I used to take care of things myself... before I ever had sex, I just headed straight to the only doctor I knew—the one whose office was right there by the main road with the 🙂 sign—and picked up some birth control pills... what a mother I was. Honestly, I don't think she even realized I’d been seeing a doctor until about three years ago when I ran into some issues (I'm 34 now, but I've been seeing doctors for about 15 years). It also dawned on me how little she actually knows about certain things, so... well, even today, you meet highly educated, married women over 30 who have never once stepped foot in a clinic because they feel "they don't need to"... it's just pure ignorance. I actually know one woman like that; I'm certain her husband has certainly graced plenty of other women with his presence before her, if not just right before her, so for her, he's the first, and she never needed a doctor or any kind of protection. And now, she's planning a pregnancy.
So... ignorance exists in places you’d least expect it.
Personally, if you aren't ashamed of having sex, then there's absolutely no reason to be embarrassed about visiting a doctor... I mean, sure, it isn't exactly a fun experience, but you get through it, and what else can you do? It's nothing special... unless, of course, you'd rather deal with the consequences of being irresponsible. It's that simple.
Otherwise, I have to admit, I wouldn't go to someone I know personally... and I certainly wouldn't see the same doctor my mother sees; they're people too, after all, and I wouldn't want something to slip out in front of my mom if something went wrong with me, or vice versa... those things are part of my private life, period.
Oh, and I even know people who didn't bother seeing a doctor until they were already four or five months pregnant... and then they won't go again until their next pregnancy.
You know how it is; if you aren't a slut, you don't need a doctor. (Forgive my choice of words, but unfortunately, that's still how some people think today.)
Well, that’s exactly what I told you, actually 🙂 — the ER is basically the law at this point. Honestly, I’ve even started considering heading there more often than my own primary care physician; I just show up and linger until her shift ends, so...🙂
Well, look on the bright side—at least it wasn't something truly catastrophic. If I recall correctly, and feel free to correct me if my memory is failing me, you're covered by Medicare, so you won't be footing the bill for the exam itself; you'll just have to handle a small co-pay of $5.00 (I can't quite remember if it's 15 or $3.25, honestly). As far as medications go, you're entitled to those too... though you might end up paying a little extra out of pocket for certain ones. I believe there's a prescription fee of about $3.25... and then potentially an additional charge for the drug itself, depending entirely on what the doctor decides to prescribe. Personally, since I carry supplemental insurance, I only ended up paying $0.67 🙂 for some Ibuprofen.
All things considered, it shouldn't break the bank. My advice? Just head to the ER now instead of waiting until Tuesday... people show up at the emergency room for much less than this. You won't be charged anything there either... you'll just deal with the pharmacy later, just like you would if you'd gone to see your own primary care physician.
Michelle Harris19 said:First off, I honestly don't know; when my mother was in that much pain, they just gave her an injection of Apaurin at the ER, nothing else. -.- As far as switching doctors goes, when I moved over last year, I just showed up at the newly selected office, filled out some paperwork, and they request the files from your old doctor, so you don't have to go on some endless pilgrimage back and forth. The nurse actually asked me right then if I needed to see the doctor or not, so yeah, once you finish those forms, you can potentially get an exam the same day. Otherwise, legally, I think the window for your previous doctor to hand over the records is about three days.🙂 I hope that helps you out.😉
You’re a little bit right there, regarding that first part—with my mom, the pain had probably just started setting in, so they likely gave her that injection just to ease the muscle spasms. For me, the main concern is avoiding any sort of "gap" between leaving one doctor and starting with the next, especially since I'm on medication for hypertension, so... plus, I'm also curious about how the prescription situation works, maybe someone here knows... thanks, Enivey. 😉
I have a few questions—and if anyone could possibly get back to me by Tuesday at the latest, I’d truly appreciate it:
1. Is it actually a bad idea to head to the ER because of sciatica? My doctor has been feeding me nothing but painkillers and Norman for months now, yet the pain just won't budge. I'm fully aware that this situation is getting serious, but she seems to be chalking most of my symptoms up to hypochondria, which is... frustrating. 2. I'm planning on switching to a different physician. Once that switch happens, when does it actually take effect? Like, from the moment I officially register with the new doctor? Do I need to go back to the old one to pick up my medical records or something, or can I just sign up with the new person and call it a day? And here's the big one: if I finally lose my temper with the current doctor and she actually sends me for some tests, resulting in me getting referrals, but then I switch doctors before those appointments happen—do I have to ask the new doctor for entirely new referrals, or can I just use the ones from the previous one?
fadedbison50 said:In the US, there are fewer than a million people living with CDC. I guess the probability of you actually catching it is relatively low.
