Wonder Women

Issue Fifty
Written by u/VoidKiller826
Edited by u/Predaplant
Arc: Revelations
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Greetings, people of Gateway City. This is your new peacekeeper speaking. You might know me as the White Magician, a rather crude name, but I will accept it considering Man’s World's lack of creativity. However, you may also call me Circe, and I am here with an important message that your news station will deliver for all to hear.
SCYTHE is no more: their HQ is under my and the Red Centipedes’ command. The Commander and his soldiers are dead and buried, as you all wished to happen. I was more than happy to oblige you if it meant depriving your stupid President of her next chance for reelection. Any survivors of the prison break are being hunted down by the people they locked in cages, who are more than happy to round them up as they once had been themselves.
But none of that’s important, for this recording is only to be heard by one person: Olympos, Wonder Girl, or whatever the fuck new title name you want to be called. This message is for you: You are to surrender yourself to me here in SCYTHE HQ in the next five hours, and in turn, I will not destroy this piss-end of a city. If you fail, I promise you, I will make Coast City look like a picnic by the time I finish with Gateway.
That cow you call Wonder Woman is dead, and I will make sure everyone else will follow her if you don’t comply with my request.
Your mentor learned a valuable lesson when she tested my patience.
*************************************************************
Spears Apartment - Gateway City:
[...President Cale has announced the complete closure of all access to Gateway City following the prison break that occurred in SCYTHE’s holding facility hours ago,] said Cassandra Arnold from GateNews, the city’s main news station. [We still have an unconfirmed number of escapees following the message sent by the White Magician, but the President has assured GateNews a solution will be found.]
Vanessa Kapatelis watched the TV in dismay. Pacing back and forth in the Spears duplex apartment, she had the TV on to pass the time while Ares worked on helping Helena and Cassandra upstairs.
“Here,” Vanessa turned away from the TV to see Tanya Spears handing her a bottle of water. “Something for you to drink.”
“Thank you,” Vanessa accepted the bottle. “I would prefer a beer, but this will make do.”
“My mom has her wine collection in a locked cabinet,” Tanya noted, pointing at the kitchen. “She doesn’t know that I know that, but I can get you a bottle?”
Vanessa chuckled. “Thanks, but I don’t want a girl your age to be walking around with alcohol or to get you in trouble with your mom.” She twisted the bottle cap and slowly drank. “I needed that… it feels like I’ve been dry for months.”
“It’s actually been 3 hours,” Tanya said, sitting on the sofa and opening her tablet to look over the internet. “I hope what she said wasn’t true… about Wonder Woman not being around…”
Taking a seat by her side, Vanessa saw that Tanya was reading through the report on what happened to SCYTHE. The escaped convicts had taken control of the SCYTHE headquarters and equipment after killing many of the agents that had stood in their way.
Seeing the photo of SCYTHE HQ burning angered her. That place should represent the absolute shield of Gateway. Now, it had come under the control of the convicts that they were supposed to stop because of Aeeta Branwen. A name that had made her happy now belonged to a stranger who had lied to her all this time.
Memories of their most intimate moments came flooding back: their first conversation, their first date, their kiss, and the morning after their date in her apartment. It was a moment when she thought she could finally stop grieving and move on from what happened to Coast City. And now, that had been disintegrated into oblivion.
In anger, she crushed the bottle with her hand, spraying water all over the table and the floor.
“Shit!” Vanessa stood up, finally realizing her mistake. “I am sorry!”
“Oh, it's fine!” Tanya ran to the kitchen to grab some paper towels. “It’s just water.”
“I know it’s just…” Taking the paper towel, the two began wiping the floor and the table. “I have a lot on my mind.”
“I’ll bet with everything that happened,” said Tanya, giving Vanessa a supportive smile. “Your friends are getting hurt, and you can’t do anything but watch. It would piss anyone off. I know it did with me when the RedCent guys invaded EE Tower.”
“Yeah…” Vanessa sat back on the sofa. “But this… I not only possibly lost many friends, but I was betrayed by someone I loved, someone who I thought was the one for me…” she said, distraught, as tears ran down her face.
Tanya, without saying anything more, hugged Vanessa closely. Despite them knowing each other for only a few hours, Tanya knew that Vanessa was in pain. Watching her loved ones being hurt by someone that she trusted must have been a hard truth to accept.
The doors upstairs opening and closing caught the two’s attention. Looking up, they saw Somya Spears descending, looking exhausted, like she had gone ten rounds in the ring. As she reached the ground floor, Tanya ran up to her mother, hugged her close, and guided her to the nearest chair to rest.
“Is everything alright, mom?” Tanya asked, worried.
“Yeah… just felt that I might take that long overdue vacation…” Somya answered, leaning against the soft chair with a tired sigh. “Maybe we’ll go to Paris like you wanted, Tanya…”
More steps followed, and Ares, or Mars as he insisted to be called, followed Somya, pulling his folded-up sleeves back. Unlike Somya, he didn’t seem any different from when he went upstairs to help the Sandsmarks, but the few strands of hair on his face told a different story.
“How are they?” Vanessa asked, walking up to the former God of War. “Are they ok?”
Ares turned to Vanessa. “The girl has a lot of heart, far too stubborn to let a beating keep her down.” He said with praise, impressed with the former Wonder Girl’s willpower. “Her Sumerian blood will help her heal in only a few days, but it won’t help her mental wounds after I told her the news about her mother.”
Vanessa had a lot of questions about what he had said, especially the word Sumerian; perhaps Cassie was not simply half-Olympian. However, she focused on the most important detail in his explanation. “What happened with Helena?” She asked in a worried tone. “Is she-”
“She is alive,” Ares said, but his expression shifted, frowning, making her nervous. “Physically, she will recover, she has only a few cuts and bruises. Even a human like her can heal those.”
“But?”
“But it's the spell Circe struck her with. It is unlike anything I’ve seen because it is of her creation,” Ares explained, and Vanessa ground her teeth together when she heard the name belonging to the stranger who hurt her and her loved ones. “Whatever she used, it is affecting her very soul, slowly killing her.”
“Like a virus?” Vanessa asked, and Ares nodded. “Magic can do that?”
“It does,” Ares answered. “Magic can create a nuclear bomb if the user has the patience for it. And Circe is a master at it, one of the very best and most gifted witches on the planet, so making something like this would be as easy as making a cake for her.”
Magic had never been SCYTHE’s priority, but the Commander still made them study anything related to the subject in case they had to face it. Vanessa had never expected to see it at this scale.
“Can you break it?” Vanessa asked. “Find a way to break the curse from Helena’s soul?”
Ares took a deep breath, pocketing his hands. “It’s too complex to break. I will admit Magic is not my strongest suit, but even if you bring in someone knowledgeable, it would be a while for them to break her creation,” he explained. “You need someone at her level of knowledge when it comes to magic, and I am not the best person to face her in that department.”
“Then we call for a specialist, anyone, really,” Vanessa said in desperation. “If this is like a virus, a curse, then we bring a surgeon to cut it out! Maybe Cassie can use her Justice Legion connection, or maybe you can call someone for a favor.”
Vanessa's desperation was clear. She was willing to call for the Justice Legion, the very people she swore to go against for their vigilantism, if it meant saving Helena Sandsmark, her promise be damned.
“The spell is growing far too rapidly. By the time you find someone, it will be far too late,” Ares said solemnly. “The only person in the world who can break the spell without any problem or fear of failsafe is Hecate, the Goddess of Magic. She was Circe’s mentor, and she taught her everything she could about magic. No matter how complex it is, Hecate would understand it.”
“She can help us?”
Ares shook his head. “No, she has no interest in helping the world unless it is connected to her directly, and even then, dealing with her is the worst-case scenario because there is a chance she’ll side with Circe before she even thinks of helping us.”
“So what now?” Vanessa asked, sounding defeated. “Just let Helena die? Let Cassie suffer? Let Circe win?!” she shouted angrily, finally addressing Circe by name. All of this explanation from Ares told her one thing: that the Witch had them beat, and they couldn’t do anything about it.
Ares didn’t react to her outburst, while the Spears looked worried. Tanya, for her part, tried to walk up to calm Vanessa, but the War God raised his hand to stop her, shaking his head and giving her the silent sign to let Vanessa be.
“There is one way: it will be quicker if we act fast enough, but it would take everything from all of us for it to happen,” Ares said, beginning his explanation. “There is a chain link connecting the spell, from the spell caster to Circe. This means it can be broken if we force Circe to release the chain connecting her to Helena…” he explained, letting his words be understood by the occupants in the room before finishing with one last note. “Killing Circe would also break the binding if she didn’t leave any contingencies.”
Vanessa gritted her teeth. “So we have to make her break the spell, and hopefully she doesn’t screw us over… or we kill her, and hopefully she still doesn’t screw us over even in death?” she asked, and Ares nodded. “What kind of person is willing to put in all that work? Just for revenge? On Diana, who is long gone?”
