This is a super interesting topic, so I figured I’d jump in and weigh in a little bit. 😉 First off, I need to correct what someone mentioned a few posts back—claiming the water near the coast is hard and the inland water is soft. It’s actually the exact OPPOSITE!!!!! Take Chicago, for example; it has some of the hardest water in the US! You can see it in the massive amount of limescale buildup in water heaters, washing machines, and all sorts of appliances. Even when you're just boiling tea, it's pretty obvious. But honestly, that hardness has zero to do with pollution. The water is naturally hard because of the Sava gravel in the substrate; it was basically like this back in prehistoric times before civilization even existed. If anyone tried to argue that it's harmful, I wouldn't buy it. By that logic, any bottled mineral water would be way worse since it has even more dissolved minerals—meaning if you boiled it, you'd get WAY more scale! That said, I will agree that softer water (like what you find in karst regions) tastes better and definitely helps your appliances last longer... Now, something else caught my eye: Do those of you who are a bit older (I’m talking at least 30) remember how, even like 15 years ago in America, you could barely find plain bottled water anywhere?! It was all mineral water. Everyone just drank tap water; nobody even thought about running to the store just to grab a bottle! 😉 So, do you really believe that water quality in most of our cities has suddenly tanked since then? 🙄 I don't think so! If anything, it might be the opposite. We all know that following the war and various privatizations, most of the heavy industry collapsed. There are actually fewer polluters now than there were in the 90s, so I'd say the water quality has either improved or stayed the same; it's hard to imagine it getting worse somewhere. Nowadays, buying bottled water has become a total fashion statement, which in my opinion is completely POINTLESS! Some big-shot tycoons and retailers had the bright idea to turn water into a business by slapping on fancy packaging, giving it catchy names, and preaching about how their specific brand is the absolute best! I’m pretty sure a lot of that stuff is actually worse than tap water—or at least right up there with it—especially since it sits in plastic for months, whereas when you turn on the tap, you're getting it practically straight from the source! And if you crunch the numbers on tap vs. bottled, you'll see that a single liter of bottled water can cost thousands of times more!!! So, is it really that much better? 😁I’d also point out that drinking bottled water is terrible for the environment! Sure, we have recycling programs now, but a huge chunk of those bottles still ends up in the trash or littered in nature, which trashes the environment. Plus, the whole process pollutes through the constant transport of all those bottles—burning fuel for massive trucks, using electricity for bottling plants, and so on. From an environmental standpoint, this bottled water "trend" is a total disaster... 👎And let's not even talk about how much money you save if you just stop buying it! 👍 One last thing: people are always going on about how America is one of the rare or even only places where you can drink tap water. That is absolutely NOT TRUE!!!!! I’ve personally traveled through tons of countries and major cities across Europe and the rest of the world, and most of them have perfectly drinkable tap water. In fact, many places (like Vienna, for instance) have top-tier water quality that I’m certain no city in the US can match... 😉
Rachel Bailey26 said:This is a super awkward place to bring this up, but I found this little bump about an inch or two from my anus. Or, more accurately, it’s just something hard under the skin—not swollen or anything, just feels like you're running your finger over a tiny coin tucked under the surface. It's just... firm.
I think it's been there for a while now, and it gets annoying whenever I have to wear pads for a few days. I guess the pad irritates the area, which makes it painful, but otherwise, it doesn't really hurt, isn't a weird color, and doesn't bother me much. Still, it's bugging me and I really want to get it checked out.
Who should I see? A dermatologist? A proctologist?
Any idea what it could be?
Run to a proctologist ASAP! Look, it might be totally nothing, but it could also be anything, so it's hard to say for sure. Based on how you described it, I'd guess it's most likely just hemorrhoids, which aren't exactly dangerous, just super annoying. But, it could also be an abscess (though I doubt it based on your description), and if it *is* a perianal abscess, that requires a > trip to the hospital and immediate surgery under general anesthesia. That can actually become life-threatening, so please don't mess around—get to a doctor (specifically a proctologist) right away! 👍 I'm really hoping it's not an abscess or anything serious, but honestly, it's better to be safe and get it looked at! 👍
Edward White81 said:Hey there, I'm new here. Here’s what I’m dealing with: there's a spot above my anus, maybe about 1cm wide. About two weeks ago, this tiny little hole—maybe 2mm across—showed up. Just above that, toward my lower back, I have this slight thickening, kind of like swelling. When I go to the bathroom, it probably bleeds a little bit because of irritation from the toilet paper. Yesterday, I actually squeezed that little hole, and some pus came out. I don't think it's hemorrhoids, but I'm terrified it might be a perianal abscess. What do you guys think? Thanks.
