Posts by Brandon Lopez6

shadowbear9 said:I have tried Lexapro, and also Mirzaten, which helped me at first, but now I have switched to Zoloft and it isn't doing anything for my insomnia. I just know that one time I took Valium and Xanax and slept better than I ever have in my life. Now I have replaced the Valium with Flurazepam, but it’s expensive and I really don't feel like going for a prescription every ten days... What other hypnotics are out there? I won't touch Ambien, at least not yet... I am far too young to go down that road... Ideally, I would look for prazosin, but I doubt they will give it to me... I'll have to come up with something; I'm seeing her tomorrow. I just took 9 Praxitens and I cannot sleep... it's terrible 😢 As for Normabel, it's absolute garbage; one day I took 15mg of the 5mg dose and still couldn't sleep... My best bet has been Misar/Helex...

Are you trying to poison yourself or just knock yourself out? 😕

northernpilot2 said:cut/
Look, I’m not saying the person is lying. Maybe they aren't. Maybe they just signed up to share their take on things. But if they want those posts to actually stay on Reddit, the admins need to verify who they really are with a legal name. That’s the deal if you want your stuff left up.

I’m lost on a few things here.
How are you guys even supposed to verify someone's identity just because they claim a certain name? What, by asking for a driver's license?
And honestly, why would a post be considered suspicious or toxic today, but suddenly become totally fine tomorrow just because Marko Marić wrote it? Do you guys actually know Mark personally? Like, you know for a fact he doesn't just talk trash for the hell of it?
Plus, who's to say a new user—someone who just joined and was "forced" to reveal their real name—isn't planning on sticking around and joining other threads? Why are they being denied the same anonymity the rest of us get to pretend we have?

I’m feeling the exact same way as Chloe Thompson9.

Also, what’s even the point of a thread like "Mobile Carrier Regulations" if they're just gonna nuked any post where someone shares a bad experience with Verizon or AT&T, while letting all the glowing reviews stay up?

And how is the Health or Psychology section supposed to work? Threads like "Looking for a doctor/specialist..." or "Experiences with psychiatrists and psychologists"—if you aren't allowed to mention a bad experience, then the whole thing falls apart. These things are totally subjective. One person's nightmare doctor is another person's lifesaver. 🤷

I can't help but feel like every single thread dedicated to a specific product, brand, or service is just gonna turn into a glorified PR page or a Q&A session.

Plus, why does post count matter so much? Shouldn't the registration date and the actual vibe of the user be more important?
I've seen plenty of people sign up, get cozy on some random site, and then spam a couple thousand posts in just a few months to game the system.

Angela Grant22 said:Brandon Lopez6: how did your grandpa's surgery go?

The surgery was pretty intense. He lost a lot of blood, so they had to give him a ton back, but honestly, his recovery has been textbook (thank God). He started waking up the very same evening, and by morning, he was wide awake.
The tumor was huge—about 17 cm—and they actually had to clear out part of a rib too. Thank God they didn't have to remove the whole thing. It reminded me of another old guy in the room who’d been operated on just a couple days before mine was admitted for kidney cancer; when they opened him up, they realized they had to take the rib out as well.
He's back home now. Next Wednesday is the follow-up, where they'll tell us if he needs radiation or chemo, or basically if the tumor spread.
For now, everything is good, thank God, and we're just hoping it stays that way 🙂.

But I really need some advice.
He’s never been an overly emotional guy—at least, he never showed it. I don't think I've ever seen him cry in my entire life. Ever.
Before the surgery, my family kept saying he was getting super emotional and tearful, constantly on the verge of tears, and honestly, I thought they were exaggerating because... I just couldn't see it. It didn't fit who he is.
Well, he's been like this both before and after the surgery, and even now that he's home.
It’s not that he’s sobbing or wailing; it’s just that he talks through tears. Like, we'll be talking about, I don't know, the lunch Grandma made, and he'll be talking with this lump in his throat and tears in his eyes. We aren't even talking about the surgery or the cancer—nothing sad at all—but he's just visibly shaken.

Does anyone have advice on how we can help him? I've heard stories and read plenty on other threads, and obviously, staying positive and not giving up is key, but I'm terrified he might just lose heart.
Before the surgery, he was given some calming pills from the clinic, and they helped (obviously), but I don't think he's allowed to take them anymore. Plus, I'm not sure if numbing those emotions is smart; it feels like it could just trigger more anxiety or depression (speaking from experience with my own long-term daily Xanax use).

jadecyclist36 said:Me too. Is it because of the ads? 🤷

Yeah.
Saw one on my phone this morning that was just massive, taking up the whole right side of the screen.
Makes the whole site look totally trashed, but whatever 😁.

That sounds incredibly heavy. I’m so sorry, Angela Grant22. Honestly, I’m at a loss for words because I hate using those empty clichés like "he's in a better place now" —I know from experience that doesn't actually help anyone feel better.
Hang in there and don't try to bottle up all that sadness.

