Posts by Steven Chavez2

Honestly, the only thing that ever actually touched my pain was this little device I stumbled upon through a friend years ago—it feels like a lifetime since then—and now I’m seriously considering getting another one.

It’s battery-operated and uses electrical pulses; you can dial the intensity up or down depending on what feels right for you.

It's hard to describe a gadget I haven't laid eyes on in ages, so I figured I’d just drop this link here. Just a heads-up, though: the specific model I used wasn't exactly this brand... I'm just posting the link so you can see the general idea of how they look.

Anyway, it worked wonders for me. It could kill my worst cramps in about five minutes flat. When you crank up the intensity, there's this brief, awkward twitching sensation for a second or two—kind of jarring at first—but then, suddenly, it’s incredible. You can even dial it back to a lower setting... it feels like a deep, soothing internal massage. And it works. Period. It got me to the point where I didn't even need painkillers anymore.

Does anyone know if you can pick something like this up somewhere here in the States? If so, where should I look and what kind of price range am I looking at? Any info at all would be a huge help.

Bradley Gray54 said:My heart truly goes out to everyone dealing with this...😢

From the very beginning, I have been plagued by incredibly painful and heavy periods. What’s more, I’ve started to notice that as I get older, these struggles seem to be intensifying.

For me, it isn't just abdominal pain; I suffer from intestinal cramps, and my legs and arms ache so much that I feel like I'm coming down with the flu, while my head throbs with what feels like a relentless migraine.
Essentially, it is an absolute nightmare from head to toe... and it lasts for four days every single month.🙂

In the early days, I relied on Voltaren, but I eventually had to stop because it was causing issues with my digestive system. Later, I discovered Neofen, and I have been taking it for nearly ten years now because it actually works for me. Typically, I take a 400 mg dose all at once, which provides relief for about six hours. I make sure to eat a little something before taking it, as I find it works more effectively that way. I also try to lie down for half an hour afterward, which seems to help the medication settle in better. I have tried taking it "on the go" a few times, but it didn't seem to have any effect at all.

The most difficult part is how often I end up staining my clothes, so I completely avoid wearing jeans; instead, I stick to dark skirts or dresses paired with black leggings or tights. I realized that this helps hold everything in place much more securely. My bed linens also get ruined regularly, no matter how careful I try to be—perhaps I should look into adult diapers?!🙂

And what is 😲 most frustrating of all is that every single month, I go through three to three packs of pads! For the first two days, I use nothing but the largest overnight varieties, as anything else simply isn't absorbent enough for me.

And so it goes...😢

If it makes you feel any better, I have to use those massive overnight pads for the first five days, and then I can finally switch to the smaller ones on day six.

During those first two days, I’m literally waking up every hour and a half at night. If I didn't, I'd soak through my pajamas—which is what I wear during those days since it's more comfortable—and the sheets. By the third day, I'm waking up roughly every three hours, and then on the fourth and fifth, I actually manage to sleep through the night. Though, by my definition, "sleeping through the night" means lying down around 1:00 AM and getting up at 6:00.

Throughout the entire cycle, I burn through about five packs of those big overnight pads plus nearly an entire pack of the smaller ones. The pad industry basically exists because of me.

It’s an absolute nightmare. One time, I had to head down to the local police station for some paperwork and there was this massive line, it took forever... As soon as I finished my business, I had to sprint to find the nearest restroom and... yeah, total disaster.

And don't even get me started on the cramps...

rustydrifter10 said:Honestly, things like that don't even get flagged. If it's just a handful of posts, most people would let it slide, or maybe a moderator might just give a gentle nudge to bring the conversation back on track. You only really see posts getting deleted or people getting a formal warning if someone starts going overboard or keeps doing it repeatedly after being told to stop.

Hmm... with all due respect, I have to disagree. I had one of my posts wiped clean once. No heads-up, no warning, nothing. Just gone.

Sophia Thomas7 said:Help me understand your logic here, if you don't mind. Almost every PDF has a chat section where, within certain boundaries, you can pretty much say whatever you want. Why does communication need to be "easier" on other threads? What exactly is supposed to be facilitated?

