Hi, I've been wanting to start this medication for a while but I have a severe needle phobia.
I watched a few YouTube videos online about injecting Wegovy and it seemed people had a sort of clicky pen, single use, and the needle kind of pushes down so you don't actually see it. I was sold!
Then looking at UK suppliers they don't seem to be like this at all, it's one pen per month with disposable needles which is a bit out of my comfort zone.
Can anybody confirm if they found Wegovy in the UK with the disposable weekly pen?

My dog has been vomiting everything he eats or drinks for the past four days. We took him to the vet, who gave him a Cerenia shot and some antibiotics. The next day, he was still vomiting, so the vet tested his kidneys. The results were shocking: his creatinine level is at 14 mg/dL. The vet said it's kidney failure and prescribed some tablets and syrups, and they also injected saline and gave another Cerenia shot for the vomiting.Despite this, he's still vomiting and I can’t bear to see him suffer. He’s asking me for water, but whenever I give him any, he vomits it up within 15 minutes. He is not eating anything, and I have to hand-feed him. But he even vomits it up. Can we atleast stop him from vomiting? Then I can feed him something.
Can we bring down that severe level of creatinine to some extent? Does he have any chances of survival? If so, how long could he live?
Any advice or experiences would be greatly appreciated.

I want to thank Meatcanyon and Wendigoon for starting Creepcast. I've played around with writing horror, and here is my first short story. I will post it for free in a few other places to see what people think. Please enjoy!
A Hike to Remember
By R.L. Oclen
Chapter 1
A woman sits with hastily pulled-up fire-red hair in the waiting room of the state patrol station. The procedurally sterile off-white walls and decade-old magazines do little for comfort. With her head hanging low, her shoulders pushing forward, and her boots rapidly tapping on the floor, something has to give.
"Please just let her be okay." The woman growls as a pair of officers come in from the field. The officers' demeanors quickly change when they see the familiar face.
"Tabitha, did Officer Nichols call you?" one of the state patrol officers asked sympathetically.
"Yes, he asked me to come in and pick up a few things," Tabitha said, shooting back a muted look.
" I'll let them know you're here." The officer said, nodding to Tabitha as they passed the security door. Tabitha leaned back against the hard plastic chair, staring blankly into the fluorescent light. She had done this dance in the macabre repeatedly over the past month. The last image of her younger sister, Lisa, still burned in her mind. Tabitha had always been protective over her younger sister after their parents died. A pang of guilt shoots through her chest as she thinks about her and Lisa's argument.
"Tabitha Hymm, Officer Nichols is ready for you."
"Okay," she stood up, shaking off her guilt, and followed the officer back. The familiar surroundings of the state patrol station blurred as Tabitha stared forward. She followed the officer as they came to a rustic wooden office door, which was embossed with "Officer Nichols."
The escorting officer turns the old brass door knob. "Sir, I have Tabitha Hymm here." A grizzled West Virginia Highway State Patrol veteran sits behind the desk and nods. The escorting officer steps aside, pushing the door open as Tabitha pushes past him and slumps in the awaiting chair like so many times before. An uncomfortable relationship had formed between the two, born out of necessity and duty.
"Cup of coffee?"
"No thanks. Let's just cut to the chase. You don't have anything new?"
The worn laugh lines and Officer Nichols's face flattens. His eyebrows contour sympathetically as he shakes his head.
"Tabitha, I don't have anything else new for you. I wanted to give you the clothes returned from the lab." Her face darkened at the same response she had heard many times.
"As we discussed two weeks ago, there is nothing new and no signs of struggle or foul play," Officer Nichols said while placing a box marked evidence on the table and sliding it forward. Tabitha began to weep at the realization of Lisa's clothes in front of her. In a coordinated queue, Officer Nichols brought out a box of tissues. Reluctantly, Tabitha took a few moments to unblur her vision.
"How does someone stop their car in the middle of the Remington West Virginia State Park, lock it, and then walk into the woods?" Officer Nichols clasped his hands together and sighed at her worn question.
"Tabitha, I wish I had an answer for why your sister stopped her car in the woods and simply walked off. We're still going through her cell phone, but no signs exist that anyone forced her. On that Tuesday morning, she pulled over to the side of the road, secured her car, and walked away." Officer Nichols said empathetically.
Tabitha became stoic at the same explanation she had heard many times before. " So what next?"
"You should go back to Ohio, and I'll contact you as soon as I have more information." She winced at Officer Nichols's words. Reality began to pull at her that bills and work wouldn't wait much longer.
"If I leave, she's gone for good."
" You staying won't bring her back." Officer Nichols said sympathetically.
" So is that it? She's just gone?"
" Tabitha, I'll be honest with you. In cases like this… when people do things like this. Recovery is harder in the spring due to the weather and the animals. You know her mental condition better than I do. I can't explain why she did what she did. But until I find a solution, a suicide note, some intention, or body. She's not here. Tabitha, I'm-"
" Don't you fucking say sorry!" Tabitha stood up, screaming at Officer Nichols, throwing the plastic chair backward against the wall. " I should just look for myself."
"No!" Officer Nichols said momentarily, gripping the desk as his face hardened, then relaxed. Tabitha was caught off guard by Officer Nichols, who was normally composed. "Tabitha, I know this is unbearable. I've sat on this side of the desk and had these conversations. Trust me; I need you to be safe if I need your help later."
Tabitha nods, knowing Officer Nichols is right. She reaches down, picks up the evidence box of her sister's belongings, and leaves.
" Tabitha, if you're heading home, don't stop your car; just keep driving." Tabitha stops to look at Officer Nichols, feeling an eeriness to his words.
" Goodbye, Officer Nichols," Tabitha said as she closed the rustic wooden door behind her. She counted the tiles as she exited the West Virginia State Patrol Station. Placing her sister's belongings carefully in the back seat of her Jeep, Tabitha then sat momentarily behind the steering wheel, staring at the emblem. The familiar numbness washed over Tabitha as she pushed the start button. She pulled onto the highway, driving to the motel that had been home for the last month or so. Muted pop music accented the drive back as her mind raced with questions. Once inside the two-and-a-half-star motel room, Tabitha sat her sister's belongings on the corner table, crumbled onto the bed, and cried.
***
Tabitha wiped the steam from the slightly spotted mirror above the bathroom sink. The hot water from the shower felt good and loosened some of the stress from her body. Looking back at her, Tabitha's face was framed by damp curls around her shoulders. Her face marked the stress of the past month. Frowning, she examined the bags under her eyes; sleep had to come tonight. Walking into the living area, She changed into her favorite gym shorts and oversized sleep shirt. The alarm on her phone flashed "7:00 am," so she could drive home five hours after breakfast.
Tabitha hated feeling comfortable in this once strange room, but falling asleep was getting easier now. Her eyes closed slowly as the ceiling fan droned evenly. At first, nothing came in her dreams, but she let her guard down and slipped further into sleep.
As she dreamed of floating overhead like a bird of prey, Tabitha soared over the vast Remington National Park. The high noon sun bore down on the crisp woods, perfectly contrasting sky and forest. The heat of the sun felt good on her feathers. Distant cries rang out through the dream-like forest, catching her attention. Tabitha tilted her wings toward the screams, feeling a sense of familiar curiosity.
She now recognized the sobs and cries for help as she flew closer, her sharp eyes locked on her sister leaning against a large oak tree. She glided overhead without care, examining the situation below. Lisa clung to the tree, her eyes darting back and forth, scanning upwards. Lisa's face reflected desperation, looking for help in any direction. Tabitha lazily circles Lisa several times before perching on a sturdy branch higher in one of the oak trees. She watched Lisa intently with hunger. She bellowed deeply, hearing the unnatural sound she made, catching Lisa's eyes. Lisa's expression changed; she became calm, almost uncaring, as she stared back at Tabitha's form. Hunger grew exponentially in Tabitha as she spread her large wings. Her large eyes gaze down at Lisa before diving straight for her sister.
Tabitha jolts awake to the alarm on her phone flashing "7:23 AM." She breathes in sharply, shaking off the last horrible thoughts from the reoccurring nightmare. The strange details become more vivid each time. The lingering memories of folk stories her mother told sat in the back of her mind. In those stories, the dead would reach out in dreams as a matter of warning. Leaning back on the headboard, she searched for the advice her psychologist gave her. During their last session, Dr. Ryland explained dreams are a form of self-actualization of guilt. He told Tabitha that it was natural to feel responsible when losing a loved one in this manner.
Tabitha grumbled, lightly running her hands through her red hair; she pushed everything to the back of her mind. "Get it together!" She grumbled to herself. She pushed herself off the bed and got ready to leave. It was going to be a long trip home, and the only thing she could do now was leave things in the authorities' hands. Packing up was pretty easy since she only cycled through the outfits she brought. The local laundromat must have made a small fortune off her. Tabitha took one last look at the box of Lisa's belongings before throwing them in her duffle bag. She was thankful she didn't have to spend another night in this room.
***
Tabitha sat behind the wheel, waiting for the 90's model minivan to finish their order so she could grab a breakfast burrito on the way out. Considering the situation, the Deer Stop Family Restaurant did have a good breakfast. Finally, pulling up to the 70-style drive-in board, Tabitha rolled off the order she had been accustomed to. " I'll take a large iced tea with the double breakfast burrito meal and hash browns, please."
" Would you like some happy hot sauce with that?"
" That's fine, and a few ketchup packets as well."
" Your total is $8.79. Please pull around."
She pulled around to her window, flashed her debit card, got the receipt, and waited for her food. Luckily, the young woman serving her wasn't very talkative in the morning. The last thing she wanted was a conversation about the weather or meaningless small talk.
" Here's your large iced tea and breakfast meal. Ketchup and happy hot sauce are inside."
