Vitamin eyes a puffy

hey everyone, please help me. im so convinced i have a brain tumor. okay so a week ago, i noticed this head pressure. mainly when i get up, bend down, it's like a squeezing for a few seconds..and then i get headaches on my right side, does that mean that mean there's a tumor there ?! if it was big enough to be causing headaches on one side wouldn't there be more symptoms? the headache is mostly when i get up to do things. and head just feels weird when i stand up, like weird. lightheaded, fuzzy, pressure , and idk it feels tight by my nose. please reassure me this isn't a brain tumor. im making a appointment tomorrow and if it's to far im just gonna go to the ER but I'm terrified to sleep because I'm like what if I die in my sleep? how would I know if it's a brain tumor ??? I'm only 21. i have bad anxiety. this is so scary if it's not a brain tumor my anxiety is saying what if it's a vitamin deficiency and it stops my heart it won't right?.. also the spot below my eyebrow is twitching non stop my head mainly hurts when I get up and do things UPDATE: was at the ER today. told him about this. he said he didn't feel like a CT scan was needed plus I was already having a stomach ultra sound so he said he didn't want to use to much radiation. he checked my pupils, had me follow his fingers with my eyes, walk in lines and do more stuff with my hands and I passed. does that mean I'm okay? I'll def go back if I feel worse .

I'm surprised there isn't a wiki here.
I'm reading here a cat needs taurine, iron, thiamine, choline, and vitamin e but I'm not seeing the proportions or the recipes.
Even the Balance.it site lists 20-odd supplement deficiencies.
Is it even a good idea to make homemade cat food to save money? I'm reading taurine deficiency in cats can cause irreversible eye and heart damage.
So I ask for a guide that uses market ingredients with the measurements and reasons to convince a reader it can provide all the nutrients a cat needs to be healthy.
Does that exist? Thanks.

