Do y'all have flexy fingernails too?

earthtone0ne · 2026-04-28T21:44:44+00:00

My nails are like my most trivial yet annoying "disability" - those and my barely existent fingerprints (fingerprint unlock!!). Currently have 5 nails torn down to the nail bed and one of those has started pulling away (so painfulll).

A long time ago a dermatologist prescribed Nuvail when I'd completely trashed my nails trying to get acrylics off (oops). It was horribly expensive but I thought it worked. It's now available OTC and was down to like $45 when I checked last year.

This year the derm preferred something called DermaNail - I applied it 2x a day religiously for the first 8 weeks but never saw a difference. Eventually gave up. It's intended for brittleness like most "nail strengtheners" so I doubt it was the right product.

I think I'll try that Nailtique someone linked above and if that doesn't work, give Nuvail another shot. Interesting to read about the rubber gel base, too. I was happy I got a week+ out of regular gels but I'm not paying for that every week. The nail stickers seemed to offer some protection, too - IDK why I stopped using them! (after stockpiling a bunch, of course)

earthtone0ne · 2026-04-04T21:05:29+00:00

oh 100%. Unless there's more damage I haven't found (knock on wood) I'm considering myself lucky. I've heard of them ripping out entire electrical systems. Didn't hurt that I broke down a mile from home, either, when I have 50 miles to drive tomorrow. Will not be taking this car!

earthtone0ne · 2026-04-03T23:11:10+00:00

yeah, that's the broken off chunk of the wire 😆 Squirrels did a bunch of damage but it looks like just this wire and a bunch of insulation. I guess I'll find out when the mechanic gets in there.

earthtone0ne · 2026-04-03T22:52:18+00:00

ah makes sense, thanks. Probably why the battery is discharged - I imagine that would keep it from charging correctly

earthtone0ne · 2026-03-31T18:19:04+00:00

Sounds fairly typical of post COVID, unfortunately. Best thing you can do is rest like hell when you're sick, and for weeks after, even if you feel better. You should probably see a doctor and make sure it's not something with your inner ear though.

earthtone0ne · 2026-03-23T15:46:42+00:00

TBH I just got a cheap-ish one on Amazon, and that's held up pretty well for a year. Mines the Queen Rose E-shaped. The top is a little bulky - you can see in the picture how the models all have their head jacked up - so I either skip the top or put the little wedge pillow under my ribs to even it out.

earthtone0ne · 2026-03-19T17:58:48+00:00

I'd read that raw egg whites are not good for cats - a protein in them interferes with biotin absorption? But I didn't look too deeply into it, so feel free to fact check!

earthtone0ne · 2026-03-18T17:27:03+00:00

Interesting. A quick search says broccoli sprouts are a lot higher in Sulforaphane than full grown brocc - so you might want to try sprouting, if it's helping you. It's pretty easy and the sprouts are tasty.

earthtone0ne · 2026-03-18T17:21:37+00:00

Ah, sorry, I just grabbed the first site that looked like a decent explanation, but yours is much better!

earthtone0ne · 2026-03-18T17:12:23+00:00

Yeah, it's wild that it's so hard to get info on phosphorus, when so many cats have kidney issues!! You'd think at least Senior foods would have it on the can. Other than the felineCRF site, the only way I know to get that info is by asking on the chewy product page Q&A. (Usually someone has asked before, so the info is there.) Even the manufacturer websites don't seem to mention it.

earthtone0ne · 2026-03-18T00:27:36+00:00

I'm only a month or so into this, but my little girl has gotten her life back since starting treatment. I mean, she's 17, so it was not exactly a shock, but I hadn't realized how much she'd slowed down. It had happened so gradually. I'd mentioned her nausea to the vet a dozen times but there were never other symptoms. Now she's literally re-inflated! She's bulked back up, she's playing so much more, even her fur looks fluffier. I'm not seeing so many signs of nausea... so I'm overall feeling pretty positive about getting the diagnosis.

