#Neurological health in winter

[drrohitgupta]

Winter brings a unique set of challenges, especially when it comes to maintaining our neurological health. The colder months can affect both brain and nerve function in various ways, from altering mood and cognition to increasing the risk of conditions like migraines and nerve-related disorders. In this article, Dr. Rohit Gupta, a renowned neurologist in Faridabad, shares a guide to Brain and Nerve Care and staying neurologically healthy in Winter.

[mournthebird]

Gentle Hand.

summary: Soldat has a panic attack.

warnings: Post!HYDRA Winter Soldier | Post!HTP and abuse | PTSD symptoms & behavior | Panic attacks | Brief medical treatments | Flashbacks of HTP | Past dehumanization | Brief mention of SA

a/n: This was supposed to be posted before the other one I just posted, but I got impatient lol. So it might sound a little out of order, once I have all these parts out I'll put them in order. He's getting through it, you're being patient. Unedited. ;; wc: 3.4k

There were a lot of complicated things with Soldat.

Significant complications with his health, for starters, which caught you off guard given his status as a super soldier. You had initially assumed that his enhanced physiology would grant him a far greater resilience compared to an ordinary human, as had been proven with the likes of Steve Rogers. However, the treatment from HYDRA had somehow managed to infiltrate his system so profoundly and extensively that it had wreaked havoc on his entire physiological makeup, leaving him in a severely compromised state.

The issue of malnourishment was addressed through a carefully planned regimen of intravenous treatments, much to Soldat’s dislike. This approach was complemented by a gradual reintroduction to solid foods, a process that required meticulous attention and patience. The goal was to slowly accustom his system to regular nutrient intake without overwhelming his weakened digestive tract. Not to mention the fact that Soldat often refused food or that his body simply could not handle it, even in small amounts.

Honestly, re-feeding him was a whole other problem you had to tackle.

A similar strategy was employed to combat his severe dehydration and restore proper fluid balance. You also noticed that he experienced significant difficulty in swallowing, a symptom that hinted at potential damage to his esophageal tract or neurological complications affecting his ability to consume liquids normally.

Then, there were the myriad of wounds that covered his body. Stubborn injuries that had been persisting for a duration that far exceeded your initial expectations and caused you considerable worry. You found a small measure of solace in the fact that the majority of these injuries, while numerous, consisted primarily of superficial cuts and bruising.

Treating these wounds was far from easy. His behavior during treatment sessions mirrored a cornered wild animal, skittish and unpredictable, making each attempt at care a delicate and often extremely stressful. You didn’t want to stress him any further than he probably was in a stranger’s home, with a stranger, but you needed to at the very least keep the wounds from bleeding everywhere.

He lashed out at you with his metal arm, swinging wildly without any real force behind it. You could instantly discern that his actions were driven by sheer terror rather than malice. His eyes were wide with panic, darting frantically around the room, and it was evident that he wasn't actively trying to cause you harm. As you approached with the antiseptic and gauze, he bared his teeth in a defensive snarl and let out a feral hiss, his metal arm swinging once more in a desperate attempt to keep you at bay.

He had backed himself into the corner of your bathroom, the face he couldn’t go anywhere was frightening him just as much as you were. "Easy there, Soldat," you murmured, your voice steady and reassuring. "You're not scaring me. These wounds need to be cleaned and treated." Your words were calm and gentle, but they seemed to do little to soothe his frayed nerves.

In another display of agitation, he swung his arm downward, connecting with your tile floor. The impact was forceful enough to shatter the tiles into several jagged pieces, the sound of breaking ceramic echoing through the room. He fixed you with a glare that was clearly meant to be intimidating, but you could see right through it. His expression was a forced mask of hatred, a poor attempt at appearing dangerous. He was trying so hard to maintain this façade of aggression, but his fear was as obviously visible beneath the surface.

"Listen, Soldat," you said, your voice taking on a firmer yet still compassionate tone. "If you really wanted to harm me, we both know you would have done so by now. Your behavior isn't fooling either of us." You gestured to his injuries, your expression softening. "Now, please, let me tend to these wounds. If we don't bandage them soon, you're going to end up bleeding all over the place. That can't be comfortable for you. And I would really appreciate it if you didn't stain my carpet..."

His face held a stubborn, forced scowl, but also an undeniable air of resignation. He relaxed at your approach, albeit marginally, allowing you to come closer. Sharp, audible breaths exited his nostrils in rapid succession, betraying his lingering apprehension. You knew he was tense so you offered reassurance, "You're alright, I promise this won't hurt. We just need to take care of these."

Your words seemed to have enough of a calming effect as you carefully began tending to him, finally able to assess and treat his injuries. As the moments passed and he realized your true intentions were solely to help, not harm, his demeanor shifted. He became increasingly receptive to your ministrations as each cleaning session came, and he allowed you to clean his wounds and change his gauze without resistance.

But there was one thing you couldn't help but notice, and it was perhaps the biggest hurdle of them all. An almost violent aversion to certain actions and decisions.

To the outside eye, they appeared completely random, and they did to you too. At first.

Soldat refrained from doing anything, no matter how mundane, without first seeking your explicit permission. Something as simple as taking a seat or reaching for a glass of water seemed to require your approval.

At first this behavior confused you, but as you observed him more closely, you started to understand a little but more. HYDRA, while you knew very little of his experiences, did a number on his psyche. He was grappling with intense internal struggles, and in an attempt to cope with his sudden freedom, he was projecting his deep-seated need for structure and guidance onto you. By relinquishing control over even the most basic decisions, he seemed to find a semblance of comfort and stability.

This realization left you with mixed emotions.

On one hand, you felt a twinge of discomfort at being thrust into this unexpected role of authority. The weight of his dependence on your decisions was not something you had anticipated or necessarily desired.

Yet, on the other hand, you couldn't deny the visible relief and calm that washed over him when operating within these self-imposed boundaries. Witnessing how this dynamic seemed to provide him with a sense of security and ease, you found yourself reluctantly gave into.

Despite your internal reservations, you knew that this arrangement was serving as a crucial coping mechanism for him during what was clearly a difficult time, even if it had begun from something awful. So, setting aside your own discomfort, you made the conscious decision to lean into this role, at least for now.

Your primary concern was his well-being, and if this is what he needed to feel safe and begin healing, then you were willing to adapt and provide that structure for him.

His comfort level around you was noticeably increasing with each passing day. Gradually, he began to emerge from the bedroom where he had initially isolated himself, seeking out your company in subtle ways.

Your presence seemed to have a calming effect on him, acting as a source of reassurance in his new environment. He made a conscious effort to be in the same room as you, his actions betraying a growing desire for proximity.

He maintained a considerable distance for a while, positioning himself at the far end of whatever space you occupied. He often watched you, or sometimes he’d allow himself to nap, he never spoke. You chose to ignore him most of the time, not wanting to give him too much attention and spook him away.

Time progressed and you noticed a slow but steady shift in his behavior. Like a cautious animal gradually acclimating to a new habitat, he inched closer to you day by day. He continued his gradual migration until he finally felt secure enough to position himself right beside you.

One particularly lazy afternoon, he slowly made his way towards you, his steps heavy with hesitation. Upon reaching the living area, he carefully lowered himself onto the floor adjacent to the couch, his eyes fixed downward on the carpet. Eventually, his gaze lifted, settling on the television screen. He watched the program you had selected, you couldn't help but notice a glimmer of curiosity dancing behind his eyes, his engagement slowly growing with his surroundings.

You had tried many different offers and encouragement, but he refused to make use of any furniture in the house. The comfortable couch remained untouched by him, and the inviting bed you prepared for him went unused night after night. He had ripped the blankets off and curled up on the floor instead.

His reluctance to using the couch and the bed made you start to think. Had he been conditioned to believe that he wasn't allowed to use something as basic as furniture?