Hey everyone! This is your quarterly routine megathread an excellent resource to see what products are popular amongst our community and a great way to find new things to try. No matter how unusual you may consider your skin type or atypical your particular skin challenges or problems, all routines are welcome -- in fact, encouraged -- to be posted.
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This post is intended to be a compendium of generalized, standardized routines! The more participation, the better. :)
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Synopsis:
Juliette Contzen is a lazy, good-for-nothing princess. Overshadowed by her siblings, she's left with little to do but nap, read … and occasionally cut the falling raindrops with her sword. Spotted one day by an astonished adventurer, he insists on grading Juliette's swordsmanship, then promptly has a mental breakdown at the result.
Soon after, Juliette is given the news that her kingdom is on the brink of bankruptcy. At threat of being married off, the lazy princess vows to do whatever it takes to maintain her current lifestyle, and taking matters into her own hands, escapes in the middle of the night in order to restore her kingdom's finances.
Tags: Comedy, Adventure, Action, Fantasy, Copious Ohohohohos.
Chapter 241: Until Now
The doors to the Hartzwiese Adventurer’s Guild opened.
Before, the sound of raucous laughter could be heard flooding the street outside, filling the quiet of a spring night with all the debauchery the local drunkards had to offer.
Despite the halls of adventurers not being formal drinking establishments, those within were ready to compete in boisterousness with all the taverns, inns and pubs of the town combined. And also win. Handily.
And yet–
The moment the doors parted and I stepped within, a hush as quiet as any grave fell over its inhabitants.
A woman balancing with her derrière upon the head of another became still, the alcohol in her cup the only movement as it dribbled onto a stunned face below her.
A man slurping from the communal cauldron stared wordlessly, the stew pouring in, and then out of his mouth as the muscles of his throat forgot the means to swallow.
A bartender asleep upon a row of kegs quietly rose, the sudden din of silence waking him where the sound of debauchery and those drinking from the taps beside him had failed.
Here, there, and everywhere, eyes widened as the sudden silence was filled with the sounds of my footsteps as I strolled past, my loyal handmaiden and my brother’s attendant in my wake.
And also–
Mreow.
Mrewowow.
Meww.
Cats.
Tabby cats.
Calico cats.
Ragdoll cats.
Cats with twirly whiskers. Cats with puffy faces. Cats with slightly rounded ears.
Behind me, skipping around my legs while taking turns to sit upon my shoulders and very occasionally my head, were a legion of cats of various shapes, sizes and colours.
But no matter the springiness of their whiskers, the shine of their coat or the liveliness of their tails, one thing to bring them all together was the anarchy they caused.
This was no neat line of ducklings following after their mother.
This was a barbarian horde.
With no sense of organisation other than a shared drive to claim everything as their own, they immediately skipped amidst the stunned adventurers, scavenging for all the copious scraps while still turning their noses away from the alcohol forming sticky traps upon the floor.
Saying nothing, I allowed their demanding cries to fill up the hall as I swept forwards, pausing before a wall plastered from end to end with faded notices and requests long gone unanswered.
One by one, I systemically tore every request featuring a crudely drawn image of a cat, gathering into my arms a pile of parchment large enough to reach my chin.
Then, I made my way to the wooden desk.
A receptionist waited with a smile at the ready.
“Greetings! Welcome to the Hartzwiese branch of the Adventurer’s Guild. I see you’ve removed several notices from the–”
Poomph.
Silenced but unperturbed, this latest clone watched as I dropped the stack of requests onto her desk, before promptly topping off the stack with a copper ring.
“Do what must be done,” I said, my voice defiant. “I am ready.”
The receptionist answered me with a smile more permanent than the wall the notices were torn from.
A moment later–
“[Identify].”
A green hue appeared in her clasped palms as she assessed the ring.
“Juliette. B-rank. Your registered branch is Reitzlake.”
The sound of several cups clattered against the floor.
“Welcome again to Hartzwiese. I see from your commission history that you have an extraordinary amount of completions for recovering lost cats. May I assume the significant number of cats now roaming the branch hall relate to the notices removed from the wall?”
I pursed my quivering lips.
“Maybe.”
“Wonderful. And how many cats is it that you’ve rescued?”
“... Lots.”
“I see. Please give me a moment while I confirm the requirements of our commissions.”
The receptionist swiftly retrieved a stack of parchment from a drawer.
As she flicked through, her eyes simultaneously went to every cat roaming, napping and clawing in the hall. A skill not even monstrous overseers from the abyss with their dozens of eyestalks could match. But that’s only to be expected.
Wherever these receptionists were found, it was from a level deeper than any monster dared roam.
Eventually, she gave a nod.
“Thank you for waiting. There appears to be an excess of cats in relation to the number of commissions we have available. We’ll endeavour to ensure that every cat is rehomed at the earliest opportunity through our partner agencies and charities. But unfortunately, I can only provide official acknowledgement for cats rescued through a formal commission.”
I sucked in a deep breath, hoping that patience was one of the things I accidentally inhaled.
“Fine. And how many commissions does that end up being, then? … 10? 15?”
The receptionist flicked through her bundle of parchments once more.
“94.”
“... Excuse me?”
“I can confirm the successful completion of 94 simultaneous F-ranked commissions. Congratulations. This is a new record, breaking what appears to be one earlier set by yourself. A remarkable achievement befitting a B-rank member of the guild.”
The receptionist’s professional smile never wavered.
I thought that would be the worst of it.
But then–
She slowly brought her hands together … and started applauding.
It was the leak which broke the dam.
At once, she was joined by all who were present to witness this crowning moment of regret.
I turned around in time to see a riot in motion.
“W-Wooooooooooo!!!!”
“In … Incredible …”
“A new record … I … I heard it was broken in Trierport … to think I’d witness it broken again!”
“A B-rank adventurer … ?! Where … Where did she come from … ?!”
There was no polite, respectful applause here.
It was the wild cheering of a crowd at a tournament. The whooping cries of theatregoers calling for an encore. The acclaim of my father as he elbowed others to delight in the poetry I’d written when I was 6 and thus now regularly attempted to burn.
