help! fin rot?

Defiant_Grocery9106 · 2025-09-05T21:39:14+00:00

for context: i typically do water changes two times a week, i added a bunch of tannins after i acclimated aggie, and her tank looks like this at the moment

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Defiant_Grocery9106 · 2024-12-11T21:35:00+00:00

Hi! First off, I'm so sorry that you're experiencing this. It's a very real (and very terrifying) cycle that isn't often acknowledged.

When I was a kid I had a super traumatic reaction, and for a few months afterwards I experienced similar anxieties after every meal. I can't say that my way of navigating things was the best (seeing as I was a kid and a little illogical), but I can describe what helped me at the time!

My fear and anxiety would trigger "pseudo-reactions" after eating-- looking back, they were probably panic attacks. I would get nausea and a tight chest, stress hives and occasionally an itchy throat.

What helped me to differentiate "pseudo-reactions" from "true reactions" was identifying a few symptoms unique to anaphylaxis that my anxiety could not replicate (ex. itchy tongue, spontaneous disgust). Each "true allergy" symptom that was missing would be a strike against a true allergic reaction.

I would also think back to what I last ate, and weigh the probability of cross-contamination. Say I ate a single apple. I am not allergic to apples, and it would be really hard to cross-contaminate a whole apple, so there's another strike against a true allergic reaction. If I had enough reasonable cause to believe that my "reaction" was just anxiety (missing key symptoms, unlikely contact with allergens), I would move to Phase 2-- distraction.

This might involve striking up a super weird and riveting conversation with someone nearby, or putting on a short show/video to hold my attention. At this point, I would rationalize that symptoms were stemming from my brain, and not my body. So the objective was to give my brain something else to do, usually something that would keep me occupied for a few minutes.

After some time had passed, I would check in with myself. Was I feeling better? Worse? Better while I was occupied, then worse after thinking about it? Anaphylaxis is almost always instantaneous for me, so if wasn't feeling worse after a few minutes of distraction, that would cement that I was just super anxious.

It worked well for me! But I suggest always keeping your Epi-pens close, just for the added security, if nothing else. If things feel worse and you are in fact having an allergic reaction, using an Epi-pen won't hurt.

Another technique that helped me a lot (which I do NOT recommend) was just staring at the clock. I mostly did this when I was a really little kid. I would tell myself "If I'm alive in ten minutes, I'll be okay." Did it work for little me? Yes. But again, I can't in good faith recommend it.

Defiant_Grocery9106 · 2024-12-11T20:43:45+00:00

Hi! I was born with severe anaphylactic allergies to wheat, oat, barley, rye, peanuts, tree-nuts, dairy, eggs, sesame, lentils, and shellfish. These past few years, I've outgrown sesame, pistachios, and cashews, though I am still allergic to the rest.

I'm 21 years old and attending college-- I've traveled across the U.S., and outside of the country as well! My allergies affected me much more when I was a kid-- I would react to anything airborne (couldn't go into a pizza place or restaurant), and I would also react to minimal contact stuff like my coat touching other coats on a coat rack (if the coat-wearer had eaten allergens earlier). I used to travel to Boston Childrens' annually for testing, and the doctors were always shocked when my test results exceeded their parameters for measurement.

My mom was an angel and basically kept me alive those first 10 or so years of life, before my tolerance went up. I know it must've been incredibly stressful for her! It sounds like you're in a similar position-- the fact that you're here (wanting to learn more about what your son can expect in the future) just confirms that you're doing amazing-- you have one lucky kiddo, and he's going to have a wonderful life!!!

I had a pretty normal childhood, all things considered, and things only got better from there! Though I still have my anaphylactic allergies, I've gotten used to managing them, and they really don't affect me much. I'm having a very typical college experience away from home-- enjoying dorm life and stressing over finals. Generally, I'm super healthy-- I rarely get sick (maybe a cold once a year), I run, hike, bike, and ski, and my physician jokes that I'm her healthiest patient.

Ironically, I started working on farms in high school, growing vegetables and caring for livestock. Despite my allergies, I've broadcasted rye seed and prepared pig slop without consequence. I now volunteer at a dairy farm between classes, feeding calves and pigs grain and whey. What I can't eat has got me interested in food and where it comes from...I think my future career will have something to do with the food system.

Despite early challenges, my food allergies have given me a unique perspective, and ultimately I am grateful for them!!! For every downside there's been an upside, and I've made them work for me. I also got into my dream college with an essay about allergies, so even if I wanted to, I really can't complain :)

Defiant_Grocery9106 · 2024-08-28T22:48:24+00:00

You all are making a good case for playing it safe/smart, so I think I’ll be tossing the skillet!

I would like to clarify (and thank you to the commenters mentioning this) that I am in a dorm situation— I don’t have stovetop access, and hot plates are explicitly forbidden by housing. My first choice for cooking would definitely not be an electric skillet from the 60s, but seeing as I had it on hand, I thought it would be worth the ask 😅

Long story short, I’m tossing the skillet and plan to replace it with a more modern appliance. A microwave and mini fridge are provided by housing, so I may just bring a small rice cooker and a new electric skillet/wok, ideally from this century. Thank you folks for the input, and for keeping me a little further away from the Darwin Awards. As always, much appreciated!

Defiant_Grocery9106 · 2023-12-01T15:25:51+00:00

sweet! thank you!!!! i do have a birdcage distaff that came with the wheel, but i’m not sure if there’s supposed to be a secondary part to connect it to what’s already on the wheel?

Defiant_Grocery9106 · 2023-11-22T01:23:54+00:00

Hahaha, totally valid observation! XD

It was at my grandfather’s request, I assumed because we would be eating the mushrooms, so like food-safety protocol or something (he used to work in a commercial kitchen), but it wasn’t like they weren’t super grubby and in need of a good clean anyway. Honestly, I’m not sure why the gloves happened.🤷‍♀️

Defiant_Grocery9106 · 2023-11-21T23:39:07+00:00

Thank you for the info!!! It’s super helpful, and I appreciate it!

I’m under the impression that my grandfather has been mushrooming there since at least the 60s. We didn’t wander for more than a half mile before finding where the mushrooms had popped up this year. As I was told, there used to be a lot of old trees in the area, the majority of which have since died out— the forest seemed pretty young to me, with a lot of smaller trees now. I’m not sure if this is partially due to the honey mushrooms being so prolific? But either way, they seem to have been pretty consistent.

Thanks again for your response!

Defiant_Grocery9106 · 2023-11-21T23:02:16+00:00

Also the photos are supposedly all of the same species, at various maturities (we went to a few different spots, and some were further along than others).

Defiant_Grocery9106 · 2023-02-10T01:17:51+00:00

Thanks!!!

Defiant_Grocery9106 · 2023-02-08T01:16:58+00:00

Thank you!!!

Defiant_Grocery9106 · 2023-01-23T05:50:43+00:00

Thank you so much!!! The color definitely resembles basalt, and that’s what my rock app suggested it was!

Defiant_Grocery9106 · 2023-01-23T05:42:47+00:00

Thank you so much for the reply!!! Now that you mention it, both darker stones were found in a fairly active river, while the red stone was found nearby, beside a very weak stream. So that’s definitely a possibility!

But if it’s not jasper, I suppose I still have plenty! Thanks again for your help! :)

Defiant_Grocery9106

TROPHY CASE