And yeah, I hope things work out too, but honestly? I think I'm gonna need a triple dose of Helex just to make it through Monday. Regardless of how everything pans out. It's my first day on the job, and my grandpa is heading in for surgery at the same time. Felt pretty stupid asking for the day off right when I start, you know? But then again, I have zero clue how I'm supposed to pull myself together at a brand new job while dealing with all this.

Angela Grant22 said:Thanks, everyone. 😢

The day before he passed, we were walking him around the ward. He’d been stuck in bed most of the last two weeks after taking a nasty fall on his way to the bathroom, so the nurses had put the side rails up to keep him safe. With the doctor and nurses giving us the okay, we’d walk him around whenever we visited. On Monday, right after a walk, he just complained about how much his muscles ached from not moving enough. I gave him a little massage and joked around with him, just trying not to let him get too comfortable. It’s incredibly hard. I know it’ll get easier eventually, but first, I just have to wrap my head around the fact that he’s gone. Today, we realized they forgot to give us his gown back. One of the worst moments was when my dad brought over all his stuff.

I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I went through something similar with my grandma, so I get it.
She’d been feeling off for days, and I remember visiting her that specific day. She wasn't doing great, but we talked, and I just headed home like everything was normal. Then that night she took a turn for the worse—emergency services messed something up (details don't matter)—and she ended up in the hospital. By the next day, she was just gone.
She lived with my aunt and grandpa, and the phone was always right by her bed, so she’d always pick up. It took me months, maybe even a year, to stop that weird, sinking feeling of being caught off guard when she wouldn't answer. Even though I knew she was gone, that subconscious part of me was still just waiting for her to pick up the phone one day.😢.

I don't really have any advice for you because, honestly, you just have to sit with the grief and let it happen. The only thing I’d suggest is that if it gets too heavy to carry, don't be afraid to talk to a professional. I don't necessarily mean someone to prescribe meds—though honestly, those aren't a bad idea for the first week or two—but someone for actual guidance and comfort. Maybe a support group... or just remember you always have this forum. Between the Psychology sub and this thread here, 🙂.
I also think getting some movement in might help clear your head.
Just anything that helps you feel even a tiny bit better for a moment.

Elizabeth Davis: wishing your grandpa all the best and a speedy recovery, I know how you feel.

Thanks. Honestly, my biggest fear is that he’ll actually "pass away in transit." I hate that phrase. 😢

Angela Grant22 said:My grandfather passed away the other day after fighting leukemia for three months. He’d been living with us for 16 years—ever since I was 10. From the moment we got the diagnosis, we really thought he could pull through. He wasn't even in pain while he was at the hospital. They were supposed to discharge him five different times, but he'd always catch a fever right before and have to stay. The day before he died, we actually got his room ready for him to come home because he was finally scheduled to leave around 10 AM the next morning. He just didn't make it. We were at the hospital by his side every single day, and honestly, it doesn't even feel like he's gone. It feels more like he's still stuck at the hospital just waiting for us to come pick him up.

I'm so sorry for your loss.😢

My granddad is heading in for surgery this Monday, and I'm really crossing my fingers that everything goes smoothly.

northernpilot2 said:So, it was actually Alexandra, right? She put in for that first change over in Austin, and I went ahead and gave it the green light. But then, I don't know, maybe she didn't even realize I'd already approved it, because she ended up requesting it again in either Austin or Denver—I guess—just so she could point back to that initial approved tweak, and that's how we finally ended up with the Austin version. 😁

Honestly, you guys would save yourselves a massive headache if you just stuck to that rule about not letting anyone with fewer than xy posts change their handle. Most people on here pull exactly what you just described—they just don't see the notification. Why? Because half these users aren't exactly tech-savvy. 😁

I'm on the hunt for a solid private dermatologist around the Los Angeles area to get some moles checked out. Ideally, I need someone who actually works Saturdays—at least until 3 PM—and won't absolutely drain my bank account or leave me sitting in a waiting room for three hours. Any leads?

Paul Newman5 said:

restlesstrucker15 Quote:
Not me. 🙂
I think we’re talking about people using it as their primary medication for different diagnoses—those high doses over 200.
Great. No side effects. 🙂 Yeah.

That’s what I thought too. Didn't really look into whether people actually gain weight on sulpiride, but hey, we'll see.
And here come the side effects. Just two days on Sulpiride and four on an increased dose of Effexor. If that Sulpiride actually kicks in, we can all howl together. I’ll be doing it for days if I have to.

I was on it for about a year and didn't put on a single pound during that whole stretch. Every other antidepressant I've tried gave me at least a few extra pounds, but Wellbutrin didn't affect my weight at all.
I mentioned before that I was dealing with nausea back then, and this stuff actually helped tone it down. Which basically means I ended up eating more than I did before I started taking it because, let's be real, it's hard to eat anything when you feel like you're gonna puke.
Honestly, I don't think you need to stress too much about the scale when it comes to Wellbutrin.🙂

Look, if you want my two cents, you either need to hit up a therapist on your own or both of you should look into marriage counseling—and hey, you don't even have to be married to go. Either way, you can see this isn't working. You're basically just slamming your head against a brick wall, and since that wall isn't moving an inch, it's only going to get more exhausting every single day.

