Posts by Walter Ramirez3

I’ve got a question that I’m struggling to wrap my head around.
Basically, I’ve been using a student banking package (including an American Express, checking, and savings accounts) and I’ve always stayed on top of my bills for years now.
But here's the thing. I just landed a permanent job and I've already had two paychecks hit my checking account.

So, what’s the move? Should I just wait until my American Express expires and then apply for a standard card, or should I make the switch right now? My monthly fees would be lower this way, and the overdraft limit would be smaller too.

What do you think? 🤔

At the gynecologist, everything checked out—no cysts, ovaries look fine, and the pills are working for me. I think I just overdid it with my workouts these past three weeks. I was prescribed some folic acid to drink, and I took two Yaza pills yesterday evening and one this morning. I’m going to stay on track, but I still have this bleeding... 🤷

Jerry Clark said:It’s possible, but don't go playing doctor and jumping to conclusions—just get to the clinic ASAP. It might be the diet and exercise, sure, but it could also be purely hormonal stuff that has zero to do with your workout routine.

Are you dealing with anything else besides the bleeding? For me, bleeding happens (badly) on basically every brand I’ve tried—they work fine for a few months or maybe a couple of years, and then suddenly there’s bleeding, plus weight gain, depression, all that jazz. I feel like I’ve cycled through every pill under the sun; Loestrin was the absolute worst for me, but I'm on Yaz now and things are *relatively* okay so far.

Bottom line: see your doctor and get it checked out.

Hard agree—don't mess around with this. Just because everything was fine before doesn't mean much; there are plenty of reasons why your levels or how your body reacts could shift. Honestly, the whole schedule your doctor gave you sounds pretty weird to me.🤷
Chill out, don't freak or lose your mind, but definitely hit up your primary care doc and your OB-GYN (and maybe even get a second opinion if you need to) to actually understand what your labs are saying.

Honestly, I haven't had any issues at all during this past year of taking them. Out of everything I’ve tried before—like those six years on Diane 35 that worked absolute wonders for my body... 😢Between Yasmin, Logest, and Belare... Yazmin is my best bet... though this is the first time I’ve ever had bleeding like this, it feels just like a period...

I don't notice any abnormal weight gain. My weight is steady, my mood is the same... During the Bella concert, for instance, things got critical. One minute I was laughing, the next I was crying, and there wasn't even a reason...

I moved my appointment up with the OB-GYN for this afternoon. I'm honestly pretty scared, and I just couldn't wait any longer... I'm just praying those damn cysts haven't come back. Does sudden bleeding ever actually mean a cyst or a rupture in these situations? 🤷

Hey,

Is it normal to experience some spotting after using the same birth control pills for a year and a half? It happened right after my 12th pill...

Could this be linked to ramping up my workouts and changing my diet? 🤷

Should I be worried? This has never happened before, so I'm lost. My appointment with the OB-GYN isn't until Thursday, and I just can't wait for an opinion...

Could someone explain this for me?

So, I just had my thyroid levels checked—T3, T4, and TSH.

Here are the results:

T3 1.73 nmol/L (ref. range 1.34 - 2.73)
T4 100.94 nmol/L (ref. range 78.38 - 157.4)
TSH 5.60 mIU/L (ref. range 0.34 - 5.60)

Method: ECLIA.

Can anyone clarify what's going on with this TSH level? Since it's right on the edge...
Thanks so much in advance!
(Not sure if it matters, but I'm 22. My OBGYN sent me for these tests because my periods have been irregular)

I know you can't find them anywhere here in the States, but maybe they exist abroad?

Cigarettes with a leopard print design? Not the whole pack, just the filter?

If you don't know where to get them, maybe just the brand name? 😁 😍

Quick question about American Express.

I feel a bit silly starting a new thread now, but I’m hoping someone might actually see this...

So, I have a student credit card that expires this April since it's tied to my standard American Express account. They’ll be sending out the new cards toward the end of March—both the regular one and the student credit card.

As of February 12th, my available credit is at zero, so I can still make purchases, but I was wondering if I could put something on a three-month installment plan? My reasoning is that the third payment would fall in April, right when my new cards arrive.

Does that change anything? I've been trying to call American Express all day, but nobody is picking up the phone. 😠

George Roberts said:Personally, I don't even wear socks during the winter, let alone undershirts. The only exception is when it’s actually snowing and getting truly freezing, in which case I might put some nylon stockings in my boots. Otherwise, I really can't stand boots, so I tend to just get through the winter in regular shoes.

I suppose I have frozen quite a few times, but I think I've gotten used to it by now. It's just that I simply cannot stand having anything on my feet, whether it's stockings or socks or anything else at all.

That's awesome, girl. 👍

Personally, I love wearing bodysuits in the winter. I don't mind at all—actually, I have them in every color. I just throw a long-sleeved shirt over the top, and it looks totally fine.

If it’s sub-zero outside, I just go with thick leggings. They're great.

I'm not a fan of pantyhose, though. They feel super uncomfortable and awkward to wear.

You're being paranoid. You probably just scratched yourself and convinced yourself there are bugs crawling all over you.

