Posts by Brian Palmer6

Sorry if this is a bit off-topic, but it’s kind of about self-destructive behavior. I was seeing my boyfriend until almost four months ago—we had a really lovely four years together. Things got pretty tense right before we split, mostly because we were both under so much pressure. My job was absolutely draining me, and then my parents got sick with COVID, which just added to the stress. I won't go too deep into the details, but my ex started using drugs. He wasn't even the type to ruin his life like that before things got heavy, but he's such a naive guy—he either couldn't see how bad things were getting or just refused to acknowledge it. I knew his current job at Goldman Sachs was sucking the joy out of him, but he’d get so defensive if I mentioned it; I guess he’d rather take the big paycheck for some temporary happiness than actually change anything. He was usually such an optimistic, sweet, and humble guy, but he started changing. Especially after he started hanging out with people I never liked from the start—though I kept it to myself because he gets so worked up whenever I question his crowd (not everyone, obviously). It didn't sit right with me when he decided to flirt with this one girl, and then claimed he was just being friendly with another "friend." It felt weird, and I honestly never acted jealous or interrogated him. But he just insisted he didn't see what the big deal was, blah, blah... I told him I trusted him, just not her, since she’s always been trouble. Then, out of nowhere, he decided to end things. I know he wasn't cheating on me, and I wasn't nagging him about it. He was just being dishonest and, frankly, gross. He blamed all our problems on me, refusing to admit he messed up his part too—he’s always avoided having real conversations to fix things. We tried doing a break/separation thing, whatever. A few weeks ago, he finally admitted he'd been smoking weed and snorting stuff at a party with that girl, her boyfriend, and some other guy he looks up to. I was so shocked I didn't even yell at him that much. He said he hated it and doesn't want to be "that guy" with drugs. Before all this, he always used to say he'd rather have a glass of cognac than touch drugs. He had friends who fell into that trap, and he didn't want to be a victim of that too. It’s been almost four months since we last spoke. We would text occasionally, but today I just had this gut feeling to reach out. I asked how he was, and he just coldly texted back that he's out drinking and doing drugs and hasn't made it home yet. I literally froze in the middle of the street and thought, "I need to cut him out of my life for good." I feel bad for him, but he brought this on himself. I’d love to help, but I know I have to protect myself—if he actually cared about me, he would have left those losers behind, reconciled with me, and worked on himself, you know, learning some self-respect. I don't know what to do. He’s become incredibly self-destructive, and when I pointed that out a few months ago, he just snapped at me. I think the abortion hit him really hard, even though he was the one pushing for it so we wouldn't "lose our youth" or move in together too fast. Now it feels like it's catching up to him because he suppressed all that sadness. He also pushed down all his frustration from work, and now with this new crew (that girl is actually his coworker now) giving him powders to relax... well. I told him that isn't a good crowd for him, but I seriously doubt he'll get it. To him, it's all just fine. What do you guys think about all this?

Morning! I was just wondering—can that person actually see my profile and all my posts and threads?

ironcyclist58 said:I’m pretty sure the fees shift depending on which agent you decide to go through. Here are the current rates for the mail services...

Thanks for the reply!

Hey everyone—does anyone happen to know what kind of fees Western Union usually charges?

Good morning! Just wanted to share my experience with the Nola clinic. I was hunting for an affordable breast exam since one local clinic doubled their prices overnight—can you believe that? I checked their website and saw ultrasound was listed at $83. I tried emailing them to confirm, but they just wouldn't get back to me. When I finally called, the woman on the phone insisted they’d replied, but nope—nothing in my inbox. I even checked my spam folder, but nothing. Anyway, moving on. I showed up for my appointment and the doctor was actually pretty decent—he even cleared up some things the first doctor had, well, let's just say, exaggerated. But when it came time to pay for the ultrasound, instead of $83, she’s asking for $550! I honestly thought I was going to lose it, so I politely pointed out that their website says $250. She just brushed it off with, "Well, the exam and ultrasound are always done together, not separately." 🐔 I really struggled with whether I should be that typical "Karen" type or just stay calm. Since I was paying by card, it ended up being $183 instead of $530. I was worried about looking foolish, especially since my mom had urged me to bring more cash. Honestly, I think it's just rude and dishonest to list a price online and then tack on extra fees to cover their own gaps. If they bundle everything, they should just state that clearly! Long story short, big thumbs down from me—I won't be going back. The doctor seemed a bit unenthusiastic too, though at least he told me I'm healthy

Hey there! I've been thinking about getting a drawing tablet for ages now. I see everyone using WAC tablets, but honestly, I'm stuck on which one to pick. I'd really love something where I can actually see what I'm drawing directly on the surface—not just staring at a monitor. If that's not an option, I guess I'll try one that plugs into a computer instead. I've also heard people mention Huion tablets; some say they're pretty decent, while others think they're just okay... maybe? What do you guys recommend? I'm hoping to learn digital illustration and eventually move into some graphic design work. Thanks for any help!

