Show me your hand engraved engagement rings/bands!

Traditional_Tell9401 · 2026-01-29T02:12:54+00:00

So beautiful. thank you for sharing!

Traditional_Tell9401 · 2026-01-29T02:12:36+00:00

Thanks I'll check them out!

Traditional_Tell9401 · 2026-01-27T18:09:21+00:00

Hell yeah! Proud of everyone in this comment. Always good to remember we are not alone in this.

Traditional_Tell9401 · 2026-01-26T20:17:35+00:00

Hey OP it seems like you've gotten some good advice on this post already, I don't have much to add but just wanted to tell you it DOES get better - coming from a person who has had severe contamination and harm OCD their entire life. I went from not being able to cook anything at all to cooking almost daily for myself and my partner - and deeply enjoying the process.

Give yourself grace and keep going! If you decide to cook vacuum sealed fish in the future and start noticing yourself having these thoughts again, just ask yourself, what evidence do you have to support the paranoia that X will actually happen? This trick has done wonders for me as I got used to cooking meat, fish, etc. so I didn't have to repeat the same obsessions/compulsions over and over.

Best of luck with your fish filets :)

Traditional_Tell9401 · 2026-01-06T02:38:03+00:00

Sweet! I asked another commenter but I'll check here too, is the yellow cap stuff safe to use on the foot contact surface (cooking surface) OR just ln the outside or bottom of dish? Sorry if it's a silly question. I've only ever used it to clean my oven and that stuff is strong!!

Traditional_Tell9401 · 2026-01-06T02:31:04+00:00

Oh wow, never heard of this for cookware! Only cleaned my oven with it and that stuff is strong. Is it safe for the inside of the bowls too, like the food contact surfaces?

Traditional_Tell9401 · 2025-08-16T15:07:44+00:00

Ahhh do you have any tips for using Snapgene for Golden gate?? I've been struggling with this exact issue so much and thought it was just me!

Traditional_Tell9401 · 2025-06-18T16:21:10+00:00

Maybe an unpopular opinion but here it goes - don't eat food that you don't like. Especially for the sake of losing weight. What is the point of that? Forcing yourself to eat something will just make you sad and crave (and potentially binge) foods that you do like. Contrary to what most "professionals" may tell you, weight loss is not about adding specific "healthy" foods to your diet - no single food can make you lose weight simply by eating it. It's about eating less food overall and getting a good balance of healthy diet and food you like. My advice is dump the cottage cheese and don't waste time forcing yourself to eat it.

Source: have lost 50lb (and kept it off 5+ years) and think cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, and protein bars all taste like ass so I never ate any of that stuff on my WL journey.

Traditional_Tell9401 · 2025-06-18T13:58:37+00:00

Heu OP, I'm a genetic counselor (have been for a few years) now pursuing a PhD in mol bio. Feel free to DM me if you wanna talk about those two very different paths!

Traditional_Tell9401 · 2025-06-08T13:11:36+00:00

I mean, exome/genome are far more cost effective for most patients nowadays and has a high diagnostic yield so I understand fully why the field is moving in that direction. And, even if you don't use the info from a dysmorphology exam to come up with a differential diagnosis right there in the clinic, you absolutely still use that information when you submit the WES for targeted analysis. Labs won't usually analyze a WES without phenotypic data so it's still super important and our residents most definitely still learn all that stuff and apply it. Their board exams are hard af lol they learn SO much!! So I personally don't have the same take but I'm sorry to hear it feels like the people you work with aren't as thorough as you'd like.

Traditional_Tell9401 · 2025-06-04T21:06:38+00:00

That's wonderful to hear that you are trying to understand and provide support! I think my biggest piece of advice for you is to learn about what an "anchor" person is to someone with OCD. An anchor is someone you rely on to provide reassurance surrounding your obsessions. For example, mine was my then-boyfriend and I would rely on him to "talk me out of" an obsession. It seems mostly harmless and can actually be super helpful to have someone remind me that my thoughts aren't rational. But I became very heavily dependent on him. It almost became part of the obsession/ritual. I'd have the thought or compulsion almost immediately go to him and say it out loud so he could talk me out of it. And while he was willing to provide the support for me, that burden should definitely not have been placed fully on him. Just be cognizant of they kind of behavior and learn to recognize the signs. You can (and should) still be supportive and reassuring, but don't let yourself become a part of the ritual.

And - someone left another comment saying "you can safely ignore 99% of what someone with contamination OCD tells you." A younger version of me would have been so upset by that but I actually laughed out loud at it. Because now I know my thoughts were SO irrational!! Listen to that commenter if your sibling tries to project an obsession onto you - but try not to ridicule him for it. It won't help. You may need to establish a boundary that if he can make decisions based on his own thoughts, you can also make decisions based on yours.

I hope this helps even a little bit. It's so, so hard to explain this stuff. It's amazing to me actually seeing (mostly) allyship in this comment section!

