talk to anyone or go anywhere besides work. I just sit in my room crying. I have these rage fits almost every day where I lose all control over what I say or do. I'm desperate. I end up smashing things unconsciously, then I break down crying while cleaning up the mess. I only realize what kind of crap I've done after the fact.
Who do I even talk to when I tell them, "Everything hurts—my heart, my soul, my body. Everything is broken."
I know it sounds insane, but I have an issue with absolutely everything.
Every time I Google my symptoms, it tells me I have cancer. I'm not even scared of a diagnosis; I'm scared of this madness caused by the pain. And it's clearly getting worse. The only upside is living alone, but I can't hide how bad this is at work. It feels pathetic to be whining about this much pain at 24.
Who can I turn to?

You need someone who actually takes searching for a cause seriously, unlike your current doctor. Those are the absolute worst—when they just slap a diagnosis on you based on your age, how you look, and a couple of basic blood tests.
It really comes down to how much you're willing to spend, given the situation with your doctor. You’ll probably have to go private, since I doubt you're getting referrals for any deep-dive testing through her.
Reading through your symptoms, my first thought is a hormonal imbalance, especially with the changes in your cycle and the hair loss. Have you done a full hormone panel yet? Like progesterone, estrogen, FSH, LH, estradiol, all that stuff?
And what about your thyroid? Did you check your antibodies? Just looking at T3, T4, and TSH isn't enough...
Those mental health symptoms could definitely be linked to hormonal shifts, along with those hot flashes you mentioned.

Where exactly are you feeling the cramps and abdominal pain? Is there a connection to when you eat? Can you link them to a specific time of day, certain foods, or anything else?

You mentioned working in food service—what does that entail exactly? Are you exposed to anything specific at work?
Also, don't ignore that spinal pain. You really need some imaging or tests to figure out where that's coming from.
You don't sound crazy. You just sound exhausted by everything you're going through, which is totally valid.

If I were you, I'd start with a specialist endocrinologist and simultaneously try to track down the root of the abdominal and back pain.

melloworca6 said:I've seen all sorts of conflicting info out there—some people claim the virus just floats in mid-air for three hours, which makes zero sense to me. If that were actually true, then all this social distancing of six feet or so is basically useless; if someone sneezes in an enclosed space, anyone walking by would get hit based on that logic. Then you hear the opposite: that when you sneeze, it just travels a few feet and drops straight to the floor. I really wish someone could tell me what the deal is, because I’m out there walking my dog three times a day, passing through building stairwells, and honestly? I'm constantly paranoid that someone sneezed ten minutes before I stepped into the lobby.

Three hours.
https://thehill.com/changing-america...-air-for-hours

The biggest danger is definitely enclosed spaces...

analoggull16 said:Is there anyone currently infected who can provide a firsthand account of the symptoms, the progression of the illness, and what the testing process actually looks like?

The nasal swab.

You see everything from people who have zero symptoms at all, or just a mild case with an occasional dry cough, to those who hit a fever, feel completely wiped out, and struggle to breathe.
For anyone already dealing with other health issues, things can turn critical incredibly fast.
I’m avoiding the term "high-risk groups" because honestly, age isn't the only factor—unless you're a little kid, obviously. We've even seen twenty-somethings on ventilators. It really comes down to how resilient your immune system is in general.
Everyone is at risk here, so looking out for yourself and everyone else matters. We need to slow this thing down as much as possible to stop the spread...

Rachel Allen55 said:Check out the contrast between Sweden and Denmark. In Sweden, life is pretty much business as usual—people are heading out, socializing, schools are open, the whole nine yards. But Denmark? It feels like they're under martial law. Everything is shuttered, and now they’re even closing the borders to foreigners at noon. Honestly, panic is a worse pandemic than the actual virus.

You really should aim for five servings of fruits and vegetables every single day.

We have to contain the spread. Personally, I think the approach in countries like Denmark makes more sense. Sweden is just being too laid back. This isn't SARS or Ebola, sure, but it's definitely not just some common cold either.
That "panic" is going to catch up with Sweden eventually, right when their healthcare system is buckling under the weight of too many infections...

There’s a PDF floating around with a whole thread on the coronavirus—over 2,000 posts deep. They’re actually pretty quick about updating info from all over the place and swapping perspectives daily, so you might want to dive in there...

Roger Fowler said:That kind of idealism only works when you have a booming economy and a highly developed nation backing it up. In the developing world, you don't get to chase a passion; you do whatever it takes to put food on the table because the luxury of choice simply doesn't exist. That’s the cold reality of it, whereas everything else is just a fairy tale.

I'm with you on that.
The whole discussion feels pretty pointless since America is nowhere near being able to overhaul its education system...

Imagine an education system that actually pinpoints a kid's strengths and passions, giving them the tools to lean into their talents while smoothing out their rough edges until they're basically functional. A motivated, efficient—and honestly, happy—person is someone working on what they actually care about. That’s how you get peak productivity for the market and for themselves...

The American system, though? It’s just cookie-cutter. There's zero room for individuality, and absolutely no push for creativity. If you’ve got the capacity to just memorize facts, you can breeze through pretty much any school or college in the States.
The only thing it really teaches is how to adapt to chaos, drowning you in a forest of information where you can rarely see the trees for the leaves. We aren't valued globally because of our degrees; we're valued because of this specific mindset we've been fed—learning to just suck it up, put our heads down, and stay quiet when someone from a more advanced country says, "No way, I'm not doing that."