Rash, swollen armpit, headaches

I got bit by a tick last year and was given antibiotics for testing positive to anaplasmosis. Definitely know where I got the tick from and 2-3 days later started feeling awful but never found rash or a tick that had bitten on me. This past weekend I found a tick on me dead that had bitten me, not burrowed, and not engorged. It was just latched onto my skin. I believe it came from our golden retriever who takes that medicine that kills them when they bite and had bitten her first and then tried to bite me but died before it could really feed from me. My question is: does it have to be burrowed in to me and have fed to make me sick, or is the fact that it hadn’t eaten and was dead mean I’m in the clear? It was on me for probably 16-18 hours tops. I’m just worried mainly because my girlfriend is sick with fever, body aches and a headache and I’m really not trying to think I have whatever she’s got when it could be a tick born illness again.

I am a 23 year old female. The last five days I have had 3 swollen lymph nodes get worse in my righr armpit. They are painful and achy. Last night I felt an ache in my left armpit and felt a small one starting to form in my left armpit. However, I do not feel sick whatsoever. I have fatigue and body aches. The last three nights I have woke up hot and sticky, I wouldn't say drenched in sweat, but I have woke up with pain in both armpits last night.

I have a Gastro and new Rheumatologist appointment tomorrow but I'm so frustrated. I have a lot of Auto Immune signs or symptoms. I have a Rheumatologist who has little to no support to give. She just tries to prescribes more gabapentin. It seems like answering any questions I have is a huge pain. I have a fibromyalgia diagnosis. I will skim over symptoms, aura migraine, peripheral neuropathy, chronic pain everywhere, weird rashes like bug bites to scary patches to blisters in my nose. Lots of fatigue. Joint pain. Ect. About 14 days ago I got real tired. I mean way worse than normal. My right side started to hurt. At first I though it was because I'm trying to change my posture. Then it got worse I thought it was because I worked my abs out to hard. Then last Thursday I got tired again. The pain increased. By Sunday of this week I was ready to go to urgent care. My left leg was swollen and I devolved a rash. Near the pain by my liver. By Monday I was ready to go to the ER. My liver and Kidney blood work and the routine stuff was normal. My cat scan showed inflammation of the small intestine. I have burping nausea and extreme pain near my liver.and a rash that blistered and started to heal. The pain is still severe if I don't take my pain meds. I wonder if it's celiacs. Because I increased the amount of gluten I eat. A few weeks ago going from vegatarian to vegan. My mom, sister and brother all ha ve weird food and stomach, neurological stuff too. So I'm just desperate for anwsers.

Hi there!
For a little context i’m very sensitive to everything. Lots of allergies, random rashes, swollen lymph nodes, and other mysterious health issues. Sensitive to changes in hormones, routine, environment, etc. it’s annoying as hell. anyway:
I’ve been dealing with an itchy, inflamed, stinky scalp for the longest time. I have very good hygiene and have tried everything pretty much every active ingredient you can think of, OTC, rX, AVC, etc. It flares up/gets worse (as does my eczeme) when i’m about to get my period, stressed, or if im getting sick. There’s times it’s so bad I can’t sleep and have to shower in the middle of the night to soothe it. and i can smell it on myself and it drives me crazy.
here’s the weird plot twist though: the smell, itching, and even oiliness???? is controlled when i take an anti-histamine. i get spring allergies, (shocker!) and on days id take an allergy pill id notice significant improvement in my scalp. what does this mean??? also, i should add ive tried many different shampoos (medicated, sensitive, baby, etc) and im more allergic to some than others, but when im using a shampoo im not irritated by during use, the discomfort doesn’t start until hours after washing, so i don’t think its an allergic reaction. plus, i don’t think that would explain the smell/oil/even inflammation over.
has anyone else had a similar issue? pls help 🩵

Hello! I was unsure where to ask this so I thought maybe here would be a good start.
So I’ve been using Native Deodorant for a while and it was working really well, kept me from being stinky all day but after a while it started giving me a bad rash. I did some research and found out apparently baking soda can cause a reaction so I immediately tossed it and switched to Native Sensitive. Rash has gone away but it doesn’t seem to be as good at keeping the stinkies away all day. Anyone have any recommendations of baking soda free deodorant’s they really like. Can be with or without aluminum, I’m not picky about that.
I also tried Kopari and it also made my armpits burn so I’m going to have to return it.

Although the signs (headache, vision loss, swollen hands/feets) had been coming on, much to my surprise I got admitted to hospital this morning, diagnosed with preeclampsia, and informed I'll be staying at the hospital for up to the next month, with the hopes of getting baby to 37 weeks and then induction.
Has anyone else gone through anything similar? I'm sure it's what's best health-wise, but the thought of being stuck in this room indefinitely with the potential for emergency around any corner is pretty disconcerting and I don't really know how to focus/spend my time/not go crazy.

Hi! So I’m shopping around for a new eBike and am thinking about how to get rid of the old one. It is a cargo bike from a reputable brand that has been used hard — 10k miles, many of them carrying loads near capacity and many of them in bad weather. The battery and frame are in excellent shape. Other parts of it not so much — most notably brakes need constant adjusting, a rash of broken spokes which mean the rim is probably not in great shape. It is still functional, but a bit of a headache, basically.
I’m looking to maximize convenience and speed not $$. What advice would you give someone trying to do that?

Anyone ever experience this after giving birth? I’m still quite swollen in my feet, legs and belly. When I bend over (like to put my child in his car seat for example) I feel a rush of fluid go to my head and it creates a lot of pressure which leads to a headache that lasts for a few hours. It’s a manageable headache, nothing severe so I’m not worried about it. Just wondering if anyone has experienced this because googling it wasn’t helpful, haha. I have sent a message to my OB.

