Hi Everyone,
I am going down a bit of a rabbit hole right now. I did a DAO test recently under suspicion that histamine was causing an issue. I had the results back and it confirmed my DAO was low (5.4 u/ml) so it looks like I am histamine intolerant.
But I have some problematic symptoms that aren't just gut-related.
My main symptom right now is joint pain all over my body. It effects my hands, fingers, wrists, knees, ankles and feet. It can change in severity daily and happens in flares after certain medications. These include ADHD stimulant meds and minoxidil.
Other symptoms include stomach upset after food, gas, sometimes pain or spasms, anxiety, back pain, hip pain, muscle cramps and stiffness, hair loss, dry eyes, muscle twitching and some vision issues.
I am currently being tested for Rheumatoid arthritis. But with the test results of the DAO, I am thinking it might actually be relating to this. I have looked into MCAS and Mastocytosis, and see that bone and joint pain is a symptom. With histamine intolerance, I am not sure it is?
My doctor has stated he will not perform a Tryptase test, so I will have to get this private. I am lost at what avenue to go down.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I've been approved for MJ and very excited to start. I've struggled with my weight for years, although I consistently go to the gym 4-5 times a week for the last 2 years. My fitness and strength is the best it has ever been but I always fail at nutrition.
I'm an unpaid carer to my husband and 2 boys both with special needs so I emotionally eat and it's true when they say you cannot out train a bad diet. I emotionally eat which always ends in binges. And I'm definitely a victim of diet culture (having previously been a Slimming World member for years).
I am however concerned whether the medication will effect my training as I go to the gym for my mental health too and if I skip it, for whatever reason, I definitely see an Incline in my mental health.
I already eat a lot of protein (I really want to keep my muscle during my fat loss journey) and drink a lot of fluids - I have purchased some electrolytes as suggested by a few people. However I wanted to ask how people find taking the medication and exercising? I do strength training 4 times a week and include HIIT 3 times a week as well as always hitting my 10k steps a day goal.
Fed up of people always thinking I'm a gym newbie just because I'm big and asking how I can be overweight when I train so much :( also I know a lot will be easier with a lower weight as I have started to notice more joint pain recently which I don't get when a healthy weight.
Any advice? Thank you so much in advance.

Hi Everyone,
I am going down a bit of a rabbit hole right now. I did a DAO test recently under suspicion that histamine was causing an issue. I had the results back and it confirmed my DAO was low (5.4 u/ml) so it looks like I am histamine intolerant.
But I have some problematic symptoms that aren't just gut-related.
My main symptom right now is joint pain all over my body. It affects my hands, fingers, wrists, knees, ankles and feet. It can change in severity daily and happens in flares after certain medications. These include ADHD stimulant meds and minoxidil.
Other symptoms include stomach upset after food, gas, sometimes pain or spasms, anxiety, back pain, hip pain, muscle cramps and stiffness, hair loss, dry eyes, muscle twitching and some vision issues.
I am currently being tested for Rheumatoid arthritis. But with the test results of the DAO, I am thinking it might actually be relating to this. I have looked into MCAS and Mastocytosis, and see that bone and joint pain is a symptom. With histamine intolerance, I am not sure it is?
My doctor has stated he will not perform a Tryptase test, so I will have to get this private. I am lost at what avenue to go down.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

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Seriously willing to give a reward for Diagnosis.
Symptoms :

• feel fine the majority of time
• then have episodes that last for a day to a few days where:
  • I get very tired
    • Nausea, lack of appetite
  • Tight shoulders
  • sometimes pain in mid upper abdomen
  • sometimes it travels to back
    • brain fog, low mood and anxiety during these times
  • I have tinnitus but during these times it is extremely bad

Had lots of blood work and all seems fairly normal. Ultrasound and Ct scan of abdomen which is all fine.
Any comments would be great

So, a little bit of context and important info. I'm 15 years old and my parents are really bad when it comes to my health (gaslighting me, telling me it's my fault, ignoring me, etc.) so I am trying to as much as I can to help myself since it usually takes my parents 3 months to 3 years to agree to schedule an appointment. I have no current diagnosis but POTs and chronic fatigue has been suspected. I have no idea what's wrong with my gastrointestinal system. About two months ago, I started getting frequent nausea + stomach aches. It's getting so painful to eat. I've tried basic meds like pepto bismol but it didn't help. I can't recognize a pattern in the "no" foods, A couple of the ones on the "no" list of that I can remember right now is apples, sodas, burger, lollipop, soup, popsicles, yogurt, pizza, chips, mac n cheese, tomatoes, fruit roll ups, ramen, and oranges. I'm struggling to find food that is tolerable. I can eat oatmeal, most protein bars, those little Gerber baby puff snack things, dried seaweed, plus plain popcorn. Any suggestions on what to try next?? sorry in advance but my list of food allergies are: kiwis, pears, papayas, pistachios, peanuts, fish, crab, shrimp, and potentially pumpkin seeds and pecans. My mom has purposely "lost" or procrastinated bloodwork so idk if there is more.

