#my cholesterol levels are fine

[lightblueminecraftorchid]

uh oh the metaphorical doctor in my head is getting mean

[galaxymagick]

just been on Instagram and saw someone like here’s my breakfast I have 8 egg whites (and other stuff)… the yolk slander is ridiculous.. oH bUt iT coNtaINs cHoL*sTerol.. yes, but it’s the good kind and full of vitamins, stop wasting egg yolks!!!

Now it’s different if you add oils to them, like just have a boiled egg or two it’s not gonna fck u up 🙄

Unnecessary post? Maybe, but it’s annoying (esp in January) to see how ppl are still stuck on bs ways of d*ets and n*trition like can we move on and have better relationships with foods it feels like we’re constantly going backwards 😭

[kakao-lovey]

Girl, fix your health.

Things you should be doing to live well.

If you struggle a lot with your health or generally aren't feeling well, I'm very sorry, and I hope I can help a little bit. This post is for everyone, even those who are just fine but looking to keep it that way.

Check-ups

Even if it's just once every 2 years, you've got to go give the healthcare system some money and check in with your doctor. This is especially true if you have (Or had) chronic health issues in the past.

Ask for:

Blood pressure (You can get this free at most pharmacies as well)

(You might think 'No, I never eat fast food, and eat mostly plants / am vegan' especially then!! Low blood pressure can cause fatigue, fainting, and a generally bad mood.)

Blood sugar levels

B12, Iron (Aren't usually tested at checkups, but I would recommend if you have deficiency symptoms or problems with undereating)

Calcium and vitamin D

Cholesterol levels (Assess risk of heart disease)

Complete blood count: checks for infections, anaemia or blood disorders

Thyroid, liver and kidney function test

Skin check (This applies to every skin colour. Skin cancers aren't exclusive to white people.)

(AFAB) Breast exam

(AFAB) Hormone panel

By the way, I'm also not a doctor. My highest medical qualification is 10th Grade biology. Please, discuss with your doctor what tests would be necessary for you.

Cardiovascular training

I hate cardio so much. Or, I used to, before I found a sport I enjoy that involves a lot of it but is still fun. If you like running, good on you! If you're like me, and need a lot of motivation and encouragement to get on a treadmill, here are some reasons why you should:

Heart health: you might think, 'This isn't a good enough reason. I am young, thin and never had to worry about fat in my coronary arteries.' So, how long do you want to live? Until 40? 50? Cardiovascular diseases are the number 1 cause of death on the entire planet.

Weight loss / management: cardio doesn't just burn calories, but also boosts your metabolism. If you're not into weight loss, remember boosted metabolism -> more energy.

Mood improvement: endorphins, baby. Cardio relieves stress, anxiety and depression, and we could all do with that.

Better sleep: fall asleep faster, wake up early and feeling refreshed.

Cognitive enhancement: exercise aids memory, focus, and creativity.

And here are some ideas how you can do it:

'Running sports': soccer, hockey, rugby, netball, basketball, volleyball, tennis, squash. Give humans a ball and a stick, and they're entertained for centuries.

Jumping rope: easy, convenient and heavy dose of cardio.

Swimming, running, cycling, or all three in quick succession

Hiking: adds a dose of nature

Dancing: I LOVE those K-pop dance workouts on youtube. 10/10 (If I'm alone in my room and nobody can see me)

15 minutes of sunlight

If you're like me and downright scared of UV rays, you need this. Why?

Vitamin D: A vitamin only absorbed by sunlight, which absorbs calcium and strengthens bones and the immune system. You're more likely to get a deficiency if you use sunscreen properly, and I think this applies to my audience (Love you guys)

If you're deficient in vitamin D, you might feel very fatigued and have muscle and/or bone pain.

Adjusts your circadian rhythm: This might not apply to those who get up very early, but sunlight directly after waking up is probably the best thing to do if you want to feel refreshed in the morning and sleepy at the appropriate time in the evening.

Supports metabolism: Natural sunlight aside, it's even debated among nutritionists whether vitamin D suppresses appetite and aids weight loss.

Healthy drink swaps

Food swaps are cool. What's even cooler is not just paying attention to what you eat, but what you drink as well.

Coffee for the caffeine → green or black tea There are so many forms of these teas. Matcha, herbal green tea, Ceylon... They are so loved because they give you that caffeine fix while being hydrating and not disturbing sleep or having a 'Crash'.

Coffee for the warmth and creaminess -> Rooibos or Earl Grey (Milk teas) with honey

Store-bought fruit juice -> Homemade green juices or orange juice If you have a juicer, don't sleep on it. Store-bought juice often contains sugar, which surprised me so much? They are also many times reconstituted concentrates, which just means they have been boiled at high heat to remove the water, then re-diluted with less water elsewhere. This has the side effect of killing (Denaturing) enzymes in the juice, and vitamins are just enzymes. If you don't have a juicer, use a blender and strain.

Soft drinks -> hibiscus, rose hip, grapefruit etc. iced tea Be sure to make it yourself, or purchase from a brand you trust not to add sugar or preservatives. I cannot stress enough how important it is to say no to these drinks.

Sports drinks -> infused water Try lemon, strawberries, mint, cucumber (My favourite) or blueberries.

Hot chocolate -> Matcha latte Here's another tip: if you want to treat yourself to a nice drink but don't want to have stomach problems or break out afterwards, try buying expensive mineral water. This may sound stupid, but trying out different bottled water and judging them like a fine wine is great fun to me.

