I’m definitely going to bring up the hair loss issue with my doctor. I shower every single day, so there's absolutely no way I wouldn't notice 🤷
The only thing that tripped me up was when she mentioned that blood work might actually make things look better than they really are. She gave me this long, highly technical explanation—which I honestly can't repeat because I'm not a scientist—but basically, those specific antibodies don't always show up immediately, or they might have already cleared out since it's been two weeks since the bite. 🤷 Anyway, I trust her implicitly. She's been treating me for years, and just like I mentioned before, she even showed me a similar bite on her own leg, saying her husband got one too while they were driving through the local city park! Personally, I tend to lean toward homeopathy, but I'm not really looking to play around with that right now given the circumstances. That said, homeopathy has solved just about everything for me in the past; I think I went almost two whole years without needing a single dose of antibiotics... which is a long time in my book.
I've dealt with my fair share of illnesses and taken plenty of medications in my life, and my liver is totally fine.
Angela Kelly said:New Haven disease is way more dangerous than just taking a single course of antibiotics.
I honestly don't get how people can be so casual about a potential case of New Haven, especially when the bite mark looks exactly like what we’re describing. This isn't some harmless thing; if you don't treat it IMMEDIATELY, it can mess with your heart and your brain.
It hits your joints, your bones—it attacks everything living.
Personally, I wouldn't dream of delaying my antibiotics.
I have to stay on them for three weeks. In the meantime, we'll keep monitoring my bloodwork. Like I mentioned before, my liver hasn't been great, so I try to avoid medication whenever possible, but I realize the risk here is just too high to ignore.
The one thing my doctor failed to mention—and she really should have, considering it's summer—is that this antibiotic causes extreme photosensitivity. Now, I'm basically a magnet for sunburns.
I honestly don't even know. If they need to draw more blood and then have me come back in just a few days... I have no clue if my insurance is even going to cover all this. Everything is hitting me at once, right when I can barely keep my head straight. And if it turns out to be a spider? For heaven's sake, what kind of spiders am I living with? 😲I'm right in the middle of downtown, in an apartment where everything is practically sterile.
To be completely honest, I’m just as reckless when it comes to antibiotics as anyone else.🤷 I don't even know where I stand anymore. Part of me is terrified of skipping them and ending up with some nasty, serious infection, but then again, whenever I actually take them, my vaginal flora goes into total meltdown.
frozenorca63 said:Honestly, I’m stumped. I’ve asked everyone I know, and the consensus seems to be that a tick isn't just going to drop off on its own—it stays attached. Well, unless it’s gorged itself for a couple of days, then maybe. But surely you'd notice it after two or three days, right? My little one had this red bite that turned quite hard, though it was actually from a mosquito. It didn't look like that classic "bullseye" rash where there's a pale ring around a red center; it was just a solid, firm, red swelling. We applied some Bactroban, and the redness eventually faded, leaving nothing but a tiny brown spot.
I spent two weeks slathering all sorts of creams on my own bite, and honestly, it only made things worse. I even ended up running a fever. Personally, I feel like I have a much higher chance of running into a spider than a tick out here. 🤷 Now I'm just completely confused. I have a really hard time tolerating antibiotics, so I haven't taken them in ages.
frozenorca63 said:If a tick bites you, it stays embedded in your skin. Or does it? I don't get how you can even tell something bit you if the creature isn't still attached to your body. How do you actually know it was a tick?
They don't always stay stuck in your skin. Sometimes they just fall off on their own. You usually only end up with the head left behind if you try to yank them out too fast. And for the record, I know it was a tick because I went to see my doctor—she’s been practicing for 30 years and knows these things inside and out. It's not like I just sat there and gave myself a diagnosis. 😁
Here is what mine looked like: http://www.diseasesymptoms.info/wp-c...e_rash_375.jpg 🙄
You've got a point there. Honestly, it completely trashed my gut health and I ended up struggling with some liver issues because of it, but I’m planning to pick up an antibiotic during my break.
