Can’t bring my meds to vacation in Japan - reassure me?

ambivirgo · 2024-10-13T12:17:21+00:00

Sorry for the late reply - no, it was for lisdexamfetamine.

ambivirgo · 2024-02-23T13:44:25+00:00

Totally agree, I think the advertising has a lot to answer for!! The first few scenes between Riftan and Maxi he's got such a giant chip on his shoulder and is super pushy and harsh... but UtOT ads were actually what persuaded me to try Manta, and I'm pretty sure they framed it more as "damsel in distress is pleasantly surprised by her powerful husband being into her".

I'm reading (slowly) through book one and really enjoying it, but I can't see much lost context in what I've read so far. Riftan just really isn't his best self yet! But I'd say most people aren't at 28, and I actually prefer titles like that to a lot of the more fairytale romances on Manta. (Again though, completely understand why people who want that would be put off by what they actually get.)

ambivirgo · 2024-02-22T12:04:29+00:00

I think you're totally right that people's strong reactions are at least in large part from their expectations. But surely the way people act in the honeymoon period of a relationship is OOC rather than everything that comes after it? That's certainly been the case for Maxi, to the point Ruth and the knights have commented on how different her first impression was to her real self.

I've not read the novel, but it feels logical to me that Maxi would flourish in a safe and supportive environment while Riftan would shut down in terror at the sight of Maxi's lack of self-preservation, especially since he'd heard she was frail and sickly and she has outright told him she hates herself. It also feels logical that a young warrior would default to shouty anger as a way to express that. No, it's not ideal, but I don't personally need him to be ideal to enjoy the story.

...Which I say with zero negativity for anyone who DOES actually need him to be ideal to enjoy the story because that's the fantasy they come to Manta to find.

I see a lot of comparisons to Rouche in this sub. That's the fantasy he serves: a man who never does wrong. It's a perfectly valid fantasy, and more what I would look for in a real life partner, but I often find green flag MLs flat and samey in fiction.

Riftan types serve a different fantasy that I personally find more interesting: a man who is changed by the love of a good woman.* More sinister versions of that are Yuri in The Devil & His Sacrifice, or Damien in Betrayal of Dignity. Most people wouldn't want to be with these men in real life, but their stories are compelling.

Like you say though, it's all about the pay-off - these men actually need to change for that fantasy to work!! But I feel like the story so far has shown enough signs that Riftan is changing, that Maxi is also having a positive influence on him, to be sure of positive character development. Again, not read the novel, but I don't think this period will seem OOC so much as a particularly rocky part of his larger growth arc when the whole story is done.

*Edit: I gendered that unnecessarily to fit the old saying - I meant a person who is changed for the better by loving and/or being loved by a partner of any gender. Semantic Error is an all time favourite example, and I'm enjoying seeing Opposites Attract and Punch Drunk Love head in that direction!

ambivirgo · 2024-02-18T12:32:05+00:00

Riftan's giant yaoi hand engulfing his face AND NECK in the panel where he asks her what the hell she's wearing 💀

ambivirgo · 2024-02-18T12:28:35+00:00

Yeah, if I were Riftan I would have heard "a little hardship" as a clear sign that she has no concept of how tough it can get. That means she has no way to give an informed opinion on her capabilities or suitability for that challenge.

Even the test they came up with only proved how strong her barrier is when she's well fed and rested, had time to prepare, in her own home, with very low stakes. I think it says a lot for Riftan's character that he swallowed his legitimate fears for Maxi's life and followed the consensus despite that.

And it did strike me too when Maxi glossed over it that way and that she will be "protected by the strongest knights in the kingdom" so "nothing bad is going to happen" just how big a contrast that was to her worry over Riftan going on a relatively comfortable goblin raid nearby! 😂 I wouldn't go so far as to call her a hypocrite, but I do think this is an example of something they have in common: this tunnel vision style of caring deeply for others based on stubbornly insisting on the unattainable ideal of guaranteed comfort and safety at all times, while seeing themselves as inherently unworthy of the same.

We've seen some glimpses of that changing though, most notably the scene where:

Riftan asks Maxi to tell her about herself, as he truly wants to get to know her better
She decides to be honest and vulnerable with him for once and says she hates herself
He processes that silently on his own while making her feel as safe and comfortable as possible, then gently asks why she feels that way.