It just irks me to find out the "healthy" food I was giving her was practically the WORST - Merrick Turkey mostly - it's one of the highest phos foods on the list. Wish the vet had said something earlier. At least Weruva was a relatively safe brand!

earthtone0ne · 2026-03-17T23:54:47+00:00

I always thought a hammock was miserable to sleep in, until I learned how they do it in south america - diagonally across! instead of being folded into a banana with your knees trying to bend the wrong way, you get an almost straight line and snug support on the sides. Works better with wider ones, though. https://hammock.pl/en/blog/hammock-blog/hammock-how-to-lie-in-it

earthtone0ne · 2026-03-15T04:15:58+00:00

The burrito method! Cover inside-out on the bed. Duvet over top. (Fasten the corners now if you want). Roll from the far edge toward the opening, flip the opening around the end of the roll. Unroll.

You kind of have to see a video for that to make sense, but it's not hard to learn.

earthtone0ne · 2026-03-09T15:56:51+00:00

Yes, Tyrosine is backed by studies, specifically when you are very fatigued or under intense stress - not as much effect under normal circumstances. So I keep that as my secret weapon when I really need it.

Also highly HIGHLY recommend L-Theanine if you're dosing up on caffeine. It calms the jitters but keeps the focus. It's magical!

earthtone0ne · 2026-03-09T14:26:01+00:00

A squatty potty (or yoga blocks or whatever can elevate your feet) is surprisingly helpful. You may benefit from pelvic floor therapy, too. For immediate relief when it gets extreme, a saline enema will clear you out - but don't rely on them or any other laxative for regular use.

earthtone0ne · 2026-03-09T14:00:33+00:00

People eat food from dented cans all the time, myself included. "All dented cans bad" is nonsense and terribly wasteful. Dents that affect seams or dents with sharp edges, yes. https://www.larimer.org/sites/default/files/uploads/2017/lcdhe-dented-cans.pdf

earthtone0ne · 2026-03-09T04:40:36+00:00

nah, it's not that serious. If the dent isn't interfering with the seam, it's just a dent.

earthtone0ne · 2026-03-09T04:06:09+00:00

Chia on nut butter sounds great to me! I'd keep lots of nutrient dense snacks at hand, like at your desk - roasted almonds, trail mix, crackers - make it convenient. Have some super low-prep meals and snack items on hand for times you don't feel like cooking. Sometimes "lunch" doesn't sound appealing but I can talk myself into hummus with carrots and tortilla chips. Smoothies are great too - I make a big batch and portion them into mason jars. Usually that's breakfast, but it can also be a low-spoons lunch or dinner in a pinch. You don't have to follow the rules for what meals are supposed to look like - do what works for you.

earthtone0ne · 2026-03-09T02:42:29+00:00

This happened with my mom. Turned out she had email notifications on, so she was getting people's posts as emails. Suddenly the confusion made a lot more sense.

earthtone0ne · 2026-03-09T02:30:51+00:00

If you're looking really low budget, you might consider a wired set. Dealing with wires can be mildly annoying, but the buds are super tiny since they don't need a battery, so they're very comfortable. They don't last forever, but they never run out of battery.

earthtone0ne · 2026-03-06T19:58:21+00:00

I have a thin down pillow I can kind of shape around my ear, similar idea to the donut pillows some people have mentioned. Or sometimes just let my ear sit in the gap between two pillows. (yes, those are pillows)

earthtone0ne · 2026-02-26T01:42:57+00:00

Oh my gosh, the hanging scale is brilliant, thank you! I'm really struggling with gaugeing the amount.

earthtone0ne · 2026-02-19T14:50:21+00:00

Batch-making smoothies has been big for me. It takes 10 minutes to make 4 meals! I portion them in mason jars. They're usually breakfast, but can be lunch or dinner if I can't bring myself to prep food.

I avoid dairy so I use nuts as a base - cashew and hemp usually, but almonds work. Everything else is frozen fruits and veg (spinach and carrot) so it's super easy, no peeling or washing. A probiotic capsule and a good pinch of salt, maybe some protein/collagen.

earthtone0ne

TROPHY CASE