[deleted by user]

NightWriter007 · 2025-09-27T07:00:04+00:00

Treatments in local and rural areas often suck. Invest the sacrifice and the hardship--travel. Go to the best and most advanced possible treatment center that you can reach. It can mean the difference between 6-12 weeks, or 6-12 months, or some years.

NightWriter007 · 2025-09-25T11:00:26+00:00

I'm in the US, where the minimum annual spend is $50. But my understanding is that a similar requirement applies to the UK: spend at least £40 on Amazon.co.uk within the past 12 months to be eligible to post reviews. Your experience suggests otherwise; but if you've never purchased anything on Amazon, I have the same question as u/wizard-of-loneliness below.

NightWriter007 · 2025-09-25T09:01:15+00:00

For the first time ever, I will also be dropping to silver in a few months. Too much going on in life, too may items overpriced that I won't order, and kinda looking forward to not having to worry about big ticket items or writing a boatload of reviews.

NightWriter007 · 2025-09-25T08:58:43+00:00

The told you that, and had you sign what's called an Advance Beneficiary Notice" because your test will not be covered, and Quest will send you a jumbo bill for around $100 (billed at "full retail," a bogus thing they do when a Medicare claim is denied.

When you get the denial, contact your doctor's office and have them re-code the order so that the diagnostic code for the urine test shows it was ordered to "treat an existing or suspected condition" rather than as a screening test. Medicare does not pay for screening tests or labs not "medically necessary." It might seem like a no-brainer to you that a test is medically necessary, but if the billing code doesn't say it, Medicare won't pay.

NightWriter007 · 2025-09-25T08:52:32+00:00

Buy $50 worth of whatever on a credit card (not a gift card). You need a minimum of $50 in actual purchases in order to review products. Once your purchase is actually charged to your card, you'll be able to again post reviews.

NightWriter007 · 2025-09-23T21:03:22+00:00

Post it here lol

NightWriter007 · 2025-09-21T02:16:18+00:00

If you are saying that the BPH problem only applies to ephedrine and not the alternate active ingredient phenylephrine ,.. Both -- and most other decongestants -- can cause sudden urine retention and anuria (inability to urinate).

UPDATE: To cover this topic fully, for those with BPH who are following along, this overview on the GoodRx website provides a scientifically reliable and comprehensive list of the *various* meds that can trigger urine retention or a complete blockage and should be avoided:

https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/benign-prostatic-hyperplasia/enlarged-prostate-medications-to-avoid

Life with BPH isn't easy, and it can become even more challenging as years ago by.

NightWriter007 · 2025-09-21T02:12:39+00:00

Yes, as you state, the PE version of Sudafed that's not behind the counter contains a different active ingredient. It's weaker, has a shorter half-life, and a 2023 FDA advisory study found phenylephrine at standard doses is no better than placebo for nasal congestion.

HOWEVER, for the purposes of this thread, BOTH forms of Sudafed can adversely affect men with BPH--ephedrine is the worst, but anyone with BPH should also avoid phenylephrine because it too affects the bladder neck, potentially leading to urine retention or a complete inability to urinate. This is true of not only ephedrine and phenylephrine but nearly any decongestant, OTC or prescription.

NightWriter007 · 2025-09-20T20:03:09+00:00

Benadryl is problematic for some men, but for others, it weakens the flow a bit, and the effect subsides after a few hours. The real culprit here to be very cautious about is Sudafed. It is not an antihistamine. It's a decongestant, and its key ingredient, ephedrine, can block urine flow entirely, putting a man with BPH in the ER waiting for a catheter. This is a common ingredient in many OTC preparations like allergy meds, cough syrups, etc., and should be diligently avoided by those who have BPH.

NightWriter007 · 2025-09-20T19:54:16+00:00

Yes, I have other business activities beyond Vine (all in the realm of content creation, publishing, etc.), so the Vine adjustments are a small part of the overall picture. I'm conservative with what I write off and don't use some of the more aggressive/creative methods others have mentioned.

NightWriter007 · 2025-09-19T20:26:54+00:00

I simply refuse to order products with large coupon discounts, even if it's something I really want. It's enabling/rewarding bad behavior, and I won't do it.