" Thanks," Tabitha said while mustering her best fake smile. The woman only smiled and nodded as the service window automatically closed. She pulled into the parking lot and dug into breakfast. Turning the radio to the weather, Tabitha sat back and enjoyed her meal. The local DJ read through the headlines, making nonpartisan comments about politics and grumbling about improving the economy. Tabitha powered through the updates of the "out-of-state woman" who'd gone missing. It was nice that the local radio station gave Lisa's name, description, and a missing person's number for sightings or leads. Tabitha even interviewed with the local news and radio stations, hoping it would bring Lisa home. But she soon found all it brought was a sorrowful look from the locals as she interacted with them in her day-to-day life.
Finishing the last of her hash browns, Lisa wadded up everything in the paper bag and threw it in the back seat. The 9 AM weather report said it was nothing but clear skies and sun the rest of the week. Tabitha flipped the radio over to the greatest hit station, pulled out of the parking lot, and began her trip home. She memorized the roads, every bend and turn in the early weeks as she frantically looked for Lisa. There's something hypnotic about the trees: the way they flow together. The trees' green tops and the oak trees' wide trunks were a relaxing view. Tabitha enjoyed the lazy s-curves of the road, bending and winding around the hills and the trees. The occasional farmhouse or field dotted the sides of the road as she made her way to the main highway.
The blur of a semi-truck snapped Tabitha's attention as she pulled up to the mouth of the highway. She had four and a half hours ahead of her, which would be a long ride. Tabitha pulled onto the highway and picked up speed, noting sparse traffic. She relaxed into her seat, letting her gaze gloss over the blur of green foliage. Without warning, Tabitha caught a large shadow from the corner of her left eye. When she registered the black feathery form, Tabitha tensed up and slammed on the brakes as it swooped across the vehicle's hood. Quickly, she pulled the car safely off the road. She couldn't determine exactly what it was, but it was bigger than any bird she'd seen. It was a bird, right? Tabitha turned off her Jeep and grabbed the keys and cell phone. Standing before the Jeep, she looked over the grill to see if she made contact with the entity.
Bewildered, she scanned the tree line, spotting something in the distance. Sitting in the clearing of the large oak forest was an enormous black owl. It stared intently at Tabitha with bright, shiny yellow eyes. She pushed the lock button on her keys, causing the jeep to beep securely. She turned, looking across the open field, an enormous black owl perched in the upper branches of an old oak tree. Each step she took away from the road piqued her curiosity. Soon, Tabitha stood in the middle of the open field, staring intently into the eyes of the enormous owl.
The horn of a passing semi-truck blared, pulling Tabitha's attention away from the mysterious large creature. She looked back and saw that she had walked farther away from the Jeep than she had thought. She glanced back to the forest line only to see the enormous owl was deeper into the woods than before. She narrowed her vision to find the two large, bright yellow eyes staring back. Had it moved? The day's stress, care, and worry suddenly poured out of Tabitha. It was replaced by only curiosity and overbearing tranquility. She warmly smiled for the first time in months as her feet pulled her further into the woods.
Chapter 2
The tug of gravity pulls Tabitha to her senses as her body reacts, falling forward. Her arms thrust forward, bracing for impact. Water rushes around her face as she struggles to get her bearings. Quickly, Tabitha pushed herself up in the ankle-high stream she fell in. The haze slowly clears from her mind as she stares at the muddy water. The dull ache throbs up her legs. Tabitha can smell the sweat from her clothes. Her face contorted in panic as she quickly stood up in the water, looking for her cell. Thankfully, the device was still in her pocket, dry and unscathed.
"One o'clock. How can that be?" Tabitha says, slowly looking up from the screen to see the vast, dense West Virginia forest encompassing her view. She shakes her head back and forth with disbelief. A smile gently spreads across her face, with the last bit of tranquility leaving her body. How did I get out here? Her breathing becomes faster as her pulse begins to quicken. I'm in the forest. I'm all alone—just like Lisa!
"NO, NO, NO, NO! THIS FUCKING CAN'T BE HAPPENING TO ME!" Tabitha screams into the void of trees. Her eyes well up with tears as she crumbles to her knees, gripping her phone tightly to her chest. Her sobs ring out through the thick oak trees. Her breath slows a little as she regains her composure. She begins to search her mind for anything. What is the last thing I can remember? The image of the black shadow crossing her vision while driving flashes into her mind.
"Okay, I got out of the Jeep, the…then what?" Tabitha says, trying to refresh her memories. She thinks her memory is not just gone; it's a black void in her mind. Complete blackness fills her mind right after remembering locking the Jeep and then turning to see the…
"Fuck I saw something. What was it!" Tabitha says, frustrated with her mind. She knew there must be a logical reason she was out here. Officer Nichols warned her not to go looking for her sister. She wasn't stupid; she just said that as a last-ditch effort to get him to do anything. Now I'm here.
"Run!" Tabitha heard Lisa's voice in her ear. Before she could turn around, she heard a loud bellowing coming from overhead. Fear shot down her back, reminding her of the nightmares she had over the past month. She shot forward full bore as something crashed to the ground behind her. Glancing back as she ran, a black mass of feathers convulsed between the broken branches of the trees. Its slick black feathers rippled across its surface as its bones crackled and flesh tore. Its body contorted and twisted from the shape of an owl to something bigger.
"Run, Tabby! Don't let it catch you!" Tabitha pushed forward, hearing Lisa's scream beside her face. Her breath burned in her chest, and she moved past the old oak trees bent over the creek bed. Her feet slammed rapidly, splashing along the side of the creek. Another loud bellow comes from behind as the trees bend and break to the force behind her. A small opening in the rocky creek bed catches her sight from the left. She dives into the crevasses, not caring where the fathoms lead. Tabitha tumbles in the pitch black, taking scrapes and sharp jabs from the rocks as she tumbles further into the void.
She finally tumbles to a stop on the sandy, wet floor of the cave. Her body aches from the sudden burst of exhaustion. The cool water running around her body from the creek is soothing despite her bumps and bruises. Pushing herself up, she scoots out of the water. Feeling her way forward, she finds a dry spot to collect herself. Quickly pushing her hand into her pocket, she finds her phone undamaged.
The sound of footsteps pushing against the creek fills the void around Tabitha as the light steps move closer to each other up the underground creekbed. She slowly removes her cell from her pocket and then shines the camera light toward the sound. A pair of scratched and bruised pale bare legs hold up a frail form in front of her in the creek. She wears the darkness as a shroud with nothing else to clothe her. Tabitha froze, not wanting to shine the light further in the pale form before her.
"Tabby, turn your light off. You need to save your battery." Tabitha turned off the light and then rushed forward, embracing Lisa—the how or why didn't matter, only the now. The pale form hugged her tightly. Tabitha felt her cold, bare skin. The darkness couldn't hide the feeling of the marks across her back and torso.
"Lisa, I'm-"
"Hush! I don't have much time. This wasn't your fault! I'm with Mom and Dad now. You have to survive, Tabby! Listen. Wait until the sun shines through the cracks, making a trail out. Follow it down the creek until you come to the opening. You'll see a large hill you hike up for a cell signal. And remember…If you can't see it… It can't hurt you. I love you-"
Tabitha stumbled forward before catching herself. The void in front of her arms was only filled by cool air. She looked up and noticed a faint glimmer of light pushing through the ceiling. She sat down, relaxing against the limestone wall of the cave, waiting for the trail of light to form.
***
After a few hours, the light shining through the cracks of the cave ceiling was bright enough to lead Tabitha to the other side. She stepped onto the creek bed, thankful for the sun hanging lower in the sky. Scanning the sky, Tabitha saw only a few clouds. The foothills of Appalachia backdropped the forest as she scanned for the hill. Her eyes found the trail leading up the steady slope of an impressive hill. The top of the hill was bare. Part of the hill must have sheared off in a landslide, leaving the top void of trees and a jagged cliff face. Tabitha started her hike up the back of the hill. She was careful to stay under the heavy canopy of the old trees, hopefully avoiding the creature's eyes.
She did her best to quiet her mind while hiking up the trail. Come on, almost to the top, then I can call 911, she replayed repeatedly in her mind. Her adrenaline made up for the lack of food since morning. She drank some water from a clean spot in the creek. She was placing her bet on rescue rather than worrying about the water.
Leaning against one of the trees, Tabitha took out her cell and measured the signal.
"Damn it, nothing!" She swore under her breath. She listened nervously and cautiously peered her head out from the tree line. Standing at the tree line, the cell phone still had a low signal. She pushed her anxiety down with a swallow and slowly stepped forward onto the bare rock. Tabitha was now out in the open. She walked with the cell phone pointed upwards, measuring the signal. Within three feet of the cliff face, her signal bar punched up to full. Tabitha began to punch in the numbers just as a pair of large yellow eyes appeared. She felt her legs become weak, and her vision blurred as the creature snared her in its gaze.
Tabitha ducked, missing the giant owl's claws as it swooped for her. She squinted her eyes shut, momentarily breaking the hold of the infernal beast as it crashed to the ground, tumbling down the path of old trees. On her hands and knees, she tucked the dialed phone back into her pocket. She heard the creature's loud bellowing, followed by the snapping of bone and flesh ripping. It was changing its shape to finish her off.
Tabitha tried to get up, but the flash of its eyes did something to her. Her legs were numb, her stomach was in knots, and she could barely put a few thoughts together.
"If you can't see it, it can't hurt you." Tabitha heard clearly in her left ear. She quickly pushed herself into a sitting position and fumbled for the key chain in her right pocket. Pulling the long chain of keys, luck charms, and keepsakes, her father's Swiss army knife dangled at the end. She slowly opened the half-inch blade. Her body wholeheartedly rejected her plan and tried to fight her. Every internal warning system sounded as her body fought against her as she brought the blade against the corner of her left eye.
She didn't know if she could do it until the creature bellowed in her direction. With one quick motion, the half-inch blade sliced across her left eye. The world dimmed and then went black on her left side. Behind her, the beast's thundering gallop was getting closer. Tabitha plunged herself into total darkness with the last bit of her strength. Her hand gripped tightly around the bloody knife as she folded forward onto the ground. She could feel herself weeping blood. She squinted, doing her best to stem the tide of blood loss.