Everywhere I turned, I saw and heard the acclaim mixed with shouts of horror as mugs of alcohol were spilled on purpose and by accident. The layabouts stomped on the floor, doing their best to murder decorum under the strain of unbridled emotion.
Only a few falling teardrops formed any hint of more dignified revelry, the glimmer of admiration running down cheeks as sniffles were hidden amidst the raucous cheering.
And then I bore witness to the most morbid sight.
Like a tidal wave of soiled clothes and snotty faces, they suddenly came as one, hands reaching out for me with dripping mugs still in their grips. Horror struck at my soul. And unlike a farmer who’d scarpered into the night, I had nobody who could heal a wound caused by hooligans accepting me as their own.
“A-Amazing!! Take my drink! Take anyone’s drink!!”
“So many cats rescued … even my allergies can’t believe it!”
“My gods, it’s a legend! An adventurer among adventurers!”
This.
This right here.
This was the lowest point of my life … were I not an unparalleled genius.
“Oho … ohoho …”
At once, the wave halted.
Faces which were lit up in unabashed delight turned to looks of mild confusion against the tinkling music of my laughter.
They needed to cycle through the expressions until they reached horror and shame.
“Ohhohohohohohoho!!”
… For I was no drunkard seeking to join their ranks!
No … I was Juliette Contzen, 3rd Princess to the Kingdom of Tirea!
And that meant every action I took, every word I spoke, and every cat I saved was for a reason beyond the hopes and dreams these hoodlums had of wanton debauchery and rusting swords!
Indeed!
A lesser princess than I may slink away into the night, cowed by the utter shame, humiliation and disgrace of completing so many F-ranked requests that I somehow broke a record I’d only just set!
But I was made of greater things!
Of schemes and subterfuges so deep that it would take too long to explain! The plots I weaved were a silken web more intricate than any cogs which made up Coppelia as she doubled up, desperately trying to stop herself from succumbing to more pain from laughter!
And that meant with every cat request now denied to these louts … they would finally do some work!
“Ohoho … ohohohohoho!! Behold and be afraid! Witness before you the coming of a new dawn, here to lift you from your days of boundless reverie! Unfurl the shutters and gaze upon a radiance so pure it brands your dallying minds! The scorching sun has come to test the snail’s back, and all that your bleary eyes see is a great salt lake to devour you whole! Shrivel as you cling upon the sweat which drips upon your brow, for that is the proof you’re yet alive!”
A sudden silence met my proclamation of their coming ordeal.
And then–
“Wooooooooooooooooooooooo!”
“I don’t understand! But what a speech!”
“If she can do it, so can we!”
I raised a hand to my lips, barely covering my smile.
“Ohhhohohohohohohoho … !”
Here it was!
Operation: Gainful Employment!
An entirely new strategy, as bold as it was uncharted!
By removing what was surely the vast majority of missing cat quests available to the adventurers of this town, they would have no choice, utterly none whatsoever, but to engage in actual work! The type of work adventurers openly advertised themselves as doing!
Monster subjugation! Crime prevention! Fetching artifacts from hidden dungeons and then succumbing to their wounds at the entrance while the Royal Treasury pocketed the treasure!
Yes, this was clearly a highly experimental tactic.
But what was I, if not a bastion of creativity?
At the very least, I utterly refused to accept the status quo! An organisation dedicated exclusively to rescuing lost cats or elbowing into my kingdom’s sovereign affairs was no good to me!
Thus … I could not cower like some towngirl nauseous from the smell of their revelry.
Instead, I would squeeze the Adventurer’s Guild dry until the day I replaced them with an army of trained poodles. Until that joyous day, I could never tear my eyes away when they waited to be robbed.
To do so was more than a dereliction of duty …
Why, I’d be an accomplice to their drunken escapades!
My vow remained unchanged. For my goal, I would brave any indignity. The ring I was hoping the receptionist would forget to return was proof of that.
And thus–
I stood tall as a summer reed, proud in the knowledge that I had no need to feel even an inkling of embarrassment over completing 94 simultaneous F-ranked commissions! …
“Pfffffffffffffffffffffffffffffft.”
“S-Stop at once! You are not to laugh!”
“Pffffttt~”
“C-Coppelia!!”
Clearly not seeing the angel of self-sacrifice who I was, Coppelia held one hand tightly around her mouth. Even so, she failed to stop either the sound of her amusement or the tears falling from her eyes.
My only salvation was that it came at significant cost to her. Even now, she careened between laughter and painful regret.
I decided to offer both her and myself mercy.
Turning to the receptionist, I found a modest pouch already waiting upon the wooden desk. As well as a copper ring waiting beside it.
“Thank you for your service to the Adventurer’s Guild,” said the receptionist, her professional smile undaunted by the commotion. “Your total remuneration is 102 gold crowns, 7 silver crowns and 9 copper crowns. I’ve taken the liberty to compile all your separate payments together.”
I took the pouch and ignored the ring.
The receptionist pushed the ring forwards.
A long moment later, I collected it, uncertain what a receptionist would do if I tossed it into the communal cauldron, but knowing it would somehow still end up on my finger regardless.
With my head held high, I bravely ignored the chorus of voices unknowingly cheering for their own hardship as I swept past. Renewed tears and applause filled the hall. A few cats attempted to follow me. I stopped to shoo them away.
And then I was outside, the door closing behind me.
“... Goodness, that was quite the sight,” said Renise with a bemused smile. “It reminded me somewhat of the inns of Reitzlake’s docks. I wonder if all the halls of adventurers are like that, or merely those which you frequent?”
“Please don’t insinuate I’m responsible for the debauchery which occurs wherever the Adventurer’s Guild is concerned. That’s something I can claim no credit for.”
“You say that … but to me, it seems that you caused quite a stir. That really is a remarkable number of cats you rescued, after all. Even I can tell that 94 simultaneous F-ranked commissions–”
“Miss Renise.”
The maid’s smile wavered against whatever fatigued expression I was making.
A moment later, it fell away entirely as she switched to her role as my brother’s attendant and the leader of whatever scoundrels he’d charged her with herding.
“... Yes, I suppose there’s time for idle conversation later. There’s a guardhouse nearby. We should report on all that’s happened tonight.”
I gave a nod of agreement.
Hopefully, the baroness hadn’t woken from her stupor yet. But if she had, I was certain the single portrait of myself I’d returned to the wall of her gallery to smile down at her gagged and bound state would calm her nerves.
Renise hummed towards the direction of Hartzwiese’s centre, before returning her attention to me.
“If you wish to keep your identity incognito, I can see guards sent to where they’re needed using my own authority, and arrange for the appropriate seizure of the goods and crowns we’ve discovered.”
