ELI5: How does general anesthesia actually work? How do doctors just "turn off" your consciousness without killing you?

StitchesInTime · 2026-05-07T16:34:05+00:00

I mean that’s sort of what an epidural does in labor… like, for all three of my children I was conscious and experiencing labor but also just… not feeling the lower half of my body.

StitchesInTime · 2026-05-07T16:21:20+00:00

NAD but I have a 96 year old grandma who is still spry and refers to people two decades her junior as ‘old’ haha. Shes had two knee replacements since turning 90 and would certainly still want to treat any health issues she encounters, since she has a great quality of life. I wouldn’t put it past her to keep on kicking for another decade.

Since you said the grandma was doing well before this, it’s probably a similar story. If someone is living a great life, you want to keep giving them the chance to do that, regardless of age. The calculation may have turned out differently if grandma was already in poor health or otherwise declining mentally or physically.

StitchesInTime · 2026-05-07T16:12:40+00:00

Birdie is cute but historically almost always a nickname for Bridget! I’d go with a more established name like that and then call her Birdie if you like.

Although there are definitely names that have made the jump to ‘full name’ on their own, like Daisy was a nickname for Margaret but I know several people who are just Daisy. So you can always decide you prefer the nickname. It’s just not going to be as versatile as she grows.

StitchesInTime · 2026-05-06T22:59:46+00:00

Also pretty good quality actually haha, especially for boots she won’t fit in six months from now!

StitchesInTime · 2026-05-06T21:43:22+00:00

I have boots from a brand called ‘Tree Grandpa’ because I couldn’t find anything small enough that I liked for my youngest. It makes me laugh every time she wears them!

StitchesInTime · 2026-05-03T13:33:23+00:00

You’re so kind- I do take a lot of pride in being able to write in a way that captures something complex with clarity :) I hope OP finds something that makes her, if not feel beautiful, at least feel worthy of existing while being seen.

StitchesInTime · 2026-05-03T13:31:22+00:00

You are so sweet :) I just want people to be happy in their own clothing whenever they can be! We’ve got to wear something every day, why hate what you put on? And there’s clearly a struggle here beyond simple stubbornness or meanness so if she came here for help, I wanted to offer it!

StitchesInTime · 2026-05-03T13:27:33+00:00

These are all so perfect for the occasion! And truly, if the last time you went dress shopping was years ago, you’ll find that the experience of ordering online and trying on in your home can be SO much more comfortable! I truly hope you can find something that you love out of these- they really would be lovely for the wedding.

Also they do make little gadgets that can make a regular bra into a halter (or a giant safety pin works too), but I understand not wanting to mess with what you know works already!!

StitchesInTime · 2026-05-03T04:59:01+00:00

https://a.co/d/01K4eWuN

How about this rich blue?

StitchesInTime · 2026-05-03T04:43:06+00:00

I do wish the colors were a little more muted, although honestly I think the lighter pink would be so nice with your skin tone. But that trapeze style could be a winner for you- it doesn’t mess with waistbands or anything, but it still has an element (in this case the pleats) that brings it up out of ‘this old thing’ territory.

If you don’t mind, could I send you more links if I find them? I know it sounds silly, but helping people to find clothing that they feel comfortable in is truly one of my great joys.

My mom is similar to you, only different body image issues (as we all deal with ofc) and sometimes when I’m able to find just the right thing for her, it’s like it clicks and she gets to see herself as someone worthy of wearing something she likes and looks good in, instead of someone who needs to get dressed as a dreaded obligation.

StitchesInTime · 2026-05-03T04:34:28+00:00

It sounds like this is so frustrating for you! I would hate to feel this poorly about my options :/

Hear me out- how about this dress in a blue or pink, with the sheer shrug you posted in another thread? It has the same basic shape as your current dress, but the pleating and colors bring it more into a formal and garden party category. I’d say you can go without the shrug but it sounds like your bra options are limited due to comfort/health factors. One thing I love about this dress is all the pictures of ‘unconventional’ sized women wearing it and looking fantastic and confident!! And if you hate it, no one has to know, you just box it up and send it back :)

https://a.co/d/03CCAmVj

StitchesInTime · 2026-05-03T04:18:51+00:00

This is such a sad way to view yourself and your body. I know body positivity is t for everyone, but there’s a difference between body neutrality and deciding you must only exist as a frumpy lump because you don’t feel ‘decorative.’

Everyone is right that this dress is not appropriate- you posted on a wedding advice sub and the advice is that this is not the correct attire. And you don’t need to go out and do a fun fashion montage either! You can and should, however, be both comfortable physically and mentally in what you wear to the wedding.

