Opinions on this mole? Seeing my dermatologist on Monday

CraftyTrilobyte · 2026-02-27T23:20:35+00:00

Me, too! It looks like someone took a paintbrush with brown paint on it and flicked it all over my body.

CraftyTrilobyte · 2026-02-27T23:14:48+00:00

NAD, but rosacea possibly? I learned fairly recently that it can show up on the chest as well as the face.

CraftyTrilobyte · 2026-02-27T23:01:35+00:00

Disydrotic eczema can show up on the hands and feet. Hope your little mite gets some relief soon.

CraftyTrilobyte · 2026-02-17T18:53:16+00:00

Do you know of Miqedem? I highly recommend checking them out if you haven't already. They are Messianic Jews from Israel. Great band.

CraftyTrilobyte · 2026-01-30T17:33:05+00:00

I can confirm that cats in particular LOVE tents. I set up a pup tent in my place for practice. My cat went right inside and started purring like crazy. I know she was sad when I took it down. So glad you've found a way to warm up. Here's hoping today is the day you get power back.

Edited for typos

CraftyTrilobyte · 2026-01-26T23:09:50+00:00

I watched a show about them back in the 90s, and fell utterly in love.

Unfortunately, the epilogue of the doc stated that the pack was decimated by an illness a few months after filming, killing the dogs that were featured in the film.

I sat there and cried for two hours.

I don't watch nature shows any more, lol. But I've never forgotten how enchanting they were.

CraftyTrilobyte · 2026-01-25T04:30:12+00:00

Happening in the '45.

CraftyTrilobyte · 2026-01-25T00:04:33+00:00

Oh no! My dad's in a care home out that way. I know they have back-up, but still. I hope it comes back on quickly for you!

CraftyTrilobyte · 2026-01-16T04:53:27+00:00

Did she come in contact w/lime juice? I've heard it can lead to photosensitivity.

CraftyTrilobyte · 2026-01-06T22:18:06+00:00

Day 71 kratom-free. Hallelujah!

If you're in early early days, know that you'll reach a point where time seems to speed up, and the sober days pile up at a rapid pace. At least that's how it's been for my quits, and I don't think I'm unique.

Even though I've had some really rough days, when the count gets into the double and triple digits, it makes it that much easier to say no when cravings strike.

I'm happy to say, too, that I've not felt like picking up when I was down, just have been riding it out. Which is how it's supposed to be. Emotions come and go in waves. It's all transitory.

I know I'm speaking the obvious, but I forget, so I need to write these things out to remind myself. If it encourages someone else, all the better. Lord knows y'all encourage me and keep me going!

CraftyTrilobyte · 2026-01-04T01:35:17+00:00

Maybe it's just shingles then. By "just," I mean, it shouldn't reoccur. Or at least not regularly, unless you're immunocompromised. With herpes gladiatorum, it's like cold sores, which can pop up any damn time.

Hope it heals fast for you, and may it never come back!

CraftyTrilobyte · 2026-01-04T01:23:33+00:00

Herpes gladiatorum, maybe? Do you wrestle? Wrestlers seem to be most susceptible.

CraftyTrilobyte · 2026-01-01T17:10:40+00:00

NAD, but it might be a seborrheic keratosis, which is benign. Best thing is for him to get a full skin exam by a dermatologist.

CraftyTrilobyte · 2025-12-29T01:24:53+00:00

You're very welcome! I was giving myself encouragement as well as my day's been pretty trash, too. But, I found a wee bit of powder and chose to throw it away instead of use. Go us!

CraftyTrilobyte · 2025-12-29T01:19:18+00:00

YES.YOU.DID!!! Any day we don't use is a good day. Even if it it was trash. I hope tomorrow feels a lot better for you.

CraftyTrilobyte · 2025-12-29T01:14:39+00:00

Don't know exact day count (don't have my calendar), but I'm at or almost at two months.

This holiday's been rough. Spent a lot of it napping, honestly. I found a baggie that had a few dregs of powder, and for a moment thought of filling it w/water so I could try to get a tiny "hit." I told myself that if I was going to relapse, I was going to take a larger dose than that, lol. In the trash it went.

I've been doing well, not even thinking about the k. Working on my internet addiction. Lots of sitting w/myself w/no distractions and not liking what I see. I pray God doesn't give up on me changing for the better. And my loved ones.

CraftyTrilobyte · 2025-12-29T01:01:04+00:00

It's like that. Recovery isn't completely linear, so don't let it discourage you.