I beamed at once.
My, so prudent! It’s little wonder she was chosen by Roland!
“A judicious offer. And one I’ll accept gladly, providing the burden isn’t too severe.”
“This is merely an administrative task, and little burden compared to what both yourself and Miss Coppelia regularly perform. In any event, it is only efficient. I expect I’ll be spending a significant amount of time at the baroness’s farmstead. It is quite extensive. If possible, I would like to make use of it for Rose House. I imagine having such a facility close to the Granholtz border would have its uses.”
I nodded, already forgetting the barn’s existence.
“I encourage you to use your discretion as required. My brother has put his trust in you, and so I both expect and know that you shall not disappoint in furthering the kingdom’s prosperity.”
The young woman smiled. One filled with appreciation, but also lacking ambition.
Good.
An excellent combination as far as retainers were concerned.
“Thank you. Although I worry you place too much trust in my abilities. In truth, those like Baroness Arisa would have made for a greater asset to the kingdom. Her resourcefulness must be acknowledged.”
“It is not resourcefulness my kingdom requires. It is loyalty. And hers is a pit so empty it drains others.”
“That’s true. But at least we were able to acquire some useful things from her nonetheless.”
Renise pulled out a tiny vial from the belt around her thigh.
A golden liquid was stored within, glimmering with an unnatural light.
“These were in her chamber,” she said, her eyes lacking emotion as she surveyed the bright liquid. “When we met, she actually attempted to purchase my loyalty with this.”
“A suspect vial. How quaint. And what miracle did she promise?”
“One that would wake my parents from their curse of eternal slumber.”
“... And is it?”
“I don’t believe so, no. This is one of many identical vials I found in her chamber’s desk drawer. All prominently labelled with instructions to only drink as required to stave off the effects of bloating.”
Renise returned the vial to her belt with a slightly embarrassed smile.
“It’s still useful,” she admitted. “But just not for what I require.”
I gave a simple nod as my reply.
Nothing else needed to be said.
She hoped to see her parents wake from their prison of dormancy. An understandable wish. And one I wasn’t required to supplement with the comment that no pair named the Smuggler King and the Smuggler Queen were likely to receive as light a sentence as their daughter.
I could not speak on behalf of Roland. Although I imagined that as a kind man, he would prefer not to pass judgements which were total. But as the Crown Prince, he did not have the luxury of kindness.
It would take much to change their fate.
But perhaps that’s why Renise was here, still proving true, and not accepting stomach ailment potions from a baroness.
A moment of silence followed.
Renise gave a short sigh. And that was that.
She set her eyes on the task ahead–at least until whatever words she’d parted her mouth to say were interrupted by Coppelia’s humming instead.
“Sooooooooooooooo … you just want to wake up two people eternally sleeping, right?”
A small smile met her optimistic voice.
“If a cure were readily available, I’m certain I would have found it by now. I believe one might be possible, but it would take skill and ingredients beyond any apothecary I know of.”
“Well, sure, you could go that way. But what about going straight to the source instead?”
“The source?”
“Sure. They’re asleep, right? So just ask the one in charge of where they are now.”
“I’m … not quite sure I follow?”
Coppelia clapped her hands together and beamed.
“The Spring Court is the realm of dreams. Chances are, they must have shown their faces around a few times by now. If you ask the Spring Queen nicely, she might do you a favour.”
“The Spring Queen? … The fae?”
“Mmh~ luckily, we have someone with connections here!”
Renise was startled out of her reply.
It was nothing compared to me. The one being pointed at.
“Coppelia!” I said, truly aghast at the suggestion. “The fae are not to be taken lightly. Why, I still have nightmares about my conversation with the Winter Queen! I learned a side to royalty that day which I shall never forget … and I’m quite poorer for it!”
“You met … the Winter Queen?” asked Renise, her eyes suddenly wide.
“Unfortunately, yes, but I had zero intention of meeting her, and I’ve just as little intention of meeting any other fae as well. Including the Spring Queen.”
I waved away the coming query to declare what was just as important as my lack of enthusiasm.
“Besides, I’ve not the foggiest idea how I would even hope to use these supposed connections I have.”
“Oh, that’s the easy bit,” said Coppelia, her casual disregard for what counted as ‘easy’ more terrifying than any lout I’d met today. “The hard part is getting them to do what you want. But meeting them? The fae are creatures of stories. If the time is right, they’ll speak to you–one way or another.”
“Then they must book an appointment. One which I can formally reject.”
“I mean, I don’t think you have much choice. You didn’t last time, right?”
“The last time, I was sat beside the Winter Queen’s crown. I see no fae artifacts to hook me away. And that means utterly no scenario in which I could be abducted without my express–”
I suddenly stopped, clasping my hands around my mouth.
A moment later, I raised my arms in a martial art I’d just invented, turning repeatedly on the spot.
Renise blinked at me.
“Excuse me, but what are–”
“Shhshhshh!!”
I paused, gazing intently around at the quiet, dark streets of Hartzwiese, all the while ignoring Coppelia’s giggling at my near miss.
That … That was close!
“O-Oho … oho … I almost invited something terrible. Truly, it’s perhaps best not to needlessly voice things which Fae Queens and their deviant brand of magic could use …”
Coppelia nodded at me, as proud as she was clearly disappointed.
“You’re lucky. If the Spring Queen had a sense of humour, she’d have snagged you right there and then.”
“No. If the Spring Queen had a sense of humour, she’d wait until–”
Click.
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15, female, I don't take any medication (used to take Vitamin D supplements but I stopped earlier this spring by request of my doctor), about 163cm, about 130 pounds
So all my life I've had this weird thing going on. I'm fine for a bit and then get hit with just a wave of nauseous that's so bad I have to sit down. It's stomach pain, dizziness, and a headache all at the same time. Sometimes I think I'm about to pass out. It's gotten a lot worse lately.
I can't find a reason why I would feel like this. I eat healthy, I work out, I'm not allergic to anything, I don't have any known medical conditions, I sleep 6-8 hours every night (which is more than what I used to get before this was a frequent problem)
Another thing that has been happening a lot with it is blurry vision. It hurts to look at one thing for a few seconds, I have to divert my eyes. I start to get like black spots and feel dizzy, again like I'm going to pass out. Is that a normal thing or is it an actual concern?