There are plenty of people with confirmed CDC infections out there. Do you really think there aren't those who haven't tested yet, so they don't show up on any official records?
And honestly, the probability isn't "slim" if you happen to run into someone with a CDC infection; at that moment, the probability becomes quite high. And yes, the risk is higher for gay men... or anyone engaging in anal sex, which is the most dangerous route—you don't have to be gay for that to apply. If someone slept with four women without a condom, assuming they didn't insist on protection, he might have actually been with closer to thirty different people by now; I'm just rambling here, but generally speaking, people who forgo condoms outside of a monogamous relationship tend to be promiscuous and, frankly, irresponsible.
analogeagle10 said:Took my test at 4:30 PM—results were ready by 7:30. Thank God, I'm negative. My doctor mentioned this specific test picks up the CDC if the encounter was within the last week, but my last time was over a month ago anyway. Heading in tomorrow to get a swab—might be yeast. Thanks, everyone.
Then this must be some kind of new, super-duper miracle test. From what I’ve heard about the most advanced equipment used in private labs and clinics, they usually consider results accurate only if the contact occurred at least three weeks prior. Even beyond that, you'll find everywhere that it's recommended to repeat the testing after three months, which is what actual doctors—the serious ones, anyway—advise. If I were in your shoes, I would definitely retest just to be safe.
I truly hope you didn't end up seeing some hack or a doctor just passing through who convinced you it wasn't too early to test, only to charge you a premium for it—it happens, and unfortunately, some physicians know exactly how to exploit a patient's lack of knowledge.
It feels somewhat absurd of me to even weigh in on this whole discussion about pricing... though I suppose I did pick up a sweater from C&A today for $20 (so, cheers to Jason Moore63 for the heads-up). I spent a good deal of time wondering if it was far too cheap to justify the purchase, but since I don't exactly have $100 lying around, I went ahead and grabbed it anyway.
As for an outfit for a wedding costing $20, I’m afraid that search remains unsuccessful.
I sent over a perfectly reasonable request yesterday to have an announcement for the Anne Hathaway Foundation concert pinned to the top of every subforum so people would actually see it. But, predictably, nothing happened.
It really says a lot about people, doesn't it? We’ve had announcements for fundraising drives, for forum parties, for God knows what else, but apparently, when it comes to helping the sick, suddenly everyone's too busy. Is this a reflection of your own personal sentiments, admins? Honestly, I can't say I'm even remotely surprised. The only one who stepped up was Lady Gaga, offering to write something over in the Health section. And even there, in the very thread I started myself, it just drifted by unnoticed and unremarked upon, while everyone stays preoccupied debating who bought what or mourning some cat or some other trivial nonsense.
If there's some valid, logical reason why you can't post this, you could have at least sent me a private message, couldn't you? Do I need special permission? Is there a fee involved or something? Of course not, as I clearly stated in my initial request.
Merry Christmas to everyone, and I wish you all good health in the New Year—so that you might continue to avoid having to empathize with anyone else's suffering, let alone actually doing anything to help.
It’s a nice sentiment, I suppose... but I’m just not the type to go buying things blindly without doing my homework first. Though, I suppose if these pieces mean something special to other girls out there, they might reach out to you—I noticed your signature, after all.
Jack Gray51 said:So I’ve been scrolling through all your posts and honestly? I have to say, a lot of you seem to have this super weird mindset when it comes to how much you're willing to drop on clothes. It was Nathan Baker's post that really got me thinking—they were saying they'd shell out $267 for a wedding dress, but then for stuff they actually wear every single day, like shirts or sweaters, they'd cap it at maybe $50. Like, excuse me? I don't get that logic at all... personally, I always prioritize my daily wardrobe over some fancy shoes for a formal event.
My whole philosophy is pretty simple: I care way more about having comfortable shoes for my everyday grind than those designer heels I'll only wear a couple of times a year for a few hours. If they're uncomfortable, I can deal with a little foot pain once in a while, whatever.
But seriously, the quality and comfort of what I'm wearing on a Tuesday afternoon matters SO much more to me—I need to feel good in my skin, you know? Maybe it's because I tend to hold onto my favorite pieces for years and years, so I don't mind dropping an extra 200-$100 if it means it lasts.
Sorry if I'm totally off base here though...
If anyone knows where I can pick up a wedding outfit for under $50, please, let me know. I'm all ears.🙄
That’s an interesting way to look at it. Following that logic, when I eventually get married, I’d need to hunt down a gown for less than $50—and since I’ll probably never wear it again, whereas I might actually use a wedding outfit a few more times, it almost makes sense... or does it?
