Now before I start, I know this makes me sound like a drug seeker. But i’m a 21 year old healthy female. I don’t do drugs (yes that includes weed, and I haven’t drank in months). I’ve noticed now for years that anytime I take acetaminophen, I feel like i’m buzzing. My chest and neck near my carotid arteries get tight as well as my throat. My heart races and stays high for 12-24 hours after taking it. I get all hot and impending doom. I’m not sure if i’m allergic since I don’t swell or get a visible rash. I thought it was normal to feel this way until yesterday at work when I took 500 mg fast acting off brand tylenol for a headache. I literally felt like I couldn’t breathe and needed to step out for a second for air (didn’t help). The rest of the night and this morning I felt tingly and my head felt weird. The chest tightness and neck/throat tightness went away after a few hours though. There was no caffeine in the active or inactive ingredients. I can’t explain this buzzing feeling other than I feel like i’m dying and it drives me insane:/

The results are in for Match 21. The winner is…
Mahimit was dragged across the battlefield by ｢Young Lives｣, the Stand filling him with a vigor to fight, to please his father who was watching from above—and that vigor filled him with each slash of its claws, keeping the son awake as he was marched down towards the trailer.
The two Stand Users had made their way down there last—secluded within a small container, cornered. The Stand’s puppet had been worn down for certain, but this was the time to finally finish things. As they approached, they saw through the window the older woman pull out her phone, and immediately Mahimit’s arm was raised to aim his gun right for it. As they made him pull the trigger, he couldn’t fire before she had spoken to her allies on the other end:
“Yeah, we figured out who the perp is, it’s Thomas Kent. Singh didn’t even show up, sent a lackey instead. He should be…”
The rest of her sentence faded out as Mahimit stalled…stopped.
The Stand roared in panicked fury as its user lowered his gun, unable to control them with the ease it once had. Mahi barely noticed—neither did they react to Windy’s warm, draining embrace of as ｢Young Lives｣ attempted to claw her off of him. As his eyes began to close, the longcoat of his Stand’s prior form disappeared and revealed the real one beneath, he managed one thought before falling into a deep sleep.
Of course he didn’t. Why did I think otherwise…

Sonika Singha and Windy, with a score of 72 to Mahimit “Hira” Rākin’s 56!

Category	Winner	Point Totals	Comments
Popularity	Sonika Singha and Windy	27 (14+2) - 3 (0+2)	A shutout victory for the players!
Quality	Mahimit “Hira” Rākin	17 (6 5 6) - 20 (7 7 6)	Reasoning
JoJolity	Mahimit “Hira” Rākin	18 (6 6 6) - 23 (8 7 8)	Reasoning
Conduct	Tie	10-10	Nothing to report!

The results are in for Match 22. The winner is…
Club Naraka, the site of a hellish pile of bodies and accidents, was practically on fire that night. Thankfully, Sulka, along with a group of armed guards, had brought a fire extinguisher with them. They stormed the ground floor, taking a moment to spread themselves out. “Alright, we’ve-” A hail of gunfire cut the man off. “—THEY’RE HERE!”
A few of the nameless guards rushed in towards Sulka, to catch any strays that might come his way. Sulka himself pulled the nozzle end up, and heard another single shot fire from another nearby pillar. “There’s an accomplice, circle—” Something crawled up his thumb, and bit into the extinguisher, just as a stray bullet drove a dent into the metal casing. “—AUGH!”
The fire extinguisher burst in his hands, filling the room with a heavy white smog. The hip-firing moved, and it came long, low, and in mobile spurts. “Fire back—” As if on cue, fire jettisoned into the cloud of smoke, “—SPREAD OUT, QUICK!” Through blurred vision, Sulka watched one of their own leave through the front door. “Not that far, damnit!”
With the guards spread out along the floor around him, some wearing gouts of fire, some drenched in the liquid refuse of their extinguisher, and others still riddled with bullets, Sulka turned to one of their dead men, and ripped a pistol from their side. They watched the last moving object head for the door, and pulled the trigger, twice. An employee badge caught the edge of his blurred vision.
The cool night air filled the ground floor, and fed the flames atop the burning men. Sulka’s arm fell to his side, letting the gun clatter against the floor.
A spiral of thoughts took him. First, he’d need to make a casualty report, followed by a loss statement. The sheer number of clients who may not come back after an incident like this would likely drive the place out of business. Between that, the viscera, the dead workers, the dead clients, and all the ammunition costs—let alone the licenses he’d have to put in for—his head shrieked at him. For once, he shrieked back.
It was a low, horrid thing, much like a growl or snarl, but loud enough to make itself known against the billowing call of night. A cool hand slicked his hair back, and the night air stopped pouring in through the shutting door. He turned to one of the guards, who’d taken to putting out another with a blanket. “Take everyone alive and go look for everyone else alive.” Sulka sauntered away. “I’ll be in my office.”

Reese McGuffin, with a score of 72 to Markov's 69!

Category	Winner	Point Totals	Comments
Popularity	Reese McGuffin	13 (3+2+2) - 17 (5+2+2)	An even voting period right up until the very end!
Quality	Markov	23 (7 8 8) - 22 (7 8 7)	Reasoning
JoJolity	Tie	23 (8 8 7) - 23 (7 8 8)	Reasoning
Conduct	Tie	10-10	Nothing to report!

