Butterfly Glands and Neurological Differences

a ventblog ish for me to get the thoughts I have about my Hashimotos,PCOS and neurodivergent problems off my chest we love being comorbid! yaaaay!

[transstuffandmore]

Please Reblog is Your Blog is Safe for Non-Binary People.

[bees-and-voids-deactivated20210]

If my mutuals can’t rb this then we can’t be mutuals

[drax-the-vampire-king]

Ive said it before and ill say it again all kind people are welcome here.

[mimosa-sexypeople-contests-2026]

If you don’t support nonbinary people, then get the fuck away from my blog

[brightbluebutterflies]

This Week I Learned:

AuHD. I have both.

Huzzah! Diagnosis! Suspicions were valid as fuck!

AAAAAAAAAAAA THAT'S WHY MY CHILDHOOD WAS SO FUCKED UP?!

[transmasclucario]

happy pride! especially to everyone who is in the closet, in situations too unsafe to come out and to everyone in queerphobic countries. I see you, and I love you.

[brightbluebutterflies]

Let's hope they're accommodating! 🤞

Need to pay these medical bills & afford meds & try to start my life away from home..

[brightbluebutterflies]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 1/1 Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Relationships: Drifter & Tenno (Warframe) 

Word Count: 1251

Drifter and Tenno have a much needed talk about how Tenno needs to take care of themself, and find someone to talk to about all the shit they've been through.

Read on AO3 or below cut! 

"So, kiddo," Drifter started, approaching Tenno as they sat on the ledge. "You called, what's up?"

Tenno shook their head, laughing a bit. "Don't start like that. C'mon, you're me, you know exactly why I called."

It's true, a meeting of the minds had crossed Drifter's thoughts more than once, just to check in, to make sure they're still doing OK. It was weird, at first, but they rationalized it was just taking care of themself.

"Sure, yeah. You doing okay?" Drifter cut to the chase.

"I'm alright, things haven't gotten worse if that's the question." Tenno shrugged, not fully looking at Drifter. "Haven't been too invasive?"

"I've barely heard a peep from you since this started," Drifter sat down beside the Tenno, "I guess it gets quieter when you actually meet the other yous. Eleanor said she felt more certain of herself after meeting her Nun self."

"Yeah, I suppose." Tenno looked over. "They seem happier, I think? I dunno."

"Wait, you mean the warframes?" Drifter tilted their head.

"Yeah, I don't know what you're doing, but there's.. There's less resistance, during transferrence, and sometimes even a kind of joy when we're working together." Tenno elaborated, looking back out at the open sky. They had found a quiet place on Earth to sit, away from the fighting, away from anything, really. The old temple that held the first frames had been long abandoned at this point.  

"Huh, that's, really good, actually." Drifter nodded, following Tenno's gaze up to the sky. "You take away their pain here, I heal it in the past. Suppose that makes them feel you're safe too. Different, but safe."

"Wouldn't have it any other way," Tenno laughed, before their shoulders dropped entirely. "They're doing good by you too, you seem lighter."

Drifter paused, looking over the kid beside them. They looked exhausted, older, with the dark circles under their eyes, and the stress lines on their face. Drifter placed a hand on Tenno's shoulder.

"Anybody here to help you, kid?" The question hung in the air. The shoe dropped with a heartbreaking resonance.

"Only help I get is Ordis and what alliances I can make. Except whatever you choose to do in the past, I'm more on call making sure people don't die." It was a cold laugh as they shook their head. "Gotta help everyone else first."

"No?" Drifter found their voice quicker than they anticipated. "Kid, you don't have to be facing this on your own, I mean Lotus should at least—"

"Should, but that's different. People talk to you like an equal, like someone who matters, and not just in the saving people from their own mistakes kind of way." Tenno countered, shaking their head as their eyes stung with tears. "Who have I got? Really? Who doesn't have some twisted ulterior motive?" Tenno's voice was cracking with every word.

Drifter's grip on their shoulder tightened. Drifter pulled Tenno in for a hug, and the kid just clung to them, taking deep, shuddering breaths.

"You have me, and you have Ordis.. I know that's not many, but it's enough to start." Drifter tried to reassure them, their own eyes starting to sting with tears. "But you've been lonely for a long while, huh?"

Tenno nodded, trying to keep themself from breaking all the way down, letting themself be held for the first time in a long while.

"Yeah, I mean, I get that I can be helpful, but.." Tenno laughed, trying to scrub the tears off their face already. "I mean, the last time someone was looking out for me while I was in danger like that was.. Was Loid, Lotus kept pushing and Ordis wasn't there."

"So it feels like you gotta hide this from everyone else cause they're depending on you, huh?" Drifter knew that feeling all too well, but it had been dispersed more and more as they hung out with the Hex and Triad. "You gotta be able to depend on someone else too, eventually. The worlds can wait for a little bit when you sleep."