I’d like to implement gua sha into my skin care routine because I feel like my face is a little puffy, and I’ve seen so far that it can help with that.
My worry is that because gua sha requires a oil/serum, I wonder if the oil/serum would collide with the topical creams my (now former 😞) dermatologist prescribed to me and lead to a reaction or outbreak.
Here’s routine for context: AM - Cleanser, Tranexamic Acid 10% Cream (under eyes and around mouth), Dapsone Gel 7.5%, Moisturizer, Sunscreen
PM - Cleanser, Tranexamic Acid (full face, every other night), Tri-luma (Tretinoin 0.05%, every other night), Exfoliating Peel Pad (2-3 times a week), Polish (3 times a week), Clindamycin Phosphate and Benzoyl Peroxide (only when acne appears for 10 days)
I would ask my dermatologist, but it’s a weekend, and I moved out of the area and I don’t think I’ll hear from her as quickly. Can I use a gua sha with my routine? When should I use it? What serum/oil would you recommend? My skin is not dry not oily as a result of my skin care. And I know they’re online, but if there’s a good guide to follow on how to use a gua sha, can you please share? Thanks!
Edit: Added commas for readability

I noticed I wasn't remembering or following along with things like I used to, and I mentioned it to my husband. He said he was glad I had noticed it because there were times he'd be talking to me and it would be like I just wasn't there. Eyes were open, no one was home.
Made an appointment with my GP thinking maybe my vitamin or electrolyte levels were off or something, but no, based on what we told her (my husband came to the appointment because I'm not remembering things really well), she thinks I could be having absence seizures. She prescribes depakote as a preventative until I can get in to see my neuro.
Finally get an appointment scheduled with my neuro because she has a cancellation. In the meantime, GP schedules an EEG. EEG requires no caffeine for 48 hours and no more than 4 hours of sleep the night before, so go have that done, strobing lights, the whole nine yards. Results come back from that and the doctor that read them stated no unusual electrical activity.
Two business days later I have my neuro visit. So many questions. Again, my husband is there to help explain the things I'm not aware of. She takes me off of depakote and puts me on keppra. States that the type of EEG that was performed doesn't necessarily rule out seizure activity. No longer allowed to drive. Schedules MRI and wants me to schedule with epileptologist.
I had the MRI on Wednesday.
Is it weird to be automatically put on meds without some proof or conclusion that there's an issue? I know getting appointments can take time and I'm really lucky that I've been seen as many times as I have by as many people in such a short period, but is there any hope that they'll rule out seizures all together? Will I have to go a seizure-less year from an unidentified time (because we don't know if I've had seizures or not and a year is the legal timeframe in my state) before I can drive again?
I'm just feeling really defeated and discouraged and like this is being made into a bigger deal than it is, but also trying to prepare myself in case it actually is something serious. I'm tired.

I'm a mess right now and I feel like my insides are knotted up. I only have 15 minutes Before have to get out of the bathroom and pretend I'm fine and I don't know what to do. My eyes are all puffy and my voice is so hoarse.

Hi everyone, It seems like I'm part of that group too after all...
I got a blood test in the last weeks (on the 07/05 precisely) and I found out I'm at like, 4.7μg/L...
I've been able to use iron pills and recovering a little on the first time (it kind of relaxed my cerebellum quite quickly, it felt really tense prior to this and I was having memory issues for things I usually know, it kind of scared me...) but I have no damn clue for how long I should keep this going.
The first week seemed like it helped, it even made my iconic dark rings around the eyes vanish a little. And then diet changes were done (I'm histamine intolerant so it is strict) and I found that they got... Worse. More visible as I introduced garlic to my diet. Which is problematic because health-wise, it gives me other benefits, it managed to finally help me to get rid of a flu-like problem I've had for a while now, I'm guessing it's helping to get candida... But I believe it changes blood consistency too.
Today, to help my body recover a little, I also took calf liver and I'm wondering what happened... The sleep wasn't that bad but my eyes got red and the eyebags even bigger. Maybe it is something else but I can't tell what for sure.
Am I doing something wrong with like, liver or garlic ? I took the iron supplement regardless of the calf-liver but I'm wondering if this was a good idea. I don't know. Maybe that made a lot at once... But since calf-liver is a vitamin bomb, now I'm also wondering if it isn't excess vitamin A. Heck, I don't know. It's rich in iron, protein, vitamin A, folate (B9) and B12 apparently.
I have a feeling the iron pills causes water retention too as it seems to inflate my fingers a little too (but not always either). For info, I got iron bisglycinate 14 mg combined with 12 mg of vitamin C and 0,5 mg of copper.
If anyone knows what's going on and if these symptoms might resorb, I guess that would probably reassures me a little.
Thanks in advance !
PS : I apologize if my English sounds a little weird, English isn't my first language and my phrasing seems to have gotten worse with the anemia... Sorry !