A large feathered paw drove into Tabitha's right side, flipping her onto her back. She lay still as the hulking creature stood over her. It remained motionless, and Tabitha was confused about why it didn't move or bite her. Then she started to giggle, just a little at first. Then, laughing madly into the creature's face as it growled back at her. She could not see it; she couldn't see anything. Her mind couldn't be eaten!
The creature roared into Tabitha's face while plunging one of its sharp claws into her shoulder. Tabitha screamed in pain, slashing the knife downward. The blade hit something soft, and she ripped the blade down, rending whatever she had hit on the abomination. A bright yellow, foul-smelling liquid gushed in a torrent over Tabitha's face. She turned to cough, having swallowed a portion of it. The creature reared back, squealing in pain. Its hind leg came down hard on Tabitha's leg, snapping her tibia. She jerked her leg up, causing the creature to tumble forward and fall over the edge of the cliff side.
Tabitha heard the creature crash below at the base of the hill. A large dead tree speared the creature through its chest. Tabitha could hear the labored whines of the creature as its cries became weak and slowed. A wave of sickness hit her as she rolled over and vomited. The foul smell drenched her. She did her best to focus, reaching into her pocket and pulling out the phone. By memory, she typed in the unlock pin. She held her breath and placed her thumb where the call button should be.
She could hear the call being made then, "911. What is your emergency?"
"Please help me! A bear has attacked me, and I can't see. I think I am on a hill."
"Ok, ma'am, stay with me! Do you know where you are located?"
"No, I'm lost. Please send help."
"It's okay. Stay with me on the phone, and I'll use the cell signal to try to find you."
"I'm on top of one of the hills. I think I am lying on a bare roc-" Tabitha slipped unconscious with the cell still tightly in her hand. Her body began to tremble and convulse.
"Ma'am! Ma'am! Stay with me. I have help on the way."
Chapter 3
A young man in military fatigues frantically compiles images and reconnaissance data from his drone feed. Confirming his hunch, he commands the winged surveillance drone to make a hard left and send a live video feed. His eyes widened as he saw a large owl-shaped shadow crash onto the top of a hill. He watches in awe as the sleek black owl twists and shifts into something much larger, like a grizzly. As the drone turns, he sees a woman at the cliff's edge trying to steady yourself on her hands and knees.
He bolts up from the command module, jotting down the drone's coordinates on one of the printouts. The drab government-issued office motif for the watch station blurs in the corner of his eye as he rushes down the hallway to the watch commander's office.
"Sir, recon has eyes on AMOS! And it's feeding!" the man said, swinging the heavy wooden door open. He took the hastily compiled file and pushed it forward to the commanding officer.
An older, tanned man quickly stands, reaching for the files. His brow furls, seeing his charge is awake. "Keep eyes on it! Go Adams!" The young man nods, turning on his heel and bolting for the drone command module. As his office door slams shut from the subordinate officer, he grabs his headset and frantically dials the closest military outpost to the coordinates.
"Hello, Sergeant Klein; this is Agent Smith of Black Watch outpost 7948! Shadow is active, code Alpha, Mike, Oscar, Sierra. The coordinates and data package have been sent. A civilian is on the ground; deploy strike-and-rescue ASAP.
"We'll be up in five, Agent Smith! The line cuts as Agent Smith closes out the call on his headset and rushes to the door. The normally quiet watch station buzzes alive, with personnel flooding the central command station. The background echoes resource allocation calls, frantic typing, and the hum of cold computers warming up.
"Adams, get our eyes back on Amos!"
"Coming back around in 30 seconds." Thirty sets of eyes stare at the three giant screens, anxiously waiting for the drone feed to clear the bank of trees. The camera clears the tre top to see the giant feathered grizzly rear back slinging its massive head away from its prey. Its large yellow right eye spews bright yellow liquid all over the red-haired woman and the cliff face. The giant feathered grizzly missteps, crushing the woman's leg and causing the creature to tumble over the cliff face.
"Fuck!" Agent Smith yells in horror as he watches AMOS fall four stories, impaling a sharp, 3-meter-tall log lodged in the boulders. The command center freezes wide-eyed at the flailing dying creature on screen. Agent Smith pulls his cell out quickly and dials.
"Klein, Scrub the current request! AMOS is down! Switch to rescue and harvest now!
"What, someone took out AMOS?"
"YES! It's at the bottom of the cliff, bleeding out essence! The woman is covered in it as well. Clean as much of it off her as possible before you take her to the ER.
"Understood!"
Agent Smith, in a rage, slings his phone straight forward, connecting with Private Adams's skull. Adams flinches at the sudden impact of the hard plastic and covers his head. Agent Smith grabs the table in front of him and flips it over, sending the computer equipment crashing to the government-issued tiled floor.
"A two-year cycle gone! All that essence is gone! Now I have to wait another 24 months for AMOS to resurrect!" Agent Smith screams, causing the rest of the staff to recoil away in fear.
"Jones!" Agent Smith says sternly, turning to a petite woman on his left. She stares at him, pleading.
"Yes Sir?'
"Get Officer Nichols on my office line. That fuck up has some explaining. He should have told us AMOS was awake."
"Right away!" Jones quickly sits back down and begins dialing Nichols, thankful she doesn't have to deal with Agent Smith further. The command center quickly shifts gears as Agent Smith returns to his office.
***
Two Weeks later…
"Tabitha… Tabitha… This is Doctor Wilhelm. Wake up." The kind older gentleman said as they gently nudged Tabitha in her hospital bed.
"Where am I?" Tabitha asked, waking from what felt like years of sleep. She sat up, the world still pitch black, but an odd sense of the world around her seemed to hum just behind her eyes.
"You're in the hospital, dear; you scared us. Do you remember anything?" He said as he sat down on the side of her bed.
Tabitha thought for a moment the last parts after she slashed her eyes were a blur. She remembers people yelling and the sound of two or three helicopters over her. " No, it's really all just a blur."
"Well, it's probably for the best. You had some very serious injuries. The first night, we honestly didn't think you would make it. Then…" The doctor trailed off with a concerned expression, not knowing how to explain things further.
Tabitha felt his pulse quicken somehow. She didn't understand it but fully felt or sensed the doctor beside her. She sensed the two other nurses standing at the end of the bed. Her body didn't hurt. She felt great. She felt hungry.
"Doctor, you said had. What happened to my injuries?" She said calmly, trying not to startle the old doctor further.
"Well, Tabitha, it's the closest thing to a miracle I've ever seen. You had violent seizures from the minute you hit the entrance of the ER. We couldn't even set your leg. The medications we gave you had a minimal effect, and you thrashed so much that we had to restrain you. Then, the early morning check-in found you in a deep sleep. All but your eyes were completely healed. So we switched gears to support care and treated your eyes the best we could." He said, watching her reaction.
Tabitha leaned back in her bed, taking in the wild account. "Do you know how I healed so quickly?"
"What happened to you is beyond all scientific reason. A miracle is the only way the staff and I can explain it. I know you have been through a lot, but I want to check your eyes."
"Thank you for all your help, Doctor Wilhelm." She said, sitting up in bed.
"You are most welcome, dear. Now I am going to unwrap your eye-dressing. Hold still, please." he said as he reached up and pulled on the bandage tape. Tabitha felt a quick tug and felt the bandages loosen from around her head. The doctor slowly unwrapped the bandages. The doctor's brow wrinkled as he examined the two large black scabs covering Tabitha's eyes.
"Tell me if this hurts at all, ok?"
"Yes, doctor." She relaxes as the doctor's gloved fingers pass over the scab. He pushes and gently tugs at the side of one, and it starts to lift. He pulls on the scab more, and Tabitha begins to sense the light as it hits her eyelid.
"Oh, I can sense the light, Doctor Wilhelm!" She said, smiling.
"Wonderful! Nurse Allen, please hand me some saline solution. I think a little water will loosen these right up. Hold still; this may feel cold," he said as he reached for the solution. She felt the cool liquid flush over the left eye, then the right. The scabs fell away with a gentle tug from the doctor. She could see the light shine through her eyelids. She grinned widely, happy to have some form of sight left.
"Please open your eyes for me," he said as he sat back on the bed. Tabitha slowly opened her eyes. The flood of light was almost too much, causing her to squint. After a few moments, she adjusted to the fluorescent lights. Three figures began to take shape in front of her. First, the distinguished older features of Doctor Wilhelm came into view quickly, followed by the brunette and blonde younger nurses standing at the end of the bed. Suddenly, her vision snapped into place, crisp and clear.
"I can see perfectly! This is amazing! Thank you, Doctor Wilhem!" she said, turning to look directly into his eyes, but he stared back at her unmovingly.
"Doctor Wilhelm?" she said as her expression became more worried. Doctor Wilhelm just sat staring, intensely focused on her eyes. His expression was overbearingly calm. She glanced at the nurses, rigidly staring back at her with trapped, calm expressions. Doctor Wilhelm began to twitch slightly. It traveled from the base of his spine out to his limbs, finally convulsing.
"Doctor Wilhelm, are you okay?" Tabitha yelled as the doctor began to have a seizure and fell on top of her bed.
"Help Him!" She screamed at the two nurses only to see both of them crumble to the tiled floor. One of them bashed her head off the bed frame. Tabitha recoils back from Doctor Wilhelm in terror as he starts foaming at the mouth. She climbs over the bed rail and hits the tiled concrete floor with a thud. Her adrenaline surges as she bolts for the door, looking for help.
At the entrance of her hospital room, she sees another nurse leaving the adjacent room. "Please, my doctor and staff need help!" As the male nurse turns to see Tabitha, he suddenly goes stiff before collapsing into a violent seizure, spilling his cart over with him.
"What's happening!" Tabitha screams, thinking something is in the air, or everyone has come down with something. A pair of security guards round the corner, hearing the screams and commotion.
"Ma'am, are yo-" The guard freezes mid-stride as he makes eye contact with Tabitha. Both men start to convulse and topple over, thrashing violently on the hard tile.
"No, no, no, no!" Tabitha yells as she darts into the women's bathroom, a few doors up the hall. She runs in, terrified of the situation. She approaches one of the sinks, bracing herself against the cool porcelain. Her stomach turns, and she dry heaves in the sink. She steadies herself while turning on the cold water. Leaning in, she takes a drink. As she looks up, a glint of two yellow eyes catches her. Tabitha stumbles backward on reflex. Then, she sees her reflection in the mirror. Two completely bright yellow eyes stare back at Tabitha. She screams at herself in the mirror, not feeling hungry anymore.
The end.
I will

