Posts by Roger Wright45

It honestly drives me insane how much people nag constantly. My mom keeps breathing down my neck—and look, I get that my grandma is worried, but I know my own limits better than anyone else does. She acts like I’m going on a hunger strike or something, which is ridiculous because I am definitely not some stick figure 😁!
And don't even get me started on the "eat for two" comments. Every time someone says that to me, I lose it. It makes my skin crawl.
I eat exactly what I need to eat, period.
Would any of you lot rather take on all those extra pounds yourselves instead of trying to force them onto me?? 🙂

Oh, and just to make things worse, I ended up having to throw up outside in a little bag on a park bench. And there were cars driving right past me.
I had to go get blood work done, too. That morning at home, before I even left, the first thing that came up was just yellow bile and saliva.
Then, once I got on the bus, some guy's overwhelming smell of perfume and cigarettes absolutely wrecked me. I was literally breathing through my nose like a maniac, terrified to even open my mouth because I felt like I was going to vomit right there on the floor. 😢

And yeah, that nasty, bitter aftertaste you get in your mouth after eating? It was constant.

It’s not happening nearly as much lately, but every once in a while, it still hits me.
Honestly, it was driving me absolutely insane. Plus, the constant buildup of saliva... just gross.
I guess there was one upside, though—it served as a little warning sign that a burp was coming. 😁

Ryan Cruz4 said:

I suppose I should start by saying that things aren't exactly moving at the speed they used to. It’s funny, really. You look back at how we used to handle things—everything felt so much more direct, almost blunt. Now? It feels like we're all walking on eggshells, navigating this strange, modern landscape where every word is weighed and measured before it ever hits the air. It's exhausting, if I'm being honest. I was thinking about this earlier while sitting in a coffee shop in Seattle—just watching the rain hit the window and wondering when the conversation became so... cautious. We used to have these long, sprawling debates where you could actually feel the friction of differing ideas. There was a certain warmth in that disagreement. Nowadays, it feels like everyone is just waiting for their turn to speak rather than actually listening. Or maybe I'm just getting old. That's probably it. A little bit of cynicism creeping in with the gray hairs. Anyway, I saw what **boldpuma9** was saying the other day regarding the recent shifts in policy. It’s an interesting take. Very measured. I think there’s a lot of merit to the idea that we’ve lost some of that fundamental grit. We prioritize comfort over substance too often. It’s a quiet shift, but a massive one. Not many people seem to notice because it happens so gradually, like the tide coming in. You don't realize you're underwater until you can't breathe. But that's just my two cents. I tend to wander off into these tangents quite a bit. It's a habit. One doesn't simply arrive at a conclusion without taking a few scenic detours along the way. It’s better that way, I think. Life isn't a straight line, so why should our thoughts be? kaže:
Of all the physical symptoms, the one that caught me completely off guard—and honestly, the one that’s been the biggest headache—is the nausea. I’m about 20 weeks along now, so I've hit that halfway mark, but the sickness hasn't really let up. It's just these ridiculous bouts of nausea triggered by smells. Not even every smell, mind you, just certain ones that hit me at the wrong time. It's incredibly irritating.😁

I try to steer clear of perfumes, deodorants, body washes, lotions, creams... even toothpaste. I usually just stick to some unscented shower gel, a basic baby oil, and a plain moisturizer for stretch marks. It’s better that way. Honestly, I can’t imagine being stuck on a Greyhound bus next to someone eating a massive deli sandwich or a heavy breakfast roll. Just thinking about those smells gives me a bit of an upset stomach.

