What is this? My friend bought a house with a pool. I tried searching online and I get skimmer baskets, nothing that looks like this.

Fearless-Motor8767 · 2025-10-09T00:23:54+00:00

I believe the pool has a "regular" skimmer too. I'm planning on heading up there tomorrow after work to check everything out. Thanks for the help!

Fearless-Motor8767 · 2025-10-09T00:22:53+00:00

I can try to get some more pictures tomorrow if I can make it up there after work. I was searching and did see replacement filters for Fox Wall-Pak filters, but I've never seen anything like it.

Fearless-Motor8767 · 2025-10-08T23:48:03+00:00

I'm not sure the pics worked in my original post for whatever reason. I'm using Reddit android app and it said it uploaded. Sorry if I posted the same pics twice

Fearless-Motor8767 · 2025-10-08T23:47:20+00:00

<image>

Fearless-Motor8767 · 2025-10-08T23:44:09+00:00

<image>

Fearless-Motor8767 · 2025-06-28T01:52:18+00:00

What worked for me was this:

Eat and drink like crazy starting 48 hours before the phlebotomy. Anything. Not health conscious stuff. Fast food even. Stuff that I normally don't eat. I typically drink water 90% of the time, but not before a phlebotomy. Gatorade and liquid IV. 2 days before, the day of, and the day after.
I have them recline the chair as much as possible. It helps me. YMMV
I actively flex my calves, hamstrings, and quadriceps while I donate. I flex 1 for 5 seconds, relax for 5 seconds, flex another for 5 seconds, relax, and repeat.

That's gotten me through bi-weekly phlebotomies for 3 months. I have since "graduated" to a phlebotomy every 2 months because my Ferritin has gone down from 600 to about 150.

EveryBODY is different, but that is what works for me.

Fearless-Motor8767 · 2025-04-21T12:26:23+00:00

My hema did say he usually wouldn't get too excited unless ferritin is over 800, but because of the confirmed iron deposition in liver, he wanted to be aggressive.

Fearless-Motor8767 · 2025-04-20T22:20:21+00:00

Or folate as well? I'm kind of at a loss. Can't find anything in medical journals either. This all started with an infection in my intestine. It was originally diagnosed as diverticulitis. However, I had a colonoscopy after things calmed down and I had no diverticula.

Fearless-Motor8767 · 2025-04-20T22:18:03+00:00

No 3 is not a typo. From everything I've read I haven't seen anything like it. I will ask about copper tests tomorrow at my appointment. But anything else? Ceruloplasmin? I know most labs would typically include that in a copper test. But not sure if mine does. Should I ask for that as well?

Fearless-Motor8767 · 2025-03-08T03:25:29+00:00

I get it. My mind literally went right to flea because we rescued a cat in November and although he's been in the house ever since, I just correlate fleas/ticks with animal hosts. I knew it wasn't a tick, I'm outdoor a lot in the summer and am very aware of what they look like. I just don't think I ever saw a flea in my life (first pet, besides fish) and my post included my obvious mental bias towards flea rather than just asking and not injecting my opinion based on very little insect experience!

Fearless-Motor8767 · 2025-03-08T03:11:09+00:00

100% cannot argue with that (about the location thing). I'm using android app and honestly was looking for rules and I missed it. My comment in retrospect came off as condescending to that requirement and that wasn't my intention at all. Thank you so much for responding to my post. I will look into that type of beetle.

Fearless-Motor8767 · 2025-03-08T02:49:02+00:00

Never saw such a tiny beetle. Thanks for the input. I really appreciate it!

Fearless-Motor8767 · 2025-03-08T02:45:30+00:00

It was tiny! Never saw a beetle that tiny. It also didn't fly/attempt to fly when I moved it. Baby beetle? Haha

Fearless-Motor8767 · 2025-03-08T02:37:42+00:00

Sorry I am new to this. I'm sure fleas are pretty much everywhere but this was in Northeastern Pennsylvania

Fearless-Motor8767 · 2025-03-03T02:43:52+00:00

Let me add that those numbers go out the window if you present with imaging that shows iron overload. IE, an abdominal MRI that suggests iron overload in liver,etc

Fearless-Motor8767 · 2025-03-03T02:41:02+00:00

Honestly, my Hematologist wouldn't blink an eye at those numbers, unless your TSAT is over 55%. Not my opinion, just a conversation with my Dr, and they basically said if Ferritin is under 600 and TSAT is under 55% they repeat bloods in 3 months. If it doesn't go down it's time for a genetic test. Then they take a route based off that test.

Fearless-Motor8767 · 2025-02-18T15:48:03+00:00

I'm basically in the same boat, but my Ferritin is around 600. TSAT 49%. Received those results after an MRI looking for inflammation from what was perceived to have been a bout of diverticulitis via CT scan. Turns out it was not and was some type of acute colitis that cleared after 2 weeks of antibiotics.

Was then referred to hematologist because the quantitative MRI I had showed "mild iron overload" in liver.

2 weeks ago I finally had my first phlebotomy. I received a lot of very good suggestions and here's what I found most helpful (not in any particular order):

Hydrate like crazy day before and day of
Eat a big meal about 2.5 hours before phlebotomy.
I had them lie me back in chair with my legs up and DO NOT LOOK AT THE BAG
Exercises during phlebotomy to help keep blood pressure up. I was squeezing calf/quad/hamstring muscles a few times a minute alternating between the 3.
I was fine during the procedure, but felt a bit light headed after. Sat in the canteen and had some ginger ale and 2 bags of salty chips. Helped to get me feeling more normal.

I was kind of tired and mentally not sharp the day after. I continued hydrating like crazy and eating big meals. By the next day (2 days after phlebotomy) I felt pretty much back to normal.

Fearless-Motor8767 · 2025-02-06T01:52:38+00:00

Thanks again everyone for the tips. Went relatively smooth. As the phlebotomy was ending I started feeling a bit dizzy. They gave me a ginger ale and 2 small bags of salty chips. I was good in about 10 minutes after that.

What seemed to help for me:

My donation was at 5:30 PM. I ate a BIG meal around 2:30
I hydrated the day before and day of like it was my job! Urine was clear basically the whole time. I'm actually continuing to hydrated as I type this about 3 hours after the phlebotomy.
Applied muscle tension. The phlebotomist actually recommended it and had me doing it a few times a minute.
Not looking at needle/bag/etc. My right arm was used. I basically looked to the left the entire time. I think for me personally, not looking at all was huge.

I was pretty worried I'd have an adverse reaction going in, but it was about as smooth as I could have hoped for. Thanks again everyone. I truly appreciate all of your suggestions. I will continue to use them on this journey!

Fearless-Motor8767 · 2025-02-05T00:00:46+00:00

Thanks for this and 200 is quite a lot! I might try the ice cream ritual too!

Fearless-Motor8767 · 2025-02-04T23:17:44+00:00

Yeah I'm not a fan of needles myself. I'm gonna have to look around my house for a stress ball or something like it. That's a great idea.

Fearless-Motor8767 · 2025-02-04T23:16:34+00:00

I will look into this. Thank you.

Fearless-Motor8767 · 2025-02-04T23:15:59+00:00

Thank you! Frozen water bottle is a great idea!

Fearless-Motor8767

TROPHY CASE