I started having stool that was fit the description of EPI symptoms back in March. It used happen every now and again but never persisted for more than a day, and was largely due to my diet the night before.
In April, I became aware of how consistent this issue became, and used Teladoc. The provider claimed it might've been H. Pylori since I recently had traveled to NY (I said I ate a lot of different foods; omakase to late night pizza & tacos). Advised me to take omeprazole (Prilosec OTC) since her reasoning was that it'd lower my stomach acid pH and hinder the H. Pylori. 14 days later, nothing changed so I stopped taking it, as advised.
In early May, I visited my PCP. After describing the above, he prescribed me 500mg of ciprofloxacin. I decided not to take it since I was skeptical and surprised that I got prescribed an antibiotic when I didn't even go get any testing done. Got a referral to a GI center instead.
Now in mid-May...my stool test came back negative for H. Pylori and everything else. Only issue was, my pancreatic elastase level was <50 when the normal range was >200, according to the sheet.
Followed-up with the GI center and was given Zenpep, and am currently awaiting an ultrasound.
My question for this community is, do you know what could possibly be causing this low elastase level? I'm at a loss since I have zero other symptoms - I'm not fatigued, nor do I have cramps or any pain, etc. It's just the stool consistency. I also believe myself to be rather "healthy" (late 20's, ran 6 miles in 60 min. flat 3 months ago, I lift 4x a week, eat moderately clean, etc.). This issue literally appeared overnight one day, and never left.
Is there anything that can rule out EPI and/or pancreatitis and other issues? My HMO means it'll take a while in between each imaging order, so I'd rather knock everything out sooner than later. And given the last couple of misses with my prior doctors, I'm curious to see what others think or have experienced.

I am a 35 years old woman and I have been passing kidney stones almost every year since the age of 19. I was obese when I started getting them and I was told that my weight could be a contributing factor. I also happen to have a rare genetic condition that messes with my joints and it was another reason for me to lose weight. I managed to lose 115 lbs in 2020 and I am glad to report that I have been able to keep all the weight off. I am now relatively thin (117 lbs for 5ft7), and while my mobility improved dramatically, I keep getting these damn kidney stones on the regular. The latest one had me rush to the ER this week-end and it was one of the most painful ones I've had. Luckily it was "only" 5mm and didn't require surgery. It was so hard to deal with the pain that I am contemplating losing even more weight to see if it could make a difference. Has anyone here been able to notice that once you get to a certain weight, you just don't get them anymore ? I am doing everything I should, drink water, reduced my intake of diet pop, low oxalate diet, lemon juice, every damn thing. I am at loss when considering what my next step should be, and even more weight loss seems like the only other option I could try. What do you think ?

So I guess I need some reassurance because i'm finding myself absolutely freaking out tonight after a number of weeks of various stressors, family loss, etc so its just been so hard. I'm 13 weeks tomorrow and last week at my scan the tech said "oh it's anterior placenta but I can't tell whether it's low lying or not. If it is, you'll need a c-section." c-sections are literally my worst nightmare, I suffer from emetophobia and very specific medical fears regarding my stomach and abdomen surgery. Anyway, today the written report came back saying it's definitely "overlying" the cervix so I assume that's totally covering it rather than just low lying. I know it's early days but I'm freaking out real bad. I have also had a very bad time with painful gas, extreme nausea, heartburn, reflux, basically a variety of stomach upsets that, in the best of times, stress me out. But this has been next level. I have only dry retched a handful of times, I haven't vomited. My midwife told me the nausea should be all gone at 8 weeks so at 12-13 she's worried it will be here the whole pregnancy which is just something I can't go through with, especially with the rest on top. Does anyone have any reassurance about feeling extremely nauseas and bad and it going away soon for me, as well as a complete placenta covering cervix at 12 weeks that has resolved without too much stress?? I don't even know whether to have sex or whatever, not that I feel well for that yet, but no one is telling me anything. I have had a really bad nausea flare up the last 2 days after thinking I might start to feel slightly better last week, when I did a lot of walking and had more stress over the weekend. So its all feeling too much for me.