Somewhere in the night, a Club Naraka coat and hat, usually only worn by guards, lay in a trash can. A woman, caked in blood and all manner of horrors, pressed herself against the wall beside it, and fished through her pocket for a coin. She’d found it there, in the elevator, on her way to her shift. Moonlight danced across its surface, letting the coin shimmer madly in the low light. ”Hah… you… y-you saved me…” Emile was shuddering, clutching the golden coin tight, for fear of dropping it. “I-I don’t know why, but… w-whatever you want of me, I’ll gladly give it in return… p-please, tell me…who…who are you?”
“…aha!” the voice chuckled. “How…terrible of me! In all the commotion, our…introductions com-pletely slipped my…mind.”
The air in front of Emile began to shift and shimmer. As she pulled her gaze away from the coin, she saw something phase into existence—a feminine form, long purple wires for hair, and a peering red eye gazing back at her beneath them.
It was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen.
“My name is Markov. And your ad-mir-a-tion is payment…enough.”
Emile stared, gazing in wonderment at the hovering figure. Whether from exhaustion or reverence, she dropped to her knees, tears beginning to streak down her face. She thought of the ordeals she’d just faced. The people she’d passed. The people she’d fled. The people she’d killed. There was something else, though—the figure’s eyes seemed to- “That…hole in your shoulder.” Emile’s own head turned to match the figure’s gaze. “Do not fret. I can…teach you how to…take care of that.”
From the roof above the pair’s heads, one couldn’t hear the quiet murmurs and shivers of a woman ripping apart her own viscera-caked clothes to seal her wounds. Other things were certainly on the mind of its occupant, one Reese McGuffin.
Before him were two rats. Before them was a whole litany of ghostly creatures. His hand pointed towards the rat to his right, “Alright everyone, this is Splinter—” before it moved to point at the rat on his left, “—and this is Remy!”
Remy waddled up to a Utahraptor first, and started sniffing at it. “Oh, lemme introduce you to pieces, Remy!” Reese put a hand between the ghost animals, and casually shuffled it back and forth as he spoke. “Remy, Pieces! Pieces, Remy!” He turned on his heel to see Splinter eyeing up Finn, the shark. “Hey! He’s a friend, not food!”
A comforting quiet filled the night air as the ghostly animals circled one another, introducing themselves in their own little ways. The only thing left on Reese’s mind was a single odd question, one that had been eating at him since he left. “Where did I put that coral?”
Slowly, Mahimit awoke to the morning sun’s light. They could have sworn that they had a nightmare that night, but they felt refreshed as if waking from a peaceful slumber…
That wasn’t a nightmare, was it? He thought he could manage it all but in the end he just…broke as soon as he saw Ajay lying there with a bullet through his shoulder—wait, is he okay? Was he brought to safety? Did the Suite now think he was involved?
“Hey, don’t worry—you're safe here.”
Mahimit blinked, finally taking note of their surroundings. They were lying in a plain white bed, first aid boxes and equipment scattered about—the architect remembered the claws raking at their back throughout the night. Their torso had been bandaged up thoroughly: their long coat was laid out across a table, while their shirt was currently in Windy’s hands, who must have paused in stitching back up one of the tears when she noticed them awake.
“W-where am I?” Mahi asked. “Is Ajay safe? Where is he?”
“Jon got him to a hospital as soon as he could,” a voice called out from the door. Mahi looked over to see who looked like a detective walking in, followed by the two he recognised having gone after Zafar back then—no, not Zafar. “Had to be more careful with you given how well known you are, Mahimit—or do you prefer Hira?”
The architect sighed with some relief at that, not finding any deceit in the answer. “Either’s fine…not sure which one’s more ‘me’ anyways.” He looked around at the group settling into the room. “…Where’s the other person who was with you? Is she okay?”
A silence filled the room as the four recalled what Windy recounted once they regrouped—Sonika had lost hope, and ended up attempting to kill an unconscious Mahimit before she was stopped by Windy which caused the PI to run off.
Steric didn’t look it, but he was probably one of the most affected within PINDROP. While diving into his work wasn’t the healthiest coping mechanism, he had been increasingly concerned for Sonika’s health and disposition—so to hear that she not only ran off, but wanted to dispand PINDROP was crushing. “She…she ended up leaving.” He refocused onto Mahimit. “You said you’re unsure about yourself—would you be willing to answer why?”
Hira chuckled. “I guess I do owe you some answers. Well, I first went out as ‘Hira’ right around when I manifested my Stand—but then I ended up going out as them more often. Started to look into stuff about myself without the pressure of being the perfect son on my back…haven’t felt I’ve had the chance to really do so since I came back to Rakin.”
“Because of Zafar?” Inago asked, taking a nearby seat. “You don’t have to answer more than you’re comfortable with, but…you only went berserk after you thought he had just shot your friend.”
“Yup,” Windy nodded, setting aside the shirt and needle. “And I couldn’t help but notice ya stopped letting that Stand control ya once Sonika said out loud that it wasn’t your pa.”
Mahi winced. “…Yeah, I thought it was Zafar. He was a great parent and I never wanted to let him down, but things got so out of hand that when that last piece dropped I just…shattered, I guess. Though even if he was told it probably wouldn’t matter…”
“And why’s that?” Steric asked, jotting down some notes.
“He’s stubborn, sticks to how he thinks things are. If anything challenges his view on a friend or ally of his, he’ll just ignore it and carry on. He’s going to learn that I was Tamas and he’ll shrug it off and forget about it, as usual. Probably the sole reason he’s still in the Metro is because he truly believes that they’re doing what’s best for the city—something I found quickly wasn’t the case.”
Drippy stepped forward. “About that: why were you in there in the first place, and for how long? And what do you know about the Middleman?”
“…I can’t tell you anything about them.” Hira spoke, eyes glancing away from her.
“W-why!?” Drippy almost yelled out. “What reason do you all possibly have to not want them stopped?!”
“Well, you plan on killing them once you know, aren’t you?”
“Yes! Perhaps if you actually told us then maybe we could see why we shouldn’t put down this person taking utmost glee in murder. I don’t get why you and Rasna are willing to protect this guy.”
“…Trust me, if I could have stopped them I would have years ago. But if Rasna’s refused to tell you, you should be able to figure out why, right?”
“…they’ve suffered a lot, haven’t they?” Inago asked somberly. “That must be why they’re how they are today.”
“Oh, so they can get off free after everything they did?” Drippy retorted.
Steric put his hands between the two lest things escalated. “We can discuss this later—at the very least that is a lead.” He turned to the guest. “As for the other questions?”
Mahi nodded. “It was a month or two after I began working towards getting into the City Planning Board. Things weren’t looking as good as I hoped, when my father decided to bring me down to see these friends of his. I was offered a deal: they would pull some strings to help get me onto the board as long as I was willing to put forward some things they wanted…even then I figured something was off, but if it meant I could help this city I thought it was worth it. Oh how wrong I was…”
Steric sighed, finishing up with his notepad before putting away his pen. “I think that will be all then…thank you for your time. We’ll leave you to rest now.”
Inago followed the PINDROP members out, looking over his shoulder one last time: “Before I forget, anything you want for breakfast?”
Mahi thought for a moment. “Pancakes?”
Windy hopped off her chair and walked closer to Hira. “You’re a kind soul deep down, aren’t ya? Even as violent as you were, ya never tried to kill anyone…”
“But I just tried to kill you! It wasn’t me but it was born from me…messed with my thoughts as well as my body. So glad my therapist is a Stand user, thank fu—dge.”
She chuckled at the self-censorship. “But you fought back in the end, didn’t ya? I think I understand the feeling of getting puppeted though, and I know Luna and Alex should be able to help with the memory stuff. If you ever want to talk about it, feel free—we’d be happy to.”
“Sure,” Mahi nodded, lying back down into the bed as they allowed themself to smile. “…Thank you.”
Scenario: Verve Residence, Sapatibhatt — 10:23AM
Clink.
The teacup rattled against the table, empty. Idly, Gioia Arancini glanced over the lid, curious to see the shape of her future reflected in the tea leaves. She didn’t believe in that stuff, but Fate had taken stranger forms. Besides, Evergreen had done a lot these past few weeks. She couldn’t help but wonder…
“You were right, Gioia!” Soichi piped up from beside her, sipping on his own cup, “this is really good!”
In front of them, Vasant Verve sheepishly wrung his hands, giving them both a little smile. “I’m glad I haven’t lost my touch, haha…! It really is the least I can do, while you’re here.”
They could not meet at Urban Hymns, as the estate had been closed since Gioia and Charvet fought the man a few weeks prior. Though she had expected the two of them would get arrested, Verve himself had told the authorities that he would not press charges. In return, Gioia had been checking in with him, making sure he was back on his feet, and that ｢Cage The Elephant｣ was well and truly gone.
“Mm,” Gioia nodded, “give Vasudha my thanks as well,”
“No problem, dear!” a woman shouted from another room. Verve had little desire to return to his cabin, so in the meantime he was staying in his younger sister’s house.
For a moment, there was silence. Verve was perfectly still, as if one wrong move would shatter this tenuous peace. Soichi was content to drink in the cozy atmosphere. Gioia was staring at the tea leaves. What shape did they form?

The peace on Mount Parapollah was just as tenuous. Muuru had returned to the mountain now that the sand worms slumbered and the shifting had stopped. There was once a being who was to the Mountain as Muuru was to the City. The being was gone, now, and the Suite was filling in the gaps with trucks and bulldozers. As Muuru watched, a woman with a flute sat down beside him and smiled. Whatever happened next, the Mountain and the City moved together.

Gioia was drawn back to reality as Soichi spoke. “So, what have you been doing during your time off?”
“Oh?” Verve blinked. “Not much, I suppose! Just some odd jobs, here and there, mostly in the South. Just trying to help the rebuilding efforts, you know? Fix what I broke.” He grimaced a moment, before deflecting back to Soichi.
“What about you? It’s usually just Gioia checking in, I haven’t seen you since, you know…”
“The whole New York thing?” Soichi chuckled. “I’ve been alright, yeah. As rough as it was, we ended up making friends with those Riders! Sometimes you need an unlikely situation to help you come together, you know?”
Evergreen had certainly faced unlikely situations before. Gioia mused on this as she looked at the leaves.

The flute was not the only instrument that echoed through Rakin. As Deacon Blues wandered through the Sapatibhatt, the song of his trumpet followed behind. The land, once torn apart, was being rebuilt. The scars from his battle with the weaponsmith were fading, but the man still taught him a valuable lesson. The hand that wields a weapon can also wield a tool. Maybe this was the nature of potential. Whatever it was, Deacon figured it was worth a song.

Gioia glanced up from the cup, giving Verve a smirk. “Tough times help you realize who your real friends are. You’ve realized that too, I’m sure. Thanks to our efforts, the Metropolis Suite is having a tough time of their own. I wonder how quickly they’ll turn on each other?”
“Xen was already convinced they were out to get him. He kept going on about this Stand, ｢Diamond Life｣. No matter what he did for the Suite, it never told him who its user was. It drove him crazy–I think he was trying to solve that one himself.”
“Did he succeed?”
“I don’t think so. It’s not like he could strike a deal with The Gossip, he didn’t have anything ｢She｣ wanted. I’m sure that drove him crazy too.” There was still a sorrow in his voice.
“Hey, it’s okay,” Soichi smiled quietly, patting the man on the arm. Gioia nodded in turn, before she continued.
“Have you had any contact with him?”
“Not really. His assistant texted me, apparently the folks at Hymnal are on indefinite paid leave, until I figure out what to do. I guess that’s on me.” Verve paused a moment, grimacing. “Apparently he might still be at the cottage? I don’t know—I’m not going to—I’m not ready to talk to him, yet.”
“You don’t ever have to talk to him again,” Gioia responded. “I’m sure he’s cowering in the dark now that we’ve exposed his true nature. The other members of Metropolis should realize they’re soon to follow.”
Indeed, the members of Evergreen might not have the same methods…but they were united in this cause. Would this define their future? Gioia glanced over at the tea leaves.

