Posts by Casey Palmer5

Man, I am seriously feeling the post-exam crash right now: my legs are aching like I just ran a full marathon, and my head is definitely not doing any better (though a cold Budweiser helped a little bit)...

I had such a massive panic attack this past Sunday. A friend told me I needed to knock back a drink first if we were actually going to get anything done. Well, she was the one who had to down a drink yesterday. And then today? We ended up taking what might be the absolute worst exam of the entire semester—maybe even the whole degree—and we still managed to pull straight A's 😁 😁 😁 After working our tails off for over a month 🙂
So, I finally treated myself to a nice little drink just now 😁

I don't usually get super nervous, just before those big, scary finals
...

Sadly, they don't sell those jumbo-sized tubs. Plus, I feel like it would just dry out way too fast.

I'm going to try it today. It’s top-tier stuff. But if it actually turns out to be gross—you'd be totally right... 😁 Decko usually clears a path for me whenever I'm walking through the house with a face full of product like this 😁

My skin used to be so dry, and I dealt with constant breakouts. They’re mostly gone now, though I still get a few around ovulation or right before my period starts. Still, it's such a huge improvement from how things used to be.

Honestly, I don't think it was just about cleaning out pores; I feel like my hormones finally leveled out. I really didn't want to go the prescription route—I wasn't willing to deal with all those side effects when my situation wasn't even that severe. The benefits of pills just didn't outweigh the risks for me. I have this brutal exam tomorrow, and you can totally see the stress on my face—I've already broken out with two little pimples. It'll be worth it once I pass, though...😁
Does anyone know what's actually in the SkinPure mask?

Most of the acne masks and creams I've tried in the past actually made things worse because they were way too harsh. You really have to hunt for the right products. For me, anything with a sea mineral base works wonders, and I love spending time in the ocean...🙂
Look, I'm definitely not a doctor, heaven forbid... My expertise is strictly limited to musculoskeletal issues.

This Baleina costs me about 7 bucks$2.75, and I’ve got enough left for three more uses. I just wrap the little bag up really tight so it doesn't dry out.

$90...honestly, maybe there was gold in there all along 😁

Balea - Dead Sea Mask
with aloe vera, chamomile, and actual dead sea mud

Honestly, these are the gold standard. I feel like I’ve tried pretty much every single brand out there on the market. This one is legit thick mud, not some weird, watery blue cosmetic sludge...

I just picked up some from Aldo Vandina, too, so we'll see how those hold up...

Look, I’m definitely no dermatology expert or anything, but I wanted to weigh in because I was dealing with my own skin struggles just recently.
Tretinoin really works, so let me know how you get on! You should try searching online for Retin-A or Renova products—they’re basically the same thing, so you might find more info that way.

P.S. For me, those Dead Sea salt masks from Bali were a total lifesaver. I use them every couple of days and it keeps my skin looking totally clear. If I take even a 4 or 5 day break, the breakouts start creeping back in...

What's actually in this cream?

It doesn't necessarily have to be a direct contact allergy, but you should definitely consider if you've switched up any of your beauty products or toiletries lately—like your body wash, laundry detergent, or even fabric softener. When I have a reaction to something I've eaten, I usually get the most spots on my torso, specifically my stomach, but they can pop up pretty much anywhere... even on my legs, arms, and neck.

Let's be real, Lush isn't actually 100% all-natural. They add certain ingredients specifically to boost the lather—I can't recall the exact chemical name right now, but it's basically that stuff found in every shampoo, soap, and laundry detergent out there. Even though they handcraft their products in small batches, they still include various non-natural additives. That being said, their stuff is probably still way healthier than most mainstream cosmetics you'd find on a drugstore shelf.
I personally love their soaps, but man, they are pricey. On the plus side, they don't dry out my skin at all and they smell absolutely amazing.

So, from what I’ve learned, you can try managing it with things like lymphatic drainage—though that really only helps quite a bit in the early stages—as well as ultrasound and various other treatments designed to boost circulation.