Hi y'all. I'm pretty much at my wits end.
I have a dermatologist appointment today but thought I'd ask around here anyway.
Backstory: I had eczema when I was really really young, honestly so young that the only thing I remembered of it was having a patch of it on my butt and my mom applying cream to it and then never really dealing with it ever again. She thought I had eczema on my face though it appeared as white patches and I vaguely remember this but for at least a decade or more I did not have eczema. My skin was perfect, genuinely so clear I didn't have to use much product on it.
Fast forward to November of 2019; I started taking hormonal birth control and noticed within a few months that I started getting eczema patches (also was having facial rashes but I thought this was due to trying out a new skincare) I went to the dermatologist who prescribed me Triamcinolone 0.1% ointment for my body rashes. I don't ever EVER remember using steroids much. I'd use it one to two days, and would stop when it starts to fade. Anyway my eczema was pretty lowkey in general and in 2021, we adopted a cat. I did notice my eczema worsening slightly ever since getting my cat but was managing with Triamcinolone (I think at this point my dermatologist prescribed me a tub of it I think December of 2021)
Again, I don't use steroid much and when I do I think it's really just for emergencies (my eczema was genuinely such a secondary aspect of my life I don't even remember much of how I managed it other than letting it ride and maybe applying steroid when needed). I remember the tub expired and I hadn't used even half of the ointment. I was also prescribed Mometasone and Fluoccionide? But I never used either of them as I didn't feel comfortable to.
In September of 2022, I caught COVID while overseas and it caused a pretty gnarly flare on the inner side of my elbows. Since I was overseas I just managed with moisturizing but I remember applying steroid when I came home. We adopted a second cat later this year.
Since then I think my eczema HAVE gotten worse, but there was a period of at least 6 months where I wasn't using steroid creams at all because I was either just dealing with it or it was barely there.
Fast forward to 2023.
I noticed a rash on the top of my right hand that I was initially managing with just moisturizing. But I remember having such intense itch on this rash that I kept itching, and at one point I itched with my shirt and it caused it to be infected. It was so gnarly, bright red, oozing, literally would not stop oozing, painful. I went back to my dermatologist 5 days later when I realized that oh this might be worse than just a regular eczema. She gave me Mupirocin and another tube of Triamcinolone (since my previous one expired) as well as a course of Doxycycline. I used the Mupirocin as directed for I think 10 days, and was not yet using Triamcinolone as I was worried about using it when it looked like there were still open wounds on it. I didn't finish my Doxy course because it was giving me horrible stomach pains. I came back to the dermatologist January 3rd and she told me it was OK to use Triamcinolone twice daily up to two weeks.
At this point I was already having eczema rash on my arms as well and some on my back but I don't think I was using Triamcinolone much on them (I'm pretty sporadic with using the steroid, I never really committed to the full 2 weeks)
Now, this is where things became a doozy.
January 5th: Caught strep, had difficulty breathing and had to go to urgent care. I was prescribed antibiotics, Prednisone (20mg, twice daily for 5 days), and Albuterol. I had asthma when I was younger and it's almost like it came back when I caught strep. My eczema was calm during this time and I thought it was because it rained a lot this week but now I realized it may be the Prednisone. Could not remember if I was using Triamcinolone as well on my hand during this time.
Sometime in early February: Went for a run and literally rolled my ankle so bad. Unrelated to everything else but my body sustained injury and looking back at old pictures I was starting to get patches of eczema on my legs.
Then I caught what felt like the flu in mid February and this is the first time my eczema flared to my face. My left eye was half swollen but at this time I thought it was from my sinus being blocked as it went away in a few days (though the rash stayed).
Early March: Got admitted to the hospital from Appendicitis. I spent 3 nights at the hospital and my eczema was literally non existent. No itchiness, just intense dryness but nothing else. I remember my friend noting my face was super dry but my rashes were slowly drying out. To be fair I was in so much pain the first day I was knocked out most the time from the pain medication they gave me and I was on a couple antibiotics due to the infection.
I came home from the hospital and this is when things start to really get insane. I got home, laid in bed, and immediately could not stop itching my neck and body. My face became swollen the next day but I was unable to take allergy meds because I was on antibiotics and had to wait for that course to be done. That eventually settled out.
I figured maybe I was having an allergic reaction to the cats (and thought maybe my mattress too, we had vacuumed it a few times and I suspected it disturbed the dust mites inside). I slept outside and on an air mattress for I think a few days, if not up to a week. The cats were still sleeping with me at this time and I was somewhat itchy but it wasn't the worst. Then I decided I was going to sleep in the bedroom again and this caused the worst flare I had ever ever EVER gone through. My face became so swollen, my left eye swollen again and it was oozing (this had NEVER happened to me before other than my infected hand) I don't know why this oozed since I never scratched my face, and my inner elbows, wrists and top of right hand got so red and puffy. At this point too my eczema on my right hand was starting to spread towards my palm. These areas also got pretty dry especially on my face. I called Teladoc Dermatology and they prescribed me Mupirocin for the oozing, Tacrolimus for the inflammation on my face and Triamcinolone for the body. He told me to apply Mupirocin first until the oozing calms, then stop and apply the other ointments.
At this point I had become SO SO SO terrified of TSW. It was all over my Tik Tok, my algorithm, I couldn't stop thinking and worrying about it and fearing that this flare is because I'm going through it. He told me to use Triamcinolone for twice daily for two weeks, then once daily for two weeks, then every other day for two weeks to help prevent rebound. I only used Triamcinolone twice daily for 5 days, then I did once daily for a few more days and by the time I saw my current dermatologist, I was using it every other day (I essentially tried to taper within the two weeks).
My current derma prescribed me Clobetasol and told me to mix 2oz of Clobetasol with 7.5oz of Vanicream or Cerave and smear myself in it once a day at night for one week, then once a day at night every other day for the second week. It was a very controlled instruction.
BUT I was SO afraid of TSW that I did not do this.
Instead, I took a one week break and I did 3 weeks of Triamcinolone, and even then I did it sporadically. I did about 10 days of once daily and then the second half I did twice daily. When I started doing twice daily was when I finally saw some improvements.
The problem is it has been a week since I last used any steroids and I have rebounded. Although my eczema rash genuinely looks so weird and I am having the dermatologist look at it properly today. My arms are constantly dry, my right hand (the problem spot since December) now have what looks like blisters on them and I never have eczema that look like this even though it's apparently common. The frustrating thing is that it feels like my eczema just keeps spreading. They are full body and it's freaking me out because it looks as if I have TSW even though I don't think I ever used steroids for that long at all, and I was only prescribed it back in 2020.
To be fair I thought I should've committed to the Clobetasol treatment because then we can see if the strongest steroid worked or not but I felt like I was going to flare again anyway and didn't want to use something really strong only for it to not work.
I had an allergy test done and I am allergic to both species of dust mites, dogs, cats, along with some other environmental things. I just don't understand why I am only now flaring uncontrollably like this. I am 95% covered in eczema. Either spots or just straight up long red rash. I am taking antihistamines daily and have been taking Probiotic pills pretty consistently (partly because I was on so many antibiotics back to back). I've been using Hyphocolorus Acid Spray as well.
On Sunday night, I tried to sleep over at my friend's place who did not have cats to test and see if my cats are my main trigger and I kept waking up itching myself, both my arms and legs and my chin and neck started oozing again. Which was INSANE as I did not itch either of them. The oozing on both have mostly stopped (I've only used Mupirocin and Vaseline to help control the infection and moisturize) but I just don't understand.
I'm scared, I have never had eczema become so severe so fast and I'm genuinely so scared. Something feels wrong but I don't know what it is. The way my eczema looks look like a combination of an allergic reaction and just a rash but I don't understand how I can have such an intense allergic reaction towards things I've been around all the time. We've lived in the same place since June of last year and the only thing I can think of is that we had the heater on almost daily in the winter and we found out end of April that our heater is incredibly dusty.
I'm getting my IUD removed next week as well as I'm confident birth control has something to do with my eczema coming back, and I plan to get allergy shots.
I'm just tired, it's consumed my life and it's causing me a lot of health anxiety. I look so genuinely terrible I can't even understand it.