Ares shrugged and turned to the Spears, his gaze focused on Tanya, his daughter. Someone whom he never thought he would meet again was facing him, without knowledge of their blood relations.
“Possibly,” Ares answered, taking a step back. “But if there is one thing I know for sure, Circe does not put these kinds of bindings without any reason. Whatever that reason is involves Cassandra Sandsmark and whether she will choose to make Circe break the spell or kill her, tainting her forever.”
Silence came to the room, letting Ares’s words sink in for all occupants, which might have been the same words he said to the Sandsmarks.
*************************************************************
The room of Somya Spears was quiet, with the only sound being the breathing of Helena Sandsmark lying on the bed sleeping. The room was spacious, with an expensive queen-sized bed as expected from an interim CEO of one the largest companies in the world.
Seated a few feet away on a chair was Cassandra Sandsmark, dressed in fresh clothes given to her by Somya after throwing off the bloody tattered ones she had arrived in. Watching her mother closely, Cassandra’s mind was racing, especially after what Ares told her about the curse Circe placed on her mother, slowly destroying her soul bit by bit until she was nothing but a husk.
“Dammit!” In anger at their situation, she crushed the armchair, tearing its arm off like it was made of paper. If she was stronger, faster, and had the heart for it, she would have stopped the Witch, stopped her from hurting her city, the people of SCYTHE, and those caught in the crossfire, stopped her from hurting her mother…
She buried her face into her hands, tears running down her eyes as she despaired. Everything she worked on after Coast City evaporated was ground up under a very powerful enemy out for revenge.
Considering Circe’s ultimatum, her city could well be gone by the time this was over.
“Artemis… please be safe…” she whispered. She had nearly had a panic attack when she heard the news of the Amazon heading to SCYTHE HQ to stop the prison break, and then… nothing. No matter how many times she dialed her phone, there was no one answering, and she feared for the worst.
She heard her mother coughing, and Cassandra was quickly by her side. “Mom!” she called for her, holding her hand.
“Cassandra?...” Her mother said her name weakly. Her skin was becoming paler, a clear sign that the curse spell was working. “Are you… ok?”
“I’m fine, Mom,” Cassandra answered, covering the bandages hidden inside her clothes. “We’re safe. You’re safe.” she said, tightening both her hands around her mothers.
“Did you… break something?” She asked, looking at the chair behind her. “You shouldn’t be… doing that… we are guests…”
Cassandra laughed, her tears falling away. “Sorry… it’s just… it’s been a hell of a week…”
Helena touched her daughter’s cheek, noticing the bandage on it. “You’re… hurt…”
“It’s alright, Mom. Just a few bruises,” Cassandra assured. “You shouldn’t worry, you know I can take it…”
“I am your… mother, Cassandra,” Helena said, facing her daughter. “Demi-God or not… I will always be worried… scared for my little girl.”
Cassandra’s tears came back. Seeing her mother remain strong despite everything made her happy, and she was terrified of losing her.
“So… my soul is cursed?” Helena asked.
“You heard all that?”
“Can’t not… with all the swearing…” Helena noted, giving her daughter a small smile. “You shouldn’t swear at people, Cassandra, especially those who are trying to help.”
“I know, I know,” Cassandra said. She had gone off on Ares after he explained what happened to her mother, and she might have overreacted when she put all her anger on the former War God. “It’s just… I don’t want to lose you… not while we can fix this.”
Helena sat up on her bed, fully facing her daughter. “Which is why… I don’t want you to make the wrong choice.”
“I won’t,” Cassandra said with a low tone. “I will make Circe free you from this curse-”
“No, Cassandra,” Helena grabbed both of Cassandra’s hands with hers. “That is not what I meant…”
Cassandra raised her brows, confused. “Mom?”
“I heard everything… from Circe’s spell… how it works… and how it can be broken…” Helena said, shocking Cassandra. “I know you already decided what you feel you have to do.”
Cassandra didn’t answer, avoiding her mother’s disapproving gaze accusing her. Ares said the quickest way to break the binding and the spell was either by forcing Circe to break it herself or by killing her, severing the connection.
But if what Circe said was true, that Diana decided to kill her instead of making her surrender like everyone else who faced her, that means there was no chance the Witch would submit willingly. She would rather die than give the satisfaction of admitting defeat.
Which left only one solution where she could save her mother.
Helena sighed, knowing what decision her daughter might have made. She held her hand tightly and changed the subject. “I have to tell you something…”
“No, mom. You’re not giving me the ‘Dying Speech’, not while there is a chance we can save you-”
“It’s about your father,” Helena cut her off, shutting Cassandra up. “Your real father…”
Cassandra remembered Circe calling her Daughter of Enlil, not Zeus. Ares said he was a friend of her father, which confused her because Ares hated Zeus, so it wouldn’t make sense that he would help out even if they were his siblings.
“Enlil…” Cassandra said the name aloud, and Helena’s eyes widened, her breath hitching when she heard the name. “Circe… she called me Daughter of Enlil… Child of the Sky...”
Helena took a deep breath, bringing her daughter closer. “Yes… that is true…” she began. “You are not Zeus’s daughter, Cassandra, nor you are an Olympian in any way… but you are in fact… Sumerian… Mesopotamian,” The elder Sandsmark brought her youngest closer and spoke carefully, as if worried that someone might hear them. “Your father is Enlil, the Sumerian God of Wind… and he was the kindest man I have ever known…”
From then on, Helena explained Cassandra’s origins as carefully as possible, pushing on even while the spell affected her. She explained how she met Enlil, a man with golden hair similar to Cassandra’s, who introduced himself as an expert in Mesopotamian history during an expedition in Iraq. They had become rivals at first due to their clashing personalities, but how that developed into respect, to eventually falling in love after a very lengthy adventure that sounded like the plot of The Mummy.
And that love resulted in Cassandra’s birth. He helped raise her with Helena for the first year and a half before he disappeared because he had Olympian enemies and had to leave them to keep them safe.
While she explained all this, Cassandra’s mind went to another piece of critical information. Her father’s true identity had never been the most important thing for her. But what made it important was what Circe told her about Diana’s true reason for coming to Gateway City. It wasn’t just settling in a ‘piss-end of a city’ the more she taught about it, the more she realized the terrifying truth behind her mentor’s reasoning for coming to the city.
Diana was sent to find Cassandra, a Sumerian Demi-God, the Olympians greatest enemy since the Titans, and eliminate her. The prophecy of the Godkiller that they had feared might have come from Cassandra, but all it did was start a long, personal, and bloody war between two women because of the gods' demands for blood.
And now, she, Artemis, and Gateway City suffered the consequences. Even after Diana’s death, Circe would not let her hatred for what had happened to her go, and if it meant destroying her mentor’s legacy, she would do it.
‘Diana…’ Cassandra thought in sadness.
*************************************************************
SCYTHE Sub Base - Industrial District:
“I am not sure how you were able to do it, but you somehow found an ever more depressing place than that HQ of yours. It makes the cell you put us in look like a five-star hotel room,” said one Pamela Isley, formerly Poison Ivy, seated in the middle of a large room behind a large table. Around her were what was left of the SCYTHE agents they had saved during the escape, all working to get the makeshift base they had hidden up and running.
Alexei Abramovici, the Bloodcrow of SCYTHE, glared at the former supervillain, not happy with her comment. He turned to one of his men and began barking orders, “You! Get the goddamn Black Room working! We are running blind here!”
‘Worker drones even without their Commander.’ Pamela looked on unimpressed at the agents. She had never been that sympathetic to the plight of cops getting killed, especially militarized ones. The once mighty and feared peacekeepers of Gateway, who went to war against all the crime syndicates and the Red Centipedes, were now a mere little squad that won’t be able to protect a mini-mart, let alone every escaped convict under the command of the White Magician.
“Man… the signal here sucks!” complained Miguel Barragan by her side, raising his phone and trying to catch any kind of signal. “Could barely talk to my boyfriend when I called him, and can’t connect to the internet,” he complained. He tried once again to call but he couldn’t find a signal. “Useless brick…”
“We are underground in a bunker previously owned by Neo-Nazis, Barragan,” Pamela noted. From what she had heard, this used to be an old RedCent hideout that SCYTHE took over after the war, using it as a smaller base in case of emergency. “Not receiving any signal is part of the appeal of the place.”
“Bunker, huh…” Miguel chuckled. The name Bunker reminded him of the super name that he picked out; the more time passed, the more convinced he was that it was the right one.
Pamela gave a confused look at his expression and shrugged it off. Turning to her right, she saw the silent Emily Sung staring off into the distance. Unlike Barragan, Emily had other matters on her mind. Whatever she sensed or saw back at SCYTHE HQ freaked her out, like seeing something she shouldn’t.
