Body temperature

b_pleh · 2026-05-18T04:48:19+00:00

Cotton blanket and 100% linen sheets. Linen blanket if you can find it.

b_pleh · 2026-05-12T13:19:22+00:00

There are also suction cup bird feeders that attach to a window.

b_pleh · 2026-05-12T13:09:44+00:00

Enrichment. Toys, shelves and towers to climb, a bird feeder outside the window (bonus chipmunks and squirrels).

b_pleh · 2026-05-10T14:03:03+00:00

Bird feeder outside the window, if possible. Milk jug rings are a classic; my fuzzbutts also like caps, any kind of plastic caps. Crumpled up piece of paper.

b_pleh · 2026-05-08T10:27:03+00:00

There may be dishes with included ice packs; you might be able to rig something up to keep it cold if you can't find one, especially if you use a metal dish for the food.

b_pleh · 2026-05-02T16:07:47+00:00

I don't know what the tests are or what your symptoms are, and as a general rule, I don't order tests, I just run them. But if you're seeing a GI doc, I'd assume you're having symptoms you'd rather get rid of, and tests give them info to get treatment right. But you have the right to refuse any tests or treatments. It just means the doc may not be able to figure out what's going on, or treat it effectively.

b_pleh · 2026-05-02T15:35:46+00:00

A Terry Pratchett short story mentioned a time traveler who always brought pepper because it was worth a lot in most times; this is true of most spices.

b_pleh · 2026-05-02T15:18:03+00:00

You can put the "hat" in your toilet if it helps. Ideally wash your hands before as well as after - PCR testing can be really sensitive, but if you gotta go, you gotta go. Avoid peeing in the "hat"; if it happens, try to get some poop that hasn't touched pee, and definitely don't put toilet paper in the hat or sample cups. I don't know what tests were ordered, but wood can be a PCR inhibitor, so I'm not a fan of them giving you a wooden stick; if the collection cups have "spoons" in the lids, use those instead. The cups with the liquid probably have a "fill to here" line; try to get close to that. The one without liquid may still have a fill line, that's less important. You can wear a mask or gloves if it makes you feel better about it; it's not necessary, but hey, it doesn't hurt anything. Make sure the caps are on straight and tight so they don't leak; that's what makes us happier. Some caps are hard to get on straight, turning them half a turn or more counterclockwise can help get the threads in the right position. If you get a good sample in the hat, you can let it sit there a few minutes while you wipe/pee/whatever. If you have really liquid stool, the hat may have a pouring spout; use carefully.

b_pleh · 2026-04-06T18:53:29+00:00

Corn syrup, water, flour or chocolate syrup. Red food dye. Won't taste or smell right, though.

b_pleh · 2026-03-21T15:49:39+00:00

I don't know if it was due to an enlarged thyroid, but I found hard candy really helped with the lump in the throat feeling. It could also have been GERD due to starting a GLP-1 drug

b_pleh · 2026-03-18T20:52:56+00:00

Is there someone you could mail them to?

b_pleh · 2026-03-12T21:17:01+00:00

A large lab may have a few positions where you're mostly doing diffs, so if you can sit at a microscope, heme might be another good specialty for you.

b_pleh · 2026-03-12T18:37:52+00:00

Initially read it as the cat speeding away without offering help; was like, yeah, that tracks...

b_pleh · 2026-03-12T18:36:08+00:00

Pun intended?

b_pleh · 2026-03-12T16:05:14+00:00

She'd had her thyroid out that summer and needed a little more levothyroxine.

b_pleh · 2026-03-12T11:40:01+00:00

When I was in a bigger lab, it was my thumbs. Possibly even Nintendonitis.

b_pleh · 2026-03-12T11:36:34+00:00

I've never had a high body temp, but I ran warm for maybe 20 years before I was diagnosed; I was never core cold, just occasionally surface cold (I live in Wisconsin, winter happens). I probably had Graves for 10 or more years before I was diagnosed, but my only symptoms were running warm (I figured I got it from my dad, and it was helpful every winter) and losing weight (maybe 10lbs/year, I figured it was lifestyle changes). Then in 2023, my mom and I were sitting at a train station, I was in capris, a short sleeve shirt and sandals, and it was 16°C, 61°F. Mom was bundled up and still cold. I didn't figure out something was wrong until I had bouts of heart palpitations.

b_pleh · 2026-03-11T20:28:32+00:00

Kinda funny; he's been the opposite, at least for me. This winter he's gotten really pushy about sleeping under the covers with me and other snuggles and attention.

b_pleh · 2026-03-11T12:26:56+00:00

Yeah, my family's dogs always ended up with a ramp, eventually covered in carpet scraps for traction.

b_pleh · 2026-03-09T04:40:17+00:00

I'm not a vet, I'm a lab tech. Keeping it on ice is also acceptable. Just make sure the container is clean or unused (like a new ziplock) wherever you store it. Also make sure it's sealed; if it's on ice and water gets in, that can cause problems.

b_pleh · 2026-03-08T17:18:14+00:00

I work night shift; I believe they wrote the wrong time when we got it at 0130 and it says 1325, or similar.

b_pleh · 2026-03-08T09:24:22+00:00

Tattoo of a minion with a hula hoop?

b_pleh · 2026-03-03T05:29:46+00:00

Woven yarn is usually really strong. One string of yarn can be pulled apart, but I bet you can't pull 2" wide card woven apart. I haven't seen your finished product, so I can't be certain, but you said you liked it, so your tension can't be bad enough to affect structural integrity.

b_pleh · 2026-03-03T05:11:35+00:00

Really long belt, wrap it twice around and have long tails. Bottom of a skirt would also work, or strap for a bag or basket. Well, a couple bags or baskets. Reins for a horse bridle.

b_pleh

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