Hello, I’ve been lurking here trying to get some info on RA. I have been told by my primary Dr that I most likely have some form of autoimmune disease that just can’t be diagnosed yet. I am plagued by rashes from sun and joint and muscle pain. I’m a female and in my early 50’s. I also have Hashimoto’s. I have had many positive ANA’s over the years. I have also had a moderately high CCP about 5 years ago. I am also SSA positive, but do not have Sjogren’s symptoms. A year ago I went to the ER with numbness on the left side of my head, shoulder and down arm. They couldn’t figure out why. MRI of head showed 3 brain lesions that did not correlate to where my numbness was. Neuro said no MS. Was then sent back to Rheumatologist for work up. At that point, ANA was negative, SsA still positive, but CCP and RF neg. All Lupus bloodwork negative, too. I was told I have Fibromyalgia and am now on Cymbalta. Cymbalta does help with the muscle type of pain. Recently, the joint pain is starting up again. One knee, then the other. Got steroid injections in both which has helped, but not 100%. Both my thumbs at base are hurting. Both shoulders. Now both hips. X-rays of knees show osteophytes and joint space narrowing. I go back to Rheumy at the end of the month. I feel like something is not right. I’m tired, headaches, and generally feeling poopy. I don’t want to be sick, but not having a clear diagnosis is so frustrating! Any advice would be helpful. Thanks.

I’m almost 2 weeks post-surgery (partial tear of supraspinatus, shaved part of my bone and cleaned out the build-up, promoted healing) and I have suddenly developed acute intense throbbing pain underneath the front part of my armpit and the area towards the front of my arm just near it.
It’s super tender to the touch, warm, and looks a little swollen. Luckily it goes away when I take 1000mg of acetaminophen. It’s been a day or so of this pain and I emailed my doctor.
Prior to this, I had very little pain post surgery. I was off meds 2-3 days after. I have only taken my arm out of my sling a handful of times- mostly to extend my arm and shower. I go on short but frequent slow walks. I have my first PT appointment next week.
Was this something others have experienced? Should I be worried?

Brief history. A year ago I had a staph infection in my sinuses. CT scan confirmed all sinus cavities were full, everything was swollen, I was a hot mess. Suffering from daily headaches, stuffy nose, etc. Prescribed strong antibiotics and it cleared. She had suggested surgery because of the anatomy of my sinuses but I didn’t do it at the time. I rarely have sinus issues so I didn’t think it was necessary.
Since that time I’ve had zero headaches, no sinus pressure, can breathe 💯 though my nose. Only issue is sometimes I can “smell” my sinuses if that makes sense. Also have some post nasal drip but not significant.
Went to the ENT a few weeks ago because I suspected a CSF leak (clear fluid leaking from one side of my nose when I bent over, no other symptoms). She ordered another CT scan and this time my Maxillary sinuses (both) are 💯 obstructed. I suspect they’ve been that way for a while, even though I don’t have any traditional symptoms.
Doctor is again suggesting surgery to correct a deviated septum with bone spur, and open up my sinuses so they can drain. I’m hesitant to move forward with surgery since I don’t really have a quality of life issue associated with the filled sinuses.
Has anyone else experienced something like this? Would you move forward with the surgery despite not really having issues?