Just as Pamela was about to ask her how she was feeling, a knock on the large blast doors echoed around the base, loud enough for all to hear. Quickly, everyone felt tense, and the SCYTHE agents covered the door as Alexei signaled them to aim their weapons. After the news of the escaped convicts taking control of SCYTHE HQ and their equipment and weaponry, the agents knew that they were being haunted now by the convicts looking for revenge, so they were not taking any chances.
“Would you mind opening the door!” A familiar voice said behind the door, a voice Pamela recognized right away. “I have a bloody Amazon here, and I would like her off my fur!”
“Barbara?” Pamela realized.
“Minerva? As in the Cheetah?” Alexei asked, eyes narrowed with suspicion. “She could be working with them, with the White Magician.”
“She isn’t,” Pamela answered, glaring at the SCYTHE soldier for the accusation. “She would never ally with the psychos you had under lock and key.”
Alexei scoffed. “That woman got a cemetery filled with people who say otherwise, and she hurt the mother of someone I know.”
Before the two could argue, Miguel stood up and decided to take action. He extended his hand, forming a large arm construct from it, and grabbed the handle of the blast door. With one pull, he opened it wide. Barbara entered. Her feline form made some of the SCYTHE agents tense, and weapons were still trained on her.
“Quite the welcoming committee…” she noted in sarcasm. “Now, would you be dears and get this woman some help?” She adjusted the unconscious and bloody Artemis on her back. Her blood covered Barbara’s fur.
“Medic!” Alexei called for an agent nearby before turning to Miguel. “And you, don’t use your freaky powers until I order you to do so.”
“Sorry tin man, I don’t speak fascist,” Miguel responded with a smirk, and Alexei glared at him.
The medic quickly came to Barbara and guided her to a nearby makeshift hospital room, which had a bed and various equipment to help the SCYTHE wounded. Barbara went in haste, and gently, with the help of the medic, they placed the injured Amazon on the bed, her blood soaking the white sheets red.
“How the hell did you even find us?” Alexei asked as he and the others entered. “I made sure I covered all our steps.”
“You did,” Barbara noted, stepping back to let the medic check on Artemis. She turned to Alexei and pointed at her nose. “But one of you has a very special pheromone that I can smell for miles,” she said with a smile as she turned her gaze to Pamela. “Still with those rose scents around you.”
The redhead smiled. “Maybe it’s that mark you left on me.”
“More than you think, Pammy.”
“Christ…” the medic gasped, catching everyone’s attention. “How is she still alive? And how long has she been like this?” He asked, examining the injured Amazon.
Her armor was wholly wrecked, beyond repair. Her headpiece was half broken, and the gauntlets and braces on her arms and legs were dented and unusable. Her injuries were severe: open wounds, slash marks, and burn marks were all over her body, and judging from blows on her armor, she might have had a few broken bones as well.
“Didn’t bother to look at the time with some of the grunts that were sent after us,” Barbara answered, leaning on a nearby chair as fatigue finally set in for her. “But these Amazons are too stubborn to die, and I know that from experience…”
The number of times Barbara thought she had beaten Diana only for the Amazon to get back up and beat her back was many, and it frustrated the woman to no end, but now she couldn’t help but be in awe at the resilience of these warriors.
“Her Amazon gifts will heal her,” Barbara noted. “But I am not sure how long it will take…”
“I doubt it will take more than a few days at least…” the medic noted, bringing out some bandages and wrapping them around her arms. “She will need a miracle to even walk out of here on her own two feet.”
“Uhmm…” Everyone in the room turned to Emily Sung, who stood by the doorway. “I… I think I can help her heal faster.”
Barbara and the medic gave her an odd look. To better explain it, Emily brought her hands together, and a small flame began to form from her palm. However, they weren’t bright orange flames; they were blue flames, and they didn’t feel any heat from them.
“I developed this technique while training,” said Emily. “It's a fire spell that doesn’t burn, but it heals people. I first used it on Miguel when he hurt his hands, and it was instantaneous,” she explained, and Miguel showed his fully healed hand as if he was demonstrating it. “But this will be the first time I will heal someone with this severe of injuries…”
Pamela and Barbara looked at the blue flames with wide eyes. In Pamela’s case, she was told that Emily had powers, and from Miguel’s description, she had the power of all the elements. However, seeing it firsthand and feeling it from just that tiny flame made her sense there was power behind it, warmth, like the sun.
“Do it,” Barbara said, taking a step back. “At this point, if we need magic to get her back into the fight, we better get to it before we lose her for real.” She turned to the shocked medic. This was the first time he would ever see magic in play. “And you, guide her in whatever wounds need to be healed.”
The medic nodded. It was better than nothing. With his guidance and Miguel’s support by her side, Emily went to work to heal Wonder Woman, who was in a state of life and death if they didn’t work fast enough, all while Circe and her crew were out there terrorizing the city.
“What’s the news out there?” Alexei asked after the three left the infirmary room. “We are in the dark here, and I couldn’t radio in anyone with the pieces of junk we got. Not even my brother, who was trying to get as many agents as possible.”
“Brother?” Barbara asked before she realized who his brother was. Her expression became solemn. She remembered the Warhammer who stayed behind to slow Circe and her crew, giving Barbara a chance to escape with Artemis on her back. “The guy with the Hammer…”
Alexei furrowed his brows, noticing the change in her expression. “What happened to my brother?”
Barbara took a deep breath and began explaining everything that had happened: the White Magician’s true identity, her taking over SCYTHE HQ, her ultimatum to Wonder Girl, and finally, Anatoly Abromivici’s sacrifice to save them.
*************************************************************
Somewhere in Gateway…
With the loss of SCYTHE and their headquarters, the surviving agents didn’t have the necessary support from the intel agents in the Black Room to fight off against the newly revived Red Centipedes, now grown more powerful with the help of the escaped convicts, more than happy to exact revenge.
With the bridges closed off, SCYTHE’s weakened state, and Wonder Woman being presumed dead, the city had been thrown into chaos. Streets filled with criminals and looters taking full advantage of what had happened, stealing anything from everyone across the island.
Red Centipedes roamed the streets with military trucks, taken from SCYTHE after their HQ had fallen to the White Magician’s control, making full use of their hardware to hunt down any surviving agent, delivering the message that they were the new peacekeepers of Gateway.
“Let me go!”
A woman, a worker from Taco Whiz, was being dragged from the streets by a group of RedCent grunts. Taken into a nearby corner, the RedCent dropped the worker on the dirty ground. Their eyes had terrible intentions behind them.
“Come on, man,” one RedCent grunt said from behind to his buddy. “We are supposed to find those SCYTHE fuckers, not mess around.”
“You’re serious?” The buddy looked at his friend like he was crazy. “We’ve been locked for months in SCYTHE’s cells; we can have a few minutes of fun.”
“Please! Don’t do this!” The woman screamed, tears falling from her eyes, afraid of what they would do to her. She tried to stand up and run away but was quickly pushed back down on the pavement.
The RedCent approached the woman, who crawled away from them in fear. “Come on, girl, I just need to release all this stress after being locked up for so long!” He proclaimed, giving the woman a leery look before turning to his buddy. “Hey man, I can share! Maybe we can get someone else from the street-”
The RedCent stopped speaking, catching his breath for a moment after he saw his buddy lying on the ground face first, knocked out cold. Looking up, his eyes widened in shock when he saw the person standing before him. “You’re… you were supposed to be dead?!”
Covered in heavy bandages and wrecked NIGHT armor, and carrying a mace in his hand and a pissed-off look on his face, Commander Hector Hall stood before the RedCent grunt like a dark spectre coming back to life. Kicking the knocked-out buddy aside, the Commander looked between the grunt and the terrified woman before he hardened his glare at the RedCent.
“Stay back!” The RedCent grunt aimed his weapon, hands shaking in fear. “I said stay the fuck back-”
In a moment, Hall moved at such a speed he looked like a blur, cutting the distance between the two. With one swing of his mace, he smacked him squarely on the head, sending him to the ground.
Hall turned to the woman he saved, who looked at him in horror. “Go… get to safety…”
Without another word, the woman ran toward the exit and into the streets, away from the alley. Now alone with the two RedCents, Hall grabbed the knocked-out buddy and woke him up, making the man see the bandaged-up Hall looking down at him with hateful eyes.
“You… I want you to send your boss a message…” Hall began, making him face the Commander. “Tell the White Magician, Circe, that I am declaring war on her and on anyone who stands by her side.” He turned and walked up to the other grunt, who was crawling away from the Commander in fear, grabbing his bleeding head. He begged for his life, but Hall ignored his pleas. “And this, this is for my men that you Centipedes have killed…”
He lifted his bloody mace and brought it down like a hammer on the begging Red Centipede as his buddy looked on in horror. He lifted it up once more to reveal the man’s head was crushed like a watermelon.
Commander Hector Hall was still alive, and as long as he was still breathing, SCYTHE would remain standing to fight against all threats against Gateway City.
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Wonder Women Vol 3.

