Posts by Jacob Sullivan91

Eric Gray2 said:Actually, let me speak for myself here. Every time I'd open up Reddit (and lately, I've been doing that more and more), I’d run into at least one problematic sub-thread. Whether it was people dissecting another user's entire personality (like Daniel Kelly57), or some more or less veiled commentary directed at the moderators, or just people being absolute jerks toward Gypsies and stuff like that. The crowd from that chat had basically found themselves this little swamp where everything went—from breaking the rules to straight-up hate speech—but I just don't get the logic of reading a thread you aren't even participating in?

But it's clear to me now that everyone was perfectly happy having a group over there to gossip, insult people, and drag both users and mods through the mud. And me? I was just being an idiot, trying to call it all out. Oh, snap. If only I had just left that unmoderated mess alone—that oasis of trolls, that little microcosm of chaos, that sanctuary for links to other PDFs, that whole breeding ground for toxicity.

In any case, please, do keep a close eye on the US Slack and definitely shut it down if we don't behave over the next ten pages, just like you promised. That's exactly what the moderators are there for.

Like I said, we’ve made things easier for you, so you don't have to play tightrope walker between two different chats anymore.

Deal. 🙂

Jerry Parker72 said:It’s pretty clear the moderators have zero interest in actually running this place—they aren't even active in the sub—so instead of stepping aside to let someone with actual time or drive make this community better, they just lean into these repressive tactics. It's the same old story.

Then why bother being a moderator at all? You might as well put that energy toward a better cause—if one even exists.

So you're telling me that being a mod means I should just be ready to deal with constant harassment and drama? Is that the job description now?

Now I totally get why some mods don't last long here. But just because something doesn't work for you guys, doesn't mean it won't work for me. Nope.

There's still one Slack left, no matter how much people insult each other. Just take a breather already...

Eric Gray2 said:Honestly, I’d rather just leave things unmoderated than deal with some toxic group of people mass-reporting posts—especially when they're targeting topics that don't even have explicit rules laid out yet. It’s just not worth the headache.
Can one of the admins please weigh in on this?
In the future, if you're browsing a thread where there aren't any specific rules listed and you spot someone breaking the general community guidelines—even if you know the moderator isn't going to catch it without a formal report—should you still bother reporting it? 🍿 Man, that’s just incredible. 🙂

That is totally your interpretation and has zero to do with what I actually said.

I never said posts that deserve a ban shouldn't be moderated... I’m just saying I can't wrap my head around why anyone who doesn't care about a specific Slack would bother lurking there just to hunt for reasons to snitch.

Look, I get it—you stumble upon an offensive post... but choosing to just ignore a corner of the internet you have no business being in because you don't vibe with that crowd? I can respect that.

I'm not talking about you personally, okay? It's more of a general thing... 😉

Anyway, now nobody has a reason to go scanning through other Slacks looking for something "naughty." Everyone can just stick to one place and hang out together.

And now the Slack will be way better moderated, which I'm sure is your biggest priority anyway... 😁

Jerry Parker72 said:Well, people would actually socialize, wouldn't they?
But thanks to mindless moderation, we get absurdities—like when Mickey starts a meetup thread right at his own house, only to have it shut down because he didn't "publicly disclose" his address. 🤣

Exactly! At his own house. Is that even "forum hanging out"? No. Can he invite people he knows and actually wants over to his place privately? Yeah. Does he want random strangers in his living room? Probably not. So why does it even need to be a forum thread? Honestly, we might as well all start threads every time we invite the crew over or grab coffee with friends.

Morgan Newman7 said:The sub has its ups and downs—months, whatever—but the whole idea is to start new threads and get discussions moving so others actually want to join in.

Right now, there are just a few threads where people are endlessly debating who’s buying the first round, guys trying way too hard to help out, and people posting problems that die out after two pages... especially during peak trolling seasons.

In the 40+ Group chat, you have people who actually vibe together, people who share the same mindset or hang out offline. Same goes for the regular chat. A lot of people talk off-site, via text or Facebook, to set up meetups. But that doesn't mean the chat is useless or that we couldn't use one or two more.

If I remember right, when there was all that massive drama a few years back and everyone jumped ship to another site, it was over some chat issue too. Just let people talk. If keeping up with reports is the headache, just hand that job to someone else or tighten up the moderation rules.