The immortal had lived through countless riots, but the Bedtown Takeover was one of his favorites. He had returned to the area, replaying his grand speech, looking at the bloodstains that marked this territory. Sure, now that Aco’s child had appeared, VULTURE was considering new leadership. But that didn’t matter to Ouroboros, content to remain the (Self-Appointed) Secret Lord of Bedtown. Behind him, Honeydew was simply content to dismantle car batteries.

Gioia glanced back at Verve to see his brow furrowed.
“I can’t believe I ever got involved with those bastards,” he scowled. “Deep down, I knew they were trouble—I talked to Xen about Sing Now!, he just said…sometimes the only way to reach a common goal is to work with people you don’t agree with. He almost made it make sense.”
“He was a smooth-talking control freak. I’m sure you’ve realized how empty those words were.”
Verve rested his chin in his hand, staring into his own empty cup. In the end, all he saw were scattered leaves. No one was guiding him now. No one but himself. “…That’s not all he was. I think he really believed it, you know? That he was doing good. I wanted to believe it too, more than anything. But I think he was just trying to justify it to himself. Even when he had his doubts.”
Gioia curled her fingers around the teacup. “What about you, Verve? What do you think ‘good’ is?”
At this, the man laughed bittersweetly. “You think I can answer that? I thought Xen had the answer, and look where that got us. If you think you’re the only guy who can change the world, you’ll just make it worse.”
He looked up at Soichi. “We saw what his world looks like,” then to Gioia, “he would have trapped us both inside, if not for you.”
It seemed the Suite had a lot of cities within cities, living symbols of their control. Gioia took one last look at the symbol in her cup.

Disco D Lune had been keeping up with her contacts at the military base, catching up with the most recent happenings. Apparently, there had been a falling-out between the general and his child: an opportunity to sew doubt and dissent amongst the ranks. Disco had already designed new buildings to replace this one, and they were beautiful.

“You’re a free man, Verve,” Gioia concluded, staring him down. “So what will you do with that freedom?”
Verve looked between the two, but found no answers. Now, his choices were his own. In the end, the answer was simple.
“…I want to make things right. The Suite they… they ruined my home, they ruined him, they ruined me. I’m tired of seeing kids get pulled into this. Rasna, Ichi, and now poor Mahamit…” Behind him, warm air sang with the soft trumpet of ｢Bitter Sweet Symphony｣. “It needs to end. Those kids, my nieces, all of them, all of us. We all need a city that we can call home.”
Gioia smiled, closing her eyes contentedly as she felt the heat roll over her. Beside her, she could feel Soichi resting a hand on her shoulder. She didn’t even need to see his smile to feel its warmth. She didn’t need to see the leaves to know the shape of her future. She had known many homes, many stories, many tragedies and triumphs. But right now, home was a tree, Evergreen. Seasons changed, and yet its leaves would always flourish.
Soichi glanced at the cup in her stead. To him, the leaves just seemed like a weird square. But soon that shape was washed away, as he poured them all another cup of warm and fragrant tea.
“Well said! This calls for a toast. To new friends!”
Clink!

Scenario: Hymnal Bazaar, Reshmerasta — 8:58 PM
The market was closed for the evening. This curfew was in place ever since the Middleman attacked. The Bazaar was already struggling—if people were too scared to walk around at night, then why bother staying open? Even when the Bazaar was open, the stall for Urban Hymns stood empty. But for a broom, only a lone figure stood there. Verve used to sweep while his employees handled everything else.
His boyfriend once asked him why he did that.
’It makes me feel like I’m doing something–” he had laughed, “I’m leaving this place better than I found it!’
Verve had a lovely laugh, the figure recalled, staring at the broom.
Slowly, he knelt down to pick it up.
Then, Xenagoras took a deep breath,
and swept the streets that he used to own.

