Posts by Benjamin Sanchez4

This medication falls under the fluoroquinolone class, which basically means we're talking about some incredibly potent stuff.
In fact, there’s already a massive class-action lawsuit brewing over one of these drugs right here in the USA.

Even though it still seems to get prescribed pretty aggressively around here.
Honestly, I’ve never actually taken it—even when it was handed to me—mostly because the list of side effects looks like a mile-long grocery list, and all that for just one single ailment? No thanks.
So many people have dealt with serious tendon issues—some temporary, some permanent—that you really shouldn't be doing any physical activity while on it. Like, zero aerobic sports; just the absolute bare minimum of movement.

Ever since I hit puberty, I’ve always had a bit of an increased amount of vaginal discharge—you know, that mucus that lets me basically track my gynecological status just by looking at my underwear.
It was only recently that I found out I’ve actually lived with a mild case of cytolytic vaginosis all this time. That’s just the medical term for having a specific scent and taste that’s always been sort of sour, like yogurt—except on those rare occasions after taking antibiotics for a UTI, when it would take on a hint of fresh cottage cheese because the Candida would flare up.
My long-term partner didn't really mind this little olfactory quirk,
even if, at first, he was a bit puzzled why everything smelled more like a "dairy farm" rather than fish.
Personally, it didn't bother me one bit, but things started getting annoying when I used this vaginal antiseptic—which was prescribed for a minor, benign inflammation involving a basic state of Bacillus vaginalis
—and suddenly the smell shifted into this weird hybrid of fish and expired meat.
And the absolute worst part? I can't seem to get my old scent back no matter what.
Honestly, I’ve lost faith in gynecologists; instead of leaving things exactly how they were, they went and caused actual damage.
The amount of discharge has dropped so much now that I don't see anything on my panties anymore—let alone being able to distinguish, say, Candida from ovulation. Now, I literally have to stick a finger in there to pull out the secretions, which is a mess of brown menstrual blood that probably isn't exiting fully during my period, white mucus typical of ovulation, some white stringy stuff that looks like milk skin when it boils, and occasionally some strange little fibers.
It’s all pretty baffling to me because I’m not sexually active, so there’s zero chance this change came through any kind of sexual contact.

I’m wondering: how can I get my vaginal pH back to its original level so it’s once again a happy place for the amount of Lactobacillus that satisfies me? Is there a specific supplement for this? Because, truthfully, I actually liked the state of mild cytolytic vaginosis—it never gave me issues aside from that specific smell and taste. How do I restore my discharge levels to what they’ve been my entire life, especially since everything changed so abruptly in just a month or two?

I have no interest in going to a gynecologist to have my natural, unique self altered to fit some "standard" what women are supposed to be. My scent has always worked for me, and I don't want anything else. I’m terrified that no capsule or vaginal suppository can fix this, because I’ve already tried probiotics and probiotic suppositories, and nothing has brought back my old volume, my old scent, or my old taste.

Look, you’ve gotta view every job as just a temporary fallback while you’re hunting for something that actually fulfills you—something where you can see yourself sticking around for a huge chunk of your life, if not all the way to retirement.
If certain cold-hearted people—and let's be real, there are plenty of them out there—can look at their romantic partners that way, treating someone they supposedly "love" as just another backup plan, then why shouldn't we look at work the same way? I mean, people work for a paycheck, not because they’re doing it for the pure love of it, right?
It’s honestly wild how people brag about treating someone they claim to care about—an actual human being—as nothing more than a safety net. If they can do that to a person, why wouldn't they do it to a job that isn't even a living, breathing entity with feelings?
I mean, come on... you can't exactly break a job's heart or cause it emotional trauma by treating it as a mere stepping stone.😉

Kevin Newman3 said:I actually have the exact opposite problem from you; I tend to trust almost everyone. Honestly, after dealing with three major betrayals by people close to me, I had to change my approach. At first, I viewed it as a form of psychological self-defense... but now, I’ve decided to give everyone my full trust upfront until they prove otherwise. Once they cross that line, though? I just indifferently cut them out of my life.
It’s a massive risk, sure—kind of like leaving a garden untended and hoping the weeds don't take over. But looking back at my life, I’ve realized I mostly run into wonderful people, and that positive side tends to outweigh the rest. Sure, you’re going to stumble upon some jerks along the way, but I refuse to label everyone else based on them or live in constant fear that history will repeat itself.