Previous Part
“I knew it, I knew he’d pull something like that!”
Was the only thought running through my head as I watched Keith get forced into the truck outside. I was scared for Keith and I was angry, that kind of anger you feel in the pit of your stomach. Not at Keith though, my fury was directed at myself for freezing again. I just sat in the window and watched him get taken. Headache or not I should’ve done something, anything! Instead I just sat there and watched, powerless as always. My first instinct was to go running back home, maybe Frank and Stein could help somehow. Imagine my surprise when I walked in the door and they were looking for me. Well maybe I wasn’t to surprised, I hadn’t told them I didn’t plan on coming back home when I left yesterday.
“Bianca! We were just going to come looking for you, Keith had this idea and… are you alright?”
Frank asked, concern covering his face like a shadow. I must’ve looked like a mess, and the hot wet feeling on my face told me I’d started crying at some point on my way over as well.
“Are you ok? Did something happen?”
Frank repeated in his best fatherly voice. I could barley stammer out the words.
“Keith… gone… they took him.”
My babbling was enough though, realization shown on both their faces. Stein said something to Frank that I couldn’t hear then they nodded to each other.
“He was almost spot on with the timing. Well we best start getting around to do our part then.”
Stein said in his usual uncaring and mildly haughty manner. I don’t know why but it really boiled my blood this time. Keith was gone and he’s just moving on with things?
“Does no-one care about what just happened?! We agreed to look out for him and what did we do? Nothing!”
I screamed at no-one in particular. Those two just gave me a look like I was a misbehaving child.
“We’ve done what we could Bianca, besides Keith is the one who suggested what we’re about to do next.”
Frank stated, in an even and calm tone that made me stop and realize how ridiculous I was acting. Freaking out wouldn’t get us anywhere, even though I really wanted to. So I took a deep breath and stepped back for a second to collect myself.I hated to admit it but in a way their cold, calculating, order of operations approach would probably help here. Those two would never crack under pressure like me. While they didn’t talk about it, I’m sure they’d seen far worse working with the government.
Stein was rushing around looking for car keys when I came back into the kitchen. Frank however, stopped what he was doing to come over to me. I held up my hand to stop him when he opened his mouth to say something.
“No, you don’t have to try and convince me, I’ll come with you. What was Keith’s plan anyways? What did he put you guys up to?”
I asked, much calmer than before but still a little on edge. I couldn’t help but to feel at least a little responsible for what happened to Keith. I know it wasn’t my fault but I came with him for a reason. As much fun as last night had been I wasn’t taking it seriously. I should’ve stayed up to watch for Shaoni, maybe looked around for something she left when she was there before. Regardless, I had to be better next time.
“Keith thought that maybe someone from the reservation a little while outside town may have heard legends about Shaoni. She’s the Thunderbird, that’s an important figure in their stories and legends. Being so close to where she had been sleeping for years he thought there might be a connection. So he asked us to go out and ask around.”
Stein answered me before Frank had a chance to, walking into the room and tossing a jacket my way.
“And put this on, its cold out there.”
It was actually funny how often Stein tried to care and actually came off as so much colder. Almost like he was doing it because he had to, not because he actually cared about me.
“Don’t mind him, he’s just stressed with everything going on lately.”
Frank explained, trying to comfort me. He was right of course, but it didn’t change the fact that it still rubbed me the wrong way.
Ten minutes later I was in the car headed out toward the reservation. It wasn’t a very eventful ride and the pine trees didn’t make for great scenery, I’d seen it all before anyways. Frank and Stein were quiet the whole time and we couldn’t find Rocco before we left. Part of me wondered where he was and part of me didn’t want to know. This gave my mind time to wander and I found myself thinking my life before meeting Frank and Stein. It was weird, I usually tried not to think about it at all but something had brought those memories roaring back. Probably due to Keith asking about it the other day. No-one ever seemed to care about that, my past that is. Every now and then I’d get bored and wander around town. Someone might come up to me and talk but not like Keith did. The only real questions they asked were usually something along the lines of “What’re you doing tonight?” And other variations of that. They were usually looking for something I had no interest in. Sometimes it wasn’t entirely their choice to talk to me. I’d just use my powers simply to have a conversation with someone. Keith actually cared about me though, at least I think so.
A loud honk broke me out of my trance, we had arrived on the reservation. The improvised trailer park we’d arrived in wasn’t much to look at. A dog or two ran around the cluttered ground, free from any sort of leash. An older car missing most of the front end sat raised on a few blocks of concrete. The trailers themselves were run down and rusted. Despite the sorry sight of the place three men sat around a fire, laughing and generally having a great time. The trio looked up as we walked over, recognition passing over their faces. We must’ve looked out of place here in our shiny SUV and Frank and Stein’s three piece suits. Those two were always overdressed when they went out. The only place they fit in was the lab and they seemed more than fine with that.
“Stein! Is that you?”
Exclaimed the man on the left, standing to meet us. He looked happy to see Stein, though I had never seen the guy before in my life. Which meant he must’ve been a friend from before I knew Stein.
“My friend! How have you been? Have you had any difficulties with your… condition.”
Stein replied, cutting his eyes at the other two men like he didn’t trust them.
“They know old friend, no need to beat around the bush here.”
He had to have some supernatural abilities, that’s the only way Stein knew anyone. The question was, what was he?
The man’s name was Sam, Frank told me as we joined the men at the fire. I asked him for more, like what he meant by condition but he wouldn’t budge. Condition usually meant supernatural but a lot of them just looked like normal people. I’m sure everyone has some picture of a succubus in their head and I’m… not that. So I couldn’t even begin to guess at what Sam’s “condition” was.
“So what brings you out here Stein? I hate to say it, but I never expected to see you again.”
Sam said, trying to be as friendly as possible while ultimately telling Stein he didn’t really want him here. He didn’t feel nervous, that much I sensed for sure. No, it was fear that drove him to try and push Stein away, but what did he have to be afraid of?
“I assure you I’ll be gone before I overstay my welcome. I just have a few questions I’d like answers to. It’s entirely possible that you know nothing as well, in which case I’ll be gone even sooner. But you wouldn’t lie to me just to see me gone, now would you?”
Stein almost threatened, some of the friendliness slipping out of his voice. There was more going on here than what I could see or even sense. I’ve got a really good sense of what people are feeling at any given time but the context of those feelings can get lost on me. Sam was feeling fear, way too much fear for the situation. Maybe he knew what Stein was going to ask but I couldn’t tell for sure. I looked to the two scientists, cutting my eyes from Frank to Stein trying to see if they wanted me to step in and calm them down.
“Stein… I can’t… if she knew I talked to you she’d come here. The things I’ve done… what you helped me stop doing. She wouldn’t see it that way if she came here… she would…”
Sam blubbered out, completely losing his composure before Stein raised a hand and cut him off.
“She? You mean Shaoni, we’re aware of what’s going on. We still do have some questions about her though, ones I hope you have answers to.”
At the mention of her name all three men shot up, so I stepped forward. Frank protested but he was to slow to stop me. It’s difficult to describe how I can make people do what I want, these days I just kind of will it to happen and it does. I can force an emotion, or a feeling onto someone else by imagining it myself and projecting it onto them. Frank and Stein think it has something to do with pheromones my body produces. These pheromones can induce certain emotions or feelings if I want them too. In this case I wanted these men to feel tired, cooperative, compliant, and that’s just what they became. Just as soon as they tried to stand they buckled to their knees. I was pushing a little to hard so I eased up a bit, I didn’t want to just put them to sleep or something. Sam got back to his feet and sat down in his chair as the others did the same.
