I'm looking for some solid recommendations on a flute for a first grader. I’d really prefer to avoid Yamaha this time around, so we're looking at a budget somewhere under $667.
I mean, yeah, since we aren't allowed to drop the full ticker symbol, I’d much rather have it say something like "my ticker" instead of just listing an address—kind of like how the previous post says "my gadget"
I’ve never dealt with hemorrhoids before, but a few days ago I noticed this little lump right by my anus. I honestly thought it would just disappear on its own, but it’s still hanging out there. It doesn't bleed, it doesn't sting, and it isn't even bothering me—it's just... there. And now I have no clue what to do about it.
Should I be rubbing some cream on it or massaging it or something?! Is it actually possible for this thing to just shrink back down on its own?
I mean, I think a little bit of water might seep in through the edges once you're soaked, but it’s not like you’re actually leaking everywhere when you step out😁
You definitely need to swap out your tampon after getting out, and not just because of the water—it's a hygiene thing. You don't want all those bacteria from the pool hanging arounddiv>
swiftwolf52 said:I'm heading in for surgery with Ostojić in about ten days... aesthetic work under enhanced local anesthesia. It would be super if someone who's actually been through it with him (Susan Scott5, Brit Macke... 🙏 ) could walk me through how they handle the anesthesia process and that semi-conscious state you're in during the procedure. Obviously, this is only if you didn't go under general anesthesia (which is totally off the table for me). I'm really hoping I won't have to listen to any bone cracking or skull grinding sounds or anything equally horrific😁 danke sehr 👍
Well honey,
I don't know if everyone reacts the same way, but personally? I was out cold. First, they give you a sedative shot in the butt, then you just lie on the bed for about half an hour. After that, they ask if you need to use the restroom, and honestly, even just getting up to leave the room, you start feeling a little lightheaded.
Then you lie down on the operating table in the surgical suite. The doctor chats with you while they insert the IV, and they inject one liquid—this painkiller so you don't feel a thing—and then the second liquid, which is the actual sedative. I managed to squeeze out exactly one sentence before I just drifted off 😉, so I didn't feel a single thing. Literally nothing. I don't even know if I woke myself up or how, I just remember the nurse telling me I could move back to my bed in the recovery room. Everything was already done and I was all wrapped up.
So, if you react the way I did, it’s going to be completely painless and you won't feel a thing 😁! Good luck!
Before I even met Smith, I went to see this other doctor for a computer simulation, and honestly? I hated how I looked. I really don't think those digital simulations give you anything close to what the actual result will be.
The bottom line is you have to tell the surgeon exactly what you’re looking for and what kind of vibe you want. An experienced doctor will take your input and tell you straight up what’s actually doable with your nose and what the best move is.
In my case, both doctors told me the exact same thing—they suggested the same correction method. So, I at least had a solid idea of how the end result should look, and then you just hash out the details with them.
I was super firm about one thing: I didn't want it too lifted. I didn't want that "supermodel" look where the nose looks unnaturally perky. He totally respected my wishes.
But let's be real, there’s always a risk. None of us are aesthetic experts who can dictate exactly how a surgery should go; we’re basically putting our lives in the hands of the doctor. That’s why you absolutely need to get a second opinion if you can. You need to compare notes between doctors so you can actually trust the one you pick.
Since I needed a lift anyway, I didn't have nearly as much of a dilemma as you do, but he did warn me that fixing that bump might make my nose look longer visually. If you aren't looking for a massive transformation, you've got to make sure he knows that.
Sadly, until you're staring at the final result in the mirror, you can never know for sure how it's going to turn out!
I am seriously impressed—not a single one of mine has popped out yet 🙂! To be honest, those bits right under my lip have been gone for ages. My muscle still feels a little stiff, though, just like you described, but I barely had anything come out of my nose!
Since I’ve been using Q-tips to clean everything up, I’ve only managed to pick up two tiny little threads. Those big stitches are still hanging on there, too, so now I’m starting to wonder if they just fused shut inside, haha!
A friend of mine told me she was still shedding bits of them three months later, so I’m really hoping this is all totally normal. Plus, the stitch sites still ache whenever I catch them on something, so I don't think everything has fully healed over yet.
There’s still a tiny bit of swelling where that bump used to be, but it’s smoothing out beautifully. I’m honestly so happy with how it looks—you look absolutely gorgeous 😍
I won't be heading back for my follow-up until around the six-month mark, so definitely let me know what the doctor says! Xoxo!
I did the exact same thing—took my shirt off and they immediately started commenting on my tattoo! Honestly, those two are such total weirdos, which is actually why I felt so relaxed; there was zero awkwardness at all.
I went in on Tuesday the 16th. 😉 My muscle under my upper lip is still acting super stiff, so I look ridiculous whenever I laugh—you can totally tell my top lip isn't quite right yet. My nose is pretty swollen in the mornings, though it settles down by the evening. The only annoying part is that the stitches haven't fallen out yet, but I’m too terrified to pull them myself, so I’m just powering through it.
So, tomorrow marks three weeks since the surgery. There's no actual pain, just some occasional stuffiness (probably from the swelling and the sutures) and it's definitely sensitive if I bump it or touch it. They told me things will keep shifting until I hit that two-month mark.