Scenario: ???, ??? — 9:07 PM
“It’s simple, gentlemen…”
The sound of chatter and slow music. The smell of pristine tobacco and the clinking of glasses. This outlined the leadership of the Metropolis Suite, holed up in a skyscraper that overlooked the whole of Rakin. To their right, a window—one that replaced the whole wall, showing the nighttime lights. It almost looked like an alien world, the way the dark purples and reds of the late sunset stretched across the blinking gleams of windows and signs. A single man spoke, an esteemed guest trying his best to rise in their ranks: Luiviton.
“With a little bit of push, we could completely criminalize a number of traffic violations. Of course, they’re already illegal—but I’m talking perfect driving. Instead of community service, we give fines that cut chunks out of bank accounts. Instead of towing cars, we give jail time. I have contacts in the private prison industry who would be willing to pay us good money to multiply the conviction rates~! All it takes is a little bit of sacrifice from Rakin’s people.”
The table was silent. A voice piped up- that of Sing Now!, media conglomerate CEO and one of the Suite’s primary figures of authority. “That’s an awful idea, Luiviton.”
He blanched. “E-Excuse me?” He asked, flabbergasted. “We could stand to gain-”
Sing Now! interrupted him swiftly and curtly. “It doesn’t matter how much we ‘stand to gain’ from selling our city’s soul to prison moguls. You’re a good friend, but everytime you come up here with a suggestion it’s always some kind of short-sighted scheme to make money. That’s not what this thing of ours is about.”
That earned a couple of nods and a “Damn straight.” from Zafar at his left.
He continued. “If we overcriminalize poor driving, what we’re doing is sacrificing Rakin’s workforce in exchange for…nothing. We would completely freeze important institution who are suddenly bleeding key figures and employees who’ve made simple mistakes. We’re not parasites or petty tyrants. We’re leaders. We do these backdoor deals not to increase our wealth, but our resources which we must use for everyone’s benefit. We must direct the people, not root through their pockets.”
Conversation erupted, primarily economic in nature. Some offered to take care of the market in Xenagoras’s stead. Others offered grants to the arts. Others pointed to the need for construction and repairs. Some tried to give statistics on rising rates of crime and discontent within Rakin’s citizens.
One key figure of the Suite, however, was absent. She stood a few meters away, staring out the window at the city below. Her stance was relaxed, yet firm. As if she was on guard against some invisible threat. She held a small glass of scotch in one hand, occasionally sipping from it. She seemed tired. Very, very tired. This was Zhengqi Dianyou, the CEO of the Rakin Rail Corporation. Occasionally, she’d let out a yawn.
Sitting on a loveseat nearby was Ichi Ni San Go—the charge of Sing Now! who was currently too distracted to really remember she existed. Without a babysitter, she was content to simply exist next to Zhengqi, looking out the window with her at the beauty of the city and occasionally asking simple, childish questions.
They were approached by a figure, glowing in the light. Someone followed close behind.
｢Diamond Life｣, the Stand of the every-mysterious head of the Metropolis Suite. Said user hung close behind. Zhengqi always found her boss’s habit of speaking through their Stand peculiar; she understood it as a security tactic, but it often came up even in casual scenarios. “Enjoying the event, you two?” It asked. Its tone was genuine—the Stand could be a tool of intimidation whenever its user willed it so, and this wasn’t that.
Zhengqi just grunted, turning around and finishing off the scotch. She set the glass down on a nearby table, looking at ｢Diamond Life｣. “I’ve never understood how it’s so easy for you to talk through that thing—”
｢Diamond Life｣ shot forward with incredible speed, shushing the name with a single finger gently placed on her lips. “Careful, Ms. Dianyou. The end of the table. Do you see him?”
Her eyes crept towards the table, landing on a man nodding idly to the talk. Iron Butterfly was a member of the Suite who often remained in the background; to her understanding, he helped keep the Suite in control over a good deal of the crop farming in the more rural parts of Rakin. She looked back at the Stand, and it elaborated: “He’s wearing a wire. Loose lips aren’t ideal tonight.”
Zhengqi just sighed, running her hand through her hair as her other put ｢Diamond Life｣’s hand back down. “I’ll take care of him after the meeting.” She offered. ｢Diamond Life｣ chuckled, willingly pulling their hand back.
“I’d appreciate it- I had originally planned on handling the issue myself. You’re always putting your best foot forward with us—it’s something I value.”
She gave a weak smile. “It’s nothing, really. Just me giving back for everything the Suite’s done for me.”
Ichi piped up, eagerly watching the conversation. “I think Ms. Dianyou works too much…she’s always so tired and never has any time to play games or watch cartoons or do anything!”
Zhengqi did her best to put on a friendly smile. “Ichi…when you get older, sometimes you just don’t have the time for-”
｢Diamond Life｣ interrupted her. “She’s right, you know. You overwork yourself. I was being polite about it before, talking about your best foot forward- but I do worry.”
She looked at ｢Diamond Life｣ sternly. “We don’t exactly have the time to rest. I’m certain you’ve seen the news. People are starting to figure out we exist. People are hiring private detectives and holding protests. Things are starting to unravel. We need to act before things break so hard they can’t be put back together.”
｢Diamond Life｣ stood up straight, looking her in the eyes. “Trust me. I have plans, and they involve you. Both of you.”
Ichi immediately raised a little in her seat, glowing a little. “Me~? Really~?”
A friendly chuckle escaped from ｢Diamond Life｣’s nonexistent lips. “Yes, you.” A dour look plastered across its face as it looked back at Zhengqi. “I’m going to need you to handle…key targets. I want certain people out of the way and key infrastructure mapped and maintained for your “ability”—it’ll be valuable to us should the ire of the populace come to a head. Past that, rest. Allow your subordinates at Zuantou Rail to handle things. Take a long holiday. We don’t need an exhausted zombie, we need you.”
Zhengqi could only reply with silence. She knew better than to argue with ｢Diamond Life｣, but to stop working? It felt alien to her. She was tempted to clutch at her sternum from the thought.
“As for you, Ichi…” The Stand continued. “I want you to gather info for me on some of the Stand users around the city.”
Ichi innocently kicked her feet. “How am I ‘sposed to do that? I dunno any cool spy stuff, and Daddy said-”
“I’ll handle your father, don’t worry.” ｢Diamond Life｣ said, walking forward and cupping Ichi’s cheek in their clawed hand. “I just want you to make friends, okay? Go out. Explore. Meet people, as many as you can. Participate in their lives and conflicts. Tell me everything you see and hear, okay?”
Ichi just nodded, smiling widely.
“Perfect,” replied the Stand. They drew their arm back, clasping their hands together. “But enough about work. Have you two tried the finger food that’s been provided? It’s truly divine.”
Scenario: Mili's Diner, Mist City — 7:37PM
The bell above the entrance rang late into the dusk, announcing the arrival of a certain happy customer. He hummed cheerily to himself, taking a seat behind the counter and giving her regards to the woman behind the counter. His order was the same as it was every time he came here, and yet he always flipped through the menu anyway. He was a cheerful, easygoing man, despite everything.
His name was Steric Lou Farin, recently self-appointed head of PINDROP. He hadn’t been planning on it, but with the sudden departure of Sonika, the team needed someone to step up fast. He was the most experienced in the field of investigation and had the sort of charisma the role required. He didn’t mind taking the lead, either. If anything, it made his work a little easier.
Speaking of work, that was the reason for this visit—good as the food was. He glanced over to the other two customers, talking quietly amongst themselves, and smiled. Both were of particular interest.
The first was one Brighid Rhodes. He’d sparred with her a few months back, and an exchange of business cards had proved extremely wise when he needed assistance in dealing with one Texas Aco. She was the one to finally calm her down in the end—albeit forcefully, but all’s well that ends well.
Speaking of which, Texas Aco sat at the counter now, talking in hushed mumbles to Brighid. The notable thing there being that she was talking now. She had been silent in the immediate aftermath of her rampage, but after spending some time at Brighid’s, Steric had gotten the call today that she’d been ready to speak.
“I hope you all had a safe drive here,” he chuckled to himself. “It’s awfully rainy out, isn’t it?”
“Nothing too bad.” Brighid exhaled, and Texas nodded with her, sipping on a chocolate milkshake. Her misshapen insect arm was hidden under a worn old coat draped over her shoulder. Brighid gave the detective a particular glance, and Steric took that as a sign to get to questioning.
“So, Texas…” He cleared his throat, making sure he had the girl’s attention. “I’m sorry for calling you out so soon. You ever want to stop talking about all this, let me know. I don’t want to do you any harm.”
“Mmm.” Texas nodded again.
“Now, I understand you’ve had, er, a difficult last few months.” That was no understatement: she’d been directly responsible for an attempted VULTURE mutiny. It failed, and drove her off into hiding god-knows-where. “In particular, I’d like to ask you about your relationship to VULTURE. It’s a piece of the puzzle here I haven’t entirely been able to ascertai-”
“I’m taking over VULTURE.” Texas deadpanned. Brighid sighed.
“I told you that isn’t the best idea.” The lawyer attempted to flick her on the forehead. “That’s too dangerous. No way you can get it done on your own.”
“No, I mean, like-” Texas grumbled. “She literally told me I could have it. The old boss.”
Brighid blinked a few times. She hadn’t heard about that. Steric nodded.
“Ms. Kaliya told me she’d been in contact with you. She said you’d been pretty against taking the leadership role, though.” Steric raised an eyebrow. “What changed?”
“…It sucks here, man.” Texas smirked. “Even with all the bullshit charities, shit’s gone bad after Rasna left. I’m sure you caught wind of that. Guys turning up dead left and right—there was a fight at a funeral, right? Whole place got blown to smithereens. What the fuck, man.”
“Ahah, yes.” Steric winced. “Quite the festivity, wasn’t it.”
“The place needs someone to step up. And with that little rampage I went on…” She looks embarrassed, for a moment. “I think I’ve got the rep to fill her shoes. Er. Maybe. I’m not really that scary, but, uh…”
“Ms. Kaliya told me you weren’t of that sort of opinion before.” Steric raised his eyebrow again, tapping his pen against his notepad. “What changed?”
“…Nothing, really. I just.” Texas chuckled, reclining on her stool. “I don’t really think anything I’ll do will have any difference. But I can’t stop myself from trying, either. I don’t think she’d want me to, either.”
Brighid placed a hand on the girl’s shoulder, glancing down at her. “Long as you come back to my place when you’re done. I trust you, but you should have a bed to sleep on.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Steric grinned. This was a good development! A bit risky, sure, but it gave him in an in. “Say!” He stopped absentmindedly chewing on his pen’s tip. “Y’think you’d be willing to help us out? VULTURE’s assistance would be a great help…and something tells me we’ve got a common goal.”
“I’ll think on it.” Was Texas’s only response. Brighid flicked her on the forehead again. “Ow! Okay, fine, yeah, I’ll help. You guys don’t seem that bad.”
Steric clasped his hands together. One step closer. “Ah, and you too, Miss Rhodes.”
“Hah?” Brighid scoffed. “I don’t think anyone with me is gonna be much help-”
“I think that’s, er, preposterous.” He tapped his notepad a few times. “I did some looking into the work your people’ve done recently. For museum staff, you folks sure are prolific. A boat raid is quite the accomplishment. Hmm, hmm~.”
“Well, er…” Brighid sighed. Her group had had a history of engaging in combat. Entities like Paranoia and Markov were practically built for it, but her group had had similar exploits recently: Ruby’s left her fight with the swordsman at the art college relatively unharmed, and Roxanne had managed to charm an ex-member of Metropolis. Despite how weird all of them were, they were useful in a variety of ways; it made sense Steric wanted their assistance.
“Alright. I’ll get them to help out.” Much as she didn’t trust some of them with heroism, Brighid found herself more involved than she’d anticipated—and getting into the action herself meant she could help keep Texas as safe as possible, despite everything. “But you gotta help out with the museum. We’re, uh, still working on reconstruction.”
“No worries. I think I’ve got a few artifacts here and there. They’d be fit for your collection.” Steric’s phone buzzed—he rose and nodded at the two. “It’s been a pleasure, folks, but the life of a detective is ever so busy. Be seeing you.” With that, he grabbed his coat and strode away, leaving a good third of his burger.
Several oversized flies crawled out from beneath Texas’s coat, nibbling on the leftovers. “You really okay with me, uh, y’know…” Texas made a few vague gestures with her hands. “It’s a big thing to, uh, undertake. I figured you’d try to stop me.”
“I doubt I’d be able to.” Brighid chuckled. “‘Sides, you’re a pretty tough kid. I was pretty rough and tumble when I was your age, and look how I turned out. I’m a lawyer and everything.”
Texas nodded, returning to her milkshake. She was an ant under an elephant’s foot—she’d become well aware of that. But even so; even an ant had its resolve, and a swarm could pick apart a carcass. Even if it was only delusion, she’d do what she could. Mom would’ve liked that.
“Mmm.” She grinned. “Here goes.”

