u/Revolutionary_Oil614

Switched rheumatologists and have to get re-diagnosed. Pos SSA and various other antibodies. Sicca symptoms triggered by a viral infection. My eyes are always bloodshot and I go through a 10ml bottle of eye drops in about 5 days. Dry mouth but not as bad as my eyes. Crazy dry skin. However, my eyes still produce tears when irritated. First schirmer came back normal, but the nurse mistakenly told me it was okay to do it 10 min after using eye drops. So I have to repeat it, and since shoving cardboard in my eyes is irritating this one will be normal too. Then I have a salivary gland ultrasound.

I don't really care if he diagnoses me with Sjogren’s or not- it's secondary to "probably lupus" anyway and it's not like he can't still treat the symptoms.

I'm just cranky I had to get up early and get tortured.

Who else is cranky today? Tell me why and keep me entertained while I wait!

Salam!

I am a non-Muslim who has to cover her head for medical and comfort purposes. I have a disease that causes me to lose my hair and my skin is very sensitive to the sun. Wigs are very uncomfortable and impractical, hats blow off when I ride my bike and don't cover my neck.

The most comfortable option for me is a jersey hijab with attached scarf that I wear behind my ears (easier with glasses) with the scarf portion loosely wrapped around my neck covering any space around the neckline but not secured tight under my chin.

My question is about how to politely move about the world wearing this sort of thing. I do not want to represent myself as Muslim or discredit Islam with my behavior. I do not follow any halal rules. Well, I suppose I follow some because I consider them basic morality, but again, not observant at all.

Are there visual cues that I can incorporate that say "hey, I just want to stay out of the sun"? Are there any styles I should avoid because they have particular significance? Since I have to be covered head to toe pretty much any time the sun is out, I will not be pairing a headcovering with revealing clothing. If my head is covered, so is everything else. My day-to-day look is a long-sleeved shirt, black trousers, and sneakers.

Finally- how do you keep everything in place? I still have some hair of my own but not a lot to clip into. I find my headcovering tends to slip back.

Thank you so much for your input. I hope you take this post in the spirit it is meant. I have no problem being mistaken for a Muslim. Islam is a way of life that I admire, although it is not my path. I simply want to respect all my sisters and brothers while staying comfy and not getting a sunburn on my scalp!

Yes, I know I screwed up.

I did not realize I had to activate my Tello eSIM while physically in the US. So I got here, had Verizon release my number to Tello, who has it ported in. I do not plan to return to the US.

How do I get a SIM and texting plan that I can port my US number to from here?

My neighbor down the street just installed an anti-vermin sound device. It is motion activated and emits a sound that is not supposed to be detectable to humans. Unfortunately, I am apparently not one of those humans. To me, it is a very intrusive loud painful noise. It has a similar impact on me as a sudden fire alarm in a building- immediate urgent need to deal with the noise. This is very much a "me" thing in that others walking with me either can not hear it or only recognize it if their attention is drawn to it, so it is not an obvious nuisance to everyone. They live on the street that I walk down daily. I could probably cross the street every time I pass which would avoid me triggering the device, but I would still hear it if someone else walked by while I was within 100m or so.

Would it be appropriate to leave a note saying (in Dutch) "Hey, I noticed you are using this device and you may not realize it but it is very disturbing to me and possibly others who can hear the sound that people are not supposed to be able to hear. I understand the need to use humane solutions to reduce pests in your garden. If possible, I would appreciate if you could direct the device so that the motion sensor is not triggered by people walking on the sidewalk." Or would that be seen as rude or passive-aggressive? I don't know them personally and I think knocking on their door to address things would be intrusive. But I am not Dutch. How do I be direct and also respectful and also preferably not get punched in the earballs every time I walk into town?