Posts by mistycyclist14

Hey everyone, I could really use some advice here. So, back on August 9th, I was involved in a fender bender—totally my fault. I was stuck in traffic and rear-ended someone because I didn't realize they were slamming on their brakes. My insurance covered all the damages, but yesterday I got a notice from the DMV $333 citing me for following too closely and causing a hazard. Here’s the thing: my car actually hydroplaned a bit since I was just in first or second gear, and when I tried to brake, the clutch slipped and I lost control. Now I'm wondering, what should I actually put in my appeal? I'm drawing a blank, unless I claim the brake lights on the car in front of me were out, which meant I couldn't react in time—especially since we were barely moving, probably around 20 mph at most.

Feel free to shoot me a DM! Thanks so much!

Guys, you haven't actually given me any advice on what to write in this speeding ticket appeal for driving through a residential zone.

Can someone smart please weigh in? I'm not looking for those people who just try to lecture me on how paying the fine is the easiest way out.

Could we get some specifics?
By the time this actually hits a courtroom, I’ll probably be an alum already.

Yesterday afternoon near Austin, specifically on that stretch of road heading toward the outskirts, I got pulled over around 4:40 PM for speeding through a residential area. I was clocked at 73 mph (which is 10 over)39 miles /h when the limit is 31 miles/h. They used one of those handheld radar guns.

The road was practically empty, and since I was approaching the edge of town on a downhill slope, there wasn't any visible speed limit signage... I guess I just didn't realize I had entered the residential zone yet.

So, here's the damage: $167 a fine of $110 and 1 point on my license.

I'm currently a college student, so this fine is a massive hit to my budget. To make matters worse, the officer was totally unsympathetic—no interest in being flexible or even letting me plead down to a lesser, different violation.
I didn't sign anything at the scene.

Does anyone have advice? Should I try to contest the ticket, or should I just plead guilty and hope they'll show some mercy because I'm a broke student?

What kind of arguments actually work when you're fighting a speeding ticket?

Feel free to DM me too!

Thanks!

Hey everyone, I've been wondering... where does it come from when women start seeing those thick, dark hairs in places typically associated with men? I'm talking about things like the chin, upper lip, chest, or even along the stomach and bikini line. If testosterone and all other hormone levels are totally normal, what else could be triggering this?😕

coppergardener said:Here are the reference ranges I have on hand (though they really should've been printed right on your lab report😕). You might want to dig around online for others, or maybe someone here with more expertise can chime in.

TESTO = perimenopause 0.38-2.74 nmol/L

FTESTO = 0.07-10.7 pmol/L

FSH = pre- and post-ovulatory 0.6-9.5
ovulatory 4.0-13.5 IU/L

LH = pre- and post-ovulatory 0.7-9.0
ovulation 25-94 IU/L

DHEAS = women 20-24 years 1.03-14.59 umol/L

ALT = 10-36 U/L

AST = 8-30 U/L

GGT = 9-35 U/L

Triglycerides = -<1.7 mmol/L

HDL = ->1.2 mmol/L

LDL = -<3.0 mmol/L

Your FSH, LH, and LDL levels are all high. Is that everything they tested? Honestly... shouldn't you get your thyroid checked too? And was the PCOS diagnosis already official, or...?

It was diagnosed quite a while ago. Back then, I was just a teenager and wasn't ready for any kind of treatment. Now, I've decided to get everything checked out again, and honestly, I'm surprised—I thought things would look much worse.

My LH isn't actually high; if anything, it's pretty low compared to my FSH. As for the FSH, it looks like ovulation is slowing down. They didn't check my thyroid this time. It seems the issue is mostly with my reproductive hormones.

Thanks for looking into this.

If anyone is available, could you help me make sense of these results? I’m trying to gauge how bad things look before my doctor's appointment. Thanks!
The blood work was done on day four of my cycle. My periods have always been irregular, and it looks like I'll be starting treatment for PCOS soon.

SHBG 20.35 nmol/L
FAI 9.83
Testosterone 2.00 nmol/L
FSH 10.7 mIU/mL
LH 2.8 IU/L
DHEAS 6.07 umol/L

ALT 18
AST 17
GGT 30
Urate 367
Triglycerides 0.73
HDL 1.46
LDL 3.33

Is it actually true that once you get that gastric band put in, switching to smaller, more frequent meals will just make you gain the weight back? Apparently, eating little bits all day stretches your stomach out again. Honestly, that doesn't sound logical to me. What do you guys think?