Prioritising sleep

Here are some tips to fall asleep faster at night:

Don't consume any media (Read, watch movies/shows/Youtube) for a short time before going to bed: this helps my brain to 'Quieten down' a little bit. It happens in much the same way your brain feels like noodle soup after binge-watching youtube shorts for four hours while depressed, just on a smaller scale. If you stuff yourself with content before sleeping, you won't be able to let go as easy.

Have low light levels around you throughout the evening: circadian rhythm again. If you need to be on a device, turn the brightness way down and put on a blue light filter.

Comfort: Lavender essential oil, soft animals and candlelight are some of the things that could help you wind down in the evening.

Light stretches: especially if you've done exercise the day before. Focus on your shoulders and back, legs and neck, as these are the most commonly stressed muscles in everyday life. This *really* helps.

Brown noise / White noise / Theta waves: If you have not tried putting on non-melodic binaural beats or static while sleeping or meditating, you are missing out big-time. No scientific evidence this time, just take my word and go listen to pure theta waves.

Proper hygiene (TW: talk of germs)

We all shower, put on antiperspirant and brush our teeth (I hope). But these things might be equally important and not talked about enough.

Disinfect devices: use a lens cleaning wipe to clean screens and keyboards. Especially if you touch your face often. When you transfer germs from phones or laptops to your face or food, you are essentially giving them a free ride to your body.

The same counts for door handles, faucets and toilet handles. Use an antibacterial disinfectant to kill those germs.

Changing your pillowcase every two days: this is more an acne thing than a protect-your-immune-system thing, but even then, using the same pillowcase you smear residual skincare, makeup, drool and tears on every night is nasty.

Washing your hands before eating, cooking, after using the bathroom and after coming home from a public area

Getting a new toothbrush every month, and washing it after every use with hot water

Vacuum-cleaning the walls: Y'all. There's dust on your walls. Go wipe your finger on it, test the hypothesis. You do not want to breathe that in every day.

That's all from me for today.

~ Kakao <3

[iz-star]

Zayne's newest card made me tear up a little.

He truly heals that part of me that it's very much broken and still under maintenance ❤️‍🩹

CW: Adult talk about mental health issues and how Zayne's been a good unintentional therapy.

I sometimes joke about how "To sit on his lap would totally fix me" as a reference to his Hidden Motive card and basically that he loves MC to sit on his lap but you know, I think to be hug by him is what actually would hold together all the pieces of me that are about to fall. He hugs MC with such delicate touch, so much tenderness and you can see the love pouring from his touch, his gaze, his words.

I once mentioned in another post that I totally understand Zayne's trauma with nightmares because there was a time I had them constantly too. There's actually another part of that story: back in the day I was so stressed that my blood pressure was always high. The very reason I had to be taken to the psychiatric hospital was because there wasn't another medical reason for my high levels of blood pressure than stress. I got my blood pressure checked for 10 days (or was it 15? I can't remember) in order to discard hypertension, I also got some medical tests done to discard if the problem was in my thyroid, blood tests to check my levels of cholesterol and tryglicerides, I even got an echocardiogram but according to every test, my body was... fine. There was no apparent reason as to why I was shaking like a wet dog against the cool wind in the backyard.

I knew I was anxious, stressed and basically on high alert all the time but somehow I came to normalize the dizzines, the shakiness of my body, the arrhythmias and feeling extra weak all the time. I'm not going to talk about the reasons that led me up to feel that way bc they're too personal and sensitive, the point is: I was so stressed that my body started to somatize my mental state.

It was there when I had to be given antidepressants and got diagnosed with depression, panic disorder and other stuff that I prefer to omit atm. I started to sleep more because of the medicine but it wasn't a good sleep bc it was there when the nightmares would always make me feel distressed and exhausted everytime I woke up. I also used to had arrhythmias when I went to sleep.

This is another thing I love about Zayne's nagging about sleeping early that I forgot to mention in my previous post: Sleeping properly not only helps your body to regain energy and start the process of reparation and regeneration of cells, but not sleeping properly can lead not only to mental health issues but also, heart issues. Zayne, being the cardiac surgeon he is, knows what's truly best for you.

If I'm honest, even after therapy, I haven't been able to heal all what's causing me to be stressed. My panic attacks have decreased greatly but not entirely and you know what's funny about Zayne and panic attacks? Out of the four LIs he's literally the best option to help out with them: not only is he a Doctor and knows how to act in emergencies while keeping a calm and collected attitude but his evol is the best ally in these cases. Back then, whenever my panic attacks would hit me, that shit about breathing never the fuck worked with me (and I'm telling you this with all the frustration I feel just to remember) because to be aware of my breath only made me feel like it was easier to lose control over it. So I had to be given a couple of ice cubes in a bag pressed over my neck and face in order to wake up my brain from the emotional distress it was putting me into. The sudden cold sensation not only helped me to wake up but was also comforting from all the sweat you get to produce in these attcks.

So yeah, I can picture Zayne seeing that when nothing is working, he could cool off his hands to the right temperature to help you wake up from the emotional distress. His touch not only gentle but comforting, making you remember that his hands are the safest place in the world and there's no danger.

Even to these days, whenever someone touches me all of sudden, I can't help but flinch and my heart beat rises automatically, I'm not lying when I say that even for the smallest things my blood pressure rises. Around two months ago, I had to go to the Doctor bc I got sick and the nurse had to ask a few personal things that got me anxious so quickly that once we were done, my heart was running wild in my chest. The next thing the nurse did was to check on my blood pressure and guess what? It was higher than it should be. Next thing she did was to do a quick test of my blood and it was all fine, so she brushed the blood pressure as me being sick.