You remained silent, not uttering a single word as you observed him sitting there, seemingly without any discomfort. After a moment of hesitation, you decided to break the silence. "You know, you're more than welcome to sit up here with me," you suggested, your voice soft and kind. His head lifted ever so slightly in response to your words, his eyes glancing at you from under the bits of hair that fell over his face.

The soldier's gaze met yours, his eyes filled with a mixture of doubt and confusion. His frown deepened, etching lines across his forehead as if your words were spoken in a foreign tongue he couldn't quite decipher. You gently patted the empty cushion to your left, emphasizing your point. "Really, you can sit up here if you'd like," you reiterated, your tone warm and encouraging, hoping to dispel any lingering uncertainty he might have.

Several minutes pass and he doesn't budge.

You decide to just let him sit there if he wants to, observing his actions without comment. You didn't want to make him do something he didn't want to do anyway. So you turned your attention back to the show playing on the screen, watching she shitty adult cartoon full of jokes and clichés. But you had to admit, it was pretty funny. You felt something beside you, the subtle shift in the couch's cushions as his silver prosthetic makes contact. The furniture dips ever so slightly as the soldier cautiously lowers himself onto it.

His movements are painfully slow and deliberate, as if he's treading on eggshells, anticipating that you might suddenly change your mind or lash out at him at any moment. When he finally settles, his posture is noticeably stiff and unnatural, not to mention his obvious aversion to sitting flat on his ass like a normal person. His wounds and injuries were brutal, and you knew he didn't like to sit often. But right now it seemed like he was forcing himself to do so.

The discomfort radiates from him, filling the air with tension. He sits ramrod straight, muscles visibly taut beneath his clothing, and his eyes are wider than you've ever seen them, pupils dilated and darting around the room. It's as if he's desperately searching for potential threats or escape routes, his entire being on high alert. The sight reminds you of a cornered animal, teetering on the edge of fight-or-flight, barely containing the urge to bolt from the room at the slightest provocation.

"Soldat, it's alright. You're safe here. You can sit here, I said you could," you said in a gentle, reassuring tone, attempting to alleviate his visible anxiety. Your voice was recited soft and steady, hoping to create a calming atmosphere. Soldat still tensed up as you adjusted your position. His reaction was immediate and he recoiled as though anticipating a blow, his body language screaming of deep-seated fear.

His breathing became erratic, each inhale and exhale a struggle. His hands trembled and gripped the cushion with such force that the knuckles on his flesh hand turned white. It was clear he was desperately trying to maintain his composure in what he perceived as a threatening situation. The sight of his internal struggle tugged at your heart, you couldn’t believe something as simple as sitting on the couch could cause him to be this distressed.

‘Assets sit on the floor!’ A heavily armored combat boot collided with its nose, it heard a crack, felt the warmth of thick red ooze running down its face and throat, tasting the metallic flavored substance. The rusty tar. ‘Try to get up here again, and I will chain you up to that fucking stump outside. See if you can withstand below zero all night.’

Its handler really hated when it sat on the furniture. Used a bed. Used a chair. Its handler liked to threaten and hurt it.

He liked it to sit at his feet, like a good asset should. Be silent, be obedient, be subservient and pleasing for handler. Make sure he is satisfied and serviced well. Maybe then it will get to sleep? Maybe it would get a blanket tonight. Maybe it wouldn’t have to serve the team tonight.

Or not.

Concern etched across your features as you observed his distress. "I promise you, everything is okay," you reiterated, your voice laced with sincerity and compassion. However, as you shifted slightly to face him better, it became apparent that this small movement was what he had been unconsciously anticipating. The second you made that tiny little shift in the cushion, he leapt to his feet, his sudden movement causing him to stumble. His knee collided painfully with the coffee table, but he seemed oblivious to the impact.

Backing away from you, his eyes darted wildly around your apartment, resembling those of a cornered animal searching desperately for an escape route. There was panic in his gaze, his chest heaving with each rapid, shallow breath.

Unable to maintain his stance, he sank to his knees, his legs unable to support him any longer. His hands flew to his head, fingers entangling themselves in his long hair, gripping tightly as though trying to anchor himself to reality. His breathing had become so labored and quick that it appeared he was on the verge of hyperventilation, fighting for each breath as though he were drowning on dry land.

He cowered away from you as you approached him with worry, his body surrendering to you.

'Stupid fucking asset! Did they fry out all of your common sense, huh? I said NO sitting on the furniture!' Handler's voice thundered through the room, each word laced with venom and contempt. Its wet nose collided violently with his boot for the second time, the impact reverberating through its skull. A sharp, searing pain pushed into its face, and it wondered if a fragment of its broken nose had been forced inward.

Its handler seized a fistful of the asset's hair in a vicious grip and yanking, forcefully dragging it across the floor. The wooden planks, rough and splintered, scraped against its skin as it was hauled towards the dilapidated door of the safehouse. This ramshackle structure was their temporary refuge for the night, a necessary evil in the unforgiving Siberian wilderness. The biting cold of the subzero temperatures was a constant source of irritation for the American team, who were ill-equipped to handle such extreme conditions.

As its handler stepped outside, the asset felt the icy bite of a frozen chain wrapping around its neck. The metal was chilled to an impossible degree and seared its skin on contact. The unexpected pain elicited a cry of surprise and agony from the asset but it was cut short as the chain constricted, squeezing tightly and cutting off its air supply.

Panic set in as it gasped and clawed desperately at the unyielding metal, its lungs burning for oxygen. Just when unconsciousness threatened to overtake it, the pressure relented, allowing it to gulp in precious air once more. The asset's mind raced, recognizing the depth of its handler's fury in this brutal display.

Its handler secured the other end of the chain to an old tree stump barely visible through the snowbank. The makeshift anchor stood amidst piles of chopped wood, all buried under a thick blanket of freshly fallen snow. The wind howled mercilessly, its icy fingers clawing at both the asset and its handler. 'I'll come back in the morning,' he spat, the words barely audible over the roaring gale.

As its handler retreated indoors, the asset felt the blood on its face begin to crystallize, the crimson stream halting its flow as the subzero temperatures took hold. The relentless wind continued its assault, driving icy particles into every exposed inch of skin. With no other option available, the asset curled into itself, seeking what little warmth it could generate as it resigned itself to enduring the long, brutal hours of frozen misery until dawn.

At least it didn't have to service anyone tonight.

He remained motionless, neither pleading nor protesting.

Its handler hated when it begged most of the time. Sometimes he did like it, but it didn’t want to risk angering you by opening its mouth. No. It should only do that when its handler commands it. Otherwise, it was a whore.

In his mind, he braced for the inevitable feeling of your hand roughly grasping his hair, forcefully dragging him away to face some cruel punishment. How could he have the audacity? Sitting beside you on the couch, as if he dared to consider himself your equal.

Time seemed to stretch endlessly. After several long, dreary seconds that felt like an eternity, he summoned the courage to steal a glance at you. His eyes were partially obscured by strands of unkempt hair, peered out cautiously. His breathing remained ragged and uneven, though he made a conscious effort to quiet it.

Its handler preferred silence, after all.

This thought, ingrained deeply within him, only served to heighten his anxiety.

"Soldat, breathe... it's okay, you're safe here." Your voice broke through the silence, gentle and reassuring, though tinged with a noticeable tremor as you witnessed his breakdown. "It's okay. I'm here. No one else but me. You are safe." You repeated these words, emphasizing them as you carefully lowered yourself to the ground beside him.

The soldier’s hyperventilation persisted despite your gentle efforts to speak to him. You remained undeterred and continued to speak, hoping that somehow your words would penetrate the fog of fear surrounding him.

Or the thick snowbank slowly freezing its skin.