i followed the video https://youtu.be/06rFH7Vu6KA?si=T6W1l3AEI3b8TQTQ
and went to all 4 spots to ensure i collected all healing holsters, yet my holsters say 3/4. i currently can hold 13 healing injections. is this a bug?

Every week I watch the public forum. Every week I hope that a mass group of people will show up to talk about what we are seeing in downtown Burlington. The constant needle injected drug use, the theft of cars and personal property, the people who get assaulted, ( lately a 84 year old man got punched in the face) the "Mike Reynold's" types that continue to get arrested and than released within hours. When is this community going to stand up? I have shown up and addressed this issue but on that particular day- I was the only one. I have moved out of Burlington but I continue to work in Burlington everyday and I see these things and I see the stories and videos of this continuing and all I'm asking is for the community to show up and give a damn in front of the people they have elected. Wtf folks. Do you realize the city is a cookie that is crumbling away. I know the solution isn't an easy one. But fer fucks sake. Drop the climate issue for a few months and focus on what's actually breaking this city apart. I know I may get downvotes on this but I can't keep it quiet any longer and neither should any of us. Sarah George NEEDS TO GO. Thanks but no thanks. Those policies, bless ya for tryin, but it ain't fuckin working Sarah. It's just isn't and hasn't been all over the country.

So on New Super Ultimate Injector for 3DS, it says you can make a video .cia Does anyone know how to do this, because it won't let me.

I find a company is doing this drilling and injection method instead drenching for sub termite treatment/prevention. The question is drilling and injection method good as drenching method? Here is the youtube video show this pest control company doing this method
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH41fHjFHVU

Hello there! This will be a long post but I do encourage you to read all of it so you have an idea what kinda game you are applying for. This would be a long-term campaign, so be willing to commit to the game! Have fun reading!
Game details:
We play using both Discord for voice and video and Foundry VTT for maps and character sheets! Webcams are mandatory since we all have been using them and it helps a lot with roleplaying when you can see the other people! Make sure that your PC or laptop is capable of running Foundry, here is a link to the Foundry system requirements: https://foundryvtt.com/article/requirements/
Do note that you don't need to buy or download anything! How Foundry works is that I send you a link and you'll join through there so no need to worry about that!
We are here to make the story together so while there is a main plot for you to follow, there will be distractions along the way and of course, things that relate to your characters and what they might find interesting!
During session 0 we will go over the initial plot hooks, how your characters might know each other, safety rules, and so on!
The available days are listed in the questionnaire. The start time for the session regardless of the day would be at 9 pm GMT+3 and when a day has been chosen, we would play consistently on that day every week!
RP to combat ratio:
I would say 50-50 since you as players can with your decisions affect how much combat or roleplay there is going to be but I as a GM, am geared more towards weighting narrative but that doesn't mean that there wouldn't be some cool combat set-pieces ;).
There might be moments in the game where we focus more on the social aspect of the game, interacting in character with the world around them and then there might be some more action-oriented sessions where you get to sit at the edge of your seat!
I will say that how I like to run games, I like to focus on characters and what their motives, goals, and flaws are. This would be a more character-driven game so be ready for that and don't be afraid to get into character and have fun while doing so!
How to apply:
All that I require from you is that you read the whole post and then fill out the questionnaire to the best of your ability. I pour a lot of time into making sure that the sessions are good and that everyone is having fun and you can contribute to that by being genuinely interested in the game!
Here is the questionnaire: https://forms.gle/TAnUSBRAoEpKe1Ra8
Basic rules of the campaign:

• Be consistent: I know that emergencies can happen and sometimes life throws a curve ball. Those happen to me too but if it does, I expect you to let me know ASAP when you know that you are not going to be able to join for the session. The general rule in my table is that as long as we have four people playing, we will continue with the game.
• Cinematics: I like to inject some cinematic in the game and I will let you know when there is a cinematic. This happens usually at the end of the session to show you what happens somewhere else where your characters are not necessarily present.
• Campaign may have mature themes: I like to run narrative games and they usually lean towards a more serious tone and while there are moments of lightheartedness, it's not what I am going for this campaign. This is not a campaign for joke characters or happy-go-lucky characters. I will NOT include SA or intense torture roleplaying in my games and there is no tolerance for that. These will be discussed more during the session 0!
• Be attentive during the sessions: During the session, I would like you to feel that you want to be there so I do put a lot of time into prepping the sessions with maps, NPCs, music, etc. So as a player, all I require from you is to know the basic rules, how your character works, and just generally be respectful towards everyone on the table!
• Don't be a dick: Don't rage quit if the dice don't go your way or if you do something in the game that can result in a bad consequence to your character and then it happens. No PvP, unless both agree to it and it needs to have a good reason! Just be respectful and be able to communicate and I am sure we will get along very well!
• There is always a possibility of death: We are here to make an awesome collaborative story together that we can look back to years later with fondness! This however doesn't mean that I am going to pull my punches in combat so that's why I roll in the open. If the dice decide that it's time for your character, then that's how it's going to be. Of course, sometimes there is something that can save you but those are rare. Also, I am not going to go out of my way to kill you and I will make sure that you always know what kinda situations your characters are going to.
• Have a good mic and connection: Having a good mic is important because most of us use headphones so if your audio quality is so bad that it makes our ears bleed then that would be a dealbreaker :D. Bad mics can also negatively just impact the flow of the game if they keep cutting out!

The most important rule is to: HAVE FUN! We are here to play a game and make a story together and everyone's comfort is important to me! If you have doubts or if something feels off, you can always come to talk with me!
Game Rules:

• Write "One Piece is real" in the final questions so I know that you read this far ;)
• Ability scores are determined using point buy with 28 points or a standard array.
• Death saves are rolled in secret
• We are starting from level 2
• Criticals are maxed damage + die rolls
• If you go down, you get a wound up to a maximum of 3 when you get up again. On your third one, if you fall, you die

The reason for Banned spells is that I like to make mysteries and that players need to think. For example, Remove curse would make a situation where you can get cursed not that tense. I like to make curses into plotlines so thus banning the spell gives us that opportunity.
Here are the banned spells:

• Identify
• Detect Thoughts
• Locate object
• Zone of Truth
• Remove curse
• Goodberry
• Silvery Barbs
• Geas
• Legend lore

Banned subclasses:

• Twilight cleric
• Eloquence bard
• Peace cleric

Races from Eberron, PHB, and MPMM are available minus Tortle, Fairy, and Centaur. Also, flying races are not allowed
Here is a little bit of info about me!
My name is Michael, 22 years old. I have been a GM for 3.5 years now! I have enough experience so I won't fumble around but obviously, I don't know everything.
Something about myself is that I have been a huge fan of TTRPGs ever since I started 3.5 years ago. In that period, I have had the pleasure to play multiple systems such as 5e, pathfinder 2e, Call of Cthulhu, cyberpunk RED/2020, mothership, City of Mist, etc. So I have quite a lot of experience and I know the ropes! I also like to draw, write stories, do worldbuilding, play video games, and watch movies and anime.
I am a huge fan of One Piece, it was also an inspiration for this setting so if you are a fan, you'll notice some subtle references here and there!
I do enjoy Eberron as a setting and have read quite a bit on it! Still, while it's an established setting with its lore, that means that there will be things that I might be unaware of or I might change things here and there. I like to stick to the established lore since it's quite expansive and really good but expect changes at some points!
Final words
Thanks for reading this long-ass post and I do hope that you can see that I am putting my all into this! I hope you do too so feel free to fill out the application! Take it slowly and don't rush it since I am using it to gauge how interested you all are to join in! I will keep the post up for a few days and conduct interviews before Sunday. If you have questions, feel free to comment and I'll answer when I have time!
I hope all of you have a nice day/evening and I hope to talk to you later!

Hello there! This will be a long post but I do encourage you to read all of it so you have an idea what kinda game you are applying for. This would be a long-term campaign, so be willing to commit to the game! Have fun reading!
Game details:
We play using both Discord for voice and video and Foundry VTT for maps and character sheets! Webcams are mandatory since we all have been using them and it helps a lot with roleplaying when you can see the other people! Make sure that your PC or laptop is capable of running Foundry, here is a link to the Foundry system requirements: https://foundryvtt.com/article/requirements/
Do note that you don't need to buy or download anything! How Foundry works is that I send you a link and you'll join through there so no need to worry about that!
We are here to make the story together so while there is a main plot for you to follow, there will be distractions along the way and of course, things that relate to your characters and what they might find interesting!
During session 0 we will go over the initial plot hooks, how your characters might know each other, safety rules, and so on!
The available days are listed in the questionnaire. The start time for the session regardless of the day would be at 9 pm GMT+3 and when a day has been chosen, we would play consistently on that day every week!
RP to combat ratio:
I would say 50-50 since you as players can with your decisions affect how much combat or roleplay there is going to be but I as a GM, am geared more towards weighting narrative but that doesn't mean that there wouldn't be some cool combat set-pieces ;).
There might be moments in the game where we focus more on the social aspect of the game, interacting in character with the world around them and then there might be some more action-oriented sessions where you get to sit at the edge of your seat!
I will say that how I like to run games, I like to focus on characters and what their motives, goals, and flaws are. This would be a more character-driven game so be ready for that and don't be afraid to get into character and have fun while doing so!
How to apply:
All that I require from you is that you read the whole post and then fill out the questionnaire to the best of your ability. I pour a lot of time into making sure that the sessions are good and that everyone is having fun and you can contribute to that by being genuinely interested in the game!
Here is the questionnaire: https://forms.gle/TAnUSBRAoEpKe1Ra8
Basic rules of the campaign:

