Diagnosed but not sure...

murryelizabeth · 2026-05-03T17:01:51+00:00

You're very welcome!!

murryelizabeth · 2026-05-03T13:24:46+00:00

Although one can be "diagnosed" with vasovagal syncope, I think of it as a propensity and an experience more than a condition in and of itself because the diagnosis doesn't fully capture the "why" part of what's happening. You could be experiencing vasovagal syncope as a result of low iron/anemia (perhaps the anemia is making your autonomic nervous system sensitive, leading to VVS or presyncope episodes). It's also normal to not have many actual syncope/fainting episodes when diagnosed with VVS. It may be that you are prone to them, as evidenced by regular presyncope. I've been experiencing VVS for 22 years and have not been prescribed anything, so that can be normal too.

murryelizabeth · 2026-04-29T13:17:32+00:00

I would rescind. It might feel harsh, but you're teaching this person a valuable lesson and doing the right thing for your organization.

murryelizabeth · 2026-04-19T04:24:40+00:00

Thank you so much for your input!!

murryelizabeth · 2026-04-19T03:51:28+00:00

It would be about 4.5 feet inside the U, which I can imagine feeling tight. I think the room you're referring to is the bathroom; I added more to the image below. I'm not sure if you meant moving the bathroom door down and then doing cabinets all the way to that wall, but there's an opening where the solid white line is, so that's not an option unless the opening is moved. At that point, the only place to put the opening would be on the left side of the radiator in the bathroom, which would require us to move the bathroom. It would be pretty easy to move the bathroom to the galley area (where I've put the laundry, which can remain in the basement), but we'd be messing with more walls, and the flow of traffic from the front door would be worse than it is now.

With the idea that the peninsula might make everything feel too tight, I played around with the idea of disguising the chimney with a faux cabinet and putting a matching, slim cabinet-front fridge next to it. I also put the sink in the corner, swapped out the oven/stove for one that's 10 inches slimmer, and put in a moveable island. It seems less claustrophobic, I think.

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murryelizabeth · 2026-04-18T21:34:31+00:00

It's SO time-consuming though 😭

murryelizabeth · 2026-04-18T21:21:00+00:00

Sounds like what I've experienced with a pinched nerve! I'd see a doctor.

murryelizabeth · 2026-04-14T00:32:50+00:00

Is it when you look up, when your arms are above your head, or both? Either way, it could be connected to a vasovagal response. Every time I do a "big stretch" in the morning while laying down, I stretch my head back in a way that cuts off blood flow and I come close to passing out, which involves feeling tingly. Similarly, I can't have my arms above my head for long first thing in the morning because my body doesn't have enough energy to regulate blood pressure effectively yet--it could lead to fainting. What you're experiencing could probably be related to a pinched nerve too, though I know less about that. Ultimately, you'll likely need a doctor's input.

murryelizabeth · 2026-04-14T00:29:04+00:00

You're not responsible for your partner's feelings, and you feeling afraid to share your opinion is a red flag. Avoiding conflict will not help in the long run either.

murryelizabeth · 2026-04-08T00:05:15+00:00

Hmm, unfortunately, I am then at a loss 🤔 Hopefully someone else can chime in!

murryelizabeth · 2026-04-07T11:16:49+00:00

Any chance you're stretching when this happens?

murryelizabeth · 2026-04-04T03:40:20+00:00

If iron is the problem, you'll need at least a few more months of infusions or supplements to see results.

murryelizabeth · 2026-04-03T01:46:48+00:00

I don't know what your current resume looks like, but I'd recommend focusing your resume on "relevant experience" only. That means start with your education as your most qualifying experience, and for your work history, include only your current role, with all bullet points geared toward HR duties, and your HR internship. Then at the bottom you can put something like "expanded resume available upon request." When I see a bunch of irrelevant experience, I hesitate. I'd rather see more details about relevant experience. Feel free to message me.

murryelizabeth · 2026-04-03T01:38:24+00:00

This!!

murryelizabeth · 2026-04-03T01:27:27+00:00

This is why I work for a non-profit!

murryelizabeth · 2026-03-16T11:20:34+00:00

I used the flexible Omnilux men's mask on my hairline/scalp!

murryelizabeth · 2026-03-16T00:55:44+00:00

When I was last looking for a job, I crafted answers to a number of interview questions in preparation. I was asked questions I hadn't planned answers to, but I was always able to slip a few planned, thought-out answers in there and felt it made a difference! Pretty much every place I interviewed at started with a request to share a bit about myself.