Nicholas Myers said:Why exactly does your boyfriend need a bone scan? It’s a pretty non-specific test. Usually, it functions more like a single piece of a larger puzzle—something doctors weigh alongside other diagnostic data and a physical exam. On its own, a bone scan is unlikely to pinpoint the root cause here. As for whether private clinics offer this service: yes, they do. To avoid sounding like an advertisement, just type "bone scan clinic" into Google. You'll find locations quickly enough.

My advice? He should start by checking in with his primary care physician. It’s entirely possible that standard tests at his doctor's office could yield a diagnosis much faster than jumping straight to a bone scan.

Got it, thanks!

Starting a new thread here. Does anyone know if there's a clinic around now that does bone imaging? My boyfriend's bones are really hurting—it’s been about three years since we started dating, and he’s always complaining about hip and leg pain from some old motorcycle accidents. He kept ignoring me whenever I suggested getting an X-ray or something, but lately, it's flared up again and seems way worse... I'm just not sure how to convince him to actually go, or if anyone knows a good private clinic where you don't have to wait 800 years like at a public hospital. Any leads would be great! 🙂

Hey there—quick question, I guess—how long does it usually take for money sent via the finance system to actually hit someone's JP Morgan Chase account?

Alexander Brooks4 said:😁 That bolded sentence is hilarious.

You can definitely cut down on the gas by cutting out junk food and sticking to a low FODMAP diet https://www.healthline.com/nutrition...-diet#section1 -

Or, to put it simply: eat more meat and veggies that don't cause bloating. He wouldn't be leaving a stink behind if he just ate some turkey breast and a green salad.
Man, if he's addicted to junk food, well, like any addict, nobody can force him to stop if he doesn't want to.
People's eating habits.Man, it's such a pain to get things changed.

Honestly, you should just send it off to be tested for bad bacteria if he's dealing with those constant, stinky gas issues already https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/stool-test/about/pac-20385110
($117 once you take the test, you'll get an antibiotic prescription and a low-carb diet plan). It’s a new diagnosis, so not every GI doctor out there will be up to speed on it, but at least you'll finally have some answers.

It’s wild how nothing seems to bother him—men are just built different, man. I swear, I’d love to know what it’s like to have a brain that carefree for just one day.

The way they linked those pastries to thyroid issues actually makes total sense to me.

Hahaha! I've thought the exact same thing—how they just have zero problems in life. 🤣

steelwalker26 said:Look, let's skip the drama regarding your relationship and how much influence you have over someone else's cooking when you don't even live under the same roof. Before you call an exorcist, try a more practical approach.

Bad nutrition and booze can wreck a person's digestive enzymes, bile production—which handles fat breakdown—and their gut flora. Get him this:
https://www.iherb.com/pr/Now-Foods-Su...2?rcode=QLH398
(There's currently an 11% discount site-wide through Nov 12th)
Pair that with a decent probiotic from a local CVS or Walgreens; they carry them, and you can find them on iHerb too. If he could cut back on the beer, it would be smart for his liver.

Have him try it for a month and see if things shift. It won't hurt him, and it doesn't demand a total lifestyle overhaul from him (or you). It should significantly assist with fat digestion, which improves the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and nutrients. Once he starts feeling better, he might actually find the willpower to make real progress.

Hmm... we'll see. 🙂 I told him about his liver ages ago, but he keeps insisting he hasn't lost half his liver, just a third, so he can still drink (even though he's actually missing part of it and doesn't have a spleen). 🙄

Matthew Castillo2 said:Look, this feels more like a psychological thing than anything else, though I’m sure you guys have already clocked that 🙂.
The bloating might actually be manageable if he just cuts out certain triggers—stuff like high-fiber foods, wheat/gluten, lactose, beans, or even just excessive sugar
. Tell him to slow down when he eats, ditch the stuff that causes gas, and start hitting the gym; honestly, I bet things would improve pretty quickly with those changes alone
. Does he have any underlying digestive issues?

It’s honestly pretty tough to get him to change how he eats. He actually brought fruit to work for snacks a few times and felt better, but then he went right back to junk food. As far as I know, he doesn't have any specific issues. I’d love to go to the doctor with him just to make sure everything is okay with his gut—he goes to the bathroom once or twice a day, usually quite regularly
.

Jose Miller3 said:Sure thing.
He doesn't want to.
You can't just dictate his diet and tell him what to eat and when...