Does anyone here seriously think we merged the chat just because of a little tension? When adults start acting hysterical, spying on people in a chat where they aren't even posting just to snitch... and when you see enough of that happening long-term, you start wondering if you should spend your energy on something better.

It's not about managing reports. It's about when those reports turn into personal vendettas.

The chat isn't unnecessary, we agree on that, but two chats just can't function right now. There's only going to be one. If things actually shift, maybe we could consider a second chat, but look at what the chat has become. And that's because of the players in it. Not because of "evil" moderators.

Mickey, the WhatsApp groups on the ŽuD were such a mess that they eventually had to shut them down because things got way too personal and spilled over into real life.

Look, I was actually the one pushing to open the chat back in the day, promising I’d moderate it, and I spent years hanging out there and keeping up with everything.

But once it turned into this unreadable disaster—honestly, just total chaos—it only made sense to pull the plug.

The same goes for the US WhatsApp group. I decided to stick around and follow it, but if you guys keep treating it like some low-effort tabloid feed, no moderator is going to touch it... and we absolutely cannot have an unmoderated thread where people are just hurling insults at everyone left and right.

At the end of the day, a chat isn't some essential part of any PDF, and the forum can totally survive without one.

Susan Davis7 said:Hey, would Sophia Thomas7 or Jacob Sullivan91 mind letting me know if I'm the reason this chat keeps getting shut down? --- because if I am, I'll just stay out of it next time you guys reopen it... let everyone else actually enjoy themselves.

Look, it’s not just one specific person causing chats on the US to get closed. We were actually planning on shutting both of them down anyway since they basically stopped serving any purpose...

A chat is supposed to be like walking into a local pub—you drop in, have a little banter, and feel relaxed. What these US chats have turned into is honestly pretty pathetic. I mean, I *hope* you all know how to talk to each other without the constant insults, nitpicking every single word, or running to report someone just because they were being a jerk to you or your buddies...

I agree with mistyhound94 that we definitely need a chat here, so we’re going to keep one open. But it's on my head, which means the second anyone starts throwing insults around again—and some of you have already made that a habit—it’s gone. Closed. Done.

Splitting the community up isn't exactly the smartest move, so we're merging the chats into one. Hopefully, this puts an end to all the petty bickering and tattling...

Brenda Green62 said:I don't know if we already have a thread like this, I couldn't find one. I was thinking about it like this: there's gotta be plenty of doctors/medical folks/health hobbyists here who can help those of us suffering without a formal diagnosis.

I've basically run a marathon through doctors and endless tests, and still, nobody knows what's going on with me. Look, I get it—nobody can actually *treat* me through an online forum—but I'm hoping for some constructive advice or maybe just some fresh ideas on how to keep my medical marathon moving forward.

For anyone out there who's feeling generous and has the patience, I'll lay out my situation:

It all kicked off exactly a year ago. Out of nowhere, my heart started racing like crazy, I broke out in a cold sweat, and my head started spinning. Since it wouldn't stop, I headed straight to the ER.
- They did blood work from my veins and arteries, urine tests, checked my blood pressure... everything came back fine. I calmed down after a bit and they sent me home.

A few days later, the right side of my face went numb and I couldn't feel my legs. Back to the ER. More blood work, blood pressure checks, EKG, neurological exams, an MRI of my spine. Everything was "normal." Sent home again.

I felt okay for a few months. Then, in January of this year, I had another panic attack because of chest tightness, stomach pain, and dizziness. I went to my doctor, who suspected MS. He ordered an MRI of my brain. All clear.

So, I Google my symptoms and stumble onto a site describing Cervical Spondylotic Syndrome. Following the advice of people on those forums, I went to see a chiropractor. Man, he really cracked me up... but it didn't help at all.

After that, my doctor put me on some anti-anxiety meds because he's convinced this is all psychological and that I've developed panic attacks.

Since I see white spots when I bend over and black spots almost all the time, I also went to an eye doctor. Even he couldn't find anything besides my usual prescription, which I already wear glasses for.

Every single day I feel weak, and my pulse stays pretty high. Everything in front of my eyes flickers like I'm dizzy, so I've started swaying a bit just to balance myself out... now that swaying has become a habit. I always feel like I'm about to pass out. That sensation comes from my jaw and behind my ears. Sometimes it gets dizzy when I lie down. And then there's the stabbing pains in my chest.