Previous Issue <> Next Issue

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Long-Term Cost Savings:
Preventive Care: Investing in braces can save money in the long run by avoiding costly dental procedures needed to correct severe dental problems that can develop from untreated misalignment.

Hi i’m 21 and have had back arthritis for 2 years and was diagnosed with AS in december. I’ve been on biologics (Humira biosimilar) since January and after my rhuem. appointment this week, my dose got increased to shots every week because of my still high inflammation and pain. Even though I did my injection yesterday, this flare up has been one of the most excruciating i’ve ever had. I moved furniture (a light shelf) to help my friend a few days ago and I think I messed up something in my spine potentially because I have a herniated disc and think it could have gotten worse because of this lifting and I been having some strange numbness in my limbs since. I’m going to try and see doctor about it tomorrow, but it just makes me scared about how much I have to worry about my potential nerve compression and the future of this disease in general. It’s hard to sleep and move around today and I’m just scared about it all. I’m only 21 and I have moderate to severe damage to a few spots in my spine and in my hips confirmed by MRIs and X-rays over the last year. My knees get hot and red from just walking sometimes. I have been seeing a therapist weekly for support with this and sometimes i mention my flares to my friends but it feels so lonely knowing it’s only going to get worse as I get older. I can’t help but cry when the pain wakes me up in the night. Does anyone have any words of encouragement to come to terms with the prognosis of this disease and the likely outcomes?

