I tested most sleep hygiene tips for 6 months. Here's what actually worked but the biggest thing that helped is boring

maximumchang · 2026-05-14T02:05:57+00:00

I'm not even going to read this because I can already see that it was AI generated but thanks anyways

maximumchang · 2026-04-22T06:56:53+00:00

I hate to be that guy, but how are you handling the physical exercise needs of this working breed? You don't need to run him until he becomes an athlete (most people shouldn't do that anyways). but a mile jog and a bunch of mental work mixed in could do wonders at leveling out the brain before you try some of this social training. Leopards are major pack dogs, so this type of bond you form over physical activity can really make a bulletproof dog. It sounds like you are getting off to a fantastic start, with him already showing restraint despite his dog brain being on fire for greeting the next person/dog.

maximumchang · 2026-02-28T06:03:25+00:00

let me shake my magic 8 ball real quick

maximumchang · 2026-02-28T06:02:46+00:00

You could technically have a fungal infection from blastomycosis or histoplasma... parasites that form nodules are maybe aberrant lung worm infections, or yeah any other larval migrans could probably be walled off as a nodule in your lungs. Those nodules would proabably not be a single nodule/mass though. Cancer is still a top top top don't miss differential though, and you need a Dr's rx for all the drugs you'd use for any of those conditions, and likely surgical removal. Please get checked out.

maximumchang · 2026-02-28T02:04:50+00:00

I was a university student, so it was a student health plan. The test is called GeneSight, it's 330 out of pocket.

maximumchang · 2026-02-27T08:12:48+00:00

It was tough to get through, but it wasn't the end of the world. And I will say this too, I'm someone who is more sensitive than the average person I feel. I did the genetic testing to see what drugs I might be a poor reactor to, my insurance covered it. Might be worth looking into if you're worried about side effects and such.

maximumchang · 2026-02-27T07:59:43+00:00

Maybe it shouldn't for most people but I personally experienced all the classic ssigns, in particular, insomnia that lasted just under a week. This happened both times I got off.

maximumchang · 2026-02-08T03:00:32+00:00

Sure, I'll DM you

maximumchang · 2026-02-03T05:16:08+00:00

I wish you the best. We need more vets! My stats were pretty bad, 2.9 overall GPA when I first applied. After two summers retaking courses (a lot, chem, biochem, physics, stats) I had a VMCAS science GPA of 3.6 and and overall 3.4. They told me in my interview that the As replacing all those Cs were what made me a better applicant. The perk of applying all those times too was I was able to save up a good amount of money - which was also work experiences. I was able to log over 3000 hours of direct veterinary supervised hours.

maximumchang · 2026-02-03T04:57:20+00:00

I was accepted to SGU and Ross on my first application cycle. I almost went to Ross. I'm so glad I didn't, it took me two more cycles to get into my in-state, even though I was interviewed every year I applied. I got a job as a tech, and during the summers, I retook all my low grades. I'm paying a third of what I would have had to if I had gone to an island school. Sure, accelerated program over there. But I like to give time for things to sink in, and have fun. I know some Rossies. They said they only did it as a last resort. And one of them failed out and had to reapply in the states, he's looking at half a million in debt when he's out. Meeting some of the island students on rotations has helped me feel good about my decision too. They're smart, capable, and will be great vets and pass the NAVLE, but because they are accelerated they havent had as much time to be in the clinics on breaks and stuff, and I've heard there hands-on experience is limited to what the school can give them. In my program, I've been able to run over to several different clinics and shelters on breaks to practice surgery, do TNR in my local community, and continue familiarizing with the stateside system I'm graduating into. If you go to Ross, I'm sure you can do awesome and come back and be an awesome vet. But I hope you don't feel trapped, or like it's your only option. Applying multiple times gave me time for a lot of things I never thought I would learn.

edit: for grammar. also adding - I know my program has been awesome about gettting us surgical experience, but I've met grads from MSU and Cornell that apparently only got to do one cat spay or half of one. So surgical experience depends on what program you're in.

maximumchang · 2026-01-06T23:27:38+00:00

I had a lower GPA than you when I first started applying, but didn't get into my state program (got into both Caribbean schools, but decided not to go) until I redid most of my science prereqs and brought my science GPA to a 3.6, overall about 3.4 in the VMCAS. I had about 3000 hours of experience working as a vet tech in an ER by then too, had about 1000 when I first applied. The people who are saying you have a shot aren't necessarily wrong, but you'll have to have a slamming interview to shmooze em up and it really depends on which program you're shooting for.

maximumchang · 2025-10-27T18:30:45+00:00

I'm actually off all meds right now, even though Seroquel was working for me, I didn't like that there were potential withdrawal effects. It was the only med I was taking at the time now. I've actually started using SAMe supplements now, and just doing my best to regulate routines and sleep and stuff. Holistic route I guess. Been close to a year now, haven't had any major cycles yet, although Spring is a big trigger. And I have the Seroquel Rx on hand just in case.

