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Posts by steelwalker26

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DIY: Overmoderation issues in Feedback & Suggestions ·
It’s happened to me more than a few times now: I drop an answer to a question, and an hour later, the whole thing vanishes into thin air.

I know how to click 'moved' and then jump to the very last page—since clicking 'moved' just dumps you at the start of a new thread rather than the latest posts—to hunt down my response or whatever else was relocated. But does anyone actually teach the newbies how to do that? What is the point of moving threads this fast? It’s an absurdly useless practice. Nothing would happen if you just let people discuss a topic on the main board for a week.

I suppose the goal of this forum isn't to be a place of peace, quiet, and sterile order, where a handful of self-appointed sheriffs—who get far too much leeway—police every little sub-thread to ensure nobody says a word out of line.

The PDF Housing forum is supposed to be a place for exchanging useful info. Users, driven by basic human nature, make sure nonsense doesn't sit there unchallenged. Meanwhile, the owner probably just wants raw traffic and clicks. The mods should be balancing both: ensuring users find what they need without making everything so quiet that there's no actual discussion left.
Feeling weak and run down in Health ·
Larry Diaz4 said:Look, when I say I don't eat vegetables, I mean things like Brussels sprouts, beets, asparagus, spinach, and stuff like that. You know, the cooked, steamed, or fried kind... just tossed in as some casual side dish. Honestly? It’s just bland to me! Now, a green salad is fine because it actually makes the meat taste better. But bananas, apples, and all that fruit stuff? No thanks...
Are you really going to count a little bit of lettuce in a kebab 🤦 or some onions on a burger
as "eating vegetables"? Or maybe squeezing a little lemon over some fried chicken counts as getting your Vitamin C? 🤔

All I care about is being productive and not feeling like my body is constantly dragging me down. That's it. That's the whole goal. Because when you're in pain, you just can't get anything done.

Sorry if my food definitions aren't surgically precise. 🙂

Yeah.

Larry Diaz4 said:Look, when I say I don't eat vegetables, I mean things like Brussels sprouts, beets, asparagus, spinach, and stuff like that. You know, the cooked, steamed, or fried kind... just tossed in as some casual side dish. Honestly? It’s just bland to me! Now, a green salad is fine because it actually makes the meat taste better. But bananas, apples, and all that fruit stuff? No thanks...
Are you really going to count a little bit of lettuce in a kebab 🤦 or some onions on a burger
as "eating vegetables"? Or maybe squeezing a little lemon over some fried chicken counts as getting your Vitamin C? 🤔

All I care about is being productive and not feeling like my body is constantly dragging me down. That's it. That's the whole goal. Because when you're in pain, you just can't get anything done.

Sorry if my food definitions aren't surgically precise. 🙂

Yeah, it counts. But look, if you're eating that tiny amount of fresh produce, you aren't getting nearly enough fiber—and your gut needs that to function. You'll get a few vitamins and minerals out of it, sure, but it’s not exactly a complete meal.

You don't want to see a doctor, you don't want to run any tests, and you won't touch a single dietary change or a pill to save your life. It’s like watching someone drive a car straight toward a brick wall while refusing to even check the brakes. 🤔 What else could be recommended? Get some sunlight whenever you can—aim for thirty minutes at a time. It’s essential for Vitamin D, and frankly, it helps with depression too. You might want to give whatever was suggested in post 27 a shot for a couple of weeks just to see if it actually makes a difference.
Feeling weak and run down in Health ·
Which part of this is actually true?

Larry Diaz4 said:I’d love to, really, but honestly? That might be the last bit of joy I have left in this life. And man, it's hard to let go... I know it's bad for me, but I just love it too much. It's like—I don't even touch coffee, or cigarettes, or booze.
I have no clue what the number actually is. I just don't have the luxury of time to go see a doctor right now, at least not until May 7th.
I don't eat any veggies. As for fruit? I can't even bring myself to slice it up because of my glucose monitor. It’s mostly just chicken and potatoes. Everything is fried in grease or oil—nothing except French fries.
On top of all that, I’ve been feeling pretty low mentally, and honestly, the last ten days have been even harder because of it.
I don't take any pills. Well, except for some Klavocin I had to take for an ear infection after ending up in the ER...
The weight is dropping again.

