It’s all very sweet, really—the baby bumps and all that—but there’s a fundamental question that needs to be asked first: am I actually allowed to? Touching someone without permission is a no-go. In my house, that’s reserved for my husband or, eventually, my parents. But if I’m not close enough to someone to give them a hug when we say hello, then there is absolutely no reason to be reaching out and touching their stomach.
George Bishop72under those circumstances, taking maternity leave is perfectly reasonable. Once a job starts presenting actual risks, there’s really no debate about whether you need to step away.
On a different note, I deal with a similar health situation—hypothyroidism, which can be quite spontaneous—but my role is entirely sedentary and office-based. For now, I can manage just fine. However, I suspect I might have to transition to leave once allergy season hits this spring. I honestly don't know how I'll handle it; I'll likely have to retreat indoors and invest in some serious air conditioning. I need to sit down with my doctor to discuss the logistics and plan ahead. Part of me is almost looking forward to a late spring snowstorm, just so the allergies don't kick in until after I've made it through the first quarter.
I find the whole situation with medical leave documentation a bit unsettling. When you submit your doctor's notes to the office, they include specific diagnostic codes that point directly to the nature of your illness. Shouldn't the actual reason for taking sick leave be considered private information? As it stands, an HR assistant or an accountant can immediately deduce whether someone is on maternity leave or dealing with depression. It’s a bit much, isn't it? Some employees even end up memorizing these codes, and if they haven't, they can easily look up the official medical classification guidelines online.
So, what did your blood work actually look like when they ran the tests?
For instance, I deal with this issue myself because my red blood cell count is always running high. It could be an excess of platelets or high cholesterol, too, or it might just be something as simple as being dehydrated.
We can only speculate here, but if you’ve been running a fever and dealing with all this for more than three days, there isn't much you can do virtually to fix a medical issue.
I’ve been scrolling through some comments lately, and I can’t help but notice how many women are insisting it’s far too early to take a girl to the gynecologist once she starts her period. They seem to frame the whole thing as if it were some kind of traumatic event.
I have to say, I completely disagree. In fact, I think the anxiety actually stems from treating it like a trauma in the first place.
A doctor isn't going to examine a young girl who hasn't been sexually active the same way they would an adult woman. Besides, a girl can deal with a mountain of health issues that have absolutely nothing to do with sex.
Personally, I would have been incredibly relieved—and would have saved myself a world of trouble—if my mother had taken me to the doctor right after my first period started. Mine started when I was 11, and the cramps were debilitating. On top of that, because I was frequently on antibiotics for totally unrelated issues, I dealt with terrible yeast infections. I went through absolute hell, and it never even occurred to her to take me to a specialist. Whenever I complained, all I got were these old-fashioned "home remedies": For the cramps, she suggested a heating pad or herbal drops. Since she was against medication, she thought I was too young for painkillers, so I just spent days writhing in pain before finally going out and buying Voltaren myself—when I really should have been asking for more professional advice. As for the yeast infections, she insisted it was just because I wasn't washing properly. She recommended baby oil and basically left me to suffer. For heaven's sake, those things can be cleared up with a single pill or a specific cream, but how was an 11-year-old supposed to know that?!!!
A gynecologist (provided you choose one carefully) who understands how to handle inexperienced young girls can work wonders. They provide vital information and support for everything mothers might feel too embarrassed or afraid to discuss with their daughters.
Just my two cents: If you’re dealing with diagnosed circulation issues, I don't think it's particularly wise to let someone with a questionable certification perform spinal adjustments—especially when using a method that could be just as harmful as it is helpful.
I'm just sharing my take, and if you aren't facing those kinds of health concerns, then 🙂
For my hands when they were cracking from extreme dryness, nothing worked quite like Bepanthen ointment—you know, that stuff usually meant for diaper rash 🙂. Nothing else seemed to soothe my skin quite as fast as that did.