Angela Martin2 said:Honestly, I didn't even know they had it, so I have no clue if it's still out there (or where).
Anyway, that belt H&M uses—the leather one that wraps around your waist and ties in the back—it’s definitely not doing anyone any favors... let's just say it's "flattering" in the loosest sense of the word 🙂. Trust me, I tried it on my worst days 😉.
Regarding the shop itself... I used to go there... though that might have been a decade ago now, but I seem to recall it being on that street leading from the main square toward the historic district, right behind that big department store near the central plaza (goodness, I can never remember what locals call that massive building behind the main statue, you know the one). Heaven knows if it’s still hanging around somewhere...
And about that belt... you might be onto something there, but I won't know for sure until I actually try it on... assuming I even bother to look for it, depending on what catches my eye.
Timothy Nguyen said:Does anyone know if there’s an Ulla Popken in Los Angeles? Also, from what I’ve gathered, finding a shirt in a $97 larger size usually means a great deal. Or am I just looking at the expensive stuff because that’s my style?! 😁😍. In LA, I have a few go-to spots where I can actually shop without having a total meltdown over tiny sizes and cheap fabrics. My favorites are Modana at the local mall and City Center, Monsoon downtown, plus Lantea and Marina Rinaldi. I can pick up bits and pieces here and there at other places, but since I wear a US size 14 or 16, those specific shops are my lifesavers. But like I said, you get what you pay for regarding quality.
If it's not available, they say it will be... according to their website.
Personally, I wouldn't drop more than $50 on a shirt, and certainly not more than 🤷 on a sweater... even back when I wasn't constantly watching my budget. The only things I'll splurge on are pieces I know I'll be wearing for years, like a solid wool coat, for instance.
It’s hardly an embarrassment, really... if anything, you should have phrased it the other way around. Based on how you described it, you sound exactly like me, and I struggle with that very same issue—specifically when it comes to button-downs. I always seem to find something decent enough at Gap, though I frequently have to take things to a tailor to get them taken in a bit; because of my chest, I inevitably have to size up just to get a decent fit, which invariably leaves everything else looking far too baggy around the waist.
Peter Gray2 said:Nathan Baker, if you ever get the chance, definitely swing by the Ulla Popken over at the Avenue Mall. I was there yesterday with my mom, and honestly, I was so blown away by everything they had that I’m actually bummed they don't carry smaller sizes! 😁 They seriously have a huge selection—everything from skirts to dresses. It’s not exactly budget-friendly either (Mom dropped about $267 on a skirt and a top), but the variety is great, and they carry a solid range of sizes from 14 all the way up to 30. I actually fell in love with this one specific piece—it's this gorgeous grey lace thing. I'm heading online right now to see if I can find a photo of it on their site.
Edit: nope, no luck, they don't have 😢
Oh, that’s great, thanks! 🙏I’ll probably make my way through all of those spots by the summer, and if I manage to drop some weight, I’ll definitely aim to go at least twice. Losing it is easy enough, I suppose—it's the gaining that's the real commitment, and I certainly don't plan on doing that. 🤣Since this is for a wedding, honestly, the price isn't even the main concern here; I mean, it’s not like I’m going to go out and buy a whole new skirt and top for every single day of the festivities, so there's no real need to overthink the budget too much. $267I mean, if I were shopping at a place like Target or Old Navy, I’d probably walk away with twice as much for the same amount of cash—but even then, looking at this particular situation... it's really not that significant of a difference.