“I’d like to know about Shaoni, The full story, as much as you know.”
I commanded more than asked Sam as he just nodded towards me, a vacant look in his eyes.
“Where should I start exactly little lady?”
Sam asked me, his tone a mix of nervous and compliant.
“I want to know what you know about her, all of it, then we’ll go.”
I answered, trying to ignore the looks Frank and Stein were giving me. They knew I was taking a risk, he didn’t want to share what he knew so I was forcing it out of him. He wanted to tell me now but it wasn’t really “him”. I was in his head, and while he wasn’t going to fight me on anything now, I was sure a part of him was screaming deep down. Fighting desperately to keep his mouth shut to avoid the consequences of telling me anything. I tried not to think about what I was doing to him as Sam began his story.
“Well to start her name wasn’t always Shaoni, It’s hard to keep one name when you’ve lived as long as her. Her name meant “Stormcaller” as near as it translates to your language. She was an elder in a long forgotten tribe in what you know as Canada today. She was renowned for her ability to over see trials and solve debates among her people, always able to set right apart from wrong. The exact name and place of her tribe have been lost to the ages but I do know that it was wiped out. As the story goes the tribe met its end at the hands of “explorers”, all save for Stormcaller were killed. She fled far into the forests and eventually stumbled upon four spirits, the original Thunderbirds. At this time they were still great spirits, created by Nanabozho. Those spirits took pity on Stormcaller, allowing her to live with them in the four corners of the world. With them she learned many things, how to fight, how to think as only a spirit can, and most of all she sharpened her already formidable sense of justice. That need to see justice done, and the proper sense to see what was right from what was wrong is what lead the chief of the Thunderbird spirits to bind itself to her, giving her the powers she’s said to have today, letting her exist as spirit and man made one.
The other Thunderbird spirits eventually followed this example, choosing representatives of their own, each representing an Ideal: Courage, so that our people would never falter in the face of adversity. Solidarity, so that, divided as they may be at times our people were one at heart. Duty, so that our people would never forget their place in the world and the customs and traditions we upheld. Finally there was Justice to lead them all, so that no wrong would be left to stand, and so that one among the ideals would keep the rest in check. These four formed a council that watched over our people for many years.
As imperialism grew in the world and more crimes were committed against their people this council became more and more warlike. Often Stormcaller, now simply known as Justice spearheaded these actions. She sought to right the wrongs committed against her people and hold all responsible accountable for their actions. In accordance with her duties as the embodiment of justice for our people. This war of hers would prove to be her downfall, every day her sense of justice became more absolute, more black and white. She stopped consulting the council to help guide her decisions, believing she and she alone knew what was best for her people and fellow ideals. One thing that changed when the Thunderbird spirits bound themselves was their immutability. As a spirt nothing could harm them, they were eternal, they were and always would be. But once they had become one with a man they could be ended, They would live forever but man’s mortality meant they could be killed unlike before. Something Justice would learn for herself in time.
As her warlike nature grew, Justice began to involve the ideals in open conflict with those who sought to take their peoples land and desecrate their way of life. Eventually Solidarity fell in battle, and those who saw him fall learned of the greater forces at play. These people sought to learn the truth of the power the had seen from Solidarity and doubled their intrusions into sacred land, searching for answers. Suddenly the hunters had become the hunted, perhaps if Justice had not clung so tightly to her convictions everything would’ve ended differently. Instead Justice doubled down on her pursuit to right every wrong she could lay her eyes upon, spurred on by the death of Solidarity. Eventually Courage fell and so to did Duty, only hardening Justice’s resolve. It was only when she revealed herself to her people one day and they fled from her, afraid of what she would do. Afraid that they to had committed some wrong that she sought to right in her own violent way. This reception forced Justice to realize what she had allowed herself to become. Justice had become Vengeance, lost in anger for wrongs she could never hope to right she had lost herself, becoming something else entirely.
She shed her name, her duties, her people and disappeared into the world. Watching what would come for her people broke her. She had lost what she sought to guide and guard, let the people the Thunderbird spirits sought to protect so long ago fall to ruin. Her need to see justice done never left her, but what was once a raging inferno became nothing more than a spark. If she came across one that had escaped justice, hidden their tracks or found a way out she would know. She would right the smaller wrongs of the world in her own way, stoking what remained of the flame within and finding her own purpose in the world. Eventually she would take on a new name, Shaoni, why I do not know but it is what she choose. Her sense of justice was still absolute, she saw no shades of grey just right and wrong. But the scale of her judgment was reduced, no longer would she try and right every wrong the world had to offer but only those she could reach. The world is a dark place though, and sometimes a lesser evil can ease pain. Shaoni didn’t see lesser evil as something she could abide and so her judgements often left more pain in their place. She grew weary of her pursuit once again, seeing how little she had changed and how much pain she had brought. She chose to settle down and remove herself from the world. Shaoni would never be able to die, not from the passing of time. She could remove herself from the equation in a cave not to far from where we stand now.”
Sam’s story hurt to listen too, in some ways it only seemed like Shaoni did what she thought was right. Yet time and time again she failed to see shades of grey, and that cost her everything. It made me think of who I was years ago in a way, not that I was some all powerful spirit thing like her but still. What would Shaoni think of the person I was? How would she judge me for my actions before I meet Frank and Stein? I certainly wasn’t a saint, but did that mean I couldn’t be better? I shook my head, now wasn’t the time to think of things like that. I stopped forcing Sam to answer my question, leaving him to his own devices. There was always some lingering effects after I… did my thing. I’m not sure how exactly it felt for them but I don’t imagine it was pleasant. Realizing you weren’t really in control of yourself has a way of causing issues for a person. Sam seemed to be shaking it off pretty well though, I’d seen worse things happen after I’d finished with someone, like Keith losing hours of time sitting in the kitchen. Playing with emotions can cause stress in the brain, especially since I’m forcing an emotion or feeling on them. More than once I’d seen someone left with uncontrollable swings in mood or a complete lack of emotion or feeling of any sort because of me. I hopped that wasn’t going to happen again here.
“Bianca what was that!”
Frank complained, finally breaking free of the spell the situation had cast over him. He ran over to the other two men that hadn’t gotten up from their chairs like Sam. Worry crashed over me like a wave as I realized why Frank sounded so concerned. One of the men was seizing on the ground, his body shaking violently as spasms coursed through him, had I done that? Sam was in a blissfully ignorant sate, he just sat in his chair watching the fire, unaware of what was happening to his friend. Frank and Stein leapt into action, holding the seizing man on the ground. Stein pulled off his belt and placed it in the mans mouth, trying to keep him from biting himself. My eyes were fixed on the third man who lay motionless on the ground. I took small steady steps toward him, hoping against hope that I could find a pulse. As I got closer I realized his chest was rising and falling. He was alive but who knew what he was going through right now. I felt distant, Frank was yelling something at me but I didn’t catch a word. I had to do it right? I had to make them tell us what they knew, it could help Keith right?
“What did you do to them?”
Sam asked me, apparently free of the aftereffects of my influence. I snapped my head to the side and watched him take a threatening step towards me. I backed away, afraid he might do something rash. I shouldn’t have done that, Stein could’ve convinced them on his own.
