Posts by Anthony Foster17

I am the ocean

Metallica - Metallica

Quick question 🙂
Don't want to clutter things up with a new thread, so I'll just drop it here...

Can someone walk me through how to actually format text in Google Forms? You know, indentation, bold, italics, all that good stuff... 🤦

Thanks!

Can someone get rid of the exclamation point in my username?
Thanks! 🙂

Sure thing, just reach out to New Orleans. 🙂

Seriously?!
I don't think I've ever rewatched a single movie as many times as Jumanji. 🙂
Can't wait.

I don't think it matters. In America, it’s a whole different story—if they've got that line crossing the halfway mark, they're just breaking everything. 🙂 🤔

Need some advice on treating a cut 🤔

I sliced my finger on a tin can lid. It’s not super long—maybe about half an inch—but I wrapped it in a paper towel and the bleeding finally stopped. Now it just kind of oozes onto the towel whenever I press it...

Not sure how to handle this now. Should I wrap it in a bandage, or just let it air out...?
The look of it is bothering me, too. The skin isn't cleanly sliced like when you use a kitchen knife; it's more like the edges are pulled apart. Will it actually knit back together and heal normally if I just use a bandage or some tape, or what?🤦

Is there a shop in the city that carries LTB jeans? I used to pick them up at their spot in the mall, but if I remember right, they aren't there anymore 🤔
I need jeans ASAP, and honestly, their store was the only place I could find stuff that actually fits—you know, long enough legs, low rise, straight or slightly flared, and not breaking the bank :/

If anyone knows where they moved to, please help 🙂

I actually dig a certain kind of confusion—that innocent way of looking at things, just pure honesty,
What I can't stand is people preying on the weak, or those fake-happy types who act like everything's sunshine because they know I don't buy their act 😁, or that aggressive attitude

aha, ok ...thanks 🙂

Hey 🙂

I might be totally off-topic here, but hopefully someone can point me in the right direction.🤷

I’m a student here in Chicago, but I don't have a primary care doctor set up yet. Does anyone know where I can go for an exam if I'm not already an established patient at 🤷 Mount Sinai Hospital? 🤷

It's nothing life-threatening, just this super short-lived flu that left me with some annoying bronchitis and a cough that won't quit. I really need to see a doctor to get something more effective than just tea and honey, I'm just not sure where I can actually go.🤷

Thanks🙂

steelpanther11 said:Honestly, I’m feeling the exact same way as I did a few weeks ago when I first posted this on the forum. Look, I get it—I know I haven't taken any actual steps yet, and I'm fully aware that nobody on this board is going to step in and force me to do the work for me. But, I don't know... reading some positive comments or having a complete stranger cheer me on actually makes things feel a little lighter? It gives me a spark of motivation, in a way...

It's just the same old cycle, over and over. There are moments where I actually find the energy to move—like when I finally tackled all that university paperwork—but then, boom, I'm right back in bed, sinking into a massive depression and just trying to hide from the rest of the world. I want to change so badly, I really do, but damn... it is just so incredibly hard. Sometimes it feels easier to just be a coward and wallow in self-pity because facing reality is exhausting...

Anyway... the bottom line is that I want to be better. I want to be a high-quality person, someone worth something, but I just can't seem to get moving. It’s like I’ve got literal shackles on my hands and feet, holding me down...

Hey, bravo. You proved you can actually get things done. 🙂

How did you feel after tackling that college stuff? A little more "energized"? See? It wasn't as impossible as it felt.

Focus on the small wins... you don't have to move mountains overnight or whatever. Just hit those tiny tasks until they turn into actual habits (they say it takes 21 repetitions to make a habit 😬).

If you feel like you can't do this alone, find someone to lean on... but keep in mind, you need to be your own biggest supporter most of all (yeah, I sound like a self-help book, but it's true 🙂).

Also, do you ever think about how you’d feel if you could go back a few months or even years? Like, if you could do things differently, start something you wanted but haven't because you were being a "coward" or thought it was too late... and now you'd regret it?
Don't let yourself look back in a few years thinking about this exact moment and wishing you had acted sooner. Even if it feels brutal right now, the hardest part is just starting. Once you 😉 "get into a rhythm," it becomes a habit and just part of who you are.
If any of that makes sense—my wording isn't exactly great 😬

steelpanther11 said:Look, this is honestly pretty awkward to write because—I mean, isn't every sane person capable of setting boundaries and just pulling themselves together when life gets heavy? That’s my exact problem... I just don't have any drive left for anything.

I don't even know which part of this mess is most important to mention just so people actually understand what's going on with me—because if anyone reading this actually has some decent, practical advice, I desperately need it, since I certainly don't have any for myself...
I just can't snap out of it. There are days where I can barely drag myself out of bed, feeling totally lifeless and miserable for absolutely no damn reason. I could just stay under the covers all day, hiding under a blanket, without a single valid excuse...