<=TO BE CONTINUED==

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Tl;dr: If you live with migraines during luteal/menstrual phase and experience magnesium as a supplement that helps, what type of magesium are you taking and how often are you taking it?
Long: I have experienced migraines for as long as I have experienced a period/PMDD. They either start on the day of my menstrual phase or right before. In high school, my (at the time) primary care physician, PCP, gave me a heap of samples of migraine meds, but they all left me needing to go to the nurse's office to lay down, which was not helpful (to me). As an adult, I have tried everything from CBD tincture, which is helpful, just not crazy about the head buzz. I have taken psilocybin mushrooms in capsules, but have experienced accidentally tripping while working (great and hilarious story). I have hydroxyzine as an anti-anxiety medication (an antihistamine) that does help, but it helps because it knocks me out lol (again, not helpful when working). Magnesium is really the only thing that has helped, but thanks to this sub, I have learned you have to take a specific type of magenesium for it to help. I was taking one magnesium supplement that was IT, but my ADHD on the next grocery shopping trip was like "let's take another brand and keep trying all the brands but let's not keep up with what worked so you'll forget!" and here I am.
The magnesium I have right now is Nature's LIfe Magnesium 500mg capsules. It is a combination of magnesium oxide, citrate, and malate. The serving size is 1 capsule, so when my ovulation phase started I bumped it up to 2 capsules a day. Still got the migraines when my period started a couple of days ago and today I have awoken from over 12 hours of sleep from having to take hydroxyzine (and now behind on work, yay). I was taking this supplement as directed last month and decided to see if I bumped it up during ovulation+luteal if it would help, so my body has been intaking the supplement for roughly 60 days.
I promise I skimmed the FAQ before posting this. There are a ton of magnesium posts to read through but I need specific to migraine assistance from my fellow survivors. In my ideal world, all responsibilities would stop and we would just have a "do not disturb" sign on our existence so the world and its responsibilites left us alone for 2weeks+ but alas this is not reality and I can't continue to function this way. I do have an upcoming appointment with my gyno so I will also talk to her about other remedies, I just know from experience magnesium can help! Thank yoooou!

I was diagnosed with add/adhd a few years back. I was prescribed concerta. It was increased up to the 62 mg. And I still didn't feel any difference. At the same time I was taking sertralome for my anxiety and that worked well.
I told my psychiatrist that I don't feel much difference with the concerta. And he's like. The medication won't treat it but will only help you if you do your part. Eat healthy, exercise, sleep well. Etc.
After some time when I started excerxising it helped with my anxiety and somewhat focusing. But exercising daily doesn't always happen.
I tried coffee, energy drinks. But they don't help me focus. I domt feel any buzz coming. And neither it helps me focus
Any suggestions?.

Well I'm a 38 year old male, I have a,wife and two young boys(9 and 6). I work full time in retail northern ireland. I have mental health issues( adhd,ocd,anxiety and depression) I have them for as long as I can remember(20 years at least) , only very aware of them the past 10 years maybe. Growing i my dad drank all the time, every weekend, horrible guy narcissist, cheated and hit my mum, extremely intimidating. His side of the family were bad with drink. So I started drinking probably about 14 or so, every weekend I'd drink and drink until I basically blacked out, hadn't missed many weekends at all, alot of the time friday and Saturday night. Very well know by my mates that i got trashed and they would have to look after me, get emllme home etc and had many a drunkin crazy story to tell,random situations, silly dangerous stuff. More harm to myself than others thankfully I wasn't a fighter drunk. I had no interest in relationships. My goal, getting trashed, looking back maybe a big part was because of my mental health l, to go numb and feel nothing. I met my now wife on a night out in 2018, started going out and drank together every weekend, moved in together, still drinking to excess, quite alot, got married and drank all 21 days on our honeymoon. I had lost my hair at a young age too( 16-while in school) so I don't think thay helped things, had out first child, thin while she was pregnant I didn't drink for about 6 months, but straight back to it, alot of the time froday and Saturday. Going into work hungover alot of the time, (a bin man, a telecommunications engineer and now retail) The past few years since covid until last year my wife and I were drinking 3,4,5 times a week, at least 6-8 drinks each time, 2 kids and two full time jobs! It seems to now affect me more. I am grumpier, more impatient, I just feel stupid and have for years, not being able to think straight, getting confused and the memory of a fish. I don't want to turn into my intimidating father to my kids. I've don't alot of silly things and ALL due to drinking. I don't get excited to drink, don't feel a buzz during it and really pay mentally afterwards. My brother in law and his side of the family would come to our every couple months of so and we'd all get get totally trashed. I went out for a friends stag on the 20th April, got trashed and had to get sent home about 9pm, I missed I 10 year reunion of a mutual friend of ours who had died 10 years ago, due to passing out, so the next day I randomly thought about not drinking for a year, I had thought about it before but that last literally two weeks. I'm due to go on holiday here on Monday to Spain my family and brother in law and his kids, we had a family party Saturday past there and I managed to drink non alcoholics and they didn't even notice. I don't want to drink on holiday, but came to reddit, to get some motivation and support which I will need over the next year and see whst happens. I plan to run, be present with my boys, read and enjoy food, I just hope to not feel bored or feel like I'm missing out. Btw my wife and I also were addicted to codeine for years due to all the hangovers. Hope I made sense, hope to chat to some similar folk, thanks 😊

Alright so If you're on the hunt for a natural alternative to Ozempic for weight management, Ozemra offers an interesting option. From my perspective, it's got a strong focus on boosting metabolism and controlling appetite (especially with its glucomannan and chromium), which are key for shedding pounds.
But while it sounds promising, its effectiveness can vary depending on individual factors like your diet, lifestyle, and how your body specifically reacts to its ingredients.
Overall, I’d rate it at 3.5 /5, with PhenQ beating it at 4/5, as better Ozempic alternative.
This post discusses all such potential Ozempic alternatives.
One issue is glucomannan is only at 200 mg in Ozemra, with more potent glucomannan based weight loss supplements use it in much higher quantities. Glucomannan like Berberine, is a potent appetite suppressant, Here I've listed out more glucomannan supps. worth checking out.
I have also compared Ozemra comprehensive with PhenQ and Serolean in my review.
However, none of these supplements – PhenQ, Ozemra, Serolean contain Berberine, which is recently most talked about ingredient as natural Ozempic alternative.
While PhenQ mimics berberine with the use of a strong Nopal cactus fiber, Ozemra does it with glucomannan.
If you’re sepcifically looking for best berberine for weight loss, I’d recommend a supplement by Dr. Sam Robbins - Blood Sugar Optimizer. I recommend reading this article on Berberine supplements.
Comparing Ozemra with Serolean and PhenQ, here's the lowdown: if you're someone who struggles mainly with emotional eating, binge-eating and stress-related cravings, Serolean might be more up your alley and suit you more.
It targets weight loss not just by suppressing hunger but also by improving your mood and reducing stress, increasing “serotonin levels” which can be a game-changer if these are your main stumbling blocks.
On the other hand, PhenQ could be a good fit if you're looking for an all-in-one weight loss supplement that targets weight loss from multiple angles. It not only helps with fat burning and appetite suppression like Nature’s Ozempic but also includes ingredients that help prevent fat production and improve mood and energy levels. This makes PhenQ a comprehensive solution, which might appeal to you if you want multiple benefits in one go.
In essence, Ozemra is a solid choice if you're primarily looking for a metabolic boost and appetite control without too many extras.
However, if your weight loss journey involves tackling mood fluctuations or if you need a more aggressive approach against fat accumulation, then PhenQ or Serolean might serve you better.