“What did you do to them? What’s wrong with them?”
Sam asked again, his voice growing more desperate. Stein picked that moment to appear at my side.
“Sam they’ll be ok just give them a minute. She didn’t mean to hurt you or your friends, just let it go. I’m helping her the same way I helped you, she’s not always in control.”
Sam softened a little bit at that but he was still wary of me. What Stein said was a lie, I had control of my abilities most of the time these days but Sam didn’t know that. Frank walked over to where we were standing with a relieved look on his face.
“They’ll be alright, they just need rest. What about you, are you feeling alright Sam?”
Frank asked, nodding towards him. Sam didn’t answer but it was plain to see he was doing far better than his friends.
“I’d like you all to leave.”
Sam ordered, putting his metaphorical foot down. Whatever favor he owed Stein didn’t matter anymore, he wanted us out. People were beginning to come out of some of the other trailers, gawking at the scene in front of them. As the three of us were leaving Sam said one more thing,
“Stein, this makes us even.”
He growled in an even but angry tone. You could just tell he was staring daggers at us the whole way back to the SUV. I turned back for a moment and I could’ve sworn his skin was wriggling and changing. Like he was just barley holding back something. What concerned me even more was what he felt, not anger or worry, but fear.
The ride back was less than pleasant. You know that feeling when you’ve done something wrong but no one really wants to address it yet? Yeah, that’s what was going on here, the air was practically electric.
“We needed him to talk…”
Stein cut me off immediately, shouting,
“Sometimes you don’t need to help! Look… I know you meant well but you can hurt people with that power of yours. I’ve never seen it that bad before but then again you’ve never done it to a group of people that long. Who knows what longterm consequences it might have. Just… be more careful in the future.”
Stein wasn’t as angry as he tried to appear, part off him was even relived, maybe because I had been the one to handle the situation instead of him.
“I know, I know its just… Keith is stuck out there at that mine with her, I couldn’t leave with nothing.”
I agreed, He was right, it was a risk but how could I have just let it be? No-one else was going to look out for him so that fell on us now. As much as I hated having to force things out of people I was good at it, really good. Despite how I felt about what I could do to people that was the easiest way to get Sam to speak back there.
“Where did this whole drive to help Keith come from anyways? A few days ago you talk him into watching the house and throw some money, our money, at him for the trouble. I’ve seen you do that a few times before with others so you could come with us when we went to stock up on things. Regardless of our misgivings surrounding your methods. So it didn’t go that well this time and he found out about you and us. Something like that was bound to happen eventually. What I can’t picture is why you go out of your way to help him. I don’t personally have any issue with you jumping to his defense. Its not too hard to understand why someone would, considering his situation. But for you, well it seems out of character for you.”
Frank chimed in with a question of his own. I’m sure he didn’t mean anything by it hurt to see him so surprised that I’d consider helping another person.
I never answered Frank’s question, I thought about it a lot the rest of the way back though. Why was I so intent on helping Keith? All my life I’d done things just to survive, even when I was really young I had to find a way to get by on my own. Sure I had my mother but she had her hands full with her own life. She didn’t have much after my father left and did everything she could to make ends meet. I just tried to stay out of her way and help where I could. I never complained when she forgot to make dinner, or when there just wasn’t food around the house. I’d just go without or take what I needed from someone else. Even back then I knew it was wrong but I always had looks on my side. Combine that with pity and not a lot of people would say no to the cute hungry kid. After Brooke, I only had myself and I just kept doing what I needed to. This was different though, I didn’t have to help Keith but I wanted to help him all the same. I didn’t get around town much and I always felt like I just existed around Frank and Stein. With Keith I wasn’t just this thing lying around the house, I was a person, a friend even. That was it, the first time it really clicked for me, Keith was my friend, not because I had wanted him to be or because I made him think he was. No, he was actually there for me and it was all his choice. I didn’t have to puppet him around myself, he actually wanted to be there. I didn’t have to wonder if it was just me and everything I could do pulling him in. For the first time in years someone had actually cared enough to ask about me, Frank and Stein never really did because they knew how much it hurt. Keith didn’t know how much it hurt to talk about but still. I needed to actually talk about all that happened to me with someone who listened for real.
Coming to that realization only made me want to do something stupid. Like run up to that mine and try to get Keith out of there myself. But that’s exactly what it was, stupid. If we wanted to get Keith back we’d need something better than just me. We’d need a real plan, one I’d just started thinking of. There was something else eating at me to. Keith had offered to take some burden from Shaoni back in Imalone, I had an idea what it might be and it scared me. If I was right well, Keith was in more danger than we all thought.
When we pulled back into the driveway Tuck was waiting at the door.
“Where’ve Y’all been?! I been lookin’ for ya damn near all afternoon! Somein’ happened o’re at Keith’s place, He’s gone. I cain’t find that “lab assistant” of yours neither.”
Tuck said hurriedly, his southern accent that he usually tried to hide seeping out into his words.
“We know, it was those trials he told us about. I presume he told you as well then?”
Stein informed him as he got out of the car and marched towards the door, barely making eye contact. Stein had an idea, I could read it all over him. He got this way when he was away from home and wanted too test something, once he was back there was no standing between him and his lab.
“Yeah, the kid told me something like that. Would explain where all those people were goin’ to. Couple of the regulars in town, ones I know look up to that damn bird, left this morning headin’ towards the old mines.”
Tuck spoke to no one in particular, nodding to himself as if to check off the fact that Keith disappearing and people leaving town were two related things.
“Why don’t you come in then, you might be able to help out with the situation. We just learned a few things about this… “damn bird” of yours. I really would’ve appreciated if you told us about that years ago. Perhaps you’d like to tell us what you know of the Thunderbird in the lab?”
Stein ordered rather than asked, pointing to the door for no more than a moment before continuing on his march to the basement. Frank and I filed in after them but I didn’t join them in the lab.
I looked around the house for Rocco but couldn’t find a trace. It wasn’t like him not to leave some trail of destruction in his wake. Well hidden or not, we usually found evidence of whatever he was up to but this time there was nothing. I had no clue where he’d gotten off to, maybe I was better off not knowing. After I gave up I joined the others in the basement, to their surprise I actually had decided to make an appearance. Frank and Stein were a little rattled at first but soon went back to their work. Tuck just beamed at me proudly, like he knew something I didn’t. We set about comparing notes on Shaoni, and separating fact from fiction based on Frank and Stein’s many years working with the supernatural. It was… nice, in a family bonding kind of way. Keith had brought us all together, gave these scientist a new problem to solve. Gave Tuck a chance for some kind of justice for the friends he’d lost in the mine collapse all those years ago. For me, he’d brought me together with the family I’d fallen in with. Strange as they were, this was my family, or at least the closest thing I had to it. I had to help, not just for Keith but for them. I’d been a burden, scared to go outside, hateful of what I could do despite using it to make life easier for myself. Worst of all I’d been stuck in my own head, I’d gone through awful things, done awful things, used my body and my charm to get through life. I’d been every bit as evil as Brooke had been to me. I did everything he’d done to me to others, only it was so much easier for me to do it. I hate myself for it, maybe I always would, but I couldn’t let that stop me now. I had to set all that aside and be there for the people in my life, I had to be a person again, not just hope everyone would treat me like one.