I’ve heard the exact same thing from my doctors; everything you described aligns perfectly with what I've been told.😢 My liver enzyme levels aren't exactly where they should be right now, so I was actually debating whether or not to go through with the antibiotics. Ultimately, I decided to take them. My physician weighed the risks of treatment versus the risks of doing nothing, and she made it clear that in my specific situation, ignoring the infection is far too dangerous. She also scheduled me for follow-up bloodwork and another round of testing to monitor my progress. In my case, they’re still just suspicious of Lyme disease, whereas you’ve already received a definitive diagnosis. What kind of symptoms are you dealing with? Thanks!
I’ve combed through the first five pages and couldn't find this thread, so if it already exists, please merge this one. Anyway, about two weeks ago while I was out on a hike, I got bitten by something. Honestly, I didn't think much of it at the time because mosquitoes and bugs absolutely target me—it's like my blood is an all-you-can-eat buffet for them, so they usually leave everyone else alone and just go for 😁. But a few days after that specific bite, things took a turn. It started swelling up, hardening, and developed this distinct red ring around it. I was wearing long socks at the time, so I thought I was protected. My first instinct was to try some hydrocortisone cream to bring down the inflammation. I also ruled out fungus right away; I have a history of dealing with fungal issues from my cats, though they're perfectly healthy now... plus, even Canesten didn't touch it. I eventually went to see my doctor. She saw I had a fever, looked at the bite, and immediately confirmed what it was. Both my husband and I were bitten this week, and she showed me an identical mark on his leg. The swelling in my leg is pretty significant.
But now I'm spiraling: what if she misdiagnosed me? I'm worried I'm being put on antibiotics for no reason, especially since they always absolutely wreck my system.
The issue is that she's extremely quick to prescribe antibiotics. Now I'm stuck taking them for three to four weeks. We did one blood test, and we'll be doing another one soon, but does anyone here have any experience with this? Thanks.
I've been on Prozac for three months, feeling better, no panic attacks... just a little bit of occasional anxiety left... you guys actually threw me off a bit regarding how long you should stay on these things.... I was planning to stick with it until month ten and then taper off slowly..... But damn, if all that stuff can actually come back... because I was in a really dark place (panic, fears, anxiety, high blood pressure, neck pain... eventually I didn't even dare leave my house... and before that, I was a strong guy, always handled everything myself)... my wife left me and took the kids a year ago, and by early February, those symptoms started hitting me... I'm 40... How much longer should one take antidepressants (once a person is functioning normally again).. Best regards
As long as it takes for your psychotherapy to wrap up. That medication doesn't actually "cure" anything on its own if your mindset and your life circumstances haven't changed.
analogpuma0 said:Well, to get any kind of antidepressant, you're going to need a referral to a psychiatrist first, and they'll be the ones to decide which specific medication might work best for you... I suppose. About two years ago, I went through a really heavy bout of depression myself. I was on Zoloft and Helix back then, and honestly, it turned me into someone I didn't quite recognize. I ended up stopping the meds, though looking back, it seems like I probably quit far too early, because the depression eventually caught up with me again. I just couldn't seem to handle the constant daily stress that's been hitting me over the last couple of months. So, about a month ago, I started back on Zoloft... and I can genuinely feel that, combined with my own efforts, things are getting a little better every day. I think I'm starting to see the point in things again...🙂 Good luck!
Have you ever considered seeking professional therapy?
stormyheron98 said:Look, antidepressants don't cause addiction. Period. Sedatives? Yeah, sure, those can hook you. But antidepressants? Not really. Most people just don't get the difference between the two groups. That said, if you suddenly quit an antidepressant cold turkey, you’re gonna deal with a nasty withdrawal effect because your brain's neurotransmitters just tank overnight. It feels terrible, but it passes. And honestly, it’s usually more intense with the newer stuff, like an SSRI (think Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, whatever). Bottom line: if you're on them, don't just stop out of nowhere. You gotta taper off slow.