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• Face masks tony moly, wander beauty eye mask, rael beauty, $10 for all or $3 each as add ons
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Nails:

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Hi everyone, I'm new to posting in this sub but I've been lurking for a few weeks now. (I made an alternate account to discuss health since I'm a private person.) I'm looking for some feedback and to see if anyone else has dealt with similar problems and had success.
Some background: my hair started noticeably falling out about 8-9 months ago. Over time I started to feel more and more tired and cold all the time. Went to a dermatologist about the hair loss and she diagnosed me with hypothyroidism due to my TSH being 5.27. She wasn't a specialist so told me to see my OBGYN. OBGYN didn't do any more testing, just immediately put me on generic 50 mg levothyroxine back in March. The first 6 weeks were kind of a nightmare with me having awful mood swings to the point I was crying my eyes out near daily, puffiness all over my body (primarily face and abdomen), and heart flutters. I told my OB and she had me start taking 25 mg which helped with the insane mood swings and flutters, but the bloating and puffiness persisted. After 6 weeks, my TSH was at 1.03.
I had to switch drs due to insurance, and started to see a GP that wanted to test me again and look at other levels. My TSH then was about 1.3 and my T3 was 3.2. I told her about the problems I'd been having with levothyroxine and she gave me some samples of NP Thyroid to try. She said that I'm young (26f) and my T3 levels seem normal so I probably won't need the extra T3 it has but to give it a shot. I tried it for about 5 days before I felt I should stop because my BPM was shooting up to 160 while doing next to nothing and I couldn't relax. I also have POTS that I've been getting treatment for for years so heartrate spikes like that are a no-go for me. Seems like maybe the extra T3 is just too much.
Other medications I'm on include lithium, a very low dose beta blocker and a birth control patch. I've been on all of these for 2+years with 0 problems.
The now: I went back to the levo for the time being until my next appointment because I wasn't sure I should quit cold turkey. Immediately the puffiness all over my body got worse. Bad water retention in my middle to the point my clothes hardly fit, my hands and feet ache, and my eyes feel half shut. I'm now trying to figure out my next course of action. I was wondering if anyone's experienced anything similar with levothyroxine and what they did. I wanted NP to work for me really badly. I've heard good things about Tirosint?
I'm feeling really hopeless right now worried I'm going to have to choose between being bloated and in pain or being exhausted and losing my hair. Any advice is appreciated, thank you!

I've had BB since about 6/7 years ago. My symptoms are a lot of saliva, very bad taste on my mouth and BB. This is specially triggered when I dont eat anything for 1/2 hours and on. The BB is only noticeable from a short distance, and I can smell it cause my saliva smells.
Over this time I've visited probably a dozen of doctors. Gastroenterologist, stomatologist, dentists, otolaryngologist and so on.
Gastroenterologist: First I was diagnosed with hiatus hernia from an endoscopy, later on, discarded by another one done by a better doctor. During this second time I had some bile in the stomach and mild gastroenteritis. I've taken all kind of omeprazoles with no effect, except one (not sure which one it was) that kind of change the taste I felt for some time.
Stomatologist: was given an oral antibiotics with not much explanation, which I took for some time and then stopped. I was unsure how to take it, or for how long since the doctor was not very explainatory. Again, nothing changed.
Dentist: My oral hygiene was not so good when I was younger, but of course over the last year it has become better, flossing every day, visiting a very good dentist very often. Used to have a very bad one. Had three root canals done and one crown. One other symptom is that I need a clean done very often, since bacteria accumulate regardless of the hygiene. Also over time I had to learn how to take care properly. This involves using a very soft brush, floss, waterpick, etc.
Otolaryngologist: Checked on me and sent me to visit one of these "integrative doctors" (dont know the proper term) but they usually cover many aspects, not just a speciality.
This last doctor ran a lot of blood tests and suggested a SIBO test (hydrogen and methane). I didn't follow the rules prior to the test (a mistake) but since the appointments were very difficult to get, I took it anyway. I got positive for methane SIBO and a constant but high hydrogen level. I took the treatment which involved antibiotics and a very stringent diet (plus a bunch of vitamins and other things). First day into the diet and symptoms got a lot worse since the lack of food (wheat derived, specially) was making me feel "unfull" and that's usually what triggers it. Three or four days into the treatment and the BB was gone entirely. I still had the excess saliva, and the bad taste just a little bit. But at least I could last 4/5 hours without eating and feeling this horrendous taste on my mouth. The change was amazing. I already finished the treatment one week ago and its been almost one entire month without BB. I assume the excess saliva is from a different source and it was probably making things worse. Of course I'll keep an eye on things since I know SIBO can make a comeback easily. I'll also keep some things I've learn from the diet. Super low sugar and try to avoid wheat (if anything, sourdough). Also get rid of sugary snacks like oreo and stuff.
I know my symptoms are different of what people usually describe here but hopefully it could help someone.