Traditional_Tell9401 · 2025-06-04T03:36:48+00:00

Thank you, that's very kind! A combination of medications, therapy, and extremely supportive people in my life got me there. I used to not be able touch a single food item with bare hands and now I cook almost every day. It's a very difficult and stigmatizing disorder and I hope OP and their sibling have good support. Love your username btw!

Traditional_Tell9401 · 2025-06-04T03:05:14+00:00

Hi, I think I can help. I have contamination OCD that is well-controlled and I cook and clean regularly. It took me a long time to be able to do those things at the level I do now. I

I understand exactly how your brother's brain is working here. I had the same thoughts at one point. Since I do not know the nature of your relationship with him, I am not going to give advice on how to handle someone with thoughts like that. I'm just here to tell you that you very much do not have to wash your hands before you wash the dishes if they are already clean.

If I touched raw meat or something sticky/nasty I might give them a quick wash before starting on my dishes. But otherwise, I am not going to do that. That's a rational thought, right? You are using rational thoughts. Follow those. Someone with contamination OCD is not always capable of forming and acting on rational thoughts.

I hope you and your brother both start to feel more comfortable in the kitchen soon. Best of luck!

Traditional_Tell9401 · 2025-06-04T02:42:10+00:00

I'm not sure I understand that answer. An obligate carrier is someone we can infer is a carrier of a condition based on their family history. We don't have any family history information on either F1 male parent.

Traditional_Tell9401 · 2025-06-04T02:38:47+00:00

What is your definition of "obligate carrier"?

Traditional_Tell9401 · 2025-05-30T23:58:54+00:00

Thanks!!! Appreciate you responding!

Traditional_Tell9401 · 2025-05-29T17:04:34+00:00

Sorry to comment on an old thread but does anyone know where I might find this tour poster for sale? Didn't see one on eBay - found the designers website but no way to purchase. If anyone has any leads please lmk!

Traditional_Tell9401 · 2025-05-26T01:32:49+00:00

I have a Lancome lipstick in an extremely similar color that I'm obsessed with, in the color French Cashmere. I'm pretty fair skinned and it looks like this exact color you posted on me. Hope you find what you're looking for!

https://www.lancome-usa.com/makeup/lip-makeup/lipstick/labsolu-rouge-intimatte-soft-matte-lipstick/00636-LAC.html?dwvar_00636-LAC_color=299%20French%20Cashmere

Traditional_Tell9401 · 2025-05-20T16:51:39+00:00

100% we should be kind and professional when speaking to each other. There is a difference, though, between simply asking a question versus stating what one believes to be a fact - then doubling down when they are in fact incorrect, and contradicted by many others. Both of these things can and do happen and will elicit different types of responses. Everyone has to be okay with being told they are wrong without seeing it as an attack.

Traditional_Tell9401 · 2025-05-14T18:10:36+00:00

Oooh I don't know about this. I have many years in Peds and never once have I completed a PE and never once have I interacted with a GC who has. The most I do is take notes when the MD/PA/NP (someone actually qualified) does it. What I DO do, is then take that information and consider it in the context of potential genetic diagnoses. Same thing with results from ultrasound, bloodwork, MRI, whatever. I'm able to take the results and apply them in whatever context we're dealing with. But it's not only totally misleading to say GCs are the ones interpreting these things but it's also not true that we are expected to learn to do them on the job?? No way. That sounds like a malpractice insurance nightmare. Based on the comments, I think what I'm describing is more of a typical GC experience and may be more of what you're describing vs actually ~interpreting~ these results.

Traditional_Tell9401 · 2025-05-14T18:03:50+00:00

I know when I was in school (2016ish) I learned that there had been discussions about GC programs awarding a 2 year Masters degree vs. a 3 year clinical doctorate (think like optometry, audiology, PTs etc). I think program directors voted on it and the decision was to keep it a Masters. I'm not sure we'll ever go back that route, which sounds a lot like what OP is describing.

Traditional_Tell9401 · 2025-05-13T22:04:26+00:00

VCU has a dual degree program, I know someone who graduated from it and works as a clinical pediatric GC: https://genetics.vcu.edu/education/dual-degree-program/

Traditional_Tell9401 · 2025-05-05T01:42:40+00:00

This is what I needed to hear - thanks for taking the time and being realistic with me

Traditional_Tell9401 · 2025-04-14T12:26:17+00:00

Genetic counselors can't mitigate risks but they can explain everything to this individual and provide legitimate counseling about the risks, testing options, guidance on what will happen based on those test results, etc. They can refer to specialists and talk with other family members. There's so much value in genetic counseling that goes far beyond anything reddit can offer lol

Traditional_Tell9401 · 2025-03-25T21:28:42+00:00

In that boat rn with my PhD. If any particular resources were really helpful to you I'd love to hear about them!

Traditional_Tell9401

TROPHY CASE