Posts by dustytinker91

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how fragile a reputation is in the age of social media. It’s one thing to have a bad day or a personal disagreement, but it’s another thing entirely when that private moment gets sucked into the digital vacuum and turned into a public spectacle. Once that footage or those screenshots hit the internet, there's no hitting "undo."

It seems like more and more public figures are being blindsided by how quickly a private dispute can derail an entire organization or a career. You see these people working so hard to build something great, only to have their entire focus pulled away by a single, messy moment that everyone is suddenly dissecting. It’s a heavy burden to carry, feeling like you have to apologize for being human when the world is watching through a magnifying glass.

Do you think there's a way to actually recover your standing once the internet decides you're the villain, or is the damage usually permanent?

I’ve been scouring the web, but honestly, I haven't found anything helpful. My mom just hit 54. She’s been going through menopause since last year and dealt with a brutal loss—she lost her own mother. Over this past year, the changes in her have been so extreme I sometimes don't even recognize her. She’s completely checked out. No interest in anything, no opinions on anything, and her self-esteem has absolutely tanked. She isn't working, she just sits at home all day staring at the TV. She used to love gardening and cooking, but now? Nothing brings her joy. She’s just constantly negative. I desperately want to help her snap out of it, but I’m clueless. How am I supposed to help??? 😢 I try calling her all the time to get her out for a walk or to head into downtown, and she’ll agree to go, but then she won't even bother getting ready. She shows up in these faded, old clothes with greasy hair... I don't know what else to do. My patience is wearing thin. 😢 Is this just what middle age looks like, or is it something more? I need your take.

Went in for my second iron infusion today. No luck. Levels didn't even budge—actually went up from 41 to 43, unfortunately. 😢

Rachel James, thanks a ton for stepping up and sharing what you went through. You can find endless info online, but it hits different when you're actually hearing it from someone who’s been in the same boat. Honestly, you guys gave me some much-needed peace of mind. I was fully convinced I was doomed to a lifetime of blood draws every few months. Got my next one scheduled in ten days, so I'll check back in once I see where my iron levels are at. 🙂

Abdominal ultrasound came back clear, blood sugar is totally fine too. >, how long have you been dealing with hemochromatosis? I read somewhere that you shouldn't take Vitamin C—like having orange juice right after a meal—because it boosts iron absorption. Better to wait a few hours after eating. They say stress is the biggest trigger, and honestly, I'm constantly stressed out. 😢

My last ferritin reading before the blood draw was 492. Upper limit is supposedly 150. They told me not to sweat it too much since it can hit over 3000. >, what was your ferritin looking like? And how often are you hitting the clinic for draws once they actually get your iron levels back down to range? Also, curious if you’ve tried tweaking your diet at all to manage the iron levels.

Might as well jump in here. Just got my results back from a DNA test—turns out I’ve got hemochromatosis. Had my first blood draw today. Honestly? It sucked. Total nightmare. Now I’m looking at getting 300 ml drained every two weeks. I want to hear from anyone who’s actually been dealing with this for a while. It’s hard to wrap my head around the idea of being stuck in a clinic every couple of weeks just to deal with this.

Anyone know an orthodontist in Indianapolis or the surrounding area who uses the Damon system?