I’ve been using Leader’s underarm cream for years now—literally every single day right after I hop out of the shower. It still works just as well as the first time, and honestly, I haven't dealt with any weird side effects from using it long-term.
If you're worried that Washington’s formula is a bit too aggressive, maybe give this one a shot instead?
Melissa Ramirez53 said:Look, nobody is trying to downplay what you went through, and I don’t think you’re personally exaggerating either—it’s just that because your experience was clearly something out of the ordinary, most people reading this might find it terrifying. Your situation isn't exactly the standard benchmark for everyone else. I wasn't actually aiming at you specifically; I was talking about the people posting about their "normal" experiences—you know, the ones saying pulling out the tampons was the worst part, or complaining about breathing through their mouths for three days straight, or dealing with minor bruising. The pain after surgery isn't actually that big of a deal. I don't know how it went for you, but I really wasn't targeting you when I said some people here are overreacting. A "standard" deviated septum correction or a basic aesthetic rhinoplasty isn't actually scary; within two weeks, you're pretty much back to feeling like nothing even happened. I hope you're already feeling back to normal too and can put all this behind you soon 😉
Well, I actually saw Smith about two weeks ago myself. Honestly? I'm super happy with how it went. I slept right through the whole procedure and didn't feel a thing. We just did the aesthetic work. My bruising was barely noticeable, they pulled my tampons out the very next day, and by two days later, I was already out and about walking and driving (even if I was still wrapped up like a mummy 🙄).
My nose is still a little swollen and tender if I touch it, but other than that, there was zero pain—I didn't even need meds. I'm stoked with the results so far; I'm just waiting for the swelling to go down to see the full picture. They told me it takes about two months to hit its final shape.
Anyway, I had to wear the splint for 7 days, and by day nine, I was already back at work. My face was a tiny bit puffy, but totally fine for being seen in public.
All in all, it's not scary at all. It's more annoying (because of the splint) than it is painful, but I'd definitely recommend it to anyone.
Living here in Santa Barbara, we don't even have a full-scale hospital nearby—just a local community health center. That means every single one of our tests has to be shipped off to labs in San Diego or Seattle. And man, the wait? You’re looking at a month, sometimes even six weeks if you're going through Medicare.
When a private clinic handles it, they cover the costs for the tests themselves, which is why those results come back lightning fast. It’s basically pay-to-play. But when you're using the government system, everything goes through the state. Since it's "free" for us, the government picks up the tab, and because there are millions of us waiting in line, it's just a massive backlog. Basically, it's "whenever they get around to it!" 🙄
A doctor I saw over in Seattle actually told me that some private practices send their samples to boutique private labs, but he thinks it's better to stick with the big hospitals. Apparently, the hospital labs have much more heavy-duty equipment, so you end up getting a way more accurate result. 🤷
About a month back, I was scrolling through The New York Post and stumbled upon this article about a young woman who headed over to China for some medical treatments at the Mount Rushmore wellness retreats. She was dealing with early-stage cervical cancer when she started
"The doctors there utilize reflexology, acupressure, acupuncture, energy meridian work, and various body point therapies, all paired with herbal remedies."
"Instead of just treating symptoms or side effects like they do in our hospitals here, these doctors actually hunt down the root cause of the pain. That way, they aren't just masking the immediate issues, but tackling the source of the problem for the long haul."
"Every patient traveling to China needs to bring their full medical history and all their most recent test results so the doctor can tailor the therapy specifically to them."
"The treatment program organized by the European Central Bank - Modern Institute lasts for 40 days." The ECES has its own website, so I won't bother dropping addresses or phone numbers—we don't do advertisements on this forum anyway. And honestly, there are enough sketchy flyers floating around downtown; my local pharmacy usually serves as a better refuge from the nonsense.
If you're even remotely interested in this stuff, I’m telling you: think long and hard before jumping in. There are way too many heartbroken, scammed people out there who fell for these kinds of "cures." Please, don't let yourself become one of them.
Roger Sullivan5 said:As far as I know, a LLETZ procedure is performed under local anesthesia rather than general, and there aren't any stitches involved afterward. I can't say exactly how long mine took, but it definitely wasn't twenty minutes—it was probably closer to ten at most. Based on that, I suspect what Hannah Castillo3 was describing sounds more like a classic cone biopsy rather than a LLETZ. 😉
Well, I was feeling completely overwhelmed regardless. 😁
Same deal over here—just some local shots. Took maybe ten minutes tops. Honestly, I feel zero pain right now. It’s actually kind of weird—it feels like I didn't even undergo the procedure. Just totally nothing.
So, here's the deal: I was scrolling through the news this morning and saw that the clinic over on Petrov Street just picked up some high-tech new equipment. Apparently, it’s nearly 100% accurate when it comes to processing samples, which is a massive upgrade from the old Pap smear method we've been stuck with—that one can have a false positive rate of like 60%
I think the article mentioned they're rolling it out starting October 1st.
I actually wasn't over in Pula, I was in Phoenix, and honestly, it went super smoothly
That said, once the procedure was done, they sent me over to the Mayo Clinic to follow up with Dr. Haller. I’m not sure which specialist you’ve got lined up, but if you’re seeing him, you’re in great hands—he’s basically the gold standard for cervical surgeries out here.
Generally speaking, the reputation of the OBGYN department there is stellar, so I really don't think you have anything to worry about. Good luck!