Chapter 1
Mors
An endless void, silence interlaid with its pitch-darkness, greeted an injured man. No light can be seen, sensations be damned, and consciousness spread thin as though taut in this incomprehensive expanse that laid before him.
Callum fell into the abyss, his mind the only thing left to accompany him. He hasn’t even counted the minutes as his mind is plagued by something else. He never considered himself a man of interest, only scraping by with his odd jobs and part-time salaries, hence why he couldn’t understand his current situation.
Betrayal is something that he is familiar with, whether it be a betrayal of his expectations when a co-worker broke his promise or a betrayal of his emotions when his first love interest cheated on him back in uni. However, this betrayal orchestrated by his best friend whom he’d known for 5 years, and girlfriend for 8 years felt more gut-wrenching than the pain he felt from the stab.
Denial was the first thing that stormed his mind. He couldn’t believe that the two closest people in his life would stab him in the back, literally. There was no build-up, he didn’t suspect a thing, and everything was normal until he found steel in his flesh.
He rejected the notion that his girlfriend, Catherine, would betray him like this, an accomplice to a murder that he can’t grasp the motive of. He has built up some savings, but it isn’t something that would be worth murdering someone for, especially after buying that ring.
He dismissed the thought of Jake being jealous of their relationship as he couldn’t see the guy doing something as stupid as this. He can’t form any rhyme or reason as to why they would do it, and the only possible explanation is that this was all a dream and he was actually still sleeping inside the tent.
But as he waited for himself to wake from this nightmare, only darkness greeted him. He had tried moving his body in this sea of blackness, but the movement only felt like going through molasses with tired arms, which is why he attributed this as being only a dream that he would wake up from, which appeared to be wrong as he waited and waited.
Anxiety crept in as he tried to call out, but no sound escaped his lips. He strained his voice to be heard, yet he can't even hear himself. No light adorned this place, no wind to be heard, and he couldn’t feel anything even though he tried feeling himself.
The pain in his back was forgotten as he tried and tried to move, to scream, to flail senselessly, amounting to nothing as he was greeted by nothing.
Feeling anything in this void is something impossible, and the only thing that he can do is return to his mindscape.
He went back to his oldest memories, back to a time when everything felt oppressive and suffocating. Callum was born into a broken family. His mother and father had gone through a divorce when he was only 6 years old. He could still remember the screaming and yelling of his parents whenever night fell in their sorry state of an apartment.
His father, Eric, having not finished his education after Callum’s birth, has been living as a blue-collar worker in downtown New Jersey. Even during his day-offs, he can’t seem to find rest as he goes to do odd jobs and part-time work to stay afloat. On the other hand, his mother would leave him, a toddler, alone in the apartment.
He remembered her putting CDs in a DVD player so that it could keep his attention on a cartoon that his father introduced him to. If he had anything to describe his mother, she would be irresponsible and narcissistic. She would sometimes bring guys over to their apartment, threatening Callum with divorce if he ever told Eric about it, hence why it took several years until his dad caught on and filed for a divorce.
Eric was determined to take Callum with him, he argues that he could take care of his child better than Callum’s mother. But his mother and her twisted pride can’t let go of Callum, which leads to a legal dispute between the two.
The court hearings went on for several months, with each passing day being a lot more hellish for Callum. He was subjected to further insults by his mother as she knew that leaving bruises on her child would lower her chances of winning over the court to her side. Sometimes, she would go as far as manipulate him, gaslighting him into believing that she was a good mother who would take care of him better than his father. But after seeing that the court favors Eric’s side more, his mother took drastic measures to satisfy her wounded pride.
It was the second to the last day of the court hearing, and it was during this time that his father was working overtime. Callum had just gone home from his elementary school, feeling tired as he hauled his bag over his shoulders up the multiple flights of stairs he had to climb to get to their apartment.
As he neared his home, he steeled himself and opened the door, only to be met with overturned tables and broken ceramics. He walked quietly through the scene, afraid that someone might hear him entering his home. Looking back on it now, Calum can’t help himself but laugh at his stupidity. He could have gone and alerted their neighbors, or gone back downstairs to wait for his father, but being a child, Callum doesn’t know what to do.
As he entered his room, he saw black words spray painted on the walls, the meaning eluding him as he didn’t know what it meant since he was 7 at the time, but remembering it now sent shivers down his spine.
The words “This is what you get!” on a torn wallpaper are ingrained in his mind. Seeing the manic letters sprayed over the walls gave Callum anxiety, taking a few steps back towards the open front door of their apartment. Escape was now on his mind as he grew scared of what was to come, something that was far too late as he heard his mother behind him.
It was there that everything turned into a blur. He remembered snippets of yelling and crying both from himself and his mother. He remembered his mother forcing something down his throat. He remembered his father coming home early that day and restraining his mother, a crazy look in her eyes. He remembered the feeling of nausea and the floor colored with his lunch. And he remembered the sirens, red and blue lights dancing in his vision as he was carried to a stretcher. The last thing he remembered was his father crying, holding his hands tightly when he opened his tired eyes.
For the next few days, he learned from the news that his mother attempted a double suicide. The story goes, after losing the custody battle, the mother planned to take revenge by ending the lives of both her child and herself. They said that he got lucky as the neighbors had contacted Eric when his mother turned their home upside down, relating it to a possible home invasion. If not for him, Callum would have died from nicotine poisoning after his mother forced tobacco down his gullet, a morbid story that he uses as a joke during his time at work.
He remembered being inside that hospital for days on end, his body recovering from the poison his mother left him with, and his father was there almost every day even though he had to work to pay the hospital bills. After what felt like forever was he allowed to be discharged, going back to the same refurbished apartment that they lived in, but after seeing how Callum had recurring nightmares and trauma attached to the place, they decided to move to Pennsylvania. A hard decision that needed to be made as his father would put it.
Everything after the whole incident was better for Callum. His father got a job as a mover, still doing some part-time work here and there, and Callum did his best in school so as not to burden his father with more work. Even though they lived in a rundown shack handed to them by one of the locals, they didn’t mind as they knew that getting to live at all was better than what they had before.
