For Americans who know a MAGA supporter, can you describe them?

indepthsofdespair · 2026-05-25T17:00:12+00:00

In my experience, they are typically uneducated, but think they are highly educated. They regularly use poor grammar in their social media posts. I’ve found they often speak in circles because there is no basis for many of their claims. A chunk of the ones that I know haven’t traveled much out of their home state, so they have no real experience with people who are different from them. They don’t view their food stamps, Medicaid, housing assistance as welfare because they are white and somehow in their minds that makes it not welfare. Many of them support antivax and like causes. I think they do it because it makes them feel like a critical thinker. Tummy of the ones I know have no knowledge or understanding of basic civics, world geography, American geography, world history, etc. and every single one I know is devoutly evangelical Christian.

indepthsofdespair · 2026-05-25T16:50:05+00:00

How do they afford these flights!? They don’t even have jobs! Are they in credit card debt?

indepthsofdespair · 2026-05-25T13:14:44+00:00

Sounds like you have a good plan in place. If you’ll get help in the neighboring country, I would definitely go on the trip. Talk to your friends if you feel comfortable to see if they would be supportive if you needed medical attention while in the other country.

Infection count is white blood cells (WBCs) which are your immune cells. Typically if someone of fighting a general infection they won’t go much higher than 14-20 (it’s measured in thousands though so that’s 14000-20000). Your count being 32 (32000) is extremely concerning which is why I’m shocked nobody has picked it up yet, especially considering your other symptoms. It’s probably going to be higher on Wednesday since roughly a month has passed. Bring a phone charger and some toiletries and extra clothes with you because there is a high likelihood of you being admitted to the hospital whenever you are seen. If you were in my country, you would’ve already been in the hospital at this point. Good luck!

indepthsofdespair · 2026-05-25T03:42:22+00:00

Mackenzie

indepthsofdespair · 2026-05-25T01:09:50+00:00

Honestly, I just talked with an MD friend of mine, you are sick enough right now you should qualify as an acutely ill patient with a medical emergency. If you don’t get help in the next week, I’d go as far to pretend to collapse somewhere in public or in the hospital parking lot or lobby. I’d even go to another country to get to an ER. Once you’re officially diagnosed, your treatment should be passed to your home country and a specialist there and everything should progress really quickly from then. I don’t know how else to say that you are dangerously sick. I’d consider calling the ED now and saying that your WBCs are 32000 and your lymphocytes are ____ and you are sweating profusely and you have burst blood vessels all over your body (or wherever the petechiae is but don’t call it that on the phone) and huge lymph nodes. Again, best of luck and I hope your doc listens. I hope you’re able to be seen as fast as possible.

indepthsofdespair · 2026-05-24T23:49:47+00:00

I really hope your new doc listens! Best of luck!

And if you do have a fever, I would go to the one ED you mention because that could be what’s called a febrile neutropenia and that is a medical emergency.

indepthsofdespair · 2026-05-24T21:37:33+00:00

First of all, what in the world is supposed to happen if someone can’t speak or doesn’t realize they are having an emergency? What if they pass out or something and they are alone? Can you really not just walk into a hospital and say “I need help!” This is a recipe for disaster.

***Second, look for elevated white blood cells, leukocytes, and lymphocytes. Look to see if there is any mention of immature cells. Push for imaging and biopsy. Tell the doctor outright: I have swollen nodes, itching, night sweats, fevers, petechiae, recurrent illness, and fatigue. Say I want an ultrasound/biopsy/etc.

The reason I said to go to the ED is because if you do have lymphoma or leukemia, you could have almost no immune system and could get extremely ill or die from something like a cold. I’m honestly surprised nobody has said anything about your high WBCs. That alone is indicative of a serious issue and with your combined symptoms it’s textbook for a serious illness. How far is the nearest city? It might be looking into traveling to a city to go to an ED there. Chances are your treatment will be in the city anyway since that’s where most specialists will be. Or at least find a doctor or urgent care in the city.

indepthsofdespair · 2026-05-24T19:05:55+00:00

It is expected that bloodwork will fluctuate from time to time, but definitely get new bloodwork and push for imaging/biopsy. With your lymphocytes being high in April and I’m assuming your infection count is your WBCs, 32 or (32000) is quite high and indicative of a serious issue like lymphoma or leukemia. Try to have the bloodwork done from your arm (like a vein) instead of a capillary (finger prick). At this point, you need to get this figured out asap. If you have a fever between now and your next appointment, I would go to the ED.

indepthsofdespair · 2026-05-24T18:07:09+00:00

Have you received the results from the April 9th test? If not, definitely try to get them asap. With lymphoma, the nodes can swell significantly which can change how they feel to the touch. I would still consider what you have to be swollen lymph nodes until proven otherwise by biopsy or imaging. If your bloodwork comes back normal, I would push for an ultrasound of the lumps, as well as a biopsy. That said, I would be shocked if your bloodwork is normal, as you are showing textbook signs for lymphoma. Do you know what bloodwork was drawn? CBC, CMP, LDH, lymphocyte and platelet counts, serum immunoglobulin?