"I haven't been…" Tenno sighed, pulling away. "I haven't been sleeping, there's just so much to do and not nearly enough time to do everything."

Drifter gave Tenno that one look, you know the one, the one where you're expecting a lecture but someone's biting their tongue because they know you know better than what you actually did. The lips pressed into a thin line, the one eyebrow raised, and the steady tone of "I know I did not hear that from you."

"Kid…It can wait. I promise. Whether you do or don't, it all winds up the same anyways, remember?" Drifter evoked the pain in the ass philosophy of Eternalism. While Tenno shuddered at the thought, they knew Drifter was right. "Be the you that sleeps, and that talks to someone about the shit that's bothering you."

Tenno sighed, relenting and looking back out at all the stars.

"Yeah, right, supposed Saviors of the system weighed down by their own memories." Tenno sighed, "The Hex really got to you good, helping you through a lot of this. I hope I get a turn soon."  

"You will, kiddo, like right now." Drifter offered, patting their shoulder. "Let me have it. I didn't get to see the war after all."

"You really want that?" Tenno raised an eyebrow, watching as Drifter leaned back on their hands.

"Why not?" was the challenge that came. "We gotta take care of ourself. And sometimes it helps just to talk about it, not everything all at once, but pieces. And not in that Refractory bullshit."

Tenno sighed, laughing with a nod as they looked back out at the stars. The stars seemed brighter tonight, for the first time in a long time, truely beautiful. A comet passed them by.

"The refractory is bullshit isn't it?" Tenno sighed, rubbing the back of their neck. "You never met Adis, either.. But he gave everything for us to be here."

"You miss them," Drifter nodded, listening. Tenno laughed, shaking their head.

"That's an understatement, we were.. Promised? Bound, to one another before Adis passed. He was my best friend."

The rest of the night would pass all the same, the Tenno speaking about Adis, letting themself finally feel the grief that had been keeping them up at night. And Drifter listened, nodding and talking with Tenno like they were any other person. That's what Tenno had wanted after all.

So they listened until the sun rose, and the Tenno sighed.

"Yeah, okay, you're right… That helped a lot." Tenno sighed, looking more exhausted than when they started, but remarkably lighter. The tension they held sitting upright was gone, allowing them to slouch a little.

"Right?" Drifter chuckled, "Now it's time we both got some sleep." Drifter got to their feet, offering to help Tenno up.

Tenno took their hand, nodding. As Drifter hoisted Tenno up, there was a flicker of a sibling's familiarity in the face that looked like theirs.

"And remember, kiddo, taking care of yourself is just as important as the rest of the system."

 "Right.. Didn't someone say that the worst thing we could do is make feel like someone isn't seen?"

"You'd like Quincy." Drifter laughed, nodding. "Yeah, kid, he did say that. So let yourself be seen too, even if it's just.. Well, you looking back."

"You're still older by a few years," Tenno teased, laughing a little. "But I hear you. Thanks."

 "Anytime kiddo."

[passerinearts]

When it comes to chronic illnesses, mental illnesses, and disabilities, I've noticed that a lot of able-bodied people either don't take names seriously, or don't understand and ask you to explain what it is to them.

Now, if you have any kind of disability, you know it's fucking annoying go have people make you explain something over and over again, or have people go "oh, you have X? You mean, like the [awful stereotype] thing?"

So, I have realized recently that being Vague As Shit is great for making people leave you the hell alone.

I have autism and anxiety, and with that comes the symptom of selective mutism. If you don't know what that is, Firefox is free. But I had an episode where I couldn't speak today in one of my classes, and knew I would have to explain it to my partner and probably my professor.

This usually goes with me writing that I can't speak, them asking why, me saying selective mutism, and them asking me what that is. Then I have to painstakingly write out an explanation. And, obviously, I'm tired of this. So I tried something new. When he asked, I simply told him I couldn't speak, and when he asked if I physically couldn't or just didn't want to, I just opened my mouth and unleashed the terrifying, awful, broken stuttering that comes out when I try to speak while mute.

His response was "OKAY OKAY OKAY YOU CAN STOP NOW" and he did not question me for the rest of class, and even explained to the professor what was wrong when she tried to make me popcorn read.

This also works on doctors. When I tell doctors I have PCOS, POTS, or hEDS, they usually hear "oh the crazy women self diagnosis disabilities" and treat me accordingly. So, instead I drop unhinged symptoms until they leave me alone.

"Yes, my last menstrual cycle started on December 12th, 2025 and ended January 28th, 2026." "I have experienced several events where I have passed out randomly, yes." "My hip has subluxated six times in the past week."