• Be consistent: I know that emergencies can happen and sometimes life throws a curve ball. Those happen to me too but if it does, I expect you to let me know ASAP when you know that you are not going to be able to join for the session. The general rule in my table is that as long as we have four people playing, we will continue with the game.
• Cinematics: I like to inject some cinematic in the game and I will let you know when there is a cinematic. This happens usually at the end of the session to show you what happens somewhere else where your characters are not necessarily present.
• Campaign may have mature themes: I like to run narrative games and they usually lean towards a more serious tone and while there are moments of lightheartedness, it's not what I am going for this campaign. This is not a campaign for joke characters or happy-go-lucky characters. I will NOT include SA or intense torture roleplaying in my games and there is no tolerance for that. These will be discussed more during the session 0!
• Be attentive during the sessions: During the session, I would like you to feel that you want to be there so I do put a lot of time into prepping the sessions with maps, NPCs, music, etc. So as a player, all I require from you is to know the basic rules, how your character works, and just generally be respectful towards everyone on the table!
• Don't be a dick: Don't rage quit if the dice don't go your way or if you do something in the game that can result in a bad consequence to your character and then it happens. No PvP, unless both agree to it and it needs to have a good reason! Just be respectful and be able to communicate and I am sure we will get along very well!
• There is always a possibility of death: We are here to make an awesome collaborative story together that we can look back to years later with fondness! This however doesn't mean that I am going to pull my punches in combat so that's why I roll in the open. If the dice decide that it's time for your character, then that's how it's going to be. Of course, sometimes there is something that can save you but those are rare. Also, I am not going to go out of my way to kill you and I will make sure that you always know what kinda situations your characters are going to.
• Have a good mic and connection: Having a good mic is important because most of us use headphones so if your audio quality is so bad that it makes our ears bleed then that would be a dealbreaker :D. Bad mics can also negatively just impact the flow of the game if they keep cutting out!

The most important rule is to: HAVE FUN! We are here to play a game and make a story together and everyone's comfort is important to me! If you have doubts or if something feels off, you can always come to talk with me!
Game Rules:

• Write "One Piece is real" in the final questions so I know that you read this far ;)
• Ability scores are determined using point buy with 28 points or a standard array.
• Death saves are rolled in secret
• We are starting from level 2
• Criticals are maxed damage + die rolls
• If you go down, you get a wound up to a maximum of 3 when you get up again. On your third one, if you fall, you die

The reason for Banned spells is that I like to make mysteries and that players need to think. For example, Remove curse would make a situation where you can get cursed not that tense. I like to make curses into plotlines so thus banning the spell gives us that opportunity.
Here are the banned spells:

• Identify
• Detect Thoughts
• Locate object
• Zone of Truth
• Remove curse
• Goodberry
• Silvery Barbs
• Geas
• Legend lore

Banned subclasses:

• Twilight cleric
• Eloquence bard
• Peace cleric

Races from Eberron, PHB, and MPMM are available minus Tortle, Fairy, and Centaur. Also, flying races are not allowed
Here is a little bit of info about me!
My name is Michael, 22 years old. I have been a GM for 3.5 years now! I have enough experience so I won't fumble around but obviously, I don't know everything.
Something about myself is that I have been a huge fan of TTRPGs ever since I started 3.5 years ago. In that period, I have had the pleasure to play multiple systems such as 5e, pathfinder 2e, Call of Cthulhu, cyberpunk RED/2020, mothership, City of Mist, etc. So I have quite a lot of experience and I know the ropes! I also like to draw, write stories, do worldbuilding, play video games, and watch movies and anime.
I am a huge fan of One Piece, it was also an inspiration for this setting so if you are a fan, you'll notice some subtle references here and there!
I do enjoy Eberron as a setting and have read quite a bit on it! Still, while it's an established setting with its lore, that means that there will be things that I might be unaware of or I might change things here and there. I like to stick to the established lore since it's quite expansive and really good but expect changes at some points!
Final words
Thanks for reading this long-ass post and I do hope that you can see that I am putting my all into this! I hope you do too so feel free to fill out the application! Take it slowly and don't rush it since I am using it to gauge how interested you all are to join in! I will keep the post up for a few days and conduct interviews before Sunday. If you have questions, feel free to comment and I'll answer when I have time!
I hope all of you have a nice day/evening and I hope to talk to you later!

Hi everyone, sorry if this is the wrong tag but idk what this could be classified under. I told this story to my work colleague and he suggested I come here to tell my situation because I have no clue what to do. As explained by the title, my uncle died just a couple of days ago in Eden, North Carolina completely out of the blue and I believe his wife murdered him. I want to preface that I was not present during any of these events and this is just what I have been hearing from my mom, memaw, and my other uncle. My uncle that died and his wife are living in my memaw's house and my other uncle lives there too. My uncle had been complaining about crippling stomach pain for the past year or so but whenever he would go to the doctor, they wouldn't find anything physically wrong in his stomach, intestines, nothing. It got so bad that he started the process to get disability and according to my Memaw, he only had a few weeks until his first paycheck would have been sent to him. My uncle's wife has never worked a day in her life because they got married right after she turned 18 and she's been a SAHM/W ever since. She has tried to get on disability and apply for social security, however has been denied because, well, she's not disabled and she's never worked. However she was told that she could get my uncle's social security if he died. (Red flag). Anyway. The night before my uncle was found dead, he and his wife got into an argument over a brisket being cooked. His wife was yelling at my uncle because 'she wanted to cook it' but he started cooking it because 'it expired yesterday and we didn't spend money on a big piece of meat just for you to let it go bad in the fridge so I'm cooking it'. They kept arguing until my uncle stormed out of the house to the shed in the backyard and while his wife says she didn't follow him out, none of the people in the house can say she was in the house after he left, but they didn't see her leave either. That morning his wife wakes up and, according to her, 'thought (my uncle) might still be in the shed' (Red flag, why is that your first thought?) She walks to the shed and he is slumped over, blue and purple in the face. She proceeds to WALK back into the house and just holler at the top of her lungs "THE LOVE OF MY LIFE IS DEAD!" to the MOTHER and BROTHER of the deceased. IDK about you, but my first reaction to seeing my dead husband would be "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!" not some tella-novella rehearsed BS. Anyway. The police arrive to the scene and the first thing she says to the police is "He died from a heroin overdose". ????? That to me raised all kinds of red flags. How does she know? Where is the evidence? Where is the injection point? WHY are you saying this to police when "The love of your life" could have been murdered or had a heart attack or something? Now they aren't going to take this seriously and will just chalk it up to "Another dead druggie". The wife then proceeds to disappear after the police arrive and this is when my mom and I were called. In the time it took my mom and I to get to my memaw's house, the wife proceeds to post a video onto facebook about how my uncle is dead. I managed to record it before it got taken down and I can link the video if necessary however essentially the video starts off with her straight faced talking at the camera asking the passenger in the vehicle who is her DAUGHTER "How do I know if I'm going? (recording) I don't know if I'm going. Ugh. Hello everyone..." And then her face freaking contorts into the fakest cry ever as she starts screaming that my uncle died that morning and she doesn't know what to do and starts begging for people to help HER. Not a single tear is shed in the whole video and my cousin looks like she's thinking "wtf?" At the whole display. After the video, she proceeds to log in to my uncle's FB account and starts posting how he died and is begging people to donate to her cash app because "We need flowers and the car insurance is due". She then starts commenting on posts offering condolences, still logged in to my uncle's FB account making it all about her and how "She can't sleep or eat I miss my husband", but then she immediately starts trying to sell his clothes and work boots on marketplace! For added information, his wife is a huge drug addict. She constantly complains she's in pain and can't do anything just so she can go to the emergency room and get pain pills. She's currently on suboxone because SHE does heroin and miraculously her suboxone got 'stolen' the day my uncle was found dead. The only substances my uncle did were weed and redbulls, and even then he had stopped drinking redbulls and started drinking more water. When he had moved in with my memaw, he was 125(ish) pounds. At the time of his death, he had gained almost 25 pounds. my uncle was getting healthier and suddenly he's found dead in a shed by his wife after an argument about him cooking something she wanted to fix him and her first reaction is to play the grieving, heartbroken wife of an overdose victim (Which she is now saying he OD'd on purpose) who had never done heroin in his life and now she is using his death for pitty money and trying to sell his belongings before the body has even been released from Raleigh. As far as I know, we're getting an autopsy report but I'm just afraid that because of his wife saying he died of an overdose they aren't going to take the autopsy seriously and since his daughters don't want to bury him and want him cremated if he was murdered then his wife is going to get away with it because any evidence of wrong doing will be incinerated. Sorry for this long post and my tangents but I just want answers. Is there anything I can do for a murder investigation to take place? Does any of this sound fishy to any of you? LMK if there's any other information you need or if something sounds fishy on my part.