"Whatever you're seeing right now isn't real, it's in the past," you explained, your voice soft but steady. "You're here, in my apartment. It's just us. No one is going to hurt you." You inched closer, gradually closing the distance between you and his huddled, trembling form on the carpet. Your movements were slow as you consciously made the effort to be careful and not to startle him further.

He heard you, the absence of pain confused him, but it also provided some soothing to his pure panic. You were telling the truth.

You weren't going to hurt him.

Soldat's gaze met yours once more, his eyes filled with a profound sadness as he gradually descended from the heights of his attack. His breathing, still irregular and labored, came in erratic bursts, each sudden intake of air punctuated by a noticeable hitch. To your shock, he began to inch towards you, his movements hesitant yet deliberate.

Under his breath, he emitted soft whimpers, struggling valiantly to maintain his silence as he had been engrained to do. His entire form quivered violently, reminiscent of someone caught in the grip of an intense chill, and without warning, he allowed his weight to collapse against you, seeking solace in your presence.

A muffled sound escaped him, barely audible as it was absorbed by the fabric of your shirt. Your arms encircled his trembling frame, careful in case he didn’t want you to do so, but you felt no resistance. As he muffled, your ears pricked and you carefully leaned your head down a bit. Your cheek gently brushed his forehead, your mouth close to his ear. "What is it...you can tell me." You whispered, waiting for him to speak again.

Given the other times he had spoken, you braced yourself for Russian, but those concerns dissipated like morning mist when he finally found his voice and spoke. His words were simple, he murmured out again, the admission barely above a whisper and surprised you when they hit your ears.

"I'm cold."

Dividers by @/strangergraphics

Cover images from Pinterest. I do not claim them as my own.

Taglist: @millercontracting | @teafangirl | @questionableratatouille00 | @buckybarneswife125 | @hazydespair | @leighta | @knoxic | @ghostlyfleur | @beckies000 | @seventeen-x | @freyjhasdesiredreality | @curlycow01

Let me know if you'd like to be added/unadded anytime.

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved in our archive (Daily updates!)

Video below the main text!

One of the simplest things you can do to protect your health is to keep track of indoor air quality. Viruses spread through the air and accumulate in spaces that are poorly ventilated. By opening a window or running on an air purifier you can reduce your risks of catching an airborne virus. While viruses spread most during the winter, some viral illnesses like COVID are present all year round, and can cause serious short and long-term health issues. This post explains how monitoring and improving indoor air quality can help protect your health through all the seasons.

Viruses can spread through the air at long distances Viruses spread through droplets and smaller particles called aerosols that are expelled by someone who has an infection. This can happen in a number of ways including coughing, sneezing, talking, or simply breathing. The highest risk of catching a virus is when you are close to the source, where there is a greater concentration of droplets and aerosols.

Viruses can also infect people from larger distances because viruses trapped in aerosols can linger in the air for hours, like cigarette smoke. When a room is poorly ventilated, aerosols accumulate, increasing your risk of catching the virus and getting sick, even if you are not standing close to someone who is infected.

Illustration of how droplets and aerosols released during talking can transmit viruses if the person is infected. (Source: J Hosp Infect)

COVID spreads throughout the year Many respiratory virus illnesses like the flu spread predominantly during winter, because they can survive longer in cold and dry conditions, and because people are more likely to gather inside in poorly ventilated rooms during the colder months.

However, COVID can surge throughout the year. COVID peaks occur regularly because the coronavirus that causes COVID is extremely contagious; new variants can emerge quickly; and immunity from previous infections and vaccinations decreases over time. COVID usually surges in winter and summer, however the virus can circulate at high levels at any point during the year.

COVID still causes serious illness While things are different than in 2020 when COVID first appeared, COVID hasn’t gone away. In many countries, COVID is still the most deadly infectious disease. And COVID infections continue to cause long-term health issues for many people.

Anyone who gets COVID can develop Long COVID. Although people with severe initial infections are most likely to develop Long COVID, you can get Long COVID even after a mild initial infection.

Because coronaviruses mutate quickly, you can be reinfected with another variant as early as several weeks after you have gotten COVID. Reinfections can occur multiple times, and the more reinfections you have increases your risk of developing long-term health issues.

People with Long COVID can experience a wide variety of symptoms that can last weeks, months, or years after the initial infection. COVID can increase the risk of developing new conditions or worsen pre-existing ones including heart disease, diabetes, blood clots, neurological conditions, and chronic fatigue.

Even being sick with COVID in the short term is disruptive because most people are infectious with COVID for at least 10 days. That can mean missing days of work, family time, or an important social event.

Simple things you can do to avoid COVID The best way of reducing your risk of developing long-term health issues from COVID is by taking a few simple steps to prevent getting COVID in the first place.

Staying up to date with the latest COVID vaccine reduces your risk of serious illness, infection, and Long COVID. Wearing a mask helps boost your own protection, protects others around you, and works against any COVID variant or other type of airborne virus.

Another effective way to reduce your risk of getting sick from airborne viruses is to improve indoor air quality.

Tracking air quality can help reduce your risk of sickness You can track air quality with a carbon dioxide monitor. When we breathe, we expel carbon dioxide molecules, which accumulate in rooms that are poorly ventilated. A high carbon dioxide reading means that you are likely breathing in a large percentage of recirculated air. If that air contains viruses, that puts you at greater risk of getting sick.

With this knowledge you can take steps to reduce your risk. This can be as easy as opening a window to allow particles with viruses to escape and fresh air to come in. If opening a window isn’t possible, HEPA purifiers or Far-UVC Light systems can help remove particles with viruses from the air.

To learn more about how carbon dioxide monitors can help reduce your risk of getting sick from viral illnesses, watch this video.

The Aranet team thanks Dr. Lucky Tran for offering insights and guidance on how to reduce the risk of COVID infection. May these revelations empower everyone to make mindful choices and foster well-ventilated environments, enriching not only our homes and shared spaces but also our overall well-being and health. Lucky Tran

[aleksa-sims]

RL Story

CW: Baby health, withdrawal, c-section

Since 3 days, my Baby was not really well. I was sure he got withdrawal. But the Doc, who examined him, told me, my Son was fine. Still, his diagnosis was unclear to me? The meds I took during pregnancy, can cause withdrawal in Babies, but its unlikely. That’s why the doctor didn’t really take my son’s symptoms seriously, at least that was my feeling. 😟

Today my Mom was with us, as every day actually. It was already late in the evening. My Mom was holding my Son. Totally worried, she asked me to look at him!! At first, I did not notice anything. He was sleeping. But then, I saw it too! Every 3-5 seconds, my Baby twitched briefly.☹️😭 We took him over to the nurses. One of them also recognized the rhythmic twitches. She immediately called a pediatrician.

My Mom had to leave the examination room. The Doc said he was going to take blood from my Baby’s heel. I should try to calm him down. I was in total panic, but somehow worked, as my tears ran down my face on my son. My Baby screamed in agony, he was terrified. The needle hurt him. I felt like I was losing the ground under my feet.😭 After the doc drew enough blood, he started yelling at the nurses in the examination room.

Doc: Can someone please get the mother out of here! 😠 She’s crying! Take care of her! I can’t work like this!! 🤯😠

Nurse: But-... I have to wait for the lab’s response.

Doc: I get the results here on my screen! Now put the boy on the examination table. And the mother has to get out, please.... NOW!!

That Doc lliterally kicked me out of the examination room. I stumbled crying, at my Mom’s feet. I immediately hugged her, as she helped me up. My Mom was also crying. 😟

Mom: Everything will be fine! Don’t cry, A.! You’re shaking, try to calm down.

Me: Mom, I can’t do this anymore. I want to go home.😭

Mom: I won’t leave you & Lucas alone. I’ll stay with you.