Below are links to my methylation SNPs..
My biggest complaint is insomnia. Basically as soon as I close my eyes, I get major adrenaline surges that keep me up for 4 hours or more. I am very low stress and do not have anxiety and live a very healthy lifestyle.
Vitamins I take
-"active b-complex" (folate type is "Quatrefolic brand L-methylfolate")
-glutathione
-whey protein
-collagen powder (it seems like this makes me feel worse)
-Catalase
-Copper and zinc
-monolaurin
-Vit D and K2
Things that have not seemed to help address the insomnia.. anti-histamines, niacin, CBD, melatonin
Link 1: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8XfZBOTKKyAMjBwUi1rWFBwUHM/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-iJi7qO7NKvC5iNtGUZ_7Bw
Link 2: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8XfZBOTKKyAbkdzdTVRQmtFTGc/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-3JzLOViqhCmRb1b1NYiREw

31F started getting back into skincare and I’m looking to add one more product to my current skincare routine. I have veryyyy dry skin, uneven skin tone, hyperpigmentation, textured skin especially on the forehead, and started developing hyperpigmented smile lines a year ago. For the past couple of weeks I been using
Morning- Timeless Vitamin C 10% (for uneven skin tone and hyperpigmentation)
Eucerin Dry Skin Replenishing Cream 5% Urea (for my serve dry skin, and it has worked WONDERS!!!)
Teddie Organic Rosehip Oil (freaking obsessed with this)
Night-
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser
RoC retinol correxion under eye cream (for my dark circles and hyperpigmentation for my eyelids)
Timeless Vitamin C 10% (I don’t put it on my eye since I use retinol there)
Eucerin Dry Skin Replenishing Cream 5% Urea
Teddie Organic Rosehip Oil
The combination of the Eucerin cream and Rosehip oil has done my dry skin good. But I’m thinking of either adding niacinamide or tretinoin (or both?) that can remove the texture and hyperpigmentation on my skin. Or is there’s something else that will help me better?

31F started getting back into skincare and I’m looking to add one more product to my current skincare routine. I have veryyyy dry skin, uneven skin tone, hyperpigmentation, textured skin especially on the forehead, and started developing hyperpigmented smile lines a year ago. For the past couple of weeks I been using
Morning- Timeless Vitamin C 10% (for uneven skin tone and hyperpigmentation)
Eucerin Dry Skin Replenishing Cream 5% Urea (for my serve dry skin, and it has worked WONDERS!!!)
Teddie Organic Rosehip Oil (freaking obsessed with this)
Night-
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser
RoC retinol correxion under eye cream (for my dark circles and hyperpigmentation for my eyelids)
Timeless Vitamin C 10% (I don’t put it on my eye since I use retinol there)
Eucerin Dry Skin Replenishing Cream 5% Urea
Teddie Organic Rosehip Oil
The combination of the Eucerin cream and Rosehip oil has done my dry skin good. But I’m thinking of either adding niacinamide or tretinoin (or both?) that can remove the texture and hyperpigmentation on my skin. Or is there’s something else that will help me better?

I got married last year and although I’m happy to be married, I actually found the wedding itself quite traumatic and sometimes I still feel like I’m still not over it. Despite keeping it very small - a micro wedding with a few guests, for my sake - I still found it overwhelming.
Our original venue had cancelled on us a week before, so after a mad scramble we managed to find an alternative. It’s fair to say that the stress of this the week before had already taken its toll to a certain extent. Fast forward to the day; although our photographer was incredible and encouraging, I wasn’t used to being professionally photographed and was worried the whole day about how I looked in the photos (I hadn’t slept a wink the night before and had puffy eyes on the day, one of my biggest insecurities). I had no appetite, and was totally burnt out by the end of the day. Definitely not the dreamy, manageable, enjoyable wedding I had in mind at all. In the end the photos we got were absolutely beautiful, better than I could have hoped for. Which also makes me feel bad, as this was one of my biggest worries, and I needn’t have worried. I put so much pressure on myself to look perfect to the point it was crippling. My husband was, understandably, at his wits end by the evening after having to encourage and reassure me the whole day. For context, I’m generally already an anxious person, but both of us were still taken aback by how I reacted on the day (not talking much, worrying about the photos, in a state of shut down.) I suspect I may have mild autism which might explain some of this, but I still often feel pretty down about how I handled the day, and didn’t just roll with it and make the best of it.
Is there anyone else happily married, who also really didn’t enjoy their wedding day? How do you cope with this? I’ve thought about us having a one year anniversary party, or a vow renewal in a few years, but then again who’s to say I won’t end up getting myself in the same state again, as I might put pressure on that day to ‘make up for it’ or something.

I was finally getting energy back. Still couldn't handle super stressful stuff, but I could go for hikes and only crash for like 1 day versus the 2 weeks it used to be. I could do paperwork and email people and drive and it only wore me out a little bit. Didn't do anything special, just rested a lot, keep taking my antidepressants and supplements (vitamin D and B12), and gradually added in more tasks during the day. Took almost 9 months, but I almost got to the point where I could function a whole day without napping.
And then I broke my ankle and fractured my fibula. While mountain hiking. On Mother's Day. Had to be wheelbarrowed off the mountain and went to ER. Surgery consultation isn't for another week.
Just been absolutely wiped out by PEM since then. Back to body aches, sleeping 14+ hours a day, skin problems, poor body temperature regulation, brain fog, no hand/eye coordination (been bedridden for a week because I keep toppling over with crutches), memory is nonexistent, no appetite, can't focus on anything, etc.
It's just so disheartening because it feels like I'm back to square 1 again, except now with a bum leg and my family constantly hovering over me because of the lack of balance. I couldn't work before and definitely can't work now because my energy is shot, and it's just so frustrating that all my growth has been wiped out by a stupid rock on a stupid mountain.

Transform your skin with our Matcha Green Tea & Chamomile Face Mask. This blend boosts radiance and hydration, leaving your skin smoother and softer. Chamomile Oil gently exfoliates, soothes redness, and calms irritation. With Aloe Vera and Peppermint, it balances your skin without drying. Rich in Vitamin E, it nourishes and reduces puffiness and dark circles. Use three times a week for clear, radiant skin. Treat your skin to the goodness of matcha and chamomile!