I don't want to live in fear. I’d rather give my absolute maximum trust to the people close to me, even if someone decides to weaponize it. If they do, I’ll just find the energy to get back up and keep believing in people with the same level of enthusiasm.
A lot of my inner circle tells me this isn't smart. They think you should treat people with suspicion until they've earned your confidence, but that’s just not how I operate. I can handle the fallout, no matter how much it hurts; I fall down, and then I get back up. I suspect people subconsciously figure out their own limits regarding how much of themselves they can give away. You eventually build your own natural defense mechanism through experience.

That’s just how I used to be... if only I hadn't changed...

Honestly, nothing really gets my blood pumping—nothing truly blows me away, but then again, nothing leaves me feeling disappointed either. I’ve got a pretty positive outlook on myself, so I’m leaning toward thinking this is just pure phlegmatic temperament rather than actual melancholy.
Real melancholics tend to be more... I don't know, emotionally tinted by sadness, negativity, and that general sense of pessimism.

A few people have brought up depression, but honestly—if you just don't give a damn about anything, can a little pill like an antidepressant really change that? 🍿?
I personally don't think so, because those things usually just end up making people feel more energetic or wired
, or maybe some other meds, like antipsychotics, might make someone calmer, "better," or just more grounded—but the idea that any pill could suddenly make you care about something you couldn't care less about? Now that would be a straight-up miracle.

So, we're calling this melancholy now?
I honestly just thought it was what happens when you've completely lost interest in checking things off your to-do list
or maybe—if we’re being real about how much everyday life can suck sometimes—it’s actually just straight-up apathy.

rustywolf4 said:So, it’s been going on for quite a while now, but I’ve lost my strength and I get incredibly exhausted from even the smallest amount of effort. This hasn't just been a phase; it started with some brief joint pain, and then my elbow cartilage gave out. My arms have lost muscle volume, and my upper body—especially my shoulders, which feel like they've basically disappeared—has gotten really thin, while my hips have drastically increased in size. It’s getting hard to even do push-ups because my joints feel so stiff, and when I try to flex my forearm from the wrist to the palm, this tiny little knot pops up. It doesn't hurt, but you can see it. Moving my head around has become difficult too, and I deal with dizziness pretty often. I also sweat insanely much; if I’m just sitting or standing in a coffee shop, my back and legs end up soaked, and my face feels like it's being hit by a sudden wave of intense heat. I’ve noticed swelling in the joints of both feet, which makes walking a struggle. Today, I spotted some tiny red spots on my chest and one blue one on my leg, and now my jaw has started clicking whenever I make certain facial expressions. At night, and even during the day, I’m hearing ringing in my ears. It’s hard to explain, but it feels like my bones are thinning out. My sense of taste and smell are messed up, breathing is getting heavy, my facial expressions feel limited, and my heart rate seems much slower than usual. To top it off, tonight I’m dealing with this constant feeling of heat throughout my whole body. Please, I could really use some advice or any idea of what this might be. I’m honestly scared it’s something serious because things seem to be getting worse every single day. If anyone has gone through something similar, I’d be so grateful for your input. Thanks in advance.

You should probably get your hormone levels checked.

rustywolf4 said:So, it’s been going on for quite a while now, but I’ve lost my strength and I get incredibly exhausted from even the smallest amount of effort. This hasn't just been a phase; it started with some brief joint pain, and then my elbow cartilage gave out. My arms have lost muscle volume, and my upper body—especially my shoulders, which feel like they've basically disappeared—has gotten really thin, while my hips have drastically increased in size. It’s getting hard to even do push-ups because my joints feel so stiff, and when I try to flex my forearm from the wrist to the palm, this tiny little knot pops up. It doesn't hurt, but you can see it. Moving my head around has become difficult too, and I deal with dizziness pretty often. I also sweat insanely much; if I’m just sitting or standing in a coffee shop, my back and legs end up soaked, and my face feels like it's being hit by a sudden wave of intense heat. I’ve noticed swelling in the joints of both feet, which makes walking a struggle. Today, I spotted some tiny red spots on my chest and one blue one on my leg, and now my jaw has started clicking whenever I make certain facial expressions. At night, and even during the day, I’m hearing ringing in my ears. It’s hard to explain, but it feels like my bones are thinning out. My sense of taste and smell are messed up, breathing is getting heavy, my facial expressions feel limited, and my heart rate seems much slower than usual. To top it off, tonight I’m dealing with this constant feeling of heat throughout my whole body. Please, I could really use some advice or any idea of what this might be. I’m honestly scared it’s something serious because things seem to be getting worse every single day. If anyone has gone through something similar, I’d be so grateful for your input. Thanks in advance.