Throwaway, bf found my other acc.
I (22F) am 36 weeks pregnant with my bf's (23M) baby. We've been together for nearly 5 years, though it was on and off initially. His mother has never liked me due to my ethnicity, shyness, and other reasons. She has never told me this directly, only to my bf. Before I got pregnant, I thought we were getting along well as I often visited her, played games, and chatted with her.
When we announced the pregnancy, she claimed my baby as hers, didn't congratulate me, and was mainly concerned about posting it on Facebook. This led me to my first Reddit post, where I got advice and sent her a text. She was upset but didn't tell me directly, only my bf. Despite this, we continued visiting her, and I thought things were fine.
Drama erupted over the baby shower because I didn't want it to be a surprise (my only request). She canceled it, accusing me of being controlling and ungrateful, but communicated this only to my bf. My mother then decided to throw me a shower, which upset his mom further and escalated the situation.
My bf suggested I have a heart-to-heart with his mom about why I don’t eat her food and said he didn't want to continue the relationship if things didn't improve, which felt like pressure. This stress caused me to be hospitalized due to high blood pressure a few days ago. I've been extremely upset, losing interest in everything, and struggling with my appetite. I'm only holding on for the baby.
My bf is supposed to move in with me at my parents' house once the baby arrives because we can't afford rent. However, he's been cold and unsupportive, making me think he doesn’t want to be with me and is only moving in out of obligation. Despite our talks, his actions don't match his words. I'm on unpaid leave due to severe pelvic girdle pain, and he complains about giving me $20 for gas to go to OB appointments. He doesn’t provide anything else; my parents are covering all expenses. Whenever I express my feelings, he’s dismissive or doesn’t respond, causing me more stress.
I feel like I should leave him, but I worry it would be selfish as it would deny my baby the chance to grow up with both parents. I'm also scared of the impact on my postpartum recovery. We have a baby shower in a week with our friends and family (except his, due to his mom's pettiness), adding pressure to stay with him. But with the issues with his mom and his lack of support, I doubt the relationship's success. Once he moves in, ending things will be even harder.
My parents and friends think I should work things out and that I’d be the AH to end things now.

An Oregon man convicted of participating in the creation of online videos of monkeys being tortured, mutilated, and killed has been sentenced to four years in federal prison, as reported by KOIN News.
The official press release issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Oregon stated that David Christopher Noble of Prineville, OR pleaded guilty to conspiring to engage in the horrific act of animal crushing as well as creating and distributing animal crush videos.
The former United States Air Force officer also administered an online group “wherein members would raise funds to produce, discuss ideas for, and share animal abuse videos,” the release stated.
For years, Lady Freethinker has worked with Action for Primates to investigate monkey torture groups and their innocent victims. The severity of this sentence demonstrates the progress we can make when working together to expose cruelty and hold individuals accountable for their crimes against animals.
“The victims in this case cannot speak for themselves, but the impact of the grotesque violence brought upon them is unmistakable,” said Nathan J. Lichvarcik, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Eugene and Medford Branch Offices.
“At the direction of David Noble and his co-conspirators, the producers of these animal abuse videos not only killed monkeys but did so in a way that extended their pain and suffering as long as possible,” Lichvarcik continued. “Today’s sentence should make it clear to others engaged in this heinous conduct that they will be held responsible for their crimes.”
Lady Freethinker supports prosecuting any individual who intentionally participates in animal cruelty to the fullest extent of the law. We welcome the justice for animals delivered by the judge, prosecutors, and members of law enforcement involved in this case.

Introduction:
Pregnancy is a time of profound transformation, both physically and emotionally. As expectant mothers navigate the joys and challenges of this remarkable journey, prioritizing self-care becomes essential for nurturing both body and baby. Pregnancy yoga, a gentle and nurturing practice specifically tailored to the needs of pregnant women, offers a myriad of benefits for physical health, emotional well-being, and preparation for childbirth. However, a common question that arises among expectant mothers is: How often should I practice pregnancy yoga to maximize its benefits? In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the optimal frequency of pregnancy yoga practice and how online yoga classes can support your journey toward a healthy and empowered pregnancy.
Understanding the Benefits of Pregnancy Yoga:
Before delving into the frequency of pregnancy yoga practice, let's briefly explore why it's beneficial for expectant mothers:

1. Physical Health: Pregnancy yoga incorporates gentle stretches, strengthening exercises, and breathwork to support the changing needs of a pregnant body. It helps alleviate common discomforts such as back pain, sciatica, and swelling, while also promoting flexibility, balance, and circulation.
2. Emotional Well-Being: Pregnancy can evoke a wide range of emotions, from excitement and joy to anxiety and uncertainty. Yoga provides a nurturing space for expectant mothers to connect with their breath, cultivate mindfulness, and release tension, thereby reducing stress and promoting emotional balance.
3. Preparation for Childbirth: Certain yoga poses and breathing techniques practiced in pregnancy yoga classes are specifically designed to prepare women for labor and delivery. By learning how to relax the pelvic floor muscles, control the breath, and cultivate mental focus, expectant mothers can approach childbirth with greater confidence and ease.

Now, let's address the central question: How often should you practice pregnancy yoga to reap its maximum benefits?
Factors Influencing Pregnancy Yoga Practice Frequency:
The optimal frequency of pregnancy yoga practice may vary depending on several factors, including your individual health, fitness level, lifestyle, and stage of pregnancy. While some expectant mothers may benefit from daily practice, others may find that a few sessions per week suffice. Here are some considerations to help you determine the right frequency for you:

1. Consult with Your Healthcare Provider: Before embarking on a pregnancy yoga practice regimen, it's crucial to consult with your healthcare provider, particularly if you have any underlying medical conditions or pregnancy complications. Your healthcare provider can offer personalized guidance based on your specific needs and circumstances, ensuring that your yoga practice aligns with your overall prenatal care plan.
2. Listen to Your Body: Pregnancy is a time of heightened awareness of your body's signals and sensations. Pay attention to how you feel during and after each yoga practice session. If you experience fatigue, discomfort, or dizziness, it may be a sign that you need to dial back the intensity or duration of your practice. Honor your body's needs and adjust your practice accordingly.
3. Consider Your Energy Levels: Pregnancy can bring about fluctuations in energy levels, particularly during the first and third trimesters. While some expectant mothers may feel energized and invigorated during pregnancy, others may experience fatigue and lethargy. Tailor your yoga practice frequency to align with your energy levels, choosing more gentle and restorative practices during times of low energy and incorporating more active sessions when you feel more vibrant.
4. Prioritize Consistency Over Intensity: When it comes to pregnancy yoga practice, consistency is key. Aim to establish regular yoga classes that you can realistically maintain throughout your pregnancy. Consistent practice allows you to experience the cumulative benefits of yoga, including improved strength, flexibility, and mental clarity. Remember that it's not about pushing yourself to the limit but rather about nurturing your body and baby with gentle and mindful movement.
5. Supplement with Online Yoga Classes: In today's digital age, online yoga classes offer unparalleled convenience and accessibility for expectant mothers. Whether you're a busy professional, a stay-at-home parent, or someone with limited mobility, online yoga classes allow you to practice from the comfort of your own home, at a time that suits your schedule. Look for online prenatal yoga classes specifically designed to support pregnancy and childbirth, and supplement your home practice with occasional in-person classes for added support and guidance.