But honestly, those are just extra tools in the kit... I truly believe staying active and sticking to a healthy diet are the most effective ways to go.

So, let's get into it... what actually causes that dreaded cellulite and why does it happen in the first place?

I found this really helpful link, so I just copied a little snippet for you guys:

What exactly is cellulite?

When we talk about "cellulite" (panniculosis), we’re really looking at changes in the skin's cellular structure—specifically within the fat and connective tissue just under the surface. Basically, the fat cells start holding onto way more water (that's edema), and lipids build up inside the fatty tissue, causing those cells to swell up and expand. As they grow, they end up pressing against nearby blood vessels and lymphatic vessels. This slows everything down, making it harder for the body to flush out toxins and waste through the bloodstream. To make matters worse, the surrounding connective tissue gets squeezed by these swollen fat cells and the trapped toxins, which causes the collagen fibers to harden and thicken into those bumpy plates or nodules you see in later stages. For some women, hormonal shifts during puberty, pregnancy, or menopause can actually trigger an increase in the total number of fat cells, not just their size—though this is less common in thinner women.

There's also a structural difference to consider: in women, the collagen fibers in the skin tend to run vertically from the surface downward, whereas in men, they're arranged in a mesh-like pattern. That mesh acts like a barrier that keeps excess fat from spreading too close to the skin's surface. In men, extra fat usually moves deeper into the body, heading toward the midsection, for example. But in women, those swollen fat cells clump together into lumps that push outward toward the skin. Those little pockets of fat eventually bulge through, creating that uneven, bumpy texture often described as looking like an "orange peel" or a "quilted mattress." Sometimes, these fat deposits can even get caught between those rigid bands of connective tissue—kind of like a hernia—which can actually be quite painful...

I’ve been there... dealing with everything from urticaria to laryngeal edema, plus a full-blown mutiny from all the staff... all because of just two slices of mango. So now you know the secret recipe to getting rid of me 😁
Honestly, I don't even react any better to pistachios.

My allergy collection is so extensive, it’s almost impressive...

Brian Hayes26 said:Go ahead and roll your eyes if you want, but I honestly haven't dealt with any side effects from using Ephedrine... aside from losing a ton of body fat.😛 😉

How can you be so sure? You might just be waiting for them to hit you...

Hannah Nelson52 said:If you don't mind me asking, how old are you guys and how long have you been smoking? I've only been at it for three years, and I really want to quit before things get out of hand...

Just quit right now while it's still easy. Once you've got ten years under your belt, man, it becomes incredibly hard to stop.

Like someone already mentioned, breathing air isn't what makes you gain weight. If you pick up a sport or some kind of workout you actually enjoy, you won't just stay fit—it'll actually make quitting much easier too!

What kind of issues were you having with those pills?

I've got this fat burner sitting in my cabinet right now... Honestly, the smell is absolutely revolting, and the pills themselves are huge—like little nuclear submarines. It’s just your standard formula, nothing dangerous, so I usually take one before hitting the gym, but I don't take them consistently enough to think they're actually doing much of anything...

Ditch the birth control pills and just grab some protection instead😁

Look, I’m staying away from them—the pill just doesn't work for my body, so I don't take it. And even if I did, I’d still be using condoms regardless of how silly or "extra" people might think that is...
I honestly have a huge aversion to oral contraceptives.

Basically, standard birth control pills prevent ovulation and provide protection starting from day one. On the other hand, those mini-pills that only have progestin don't actually stop ovulation, they aren't prescribed nearly as often, and they aren't quite as reliable since you have to take them at the exact same time every single day...

Did you notice any other symptoms besides that lump on your neck? What did the lump actually feel like?

Good luck and stay positive! Keeping a good mindset is honestly half the battle when you're fighting to get well.

I actually found this little lump on my neck recently. Even though the doctors brushed it off and told me it was nothing to worry about, I still found myself counting down the days until my next appointment... 😢

It’s crazy how much a moment like that can shift your whole perspective on life.

From what I understand, HD actually has a better prognosis than Non-Hodgkin...
What kind of symptoms were you seeing, and how long did they last?