u/alamalailman

Met with a GI doctor last week due to seeing blood on the toilet paper after wiping and pain in my lower left abdomen. They recommended a colonoscopy, but apparently the earliest appointment isn't until December. Meanwhile, both of my symptoms worsened over the weekend.

Advice on trying to get it fast-tracked? If they can't move it, is it worth calling around to other providers to see if anyone else could get me in quicker? Though I assume I'd have to have an office visit first to establish myself as a new patient.

I am going into my 7th year teaching middle school, having taught at the same school since I graduated college. Through some different connections, I was recently offered a job outside of education in a field in which I am deeply interested. However, this job wouldn't start until the beginning of 2027.

I want to take it, but also want to leave the door open to return to teaching. I'm confident my admin wouldn't go after my license for leaving, but can't imagine being hired anywhere (that isn't super dysfunctional) after leaving teaching mid-year.

If I hated my job, I wouldn't think twice. However, I teach at a very well-regarded school that is run by supportive and competent administrators.

Has anyone navigated this before? Is it impossible to leave early, even if I notify my admin far in advance, without having a permanent black mark on my record? Has anyone closed the door to teaching in this way and regretted it?

If you've spent any time on the various home improvement subreddits, you'll know that a common piece of advice for dealing with major home (dis)repair issues is to hire a "structural engineer" to come to your house and give their opinion. This could be for foundation issues, renovation plans, figuring out what walls are load bearing, etc.

Unfortunately, I can't seem to find any local structural engineers that focus on residential homes, just civil/commercial firms like Lawson-Fisher.

Any recommendations?

Looking to dehydrate a variety of fruits, veggies, or whatever else for an upcoming backpacking trip. Any ideas on where I can get a disgusting amount of produce for cheap? My default normally is just Aldi/Costco.

I'm not above dumpster diving too (in some instances) if that's your thing too.