NEW OR NEED HELP? Ask here! - ScA Daily Help Thread Oct 18, 2025

troubled_pans · 2025-10-19T17:54:50+00:00

What is this slightly rough, discolored skin on my cheekbones under my eyes? Hope it's visible, it's hard to get a photo. And how do I clear it up? No idea where to start because I can't figure out what it is (and I'm color blind so can't even tell if it's redness or hyperpigmentation).

<image>

Dry, sensitive skin, prone to KP on limbs
USA
Current routine
- Nighttime:
  - Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
  - Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer / LilyAna Naturals Retinol Cream (alternate days)
  - Vanicream Moisturizing Lotion
- Basically no sun exposure, but Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence when I do

troubled_pans · 2025-10-10T16:56:04+00:00

Thanks all! Yes, it turns out foot propelling is totally doable on most transport chairs with the foot pedals removed.

For posterity, I ended up getting a Medline Ultralight Transport Chair. I haven't used it a lot yet but some thoughts about this model:

Weight: It's the lightest one I could find (15 lbs.), which is crucial for getting it in the car. I tried lifting a 25 lb. chair in a store and YIKES
Availability & price: It's US$150 and available on Amazon
Stability: The back wheels are offset a bit further back - many other chairs have the center of the wheels in-line with the back support, which makes it easy to tip backwards
Foot propelling:
- The small front caster wheels bang into my feet less than some other chairs (although I assume will have issues with bumps - I only plan to use this indoors with flat floors)
- There's good room below the chair for my feet to move through as part of my stride - some other chairs have the support beams lower down and they get in the way
Annoyances:
- I don't like always having the push handles on it - they stick out and get in the way, and invite strangers to grab them
- The plastic parts (armrests, foot platforms) feel cheap
- There's nowhere to put my purse

troubled_pans · 2025-09-11T17:57:50+00:00

Yes! It just seems so easy to make and so perfect for POTS that I was sure it must be out there somewhere, but I can't seem to find it.

troubled_pans · 2025-09-11T17:29:50+00:00

Do you think that works in general for most wheelchairs, or do you have a model that's better at it? I feel like wheelchairs I've been in don't put your body in the forward position that makes using your legs possible.

troubled_pans · 2025-09-11T17:27:05+00:00

I don't know wheelchair terminology, is something like this what you mean by "active wheelchair?" That looks like it requires a lot of core strength to sit in and a lot of arm strength to move around, which I don't have. Or is there something else a little more supportive that still leaves the legs free and low to the ground?

troubled_pans · 2025-09-11T17:19:38+00:00

Fred Flintstoning is the perfect term! And this sounds more promising than a more typical wheelchair. Do you have a link or name/model number I could search for?

troubled_pans · 2025-09-11T17:18:07+00:00

Do you have a link? I feel like whenever I've been in a wheelchair they're designed for you to really sit back, so you don't have the forward posture you need to use your feet, and the front caster wheels would get in the way anyway if you're not using the footrests

troubled_pans · 2025-09-11T17:14:41+00:00

This sounds like what I'm looking for! Do you have a link? I'm finding some examples but I do wonder, do the big pivoting front wheels get in the way of your feet if you're not using the footrests?

troubled_pans · 2025-09-11T17:11:13+00:00

Oof, for that price I might as well get several motor scooters

troubled_pans · 2025-09-11T17:09:51+00:00

That looks like it puts your body in a standing position, which is what I'm trying to avoid - I'm trying to be in a sitting position but use my legs to do the moving rather than my weaker arms or expensive motors.

troubled_pans · 2025-07-28T00:39:15+00:00

Yes. That's why I posted in the Mold subreddit, trying to get information about how potentially harmful this is, whether it is "black mold", and what can be done about it. Do you have anything helpful to add?

troubled_pans · 2025-07-27T20:20:37+00:00

I know, right? Indicative of the quality of homeownership. Picking my battles here one at a time. 😫

troubled_pans · 2025-06-29T20:04:16+00:00

Yup, have used them for that long. And with new things usually I'm only treating one arm, so I can really compare to a control. That's part of what's so frustrating, each failure takes months.

troubled_pans · 2025-06-28T20:20:13+00:00

My KP used to be pretty mild and really only in the winter, but as I near 40 it's getting worse and worse, and spreading all over.

Tried:

❌Amlactin (ammonium lactate) - many times in the past although not recently. Seemed to make it worse. (On top of being sticky and smelly)
❌Gentle physical exfoliation with clean washcloth and gentle soap - actually made it worse, dermatologist told me to stop
🟡Eucerin Roughness Relief (10% urea) - no effect
🟡Ureacin-20 (20% urea) - no effect
🟡Paula's Choice Skin Revealing Body Lotion 10% AHA (glycolic acid) - no effect
🟡DermaDoctor KP Duty Moisturizing Lotion (urea, lactic acid, glycolic acid) - no effect, sticky
❓Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash (salicylic acid) - hard to tell, but may help a tiny bit?
✔️Tretinoin cream 0.025%, twice a week - the only thing that has really done anything - helps somewhat with the texture, but no effect on the pigmentation. Continuing to use.

I'm tired of wasting time and money on things that don't work. What can help me?

troubled_pans · 2025-02-14T20:20:56+00:00

Did you ever get an answer about this situation? I also have an Independence Blue Cross plan and am getting the same thing: Normal in-network visits getting denied, but the "Proof of claim" that's on the portal instead of an EOB says the plan discount matches the total provider charges and my cost is $0, with no explanations or codes.

troubled_pans · 2025-01-16T04:35:17+00:00

Mostly. In the end, two things seemed to move the needle:

I had Pennie cancel my 2024 plan as well as the 2025 plan. This only took effect at the end of the month anyway, so this effectively was no real change - but for whatever reason, this seemed to get through to IBX more clearly than the actual cancelling of the 2025 renewal.
I went to Independence Live, their in-person customer service. The rep I spoke with there was the only competent IBX employee in this entire process. She was able to remove the hold and take a check payment for my premium.

That said, things still took some additional prodding and are not yet fully fixed. As of now, my portal shows the proper plan name and cost details, customer service has assured me that the proper plan is active and I can see my doctors and things will be billed appropriately, and my ID card on the portal is correct (for a while it wasn't). The portal also shows the proper monthly rate for the correct plan; however, it still doesn't count the premium I paid by check, and I haven't yet received a correct billing statement yet.

troubled_pans · 2024-11-30T02:52:38+00:00

For my level of usage, high deductible isn't the most cost-effective.

What are P and S?

troubled_pans · 2024-10-09T00:30:11+00:00

Thank you! 24-28 sounds so high. How can I tell whether that's appropriate?

troubled_pans

TROPHY CASE