I'm into politics, philosophy, etc, and I've watched a decent amount of PT in the past year or so to see what resources she pulls up so that I can learn more about other topics. I'm currently watching her new video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVilpxowsUQ) on Judith Butler, and a lot of what Butler is saying is complete nonsense to me

• Gender is a performance, gender is only playing into stereotypes and trends and nothing more
• "Gender is a thing we do through repeated stylistic acts. Not a property but an embodied event"
• Compares all genders to dressing up as a femboy
• Saying that everyone (including trans people) have no true gender, gender is chosen throughout time and is always as fluid as the clothes you wear
• Claims that gender is performative (in its philosophical meaning) meaning the only thing needed to be that gender is to say you are/"do it" by putting on clothing/makeup etc
• Blamed the idea of sex-gender relation on the patriarchy and takes nonsense believed hundreds of years ago to support the idea that sex is in no way related to gender
• Then goes on to say actually sex is made up bc humans are 99.9% identical via DNA (no comment on just how impactful sex chromosomes/hormones/systems are on the entire body) so sex is actually fake and means nothing more than eye color
• Futher, sex and gender only exist in the "heterosexual matrix" and we should live in a completely gender-less and sex-less society, women only exist in relation to men and therefore lesbians aren't women because they exist outside the male gaze
• Sex isn't biologically real bc we used to think race was more biologically significant than it was (nevermind that different sexes have DIFFERENT ORGANS)

I'm only 15 minutes in and I can no longer stand it
If Judith is right, why do I have to inject .25mL of testosterone every week? Why when I don't pack I can't think about that area without tears forming because there's something missing? Why does being called she/her feel out of touch and wrong? Why can't I preform as a woman without feeling literal pain? "Oh well you just don't like performing as a woman" okay but why there is a reason.
I think Butler's main issue is a big one amongst tucutes, she misrepresents gender roles and performance as actual neurological gender. And I feel disappointed that PT, as a trans woman, decided to put that very dangerous content out there (and then tried to save her ass by saying "oh well you can't actually choose your gender here's this incomprehensible quote from one of Butlers paper's saying that's not how it works when literally everything in her video directly challenges that)
The video was honestly offensive as a transsex male, it completely destroys the experience, condition, and pain that transsex people face. Imagine telling someone with cancer or someone in a wheelchair that the words that are used to describe them and the sterotypes around them are made up therefore there's no way they're any different than someone without cancer and someone who can walk and we should actually live in a society without those silly distinctions (and without ramps and chemotherapy)
I'm interested if anyone else has watched the video (and made it farther than I have, godspeed) what are your thoughts on it?

hey yall --
i was trying to insert 3 before and after image comparisons on Squarespace. i followed the directions in this thread and it kinda worked but the sliders are not contained within their respective image containers (or whatever you call it, I am brand new to learning coding stuff).
here is a short video of what I mean:
https://imgur.com/a/wEn1cW9
I also injected CSS to make the section that the image comparisons are within full width instead of boxed -- this is the code I used:
// FULL WIDTH SECTION
section[data-section-id="664b943dbfe3ec5ae6b6589d"] {
overflow-x: hidden !important;
overflow-y:hidden !important;
}
section[data-section-id="664b943dbfe3ec5ae6b6589d"] {
.content-wrapper {
padding: 0px !important;
margin: 0px auto;
display: contents;
}
.sqs-layout .sqs-row .sqs-block {
padding-bottom: 0px !important;
padding-top: 0px !important;
}
}
not sure if that has something to do with it or not.
anyone know how to fix this issue? thanks so much in advance super smart coder friends.

Despite the title, there are some elements of this game I really enjoyed. The visuals are great. There were multiple moments where I said to myself "I cant believe how far video game fidelity has come". I also enjoyed the story. For me, the benchmark of a good video game narrative is, "Do I care about what happens to the main characters?" And Jedi: Survivor got me to care about the main characters. The story deals with themes of loss and purpose but these are shallow explorations. I also really liked how it was a semi-open world. I bounced off God of War (2018) because it felt like I was being corralled from arena to arena like livestock. There's a good amount of exploration in this game and it rewards you appropriately for your curiosity. I am going to critique the combat mechanics for this game but none of that applies for the boss fights. They are kinda soulslike where you have to learn the attack patterns and find openings but much more forgiving with the amount of health and stims. As someone who is not great at souls games, the extra stims were nice because it meant more time fighting and I could learn the boss quicker. The mechanics are tuned for single combat which is why the boss fights were my favorite part of the experience. Finally, I love that droid BD-1 so much. They made him so darn cute that I was actually hoping for a section where I could play as the droid. There is so much life and character injected into him with the animations and sounds he makes.(Fun fact: the sound design for BD-1 was done by Ben Burtt, the sound designer the for the original trilogy and the guy who popularized the wilhem scream.) My favorite BD-1ism is when you kneel and meditate to acquire a skill point/extra life or force, BD-1 will hop off your back and sit down next to you, in a very monkey see, monkey do moment. Its so unbelievably cute and endearing that I would commit war crimes for this droid. I could keep going on about BD-1 but then this post would get too long.
However, the combat in this game is so unbelievably frustrating. Specifically, fighting multiple, tough enemies is a huge pain in the ass. What will happen is you are being attacked by 2 enemies and you're blocking and dodging your little heart out and finally you see an opening where no one is railing you so you press x to attack them and finally teach those droids a lesson. But whats this? A third droid is behind you and jumps at you with an unblockable attack? You now have to watch helplessly as that third droid sticks his electro-blade up your keister, which interrupts your attack and staggers you for second. The other two droids have recovered and decide to join the third droid in accessing your prison wallet, at which point they've drained you of 90% of your health and the B2 battle droids shoot in the face and you die.
Now the last paragraph is a bit dramatized and I hope at least one of you chuckled while reading it, but the point is, fighting multiple enemies is not fun. You can't cancel attack animations unless you use the dual blade stance(the weakest stance imo) so strategy becomes, take out ranged enemies first and then run in circles doing chip damage until there's one enemy left and then disembowel him. Just never stay in one place long enough to get triple teamed. There are lightsaber skills and force abilities that can be unlocked that improve you combat ability. The problem is those skills just don't do very much damage and leave you vulnerable to getting attacked so you rarely use them outside of boss fights. I think they should've made it more of hack 'n slash when fighting multiple enemies and then force you to slow down when fighting bosses and mini bosses. Really leaning into the power fantasy of wielding a lightsaber and being a jedi knight. Most of the lightsaber skills are under powered for multiple enemies and by the time you realize that you should be dumping skill points into confusion and telekinesis, you've already maxed out two lightsaber trees and yes the first respec is free but any respec after that costs a skill point??? Like I'm sorry but in what world does spending skills points to respec skill points make sense. The devs are actively punishing players who want to experiment with different stances or force powers and is very frustrating. To be fair, there is no level cap so for players who explore every nook and cranny or just spend a lot of time in the game this won't be a problem. But I mainly followed the story so respecing was costly and I didn't feel like grinding. This is a problem I have with RPGs in general. Unless you have a good reason, make respecing free or cheap. The point of this respec rant is to say that the combat could've been less frustrating if i could experiment with different builds and powers to find solutions.
Finally, this game got railed at launch for performance issues and in my experience these issues are still present. During my ~20 hours of playtime the game hard crashed around 5 times. I don't remember the exact number but it was definitely more than 3 and less than 10. I also noticed stuttering and poor frame rates happening sporadically throughout my play through. The most infuriating crash and the straw that finally broke my dromedarian ass was during the finale. With spoiling anything, there's a section of the game that makes you run a gauntlet where is just keeps sending waves of increasingly tough enemies, some of which were mini bosses in earlier parts of the game. Now I'm not the best gamer so it took me a couple of tries and when I finally finished the gauntlet I was very relieved. I could finally blink and my heart rate could come back down. I go to move on to the next area and the hard crashes without warning.I reboot the game I am back at the last meditation point, erasing not only the gauntlet but around 20 minutes of progress as well. Believe me when I tell you fellow redditor, this broke me. This level of stability is completely unacceptable for a game with a bonfire save system. This game had just erased ~30 minutes of unfun gameplay and this broke me. I put the game on story mode until the final boss fight.
I know just wrote lot of words detailing what I didn't like about Jedi Survivor but I don't think its a bad game. A bad game fails across the board and there's still reasons this game is enjoyable. Being a jedi is a popular fantasy and this game makes you feel like a jedi knight
Tl:dr despite some really enjoyable elements, the combat, the core mechanic of the game, when fighting multiple enemies is so frustrating its drags down what could've been an amazing game. This is due to being underwhelming lightsaber skills, unable to cancel attack animations and respecing is too costly to allow for experimentation

Ok, trying to improve my writing skills, so here is this week's article! Hope that you like it and let me know what you think!
Ah, video games. They’ve come a long way from the pixelated pastures of Pong, to the immersive worlds of The Witcher and Red Dead Redemption. But while the final product gets all the love and adoration, the real hero often goes unnoticed. No, it’s not the caffeine-fueled programmers or the sleep-deprived designers. It’s pre-production—the crucial first step in video game development that sets the stage for everything to come. Buckle up, dear reader, as we begin to understand why Pre-Production in Video Games is the secret sauce.

The Consequences of Skipping Pre-Production

Let’s paint a picture of the worst-case scenario. You’re a developer who’s just spent two years on a game. The deadline is looming, but you’re confident because the game looks beautiful, and the mechanics are smooth. Then, during final testing, you realize the story makes no sense, the main character is bland, and the levels don’t connect well. Panic sets in. There’s no time to overhaul the game, and it launches to scathing reviews and poor sales.
This nightmare is all too common in the gaming industry. High-profile flops like Anthem and Cyberpunk 2077 suffered from poor planning and rushed production. The fallout? Disappointed fans, tarnished reputations, and financial losses.

Problem: Diving in Without a Plan is a Recipe for Disaster

Imagine trying to build a house without a blueprint. You start laying bricks, but halfway through, you realize there’s no room for a bathroom. Or worse, you forgot the front door. Now you have a hodgepodge of walls, no plumbing, and an expensive mess.
Video game development is no different. Jumping straight into production without a solid plan can lead to chaos. Developers might spend months creating a character that doesn’t fit the story or designing levels that don’t work with the gameplay mechanics. The result? Missed deadlines, ballooning budgets, and a game that feels more like Frankenstein’s monster than a masterpiece.

Solution: The Power of Pre-Production in Video Games

But here’s the good news: pre-production can save the day! Think of it as the game’s foundation. It’s where the magic happens and where crucial decisions are made. Let’s break down the key components of pre-production and how they pave the way for a successful game:
1. Concept Development: The Big Idea
Every epic game starts with a spark – a captivating story, a groundbreaking mechanic, or a visually stunning world. Brainstorming sessions bring ideas to the table, sketches give your vision form, and the core of your game takes shape.
Here are some prompts to get your creative juices flowing:

• What makes your game unique? What emotional journey will players take?
• Is there a specific genre you're passionate about? Can you introduce a fresh twist?
• Look at existing games for inspiration, but don't be afraid to break the mould!

Resources for Concept Development:

• Book: "The Art of Game Design" by Jesse Schell (I personally love this one).
• Website: Game Developer (formerly Gamasutra) - A treasure trove of articles and tutorials on game development.