A few minutes later the nightmare seemed to be over, the pediatrician came back to my room with my Baby.

Doc: Good news! He's fine! There is no neurological serious condition. We have often seen and observed those kind of muscle twitches in c- section babies during their deep sleep phase. Sensitive Babies struggle with their new environment. That's why he's crying & screaming sm. He is overwhelmed and tense, but it's not serious. This passes after 1-3 months.

Me: But my Baby got withdrawal symptoms! And no one here wants to help me. He’s suffering! He needs help!

Doc: Yes, he is actually going through a mild withdrawal. There is a score that we determine in the Babies. Certain symptoms determine the score. If a Baby has a score of 11, a drug treatment is necessary. His score is ...um, 4 rn. And currently at the peak. So..... I see no need, to treat a healthy child with morphine. Your Baby's fine. I’m more concerned about you. Do you know what postpartum depression is?

Me: I just want to go home.

Doc (to my Mom): She is overly anxious and annoys the nurses every night, because her Baby screams. But that's normal! Babies cry!

Me: I know, but he’s suffering, he has diarrhea and pain.

Doc: Diarrhea is one of the harmless symptoms of withdrawal. But your Son's is feeding well. Atm, your Baby’s weight is still within the normal range, but I’m watching this! In two days, I’ll check it out again. If his weight is still okay, you can go home.

Me: Really?

Doc: Yes! But if I catch you outside with your Baby once more at night, you'll get in trouble.

Mom: What? She was outside with him at night? 🥶Aleksa?

Me: I was just on the terrace! I needed fresh air and Lucas enjoyed it too. The snow calmed him down. I didn’t know it was forbidden to go outside for me, I feel like a prisoner here!

Doc: I thought you were in danger. We're on the 14th floor! You shouldn’t be standing there with your Baby in the dark. And in winter, terrace entrances are basically closed to patients!

I think this doctor thought I wanted to hurt myself and my Baby, when he found me crying on that terrace in the middle of the night.😬 But I swear, I never meant to! I was just stressed and had to leave this prison for a moment. I didn’t know what to do anymore? My son was just crying. He suffered, he was in pain, and no one of that supid hospital staff, wanted to help me, or listen to me. This Doc now, has done his job right! He took the time to explain to me, how they treat and examine those... withdrawal symptoms. And he was right about the muscle twitches, too. In a few weeks it will be over. Seeing my Baby twitch today kind of traumatized me. And my Mom too. We were just relieved and grateful that it was nothing serious. And yes, my little one is very sensitive. We will have to learn to deal with that. it's gonna be tough!! 😞

Anyway, I hope I can leave this place soon. I felt like I was losing my mind here. Also I'll have to see Daniel, bcs of that name change.

Previous/Next

[fbwzoo]

So a few weeks ago, we started Addy on a new arthritis med! Librela is a once a month injection, it's been approved & used in Europe for a while now, and just got approved recently in the US. I had read a bit about it after a mention in one of my dog health groups, and Jack asked the vet about it during a discussion about managing Addy's pain. We've been having more trouble with it over this winter, and she was on the highest dose of her pain med we could do. It was really starting to stress me & Jack out over how much time we might still get with her.

After some bloodwork & confirmation that Addy's issues are all physical (old car strike injuries + age), no neurological symptoms, we did the first injection. She kept getting pain meds for the first 2 weeks, then we stopped last Monday. We've all been watching her closely to see how she did.

And!!! She's been doing great!! A 20 degree temp drop last week? No big deal. She didn't start limping or hobbling at all. She went on a 2 block walk on Sunday night, then spent 2 hours at the dog park yesterday. And today when I got home, she was still bouncing, barreling into my legs for pets, and grabbed a toy for tug.

We're really excited that it's already doing so well for her! I'm really grateful that it got approved when it did, and that we have the vet rehab center so close to us to do the injections.

[y0urn3ighb0rsc4t]

Hey, I've never posted on here before but I don't know what else to do. I'm trying here and reddit.

I want to ask u guys for advice.

Mainly on the topics of:

Dissability(mainly undiagnosed cptsd or bipolar, neurological and possible ortho in my knees) + ptsd and ~fibromialgia~

Remote jobs

OHP

So I have been working at a restaurant that is very busy as a host, bus, where I bus tables and greet people + get them drinks. It's complicated, but long story short my boss got burned by my ex parents (part of the cause of the ptsd and cptsd) and is understanding of my situation with them. She works us on a skeleton crew all year round because of us being in a small tourist town, where the summers are busy and the wunters are a flood of layoffs due to lack of customers. So she keeps on only what she can during the winter ALL YEAR. which when we have 3-4 waitress/host busses for the restaurant with multiple large rooms it is intense on even the most able bodied and minds.

Basically the trade off is he'll in the summer for job security in the winter.

Which i would totally be in for, except my body and brain don't seem to be down for the ride of 36hr weeks >:[

And I'm worsening, fast. Especially with the secuall assaults related trauma, making it increasingly dangerous for me to drive to and from work, which is almost 30 min away.

I want to quit so bad, I technically already have and said that I'll try to work 2-3 weeks more, mostly out of guilt.

The second main problem is that my ohp, oregon Healthcare could be taken from me if I quit a job without already securing another. Which I have not.

I'm going to keep applying to Amazon, and other large companies and a few small ones for a remote job and search a but on the area to for an office job (which would not be ideal, but still better).

But I'm quitting today, school just let out which means even more than what I already have had and I'm pretty sure that I met my replacement yesterday.

I honestly don't know what to do, I'm legally homeless and couch surfing and have to wait a week or two to even try to get my fafsa approved. (Which I might be able to get a job at the community college, IF I take at least one class)

I want to get a degree like paralegal, but thats after I fix my credit.

Lil vent:

It's so frustrating when it feels like my body and mind are holding me back from who I should've been... I should've been the person who worked hard despite her past and made a good savings and future for herself. I'm trying to get into a therapist and pursue a specialist who can help, but if I loose my health insurance I'm screwed. Gods, this sucks.

But seriously, the heck am I supposed to do ʕಠᴥಠʔ

[mrwolfhare]

Some fun research concerning raccoons, in case any fan wants to write fanfic or make fanart of him.

There are several foods that are bad for raccoons, this doesn't mean they're necessarily bad for Rocket, as his body was uplifted and might have an immunity to them, much like humans not suffering as most animals do when ingesting things like onions, raisins and chocolates.

That being said, here are some foods that can be harmful to normal raccoons:

Processed Foods: Foods high in sugar, salt, and artificial additives can be harmful to raccoons. They can lead to obesity and other health problems.

Chocolate: Chocolate contains theobromine, which is toxic to raccoons (as well as many other animals). Consumption can lead to symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, rapid breathing, and even death.

Alcohol: Alcohol can be toxic to raccoons, causing neurological and metabolic problems.

Caffeine: Caffeine-containing products like coffee, tea, and energy drinks can be harmful to raccoons, leading to increased heart rate, tremors, and seizures.

Dairy Products: While raccoons may be attracted to dairy, many adult raccoons are lactose intolerant and can experience digestive upset if they consume milk or other dairy products.

Avocado: Avocado contains a substance called persin, which is toxic to many animals, including raccoons. Consumption can lead to heart and lung congestion.

Raw Eggs: Raw eggs can carry the risk of salmonella and other bacterial infections, which can harm raccoons. Do note that raccoons really like eggs.

Moldy or Spoiled Food: Mold can produce mycotoxins, which can be harmful to raccoons if consumed.

Foods with Sharp Bones: Raccoons can choke on small bones or sharp fragments from bones, so it's best to avoid feeding them bones from meat or fish.

Onions and Garlic: Allium species, including onions and garlic, can be toxic to raccoons, causing damage to red blood cells and potential anemia.

