Posts by Austin Baker86

Let's move this to a PM🙂

mistydrifter55 said:I sleep with a tampon in, and it just breaks. 😳

Agreed.

I’ve slept with a tampon in since I started using them just to be safe—I know what TSS is. I swap it out during my morning routine and have never had an issue. What kind of "death trap" scenario are you talking about? 🙂

Are you delaying your period just because of a trip 😕? Where are you headed, Pluto, FFS? Look, my cycle has always decided to show up at the absolute worst times and completely wrecked my plans, but it never once crossed my mind to proactively mess with my hormones just for some little whim. You don't touch that stuff without a legitimate reason—and definitely not without a doctor's supervision.

Angela Wright said:I find it baffling that they didn't jump straight to chemo immediately following the surgery for an invasive type... but then again, I'm just a layman.
In any case, if I were the patient, I would absolutely insist on getting a second opinion from an independent specialist.

I went through surgery, then chemo, and finally radiation. I think I phrased things poorly in my previous posts—when I mentioned the start and end of my treatment, I was implying that chemo happened right in the middle of those two stages.

Honestly, she handled everything like a total pro. We all did our absolute best to step up and provide as much support as possible to make things easier for her. She followed the protocol to the letter: just one week after that grim mammogram, she was already in surgery. Since then, she’s been sticking to her exercise routine, eating right, and powering through her chemo sessions without a single break—she didn't even get sick once. After spending two weeks in the oncology ward, everything went exactly according to the doctors' expectations. But just when things finally seemed to stabilize—which clearly was just an illusion—it’s all starting over from square one. She told me she had hoped that staying consistent with her medication would buy her at least four or five years of peace, not that everything would come crashing back this quickly.
The mere thought of the fear consuming her—and the way she tries so desperately to mask it—is driving me insane. It is far too early for me to be without her.

rustymaker5, I am sorry you’re dealing with this mess. Hitting a brick wall like this is the absolute worst, and his behavior is nothing short of reckless and irresponsible—especially when a child is involved. Ideally, you should confront him directly and demand some cooperation, but only you know if he’s actually capable of that or if it’s even worth your breath. Honestly, you have very little to lose here. Give it a shot.

Of course, all the official information will come directly from my doctors—various tests and consultations are currently underway. But honestly, I’m too far along to be left completely in the dark, just getting random bits of info over the phone that trigger nothing but anxiety. We should be meeting in person within the next few days, and frankly, I can't wait to have some real answers.

The procedures are being handled at the local hospital and sent to specialists in Boston if necessary. It’s hormonal, and it's invasive; I don't know the exact dimensions yet, but it has already necessitated a full mastectomy and the removal of a third of my lymph nodes.

It started as breast cancer with metastatic axillary lymph nodes, and yesterday they confirmed liver metastases. My main question was about why surgery is being bypassed—does that mean it’s progressed too far to be operable? I’m assuming chemo. Unfortunately.

Can someone help me make sense of this?

It’s been a year and a half since my surgery and a year since I finished radiation, but now metastases have shown up. My oncologist thinks chemotherapy is the next move. Now for the tricky part: is surgery being avoided because things have reached a critical stage and we're moving straight to radical treatment, or is the situation actually "easier," meaning they're opting for a less invasive method instead of major surgery? Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I honestly don't know what to think. Has anyone here dealt with something similar?

Just let her blow off some steam. It's better than letting all that rage and sadness fester inside her. Once she gets past this breaking point, things will level out, and she'll eventually calm down.

Linda Cox69 said:Regarding the discussion, I recently heard that our neighbors across the street are acting puzzled, saying we’re hiding Mom’s diagnosis, her illness, and all the details about her treatment. It never occurred to them to actually ask us or stop by when they see her or any of us..
Everyone assumes we should be walking around moping, crying, and recounting every single detail to anyone who asks.
We aren't hiding anything, obviously; there is no reason to be ashamed of an illness. Like you all said, this can happen to any of us. Disease doesn't care who you are or what you do. It just arrives uninvited and hits you hard.
The pitying looks, the weeping, and the constant complaining because she's still young and hasn't done anything wrong to anyone... it drives me absolutely insane.
Anyone coming to visit knows they won't even make it through our front door if they intend to whine or spout nonsense. Without any apologies, I'm telling you: if they have those intentions—complaining or repeating the "same old" stories about illness because Mom has the "exact same" thing—they can turn right around and leave. I'm standing my ground like a bulldog.😁
I get the feeling Mom would never have said anything herself, so I've taken it upon myself to play protector against all these "well-meaning" busybodies.

When my mother got sick, which was about a year and a half ago, people kept asking how she was doing (and they still do, regularly), and not once did I tell them she was lying there sobbing. I always made sure to state clearly and firmly that, given the circumstances, she is doing great. Not because I wanted to mask the reality, but because she truly is handling it well. The surgery, the initial post-op days, the chemo, the radiation. Likewise, I don't hesitate to snap at anyone who shows even the slightest hint of pessimism in her presence (the worst outburst came from a close family relative who, upon hearing that some lymph nodes were removed during surgery, snapped, "That's it, end of story." 😲 😠). I don't speak to her anymore; I wouldn't forgive that kind of attitude to anyone, even if my mother were fully recovered. It reminds me of yours—how she stays quiet and swallows how others act, even though she should be much more demanding—if she isn't already in a position to be—and when will she be?

For people around me whose loved ones are fighting an illness, I strictly dose out the news. I have no desire to spread the stench of death and disappointment with bad updates. I "learned" this from a friend's mother who was in a similar situation to mine—she told me she had to pull away from a breast cancer support group because they were constantly spinning tales about who died and who is falling back into cycles. Whether people want to hear it or not, that kind of news hits hard, and what benefit does it do for the patient?

