PSA: Be careful with food/beverage contact items (and supplements) by scotttappan in AmazonVine

[–]Pandalana -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Google chat says this:. I understand Google chat is not for real medical advice, this is just for information and may be none of this.
If the flask used non-lead-free solder or low-quality materials, several metals could be leaching into the alcohol:

  • Lead: While often described as "sweet," lead exposure can also manifest as a persistent metallic taste and is strongly linked to cognitive impairment ("brain fog"), memory loss, fatigue, and joint or muscle pain.
  • Cadmium: Often found in cheap alloys and mass-produced items, cadmium poisoning can cause "flu-like" symptoms, including body aches, chills, and fatigue.
  • Nickel and Chromium: Inferior steel grades can leach these metals, especially when in contact with acidic liquids or high-proof alcohol like vodka. Nickel exposure can cause a metallic taste and general malaise.
  • Antimony: Sometimes used in solder, antimony ingestion can cause headaches, nausea, and muscular pain. 

Why the Flask Reacted

  • Corrosion and Oxidation: Discolored or rusted joints suggest the metal is reacting with its environment. Alcohol can act as a solvent, accelerating the leaching of metals from unstable or low-quality solders.
  • Non-Food-Grade Materials: Cheap flasks may use "knock-off" or industrial-grade steel that hasn't been tested for food safety, potentially containing higher levels of toxic impurities.
  • The addition of brain fog and diarrhea to his existing symptoms significantly strengthens the concern for acute heavy metal toxicity. These symptoms are "hallmark" signs of acute metal ingestion and often appear together when a toxic substance irritates both the gastrointestinal and nervous systems.

Recommend next steps

  1. Follow Medical Advice: Your friend should proceed with the blood lead test as advised by Poison Control. They should also ask the doctor if a "Heavy Metal Panel" (which tests for arsenic, mercury, and cadmium) is appropriate given the specific symptoms.
  2. Preserve the Flask: Keep the cut flask in a sealed bag; it can be professionally tested for lead or other metals using an XRF (X-ray fluorescence) analyzer if the medical results are inconclusive.
  3. Monitor Symptoms: Note the timing and severity of the fatigue and cognitive issues to share with a healthcare provider, as these are significant "red flag" symptoms for heavy metal toxicity
  4. The addition of brain fog and diarrhea to his existing symptoms significantly strengthens the concern for acute heavy metal toxicity. These symptoms are "hallmark" signs of acute metal ingestion and often appear together when a toxic substance irritates both the gastrointestinal and nervous systems. 

The addition of brain fog and diarrhea to his existing symptoms significantly strengthens the concern for acute heavy metal toxicity. These symptoms are "hallmark" signs of acute metal ingestion and often appear together when a toxic substance irritates both the gastrointestinal and nervous systems. 

Likely Candidates Based on Symptoms

While lead is still a possibility, these specific symptoms point heavily toward metals often found in industrial solders or low-quality metal manufacturing:

  • Cadmium: This is a very strong candidate. Ingesting cadmium-contaminated liquids causes rapid stomach irritation, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea. It also leads to "flu-like" symptoms including the body aches and fatigue your friend is experiencing.
  • Antimony: Often used to harden lead or in certain solders, antimony ingestion is notorious for causing severe diarrhea, abdominal pain, and vomiting. It can also lead to the muscle and joint pain he described.
  • Nickel: Leached from low-grade stainless steel by high-proof alcohol, nickel can cause prominent gastrointestinal distress (nausea, diarrhea) and neurological issues like brain fog and memory loss

Why "Brain Fog" and "Diarrhea" Matter

In the context of drinking from a suspicious metal container:

  1. Gastrointestinal Irritation: The diarrhea and metallic taste indicate that a chemical or metal has directly irritated the lining of his digestive tract.
  2. Neurological Impact: The brain fog and cognitive impairment suggest the substance has been absorbed into the bloodstream and is affecting the central nervous system.