Honestly, if you already know your hands crack during the winter, why wouldn't you just make it a habit to apply cream whenever you take off your gloves? Since I work extensively with paperwork, I’m washing my hands constantly, which means applying moisturizer several times a day is just part of my routine . It's especially necessary if you're using one of those harsh, drying antibacterial soaps—the kind I have to use at work .
You should get to a doctor as soon as possible and be completely honest about everything you’re experiencing; they really need the full picture to help you properly.
You mentioned that larger portions feel overwhelming, but have you tried just nibbling on something small? Perhaps starting with liquids—maybe some broth or a fruit and veggie juice—just to get some essential nutrients back into your system? Or is your digestion completely stalled right now?
If I were in your shoes, I’d say there is definitely cause for concern here. You really ought to see a doctor as soon as possible—and honestly, I'd suggest heading straight to the ER. When things reach the point where you're bruising easily, losing hair, and experiencing numbness in your legs, it's a clear sign that your body is starving for vitamins and minerals. It sounds like you're reaching a breaking point where basic functions are starting to fail.
It makes sense that your parents are worried. While I don't think hovering or making threats is the answer, if you haven't been able to eat for a month and can't seem to start, your health is truly at risk.
Morgan Gonzalez56 said:I just got back from the ER. The real issue is that the anxiety of actually going to the emergency room is worse than just dealing with a few days of pain. But, I went anyway. Turns out, I actually broke a finger. They didn't give me a cast or anything, though—it’s exactly what my primary care doctor told me would happen. She said there’s no way to immobilize it properly. I can get a doctor's note for work if I want, but I don't really need one. So, yeah, I guess my GP isn't totally useless after all. I just traumatized myself sitting in a waiting room for three hours only to be told the exact same thing and have nothing done for me. 😁
I'm sorry you had such a rough experience at the hospital (though, strictly speaking, you aren't obligated to go to the ER; you can always head to whichever urgent care clinic is in your network)
but I still think you did the right thing by going. Now you know for sure it's broken, you have the X-rays, and you know you need to be careful (you wouldn't want to accidentally bump it while walking around in a week or two). Plus, you can schedule a follow-up scan with them in four to six weeks to check on the healing process, and you're also entitled to physical therapy afterward if needed.
So perhaps it’s just a bit of lingering discomfort,
but honestly, that mobility test is completely useless. I could move my arm just fine, even with a hairline fracture in the joint, and my mother actually walked right through the front door after fracturing a bone in her foot.
She doesn't necessarily have to send you to trauma; you can just head straight to the ER on your own... If I were in your shoes, I’d go get an X-ray just for my own peace of mind. It seems a bit hard to believe that a GP would claim a fracture can't be immobilized...
If it really is a broken bone, the ER will handle what needs to be done. At the very least, you'll get a proper medical leave and they'll perform a follow-up before clearing you to return to work. If you head back to the job too early with a fracture that hasn't fully set, you could end up with long-term issues.
On the bright side, if it isn't broken, at least you know you don't have anything to worry about.
Back when I suspected I had a fractured bone in my hand, the nurse at my doctor's office wouldn't even give me a second look; she just sent me straight to the ER to get imaged and treated immediately.
As for my experience with broken foot bones and various types of casts, my mother once broke a bone in her foot and it took two full months for everything to heal properly. She used one of those waterproof synthetic casts over the summer, which she actually tried to swim in. If I knew then what I know now, I would have told her not to swim in it—the heat and moisture trapped under that plastic gave her skin burns on her leg. It took another month just for her skin to recover. (It was one of those versions you can't take off, designed to be water-resistant.) The one upside to that type of cast is that it is significantly lighter.
Wait, you were feeling sick, nauseous, and you actually pushed through a workout anyway?!?
Man, reading this, if you had a pancake right before working out and then felt weak and overheated, I’d say your blood sugar probably crashed... (just my amateur opinion)
But honestly, I think it’s pretty reckless to exercise when you aren't feeling well. And if you actually pass out, you definitely need to go talk to a doctor!!!
Hmm, I’m not entirely sure how you define depression in this context. In my experience, what felt like depression was actually just a side effect of my thyroid issues...