I can't believe I've fallen this far. I went from working out every single day and winning medals to being a total wreck physically. A dog could practically chew me up.

Larry Diaz4 said:Nene, it looks like craters.
https://akm-img-a-in.tosshub.com/ind...8g0O5o8RqMJKoh
Not quite this extreme, though—not right along the edges. Sometimes, after eating... well, it varies. And just rinsing with water. My doctor at the Mayo Clinic actually told me I should head over to the university hospital to have them take a real look. 😬

Look, I get that it's bad, but man, it’s such a rush. I drink too much and for way too long—I know, I know. But honestly, it's my instant fix. It's the same way I act when I've gone overboard on greasy food. I'll crush a burger or a kebab and it just "lifts" me up. Same thing with a Cola. Or like, when I'm talking to this girl—you know the type—she keeps pulling me in, then makes me feel like an absolute idiot by canceling two dates in a row on her own terms. I'm sitting there just absolutely fuming inside. Then I grab a Cola, and like a phoenix rising, I'm back. I can't even focus on studying, but after one glass—man, I feel like a god... knowledge just flows right in 😂 that's why I do it.
And the stress? It just crushes me. I'll drop a few pounds right before an exam. Even my professor asked if I was doing alright... and I've never even met the guy before.
Yesterday, I saw my ribs in the mirror, looked like I was out in Africa 🙂

At least I'm sleeping less now. I used to sleep like 12 hours straight.

I mean, I know I ought to go, but you know how it is—you finally get an appointment with your doctor, and you realize you need a few follow-up checks. If I went now, she’d probably just scream at me. I just can't deal with it right now. I simply can't... I know it's irresponsible, but whatever.

Does salad even have Vitamin C? All I really eat is green leaf, iceberg, radishes, arugula, and green onions. Always paired with meat, obviously. So, basically, I eat it every other day 😁

I can't help but get the impression you almost enjoy being in such bad shape. Seriously though—do you actually want to feel better?
Feeling weak and run down in Health ·
Larry Diaz4, like this?

image
Feeling weak and run down in Health ·
Jose Edwards16 said:Luckily enough, weather changes don't really mess with me—I guess I'm just built that way. The only thing that actually gets to me is the heat, specifically those stifling, humid days where there isn't even a hint of a breeze to break it up.

It’s just... honestly, it sucks when you hit that wall where you feel completely wiped out—like, total physical exhaustion where you can't get anything done. It’s a pretty rough feeling, I guess.

You’re basically powerless—it's like you don't even have control over yourself.

I can still get things done—it’s just that I have to scale back a bit and move at a slower pace, I guess. I also find that on top of my main breaks, I probably need to squeeze in another one or two five-to-ten minute stretches here and there just to keep going.
I'm trying to drink more water—or maybe just stick to more Coca-Cola. I guess we'll see how that goes.

So, I got recommended a few different tests, but honestly, if I actually walk into my primary care doctor's office and tell them—you know, like, "hey, people told me I should get this done and that done"—I feel like the nurse would just hit me with a stack of five or six different referrals. It’d probably start with a speech pathologist because my articulation can be a bit... let's say "rugged" sometimes—then they'd likely suggest an ultrasound for my thyroid since I've been feeling heavy lately, then maybe some blood pressure stuff because they think it's bottoming out, then heart stuff, and I'd probably end up at the ophthalmologist too, since I go there every single year anyway. I mean, I just don't exactly have the luxury of spending all day sitting in waiting rooms right now.

Look, you should probably just try to get organized. I mean, there’s no way you can tackle every single check all at once—that's just not realistic—but maybe you could just start somewhere? Just pick one thing and go from there, I guess.
So, I’ve got my appointments lined up for next week—Tuesday and Friday. I already cleared things with my boss at work, so I'm taking Friday off entirely. As for Tuesday, since that appointment is scheduled for the morning, I’ll just head into the office in the afternoon instead. I guess that works out okay, maybe.