I mean, I’ve had those moments where the mere thought of my toothbrush—just the smell of it, or even just seeing it sitting there by the sink after the tenth time—makes my stomach do a complete somersault. It’s that specific kind of nausea where you’re convinced you’re about to lose it right then and there. Honestly, though, looking back, maybe I didn't actually get sick as much as I thought I would. I think part of it was just because I was hyper-focused on all that clutter around the sink, trying to manage the mess, which probably kept me from actually losing my lunch.
I’m still—well, I probably shouldn't even bring this up—but I’ve been brushing my teeth with... It’s all about the kids. Everything we do, really. It feels like we spend half our lives just trying to figure out what’s best for them, doesn't it? Whether it's school supplies or just making sure they have enough energy to run around the neighborhood, it's a full-time job. Just an endless cycle of planning for their future. Makes you think about what kind of world we're actually leaving behind for them. Constant deliberation. That's the reality of it. I actually ended up convincing my dear old friend to join me for a round with the Kaladont set once upon a time. Just one of those things that happened. 🤣

I couldn't even bring myself to touch the hot food. It was honestly just stomach-turning. Even the hot drinks... yeah, total gag factor there too.
I ended up drinking some sparkling water, mostly because my stomach was actually behaving itself for once. I don’t usually go for the carbonated stuff—honestly, I can barely stand it more than a couple times a year—but every now and then, maybe a bottle of seltzer during the week if I'm feeling it. It just felt right in the moment.

So, I finally gave up the coffee thing after about two years. Once I found out I was pregnant, even just the smell of it started making me feel pretty nauseous, you know? It’s funny how that works. 🙄

I completely blanked. Just... gone. Total mental fog. Fabric softeners. It’s funny how we just accept them as a staple in the laundry room, isn't it? You go to Target or Walmart, grab a big jug of whatever scented stuff is on sale, and toss it in with the wash. We’ve been conditioned to think that "soft" equals "clean," but I’ve always had this nagging feeling that we might be overcomplicating things. I was reading about how these chemicals actually coat the fibers of our clothes—kind of like putting a thin layer of wax on a car—just to make them feel smoother against the skin. It works, sure. Your towels come out fluffy, and everything smells like a field of lavender in the Midwest. But then you start thinking about the buildup. You know that weird, waxy residue that starts to accumulate on towels after a few months? That’s the softener doing its job a little too well. I’ve been experimenting with skipping the liquid stuff entirely lately. Honestly, some of the scents they use are just... intense. A bit much for someone who prefers a more neutral home vibe. I tried using a bit of white vinegar in the rinse cycle instead. It sounds like some old-fashioned housewife trick, but it actually works remarkably well at cutting through soap scum without leaving that heavy chemical film behind. Plus, once the clothes dry, the vinegar smell is completely gone. It’s one of those small, domestic pivots that makes you realize how many products we use simply because they're there on the shelf. Not everything needs a fancy, brightly colored bottle to be effective. Sometimes, the simplest route is the most sensible one. Just a thought.It’s just not the same anymore. Honestly, whenever I’m doing the laundry, there’s this lingering sense that things have changed. I even had to tell my mom to stay far away from the washing machine for a while—told her straight up, don't you dare buy that specific brand again, even after you've had kids. I'm done with it. It’s officially blacklisted in my house. There were those times, too... a couple of instances where the smell was just revolting. Even when the clothes were clean and hanging out to dry in the middle of a hot July afternoon, that scent would hit me, and I'd feel physically sick. Just completely nauseating.

I tend to just... shield my nose with my hand whenever I'm walking past someone smoking outside, or if there's just some really intense smell lingering in the air. It's a habit. Just a quick little gesture to block it out.

As for the mental health side of things:

I don't know... I honestly can't quite put my finger on why I’ve been feeling this way. It’s just... everything. I find myself getting overwhelmed by the smallest, most insignificant things lately. I’ll be sitting there, minding my own business, and then suddenly I'm just breaking down in tears over something totally trivial. It feels almost unbelievable how easily it happens. Just constant, heavy sadness triggered by every little thing. It's a lot.

I’m really not exactly the "glowing, overjoyed pregnant woman" type right now, and honestly, the guilt is starting to eat at me. I have a hundred other things on my plate that need addressing, and sometimes it feels like the people around me just don't get it. To be perfectly blunt—the baby wasn't exactly planned for this specific moment. We were aiming for a few months down the road, and even in my wildest dreams, I never imagined we’d actually succeed on the first try. So, I don't feel bad about the timing. What I do feel bad about is that I can't seem to find that sense of happiness or relaxation. I just want to be better—for myself, and for the baby.