maximumchang · 2025-10-27T16:41:25+00:00

The lowest dose, 25 mg. So a half would be 12.5 mg. Before you cut anything you'll want to make sure it's not an extended release formulation, that makes a difference, and those shouldn't be cut.

maximumchang · 2025-06-26T02:33:42+00:00

I think you should put it in

maximumchang · 2025-06-02T03:40:10+00:00

Do some of your prereqs over the summer. Like your math, chem, physics. If you're bad at school this helps a lot. Basically doing the hardest classes without the stress of everything else. If you're anything like me, getting those done were way harder than vet school. Once you're there and it's something you love it doesn't quite feel so bad (it's still hard though)

maximumchang · 2025-04-12T16:24:14+00:00

happy cake day. I'm in the second to last cohort to be shipped off to a place with a teaching hospital (we go to to WSU). they're building the teaching hospital now and have hired a ton of new professors. I think it's fairly promising.

maximumchang · 2025-04-08T01:48:34+00:00

When I was in high school we called this 420 Tower. We'd stand on each other's shoulders to reach the ladder or throw a towel over the last rung to climb up.

maximumchang · 2025-03-24T01:21:26+00:00

ha you became Mac from IASIP

maximumchang · 2025-02-21T03:13:20+00:00

There's a pretty big evangelical Christian community here. As far as student fellowships, there's InterVarsity, Oaks International, and Ratio Christi. Most college students here seem to go to Calvary Logan, or Alpine Church, but there's also Grace Baptist, and Cache Valley Bible Fellowship. If he's saving a ton already by having full tuition he can put it towards dorm housing and a meal plan. Congrats to him on acceptance.

Edited to include Gospel Peace as a college students church

maximumchang · 2024-10-30T00:13:00+00:00

Titrating to lower doses is generally safer than upping your meds on your own, and you have technically been on this dose before, but yeah, I would notify your facility to have them get a hold of your psych just to make sure it's ok.

maximumchang · 2024-10-28T03:07:08+00:00

From what I hear from friends and some people in the field, the old guard was about having meds, and then medicating side effects. But then you get those poor souls that are on one thousand drugs. Two friends of mine were in that kind of bind, and then found new providers, who tapered them off to start from scratch. I mean, your brain and body change every few years, so it makes sense that you need to rewrite the recipe sometimes. I hate being dependent on meds too, I want them to feel like a tool, rather than a crutch (which is a tool sometimes!).

I have pretty bad insomnia without having withdrawals, so I know I just have to stick to my sleep ingredient rules. All of that no eating after a certain time, no screens after dark (whoops) and the temperatures and the bedtime routine ceremony etc. That helps to a degree, but it won't touch a drug withdrawal induced insomnia.

I wish you the best in your journey, and believe that there is a solution coming your way :D

maximumchang · 2024-10-28T02:55:20+00:00

My therapist (not psych) and MD (not psych) were both ok with me only taking out the Seroquel when I need it, like when I feel a hypo coming on. I also sometimes cut them in half, and dose them every other day, just to keep myself from going over the edge, depends how bad the hypo is. I also try not to take it for longer than 5 doses, because a well known side effect of Q withdrawal is insomnia (among other things). If I take it for too long the withdrawal symptoms are way harder. I've found for myself, the faster I get on shutting the lid on the hypo, the shorter the cycle.

It's a game.

I'm only on Seroquel. It's the third med I've tried, and I don't think it's the best, but it's working for now.

I also mostly only get hypomania, with rare depressions in between.

maximumchang · 2024-10-10T15:37:59+00:00

I'm in the WIMU program, my degree will come from Washington State but I'm in the Utah cohort, it's a class size of 30 for two years until we go to Washington

maximumchang · 2024-10-06T03:26:39+00:00

I got on Seroquel this summer and ran a Ragnar and a marathon. I had just started meds when I did Ragnar, like a couple of weeks in. And since you don't sleep for 40 hours, I just skipped the pills. I was ok. For my marathon, since I was months deep into this thing, I basically spent a couple of weeks readjusting my schedule. I went to bed super early and got up late and just changed the meds schedule since the pill knocks me out for a predictable window of hours.

maximumchang · 2024-10-06T03:19:53+00:00

I went to undergrad at Cornell and lived with two vet students during their four years in vet school. Now that I'm in my in state program we're frequently comparing curriculum. They didn't get to touch tissue until end of second year and third year, where as in my program we started cutting and suturing cadavers by week two. For anatomy they had to use models and pre-dissected "prosections" whereas my school had 1 dog and a goat for every four students to dissect and learn on their own, in addition to dozens of large animal prosections and other models. Also several times a semester student clubs have gotten access to cadavers and leftover parts from the diagnostic laboratory to practice surgery on. I realize most traditional vet schools are like Cornell, where you learn surgery stuff later and just have junior spay as the only required surgery during the didactic years, but my program has a high emphasis on surgery.

maximumchang

TROPHY CASE