I saw a link recently to some article claiming that about 90% of people in France have toxoplasmosis, and in Germany, it’s somewhere around 60 to 70%.
The wild part is that toxoplasmosis actually alters behavior—basically making infected people more prone to taking reckless risks. But I don't quite get it: if cats have been living alongside humans since the dawn of time (or at least for a good long stretch), shouldn't toxoplasmosis just be a standard part of being human? If those numbers are even remotely accurate—though I haven't been able to track down a solid source for them myself—then such a massive percentage suggests that "normal" human behavior might actually include being under the influence of toxoplasmosis. 😕 Based on that logic, people in France should probably be the most fearless crowd on the planet. 🤔
So I was asking a friend who actually went through childbirth how bad the labor pains were, and she told me straight up: nothing—and I mean absolutely nothing—was more painful than her regular monthly period. 😢
I’ve dealt with my own share of physical issues, which meant dealing with these brutal periods. And let me tell you, it was pain, pain, and more pain. We’re talking passing out, getting those chills, nausea, cold sweats, blood pressure dropping—the whole works. The pain hits in waves, just like contractions. One time at the ER, they actually suspected I was having a miscarriage. Turns out, nope. Just a standard period from hell. Somehow, after years of being on birth control, things finally leveled out. Though, honestly, the absolute worst flare-up happened about a year and a half ago right when I decided to quit the pill. When it comes to prevention, I swear by Casey Palmer5 for everything.
jadesailor14 said:Wrong. Both my daughter and I stick to soft lenses.
Look, if you've found a pair of lenses that actually work for you, don't go changing things up just for the sake of it. There's zero reason to mess with perfection. As far as I'm concerned, RGP or hard lenses are out of the question. It’s either glasses or softies for me. And when it comes to solutions, just go with whatever feels right for your eyes. I've always had the best luck with Allergan brands. Even back when I was struggling with hard lenses, and honestly, even now.
Flashback for a second—about 25 years ago, the absolute gold standard for cleaning hard lenses was using Kossily baby shampoo. I remember one coworker used to clean hers with Charlie dish soap.
RGP and hard lenses are totally different beasts, and there's a massive gap between "semi-hard" and full-on hard lenses too. When I had to switch from softs back to semi-hard (my prescription jumped way too high after wearing softs for 4 or 5 years), I cycled through maybe five different types before I finally landed on the most expensive ones—the ones that were actually comfortable and actually let oxygen through. It’s wild how much better your vision is with semi-hard lenses. I'd never go back to softs; sure, they're squishy and you barely feel them, but they actually ended up fatiguing my eyes way more in the long run.
As for solution? Johnson & Johnson All in One! No way am I lugging around ten different bottles when I can just have one that does everything.
I don't know, man. Personally, using some artificial tears actually settles my eyes down quite a bit—it even helps clear up those tiny broken capillaries and all that redness. Have you maybe noticed if your eyes get extra bloodshot sometimes? Like, maybe from staring at a computer screen too long, sitting under the AC, just being exhausted, or dealing with seasonal allergies? Or maybe it's just the pollen, or even heavy makeup? Honestly, or are they just perpetually hungover? What’s the doc saying about it?
Artificial tears? Honestly, they work way better for me than those over-the-counter drops (I've tried just about every brand out there). I wear contacts too...
I think you’ve pretty much figured it out yourself. A second opinion from another doctor usually clears things up... and honestly, regarding the diet thing? If you don't want meat, just don't eat it. From what I can tell, your diet is plenty diverse, so that shouldn't be the issue. You're likely getting everything you need from other sources anyway. Maybe dig into some actual sports nutrition literature specifically for vegetarians (I don't know, maybe check out some stuff by Michael Phelps—that guy's an icon in my book). Besides, you aren't strictly vegan; you're still eating dairy, eggs, and even fish. The issues the doctor mentioned are way more common with strict vegans who don't know how to balance their macros properly. I haven't touched meat in about 15 years, though I did start eating fish maybe 2 or 3 years ago. If I ever get a craving for a burger, I'll indulge, but for now, it's just not happening. I've been active my whole life—sometimes training hard, sometimes just staying fit—and I've never dealt with muscle loss, fatigue, or strength issues. In fact, my checkups are always perfect and I feel great. I actually stopped eating meat when I was basically a kid, around 12, and everyone told me I’d be a wreck by the time I hit 18. Well, here I am, still going strong.
