Posts by Kenneth Hernandez67

Thalassemia Major, much like sickle cell anemia, follows Mendel's laws of inheritance.

To break it down: if both parents are healthy carriers, there is a 25% chance the child will be born with the disease, a 50% chance they will be a healthy carrier, and a 25% chance they will be completely unaffected.

If one parent is a healthy carrier and the other is completely unaffected, there is a 50% chance the child will be fully healthy and a 50% chance they will be a carrier.

When an individual with Thalassemia Major and a person with no genetic trace have a child, that child will be a healthy carrier 100% of the time.

In a pairing between someone with Thalassemia Major and a healthy carrier, there is a 50% chance the child will be born sick and a 50% chance they will be a healthy carrier.

Finally, if two individuals with Thalassemia Major have a child, that child will inevitably be born with the disease.

Hannah Price3 said:I read that this disease is pretty common here, but I’ve never actually heard of anyone getting tested. That surprises me because if a child inherits both mutated genes, they end up with the most severe form of the disease, which usually leads to death in the first few months of life (I’m not entirely sure I'm explaining the genetic part correctly, so consider this a disclaimer 😉).

I haven't heard anything about this being common in America, frankly.

There is Alpha thalassemia, where symptoms range from very mild to extremely severe.

Then there is Beta thalassemia minor and major.

Beta thalassemia major is that worst-case scenario mentioned above.

Beta thalassemia minor rarely causes significant symptoms, so it often goes completely undetected.

If one of those "healthy" carriers happens to have children with another carrier, they will almost certainly have a sick child... most likely.

And only then does someone finally perform a serious medical evaluation.

Susan Booth42 said:My wife won't let me shave it... 😢 told me I'll just end up growing a full beard if I don't get my way.. 😠

Who? Your belly button? 😕 😁

Can I have a beer 😬

I remember back when Tiana was writing columns about fifteen years ago, mentioning how her weekly routine included a twenty-minute session at the tanning salon.

If you ask me, she still looks absolutely stunning today.🙂

placidjackal97 said:Thanks. My mom dealt with the exact same thing—hallux valgus caused by constant pressure from tight shoes. She was on her feet all day, her legs would swell up, and it eventually turned into full-blown inflammation.

It’s highly likely the swelling and pressure triggered some bursitis, but the hallux valgus itself was probably pre-existing. That isn't something you develop overnight; it's a structural foot deformity.

The pressure has permanently altered the tissue structure.

She mentioned she just had surgery on her breast.

Unfortunately, most of these medications take a massive toll on your libido.

brisknomad6 said:Kenneth Hernandez67 makes a valid point...

I really need 😢

but I honestly can't stomach trekking through more hospital corridors again. 😢

I already pointed out that this is an issue we can actually resolve... why bother relying on connections? 😉

I get where you're coming from... nobody wants them digging into anything specific. I wouldn't want that either. But you have to realize that insomnia is just one symptom that could lead to serious damage to your vital organs.

beowulf said:Psychiatrists certainly know how to bill for their time...$67 per hour, which adds up to a monthly total that'll make your head spin.
Don't they eventually just harden themselves against these "crazy people" walking through the door, becoming callous and looking at them with nothing but smirks and contempt?

If your location is accurate, you're lucky that even here in the States, there are still services covered by standard health insurance with minimal out-of-pocket costs.

If you need help—for yourself or someone you care about—go talk to a Community Health Center or the Department of Social Services to get the actual facts.

It’s easy to type this out behind a screen... but try waiting in line at the Veterans Affairs Mental Health Clinic. A genuine desire to help someone can actually push past our own prejudices and discomfort... you want me to describe what it was like? The board already has my next appointment ready, the third time they handed me love poems...

And I didn't even go there for myself...

Those of you who haven't read that linked thread, do so now.

First, let’s rule out the obvious culprits, then we can move on to spring, alright?

Did you check the shield strength?

Hey swiftscout8 — and everyone else here.

Look, I’m no psychiatrist or psychologist, but I am a man who isn't ashamed of an illness, because nobody chooses to get sick.

Take a moment and read through this topic. 🙂

...I suppose it’s high time I gave my 'please' thread a sequel...🙄

Norris said:Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of LOVING YOURSELF.
It’s not even about egoism or being self-important, for that matter.

Much appreciated. 👍

Look, there’s a massive difference here... and the line between them is razor-thin.

Maria Kelly6 said:Hey, Kenneth Hernandez67, thanks for the advice on veggies. To be honest, I can't even stand salad dressings, let alone tomatoes or peppers. Anything sour is a dealbreaker, so a raw veggie meal (if that's what you meant) is basically impossible for me. Any suggestions? Should I just stick to slicing up raw cabbage or carrots? What else?
Also, I don't have issues with hunger in the morning or during the day; I can actually be pretty disciplined about skipping things. But at night? It's brutal, especially if I'm just hanging out at home, and there’s always something sweet in the pantry. I feel like I’d have to walk through the city every single night just to avoid snacking on a massive dessert. My appetite peaks right after 10 PM...
Anyway, I agree with your point about wanting to shape my

You can swap out a raw veggie meal for steamed vegetables instead.

I'm not sure what else to tell you if you aren't into eating 😕

Anything that can be eaten raw, I eat raw—I usually just cut them into sticks so they're easy to munch on.

Sometimes I'll grate some stuff together—like celery and carrots; it's a decent flavor profile.

Other times I'll just steam certain veggies (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, etc.) and eat them that way.

And honestly, that's usually how I fuel up late at night.

Because if my stomach isn't completely full, I can't get to sleep.

Norris said:Back when I was 115 lbs at 5'6", they were practically invisible. Now that I've hit about 123-125 lbs, they finally look normal.

The truth. 👍

Chuck's performance won't have any impact on this appearance.

My apologies for not reading closely enough and missing your height.

I know everyone is going to tell you that you're crazy for wanting to lose weight. But let's be real: you don't actually want to "lose weight," you want to reshape your physique. You can't achieve that if you're still dealing with poorly distributed body fat.

Brian Hayes26 and the rest of those lovely people have already shared their thoughts, and I’m enjoying reading through their posts.👍

Let me redirect your attention back to body composition and give you a little advice regarding dinner and breaking that sugar addiction—focus on vegetables. And I mean vegetables, not fruit, since fruit is essentially just carbohydrates.

Make some time to grab some fresh veggies, chop them up into bite-sized, snackable pieces, and keep them in the fridge. That way, when that nasty hunger pang hits, they're ready to go.

You can season them a bit, but keep it light. No heavy, drowning dressings.

Maria Kelly6 said:...and I thought women couldn't have a completely flat stomach unless they were anorexic...

That is absolutely incorrect.🙂

I've had a flat, toned stomach my entire life, and lately, I haven't even been in a calorie deficit.

Aside from all the helpful advice others have given you, I want to point out the biggest enemy of a flat female stomach: POOR POSTURE.

Try it yourself in front of a mirror—straighten your back, pull your stomach in, roll your shoulders back, stick your glutes out, and flex your muscles. Your body will look completely different.

So many women look like they have a belly simply because of how they carry themselves.

P.S. You mentioned you weigh 119 pounds, but you forgot to mention your height.