When I had to start therapy, the hardest part was to talk about the things that were stressing me out. It suprised me how difficult was it for me to put them into words, because the first sessions, whenever I tried to start talking, my voice trembled and my heart beat would rise, the ability to breath leaving my body with each try. The psychiatrist had to literally drug me with xanax, then rivotril just for me to calm down and be able to fucking talk lol.

I suppose this is the reason that his latest PV got me a little too emotional: he's the one who offers his heart for you to listen, he's the one who tells you that his heart holds no secrets that can't be uncovered and softly asks you to be honest. I'm sure that the topics of the card are less serious that the things I've talked about here but the point still remains; in order for you to open up, he also puts himself in a somewhat vulnerable but sincere position, making you know you're both in equal terms. You put your heart on the table, he does it too. He holds you closer for you to listen his heart, his sincerity something so soft yet endearing that I just know I'd be able to say everything.

Most of the times, to talk about these topics with a few ppl has been quite frustrating. These are things I don't talk about with my family to a certain point and my friends don't have the emotional capacity to handle such things. I know I overwhelmed them and none of them knew what to say when the topic was lying there on the table, bare and ugly. The only friend that was able to offer some support was actually someone that went through a very similar situation than me.

This is not a complaint, in life I've come to understand that most people won't feel emphaty for you unless they truly understand the meassure of what you went through and most cases, it only happens if they have experienced it by themselves. Of course, this won't stop them from trying to be kind but they probably wouldn't realize that their words could hurt you instead of helping you. My friends aren't bad, they're just rough because life has made us like that, no one in this life has been taught how to help. We learn it by experience.

That's another thing that I love about Zayne, he literally exists to help. He made it his mission in life to help. If I were to ask emotional support from him, I know he would take it as it is: a place where one is allowed to be weak. No judgments, no assumptions, just a space to feel safe to breakdown. When MC opened up to him about losing her family and how that was the reason she was having an unhealthy lifestyle lately, instead of his normal nagging, he understood her and said how she had the right to do what she could to cope with her pain but just asked her to make sure not to get injured in the process. He didn't judge her, he gave her a space to acknowledge her pain and the way she was dealing with it, and they weren't even that close back then.

I've been learning to live with this heart of mine who gets scared so easily that it's kind of funny how I came to love this fictional character whose role is to be a cardiac surgeon xD When I started to play this game nobody told me that this Doctor would literally help me heal my heart. If my body flinches when someone touches me, to see the extra care and love he touches MC with makes me feel so many things. He's been broken too many times that of course he knows how to hold something with the utmost care.

I started to play around the end of February and I'm still surprised at how Zayne's writing has checked out all the boxes in my fragile spots. He's been so therapeutic for me, and it's just surprising (and a little bit sad) how he's helped me to heal what real men (and some women) have broken in me. He's the man that has helped me the most aside from my brothers and step father who only hurt me greatly the day he decided to leave this world. It's so funny how a fictional character has done all of this to me, how his reminders about eating and sleeping properly worked for me outside of the game and how he telling me to have more confidence also helped that now I even also have a better job, (I mentioned it in another posts, but for a couple of years my mental state made it difficult for me to get a job and the jobs I was able to get later were all informal and bad paid) but I also can't help thinking that he's a man written by women after all and I wonder if some ppl in his writing team had gone through difficult situations and crafted him out of the things that helped them to heal.

Women help women at the end. I wish Zayne's writing team a long and happy life. And I wish the same for the other LI's writing teams because I know just as Zayne has helped me and other girlies to get up and keep going forward, the other guys have done the same for their girlies ❤️‍🩹

Thank you, Zayne and your writing team for making my 2024 better than the previous years and helping me to start moving in life again ❤️‍🩹

[sassyfrassboss]

The Post taste-tests Meghan Markle’s ‘acidic’ As Ever jam, ‘janky’ cookies and ‘bland’ tea

Ever since Meghan “Jam Is My Jam” Markle announced that a berry jam would be one of the first products released under what was then known as her America Riviera Orchard label, the world has eagerly wondered what the groundbreaking pantry goods actually taste like.

Today, The Post can exclusively report that the Duchess of Sussex’s “keepsake” packaged $14 raspberry spread — now branded As Ever, due to trademark issues — has a very familiar flavor.

“It tastes like the same kind of raspberry spread/jam/jelly/preserve that you can buy in any supermarket in the United States,” longtime Post food critic Steve Cuozzo said in an official taste test. “It tastes fine. Raspberry jam always tastes fine. There’s nothing unique about this.”

It’s one of nine As Ever products that the duchess launched last Wednesday.

The line, which also include teas, honey, baking mixes and flower sprinkles, sold out in less than an hour and created havoc for those desperate for a taste of Markle’s Montecito — by way of a gritty stretch of Hollywood that is home to the As Ever LCC offices, by way of parts unknown. (Meghan, your loyal subjects want to know: Will you be hit by tariffs?)

Wherever it comes from, the sweetness level of the “runny” fruit spread — as it must be called, according to FDA guidelines for sugar content — polarized taste testers.

It “has a really high acid profile, making it completely unenjoyable,” griped editor Zachary Kussin.

“I like [that] there’s not a lot of sugar, like with a Smucker’s brand,” said commerce reporter Emma Sutton-Williams.

The As Ever Shortbread Cookie Mix with Flower Sprinkles ($14) also garnered mixed reviews.