Intro

If you're diving into the overwhelming world of weight loss supplements, you might have stumbled upon Ozemra. This product is buzzing in forums and among fitness enthusiasts as a natural alternative to some of the heavier prescription options out there, like Ozempic.
In this post, I’ll break down everything about Ozemra—from what it is, how it claims to work, to the critical take on whether it's as good as it sounds or just another bottle on the crowded shelf.
As someone always on the lookout for effective and safe ways to manage weight, I was intrigued but skeptical. I'll walk you through my unfiltered thoughts on Ozemra and its fat-burning stages, plus a deep dive into its ingredients.
What is Ozemra?
Ozemra pitches itself as a revolutionary, non-prescription aid for weight loss, prominently highlighting its natural composition. If you are like me, wary of side effects and long ingredient lists that sound like a chemistry exam, Ozemra’s approach might initially catch your eye. It boasts a formula packed with components like glucomannan, green tea extract, and other natural ingredients known for their health benefits.
However, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Each ingredient in Ozemra is supposed to support weight loss through different mechanisms. For example, glucomannan is a dietary fiber that helps you feel full longer, potentially cutting down your calorie intake. Green tea extract is celebrated for its metabolism-boosting and antioxidant properties.
While these ingredients are impressive on paper, the real question is about their concentration and synergy in the product. Just having them listed isn't enough; they need to be in effective doses to truly work, which many supplements often skimp on to cut costs.
How Ozemra Works: The 4-Stage Fat Burning System
If you're curious about how exactly Ozemra claims to tackle weight loss, they’ve laid out a 4-stage system, each targeting a different aspect of weight management. Here’s a rundown from a user perspective:

1. Stage 1: Appetite Suppression - The journey starts with controlling your hunger. This is where the glucomannan comes into play. It absorbs water and expands in your stomach, theoretically helping you eat less. From my experience, while it does help a bit, don’t expect miracles. You’ll still need to control your eating habits actively.
2. Stage 2: Metabolism Ignition - Next up, Ozemra claims to fire up your metabolism, helping you burn more calories at rest. Ingredients like green tea extract are supposed to boost this process. However, if you are someone who already struggles with caffeine sensitivity, the added natural stimulants might feel overwhelming rather than energizing.
3. Stage 3: Lipolysis Trigger - This phase focuses on breaking down fat. Here, substances like L-carnitine come into the mix, which in theory helps transport fats into cells to be burned for energy. People may notice a slight uptick in how they feel during workouts, possibly due to this, but it won't be the drastic fat loss promised.
4. Stage 4: Optimized Energy Utilization - Finally, Ozemra aims to ensure the energy from the fat being burned is efficiently used. It’s supposed to help you feel more energetic and less sluggish, even on a calorie deficit. While there's a mild boost, it's comparable to any decent B-vitamin complex.

Each stage of this system sounds great on paper, but in practice, the effects are more subtle than you might hope. If you’re looking for a dramatic change, Ozemra’s gradual improvements might feel underwhelming.
Plus, consistency is key; these pills alone won’t work wonders without proper diet and exercise.

What Should You Try? PhenQ vs Ozemra

Choosing between PhenQ and Ozemra depends largely on your specific weight loss goals, health condition, and preference for certain types of ingredients. Here’s a guide to help you decide:
PhenQ is best for you if:

• You are looking for a comprehensive weight loss solution. PhenQ’s variety of ingredients supports multiple aspects of weight loss, from fat burning to mood enhancement.
• You struggle with fatigue while dieting. The inclusion of B-vitamins and L-Carnitine helps convert fat to energy, combating the usual tiredness associated with calorie deficits.
• You need help with sugar and carbohydrate cravings. With ingredients like Chromium Picolinate and INNOSLIM, PhenQ is designed to reduce these cravings significantly.
• You are looking for an effective natural Ozempic alternative: Although NOT a direct replacement to Ozempic, PhenQ has some weight loss benefits with it.

Potential alternatives: If PhenQ seems too intense or if you have sensitivities to caffeine, consider looking at supplements that focus more on mood support and less on stimulants, such as those containing more adaptogens or fiber.
Ozemra is best for you if:

• You prefer a straightforward approach to weight management. Ozemra focuses on metabolism and appetite control without too many additional effects.
• You are sensitive to stronger stimulant effects. Even though Ozemra contains stimulants, it might be less intense than PhenQ due to the different formulations and concentrations.
• You are primarily concerned with metabolic enhancement. Ozemra's ingredients like caffeine and L-Carnitine are great for boosting metabolic rate.

Potential alternatives: If you find Ozemra too mild or are looking for something that also supports gut health or has anti-inflammatory properties, consider supplements that include probiotics or omega-3 fatty acids.
Both PhenQ and Ozemra offer unique benefits, so consider your personal health profile and weight loss goals carefully before choosing.

How I evaluate Ozemra?

Blood Sugar Regulation: 3/5 If you are looking for a natural supplement to help manage your blood sugar levels, Ozemra has some notable ingredients. The combination of chromium picolinate and chromium nicotinate glycinate in Ozemra is impressive, as chromium is known to enhance insulin sensitivity, which can stabilize blood sugar levels. However, I would say it doesn’t fully mimic the comprehensive glucose management effects of Ozempic. It provides a moderate benefit, suitable for mild cases or as a supplementary measure alongside a balanced diet.
Appetite Modulation: 3.5/5 When it comes to suppressing appetite, Ozemra is pretty promising. Ingredients like glucomannan and the dietary fiber from ingredients like cayenne pepper can help fill you up and decrease overall appetite. This mimics one of Ozempic's benefits, making it a decent natural alternative if you're looking to curb those hunger pangs effectively.
Metabolic Enhancement: 3/5 Ozemra includes ingredients like L-Carnitine and a significant amount of caffeine from the Phenterex Caffeine Anhydrous Complex, which can stimulate your metabolism. These ingredients are effective for boosting metabolic rate to some extent, but the effect may not be as significant as Ozempic’s indirect influence on metabolism through glucose management. Therefore, if enhancing metabolism is your main goal, Ozemra provides moderate support.
Energy Optimization: 4/5 If boosting your energy levels is crucial for your weight loss journey, Ozemra could be a beneficial supplement. The high levels of Vitamin B12 and the stimulating effects of caffeine anhydrous contribute significantly to energy optimization, helping increase physical activity and vitality. This aspect of Ozemra is quite effective, making it a good natural alternative to support energy levels, though with a more temporary effect compared to the sustained energy regulation one might see with Ozempic.
Weight Management Support: 3.5/5 When you're looking for a supplement that supports sustainable weight loss, Ozemra seems quite capable. The presence of L-Carnitine helps with fat metabolism, essentially aiding the body in burning fat for energy, and cayenne pepper can enhance fat oxidation. These ingredients, combined with the appetite-suppressing effects, make Ozemra a solid choice for those aiming to manage their weight naturally. However, it may not be as powerful as Ozempic, which has a more direct effect on weight loss through its influence on insulin.

Hey! I've been taking topamax since March '24 and I want to share my experience, because searching things about side effects has helped me a lot, especially in the first weeks. I'm currently 19, and I have migraines since I'm 15; i have been searching the cause of my migraines since the very first time I had them, made all kind of exames you can imagine, and none of them show me nothing that was specifically causing the pain; plus, in the beging of this year, I had to be admitted to the hospital for some days, cause the pain was impossible to live with, and wouldn't go away. So, in March my doctor prescribed topamax 50 mg, and the two first weeks went really dope. I was dizzy, felling kinda drunk, very tired, forgetting my way home and several worlds. Oh, and soda tasted terrible, so life was really bad :( . After the end of the second week I started felling less dizzy and everything, and I had no migraine at all, but I started felling more anxious; in the begging of the fourth week, I started felling really depressed. Basically since this fourth week I re-started to feel migraines, but they are less strong, so if I take codeine, or even sometimes dipirona (yes my country have dipirona Brasil sil sil) , I could solve it; the problem is that the depression seamed to decrease around the middle of April, that was when I went back to my doctor, so I didn't tell him that it was something, because I was more focused on not having pain. Another week later this depression went back, and since then, aparrently it never goes away. I don't fell like doing anything, I'm always in a bad mood, I can't study or work if I don't put a super extra effort on that, I can't even do things I used to really enjoy doing before. Today, that's been two months and a half that I started taking topamax, I have mild migraines, but I am strongly depressed, always tired and in a bad mood - I need to make an effort to interact with people and not be an asshole to them-; people started noticing that I am losing weight, so I did noticed that too and I'm not sure that it's because I don't feel like eating cause I feel depressed, or it's just another side effect of the medicine, but that can be for both reasons. In this last few days I'm back to the light dizzy feelings again, so that's pretty boring too. I'll probably ask my doctor to cut it off, and search for some other treatment.
p.s.: that's the first time I'm writing such a big thing in English that is not an essay so I'm sorry about any mistake that might have had happened :)

Hi all, a friend’s life was turned upside down after she felt a popping sensation in her head. The night before, she attended a concert involving SUPER loud music, cocaine and molly. She was very active and outgoing before this incident, and now she can barely leave her house.
Personal info: 28f, 5’2, 150 lbs Non smoker non drinker for 2 months / previous smoker & drinker
Medical history: Phyllodes tumor of breast, benign & removed in June 2023
Current meds: 60 mg propronal, & 20 mg amitriptilyne, fish oil omega 3, & magnesium twice a day
Symptoms, tests, treatments in her own words: “In November of 2023 I ran myself into the ground & felt really faint one morning after a night out. I felt a pop in my head induced by stress 1 day after while I was working. A really bad headache then followed with symptoms of vertigo, nausea, panic attacks, extreme sensitivity to light, astigmatism, poor memory, speech impediments, and the inability to drive or be in public places. I quit drinking all together, cut out coffee, cleaned up my diet, limited screen time, and have made a lot of progress since… I’ve seen all types of doctors, have done multiple MRIS with & without contrast, blood work, am currently meeting with a neurologist who has had me try all types of medication. All of the tests came back clear and I’m currently taking a beta blocker to help with the panic attacks as well as a very low dose of anti depressant & both have helped a little bit imo. I also take fish oil omega 3 - & magnesium twice a day. What’s driving me insane is the pressure & buzz like feeling in my head that will not go away. It feels like my ears need to pop but it's in my crown followed by constant tinnitus. I’ve become extremely depressed by all of this and am at the point where I don’t really see any way out so am willing to try anything. At this point we're calling it vestibular migrane but I am still uncertain as to what I am dealing with.”
Does anyone have any ideas about what could be going on, or what steps she should take next?