Arthur Sanders said:So, this past Saturday, I finally stumbled upon this little boutique tucked inside a Target, and honestly? I walked out feeling like a functioning human being for once. They just had everything—the selection was amazing, and the staff? Absolute legends. They greeted me with actual smiles, went out of their way to hunt down my sizes, and even gave me some really solid style advice... 😍 The girls there totally won me over with how sweet they were. 🙂 I ended up falling head over heels for this gorgeous deep purple cocktail dress, but sadly, it was the very last one in stock and a size too small for me. 🙂
Look, I don't want to come across as rude, so I won’t go so far as to ask what size you are—because I’m well aware that for many women out there wearing a US size 10 or 12, finding clothes that actually fit is a constant struggle, let alone finding things they actually *want* to wear. But for me, regardless of my specific measurements, I haven't had much trouble shopping for clothes lately, especially since those retailers we were all discussing popped up over the last few years. Honestly, the only thing that remains an absolute nightmare for me is bras—nothing else. It’s just a constant battle. I frequently have to compromise, and more often than not, I can't find exactly what I'm looking for in my size. It’s particularly infuriating during those big seasonal sales; there’s nothing quite like the frustration of seeing a perfect top on sale, only to realize it's completely unavailable in my size. $6.75 Well, look at me, just another skinny thing in a world where the big players seem to run the show—but honestly, I don't have much of an issue with getting dressed. What I’m trying to get at is, I can't help but wonder if you might be looking in all the wrong places—say, aiming for a size 6 when that isn't your reality—and letting that make you feel terrible, or if perhaps you're actually quite a bit larger than I am (though, frankly, I highly doubt it). 🤣)...🤷
But that’s exactly my point—what am I supposed to do? When you're strapped for cash like this, it feels pointless to even think about switching doctors; how would I even know if a new one would be any better? I’ve been seeing this current doctor for ten years now, and honestly, the one before her was infinitely worse. Sure, some of my diagnoses are relatively recent, but all my old records are sitting right there with this physician. To make matters more complicated, my father is quite ill, and this doctor won't even provide the medications that a specialist specifically prescribed for him.
I was actually thinking about a situation with a relative recently, where they basically sent a woman home after a neurological issue, telling her not to "act out" or anything... and I mean, what is a person even supposed to do in that situation?
But you know, looking back, maybe the fact that she isn't referring me to physical therapy is actually a blessing in disguise—it was always such a disaster with them anyway! At this point, I really need a new physiatrist and a neurologist, but then there's the question of how much of a hassle it would be to get transferred to someone new... and goodness knows if they’d even bother giving me a referral for a different provider. It seems like everyone just hands out diagnoses based on nothing—just like people on these forums saying, "Oh, you're dizzy," or "Oh, your head hurts..." and then suddenly, "Aha, it's just cervicobrachial issues." Before, I felt like I was constantly being bounced around. This last neurologist—well, I've seen two, though that was mostly by chance, a longer story entirely—was the first one to actually admit that the tests performed previously weren't sufficient for a real diagnosis; she said they were just scribbling things down without proper investigation. But even then, she wasn't much help because she wouldn't order an MRI for my head, only my Neck Muscles... so my primary care doctor had to send me off for that, and I practically had to beg her just to give me a referral so I could take the results to a neurologist instead of having her try to interpret everything herself... and then the neurologist just tells me, as I mentioned: "Just take care of yourself."
Bradley Morgan3 said:That’s strange. Lisa Nelson70, if I were in your shoes, I’d probably be looking into getting some head scans done as soon as possible.
Oh, really? You think it's up to me? I mean, if you actually take a moment to read my previous post again, you'll see where I'm coming from.
Karen White65 said:Just to add a little more to the conversation, I was thinking that static exercises would fall into that second category, right under the umbrella of strengthening the Neck Muscles. It’s that specific kind of movement—well, lack thereof—where you aren't actually moving much at all, but you're still getting that muscle contraction because you're essentially fighting against your own resistance on the opposite side. It’s a bit of a strange sensation, really, holding that tension without the grace of actual motion, but I suppose that's just how it goes.
I was looking back through some old discussions, and it struck me how much we all tend to circle the same drain when it comes to discussing chronic pain and the sheer exhaustion of navigating the healthcare system. It’s almost like a ritual, isn't it? We come here, we vent, we offer these little fragments of hope or skepticism, and then we move on to the next day of managing our own physical limitations. I was thinking about what Susan Adams66 mentioned earlier regarding the way doctors sometimes look right through you, as if you’re just a collection of symptoms rather than a person with a life, a job, and a mounting pile of laundry. It’s that specific type of clinical detachment that really wears you down—that feeling that you're an inconvenience to their schedule. I’ve felt it myself more times than I care to admit, sitting in those sterile waiting rooms in places like Chicago or Seattle, wondering if anyone actually hears the words coming out of my mouth or if they're just waiting for the clock to hit five so they can go home to their families. Then there’s the medication side of things. We talk about Aspirin or various prescriptions like we're discussing grocery lists, but it’s never that simple. There’s always that underlying anxiety about side effects, or whether the next thing the doctor suggests will actually touch the pain or just add another layer of fog to an already cloudy existence. It’s a constant balancing act, really. You try to find that sweet spot where you can function enough to feel human, but without losing yourself entirely to the haze. It makes me wonder if we ever truly get ahead of this, or if we're all just learning different ways to walk through the storm. I find myself drifting into these thoughts quite often lately, probably because the weather has turned gray and my own joints are deciding to protest the change in pressure. It’s a wearying cycle, but I suppose that’s why we congregate in these digital spaces—to remind ourselves that even if the medical establishment feels like a labyrinth designed to lose us, at least there are others walking the same halls.