“I’ve tried a lot of shortbread cookie mixes out of a box and I’m always disappointed. I’m not disappointed with these,” said Sutton-Williams, declaring the treats an “A+.”

Still, she noted the cookies were time- and labor-intensive — requiring an hour in the fridge and two sticks of butter. (Has anyone checked Prince Harry’s cholesterol levels lately?)

“Did Meghan consult with Paula Deen? Because these are very butter forward,” said Post senior writer Jeanette Settembre, who baked them.

Kussin, for one, declared the cookie “brittle,” “insipid” and void of flavor: “It has the consistency of a hockey puck and the flavor of a hockey puck.”

But Cuozzo had some encouraging words, saying, “Meghan, Duchess, you’re in the ballpark.”

For columnist Kirsten Fleming, there was one big letdown: the now-infamous flower sprinkles that Markle cheerfully employs on her Netflix show “With Love, Meghan,” perhaps to distract from her abysmal knife skills.

As Ever’s $15 jar of edible dried flowers — which looks uncomfortably close to the potpourri you used to see next to bathroom sinks in the ’90s — was sold out within minutes. But hallelujah, a small packet of the flower sprinkles is included in the cookie mix!

Unfortunately, they were dull and too small to lend any legitimate pop of color.

“There was such a big deal made about them that I expected them to be like this pinata coming out of the cookie, and it just looks like a few colorful crumbs,” said a disappointed Fleming.

“Janky,” declared Settembre.

One thing all the taste-testers seemed to agree on was that the herbal peppermint tea ($12) was as bland and beige as the oatmeal-hued Jenni Kayne sweater Markle wears on her show — and promotes on her new ShopMy page (noting in small print that she may get a cut of the proceeds, natch).

It’s “understated, just like the royal family,” a diplomatic Sutton-Williams said of the hot beverage.

Kussin, a self-described “peppermint tea enthusiast,” called it bland and said it “could be a lot more minty.” He prefers the free Harney & Sons peppermint tea available in The Post offices.

“It’s not very strong, the flavor isn’t really there … it’s quite ordinary,” lamented Cuozzo of Markle’s tea. “If all it takes is making a product like this, then I want to be a duchess myself.”

So it tastes like shit…no wonder she sent the first batch to actors and actresses. They had to fake their approval.

[mineralsrocksandfossiltalks]

Monday Musings: Copper and Your Health

Did you know that copper is a mineral that we need in our bodies? In fact, there are several metals we need to live healthy lives. What exactly do we need copper for? A few things actually. It is needed for the normal growth and development of human fetuses, infants and children.

In adults, it is necessary for the growth, development and maintenance of bone, connective tissue, brain, heart and many other body organs.

Copper is involved in the formation of red blood cells, the absorption and utilization of iron, and the synthesis and release of life-sustaining proteins and enzymes. These enzymes produce cellular energy and regulate nerve transmission, blood clotting and oxygen transport.

Copper is also known to stimulate the immune system, help repair injured tissues and promote healing. Copper has been shown to help neutralize "free radicals," which can cause severe damage to cells.

Despite all its uses, we only need about .9 mg of copper a day. Crazy right?

Where do I get copper in my diet? Copper-rich foods include grains, nuts and seeds, organ meats such as liver and kidneys, shellfish, dried fruits, legume vegetables like string beans and potatoes, chicken and some unexpected and delightful sources such as cocoa and chocolate.

I don't know about you, but several of those are definitely in my diet.

Okay, next question, what happens if I don't get enough copper in my diet? A deficiency in copper is one factor leading to an increased risk of developing high cholesterol levels and coronary heart disease in humans. Copper deficiencies are also associated with premature births, chronic diarrhea and stomach diseases.

But of course, there are also risks if you consume too much copper too. It can cause nausea but thankfully, it's really hard to hit toxic levels of copper. Just don't go around eating copper wire and you should be fine.

The last fun fact I have for you is that there are clinical trials in effect right now to see if frequently touched surfaces and air ventilation systems in hospitals made out of copper or copper alloys can help stem bacterial infections in hospitals. Copper has some antimicrobial abilities and they are hoping it can stop infections of deadly diseases like MRSA.

Initial studies at the University of Southampton, UK, and tests subsequently performed at ATS-Labs in Eagan, Minnesota, for the EPA show that copper-base alloys containing 65% or more copper are effective against:

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Staphylococcus aureus

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE)

Enterobacter aerogenes

Escherichia coli O157:H7 and

Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Wild stuff, am I right? Who knew copper could be so useful outside of conducting electricity? Hope you enjoyed today's musings. Tune in tomorrow for one last trivia on copper before December is upon us! (I can't believe it's almost December. What happened to November?) Fossilize you later!

[nurgletwh]

Hey all! You’re about to see why this got so delayed when Tumblr ate my post. >.<

Remember how I’ve previously stated “I disappeared because I had issues, but no worries!”?

Yeah.

Not so much this time. Which has only sunk in with retrospect and time. (@grumpyoldsnake is gonna be “I told you so!!!)

It still doesn’t really feel that way, because the human mind is stupendous at deemphasizing how much danger you might really be in/were in.

Some of this might be covering ground I’ve already covered here or elsewhere. However, I think having it all in one place and all sequenced together will not only help me keep things straight but give it all perspective.

With that out of the way, let’s see if I can not only keep this all the fuck straight but remember what ground I need to cover. I’m putting the rest under a cut for a couple of reasons. It’s long, and it may be triggering for some people. Please let me know if I’ve missed a tag I should have added.