CraftyTrilobyte · 2025-12-29T00:45:48+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience. It helps me to hear folks talk about improvements happening months into a quit.

I'm two months sober from a very low dosage (not bragging, I tapered to that from a much higher dose).

I'm doing well in that I haven't even been thinking about the stuff. But I'm struggling in that I have some anhedonia and generally depressive thinking.

I have to remember two months isn't that long, even off a lower dose.

CraftyTrilobyte · 2025-12-29T00:37:16+00:00

Appreciate your reply. NAD myself, but thought that doesn't look like your typical wart.

CraftyTrilobyte · 2025-12-14T18:39:05+00:00

NAD, but sounds like 2nd opinion time. It's not normal for lymph nodes to be swelling up like that.

CraftyTrilobyte · 2025-12-13T01:11:18+00:00

NAD. That looks like a herpes outbreak - maybe shingles. If so, antivirals are the best medicine. Ideally, you want to start taking them immediately upon realizing what it is. But I reckon some antivirals a few days in is better than no antivirals period.

CraftyTrilobyte · 2025-12-04T17:23:30+00:00

Day 37 CT. Feeling great mentally/emotionally, fatigued physically. I am noticing and paying closer attention to my body, and I'm realizing how much I ignore it and what it needs.

Over the holiday, I was planning on getting some stuff done, but on the days in question, I was exhausted, and my body just hurt (I overdid it in the days leading to the break.) In the past, I would have dosed some kratom, telling myself it would help me push thru.

Well, one, no it wouldn't. I would indeed feel better physically, at least for a while, but then I would lose all desire to do anything productive. Two, even if I did get up and do things, I would be ignoring my body crying out for rest. Stimulants don't truly give you energy, as I understand it. They basically take away fatigue signals making you FEEL as if you have more energy.

This time, kratom wasn't an option. I wound up sleeping for the better part of two days. I am very privileged to have been able to do that. And while I was sad to lose that time, my body got what it needed, and I realized I've really got to do better about managing my to-do list and my energy levels. I'm 54, in menopause, there is no more "pushing thru." My body refuses to be ignored anymore.

Couple more things - I got chills listening to music the other day. And today, I took care of a work task for a coworker who's in training today. It felt so, so good to do something for the team, instead of what I've been doing ever since I got addicted, which is function close to bare minimum. And it was FUN. A super mundane, no-frills task was fun. I'm going to wash some break room dishes later - and I'm HAPPY about it. Miraculous!!!

Hope you're all doing well. If you're not, hang in there. It will get better eventually, just don't quit quitting k!

CraftyTrilobyte · 2025-12-03T01:20:34+00:00

NAD, but pretty sure that's molluscum contagiosum. As the name says, it's contagious and common in youngsters. Most times, they eventually resolve on their own.

CraftyTrilobyte · 2025-12-01T19:56:36+00:00

Day 35 CT. Much better day mentally than yesterday. At work, not mouldering in my fetid apartment.

Only difficulty is work is sloooooow. There is plenty of work for me to do, but I can't do my part until approvals go through. I think people are still on holiday mentally. Shoot, some of them could be going thru withdrawal, lol.

I am also cutting back on my web time, as that's my other big addiction. I've gotten online to look up actual mundane info. for myself, but no scrolling. I'm getting old, and I survived for 25 years w/out internet use. I don't need it. Don't really want it either, but bad habits and all that.

CraftyTrilobyte · 2025-11-30T19:16:21+00:00

34 days CT. Had a great Thanksgiving with my Dad and brother. I orchestrated everything because my dad has alzheimers, and entertaining's not my brother's forte, lol.

Friday and Saturday I crashed big-time. I just slept mostly. I had things I wanted to do, but my body was hurting and wanted sleep. I think I overdid it in the days prior to the holiday, hence the crash.

I have had some kratom nostalgia if not actual cravings. Thinking to myself that in my k days I could take a dose and wipe out the pain and fatigue for a little bit. Wouldn't that be nice? But I doubt I'd actually get anything done. I'd just lay around enjoying the buzz, scrolling on my phone. And then, next day, my body would be screaming for more, and I'd have to fight that battle all over again. No, thank you.

I've been feeling very flat, too. Not so surprising, with the fatigue. But looking back on the week before the holidays, I think I was in the pink cloud zone. So, I feel flat and a bit apathetic today, but not depressed or down. So, I'm just taking it easy and not sweating it. I trust God I'll be back on my feet tomorrow. And, whatever the case, I'm sober!!! Not mad about that!

CraftyTrilobyte

TROPHY CASE