Just make sure you don't fall into any kind of fanaticism ( 👋 don't be a total nutcase) and just mix things up in a way that works for you. You'll be fine. Athletes just burn through fuel faster; sometimes things have nothing to do with what's on your plate.
I know this girl who tried those eye exercises, and her prescription actually dropped—like, seriously dropped from a -3.00 down to a -0.50. But then, after she stopped doing them for a year, the vision went right back to how it was in one eye, while the other stayed fine. Why don't I just try it myself? Honestly, first off, I get this massive wave of "what's the point" hitting me before I even start. I know, I know... I'm my own worst enemy. And second, you aren't supposed to wear contacts or glasses during the training period, and I can't exactly function at work if I'm walking around blind. So, eye exercises? I don't know, man.
As for the feeling of it all, looking back, it’s kind of wild how much I used to struggle when I was at a -0.75 or -0.50. It feels ridiculous now. My big fear is that my current prescription is going to double, and I want to stop that from happening—or better yet, wipe it out entirely. Surgery? No way in hell. Is there an age where you're supposed to just stop worrying about it? Like, am I past the puberty phase yet? I haven't been a teenager for at least ten years, so shouldn't I be over this by now?
Anyway, I picked up some new lenses. I'm getting used to the semi-rigid ones again, and honestly, it's going pretty well. I am totally blown away by how much more I can see in the distance.😁 Does anyone have a recommendation for a good cleaning and storage solution? I got some sample sizes with the lenses, but the solution they gave me is basically like rubbing alcohol; it's super irritating.
I’ve got this one dear friend of mine who’s been doing Reiki for ages. This guy has seen it all and helped countless people along the way. Look, not everyone does this just to line their pockets. He’s personally helped me a hundred times just through a hug or even from a distance. How? Honestly, I haven't a clue! To me, it sounds a bit 🙄 but hey, it worked! Everything from mental breakdowns to a basic common cold. Real practitioners shouldn't even be taking money unless you insist on giving them something. Those guys charging by the hour 🙂 Regarding PCOS, my own doctor actually suggested some stress-relief techniques. After a year of being on pills, I decided to try magnetic acupuncture, and my next cycle came right on schedule. Was it the meds, the acupuncture, or something else entirely? Who knows. But Reiki—even if it doesn't fix you, it definitely won't hurt. And honestly, that lady over there defending nothing but medication seems to have totally lost her grip on reality. Find someone you actually trust for advice, and if Reiki helps them, don't just write it off. Just tune out the toxic people. I really hope your friend feels better soon 🙂
Just throw yourself under a subway train and I guarantee there isn't a doctor in this country who won't sign you off on disability. It’s a foolproof way to get a little banged up just so you can milk the medical leave indefinitely. Two, three weeks, months, even years—you could basically spend your life bartending at some local dive bar instead.
And we're all just supposed to be thrilled to subsidize some private entrepreneur who almost walked away from the "stability" of a massive government corporation like Boeing 😳 But hey, whatever you do, don't take unpaid leave or anything like that—that sounds far too difficult compared to the much easier route of playing doctors, loitering in hospital hallways for paperwork, and lying through your teeth to your boss and coworkers.
Quick question for anyone who thinks they know their stuff about vision
So, after two years of ignoring it, I finally went for an eye exam because my vision was getting a bit blurry and my contacts were definitely due for a swap. Better late than never, right? I’ve been nearsighted since puberty, so I’ve gone through everything from glasses to hard lenses, then soft ones, eventually settling somewhere around -2.5 or -2.75. The part that actually blew my mind was finding out my prescription jumped by 0.75 in both eyes.😲 Here's the thing: I was expecting maybe a tiny shift of 0.25 since things felt slightly off, but a jump that big? It caught me totally off guard. Is it actually normal for your prescription to spike like that? And should I go get a second opinion from someone else? My doctor seemed just as rattled as I was—we spent a solid hour in there trying to make sense of it. I’m thinking about switching back to hard lenses. After five years🙄 of wearing soft ones, I’ve realized they just don't work for me; the vision feels unstable. But can you ever actually go back, or am I just on a one-way street toward needing increasingly stronger lenses every single time I visit the eye doctor?😢 What’s the move here? Do I play dumb and stick with my old, outdated prescription, or do I bite the bullet and get the stronger lenses so I can actually see clearly? I'm torn. Being able to see everything perfectly is amazing, but if I upgrade now, is this just the beginning of a never-ending cycle of worse vision?