Honestly, I wouldn't bring that part up—it might just sound like you're imagining things.
Though, my first thought? Osteoporosis.

rustywolf4 said:So, it’s been going on for quite a while now, but I’ve lost my strength and I get incredibly exhausted from even the smallest amount of effort. This hasn't just been a phase; it started with some brief joint pain, and then my elbow cartilage gave out. My arms have lost muscle volume, and my upper body—especially my shoulders, which feel like they've basically disappeared—has gotten really thin, while my hips have drastically increased in size. It’s getting hard to even do push-ups because my joints feel so stiff, and when I try to flex my forearm from the wrist to the palm, this tiny little knot pops up. It doesn't hurt, but you can see it. Moving my head around has become difficult too, and I deal with dizziness pretty often. I also sweat insanely much; if I’m just sitting or standing in a coffee shop, my back and legs end up soaked, and my face feels like it's being hit by a sudden wave of intense heat. I’ve noticed swelling in the joints of both feet, which makes walking a struggle. Today, I spotted some tiny red spots on my chest and one blue one on my leg, and now my jaw has started clicking whenever I make certain facial expressions. At night, and even during the day, I’m hearing ringing in my ears. It’s hard to explain, but it feels like my bones are thinning out. My sense of taste and smell are messed up, breathing is getting heavy, my facial expressions feel limited, and my heart rate seems much slower than usual. To top it off, tonight I’m dealing with this constant feeling of heat throughout my whole body. Please, I could really use some advice or any idea of what this might be. I’m honestly scared it’s something serious because things seem to be getting worse every single day. If anyone has gone through something similar, I’d be so grateful for your input. Thanks in advance.

Get a chest X-ray.

Nicholas Davis4 said:I live with systemic lupus, and what you're describing sounds quite similar to an autoimmune issue. That said, I trust you've already consulted with a doctor and are getting the proper care.

It feels like an autoimmune issue or some kind of syndrome to me, too.
People dealing with hyperthyroidism tend to sweat like crazy—they're usually thin or just feel like they're constantly running on high octane,
whereas those with low thyroid levels crash hard or don't really deal with the excessive sweating part.
If you've got the cash to spare, it might be worth getting an X-ray of your hips and joints—maybe even an MRI. It’s definitely worth the investment.
Oh, and get your thyroid levels checked.

rustywolf4 said:Hey everyone, just wanted to vent for a second. I went in for some blood work today, and honestly, the attitude from these private doctors is just unbelievable. They basically tried to gaslight me into thinking everything was in my head. You try to explain your actual symptoms, and they just smirk at you like you're being dramatic. Anyway, here are my results. If anyone here knows how to read these better than they do, I'd really appreciate it. To them, it’s just "fatigue," and they brushed me off saying my blood count looks great...
Wbc 4-9, mine is 6
Rbc 4-5.5, mine is 5.40
Hgb 120-170, mine is 173
Hct 26-50, mine is 44.7
Mcv 83-97, mine is 82.8
Mch 29-34, mine is 32
Mchc 320-360, mine is 387—if anyone can tell me what this means...
Plt 150-450, mine is 228
Rdw-Sd 37-54, mine is 37.4
Rdw-Cv 11-16, mine is 12.7
Pdw 9-17, mine is 11
Mpv 9-13, mine is 9.4
P-Lcr 13-43, mine is 21.1
Pct 0.17-0.35, mine is 0.23
Neut 37-72, mine is 59.4
Lymph 20-50, mine is 29
Mono 0-14, mine is 10.1
Eo 0-6, mine is 1.2
Baso 0-1, mine is 0.3

If anyone with a bit more medical knowledge could walk me through this, I'd be so grateful. Specifically, that weirdly high Mchc and why my Mcv is sitting just below the range. It feels like a lot of my numbers are hovering right on the low end. Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

rustywolf4 said:I’d love to get more testing done, but honestly, I feel like they treated me like an idiot. Just because I was honest about my symptoms, they basically told me I was making it all up. It totally killed my motivation to even bother following up with more labs.