Callum smiled in the abyss as he reminisced about his time with his father. He was a great man, a good role model for anyone who came across him. He is kind-hearted and considerate, a hard worker that makes him popular among his peers. It was them that helped move him and his father out of New Jersey and found them a place to sleep in, teaching Callum that socializing and connecting with like-minded people goes a long way when someone needs it.
For the next few years, Callum lived happily. Though there were some ups and downs, he and his father got through it, which is why the memory of his time in university was depressing.
Eric, after having saved some money, gave Callum the go-ahead to enroll in a university in California. But after attaining an athletic scholarship in football, Callum gave his father a surprise to ease his worries and stress. Callum felt bad every time he saw his father work, hence why he tried his hardest to take some of that workload to give him a break. With the tuition being lowered with the scholarship, Callum could give the rest of the money back to his dad. A gesture that was fully gratified as his father had a hard time letting him go when the time came to move over to the university. But it was during this time that tragedy struck.
It was his fourth year in studying anthropology when he heard the news from one of his father’s friends, Robby. After hearing it, he grew distressed and worried, taking a lot of convincing from Robby to keep Callum from moving back to Pennsylvania.
His father has gone missing. The news had spread amongst his co-workers and friends, and a search team was already being dispatched to find him. Even though Callum tried to keep his focus on studying, he couldn’t help but feel agitated as days went by without news of his father being seen. His mental state plummeted, and he grew withdrawn from reality as days turned to weeks, his father still gone.
He could still remember the times when he locked himself in the school’s library, searching the web to find any news or reports of his father's whereabouts, but as he searched for days on end, only one thing kept popping up from the newsletters. His father, Eric Hurst Foster, went missing in his own home. There were no struggles in the house, the CCTV didn’t see him on any of the roads or stores in the town they lived in, he just seemed to have vanished into thin air.
The news ate away at Callum, and his friends that he’d made during the time gave their support to keep him from spiraling out of control. However, even with their support, Callum’s worries over his dad never went away, hence why he threw himself into work. Going to part-time jobs and studying is the only way to keep his mind from blowing. He did this until he finished university and found a job to stay afloat.
This went on for years until he’s come to accept that his father may never be found. With nothing to ground him in their old home, he decided to explore the world, thinking that one day, he might find a lead to the whereabouts of his dad.
Months turned to years as he worked tirelessly in multiple jobs. From being a mechanic, electrician, cook, waiter, and many more to count, Callum went on a work frenzy. He made a plan to scour the states as a freelancer, living in his BMW pick-up truck that was given to him by one of his friends. He stayed in each state for a few months, meeting new people and making some friends along the way. They sent their well wishes to Callum as they knew that he was still trying to find his missing father.
Years went by as he made his way back to California. He had gone and explored every state, and yet no news of his father came to light. The case had gone cold, and it was up to Callum to find any clues to this mystery. His mind has told him to give up the search, and multiple friends have given him consolation as they knew that his father would never be found, but Callum persevered.
It was during this time that he found himself as a mover, the same job that his father had before he disappeared. He had just come back to California after getting the job, and he was about to go check in for his first day when a sudden downpour of rain covered the skies of the city. It was only coincidental that he was near that coffee shop, and it was coincidental that only two customers were present there. He and his future girlfriend turned accomplice to his murder.
The rest of his memories went by as he continued to float in the abyss. From the time of their first years in a relationship to meeting Jake for the first time in that apartment to when he taught PE and History in a school in Minnesota. Everything went by as Callum went from one memory to another until he felt something.
A chill ran down his spine as an indescribable dread manifested in his mind. He knew not why he felt this way, and he felt himself tearing at the seams as a slit of light showed itself in the void. He was then pulled into the light, senses coming back after he spent his time in the abyss for what felt like days. And with a flash, he is back in the same hunched-over position he was in when he was stabbed in the back.
Callum can’t help but laugh as he finally could see again. Trees surrounded his vision, with wild grass carpeting the ground. But before he could truly see the world, he felt a sharp pain in his back. With his body remembering that he was injured, he felt himself sweat profusely as he bled, painting the flowers under him red. And yet he didn’t panic.
After all that time reminiscing, he finally gave in and let death come to him. He fell on his back, sending another wave of pain coursing through his body, cursing under his breath as he regretted not laying himself down slowly. And as he looked to the sky, he felt himself getting colder and colder.
Callum felt at peace as he stared at the clouds above him. The sound of the wind and the rustling of leaves helped him come to terms that he was truly dying. He’d thought about death a lot. During his time when he was a kid, and when he was depressed after his father went missing. But the peace he felt for only a few moments as emotions came crashing down.
He felt himself tear up as he came to terms with his current situation. He would never have a chance to marry the girl in his life. He would never have a chance to have his own children and see them grow. He would never have a chance to be a father. And he would never have a chance to grow old with the people he loved around him.
As he thought of these things, the floodgates opened. Streams of tears fell down his cheeks as he sobbed in his dying state. He could only put his hands over his eyes to stop it from flowing, an action that felt challenging as his body became fatigued from all the blood loss. The crying only hastened his death as he felt his breath escape him, his lungs labored and filled with blood as the stab had punctured it.
Minutes went by as Callum felt himself grow tired and tired. And as he closed his eyes, Callum’s heart slowed and slowed as his body has a lack of blood to pump. His breathing grew shallower with each second until his body gave way and stopped altogether.
Callum died at the age of 34, stabbed in the back by his best friend with his girlfriend being an accomplice for his murder. He died from blood loss as his body colored the ground red.
Callum waited and waited to feel his consciousness fade as he welcomed death to greet him. And as the second grew…
'…Wait.'
His consciousness never faded away.