Conclusion:
Pregnancy yoga is a valuable tool for promoting physical health, emotional well-being, and preparation for childbirth during pregnancy. While the optimal frequency of practice may vary for each expectant mother, the key is to listen to your body, prioritize consistency, and tailor your practice to align with your individual needs and circumstances. Whether you choose to practice daily, a few times per week, or supplement your home practice with online yoga classes, the important thing is to nurture your body and baby with gentle movement, mindful breath, and loving awareness. With dedication, patience, and the support of experienced instructors, pregnancy yoga can become a cherished practice that enhances your pregnancy journey and prepares you for the transformative experience of motherhood.

Since June 2021, I have been suffering from sudden eye pain in my right eye. It is a sharp, stinging pain, localized on the upper side of the colored part of my eye. Although nothing is visibly wrong, this point causes me significant distress. The only thing that gives me hope is the possibility of finding a cure. There are brief moments when I forget my pain, such as when listening to a funky song, and I remember how carefree I used to be. However, after three years, this hope of a painless life is diminishing, and thoughts of ending my life have become frequent. I feel frustration, perhaps unjustifiably, towards doctors and friends. My life has drifted far from what I would describe as the "old me." Basically I can lose myself completely get more angry than ever known. Sometimes I am almost embarressed how I behave. I have a lovely girlfriend and we have fun, but I know my energy is going low. Eventually no one can really understand me.
I have several theories about what might be causing my pain:

• I received the Pfizer COVID vaccine 10 days before my sudden symptoms began.
• Poor contact lens hygiene (I used to wear contacts).
• Neuropathic eye pain.

Here’s what has been done so far:

• I started with steroids such as FML and Dexamethasone, but there were no results.
• I was checked for dry eyes, but nothing indicated that. Some said I had very mild blepharitis, but it doesn't explain the pain.
• Later, Zaditen/Ketotifen and Ikervis were tried for around eight months.
• IPL (Intense Pulsed Light therapy) was done.

Nothing has helped so far. I decided to travel as a way to clear my mind, and while it does help temporarily, I am still preoccupied with my eye every day.
My questions are:

1. Does anyone have any ideas on what I can do next?
2. If hope is lost, how can I pursue the end of my life? Despite expressing serious thoughts of ending my life, no doctor has ever responded to these concerns. Additionally, my doctors are changing frequently. I feel I need someone who understands and is willing to help me.

After growing up experiencing every type of abuse you can imagine, having an irreversible and supposedly incurable brain disease, having PTSD and severe trauma from all of that and having abusive exes who continued to show me that I mean nothing to this world I am so ready. It’s been about 6 months of me contemplating this more heavily. I had a Sewerside pact with my cousin that if we were still depressed at 35 we would take our lives and not judge each other for it. The numbness has taken everything over. No matter what I do I’m doing something wrong. I have no money and have been in survival mode my entire life. I am continuously shown by this world how little I truly matter and I’m finally ready to rid this world of the burden that I am. I’ve written my letters, I have no attachments to anyone, and the people who are in my life will be better off without me. There is no other option at this point. Im not going to wait 50 more years to kill my self because “it gets better” that’s the biggest load of shit. 30 years in and no it hasnt ducking gotten m better. I’ve stayed alive for too long for the sake of others’ feelings. Well what about mine? What about my pain and grief and sadness, just because they don’t want to see me die I have to live in a world that I’m not meant for? I’m so fucking done.

Improving e-commerce mobile experience monitoring involves implementing several strategies:

1. Real-Time Monitoring: Utilize tools that provide real-time monitoring of mobile app performance, user interactions, and transactions. This allows immediate detection and response to issues that may impact the mobile shopping experience.
2. Comprehensive Analytics: Implement comprehensive analytics to track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as page load times, conversion rates, bounce rates, and user engagement metrics specific to mobile devices. Analyzing this data helps identify trends, pinpoint areas for improvement, and optimize the mobile experience.
3. Cross-Platform Testing: Conduct cross-platform testing to ensure consistent performance and usability across different mobile devices, operating systems, and screen sizes. This includes testing on popular devices and emulators to capture a diverse range of user experiences.
4. User Feedback Integration: Integrate user feedback mechanisms such as in-app surveys, ratings, and reviews to gather insights directly from mobile shoppers. Understanding user preferences, pain points, and suggestions helps prioritize enhancements and deliver a more personalized experience.
5. Performance Optimization: Continuously optimize mobile app performance by minimizing page load times, reducing app size, and optimizing images and media content. Performance improvements enhance user satisfaction and encourage longer engagement with the app.
6. Security Monitoring: Implement robust security monitoring to detect and mitigate potential threats such as data breaches, fraud, and unauthorized access. This includes monitoring for suspicious activities, implementing secure authentication mechanisms, and ensuring compliance with industry security standards.
7. A/B Testing: Conduct A/B testing experiments to compare different versions of the mobile app and identify which features, designs, or functionalities resonate best with users. A/B testing helps refine the mobile experience based on data-driven insights and user preferences.
8. Continuous Feedback Loop: Establish a continuous feedback loop between development, QA, and operations teams to facilitate rapid iteration and improvement of the mobile experience. Regularly gather feedback, analyze performance metrics, and collaborate on implementing enhancements to drive ongoing optimization.

By implementing these strategies, e-commerce businesses can enhance their mobile experience monitoring capabilities, identify areas for improvement, and deliver a seamless and engaging shopping experience to mobile users.

She's in her stressed-out, bratty, emotionally immature, control freak, borderline manic, takes everything out on the easiest target, and won't accept blame for her role in things phase again.
To explain I've had severe TMJ issues as of late. I'm talking went to the ER level pain. Basically I popped my jaw out of alignment on Friday of last week and then went to the ER on Saturday. I took Sunday off of work to try and recover from my dehydration and lack of nutrition plus sleep due to the issue.
On Monday I messaged my PCP to get a stronger anti-inflammatory and some advice. Then I called a chiropractor my mom's friend sees for TMJ problems and they were able to get me in the same day in the afternoon. So I had also set up a Monday appointment in the morning with my dentist on Friday. So I was booked and busy on Monday after getting no sleep Sunday night into Monday morning.
Dentist didn't go great. Basically same as ER that they didn't see anything wrong take Advil for the pain. Except she did prescribe me Medrol (steroid) for swelling and referred me to an orthodontist she knows that specializes in TMJ. So I will be seeing that orthodontist on June 10th. But like the appointment was so wasteful of my time. I was there just waiting for over an hour before actually being taken care of as a patient and then to have them basically do nothing but prescribe medication and give me a referral.
Then I went to the chiropractor who was a big help. She explained that my jaw was out of alignment as I had thought it was all along. Because my right molars touched but the left ones didn't and that wasn't normal for me. Plus the pain was comparable to the pain from the surgery I had when I was younger to get a dental bone graft for a dental implant (not enough bone density in my jaw for a dental implant or something). So it was pretty severe pain.
Basically the left side of my jaw was all jammed up and the right side had a loose ligament that was pulling the left side of my jaw to the right. Then once it got less jammed up it became apparent that the left side of my jaw was noticeably pulled down or something like that. But after the first session I was in considerably less pain. After the second session I'm tense but not in pain.
My PCP has me taking cyclobenzaprine 10mg every night for that. Then I will get Botox with my oral surgeon, who wasn't available to help me with this matter until the end of this month when my previously scheduled Botox session will happen, on May 22nd.
I can take the cyclobenzaprine during the day if the clenching/tensing gets really bad but then I can't like drive myself anywhere and I'm basically bedridden cause it makes me dizzy.
But not shockingly now that my pain is significantly better and I'm not like in significant pain if I mention to my parents that I'm in pain or go to them for comfort they dismiss me and are just hurtful about it. Like tonight I'm really tense and I can't stop clenching my teeth so I went to my mother about it because it's making it difficult for me to fall asleep. I was seeking comfort and she just blatantly dismissed me because I was inconveniencing her and it can't be that bad and she can't fix it.
I just get fed up with it. Like I'm not going to my parents for attention I'm going to them for comfort when I'm in pain. To me there is a difference. I'm also not asking them to fix my problems because obviously it isn't something they can fix themselves. I dunno this is how it has been my entire life and I'm just fed up with it.
I have spent my entire life being given the bare minimum in terms of them being emotionally available and just caring about me and providing comfort as needed. Yet they give the stupid pet dogs all the attention and comfort I want and it's just so damn annoying.
If I could move out I would but I can't afford to do so. I'm disabled and a recipient of SSDI and have limited income. That being said I still pay rent to my parents (and yes I am living in their house so it's only right that I do so) and I help out around the house as well.
I just get sick and tired of how they mistreat me sometimes and being in pain with no one to go to for comfort.