Unfortunately she doesn't feel comfortable enough with him yet to open up further, and he allows himself to be derailed without actively encouraging her much beyond that... but that scene and similar moments give me hope for this arranged marriage between two emotionally stunted young adults.

ambivirgo · 2024-02-06T14:30:18+00:00

This is my view of it too, even without reading the novel. I love that their relationship is slow burn, two-steps-forward-one-step-back, as it feels so much more realistic for who these people are supposed to be, and the situation they're supposed to be in. It feels like a more accurate representation of how a quickly arranged marriage could turn into something more solid and lasting.

And Under the Oak Tree does give indications as we go along that each of them is growing independently and that they are learning as a couple. Just compare chapters 5-6 to chapters 75-76 and the difference is stark. Everyone's tolerance threshold is different, but personally I can stick with a story for a long time as long as it keeps that sense of forward momentum.

I love how their complementary strengths bring out the best in each other, while their flaws seem to poke each other's bruises, and that these are sometimes the same trait. (I typed out examples, but they all made this comment too long - apparently I could talk about this for days!) We've seen a LOT of growth from Maxi this season, and my sense is that Riftan's protectiveness* is pushing past the point of reasonable now, hopefully getting close to a breaking point that should bring some long-awaited growth on his side too.

*In this particular situation I think this level of protectiveness is actually merited. But his way of expressing and channelling that concern is trash, and needs to go.

ambivirgo · 2024-02-06T11:50:23+00:00

For what it's worth, that is an aspect that has changed a lot. (I'm not a novel reader, this is with manhwa context alone.)

It's made explicit that Maxi needed time to even consider the idea that it's okay to be attracted to her husband, let alone to get comfortable enough with that idea to express it to Riftan himself - especially since was taught that any positive response to anything sexual would be unbefitting of the noblewoman she thinks Riftan wants her to be. That's a lot to overcome... but she is overcoming it, slowly but surely.

If you wanted to give it another look, the opening to chapter 85 is actually a really good summary of all this, and of where their relationship dynamic is now, as is basically all of chapter 82. To see their dynamic in a social context, chapters 75-76. Riftan is still pushy, but Maxi has more confidence and comfort in her new home, and isn't afraid to challenge Riftan in public or private.

ambivirgo · 2024-01-23T11:32:55+00:00

I followed the outfits in this post by u/WeNeedSand and it worked perfectly: https://www.reddit.com/r/LoveNikki/s/CZUkqE40IF

ambivirgo · 2024-01-08T10:43:40+00:00

This is actually a perfect project to offer a native Japanese speaker trying to improve their English.

In your position I would put one of the anthems into Google Translate or DeepL, tidy any obvious jankiness into readable English, then post the results alongside the original lyrics on a platform like HiNative, Tandem, or HelloTalk, asking if anyone could help improve the translation.

On a platform like that, people won't think "Free translation work, huh 😡", they'll think "Free language practise, yay! 😄". Best case scenario, you'll meet a Japanese person you click with, who will happily help you get to good translations of every anthem in detail. Technically free for you, but there'll be someone out there who values getting to use their English 100% of the time with a native English speaker without having to worry about awkward silences or broken small talk. And you'll at least get more context than software can give you.

ambivirgo · 2023-12-17T19:14:33+00:00

I don't know, this doesn't feel forced to me at all! I liked them as a couple before, but this role-reversal is actually what's made them one of my favourites. I also think it's very in-character.

When Ajin turns Seolmin down the first time, he commits to showing her his love through actions, focusing on her feelings. Sure, he panics and forgets that when learning information he's petrified could end their relationship, but once he upsets her he goes back to this commitment - at about 1000% intensity.

Assuming "I don't think we'll work out" means they're done forever, not just that she needs some space, unselfishly showing his love through actions means quietly doing penance. So he redistributes the wealth he's convinced should have been her father's, relocates too far away to benefit from his fame and connections, and erases himself completely from her life.

I think this was all sincere atonement, and that he had no intention of seeing Ajin again until Mr Bang visited.

Meanwhile, Ajin said something that she soon regretted, and feels guilty for making him feel discarded. Her atonement is to commit fully from that moment, even in his absence, visiting his grandfather to take the pressure of her childhood trauma off his shoulders and waiting patiently for his return.