Right now, my biggest issue is this toothache. It’s constant—just a steady, nagging throb. I started popping some Advil yesterday since there was no stopping it, but I had this idea—maybe it was a bad one—that the effects would wear off sooner in the afternoon, so I skipped a dose. Then today, I actually missed my morning dose because I was running late, but...
They said I could swing by tomorrow—Saturday. I actually have an appointment scheduled for two weeks from now, but honestly, if that tooth is giving you constant trouble, just go ahead and get it looked at... maybe. Hope it feels better.
Maybe I'll actually deal with this mess tomorrow—fingers crossed. Taking the pills doesn't really fix anything, it just... mutes it, I guess? It’s more like a temporary hush rather than an actual solution. And honestly, I've already had enough of it today.
So, looking at the third dose—according to the instructions, the sweet spot is somewhere around 3 to 4 tablets. Each one is 600 mg, so that puts the max at 1,800 mg... though I think if I remember reading the fine print correctly, you can push it up to 2,400 mg a day in extreme cases. Anyway, I guess that means I probably need to take another one before hitting the sack tonight.

I finally cut out the sodas. First off—they just make me feel bloated, like my stomach is constantly full of air. Second, they’re honestly too much for me—kind of an overwhelming hit—and third, once you actually start feeling... well, you know.
(pointing at that tooth of yours that’s already acting up) if you actually believe that carbonated stuff eats away at your enamel—you know, like, totally destroys the tooth—then I guess you have to ask yourself why you're still drinking it in the first place.
With Col and stuff like that, you’re really just dumping sugar into your system—it doesn't actually quench your thirst, I guess. Even the standard sparkling waters—you know, like Perrier or those other big brands—always felt a bit too aggressive for me... maybe it's just me. I ended up picking up some Mivela (the red one) because the carbonation is way lighter, and honestly, it hits the spot. Might be worth a shot if you're looking for something else.
Sometimes I'll go with bamboo—I guess.

I came across this YouTube video a while back—it’s actually pretty educational if you think about it—where some guy pours two liters of sparkling soda into a pot and just lets it boil away. He basically kept cooking it until all the water evaporated, leaving nothing but this thick, brown sludge at the bottom... I guess it's just concentrated sugar and caramel or whatever additives they dump into those drinks. There are actually a bunch of other videos out there doing the exact same thing. Here’s one:
Link

White coffee without any sugar—honestly, it tastes pretty mediocre—but I finally decided to cut the sweetener out of my routine ever since these issues started popping up.
My own little struggle, I guess—if I mix my cappuccino with regular coffee, it actually tastes better since the cappuccino has a bit of sugar in it. It’s a weird thing to fixate on, maybe, but there you go.

I don't really do vegetables. And fruit? Honestly, I can't be bothered to slice it up—too much effort with my gadgets and all that. It’s mostly just chicken and potatoes for me. Everything is cooked in fat or oil... well, except for fries, obviously.

Maybe you're running into those issues because your diet is a bit too one-dimensional—I mean, your body might just not be getting all the nutrients it actually needs to function properly, I guess. 🤔
I think one of the guys on here mentioned something along those lines—it's a fair point, I guess. Anyway, I figured I’d throw in a few of my own suggestions.
When it comes to fruit—I mean, you’ve got blenders, right? You can just toss a bunch of different fruits in there and whip up a smoothie—but honestly, they don't always turn out looking that great.
It looks like—well, I guess the flavor really just comes down to whatever you decide to throw in there. You can pretty much find any combination of fruit that hits the spot for you—whether it's...
Bananas, apples, pears... or whatever else you're into. I guess I don't eat nearly enough fruit myself either.

When it comes to veggies... I’m all about salads—you know, like a good green salad, potato salad, mixed greens, beet salad... that kind of thing. The only thing I can't stand is kale.
Whenever I have beans, I usually make sure to toss in at least one tomato—or maybe some cucumbers or bell peppers—just to have a little salad on the side, I guess.
I don't necessarily need meat to be the centerpiece of a meal—I could probably just get by on nothing but potato salad or a bean salad if I really wanted to.

So, I recently ordered this vegan tortilla at a restaurant—not that I’m actually a vegetarian or anything, mind you—just a veggie tortilla paired with a side salad. It was actually pretty good, I guess.