Xylitol: Xylitol, an artificial sweetener, can be toxic to raccoons and may lead to insulin release, causing hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

High-Fat Foods: Foods that are very high in fat, like fried or greasy items, can lead to digestive issues and obesity in raccoons.

And concerning weight gain in raccoons, they do add that extra layer of cuddle during the autumn months before winter comes around. This is an instinctual act due to the environment. If the environment doesn't change / get colder, then they won't bother adding weight for the cold months.

Now imagine Rocket on Earth or a planet with similar climates, and instinct kicks in, and he starts scarfing down more than normal to get ready for winter. There needs to be a winter Rocket. Roundhouse Rocket. An angry chunker. Butterball bandito. Roly-poly rascal.

[tomorrowusa]

Anti-vaxxer and conspiracy nut RFK Jr. claims there's a dead worm in his brain. His views tend to make it sound like that worm is still alive. 🤯

Robert F Kennedy Jr, the third-party candidate for US president, said a health problem he experienced in 2010 “was caused by a worm that got into my brain and ate a portion of it and then died”, the New York Times reported.

Yeah, the worm died after eating part of RFK Jr's brain. That should tell you something about the composition of his brain. So much for "purebloods" – as anti-vaxxers call themselves.

Neurologists who treated Kennedy’s uncle, the Massachusetts senator Ted Kennedy, before his death aged 77 from brain cancer in 2009, told the younger man he had a dark spot on his brain scans, and concluded he too had a tumour. But, Kennedy reportedly said, a doctor at New York-Presbyterian hospital posited another explanation: a parasite in Kennedy’s brain. Speaking this winter, the paper said, Kennedy told the Times that at around the same time he learned of the parasite in his brain he was also found to have mercury poisoning, which can cause neurological problems, probably due to eating a lot of fish. In the 2012 deposition, Kennedy reportedly said: “I have cognitive problems, clearly. I have short-term memory loss, and I have longer-term memory loss that affects me.”

You're more likely to get parasites from eating animals. There goes the veggie vote for RFK Jr.

Now 70, Kennedy has suffered other issues including a heart problem for which he has been repeatedly hospitalised and spasmodic dysphonia, a neurological condition that affects his voice.

Despite the age difference, Biden is in better health than RFK Jr.

Doctors eventually concurred that the spot on Kennedy’s brain was the result of a parasite, Kennedy said, according to the Times. Kennedy reportedly said he thought he might have contracted the parasite in southern Asia. The Times said experts who did not treat Kennedy thought the parasite “was likely a pork tapeworm larva”. [ ... ] Kennedy’s deposition also included discussion of his heart problems, which he said began in college, the Times reported. Saying the condition was triggered by stress, caffeine and sleep deprivation, Kennedy reportedly said: “It feels like there’s a bag of worms in my chest.”

No Bobby, those worms are in your head – not your chest. Have you tried taking Ivermectin? 🪱

[jgjmk4-2]

Hello, thank you for tackling the other HC I asked about. I really like the way your write! 💞

So how about a HC of Nobunaga, Mitsuhide, Masamune, Shingen and Sasuke reacting to the MC who's hands shake so badly they can barely write or eat with chopsticks?

It's a very specific idea but I just need some fluff in my life. 🥹

Aw, thank you! Here is your fluff! 🥺 Thanks for being so patient for my reply @lovxhumans!😊

Nobunaga:

Tries to understand it. Cant understand it. It frustrates him to hell and back.

What's wrong with you? Why are you trembling like a scared lamb? The worst feeling is knowing he is the most powerful man in Japan and yet he can't do anything to cure you. He's brought all the doctors from all over the world, fed you all the medicine that might work and yet he still sees those beautiful hands tremble

Will kill anyone who dares to laugh at you, especially anyone who so snickers when you're trying to eat or read your shaky handwriting

Everytime he sees you start shaking he gently tells you to stop, he holds your small hands in his warm ones until it stops, telling you you're perfect the way you are when you try to apologise for being troublesome.

Mitsuhide:

At first he found it funny; why is my little mouse shaking like a little mouse?

When he realises you can't control it, the laughing stops. He observes you carefully, watching out for what your triggers are and what makes your shaking calm down or go away.

Once he's got a pretty good idea of that, it's a simple matter of eliminating your triggers. Does it happen when you're cold? Tight hugs to keep you warm. Does it happen when you're nervous and people are watching? No crowds for you.

When you're shaking horribly at a banquet, he will immediately take you away to another room. You wait together until the shaking stops and only go back in once he's very sure that you're okay with going back in.

Masamune

Challenges anyone to a duel if anyone dares to laugh at your struggles.

Jumps at any opportunity to distract you from your shaking hands. Will act so silly people are staring at him, not you.

Treats your hands shaking like it's a normal thing that everyone has so that you know you're not the werido or a freak those judgemental idiots shout. Your hands shaking is as casual and normal as simply forgetting to wear a thick haori in winter to him.

In front of you, he acts very casual about your hands shaking, "Oh, you're shaking again? C'mere, let me fix that for you!" And it's because it's a part of you he's accepted fully - to him, there is nothing wrong with your hands shaking as long as you're not sick.

Shingen:

When he first sees you shaking, he has a massive frown on his face. He was so worried that you were sick or something. He was so worried maybe you were hiding a big secret about your health from him like he did last time.

One afternoon after you finish having tea with Sasuke, Shingen, drops by and says 'we need to talk tonight'. He didn't mean to make you so nervous, he was just so busy but didn't want you to fall asleep first before he could talk to you tonight. God your hands were shaking.

It was quite a sight when he returned to your shared room and saw your whole body shaking. He actually panicked real bad because he thought something was terribly wrong. When he finds out it's nothing life threatening, he relaxes. After learning about your hands shaking from anxiety he is now always on the look out for your shaking hands. He'll hold them gently in his to give you comfort in crowds where people might judge.

When people ask about it, he always says that his angel is trying to shake him off and return to heaven so he's got to quickly catch your hands so you don't fly away!

Sasuke:

Is she too cold? Is this early signs of Parkinson's? So you have some sort of neurological disorder? Severe anxiety? Sasuke is relieved he known a bit of modern medicine to at least identify some of the causes which might lead to your hand shaking

But he curses himself for not knowing anything more than that. Even in the present there was no cure a disease like Parkinson's. Stressed and upset that you have to deal with a closed minded society that does not understand, Sasuke is forced to go back into the present to find some help for you. He calculates day and night for the next hazy storm that will bring both of you back and promises that he will do the best he can to come back to the Sengoku period once you're cured or have some sort of remedy. (Meanwhile Kenshin is an angry boy that his ninja is leaving).

You find a remedy in the present - some medicine that will ease the shaking and the two of you return to the Sengoku period. But that only lasts for so long, especially when you have to take a pill a day and without modern technology Sasuke cannot make anymore.

Sasuke puts his head down and he's back to calculating day and night. This time, he brings you to the future where he hopes there's a cure. If there is none, then he'll just have to go further into the future. The two of you will become a time travelling duo because there's nothing Sasuke won't do to make sure you don't have to suffer anymore.

...

On a side note, I recently downloaded ikesen again. I tried to do a data transfer but I guess I took too long to do it because my data couldn't be found (I uninstalled the game 1-2 years ago I think?) 😭 I didn't want to start again so I uninstalled again rip lol

But there are so new characters that I don't even know now and the new act 2 and prologue makes my head spin 😵 Kichou was kinda cute though😩 but with all the new stuff I don't think I can keep up 😢

[beardedmrbean]

In a rare case, a black bear in Connecticut has tested positive for rabies, sparking a warning from state wildlife officials.

The bear was a wild female adult discovered in Canton, Connecticut, in February 2023. Like other bears, it should have been hibernating during the winter months. However, due to mobility issues on the left side of its body, the bear was seen falling over, lying down, and not responding to human presence, according to a new paper in the journal Microbiology Resource Announcements.