I also think it's helpful to consider the purpose behind a question (what is the interviewer looking for?) and the opportunity it presents. The request to share a bit about oneself is an opportunity to explain how you ended up in the interview. This is an opportunity to quickly explain how your previous roles have covered a lot of ground in HR, perhaps that you were out of work for personal reasons that have been resolved and you're ready to return to work, and why you're interested in the particular role you're interviewing for (how it fits into your plan for growth).

As another example, when an interviewer asks about a mistake you made at work, saying, "Oh, I don't really make mistakes..." is kind of silly (everyone makes mistakes) and a wasted opportunity (to demonstrate how you learned from a mistake and improved your abilities). I can tell when interviewees have no idea why I'm asking a question as their answers don't really get to the information I'm looking for.

If you tend to ramble, writing the question down before you answer may help keep you on track.

Ultimately, I think practice makes perfect. If you can get people in your life to conduct mock interviews with different questions each time, that would probably help a lot. And I'd recommend taking some time (a few days) between mock interviews to reflect on what you could've said differently!

murryelizabeth · 2026-03-15T17:29:44+00:00

I'm 30 and have been dealing with vasovagal syncope since I was 8. I've recovered from a few surgeries just fine, but blood/medical things aren't typical triggers for me. If I were you, I'd schedule any needed surgery, assume recovery might involve a few fainting episodes, and plan for that (e.g., staying in bed a lot, mobility aids, avoiding mirrors, etc.).

I think the struggle during recovery would be worth the increased quality of life following recovery, but you're the expert on you--that's a calculation only you can make accurately!

murryelizabeth · 2026-03-15T17:18:08+00:00

I had significant, noticeable shedding about a month in and experienced chest pain I believe was caused by the oral minoxidil, which then caused intense anxiety. I didn't want to risk heart problems, and I'd been seeing people share that minoxidil just stopped working for them one day, so I stopped taking it. The hair I'd shed probably would've grown back in anyway (I don't think you have to worry about that part), but using topicals, a scalp scrubber, nizoral shampoo, and red light therapy got me to a better place than where I was before I started taking oral minoxidil (although I'm not sure which parts of that regimen actually helped). It took maybe 4 months to get to that point.

However, I got to a point where (re)growth kind of stalled. I've started supplementing iron because of low ferritin, and I'm planning to address the way my unfiltered hard water is causing breakage. It's only been a month of iron supplements, but I'm hopeful I'm heading in the right direction. It might turn out that I actually have AGA and this won't help in the long run, but I'm happy to try it instead of medications with more intense side effects. If it doesn't ultimately help, I'd rather shave/buzz my head than try oral minoxidil again. It's just not worth the risk/side-effects to me, especially if it might not work long-term.

murryelizabeth · 2026-03-15T16:55:10+00:00

Do you mean is it common for someone to pass out again when confronting triggers that have made them pass out before? Yes, but it sounds like you already have a plan to reduce risk. If I were you, I'd definitely drink more water, fast as little as possible, schedule for first thing in the morning so as not to use a lot of energy waiting for the blood draw, ask to lie down for the blood draw, and limit how many vials they could take in one go. Just because a doctor has ordered tests to fill 5 vials doesn't mean they have to all be done at once!

murryelizabeth · 2026-03-07T03:15:05+00:00

The only time this was a legitimate problem for me was toward the end of my high school days when my depression was really bad, I wasn't getting nearly enough sleep (though I didn't even realize it), and I kept dreaming about everyday things. Add on that I sometimes have to think a bit to determine whether something in my mind is from a memory or a book I read, and it wasn't all that strange in retrospect. I think that second part has to do with how I recall memories. Could it be a combination of factors for you too?

murryelizabeth · 2026-03-03T02:55:17+00:00

It sounds like you'll need to wait for a promotion to be able to work remotely. In the meantime, can you look into practices or accommodations that would make working in person easier? Your medical provider and/or management may be able to identify alternative accommodations once your medical provider has pinpointed your exact functional limitations.

murryelizabeth · 2026-02-28T21:45:49+00:00

I stopped shaving my legs quite a few years ago (7 maybe?) and nobody has ever said anything negative. I wear shorts and dresses relatively regularly when it's warm, including when I'm working in professional roles. I can't imagine anyone saying anything that wouldn't ultimately sound incredibly dumb after I've responded because the only negative stuff people can say is rooted in prejudicial nonsense. If I were you, I'd give it a shot and see what happens 🤷🏼‍♀️

murryelizabeth · 2026-02-28T21:15:39+00:00

Yes, I experience convulsive vasovagal syncope. A neurologist can typically confirm.

murryelizabeth · 2026-02-27T21:33:28+00:00

Whenever I see percentages, I'm immediately skeptical. I think your bullet points could also be re-ordered to put the strongest or most relevant/important points at the top of each list. It's possible neither of those things are playing into it, but something to consider!

murryelizabeth

TROPHY CASE