Well, look, maybe try tweaking those eating habits a little bit. If you’re already going out of your way to grab a sugary soda—I mean, why even bother?—you might as well pick up a couple of pounds of fruit and some veggies while you're at it. Just a thought, I guess.

Yeah, I am.

@Larry Diaz4, do a quick Google search on scurvy and look up the symptoms. You need a steady intake of Vitamin C just to stay alive.
Feeling weak and run down in Health ·
Larry Diaz4, what’s your HbA1c looking like? From what you're saying, this sounds like iron-deficiency anemia to me.
The best natural sources are red meat, organ meats, eggs, leafy greens, legumes, and fish.
Pair those with something high in Vitamin C to actually help with absorption.
And quit drinking Col; it just blocks your body from absorbing essential minerals. A natural lemonade (loaded with Vit C!) is a much better swap—just sweeten it however you want.
Feeling weak and run down in Health ·
^^ I'm asking because of this

Jacob Sullivan91 said:I'm just sitting here waiting on some genetic testing results... because honestly, it’s not like I’m overweight or anything. My cholesterol has never even come close to the upper limit, let alone gone over it, and my blood pressure has been totally fine my entire life.

My mom deals with the exact same thing, so there's a pretty good chance this is just running in the family... genetics, right?

Reading what the OP wrote, it really takes me back to how I felt about ten years ago. Back then, I was struggling with hypothyroidism and anxiety 🤷

What kind of prediabetes symptoms did you actually experience, if any?
Feeling weak and run down in Health ·
Jacob Sullivan91 said:I'm not saying you suggested something extreme, just that it wasn't exactly right. I'd pass out without snacking in between meals 🤷

IR is super easy to diagnose, so he's better off just going for an OGTT to see if he needs medication.

And that's exactly my point:
steelwalker26 said:Looks like you're hitting the early stages of insulin resistance—basically prediabetes.

Start hitting some extra multivitamins and minerals. Watch your meal timing like a hawk. Cut back on the carbs—I mean both the pure sugar and the heavy starches—and swap them out for leafy greens, healthy fats, and just moderate amounts of protein.
Force yourself to walk every single day, but don't just stroll; vary your pace. You need at least thirty minutes, though forty-five is the sweet spot.

To track those baseline levels (which you’ll definitely need later to see if this is actually working), go get an OGTT and an HbA1c test done. Check this out for prep:

What kind of symptoms were you dealing with at first? How did you end up getting your diagnosis?
Feeling weak and run down in Health ·
He mentioned he’d take a look at the thyroid, then asked if there was anything else on the checklist.

Jose Edwards16 said:Hey there. I’m just quickly scanning through the topics here—and since I don’t actually have a "solid" diagnosis yet—and because I’ve been feeling a bit off lately, I decided to start this thread. I’d appreciate any advice you guys might have. I’ll try to be as detailed as possible about what's going on.

So, it all started around the second week of this month (April)—I just started feeling unwell, specifically weak.
In what sense, though? Weak or unwell? It’s a little hard to pin down, really—but roughly speaking, it’s like I’m just exhausted or drained (not to an extreme degree, mind you). I’m not getting dizzy, I’m not passing out, nothing hurts, and I can still get my work done at the office (even if I have slowed my pace down a bit). This started happening in the mornings (and I make sure to eat breakfast every day).
When I feel this way, I’ll take a little break at work—just sit down for a bit—and then eat something else, like a sandwich, some pastry, or maybe grab a yogurt drink, some juice, or water. It’s not like I feel better immediately after eating, but I grab something just to try and replenish my energy, I guess. And, well, that "off" feeling lasts for a while; it doesn't just vanish instantly. That sensation of weakness or feeling poorly also shows up when I get home, sometimes right before bed—even though I’m sleeping pretty well, more or less.

I went to see my doctor and explained everything. She checked my blood pressure (it was 130/90) and told me I should keep monitoring it daily at home.
We also did some blood and urine tests—most of the results were fine, except they found I'm low on Vitamin D, so she prescribed some Vitamin D supplements—and since you synthesize that from sunlight through your skin, she suggested I spend more time outdoors. My doctor mentioned it might be a thyroid issue, so she gave me a referral for a scan, but I'll be waiting two or three months for that.