It's like in the principles of writing horror. If you name and describe the problem, it's easier for people to minimize and ignore. Don't let them. You live with this fucking bullshit every day. Let your symptoms haunt people. They don't need to know everything about you. Besides, it makes them treat you better than when you give them names.

[myjourneywithfnd]

I saw a video today from a chronically ill woman about the fact you can feel so guilty when doing fun things.

She talks about how, as a kid, you learn to finish work before you can play and that you take this with you into adulthood. So you keep the mindset of having to finish 'have to' tasks/chores before being allowed to 'play'.

But when you're chronically ill, this is literally impossible! If you'd do that it would be all work and never play. That wouldn't be healthy at all. We need to remind ourselves of this. We don't need to feel guilty for doing something fun!

[brightbluebutterflies]

This is especially true if you grew up a non chronically ill kid and acquired illness/disability later on. Please be kind to yourself and allow for fun days from time to time!

Take breaks for play, take breaks for rest too! Nothing is ever oh so urgent as to need to be done all in one day (save for true emergencies).

[brightbluebutterflies]

So I wanna cosplay Karlach without the discomfort of a padded muscle suit.

My solution? Start a daily workout to build key muscles, with a focus on how it makes me feel *good* first, and results later. No gym, just free weights and basics because I am deeply self-conscious still.

And it's working. My partner said I've not only gained muscle, but my body type is being honed and defined and they love the softness of me still eating like I want while finding a body type that actually works for me. I think this is what body neutrality is good for. I avoided working out for so long because it felt like a punishment, a shame, for being bigger and having other problems. Turns out, if you treat it like a daily task and less like a punishment, you'll enjoy it more.

Cardio? I hate running/walking in place so I dance instead, even with my asthma, which gets to stretch parts of my body and hone muscles I might have missed with the free weights. It's fun as shit and I feel good about it I wind up doing it waaay longer than intended.

Weightlifting? Daily, with a single set of 10 reps per muscle group. Small, but consistent.

Sick/Feeling Weakness where I'd usually have no problem lifting? I stop, let myself rest for a few days, then pick it back up when I'm feeling better. Usually the week before I menstrate is the worst, so I stop and come back to it after my first few days of bleeding (it's helped my cramps a fair bit.)

Diet wise I made a few simple changes, drinking water only with meals, making sure to eat a little more fiber, ensuring protein shows up somewhere at least twice everyday, even if I have to shove a spoonful of peanut butter in my mouth. I swapped potato/corn chips for fruit chips, and that was pretty much it.

It does not have to be this huge, drastic change where you restrict everything and make yourself miserable.

I think this is what Doctors should mean when they give the advice "try adding more fiber" or "try exercising more". They don't mean completely change who you are or what you eat, they mean make smaller, meaningful changes. My blood pressure when stressed was lower than it had been at regular when I was at a different doctor's appointment just a month later. I may not have lost weight but I have gained noticeable muscle, which is a win for someone who has multiple hormonal disorders. Being medicated also helps! Having accomodations helps too! Cause my therapist also mentioned that it's super good that I'm getting more activity in a way that doesn't feel like fucking torture to me.

All this to say is that, while I know I could cosplay anybody I wanted at any size, I feel like this has been a learning experience even Mama K would be proud of. You gotta be able to approach things from a stepping-stone perspective to make progress, whether that's buffing up to resemble one of your idols, or just making sure you make it through the day. And don't forget rest is just as important.

TLDR: Karlach inspired me to work out more, and I found a system that works for me so I can feel more confident cosplaying her. I encourage you to take the same step by step small things daily approach to achieve your goals too. Fuck rapid crash diets and diet culture, and a solid win for Body (and exercise) Neutrality.

[brightbluebutterflies]

The glory and coziness of a heated blanket in winter mixed with a nice blook and hot chocolate is unmatched.

Self care is much better for you than allowing yourself to suffer. Manage symptoms as you see fit.

[stxrfiish]

body positivity can be so hard when ur chronically ill like ‘your body loves you and is doing its best to care for you ❤️’ NO THE FUCK IT IS NOT

[brightbluebutterflies]

Man having hot flashes in the winter is wild...

Me: "It's so hot in here I feel like I'm sweating buckets! It's stressing me out.."

Friend: "TF you mean?? The door is open? It's freezing! You got something wrong with you."

Me: (thinking) "aw shit, not again ;-;" (out loud) "When we head outside then I should feel better, lol the benefits of having hot flashes in winter means the cold feels nice!"

Friend: "You're crazy, but OK."

(And no, I was not experiencing hypothermia, though I do understand that feeling like you're extremely hot after prolonged cold exposure is a big sign of hypothermia.)

[t-the-ring-master]

Ya’ll wanna know a little fun fact about thyroid disease?

Well you’re in luck because I have two of them! Graves and Hashimotos!