I'm heading in for a consultation next week, so I'll see what my doctor thinks about my plan. Fingers crossed!👍

Emily Hayes said:There’s actually one girl on here who managed to pull that off—you should definitely reach out to her for some advice.
If you're interested, I can shoot you a private message with her info (it feels a bit awkward to call her out publicly like that).

I know, but she’s gone totally MIA. She replied to me once with some random info, but that was it. Oh well. Honestly, I’ve dropped 55 pounds over this past year, but I am just completely spent. Mentally, I'm hitting a wall. I still need to lose another 70 or 80 pounds to hit my goal weight. Plus, dealing with all these hormonal issues caused by the extra weight makes me feel like I need to get the rest off ASAP.😠

Just a quick note for anyone else wondering, they don't actually remove the stomach with a belt; they just shrink its capacity. Basically, if you try to eat heavy, dense foods, there's just no room left!

Jamie Johnson6 said:It really depends on how you look at it—new hair won't start growing back, but anything already there isn't just going to vanish because of a pill (though laser treatment can handle that).

Is laser actually worth the money? Does the hair eventually grow back? And if it does, how long does it take?

Karen Watson60 said:Thought I’d jump into this PCOS discussion.
I've been dealing with this since my early teens—about 13 years now.
I was always a bit curvy, but seven years ago everything just spiraled. My hormones went haywire, my thyroid acting up, and I ended up gaining nearly 90 pounds over a few years. It was awful.
My doctor says I'm not ovulating because of the weight. I was prescribed Metformin, twice a day, plus a diet. Honestly, I'm not doing anything super strict; I'm mostly sticking to Monticello. I read online that for PCOS, a low-carb, low-glycemic diet works wonders.
Things are finally starting to move slowly. I'm working out at home, and now that spring is coming, I'm feeling way more motivated. Plus, wanting a baby is a huge driver for me (I'm 30, married for almost three and a half years).
I really want to know if anyone else here struggled with significant extra weight and PCOS but still managed to conceive naturally? That’s my biggest fear. I need to drop at least 45 pounds first... but man, time is ticking! I'm terrified we might end up needing IVF.

Maybe give Herbalife a shot? I used it for a while and actually dropped about 30 pounds. The weight hasn't come back, though it's stuck right where it is now. I eat pretty much everything. Still have another 65 pounds to go... ugh.

Is it actually true that hairiness goes away once you start on birth control? Or does it just make things more hairy?

coppernomad7 said:Was that actually meant for weight loss?
I mean, it feels like such a drastic move, and I'm guessing it’s really only done for people dealing with extreme obesity (like someone like Jacques Houdek) anyway. Where does this even happen?🤣
Well, right here, about a hundred yards from my place at the specialized Mayo Clinic😬 (though I assume they perform it in other places too🙂)
Jack was actually treated over at Mayo Clinic😬

Actually, Jacques had a gastric balloon put in—he didn't get the bypass! It’s definitely a big step, but I imagine it's worth it. Especially when you're dealing with health issues and the weight just won't budge.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this option—especially if you’ve actually gone through it yourselves. I'm curious about the cost, who typically chooses this route, where it's usually done, and what the recovery process looks like...

I've done some reading on it, but nothing beats hearing from real people. It just feels more reliable.

😎

We all know that dropping weight is an uphill battle when you're dealing with PCOS, but what about the extra hair growth? It’s so frustrating dealing with those masculine patterns when your hormone levels are spiked. Does anyone have advice on how to manage this besides just constant shaving or waxing?

brisknomad6 said:The best way is to tackle the PCOS first, then the weight will follow naturally.

Do you really think it works that way? I've been struggling with this exact thing. How do you even manage PCOS when you're on birth control? I actually dropped over 5% of my excess weight, but my cycle still isn't regular. Honestly, I'm pretty worried about fertility issues.

😕

I’d set some money aside—maybe in a high-yield savings account or a mutual fund—and then use the rest as collateral for a mortgage. I’d take out a specific loan for travel development, grab some land up in the Blue Ridge Mountains, because finding affordable plots in places like Malibu or Napa is basically impossible now. Then, I’d build some boutique-style vacation rentals using prefabricated cabins—it's much cheaper to import them from overseas. Trust me, you have to buy land while it's still relatively affordable. Tourism is the backbone of the American economy according to every major master plan out there!

It’s the same story with the airlines; once budget carriers start hitting smaller regional hubs, we’re going to see a massive shortage of available beds next season, especially in the mountain towns and the northern coast!

👍