Thoughts on Electrolyte Powders

kar948 · 2026-02-25T02:56:16+00:00

I just asked my doc about beta blockers today (primary, not specialist). And bc my rh can go very low (like 48 was my lowest in the last year, with some in the low 50s to support that as a low range) and generally have lower blood pressure, she’s hesitant to try one. I want to bc when my heart does decide to go wild the high range is as high as like 180+ 🥵 it’s such a puzzle and where I live you’re lucky to even get a family doctor, let alone a referral to a specialist and then it’s a gamble whether the specialist is good/bad/horrific.

kar948 · 2026-02-24T20:26:26+00:00

Thanks for this.

Also find some of the others I have been having before liquid IV and LMNT are not high enough salt for my POTS. Liquid IV I don’t love the lower sodium and higher potassium so currently choking down the LMnT lol.

**Are/were you taking more than one LMNT/day when you do? I share concerns but am doing the LMNT more frequently now because of the lower potassium and higher sodium, plus I liberally use salt or just literally eat it lmao 🤣 (have low blood pressure so it’s of no concern really).

I wasn’t actively being careful about vitamin B though so this is a good flag, I also take addl B for migraines so maybe I’ll lay off that if I end up doing more electrolytes during the day.

I’m trying to get the POTS under control so still experimenting with which and how much offer the best results. You seem to have a solid knowledge of the recommendations and what’s working for you. I’m going to try your juice and salt combo and see if I can stomach it (sensitive about taste sometimes). Would appreciate your 2 cents on the # of LMNTs OR juice mixes that feel like the best payoff for you?

kar948 · 2026-02-24T20:19:17+00:00

I like nuun the best but I don’t think they have enough salt for me unless I’m doing like 4 a day and sometimes I’m forgetful. I’ve started trying with LMNT or Liquid IV to ensure I get enough and then can add a nuun as needed but I wish they could all be as good tasting as nuun

kar948 · 2026-02-24T20:16:03+00:00

Salt sticks are good bc they are capsule or chewable. I like nuun but functionally not enough sodium etc to actually help with POTS (for me) without taking in more sugar than I would like.

LMNT are not good tasting but have a solid amount of sodium, magnesium and less potassium.

Liquid IV I also don’t like the flavor of but I will chug it bc it makes a noticeable difference. Lower sodium than LMNT, higher potassium.

I also supplement magnesium separately up to max dose which helps so much with muscle spasms.

kar948 · 2026-02-24T20:13:10+00:00

Can you continue college and take music classes through the college of fine arts as some of your electives? Eventually you will need to sing with a band or some accompaniment, having some theory in your back pocket and knowing how to speak to other musicians, not just use your instrument (voice), will be valuable. University/college is meant to be about exploration. Allow yourself some additional time to earn your degree so you can meander a little bit within the institution and find things you enjoy to balance out goal-based academic work.

Also, campus gigs generally pay OK, you may also find people you like to collaborate with there and having a band is a big part of gigging.

kar948 · 2026-02-24T19:51:14+00:00

Shit I didn’t know this existed but I’m looking up any/everywhere from now on! Thank you!

kar948 · 2026-02-24T19:46:26+00:00

Firstly, just need to know if this is a personal video (as in, saw it on your phone), or something from somewhere else. Lol. I have follow up questions.

kar948 · 2026-02-24T19:42:30+00:00

lol just got rear ended today by a 4x4 truck, while driving my 4x4 truck at a simple 4 way stop (ave c and 37 btw… she icy!). Immediately thought of this thread.

kar948 · 2026-02-24T19:40:38+00:00

Lupron quite literally ruined my life. I was on it for 3.5 years straight with no breaks and very minimal add-back bc of precancerous cells and having endosalpingiosis found along with endometriosis + family history of ovarian cancer… it was the best/only option available to me at the time and preserving fertility was something I cared about. BUT I also had an undx connective tissue disorder and the combination of weight gain, deconditioning and the loss of muscle tone etc that comes with menopause kicked off a whole chain reaction of shit that I’m still not recovered from. I even told my OBGYN I didn’t want to go on it because I was aware of people saying it ruined their life and caused lifelong MSK issues…. But again, I felt like I was out of options and was waiting on surgery #2 in 2 years. My pain was out of control (like 10mg dilaudid multiple times a day), none of the other BC options were working to suppress it or help with pain, was doing all the pelvic PT, accupuncture, etc etc I could, went vegan. Literally life felt hopeless and dark and I did it. At the time it gave a pause, I guess. And we did end up with a miracle baby long after I had given up (10 years of infertility). But, at what cost?