Oh man, that sounds like a TOTAL abscess for sure, or maybe a pilonidal sinus—and honestly, it looks like you've already developed a fistula too! 👎 The only silver lining is that the pus started coming out on its own, so you basically got some spontaneous drainage, which I'm guessing gave you at least a little bit of relief. But seriously, get to a doctor ASAP—like, a surgeon. That usually needs to be handled right away with an incision under general anesthesia... So please, let us know how it goes! Fingers crossed for you! 👍
From what I gather, "locally enhanced" basically means you’re gonna be SLEEPING! 😉 But don't get it twisted—it's not full-blown general anesthesia. They just hit the surgical site with standard local numbing, and then they give you some kind of sedative to knock you out. It won't put you under like a heavy anesthetic, but you'll probably feel all hazy and drowsy, maybe even drifting through a weird dream state. Either way, you won't feel the procedure happening; you'll practically be out of it... plus, the risk is way lower than going under completely! 👍
nimblebear8, seriously, don't even sweat the cancer thing! 😁 I’m like, ninety-nine percent sure that's NOT what we're looking at here. Based on how you're describing everything, it sounds way more like a classic case of hemorrhoids. Honestly, it doesn't even sound like cancer symptoms or an abscess—it just sounds like hemorrhoids! So, maybe grab some over-the-counter cream and give that a shot? It should help, I'm pretty sure... BUT; look, regardless of my two cents, you SHOULD definitely go see a doctor. It’s always better to have a pro take a look and tell you for sure! 👍 Anyway, fingers crossed everything turns out fine! 👍
Larry Lewis22 said:I’ve actually been feeling this way for a few years now, but lately, it’s really started hitting me. Honestly, if I see a white box from the doctor, I’m done for. I can’t even imagine having to deal with a full procedure, let alone surgery—it’s hard to describe. What even causes this?
You’ve got me a little confused there, because an abscess usually moves pretty fast—we're talking days, weeks, maybe a couple of months at most—but you’re saying this has been going on for years... So, maybe it’s just hemorrhoids? Or, I mean, it could be something more serious. Either way, I think you really need to see a doctor; seriously, don't be scared! I totally get that it's awkward, though. I mean, who actually enjoys going to the doctor? 😕 But hey, when you gotta go, you gotta go! As for what causes an abscess: there are a few different things, but usually, it all kicks off with an inflammation in the anal glands. It can even start from something as minor as an ingrown hair. To keep it simple—an infection slowly spreads deeper, the tissue gets inflamed, and a pocket starts forming that fills up with pus. It grows quite a bit, so a lot of people mistake it for a tumor. If you wait too long, you usually end up with a fistula, which basically breaks through into the bowel so the pus can drain out on its own. That’s a pretty nasty situation you definitely want to avoid. I really hope you don't end up needing surgery, but if you do, you won't even have time to freak out. They'll just hook you up to an IV with some sedative, you'll drift right off, and by the time you wake up, it’ll be over and everything will be fine! 👍
Larry Lewis22 said:Man, this sucks, but I'll try to be clear. For a while now, whenever I'm on the toilet, something sort of undefined 🤷 pops out. Reading through the forums, I'm not even sure if it's hemorrhoids since there's no bleeding and they aren't blueish or anything, but I have to wait a second for it to slide back in before I can wipe. Honestly, going to the doctor feels like such a nightmare, but I guess I don't have much choice, so I was wondering if anyone could give me a rough idea of what's going on or what to expect. Also, lately, I've been feeling this pulsing sensation in my anal area, almost like my heart is down there. There's a constant pain when I'm using the bathroom, though it's bearable—it just gets way worse when I really need to go but can't quite 😁. THANKS. 🙏
You say "for a while"—how long are we talking here? A month or two? A year? A couple of weeks?! 🤷 Give us some actual details! 😉 Do you have any of the symptoms that swiftscout21 mentioned? Look at what they wrote. Even though your symptoms aren't quite as textbook for a perianal abscess as theirs (I'd bet money that's exactly what they've got), since you mentioned that "pulsing" thing, I'm thinking it might be an abscess for you too. That pulsing feeling usually happens because of a big buildup of pus in a possible abscess. 👎 Anyway, WHY is seeing a doctor such a huge deal for you? 😕 Seriously, why?! Just get to a doctor ASAP, because if it actually is an abscess, you're gonna need surgery pronto; if it's gotten bad enough, they might even have to admit you to the hospital right then and there! So, for your own sake, stop stalling and run to a proctologist or a surgeon! 👍 To make you feel a little better, the surgery isn't a massive ordeal; they usually send you home the same day, but just a heads-up, they'll have to put you under for about half an hour—you can't really do this with just local anesthesia. But hey, don't worry, everything will be fine. And hey, maybe it isn't an abscess at all, but it's better to check than to assume! Fingers crossed for you! 👍
swiftscout21, any news? You've gone totally MIA on me! 🤷 Did you actually take my advice and head to the doctor in the meantime? Was everything exactly like I said it would be? 😕 Did they keep you there for immediate surgery, or did they make you wait a few days? Either way, if you haven't seen a doctor yet, please just go—I don't want to freak you out or anything, but a perianal abscess can turn into a massive problem really fast if you don't get it operated on. And honestly, surgery is probably the only real fix; I guess most ointments aren't going to cut it here. I'm still crossing my fingers that everything turns out fine! 👍 Let us know how it goes!