2. Storyboarding: Mapping the Journey
Think of storyboarding as your game's visual script. It's where you map out the plot, character arcs, and pivotal moments. This helps developers understand the narrative flow and how players will experience the story. The roadmap guides the entire development process, ensuring a cohesive and engaging experience.
Storyboarding doesn't require fancy software. Even simple sketches or flowcharts can be effective. The key is to visualize the player's journey and identify potential pacing issues or plot holes.
Resources for Storyboarding:

• Article: "Storyboarding for Games" by GameDeveloper
• Software: Many storyboarding tools, both free and paid, are available. A popular option is Storyboard That.

3. Prototyping: Testing the Waters
This is where the magic of "seeing is believing" comes in. Prototypes are essentially stripped-down versions of your game mechanics, allowing developers to test if they're fun and functional. Imagine catching a gameplay flaw early on – much easier (and cheaper!) to fix at this stage than later in production. Prototyping ensures only the most engaging mechanics make it to the final product.
There are various prototyping approaches, from basic pen-and-paper mockups to more sophisticated digital prototypes built in game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine.
Resources for Prototyping:

• Article: "Game Prototyping: How to Prototype Your Game Idea" (upcoming article)
• Software: Unity, Unreal Engine - These powerful engines offer features specifically for game prototyping.

4. Technical Planning: Building the Framework
Here's where we delve into the technical aspects – the nuts and bolts that make your game tick. What engine will power your creation? Are there hardware limitations to consider? How will multiplayer functionality work? Answering these questions upfront avoids nasty surprises down the line and guarantees the game is technically sound.
Technical planning requires a close collaboration between designers and programmers. Here are some key aspects to consider:

• Game Engine Selection: Different engines have strengths and weaknesses. Unity is known for its user-friendliness and versatility, while Unreal Engine excels in creating high-fidelity graphics. Godot is open-source with a strong community. Researching available engines and considering your project's specific needs is crucial.
• Hardware Limitations: Identify the target platforms (PC, consoles, mobile) and understand their technical specifications. This will ensure that your game runs smoothly on the intended hardware.
• Multiplayer Functionality: If your game involves multiplayer, consider factors like network infrastructure, online matchmaking, and server capacity. Planning this early on avoids technical hurdles later in development.

Resources for Technical Planning:

• Article: "Choosing the Right Game Engine" (another upcoming article)
• Websites: Unity Learn, Unreal Engine Documentation, Godot Engine Documentation

5. Budgeting and Scheduling: Keeping Things on Track
Let's face it: development costs money. Pre-production is where a detailed budget is created, ensuring your project stays financially afloat. A realistic timeline with clear milestones and deadlines is also established. This keeps development on track, manages expectations, and avoids costly delays.
Budgeting:

• Consider all development costs, including personnel (programmers, artists, designers), software licenses, assets, and marketing.
• Buffer in a contingency fund for unforeseen expenses.

Scheduling:

• Break down development into manageable milestones, like completing the core gameplay loop or implementing the first level.
• Set realistic deadlines for each milestone, considering team size and workload.
• Regularly track progress and adjust the schedule as needed.

Resources for Budgeting and Scheduling:

• Article: "Game Project Management: Budgeting and Scheduling" by GameDeveloper
• Software: Project management tools like Trello or Asana can help you visualize your workflow and track progress

Injecting Some Fun: Pre-Production Stories and Tips

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
One of the most beloved games of all time, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, owes much of its success to meticulous pre-production. The team spent months experimenting with different gameplay mechanics, story ideas, and visual styles before settling on the final concept. They even created a 2D prototype to test the game’s physics and puzzles. This careful planning resulted in a game that felt innovative and polished.

Source: Polygon: The Making of Breath of the Wild

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is another masterpiece that benefited from thorough pre-production. The team at CD Projekt Red spent a significant amount of time developing the game’s story and characters. They also created a detailed world map and lore to ensure the game felt rich and immersive. This level of detail and planning paid off, earning the game numerous awards and a dedicated fanbase.

Source: IGN: Inside The Witcher 3’s Development

Wrapping Up: The Unsung Hero Deserves Some Love

Pre-production in video games might seem daunting, especially for indie developers or small studios. But remember, even a little planning can go a long way. Start with a clear concept and build from there. Use storyboarding to map out your game’s narrative and gameplay. Create simple prototypes to test your ideas. And don’t forget to plan your budget and timeline.
Think of pre-production as an investment in your game’s success. The more effort you put in at this stage, the smoother the rest of the development process will be. Plus, you’ll save yourself a lot of headaches down the road.
In conclusion, pre-production is the unsung hero of video game development. It’s the stage where ideas are born, tested, and refined. It’s where potential problems are identified and solved before they become costly mistakes. Without pre-production in video games, even the most brilliant ideas can fall flat.
So, the next time you’re playing your favourite game, take a moment to appreciate the planning and effort that went into creating it. And if you’re a developer, embrace pre-production with open arms. Your future self (and your players) will thank you.
Happy developing!

Ok, trying to improve my writing skills, so here is this week's article! Hope that you like it and let me know what you think!
Ah, video games. They’ve come a long way from the pixelated pastures of Pong, to the immersive worlds of The Witcher and Red Dead Redemption. But while the final product gets all the love and adoration, the real hero often goes unnoticed. No, it’s not the caffeine-fueled programmers or the sleep-deprived designers. It’s pre-production—the crucial first step in video game development that sets the stage for everything to come. Buckle up, dear reader, as we begin to understand why Pre-Production in Video Games is the secret sauce.

The Consequences of Skipping Pre-Production

Let’s paint a picture of the worst-case scenario. You’re a developer who’s just spent two years on a game. The deadline is looming, but you’re confident because the game looks beautiful, and the mechanics are smooth. Then, during final testing, you realize the story makes no sense, the main character is bland, and the levels don’t connect well. Panic sets in. There’s no time to overhaul the game, and it launches to scathing reviews and poor sales.
This nightmare is all too common in the gaming industry. High-profile flops like Anthem and Cyberpunk 2077 suffered from poor planning and rushed production. The fallout? Disappointed fans, tarnished reputations, and financial losses.

Problem: Diving in Without a Plan is a Recipe for Disaster

Imagine trying to build a house without a blueprint. You start laying bricks, but halfway through, you realize there’s no room for a bathroom. Or worse, you forgot the front door. Now you have a hodgepodge of walls, no plumbing, and an expensive mess.
Video game development is no different. Jumping straight into production without a solid plan can lead to chaos. Developers might spend months creating a character that doesn’t fit the story or designing levels that don’t work with the gameplay mechanics. The result? Missed deadlines, ballooning budgets, and a game that feels more like Frankenstein’s monster than a masterpiece.

Solution: The Power of Pre-Production in Video Games

But here’s the good news: pre-production can save the day! Think of it as the game’s foundation. It’s where the magic happens and where crucial decisions are made. Let’s break down the key components of pre-production and how they pave the way for a successful game:
1. Concept Development: The Big Idea
Every epic game starts with a spark – a captivating story, a groundbreaking mechanic, or a visually stunning world. Brainstorming sessions bring ideas to the table, sketches give your vision form, and the core of your game takes shape.
Here are some prompts to get your creative juices flowing:

• What makes your game unique? What emotional journey will players take?
• Is there a specific genre you're passionate about? Can you introduce a fresh twist?
• Look at existing games for inspiration, but don't be afraid to break the mould!

Resources for Concept Development:

• Book: "The Art of Game Design" by Jesse Schell (I personally love this one).
• Website: Game Developer (formerly Gamasutra) - A treasure trove of articles and tutorials on game development.

2. Storyboarding: Mapping the Journey
Think of storyboarding as your game's visual script. It's where you map out the plot, character arcs, and pivotal moments. This helps developers understand the narrative flow and how players will experience the story. The roadmap guides the entire development process, ensuring a cohesive and engaging experience.
Storyboarding doesn't require fancy software. Even simple sketches or flowcharts can be effective. The key is to visualize the player's journey and identify potential pacing issues or plot holes.
Resources for Storyboarding:

• Article: "Storyboarding for Games" by GameDeveloper
• Software: Many storyboarding tools, both free and paid, are available. A popular option is Storyboard That.

3. Prototyping: Testing the Waters
This is where the magic of "seeing is believing" comes in. Prototypes are essentially stripped-down versions of your game mechanics, allowing developers to test if they're fun and functional. Imagine catching a gameplay flaw early on – much easier (and cheaper!) to fix at this stage than later in production. Prototyping ensures only the most engaging mechanics make it to the final product.
There are various prototyping approaches, from basic pen-and-paper mockups to more sophisticated digital prototypes built in game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine.
Resources for Prototyping:

• Article: "Game Prototyping: How to Prototype Your Game Idea" (upcoming article)
• Software: Unity, Unreal Engine - These powerful engines offer features specifically for game prototyping.

4. Technical Planning: Building the Framework
Here's where we delve into the technical aspects – the nuts and bolts that make your game tick. What engine will power your creation? Are there hardware limitations to consider? How will multiplayer functionality work? Answering these questions upfront avoids nasty surprises down the line and guarantees the game is technically sound.
Technical planning requires a close collaboration between designers and programmers. Here are some key aspects to consider:

• Game Engine Selection: Different engines have strengths and weaknesses. Unity is known for its user-friendliness and versatility, while Unreal Engine excels in creating high-fidelity graphics. Godot is open-source with a strong community. Researching available engines and considering your project's specific needs is crucial.
• Hardware Limitations: Identify the target platforms (PC, consoles, mobile) and understand their technical specifications. This will ensure that your game runs smoothly on the intended hardware.
• Multiplayer Functionality: If your game involves multiplayer, consider factors like network infrastructure, online matchmaking, and server capacity. Planning this early on avoids technical hurdles later in development.