I’m not talking about starting threads that just spiral out of control until everyone forgets what the hell the topic was even about in the first place. I don't support that at all. No way. What I am talking about—in my opinion—is a reasonable degree of flexibility. Like I said before, I think the strictness here is just overkill. For instance, punishing someone because they’re in a thread discussing Person A, who smokes, and Person B, who doesn't, and they make a comment about smokers in general? Come on. If someone made a comment about Formula 1 drivers, sure, I'd get it—that's just being off-topic or maybe trolling... but this is just taking a specific subject and putting it into a broader context, which actually helps people understand the original poster's point. I'm just using that as an example because it's fresh in my mind.

It feels like we're wasting so much energy on this long list of rigid rules that makes this whole place feel stiff and way too unspontaneous for a typical forum vibe. At the end of the day, people spend more time worrying about accidentally "slipping up" than actually enjoying a good conversation with others...

Sophia Thomas7 said:On Yahoo!, you barely find any actual serious discussion. You ask a question and usually just get a wall of emojis, maybe one real answer here and there. As for the mods? They're practically non-existent.

That's exactly why I mentioned that the moderators on that other American forum are way too hands-off for my liking.

But this current situation is the complete opposite extreme, and frankly, it's just as bad. The whole point of having rules should be to make communication easier, not to put everyone under this constant cloud of stress where you're second-guessing every single move, terrified of tripping over some obscure regulation. It's exhausting.

Anyway, I've made my peace with my stance, so there's really no point in me just spinning my wheels and recycling the same argument. 🙂

Daniel Ward87 said:Since we're talking about the moderator boldwalker12, I'm assuming this falls under the unknown guidelines. If you want to stay on everyone's good side on this Forum, my best advice is to just give the site rules and the specific unknown handbook a quick read. Specifically, regarding the unknown section, one of the big ones is "posts that only consist of a quoted signature and/or a smiley face are flagged as spam"

I get that it feels a bit strict and might kill the vibe, but the rule exists because people tend to abuse it way too often. Just check the rules beforehand so you don't get caught off guard.

I’ve read the rules. Truly. And frankly? I think they're overkill. An emoji is just one tiny example of what they're targeting, so there's really no point in being so pedantic about it. It’s ridiculous. Just imagine you're out at a local pub with ten friends, a conversation starts flowing naturally, and then some sour-faced lady—or guy, doesn't matter—starts circling the table with a whip, ready to lash anyone who dares to drift slightly off-topic or offers a general opinion. Like, say, mentioning you don't have a sweet tooth while Mary is right there in the middle of telling everyone how she spent all last night perfecting her homemade profiteroles. The topic is Mary's profiteroles, not the concept of sugar in general. You can't just jump in with a side comment without getting whipped!

Sophia Thomas7 said:Can you actually name one other board—something roughly the same size in terms of traffic or active users as this one—where that kind of thing is totally normal?

On Reddit. Over there, nobody's going to start a massive brawl just because a thread drifts off-topic or someone replies with a single smiley face. Sure, maybe the mods over there are a bit lax or unobservant, but I don't see any reason to swing to the opposite extreme and lecture people with this level of unnecessary, suffocating strictness.

Bottom line: in my opinion, the whole philosophy behind this forum is just too rigid. It lacks the flexibility needed for actual human interaction.

Nicholas King said:The turnaround to that specific claim—if we want to be pedantic about it—is basically saying "people who actually bother to write posts on forums don't have much going on in their lives," which, I must say, is quite offensive.

What’s the big deal? Someone says something, you think it’s funny, you drop a smiley face.

You seem to be conflating the whole concept of a forum with the Facebook idea of liking things or posting little statuses. A forum post is intended to be a message directed at everyone reading the thread—a message that people read and then react to by laughing, getting angry, throwing their hands up, or whatever else, and then perhaps composing their own response. A post consisting of nothing but a smiley face (or just "Agreed," or any other low-effort filler) is essentially a broadcast to every reader saying, "I found this amusing."

It leads me to a very simple question: who actually cares? Do you honestly believe there is a pressing need to notify every single reader in a thread that you personally found something funny? Would anyone truly want to scroll through topics where every participant feels compelled to inform the entire forum collective that they had a momentary chuckle? What is the actual utility of these forum likes and these statuses stating "Steven Chavez2 is laughing" (which, by the way, I can't help but notice is a bit of an oxymoron 😁)?

