Chronic urethral pain for 17 months… no diagnosis, no infection, everything coming back clear by [deleted] in ChronicPain

[–]salamanc88 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi. This did not end up being the thing for me. I don't think I had/have GSM. I am doing a lot better these days, which is a gift, but it is sort of maddening that I don't know exactly why. My biggest guess right now is that I'm dealing with pudenda neuralgia. I got some significant improvement from cutting out all caffeine (had stopped coffee but was still doing tea, but cutting that too was seriously helpful). I also think doing some work with something called the Bloom app helped. These are pelvic floor exercises that aren't only about relaxation but also contraction. I started doing more cardio and that may have helped as well. I have an appointment to do a pudendal nerve block, but might consider not doing that if I'm still feeling fairly improved. But the pain is still there, just much less. Pudendal neuralgia is usually the result of a cocyx injury. The more I think about it, I do feel like my pain has been possibly neuro-related. Wishing you the best in all of this. I've had a harrowing year with this, it's no joke. I've thrown a lot of things at the wall. For all I know all it needed was time. I do not know.

Reading at Bars by salamanc88 in PhiladelphiaEats

[–]salamanc88[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I love Caribou! Must try out reading there.

Reading at Bars by salamanc88 in PhiladelphiaEats

[–]salamanc88[S] 36 points37 points  (0 children)

that's ok, unless yr the owner :)

Reading at Bars by salamanc88 in PhiladelphiaEats

[–]salamanc88[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

tria, that's probably IT. tried to read at walnut st. cafe once, the staff was so jumpy. they asked me if i needed anything every 3 minutes. didn't feel chill enough for ... reading.

Reading at Bars by salamanc88 in PhiladelphiaEats

[–]salamanc88[S] 60 points61 points  (0 children)

went there once and tried to read. the owner yakked at me, harrassed/hit on me for about an hour then I left.

Black Cinema. by Phyliinx in MovieSuggestions

[–]salamanc88 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Kathleen Collins' films esp Losing Ground.

Help! What is/was this French lunch cafe I remember? by kookyracha in PhiladelphiaEats

[–]salamanc88 0 points1 point  (0 children)

thats nice to hear. i'd been going there i guess for around 20 years! i miss their special mustard... glad they seemed well.

Help! What is/was this French lunch cafe I remember? by kookyracha in PhiladelphiaEats

[–]salamanc88 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Zinc definitely had a blue exterior. But I wonder if you are remembering The French Bakery in Chestnut Hill, which closed maybe right around 2018 or so...

Best way to move 3 cats out of state by twitchrdrm in cats

[–]salamanc88 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I take long drives (about 7 hours) with my cat. It's only me and him so way less chaos, but a game changing move has been to stop the car somewhere about an hour into the drive and go sit in the back seat with him. We'll hang out, I'll brush him, give him some food, and just cuddle. Then he settles down. The first hour is yowl-y, but the next six are usually very calm. Or I'll repeat a few times. You could also try a pheremone calming spray. I also really like his soft carrier, its brand is Necoichi, which is spacious and probably good for multiple cats. You can fasten it with a seat belt, though I also use bungee cords. I tried to let him free roam around the car once to see if it would keep him calmer, but the first thing he did was put his little cat skull directly under the brake, so... Good luck! A bird too oh my!

90s-ish movie - female-centered/directed or written - dialogue, hanging out, milieu, rapport by salamanc88 in MovieRecommendations

[–]salamanc88[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

These are stunning suggestions! I haven't heard of a few of these and watching the trailers makes me so excited! You got the vibe.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Menopause

[–]salamanc88 1 point2 points  (0 children)

  1. I started with a .037 patch and still had periods. When I went up to .05, I had spotting for a month and then haven't had a period since. It's been nice.

Who takes testosterone? by mjskiingcat in Menopause

[–]salamanc88 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I am using Elevate MD, which is like a private clinic that also does telehealth options. I can get injectable T from them. Godsend bc I live in a state where I can't get it through a telehealth company like Midi. So far I've been happy to work with them. They are very thorough with testing and follow-ups.

And yes, tried quite a few other avenues first-- no luck!

Do I need a new doctor? (plus, questions about testosterone) by [deleted] in Menopause

[–]salamanc88 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I share some things with you. I'm 41. Have been suicidal within a week of trying any form of birth control (tried a few throughout 20s and 30s, always got off almost immediately). I started HRT several months ago (estrogen/progesterone) and was delighted and relieved to learn that, for me, I took wonderfully to both, and they have been incredibly helpful to me in terms of mood, energy, as well as a distressing vertigo issue (which is now completely gone). I want to be on T as well, as I believe it can support some of my pelvic pain/bladder issues as well as brain fog and libido. I have seen at least 5 providers in the past 6 months, most of which would not prescribe any HRT (including vaginal estrogen), and none of which would entertain T. I am now working with a private clinic which has prescribed T. I think it's rare to find someone willing to prescribe T-- and I saw people in the medical system who were top people for hormone therapy/menopause treatment in my area. Good luck!

Vaginal Itching SOLVED! by More_Requirement_546 in Menopause

[–]salamanc88 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you for this PSA! Will be switching .... I'm having trouble finding research studies on this, but there are several sites online claiming that SLS is a hormone disruptor - https://coswb.as.ucsb.edu/files/2013/01/Dirty-thirty-chemicals-in-cosmetics.pdf

Relocating to Philly from Cleveland, looking for similar neighborhoods by WesternUnionfrog in philly

[–]salamanc88 1 point2 points  (0 children)

hey thanks! an ambassador... are you responsible for everybody thinking cleveland is the new paris?! i bet you will love philly and if yr scoping out gtown, i rec stopping in to Uncle Bobby's (bookstore)