I have migraines with aura, and I also get tension headaches. I also suffer from CVS AKA cyclic vomiting syndrome. Sometimes, a wonderful ( Obviously sarcasm) combination of both , called a mixed tension migraine with aura. As well as near constant pain from all my other health issues. Including pain from numerous surgeries, etc.
I do take rizatriptan if it's only a Migraine with aura . I also have promethazine oral and suppositories if I'm also having nausea and vomiting, or if I'm in a cycle of my CVS. But I also have fiorcet with codeine and 5 mg Valium that I take if I'm having a tension Migraine or a delightful ( Once again, sarcasm.) Mixed tension Migraine with aura. As well as numerous other health issues to the point that I'm almost always in pain.
I am blessed to have an absolutely amazing primary care dr who also suffers from mixed tension migraines, so he knows exactly what I'm going through. So, I'm able to get my desperately needed medications from him instead of pain management or a neurologist.
But , in all honesty, I am blessed because I have amazing, i.e., very expensive, private family insurance. I pay a ton for it every month , so I'm sure this helps ! It is an absolute necessity for my child and I to have very good health insurance due to my health history.
I have a history of ovarian and cervical cancer. DVT blood clots, ( which I currently have 3 in my left arm, diagnosed after extensive imaging less than 11 days ago . Which they're guessing this time , that they're from a combo of laparoscopic surgery, plus my blood clotting disorder) last time I had 2 DVT blood clots , 1 in my arm , 1 in my leg from they're guessing , a combo of my blood clotting disorder plus IVF medications .
This led to pulmonary embolism twice in 2021, ( while undergoing IVF, thankfully, before my FET ) 1x before being in the hospital and then again while in the hospital.
I also unfortunately have 47 different severe allergies , some to food , medications, and different environmental factors , think animal dander, pollen, bee stings etc ( most of which are anaphylactic reactions), a rare blood clotting disorder which led to 11 miscarriages and 3 late term losses. As well as adenomyosis, endometriosis, severe stomach bleeding, uterine fibroids, Nonneoplastic polyps in my colon, diverticulitis, obviously migraines with aura and mixed tension migraines, tension headaches, CVS AKA cyclic vomiting syndrome, severe insomnia , anxiety. ( which , duh, look at my health history)
I was also in a devastating car wreck when I was 7, which left me in a coma for 13 months . I've had surgery on both shoulders twice, 4 times on my right ankle, and numerous other surgeries.
I also , after having an emergency c section due to a placental abruption at 31 weeks with my son . I then ended up having severe postpartum hemorrhage and sepsis 7 days later due to the on call dr leaving a piece of my placenta inside me ! ( I had to be admitted to the hospital , thank goodness it was the same hospital that my son had been transferred to because they had a level 4 NICU . The hemorrhage also resulted in me having to have blood and iron infusions numerous times . I also have the BRCA Gene 1 & 2 , an immediate family history of colon cancer and breast cancer, as well as AML AKA acute myeloid leukemia. Heart disease and numerous others.
I once semi jokingly said to my PCP ( primary care provideDr), do you ever get the feeling that God is trying to take you out ? Because it feels like that to me, lol . Being the absolutely amazing Dr that he is , he said , he's not trying to take you out , he's just showing/proving (to) you how strong and resilient you are. He has amazing things for you in the future ❤️ Sorry this was so long ! I didn't realize how long it was going to be !

Hello fellow quitters (the good kind)! First of all I want to say a big thank you to all of the contributors to this sub. If it weren't for you all logging your quit symptoms I would have had no idea what was happening to me and have been very confused about why I was feeling the way I was. This sub helped me feel not so alone in dark moments, and gave me place to vent. But mostly it provided reassurance that what I was feeling was normal and that in turn gave me motivation to keep going and make it to 64 days off nicotine. So thank you all sincerely.
And I want to give a shout out to Bizzy and HoopsCoach for being so active here and honest about your quitting journey. It has helped.
Story first: So I'm going to cathartically dump my nicotine origin story in hopes that the perspective really allows me some closure and brings some relation to others. I started using nicotine at 15 years old in the form of long cut chewing tobacco a friend gave me. The first dip I had gave me an incredible dope rush and I still remember it to this day. I was so happy and thought I found my new best friend. I was giddy. I needed more. Well, as you know the next hit isn't as good and you're just chasing that buzz forever. So I did. I chewed for the next 14 years. It was my crutch, my security blanket. My favorite meal was 4 cups of coffee and a horseshoe in my mouth. I probably did a can every 1.5 days. My oral hygiene was good and I was physically active, drank plenty of water and ate well so I assumed it wasn't that bad.
Over time though, it did take its toll. My gums and cheeks would would shed dead skin. I was getting sensitive teeth, my sleep was turning south, i developed nerve pain in my hands and feet, I wasted a lot of money on chew and it didn't fit in with my new job in the food industry.
So at some point about 5 years ago a coworker shows me his Zyn spearmint. I knew what nicotine was but had no idea how much 6mg was or how much I had been getting from dip. The pouch itself was comically small and was initially very unsatisfying because I was used to the sensation of a fat lip. But dang it gave me a buzz! It tasted ok too. I still had my cans of dip and I wasn't about to mix two different products together so I didn't rush out and get them. But sure enough the next time I was out of chewing tobacco I made the switch so I could get my fix at work. I was in love. I could be on a steady drip of nicotine all day and all night. I only took those things out to brush and eat. I mean slept with them in. I ordered in bulk I brought them every where. Wallet, keys, phone, water, Zyn. Ok let's go!
Sleep became even worse. Started feeling wired and tense. Like my muscles were always wanting to contract. I was short tempered. My cardio fitness was declining. I was feeling winded often. And wasting even more money. I wasn't sure if those pouches were giving me energy or making me tired. I just know I needed more of them.
A different coworker introduced me to pre workout about 2 years ago so now I have no more fatigue and I'm just working like a banshee rocking and rolling and then it happened. I had a panic attack. I was about to pass out late at night, and then something happened that forced me to stay up another couple of hours and I got anxiety like I've never had. Out of breath, heart beat out of control. Like I had got hit with epi pen. Nausea, chest pain. This was in September of 2023. The next day I had lingering chest pain. I still wonder if I had a cardiac episode or the chest pain was due to the panic attack and dry heaving. Hopefully the latter. It did eventually go away after a few weeks.
I realized I needed to quit everything right then and there. I swore off energy drinks and have been mostly successful in that. All though i did switch to coffee. I tried to cold turkey every thing at once but it made me too sick. Puking, lost my appetite. Anxiety, chest palpitations, you name it. So I reintroduced caffeine and 3 mg pouches. I had to taper. I tried to make it less painful but i ended up prolonging the suffering. My withdrawal symptoms have included dizziness, blurred vision, decreased appetite, fatigue, confusion, insane anxiety followed by depression, heart palpitations, regret and sense of sadness, chest pain, short temper, and a 10 day stretch of insomnia that was one of the most difficult weeks of my life. I basically slept 3 hours. A Night for 10 days.
As for being on day 64, I still don't feel great. But I'm more patient and I'm not wasting money. The anxiety is mostly gone too by comparison. I don’t have a great appetite yet and I’m not sleeping perfectly either. Hoping the 90 day mark gets me over the hump. Over all I'm glad I quit. I needed to move on. My kids don't need to see the pouches, they were causing cardiovascular harm and high blood pressure , increased resting heart rate and wrecking my sleep. I'm leaving this sub for a while and will make a day 100 update. I wish everyone the best. It's not easy but you can do this.

