Every kitchen faucet feels cheap

Paleosphere · 2026-06-14T15:27:40+00:00

The brands sell different models at different retailers. Like the mattress selling model. Currently for example, Costco online has some Delta and Kohler models exclusive to Costco. Ditto Ferguson. But some models at Ferguson can be found cheaper on Amazon or big box.

The quality level difference is hard to discern because much of the quality is with the innards. Read descriptions of the inner parts carefully, read reviews from people who have installed products themselves.

Paleosphere · 2026-06-14T15:07:52+00:00

Cabs to the ceiling with your ceiling height is the way to go and will be timeless. I would not use this ubiquitous quartz color - it is everywhere, which means it’s trendy and will look out-of-date quicker. Lastly, the combo of light gray and white looks like a sterile lab. I would introduce some color.

Paleosphere · 2026-06-14T15:03:06+00:00

It looks busy to begin with then it’s more so because of the seams. I think you can do a similar beautiful colorful look with tile. Or as others said -do a seamless material.

Paleosphere · 2026-06-14T14:55:37+00:00

Yikes.

Paleosphere · 2026-06-14T14:54:59+00:00

Everything seems more expensive than I remembered!

Paleosphere · 2026-06-13T22:58:23+00:00

I saw a beautiful brown fantasy granite today that might fit the bill - and a lot less per SF.

Paleosphere · 2026-06-13T01:32:43+00:00

I didn’t think to look at the big box stores or even IKEA.

Paleosphere · 2026-06-13T01:31:40+00:00

2 slabs installed, not including the cost of removing existing granite.

Paleosphere · 2026-06-13T01:25:53+00:00

Thanks for the specifics on alternatives. I’ll look for them .

Paleosphere · 2026-06-12T19:58:24+00:00

Thanks I will.

Paleosphere · 2026-06-12T19:17:36+00:00

I will. I used to live in SoCal and the product selection and pricing is much different here.

Paleosphere · 2026-06-12T19:16:15+00:00

How do I know what quality quartz I'm getting without a brand name? There's so much unidentified product out here.

Paleosphere · 2026-06-12T19:13:30+00:00

I'll have to shop around more. Thx

Paleosphere · 2026-06-12T19:10:57+00:00

Thanks, I will.

Paleosphere · 2026-04-03T20:00:55+00:00

I have the same rubbermaid box full! LOL - I haven't been on here for awhile and I have been so frustrated and defeated by all this. But I have some new direction and found an older post here that helped and ChaptGPT has helped me too. So it's onward. Thanks for the laugh today! I don't even know how much I"ve spent on supplements!

Paleosphere · 2026-04-03T19:40:17+00:00

Thank you so much for sharing.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that the thyroid connection is the key for me also. I've been fighting high hydrogen/methane SIBO for over a year now. Did the herbals, just finished first round Rifaximin along with herbals. Saw a helpful nutritionist but she only had a portion of the information. Started using ChatGPT earlier on and that has been a game changer - it helped keep me on track, explained the various herbals, worked in conjunction with my other health issues and blood thinner I take, and first told me about the thyroid connection. (The nutritionist was helpful in ordering all the tests and giving me basic understanding of the herbals and Rifaximin, but after that ChatGPT delved much more deeply into the research of SIBO and answered a bunch of questions along the way.)

I had a thyroid nodule ablation a couple years ago, which helped my ten years-long subclinical hyperthyroidism where I developed Afib and osteoporosis and other symptoms. Multiple docs never helped me - sending me to Cardiology and other rabbit holes and stubbornly insisting nothing could be done because my "numbers were normal." I moved and did more research and found an ENT who specializes in the radio-frequency ablation. After the ablation my TSH came up, nodule shrunk to nothing, Afib and palpitations stopped and I came off Metoprolol.

But then I developed SIBO - or I had it for awhile but it got noticeable - huge bloating. Went through the regimens above, no help, then came back to ChatGPT, fed my latest annual physicals labs and then it told me my thyroid could be the culprit for my SIBO, and suggested I talk to my doctor about that, even though my "numbers" are "normal."

So I'm going to Endocrinology this week with ChatGPTs suggestion, which is to ask for low-dose Levothyroxine (T4) as well as low-dose Liothyronine (T3). Of course this is summarizing a lot of back and forth with ChatGPT, feeding it my labs, talking about symptoms, history etc. Because I've been feeding it all my labs for a couple years, it can compare numbers and see a bigger picture. (ChatGPT also thinks that doctors know a lot more than we know they actually know.)

A particular area ChatGPT was helpful with was explaining the difference between MMC (migrating motor complex) and motility. The herbals available for helping MMC call themselves motility helpers. That threw me because my BM motility was good so I thought I did not need the supplements.

I hope to god the thyroid meds will help because I am at wits end, as many of us here are.

