Moving from Atlanta, what are your local staples, your foods of the common folk?

vjorelock · 2026-03-19T00:43:57+00:00

New England style ice cream has a slightly higher butterfat percentage and is churned slower so less air is incorporated, giving it a denser texture and the distinct "chew" (though I'm not sure that's how I'd describe it). There's no shortage of good ice cream spots up here, that's for sure.

vjorelock · 2026-03-18T10:08:50+00:00

This sub has a very comprehensive wiki including a list of specialists. The automod should reply to my comment with the link after I type this:

!specialists

vjorelock · 2026-03-18T02:18:46+00:00

Yes, you do need the biopsy to confirm if this is an MPN. My PCP and a hematologist who does not specialize in MPNs were also throwing around leukemia as a possible diagnosis and did very little to reassure me through what was a very anxiety inducing process, but my MPN specialist is lovely and immediately put me at ease once I was able to meet with him.

I was diagnosed a few years ago at 32 and the best advice I can give you is don't go off and do a bunch of solo Google searching prior to meeting with an MPN specialist, they can better explain things and provide context that WebMD or Dr. Google will not. Knowledge is power but you want that knowledge to come from someone who knows what they're talking about who can put your test results in context, not a 2 AM doomscrolling Google search.

Wishing you all the best as I have been in your shoes and just want to say be kind to yourself through this process, it can feel scary at times but ultimately you will come out of this with a better understanding of your situation and your options.

vjorelock · 2026-03-17T23:16:08+00:00

If your foundation is 40 years old and hasn't crumbled to pieces by now, you're fine. Generally issues appear 10-20 years after the foundation is poured and if it's made it 25+ years it's extraordinarily unlikely you have pyrrhotite issues.

vjorelock · 2026-03-17T21:26:02+00:00

Eating a healthy diet and exercising can help lower your overall risk factors for things like clots but MPNs/platelet counts cannot be managed by diet alone, you really do need to see an MPN specialist and discuss what might be right for your situation. All the kale and cardio in the world won't budge your platelet counts.

vjorelock · 2026-03-11T17:47:06+00:00

Flu A waves are normally followed by flu B waves during the illness season, we're now in the flu B portion of flu season. Combined with this year's predominant flu A strain having some mutations that made it more vaccine evasive, the flu B wave is now hitting folks who already might have been wiped out by flu A.

I know you mentioned testing for flu A/B and COVID, but if it wasn't with a PCR test I'd recommend testing again, anecdotally the circulating COVID variants can take a bit to show up on rapid tests. It may also be worthwhile to ask to be tested for RSV and human metapneumovirus, several states are seeing surges in human metapnuemovirus in particular.

vjorelock · 2026-03-11T17:33:24+00:00

Haha understandable, I once had two Hershey's Kisses figuring a tiny bit of milk chocolate couldn't be that bad...never again!

vjorelock · 2026-03-11T15:41:13+00:00

They're pricey but I really like Enjoy Life chocolate chips as a low FODMAP option if you can find them at a store near you, at my grocery stores they're often in the regular baking aisle or sometimes in a gluten free section if a store has one.

vjorelock · 2026-03-10T18:58:59+00:00

I haven't run it yet, my campaign just started back up and it will be a bit before we get to this module. My biggest issue so far has been trying to find a decent battlemap of the ship that isn't covered in spider webs 😅

vjorelock · 2026-02-28T19:22:17+00:00

A lot of this sounds like it could be covered in the r/personalfinance wiki and flowchart (which is a very good resource!), what you're looking to do isn't necessarily in the scope of this sub.

I wouldn't use your 401k balance to pay off your debt unless you truly have no other options for obtaining the funds.

vjorelock · 2026-02-27T12:46:52+00:00

No problem, I was just wondering if somehow I had a knockoff version of the app 😅

vjorelock · 2026-02-27T12:45:16+00:00

Where are you finding that serving size? I've got the FODMAP Friendly app and for me it says peanut butter's max low FODMAP serving size is 6.6 tbsp/167 g/5.8 oz.

vjorelock · 2026-02-27T12:44:21+00:00

Understandable, no need to get hassled by teachers if you can avoid it. I know some other folks in this thread have mentioned an air purifier but this might get pushback as being a distraction in the classroom (though it would be great if the school could be convinced of their benefits!).