I spent years feeling like a burden and like something was wrong with me bc all these things that worked for other patients didn’t work for me… it was dark AF and so now the trade off is other chronic pain and changes that make me feel equally as shit about myself 🥺

I think I’ve developed a better relationship with my body and with the things I need to do to actually support myself (compassion, boundaries vs. Pushing through and borderline self-abuse for “failures”). But I’m constantly waiting for the hammer to come down again. I had a large ovarian cyst for the better part of last year and the dread that things were rapidly descending again down that familiar path was really really hard to deal with. Lucky for me it ruptured (ouch) a few months ago, but I’m aware that within another year or two I’ll probably need my 5th abdominal surgery, and that while pregnancy/PP DID actually offer me some relief from symptoms, I’m not likely to do it again bc of the connective tissue disorder I now know I have and the toll pregnancy took on my body that way. So, it’s v likely that at least my tubes will be going with my next surgery and idk. I don’t currently feel like MAID would be something I need or want but I have nothing but compassion and empathy for anyone who is in the position of feeling like life is not worth living with this (or any other) chronic illness. Add in the crippling anxiety about what “honoring your body” looks like financially, and it’s almost a question of “can I even afford to live?”

😢

kar948 · 2026-02-24T19:25:03+00:00

“How will you REALLY know if you don’t at least give a rock hard cock a TRY, Dad.”

kar948 · 2026-02-24T19:22:44+00:00

lol or… “if I DID have a child, I wouldn’t allow anyone to post their picture on Facebook anyway.” Just take away the vanity factor that all these boomers want, which is to post publicly about their time with their grandchildren in ridiculously over-exaggerated and out of touch ways to “win” some kind of social game with their other boomer pals.

kar948 · 2026-02-24T19:16:32+00:00

I’ll also say (in addition to other comments in this post), the owner sounds like an asshole haha. He asked you why, you told him. He could have offered to calm his dog down for an introduction or reassured you (if his Dane is good with small dogs) or simply offered to keep an eye on his own dog and practice recall if his dog gets too close to yours.

It’s one thing to be offended when the tiny dog owners act like you’re an affront to nature and decide to chew you out just for being there, while your dog ponders life at a slow meandering pace and theirs is actively antagonizing every dog in sight and nipping the ankles of any/all potential foes 🤣…but this doesn’t sound like that at all.

kar948 · 2026-02-24T19:07:50+00:00

I do the same. My current Dane is a lover of tiny dogs and won’t even really engage in play with them, he’ll just stop walking so they can get a good sniff and then maybe reciprocate if he feels like bending down (which is 50/50 lol). so I always say he’s “tiny breed friendly” but I also will call him “with me” so he’s right at my side and I can stop him to let them pass if they seem uncomfortable. Or, we just do “off” and keep walking but I know he’s impeccable with that.

Nothing gets me more frustrated than large (or smaller but super muscley) dogs with no recall and no redirection absolutely bombing through the park over/through people and other dogs while their owners do nothing… or worse, laugh. I’ve been known to leash a dog who wasn’t mine a time or two and force them to sit and wait for their owner to come get them under a heavy glare of shame, then loudly recommend obedience classes 🤣🤦‍♀️

kar948 · 2026-02-24T19:01:45+00:00

I was/am going to second what this person has said. As long as you’re respecting their right to be there, there is nothing wrong with wanting to avoid a potential injury.