I am 42 and still having periods, but I am experiencing some signs of menopause - the hair is almost fully grey and I have even less tolerance left with heat than the little I ever used to have. I’m from a Nordic country and thus not used to heat waves or high temperatures and this summer I will travel to US to much more warmer environment.
 
Even though I don’t yet have night sweat or hot flashes, any temperature over 70 F (21 C) degrees makes me super uncomfortable. It has been like this my whole life - I feel like my body is slowly shutting itself down when it’s too hot. During the summer I am participating on a sitting retreat for a week (outside, in a tent) and I assume that the temperature can go as high as 95-100 F (35-37 C). I have no idea how to cope. Any advice, any help, any guide or tips?
 
I’m sorry this sounds so whiny! I’m just hoping that I could find some kind of tools and guidance to ease myself. The heat makes me itchy, I already have rash (allergic/atopic eczema and dry and sensitive skin) and sweat makes it so much worse. Are those small air fans good? I think I saw years back some kind of scarf you could put in the freezer beforehand, has anyone any experience of those? Maybe I could just sit with ice packs against the neck, under the arms, and in the groin area…
 
And then there is the stink. I think I have started to smell bad. It’s not happening every day, but I assume it could be nonenal, and I was curious if you fellow wonderful women here would have some experience with persimmon soap/products? Before last year I never used to have much body odor and didn’t even need deodorant most of the time. Now I use deodorant daily in fear of maybe smelling bad. My kids and husband have assured that I don’t smell bad, but I still can smell myself. Especially under the breasts and on the groin there is this new scent I definitely didn’t have couple of years ago. I shower every day (which is not good for dry and allergic skin) and always have clean clothes, but this is causing me a lot of stress. I have been using glycolic acid (from The Ordinary) and it is helping little, mostly with armpits. But it’s not taking away all the smell from the groin area and under boobs - maybe because I don’t put deodorant to those areas. Any tips for this embarrassing problem?
 
