I ZimbraWorst song, played on ugliest guitarRegistered Userregular
My wife got her medical approval for disability! She's still waiting on the non-medical approval, but based on the criteria we saw she should be approved.
I think something positive is happening and I'm not sure how to deal with it.
You might look to see if she can get some/all of that money back on the federal loans.
I heard a thing a while back that this is potentially possible if you were disabled for all/part of the loan but were just waiting to hear back from SSI.
not a doctor, not a lawyer, examples I use may not be fully researched so don't take out of context plz, don't @ me
i occasionally flirt with the idea of seeking disability, but the process of assessing the need would poke at the causes! i've been fairly high-functioning, and now utilizing professional guidance to improve how i handle depression / anxiety / ADHD. but it's hard enough every time i have to explain myself in person to people who are used to these interactions -- thinking about having to justify how i struggle through the medium of paperwork just about pings all my fight or flight instincts.
all that is to say, i am envious and pleased for y'all that wade through all that bullshit to get the help you need. that is fuckin' cool.
in good news on handling my own nonsense:
i have an intial interview with a sleep specialist at the end of August (and will hopefully get a sleep study sorted), and a couple days later, an appointment with an endocrinologist. i also made a spreadsheet of my family medical history on google drive, because i find it reassuring and more practical than wherever the hell i'd previously scribbled it (RIP old hard drive), and it's definitively better than my haphazard recollection and subsequent confused half-assery every time i have to fill a form.
also switched psychiatry practitioners 'cause i think the last one identified a bit too much with me and kinda... trusted her instincts more than critically assessing me? she was also just way too twee in a way that set my bs radar off, fair or not. so, months later, i've followed my initial nurse to her new location, but am consulting someone who specializes in ADHD and shares a lot of patients with my therapist. so after ~7 weeks on escitalopram and a strong suspicion that it triggered my worst bout of insomnia (awake every 20 minutes-hour), switching back to a lower dose of fluoxetine and adding an atypical antipsychotic, and gonna try some trazodone because Ambien did nothing to help my sleep. :rotate: bodies!
Boy, it sure would be nice if my doctor's office actually acknowledged that I called them... to acknowledge that they left a message about my blood work. I have a feeling I'm going to have to drive over there at some point next week instead because no one can be assed to tell whoever needs to be told about the messages I leave.
Got to say it sucks having a condition where the treatment uses an immune suppressant and having not been vaccinated against shingles, after have chicken pox. Every time a get a hive that can't be easily explained as a bug bite, I get paranoid that I'm developing another case of shingles. I've been told I can probably expect to have addidional cases of it because of my medical history. I'm hoping the current mysterious hive isn't a flare up, but I'm think I might have to schedule an appointment with my doctor and start taking anti-viral meds, so that I don't have reschedule my next remicade treatment. A CRISPR treatment to get varicella-zoster out people's systems can not come soon enough. Also fuck all the anti-vaccer geese, granted not sure I could have gotten it in the 90s, but having gotten my first round of shingles after I started getting remicade treatments, these geese really don't seem to get the issues that some of these childhood diseases cause (kind of wish my specialist had me get a shingles vaccine before I started remicade).
Shingles was the worst thing that ever happened to me, a decade later and I'm still dealing with the nerve damage it caused. I had all the pain but not much redness and no bumps, so it sat un/misdiagnosed for over a month until the rash popped up and I got treatment.
I was told by half a dozen doctors I was too young for shingles at 25, but since having it I've heard of plenty of people in their 20s who got it.
If you can, get vaccinated. Not directing this towards you @Mill, this is just a PSA.
Yeah, I would get it, but the only vaccine is a live vaccine, so I'm not allowed to get those, while I'm on remicade. Wish doctors would give people a list of recommended live vaccines before they have to take treatments that suppress the immune system. Right now, I would have to get off my regular remicade treatment, so that I could do a live vaccine, which means dealing with most of the issues associated with untreated ankylosing spondylitis again. possible also have to deal with the issue of my body developing an adverse re-action to remicade, while I'm off of it.