Wait, why did you even go to a private doctor just to get blood work done?
The whole point of paying out of pocket is for those specific tests where the wait times at a standard clinic or hospital are insanely long—you know, the stuff where waiting could actually be life-threatening or make things way worse if you don't act fast.
If you can get the results in a couple of days through your insurance without shelling out extra cash, going private is kind of a waste, especially if money isn't exactly rolling in.
And look, joint pain or stiffness isn't something you just "imagine," and neither is excessive sweating.
It’s not some psychosomatic thing where you can just whisper "Open Sesame" and suddenly start sweating buckets and losing weight.
If it were that easy, I’d be face-deep in a tub of ice cream right now and looking exactly like Twigi.
🤣

Brian Reed said:It’s their lack of conflict that makes them excellent—we solve everything through communication, even when we hold completely opposing views, lifestyles, interests, political leanings, or musical tastes. In short: tolerance.

It isn't about their individual traits; it's about how much of their "flaws" you can stomach just so they'll tolerate yours.
Unless you're perfect... and if you are, you're in a pretty tight spot on this planet.😉

Man, honestly? Over the last few years, I’ve mostly just been tolerating my own flaws—or rather, the ones we share. It always seems to end up where people don't bother trying to be "perfectly" moral or whatever, because most folks don't care about that, and frankly, it's just not natural.
I used to be blind to everyone else's issues, but now that I've actually opened my eyes a bit, even the smallest stuff starts getting under my skin.

So, what is it that draws you to people who have completely different views and tastes?
Personally, I'm attracted to people who share my tastes, my beliefs, and even my virtues and vices.
Usually, I find myself drawn to someone who reminds me of my old self—you know, like that mom type who's constantly trying to teach her kids a lesson. 🤣

Brian Reed said:ironrider11, it sounds like you're talking about social paranoia—though from what I can see, there are enough opportunists around here to back up your description.

My take isn't that everyone is inherently corrupt, degenerate, or worthless—that’s certainly not how I approach meeting new people.
But... we all have targets on our backs. Think of it less as a total lack of trust and more like having a filter—not quite a six-foot wall topped with boiling oil, but something similar.

I know plenty of great people, and they are far from perfect.

So, what actually makes someone "excellent" in your book?
In your opinion, anyway.
I can't just look at one or two little traits and decide someone's an excellent person—it’s gotta be like ninety percent virtue, right?

Brian Reed said:ironrider11, it sounds like you're talking about social paranoia—though from what I can see, there are enough opportunists around here to back up your description.

My take isn't that everyone is inherently corrupt, degenerate, or worthless—that’s certainly not how I approach meeting new people.
But... we all have targets on our backs. Think of it less as a total lack of trust and more like having a filter—not quite a six-foot wall topped with boiling oil, but something similar.

I know plenty of great people, and they are far from perfect.

I don't go into things with that kind of attitude either. In fact, most people actually think I'm pretty great based on how I react to them (pretty much as awesome as they think they are 🤣), but the truth is, I rarely—if ever—actually feel that way about anyone.
Maybe as I've gotten older, I've transitioned from being one of those dreamers who idealizes every mediocre or "just okay" person they cross paths with
into more of a rationalist who only really respects true perfection, or at least someone's genuine grit and their relentless pursuit of it.
And obviously, we're talking strictly about character and core personality traits here.

I’ve pretty much made it a ritual to knock back two shots of either wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar after every single meal.
From what I’ve gathered, those stubborn grey hairs start popping up because people aren't producing enough stomach acid—meaning the body just can't properly break down all those complex nutrients we're shoving into our systems.
Since acetic acid basically mimics the effects of
gastric acid, I figured I'd give it a shot and see if I notice a difference in a few months or so.😁

Brian Reed said:We really need to define what we mean by people here.
Are we talking about general social interaction—colleagues, acquaintances, or the casual crowds we run into daily—or are we talking about the struggle to find a tight-knit inner circle?