I had a punch biopsy a few months ago that was “consistent” with Morphea since my ANA is negative. I had my first appointment with my rheumatologist today, and he said that morphea doesn’t cause ANY symptoms, besides skin plaques. I have a few skin plaques so, yeah.
I have been searching for answers for a plethora of horrible symptoms I’ve been facing for years. Trips to every doctor imaginable. Thousands of tests. High esr, negative ANA, all normal blood work at the moment but every once in a while random things will be low or elevated.. I have DEBILITATING fatigue, joint and muscle pain that can be debilitating, trouble breathing, low blood pressure, and loss of grip strength. I am not overweight or unhealthy so I can’t blame my habits on these things. My doctor says those symptoms are not being caused by morphea because morphea is essentially symptomless. He also says absolutely everyone with systemic scleroderma has raynauds and since I don’t, he won’t do any further testing. I’m not sure how this whole process works, but I’m feeling pretty defeated. I don’t know the next step, but life is getting pretty hard to live when every day is a stuggle but I don’t have any answers as to what’s causing it. I really don’t know if I should give up on trying to find out what is causing these issues. I don’t know what doctor to visit. I don’t know how to rationalize my misery when I can’t seem to find a medical explanation.

My apologies if this is written poorly. It is late at night and my anxiety and stress are high.
My dad just turned 60, and recently his fears about life have exponentially increased. Just like most of the boomer generation, he rarely expresses any emotions that make him feel weak. He is also often a crabby old man and is good at complaining. Though, I mean this lightheartedly because I love him.
My dad is not the kind of man to ever go to the doctor, and he would rather suffer than have to go in. However, four years ago he began to experience what felt like severe heartburn. As crabby men do, he complained to my mom every day about it. Each time he complained my mom pleaded for him to go in and get checked out, but he always refused. After an entire week went by, his heartburn only seemed to worsen, and that was when things finally clicked for him. He told my mom that he was fearful for his life due to his symptoms, so they immediately called an ambulance. And fortunately, they called just in time. At the hospital, they found out he was experiencing a heart attack, and not just any type of heart attack, but a widow maker. He had at least one valve that was 100% blocked, among other ones which I do not remember. It’s a miracle that he survived an entire week with such a severe heart attack, and we can only presume it’s because of how stubborn he is. Since then, he has been on a fairly strict diet and exercise routine, which my family and I have tried to do as well. As expected, he now has anxiety about his heart health.
Anyways, aside from my dad’s heart, he also has a really bad back, hips, knees, feet, or you name it! Just like he does with any other medical concerns, he refuses to go in and get help. Part of me believes this is because he is afraid of going through surgery. Since he is a truck driver, none of his joints or anything gets any better driving all day. He is in pain constantly, and winces when he gets up, bends over, or does anything. Even so, he won’t go in to get anything checked out and doesn’t want to get knee or hip replacements, again, probably because it involves surgery. Because of this, my family and I are at a loss for what to do.
Unfortunately, we do not have enough money to keep our house and still let him retire, so until my mom makes more money he’s stuck working. I am in college paying for everything myself, but I still have some loose change in my pockets. Because of this, I have lent them a few thousand from when they couldn’t afford monthly bills. But no matter what I say, my mom refuses to let me gift them the money so they can stay on top of things and let my dad retire. I mean, they literally let me live with them rent free, it’s the least I can do!
This all came into play recently, when we truly found out how worried my dad is. As his one and only daughter, my dad loves to be open to me about things and tells me whatever is on his mind. My dad is not the same way with my mom, though, so she gets most intel from me. Recently he has expressed a lot about how badly he needs to retire, and how he wishes my mom made enough money for him to do so. Along with that, he has expressed his stress and frustration over how little he has gotten to travel and explore different parts of the U.S. Of course, his joint problems make it nearly impossible for him to easily travel anymore, so he feels helpless. On the plus side, though, we get to travel to Europe as a family in the fall, thanks to a trip my mom earned through her work! I also plan on funding a trip to the Grand Canyon next summer because going there is one of his life’s dreams and I will get him there no matter what.
Aside from what my dad has told me, my mom heard something disheartening from my grandmother. My dad often goes to my grandmother’s house to mow her lawn every week or so. However, last weekend, things were not going so well. My grandmother noticed that my dad was moving much slower than usual when mowing the backyard. Because of this, she had countlessly asked him if he needed to sit down and take a break. As the strong son he is for her, he denied needing a break and kept working. After a while, my grandmother noticed that he stopped mowing and that he sat down on the front steps for a long time. She decided to go sit next to him, and that’s when he finally opened up to her. It turns out, my dad has been feeling horrible about his health, and he seems to be very worried about how much time he has left. He does not think he will be here much longer and he’s scared. From what I already know, my dad is not satisfied with his life yet, which is most likely why he is so scared. And that’s what brings me here.
I know that we can’t control when someone goes, but we can control how they feel until then. Six months ago I had already lost one of my partner’s dads’ in a very traumatic way, and that man was only 40. He was also one of the best parental figures a kid could ask for, so it hit hard. Especially after going through that, I can’t lose my dad yet. I love him so much. I want to help him through his struggles and show him there are things to help him. What can I do? Does anyone here have any advice on how I can help my dad?

I guess I (32F) can’t even handle a single glass of wine anymore. I got long covid back in 2021/2022 and suffered from ongoing fevers, the worst allergies I’ve ever had, and a sore throat that didn’t go away for three months. I’ve been fighting chronic fatigue, skin inflammations, more frequent illnesses, and joint pain since I was infected with Covid. I had to quit my career, as I couldn’t handle the physical exertion my job required of me on a daily basis, and now only pursue random jobs that allow me to work from home. I also appear to have aged rather quickly, but perhaps that’s just me hitting my wall.
I started noticing I wasn’t able to drink like I used to about six months ago, almost three years post Covid. I thought “oh, I’m just getting old” until I went out for lunch a few days ago and enjoyed ONE glass of wine along with a main course and appetizers, THREE glasses of water, AND 16 oz of lemonade. I get home two hours later feeling super tired, my heart racing. I passed out for a full hour before waking up feeling like I had a mild hangover, and very dehydrated.
This isn’t new to me, as I have suffered from reactions like this before (post Covid infection) but after maybe two or three glasses of wine. But now I can’t even have one?? Seems like this reaction is becoming more severe but I have no clue why. I thought I would get better with time, not worse. What can I do? I read some older posts that taking an antihistamine helps but am I expected to do this for the rest of my life? Is there anyone out there who has improved naturally? :(