Shingles was the worst thing that ever happened to me, a decade later and I'm still dealing with the nerve damage it caused. I had all the pain but not much redness and no bumps, so it sat un/misdiagnosed for over a month until the rash popped up and I got treatment.
I was told by half a dozen doctors I was too young for shingles at 25, but since having it I've heard of plenty of people in their 20s who got it.
If you can, get vaccinated. Not directing this towards you @Mill, this is just a PSA.
I wouldn't wish shingles on my worst enemy.
I wonder if that would be hard to do, since it's only "approved" for people age 50 or older (at least in the US). If you're significantly under that age I can see doctors refusing to give it to you.
I think that was the age group of the trials. There should be no difference in a healthy 20 year old, but FDA gonna FDA that one.
Varivax is the young person version. They're both, essentially, a weakened version of the same live virus. (I can't find any differences, both are using varicella to prompt an immune response)
not a doctor, not a lawyer, examples I use may not be fully researched so don't take out of context plz, don't @ me
Welp, gallbladder pain never gets any easier to bear. At least I have some painkillers to hopefully help.
I don't know your situation but getting mine taken out was a very good decision for me.
My gallstones were not visible on echo the first 2 times, and my symptoms slightly atypical, so it took a long time to get it taken out, and I lost a lot of sleep over it, in pain instead.
Had to get my blood drawn to see if I have hypothyroidism...and man, a good phlebotomist is worth their weight in gold.
Chatted with her a bit before she stuck me, and she mentioned she'd been a phlebotomist for 20 years. I told her I could tell, once she put the needle in, because she did it so flawlessly that it was one of the most painless blood draws I've ever had. I almost didn't feel it at all, which was pretty amazing!
No matter how good the initial draw is, though, I always end up in pain later, and my hand always feels a bit tingly. But man do I appreciate it when they're good at their job.
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LuvTheMonkeyHigh Sierra SerenadeRegistered Userregular
I had one like that getting blood work done before one of my ankle surgeries. I honestly didn't notice the needle going in.
not a doctor, not a lawyer, examples I use may not be fully researched so don't take out of context plz, don't @ me
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Munkus BeaverYou don't have to attend every argument you are invited to.Philosophy: Stoicism. Politics: Democratic SocialistRegistered User, ClubPAregular
I hate to burst the bubble, but the needle being painless depends on the needle size and luck, not skill. It's threading between nerves when it happens and impossible to predict.
I say this having been stuck a lot.
Humor can be dissected as a frog can, but dies in the process.
"Let me just dig around for 30 seconds to find the vein"
How about you pull it out and try again you nincompoop.
not a doctor, not a lawyer, examples I use may not be fully researched so don't take out of context plz, don't @ me
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Munkus BeaverYou don't have to attend every argument you are invited to.Philosophy: Stoicism. Politics: Democratic SocialistRegistered User, ClubPAregular
At least it's a butterfly and not an IV thread.
Humor can be dissected as a frog can, but dies in the process.
I hate to burst the bubble, but the needle being painless depends on the needle size and luck, not skill. It's threading between nerves when it happens and impossible to predict.
I say this having been stuck a lot.
I find it hard to believe that there's no skill in a painless needle stick.
Did she go lower on your arm or more in your elbow ND? The ones who are really good (on me) tend to go somewhere in the middle of the upper forearm instead of trying to hit the two big suckers right in the crook of the elbow that form that V.
not a doctor, not a lawyer, examples I use may not be fully researched so don't take out of context plz, don't @ me
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Munkus BeaverYou don't have to attend every argument you are invited to.Philosophy: Stoicism. Politics: Democratic SocialistRegistered User, ClubPAregular
I hate to burst the bubble, but the needle being painless depends on the needle size and luck, not skill. It's threading between nerves when it happens and impossible to predict.
I say this having been stuck a lot.
I find it hard to believe that there's no skill in a painless needle stick.
I've had a ton done by people with a variety of skill and success in both IVs and blood draws.
It's pretty random whether the puncture of a butterfly will hurt or not.