Things really started spiraling after my grandma passed away back in 2010—she was my absolute favorite person in the world—but look, I'm not trying to hide behind the "loss of a loved one" thing to justify being in this constant state of limbo. I'm in college right now and things are a total disaster; it feels like my last shot before I completely crash and burn. I don't have a job on the side so I'm constantly broke, and my parents aren't exactly well-off either. Both of them are sick—my dad is fighting lung cancer...

My cycle is a complete wreck; I'll go two or three months without it, and then when it finally hits (only because I'm on pills), I end up in the ER because the bleeding is so heavy it's dangerous (I don't know if that's related, but whatever). And I can't lose weight to save my life. I eat light, healthy meals, yet I'm still sitting at 207 pounds at 5'3". I haven't had my hormone levels checked yet, though I am scheduled to go to the doctor soon...

Basically, the core of the issue is that I have zero motivation. When I'm in Washington, D.C., I won't leave my apartment for days at a time. When the time comes to actually get out of bed, I'll lie to my roommate and tell her I was at class or something... I just sleep or toss and turn, endlessly scrolling through the internet, watching shows and movies, just wasting time. And then I start mindless eating... everything I do is half-hearted and aimless. I'm just waiting for the days to pass. But when I go home, I put on this ridiculous mask and act like the perfect, helpful Christian girl who's always smiling, studying hard, hanging out with my one friend, seeing my boyfriend... and none of them realize I'm just playing a role. I'm acting like the person I *want* to be, but I'm not her. I've been living in D.C. for seven years now and it's the same loop. All my friends from college have moved on with their lives, while I'm stuck in place, failing exams that I've retaken six or seven times. I've lost touch with people along the way, and whenever they call, I make up excuses because I can't bear to talk about school or where I am or what I'm doing... it's like they're just looking for a reason to judge me. I don't have a single real friend because I can't bring myself to trust anyone enough to tell them how I truly feel. Everyone sees a version of me that isn't real... and honestly, I'm exhausted by all these lies piling up. I feel like if I slip up even once, the whole facade is going to come crashing down on me.

It's hard, and I cry all the time. I'm eaten alive by this laziness, this total neglect of myself, the mess in my apartment, and all the basic routines a normal person handles without thinking. I can't seem to move. It feels like I need someone to physically push me forward... I can't do it alone. I can't change my own trajectory, and please, don't give me that "you have to do it yourself" advice, because I've tried. Everything I do is on autopilot. My brain feels empty.

Sorry for the massive wall of text.

Help me...🙂😢

Hey 😉

1. I think you have a totally wrong idea of what a psychologist is or who goes to see one, but hey, there's no point forcing you into something you clearly don't want (though you'd be surprised how many people seek help for all sorts of reasons)😉)

2. I don't know what kind of "push" you think you're gonna get from people on a forum... nobody here actually knows who you are, what you like, or what you even want enough to point you in the right direction. You have to find that yourself. And if you already know what it is? Then just move. 🙂 Scrape together a tiny bit of motivation to knock out some small tasks. Seeing that you're actually capable of handling those little steps will give you the fuel to keep going. You'll see you can actually achieve what you set out to do. So what if you mess up once in a while? You're human. Just get moving! You have to decide to do this yourself; nobody can force you.

Also, I don't see why you'd feel awkward posting this... browse through the threads for a bit and you'll see you aren't the only one feeling this way.

You mentioned a roommate, a friend, and a boyfriend... why aren't you talking to them about what's eating at you? They're close to you and could help you snap out of this state. Just drop the act once in a while and try being honest—it'll make things easier. If you can't talk to them, consider seeing a psychologist or therapist. There's nothing wrong with that; they'll listen and help guide you. 🙂

And regarding that bolded part, I think your perception is a little off. You say you lost those people, but then you say they call you and YOU turn them down because you just can't be bothered. Plus, you're pre-judging how everything will go when you meet up. Of course they're going to ask about college and what you've been up to since you haven't seen each other in forever. You met in college; that's just how people talk. If you decided to see them more often, the college talk would stop and you'd actually have other things to discuss. 🤷

You want a "push"? Try spending one day without apologizing to yourself or everyone else. Just move. When they invite you out, go. Maybe you'll actually have fun or find something you need out there (you definitely aren't going to find motivation watching Netflix). Force yourself to leave the house for thirty minutes and walk around the suburban neighborhood. It sounds hard to believe, but it'll recharge you. The more you stay home under the covers, the more you'll want to just burrow into bed and never come out again.
Make a realistic study plan and take one exam. There's your motivation to start. From there, you'll figure it out.

Hey,

I’m a little confused right now, so if anyone knows what's going on, please help...

