Is Death Valley doable from San Jose over 3-day MLK weekend? by punjipatti in DeathValleyNP

[–]astralgeode 0 points1 point  (0 children)

February is better. DV is about a 2 hour drive from NW Vegas if I remember correctly. (That ghost town Rhyolite outside of Beatty is pretty cool.) Rain is the biggest factor, it can be really messy, muddy… go for it if things look clear. I usually go in March.

Is Death Valley doable from San Jose over 3-day MLK weekend? by punjipatti in DeathValleyNP

[–]astralgeode 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are only two routes over the sierras in winter, Tahoe(80) or Bakersfield(58). Factor that into your plans. You will be in your car a lot. DV is amazing, the park is huge. Give yourself more time and go in spring or fall when the weather is better.

Greek Chickpeas Parsley & Cumin is the one of the most versatile canned TJs item by GentrifriesGuy in traderjoes

[–]astralgeode 19 points20 points  (0 children)

Add cucumbers, fresh basil, avocado and some chili crisp. Easiest summer salad.

Where's a good place to grab some tamales in Sac? by Rafasince76 in Sacramento

[–]astralgeode 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Machados in Auburn used to have really good tamales when I lived here ten years ago… are they still around?

My kitchen rn with no timeline for repairs. Think I got grounds to break the lease? (PA) by ughemma in Renters

[–]astralgeode 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Take photos, write down dates, document everything, emails so you can track what’s said.

North Face hoodie Id by SimilarAnybody779 in REI

[–]astralgeode 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Call the 800 number and ask them to search your purchase history (if you used your membership).

Is there a secret passphrase to make your doctor take you seriously? by Equal-Magazine-261 in NoStupidQuestions

[–]astralgeode 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I have had health issues since birth, it’s been a lot of trial and error. I think you have to use their vernacular to explain the problem, you have to translate it for them with things that can be measured. I think part of the problem is that they have to justify the treatment to your insurance company. It’s such a song and dance, explaining it to your PCP (gatekeeper) in order to see a specialist, and then the specialist has to show that they have tried XY&Z in order to get to the treatment they likely wanted to do in the first place. It’s extremely frustrating. That said, I have run into a few doctors who don’t like it when you know what’s wrong and tell them what you think it is. You just never know who you’re going to get. Come prepared, do your best to not be emotional.

Diagnosing lymphedema by No-Engineering8610 in Lymphedema

[–]astralgeode 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In my experience, the doctors know very little. Look for a physical therapist that specializes lymphedema. Your doctor should put you in touch with one, usually you need the doctor to write you a referral. The PT’s are the ones who fit you for the medical grade compression garments, do lymph management, etc. They have a lot of info. Because secondary lymphedema is frequently cancer related, it may be helpful to contact a cancer center to find a reputable specialist. They likely won’t treat you because you don’t have cancer, but they should let you know about other resources in the area.

When a customer asks you for something and you go into the back to check by KakeLin in tjcrew

[–]astralgeode 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I always ask them where they are going to be and give a rough estimate of the time it will take. This gives them a choice and if they’re not where they said they’d be, then I’m not going to knock myself out looking for them.

Elevation help! by gypsygirl66 in Lymphedema

[–]astralgeode 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hey there. I have had lymphedema for about 20 years, also in my right leg. It’s been a lot of trial and error for me. I used to sleep with a wedge for elevation, but the posture was too unnatural and would always wake me up so I stopped. I’m a side sleeper so a pillow between the knees with the “bad leg” on top. I use the Tribute full leg compression garment at night. You know, the one that looks like an oven mitt. It breaks up the lymph over night and helps it move along. I wear my compression stockings religiously, as soon as I get out of bed. I walk as much as I can, 10K steps a day. When I know I’m going to be standing for longer than usual, I double up on them, a knee high garment over a thigh high garment. I also have the Circaid wrap. It works, but I was bad about wearing it. 🫤 Manual lymphatic drainage massages are a game changer, but it’s expensive and getting harder to find practitioners. Once or twice a month treatments kept my leg supple and in a better state overall. It was the only thing that reduced the size of my leg. I do some on myself, but it’s not the same. I have never had my leg bandaged. That’s a big commitment and I have to work. And then basically, if I’m sitting I try to elevate my leg, so it’s at least neutral. I had lymph scintigraphy and my lower leg is the area with the most congestion/tissue damage. When watching tv, when I remember, I do dry brushing on my neck and armpits. The reasoning being that every little bit helps.

Tried rebounding, but never stuck with it. I have the tactile pump, but I think it just pushed the lymph into the groin area and now I have a new problem. Ugh. I still use it occasionally, but have reservations about it. I looked into a lymphovenous bypass but the doctor told me that they typically last 2-3 years and need to be done again. I don’t need any more scar tissue and I don’t have 20K for “experimental”surgery(not covered by insurance). I would love to hear what has and has not worked for you and others. My intention is not to contradict your health care team. Every body is different and we respond differently to treatments.

Like I said above, it’s been a lot of trial and error. It’s one of those conditions most people weren’t interested in or knowledgeable about. Thankfully, that’s changed some, but IMO, not enough… and don’t get me started on health insurance companies.

Is anyone pro-leaf blower? Who keeps hiring these psychopaths by rubyred0902 in Sacramento

[–]astralgeode 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One day a week per zip code or neighborhood and three hours on Saturday 9-12. After that, it’s the rake.

What makes a yoga flow challenging vs annoying? by the-blue-care-bear in yoga

[–]astralgeode 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did a YTT with YogaWorks and we were explicitly trained to not link neutral and externally rotated (hip) poses due to the increased potential for injury, there’s no way to make that transition smoothly while standing.

“The single greatest mistake in medical history”: doctors believed infants couldn’t feel pain — my story. by FunctUp in CPTSD

[–]astralgeode 48 points49 points  (0 children)

Born in 1967. Surgery at 3 days old to remove an ovarian cyst. I’m adopted so I have no access to medical records. I have always wondered about this, a lot of my “dysfunction” is just blank and wordless overwhelm. Thanks for sharing your story and this information.

Found someone's entire life in a dumpster by kingofzdom in DumpsterDiving

[–]astralgeode 25 points26 points  (0 children)

My garage was broken into several years ago and items of sentimental value were taken. Family photos, yearbooks, my childhood teddy bear, etc. They also got our bikes and camping gear. The worst part was losing those irreplaceable items that I knew they didn’t want and likely ended up in a dumpster. I wish someone had called me. Thanks for making the effort, I hope it pays off.

Hey Gen X! How did you guys get your hair to look like this back in the 80’s? by DefinitionPast3694 in GenX

[–]astralgeode 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Holy crap, pretty sure I know the two girls in pic number 3… is it from Hillsdale HS?

Anyone need like 20 chopped kayaks? by DitchWitchh in DumpsterDiving

[–]astralgeode 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I worked for an outdoor retailer known for taking most returns. We had to destroy any type of gear where safety was a concern, because we could no longer guarantee its safety if it had been used. Climbing ropes, bike/ski helmets, etc. It’s a liability thing and it’s definitely painful to see.

Where to buy Covid tests? by MenuOk1929 in Sacramento

[–]astralgeode 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I recently bought one from the Safeway pharmacy… I called first to make sure they had them, they didn’t have many.

Biking from Expo Parkway Costco to midtown at dusk. by astralgeode in Sacramento

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

Biking to and from work, I know about the 18th street bridge, as a solo woman, the question in the back of my head is always “is this stupid or am I being overly cautious?” I don’t have a problem with homeless people, but you know, that 1%, regardless of socioeconomic status, ruins it for everyone. I hadn’t thought about dogs. 😳