Humor can be dissected as a frog can, but dies in the process.
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Munkus BeaverYou don't have to attend every argument you are invited to.Philosophy: Stoicism. Politics: Democratic SocialistRegistered User, ClubPAregular
Did she go lower on your arm or more in your elbow ND? The ones who are really good (on me) tend to go somewhere in the middle of the upper forearm instead of trying to hit the two big suckers right in the crook of the elbow that form that V.
I've only ever had blood drawn from the center of the inner elbow, and I haaaate it. Every time I get blood drawn, it feels like my entire left arm is a bit "off" for three days. Sometimes I've wondered if it would be easier for me if they could take the blood from like...the top of a thigh or something. Inner elbow is so sensitive and getting it done there affects the whole arm :C but I know it's easy to access veins there and the skin is thin.
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Munkus BeaverYou don't have to attend every argument you are invited to.Philosophy: Stoicism. Politics: Democratic SocialistRegistered User, ClubPAregular
If your veins aren't shit there is a huge ass vein on the underside of your forearm that everyone has and is really easy to get blood from.
I don't have that anymore.
Humor can be dissected as a frog can, but dies in the process.
They absolutely can do it if you're not a risky patient for like DVT or something. They don't like it because usually you have to take clothes off to get there. But there's always shorts/kilts/dresses for that.
I get what I call "paper towel elbow" because it feels like I've got this wadded up piece of paper towel stuck inside my arm where they drew blood.
not a doctor, not a lawyer, examples I use may not be fully researched so don't take out of context plz, don't @ me
If your veins aren't shit there is a huge ass vein on the underside of your forearm that everyone has and is really easy to get blood from.
I don't have that anymore.
Right below the V is where I prefer it.
not a doctor, not a lawyer, examples I use may not be fully researched so don't take out of context plz, don't @ me
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Munkus BeaverYou don't have to attend every argument you are invited to.Philosophy: Stoicism. Politics: Democratic SocialistRegistered User, ClubPAregular
Apparently, this is what I have been told, but they don't like doing blood draws in the legs and such because a clot there can really fuck you up. They prefer to do shit from your neck than from your leg.
And I have pictures to prove it, sadly.
Humor can be dissected as a frog can, but dies in the process.
Those are some prominent-as-hell veins. My inner arms look more like this:
I've never seen that V-shape on my inner elbows in my life. Or any major vein, for that matter. Just a smattering of barely-there light blue tiny veins.
And holy hell, fuck a central line. Didn't realize leg-draws were so risky! Shit.
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Munkus BeaverYou don't have to attend every argument you are invited to.Philosophy: Stoicism. Politics: Democratic SocialistRegistered User, ClubPAregular
Ever had to wear a leg compressor in a hospital? Leg clots are bad and very common.
Humor can be dissected as a frog can, but dies in the process.
Those are some prominent-as-hell veins. My inner arms look more like this:
I've never seen that V-shape on my inner elbows in my life. Or any major vein, for that matter. Just a smattering of barely-there light blue tiny veins.
Yeah the duder vascularity is easy since you need < 20% body fat for it, which is very hard for ladyfolks to get, since fit is usually 25%ish.
bowen on
not a doctor, not a lawyer, examples I use may not be fully researched so don't take out of context plz, don't @ me
I knew clots were bad and were more likely to happen in the leg, but I guess I figured a simple blood draw wouldn't cause one.
Luckily the only time I've ever been in a hospital was when I was about 7 years old. I'd had a bad stomach bug, and hadn't been able to keep anything down - including water - for a few days. I had to be rehydrated, and because I have tiny veins and they'd apparently collapsed, the nurses weren't successful in finding one. They tried 14 fucking times, 7 times on each arm (that suuuucked). Ultimately, they had to give me an infant IV through the back of my hand.
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Munkus BeaverYou don't have to attend every argument you are invited to.Philosophy: Stoicism. Politics: Democratic SocialistRegistered User, ClubPAregular
My limit is 3 sticks per person and then they can fucking get someone else because they are done.
Humor can be dissected as a frog can, but dies in the process.