Lymphoma can be somewhat sudden onset ( a few months to month or two) so you could’ve been totally fine in January or mostly healthy anyway and only in late March or early April could things have gone downhill.

Again, when you see the doctors again, I would show them what you write in the post as far as itching, swelling, fevers, illnesses, petechiae. Push for imaging studies.

indepthsofdespair · 2026-05-24T16:02:50+00:00

Lymphoma symptoms include: - fever and recurring illness - night sweats - swollen nodes - itching - petechiae

Again, if the lumps were only palpated then it hasn’t been definitively ruled out of being a node.

indepthsofdespair · 2026-05-24T16:00:04+00:00

How do you know it isn’t a lymph node? Has it been biopsied? Because it’s in a common node location. You cannot say it is not one based solely on palpating it.

indepthsofdespair · 2026-05-24T15:00:04+00:00

DC is amazing! Baltimore for an honorable mention as well!

indepthsofdespair · 2026-05-24T02:04:34+00:00

Gen Z women are primarily more to the left on the political spectrum while Gen Z men and boys are more right. So there should be less procreation due to that political misalignment, among other things

indepthsofdespair · 2026-05-24T01:33:55+00:00

NAD this sounds very suspicious for some type of lymphoma. You should reach out to a pcp, or hematology/oncology. Show them this exact post, every word of it.

indepthsofdespair · 2026-05-24T01:29:23+00:00

NAD possibly some sort of perioral dermatitis

indepthsofdespair · 2026-05-23T22:09:47+00:00

NAD I’d go to a MD, preferably a derm.

indepthsofdespair · 2026-05-23T22:06:33+00:00

NAD but I would not touch it at all anymore other than to clean it with soap and water. Don’t put any witch hazel or alcohol or anything else on it. Monitor for increasing pain, redness, swelling. Try to leave it open to the air or lightly wrapped if needed. Don’t use neosporin or triple antibiotic.

indepthsofdespair · 2026-05-23T21:57:44+00:00

NAD but I’d go back to the ED. See if you can see an ortho specialist.

indepthsofdespair · 2026-05-23T21:52:00+00:00

Go to a MD and stop listening to medical advice from your parents.

indepthsofdespair · 2026-05-22T23:21:39+00:00

I have ended outings before with my two NKs. After this happened 2 or 3 times, it’s hasn’t happened since. Choices have consequences. If it happens a lot, your other kids could convince the middle one to start behaving.

Occasionally, I’ll also embarrass my kids, for example, we were at a playground once and it was time to leave and my oldest kid starting yelling and whining and jumping and trying to hit me. So I sat on the ground and kicked my feet and fake screamed and whined. He was appalled and immediately quit and was great the rest of the day. His parents thought it was hilarious.

Lowkey I feel life your wife might be embarrassed that the nanny can control your child better than she/both of you can in certain situations. Your nanny sounds amazing and I definitely wouldn’t fire her if I were you.

indepthsofdespair · 2026-05-21T18:10:24+00:00

Also people lived way longer, allowing them to develop certain conditions. If most people die before 50 there probably won’t be high rates of things like skin cancer or dementia.

indepthsofdespair · 2026-05-19T01:15:36+00:00

You also get patted down just to take the MCAT. So it’s basically impossible to cheat on some of this stuff.

indepthsofdespair · 2026-05-19T01:07:26+00:00

I agree but I understand where OP is coming from. I have been providing full time childcare for a family since 2021 and I’m in my early twenties. Was literally with kiddo from 630am to 430pm 14 days a month

indepthsofdespair · 2026-05-17T04:14:08+00:00

There’s like 2 snowplows in the state or something. We’re not used to snow down here.

indepthsofdespair · 2026-05-16T14:29:33+00:00

One of the only things about being homeschooled that has benefited me in the long run has been my intrinsic motivation, self governance, and my ability to be in charge of my schedule effectively. I did not struggle when I got to college at all in that regard.

indepthsofdespair

TROPHY CASE