I don’t know if I have GERD. Never had significant issues until recently. I’m 57F. I’ve had strange severe chest pain, radiating up my neck and into my jaw. I’m very healthy and the first time it happened, it was immediately after laying down to go to sleep. I figured it was a weird GERD thing and not a heart attack. The pain was severe, I couldn’t sleep, or even lay down. It lasted 12 hours. I followed up with my doc, and had an EKG, chest x-ray, and bloodwork. The only thing out of limits was a very high CRP (46). I went on with life. About a week later it happened again, only this time it was gradual, and I had other symptoms including low grade fever, fatigue, and nausea. This one lasted 24 hours. Severe pain. My doc said I should go to the ER. They checked everything related to the heart, and it wasn’t that. The ER doc thought it might be costochondritis. My regular doc thought it was my esophagus seizing. He prescribed opremizole. I didn’t want to take it, as I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease last summer (IBD - inflammatory bowel disease) and PPIs are bad for what I have. So then I had the third event. Again it was gradual and lasting more than 24 hours. They had given me a few oxycodone from the ER - the pain was so bad this did NOTHING to help. I started the opremizole the next day. It’s been about 6 weeks and it hasn’t happened again. When I google esophagus spasms, it doesn’t compare very well with my symptoms. I’ve also got severe fatigue (my IBD is in remission) and my doc is going to have me do bloodwork. When this was happening, sometimes I would just get pain at my throat and lower jaw. I did have some more minor symptoms recently, but I was at an extravagant party and I drank a lot of champagne and ate spicy food. Another reason I think it points to esophagus and not costochondritis. Curious if others have esophageal spasms and what works for you. Also how do yours come about? Other than my first event, there was nothing I did to bring it on. I also want to stop the opremizole bc of my IBD, but don’t want this to happen again, the pain was that bad and LONG. Thank you for listening.

Adult Content warning; mention of women’s menstrual health and CSA, and SA.
Mainly seeking to vent and in need of some advice.
Fem 22 multitude of mental health issues and health issues such as Clinical depression, complex PTSD (family abuse mentally and physically, sexual a**ault survivor from child to now, too many abusive partners:relationships to count and many more) social anxiety, Autism, ADHD, hearing issues, polycystic disease in uterus, muscle tics from meds, hot flashes from meds, arthritis combined with hyperextended joints, plus my family has addiction problems and many more health issues.
Ive been on so many medications (going on 9years now) and seen a bunch of therapists, councillors, social service workers, doctors, phycologists and I have been on quite a few grippy sock adventures.
I’m honestly at a loss. I have no way of getting off my current meds which are XR Venlafaxine, 262.5 mg and Quetiapine 25 mg. the hot flashes are insane and I’ve constantly got twitching leg muscles and I’m only twenty two. I’ve got huge lumps in my chest in both breasts and I live in Canada Alberta used to be in B.C. Ain’t no way I can even see a doctor unless I go to emergency and wait 24-76 hours to be seen, I have no family doctor because they left me high and dry so my current doctor is my pharmacy since they have known me since I started taking my medications. Last time I was seen by my family doctor was in 2021, I have not been able to get back in since the doctor is either not there or the next available appointment is in 2 years time. I’ve tried the phone call doctor appointments and most of the time I get stuck with someone I can barely understand because English isn’t their first language. I struggle immensely with deciphering heavy accents. I was able to go in for an ultrasound back in 2020 for my breasts and all they said are they are lumps from taking birth control basically excess hormones. But every time I get my period they swell twice their size and hurt so bad I have cried out in pain trying to put a sweater on. Not to mention how debilitating my period is it lasts 8-9 days incredibly heavy flow passing clots up to 3-4inches and my gestation period is 16-18 days in between so some months I have two or three periods. I wanna do so much with my life but with how everything is I have to starve to afford my rent and meds. I barely have a job sometimes only have one shift a month. Not to mention no one will hire unless you meet their exact expectations or have a secret way into the workplace. Can’t work fast food since my social anxiety is so bad and most of them are filled with East Indians who refuse to learn English.
I just wanna be able to live and make my life feel worth living. I can’t sit still since I’m so antsy, only way I can keep my focus on things is if I’m working out while doing it or pacing back and forth. I’ve done so many therapy packages I’ve gone down all the paths I can to help myself and not much has worked. If I had a way to make money on the side and have savings it might help but it’s incredibly hard to even sell stuff on Facebook market place here where I live.
I also have cut contact with my abusive narcissistic family since they enabled the physical abuse and they let the person who sexually assaulted me as a child stay in our family for years and they still stay in contact with them even after I told them what happened. My grandma actually told me every person goes thru that it’s normal and to be expected.

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

For background, I have insomnia and untreated mild sleep apnea (tried CPAP but it wasn’t comfortable). I also have postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), gastroparesis, and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
For as long as I can remember, if I don’t get enough sleep or the quality of sleep is bad, I’ll feel sick the next day. Nauseous, tachycardic, dizzy, weak, headachey, overly hot or cold.
Over the past 4 months, my reaction to lack of sleep/bad sleep has become extreme. I can’t figure out what changed.
Soon after waking in the morning after a bad sleep, I’ll usually have one of these episodes: sudden “hot flashes” with sweating, nausea, dizziness, and overwhelming fatigue.
These episodes come on so fast and are so intense that I have to stop whatever I’m doing immediately and lie down. I’ll sleep for anywhere from 30 minutes-2 hours because I just can’t push through when this happens (I’ve tried many times). I usually feel better when I wake.
Occasionally these episodes will occur later in the day, but only when my day has been more tiring than usual. I probably have one episode about every other day at this point. But I’m barely functioning between constantly feeling generally ill from exhaustion and other chronic crap, and from dealing with these terrible episodes.
Has anyone else had a similar experience? My doctors are all at a loss whenever I describe my symptoms and I feel like I’m going crazy. I just want to feel well!