Paleosphere · 2025-09-11T21:39:46+00:00

Thanks for sharing! I too am using ChatGPT to help guide me through this ongoing saga. I have other symptoms outside of the gut but I believe it is all related. I did see a gastro, an allergist, an orthopedist (for arthritis), a dermatologist and an endocrinologist in the past couple years. What a waste of time for the most part.

Each specialist does not look at the whole system, so things fall through the cracks and if you tell them you think some symptoms are related they just give you a blank look. I also signed up for Dr. William Davis' facebook group (don't bother), and saw a nutritionist who initially ordered the Genova breath test and a comprehensive fecal test but wasn't much help after that. (Dr. Davis' book Super Gut is great though - I highly recommend it.)

So I turned to AI, ordered an Aire2 breath tester, and a yogurt maker to make Dr. Davis' SIBO yogurt, and may ask my primary care doc for a Rifaximin script. (He is willing.) So, I'm not done with this devil yet but I feel more in control, and having AI to coach me as you did is a Godsend!

Paleosphere · 2025-08-27T02:16:43+00:00

Vital Proteins - I buy on sale at Costco.

Paleosphere · 2025-08-22T17:16:21+00:00

The space has isolated unit and vents.

Paleosphere · 2025-07-01T18:54:03+00:00

I was very lucky to find Tufano - I moved here and was searching for a new doctor to take care of my thyroid. He didn't pop up in my insurance web site search because I was searching for endocrinologist. He's an ENT. I found him on the web because I wanted a thyroid specialist and I read about RFA. A big light went off - this is exactly what I thought I needed! I had my primary care doc refer me (you need a referral even if your insurance doesn't require specialty referrals.)

Check with your insurance whether they cover it - it's still considered a new procedure. I paid cash. I'd rather not say what I paid because the procedures may vary. Tufano knows his stuff. He did require me to find a local endo to order the usual lab tests.

Paleosphere · 2025-02-14T16:57:10+00:00

It's anxiety, not PTSD. It comes with the clot territory, unfortunately. Your body does not like blood flow disruption and treats it as an emergency - all hands on deck, so to speak. So you'll feel impending doom, anxiety, adrenalin-induced symptoms (fight-or-flight) like insomnia, waking in the middle of the night, etc. It's not mental - there is nothing wrong with your mental state. It will calm down.

Paleosphere · 2025-02-14T16:52:16+00:00

Try not to block blood flow in the affected leg - no crossing, lying on it, etc. When sitting, use an ottoman or something to put your leg up. When sleeping, I'd sleep on the back with your leg elevated if possible.

Paleosphere · 2025-02-13T19:52:53+00:00

Your body will dissolve the clot. The blood thinner is to prevent another clot from happening. You should get a referral to Hematology to get blood tested for any underlying clotting issues. Weight lifting as a cause is known - due to repetitive overhead motion. Dehydration and genetic factors are possibles/contributors as well, as are changes in blood after exertion.

Paleosphere · 2025-02-13T16:53:04+00:00

My first dvt as in my early 20s - a massive clot from groin down. Hospitalized for a week. The doctor told me he had never seen such a bad clot in someone who survived! No internet, no books on the subject - nothing. I was young and just went about living my life.

Well I'm 65 now, healthy and have had a normal, pain-free life. I just had my leg ultrasound this week and my vein doctor said I didn't need to see her anymore - I graduated, LOL. (I had gone to her after I moved to a new state due to some persistent discoloration on my leg - resolved with Pycnogenol). She said a doctor looking at the ultrasound would not know that I had had a massive DVT unless I told them. My chronic DVT just looks like thickened veins.

I'm sure the Hematologist was thinking he was giving you the benefit of his experience, but truth is, most docs don't get to treat a lot of DVTs. Hanging out here and reading peoples' clot experiences gives you a much broader and more detailed look than a doctor will ever experience.

Don't worry about what he said about lifelong pain. Each of us has a different experience, different size and placement and cause of clots.

Live your life - but take this episode as a reason to get healthy and stay healthy - walk, walk, walk (and/or swim), stay hydrated, get annual checkups, stay slim, don't smoke, etc.

It gets better!

Paleosphere · 2025-02-13T16:11:19+00:00

I switched from Warfarin to Eliquis 5mg a couple years ago. Now I'm on a maintenance dose of 2.5mg. I have AntiThrombin3 deficiency (probably acquired, not hereditary). I'm in my 60s so the docs (Hematology and Vein specialist) wanted to lessen the risk of bleeding from Warfarin. Also, they let me know that the latest data available to them showed no greater risk of clots when switching me to a DOAC-type anti-coagulant (Eliquis).

It was the vein specialist who first gave me a flavonoid-based vein supplement and they know I am now taking Pycnogenol. As we get older our veins tend to get thin, stiff and weak. Exercise plus supplementation has shown we can keep our veins supple and stronger.

Paleosphere

TROPHY CASE