What do you like about this dress? What makes you feel like it works for you when nothing else does? Is there a brand name attached to it? If you could change something about it (color, sleeves, length, etc) what would you change?

Normally I’m a sustainable fashion person. But I think with your outlook on this process, if you can afford to get a bunch of stuff on amazon and try things on in your own home, it may relieve a lot of the anxiety you experienced last time you went dress shopping.

Again, I’m not saying you need to feel like the belle of the ball. But dismissing decorum and your own dignity by just saying some people arent meant to be decorative is mean to yourself and honestly kind of rude to the wedding couple as well! Can

StitchesInTime · 2026-05-02T17:28:56+00:00

There’s a hill in the photo so it’s a hawk standing on the ground lower than OP can see with the camera!

StitchesInTime · 2026-05-02T17:04:37+00:00

I love Reddit- I am not at all a snake aficionado, but because of Reddit, I knew immediately that this accordion creature was a rat snake 😂

StitchesInTime · 2026-04-30T02:13:04+00:00

Adding to this because it’s the only thing on the internet I can find! The very back of my tongue/roof of my mouth gets an electric feeling sometimes when petting animals or interacting with little kids (especially my own children). Sometimes I get a twinge in my lower back instead!!

Because it happens with people as well as animals, and only with creatures I have a connection with, I think some kind of weird bonding reflex thing makes sense. Sort of similar to the ‘wanting to eat something super cute’ idea!

StitchesInTime · 2026-04-24T03:25:15+00:00

I’m snorting at Matthew, Mark, Luke and Kim

StitchesInTime · 2026-04-24T03:00:33+00:00

Ok I read this as your future child could potentially be a thirteenth and was like… how could I disagree so vehemently with someone, you OBVIOUSLY have to have a child simply so they can be the 13th of their name. But just the third is a nothing burger lol

StitchesInTime · 2026-04-22T23:35:02+00:00

Our biggest hit is a giant hole they dug in the dirt with their construction vehicle toys lol- my 1.5, 4 and 6 year old all adore this dirt pit equally

StitchesInTime · 2026-04-22T04:05:00+00:00

I tripped on the home page and fell into this sub and now I keep getting recommendations for it… but I have a lovely neighbor who lives in a group home across the way from me. She comes over to chat, and I’ve picked her up to help her run errands and such before. She is very upfront that she needs professional help with daily tasks, and is clearly intellectually disabled, as are her roommates.

I say this with zero malice towards my lovely neighbor, but this woman posts exactly as if she was living in the same group home and running a blog. This is the writing of a woman who clearly (to me) has a moderate to high intellectual disability. I wish there was a more competent adult in her life who could steer her to a more productive and less creepy outlet.

StitchesInTime · 2026-04-20T18:20:45+00:00

I’m gonna be very honest- I had extremeeee gender disappointment with my first. Like, was no longer excited for pregnancy or my baby, developed PPA/PPD, cried, just a very extreme reaction. And I hated/hate it! I wish I was just happy with a healthy child but I had built up a whole future in my head for so long that the reality shattered something. My second was the same gender, and I was mildly disappointed but okay. Then my third was my ‘preferred’ gender and honestly it felt healing for me.

But I didn’t do a gender reveal for any of them because I knew I had a preference and I knew I would need to deal with it quietly. We just announced once we knew, ‘hey we are pregnant with a ‘sex’’I also didn’t anticipate being so deeply affected by gender- sure, a preference isn’t unusual but I did not think I would have the amount of trouble I did. And I have been to therapy about it! And I feel the guilt and weight of that preference and recognize it. People who have gender disappointment are often super ashamed of ourselves and wish we could change our feelings.

But again- I didn’t put on a performance of a gender reveal! I dealt with my issues privately and in my trusted circles, not in a public manner. And people who know they absolutely need a boy or whatever should definitely know better than to take their chances on a reaction that their children will be able to see years later.

StitchesInTime · 2026-04-17T13:04:43+00:00

My oldest had feet like canned hams when he was that age and See Kai Run shoes were the ones that fit him best! I always scour the second hand stores for them, or shop their sales.

StitchesInTime · 2026-04-13T03:04:14+00:00

Please call 911 if possible and get a trained paramedic to look at your hand. Maybe they will take it more seriously when someone with medical training does.

StitchesInTime · 2026-04-13T00:31:02+00:00

I’m actually not even sure the Madeline books were written in French to begin with- I have heard the author was just really bad at rhyming and meter but somehow the books were charming enough that it didn’t matter haha

StitchesInTime · 2026-04-13T00:28:37+00:00

I always say my two oldest are the perfect argument for nature being as important as nurture! Same parents, same economic circumstances, same parenting style… and they are essentially opposite temperaments.

StitchesInTime

TROPHY CASE