I haven't had a chance to read through this entire thread yet, but I have a few questions and am really looking for some advice. Is it actually possible to get a second opinion just by providing the medical records? I’m trying to avoid putting my Dad through the wringer again with a whole new battery of tests he’s already completed. We're dealing with lung cancer—it isn't small cell, at least that's what I gathered, though I'm not entirely sure of the specific type they mentioned—and it has spread to the liver. I’m under no illusions about the prognosis being grim, but at the same time, I need to know for myself that I’ve exhausted every single available option. I have absolutely zero experience with cancer, so I honestly don't even know where to begin. This all hit us out of nowhere because it was caught by accident, and we are all still in complete shock. That said, I am fully prepared to pay for a consultation or treatment through a private specialist if necessary; I just have no idea which doctor or facility to turn to.
I never imagined I’d be the one posting in this thread, but life really has a way of slapping you in the face when you least expect it. Just last week, Dad seemed perfectly fine. And even now, he still looks healthy on the surface, but the reality of the situation is just so much heavier than it appears... For now, I’ll mostly just be lurking and reading—hoping I can find even a tiny glimmer of hope in here.
rowdyfox112 said:Ever since that Java update a few days ago, I can't even get into eSalary. Every time I try to enter my PIN, the whole thing just freezes up and crashes Java. I'm running Mozilla. Also, quick question—is anyone else getting that "applet failed to load" error every single time they log in? Everything is installed perfectly on my end, yet it keeps happening.
The exact same thing happened to me today. And honestly, it wasn't just a one-time glitch; it happens every single time I attempt to access my JP Morgan Chase account. It took me an entire hour just to pay one solitary bill! An absolute hour! I probably would have spent less energy walking all the way down to a local branch, standing in an endless line, and trekking back home! 🙂
In case anyone actually important is lurking here—JP Morgan Chase has hands down been the most infuriating online banking experience I have ever had the misfortune of dealing with.
p.s. I'm not even looking for solutions here, I just needed to vent. 😁
Sean Sanchez14 said:So, here’s the deal. I really hope I’m posting this in the right spot. I’ve actually mentioned how much I’ve been struggling on this forum before, but things just keep getting worse. So, there's this ex of mine, right? He basically kicked me out of our apartment because he was totally intimidated by his sister, and now he’s acting all regretful—but honestly, what does that even mean? Everything has just spiraled. I ended up in the ER on meds and everything... life is just hitting me hard lately. The other day, I happened to catch a glimpse of a conversation they had where he was basically saying I’m "not right" and that he doesn't even want to see me, yet the guy shows up at my job three times a week just to grab coffee 🤔 and if I give him a call, he’s right there, hugging me and kissing me... But then she’s the one calling all the shots. Every single time he tries to head home, she forbids him from contacting me. She’s only two years younger than him, but she acts like the boss of the entire household—she’s basically running the show for everyone, including their parents and the whole crew... I just don't get it. How can a grown man be so terrified of some girl who’s basically just a pretender? Is it just me, or is it crazy how everyone seems to be under her thumb? It’s so hard for me to wrap my head around this mess... she tells him one thing, but he says something completely different to me? He told me a long time ago that he’s always been this way with every girl he’s ever dated... Has anyone else ever dealt with something this insane? 😠
Whether she’s a total nightmare or not, he’s the one giving her a free pass to act that way. Since we're talking about an ex-boyfriend here, I really shouldn't have to spell this out for you: cut ties with a spineless guy like that immediately.
Austin Hill6 said:I actually have more respect for people who don't care for animals and choose not to own them at all: - than I do for those who buy parrots and directly fuel the breeding industry, forcing these creatures to live in cages their entire lives under the thin guise of "loving animals," - or those who get a dog only to keep it tethered on a chain constantly, - or cat owners who refuse to spay or neuter their pets, effectively killing off the offspring, - or people who treat animals as mere props to attract attention or a romantic interest, yet wouldn't even bother to feed them if someone else wasn't doing it for them, - or those who visit the zoo claiming they "love nature," when a zoo isn't nature—it's just captivity, - or anyone buying any kind of pet (excluding insects, spiders, or reptiles—though I'm not thrilled about those either), and frankly, everyone else who claims to "love" animals.
Animals are living beings that deserve to have their own peace and their own lives.
Well said! 👍
I know plenty of idiots who are terrified of snakes and start panicking every time they see one, screaming that every single snake needs to be wiped out.