Good luck 🙂

graniteorca62 said:I was on the 10 mg dose before and—honestly? I was basically a zombie... I couldn't think, couldn't remember a single thing, just a total nightmare. Now that I've dropped down to 6.5 mg, at least my brain is somewhat functioning again, though I still feel like I'm running on half-power... if that makes sense? Like, I’m just a bit slower—it takes me a beat longer to process things than it used to.

That was my experience with Risperdal, too. Eventually, my body just got used to it and that "slow" feeling started to fade 🙂.

As for Zyprexa, it didn't do a single thing for me, so I only stuck with it for about two months.

redhawk76 said:I get it—I’ve got plenty of childhood memories too, some great, some pretty lousy. Certain little snapshots or random bits hit me with total clarity, just like you said. But it’s not like I have this seamless, perfectly chronological timeline of an entire several-month stretch laid out in my head, like we're talking about here. The only way someone pulls that off is if they were actually keeping a journal. You can tell me I didn't, but let's be real.

If we're talking about that guy who made the news one day, he's the one who claimed he was keeping a diary while he was stuck there 😕.

Anyone know a solid private ophthalmologist in the Chicago area? I need a good recommendation. 🙂

shadowfox75 said:Reading your post reminded me of something my therapist mentioned. Whether she was right or not, she claimed Eglonyl was even used in gastroenterology for patients with ulcers because it supposedly had a "protective" effect on the stomach lining. It was meant to coat and soothe the mucosa. Looking back, I can see how that connects to your comment about the nausea

Yeah, I get it. That's why it hit home for me—my whole thing was anxiety paired with constant nausea.

I know they also give it to people dealing with migraines just to help dial down the nausea.

northernpilot2 said:Look, I think I already answered you a few posts back here:

Wait, wasn't she Xcelena before? Now she's Xceena 🤔
plus, in her very first post, she listed this current handle under the "can be this or that" section, so... yeah, just basic logic 😬.

Honestly, my first thought reading this is—run. Like, get out while you still can.

I totally get why walking away feels impossible. I’ve been with my partner for five years now; we started dating when I was just 17. You grew up together. You navigated high school, college, that first real job... you've seen it all. But man, I don't think this relationship actually makes you happy. I mean, it's pretty obvious you aren't happy because you literally said so right here 😁. That's my two cents 🤔. Looking back at everything you wrote, you didn't mention loving her once. Not even once. You talk about the fights and the emotional scars, but there isn't a single positive thing about the bond you two share.
Just because you keep circling back to each other doesn't mean it's love. It's way too easy to mistake habit and fear for actual affection. You're used to being a unit. Everyone else expects you to be a unit. Over the years, you've basically fused into one person, and now it's going to take some serious guts to untangle yourselves. Fear is a hell of a drug. Maybe you're scared of the unknown, or maybe you're terrified she really *is* the one and you just haven't realized it yet. Or maybe you're just scared of the uncertainty of being single—it's much easier to stay put than to hit the bars, meet new people, and go on dates only to have them blow up in your face five times in a row. There's also that "worst-case scenario" loop: the fear that you'll just break up and make up again, over and over.

Look, it's possible you're dealing with depression. If that's the case, definitely reach out to a therapist or a doctor. But you really need to figure out if the depression is coming from the relationship itself, or if it's something else entirely that just happens to be hitting you while you're with her.

Paul Newman5 said:I deal with gastritis and nausea constantly too, so if it helps there, it's a win. You saying the meds wiped your memory 🤣sounds about right. Sometimes forgetting everything isn't the worst thing. How’s your grandfather doing? Did he have the surgery?

Man, I don't know. Sometimes it's great because I don't dwell on all the bad stuff, but other times I look like an idiot when I can't recall basic things (like what paperwork I needed for my college enrollment 🤷 or if that specific medication even worked for me 😁).

Grandpa didn't get the surgery yet; they just pushed it off to this upcoming season... honestly, I have no idea what to think about this whole "endless delay" thing they keep pulling.

Paul Newman5 said:Everyone is different, sure, but I still like hearing people's experiences here. Once I start taking it, I'll see. Every time you start a new med, there's always a little bit of anxiety.

Man, I gotta correct myself 🙈.

Back then, I was dealing with a ton of stomach issues—which was also tied to my mental state (nausea and all that)—and this stuff actually helped with that. As for the psychological stuff (panic attacks, derealization, whatever), nothing really changed, but for the heavy physical sensations? It totally nailed the nausea. I gotta give credit where it's due 🙂

(Don't kill me for not remembering this sooner; I was on it from 2010 to 2011, but then I went on a much heavier regimen that basically wiped my memory 😁)