Give me some hope here. Tell me it won't keep getting worse, and please, if you know a killer eye doctor, let me know. Plz. 😢
Brian Vaughn5 said:Roughly 25% of people deal with this reflex, and it’s mostly genetic. Nobody knows the exact science behind it, but the theory is that the nerves controlling your pupils share some of the same pathways as the ones in your throat and nose, so they just get crossed up in certain people.
Take my nephew, for example. He sneezes whenever he steps out into the Phoenix sunlight, but his wife doesn't. Out of their three kids, two of them have it and one is totally fine.😁 Me? I’m a walking disaster. Every single time the light shifts, I’m sneezing. It’s honestly ridiculous—walking under a tree and then stepping back out into the Phoenix glare, and I’ll sneeze three times in thirty seconds. Just constant.🙂
Turns out, waiting until you're over 35 to have kids might actually be a silver lining when it comes to fighting off invasive ovarian cancer. According to some recent research from American scientists, having a baby after 35 can slash that risk by about 58%. If you’ve already had at least three full-term pregnancies before then? That protection jumps up to a 64% reduction. Even birth control pills play a role here—the study found that for every year you're on them, your risk of developing ovarian cancer drops by about 6%.
analogmaker38 said:Samantha, look... these vitamins go by the name "VITALUX." A single box has 30 capsules, and they usually run about $30. I actually gave my eye doctor a ring today to double-check why I was even on them in the first place. She told me: "Your connective tissue around the eyes is a bit weak, which causes strain, plus you're dealing with general physical fatigue—not to mention the smoking habit, since these capsules are packed with antioxidants."
Honestly, they worked so well for me that I actually forgot I was even taking them because everything just felt normal again.😁
I dug up a link for you online (it’s just an American site, but whatever... there's a picture there so you can easily show it to someone at CVS if you decide to pick some up).🙂
analogmaker38, I've got an appointment with my ophthalmologist coming up, so I was wondering if you have any recommendations? 😉 I really need a doctor who actually remembers who I am when I call.😁
I honestly think that "rule" was cooked up just to keep women panicking until they hit thirty. 😁
The truth is, the human body is way more capable than we give it credit for. I’m convinced that thirty-year cutoff is basically arbitrary—it just sounds like a nice, round number for people to obsess over. When you consider that life expectancy has basically doubled over the last couple of centuries, it stands to reason that our biological clocks have slowed down too. Now, if you want to look at the raw statistics, sure, having kids before thirty is probably better. And if you want the absolute peak, maybe in your early twenties. But I also heard this theory that the real cliff isn't even thirty—it's twenty-four if you're looking at menopause-related health issues. If that's true, most of us are already playing catch-up. Between finishing college and trying to actually land a job in those years, having a baby wasn't even on my radar.
Honestly, ever since I can remember, I haven't had any intention of settling down before thirty. I’m pretty sure everything will work out fine, and even if things get tricky by forty, I’ll still have some breathing room! So, look, I totally get why people say you should jump on it as soon as possible. But if I didn't pull the trigger in my early twenties like the textbooks say I should have, being a year or two older than thirty isn't going to change my life. Don't sweat it 👍 keep your chin up—we'll all be pushing strollers whenever the time is right!
You’ve really given me something to chew on, though. Ever since I hit puberty, my boobs have been a total disaster. First they showed up out of nowhere, then they were way too big, and now they’re just... shapeless and kind of pathetic. Reading your posts gave me actual goosebumps. There is no way I’m getting rid of mine. No way! Even if they look a little rough, I’d rather have them—especially if they’re healthy. Stay healthy and stay happy, okay?
slyraven82 said:That hospital is the gold standard when it comes to doctor competency, surgeon training, and sheer experience. They live and breathe this stuff... basically, they're #1. If I ever needed someone holding the scalpel, I’m picking that facility and Mark every single time.
...
The odds of it being cancer aren't even that high.
My mom actually saw Mark (the elder) privately, and everything was sorted out in five days flat, weekend included. As far as I know, those guys are the absolute authorities in their field, so you're making a killer choice.
Don't let it get to you, please—it ain't over till the fat lady sings! 🙂
Hang in there! Even if it turns out to be some crap, at least you caught it early. It's just a temporary setback; you'll fix this and move right along! You're a fighter, and honestly, that's what matters most.
goldengull3 said:There’s really no point in even debating this—the plane should be flying for entirely different reasons—but at the end of the day, there was zero medical malpractice here.
Look, even over at Baxter, they didn't commit malpractice either! Besides, in a country where the risk of HIV infection is already incredibly low, just two cases of post-op infection could single-handedly tank the Secretary of Health. 😉