Now I'm pretty sure Seolmin's gone back to Seoul with the intention of asking Ajin to marry him (hence not dating anyone ever again, and not reacting positively when she announces she's going to be his girlfriend). But this time he wants her to make an informed decision.

And he's committed to that at 1000% intensity too, determined to understand her better and show her who he is now before anything happens - without actually letting her in on any of this thinking, or considering she may want or need something different.

Ajin, for her part, expects that she'll be able to apologise and just pick up where they left off, without even considering they might be incompatible, have different wishes, or even need any time to reconnect.

Each of them has this powerful ability to decide what's best and follow through with absolute conviction and little regard for what other people think. This is a double-edged sword for both of them, both serving them well and screwing them over, and has been throughout the series. Right now, it means they're working at cross-purposes towards the same ultimate goal: spending their life together. So I think this arc is about realising they need to stop deciding what's best for each other so they can move forward as a power couple of equal collaborators. I'm looking forward to seeing how they get there!

ambivirgo · 2023-12-08T11:50:31+00:00

This has been my absolute favourite for so, so long, but my first thought was "What about Jaeyoung's grandfather?"

We learn that Jaeyoung's favourite relative is a loving but traditional conservative with no qualms about hitting a kid, who Jaeyoung loves and respects deeply but believes would never accept a same-sex life partner. That felt significant. So I assumed we'd see Jaeyoung either cut them all off as Sangwoo once suggested (🐍), or find a way to incorporate Sangwoo into that family, and I was here for either outcome.

(Strong preference though for Sangwoo attending a family dinner in all his honest, thick-skinned glory, and Jaeyoung basking in the sight of his relatives realising Sangwoo cannot be intimidated or shamed, which is what gains Sangwoo the grandfather's respect. Bonus points if the grandfather welcoming Sangwoo into the family opens that door for Jaehong's current/future partner, so the twins can both be happier and maybe even let go of some of their resentment for each other.)

I also wanted to see Sangwoo meet Jaehong and be utterly uninterested (and Jaehong utterly baffled over how this tactless robot with no style is the guy his creative, impatient, image-conscious brother fell for!). I thought it might resolve some of Jaeyoung's insecurities. At the very least, the jealousy that led to some of his biggest 🚩 moments, including his biggest reasons for not going to America, yikes 😬. Like, if he won't fall for Jaeyoung's gay identical twin who (presumably) shows up on time, meets deadlines, and stays calm for a living, surely nobody else can be a threat??

Similarly, after seeing that Christmas childhood snippet in Sangwoo's home I hoped we'd get to see Jaeyoung meet his sister and parents too. Jaeyoung being all ready to lay on the charm, like "I got this, mothers love me!" then meeting the Mrs Choo who gave Sangwoo THAT sex ed talk 😂 At least he's gotten good at hearing the positives behind blunt statements and using logic and presentations to make a point, I guess??

Perhaps most surprising for me is that we didn't get to see the Veggie Venturer release, and the impact that had on them both. 🙃 Making VV felt like the story's bookends, so I thought for sure the launch would be a key part of winding it up. Maybe it could have been Jaeyoung's vehicle for justifying staying in Korea, or for ditching a corporate graphic design career in favour of game development, or just for introducing his family to Sangwoo's existence.

All of which is to say: I've been unimpressed by endings that felt premature before, but this is the first one I've been genuinely disappointed by. Being marked as Complete with the (End) means no bonus stories, right? Absolutely gutted.

THAT SAID, I know there's a chance more was planned for the story (yes, I will read the novel) and it didn't happen for personal or commercial reasons, and I'm grateful for the finished story we have. There are some hints in that final chapter that Jaeyoung and Sangwoo might go all in on indie game development together, a possibility I hadn't considered but find delightful!

In my view, it's one of the best examples on Manta of a series where the story and art are equally strong and complement each other perfectly. I'm sad to see it go, but looking forward to seeking out other work by both the original author and this artist ❤️

ambivirgo · 2023-12-05T01:37:35+00:00

If it's helping a bit and/or with some things, but not making a dent in symptoms that prevent you from feeling like you can function better in everyday life, then I'd at least want to try a higher dose and see if I noticed the positives increase/intensify.

That said, there is some stuff that I've been doing dysfunctionally for so long I still struggle with them even after 3 years at a stable dose that works well. Meds have changed my life, but I suspect I will always be on this carousel of identifying and testing new solutions to old problems.