October 2023

I went back to the Dr. to get my medications adjusted, as my blood sugar had gone back up. (Side note: I hadn’t been properly and regularly testing my blood sugar. I was exhausted and sleeping what felt like all the time with no energy to do much of anything at all.) For whatever reason, my blood pressure comes back rather shockingly high (164/108!!), not in line with what it’s been at all. I comment that I’ve never seen it that high, and the nurse says to have the doctor check it after I’ve been there a while.

It doesn’t happen because I’m forgetful.

My cholesterol also comes back high, but that’s been creeping up for years, so no shocker there.

Diabetes medications are adjusted, one is added for the cholesterol. By the time I get home, there’s another one for my blood pressure. I shrug and add it to my pile, since my blood pressure had never come down as far as I thought it should in the first place.

November 2023

Back for a follow-up appointment. My sugar levels haven’t changed all that much, and my blood pressure still comes back as pretty damn high, and I make a mental note to test it at home more regularly, because it doesn’t seem right.

Warning: diet talk.

———

We talk about stuff and whatnot, and decide to try Ozempic (as its original purpose was for diabetes) as the next step to get my blood sugar down.

I was aggravated as he goes on about things like how I’ll feel better for losing some weight, and I half-assed express a few concerns because I have disorganized eating habits. I already don’t eat consistently, and I firmly believe my current weight “problems” are due to my disorganized eating patterns (as well as picky eating and just not really wanting to eat in general) in my youth leaving me borderline malnourished. Most of my teen years were spent trying to get me to gain weight. FYI: being significantly underweight for a long time is a great way to have issues with being overweight later.

I go home with a prescription for Ozempic. Fine and dandy, although I’ve been getting the impression he doesn’t really listen all the time.

———

December 2023

Christmas happens, travel happens, fun happens.

January 2024

Cute cat pic, just because. :-)

Next appointment. My blood pressure still reads significantly higher than normal (156/92), and higher than it has been at home, but what with travel and all, I haven’t really been testing it to back up that assertion. The doctor tests it and gets approximately the same result.

I get another prescription for an additional blood pressure medication.

(Can you guess where this one is going?)

I woke up a few days later with a massive headache that wouldn’t go away. I didn’t connect this at the time, but based on what happened next, I think it was.

The day after that I felt a bit dizzy. When I wasn’t feeling much better by lunch, I took my blood pressure and got 94/68. I took it again and got about the same thing, so I had my coworker (who is also a volunteer EMT) test it. He got 100/54. I continued to check it throughout the day, but it wouldn’t stay consistent. I bugged out of work early, finally sending a… well, grouchy message to the doctor (after hours, unfortunately) firmly expressing my frustration that I wasn’t believed when I stated my at-home readings, pointing out I am also an EMT.

My reading was 96/74 when I went to bed.

I felt even shittier the next day. BP was 94/62 that morning; I stayed home from work. The doctor responded to my message when the office opened, discontinuing the most recently added BP med, sanctioning the choice I’d already made. :-P

Unfortunately, my BP continued to plummet throughout the afternoon and evening. I sent a message that evening and asked what to do, continuing my pattern of sending messages after the office closed. 🙄

I took my blood pressure using my automated cuff before going to bed. It errored out twice before I got this:

Lovely, eh?

(The systolic generally reads 8-10 low, but the diastolic is generally bang on.)

I took it manually; 80/54. I send a follow-up message with those readings.

I felt awful the next morning. The act of sitting up made me dizzy. I stumbled out to the living room and called in to work again; I was in no condition to drive. My heart rate was elevated to around 100-110 (it normally runs fast, about 80-90 in the morning).

By late morning, the automatic cuff wouldn’t do anything but error out. I sent another message asking at what point I should go to the ER. I didn’t get a response from the doctor, but did from one of the nurses, who told me that anything under 90 systolic with symptoms qualified.

What. The. FUCK.

I basically decided that if it got worse, I’d go in. I told a friend to check in with me regularly and stayed in my recliner, drinking water and Gatorade to at least get fluid in.

The lowest reading I got on my manual cuff was 78/52. FYI: I should have been in the hospital the day before. This is “almost died” moment number 1. I was a fucking idiot. Denial is deadly.

——

I think this needs split up; I’m gonna post this now and keep writing, because I’m going to hit some sort of character limit sooner or later. O.o

[eddieelliotmunson]

Okay. I should be starting Testosterone gel soon, maybe within the next week if insurance behaves.

I see some people doing 'transition timeline' sort of things, and I'm going to try to do my own but more focused on my neurodivergencies/disabilities and how they interact with the testosterone.

So today I'm going to put down my unique factors, and hopefully keep remembering to write down what happens as I go on T for however long I can actually get it.

I have Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, though that has actually been barely noticeable the last two periods I had. I have (level 1) autism and ADHD, depression and anxiety, possibly OCD, a psychotic disorder that my therapist and psychiatrist are trying to diagnose, DP-DR, and a CDD that they are also trying to diagnose officially. On the physical side, I have fibromyalgia that comes with chronic fatigue, GERD and other GI issues, osteopenia (I don't know if I'll get any data on that, honestly, but its worth mentioning), unfortunately increasing cholesterol, a dysautonomic disorder, chronic joint pain, and sciatic pain. Plus I'm officially obese but I know quite a bit of it is muscle/just how I'm built, and the other part is having to be on antipsychotics that really made me gain weight. (Every time I get my weight checked and tell it to my mom, she's like 'you do NOT look like you weigh that much!') I had migraines on hormonal (estrogen) birth control, but I'm hoping that doesn't come back on T.

