u/FlowerSweaty4070

I’m curious if anyone feels your appearance , specifically looking younger than their age, holds you back from anything. Is there anything you wish you could do or do more of? Or have you gotten past it.

I want to make YouTube videos sharing life advice/epiphanies. I recorded a few but I look soo young and I feel like people will be judging it, wondering why this person is giving advice/thinking I haven’t lived through anything. I’m in my late 20s but feel I could look 16-20.

I happen to not drink, but I also feel especially awkward in bars/clubs and looking younger gives more reason to not go. Worried people will think I’m too young to be there.

How about you?

This is kinda a desperate post, but im asking for advice or information on this situation cause I dont know what else to do.

So I got a seasonal job in alaska this summer and due to some circumstances, getting my passport renewed in time to attempt the drive up alone did not happen. This job would start June 1st.

Knowing the passport wasnt likely, I early on planned to leave my truck with my sister in law who was planning to move to Salt Lake city mid may for a temporary job. I got my ticket leaving from there.

This past week I find out she is not taking the job and moving there so I am trying to figure out what to do now.

I see these lots for rent on neighbor app, all over town for like 20 to 30 a month. But is it suspicious/not safe to leave a truck at one for several months? It looks unshaded/open. I have heard pack rats are bad here and i am worried wherever I leave it, they could be a problem. Also the heat and potential to get stolen in this area, and the fact no one's really watching out for it. I am not sure if those are a safe gamble.

I dont have many friends or connections in tucson. This feels like such a huge burden to ask someone, even though I would pay. I can ask 1 more person but I am not sure if they'll accept.

What can I do? Is there a way to find someone trusted to "truck sit" for 3 and a half months? Are those lots safe choices? Ive never had this situation before so any advice appreciated.

My coworker's son apparently tested positive for covid. The coworker isn't here today and is testing (not sure which one/how accurate). I am hoping he gets an accurate test or has symptoms so he stays home....but I can tell it won't be long enough to make sure the virus can't transfer.

I haven't been masking at this workplace because there's only 3-4 people, I am outside a lot and alone a lot so I felt okay with that risk. But I have POTS and have seriously been messed up by prior covid infections (my last one gave me vasovagal syncope and i've passed out 6 times this year). Im also recovering from a bad concussion/whiplash injury, AND I am moving to a new state next week for a new job and I need to be as well as I can (already struggling). I also don't have health insurance right now.

So I can't take chance of ANY risk of covid/viral infections. I would rather wear a mask and get comments/weird looks or have people think I'm paranoid than risk my health right now at this fragile time.

I have 6 workdays left excluding today. I can guarantee this coworker will be here next week...he might take 2 days off MAX unless for he's hit hard with symptoms.

Would you mask all the days left if it turns out he's positive? And would you mask even if he says it was negative (is there a chance its false/virus isn't active yet to test?) It is gonna be weird to mask next week cause no one believes covid is more than a cold, but I know it is.

Also i am certain my other few coworkers/boss won't touch a mask or take precautions around this guy if he comes back. So should i act as if they are ALL infected?

Sucks having to deal with an extra stress at this time :( My boss at least knows i have POTS so would understand if i am extra cautious. Coworkers dont know but i would tell them, i dont care now.

Curious how you all approach this. I dont have an official diagnosis in paper anymore so getting it protected as a disability isnt an option, which may affect advice.

Would you hide your health issues from a new employer (given you are able to work) and just play down symptoms, or would you tell them somehow so theyre prepared if something were to happen?

I had a concussion at work a month ago too that I am still affected by and thats all in paper , so i could actually mention that if i am seen or noticed struggling (and that covers/explains all symptoms, it did in fact worsen my Pots).

Just seeing if anyone relates.

I already am fairly lonely with no family or friends nearby. I make do at work and have been pushing myself to work since week 1.

At week 4 now and struggling with a lot of symptoms. I tried everything. Havent been able to get professional help yet and I may never be able to so just doing what I can.

Its hard. I feel so alone. I want to be good enough to do my hobbies and feel like myself and feel okay. But all I can do is scroll...ive been online WAY more to cope mentally and cause dont have energy for much else. And its made me feel worse but I desperately need some escape that is very low energy.