So, I had my period around Christmas—totally normal, everything went as expected. But then yesterday, I worked out a bit more (just some light hula hooping) and a few hours later, I started spotting. Sorry for being graphic, but it wasn't just blood; there was some mucus involved too. It wasn't much at first, but when I woke up this morning, I realized I'm bleeding as heavily as a regular period.😕

Is it actually possible that I "triggered" this just by doing two hours of hula hooping? I know, sounds like a total teenager question, but seriously.😂

Also, does anyone know if you bleed if a cyst bursts? (I'm not even sure if I have one. Last time I saw my OB-GYN, he did an ultrasound and said nothing looked abnormal, though I still get this weird discomfort near my left ovary :/ plus, I've had issues with irregular cycles before, so I was taking birth control...)

And can I even keep up with the hula hoop today? Or did I somehow pop an ovary or something?😬

I am so incredibly sorry you're dealing with this... honestly, I know kids and teenagers can be brutal with their comments, but I didn't think adults could be this primitive and disgusting... we're pathetic 👎

I don't even know what to say... normally I'd just tell you to keep your head up and ignore the idiots, but after reading what you wrote (about the physical abuse), I'm actually speechless

But look, get that idea out of your head—the part about throwing yourself under a car or whatever. Don't ever make life-altering decisions based on these morons and total losers (sorry if I'm being harsh, but I really don't know what else to call people like them 🤷 ))

And one question... why are people so cruel? Why mock someone for a disability or a physical flaw when I've never heard of anyone making fun of someone who lost a leg in a car accident

Maria Fisher46 said:Hi there,

Your labs mostly show low estradiol levels, which could mean you didn't ovulate during your last cycle—that might be the key to why your periods have been irregular.

LH is slightly low, but the LH to FSH ratio is 1:1, which is actually a good sign (doctors look at this when checking for PCOS, which can cause ovulation issues, though it's not the only marker).

You should probably follow up with thyroid hormone tests and whatever else your OB-GYN recommends.

Best regards. 🙂

First off, thanks so much for the reply 🙂

Hmm... why the thyroid?
I'm asking because I've dealt with some issues there... my TSH was over 8, but I've been on Euthyrox for months now and according to my latest results, things have stabilized and are back in the normal range.🙂

So, is that low estradiol caused by the thyroid, or what? 🤷

Thanks,🙂

P. S. — about that ovulation part... if it turns out I'm not ovulating, 🙂 what kind of impact does that actually have on my body?

Hey there 🙂
I would be sooo incredibly grateful if someone could walk me through these hormone results. I don't have my OBGYN appointment until next month, and honestly, the suspense is killing me... I can't make head or tail of this myself. I can see some things are out of range, so if anyone knows what's up, any info helps. 🙂

estradiol 42 ( follicular phase 110-1100)
( ovulation phase 360- 2200)
( luteal phase 360-1100)

LH 2.9 ( f.f. 3-12)
( o.f. 20-200)
( l.f. 1-16)

FSH 2.9 (f.f. 2-12)
(o.f. 8-20)
(l.f. 1-10)

prolactin 6.5 (4-23)

total testosterone 1.3 ( 0.2-2.6 )

I had these drawn on day 4 of my period. I'm 23, and I went in because my cycles have been totally irregular...

thanks 🙂

My OB/GYN gave me a referral for some hormone testing and told me I need to get it done on day 2 or 3 of my period—so basically tomorrow 🙂.... Here's the catch: I'm not actually living in Chicago, I'm just here for school. The doctor who wrote the referral is back in my hometown, but he said I could use it here in Chicago too. I really want to get this over with tomorrow, but I have no clue where to go or if they'll even see me without an appointment? Can I just show up at a place like Labcorp with his referral in hand, or what? Help me out here.

wiredcanyon2 said:It could mean anything from low erythrocyte production to rapid breakdown, hemoglobin issues, shape problems, or absolutely nothing at all... If you're going to ask, actually include the numbers and tell us why you even got tested. You won't get much help this way. There's a massive difference between a hemoglobin of 60g/L and 119g/L, or having erythrocytes at 1.2x10... To understand anemia, we need things like TIBC, UIBC, Ferritin, MCV, reticulocytes, Bilirubin... 🙂

aha, my bad... alright, here's everything since I have no clue what matters🙂

Medical Report
Hb 92
Hct 0.280
MCV 92.6
MCH 30.6
MCHC 330
RDV-CW 15.1
Leukocytes 4.3
Neutrophils 55.10
Lymphocytes 39.70
MID 5.20
Platelets 190
MTV 8.6

Glucose 4.4
Urea 6.5
Creatinine 76

AST 13
ALT 15
GGT 14

Iron 11.1
TIBC 40.8
UIBC 29.7

Cholesterol 4.7
Triglyceride 1.9

Not for me—it's for someone around 50, dealing with weakness, etc...

thanks🙂

Can someone please tell me what this means?🤷

I'm totally lost here. I honestly thought it was just the iron levels that mattered.😕....

Anyway, if anyone knows, please, please, please....
thanks 🙂