Your mom didn't ruin your thyroid with those pastries 🤣

It might sound funny, but there’s some truth to that. She was always eating pastries. Once she started working in the food industry, she learned from her coworkers about all the stuff they put in them. They buy ingredients that are almost like medicine. Her hormones started acting up and her cycles became super irregular, which messed with her iron levels. But yeah, I guess you really can't tell anyone what to do 🙂

Good evening! I’m not entirely sure if I’m in the right spot, so sorry if I should have started this thread somewhere else—I guess I might be a little lost.

He’s a really sweet guy, honestly, but he can be so stubborn whenever I suggest changing his diet or try to offer any health advice. A few years back, he was around 260 lbs, but he dropped down to about 175 lbs after some heavy drinking and doing manual labor. When we first met, he was at that 175 mark, but then he gained it all back and hit 220 lbs within just a year.

Right now, he’s living as a renter with some roommates. They have a kitchen that's pretty run-down, I suppose, but it’s functional enough to cook in—he just refuses to use it. I’m always telling him, "Hey, maybe just grab some pasta and some veggies and whip something up? You'd probably feel a lot better." But no, he just insists he can't or doesn't want to, so nothing ever happens.

Since he’s making a bit more money now, he doesn't really have an excuse to complain about being broke; he could easily cook something "healthy" at least twice a week. Instead, he keeps blaming that old gas stove they have, saying he has to clean everything constantly—even though it doesn't even get dirty since he hardly uses it 😵 anyway.

The thing is, his body is clearly trying to tell him to stop eating like this. He’s constantly grabbing burgers, frozen pizzas, or sandwiches loaded with extra mayo. It's not like he has nowhere to eat at work, either—it's not like he's avoiding sitting in the breakroom with his boss and coworker. I understood when he didn't have a place to sit before, but now, I think he's just making excuses. It's easier and cheaper for him to just grab some deli meat and mayo from the grocery store and wolf it down rather than making a soup once in a while.

Now, here is the real issue... his gas is unbearable. He’s always had some issues, but after being together for two and a half years, I’ve noticed—and even his buddies have pointed out—that he leaves behind a literal cloud of toxic fumes. 🙂 He thinks it’s funny, but for me, it really isn't. 😠 We actually got into a huge fight about it once, and he tried to argue that it wasn't his fault, but the beans he ate, claiming it happened way before too (though yesterday he only had pancakes and it still smelled awful). Blah, blah, blah...

I explicitly tell him he needs to change what he eats, and then he snaps at me, calling me heartless and saying I'm counting his every bite. I don't find that normal at all, and he just won't see it... I've told him multiple times that he doesn't need to start lifting weights or go vegan just to please me, but he needs to take care of himself. His digestive system is clearly struggling, but he just won't face it. My mom ruined her figure and her thyroid because of a constant pastry habit... I'm actually thinking about just paying for allergy testing for him, since he's having such a hard time just going to the doctor on his own.

What do you guys think? Is there any way to ease up this whole gas situation?

Hey everyone! I'm on the hunt for a vinyl copy of "Greetings from Safari Land"—if anyone happens to be selling one, I'd love to take it off your hands. I'm based out of Chicago.

Hey everyone. 🙂 So, I had some unprotected sex about two weeks ago, and naturally, my period is now 11 or 12 days late. I started drinking raspberry leaf tea again a couple of days ago—it’s usually great for jumpstarting my cycle since my hormones always seem to act up with it—and I’ve been having these intermittent cramps. Today, the cramping got pretty intense all of a sudden, though I honestly thought (this might sound kind of funny) it was just an upset stomach from breakfast. I ended up rushing to the bathroom, and then—boom—about ten seconds of dark, thin bleeding! I've never experienced anything like this before, so I'm feeling a little spooked. 😢 In the past, I've definitely had brownish discharge right before my period starts. Sometimes it’ll last for a day and then just vanish until my actual period shows up.
The dark bleeding has stopped for now and the cramps are gone, though my lower back is still aching. All I see now is just a little pink residue on the pad and the toilet paper. Has anyone else dealt with this? Does anyone have an idea what could cause bleeding like this? Everything I’ve read online mentions things like infections or even a miscarriage.

Hey everyone—my period is already about 7 days late. Usually, when it actually shows up, it only lasts a few hours and there’s hardly any blood on my pad. It would normally happen every two days or so. This is the first time things have gone this way, and I guess I'm starting to get a little worried. I even tried drinking some parsley tea to see if it would "kickstart" things, but clearly, that isn't doing much... could this all be related to PCOS?

Sorry I'm running a bit behind—but I honestly think it’s such a great idea for us to support one another and learn from everyone's different experiences. If we end up having more of these meetings, I'm definitely in. 🙂