I’m sure I’ll think of something else soon enough. Give me a moment.

The physical symptoms are basically identical to mine. I don't have much of an issue with hot food or drinks, though. That’s not my struggle. For me, it’s constant nausea—just about everything triggers it. And those fabric softeners? They smell absolutely revolting to me. Like something's gone terribly wrong.

Yeah, I used to scream at my brother constantly whenever he showered and put on deodorant that smelled too strong. 🤣
When he was just sweaty, I didn't care one bit. 😁

Roger Rodriguez said:Those patches completely wrecked my hormones; I gained 30 pounds in just six months, and I dealt with constant allergic reactions at the application site, even though I switched spots every single week.🤷Even now, years later, I still have scars on my arms (where I gripped them most tightly because they kept peeling off my stomach) from those rashes that were so itchy I ended up scratching myself bloody.🙂
On the flip side, a close friend of mine has used them for five years straight without a single issue.🤷

By the way, those synthetic scents always made me feel nauseous too, especially that cloud of cologne my boyfriend sprays around the apartment in the morning; I’m honestly surprised I haven't thrown all his fragrances out the window yet.

Right now, I am beyond frustrated because I actually had an accident in my pants right in the middle of the street. It was pouring rain, so maybe people thought I just sat in a puddle, but it wasn't pretty—I spent fifteen minutes hobbling along trying to find a restroom, only to end up losing it like I'd swallowed a gallon of water just five minutes before reaching my apartment.☕
And for three days, I've been worrying about this stomach ache, terrified that I'd start dealing with massive bloating today. Well, here we are; I feel like if I lit a match, I might blow up the entire apartment building. It feels like I've spent the last week eating nothing but heavy greasy fast food, and now it's all making its exit. I have never experienced anything quite this intense. I woke up in the middle of the night to such a stench that I nearly hallucinated; I genuinely thought I was stuck in a barn next to fifteen horses and cows. This is going to be the death of me!🙂

Seriously, props to you for putting up with him wandering around the place with all those smells. I limited everything for my guy; God, I didn't even forbid him from washing, but he could only use water, and he absolutely had to "air out" before he could even come near me.
I mean, look, if I have to suffer, he should have to deal with it too. It's not like I became pregnant by some stroke of divine grace.

Anyway, I totally get what you mean about the food. If I eat something that causes gas or if I can't make it to the bathroom properly for a few days, I end up with these absolute boulders inside me, though they haven't woken me up in the middle of the night quite like yours did.
That's why my honey says he needs to wear a gas mask whenever he's near me.

Jeremy Morris2 said:Harold Miller, honestly, you can't really complain about being pregnant if you're the one who made it happen, right? 🙄 It feels like everyone riding the subway just assumes pregnancy is some huge personal vendetta against them, like we're all just trying to force them off their couches 🙂

Ever since I hit week seven, the mere thought of food makes me want to gag, let alone actually stand over a stove. Between my nose being constantly stuffed up, I’m basically forcing myself to swallow a few bites just to survive, and that’s about as much "cooking" as I can handle.

And then there's those comments from people who know my husband is doing the cooking, acting like he’s some kind of martyr—you know, saying things like "Oh, he's such an angel" or "Poor guy." 🙂 Seriously, it’s like they think men are somehow incapable of making a meal, and if they actually step up to help, they suddenly deserve a sainthood? Like, are we talking about Saint Joseph here? 😕

Just to circle back to this: "Poor guy."
That's exactly what they said to me when I mentioned that my husband has to brush his teeth with a toddler's toothbrush because I'm so nauseous I can't even stand to be close to him. And since he smokes, I have to push him to brush even more often because I can't handle being near him with that smell either.
What kind of pathetic excuse would he even make? He’s not going to just die and get out of it, that's why I'm saying this.
If I can deal with this bullshit, then he can sure as hell handle it too. And honestly? He's just as much to blame for all this as I am for being pregnant.