Just struggling feeling alone with ongoing symptoms and zero support.

Been struggling lately. I try to do my best to do some activities at home. But i got a concussion 4 weeks ago on top of chronkc health concussions and live alone with no friends or family. My vehicle hasnt worked either on top of that.

I guess the loneliness doesnt feel as bad during the work week. I talk to my boss and some small talk, and random people around. I have things to do. Then when I get home I rest and chill.

But weekends and nights it hits me how lonely I am. I start missing my ex even though its almost 2 years since breakup. I want to do hobbies but my physical health has struggled since the concussion. The major fatigue makes its hard to do anything besides scroll...which makes me feel scattered and worse.

Im gonna get a place with random, never met before, housemates. Ive had my fair share of bad roommate situations and the conflict is absolutely exhausting.

What would you do, talk about, get clear on when you meet new roommates to AVOID all these issues down the line?

Are there things that if you knew right away, would tell you that you need to switch roommates? I would way rather switch as soon as possible than have months of conflict and issues over some fundamental incompatibility (i personally cannot live with an ocd condescending control freak for example).

I just want my next housing situation to go smoother and want to avoid major conflicts and shitty situations.

I am definitely feeling the financial strain from the recession, gas prices, etc. and it seems that things are only going to get worse.

I already live pretty cheap and made cuts, yet buying my necessities feels like overspending cause of inflation.

I am wondering…how are we all surviving or planning to survive this? Because a lot of advice or comments from non POTS people say things like to start fasting, eat one meal a day, eat super cheap stuff, etc. But with POTS I HAVE to eat 3 meals and snacks on time or my BP is affected, get lightheaded, migraine, etc. I am also super carb sensitive and can’t just eat cheap pasta, rice, noodles unless it’s majority protein. My groceries are higher by default due to these health things.

I wish I could just eat cheap stuff or eat less often and feel fine but I can’t.

And then add in costs of electrolytes, salt tabs, medication, medical visits, etc.

How are we all doing and feeling financially? It’s already so bad and I am worried about it getting worse.

I feel so utterly discouraged and am spiraling over this.

I did my best to recover. A 35lb metal object hit me in the head directly from above 4 weeks ago. I did go back to work week 1. CT clear. Took it easy but still did light cardio for circulation. Took supplements, my diet is good.

My neck starting getting super bad at week 3. So painful I couldn't turn my head and it would make me dizzy and sick feeling.

Week 4 and im still struggling with dizziness when I stand. Nausea so bad I cant eat. Daily left brain sickening headache. Neck tension and achey pain. Vertigo and spinning feeling. Lightheaded. Brain fog. Eye issues. Ears feeling like im under water and on an airplane. ​Saw insane vivid colored static floaters for the first time in my life yesterday.

I dont know what to do and what im doing wrong. I was hit pretty good but no passing out or vomiting.

I cant go to PT cause my vehicle had major issues and cant drive. Also Im dealing with workers comp shit so its gonna be a headache to get it covered when I do (I dont have insurance otherwise).

Im moving out of state soon to start a new job and im extremely discouraged and freaked out about my lack of recovery and lingering symptoms. Im feeling extremely depressed over it. I have no in person friends and family and no one to talk to. I am struggling and feel like my body is falling apart and I feel helpless.

So the only person in my life who I had some kind of close connection with, who is in another country, has been so busy they havent messaged or answered my messages in weeks (despite being active online several times a day).

It isnt the first time and I genuinely get they are super busy with some projects happening. They also have a LOT of friends in person. They told me they get messages from like 50 people a DAY and they have housemates who are friends and constantly going out with people or many people and go to clubs and bars.

I guess I start to get insecure and in my head about this. The fact I live daily life completely alone except work My car hasnt worked and I havent needed to drive anywhere in a month. I get grocery delivered and walk to work and thats it. Super solitary life. No family nearby. I call my mom sometimes...but besides her and my bro occasionally , I dont talk to or get messages from anyone. I guess it feels weird being "friends" with someone who has a COMPLETELY different social life than me and disappears a lot. Its hard not to feel like a loner loser sometimes and wonder why connection is so hard for me in comparison. And I want to disappear...cause it wouldnt matter...this friend has 50 plus friends IN PErson so me disappearing would make no difference. Its clearly easy for them to not message me in weeks when busy.

