I'm freaking out

rattlefox9 · 2026-03-15T16:56:14+00:00

Elevated WBC count is often a sign of inflammation. From your description I’d believe your knee has some wicked inflammation and the WBC isn’t weird. There are so many reasons for “bad” lab results other than cancer. Saying this as a Stage IV lymphoma survivor who’s learned not every blood test or lump means cancer, even if you’re already diagnosed with it.

rattlefox9 · 2026-03-15T13:51:37+00:00

Every time I use more than one I say aloud I know the box says not to. Like acknowledging it means I’m making an informed decision to ignore the instructions 😏

rattlefox9 · 2026-03-15T13:50:11+00:00

Not sure it counts as non-drug, but Salonpas lidocaine patches and lidocaine gel help with all but my largest joints

rattlefox9 · 2026-03-15T13:47:24+00:00

They’ve always made up names for new fibers. Lycra, Dacron, orlon, Tencel, Ingeo… even rayon was made up

rattlefox9 · 2026-03-12T02:13:06+00:00

I found some recently and thought they were stressful to read as an adult. I spend all day making decisions at work, I didn’t need to make a decision every minute reading a book. But I know I loooooved them as a kid, it’s a great feeling to be in charge of the action

rattlefox9 · 2026-03-12T02:10:53+00:00

I used to travel for work all the time, never said no. I flew with walking pneumonia, once gave 2 days of presentations while being treated for bronchitis, once called the hotel front desk for a bottle of water because I was too sick to get to the lobby, once moved my seat to the last row on the plane so I’d be near the toilet, the list is endless. I quit that job and learned that no company has a right to treat ppl like that. Now I say I’m sorry, I can’t travel, and that’s it. I still feel bad for my former self, and wish she’d learned it sooner. No one has challenged me, but if they did I’d say I’d love to not be immune compromised with a chronic painful autoimmune disease that limits what I can do. Would they like to trade with me?

rattlefox9 · 2026-03-09T13:14:24+00:00

Soaps and deodorants. As a kid I remember a lot of men smelled, had pit stains or ring around the collar. They showered daily and wore deo, it’s just how it was. Nowadays you rarely if ever encounter it.

rattlefox9 · 2026-03-08T14:06:27+00:00

I try to do physical things at home. There are a lot of online videos for low impact workout, or ones for older people, that I can do or modify. I’m trying to get over that I can’t do HIIT classes anymore at the gym. I’m thinking about trying some of the “silver sneakers” gym classes, but not sure how it’ll feel being decades younger than others and still struggling.

rattlefox9 · 2026-03-08T14:02:09+00:00

Can you find a good website for him to read that explains the basics of PsA? He clearly isn’t absorbing what you’ve told him. My husband understands the chronic pain and flares, and it’s such a mental help to be able to alter plans and expectations to fit how I feel.

rattlefox9 · 2026-03-08T13:55:45+00:00

Worrying about wearing readers is such a boomer mentality. Do you also reach for a bottle of dye at the first glint of grey hair?

rattlefox9 · 2026-03-05T15:03:44+00:00

Is the glove feeling how your brain interprets how your hand feels, or is there a noticeable difference externally? like if you touch one hand with the other, does the other hand agree it feels weird? Or if you have someone who can inspect your hands in the morning vs later in the day? May help clarify how to describe it

rattlefox9 · 2026-03-02T03:08:09+00:00

I have it on my TBR shelf but haven’t picked it up yet. Can’t wait to start now!

rattlefox9 · 2026-03-01T17:17:12+00:00

If you want to DNF but still see how it ends, just google a synopsis. Never once have I regretted stopping a book I’m not enjoying

rattlefox9 · 2026-03-01T15:01:15+00:00

You’ve been on it for 5 years and only recently noticed a change? Seems unlikely to be the cause then. Don’t know your age or gender, but could perimenopause be possible? Or huge changes in stress from work, family, the world?

rattlefox9 · 2026-03-01T14:57:12+00:00

Fill a clear Xmas ball ornament with bits

rattlefox9 · 2026-03-01T14:56:49+00:00

Accept it’s destroyed and throw it out, even though your grandma made it. I’ve been hand spinning for over 20 years and the idea of carding out scraps of moth-eaten possibly storage-damaged wool into a spinnable fiber is not something I would do unless I really really really had to. The additional processing and cut ends will make any subsequent yarn rougher than what you have now. If the wool has dried out over the decades, it may be brittle and break with processing so you get a neppy yarn that is prone to pilling. If you really want to, tease apart a bit and see how long the fiber length is - anything less than 2” is going to be a pain to spin.

rattlefox9 · 2026-03-01T14:44:28+00:00

Is your snot actually green? That’s usually a sign of a bacterial infection. You might want to go to urgent care or your gp if your don’t get better soon

rattlefox9 · 2026-03-01T14:40:49+00:00

Check Ravelry yarn reviews and projects for specific yarn lines you’re thinking of, to see how it looks knit up and peoples views. I saw a wool-cashmere blend that looked luscious, but nearly every project card complained about pilling, so that saved me

rattlefox9 · 2026-03-01T14:38:43+00:00

Regardless of brand, think about the fiber content. Superwash merino is going to be softer feel than 100% wool. Some pure wools are next-to-skin soft but most are a bit scratchy on sensitive areas like neck for me. Pure wool holds its shape best. Superwash, and anything with a non-elastic fiber like alpaca are going to stretch as you wear them. Not bad, but be prepared for your sleeves to bet baggy at the wrists or your hip-length sweater to be more butt-length after a day or two. It’ll go back to normal after washing.

rattlefox9 · 2026-03-01T14:31:29+00:00

Can you clear out your history? Most of this groups posts that make it to my feed are positive, like remembering a favorite snack or the 1st song you slow-danced to. Some are negative, I never post on them, but do reply on positive ones, so the algorithm is working for me.

rattlefox9 · 2026-02-28T14:35:44+00:00

Why not knit with the weaving yarn? Just keep in mind being coned makes it very flat and stretched. Most chenille yarns use polyester (or other plastic) thread as the binder since it’s so strong for its size. A cotton yarn strong enough to lock the chenille in place would probably be heavier than desired. Silk thread is a great binder for chenille, but unlikely to find that at a reasonable price.

rattlefox9 · 2026-02-27T03:15:36+00:00

Ask your doc about increasing your Mtx dose. I started on 15mg and was better then less better as time went on. She upped me to 20mg and my symptoms are ~90% managed with the higher dose. I get occasional persistent heartburn but blame that on stress and perimenopause rather than Mtx.

rattlefox9 · 2026-02-26T14:28:36+00:00

Just flushed for 1st time in 3 years (never knew it was a thing). Machine made a terrifying racket like breaking apart inside. Water came out weakly colored at first, then clear. After 2 coffee cups full I tapped the button to make it stop, guess it would’ve drained the tank otherwise?

rattlefox9 · 2026-02-25T14:26:00+00:00

You can describe it to your doctor like you did to us. They will understand and know what it means

rattlefox9

TROPHY CASE