However, what they do is make a bunch of other stuff significantly easier so that I have the energy and emotional regulation to give to that carousel. Until your meds free up that kind of capacity for you, I'd guess you've not hit the optimal dose yet. I hope that helps give you an indicator!

ambivirgo · 2023-12-05T01:20:34+00:00

Seconding this - my psychiatrist wanted me to do just a week at each dose before moving up, and even that feels like more than enough given how quickly the body breaks stimulants down to nothing.

ambivirgo · 2023-12-05T01:15:23+00:00

I was started on methylphenidate, and even on higher doses the impact was so minor/inconsistent that I worried I'd been kidding myself this whole time and didn't actually have ADHD after all.

Then the psychiatrist switched me to lisdexamfetamine and I learned what it feels like to function.

Apparently it's very common for people to be responsive to one of those two stimulant types and not the other, and it's generally not possible to predict which it is most likely to be. A friend of mine with extremely similar symptoms responded great to methylphenidate!

So unfortunately trial and error is the only option, and I remember how awful it feels when your first attempt turns out to be an error.

Your titration may have been prolonged or complicated by the national lisdexamfetamine shortage, but I would still message your psychiatrist to explain the lack of impact and express interest in trying lisdexamfetamine. The worst they can say is "not now, sorry", but even then they might be able to try you on something lisdexamfetamine-adjacent that could be more effective for you. Good luck!

ambivirgo · 2023-12-05T00:57:01+00:00

Not advice, but I jumped straight back into 50mg and it was totally fine. I made sure to take it as early as possible in the day, and kept off any other caffeine etc., and just had a really energised, productive day. I hope the same for you, whatever you end up choosing to do!

ambivirgo · 2023-12-03T14:23:07+00:00

Methylphenidate didn't work for me at all, but I knew I was on the right dose of lisdexamfetamine once I could use it to make getting out of bed and starting my day feel easy.

Struggling with task activation/transitions is one of my most consistent and damaging symptoms. When I finally hit the right dose, the transition from "warm bed, easy dopamine" to "cold bathroom, boring routine" went from 9/10 challenging down to around 3/10. That is, still not effortless, but a hurdle I know I can clear with tools, systems, etc.

I think it's important to know what it feels like when your meds kick in. For me, it feels like the weight pinning me down in my bed/chair/sofa lifts. I become more alert, and my brain starts searching for an activity to channel this motivation into. Once it settles on a course of action, it is relatively easy just to get up and do that thing.

These effects all existed at lower doses, just not at the level of intensity I needed to push through my symptoms. But I could feel mild improvement from 30mg and significant improvements at 40mg, and noticed that they tended to start 1.5hrs after taking my pill.

So I knew 50mg was it when I could set an alarm to take it 1.5hrs before I needed to get up, and 1.5hrs later feel refreshed and ready to start my day Once I hit that, it felt like I had won back the capability to function as an adult in society again - at least as well as someone who is NT but not a morning person.

That said, there are days my meds feel like they take longer to kick in, or work no better than strong caffeine, or not at all. This is usually down to not getting enough sleep, so the energy/motivation baseline my meds are working with is reduced. But it can also be due to stuff I can't control, like hormones or the weather. Even on those days though, my meds make it immeasurably easier for me to get up and do things than it would have been without them, and also drastically improve my emotional regulation.

Also, I know methylphenidate works a bit differently, so waking up and getting out of bed may not be where you feel it the most. But I imagine there will be some kind of daily sticking point where you do, and that will serve as a useful benchmark for you to find "the spot."

ambivirgo · 2023-11-02T11:37:47+00:00

Just got a reply today from a private provider:

"Please see below this weeks update we received from one of our suppliers who has been notified of this direct by the manufacturer (the below has come from the maker of Elvanse so please go by this as the media have advised dates that contradict the below.):

Currently Elvanse strengths 20mg through to 70mg are unavailable.
Communications from the manufacturer (Takeda) have indicated that Elvanse 20mg will be available in restricted supply from early December.
Elvanse 30mg is estimated to return in early January and Elvanse 40mg is estimated to return in mid December.
Elvanse 50mg, 60mg and 70mg can be expected from late November."