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I think something positive is happening and I'm not sure how to deal with it.
Also look into student loan discharge if she has any!
I heard a thing a while back that this is potentially possible if you were disabled for all/part of the loan but were just waiting to hear back from SSI.
all that is to say, i am envious and pleased for y'all that wade through all that bullshit to get the help you need. that is fuckin' cool.
in good news on handling my own nonsense:
also switched psychiatry practitioners 'cause i think the last one identified a bit too much with me and kinda... trusted her instincts more than critically assessing me? she was also just way too twee in a way that set my bs radar off, fair or not. so, months later, i've followed my initial nurse to her new location, but am consulting someone who specializes in ADHD and shares a lot of patients with my therapist. so after ~7 weeks on escitalopram and a strong suspicion that it triggered my worst bout of insomnia (awake every 20 minutes-hour), switching back to a lower dose of fluoxetine and adding an atypical antipsychotic, and gonna try some trazodone because Ambien did nothing to help my sleep. :rotate: bodies!
battletag: Millin#1360
Nice chart to figure out how honest a news source is.
I was told by half a dozen doctors I was too young for shingles at 25, but since having it I've heard of plenty of people in their 20s who got it.
If you can, get vaccinated. Not directing this towards you @Mill, this is just a PSA.
I wouldn't wish shingles on my worst enemy.
battletag: Millin#1360
Nice chart to figure out how honest a news source is.
I wonder if that would be hard to do, since it's only "approved" for people age 50 or older (at least in the US). If you're significantly under that age I can see doctors refusing to give it to you.
Varivax is the young person version. They're both, essentially, a weakened version of the same live virus. (I can't find any differences, both are using varicella to prompt an immune response)
I don't know your situation but getting mine taken out was a very good decision for me.
My gallstones were not visible on echo the first 2 times, and my symptoms slightly atypical, so it took a long time to get it taken out, and I lost a lot of sleep over it, in pain instead.
Chatted with her a bit before she stuck me, and she mentioned she'd been a phlebotomist for 20 years. I told her I could tell, once she put the needle in, because she did it so flawlessly that it was one of the most painless blood draws I've ever had. I almost didn't feel it at all, which was pretty amazing!
No matter how good the initial draw is, though, I always end up in pain later, and my hand always feels a bit tingly. But man do I appreciate it when they're good at their job.
Ugh.
I say this having been stuck a lot.
How about you pull it out and try again you nincompoop.
I find it hard to believe that there's no skill in a painless needle stick.
Pull it out.
Try again.
Stop digging, if you can't find it in 2 seconds you're already digging too long.
I've had a ton done by people with a variety of skill and success in both IVs and blood draws.
It's pretty random whether the puncture of a butterfly will hurt or not.
On my Thumb.
I've only ever had blood drawn from the center of the inner elbow, and I haaaate it. Every time I get blood drawn, it feels like my entire left arm is a bit "off" for three days. Sometimes I've wondered if it would be easier for me if they could take the blood from like...the top of a thigh or something. Inner elbow is so sensitive and getting it done there affects the whole arm :C but I know it's easy to access veins there and the skin is thin.
I don't have that anymore.
I get what I call "paper towel elbow" because it feels like I've got this wadded up piece of paper towel stuck inside my arm where they drew blood.
Right below the V is where I prefer it.
And I have pictures to prove it, sadly.
I've never seen that V-shape on my inner elbows in my life. Or any major vein, for that matter. Just a smattering of barely-there light blue tiny veins.
Yeah the duder vascularity is easy since you need < 20% body fat for it, which is very hard for ladyfolks to get, since fit is usually 25%ish.
Luckily the only time I've ever been in a hospital was when I was about 7 years old. I'd had a bad stomach bug, and hadn't been able to keep anything down - including water - for a few days. I had to be rehydrated, and because I have tiny veins and they'd apparently collapsed, the nurses weren't successful in finding one. They tried 14 fucking times, 7 times on each arm (that suuuucked). Ultimately, they had to give me an infant IV through the back of my hand.
Also:
:bigfrown: