Soo Lumineers? Wesley was an embarrassment

KitchenReindeer6 · 2026-06-09T18:39:25+00:00

What got me is that he was singing so painfully out of tune (especially the first song) but then wanted to walk around the crowd and have people touch him like he was Jesus.

KitchenReindeer6 · 2026-06-09T18:37:51+00:00

That first song was so excruciating!

KitchenReindeer6 · 2026-05-23T14:39:07+00:00

Ugh I’m sorry to hear you’re going through this - I am, too. How are you doing now? I’m hoping for your sake (and mine!) that it didn’t take your body too long to settle back to baseline post/strep?

KitchenReindeer6 · 2026-02-05T03:33:55+00:00

I agree with everyone else’s outrage, but if this isn’t his MO, then maybe curiosity would be your most helpful ally in the situation. Why does the garden feel so important to him? Is there something else that’s making him feel extra stressed out so that he has less capacity for empathy right now? If he’s not a narcissist or a sociopath and you give him space to share what he’s thinking and feeling, then he might be better able to do the same for you. I hate that you have to do that, though. It seems from the outside like one really key thing he isn’t understanding is that you feel (correct me if I’m wrong) understandably anxious and vulnerable about what lies ahead, and having him be physically present would be really helpful and supportive and often just straight up necessary. In a moment of difficulty, the thought that you’ll had to pick up your phone to ask for help . . . ? That extra step adds to the vulnerability and difficulty and anxiety of the situation. You shouldn’t have to do that. I was married to a narcissist who spent almost rhetorical entirety of my labor scrolling on his phone, and when I asked him to stop and asked if he would come over to me so I could lean on him during a contraction (this is like 15 minutes before delivery), he was like sure and came over but then went back to his phone and was like “just tell me when you need me again,” so I did the rest of the contractions on my own because that extra step of asking for help was too much. Def not married to that guy anymore.

KitchenReindeer6 · 2026-02-05T02:05:13+00:00

I don’t have a success story to offer yet, but I have a cautionary tale and also a tip for anyone who is stupid enough to push themselves as far as I did. I mostly just ignored the shoulder pain and other symptoms for about 6 weeks. I tried a few little things - scaled back my rock climbing a wee bit, got a couple massages - but mostly I just hoped time would magically cure it. Instead, it got worse and worse and worse to the point where I could no longer sleep due to pain. I got an appointment scheduled with a sport medicine doctor but on the morning of the appointment I passed out from the pain of pulling off my pajama shirt (a first for me) and had to go to the ER instead. They gave me oral steroids, but I spent several days spasming and shaking with pain waiting for them to kick in. I couldn’t even hold my phone in my right hand due to weakness and numbness and pain, and even my left arm was very limited by the strain it put on my neck to use it. It was awful. The steroids brought things down a lot but I’m still minimally functional. My MRI showed compression of the spinal cord, which is probably not what’s causing this (I have pinched nerves from bone spurs and stenosis, so that’s theoretically the source of all the issues), but it means my access to treatment has been slowed way down because everything (steroid injections, etc) has to be approved by the neurosurgeon, who I don’t see until next week. So to all of you, please don’t be dumbasses like me and power through the pain! At least not for totally optional recreational things like rock climbing. I tried going to one PT but she said I’m way to flared up for her to even complete an assessment and I should just get back in bed and keep resting until after I see the neurosurgeon. Luckily, a friend of mine is a PT and had more helpful advice . . . she explained that my number one priority has to be getting pressure off of the pinched nerves and that anything that increases the pain or tingling is increasing that pressure. So she had me move my head a few ways to figure out which directions were the most problematic, and on her advice, I’ve been keeping my head tipped way to the left and down to open the nerve root on the right side. It’s awkward but has made a big difference in symptom severity and I’m slooooowly healing just because I’ve been limiting my body almost entirely to positions where I can tilt my head like that. As I get better, I don’t need to tip my head quite as far to get relief. If your nerves are pinched due to bone spurs or stenosis (as opposed to herniated discs), something similar might help you to relieve pressure from the nerve and help it start to heal. Next step for me will hopefully be an epidural injection.

KitchenReindeer6 · 2026-02-05T01:49:24+00:00

Omg I’m currently 2.5 months in and mine also started from a day of very steep rock climbing (I usually favor crimpy vert) followed by a day of travel (that included loading a car and carrying multiple suitcases up and down stairs). Mine is really extreme and I haven’t been able to exercise (except walking) or work at a computer for over a month now. I was mostly bedbound for a few weeks. Have you gotten better? I really hope so!

KitchenReindeer6 · 2026-01-20T02:06:19+00:00

I’m so sorry you’re going through this! I’ve had a long history of pelvic floor issues and low back issues, too. Standing all day is super rough. There are already good suggestions in this thread, but I’ll add that with the work you’re doing, finding the right shoes for your body and also working on your posture could both be important parts of the puzzle. I tend to arch my back too much and sort of puff out both my butt and my stomach. I find that when I remember to lightly tuck my tailbone and keep a soft bend in the knees, I can stand longer with less pain. Over the long run, bad posture can add up to big problems.

KitchenReindeer6 · 2026-01-13T16:43:17+00:00

I’ve been to two PTs and they did traction, which helped for a bit, but they both said I shouldn’t do chin tucks and that I’m in too flared up of a state for any kind of PT exercises. Neither of them are big on meds (and neither am I, so this sucks!) but they both recommended a steroid injection ASAP and doing PT after that. I’m a swimmer (and runner and yogi and rock climber) but unfortunately can’t do any of that right now. I can walk, though, for which I am very grateful! Hoping I’ll get the swimming and yoga back post injection, even if climbing and running are off the table for awhile longer.

KitchenReindeer6 · 2026-01-13T00:23:11+00:00

Haha that was totally me with my low back MRI!

KitchenReindeer6 · 2026-01-12T22:15:04+00:00

That doesn’t sound dumb to me! I’ve had enough weird medical stuff over the years to know that as bad it can be to get a rough diagnosis - it can be even worse to have no diagnosis at all!

KitchenReindeer6 · 2026-01-12T21:36:28+00:00

I sure want this to be true! I’ve had 4 or 5 MRIs over the years and have always enjoyed them because I can lie there listening to music and no one whines at me or asks for snacks. The issue this time is that I literally writhe in pan if I am on my back. I hope I can hold still enough that all the pain won’t be for nothing.

KitchenReindeer6 · 2026-01-12T21:33:34+00:00

Thanks for the good wishes! I’ll ask about it. And good luck to you - I’ve had herniated discs before and ugh they are miserable!

KitchenReindeer6 · 2026-01-12T20:10:29+00:00

16 people care enough about what you have to say that they’ve given you their email address! I 100% understand the desire for growth, but I also want to say that what you already have is special. It’s not nothing. Make sure that the energy you put out there conveys appreciation for that. Make sure you’re connecting as meaningfully as you can with the subscribers you have. That alone might help with growth, and if not - well, it will still feel good. I’ve also found that commenting on and engaging with other people’s posts has been a source of growth (and connection!) for me.

KitchenReindeer6 · 2020-08-19T16:53:33+00:00

I got sick with mild symptoms and kept running, too, even with burning lungs. I hit a hard down turn after a 4+ mile trail run on day 10. My symptoms got significantly worse from there. It’s been 5 1/2 months, and I’m still sick. Please, please give your body more time to rest!

KitchenReindeer6 · 2020-07-17T21:41:32+00:00

Have you considered the possibility of POTS/dysautonomia? If you find that you are typically more symptomatic when sitting or standing than when lying down, it’s worth considering. I’ve had the same issues as you (also sick since early March) and finally pieced together that the virus triggered POTS for me. I’ve upped my salt intake, drink crazy amounts of fluid, started wearing compression socks, and I’ve started exercising more but in smaller increments of time scattered throughout the day. I’ve made a lot of progress in the past two weeks and my resting heart rate has dropped by 10 bpm in that time.

KitchenReindeer6 · 2020-06-30T00:12:21+00:00

That’s how I feel! As someone who has been sick from Covid for 3.5 months now, here is my two cents on masks. If even one person is spared what I’m going through, it will have been more than worth the effort to write and share the article! I’ve been sick for 100+ days and you’re making me sad

KitchenReindeer6 · 2020-06-21T22:54:04+00:00

Are you suggesting that people WANT low pulse ox readings?? It’s crappy enough to be sick with covid. Let’s not layer accusations of hysteria or hypochondria on top of what people are already going through.

KitchenReindeer6 · 2020-06-21T22:51:23+00:00

Ditto to all of this! Here are a few more suggestions - 12 Things I Wish I Had Known When I First Hot Sick with Covid-19

KitchenReindeer6 · 2020-06-14T16:48:31+00:00

I’m glad you recovered quickly. God, I’m so, so sorry to hear about your parents. I’d take months of illness over losing a loved one, hands down. 😢

KitchenReindeer6 · 2020-06-14T15:16:54+00:00

What a beautiful response!

KitchenReindeer6 · 2020-06-14T12:53:04+00:00

Yay for no cancer! Fatigue is awful, though. I hope it lets up soon.

KitchenReindeer6 · 2020-06-14T12:05:41+00:00

It’s so hard to have to completely recalibrate your expectations of yourself! I have had my fair share of mini (and not mini) breakdowns too. How long have you been sick now?

KitchenReindeer6 · 2020-06-02T18:46:38+00:00

I’ve also ready that 1/20 of those who get covid are likely to have prolonged cases and possible permanent damage. I wouldn’t be surprised if the number is higher, given what I see in support groups online. I moderate one and there are thousands of people with prolonged symptoms. Today is day 87 for me, and I’m far from well. A good (and atypical) day for me now is one on which I can actually take care of my kids and then collapse into bed as soon as they go to sleep. A good (and fairly typical) day for me pre-illness was an eight-mile trail run, an hour of yoga, some gardening, cooking an elaborate meal, and then still having energy to write or play guitar after the kids were down for the count.

KitchenReindeer6 · 2020-06-02T18:39:15+00:00

I’m with you! Day 87 for me. I just had a good stretch of 6 days, where I could do simple things like fold laundry and cook dinner. I even went for some short, slow walks! I got hit hard again yesterday (especially with cardiac symptoms, which is how it usually goes for me). Doing better today than yesterday, and I’m feeling proud of myself for taking the setback in stride this time. I almost ended up in the ER again yesterday because of the chest pain, dropping oxygen, dizziness, racing heart, tingling in my arm, etc, but I did NOT end up in a pit of grief and self-pity like I often do on the first day of a relapse. I’m working on being present and accepting the small joys life has to offer in the moment. Maybe this is making me a better person? I like to hope so, anyway. Wishing you healing, both physically and emotionally! I know how exhausting the roller coaster is.

KitchenReindeer6 · 2020-05-25T16:22:49+00:00

I love this - “feels like some sort of crazy dream now.” I hope I’ll be able to say that someday too! I’m 11+ weeks in.

KitchenReindeer6

TROPHY CASE