My sincere condolences to the members here who have lost loved ones in their fight. I am truly sorry, and I hope you find peace.

Melissa Nguyen54 said:This might sound stupid since I'm trying this for the first time... I have to go to the pool on Thursday and I doubt my supplies will arrive by then. So I wanted to ask which tampons you guys use? Does it need to go in deep enough that when I look in the mirror I can't see it at all? Or just enough so the Conk is peeking out?
thanks

What kind of mirror are we talking about here? 😕 Just stand there, aim, insert, and gently push it in with your finger until it's set. You have to go at least an inch deep with your finger to get it done. It's not rocket science, for God's sake. The Conk will be visible regardless. Unless you forgot to unwrap it, obviously.

Honestly, I never understood women who are terrified they won't be able to get it out. Are they unaware that the vagina is a "dead end"? A tampon isn't going to travel up to your lungs, FFS 🙄

Soc - basically the residue from Turkish coffee, where the vowel sounds like the one in "top." Honestly, it's one of the most disgusting things on the planet 🤮, smells like total trash at 3pm.

Not a single 🙂

Dana Morales64 said:Do you have any specific types of exhausting, socially oblivious people that you go out of your way to avoid? Here’s an example from today—I’m grabbing coffee with a buddy, and this incredibly annoying guy just wanders over and sits right down with us. We finish our drinks and head off in our own direction, but the second we stand up, he starts interrogating us about where we're going. I tell him I'm heading home, so he follows up with "Oh yeah? Why?" Then, "What are you doing at home?" Then, "Doing what kind of work?" 🙄 And then comes the best part—as soon as we get to our bikes, he actually starts pedaling after us 🤣 He chases us for maybe a couple hundred yards before he finally gives up because he ran out of steam. To top it all off, he tried calling my cell afterward—of course, I didn't pick up.
This is just one instance of the absolute weirdos roaming this planet. What is actually wrong with people like this? Are they even sane? How low can someone sink to act like that? I mean, look, we've known this guy for a while; he isn't quite as unhinged as my friend, but he is painfully draining because he needs to know everything about everyone. He has zero boundaries—he doesn't know how to sit still, and he clearly doesn't know how to behave in public. When we run into him, he doesn't know when to leave or when enough is enough. That's exactly why we steer clear. Is there a permanent way to deal with these special cases? And the worst part? It's not even some random teenager; we're talking about a grown man in his 20s.

The guy clearly has issues and is profoundly lonely, which he obviously doesn't know how to handle. He thinks he's making progress by forcing himself into people's lives, but it’s completely counterproductive. Instead of trying to be a decent friend, you end up treating them like they're beneath you.

Amanda Morgan47 said:So you're claiming that since you called them "psycho," your preferred alternative is actually high-tier, followed by a bunch of PDFs—including a pregnant woman!

Precisely. But it’s not because they’re pregnant; it’s because they are irritating. Don't act like you're being victimized here; I find them just as exhausting at weddings 🤷
.

Amanda Morgan47 said:So they're just psychos because they're pregnant????? 😂
You're unbelievable...

Where on earth did you read that????? 😂
Unbelievable...

Define psycho 🍿. They say you find all sorts of leeks in video games 🤔 😲

🙂

😁

I hold Alternative in high regard, though Zud, Pregnant Women, and RiD are right on their heels... 🤮. I don't even bother with most of the PFA; they'd just be pure Berserker-style chaos, which is a complete waste of time.

What counts as "psycho" in the US 😕?

I've always had healthy feet—total walker. But ever since I dealt with an ingrown toenail (my first actual foot issue, just a few months back), I've been dealing with these painful swellings on the inner side of my foot, right where the arch meets the heel. Here.

Every single pair of shoes I’ve owned for years suddenly feels wrong. No matter what I put on, my feet ache and swell up. Off the record, I was told my arches might be collapsing, which AFAIK can be fixed with foot exercises. Obviously, I should see an orthopedist, but getting an appointment right now is a massive headache.

Does anyone have any idea what might be causing this? Has anyone else dealt with this kind of swelling, and if so, what actually worked to get you back on your feet?

Betty Fox37 said:Has anyone ever heard of that old superstition claiming that if you lose two family members in a single year, a third death is bound to follow? A few years back, I went through this myself—three deaths in my immediate circle within just a few months. Now, I’ve already lost two people this year, and I can't stop worrying about that superstition. I haven't been able to find anything about it online...

Don't beat yourself up or let this weigh you down. People have always tried to explain various natural occurrences with ghost stories and superstitions, searching for patterns where none exist. The reality is simple: death is out of our control, unless we're focusing on our own health and wellness.

David Martinez61 said:I used to crush 8 eggs with ham for breakfast and wash it down with about a quart of milk. 👎

Good grief, I don't even eat that many eggs in an entire year. 🤣

If you feel fine—meaning no fatigue or brain fog—and you can manage the hunger crash when dropping from 4,000 calories down to 1,500 without losing your mind, then there’s no reason to panic. Just cook up some lentils, beans, or whatever legumes you have on hand to bump up your protein intake. Period. Get blood work done every once in a while to see if anything is actually off so you can adjust accordingly.

Otherwise, props to you for the discipline and willpower. 👍

Sauna (stunning cinematography, pure poetry, gorgeous score, and a moving story) & Maa on syntinen laulu (the ugliest atmosphere you'll ever witness 😵).

Lightning people, lightning films.