Since I'm honestly at my wit's end, I'm just hoping there's someone professional here who can help... I'm desperate and would be so grateful for any advice.

I dealt with stuff just like this—insane dizziness, fatigue, vision issues, chest pain, high heart rate, panic attacks...

The symptoms eventually eased up, and finally disappeared once I started treating my thyroid and anxiety.

I'm not saying it's nothing, but definitely check your thyroid. I was absolutely convinced I had leukemia because of how terrible I felt.

velvetmoose9 said:Oh, for sure.

But honestly, you can usually get past a lot of those side effects from metformin if you give it enough time. 👍

It actually caught me off guard when my doctor asked how I was handling the Glucophage... like, I don't even feel it. Total stroke of luck on my end.

Something else is bugging me though. My fibrinogen levels are sitting above the normal range (upper limit is 3.5, mine hit 3.6, I think... can't remember exactly what unit). Everything else looks great—even my doctor was tripping over how low my cholesterol and triglycerides are.

Could that be tied to insulin resistance? My HOMA index was 3.6, which feels pretty high to me...

And can I actually bring that down with workouts, omega-3 supplements, and Vitamin C? 🙂

Susan Martin4 said:My doctor was pretty adamant about it—she said if we're actually looking into insulin resistance, they really need to run that two-hour insulin test. It sounds like they skipped over that part for you.

So, just finished my check-up. My endocrinologist basically told me she didn't even bother asking for specific insulin levels because my glucose readings tell the whole story anyway.

My fasting sugar is up, and then it spikes after I eat... which is a huge red flag that my insulin is still way too high 🤷

I also brought up birth control, and she said there aren't any issues there at all. Honestly, she even mentioned that taking Glucophage can actually help boost fertility 😲

Me, again... 😬

So, I went in for bloodwork today and my results popped up just a few hours later. My glucose was fine—like 4.4 on the first draw and 4.2 two hours after eating. But they didn't give me anything for insulin.

I can't quite remember what the doctor wrote on my referral, but my sugar levels during my OGTT were totally normal and have never spiked before. I mean, if the whole point of this treatment is to make my cells more sensitive to insulin, wouldn't it make sense for them to actually check my insulin levels too? 🤷

quietpilot87 said:What velvetmoose9 is getting at—in my experience, just grinding out cardio doesn't move the needle much on weight loss. But the second I started picking up weights, things actually started moving. 👍
(Even if I’m not being super strict with my diet, which isn't really an issue with cardio anyway.)

I had phases where it was nothing but lifting—zero cardio—and those were the times I hit my lowest weight.

As for food, I personally feel way better on low carb. Beans and grains just mess with my gut and leave me feeling wiped out. That said, I’ll still treat myself to a chocolate bar or a sandwich while I'm out hiking.

velvetmoose9—do you know much about how metformin actually works to drop blood sugar?
Because if I’m basically exhausting my muscles with weight training, does that mean I won't need the metformin anymore? Or am I wrong?

I mean, personally? I can handle UH like a total pro... but fats? Man, fats absolutely wreck me.

Man, lifting weights without the metformin just wasn't hitting the same... like, I was putting in the work but the results were totally MIA compared to when I was actually on the meds. But honestly? My insulin finally decided to stop playing games and actually started cooperating... finally... 😬

velvetmoose9 said:Taking metformin alongside Synthroid isn't exactly a weird combo; most people seem to handle the mix pretty smoothly.

Now, birth control pills can be a bit of a wildcard—they can mess with your liver function, throw your lipid metabolism out of whack, and if you’ve already got a predisposition toward blood clotting issues (like some kind of thrombophilia), things can get scary fast, potentially leading to stuff like deep vein thrombosis or even a stroke.
That’s especially true if you’re also dealing with acne and smoking 😱

If you’re following a specific diet that’s heavy on fats—something like an LCHF approach—you really need to sit down with a whole team of specialists. You need a solid, multidisciplinary game plan to monitor your vitals and make sure you aren't accidentally cruising toward some serious health complications.

Personally, I’d definitely look into exploring some other contraceptive options.