The bear was observed for 24 hours before being euthanized by a Connecticut conservation officer. Its body was taken to the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (CVMDL) at the Unversity of Connecticut's College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources for a post-mortem.

After the CVMDL sequenced the bear's brain tissue during the necropsy, they discovered that it was infected with rabies. This was only the second bear the lab had encountered with the virus.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has advised the public to avoid any animal that "appears to be distressed, which may include symptoms like stumbling, staggering, walking in circles, dragging a limb or the hind end, or otherwise acting strangely," according to a statement from the University of Connecticut.

Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system of mammals, causing the inflammation of the brain. The virus is typically transmitted through the saliva of infected animals via bites, scratches, or even mucous membranes and open wounds. It is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, which generally manifest after around 2–3 months and can initially include fever, headache and weakness, progressing to agitation, anxiety, hallucinations, a fear of water, excessive salivation, and lack of coordination.

If an animal displays neurological symptoms, such as stumbling and falling over, then scientists will first test for rabies. If the test comes back positive, CVMDL does not proceed with a full necropsy to protect staff.

"We rule out rabies because we don't want to do a necropsy that could expose people unnecessarily," Guillermo Risatti, CVMDL director and professor at the University of Connecticut, said in the statement. "So, once we detect rabies, that's it. We don't do anything else with the carcass."

The CVMDL scientists sequenced the entire genome of the rabies virus found inside the bear to compare it with a gene bank of other sequences from animals infected with rabies across the world. They found that the virus in the bear—which was the only bear sample on the whole database—most closely resembled a virus sequence from a raccoon in New England.

By comparing these strains of rabies, scientists can investigate how the virus spreads between animals in certain areas.

"That's the value—to see what the virus looks like and be able to distinguish a new virus coming into the area," Risatti said. "All of the sequencing is done by us, here in house. So that is the value. We have created a sequencing lab inside a diagnostic lab that is allowing us to dig more into what is going on."

Only 1 to 3 cases are reported in humans in the United States annually. If a human contracts rabies, they need to receive post-exposure prophylaxis as soon as possible, which can be up to 100 percent effective at preventing the disease. Around 60,000 people receive this post-exposure prophylaxis in the U.S. every year.

Humans most at risk are those living in areas where wildlife that commonly contract rabies, including bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes, are common. While this case of rabies in a bear is rare, it may become more common in the future, as sightings of black bears in Connecticut have increased lately.

Nine bears were submitted to the CVMDL for testing in 2023 alone, compared to seven between 2019 and 2022.

The DEEP advises calling the local animal control officer or police department if you spot a potentially rabid animal, staying well clear of it, and definitely not attempting to pick it up.

[xanadontit]

TW Eating Disorders 

A good friend of mine is finally getting serious treatment for a longtime eating disorder. She shared with me this winter that after a lot of work with a therapist that the ED is the source of her “mystery” health issues - physical and mental. This was not a shock to me at all; I clocked her as having an ED within days of meeting her. Just... a lot of classic signs that are sadly familiar to me. 

Therapy, lab work, and weekly check-ins with a specialist aren’t yielding the results the doc would like to see by now. Her electrolytes are dangerously low, she’s in menopause (at 34), has osteoporosis, and in the last two weeks has experienced a neurological event and had a bleeding ulcer. The specialist is confident that most of this can be reversed (if only partially) but her work at home isn’t enough. I’m worried she’s not being totally honest about what/how much she’s eating and if she has backed off on her intense workouts. 

She’s starting an intense outpatient program tomorrow where she can be observed and monitored so they can figure out what’s going right, where there’s room for improvement, and why she isn’t quite as far along in terms of seeing the needle move as well as more therapy. She’s understandably anxious and scared (”if they try to force feed me I’m out”) but also seems to think one bagel should do the trick and she can go back to normal. I don’t know why she thinks 15 years of depriving her body of nutrients won’t take serious time to repair. But I’m worried about saying that to her. I don’t want to kick her while she’s feeling vulnerable and scared but it’s hard to hear “this better not be a time suck” and not say “you’ve gotta be kidding me right?” Maybe on some level she knows this intellectually but it’s hard to break out of an ingrained pattern. 

In the midst of all this I’m having a hard time protecting myself and need to work on that. She is still carrying a lot of shame about this and as far as I know has only told her husband, dad, and me about the extent of what’s going on. She’ll talk about what she ate in a day and describe herself as a “fat piece of shit” with a laugh emoji and I’m like “yeah that’s what I ate today, too, COOL THANKS.” I know that eating a sandwich isn’t actually insane and she’s the one working through some shit but woof. I have done a lot of work on myself and maybe this makes me a lesser person but I’m not able to hear that and take it and let it roll off my back. I hate to use this word but it’s kind of triggering? And when I’m feeling a bit down on myself straight up hurtful. And again: I know she’s not saying it to make me feel bad and I know it’s not about me but I’m still a person! One with feelings! I want to be a source of support and compassion but I can’t get lost in that. 

[the-indigo-symphony]

Wondering if we could get some advice and you& seem like you all might have some idea. Hope you don't mind us reaching out.

So another Tumblr user just made a post describing an experience that sounds an awful lot like experiencing someone else front (being in the backseat of your own mind, observing something/someone else pilot and try to pass as you, feeling half asleep, etc). We suggested ruling out stuff neurologically/health wise and then seeing a counselor.

Should we bring up plurality? Is that dangerous for them or would it be appropriate since they're asking? We know almost nothing about them as a person.

We aren't too concerned about being anon so we could share who we're talking about if that's needed or wanted.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and for any help/advice!

I think it's a good idea to bring it up to them, but you may want to do so gently. A person's plurality may be hidden from them due to trauma or it being part of a defense mechanism (as DID often is, for example), so it may be a good idea to give a disclaimer that if they do explore it as an option, to not force themself to figure anything out before they're ready; with something like this, it's better to take your time and give yourself plenty of space to take a step back if you get the sense that you should leave it alone.

It's also probably a good idea to suggest ideas on how they might figure out if they're plural. One method I like to suggest is journaling – every so often, you write down some basic things about yourself (pronouns, things you like, things you dislike, etc – any questions work, so long as they're in a consistent list you can go through), and experiment with talking to any potential headmates through short little messages. External communication like this can be easier for systems that have yet to develop internal communication, and it also helps to have something physical that you can look back through later for any patterns* or conversations. Relying on memory for these sorts of things can make you second-guess yourself. (You can also second-guess yourself with a journal, honestly, but it's harder to do so.)

* ex. if, when your pronouns are she/her, you sometimes like ice cream, the color yellow, and winter, and then other times when your pronouns are she/her you like chocolate cake, the color red, and autumn – if these sets of answers show up over and over, it could indicate that these are two different headmates who both happen to use she/her, but are different otherwise. These would be patterns in your answers.

But that might be a lot to drop on them at once. You could just say something like "what you say reminds me a lot of plurality, maybe you should check out (insert link to website here; we have some links in our pinned post if you want to borrow one of those; we recommend the morethanone website) or the plural community to see if you can relate." And then give the disclaimer that they shouldn't push themself to be certain if they get the sense that they shouldn't be looking into this, since plurality can be a defense mechanism for the brain in cases of trauma and it's not a good idea to force yourself to uncover it before you're ready, yadda yadda yadda you'll probably be able to tailor what I mean to the situation better, lol. And if they want some suggestions for figuring out if they're plural, well, now you can share the journal method with them!

Hope this helps!

[brobdingnagiananimation]

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THE EARTH STOP SPINNING?

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THE EARTH STOP SPINNING?

There is not the slightest chance of the Earth stopping spinning, but if it did there would be hardly any effect on the moon. The Earth would continue to orbit just as it has always done.