In addition, I'm allergic to aluminum and nickel, so I can't use antiperspirant (just alum free deodorant--there are aluminum salts in antiperspirant) or traditional step/heart rate tracker watches (because most of those have nickel in the metal bits). To get around this, I will probably need to up my hygiene game--I shower almost nightly and use deodorant 2 times a day, but that will probably need to increase, especially in summer--and use a step counter without all the fancy trackers that I can clip to my belt or hang around my neck, which is fine with me.

I'm hoping to use this to document how my specific conditions effect my T treatment and overall transition. It's also of note that I have been on T briefly before, but it's been a hell of a long time.

[grits-galraisedinthesouth]

An Unsponsored Review: "The Post taste tests Meghan Markle’s ‘acidic’ As Ever jam, ‘janky’ cookies and ‘bland’ tea" By Hailey Eber Published April 7, 2025

Ever since Meghan “Jam Is My Jam” Markle announced that a berry jam would be one of the first products released under what was then known as her America Riviera Orchard label, the world has eagerly wondered what the groundbreaking pantry goods actually taste like.

Today, The Post can exclusively report that the Duchess of Sussex’s “keepsake” packaged $14 raspberry spread — now branded As Ever, due to trademark issues — has a very familiar flavor.

“It tastes like the same kind of raspberry spread/jam/jelly/preserve that you can buy in any supermarket in the United States,” longtime Post food critic Steve Cuozzo said in an official taste test. “It tastes fine. Raspberry jam always tastes fine. There’s nothing unique about this.”

The Post tried out raspberry spread, peppermint tea and shortbread cookie mix with flower sprinkles from Meghan Markle’s As Ever line. It’s one of nine As Ever products that the duchess launched last Wednesday.

The line, which also include teas, honey, baking mixes and flower sprinkles, sold out in less than an hour and created havoc for those desperate for a taste of Markle’s Montecito — by way of a gritty stretch of Hollywood that is home to the As Ever LCC offices, by way of parts unknown. 🤭

(Meghan, your loyal subjects want to know: Will you be hit by tariffs?)

Wherever it comes from, the sweetness level of the “runny” fruit spread — as it must be called according to FDA guidelines for sugar content — polarized taste testers.

It “has a really high acid profile, making it completely unenjoyable,” griped editor Zachary Kussin. “I like [that] there’s not a lot of sugar, like with a Smucker’s brand,” said commerce reporter Emma Sutton-Williams.

The As Ever Shortbread Cookie Mix with Flower Sprinkles ($14) also garnered mixed reviews: “I’ve tried a lot of shortbread cookie mixes out of a box and I’m always disappointed. I’m not disappointed with these,” said Sutton-Williams, declaring the treats an “A+.” Still, she noted the cookies were time- and labor-intensive — requiring an hour in the fridge and two sticks of butter. (Has anyone checked Prince Harry’s cholesterol levels lately?) Did Meghan consult with Paula Deen? Because these are very butter forward,” said Post senior writer Jeanette Settembre, who baked them.

Kussin, for one, declared the cookie “brittle,” “insipid” and void of flavor:

“It has the consistency of a hockey puck and the flavor of a hockey puck.”

But Cuozzo had some encouraging words, saying, “Meghan, Duchess, you’re in the ball park.” “There was such a big deal made about them that I expected them to be like this pinata coming out of the cookie, and it just looks like a few colorful crumbs,” said a disappointed Fleming.

“Janky,” declared Settembre.

One thing all the taste-testers seemed to agree on was that the herbal peppermint tea ($12) was as bland and beige as the oatmeal-hued Jenni Kayne sweater Markle wears on her show — and promotes on her new ShopMy page. (Noting in small print that she may get a cut of the proceeds, natch.) For columnist Kirsten Fleming, there was one big letdown: the now-infamous flower sprinkles that Markle cheerfully employs on her Netflix show “With Love, Meghan,” perhaps to distract from her abysmal knife skills.

As Ever’s $15 jar of edible dried flowers — which looks uncomfortably close to the potpourri you used to see next to bathroom sinks in the ’90s — was sold out within minutes. But hallelujah, a small packet of the flower sprinkles are included in the cookie mix!

Unfortunately, they were dull and too small to lend any legitimate pop of color. It’s “understated, just like the royal family,” a diplomatic Suttton-Williams said of the hot beverage.

Kussin, a self-described “peppermint tea enthusiast,” called it bland and said it “could be a lot more minty.” He prefers the free Harney & Sons peppermint tea available in The Post offices. “It’s not very strong, the flavor isn’t really there … it’s quite ordinary,” lamented Cuozzo of Markle’s tea. “If all it takes is making a product like this, then I want to be a duchess myself.”

From the Comments:

"Thanks for the reviews!! Doesn't sound like any of these items are worth shelling out alot of money for. There may not be many repeat buyers after either a) people aren't digging the products that much, and /or b) the debacle with the honey not being available, and/or c) most people cannot afford these items even if they thought they were great. And come on....two sticks of butter in the cookies?! Outrageous."

"I don't think anyone had great expectations here,, except Rachel. She was never a noted anglophile; if she had been , she might know bad , when she made it. The much lauded edible flowers are Guinea pig and rabbit food. Big woo. The raspberry spread, according to reviews- makes bread soggy and ineatable. It might work on pancakes, if you like acidic foods. Hip O Krit rachel said in these pages that she and Malleable are independently wealthy, and have no need to work. Now she says the opposite. Which is the truth?"