I dont know if im in my head and letting insecurities talk. Its just really hard for me to reconnect after a friend suddenly disappears too. I know THEY have been busy and have a daily fulfilling social life so they feel they can pick it up back with me like no time passed.

but I havent talked to ANYONE since them and their absence is very loud and noticeable in my life. I also have cpstd from an abusive highly volatile parent relationship, so inconsistency in people is triggering. But I dont want to push them away further by asking something of them and making a big deal over something.

I dont know. Open to any thoughts on the situation or similar experience.

So a 35lb aluminum scaffolding piece fell directly on my head at work 3 weeks ago, no hardhat. I got an instant concussion and really rough symptoms. No bleeds or broken bones. Doctors/ER said to follow normal protocol since it was recent and hopefully will resolve by itself in 2 weeks.

2 weeks post, I developed really bad neck pain. It causes headaches on that side, my inner ear feels pressure like an airplane, can barely turn my head left. No amount of massage, heat, or stretches has touched it.

So i emailed my employer saying I want to be seen by a specialist for it. He said i need a referral first from the places I visited. I called them and neither place does referrals (urgent care and ER). Told him.

He basically said I should be seen by tbe same place again. Then asserted he isnt sure my neck pain will be attributed to my accident/concussion, since there are no notes about neck pain on file. Also said "since its been three weeks". ​

Then he even doubled down and said based on my CT it doesnt seem a specialist is the doctor's recommended course of action.

Which is all BS. He has no idea what symptoms I have and when they developed. And yeah, of course the dr doesnt recommend a specialist right away. But 3+ weeks post still having symptoms or worsened ones...then yeah she verbally told me to be seen again/follow up.

And its super common for some injuries to not be apparent asap post head injury. He has no right to assert that my recent new neck pain post getting hit in the head isnt related to my injury.

What should I do? Waste time going to urgent care who cant even refer me to anyone and hope workers comp covers it? Or find a cheap primary who will refer me? (I dont have insurance of my own).

And is it normal for employers to dissuade you from being seen again​??

I stupidly got a cacti thorn lodged deep in the underside of my 4th little toe where its striking some nerve or vessel. I had 5 other thorns in my foot that I pulled out after soaking in warm water for 40 minutes. But this one in the toe does not budge and causes super bad nerve pain in the entire toe when I yank or even touch it, unlike the others. I tried two hard yanks after soaking twice and it was super painful and didnt budge at all.

Its a thicker/sturdy wooden thorn that seems to be angled or even hooked. I dont know what to do now and I have work soon.

I dont have insurance and am wondering if the urgent care is worth it, like what more can they do besides yank it out forcefully like ive been trying? (Despite the nerve pain) Or is there another way to make it come out less painfully at home??

Or if i were to cut it shorter (its way too long right now) and leave it and just limp around for a while and do more warm water soaks, would the body eventually push it out itself? Or could this cause infection? I literally cant yank it again with the same method, it was too painful and ive had multiple surgeries and chronic pain so im not a wimp with pain.

I feel so stupid for having this happen but I am desperate and appreciate any advice.

Anyone else have mostly head related symptoms (dizziness, brain fog, fatigue, cognitive issues, etc) at first and then suddenly develop really bad neck pain on week 2 or so??

i developed tension on one side of my neck. I was hit head on, no hardhat, with a 35lb aluminum scaffolding piece and felt the shockwave travel down my neck. CT (including neck) was fine. But now the tension has worsened and its a constant pain like someones dug a fist into my neck and left it there. I can't turn my head left anymore without sickly pain.

I had prior tmj issues before this accident (worse on one side cause my teeth only touch on one side), and those are worsened now. Have inner ear nerve pain, popping/pressure, constant acheing jaw and muscles around my face. On top of the neck pain.

Anyone have similar issues and what did you do to help them? what specialist did you see (And did you need a referral?)??

Thanks for the help!!