Thank you for any kind of help!

So I’ve had nexplanon for almost 2 and a half. I’ve had a few symptoms that mimic pregnancy and tested and never been pregnant but now I’m having multiple. Me and my partner have unprotected sex and he finished in me, we have sex almost every day and we’ve been together for almost 2 years. I want a baby but at the same time I don’t know if I should spend my money on a test but do need to at the same time because if I keep the implant in then it could hurt the baby.
My symptoms include: Back aches Headaches (never ever do I have headaches) Nausea/vomiting Urinating more than usual Constipation Mood swings more than usually have Swollen and tender breasts Extreme bloating Strong sense of smell Tiredness Heart burn Congestion Etc
And about periods…I take hormone pills with my nexplanon so I don’t bleed all the time so I’m not sure about that one. HELP

So I'm not sure where to post this exactly because my flu test was negative-- but I had whatever other virus from hell is going around the US right now a couple of weeks ago. It started with body aches and chills and a horrible headache-- that lasted a few days, and then congestion joined the party. After a while the body aches and headache went away but the congestion stayed and last week I noticed my tonsils were swollen and covered in white patches and I had a sore throat and swollen lymph nodes. I have been to the doctor and they prescribed me antibiotics to see if that did anything for the tonsils. I haven't had a fever this entire time, but I have had night sweats and I still have them. Has anyone else experienced anything similar? I'm so sick of this

I started LDN last night to help with the neuropathy I’ve started to get in my feet (but he’s also hoping it’ll help with my cfs, fibro, migraines, and GI issues), and I’m kind of worried because in everything I’ve read says you start low at like 1mg and then work your way up to 4.5mg….but my neurologist has me on 4.5mg right off the bat. Is that him being careless or is it really ok to start at 4.5mg?
After my first dose last night, I’ve had a low grade headache that feels different from the type of headaches I usually get, very thirsty, and my neuropathy actually got WORSE. It went from its usual light, all over pins and needles…to that PLUS more concentrated feelings of being stabbed in the nerves, which caused my feet to reflexively jump and spasm like crazy, as if being stimulated by electricity. It was pretty awful.
And I can’t even cut the pills in half because they’re capsules 😩
Edit: and now a few hours after posting, I feel truly awful, feeling like I have a flu coming on (I don’t go out anywhere to get the flu, I’m almost entirely housebound) with a sore swollen throat and post nasal drip. WTFFFFFFFF

Hi guys! I’m a 28F and got the Nexplanon in Oct 2023. Prior to that I was on birth control patches (which worked great but gave me rashes over time) and due to heavy bleeding and cramps I was introduced Nexplanon.
Mood swings are a minor issue for me, it’s just the reoccurring yeast and bacterial infections along with UTIs that started around this year February. I’ll get diagnosed with BV and UTI, take meds, and yeast infection follows up. This has been a cycle and I’m tired of constantly taking medications over and over again. And yes, after getting repeated infections, sex became painful and this weird, swollen feeling in my vaginal area won’t go away.
My libido dropped right after the Nexplanon insert. My bf 28M came out clean for his tests while my doctors are suspecting him for cheating. We know for a fact we both aren’t not cheating and we would get different feelings everytime I get the diagnosis.
I did my research and noticed a lot of people suffer with this, should I get the Nexplanon removed if this is being the cause of everything? If so, has anyone got the Nexplanon removed and saw improvement of these symptoms?
I never got BV or yeast infections in my life so I’m quite confused about my body now..
Thank you in advance!

I had the Mirena coil inserted almost 6 weeks ago. I had a lot of symptoms after the first few days, most of which I was prepared for. Spotting, cramps, fatigue, and low mood. A week ago, I woke up looking like I had an allergic reaction. My face was swollen and I had a red rash over my face, chest, and arms. I went to the Dr the same day and was told it was unlikely to be related to the Mirena hormones, and was given strong antihistamines. The swelling has gone down a bit, but I'm still covered in this rash and very itchy. It now looks like eczema, which I haven't suffered from like this since I was a child. I've decided to have the coil removed in a few days as I don't want to chance it. But feeling a bit bleak.
Has anyone experienced something similar?

My son is 5 years old I noticed one side (right) of his tonsil was swollen back in august since then it has grown and now both are swollen but right side it still more swollen then the other.. he has his molars growing in and the right cheek got swollen (the dentist said it’s normal for his cheek to swell). The dr says his tonsils are probably just allergies and seen normal “ most kids have inlarged tonsils” he says. The symptoms I’ve noticed: snoring, and he says it’s a bit hard to swallow that he has a lot of saliva and feels a click when he swallows sometimes.. he also has swollen lymph nodes and complained twice that he had side neck pain and a headache but went away. Any ideas? Am I over thinking everything. I also noticed his neck pulsing a lot at night

Hey I’m 15 and am recovering from an eating disorder I have been eating like crazy and every morning I wake up with a resign headache and feel swollen I just feel so out of control lately.