Even that herbal stuff made from St. John's Wort—hypericin, if you want to be technical—basically works the exact same way as the synthetic stuff.
🙏👍
George Clark19 said:So, based on what people have been saying on here—if you’re feeling depressed, exhausted, and super cranky, could that all just be down to iron or vitamin deficiencies?😕 Is it actually possible to spiral into full-blown depression just from that? Like, it starts as being tired, then you get irritable, and then it all just snowballs and feeds into itself? I gotta say, the meds I was on (Prozac, Wellbutrin) didn't do squat for me. I ended up quitting them cold turkey and didn't really deal with any issues. The depression usually hits me hardest in the winter—it'd last from maybe October until February before things started looking up again. This year was actually pretty decent through the winter, though, but now that we're hitting March, it's starting to creep back in. Only difference is this time I'm not letting myself sink into that total lethargy; I'm getting out, studying, stuff like that. Honestly, I'm starting to wonder if it's even actual depression or if it's just finally facing whatever reality is left over. P.S.—I wouldn't say it's ever been *quite* as catastrophic as what some other people go through, but it's definitely enough to freak me out and make me feel paralyzed about life.
Let’s get one thing straight: real depression doesn't just "go away" on its own. It isn't something you can just snap out of through willpower alone. And for anyone thinking about quitting their medication cold turkey—stop right there. You absolutely cannot just stop taking these meds abruptly. Doing that is essentially like throwing your brain into a state of total chemical shock. You might think you're making progress by cutting ties, but trust me, the bill always comes due eventually. Taking medication without following up with psychotherapy rarely does much good.
Olivia Castillo10 said:I’m not here to sell anything, especially not myself. My only goal is to help people, especially given the absolute hell I’ve dealt with regarding my spine over the last decade.
For the record, the ball on the base isn't static; it moves, and you can actually "hop" on it. I used to have a makeshift version at home, so I’ve tested the waters, and I’ve also tried the official version that's currently only being manufactured and sold here in the States. The base serves one specific purpose: preventing a fall. For someone like me, who has undergone spinal surgery, a fall would be catastrophic.
I’ve tried those balance cushions too, and honestly? They’re nothing special. Personally, they didn't provide much stability for me, and I don't even weigh much—only about 130 pounds.
Look, you're being a bit shady, 😉. I'm not the only one you've reached out to via DM trying to pitch these products. Offering to sell things isn't inherently wrong, but lying about it is just poor form.
That said—the product itself is excellent, and I definitely recommend it. 🙂
Look, she might have a few pounds to lose, but besides that—it’s just a bunch of women showing up just to brag and fishing for whatever little compliment they can get. 😉
My apologies if I miscalculated the proportions here. To clarify, when I mentioned "col," I wasn't referring to a specific brand or location—I was using the sizing designation for the bike frame and geometry. While wheel size definitely matters, the seat height and the frame itself are actually much more critical factors. Think of the wheels more in terms of cadence; a larger diameter just means you're spinning the pedals fewer times to cover the same distance. In fact, I personally ride a setup with two different tire profiles to test this exact thing.
velvetsurfer132, look, most of these are designed with men in mind, so you’ll notice the geometry leans masculine. Women’s frames usually have a lower top tube and a more slanted design, making it much easier to mount and dismount if you're wearing a skirt.
If you see a listing for a 19 or 21-inch frame, honestly, that’s way too small for an adult woman. Those sizes are really intended for teenagers or shorter riders, maybe topping out at 5'5".
For an adult, you should be looking for at least a 26-inch wheel setup; otherwise, the handlebars are going to feel frustratingly low. Don't get me wrong, they look like beautiful bikes in the photos,👍 but I strongly suggest heading to a specialized local bike shop. You want to buy from someone who will actually warn you if you're picking out a frame that's too small—if you don't get the fit right, you're going to end up with a massive amount of back pain.