Nearly 3 months ago I had surgery. Everything except for the left ovary was removed. I have started norethindrone pills about a month ago because I’m terrified that endo will come back, even though initially I was very apprehensive about trying another hormone treatment. Side effects are not too bad. Worst one being hair loss. I got used to having hot flashes and night sweats prior to surgery. Of course that’s still annoying. Now the issue is I have symptoms preventing me from living a full life, and going to work: Fatigue, back pain, leg pain, pressure and pain above the butthole, occasional stabbing pain where the right ovary used to be, stiffness in the legs and lower back. Difficulty walking down the stairs. All made worse with activity or sitting for prolonged periods of time. I go to physiotherapy several times a week to build strength and endurance, and then after every session I need a nap. I’m worried that I will never be able to fully function. Has endo eaten away at my body to a point of no return? Or is this an age thing? I’m going to turn 40 this year. Of course in comparison to the way things were prior to surgery this is night and day. I know everyone is different but I would like to hear some positive stories and people going back to a normal life. I want to work and do things without being in pain, or feeling drained after simple things like vacuuming the apartment.

Hey ladies, let me catch you up.
Few weeks ago i found out i was having a babygirl and well i suffered from gender dissapointment i felt so shitty about it because why would i be upset im having a daughter! But eventually with time i accepted it and now im the happiest I’ve ever been.
I had to change OB because i couldn’t ask her a question without her saying “thats normal” and rushing me along.
Im 17weeks 4 days:
Few questions
When should i start feeling the baby? Any of you have an anterior placenta as well? Has it affected how u feel the baby at all?
Been having this low abdominal pressure whenever i stand up and walk as well as vaginal clenching is that normal? It’s not painful but noticeable anyone else notice this, im worried it might be something wrong lol looking for some reassurance.
Am i still okay to sleep on my back? My husband says i shouldn’t but it’s the most comfortable position for me.
Anyone else still have nausea?
Also i know having been disappointed about having a daughter sounds horrible but i promise it was a temporary thing and i no longer feel that way to those of you who have suffered from loss or have a hard time with getting pregnant please don’t be upset with me for it:( im sorry.

Hello all. The title is not clickbait. Just wanted to provide a post now that I am nearing the 2 year mark from infection. I have posted on here previously but deleted it as I wanted to just give this one post some light. For context, I’m in my early/now mid 20s, was in the middle of grad school, was an athlete/active/outgoing. My timeline is below (If you’d like to just skip to how I’m doing now, just keep scrolling down until the April 2023-Present). I would also like to say beforehand that the vast majority recover significantly faster than this. This is not the norm, and please don’t panic if you just got sick. You’ll likely recover in weeks.
August 2022: Initial infection. Swollen tonsils, rash, fever, etc, labs eventually come back positive for mono.
September 2022: Acute infection symptoms still prevailing, somewhat improved late in the month. Other notable occurrences: ER visit from tonsils obstructing my breathing.
October 2022: Felt like I got hit by a bus. Insane flu like symptoms, fatigue, brainfog, PEM, muscle aches, nerve pain, dizziness, dissociation, feeling of body not able to remember to breathe (very weird version of shortness of breath), horrible GI/IBS like issues, light sensitivity, noise sensitivity, genuine short term memory loss, motion sickness, heart palpitations/PVCs, temperature sensitivities, began losing weight/muscle from inactivity
November 2022 - June 2023: Virtually zero progress. Symptoms I listed above would cycle over and over randomly. I became obsessed with trying to feel better, track symptoms/what treatments worked or didn’t, and every single movement I did every day I thought about in terms of feeling worse or better. Doom-scrolled most of the day. Horrible on the mental health. I thought I had ME/CFS and that I’d have a slow and painful life, one that I’d rather not live if I have to be honest. Was barely able to keep up with all of the exams/labs/assessments/classes that came with grad school. I almost had to drop out. No parties. No sports. No hanging out. Couldn’t drive. I missed most of my classes. I felt like I had the flu every single day, all day. In any moment where I felt I could be doing better or I found something that might be helping, it didn’t. Went right back to flu like symptoms. Months 3-11 were truly hell. At this point, I lost 40 pounds of good muscle/fat and all my athletic abilities were gone. I felt so left out, alone, isolated, and depressed.
June 2023-September 2023: I am struggling to keep up at my internships. The hot weather made my brainfog worse, and I still had significant GI issues, light sensitivity, and noise sensitivity. On a positive note, my overall cycling of symptoms began to become less and less intense as it neared September.
October 2023: I will never forget this month. As I was still struggling at new internships, I vividly remember a string of days that I felt were better than usual. Usually after this happens, it goes right back to the same old stuff. But this time, it didn’t. Everyday became a “not bad” day. This was progress that I never ever thought would be possible.
November 2023-March 2024: Very slowly, this string of “not bad” days kept turning into some “good” days. I still had some ups and downs but, by winter time, I genuinely was able to feel like a functional human being again. I was able to go to work, study, hang out, and drive again. My brainfog has improved. All of my symptoms above have improved. The only one that really did not was noise sensitivity. Would I have occasional flares of awful GI problems? Yes, but so does every 20 something year old in this day and age from all the processed stuff we’ve been consuming. Occasional pain or headaches? Yes, but very normal amounts, just like any other normal person.
Late March/April 2024-Present: My brainfog, fatigue, and other symptoms, are afterthoughts. I don’t think about my symptoms most of the time anymore, because I don’t have them. My noise sensitivity improved so drastically over the past month that I’m now able to listen to music consistently for first time since getting sick. Having caffeine feels normal again somehow. I’m able to have some alcohol again. I can drive again. I went to bars and clubs with friends for the first time again. I went to weddings again. I went to trips with my family, friends, and significant other again. I graduated college. No more PEM crashes. Despite all odds, despite these symptoms, despite it being nearly 2 years, I have recovered. The only remaining symptoms of occasional muscle aches/heart skips/GI problems I really think are just from being so inactive for so long for the first time in my athletic life, and my autonomic nervous system/vagus nerve still being a little fried (but about 90+% back to normal). All those nights of crying, suffering, having horrible brainfog to the point of thinking I’m losing my mind, the nerve pain, heart palpitations, feeling so alone and wanting to not live life anymore, were gone. I don’t care what everything says here, and online. You can recover. I did in 2 years. The people who have also done this really must have decided to never update their progress on here, or anywhere. I don’t blame them in a way, this was by far the worst and darkest time in my life. But I can live again. I feel free.
I love you all and really hope you realize no matter how horrible you’re feeling right now, you can recover. There is no magic bullet right now that fixed it for me either. I’m sorry. The amount of tests I did at doctors offices, supplements I’ve tried, prescriptions I’ve tried, all either did not help or were incredibly inconsistent. Time was truly what healed me. Not over weeks, and not even over some months. It was over many many months. My heart breaks for all of you suffering and I will not forget everyone that’s still suffering. I hate how I can’t give everyone here exactly what I desperately used to scroll for; a treatment. But I can give you my assurance. I believe in you all, and I can’t wait for when I hear about some of your recoveries. Thanks for the read. Feel free to message with anything.