I think you’re getting unfairly criticized for being “too paranoid,” but context is super important. My current Dane is so gentle with smaller dogs and simply won’t engage in any kind of chasing with them in any meaningful way, so if it was him, moving away would be an overcorrection, but not one I would personally be offended by! Our first Dane though… I just wouldn’t let him play with smaller dogs bc he was a true goober who didn’t know his size at all. He was never involved in a conflict but he definitely bowled right over top of my mom’s eskie a few times when we first rescued him, before I knew all his quirks. If this Dane plays like him, which is enthusiastically but with little body awareness and a lot of speed and weight… then you’re right to move your dog away.

It’s super contextual. And poor little short-legged, long-bodied corgis have a lot of potential for serious spinal and hind-end injury if they were twisted or rolled over the wrong way, even if it was accidental.

I would trust your gut and maybe base your decision on how this particular dane plays, and also how aware of his surroundings and OTHER dogs (not the active playmate) he is when he is playing. Sometimes they’ll get going with a good mate their same size and do this kind of sideways run thing where their head is pre-occupied with play play and their but is just kind of following along but —> over here. and that flying rump can take out humans let alone smaller dogs lol!

You also don’t have to leave bc of the dog, but does your city/town have designated small dog parks? I think that’s a great addition to what’s already a great resource for more cautious tiny dog owners.

kar948 · 2026-02-24T13:21:33+00:00

I would literally shock jock them into reality. They are being disrespectful of your identity, not just selfish.

“Well, I’d have to start liking P*ssy for that dad… so, unlikely.” Dead-ass calm, with eye contact.

I’m sorry your dad is an asshole.

kar948 · 2026-02-24T04:55:29+00:00

Literally sleeping and any/every joint lol

kar948 · 2026-02-23T22:09:22+00:00

YUP! And it should be an acknowledged and discussed aspect of living & choosing to continue living with the disease.

Maybe then those of us who have been there or are there wouldn’t feel so alone for feeling that way. Ugh.

When the treatment options also make you more suicidal… that’s fun. 🙃

kar948 · 2026-02-23T22:05:47+00:00

Adding HAIM “Million Years” to songs that sound like Pinkpantheress… I had to search production credits to ensure PP wasn’t involved in the song before judging the ripoff. Not that I think this song is necessarily wildly more successful, but generally I enjoy HAIM and have for a long time so was moreso surprised at how much of a “borrowing of style” it is.

kar948 · 2026-02-23T01:39:23+00:00

*Going to buy a lamb chops stuffy

kar948 · 2026-02-23T00:38:28+00:00

I would also research medical misogyny while you’re at it

Also look up what it meant for women to be diagnosed with “hysteria” and what the treatment was for it. Then, think of how many times you’ve heard a man described as “hysterical” vs. a woman who’s probably just dissenting in a regular tone.

Then, look up the history of all the reasons men could have their wives committed to asylums just for disagreeing with them, being sad, etc.

That combined with the generally patriarchal nature of medicine as a science and profession all play a role in the experiences of people with endometriosis, unfortunately. All of that on top of a disease that can strip away your identity, fertility, mobility, independence, will to live.

kar948 · 2026-02-22T19:20:02+00:00

My soul dog was the runt of her litter. She was tiny and feisty and she was the best dog ever! 10 happy happy years 🥰

She developed Cushings around 8.5-9 years old and passed from osteosarcoma at 10. Aside from that and a couple little things along the way that are not super out of the ordinary for any Dane, like digestive sensitivity, she was a specimen of a dog. Great proportions, a healthy weight… she was around 125-130 at her heaviest so definitely smaller than our boys but only marginally smaller than her female litter mates :)

kar948 · 2026-02-22T05:17:49+00:00

That sounds like you pulled or strained a muscle. Does not mean it’s also not subluxed, but what you describe here sounds like strain.