The endocrinologist's advice about hitting the gym after eating "forbidden fruits" is actually pretty solid, particularly since there's metformin in the mix.
In this situation, getting under a barbell with some resistance training is basically the gold standard, mostly because of how metformin actually works in the body 🙂

I get my heart checked out every year and everything always comes back normal, except for low blood sugar. But I guess there are specific tests for thrombophilia?

Does that apply to everyone, or is my risk higher because of the meds I'm on? I'll have to run it by my endocrinologist.

Besides, fat doesn't sit well with me at all, so those kinds of diets aren't even an option.

quietpilot87 said:It’s all about that sugar-to-insulin ratio—like, if your blood sugar is sitting at 4 but your insulin is hitting 15, you've got way too much insulin for that amount of sugar. You probably already feel that happening.
Doesn't look too bad on my end, though honestly, I wouldn't mind if it were worse—it might mean getting slapped with a small dose of meds. Combined with how I live my life, that little nudge is exactly what I'd need. 🎉
Haven't hit up the endocrinologist for the final word yet, so we'll see what they have to say.

Glad you're feeling better 👍
About the diabetic diet—just remember, you want that blood sugar low, which means keeping the insulin low, too.
Pretty sure no sweets are allowed, even the "diabetic-friendly" kind.
Just throwing out some hints here—maybe a low-carb approach could help speed things up for you. 🙂

Nah, low carb just doesn't work for me. Tried it. I have to keep my blood sugar levels up somehow.

It has to stay within a certain range. If your sugar drops too low, it's bad news... the symptoms are absolutely brutal.

Honestly, I feel like a whole new person since I started therapy and the diabetic diet. I have my first checkup in five months, so I'll see if my insulin has finally stabilized, but physically... I feel so much, so much better.

granitemason55 said:Jacob Sullivan91 and quietpilot87, if someone is dealing with irregular insulin or blood sugar levels, or perhaps metabolic syndrome, is it strictly forbidden to eat any kind of sweets if the goal is to avoid weight gain?

Ever since I started taking Seroquel, I’ve developed this intense craving for chocolate, which is quite strange because I never used to care for sweets at all before this.
However, I did read somewhere that dark chocolate—specifically varieties with more than 75% cocoa, since it's high in antioxidants, lower in sugar, and feels much more natural—is actually acceptable. Apparently, it should only be eaten in the morning, which happens to be when I usually indulge. And, naturally, in very modest amounts. I've seen quite a few places online suggesting that dark chocolate can even assist with weight loss. This might be due to its nutritional profile, but I also suspect it's because completely depriving oneself of treats can be counterproductive; sometimes, allowing yourself a small, controlled indulgence prevents the mental strain that leads to a total relapse or falling into a binge eating cycle.

Do you happen to know if that's true, or should I be avoiding dark chocolate as well? I attempted to go a full week without it, but I found it nearly impossible to stick to. I'm willing to try again, of course, primarily for the sake of my health.

Avoid sugar, yeah, but it's not like you're gonna drop dead if you eat something sweet. A diabetic isn't going to die on the spot from a little treat.

I don't touch sweets because I'm honestly terrified of diabetes. Maybe once every two weeks I'll have something specifically made for diabetics that won't spike my sugar or insulin. I just can't live without sweets, and since they make stuff with stevia and other sweeteners now, I don't want to be stuck constantly starving for a fix.

My endocrinologist basically told me if I’m gonna go ahead and indulge in something sweet, I better make sure I hit the gym right after... like, earn those calories or whatever.

The thing is, it's not just about the sugar spike with chocolate... it's the fat content and the whole net carb situation too. Gotta be careful with that stuff.

P.S. Quick question for anyone currently on metformin—or even better, people juggling both metformin and thyroid meds—are there any weird contraindications with birth control pills? I've been digging through info online and my hormone levels look totally fine, but I'm thinking about starting the pill just for contraception. I'll definitely run it by my OBGYN, but I'm still waiting on my next appointment so I figured I'd check here first...

quietpilot87 said:My insulin came back at an 8 (ref. 2.6-30). Sugar is 5.1. Doesn't seem high to me. What are yours looking like?
Man, I wish they'd just hand me something to speed things up and get my life back on track, but I've got a feeling that's not happening anytime soon. 😁

Ugh, I don't have my recent labs on me, but it’s always stayed under 5.