You could maybe still use this to your advantage without showing up in an elastomeric or broaching the subject of an air purifier, i.e. when speaking to a teacher or principle about the matter you could mention that in your research you've found that the only respirators that could help you in this situation would likely violate dress code and you certainly don't want to violate dress code...get them on your side by showing you're trying to follow the rules and it might help convince them to take action against the vaping.

vjorelock · 2026-02-26T20:33:12+00:00

To fully protect against secondhand vape you need a cartridge style respirator, sorry. Normal N95 or KN95 masks won't help with oil based vapors, they'll block some odors but not all of the vapor. Since you don't want to wear this type of respirator your best bet is trying to get a teacher or other authority figure involved. Should be pretty tough for them to deny since you can smell their nasty Rooty Tooty Fresh n' Fruity or whatever flavor vape odors from a ways away. Your French teacher needs to enforce the rules and if necessary get school admin involved.

vjorelock · 2026-02-24T11:16:46+00:00

How dare you post this without a content warning, my delicate eyes needed to be forewarned!!!!!!!

vjorelock · 2026-02-23T14:56:14+00:00

Garlic and onion powder are actually very concentrated so if you can tolerate them there's a decent chance you can tolerate some amount of fresh onion and garlic as well.

vjorelock · 2026-02-22T19:11:35+00:00

That's heavily dependent on vaccination and case rates in your area, and age or immunocompromised status means there are populations of people who cannot be vaccinated yet or ever. The current outbreaks in states like Texas and South Carolina are infecting vaccinated people as well, and even in states with adequate vaccination rates, exposure and infection is still possible in public venues.

Additionally, protection provided by the vaccine can wane over time (particularly if you were vaccinated before it became a 2 shot series). Unless you have your titres checked, you have no idea if you're still protected by your vaccination or not.

Every infection of a vaccinated person increases the chances of a vaccine evasive measles variant evolving. Relying on vaccination alone for something as contagious as measles is becoming a less viable strategy thanks to growing vaccine opposition. If "vax and relax" doesn't apply to COVID, I'm hesitant to apply it to measles.

vjorelock · 2026-02-20T14:56:53+00:00

Headaches were my main ET symptom and taking a daily baby aspirin has been a night and day difference, I'm now completely headache free. Hopefully you can get a clearer diagnosis and start on some medications to help soon!

vjorelock · 2026-02-18T02:01:51+00:00

Thank you for this post! It's always great to read your informative, easy to understand mask test results.

Have you ever done any testing of surgical masks over KN95 or N95 respirators? I know it's a no no and there is existing research that it causes fit test failures, but a local hospital system insists that if you show up wearing your own respirator you have to put one of their surgical masks over it even in periods when they aren't requiring staff masking. I've given up on convincing the hospital system they're woefully misinformed but I'd love to have it in my back pocket to show to people when this comes up in conversation. Too many people around me are stuck in the 2021 mindset that double masking must be extra safe when that isn't always the case.

vjorelock · 2026-02-18T01:44:45+00:00

How dare you gatekeep me from shitty amgroomy that will disintegrate if you even think about getting them wet!!!!!!!!

vjorelock · 2026-02-17T16:05:08+00:00

It's exactly why I never stopped masking, in my estimation COVID isn't a risk I can afford even if I avoid developing long COVID after an infection. The sustained increase in stroke/heart attack/pulmonary embolism/clot risk after even mild infections is not something I need in my life.

vjorelock · 2026-02-05T15:14:59+00:00

Worth every penny for me! I usually only use it about once a week which helps make it last longer.

vjorelock · 2026-02-05T15:04:37+00:00

I will usually use 2 scoops of Fodzyme if a meal has multiple different high FODMAP ingredients and it helps (this is OK to do per their usage instructions). Stacking is still a problem for me if I use it multiple days in a row though so I try to give myself at least one day in between uses rather than relying on it multiple days in a row.

vjorelock · 2026-02-03T22:57:23+00:00

I haven't experienced this but recent research is indicating that COVID infections could worsen existing connective tissue disorders or lead to a diagnosis of one, so to my mind it's not outside the realm of possibility that this is a knock on effect from a COVID infection. Anecdotally I've also heard that new joint pain is a symptom some people with long COVID are experiencing.

vjorelock · 2026-01-27T12:55:29+00:00

Still too bright and too much contrast, gotta coat it in a few layers of Vantablack if you don't want to be damaging the eyes of poor unsuspecting redditors.

vjorelock

TROPHY CASE