Out of all the physical symptoms, the one that caught me totally off guard—and honestly, what irritates me the most, even now at 20 weeks (so I'm basically halfway through this)—is the constant, stupid nausea. Specifically, it's the smell sensitivity. It’s not just any smell, though. It’s specific.😁

- Perfumes, deodorants, hair gels, lotions, creams... even Crest toothpaste. I’ve switched to using some super neutral body wash, baby oil, and a basic stretch mark cream just to cope. (And oh my god, if I’m on a bus and some woman walks by with a sandwich or something? Pure misery.)

- After a few times where I actually gagged at the scent of Crest—just putting the toothbrush in my mouth after week 10 sent me over the edge. I thought I had dodged the actual vomiting phase, but maybe that's only because I've been hyper-vigilant about avoiding those specific triggers.
I even went as far as washing my teeth with kid-friendly toothpaste, and I swear, I practically forced my husband to use it with me for a while too. 🤣

- Hot food? Forget about it. Absolutely revolting. Same goes for hot drinks.
(I’ve been living off sparkling water because it’s the only thing my stomach can handle, and I barely even drink soda normally—maybe two or three times a year, or an occasional Perrier during the week.)

- As for coffee, I dropped it entirely around week 2 once I found out I was pregnant. Now, the smell of it is just "lovely," isn't it? 🙄

- And don't even get me started on fabric softeners. There is zero of that stuff in my laundry anymore. I actually told my mom she wasn't allowed to wash anything with it for a while, and I told her never to buy that brand again even after the pregnancy is over. I am officially done with it. There were even times in the middle of summer where I'd catch the scent of clean, fresh-air laundry and just feel nauseous.

- Oh, and cigarettes. If I pass someone smoking outside, I have to physically wave the air away from my face just to survive the smell.

On the mental side:

- The way I get so incredibly sad and burst into tears over the smallest, most insignificant things is just unbelievable.

- I am definitely not one of those "glowingly happy" pregnant women, and I feel guilty about it. I have a million other things to deal with right now, and sometimes it feels like the people around me just don't get it. (Look, the baby was unplanned in the sense that we wanted it a few months later, and in our wildest dreams, we didn't think we'd succeed on the first try—so I don't regret the timing.) I just feel bad that I can't be happier or more relaxed, both for myself and for the baby.

I'm sure I'll think of more stuff later.

Ladies, I need some input here... how often do you guys actually head into the Mayo Clinic just for a routine ultrasound checkup? I’m not talking about when something feels wrong or you're specifically worried about a symptom—just a standard preventative scan. And when you tell them you want one, do they actually just get on with it? Or do they start giving you all this pushback and excuses, claiming you don't really need it if everything looked fine during the physical exam? 🙂
How do you even handle that? What do you say to your doctor when they try to talk you out of it?

Alright, I figured I’d jump back in here with some new updates. Honestly, I was pretty blindsided when my OB-GYN actually asked if I was doing regular breast self-exams. Like, I just had to be blunt and tell her, "No, I'm terrible at this, do you mind just taking a quick look?"

So, she did a full exam, and I ended up bringing up those breakouts too—you know, wondering if they're just PMS-related or if they pop up after my period (which is usually when they hit me hardest). She basically told me that if they look "normal," there's nothing to worry about.
Anyway, the bottom line is that the second I notice any kind of change anywhere on my body, I'm heading straight to the clinic. She made sure to hammer that point home several times! 😲

I know this thread isn't exactly buzzing right now, but I figured I’d throw this out there anyway...

I constantly deal with these breakouts on my chest and cleavage area. And look, I know I shouldn't—really, I know it's a bad idea—but I end up squeezing them immediately 😁 I just can't help myself... and honestly, it's starting to worry me a little. I mean, I’m pretty sure it’s just tied to my cycle and PMS and all that, but is it possible that some of these spots just aren't ready yet? Like, if I try to pop one too early because I can't wait, could that actually be causing a bigger issue?