Hi, just kinda curious if there's an explanation of these symptoms...
Last night I took two caplets of Benylin All-In-One Cold & Flu Night and felt really weird after it. Not exactly dizzy, but kinda floaty? Lightheaded? Like I was walking on clouds? I know the Benylin was supposed to get me drowsy but I didn't feel drowsy much. If anything I felt like I was buzzed on marijuana. There was even a point where I became very aware of my breathing and started to get those panic attack-y symptoms you get when you've had too much weed. It was unpleasant, but not so terribly overpowering that I felt my health was in danger. And it passed after a few hours. I was able to sleep well last night and today I feel fine.
The Benylin worked REALLY well for my stuffy nose and cough, though (which btw are due to the common cold, not covid—tested negative). I'm wondering if I'm at risk to similar side effects if I take daytime Benylin. I'll list the ingredients:
Benylin Night: pseudoephedrine hcl (30mg), acetaminophen extra strength (500mg), and diphenhydramine hcl (25mg)
Benylin Day: Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide (15 mg), Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride (30mg), guaifenesin (100mg), acetaminophen extra strength (500 mg)
Here are my relevant medical details: 30F, East Asian, 47kg, 148cm, I take 50mg of sertraline daily for anxiety.

Age 32
Sex Female
Height 5’6”
Weight 165lbs
Race White
Duration of complaint 3 weeks
Location Minnesota, USA
Any existing relevant medical issues Bipolar I with Psychotic Features
Current medications Lithium (900mg), Caplyta (42mg), Seroquel 25mg). Taking 80mg prednisone 2x daily, 10 mg codeine, and amoxicillin 875 for the past 4 days.
Issue: 3 weeks of battling bronchitis and a sinus infection.
I went into urgent care 3 times over the last two weeks for an upper respiratory infection that turned into a sinus infection and bronchitis. On Thursday (4 days ago) I began taking an adjusted dose of 80mg prednisone and amoxicillin 875/day with 10mg robitusson and codeine at night on top of my usual meds. I discussed this with my psychiatrist, who was VERY against me started the prednisone but I haven’t been able to sleep without coughing fits for nearly 3 weeks, or teach very well (and am out of PTO). So he agreed as long as I upped my seroquel to 50mg to ensure sleep and fight mania. I’ve done all of this and am sleeping more through the night and getting 8-10hrs. My airways are much more open and coughing is way down. Mentally I feel steady, just with a bit more energy during the day - maybe hypomania, maybe just healing.
I still have 2 days left of the antibiotic, prednisone and codeine. I’m wondering how I can safely go off the prednisone specifically without any adverse (mood/manic) side effects. I did look to post this in askpsychiatry but there doesn’t seem to be much feedback on posts. Thanks for your time.

Hey all. Quit 3 days ago. Doing probably 40+ mg/ day for 2 years. Really came to realize that it was time to quit when I got heart PVC’s. Also bought an Oura ring and could see my sleep was crap, my pulse crazy high, and my HRV in the toilet. I loved the buzz popping a 6 mg would give me, but it has really come at a cost, literally and figuratively. I have been so out of it these last couple days. I can’t think straight. I feel like I’m moving in slow motion. Crazy ‘brain fog’. Because I feel this bad, I now KNOW, unequivocally, that I needed to quit. Wish me continued luck. I think I’m going to need it. Good luck to all!

Age: 5, Sex/Neuter status: Male/neutered Breed: Boston TerrieFrench Bulldog mix, Body weight: 28lbs Clinical signs: Very healthy dog until 3/17/24 when he had a grand mal seizure for nearly 3 minutes. Took him to urgent care and all of his blood tests were normal. The vet thought it perhaps was just a random seizure- no medication was given. 2 days after first seizure, he had a complete personality change, forgot learned tricks and where he lived, started poor coordination (difficulty walking and falling down), heavy breathing with a lot of reverse sneezing, panting, trembling, pacing, and extreme lethargy.
2 days after his first grand mal seizure, I took him to the ER again since he sounded like he had difficulty breathing- along with all his other troubling symptoms listed above. He was prescribed 15mg Codeine every 8 hours for 7 days along with 100mg Gabapentin every 8 hours. 3/21 to 4/6 he continued trembling, shaking, randomly yelping, began circling to the left for 10 minutes at a time, staring at walls, and I would find him in very strange places in the house. After days of continued reverse sneezing, on 4/7 he vomited two large masses of thick mucus. I took him back to the ER. His chest x-ray and all his blood tests were normal. I was told he could be suffering from breed-related Interverbral Disc Disease and he was continued on 100 mg Gabapentin every 8 hours and 15 mg Codeine. None of his symptoms improved- he was very withdrawn, lethargic, and I basically had to put food in his mouth so he would eat. 4/18 in the early morning he had a small seizure, followed by 2 others shortly after. I rushed him to the ER again. The vet said he needs an MRI, but I do not have the money to pay for that and asked if there were any other options. The vet put him on 20mg prednisone every 12 hours and 500mg Levetiracetam every 12 hours. The vet said if my dog didn't respond to the medicine within 3 to 4 days, I would probably need to put him down. After around 4 days, my dog did a complete 180 and began eating and returning to his old self- even remembering some of his old tricks. It was a miracle. However, now, after around 2 weeks on this very heavy dose of prednisone, my vet wanted to start to taper the dose, but when I tried to reduce the prednisone to 30mg a day, he had another seizure after just 1 day doing that. So, I have returned to the 40mg of prednisone a day as advised by the vet to keep all of his symptoms under control. Is this sustainable to do such a high dose of steriods? Obviously my dog has something very wrong with him and I wish I could pay the money to find out what it is through an MRI, but I am already way out of my budget as a teacher and struggling to pay out of pocket for all of the ER visits and meds he has required. Have any of you ever experienced similar symptoms with your Bostons? I am desperate. He is the only thing I love in this world, and it kills me I cannot do more for him.

Species: Dog Age: 5 Sex/Neuter status: Male/neutered Breed: Boston TerrieFrench Bulldog mix Body weight: 28lbs Clinical signs: Very healthy dog until 3/17/24 when he had a grand mal seizure for nearly 3 minutes. Took him to urgent care and all of his blood tests were normal. The vet thought it perhaps was just a random seizure- no medication was given. 2 days after first seizure, he had a complete personality change, forgot learned tricks and where he lived, started poor coordination (difficulty walking and falling down), heavy breathing with a lot of reverse sneezing, panting, trembling, pacing, and extreme lethargy. Your general location: New England
2 days after his first grand mal seizure, I took him to the ER again since he sounded like he had difficulty breathing- along with all his other troubling symptoms listed above. He was prescribed 15mg Codeine every 8 hours for 7 days along with 100mg Gabapentin every 8 hours. 3/21 to 4/6 he continued trembling, shaking, randomly yelping, began circling to the left for 10 minutes at a time, staring at walls, and I would find him in very strange places in the house. After days of continued reverse sneezing, on 4/7 he vomited two large masses of thick mucus. I took him back to the ER. His chest x-ray and all his blood tests were normal. I was told he could be suffering from breed-related Interverbral Disc Disease and he was continued on 100 mg Gabapentin every 8 hours and 15 mg Codeine. None of his symptoms improved- he was very withdrawn, lethargic, and I basically had to put food in his mouth so he would eat. 4/18 in the early morning he had a small seizure, followed by 2 others shortly after. I rushed him to the ER again. The vet said he needs an MRI, but I do not have the money to pay for that and asked if there were any other options. The vet put him on 20mg prednisone every 12 hours and 500mg Levetiracetam every 12 hours. The vet said if my dog didn't respond to the medicine within 3 to 4 days, I would probably need to put him down. After around 4 days, my dog did a complete 180 and began eating and returning to his old self- even remembering some of his old tricks. It was a miracle. However, now, after around 2 weeks on this very heavy dose of prednisone, my vet wanted to start to taper the dose, but when I tried to reduce the prednisone to 30mg a day, he had another seizure after just 1 day doing that. So, I have returned to the 40mg of prednisone a day as advised by the vet to keep all of his symptoms under control. Is this sustainable to do such a high dose of steriods? Obviously my dog has something very wrong with him and I wish I could pay the money to find out what it is through an MRI, but I am already way out of my budget as a teacher and struggling to pay out of pocket for all of the ER visits and meds he has required. Please adivise what I should do? He is the only thinig I love in this world and I wish I could help him more.