[girlnamedbug]

so i gotta redo the fasting bloodtest, too dehydrated last time

from what they could get though i need to fix my cholesterol levels

somehow my suger levels were perfectly fine? weird

also i have a lower than average amount of testosterone, which the specialist said "made sense"

[wldflwrwmn]

Two Weeks Now

I've been doing things for the cholesterol reduction now for two weeks. I wish there was a way that I could self test at home, a la diabetes style test, but for blood fat. Million dollar idea there. Anyway.

After I had some time to digest what the nutritionist had been talking about, I realized that things were no where near as terrible as what I thought it was. My risk of heart attack/stroke is less than 5%, my heart is a year younger than my body, my blood sugar is fine, HDL levels are good, other non-HDL and non-LDL blood fats are fine. Literally everything else other than the LDL being a little high is all that's going on.

I can't even begin to describe how relieved I was when I heard those things. But my knowing myself, I knew that I was going to be less careful. In a way with relief comes indulgence, but another part of me is still worried because what if they're wrong.

There's an app I downloaded and paid for called MyNetDiary because it calculates a ton of things for you, and I mean, in for a penny in for a pound at this rate. Why not realize that my vitamin c is also ridiculously low while I'm worried that my heart is going to give out imminently?

I'm only being mildly facetious, this is just how I roll. The awareness that I need to not become completely obsessed is really big. I can obsess very easily over things and it can take months for me to get over being that way. It stops me from from doing a lot of things because I worry about it. The app is helpful, though, I will say that. I've been using it for about two weeks now and I do like the little report that it gives me at the end of the week that outlies the WEEKLY items rather than just DAILY. Daily kind of drives me nuts because I hate seeing any red charts, even orange is upsetting to me.

I'm trying to "win" cholesterol.

On Friday last week I had decided that I'd been doing well with keeping all of my saturated fats below my goals for the week, and basically having no trans fats whatsoever (as was directed and I've actually been quite diligent about adhering to). I decided that I could have a little bit of leeway and ate some less healthful things.

Prior to this I became a little weight obsessed. Okay, a lot weight obsessed. For the majority of my life I weighed 98lbs (I know, basically nothing). Once I hit 39 it started going up, and then it was hanging around 104lbs for a while. Within the last two to three months it seemed to start rising constantly, regardless of what was going on. My heaviest was 113lbs which was really weird for me. I know it's not an unhealthy weight, but I was approaching a 20lbs difference and it kind of made me a little nervous, because nine of those pounds came on really rapidly.

One of the things I noticed right away when I started on a healthful eating journey was that my weight went back down within a couple of days. I truly don't believe that this had anything to do with hormones, time of day, anything like that as I have religiously been keeping track of this. Why look into it? Well, because I like to prepare myself for the worst, I really thought I might have a fast growing tumour, okay? I'm not proud of that thought process at all, but that's where my mind was headed. I was glad when I had my physical and there were no giant, 9lb tumours hanging around in my midsection. It helped me realize that I was probably just getting perimenopausal weight gain. That also sucked, but way less than tumours.

So, I'm eating, taking supplements, vitamins, all that jazz, and actually eating more calories than before (although I should stress that these are healthy fats and calories from nuts and seeds instead of unhealthy from fried foods and dairy), and I'm fully expecting to go up more. I wouldn't say that I'm completely sedentary, but I don't have the most active lifestyle up until this point (desk jockies unite!), but again - making steps. Again, weight went down. There's a point, I promise.

So I decide to have a day where I'm not that careful. Still eat loads more vegetables than I'm used to, but indulge in a venti Starbucks Chai Latte, other snacks, crackers and things like that. Literally overnight my stomach started hurting so badly (thanks IBS) and I gained a solid 4lbs back. Almost immediately.

It really put a lot of things into perspective, honestly. That my eating has way more to do with me than I thought that it ever did. I don't enjoy food the way most other people. I eat because I'm hungry, I like some flavours, but I don't dream about food, I'm never excited to eat something, it's just a means to an end for me. I don't treat it medicinally like I should be. It goes to show me that while I've made strides to mentally focus on one thing at a time and to increase mental mindfulness, I need to extend that into other realms in my life, like food and eating.

I also, really, really don't care for the upset stomachs. I hate it because I don't know if I have to lay down, or just not leave the house. I have had far fewer attacks when I'm more rigid about my food, but there are still a few. I think because I'm, still trying to figure things out.

Toyed with going vegan-ish again, and maybe I will. I felt so good when I was vegan, let me tell you. It was really hard though.

anyway, that's all that, and while this is boring as heck for so many people, I'm enjoying writing things down lately.

[hinari]

The Naru-Ino Plans

The plan------------------>

This year's subject is

"Herbal flower"

                       *The Plan to Greatness*

• Find books on subject 

• Pinpoint flowers that is available to this region /or is only available here

• Poison the waters [no ino we good people] (then find out what her plan is)

• Get support  supplies that we need for said plant 

• FOR THE LOVE OF GOD GET HELP (we are desperate now naruto it's been a week we can't find any flowers) [ you just don't like the ones we found]

• grow the plant

.........

• get help from the others

• spy on the opponent( burn the opponents plant) [ ino for the love of god not yet]

..............

..................

Sakura: so it's been a week then why did you say that "its time" did you finally find a flower that can finally work?