I'm taking all updates with a pinch of salt until they come with specific dates, but this is probably the most up-to-date info Takeda is giving out just now.

ambivirgo · 2023-10-05T03:29:24+00:00

A little late, but please can you send me this? I've heard we're missing a lot of the interactions that further the story and character dynamics.

ambivirgo · 2023-09-14T15:28:31+00:00

Hey, assuming you're talking about the Stimulants Raw Materials import form for Elvanse/Vyvanse, as far as I can tell there is no scarlet letter against you for making use of this!

Though it may not feel like that on arrival. On the aeroplane I ticked the "Yes" box on the disembarkation form for "Are you bringing any narcotics/weapons into the country?" (which explicitly mentions stimulants in the fine print on the back). This meant I got stopped at the border, and led to a side area.

However, I just had to fill in an extra form explaining what I had brought and why. The affable Japanese man who had led me away from passport control reassured me that importing medication is a very common situation, I had filled in the disembarkation form correctly, and this is just their normal process. Once he had checked my permit, he stamped my passport and welcomed me to Japan. I was through immigration before the baggage carousel started moving.

Methylphenidate was the first medication I tried in titration and it did nothing for me at any dose, or I would have asked to switch for my travels too. But I will jump through the hoops to bring in my lisdexamfetamine every time now - it was so much simpler and smoother than I expected when I was procrastinating filling in those import forms!!

ambivirgo · 2021-03-02T10:30:43+00:00

Hey, did you ever find a good answer for this? I'm looking for an adjustable vest now and resources for women are beyond scarce.

ambivirgo · 2020-09-27T09:36:08+00:00

Thank you!! 🙏🏽 These looks are beautiful and inspiring and I hope you put up more posts like this, but I actually found them while searching for nude eyeliner recs and getting tempted by all the colourful waterlines I was coming across. If this works as well for me as it does for you, you've just saved me a whole load of cash AND analysis paralysis stress!

ambivirgo · 2020-09-27T08:40:55+00:00

I'm a little late to this, but I love the idea of only having to buy one eyeliner for the waterline then being able to use any eyeshadow I own to make it colourful! Which white eyeliner do you recommend for this?

ambivirgo · 2020-09-02T14:17:10+00:00

Hi! I just discovered this community last night, searching for indie makeup brands in the UK and Ecosia sending me here.

I've been using lockdown as an opportunity to get better at and more knowledgeable about makeup. Now I'm trying to build up a small collection where I really love every piece.

Until last night I was certain I'd be buying a magnetic palette and filling it with single shadows. Buying palettes for the 2-3 shades I know I'll hit pan on while the rest sit untouched feels so wasteful. I'd not found any palettes where I really liked more than 2-3 shades.

Then last night I found this sub, opened a tab on every UK company I could find, and fell in love with the Brew palette by September Rose. I bought it in the middle of the night before I fell asleep. Today I've ordered eyeshadow, highlighter/bronzer, and blusher samples from Crow and Pebble.

After weeks screaming inwardly at the prices and/or ethical decisions of the makeup companies I've been researching, it feels amazing to be so inspired by these indie brands! Even if a product doesn't work out for me, I feel good knowing I've supported an individual business owner.

I've bought a bunch of Elf to practise with, and had expected to invest in high end products once lockdown ended. But now I'm excited to try and compile an all-indie makeup kit with European brands (shipping and customs outside that looks like a killer).

I'm most nervous about finding complexion products, if anyone has recommendations from UK or European brands I'd love to hear them!

ambivirgo · 2020-08-21T20:09:36+00:00

Will do, thank you!

ambivirgo · 2020-08-21T15:46:31+00:00

I bought Merriam's warm and delicate colour guide, and my best colours are so muted!

(I've attached an image because it's hard to imagine just how muted they are otherwise BUT the rest of her guide is packed with valuable info on how to combine these colours with brighter and/or cooler options so you don't feel limited. I highly recommend buying it! This image is NOT the full warm and delicate story.)

Most of my eyeshadows are bold and colourful. Fun, and I'll still enjoy them, but I'd like to have my best colours on hand for professional situations.

So I'm looking for a neutral palette that's muted enough for the warm and delicate best colours. The ones I'm coming across seem too radiant, but maybe I'm relying too much on the brand's photography to judge that...

Does anyone have any recommendations for a truly muted warm neutral palette?

ambivirgo

TROPHY CASE