The last time I set foot in a zoo was back in third grade during a school field trip. I haven't been since. Honestly, I wouldn't even dream of stepping into a circus with animals either—to me, that’s even more egregious. Recently, some friends were planning a trip to the local zoo, and I politely declined. When I actually explained my reasoning, I caught a few of them subtly rolling their eyes at me. 😁 On the flip side, it always struck me as a bit hypocritical that these same people identify as vegetarians because they "love animals." It just feels fundamentally inconsistent. 😳
Look, I know there are people out there who just aren't "animal people," and I’m not calling anyone a freak for that. Personally, I’m a huge fan of dogs and cats, but reptiles? Not my thing—I’m terrified of them, so I guess you could say I "don't like" them. If someone thinks that makes me an oddball, honestly, I couldn't care less. To me, actual weirdos are the people who claim they don't like animals yet insist on keeping them anyway. I truly cannot wrap my head around that logic. I completely get it: if you aren't an animal person, I won't show up at your door with my dog (and frankly, I won't bring pets to anyone unless we've cleared it beforehand). But, in return, please respect that I am not going to lock up my cats or dogs just because you're visiting my place. My house, my rules.🤷
Now, let’s be clear: not liking animals doesn't mean you don't like people. However, people who actively mistreat or torture animals aren't just "weird"—they are a special breed of idiot. I firmly believe in that old adage about how cruelty starts; if someone is capable of inflicting pain on an innocent creature, there is something fundamentally broken in their psyche, and it's entirely possible they'd turn that same cruelty toward humans if given the chance.🤷 To draw a parallel with snakes—even though I personally can't stand them—I am vehemently against killing them without any actual reason. You see it all the time when people are hiking in a national park, stumble upon a snake minding its own business, and kill it "just to be safe," even though the snake is just living in its habitat and nobody was ever in any real danger...
I’m a lefty by nature, though I was essentially forced into being right-handed because some classmate back in elementary school would actually lecture us and pull our hair if she caught us writing with our left hand (and no, I am not joking). 🤷 So, while I mostly write with my right hand now, I can still use my left—it just isn't nearly as fast. Everything else, however, remains strictly left-handed. As far as intelligence goes, I know two people who were smart enough to skip grades in grade school, and both happen to be lefties. Does that mean I’m inherently more intelligent because of my handedness? Honestly, I have no clue... 🤷Besides, I ended up in one of those hyper-competitive honors classes where everyone was an overachiever, so that's hardly a reliable metric. What I do know for certain is that I definitely lean toward the more artistic, creative side of things. 🤷
Taylor Smith3 said:It’s actually great timing that you posted, as I just got back from my OB-GYN and picked up some Logest😁 after being on Cilest for a while. I saw the thread about Logest earlier and everyone seemed to be complaining, which had me feeling a bit anxious, so I'm relieved to hear yours worked well. However, I’ve run into a bit of a dilemma. I assumed I could just transition smoothly, much like when I switched from Yaz to Cilest. I took my last pill on Thursday and started my period on Monday, so I figured I should start the new pack on Friday. But the instructions say to start immediately after the primary pills without a break. I forgot to clarify this with my doctor, so I gave him a quick call, and he told me to start them today 😕 but the pamphlet says:
You may begin taking Logest film-coated tablets the day after taking the last tablet from your previous pack (meaning there is no break when taking these tablets). If your current pack contains inactive tablets, you may begin taking Logest film-coated tablets the day after the last active tablet (if you are unsure, consult your physician or pharmacist).You may also begin taking the tablets later, but never later than one day after the break in your current tablets(or the day after the last inactive tablet from your current pack)
I don't quite grasp the bolded part 🤷 regarding how I can start "later" but still not later than one day. It's a bit confusing. On top of that, my doctor's advice seems to contradict the paperwork. When exactly should I start? Part of me wants to just go buy another box of Cilest, finish that, and then switch to the Logest I bought today 🙄 because I really don't want to mess with my cycle; the current timing works perfectly for me.
Basically, if you took your last pill of Cilest today, you start the Logest tomorrow. Or, at the very latest, the day after... I remember my OB-GYN telling me that once you finish your week-long break, you just transition straight from Cilest to Logest. It threw me for a loop because the instructions in the box say something entirely different. I ended up just following my doctor's lead—mostly because I wanted to keep my period on the same predictable schedule—and everything turned out fine. We were also a little extra careful with protection that month, just to be safe. 😳
I have been on birth control since 2008, starting with Yasmin and later switching to Cilest. I took a break for a few months back in 2010 before resuming at the start of 2011. That hiatus was simply because I wasn't seeing anyone at the time, making the medication unnecessary, though I should note that during those six months, my period didn't occur unless prompted by a gynecologist. Recently, over the last few months, I have noticed a significant drop in my libido; even yesterday, despite feeling the desire and reaching climax, I felt absolutely no physical arousal whatsoever. This leads me to conclude that the issue isn't purely psychological—the drive is there, but the pills are clearly interfering with the physical response. I am wondering if it would be more prudent to take another break or perhaps switch to a different brand entirely. Aside from this, I haven't had any major issues; my libido was excellent on both Yasmin and Cilest, though I transitioned to Cilest because Yasmin left me feeling quite depressed.
What is my best course of action? 😢 I want my libido back.
I didn't quite catch which pills you're currently on... But, personally, I've tried both Yasmin and Cilest—Yasmin gave me these absolutely brutal headaches, while Cilest basically sent my sex drive into a total coma. Most recently, I was on Loestrin, and honestly, they were fantastic right up until the very end. The thing is, I haven't been on any birth control for about three months now because my last three or four periods have only lasted a day or two and were incredibly light, so I finally decided to call it quits.