With the exception of a time-lapse video from NASA, which was made with footage from a camera on the International Space Station. It is not possible to watch Earth in motion because it makes only one revolution every 24 hours. That is excruciatingly slow, much too slow for our eyes to detect.

If the Earth stopped spinning, you wouldn't be launched off into space. Gravity would still keep you firmly on the ground. There would be lots of changes, though. If the Earth were to stop spinning but continue to orbit the sun, a day would last half a year, and so would the night. It could warm up much during the day and cool down more during the night. This would affect the climate on Earth.

It means that Earth's day lengthens by one seconds every 50,000 years. The only thing that could stop the earth's spin would be if another planet crashed into it. Even if this happened, it is more likely that it would change the way Earth spins, not stop it altogether.

If the Earth stopped spinning, 6 months of daytime and 6 months of nighttime would be experienced. The side of the Earth facing the Sun will experience fiery summers, while the side facing away from the Sun would face deadly winters. This will result in giant storms that would rage for ages.

WHY DOES THE EARTH ROTATE?

Earth rotates because Sun attracts the earth and thus pulls earth towards it secondly due to earth's revolution around sun it tends to go away from sun in direction of the tangent hence a rotational force (torque) acts on earth and it tends to rotate.

WILL THERE BE LIFE OF EARTH IF THE EARTH STOPPED SPINNING?

Everywhere receives six months of daylight, gradually heating up the planet to well over 100°C. The huge central continent would get the hottest and any remaining lakes and rivers would boil away and be blown to the poles by fierce winds. Even primitive life would only be possible along a narrow strip at the coast.

The reason for this is that, despite the spinning of the Earth being stopped, the atmosphere will continue to be in motion with a speed of 1700 km/hr sweeping off everything in the ground like huge rocks, vehicles, buildings, along with us. Due to this, the ecosystem on Earth will be wiped out completely.

Bottom line; We don't feel or see the Earth spin on its axis because the Earth's spin is steady - and moves at a constant rate in orbit around the sun - carrying us as passengers right along with it.

#Brobdingnagiananimation, #Blogs, #Life, #Nature, #Universe, #Essence of our existence on earth as humans, #Science, #Cosmology, #Physics, #QuantumPhysics, #History, #Neurology, #Art, #Architecture, #HumanEvolution, #Animals, #Philosophy, #Tourism, #Entertainment, #Games, #Sport, #Music, #Movies, #Work, #Finance, #Agriculture, #Food, #Health, #Fashion, #Beauty, #Lifestyle, #Social event, #Archeology, #Comedy, #Talents, #DIY.

[puppyexpressions]

Is it Safe For Dogs To Drink From Puddles?

From personal experience, there are two inevitabilities of dog ownership. The first is that, at some point, you will step out for a walk and forget to take water for your dog. The second is that your dog is always happy to stick its nose into the smelliest thing around. So you have a thirsty dog, and there is a murky, stinky puddle over there? Bingo, problem solved. Or is it? What are the health risks to your pet from drinking from puddles?

The bugs that lurk (in the puddle)

Surely the worst that can happen from picking a bug up from a puddle is an upset tummy? Well, possibly. But given the most likely cause of this upset tummy is Giardia, and it is one of the most common causes of acute gastroenteritis in humans and animals. Apart from being very unpleasant for your pet (and for you cleaning up), Giardia can be quite difficult to treat. It is also not uncommon for a pet to have repeat bouts after they have recovered from the first one. Even worse, it is a zoonosis, which means it can potentially be transmitted from pets to their owners. Fortunately, it looks like this is rare in reality, which is a silver lining.

Then there is leptospirosis, also known as “Weils’s disease”.

That’s the one that your dog catches from rat urine, which can contaminate stagnant water. It is a serious bacterial infection that can cause liver and kidney failure. Dogs can contract it through contact with water contaminated by infected urine.  It can be pretty tricky to diagnose and very difficult to treat. Worse still, it is also a zoonosis. However, pet to owner transmission is probably very rare, with people most commonly contracting it through swimming or water sports in contaminated water bodies. It should be mentioned that leptospirosis in dogs is uncommon in the UK; this may be due to vaccination (none of the affected dogs in one study was vaccinated) or underdiagnosis.

The new puddle-lurking nasty on the block is Angiostrongylus Vasorum, AKA Lungworm or French Heartworm.

Infections in pet dogs by this unpleasant parasite have become increasingly common in the UK over the last two decades, particularly in the South East and Wales. Lungworm can cause lung disease, bleeding problems and neurological disease. It was previously thought to be transmitted by dogs eating slugs and snails. More recently, evidence has suggested that gastropods shed the parasite in the environment, and dogs can be infected by drinking contaminated water.

And what about the toxins on your doorstep? A tale for all seasons.

Even that harmless-looking puddles around your home could be life-threatening. Ethylene glycol is a commonly used ingredient in antifreeze products used in cars. It can easily leak from parked vehicles to contaminate puddle water. It’s highly toxic to dogs and cats, and only a small amount needs to be ingested to be fatal as it causes kidney failure. It has a sweet smell which means it is readily licked by dogs. Every year, sadly, several dogs (and even more cats) die in the UK after ingestion of ethylene glycol. As an antifreeze product, this risk is higher during the winter months.

Then there is the danger of blue-green algae blooms caused by cyanobacteria. This natural phenomenon occurs most commonly during the summer months when the perfect conditions for explosive algal growth are most likely. The toxins produced by these blooms are dangerous to humans and dogs when ingested. Blue-green algae can often be visible by a blue-green foamy scum on the water’s surface. The local authority will put up prominent warning signs at times of high risk. It is imperative to keep your dog on the lead and out of the water when these signs are up. If your dog does somehow get into the water, it is recommended to take them directly to the vet for decontamination as toxic signs (tummy upset, tremors, wobbly gait, seizures) can start within an hour of exposure.

And then there is the bigger picture…

As with all issues environmental, the concern about environmental pollution is increasingly coming to the fore. Pesticides, herbicides to pharmaceutical residues and hormones, from agricultural, industrial and domestic use affect wildlife and the environment, and our understanding of how this happens is improving all the time. With that comes the realization that there is also a knock-on risk to our health and our pets. Yet still, the environmental levels of surprisingly few of these polluting substances are monitored. So exactly what, if anything, and how much of it ends up in your average puddle is unknown and, for this reason, drinking from puddles is generally not recommended.

My dog has been drinking from puddles for years, and she’s okay. What is the risk, really?

From reading this article, you would not be blamed for thinking that all puddles glowed fluorescent green and that it comes across as a bit alarmist. And you would be right. Most likely, a quick slurp from a puddle will do your pet no harm. Indeed, there is no need to contact your vet when your pet does so unless there are specific circumstances, like known blue-green algae risk or ethylene glycol exposure. What this article attempts to do is describe some of the potential harms of drinking from puddles. The trick is to take precautionary measures to minimize the risk, such as ensuring your pet is fully vaccinated and protected against lungworm if they insist on splashing through puddles. But the safest precaution of all is to always carry drinking water for your pet.

[nfumbewalk]

All Days Are Grey

Six years ago. Looked younger. And thinner. Egads, fresh outta jail.

Gloomy Sunday here in Oregon. Typical Winter day. This is a non-occult post.

Drugs

Zipping around too much? Yes. "High-tied, wide eyed, sped on adrenochrome." - Sisters of Mercy. Ha! Indeed! I like my speed but only the pharmaceutical kind. No dirty street crap. Love to try some purp adrenochrome tho. Cocaine was another story. I wasn't fond of coke. It made me super duper relaxed, I felt like a wet rag. I just had seen Scarface for the first time and was inspired. Boy was I disappointed!😂 I just sat like a lump and watched a documentary about jumpers on the Bay bridge in Cali.