Rebecca Chase73 said:Great advice, thanks everyone. I’m thinking about putting down somewhere between 2,000 and $1333. I'll mostly be commuting on the road, but I know the urge to hit those forest trails will eventually pull me in. My office has a shower, so that makes things easy. Since I plan on riding every other day, I'll just drop off my freshly pressed shirt at the office the night before.
The law 👍—just wait and see if this turns out to be one of those life-changing decisions. You'll realize how much easier it is to process stress when you're active; plus, your fitness levels go up and your immune system gets a serious boost. 👍
gentletiger46—it’s incredibly comfortable, isn't it? 😍 Personally, I have a very feminine build, and if I tried wearing one of those unisex starter saddles, I'd probably end up with chafing on the sides within minutes. 😁 Not to mention the bruising; I’d feel the soreness for days every time I sat down. This setup is perfect—it supports everything properly, and having those gels tucked inside is absolutely brilliant. 👍.
I don't usually bike through the city every single day, but you all have motivated me so much that I actually headed out today. 👍
Sarah Nguyen76 said:My only real issue is that my office is located right at the top of the hill near Rib... just imagine trying to ride up there on a 10% grade.
Okay, look, that sounds absolutely brutal. Personally, I only deal with inclines like that when my husband decides he’s taking charge and drags me out on one of his "tough" weekend routes. I’m usually the first one to call it quits; those guys power through standing up and reach the summit without breaking a sweat.
So for instance, 9.3 miles how long did it take you back when you were just starting out?
Listen, if you're a beginner, expect it to take about an hour. But honestly? You'll burn calories like crazy and your fitness will skyrocket.👍 Once you get some training under your belt, you can probably knock it out in under 40 minutes. My husband has a pretty intense commute; he gets it done in a little over half an hour because he rides like a complete maniac and then has to shower at the office afterward. My daily distance is around 44 miles, and we once rode for over four hours straight—I couldn't feel my butt for three days after that.👎 Not even my legs. But I definitely worked muscles I didn't even know existed.
Regarding the saddle—men might laugh, but I actually upgraded my sporty bike (it's a very sleek, 😍 cool sports model) with a gel-padded women's saddle; any local bike shop can set you up. The stock seat that came with the bike was way too narrow and punishingly hard.
I have a Royal Sel, whereas the first one I had was great for men because it doesn't cramp things up and makes accelerating much easier.
Now I'm using this 😳
Oh, and if you mean an MTB—something decent for off-road rather than just basic trekking—the one thing I would never touch is those "women's city bikes." Sure, you can ride them in a sundress, but they are incredibly tacky.
What I would definitely insist on is having suspension in the fork and under the seat... I recently took my bike in for a tune-up and realized how much I missed the suspension on my old one; riding without it gave me terrible back pain on the very first night.👎 Plus, it really isn't good for female anatomy to absorb all that shock directly.
Take this one, for example; you wouldn't enjoy anything in nature with it. That's why they call them city bikes—in my book, they're mostly for grandmas.
wearyotter81 said:But where do you even park your bikes? I’m happy enough to pack extra wipes, a spare shirt, and some tissues so I don't end up a sweaty mess, but honestly, I’m terrified of locking my bike outside. People are out here cutting through chains like they're nothing these days... It’s not some high-end carbon racer—I paid about fifteen hundred bucks for it—but it looks decent enough that I really don't want to wake up and find it gone. I mean, my friends actually had their strollers swiped right from the entrance of a Target for $100 even though they were tied to a pillar...
I just leave it right in front of my office. It’s fully insured, so if someone does snatch it, the insurance company handles buying me a new one.
I use an Abus lock that cost me $117, and frankly, you’d need a freaking industrial saw to get through that thing 😁 .
maybe they'll lose interest, but you absolutely have to strip the bike of everything first—lights, mounts, water bottle holders, and definitely the seat (that's a must!).
👍
In my case, within ten minutes of walking into a shop, thieves managed to grab my bell, my cycling computer, and even the spare tools hanging from my saddlebag. Ever since that happened, I strip the bike bare every single time, though I have to admit, it’s a massive pain in the neck.