(Just kidding, I was watching a horror movie about infestations so now I'm a bit spooked myself)

Look, I don't know how to get rid of the bugs for good, but for those bites, try some aloe vera. And whatever you do, stop scratching... for prevention, just spray yourself down with some bug repellent. 👍

You know... there's a subforum over there... Psychology.

Or you could check out Philosophy...

👍

but you really seem like you're looking for something much more intense...😉

Andrew Ramos10 said:Wow. You’re actually getting worked up over the Dodgers? I mean, what else could you possibly be getting fired up about, if you don't mind me asking?...

Honestly...🙂

Go ahead. Set the mood. 😍

...thanks everyone...really...

You have no idea how much this means to me. 😳 🙂

Look... I don't want to start a whole new thread, so I'll just post here...

So, I've been working at it for the last few weeks... and it's happening... I started getting active, just for myself, not for anyone else...

I've distanced myself from certain people, and honestly, it feels great...

I have friends who love me exactly as I am, and they all say such kind things... because clearly, I try to make up for my own insecurities through how I act...🙂

And now... in three weeks, I'm heading to the coast... with my boyfriend, and with all these physically perfect people, which is just overwhelming...

It’s two girls and about five or six guys... those two girls are, you know... former college volleyball players, they've been dancing since they were toddlers, they perform at every major car show every year... blah blah...

And then there's me, dealing with all these hang-ups on top of everything...😳

But I don't even know how to describe these complexes... It's not that I'm insecure or weak or can't stand up for myself... oh, definitely not... when it comes to words, I'm actually quite... tough. It's not like I'm extra chubby or overweight right now. Not even close...
I have a perfect waist, but my legs... well, they're a bit heavy, though I don't mean fat or anything... they're just covered in stretch marks, which isn't pretty...

And I don't know... I'm looking forward to being with my guy for ten days... but when I think about the rest of them...🙂

I don't know... this insecurity and these pointless hang-ups are killing me...😳

I’ve got a surgical scar too, and even though it’s been over a year, it still hasn't fully faded to that "white" look. I’ve been using Mederma because Voltaren just didn't work for me.

I’m at a bit of a loss... I'm not really down for laser treatment, but are there any other alternatives out there? Since it’s summer and we're heading to the beach, I feel a little self-conscious walking around the shore... 😳
Last year was fine since I could just stick to t-shirts.

(Yeah, the scar is on my stomach, from an appendectomy and an ovarian cyst removal)

It took me a long time to write this. It’s hard to admit these things to myself, let alone put them on paper.

I’ve always been fiercely independent. My dad was an old alcoholic living on minimum wage, while my mom was this successful, driven entrepreneur who never gave a damn about his insecurities or how he felt. She’s been cheating on him since I was two.
I was basically raised by my grandma, or just by hanging out with my friends on the neighborhood streets.

I formed my own opinions, my own values, my own style. I never had anyone stepping in to say, "Hey, maybe think about this or that..."

I truly believe I'm a high-quality person. I actually have something worth saying.
My intuition is sharp and I can read people instantly 👍. I’m usually the one friends call when they're in a crisis because I always find a way out...

Except when it comes to myself. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work.
I've put on some weight. You can really see it in my legs.
I wouldn't call myself fat, not by a long shot, but I am incredibly insecure about my legs.
Honestly, I'm furious with my physique, but the worst part is that I don't do anything to change it.
Part of the blame lies with my parents. Whenever I fit into a standard size—say, a US size 4 to 8—I deal with constant humiliation from them. My mom will throw these "compliments" at me that are actually insults, calling me chubby or a little donut, or whatever else comes to mind.
If it happened once a year, I could handle it. But it happens almost every day. It drains my will to do anything.

I'm so close to qualifying for that merit scholarship, yet I'm doing nothing about it.
I don't have any hobbies—no swimming, no basketball, no theater—even though there's so much I want to try. I don't know if I'm afraid of something new or if I'm just lazy. I have no idea.

I've started pushing people away. People I'm jealous of.
For example, my boyfriend has a best friend whose life is just perfect. And so is his girlfriend's.
She's incredibly thin, has been dancing since she was a toddler, lives in a fancy upscale suburb, drives the latest car she bought herself, has a full academic scholarship, and shows up on TV and at major fashion events...
Her life is literally flawless.

But I wouldn't be this jealous or insecure if she wasn't such a snob. She acts like she's better than everyone else.
Of course I don't feel good standing next to her. Not at all.

I don't want to be some insecure idiot sitting at home alone, crying over my life.

I want to make something of myself, but I don't even know where to start....😳

I always shop at LTB. They’re seriously perfect.
There was one specific pair that stretched out on me immediately, but apparently, every other girl who bought that exact model had the same issue...

I’ve tried Replay jeans before, too, but they just didn't wow me.

Just wander around downtown for a bit, you'll definitely find something...

Check out Diesel, Hilfiger, Miss Selfridge, that little boutique over by the old department store, or maybe Jeg* over on the main strip...

Haha, depends on how many pounds she actually put on...

I mean, you can definitely find larger sizes at Top Shop. Plus, the whole city is crawling with tunics and those linen pants, so maybe take a stroll down Main Street... You can really find what you need there.