Could it be low iron? That caused me some very similar symptoms—that heavy sensation where you feel like you can't quite catch a full breath, constant fatigue, and needing to lie down immediately after something as simple as making the bed. I even fainted once while donating blood, which isn't something that usually happens to me...
I don't know, if you're still feeling that same way now that the weather has turned a bit colder, perhaps you should go back to your doctor. You really need to keep digging until you find the root cause. To me, it doesn't seem logical that this is purely from depression, though if you have been struggling for a long time and are on medication, it could certainly be a side effect. Maybe it’s time to discuss adjusting your prescription or trying something else...
Hmm, I’m not much of a nail biter myself, but I definitely remember those days when little bits of dry skin or hangnails would drive me crazy enough to start picking at them. I know exactly what you mean about how every single little mark becomes glaringly obvious once you soak your hands in water,
The smartest move is really just to stop picking altogether. To make that easier, you might need to clear away that excess skin first and then commit to using a good moisturizer so the urge to pick doesn't come back,
I personally find it helpful to use an exfoliant, or even just gently smooth out the edges with a pumice stone after a shower—just be careful not to go too hard and hurt yourself, As far as a routine goes, applying a bit of cuticle oil and following it up with a heavy, nourishing cream before bed works wonders, and during the day, whenever you remember—ideally right after washing your hands (maybe keep a tube in the bathroom?)—apply a hydrating hand cream that absorbs quickly, It takes a little extra effort at first, but once you’ve repaired the underlying damage, you should find that a simple once-a-day application is more than enough to keep things under control.
Edward Murphy4 said:Not sure where you are, but my hormone and antibody tests cost about $300.😲
Anyway, I've got basically every symptom mentioned in the original post (minus the low temp), and I totally agree with what > said, except my thyroid is actually fine.🤷
That’s why I suggested starting with just TSH and T4; they provide a solid baseline. If those hormone levels look good, you might just have to wait for an appointment through your insurance provider (which, at many major hospitals, can mean waiting several months) Antibody testing is incredibly expensive. If you went ahead and ran every possible test available, you could easily be looking at roughly $300
But if women are already experiencing low body temperatures and other disruptions, and we suspect the thyroid is involved, the TSH should ideally flag it—though, of course, there are always exceptions. And if it isn't the thyroid, there is a whole spectrum of other issues that could trigger those exact same symptoms.
If you suspect there’s an issue with your thyroid, getting bloodwork done at a private lab (specifically TSH and T4) usually costs around $120-$$50 Before I started my treatment, my body temperature was constantly hovering around 96 degrees—I was almost always under 97. It’s worth remembering that the symptoms listed for hypothyroidism don't necessarily manifest in every single patient.
For instance, I dealt with more frequent bowel movements, and the weight gain didn't really kick in until my thyroid levels had hit a critical point. I also struggled with the heat because I just wasn't sweating properly. In my opinion, if your doctor refused to write you a referral for those hormone tests, they aren't taking your concerns seriously enough.
p.s. stormycanyon18, I see you eventually went in to get your thyroid levels checked; did you get your results back yet?
to stormycanyon18: If your temperature is dropping below 95 degrees, you’re essentially dealing with hypothermia. That can be dangerous, especially if it's happening when the weather is warm—it suggests your metabolism isn't firing on all cylinders. Have you ever had your thyroid checked? Hypothyroidism can cause your body temperature to stay consistently low, and it often goes hand-in-hand with issues like depression, anxiety, irregular sweating, or just a general sense of weakness. I’d strongly suggest getting your thyroid levels tested.
If you're dealing with a larger area, Ketoconazole shampoo can be a real lifesaver.
The routine is pretty straightforward: lather up the affected area, let it sit for about five minutes, then rinse thoroughly and make sure it's completely dry. You'll want to do this daily at first, and even once the symptoms clear up, I’d suggest keeping it up once a week for a while just to prevent a relapse. Also, a quick tip: try to use a fresh towel or some paper towels each time. If you're using towels, make sure they're washed on a hot cycle—at least 140°F—so you aren't accidentally spreading it back to yourself.