I always seem to forget to bring it up with my OB-GYN, though I have an appointment coming up soon, so maybe I'll finally remember 😁

If anyone here has dealt with this, or has any info or even just a random thought about it... please, feel free to share 🙂

Can someone please help me make sense of these labs?

Hematology:

RBC 3.91 - ref. interval 3.86 - 5.08
Hemoglobin 120 - ref. interval 119 - 157
Hematocrit 0.350 L - ref. interval 0.356 - 0.470
MCV 89.5 - ref. interval 83.0 - 97.2
MCH 30.6 - ref. interval 27.4 - 33.9
MCHC 342 - ref. interval 320 - 345
RDW 14.8 - ref. interval 9.0 - 15.0
Platelets 194 - ref. interval 158 - 424
MPV 10.9 H - ref. interval 6.8 - 10.4
WBC 6.9 - ref. interval 3.4 - 9.7

Differential:

Eosinophils 5.0 - ref. interval 0 - 7
Basophils 0.4 - ref. interval 0 - 1
Neutrophils 44. 1 - ref. interval 44 - 72
Lymphocytes 41.6 - ref. interval 20 - 46
Monocytes 8.9 - ref. interval 2 - 12

And here’s another set, though I noticed the units are different here.

Eosinophils 0.35 - ref. interval 0.00 - 0.43
Basophils 0.03 - ref. interval 0.00 - 0.06
Neutrophils 3.04 - ref. interval 2.06 - 6.49
Lymphocytes 2.87 - ref. interval 1.19 - 3.35
Monocytes 0.61 - ref. interval 0.12 - 0.84

Clinical Chemistry:

Iron 13 - ref. interval 8 - 30
UIBC 40.00 - ref. interval 26 - 59
TIBC 53.00 - ref. interval 49 - 75

I'm still waiting on my Ferritin results before I head to the doctor, but in the meantime, I'm trying to figure this out. So, I see the Hematocrit is low and the MPV is high, and some of these are right on the edge. These are from December 12th, but back on October 17th, my KCC and everything else was all within the normal range.

We're suspecting anemia, which is why we had everything redone—my hair has been falling out like crazy for six months now, and I also have thyroid issues.
Please don't just tell me "it's probably just the thyroid."
Because everyone loves to say "that's it" the second you have a diagnosis.
Oh, and I'm in my mid-20s.

Thanks

If I remember correctly, you take Yasmin for 21 days and then have a 7-day break—at least, that’s how it worked when I was on them. Of course, some people just go straight through all 28 days without any pause.
For me, my period would always start right after I finished the pills during that break (though I can't quite recall the exact day anymore). But honestly? If you're on your 21st pill and your bleeding started on day 20, I'd say you're probably fine. It might just be stress or something else messing with your system. If this bleeding lasts longer than 10 days, though, I’d definitely call an OB-GYN and ask what's going on. Otherwise, if it's only about 8 days, I don't think it's cause for alarm, especially if it's light. That happened to me a few times too—about 8 days, but really light.
And naturally, it's not unusual if it happens again, like if you get it on day 20 now when it used to show up on day 24.
But look, it should be written in the instructions somewhere. I'm not entirely sure, 🤔—you really ought to check—

I was honestly so excited to get back on this forum tonight... to finally sit down, catch up on everything in the Ask me Memnu tema, and actually weigh in... I’ve been sidelined for a few days because I’ve been feeling under the weather, so first I wanted to read, then I wanted to comment... and then, once I saw that both threads—in the regular section and the unshown one—were closed, I almost started crying from pure frustration. Maybe people will think I'm being dramatic or just won't get it, but I truly believe I can't be the only one feeling this void, this inability to focus on anything else since the series ended... I just really wish I had a place where I could actually share these feelings with someone... it's honestly just so sad.

Honestly, I could really go for something like this given how the weather is turning... but only if they actually scheduled it at a decent hour. You know, like 11 PM or even midnight? Instead of making us wait until 2 in the morning like some kind of joke.

Can someone please give me a recommendation for an endocrinologist in Washington, D.C.? You can just shoot me a DM if that's easier, I don't really care how you do it.