If someone says something and you find it funny, just laugh to yourself and move on with your day.

On other forums, this is totally normal. It adds a sense of spontaneity and a relaxed vibe.

So, the issue isn't about some tiny smiley face; it's about the lack of spontaneity and casualness here. In my opinion—and I think I have every right to voice it—the rules on this platform are being taken far too rigidly. Don't get me wrong, I don't have any illusions that anyone is going to change a single thing based on what I say.

Adam Parker2 said:I have to say, I’m feeling pretty frustrated with how boldwalker12 is handling moderation.
On a thread about a mother waiting for her child—which was completely innocent—I received a warning for no apparent reason.

Unless, of course, responding to people who quote you is somehow forbidden at certain times?
Is there actually a time limit on using the quote function?

Are users expected to be glued to a thread constantly just to avoid a warning when replying? If a discussion shifts direction, how are we supposed to address questions from earlier in the thread?

Does this mean anyone joining a conversation late loses their right to weigh in because they "missed the window"? What is the actual expiration date on a post?
for example:

----------------------------

Furthermore, the arguments used to justify deleting the last 30 or so posts are just silly. Any meaningful discussion naturally branches out—it explores broader aspects of the core issue and brings in vital facts and diverse perspectives that are essential to the topic itself.

Are we meant to have real discussions here, or just provide one-sentence replies while watching the clock? If it’s the latter, then honestly, why bother saying anything at all? Only those who haven't already given a two-line answer should even speak up.

Roughly cutting off the most recent posts is unprofessional—it kills the conversation, guts the topic, and is totally unfair to those who just joined in.

Some posts were left up that seem to follow the moderator's own personal house rules rather than actual community standards.

It’s a poor judgment call—and frankly, a poorly executed job regarding the overall sense of purpose in moderation. 👎

I'm with you on that.

Generally speaking, one of the reasons (aside from the fact that I have way too much going on in my actual life to get sucked into endless internet debates) that I don't enjoy posting here is this overly rigid approach to moderation. Look, I get it. You have to penalize blatant insults, doxxing, advertising, spam, or bot garbage. That makes sense.

But when someone starts hovering over you like a hawk, throwing warnings and threatening bans like they're wielding a stick, just because you thought a post was funny and responded with a laughing emoji? That is, quite frankly, nothing more than mindless authoritarianism. What’s the big deal? Someone says something, you find it funny, you drop an emoji. It’s not rocket science. Online discussions are supposed to mirror real life, where someone says something and the other person just laughs. Or am I supposed to write out, "Haha, yes, I find your comment incredibly witty, I also ________ (insert whatever the author said here)." Give me a break. It's ridiculous.

On the flip side, I actually agree with the mods that off-topic clutter should be cleared out. If the thread is about a favorite craft beer, there’s no reason to pivot into a debate about fuel efficiency in a Ford F-150. But, if the topic is about a conflict between a non-smoker and her boyfriend who smokes, and the conversation drifts toward the broader dynamic between smokers and non-smokers, then you really ought to show some flexibility. Looking at the bigger picture can actually help the original poster navigate her specific issue. It’s the same logic as how a broad discussion about the pros and cons of Japanese versus German engineering might actually help someone deciding between a Mazda or a BMW.

Bottom line: whenever I come here to type something, I feel like I'm walking on eggshells. Don't get me wrong—I'm not advocating for chaos or lack of etiquette. In fact, I value discipline and order immensely; even digital spaces shouldn't be a free-for-all. But you mods could really benefit from a little more nuance.

I don't have any illusions that this post will change anything, but since this section was created for complaints and feedback regarding moderation, I believe I have a democratic right to voice my opinion—and I think I've done so politely enough. I just hope no one hits me with another infraction because I went off-topic by having boldwalker12 veer into a critique of the entire moderation team instead of sticking to the original point. Yes, there's a bit of irony in that. Life happens everywhere, including on internet forums.

Best regards. 🙂

I just really need to vent about this monthly nightmare we all deal with.