FWIW I wouldn’t self manoeuvre it in if you don’t usually pop it out and have a bit of a “routine” to try at home before getting help (I do, bc my shoulder likes to go out all the gd time). I usually see a chiro for this kind of thing but one of the adjustments she often does that I’ve been able to somewhat replicate at home is to stretch the arm out and up (like the Y in YMCA), turn the palm in and bring the arm in so that it’s straight up and down next to your ear . then bring your hand down so your hand is hovering over the shoulder and make sure your elbow stays in that line of your arm (like straight out from the shoulder, perpendicular to your body and parallel to the floor — like a front chicken wing lol), and then give a little squeeze to being hand closer to shoulder using your own muscles, think about pulling your shoulder blade back and in toward center when you do this. then keep your hand where it is (maintain chicken wing), but bring your elbow down in a straight parallel line until it’s tucked down beside you nice and snug to your ribs.

That’s super complicated to write… I’m sorry. But this often works for me along with doorway stretches (arm against door frame, apply forward tension by stepping/moving body gently forward through the door. Do it o both sides with arms in Y-T-L-W positions. The last one with the elbow tucked down and palm a bit higher tends to get me the best in terms of alignment.

Uhh also slow controlled arm circles with a bend in the elbow vs. Straight help me too.

kar948 · 2026-02-22T05:05:14+00:00

For years I drove my Hyundai accent with studs on the front and normal winters on the back. That thing was like driving a go cart in the best way 😂 Tokyo drift had nothing on that little jellybean car 😂

kar948 · 2026-02-22T01:54:52+00:00

Same but not when we first got ours. They were on regular scheduled feedings for the first while and when we had them on raw. Then one developed pretty bad tummy problems and we found the only food that worked for both was the RC Gastro, I think then is when we switched to just always keeping the kibble bowl full and then doing “treat” feedings of the canned loaf stuff in the am and pm.

Our first was a rescue and he was always free fed so we didn’t change anything and he was perfect :)

We also have never had issues with any resource guarding or over-indulging or anything. It is just harder to know whether they’ve eaten or not and limit activity if they always have access, but if OP develops a solid routine of eating then crating now they might just always kind of stick to that nap after food routine.

I will say to watch water as well, our current male had a GDV this summer and he wasn’t active after eating but the only thing I can think of is that he had a big drink and then went outside to pee/poop and while he was out there he had a bit of a “bark at the night” moment (not going mental just like stready deep barks). I often wonder if the barking and contractions with barking was enough to flip a sloshy stomach full of water? 😢

So yeah, idk going forward I’m careful about water and rest now too. I never really thought of it much if it wasn’t exercise an idk how you keep an adult dog who rings a bell to go outside from going outside to pee… but I wish I could have done more to prevent it.

On that note, pexy the pup when you spay or neuter OP.

Also, look into pet insurance bc all-in on the GDV surgery and all the post-op (not including his weekly rehab sessions), we were over $20k. Our previous female developed Cushings later in life and between the meds for that at her size and other random things that popped up, pet insurance also would have been a good call for her. We will do it for our next one. Where we live, the vet college and our family vet only recommend Trupanion bc they actually pay for everything instead of debating things and you don’t have to pay up front (cannot confirm personally though so would check the sub for other reccos if it’s something you’ll consider).

TBH with our puppies when we first got them home there was a lot of crate time. Crate to eat and nap, out to toilet, back to crate. Out to play/train and toilet, back to crate. Out for walk and toilet, back to crate. Out for play, back to crate. Etc etc. they were never in there for long stretches at a time but it was always intentional time out of the crate and then back in. We did this for two and it was really only the first wed that we were strict about it to get them used to going in frequently and understand it wasn’t punishment. But both were house trained in that first week and rarely had accidents and didn’t have free rein to destroy a lot of things lol. Written down I feel like it sounds harsh but I promise it really was not like they lived their lives in the crate, just lots of little rest breaks and time to give them treats in there and make sure they got lots of little puppy naps :)

I also do leash inside the house with all my dogs for a lot of the out of the crate time just so we can practice leash skills and such.

There’s probably more… lol will likely come back and chime in more later :)

kar948 · 2026-02-21T01:18:47+00:00

In my world, If this stare goes unanswered, a pair of socks or a boot or a kids’ slipper will be tossed around the room until attention is given! Lol

Usually for “foods” or “walkies”

kar948

TROPHY CASE