Due to neglect from my parents, failing to get me to dentist appointments in school, I had what I feel is probably the worst day of my life...
(TW for mention/details of surgery, hospital stuff, vomiting, and more unpleasant stuff)
Had to wake up super early to go out of town to an oral surgeon, they had to see me almost an hour late because the X-ray machine was down, the topical numbing stuff was probably the most vile tasting thing I've ever tasted, then after waiting long enough that it basically wore off, I got like, ten different injections to numb my mouth and gums and such. Was one of the most painful experiences I've ever had.
Then, I had to sit there for like, 45 minutes, maybe an hour, as they jabbed, dig out, twisted, pulled, yanked, broke, cut, and otherwise removed the remaining eight or nine teeth I had on top. Every jab, every clank off my teeth, the cracking, breaking, and crushing of my teeth, the intense pressure being exerted on my skull as they were forcibly removed... One tooth basically exploded, and I saw some of my blood hit the surgeons face mask...
They sewed up the smaller holes as they went. By the time I was done, I was a massive ball of anxiety. Even though I didn't feel any pain for the most part, the anticipation, all the feelings and sensations, it was just... So much...
They sent me off, and after driving to the ferry, and then maybe a half hour after getting off the ferry, I started to feel nauseous and sick. My arms and legs started going numb. I was getting dizzy.
I'd had some issues with the gauze they gave me, and I wasn't able to hold it for an hour like they wanted me to. I couldn't keep it in place because of the teeth I was missing on the bottom row. So I'd had all this blood pooling in my mouth for over an hour.
Eventually I started panicking a bit, and I had to have my sister who was driving take me to the nearest emergency room. Then I had to wait like two hours in one of the most uncomfortable places I've ever been, while the numbing started to fade and my gums continued to bleed and the pain started to come into play...
There were two different people I'm pretty sure were experiencing some kind of drug withdrawal. One was curling up in different chairs, throwing up several times into a bag, and unfortunately he also made a mess of the chairs he'd sat in.
Then a cop brought in some girl who kept calling out to people that I don't think were there. Then randomly start crying, stop just as fast, etc.
Eventually I got to be seen, they figured out my blood sugar wasn't low like I'd thought. (One of the meds I take can cause it to drop) I was basically dehydrated, dealing with anxiety, and the numbing stuff they used also used an adrenaline thing which was making everything worse.
So they said they'd give me some meds to help with everything and send me on my way. Another half hour or so later, I got everything and I was on my way home.
Unfortunately, that isn't the end of my terrible day... As I'd had all that blood continuously pooling up, I was inadvertently swallowing a bunch of it without realizing, as my mouth was numb and I couldn't entirely control everything at the time.
I'd felt a little better when we got on the road again, but then everything started to come back, all the anxious feelings, the nausea, the numbness in my arms and legs.
I had to tell my sister to pull over, and I basically fell out of the car to my hands and knees and started throwing up a wonderful mixture of blood, spit, and water. It was excruciating...
Eventually I managed to settle down... My arms and legs were still shaking, but after cleaning up we were back on the road. Unfortunately... By the time we'd made it basically back to town, I had to stop again...
This time I was throwing up this awful brown liquid, which I assume was more blood and stomach bile, which is just as pleasant as it sounds... My sister had to stop at Walmart on the way back because her kid needed baby formula, and that's the only place in town that has the kind her baby drinks.
So I had to have her call a friend of mine to meet us there so he could take me home. She was also getting me some stuff I could have without needing to chew, like applesauce, yogurt, etc. but I didn't wanna risk throwing up in the store, and I didn't wanna sit and wait in the car feeling miserable either.
Thankfully, that was pretty much the last of it. One of the spots on my gums is still bleeding a little bit, but it's settled down for the most part. The pain in my gums has also thankfully gone away thanks to some ibuprofen. At least as long as I'm not messing with anything. My cheeks and lip actually hurt more than my gums tbh... Probably due to the fact my upper lip was swollen to the point that my nostrils were almost closed off as well for a bit.
But because of everything else, I basically had to throw out the shirt I was wearing because I couldn't keep from spilling blood on it. As a nice little cherry on top I guess... (Or maybe it's the fact that my birthday is tomorrow 🙃)
This was without a doubt, the worst day I've ever had. I still need to have a couple more teeth put, and I refuse to go through that again. I'm going to tell them I need to be put under to do it, or I'm telling them to do fillings and crowns instead of pulling them.
I feel like this whole ordeal was traumatizing in a way I didn't know was possible tbh... Obviously everyone gets nervous with stuff like the dentist, but I think this has genuinely ruined my ability to go to the dentist anymore.
This past year I've been trying to get my life together, take care of myself, etc, because I decided that I actually want to live. I want to be happy. And I'm taking steps to do that. But God if this didn't make me second guess everything all day...