I’m sitting here at my desk right now, and honestly? I am completely non-functional. The cramps are hitting hard enough to drive me insane, and I actually have to give myself props for even managing to stay seated in this chair. I’m typing this mostly just to create some kind of tiny distraction from the misery.

I’ve already downed four Advil PMs today—it feels like I’m just throwing them over my shoulder at this point. I know the heat helps a little—wrapping up in a blanket, or, believe it or not, resting a warm laptop over a heating pad, or sipping hot tea—but let’s be real, the word "helps" is doing a lot of heavy lifting there. It’s barely scratching the surface.

On top of that, the bleeding is intense. Like, "stay within 100 yards of a restroom at all times" intense. On those "certain days," if I’m not near a bathroom, I’m in serious trouble. Imagine being stuck out on a road trip or lost in the middle of nowhere when this hits. After nearly three decades of dealing with this, my cycle is still as unpredictable as ever.

And the most frustrating part? Not a single gynecologist I've seen has been able to provide a concrete, permanent solution to this mess.

On days like this, I swear, I wish I could just switch roles and be one of the guys.

Does anyone have any clue how you actually manage to book a follow-up appointment at the Mayo Clinic?

I tried sending an email to the central scheduling address—total disaster, the delivery failed immediately.

Then I called the office of the surgeon who handled my fibroadenoma surgery, and the nurse just snaps at me right away, saying, "You need to call the outpatient clinic down the line." Like, thanks for the tip, lady.

So, I call the surgical department number (let's say 212-555-0199), and I've been sitting here for three straight hours now—just a constant busy signal.

I try the other scheduling number (maybe 212-555-0122), and again, three hours wasted. Not a single soul picks up. Just silence on the other end.

What kind of ridiculous game am I supposed to play to actually get this exam scheduled? 😕

Does anyone know a third number that actually works? Or maybe a reliable email address that won't bounce back?

Is there some specific window of time when they actually answer the phones, or is it just pure chaos all day?

vividsailor7 said:It doesn't work like that. You also have to look at characteristic changes that come with certain disorders, like Sy. Chusing looks for whether there's a moon face, purple stretch marks, etc. They check for hypertension, high blood sugar, and so on.
A basic workup should include cortisol, ACTH, glucose, insulin, TSH, prolactin, and maybe sex hormones.

Okay... well, that gives me a bit of a roadmap.

The thing is, for a while now, I’ve been gaining weight completely out of control. It doesn't matter that I watch what I eat, or that I'm hitting the gym, or any of the other stuff people tell you to do... I'm just bloating up, especially around my midsection. If I manage to lose a pathetic half-pound—which feels like running a marathon—I just gain two back immediately. It's infuriating. I feel like some balloon being pumped full of water; I can't wear a single thing in my closet anymore... seriously.

To make a long story short, I've tried every weight loss treatment under the sun. Zero results. They suggested that one reason this might be happening is a hormonal imbalance. Not too long ago (maybe 6 to 10 months back), I had my thyroid levels checked, and the results came back fine. Now they're telling me, "Maybe it's your sex hormones," or they mention that cortisone thing...

So, I find this list of private clinics that handle this kind of testing (because I refuse to wait months for an appointment at a public hospital), and I need to book something. But the problem is—I don't know what to ask for. I can't just walk in and say, "Just test every hormone in my body." Mostly because my bank account absolutely cannot handle that.

That's why I'm asking: where do I even start if I want to figure out if this weight gain is actually being driven by a hormonal issue?

I have a question, and look, I apologize in advance if I should have dropped this into an existing thread—I just couldn’t find one.

I’m trying to figure out which specific sex hormones actually need testing to pinpoint a hormonal imbalance that might be driving weight gain.

From what I understand, you've got cortisol, leptin, ghrelin... but is there more to the story? Should I be looking at estrogen? Progesterone? Testosterone?

Basically, I just want to know the full list of things to check to see if there's some underlying hormonal mess causing the scale to creep up.

Thanks for any help you can give. 🙂

It’s a cute little flick, I guess, but let's not get carried away—it isn't much more than that. I actually dragged myself to the theater to catch this when it first dropped because I've always had a soft spot for classic 2D animation; there's just a certain charm to it that you just don't get anymore.

And honestly? The music hits way harder in the original version than it does in the American dub.