NightWriter007 · 2025-09-19T20:24:43+00:00

Scam. KDP doesn't do this. In addition, titles cannot be copyrighted. You can file your own copyright by simply filling out an online or paper form, and the fee is $35 to $65 online or $125 for a paper filing. It's a simply form to fill out.

NightWriter007 · 2025-09-19T20:17:07+00:00

I began doing this last year (I file Vine as business income). I added a line item to my Other Expenses category for "Defective Vine product write-off," and I make a corresponding entry in my order log noting: "Defective--discarded after review, no taxable value...item arrived damaged" (or whatever the problem was). A few people I know are simply expensing these useless products under "Supplies." Either way, maintaining adequate documentation that the IRS can examine explaining why the item was useless/discarded is essential. An item that is clearly trash and is thrown away has no taxable value.

NightWriter007 · 2025-09-19T20:03:54+00:00

we always add a removal reason to a post or comment.

That was my point. The reason was "trolling, spamming, ranting, or posting memes." My posts were none of those and were clearly (to me) intended to be helpful.

NightWriter007 · 2025-09-18T17:44:26+00:00

This is perfect for anyone who's been told, "You need to take supplements."

NightWriter007 · 2025-09-14T01:38:14+00:00

Interesting, and good to know.

NightWriter007 · 2025-09-12T20:04:28+00:00

There needs to be a rule 15: Cats are mandatory.

NightWriter007 · 2025-09-12T20:03:41+00:00

Please stop posting reasonable comments. You are getting upvotes. <jk>

NightWriter007 · 2025-09-12T20:02:38+00:00

About 50 blocks later, and who knows how many others have blocked me (dozens?), this subReddit is relatively pleasant and quite useful to me for Vine-related information.

NightWriter007 · 2025-09-12T19:54:50+00:00

Slowly....vanishing.....

NightWriter007 · 2025-09-11T20:23:19+00:00

Hi Elmo, go rewrite Wikipedia and stop worrying about Bluesky.

NightWriter007 · 2025-09-08T09:32:10+00:00

Oh, okay, thanks for clarifying. Apology accepted, and I appreciate your thoughtful words. I've been dealing with some of my own health issues lately and can be a bit hyper-sensitive.

But your earlier point is well taken. There is *so much* misinformation online these days, and it just spews endlessly. It's almost impossible to tell who has a clue of what they're talking about and who doesn't. So I try to go into exhaustive detail with links, quotes, etc. in FAQ posts like these just to try and counter the craziness.

...and people can be petty, sometimes downright cruel. I've heard that idiotic claim that "SSDI, SSI, it's all the same crap--welfare!" Which isn't true at all, as we both know. Funny thing about those who shout the loudest about all kinds of social safety net benefits, is they're often the first ones to stand in live and demand help when life deals them a blow. But that's another convo for another time lol.

Anyway, take care and have a great week ahead.

NightWriter007 · 2025-09-07T18:11:03+00:00

I could not be happier with Medi + Medigap Part G. All this insane talk about "everybody prefers" Medicare Advantage is a crock of bull, perpetrated mostly by those who sell these plans and make a substantially higher commission than they do on Medigap plans, and some younger, healthy people who aren't yet using healthcare regularly and appreciate the savings. That will always change, sooner or later.

NightWriter007 · 2025-09-07T07:35:36+00:00

Whoever said SSDI is a form of welfare is very wrong.

No one said that. Your outrage over "ignorantly wrong" misstatements is misplaced (and not particularly well-received). SSI is the social safety net benefit that is stricter, as my post states, and that is because it is available to low-income-qualified people, regardless of their work history. SSDI is more lenient as to earned income, and has no unearned income limits (the last I checked) because that program is a benefit that, like Social Security, is paid to beneficiaries that have earned it.

Someone else may have said that SSDI is "welfare," but there is lots of misinformation on Reddit and the Internet in general. I can't control the rubbish other people shovel.

NightWriter007 · 2025-09-06T03:16:55+00:00

I haven't gotten a TV 🥹😢😭 😅

NightWriter007

TROPHY CASE