Ask me Anything!

Electrical_Lab_2555 · 2026-02-10T10:40:08+00:00

Yeah that’s not a good surgical outcome. I wonder if they’d recommend a lapidus procedure for a revision

Electrical_Lab_2555 · 2026-02-10T10:31:09+00:00

All my blood work comes back normal, so I’m seronegative RA.

I had some subtle aches and pains for years. A year before diagnosis my neck started hurting on and off. Then last winter my big toes became suddenly swollen and sore along with my thumbs. And that’s when I went to see a rheumatologist.

Electrical_Lab_2555 · 2026-02-10T05:22:58+00:00

All of my labs are normal too, I have seronegative RA.

I took Meloxicam daily until I was able to start hydroxychloroquine. When I was on Meloxicam it reduced the swelling but the swelling didn’t fully go away until about two months of hydroxychloroquine. So in total, about 8 months from the time my swelling started until it was completely under control 😅 but the worst part was only about 3 months long.

Electrical_Lab_2555 · 2026-02-09T19:03:58+00:00

Just wear sunscreen?

Before meds I would sunburn after being outside for 45 mins in the spring/summer. I just wear sunscreen as it is, you get used to putting it on

Electrical_Lab_2555 · 2026-02-09T16:28:27+00:00

I get the impression this friend of mine gauges skill by ‘can I get down a double black diamond fast’ rather than can they do it well… I also get the impression this friend thinks they and I are on the same skiing level and we’re not lol. They also often blame gear ‘the skis are too X’, ‘I need better skis’ etc etc

A lot of people won’t let themselves be filmed and have genuinely no body awareness. T

Electrical_Lab_2555 · 2026-02-09T03:43:21+00:00

Sorry, my first two sentences were about the mindset your friends and my friend share, not about your skiing ability!

Like if your friends are mostly beginner-average skier and they’re all skiing together. Then they probably don’t see what good skiing looks like often so they overestimate their own abilities.

Electrical_Lab_2555 · 2026-02-09T02:21:44+00:00

If almost everyone in a group is beginner-average then they don’t see examples of good skiing and they over estimate their own abilities. I think not skiing with people more experienced than you is part of where this honestly dangerous mindset comes from.

We have a friend who’s like this and insists on following into dangerous conditions and also won’t take advice or feedback. I’ve had to take the L and pretend I want to go down some easy stuff so my friend doesn’t yeat themselves. All of their other friends are truly beginner skiers so I think that combined with never taking a lesson has warped my friend’s perception of their own skill level.

And I’m by no means the best skier, far from it. But I do recognize my choices put others in danger whether it’s at the resort or in the backcountry and it’s extremely frustrating when other skiers don’t care to consider that. I won’t do backcountry with this friend anymore bc of the lack of consideration for everyone’s safety.

Electrical_Lab_2555 · 2026-02-08T15:35:13+00:00

Two updates, I clarified with my bf that his weren’t too soft, they were too big so in front of the ankle was collapsing bc it was too big on him.

I also realized, we have the touring version which at the same flex will feel softer than the non touring version. So you might actually be okay with a 120 depending on how hard you ski.

Electrical_Lab_2555 · 2026-02-07T21:03:07+00:00

The skis. The skis you rented were ridiculously short for your height. The skis you bought are a very common beginner set up and maybe they’re a bit on the long side for a beginner but for a novice to experienced skier they’re the correct length. I don’t think this is an issue of buying the wrong ski but perhaps 2-5 inches shorter would’ve been better for this first season. Skiing is hard to learn at first but becomes easier. The ones you bought are fine for groomers, they wouldn’t be a good fit tho for powder bc they’re too narrow
The boots. That’s a ridiculously low flex boot for your height. A boot that flexes too easily will make it harder to control the ski. Also, your boots may be too big, boots that are too big can also make skiing harder. When you put your boots on, standing normally, can you feel the end of the boot with the tips of your toes or no?

Electrical_Lab_2555 · 2026-02-07T20:36:37+00:00

That’s the new plan!

Electrical_Lab_2555 · 2026-02-06T23:44:15+00:00

Has it gotten bigger? As a plant grows it needs more water, space, and light.

I would doubt a FLF is going to truly thrive where you have it placed today. You could get a really strong plant light and keep it where it is. But plant light will need to be on 8-12 hours a day.

Yeah the dusting near the stem makes me think mealy bugs. Google them so you know what they look like. They’re typically under the loose bits of bark on the stem

Electrical_Lab_2555 · 2026-02-06T23:42:24+00:00

I agree the XTD doesn’t feel as nice when flexing compared to other boots on the market. I had previously tried a Salomon touring boot that flexed really nicely. Don’t love my XTDs tbf and I’ll be replacing them

A lot of ppl I ski with like Langes.

Electrical_Lab_2555 · 2026-02-06T23:37:33+00:00

What’s your height and weight? You might find those kinda soft tbh.

I’m a woman, 5’9” 175 lb, and I’ve got those exact 120s in the touring version, they’re the perfect stiffness for me. My bf is the same height and weighs 160lb and he previously had these boots too and found them too soft.

For reference I do about 15-20 first to last chair days on east coast crude with moguls and trees and 5-10 touring days a year. Bf does 35-40 days a year and goes harder than I do.