As for the blood pressure (which I've been tracking for three weeks now), it fluctuates. Usually, it sits around 130/90, but it can spike up to 145/94—
and it can also dip to 122/80, which I think is considered "normal." Heart rate: somewhere between 72 and 85 bpm.
The doctor prescribed Prylar 5 mg to help lower my blood pressure, noting that it would take about
a week of taking it to really kick in. According to the instructions, the medication works by "reducing substances that can raise blood pressure and dilating/relaxing the blood vessels to make it easier for the heart to pump blood." Just one capsule a day in the morning.
For now, I can say the symptoms I described are the same as they were before starting the meds—so, I guess I just have to wait and see. Yesterday, for instance, I had 130/84 in the morning and 142/87 in the evening when I was feeling pretty lousy.
This morning it was 133/82.

Regarding my diet, I haven't used salt or pepper on my food in a long time. I've been eating less meat for a while now, though I wouldn't call myself a vegetarian—if I like what I'm eating (ground beef, chicken, etc.), I'll eat it. I don't like pork. Sometimes I'll have fish or calamari—and I enjoy meatless meals too, like oatmeal or lentil soup.
I don't smoke, and I don't drink (not even coffee, except for a sort of "white coffee" in the morning).
I'm 37, weighing 91 kg, and standing 175 cm tall based on my last checkup at the clinic.

Right now, I’d describe how I'm feeling as... mediocre. Not terrible, but certainly not great.

I've actually gone to the ER twice. I explained the symptoms, they checked my blood pressure and heart, and once they even gave me an IV for a bit. They concluded it wasn't anything too serious and sent me back to my primary physician (who is the one I eventually saw).
I should mention that I haven't experienced anything like this before, and I'm not the type to run to the doctor for every little thing, but this is definitely worrying me.

Also, I'm not having any delusions or hallucinations; I can drive just fine (just short trips between work and home).
Furthermore, I've concluded that none of this seems related to my job—because whether it's a "light" workday (like early in the week) or an intense one (over the weekend), I still feel bad once or twice a day (in the morning, during the day, or when I get home).

My friends and coworkers joke that it's probably just a lack of sex, but it's not like I'm constantly in a bad mood or anything. Maybe it's the blood pressure, maybe the thyroid... Does anyone have any other advice, ideas, or suggestions...?
Thanx!

Before. Diabetes doesn't just hit you like a freight train out of nowhere. There’s always that gray area first—a window where the symptoms aren't all hitting at once. Look, not everyone dealing with insulin resistance is destined to end up with full-blown diabetes, but you can't afford to be complacent. If you're already scrambling to find a fix, you better pay close attention to those early warning signs. Don't ignore the buildup.

Jacob Sullivan91 said:I'm just sitting here waiting on some genetic testing results... because honestly, it’s not like I’m overweight or anything. My cholesterol has never even come close to the upper limit, let alone gone over it, and my blood pressure has been totally fine my entire life.

My mom deals with the exact same thing, so there's a pretty good chance this is just running in the family... genetics, right?

Reading what the OP wrote, it really takes me back to how I felt about ten years ago. Back then, I was struggling with hypothyroidism and anxiety 🤷

I suspect we're looking at simultaneous symptoms rather than actual underlying causes.
Feeling weak after eating is also a symptom. Obesity doesn't just happen overnight—you don't wake up twenty pounds heavier out of nowhere. It starts with excess weight. Your metabolism is reacting to something that simply isn't working for you. Since Jose Edwards16 isn't facing major issues yet, why not try adjusting his diet and see if it helps? I wasn't suggesting anything drastic.
Feeling weak and run down in Health ·
You can't just look at an OGTT or HbA1c in a vacuum. You have to weigh them against the rest of the symptoms and clinical findings.
Feeling weak and run down in Health ·
@Jacob Sullivan91, have you ever actually figured out why your insulin levels are staying stubbornly high?
Feeling weak and run down in Health ·
Based on extensive research and my own firsthand experience.