Well, thanks, that’s actually quite helpful!
crimsongull20 said:What exactly are your doctors basing these claims about my head and neck on? I mean, did they actually run a CT scan or an MRI, or are they just sitting there making things up as they go along?
So, here’s the current situation: I’ve been cleared for an EEG and an MRI of my Neck Muscles, but apparently, they don't see any need for more extensive brain imaging. My primary care physician sent me off for the EEG, while the neurologist insisted on the neck scan. Based on everything I shared during the consultation, she was quite convinced that these headaches aren't tied to anything other than my cervical issues. Honestly, I’m not exactly thrilled with that conclusion, but I find myself in a bit of a bind where taking further action feels impossible until I get my finances back on track—or until I can manage to switch doctors. Then again, I suppose it's a bit of a catch-22; if I were to seek out a new GP, who knows if they wouldn't just reach the exact same conclusion and tell me that everything has already been done? I realized I neglected to mention that I’m actually entitled to physical therapy twice a year, but my primary care physician is being incredibly difficult about sending me for referrals; since I only went once last year, she’s insisting it isn't necessary and suggesting I just stick to doing some exercises at home, which is quite frustrating given that my physiatrist explicitly prescribed "periodic physical therapy sessions." My doctor claims there’s nothing in the paperwork specifying the exact frequency, yet my neurologist was very clear, noting that her doctor is well aware that such a prescription implies twice-yearly sessions. Honestly, though, I feel like I'm hitting a brick wall with this current situation. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my financial circumstances improve soon—since I'm still between jobs—so that I might afford to see someone privately until I can track down a different GP who might be a bit more reasonable... though, truthfully, I haven't the slightest clue where to even begin looking.
Bradley Morgan3 said:crimsongull20 mentioned that they sent her over to neurology, so I suppose they've finally run those tests and looked into things there.
Well, as you can see, things aren't exactly looking great... though, to be fair, I wasn't actually at the neurologist for what ended up being the issue. I was there dealing with a pinched nerve—nothing to do with my neck, really—but since I’d been complaining about these persistent headaches, the doctor went ahead and ordered an MRI of my neck anyway just to cover all the bases. When I finally got the results back, she gave me that classic, vague medical shrug, telling me there were some "changes" present, nothing catastrophic, but that I should probably just be careful and maybe head to physical therapy twice a year. It's all very routine, I suppose, but one does wonder how much of it is actual necessity and how much is just standard procedure.
Everything you’ve said has been noted, and I truly appreciate the guidance... I’ll definitely keep those locations in mind for a future trip. One thing, though—the idea of custom sewing just isn't in the cards for me; I really need to buy something ready-to-wear. My history with tailoring hasn't exactly been kind, and even if there were a master tailor in a major hub like Chicago, I simply can't justify the commute. Driving back and forth to a specialist three or four times just doesn't make sense for my schedule or my sanity.
As for my budget, I suppose I fall somewhere in the middle—neither strictly limited nor bottomless. It doesn't necessarily have to be an outfit for a $100, but I certainly can't go dropping a small fortune on a wedding gown either.
Regarding what you mentioned, Kris, about the belt—I actually spotted something quite similar at a boutique in New York, but they only carried petite sizes. There used to be a shop in a nearby city that carried everything from a size 12 upwards... do you happen to know if a place like that still exists?
Angela Martin2 said:What kind of vibe are you going for?
If you can actually walk me through how to upload an image from my desktop to this forum, I’ll consider myself indebted to you... honestly, I downloaded some stunning ones from the web ages ago, and now I can't seem to track them down to link them directly again.
Generally speaking, I was looking at midi-length dresses—somewhere below the knee. My calves are fine regardless of how much weight I'm carrying, but my midsection is the absolute trouble zone for me lately; I feel like a woman in her third trimester. I definitely need sleeves, maybe three-quarter length, and something with a neckline. Round necklines just don't do me any favors. Basically, the simpler, the better.
Edit: figured out how to find them, turns out I was just being a bit slow:
This second one is a bit more my style. The first one has a cleavage that's just a tad too deep for comfort, but my biggest worry is that the second one looks a bit too "structured"—I'm afraid if I go with something loose like the first one, my extra weight will just be swimming around in there.😂.
It doesn't need to be lacey, and I’d probably steer clear of black, but that general silhouette is what I'm aiming for.