And since when are breasts supposed to be insensitive?
I’m not out here saying you need to be wearing a bra 24/7 for it to be healthy
Honestly, the dream would be sleeping without any underwear at all (at least for me 🙂)
But seriously, how on earth can anyone claim breasts aren't sensitive?!

I went in and did mine about a month ago—first on day 3 and then again on day 21—without any hormone prescriptions, so I'm pretty sure you can just walk in like that. You should probably look up their office number online first, though. Just give them a call to confirm everything before you head out there. It’s better to be prepared and know exactly what's going on rather than showing up and realizing you have to drive halfway across town to some other clinic because you didn't check first.

So, look, here's how it works. You log in and pick the specific sub-forum where you want to drop your question. But—and this is a big "but"—do yourself a favor and use the search bar first. Seriously, check if someone else hasn't already asked the exact same thing. There's no point in cluttering things up with a brand-new thread if the answer is already sitting right there. If you find an existing thread, just post your response or your question to the doctor directly in that one; they'll get a notification that there's a new post anyway. It's much cleaner that way.

Now, if you absolutely have to start a fresh topic, just navigate to the right sub-forum and click "New Thread." That’s where you can lay out your question. I hope that makes sense? Just take a second to read through everything on the site; most of what you need is probably already laid out for you if you actually bother to look.

I was poking around just now, and honestly, it looks like some parts of the forum might be acting glitchy or just flat-out broken. It seems like certain sections aren't responding at all. Try navigating around a bit and see if it works elsewhere. If you're totally stuck, you'll probably have to shoot them an email. Check the "Contact Us" section in the footer; there should be a form there where you can reach out to support. Fingers crossed you can get it sorted. 😉 🙂

So, I tried checking on something yesterday, but I didn't even bother logging in. And honestly? It looks like the forum actually is down. I saw some error message at the bottom of the page or something, but I wasn't really paying much attention since I was in such a rush... so maybe they've currently got it offline for an upgrade or whatever else they're doing...

swiftraven49 said:The forum isn't working right.
I am registered! How am I supposed to figure out how to post questions??😁

Look, you just log in and head over to the specific sub-forum you're interested in—there are plenty of them—and there should be an option somewhere to start a new thread or whatever, but watch out, you really ought to use the search bar first to see if someone hasn't already asked the exact same thing. Maybe that's why you were having trouble posting in the first place?!

And honestly, they got back to me totally fine, even on the same day or maybe the second one at most. Usually, they respond pretty quick.🙂

swiftraven49 said:That’s the one I use most, but from what I gather, they aren't letting people post questions there anymore.
There's also that MyHealth portal where you have to pay for consultations. Not sure if it's worth it since it isn't exactly cheap.

Why can't you? Seriously, I just posted a question myself like, what, a month ago? You just have to register first... if you don't, you're locked out...

steelhawk31 said:I think I read somewhere about a link to breast cancer, suggesting you shouldn't wear a bra all the time either (though I think the main advice was just not to sleep in one—honestly, who in their right mind would actually do that?)

Well, here I am.😵
I used to sleep in a bra, but not one of those uncomfortable ones with wires. Just a plain, simple bralette with zero padding and no underwire... that was back when I first started wearing them and I actually thought it might be better to keep them on even at night. So, clearly, I'm the one who isn't "normal" here, right?

Look, I don't know much about the medical side of things, but my grandma went through this about three years ago. She ended up with gallbladder issues—was throwing up constantly, spent some time at the hospital, blah blah blah, you know how it goes. The doctors were pretty clear: everything has to be cooked. No raw stuff, which means no raw fruits or veggies, and absolutely nothing greasy or fried. Heavy, fatty foods? Forget about it. If you want to avoid being in agony, it’s just common sense, right? You aren't exactly going to be craving glazed donuts or greasy fries when you're feeling like that. You just have to suck it up, adapt, and eat the bland stuff even if you hate it. It gets better eventually... hang in there and good luck! 😉🙂