Posts by stormyheron4

Roger Martin5 said:Everyone really needs to get checked at Duke Energy because, personally, I didn't have any symptoms at all to suggest I was sick. Looking at my buddies on Pegasus, I see plenty of others in the same boat. It’s totally possible you're out here acting like you're against anyone with Duke Energy while you're actually carrying it yourself! Would you actually be honest with your kid or your wife about the illness? Or would you just live in fear of ending up ALONE and SICK?

If you're asking me, I'd tell my wife or my girlfriend straight up that I tested positive for HCV. I’d much rather be alone and sick than risk infecting her. And if I were single, I wouldn't even start a relationship for that exact same reason—I don't want to pass it on.

Besides, if someone is married or in a serious relationship, they can still be close to someone with HCV without having sex or any other risky contact that spreads the virus. A breakup isn't always necessary.

I'm 100% with you on the testing part. There are tons of people living with HCV who have no clue because they've never had a blood transfusion or been exposed to any typical transmission methods.

Angela Wright said:Look, regardless of how you answer, I'll tell you one thing: you're being discriminators. You just don't get that we're all just passing through here. Nothing is ever truly under your control, no matter how hard you try to deny it or how much you attempt to build up this fake sense of security in your tiny little worlds.

I’m not some bigot just because I wouldn't date someone with HCV.Just because you would be with someone like that doesn't give you the right to call everyone else a discriminator for choosing not to be.

I have a close friend who is HIV positive. I’ve never treated her any differently; she gets the exact same respect and friendship as anyone else. But putting your own health and your entire life on the line for the reasons you listed? That's a personal choice, not discrimination like you claim.

Discrimination would be treating people like second-class citizens or acting like they're worth less than others. Avoiding a physical relationship with someone due to infection risks isn't hate—it's just looking out for your own health.

Laura Jackson56 said:Man, I had absolutely no clue about that.

Does the same logic apply if I just take a break from smoking every couple of months?

Keep in mind that on the days I am actually smoking... I'm averaging about 5 cigarettes.

Look, those 5 a day are still enough to keep your respiratory lining looking just like any other smoker's. I'm not totally sure if a month or two off gives that tissue enough time to actually recover. Honestly, you might even have an edge because you're only hitting 5 a day, so you're dealing with way less smoke exposure overall.

Gary Anderson38 said:I remember when I quit smoking. I went four and a half years without a single cigarette, and honestly, I missed it every single day.

Then life just hit the fan. Everything went sideways and I fell into a deep depression. I basically had two choices: start drinking heavily or pick up the habit again.

When I finally lit that first cigarette after four and a half years? Man, what an insane rush. 🙏

It absolutely floored me. 🙏

That first month is pure bliss. After that, you just get used to it all over again.

Now I’m thinking about quitting again, even if it's just for a few months, just to chase that feeling one more time. But I can't do it. I just don't have the willpower right now.🤷

You might not realize this, but you're seriously gambling with your respiratory health.

Here's the deal: when people quit smoking, their lung lining starts to repair itself. Once that tissue heals—which some say takes about six months of being clean—it doesn't have the same defensive toughness it had when you were a daily smoker. If you light up again at that point, it puts massive stress on those newly healed cells, making them way more likely to turn malignant than if you had just kept smoking consistently.

According to some studies, former smokers who relapse about 30 times (not 30%!) are actually at a higher risk for cancer than people who never stopped.

Laura Jackson56 said:Look.. whatever. It doesn't really matter why I'm trying to get used to smoking...
The real point is... why can't I just get hooked like everyone else?
Why does my body straight-up reject them every single time?

Try outsmarting your own biology. If you want a smoke but your body is fighting you, just mess with its head until it stops wanting it. You'll basically confuse your system so much it won't know what hit it. Usually, your body expects you to crave one, so it tries to counter that urge, but if you keep messing with it and refuse to light up, it'll eventually just give up and stop asking.🙂 Just keep pushing back and don't let yourself light up.

briskjackal5 said:There's always a Plan B—just buy a shaker. 😁

-briskjackal5

It tastes way better this way and doesn't get all foamy.

I finally figured out the ultimate hack for mixing protein without ending up with those annoying little clumps.

First, toss your powder into a shaker or glass and add just a tiny splash of milk. Mix that thoroughly until all the liquid is absorbed. Then, add another little bit of milk and keep stirring until you’ve basically created a smooth, thick paste. Once you have that consistency, start adding the rest of your milk bit by bit, stirring as you go. By turning it into a paste first, you guarantee a perfectly smooth shake every single time, totally clump-free.

Austin Fowler said:Honestly, I’d go, but my doctor would probably just blame it on all the protein and creatine I'm taking...
I feel like if my head is hurting this often, there's gotta be some more serious issue going on.

I’ve seriously never heard of anyone getting headaches from protein or creatine. Unless you're messing with steroids, that's not a thing.

Don't sweat what the doctor might say. Just get checked out properly because you really don't know what's happening.