• Ev ____________________

Some meds I tried over the course of the last 2 years that either did not work, or were mid at best and had side effects (this is simply documenting what I tried and I DO NOT endorse/recommend any of these. Please ALWAYS talk to your doctor or pharmacist before trying any medication): B complex, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, zinc, ginger, 2nd gen antihistamines (like Claritin, Zyrtec, Xyzal), melatonin, Metamucil, ondansetron, modafinil, caffeine, CoQ10, ICS/ICS+LABAs (Pulmicort and Breo specifically), albuterol, monolaurin, bupropion, glycine. There were a bunch of others (like ibuprofen, Tylenol, viscous lidocaine) that I used in the beginning to help the initial infection, and a bunch of others that I did not try long enough to put on here. There were also a bunch of events and symptoms I did not mention above for simplicity sake. Please talk with your provider or pharmacist with any medical questions or if you think you may be having any other serious health issues. Thank you all again for the read, I will update you all once I get back into working out again in the coming weeks!

Hey, I’m a 21 year old American (5’9” 130 lbs), I’ve been experiencing intermittent chest pain for about a month, located behind the breast bone that lasts on average 15-60 mins. Severity fluctuates, but I hardly get more than 5-30 mins with either no pain or low pain before pain begins again.
I’ve had two major attacks with the worst pain I’ve felt in my life (past dislocated shoulder doesn’t even compare), the first occurring a month ago while laying in bed reading, the second last night which sent me to the E.R. at 1 AM. The first seemingly random attack dissipated after building for 10 mins, and ending with the feeling that someone reached into my ribcage and gripped my heart with their nails, Mortal Kombat style. Since that first attack a month ago, this chest pain has built from a hardly noticeable tightness to debilitating pain.
Associated symptoms are shortness of breath, rapid and pounding heart rate, fatigue, dizziness, and intense anxiety (with typical anxiety symptoms).
The idea of having a heart attack at my age is silly, but last night’s attack sure felt like one would, sending me to the hospital. Vitals, labs, EKG, and X-ray appear perfectly fine with no complications, asserting that my cardiovascular system is okay. Docs sent me home saying that I do not appear to be dying or at risk, and that they can’t really identify what it is without talking to a specialist.
My lungs also appear fine, and breathing deeply does not affect the pain. Neither are muscles the cause, since touching, pressure, or exertion do not affect pain either. Anxiety MAY be a cause, with the most intense attacks correlating with intense anxiety about the issue, but pain occurs at all hours of the day even at rest.
This kind of pain is new to me, as I never experience heartburn or indigestion, but scary, as my mom and her side all have severe heart issues (she’s had four open heart surgeries).
Pain medications do NOT help, and neither do antacids. They gave me a gram of acetaminophen (Tylenol) at the ER alongside fluids to no avail.
I have tried vaping recently, for only about a month and a half and sparsely at that. Quitting was no issue, going for two weeks without cravings, and trying again a week ago to find it slightly alleviates pain, if not for a few moments. I have since thrown it out, knowing it isn’t worth adding another concern to the equation.
~~~
Endless research has found two possibilities.

1. Angina — with symptoms matching exactly. However, my EKG and vitals do not indicate anything related to the heart.
   
2. Undiagnosed Panic Disorder — symptoms also matching exactly, with intensity being the only questionable variable. I’ve played down my anxiety for many years, being a typical guy, and choosing to instead face stress head on as a treatment. Maybe it’s catching up with me. I am also going through an intensely stressful and emotionally distressing part of my life currently, but my own feelings and rationality towards it do not reflect the anxiety I might be feeling. I’m fairly in tune with things like that, but who knows.
   

Neither of these seem incredibly plausible, due to the circumstances and intensity. I’m really at a loss. I wish the pain would just go away instead of building as it has, since it’s affecting all aspects of my life and making it so hard to enjoy even my favorite people and hobbies.
Any ideas or suggestions?
Thank you, and God bless!