Posts by Brandon Thomas89

Have you ever tried Linex tablets?

They usually do the trick for me....👍

Once a kidney is out, it’s basically dead meat. Your immune system just starts tearing it apart.

That elevated bilirubin is actually a syndrome—I think it's called Gilbert syndrome—and I’m pretty sure there’s already been some chatter about it on this forum.

I mean, regardless of the circumstances, what kind of doctor is that—someone who doesn't even bother looking at the patient before just tossing out a referral to an infectious disease specialist?

Since when did infectious disease specialists start handling the common flu? In my opinion, this is a failure on the part of primary care physicians. They've turned into glorified clerks who just churn out prescriptions and referrals instead of actually being doctors who practice what they studied.

wanderingcrane97 said:So, from what I gather, you get hit with a bill for customs and taxes once the package actually shows up? And where am I supposed to go to pick the thing up?

Nope. You don't get a package; you get a letter from the USPS telling you to show up so they can clear the items through customs. Then comes all the fun paperwork. You only actually get your hands on the shipment after the duties are paid.

wanderingcrane97 said:So, there's no issue with importing meds? I always assumed you needed some kind of green light from the FDA first. And what's the deal with customs and taxes?

I ordered contact lenses online once and had to deal with customs and taxes myself. Basically, you head to a customs broker to get the paperwork drawn up, then trek over to the USPS to pay the sales tax and duties. After that, you hit the customs office, pay the USPS their processing fee, and finally get your package. My experience: three hours of pure headache, $50 the broker, $33 customs and tax, plus $6.00 the USPS for their middleman fees.

I’m a huge fan of Barack Obama, though I’ll occasionally crack open a bottle of wine—red or white, doesn't matter much to me. The only thing I can't stand is a heavy workload. 🙂

And if I'm heading out on the town, I’m definitely grabbing a Jack Daniel's... 🙂

Check out the Psychology section under Anxiety or Depression. There’s been plenty of discussion there about which psychiatrists are actually worth seeing, plus some good info on what things cost. 👍

Maybe try taking some B-Complex vitamins and maybe some immune support supplements, like Echinacea or Thyme.

fadedtrucker19 said:Got it.

I’m staring at these lead water pipes.

I know the deal—I’ve got them in my own house.

But people keep trying to convince me they aren't a big deal because an oxide layer builds up inside and makes them non-toxic.
The ancient Romans had their issues with lead because they used lead-based glazes on their dishes.

My place is relatively modern, so everything is zinc-coated. 👍
Lead is just for the sewage lines here. The main water lines are all plastic.
Basically, I don't think there's much to worry about.

Nicole James said:Lead pipes are totally harmless... they get coated in limescale so fast that the metal doesn't even touch the water.

If memory serves, water lines aren't lead—they're galvanized steel. And the main lines? Those are plastic. Honestly, stop worrying about lead. The Romans were the ones using lead pipes, but we haven't been doing that for ages. Nowadays, you'd only see something like that in old sewer systems. 👍

If you're looking to get ahead of those migraines, antidepressants like Zoloft or Lexapro can actually work as a preventative measure.
You should probably run it by a neurologist first.

Well, just when you thought things couldn't get weirder, the papers are out here pushing some new conspiracy theory about money laundering.

Now things are actually getting interesting...

Michelle Cook83 said:Maybe, since tear gas acts like an organophosphate compound on the autonomic nervous system and causes cardiac arrest.

Look, they probably just blasted him with a whole canister. Tear gas isn't lethal in tiny doses, but when someone douses you with a full bottle—the result is 👎

Sam Hughes5 said:Great, just wonderful... I woke up feeling absolutely trashed. My ears are stuffed, my nose is running, and now I’m officially on "recovery mode"—which basically means drowning myself in tea and lemon while staying glued to my bed. I'm skipping class today, mostly out of pure altruism so my classmates don't catch whatever this is. 😬

You're being a total sadist here. 🙂 You should probably sell them the flu instead, so they can stay home and get some rest too. 😬

Dealing with migraines is a total nightmare.
A few years back, I was dealing with those random attacks too. Then I stumbled upon an article suggesting diet could be a major trigger. So, I started tracking my meals against my headaches to see if there was a pattern. Turns out, I actually nailed it. Once I figured out which specific foods were setting them off, the attacks just stopped. It’s been nearly 10 years since my last one. 👍

rustymarlin39 said:I’m still getting used to contacts and only wearing them for a few hours a day (maybe 6). Since I’m glued to a computer all day, I stick to glasses during work, then pop the lenses in once I get home. Some people gave me some great advice yesterday, which really helped boost my confidence..🙏

Hang in there, you've got this. I've been wearing mine all day for three days straight now. Sure, they were a bit scratchy, and last night I felt like my eyeballs might actually fall out, but everything's fine now. I actually forgot to take them out one night and ended up wearing them for two days straight. Yeah, I know—total rookie move and irresponsible, but hey, life happens. 😁

rustymarlin39 said:Look, that’s actually a solid point. Targeting the side they aren't looking at... You know, I really needed someone to lay that out for me. Thanks Brandon Thomas89, you're a lifesaver.

Oh, please... Don't mention it. 👍

rustymarlin39 said:I've tried everything, flipping them both ways. Honestly, I can't see any difference; they look identical to me...😵 I just wing it, and if I mess up, I flip it. But it pinches regardless of which side is up. I'm telling myself not to give up yet. I'll give it some time. Your experience gives me hope, though...😁

I didn't notice a difference either. It was all the same to me. Then I realized that if I oriented them one specific way, the poking sensation was way less intense. So, I figured that had to be the right side and tried my best not to flip them when taking them out. 👍
Just hang in there. That first month is the absolute worst, but once you get past it, things smooth out. After a year, I honestly forget I even have contacts in. The only way I know they're in is because my vision is crystal clear. 👍

rustymarlin39, maybe you've got those contacts in inside out?

During my first month, I was constantly putting them in the wrong way; they all looked identical to me. And man, my eyes just wouldn't stop hurting... and irritating...
Honestly, it was a month of pure misery before my eyes finally adjusted. Now? I don't even feel them. Just give it some time—tough it out for the first few days... things will smooth out eventually.