Here’s how it goes for me—once the issues started, I just started packing on the pounds even though I hadn't changed a single thing about what I eat or how much I work out. Then, when I went on this super strict diet and cranked up the gym sessions, the weight finally stabilized (well, at least it stopped climbing).

With the Glucophage, a strict diabetic diet, and hitting the gym, the weight actually drops... it’s pretty slow going, but it moves. But if I slip up even once, that progress just hits a wall. And by slipping up, I mean maybe having a diabetic-friendly sweet here and there (as long as I track it within my carb limit) or just skipping a workout...

For me, seeing actual transformations takes about 3-6 months, SF... 😬

And don't even get me started on how I was absolutely starving at the start of treatment, even though the diet isn't actually that brutal and the portions aren't tiny. Plus, my blood sugar kept dipping and I’d get these dizzy spells and hot flashes all the time... 🙂

quietpilot87 said:I was diagnosed with PCOS nearly 19 years ago. In all that time, nobody ever even mentioned metformin, let alone tested me for insulin resistance—my fasting blood sugar was always perfectly fine.

Makes sense, though—they never gave me anything to manage blood sugar in the first place.
Looking at my labs, it seems like my PCOS is adrenal-based; my LH and FSH levels sit right around 1:1. It’s possible the whole thing isn't even tied to insulin, but I'm digging into the details now to find out.

Bottom line: there are maybe 4 or 5 different types of PCOS, and they aren't all driven by insulin. There's a real chance metformin won't do squat for some people—honestly, you can find endless stories online about women taking it without seeing any results at all.
http://www.acubalance.ca/blog/which-pcos-type-are-you

That is literally exactly what my endocrinologist was saying; early on, your blood sugar doesn't spike, but you start feeling all those other symptoms.
I’ve never had high blood sugar in my life—if anything, it's usually been a little low—but my insulin is through the roof and I've been feeling the effects for 2 or 3 years now.

Plus, I don't even have any of the typical metabolic syndrome symptoms that everyone usually links back to insulin resistance.

granitemason55 said:I’ve been living with PCOS since I was diagnosed about 18 years ago back when I was just 20. About five or six years ago, things really started to spiral because I was prescribed two psychiatric medications, and unfortunately, significant weight gain, bloating, and water retention are major side effects of them. I struggle specifically with stubborn fat accumulation around my midsection, and on top of that, I’m showing symptoms of prediabetes. Despite all this, I’ve hit a wall with my doctors—my gynecologist refused to write me a prescription for metformin, and my endocrinologist, psychiatrist, and even my primary care physician have all turned me down. It feels incredibly frustrating because, given my PCOS diagnosis, I feel I have a legitimate medical need for the medication, yet they just won't budge. Is there any recourse here? Should I consider filing a complaint with the medical board? I'm feeling a bit lost on what to do next, especially since buying it out-of-pocket is prohibitically expensive and nearly impossible to manage.

So, have they actually confirmed insulin resistance? If they haven't, why do you feel entitled to that med? And what makes you think it’ll actually help you? 🤔

Also, what kind of symptoms are we talking about for prediabetes? I’m stuck in that phase right now and honestly, I don't feel anything at all... except for the insulin resistance.

stormytinker40 said:Oh, come on, stop playing games... you literally just asked her how much the SML set costs.

So, like, on a scale of 1 to 10, how intense is the butt plug situation for women?

I mean, it totally depends on the woman. And honestly, it depends on the guy too, at the end of the day... 🤷

stormytinker40 said:I don't know... sometimes a hot woman can actually be pretty terrifying.

Anyone need a butt plug? A lady is selling them right here ->

I was just scrolling through that myself a sec ago. Is this part of some moderator thing now, or what? 🥳

stormytinker40 said:Oh my god, what if I actually had a stroke?

I honestly have zero clue... maybe check out WebMD or something🤷

stormytinker40 said:Does anyone else just completely glitch out when they’re talking to cashiers? Like, I’ll go in just to ask how much something costs and suddenly my brain just goes; Uh... uhhh... mmm... uhh... and then she’s just standing there staring me down, like; do you need a number, what do you need? Ugh... mmm... uhh... do you want a size, what do you want? Just let me finish my sentence so maybe you can actually hear me.

Honestly, this sounds like you had a massive stroke 🤷