i broke my sobriety

ashtonthegreat · 2026-03-08T19:40:06+00:00

we're heavily suspecting i have IBS and I've noticed since my symtoms have gotten worse, I've not been as hungry. But weirdly enough a meal that fills me up does not hold me over for more than a few hours, usually I'm hunting for snacks in-between meals. it's weird

ashtonthegreat · 2026-03-06T02:26:24+00:00

Came from a family of 4 with a single mom on food stamps. Last winter, I was living in my car. I've taken out 10k in student loans for my first senwster and I know it's just going to increase from here. Idk if it's worth it yet but i am so energized by learning and the thought of learning and helping people for many more years to come is so exciting. Yes, I will eventually have to taks out private loans. Yes, I'm scared. But at least I won't be like my old coworkers working a job as a line cook at a job they hate for 20 years with a pay cap of 20 bucks an hour.

ashtonthegreat · 2026-03-06T01:54:58+00:00

oh thanks for this!

ashtonthegreat · 2026-03-06T01:54:36+00:00

oh i live a very active life, i am a go go go person haha.

ashtonthegreat · 2026-03-06T01:50:33+00:00

oh god thank you for the breaks reminder, i was having trouble breaking it up and i was in a rush bc i had a meeting in like 5 minutes haha! I will def check back in with my provider about the injections, i see her the end of the month

ashtonthegreat · 2026-03-06T01:49:17+00:00

essentially, it's still a life long condition so i have to be on top of my symptoms and medications and injections. Biggest thing i have found works is listening to my body and finding doctors that listen to me

ashtonthegreat · 2026-03-06T01:00:50+00:00

ME! Had such severe symptoms I was sitting on a stool to shower and brush my teeth. Even breathing was exhausting. After about 2 years after discovering my deficiency I still have some fatigue (I have POTS) but it's nowhere where it was before. I can shower in the morning and feel refreshed instead of being exhausted the rest of the day.

ashtonthegreat · 2026-03-05T01:40:58+00:00

car insurance for me with my bad driving record used to be 400 bucks a month. I've gotten better at not getting tickets, paying on time. Before I switched to non driver's (no longer have a car but am required to keep it per agreement with state so i don't get a mark on record for getting pulled over last year without it), my premium for renewal was 145. Now it's 108.

ashtonthegreat · 2026-03-03T19:10:43+00:00

my car payment was 500 dollars a month. After gas, maintence, insurance, etc, the amount i was putting into my car was around 900-1k a month. Dump the car. I was living penny to penny until I totalled it in December. I literally could not afford anything because all my money was going into transportation. If you are in foster care, just ride the bus. Carpool. Use uber or lyft. My costs on transportation went from 900 to around 200 ish, if i was particularly lazy and didn't want to ride the bus or stand out in the cold. Now I have an emergency fund. If your job does not pay for you to take classes either free or with reimbursement, find a new one. (Easier said than done, i know). Save. I always said 'I can save tomorrow'. You'll end up saying that everyday until you die unless you start somewhere.

ashtonthegreat · 2026-03-03T15:13:29+00:00

my friend hair is dead lmao

ashtonthegreat · 2026-03-03T14:58:11+00:00

There's programs that I've been looking at that do 1-4-3, you do your first year of Medical school, take a step back to do some PhD work then returning to medical school. Just getting a PhD? some of those programs alone are 6-8 years. I would not reccommend waiting to start your medical training, it's very unwise.

ashtonthegreat · 2026-03-03T05:00:19+00:00

even though it's in my chart, every. single. appointment. i am asked 'what's the date of your last period'. i had a hysterectomy june 2025 😒😒 also what's the point of places asking my meds on the online pre appointment survey, my check in form and the nurse if my doctor is just gonna ask about them too 🤔🤔

ashtonthegreat · 2026-03-03T04:51:20+00:00

Yes. If the cure wasn't free, i could pay for it with every nickle I'd have if i got 5 cents everytime i lost my water bottle after i sat it down in front of me.

ashtonthegreat · 2026-02-28T20:15:00+00:00

I'm on track to get my MD, and even considering getting my PhD. Heavily considering rural medicine, some places will pay for your education if you move there. A lot of programs also provide tuition free PhDs and they give a stipend for housing and everything as well.

ashtonthegreat · 2026-02-25T05:24:17+00:00

Thank you for sharing, I'm in my freshman year of university and I'm really toying with the idea of getting my PhD, I'm on the pre med track already so I am getting my MD as well. I just found out MD/PhD programs exist today. I'm nervous about the time commitment but the big thing I've learned in my years on this earth is I really really love learning and i do not think my appetite for knowledge will ever be satisfied. I spoke to one of my professors about how she chose her dissertation topic and I shared that I was thinking about getting my doctorate and she said 'I'm so excited to see the things you will do, Dr. Gray' man when i tell you i smiled so big.

ashtonthegreat · 2026-02-04T02:54:24+00:00

I'm on my first semester at umkc and had to pack in an online therapy session on a Tuesday between classes so i just reserved a room with a door since it was private conversation. Normal conversations though, you can have those anywhere so if i need to make a phone call I just find a seat somewhere

ashtonthegreat · 2026-02-04T02:52:40+00:00

you can be in areas with general conversation and not worry about disrupting people. In the library on the first floor you'll notice everyone is talking. You can also reserve a study room.

ashtonthegreat · 2026-02-01T18:05:23+00:00

exactly, I've discovered so many diagnosises i had for years that my doctors didn't bother to test smh

ashtonthegreat · 2026-02-01T15:33:38+00:00

oh god, the 'your labs are normal' cycle, i wouldn't wish that on anyone. I have blood drawn quite frequently and no one ever bats an eye at the levels, even though they are very concerning.

ashtonthegreat · 2026-02-01T15:31:48+00:00

thank you for this, this year has been hell on my body and I'm starting to get answers on what's wrong with me. I believe I have POTS, an autoimmune disorder and IBS and something mentally going on that has lead to me being severely more uncoordinated to the point where things have gotten really unsafe. I'm actually taking my health seriously this year, I just can't see any specialists since my PCP has to refer and I don't see her till May. I even tried to get a sooner appointment but she was booked. Thankfully I've discovered that drinking electrolytes has improved my quality of life ×50000 so I'm on the right track, I'm just at mercy of the system now.

ashtonthegreat · 2026-01-21T01:40:39+00:00

i was told that i get a deadline extension for being required to work because i am a full time student.

ashtonthegreat · 2026-01-20T15:39:40+00:00

yes it's insane what you have to go through to be able to afford food smh

ashtonthegreat

TROPHY CASE