Being a natural skeptic, this is a story I never thought I’d be telling. I grew up reading those short, half-edited horror stories that were so popular on the internet, scaring myself out of sleep too many times to count as a kid. These days, I’m still too scared to fall asleep, just like I was when I was 11 reading stories on boards I had no business browsing. This time, though, it isn’t typed words on my aging laptop that have my heart unable to beat calmly in my chest. It isn’t the long traded campfire story that has the hairs on my neck standing in unease.
It’s the envelope sitting on my desk, taunting me as I glance at it from across the room. The top torn open haphazardly, its contents situated neatly against the worn wood grain.
It’s the words that are typed so neatly along the page, bringing back every foul memory I can conjure.
“Thank you for donating.
Come back and see us again soon,
Mr. Weller.”
~
The sun hung lazily in the sky, casting a golden hue over the endless river of asphalt stretching out before me. This highway, flanked by gnarled mesquite trees and sporadic billboards advertising the next southern baptist church, had become somewhat of a familiar friend over the years. It was the unofficial gateway between my life at college and my small hometown nestled on the border of Texas and Louisiana.
I adjusted my review mirror, catching a glimpse of my own tired reflection. Summer break was finally here and I had high-tailed it from the campus as soon as my last final exam hit my professor’s desk. Gone was the grueling cycle of exams, papers, and endless nights spent hunched over textbooks. Whoever said that the college years were the best of their life needed to find the nearest sharp object to take a seat on.
As I drove, the familiar scenery slipping by in a soothing blur, my phone rang, jolting me from my thoughts. The screen flashed “Mom”, causing the involuntary roll of my eyes.
“Hey, Mom, I’m on the road. What’s up,” I spoke into the phone, trying to keep the exasperation out of my voice.
”Hi, sweetheart! How close are you to home?” Her voice was warm and overly sweet, exactly the tone she used when she was about to ask for an inconvenient favor.
“Probably a few hours out. Why?”
“Perfect! Listen, can you do me a favor and pick up a case of beer for your dad? He invited his friends over tonight and I don’t have time to run to the store with all the cooking-,” she explained quickly, probably sensing my sigh of annoyance before I could even take a breath.
”Mom,” I interrupted evenly, “you do realize there are, like, zero places to stop for miles, right? The last couple hours are practically deserted.”
“I know, but most gas stations always have the kind your dad likes. Just stop at the next one you see, okay?”
I groaned internally, glancing at my half full gas gauge. I had filled up the tank this morning specifically so I wouldn’t have to stop once on the drive.
“Fine, I’ll see what I can do.”
”You’re the best,” Mom sighed in relief, her tone calm again. “Drive safe, honey.”
With that, she hung up, leaving me to the rhythmic drone of the road and my dusty second hand CD’s once again.
I kept my eyes peeled for the next gas station, hoping to get the beer run out of the way sooner rather than later. About 20 minutes after Mom’s call, a rundown gas station came into view, its neon sky flickering erratically against the dusky sky. Like most gas stations in the middle-of-nowhere-south, it looked like it hadn’t seen a renovation since at least the 70’s.
Pulling in, I parked next to a rusted out pickup and stepped out, the heat and humidity immediately oppressive. The place reeked of old oil and dust, the air thick with the smell of mildew. I made my way inside, the crude “bell” over the door made of old fishing lures and soda caps jingling half-heartedly as I entered.
If I thought the outside of the joint was sad, the inside was plain pathetic. Dimly lit and cluttered with off brand snacks and outdated magazines, I wouldn’t be surprised if it hadn’t been stocked since at least the 70’s. I quickly located the cooler, grabbing a case of Keystone Light and headed to the counter. I tried not to breathe the air in too deeply, a little afraid of whatever strange diseases probably lingered.
The attendant behind the counter was a greasy, wiry man with sunken eyes and a gaunt face. He glanced up from his equally disheveled book, watching me approach with an intensity that made me uneasy. Placing the beer on the counter, I fished out my license, hoping to make this transaction as quick as possible. He eyed me while I pulled my wallet out, his voice reeking of prolonged cigarette and cheap whiskey.
“Headed to Texas?” he gruffed.
I nodded slowly, trying to piece together how he knew. I was still at least an hour and a half from the border. “Yeah, lucky guess.” I chuckled uneasily.
”Not lucky at all,” he drawled out, “Saw yer license plate.”
I turned towards the glass door, seeing the direct line to my car.
“Ah,” I responded, not quite sure what else to add as I put down my drivers license next to the case of beer.
Is this how social interactions at gas stations are supposed to go?
The greasy man picked up my license, his gaze lingering on it a bit too long as he rang the beer up without glancing at the register.
“You’re an organ donor,” he remarked, casual, as if it were something he asked every day.
Nope. Definitely not a normal interaction.
”Uh, yeah. Just in case, I guess.”
He handed back the license and I fought the urge to wipe whatever strange grime he accumulated on his hands off my card.
“Makes you a good person,” he nodded, offering me a rotted grin.
I forced a smile, increasingly eager to get the hell out of this place. “How much?”
”Fifteen seventy three.” He replied, his accent catching over the vowels.
I handed over two wrinkled 10s, wondering if I should tell him to keep the change so I wouldn’t have to handle anything else he touched. Before I could decide, the man spoke again, peering back at the door.
”Yer headed the wrong way if yer trynna get to Texas. Should take the next left up ahead.”
I frowned, unable to keep up my polite mask much longer. “The road’s straight the whole way,” I argued, “I’ve driven it a hundred times.”
The grimy mess of a man simply smiled, a thin, almost predatory smile.
“Only bein polite. Suit yerself”
I took my change and beer, muttering a quick thanks before bolting it out of there. The encounter left an uncomfortable feeling in my chest, and I couldn’t shake the feeling of those piercing eyes on my back as I walked to my car.
Last time I do a favor for mom, I thought dramatically.
Once inside the safety of my car, I locked the doors and started the engine, eager to put distance between myself and that disgusting gas station. The man’s words and shit-eating grin echoed in my mind, but I dismissed them. The road home was straight, I knew that much for certain.
As the miles ticked by, I found myself turning the music up louder and louder, trying to shake off the unease from the encounter. I tried focusing on the familiar landmarks and the lyrics of the songs I’d heard a thousand times. Thankfully, it only took a few songs for it to work.
The sun began to dip lower into the sky, casting long shadows that stretched across the road. I figured I was about an hour from home at this point, my mind itching to be home.
It took me longer than I’d like to admit to see that something was seemingly… wrong.
When I glanced to the side, expecting fields of unkempt brush and patches of cactus, instead I saw short, twisted trees. My eyebrows furrowed, trying to make sense of the misplaced flora. I let off the gas slightly, slowing down the car to take in the patches of damp, soggy earth peppering the fields. I looked behind me, my brain desperate to rationalize the sudden change of environment. I gripped the steering wheel tighter, a knot of anxiety forming in my stomach.
This wasn’t right. I had driven this route countless times and the scenery had never changed so drastically. How in the world had I driven myself into a bog?
The road, usually straightforward and predictable, now seemed to wind and twist as my car crept along it, each bend revealing more of the eerie, waterlogged terrain. Doubts crept in, swift and harsh. Had I missed a turn? Was that psycho right after all?
The feeling of unease grew stronger with each passing mile. The familiar landmarks were gone, replaced by dense foliage and the occasional decrepit and rotted building. I glanced at my phone, picking it up in hopes of checking my GPS, but my heart sank when I saw the “no service” icon in the corner.
Panic began to set in, a cold sweat breaking out on my forehead. I needed to find a way back to the main road, or at least to a road sign.
Just as the sense of dread threatened to overwhelm me, I spotted a building up ahead, its bright lights cutting through the encroaching darkness of dusk. Relief flooded through me. Whatever this place is, surely someone in there can tell me where I got turned around.
However, the sight before me only had my eyebrows furrowing deeper. A clean, well-lit, white building stood amidst the desolate landscape, almost cartoonishly out of place. It looked brand new, too pristine for its surroundings. Like a beacon of hope in a sea of… muck.
Desperation overrode my hesitancy of such a place, fueling my decision to pull over. I parked my car in the well-paved lot, comforted by the other vehicles sitting under the bright lights.
I made my way to the entrance, the glass doors sliding open smoothly as I approached. The stark white walls and sterile smell hit me immediately, a stark contrast to the humid smell of wood rot outside.
Is this some sort of clinic?
I paused as I looked around, my eyes landing on a front desk. A cheery looking woman with a bright smile sat behind it, her eyes already on me.
”Good evening! Are you here to donate?” she called out, her voice light and airy.
I turned back to the door for a moment, my instincts not quite thrilled being in such a strange place, but the idea of trying to get myself un- lost in the dark pushed me further towards the front desk.
”Uh, no. I’m actually lost,” I responded, giving the woman a weak smile. “I’m trying to get to Texas and I think I may have taken a wrong turn. Can you point me in the right direction?”
Her smile didn’t falter, but there was a flicker of something else in her eyes. Disappointment? Annoyance? It was hard to tell.
”Of course, sugar. But why don’t you take a seat first?”
I glanced around to what I now assumed was a waiting room. The occupants were an odd assortment of characters, each making me more uneasy than the last. An elderly man in disheveled clothes sat closest, muttering to himself while looking straight through me.
A few seats down sat a young woman with stringy hair, as if she had just gotten out of the shower. Her eyes looked red and puffy and I could only assume she either was terribly allergic to bogs, or she had been crying for a while.
Next, a man with a little girl sitting beside him caught my attention. The girl clutched a small stuffed bunny, her eyes regarding me curiously. She seemed to be the only person aware of my existence and I threw a small smile her way. Her eyes shifted immediately, darting nervously back to the man beside her. The man had no reaction, continuing to stare straight ahead with a vacant expression.
Lastly, a businessman sat in the corner, his wrinkled suit and messy hair contradicting his aloof demeanor. He held a phone to his ear, checking his watch intermittently. The whole scene of the room reeked of impatience and unease, making my skin crawl.
What the hell is this place?
I turned back to the front desk, forcing a smile. “Listen, ma’am. I’m really just looking for directions. I don’t need an appointment.”
The woman tilted her head slightly, her smile never wavering. “Mr. Weller can see you for a donation. It won’t take long.”
“I really don’t have time for that. I just need to get back on the road,” I insisted, the edge of desperation beginning to creep into my voice.
She ignored my plea, typing something into the computer. “Mr. Weller will be with you shortly. Please, take a seat.”
Frustration boiled over. I was about to argue further when I noticed the other patients had started to stare, their gazes heavy and expectant. The atmosphere in the room shifted to feel charged, almost oppressive.
Deciding I had seen quite enough, I muttered quickly. ”Thanks, but I’m going to pass,” and turned on my heel, making a beeline for the exit.
The nurse’s cheerful farewell followed me out, a stark contrast to the chill that had settled in my bones.
I hurried back to my car, the clinic’s lights painting long shadows across the parking lot. Sliding into the driver’s seat, I locked the doors and took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. The “clinic” had rattled me more than I cared to admit.
As I started the engine and pulled back onto the road, the clinic quickly disappeared from view, swallowed by the hungry night. My mind raced, grappling with the bizarre turn of events. The woman at the front desk’s insistence, the strange people in the waiting room, and the clinic itself…
none of it made sense.
Determined to put this fever dream behind me and find my way home, I refocused on the road ahead, hoping that with a bit of luck, I could retrace my steps and escape this unsettling detour. The landscape grew darker, the swamp closing in around me, but I pressed on, clinging to the desperate hope that familiar sights were just around the next bend.
The feeling of unease clung to me like an unwanted second skin as I drove further on, minutes passing with no change. Eventually, at least an hour passed, the monotony of the road broken only by the occasional curve and the distant croaking of frogs. I had long since shut off my radio, seeing as no amount of Lynyrd Skynyrd could make the situation better.
My eyes strained against the darkness, searching for any road signs or landmarks.
Yet as time wore on, familiar trees passing by, an alarming realization began to settle in.
Despite making no turns. Despite the road seemingly taking me far away,
I was back where I started.
Bright lights pierced the gloom ahead, the parking lot coming into view mocking my attempt to leave. My heart sank, a cold wave of dread washing over me the closer I got.
I was back at the clinic.

Serious question. I’m watching her movie, The Idea of You, and it goes without saying that she looks incredible for 40.
Currently using Vitamin C and sunscreen in the mornings and Tretinoin nightly. Also have forehead Botox and filler underneath my eyes due to large bags created from lifelong allergies. I’ll be 30 in a few months and make a decent income. I have no kids so I have some money for discretionary spending. What can I add/change to my skincare routine to age as gracefully as Anne Hathaway?