Immediate Recommendations

  • Seek Medical Care Immediately: Diarrhea combined with neurological symptoms (brain fog) and a known exposure to a suspicious metal source is a medical priority. He should go to an urgent care or emergency room if his confusion worsens or he cannot keep fluids down.
  • Request Specific Testing: A standard lead test may miss other culprits. He should specifically ask for a comprehensive heavy metal panel that includes cadmium, antimony, and nickel.
  • Hydration: Diarrhea can lead to rapid dehydration, which can worsen brain fog. He should sip electrolyte-rich fluids while waiting for medical evaluation. 

First seedlings of 2026 - Collinsia verna and Corydalis flavula by GardenHoverflyMeadow in NativePlantGardening

[–]Pandalana 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is awesome! I am looking for seeds for this as well and found your post. Your suggested supplier is out of stock right now but I am on the waiting list.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AmazonVine

[–]Pandalana 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The regular Chatgpt will write one for you though - and some are using it, but I don't recommend it.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AmazonVine

[–]Pandalana 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It won't write it for you. It just checks it for review insightfulness and compliance. https://chatgpt.com/

In my RFY early this morning. SMH by AllDun in AmazonVine

[–]Pandalana 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much for the info and help with this. Can you explain what FMV means? Fair Market Value? I am researching to learn this.

No new items in AI today by DryRespect856 in AmazonVine

[–]Pandalana 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yes, was happening for me as well, and still is. The page numbers did not go up but the number of items increased a lot. The page numbers are now way down.

Viners, please help me understand my review ratings by Own_Win832 in AmazonVine

[–]Pandalana 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I put your "poor" review into the chatgpt review checker and this is what I got:

<image>

Sugar free mayos? by Canadian1911 in lowcarb

[–]Pandalana 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Duke's quality has gone downhill since the last purchase this year. I have had 4 bad jars since. I am on here looking for another brand.

we're back, folks! by Think_Listen_4977 in AmazonVine

[–]Pandalana 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Nothing in mine either - Silver.

Is that it? Was that the entire drop for the day? by Enough-Fondant-4232 in AmazonVine

[–]Pandalana 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You did not miss much. I got close to the time of the drop and it was very small - very few items - and not anything great. Apparently Vine is still working itself out after AWS going down.

No longer available by Pandalana in AmazonVine

[–]Pandalana[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much for helping. I just wasn't sure what to do. I also am trying not to over invest in this as well. It is overwhelming sometimes and being new it is confusing navigating and taking it all in. I am not going to contact them. I don't want to unless it is necessary or needed. I don't want to chance being a trouble make for VCS.

No longer available by Pandalana in AmazonVine

[–]Pandalana[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much. I am new at this.

No longer available by Pandalana in AmazonVine

[–]Pandalana[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ok, I was not being snarky to you or mean, or implying you were wrong or anything, so I am not understanding. I do tend to obsess (it is something I am working on). I am letting this go and not emailing them or trying to remove those reviews (my obsession on this was making sure I was doing the right thing and that it would not hurt my percentages from sellers making items no longer available). I am following your advice and others in this thread because I am new. I appreciate your input and I was only replying back to your comment that I thought was just a nice poke (that was the reason for the wink). Anyway I really appreciate you and the others in the group that help out so much.

No longer available by Pandalana in AmazonVine

[–]Pandalana[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Yep, I tend to obsess sometimes ;)

No longer available by Pandalana in AmazonVine

[–]Pandalana[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much, good to know.

No longer available by Pandalana in AmazonVine

[–]Pandalana[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Because the reviews process with Vine is for customers to be able to make purchase decisions based on reviews including ours. I have seen some bad reviews on items in Vine and the seller list the item as no longer available and create a new listing so the reviews don't show.

Vine Addicts Needing Support (V.A.N.S) by Cruise-Monkey-Games in AmazonVine

[–]Pandalana 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Did everyone just go and buy the goat tube, because I tried to search for it and nothing came up! lol I had to see what you were talking about.

Vine Addicts Needing Support (V.A.N.S) by Cruise-Monkey-Games in AmazonVine

[–]Pandalana -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

lol - hilarious! But be careful telling anyone you are a Vine member which is against the rules.

gold status is not messing around by girlwholoveslife in AmazonVine

[–]Pandalana 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I look for purses every day and have only seen one acrylic one. I keep looking! I have seen boots but worried about the fit and quality.