swiftscout21 said:I've had hemorrhoids for 2 years. Now they're acting up so bad that my anus is itching like crazy and there's some kind of discharge—basically, my underwear gets wet in that area. It's itchy and there's this thick swelling around the opening, to the point where it just feels swollen. I ordered some American cream from the pharmacy that I used before on prescription from a proctologist. I really hope this misery ends soon.
Man, talk about being totally in the dark! 🙄 What you’re describing doesn't sound like hemorrhoids at all; those are classic symptoms of a PERIANAL ABSCESS! You're just wasting your time with those creams, and honestly, things could get way worse. 👎 You need to get to SURGERY ASAP—this needs to be operated on! If you drag your feet, it could get complicated or even turn into sepsis, and then you're in real trouble, so please hurry to a doctor! You likely have a big pocket of pus building up inside, which is why you're feeling this way, and it needs to be opened and drained immediately. The surgery isn't super intense, but it's done under general anesthesia, meaning they'll put you out, and it takes about half an hour. If everything goes smoothly and you handle it well, they might even send you home the same day, maybe just with some follow-up visits for dressing changes and checkups. Anyway, let us know how it goes and if I guessed the diagnosis right! 👍 Fingers crossed that everything turns out okay! 👍
Mark Patel4 said:I'm 18, and about a year ago I had this lump near my anus (not sure what the medical term is). I went to a surgeon, and he told me it was just hemorrhoids. He drained the pus out of the lump, which was fine, but now a year later, there’s still this little 1.5cm wound that leaks pus two or three times a week. It’s seriously irritating my skin and makes walking uncomfortable... what should I do???
Man, that surgeon totally steered you wrong! I'd bet anything that wasn't hemorrhoids—it sounds like you actually had a perianal abscess, which is basically a nasty, pus-filled infection similar to a cyst. Honestly, though, it was probably a good move that he drained it. But what you're describing right now? That's almost certainly a fistula. It's essentially a small tunnel that forms between the bowel and the skin near the anus, and that's why the pus keeps leaking. If you let a fistula go untreated for years, it can potentially lead to cancer, so you really shouldn't brush this off. Plus, it just sucks to deal with... In big hospitals, they usually handle fistulas with pretty intense surgery under general anesthesia, which means a long hospital stay. However, in NYC, you can often get this handled privately with just local anesthesia, so you won't even need time off work. I actually know a doctor who specializes in this stuff. If you want, I can shoot you a private message with his info—just hit me up if you're interested...
Honestly, it could be something like a perianal abscess, which is no joke—it can get life-threatening pretty fast and might even require emergency surgery under general anesthesia. So, yeah, you should probably just head to the doctor ASAP. It could be anything at this point! 🤷
ironseal13 said:My girlfriend caught the flu yesterday. How long is the incubation period for this virus? Is there anything I can actually do over the next few days to boost my chances of staying healthy myself? She’s supposed to head out on a trip this Monday—now I’m just sitting here worrying about it all.