And yeah, I suggested running some preliminary tests for insulin resistance, among other things, specifically so his doctor would finally realize there's an option she hasn't even bothered to mention yet.
Feeling weak and run down in Health ·
And this part is crucial:
supplement with extra multivitamins and minerals. Watch your meal timing. Cut back on carbs—specifically sugar and starches—and swap them out for leafy greens, healthy fats, and moderate amounts of protein.

Regarding that meal rhythm—if you start digging into the research on insulin resistance, you'll see the consensus is to stop snacking constantly. It means sticking to three steady meals composed of low-glycemic foods, and absolutely nothing in between.
Feeling weak and run down in Health ·
Based on your weight, lab results, and symptoms, it’s pretty clear you're dealing with insulin issues. Simply adding more small snacks to your main meals isn't going to fix that problem.
Feeling weak and run down in Health ·
Looks like you're hitting the early stages of insulin resistance—basically prediabetes.

Start hitting some extra multivitamins and minerals. Watch your meal timing like a hawk. Cut back on the carbs—I mean both the pure sugar and the heavy starches—and swap them out for leafy greens, healthy fats, and just moderate amounts of protein.
Force yourself to walk every single day, but don't just stroll; vary your pace. You need at least thirty minutes, though forty-five is the sweet spot.

To track those baseline levels (which you’ll definitely need later to see if this is actually working), go get an OGTT and an HbA1c test done. Check this out for prep:
Oxycodone: What are your experiences? in Health ·
If your teeth are rotting, numbing the pain isn't some magic fix. It’s a temporary band-aid. Once the meds wear off, the agony returns, and as time ticks by, the decay worsens and the throbbing gets more intense. If you don't fix the root cause, there is no end in sight.
Toothache from decay isn't just some phantom sensation you can mask and ignore. It is an active infection spreading through your mouth and eventually your entire body.
Sure, you could have them all pulled and go with dentures, but even then, you still need a dentist.

Local anesthesia works—it just has to be applied precisely and you have to give it enough time to kick in before they start drilling. Some people lack the patience to wait, but you have to insist on those ten minutes, or longer if necessary. If your nerves are shot, ask your primary care physician for 2 mg of Valium to take beforehand.

There are also much stronger prescription painkillers available beyond just Advil.
Oxycodone: What are your experiences? in Health ·
Basic health insurance plus supplemental coverage covers the dentist and all repairs.

While they're working, you'll get local anesthesia and then some prescription painkillers afterward. Eventually, the issue gets fixed rather than turning into a massive, compounding disaster.

And don't even bring up money—drugs are expensive as hell and won't solve a damn thing.
Can I tone up legs like these with working out? in Hobbies & Leisure ·
Everyone’s giving you great advice on muscle mass and tone, but I’d throw in one overlooked tip that actually makes a massive difference. If it’s good enough for those Hollywood starlets, it’s good enough for you: pair those heels with some sheer, matte 15 denier stockings in a skin-tone shade—something with a light tan tint.
Then you’ll finally see what your legs can really do.
What's the point of required reading? in Students & Teens ·
Linda Price5 said:Sure, if you believe a woman who spends hours getting dolled up for a guy just to try and take his head off represents a third of the FBI. (The other third falls under the reverse scenario, and the remaining third is just whatever else is out there.)

I was referring to the language and style, but this works too. 😁
What's the point of required reading? in Students & Teens ·
Linda Price5 said:The folks over at KGZ claim that this is actually meant to be a reading list for three-year vocational schools.

Back when I was growing up, enrolling in a three-year technical program usually meant you were an American student struggling to scrape by with Ds and Cs.

And then, someone has the audacity to hand a kid like that this:
On this holy Lenten day, respected citizens of Isukarst, my dear godparents and neighbors of the house of Dujam, while revisiting the letters of the ancient Testament, I came upon the history of the honorable and holy widow Judith and the late Olofern, whom she slew, thereby liberating all the land of Israel from their great peril.
While reading this history, it occurred to me to interpret it into our own native tongue, so that those who lack proficiency in Latin or scholarly texts might also understand.


Isukarst, indeed. 😁

but hey, it's great practice for deciphering weird texts on forums 👍