Austin Fowler said:I'm 18 and a half years old. I've been hitting the gym consistently for 7 months now. I go 5 times a week for about an hour to an hour and a half per session. For supplements, I've been using Optimum Nutrition, MuscleTech, Serious Mass, and Creatine monohydrate. Generally, I'm a healthy guy. Aside from catching a light cold every once in a while, I haven't had any health issues. I've never dealt with headaches before either. But things changed yesterday, and it happened again today. When I'm working out, right toward the end when I get fatigued and start breathing harder, my head starts hurting. It's specifically on the right side of my occipital area. The pain is intense, and I have to stop what I'm doing immediately. Once I rest for maybe 3 or 4 minutes, the pain goes away. This happened both yesterday and today. What do you guys think could be going on???

My advice? Go see a doctor. Until then, just stay out of the gym. It might be nothing, but it could also be something serious. Better to play it safe and get checked out first. If the doc gives you the all-clear, then you can get back to crushing your workouts.

Nicole Barrett76 said:What exactly is Chillas? Is ephedrine truly comparable to caffeine?

Don't take everything so seriously. Ephedrine isn't even safe for healthy people, let alone someone who's already dealing with health issues.

Nicole Barrett76 said:As for myself, I engage in a bit of gymnastics and some jogging in place within my own room, though I am under the impression that such efforts merely offer me a modest degree of assistance.

I’ve been digging into some studies on this, and they suggest that running or cycling can actually slash fatigue by up to 65%. But there's a catch. You’ve gotta put in at least thirty minutes, five days a week, at a decent clip without overdoing it. Or, if you prefer, hit an hour three times a week. Whatever works for you. The sweet spot for pace is being able to hold a conversation, but not quite being able to sing a song. That indoor gymnastics stuff is fine, but honestly, it isn't enough to see any real results here. You’d be much better off picking up an exercise bike.

I know firsthand that running works. Ever since I started, my energy levels have skyrocketed. My focus is sharper, I'm way calmer, and my mood is just better overall.

Zachary Davis5 said:Let's keep this thread on track. This is a serious question and we're running a poll here.

Look, speaking as a dentist, I know firsthand how dangerous this can be. Honestly, I wouldn't date someone with Hepatitis C. HC is incredibly contagious—way more than HIV—and the fallout from an infection is no joke.

fadedraven59 said:That’s a tough one to call right now..
Once I dig deeper into how this disease actually works, I'll give you a straight answer.
But for now? My gut says yes.

Yeah, you aren't going to catch it just from chains, whips, or anything like that.

goldenfox24 said:this was right when we first started

So, is the dentist appointment finally over???

Btw, I'll be posting photos in about two weeks once I've been using Biotech for a bit, so we can all talk about them.

To be totally honest, back when I was using Biotech proteins, I swear that was exactly when I blew up. My shirts were getting tight right then. But I read somewhere that someone actually sent it in for lab testing and it turned out there wasn't even that much protein in there.

Since whey is basically the only supplement I use, I don't feel like cheaping out on it. I'd much rather grab something proven, even if it costs more. We're talking maybe a $100 or $67 difference per month, and I'm just not interested in buying stuff that people say might be spiked.

goldenfox24 said:Honestly, I’d highly recommend it. Biotech. Look, I've personally vetted these products. You’re looking at about a two-month supply with those three doses, so you should have them arriving around then. $180

I’ve heard from pretty much everyone that this might be the absolute worst protein on the market right now. I actually tried it myself, but after finishing just one tub, I was done. Honestly, I wasn't touching it again. People are saying the actual protein content isn't even close to what they claim on the label. Total joke.

Nicole Barrett76 said:That is an excellent suggestion, but unfortunately, I am unable to run because my vision is severely impaired; I can see less than ten percent out of my right eye, and my left eye is limited to about two percent.

And if it is all the same to you, please do not suggest that I abandon my career in translation, which I find deeply fulfilling. I would much rather work at a call center where blind and visually impaired individuals might actually receive some respect and be given a chance at employment.

In such a scenario, I would gladly forget that I ever knew how to speak English at all.

Look, if you can't run, just hop on a stationary bike. You don't even need eyes for that.

Just get out there and run or pick up some other sport. You won't even need those pills because hitting the pavement naturally cranks up your energy levels and sharpens your focus.

chicken coop

dog

little guy

Timothy Wright74 said:Anyone know if there are any decent gyms near the student dorms in San Francisco?🤷

You didn't say which dorm you're staying in.

If you’re hanging around near Ford, there’s one spot over by Isaac Newton, but if you head up to Central Park, there’s something else entirely nearby. I usually just head straight to Memphis right next to Joker and Slobodan, which wouldn't be far for you either—just a few bus stops away. There might be something open to the public at the local pools or the stadium, but I'm not 100% sure. You should probably do some digging and find out for certain.

Once a hair has already sprouted, there's no way it’s going to turn white just because you're stressed out or scared.

There is a chance that any new hair growing after the fact might come in without pigment, but that only applies to the specific strands growing after the incident happens.

Anything that's already grown is staying its original color, even if the shock was intense enough to nearly take someone out. Everything else is just pure fiction.