Resources for Technical Planning:

• Article: "Choosing the Right Game Engine" (another upcoming article)
• Websites: Unity Learn, Unreal Engine Documentation, Godot Engine Documentation

5. Budgeting and Scheduling: Keeping Things on Track
Let's face it: development costs money. Pre-production is where a detailed budget is created, ensuring your project stays financially afloat. A realistic timeline with clear milestones and deadlines is also established. This keeps development on track, manages expectations, and avoids costly delays.
Budgeting:

• Consider all development costs, including personnel (programmers, artists, designers), software licenses, assets, and marketing.
• Buffer in a contingency fund for unforeseen expenses.

Scheduling:

• Break down development into manageable milestones, like completing the core gameplay loop or implementing the first level.
• Set realistic deadlines for each milestone, considering team size and workload.
• Regularly track progress and adjust the schedule as needed.

Resources for Budgeting and Scheduling:

• Article: "Game Project Management: Budgeting and Scheduling" by GameDeveloper
• Software: Project management tools like Trello or Asana can help you visualize your workflow and track progress

Injecting Some Fun: Pre-Production Stories and Tips

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
One of the most beloved games of all time, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, owes much of its success to meticulous pre-production. The team spent months experimenting with different gameplay mechanics, story ideas, and visual styles before settling on the final concept. They even created a 2D prototype to test the game’s physics and puzzles. This careful planning resulted in a game that felt innovative and polished.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is another masterpiece that benefited from thorough pre-production. The team at CD Projekt Red spent a significant amount of time developing the game’s story and characters. They also created a detailed world map and lore to ensure the game felt rich and immersive. This level of detail and planning paid off, earning the game numerous awards and a dedicated fanbase.

Wrapping Up: The Unsung Hero Deserves Some Love

Pre-production in video games might seem daunting, especially for indie developers or small studios. But remember, even a little planning can go a long way. Start with a clear concept and build from there. Use storyboarding to map out your game’s narrative and gameplay. Create simple prototypes to test your ideas. And don’t forget to plan your budget and timeline.
Think of pre-production as an investment in your game’s success. The more effort you put in at this stage, the smoother the rest of the development process will be. Plus, you’ll save yourself a lot of headaches down the road.
In conclusion, pre-production is the unsung hero of video game development. It’s the stage where ideas are born, tested, and refined. It’s where potential problems are identified and solved before they become costly mistakes. Without pre-production in video games, even the most brilliant ideas can fall flat.
So, the next time you’re playing your favourite game, take a moment to appreciate the planning and effort that went into creating it. And if you’re a developer, embrace pre-production with open arms. Your future self (and your players) will thank you.
Happy developing!

Five days ago, my healthy and active dog went missing early in the morning. We found him around 5 PM, lying weak under a tree, kilometer away from our home. We brought him home immediately, gave him water, bathed him, and fed him.
The next day, he started vomiting everything he ate or drank. We took him to the vet, who gave him a few injections and administered saline. They advised us to continue this course for three days.
However, after three days, he is still vomiting everything, and it's a pale yellow color. His urine and poop are normal. We had his blood tested and just got the results. We're going to the vet tomorrow, but I'm very nervous about what's happening to him and why the injections haven't stopped the vomiting.
Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Hi all so I just started mounjaro last week. When I picked it up from the doctor they failed to tell me it needed to be refrigerated so it was in my (hot) car for about 5 hours before I got home. I watched a YouTube video on how to inject it and they mentioned refrigeration was needed. When I called my Dr. he said it was fine- that studies show it can be at “room temperature” for up to 21 days.
I am paying out of pocket an arm and a leg for this stuff because my liver enzymes are elevated from early signs of fatty liver disease and I really need to lose weight per Doctor recommendations, and doubt my insurance will cover it. My genetics, some of my medications, diagnosed hypothyroidism that is resistant to medication , and my issues with carb addiction make it hard so I decided to get on mounjaro.
I took the injection Thursday (starting me at 2.5mg) and feel no difference yet…
It’s in the fridge now but do yall think it may have gotten ruined? I’m going to argue for a discount next month because of this and am rather frustrated because I’ve been waiting and excited for the medication to come in. I feel like they’ll just tell me it’s normal for it not to work at first and that it needs to build up in the body etc etc and make excuses if I don’t lose the first month.
Thoughts??
TIA
**edit: to those saying “read instructions” etc they put the meds inside this gift bag” kind of thing , which seems nice but in hindsight is more the reason they could’ve mentioned the refrigeration- I didn’t take the actually medication with instructions out until I got home at which point would have then seen. Hopefully they are fine anyway.

It's been more then a week already, bite is holey and is green. First two days I was giving him amoxicillin clavulanate 3ml twice a day, applying antiseptics and fungal cream on it. Then on third day vet told me not to give him antibiotic and just gave it rabies injection and i guess told me to apply whatever antiseptic twice a day. Then on 5th day puss came out of wound which became holey, started giving him the syrup again, and cleaning would with saline solution but it's not working. What now, the vet is being unhelpful now and other vet is an ass, like is there some other antibiotic i should be giving, have pretty much lost hope and waiting for inevitable. The cat is stray though as in just lives outside.
Edit: photo in comments, i didn't allow acid to be user by vet as that would prevent even further healing

Prior to starting semaglutide, I devoured others’ experiences on this sub so I’d know what to expect; even though they ran the gamut of GI distress to a big old nothing, it was helpful for me. So I thought I’d pay it forward and share my thoughts as I’m coming up on the second injection.
When I was 9, my father had the “fat” talk with me, telling me I’d always be susceptible to gaining weight and warning me that once fat cells were formed, you could NEVER lose them so it was important not to let them form in the first place. Not only did it scare the shit out of me (fat cells! Taking over my body! And fat is BAD!!!!), it created a deep sense of shame in me about my shape and my appetite. Prior to that, I was happy to eat whatever I wanted as long as I was hungry, and after that, I was always self-conscious about eating in front of my parents. As soon as I hit puberty and started developing, I began going on diets, setting off a lifetime of disordered eating and body dysmorphia. While I’ve never been clinically obese, I have had both active and subclinical eating disorders and there have been very very very few times in my life when the food noise hasn’t been there. Almost 50 years….it’s been exhausting and depressing and I was having Ozempic fantasies while scrolling late one night and made a telemedicine appointment for the next day.
That was two weeks ago. I qualified because of being overweight and having very high cholesterol (another gift from my father). I received my prescription the following Tuesday and immediately set out everything and injected myself, having watched the “how-to” YouTube video about five or six times. Injecting myself was a little scary but wound up not being a big deal. I chose my abdomen because 1) I could see it and access it well, and 2) it has more fatty tissue on it than my arms and legs. And then I waited. And waited. And waited.
Not sure what I expected. I imagine that I had eaten a great deal of food on the night before, because I pretty much ate a great deal of food every night, so that might have affected my appetite during the first day. I waited to be hungry, to be nauseous, to have diarrhea….nada. Had a small lunch, an apple for a snack, and then dinner. I did have a handful of pretzels after dinner, but just a handful, not a huge bowl. I wasn’t sure if it was a placebo effect but it was nice not to have those dueling voices in my head both encouraging me to eat and telling me not to eat.
Got really, really tired the next two days and while I experienced hunger, it was difference. I woke up with an appetite, which is unusual, and ate breakfast. Then I’d get really, really hungry for lunch and have a huge lunch and not be hungry for most of the day after that. I also noticed that my appetite did have an off switch; often, when I eat a large meal in the middle of the day, I keep eating because, well, WTF. I wasn’t scrounging through the house looking for food. Apples and oranges sounded like fine snacks and didn’t require massive lashings of peanut butter to go along with them. And the most remarkable thing is that my urge to eat after dinner is gone. Gone!!
I hardly ever weigh myself, although I did take a starting weight and photos on Tuesday morning. And I still look at myself in the mirror and see the fat instead of loving my body. But I’m thinking that even if I don’t lose weight and this medicine helps me eat three meals a day with a snack or two, if necessary, that might be enough. I’m working through Intuitive Eating, which I had started prior to sema, and it feels like the two go hand in hand. I couldn’t figure out if I was hungry or not, let alone what I wanted to eat, most of the time and would wind up grazing and gorging. I’m still having trouble figuring out to eat (many of my go-to emergency meals are completely unappealing right now) but I’m not sweating it because when it’s time to eat, I can find something and just work on not worrying about calories, macros, and sugar and focus more on what my body is telling me. I’m thinking of sema as my own personal Jiminy Cricket sitting on my shoulder, encouraging me so I can make decisions that are healthy first for my psyche and next for my body. There have been times in my past when I’ve truly eaten intuitively, and I know that things will even themselves out and salads will once again become appealing.
I know it’s been said many times before on this sub, but it bears repeating: if you’ve never experienced the food noise, you can’t begin to know how difficult the simple act of feeding yourself is. My big takeaway from this week is the sense of lightness and yes, happiness, that I’m feeling without having that dialogue in my head.
Tomorrow I’m going on vacation for two weeks to the beach. It’s usually a nostalgic food-fest for me when I let myself eat all the foods my parents forbade me from eating as a child—those fat cells, right? I’m actually excited to see what happens as the medicine begins to build up in my system and it could very well be the first time that I come back from my happy vacation place actually happy instead of feeling bloated and grouchy from a few weeks of making poor choices.
I hope those is helpful if you’re just starting or on the fence. Other than my high cholesterol, I don’t have any health issues and don’t take medication other than a statin. But I haven’t told anyone about this either, other than my husband. There’s a part of me that’s still feeling a little ashamed—ashamed of my weight, and ashamed that I can’t do this by myself. But this is such a welcoming and supportive sub that I wanted to share. I’m happy to answer questions, and if you think this is helpful, I can continue to chronicle my weeks—I just won’t talk numbers. While weight loss would be awesome—and I’m hoping that as my eating normalizes and binges stop, it will happen—the non-scale benefits in the first seven days have been subtle and surprising and as long as they continue, I will continue too.

Why do Somali YouTube videos often have the most unintelligent sounding comments? It's always "inta nabiga jecel like isaara" or "Ku salin Nabigeena." And then there's "Hadii aad qabiil hebel tahay, like isaar."
These comments lack substance and don't contribute to the video. It's frustrating, especially when Nabi Mohamed's (PUH) name is misused in heeso which is clearly haram.