Because let's be real: I don't know anyone walking around with thirty "close" friends. Most people have somewhere between one and five—maybe six if they're lucky.
And I'm lost on this whole "toxic" and "fool" business.
The concept of "trust" escapes me too—are we talking about keeping secrets, where someone protects your information? What exactly does "trust" cover in this context?

Well, "people" basically refers to everyone else—you know, anyone who isn't part of our inner circle.
It’s pretty simple: you’ve got your close ones, and then there's everyone else
who didn't make the cut or just hasn't caught our interest enough to get close to.
Honestly, I bet most people who act untrustworthy look at the world through that exact same lens.

Brian Reed said:Question:

Is this your definitive conclusion on how things ought to be—as in, do you think people shouldn't be loved, or is it more that you genuinely don't feel anything for anyone at all?

One more thing:

How does that actually tie back to mistrust? In my experience, I know plenty of people who hold deep suspicion toward someone yet still harbor intense feelings for them—or, if we're being honest, they love them simply because the alternative is hating them.

Well, let’s just say I’m landing somewhere in the middle—I don't think people *should* be loved, mostly because genuine, wholehearted human beings are incredibly rare these days, and honestly, I just don't feel much for anyone anymore.
We all go through those life experiences that end up reshaping us, right? Mine changed me to the point where I don't see anything particularly worth admiring or loving to the point of self-sacrifice in "average" people—not to mention the terrible ones. I don't find myself romanticizing or sugarcoating anything. Basically, I don't love people because I refuse to idealize the most run-of-the-mill individuals, flaws and all, as if they were some kind of divine masterpiece.
That said, someone can still be a dear person to me or just plain likable—I might even feel a certain fondness there—but I'm not about developing deep friendships or romantic feelings until I've actually vetted them. I need to know who they really are, what they think, how they feel, and whether they're reliable when things aren't perfectly rosy for them or for me. That's the stuff I focus on.

Brian Reed said:Question:

Is this your definitive conclusion on how things ought to be—as in, do you think people shouldn't be loved, or is it more that you genuinely don't feel anything for anyone at all?

One more thing:

How does that actually tie back to mistrust? In my experience, I know plenty of people who hold deep suspicion toward someone yet still harbor intense feelings for them—or, if we're being honest, they love them simply because the alternative is hating them.

Personally, I prioritize comfort and stability in both friendship and romance. For me, it’s vital that I don't have to worry about someone suddenly flipping the script on me—taking me from something pleasant to something ugly, or from bad to downright disastrous.
Just the thought of someone shutting down my emotional capacity like that... it's not worth it.
And why would you even have distrust in the first place? Unless the other person is actively causing you mental, physical, or financial harm, or trying to con you by selling you some fairy tale about mutual love that's nothing but a scam.

To me, people who claim to "feel" deeply while having zero trust are a bit baffling—unless we're talking about jealousy.
It seems perfectly logical to me that if you don't trust someone, you simply don't want contact with them; it feels unnecessary to pretend you love them when you actually resent them. It just seems like overcomplicating things for no reason...

ambercrane722 said:Honestly, I don't buy into any of it either, and let's be real—I rarely feel any genuine love for anyone. Humanity is basically just a faulty product off a broken assembly line, and there isn't much you can do about it. Some people actually put in the work to fix themselves, while others just stay stuck, and man, I still have such a massive mountain of stuff left to learn and master myself.

I'm right there with you.😁
Actually, I think it’s pretty rare to find someone whose actual character makes them worth loving. Most people are just walking bundles of flaws—maybe they have one tiny, shiny little virtue tied to the top like a ribbon on a trash bag, hoping we won't notice the rest.

Could be some kind of arthritis—there are a million different kinds, really. Honestly, your best bet might be hitting up the ER and telling them you’re having trouble breathing, then bringing up all those other symptoms after. If you just go through the standard appointment route, you might be waiting forever before anyone actually figures out what's wrong with you.
You should probably dig a little deeper into your habits, too. Are you getting enough calcium from milk or dairy? Are you actually spending any time out in the sun to get that Vitamin D? It’s worth checking if you're getting enough Vitamin C, B vitamins, copper, zinc, and selenium from your food to keep your immune system in check. And, let's be real—are you exercising enough to keep everything circulating properly? Sometimes these issues aren't even medical mysteries; they're just what happens when you're sedentary or out of shape. Plus, did you catch some random infection recently that might have triggered all this?