I’m totally new to this and just trying to advocate for my fiance.
We went to get an ultrasound due to calf pain & swelling in Feb. they advised there was no clot. After 3 months of pain, pain moving from calf to groin, I insisted on a ultrasound.
The results? Deep venous thrombosis occlusive in the right superficial femoral vein, profunda femoral vein, popliteal vein, posterior tibial vein and peroneal vein. Some venous flow seen in the common femoral vein and distal popliteal veins.
My fiance was already on his way home when they advised it was DVT. They let him know they were calling in a blood thinner. I asked if they needed to run labs or anything, they advised the labs they already did would suffice. I busted out laughing bc they never did any.
I took him to a closer ER— the ones that misdiagnosed. They asked what he was taking for pain. He said the previous hospital gave him Tramodol. This hospital prescribed him 10 hydrocodone mg after learning he was essentially on nothing for pain.
It has been several days so of course he’s out, he has a follow up with a PCP tomorrow so maybe he’ll get pain meds. We’re in a state that really cracks down on pain meds, so I’m worried he won’t get anywhere. It seems like others get IV morphine and things So what gives?
he doesn’t want to be immediately written off as a drug seeker, but he’s in so much pain he’s moaning in his sleep. :/ help

First off I am thankful that on the grand scheme these are relatively uncommon for me. Started up when I was 15 or so and used to get them a lot more. 20 years later I have had a few several month long episodes in the past decade or so but mostly clear.
Maybe I'm just used to it but now but when they come I don't get 10/10 agony episodes like I used to when I was a teenager. I take rather meticulous notes and most of the attacks are a 7.5-8/10 on the pain scale and last 1-1.5 hrs like usual. I'm sure you know the drill
0-5 minutes first twinge that it's coming, really just a sense
5-15 minutes hurts mildly, you know you're on the come up but it's not truly painful yet
15-25 minutes it starts to hurt pretty good
25-50 minutes to now you're above the "plateau" that constitutes severe pain, brief spikes into agonizing pain
50 minutes first time in ~25 minutes you experience a moment where the pain ticks below the "plateau", you know that you are on the way down
50-60 minutes pain winding down now, a few brief spikes back to the "plateau" level but they are short
60-70 minutes fading and very mild, similar to the feeling you get from 5-15 minute window except you know you are on the way down and not up
The only difference between episodes now and 20 years ago is that the pain highs aren't as bad. The length and cadence of them remain the same, but the heights of pain reached seem lower. I can't decide if they actually are lower or if I have just gotten used to them after all of these years.
Even today, I still know it's a really bad one if my eye starts to involuntarily water, but even so at peak these days I reach maybe 8/10 in pain, whereas when I was a teenager I would call it a 9/10. That said my average peak is probably 7.5/10, manageable and not that bad.
In fact I was only formally diagnosed 5 years ago when after a months long series of episodes my eye watered so much for an hour and I woke up the next morning to see that one of my pupils was smaller than the other.
Anyway glad to pontificate with you all here. I need to read up on more of the lingo and try the red bull trick. Usually I just wait it out and sometimes if I am at home hop in the shower. Sounds weird to say but even as a kid when these started happening I kind of just knew I had to live with it from time to time, yes it is excruciating at times but you get through it pretty quick anyway

Hello, I’m sorry to intrude as I’m sure this community focuses on those with endometriosis. My apologies to those who suffer from this condition. My girlfriend has been experiencing debilitating pain from this horrid condition, and although some research exists it seems I’ll have to rely on personal anecdotes to find any form of relief. The pain is severe to the degree in which she struggles to stand, go to work or do school work. This is my reason for the Intrusion. What has helped you relief at-least a degree of pain? My girlfriend has tried a Tens machine but it seems to numb her side, a heating pad but the battery dies quickly and at times she seems unresponsive to anti-inflammatories. Her gynecologist for lack of better words seems as useless as can be. What can I do to help her at the moment? Anything will be of great use. Thank you.

So I had severe eczema as a child and teen but for the last couple of years I have only dealt with really mild flare ups that went away quickly(thank god).
Now all of a sudden I have an extreme flare up on big areas of my arms as well as some other spots on my body. I dont know why bcs its usually worse in winter bcs of dry air but now its spring/summer... its so random and annoying. And painful

Hi all,
My 6yr old son is a typical over excited little man. He cna be naughty but can also be incredibly sweet.
For some context when he was born he had severe intolerances to dairy and reflux unchecked until 5 mths when a doctor finally believed us. Due to this he has always been a bit behind emotionally as he learnt his emotional responses while his nervous system was essentially on fire.
We had a call from the principal today saying we need to have a meeting. He is swearing constantly at students and teachers, not listening and saying he doesn't care when asked to do something, touching other kids ( I don't think inappropriately) and reacting when told to stop etc. We have heard nothing of this until today. He has had incidents before but nothing extending beyond a day where he's made a bad choice. He gets punished we talk to him and he deals and it doesn't repeat. The school wants him assessed by a pead. He has been assessed before and the doc diagnosed him as being a normal 4 yr old boy who has a lot of energy and doesn't necessarily want to sit still. He's very smart. I am the same in that I hated school and sitting still.
He has had a re-emergence of the reflux and anaemia so we are attending hospital with the pead team for blood tests to investigate what's going on next week.
I guess for anyone who has read this far is there any advice? We are super strict and don't tolerate bad behaviour. We don't swear around him and even are careful saying things like I don't care. He has an ipad for school and this is the first thing to go when he needs to be punished. He is generally good at home besides the normal outbursts here and there. He has twin brothers so it's been a hectic few years. I have no idea if pain is causing this but I'm at a loss as we don't see this behaviour at home so unsure how to proceed from here?
Thank you for those that have read this far.

Picked up/hugged my girlfriend from the side about 2 months ago, felt and heard very small “pop” in my very low back. I didn’t shoot to the ground in pain or anything but just was like “Huh, not normal.”
I know I have DDD and have had lower back pain before, even in my leg, but this is awful.
I felt my right side of my lower back already feeling a little tight or needing some rest, as well as my right leg prior to picking her up. Was taking it super easy.
Anyway now here I am about 2.5 months later. I got an xray, findings below. Been to chiro, PT told me to stop, I have a TENS unit, been doing stretches for sciatica or lower back or piriformis. Barely any relief. PT has me in a spine stretcher contraption. Urgent care had me try a steroid for a week with a muscle relaxer, no dice.
I’m literally spending 80% of my day lying flat on an ice pack or heat pack. I can’t even sit down at a table to eat. I just took some online tests for my school and was standing for 5 hours rather than sit because it hurts that bad.
The lower back isn’t the worst, I do feel discomfort but holy FUCK the pain in my leg is so bad. It’s depressing as fuck.
I also feel a small bump almost in like the nerve or muscle or something oh the front side of my waist, almost where a belt would go, in comparison to my left aide where there’s no pain.
Lastly I’ve also got a testicle ache and pain with it all now. It’s not as constant, but comes with some movements throughout the day like coughing, sneezing, stuff like that.
I have an MRI this weekend, hoping for something to look forward to to take care of this. Anyone have any similar experience?? TIA
NDINGS: Bone: No acute fracture. No suspicious osteolytic or osteoblastic lesion identified. Alignment: Alignment maintained without spondylolisthesis. Disc Space: Mild multilevel spondylosis, most pronounced at L5-S1 and L4-5. Soft Tissue: Within normal limits. Additional Finding: Visualized sacrum intact. Sacroiliac joints are within normal limits. Nonspecific reversal of normal lumbosacral spine lordosis, may be related to positioning and/or spasm versus normal anatomical variant.
Impression: No acute osseous or articular finding along the lumbosacral spine on radiographic examination. No acute compression deformity or significant spondylolisthesis identified. No osteolytic or osteoblastic lesion identified. Mild multilevel spondylosis, most pronounced at L5-S1 and L4-5. Nonspecific reversal of normal lumbosacral spine lordosis, may be related to positioning and/or spasm versus normal anatomical variant.