So the little fun fact is… you can randomly become allergic or intolerant of random stuff. I am now allergic to bandaid glue, so if the doctors give me a bandaid instead of some cotton in that medical tape, I get a rash. And I get my blood drawn about once to twice a month due to having to see if my levels are gonna nuke me that month.

I am also now allergic to random things that I used to not have an issue with. My tongue itch’s when I eat mango, and my lip becomes a little numb when I eat star fruit. Keep in mind, they don’t tend to become dangerous, just kinda annoying and don’t really last long, maybe 20 minutes at most.

Oh, and I can’t eat a lot of gluten anymore because it hurts me. I do in fact ignore the pain because bread is life.

Wanna know more facts? Go ahead and ask because I’m too lazy to write everything in one post.

[brightbluebutterflies]

Oh my God so the random ass lactose intolerance is just the Hashi's kicking my ass?? ;~;

Welp, $30 for 360 lactase pills on Amazon ..I will continue to eat cheese.

[pmos-culture]

our first signs of having pcos was way before we even knew it was even a thing. things we just thought were "weird" but not 'extreme' enough to worry about. or at least we thought of it as "hey thats cool/weird i guess, anyway..."

like, the irregular menstrual cycle was the biggest and most noticeable symptom. never predictable, came in a massive wave and left as soon as it had came.

our hair is thinning. and we also lose so much of it.

we have to use a specific type of hair shampoo wash for oily hair types since it gets oily and greasy so fast. and because of this our face gets pretty oily too. dosent help the fact we also struggle with self hygiene so it just worsens that.

but also our hair grows fast too, and we're shaving our damn pubes and pits all the time because we hate the feeling of hair there! and also because we were raised like how a perisex cis woman would be, always told to shave ourselves so we can be "presentable". so where we shave now that we have freedom over ourselves is just out of choice.

im pretty sure we've got the most hairiest ass in the world.

we are already showing symptoms for diabetes, so i wouldnt be surprised if that contributes.

found out we are likely infertile the hard way but at least we have some solid confirmation of sorts (we're not likely to get pregnant! yay!)

and much more

like, we never knew any of this was pcos symptoms until we learned about pcos. all we knew was that there was something off.

education of pcos could save so many people. we couldve known about it sooner, and to this day, we still learn more about our pcos.

[brightbluebutterflies]

Don't say it's not PCOS culture! Cause this all is!!

My friend, I had so many of the same suspicious problems, and then I got put on Accutane for my cystic acne, put on birth control, and found out I had Hashimotos first at 14/15. OK, cool, right?

But problems persisted. Irregular periods, extremely oily/acne-riddled skin, to the point I have permanent scars on my chest, shoulders, sides of my face and chin. Got brushed off as normal teenage hormones, especially with how much I cried and was super duper moody!

It's only now at 22 after seeing a Gyno that I get an ultrasound saying "yep you got it" and having begged for my other hormones to be tested!!

PCOS culture is, unfortunately, also being diagnosed with co-morbid disorders and thinking that's the only one you have, until you get later testing that says "oops, you have both!"

Education early on would help folks be able to advocate more for "hey, these symptoms are still persistent, I need more help and I suspect it's this common co-morbid condition, test me for it."

[brightbluebutterflies]

There's something special about those days when you feel normal..they take you by surprise and leave you wondering when it'll happen again. Today I've been happy to simply be alive. I laughed, I joked, I made mistakes and didn't cry over them. I felt alive and loved it, and it wasn't even a fancy or special kinda day, I still had work, I still had to do stuff I didn't like... Yet I felt genuinely content with where I was. I felt awake, my mind clearer than it had been in years.

Treatment got me this far.... And I know and hope there's lots more days like this ahead. It feels nice to feel normal, even if I know it's nothing like how other people experience life.

I like being able to function like this, and at the end of the day smile and say it was a good day just because it was another day I was here.

Hormonal depression can go eat shit. I lived, I love, and I will continue to love until I die.

It does get better. And even if tomorrow is absolutely dog shit, I won't forget today.

[brightbluebutterflies]

Confirmed PCOS. . Yaaay

I feel like crap rn cause I'm bigger than most of my family yaaaaay haha (except my Dad).

I just wanna say that this sucks, and all the common advice of diets that make you miserable and deny foods you enjoy just makes it worse. And the blame of "well exercise more" when you're already getting and going over the reccomended amounts of daily and weekly exercise...

With no answers to which disorder is causing more symptoms of flushing after eating, bloating, gas, the sudden inability to eat lactose without supplementing the lactase enzymes yourself...

You're not alone with the feelings of frustration on not getting a clear picture nor clear help with your co-morbididities. This shit fucking sucks.

[ravenbloodau]

I did a thing.

Please look at it.

It took me a year to create.

[brightbluebutterflies]

First MRI ever today!! Holy shit it was loud and I need more back support ;-;