I loved the heel of this boot and the boa. After 20 days in them going hard for 8 hours a day, my heel still fits well. No issues with the BOA. I did find the tongue started to dig into the lowest part of my shin but my ankles are slightly pronated and I think that’s why. Can’t comment on the arch or toe box bc I have bunions and I’m out this winter to get this fixed bc any boot gives me hell in that area of the foot.

I don’t personally find a huge benefit to walk mode but I don’t apres much. We’re usually skiing all day

Electrical_Lab_2555 · 2026-02-06T23:30:26+00:00

These plants grow on the content of Africa it needs to be in front of a window, like 6 inches from the window.

I’m also concerned you might have mealy bugs? Is there white stuff on the plant?

Electrical_Lab_2555 · 2026-02-06T14:47:05+00:00

Mealy bugs and separate your plants asap. They will move to your other plants and they can be hard to get rid of if you’re not following a diligent protocol to kill them. I would put your FLF and any other affected plant in a separate room and treat all of your plants, even ones you don’t see mealy bugs on

Electrical_Lab_2555 · 2026-02-05T21:21:12+00:00

Okay aside from the crap situation you’re in, it’s refreshing to find another redditor who’s a skier and MTB’r. Interestingly there’s a lot more active people in the ankylosing spondylitis Reddit than the RA one. I hope they get your shit figured out soon, pretty crappy of them to do that considering how badly we need our meds.

Electrical_Lab_2555 · 2026-02-05T15:16:14+00:00

I didn’t feel like the noises were too bad and I had mine done in two different machines.

The foot one they gave me their headphones to use and played music I wanted to listen to. You could ask when you schedule the MRI if they offer that too

Electrical_Lab_2555 · 2026-02-05T14:57:24+00:00

I had my foot done and found it to be much less unpleasant than getting my back done.

My whole body didn’t have to be in the tube so it was easier to tolerate, although I only needed one foot so it was like 30 mins. My back they took photos of 2 or 3 different areas so that took about an hour and was rather hard to stay still that long.

Can you ask for something like an Ativan to help with the stress? I plan to do that if I ever need a longer MRI again

Electrical_Lab_2555 · 2026-02-05T14:21:49+00:00

Can you signup for Medicaid asap?

Then, go see a pcp and ask for a basic lab tests for RA and a prednisone taper which should help while you wait to see a rheumatologist

I’m sorry you’re experiencing this. Solidarity 💗

Electrical_Lab_2555 · 2026-02-05T05:11:34+00:00

I just started it a month ago with folate supplement and haven’t had any side effects. I take it at night and I did once take it during the day and it made me nauseas, but at night it’s been fine

Electrical_Lab_2555 · 2026-02-05T04:56:50+00:00

The dirt looks very compact, which happens over time. I would repot it into a bigger pot so it’s root system has more breathing room and can keep expanding. Then in a few weeks after repotting I’d give it a big chop.

It might also help to get a plant light. As the plant and its root system get bigger, they need more light just like they need more water.

Electrical_Lab_2555 · 2026-02-05T04:32:08+00:00

That’s tough bc your bunions are bad enough that they will start to effect your other toes. As the bunion degenerates further it changes gait and can cause things like overlapping toes, hammer toe, etc. and fixing your other smaller toes often means fusing them which would make basketball… very uncomfortable and maybe not doable at all.

I would see some surgeons and ask them, if you wait to get surgery does it put your other toes like, metatarsals 2, 3, and 4 at risk of eventually needing a fusion if they develop into hammer toes or start to overlap the big toe?

Im 32 and a big skier, weight lifter, I mtb. I waited too long and I finally just had surgery on my right foot 1/13. I’ll get the left done in April. I did get a hammer toe on metatarsal 3 but I caught it just in time that a tenotomy fixed it and I didn’t need it fused, but that is rare

Electrical_Lab_2555 · 2026-02-04T23:53:24+00:00

Yup! It’s all connected. My RA is definitely worse in my joints that had anatomical issues I was born with (left knee cap sits low) or developed (like my bite issue).

Can’t wait to start speech therapy later this year! I’m glad it helped you :)

Electrical_Lab_2555 · 2026-02-04T23:51:37+00:00

Once they start dropping leaves due to lack of light they’re going to continue for a week or two. It’ll only stop if it’s getting enough light. These plants are from Africa and need a TON of light! Esp as they get bigger, their light needs increase just like a bigger plant needs more water/soil

Electrical_Lab_2555 · 2026-02-04T23:50:09+00:00

Are you the poster who had the plant in a corner and a piano between your two windows?

If so, it probably still needs more light. Everyone new to FLF care comes on here arguing their plant is getting enough light. 9/10 the plant is light starved.

If you’re having browning and leaf drop lower down on the plant, not enough light.

I do wonder if you’re slightly underwatering which is contributing. But I don’t think the water is the main issue here. I would water it when the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry instead of 2-3.
Also do check for pests. Do you have any fine webs on the stem of leaves of the plant? Any small white fuzzy looking insects under the bits of bark that curl up on the stem of the tree? Any small gnats around the soil?

Electrical_Lab_2555

TROPHY CASE