First bit of advice: as harsh as it sounds, RUN away from your sister. Don't get close, don't even hang out in the same room! Seriously. Second, grab some multivitamins, and maybe load up on some Vitamin C as a preventative measure—plus, taking something for your immune system wouldn't hurt either... Anyway, I really hope you dodge the flu if you follow this, fingers crossed! 👍 As for the incubation, I think for the flu it's usually about 2 to 3 days, so you should definitely know by Monday whether you've caught it or not... And one more tip for the FUTURE: In the coming autumns, START THINKING ABOUT THE FLU AND GET VACCINATED !!!!!! Like I said, it offers nearly 100% protection, costs maybe $50 (if I recall correctly), and it's basically painless. You don't even have to wait at the clinic; just pop in, say hi to the nurse, and you're done! Just keep in mind it's not a lifetime thing, it's just for one season, so GET VACCINATED EVERY SINGLE FALL! And hey, I'm not just talking out of thin air here; I'm speaking from actual experience! 👍
I honestly don't get you people who are so against getting vaccinated! I’ve been doing this for over 10 years now, and since I started, I’ve only caught the flu once—and even then, it was a pretty mild case that I just powered through. So, speaking from actual experience here, the VACCINE WORKS, believe me! 👍 But, okay, there’s a catch: you actually have to get it ON TIME. That means hitting the pharmacy when the seasonal shot comes out, maybe around October or November. The shot itself is basically painless; you barely feel it in your arm, and side effects? Not really, unless your shoulder feels a bit sore for a day or two. Honestly, I’d much rather deal with that and cough up the couple of bucks it costs (if I remember right, and seniors over 65 get it for free!) than be stuck in bed for at least 10 days running a massive fever! 👍 I really hope those of you currently whining about how miserable being sick is that you'll actually listen to my advice next autumn and give it a shot. You’ve got nothing to lose, and you might just gain a season where the flu leaves you alone! By the way, I heard they actually NAILED the vaccine this year. Word is, out of several thousand people who got sick, NO ONE had been vaccinated, which apparently means the protection is basically 100% this time around. That would be an absolute win! 👍
boldlynx65 said:🤣 Here we go again, the forum's resident joker making his usual rounds with those comments about skirts... Are you planning on lecturing us once more on your grand theory regarding women wearing skirts? Good grief... 🤣
Oh, come on, boldlynx65, you wear them all the time anyway! Why are you getting so worked up just because I said the skirt in the photo looks cute and that I’m a fan of girls in skirts? 👍 😁 😁 😁
Harold Johnson said:I need some advice So, I've got this skirt and I was thinking about pairing it with some colored tights, but honestly, I have no clue what would actually look good. Here’s the skirt
That skirt is seriously gorgeous! 👍 I'm thinking maybe some cream-colored or brown tights would be your best bet, or honestly, even just those totally sheer skin-tone ones might look killer... 👍
Brenda Harris81 said:And honestly, try wearing more skirts and definitely stick to cotton. Good luck!
Solid advice, infra! 👍 I mean, if you ladies actually wore skirts more often instead of being glued to jeans all day, you'd probably have way fewer issues like this! So, I guess most of you are basically just asking for these problems by what you choose to wear. 😉 👎
Richard Perez3 said:Yeah, I get it. This happens to me whenever my underwear starts irritating things. Just wash up with some gentle intimate wash and stop wearing underwear for a bit—just throw on a nightgown or something, not even pajamas. Just let it breathe and chill. It should be fine by tomorrow or the next day.
I totally agree with everything Richard Perez3 said, and honestly, I’d take it a step further: during the day, you definitely need to stick to SKIRTS rather than pants—especially avoid jeans at all costs! Also, stick to light cotton undies; stay far away from thongs or anything synthetic. You'll probably see things improve pretty quickly; I'm almost certain tight pants are the main culprit here! 😉
Maybe you could walk us through your logic here: WHY on earth would you need anesthesia just to drift off, lol?! 😕 😬 I mean, if you're struggling to catch some Z's, just go grab some Melatonin or some OTC sleep aids at CVS, but using actual anesthetic to pass out? I honestly don't get it...! 😲 Or what, are you planning on drugging someone down so you can kidnap them or something, haha?! Or...?????? 😕
Seriously ladies, listen up because you are totally missing out on the best advice ever! If you want some actual breathing room "down there," the secret is simple: WEAR SKIRTS! 😉 I mean, you’re all out here blowing cash on fancy creams and various treatments, or scheduling endless doctor appointments, but it’s honestly all for nothing if you don't change how you dress. GET IT?! So, seriously, try to stay out of pants as much as possible, especially now that it's summer!!!
Michelle Chase3 said:You think it's funny, but I have this one friend whose health issues start acting up if she wears jeans two or three days in a row. And honestly, her doctor actually told her to stop wearing them because there’s zero airflow—it just gets damp and hot, and then boom, everything goes sideways!😁
Michelle Chase3, you totally misread me. Yeah, okay, I laughed, but I don't actually think it's funny—seriously, go back and read my post. My whole point was that women should probably be wearing SKIRTS way more often to avoid these exact issues. Basically, ladies—get some damn ventilation!😉