Anyhoo! Drugs, don't let yourself go - stay healthy. Don't drink booze. Have weed instead. Way less harmful and your liver will thank you. You don't have to smoke weed, eat it. Edibles have a better, longer lasting high. Or try RSO aka hemp oil. I'm a big marijuana advocate. Its been legal in Oregon for a long time. Sorry. It is the only drug that helps my pain. It works better than opiates. Ladies with cramps - try it, works excellent, for me anyways. I use it monthly, 2 to 3 candy bars. Not cheap but worth it! Try a indica or hybrid.

Have to say that I'm against opiates too. Took them for years - Morphine and Oxycontin for cervicogenic headaches and injured C2 and C3. Bad drugs make you do bad shit to everyone and everything. They change your personality without you realizing it. I got off of these drugs - cold turkey with no withdrawal. I wasn't addicted. But thank God for acupuncture! It saved my life! No more pain!! I'm so different now. I don't even like getting Norco from the dentist. Downers are the pits. Speed is the way to go.

Next!

Don't really know what just inspired my drug rant. Prolly cos I'm on speed. Lol! Bad huh? I'm not on things much. Here and there. Hubby and I like to have a little fun to wipe out our monotony. At least we don't sniff, smoke, or inject shit like some dummies. The oral route works fine.

This makes me look terrible but I'm just honest. I never had any drugs or booze when I was a kid. I was married to a stiffy who never liked to be inebriated and have fun. Such a world class bore. I guess I'm really too old now but I care not. I have health risks like hypertension but I monitor myself and my two medications seem to work well enough to keep my numbers down. Being awake too long affects my emotional lability but I just fucking deal because we have too much indulgent fun with each other. 😘

Pls don't judge too harshly. My life has been an uphill battle for 25 years. I found my son's birth records and they are atrocious. I was 42 2/7 weeks when I was induced into labor. They estimated incorrectly. We found out that there was hardly any amniotic fluid left. My labor with him was also 42 hours. A bit more than 24 hours with no drugs for pain. The horrendous part were the two failed epidurals that were very spotty with numbness. I was injured by them and today, my left upper thigh has numbness, itching and needle prick shock pains that I experience at random. I also have these pricking pains on the fourth toes on both feet. The anesthesiologist injured my spine. I experienced numbness the day after my son Aleister was born. The records have a drawing by the doctor but I cannot make out his handwriting. I'm starting to get more neurological symptoms.

I can't go through and write all the mental effects I suffered from, but Aleister's birth made me dissociate. Its in the records that I have "missing pieces." Yep. The circumstances of his birth broke me, but I'd never blame him. The problem was that I had a midwife. I should have had an OB and a c-section. I had preeclampsia and my body was just too small for natural childbirth. My mom was the same size, but taller. I'm 4'9" and my hips are very narrow. She had two c-sections. Her OB said no way to a natural birth.

Aleister ended up in fetal distress. When born, they had to resuscitate him. His Apgars were very poor and I didn't get to hold him like most moms hold their baby. He was placed in the NICU for a week. It was very difficult to feed him at first because the magnesium sulfate made him very loopy and disinterested. Once he took 2 Oz of formula, we got to take him home. Aleister was a very good baby. He hardly fussed. He walked at 9 months. He's turning 25 next March.

I don't know why I talked drugs and my son. Just thinking. Hope this is interesting somewhat. Its just random ass memories.

M.M. 💖💀💖

[karmaalwayswins]

@fluff-cember Day 14: Winter Soup

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Patient: Agyness Plumtone

Provider: Dr. Darriel Hill

Date of Service: December 14, 2024

Triage Time: 0832

Complaint: "I think I got some of that bad soup."

Vitals: T 98.9 P 105 RR 18 BP 115/72 Pox 97% RA

History of Present Illness: Patient is a 32 year old White Female who presents with concern about exposure to tainted soup. Patient attended the local Holiday Soup Festival last weekend and later heard reports about tainted Winter Fish Soup supplied by one of the contestants. She states she recognized that she was having symptoms and then came to the emergency department for evaluation. She indicates that she initially was hearing an intermittent grinding sound that she could not place. In the last day or so, she has started to hear an insistent voice telling her to sing and dance in public, or to steal the hats of people walking around her. She had already been experiencing nausea and abdominal pain. She denies any fevers. Denies any vomiting or diarrhea. Doubts pregnancy but states there is a small possibility. She has not checked for any changes in the appearance of her tattoos.

Past Medical History: No diabetes. No kidney disease. No coronary artery disease. Exposure to love potion at 18 years old with symptoms resolved over course of six months. Ectopic pregnancy surgery in 2022.

Medications: Daily multivitamin.

Allergies: None.

Social History: Denies use of tobacco. Denies use of alcohol. Weekly marijuana use. Denies use of cocaine, heroin, ghost tears, or methamphetamine.

Family History: Diabetes, coronary artery disease.

Review of Systems: As above.

Physical

General: Adult female in no acute distress.

HEENT: Pupils equal. Some decreased mucus membrane moisture.

Neck: Supple. No Alexis nodes.

Lungs: Clear to ausculation.

Heart: Regular rate and rhythm.

Abdomen: Soft abdomen, minimal discomfort to palpation.

Back: Nontender.

Extremities: No edema. Pulses intact.

Skin: Tattoos on the bilateral forearms. These were reviewed with the patient. She confirms that the tattoo of her mother on her left arm now has Preston Red eyes as compared to their prior coloration. No other tattoo changes noted. No runes detected.

Neurologic: Patient alert and oriented x 3. Strength and sensation intact. Ambulates stably. No unusual strutting or dancing.

Psychologic: Patient calm and cooperative. Admits to hearing a voice telling her to take my stethoscope but is not acting on this.

Labs:

Electrolytes: Na 138 K 3.3 Cl 105 CO2 23 BUN 30 Cr 0.7 Glu 85

CBC: WBC 11.5 HGB 11.3 PLT 238

Pregnancy: Negative

Urinalysis: Negative

Medical Decision Making:

0910: Patient presents with symptoms consistent with local outbreak of Alespoles worm infestation related to soup containing trout originating from the Blackstone River. Labs were obtained prior to my formal evaluation. Based on these and exam, will give IV fluids. Will give oral potassium repletion. Will give an IV dose of Harkness solution. Will update the health department as they are keeping track of this outbreak. Will continue to monitor.

0940: Discussed with Della Washington, NP at the county Health Department. Case details provided.

1015: Patient rechecked. She indicates that the voice in her head is becoming less loud.

1205: On recheck, patient's girlfriend is at the bedside. Patient currently eating a hamburger and fries that the girlfriend brought for her. Patient appears to be tolerating food without difficulty.

1230: Plan of care discussed with patient. She states she feels well enough to go at this point. She does appear stable for outpatient management at this point. Her IV fluids and Harkness solution infusion have completed. She is tolerating oral intake. She states she lives with her girlfriend who will be able to monitor for any concerning behavior changes. Will have patient follow up with her primary care provider. Will prescribe Harkness solution oral gelcaps for use times one week. Patient advised to add kale and probiotics to her diet as they will act to limit the diarrhea that can be associated with treatment of Alespoles. Patient also advised to drink plenty of fluids. Patient advised that she may see the worm(s) pass in her stool. Patient advised that she does not need to collect the worm(s) for sampling unless she is specifically instructed by the Health Department to do so. Otherwise she should simply flush the toilet as usual. Patient advised to monitor for fever greater than 100.4, getting dehydrated, hearing voices that advocate for violent action, additional changes in the appearance of her tattoos, or otherwise feeling worse. Patient advised to return to the emergency department if any of these issues occur. Written discharge instructions and return precautions to be provided.

Disposition:

Discharge

Diagnosis:

Alespoles worm infestation related to tainted soup