Look, I don't know the specifics of what kind of surgery you're facing, but it sounds like a perfectly valid excuse to (once again) put off getting that tattoo. Any reputable shop in town would give you the exact same advice. 🤷 Sure, there’s a chance everything goes fine and the ink stays perfect, but you can never account for the "what ifs." A friend of mine had a minor infection after a session, and what should have been a simple ten-day healing process turned into a month-long nightmare of skin issues.
Look, just wait until after the surgery is over (assuming you even end up needing one). I honestly don't see why getting a tattoo is such an urgent matter right now. 🤷
I’ve finally decided to kick the pill habit; I suppose I’m getting "old" now (33 years old)... 😁 Basically, does anyone know roughly how long it takes for my cycle to settle back into a predictable rhythm—you know, so I can actually start counting fertile days with any degree of confidence?
🙄 Honestly, if you had just mentioned right away that you were coming down with a cold... 😁 Based on your initial post, it sounds like the breathing difficulties actually kicked in once you started taking the pills. 🤷
Shortness of breath is explicitly listed in the lungs section as a symptom that warrants an IMMEDIATE trip to the doctor. Now, look, there is always a chance you’re just overthinking things—believe me, I’ve been there—but why on earth would you take that risk? 🤷
What’s the point? You all sit here acting like you have the answers, but nobody actually knows anything. Just noise. Constant, endless noise. Why bother even typing? kaže: So, what, you're just gonna head straight to the physical exam then? 🤷 Look, you’re better off getting checked out first. Get an ultrasound to make sure everything is clear, then get the bloodwork done. For instance, a friend of mine had her blood tested and they found she had issues with blood clotting. Because of that, she couldn't even touch birth control pills.
Can't even go in for a checkup because I'm still virginal. And honestly? I’m not planning on changing that until I can get my hands on the pill. But apparently, getting the pill is impossible right now. It’s like being stuck in some kind of endless, twisted loop. 🤷
Before I actually started getting intimate with anyone, I made a point to visit my gynecologist. I was upfront with him—told him straight out that I wasn't a virgin anymore, but honestly, I had no intention of continuing down that path, so I asked him to just put me on the pill. It wasn't some dramatic ordeal or a major confrontation; he was perfectly fine with it. I also went in for some routine blood work beforehand, and that was pretty much the extent of it. 🤷
I have a question for the group. My gynecologist isn't seeing me until tomorrow afternoon, and I’ve just experienced my second unusual period in a row. It doesn't even look like blood; it’s more of this jammy, brownish consistency—sort of what I usually see at the very end of a cycle, but this time the whole thing lasted only two days before completely vanishing. Actually, I was just in for my checkup about three weeks ago, and everything came back perfectly fine. Is this actually normal? I’ve been on the pill for years now—with the occasional break here and there—but I have never experienced anything quite like this before...
Ever since I developed a penicillin allergy back when I was ten, I’ve made it my personal mission to steer clear of medication whenever possible. I certainly wouldn't go through that nightmare again; the reaction was absolutely brutal—blisters everywhere and joints so swollen I could barely move. I ended up stuck in a hospital bed for an entire month. Honestly, most of it is a blur, except for the fact that I was being poked with injections three times a day, having blood drawn every other day, and being forced onto this strict diet where I couldn't touch any protein at all.🙄 The strange thing is, before that allergic reaction hit, I was basically a magnet for illness, catching some kind of infection every three weeks or so. But ever since that ordeal? I can count on one hand how many times I've actually gotten sick in the last twenty years.😁
I recently took a little break from my birth control pills (Logest) and have since resumed them. However, during that gap, my gynecologist didn't bother sending me for any blood work or anything remotely similar—not even when I specifically asked if it was necessary. She just flatly told me there was no need.
How often should I actually be getting my blood checked? It’s proving impossible to get a straight answer out of my doctor. 🙄 The last time I had blood drawn was about a year and a half ago (and honestly, that was entirely on my own initiative), and my results were perfectly fine, aside from my perennial struggle with low iron levels.
melloworca6 said:Honestly, lamb just smells terrible to me. There’s nothing anyone could do to make me sit there and eat it. It’s the absolute worst when I’m at a wedding and everyone else is digging into a big platter of lamb while my stomach is doing somersaults.
I don't know, I just listen to my gut. If a smell or a taste turns me off, there's usually a reason for it, so I just steer clear of those foods entirely.
Oh man, tell me about it... I actually had to make an early exit from one wedding because the entire banquet hall reeked of lamb. I just couldn't stay in that environment for another minute. 🤷
So, my mom actually called me crazy the other day because I had to ask her—for what feels like the hundredth time—if she was absolutely positive the meat she cooked wasn't spoiled... It smelled off to me, and honestly, the taste wasn't much better, and I’m pretty certain I’m not pregnant, so my senses aren't just playing tricks on me... 🤷 For now, I've just decided to stop eating meat altogether, so I guess the "problem" is officially solved... 😳