Shikamaru: or did you both decided to just give up and poison the water

Ino: Ye-

Naruto:NO!! - looks at ino judgingly- no i found out what kind of flower she will grow so with the flower she picked with that we can find a better one

Ino still angry she got cut off: and since all of you are here you will all help us

Choji: and why would you even think that we will help

Kiba: yeah i rather trai-

Naru&ino: hahahaha it's funny you think you have a ....choice on this matter

The others: oh dear 

Ino:sooooooooo sakura do you know any herbal flowers~~~?

Sakura: sigh~~ fine let's see what's the flower she uses-[hibiscus]- i see perfect for this weather usually grown just for ornamental purposes but can be eaten straight as a flower or turn into tea that can reduce blood pressure and cholesterol level{ i will source the site i got this from at the description down below}.........mmmmmmmhhhhhhh oh how about honeysickle

Ino: honeysicle huh? Very aromatic use for medicine for centuries can be digest or apply to skin for inflammatory conditions and also very sweet you can use it as a sugar replacement 

Naru: i'll put that at the board to choose from

Hinata: h-how about starflowers? It's a very u-unique and delicate flower it can also be used to treat sore t-throat or cough it was given tonight sister once when she was coughing non-stop

Naruto&ino now beaming in happiness: [thank you for the suggestion hinata i'm sure with how delicate the flower and its uses] (it will probably score a high point if we were able to manage it correctly to bloom pretty flowers)

Choji: hey maybe you can make a tasty treats out of those flowers maybe you can score a point and give me some too!

Shino: i can use my bugs to help pollinate the flowers if you want

Sasuke:....... i know up please where the soil is very fertile you can probably get some there

Ino: in the list of flowers we now have what me and naruto before which is lavender, sunflower, rose, and squash broom now with honeysickle and starflower in the mix we will try to find if we have those seeds or sprouts in stock

Naruto: and if we don't have those with just try to find them in or outside the village and just put them in a pot with that they're already grown we just have to make them live long enough for the competition

Neji: how long do you have anyway?

Naru: technically speaking we have till the third half of spring which is march to may however in between contestant have to go to competition site for the judge to inspect the plant and make sure that the plant is the still the same when you submitted

Ino: well then this is enough planning for the day will meet each other again 4 days so that we can get the plan up and running

Naruto: our road to the trophy and for that spot in the newspaper is closer than ever

[soniabigcheese]

Health Update

Had my first diabetic review at my new gp surgery and everything checked out just fine!

Cholesterol down to 3

Liver function back to normal

I just have to keep a record of my glucose levels for a week and have a phone chat to discuss my medication

So ... apart from my old complaining back and squatter .... I'm doing just great!

[merlions]

Cats, especially females, are supposed to start getting bloodwork for their kidneys and thyroids done when they turn six. Kidney and thyroid disease are extremely common, so similar to getting pap smears and cholesterol levels and other things for humans, it's just good practice to do these tests regularly starting at age six for cats, especially female cats.

So I took my cat into our vet when she turned six, and asked them to do the bloodwork. They refused, saying "we have our own schedule for doing that". Which like, ok, fine. They didn't want to give her preventative flea meds either, which was weird but...I guess I'll trust them, whatever. 👍

But recently she turned eight, and started losing hair. Like literally all of her hair on her stomach and legs. Literally nothing about her daily environment had changed, so I took her back in and asked again for bloodwork to be done. I also mentioned her history of allergies and asked again for preventative flea meds just in case.

They told me it was.....wait for it.........anxiety!! Said her household must have a lot of changes happening in it all the time (it doesn't). Said it couldn't POSSIBLY be anything else. And they wouldn't prescribe the flea meds but INSTEAD prescribed her a medication which tends to make cats really out of it. And which extremely stresses her out for me to force down her throat, increasing her anxiety tenfold at least. And said they wouldn't do any bloodwork until I gave it to her every single day for months.

As if she was a HUMAN. At a HUMAN DOCTOR

Tibby...I feel so much kinship to you and your medical gaslighting struggles. I can't believe that nasty bitch would say that to you. #solidarity

[saintbuffy]

I got my blood work results back and they did a lot!! thankfully, my iron, vitamin D and thyroid levels are all good which are all things I’ve really struggled with in the past. my cholesterol is good except I have slightly high triglyceride levels (don’t Really know what that means but eh) and I have slightly low albumin, and I’m prediabetic which isn’t surprising. so I’m kind of like, relieved to know but also not really surprised, maybe more pleasantly surprised cuz I did Not think my cholesterol or vitamin D would be fine.

[gerinurse]

🙄……

Yesterday I had some bloodwork drawn. I’ve had the requisition for ages and just never found time to go to the lab. I hadn’t had time to go in a review it when one of the clinic doctors called for an appointment I had set up for med refills, and the following conversation ensued….

Him - have you looked at your books work or reviewed with your regular doctor?

Me - I haven’t had a chance

Him - well the good news is that your cholesterol and blood sugars are down substantially so you must be doing something right but I have to ask, are you tired allot?

Me - yep, I could sleep for hours every day and have zero energy.

Him - I’m betting you have coke hands and feet, dizziness, shortness of breath, headaches…are you taking any supplements?

Me - B12, magnesium and vitamin D.

Him - that explains why the numbers look like they do. The B12 would be helping somewhat. You might want to add an iron supplement to that because your iron level is very low.

Me - sitting here stunned smacking my head going “that explains why I feel so shitty all the time” 🤦🏼‍♀️.

My levels were low normal last year when I had blood work done but I increased the amount of dark leafy greens I ate and figured I’d be fine. Apparently that was not enough so off to the health food store I go to find a good supplement. One more thing to add to the ever growing list of issues my body thinks it would be fun to deal with 😞.