Hopeful Melody

We are the change we want to see. Disclaimer: this blog is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as, nor should it be considered a substitute for, professional medical advice. Go see your doc!

[dilophosaurid]

about adhd

it concerns me that people really don’t know that adhd isn’t a personality type or behavioral problem.

adhd isn’t someone who’s personality is driven by fun and disorder.

adhd is someone who’s brain goes all over the place looking for dopamine, because it doesn’t make or register enough of it, and when it finds a source of dopamine, it hyperfixates on it. it’s about deregulation of attention as well as emotions.

it’s not a person who can’t behave. a person with adhd can look like a lot of things. misconceptions about what adhd looks like kept me from even looking for a diagnosis, and it also kept myself and others (professionals, even) from taking my suspicions seriously.

everyone’s encouraged to reblog, but if you don’t have adhd, keep your additions to the tags.

[lauramkaye]

Smart people can have ADHD. And a lot of the time, they compensate for the ADHD with intelligence- until they reach the point where they just can’t overcome it anymore, which is why a lot of gifted + ADHD people have good grades their whole lives and then “suddenly” crash and burn. For some it’s college, for some it’s grad school, for some it’s postgrad or professional exams like the bar. Whenever the things they have to do can no longer be brute-forced at the last minute.

ADHD is often lumped in with learning disabilities but it’s really a DOING disability. We know what we should do. Probably we know six ways to do it. The trouble is actually getting our brains to activate so we CAN do it. Sometimes it’s like you’re being controlled by aliens or something because you say “I need to do X” and you’re going to do it and you just. Don’t.

[generalistherbalist]

see me and paperwork jail. smart as shit. So smart no one figured out that I had ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia until after I graduated medical school. Now I survive on the strength of panic alone. 

[generalistherbalist]

I took two *luxurious* days off, where I didn’t work on a weekend. Then I worked 15 hours today and that is bullshit. What is also bullshit is that I need to do at least that or more for the rest of the month to catch up, and I won’t have any more days completely off this month. 

[dxmedstudent]

Hey, I enjoyed reading your posts on contraception and I agree with your views, it's so important to talk about. But I also wanted to add my view: I have heavy periods and went through the whole process trying to fix it, seeing different doctors etc. As a sex-averse ace woman though, I get so anxious about it all. It must be different for you. But I don't ever want something like a hormonal implant inserted in my body and I wish there was another solution. Since I don't want contraception, /1

/2 there is no solution for me - I was sent away, since I didn’t want to take the pill, and I didn’t feel taken seriously because I don’t have to worry about getting pregnant and I don’t plan to have biological children. I’m glad contraception works for others and helps with symptoms, but I hope you know that for some of us, that route doesn’t work. Not to intrude on your discussions though, I know it’s still really important for most people.

Hey, thank you so much for your message. I don’t think you’re intruding on the discussion at all; I’d always be happy to have comments like yours on my posts because I think your experiences contribute something absolutely necessary to the discussion of contraception in general, and I’m really glad you took the time to write. You’re right’ it’s important to discuss that current contraceptive methods don’t always work for everyone. Sometimes people really, really don’t get on with hormonal contraception; in a small proportion of people the mental health side effects can be severe. Others might not  get on with the way in which different contraceptives are administered. Most people would find at least a few of the options unacceptable or really inconvenient. Some people don’t like inserting things ‘down below’. Some just hate taking tablets. Some don’t like the idea  of implants or injections. What I like about the thread was that people are sharing their experiences; what works for them, what doesn’t and why. Because we’re all pretty different in what can work for us, which is why I really believe about open discussion so everyone has the best chance of finding the right thing. Unfortunately, though there are a reasonable number of options, sometimes none of them are quite right for someone, and I hope we can keep bringing out different options so that more people can benefit. 

The medical establishment can still be weird about sex. People usually assume patients are heterosexual and sexually active. I’m quite OK being open about these things now, but when I was younger, I was much more anxious and shy about this kind of thing, so going through things with clincial staff didn’t always come easily. It’s something I’m much more confident about now that I’m a doctor because I know that clinicians usually don’t care or judge about our intimate details. I was also a ‘late bloomer’ in terms of pursuing intimate relationships, for reasons I won’t discuss here. I fielded a lot of questions from docs and nurses who were well meaning but just couldn’t seem to understand that not every young woman is, or has been, sexually active. It was pretty frustrating at times; young people are self-conscious enough as it is without being made to feel abnormal about something that is normal for them. I can understand why the conversations would be particularly frought for you, particularly if your aversion is strong. I’m sorry for the way your clinicians have treated you; should still be taking your symptoms seriously regardless of whether or not you are sexually active, because these medications aren’t just for preventing pregnancy, and we use them really frequently to improve people’s quality of lives or deal with issues with their reproductive system. I recognise that you’ve probably gone through a shedload of options with clinicians of varying levels of helpfulness, and you know far better than I do what your local options are, and whether you need to pay for/can afford them. I really wish I had something to offer; just in case your clinicians have missed something or dismissed something out of hand for you.. So, just in case your clinicians have left out options, I’d like to mention things that you haven’t mentioned that you ruled out, but I will completely understand if they aren’t for you at all. I just want to mention them in case they are new to you. But if you don’t want to read further, or you know it all, it’s OK.  I can see why you’re in a difficult situation, because your symptoms would require hormonal treatment, so things like diaphragms, sponges, spermicide, condoms etc (and less reliable things like cycle planning and withdrawal, which people rely on for contraception when hormonal methods aren’t an option, won’t work for your symptoms, so the options are more limited. In the UK, we have weekly contraceptive patches; I don’t know if that’s something that’s been available or offered to you where you live? We also have things like the monthly vaginal ring; it’s a bit like inserting a menstrual cup or tampon; you do it yourself, which might be less creepy than intrauterine devices that others insert.  There’s also the monthly injection; would that be more acceptable than the implant? Some people who don’t like the idea of the implant prefer injections. It’s OK if that’s also weird for you though; lots of people don’t like injections. In the thread, we already discussed that the hormonal coil can be great for heavy periods, but it involves a small piece of plastic being inserted into the uterus through the vagina, which would make some people uncomfortable; you haven’t mentioned whether that would squick you out, but a lot of people don’t like intimate examinations, so it’d be perfectly OK if this wasn’t an option for you. Some of my medblr friends have commented that it’s possible to have the hormonal IUD inserted whilst you’ve been put to sleep for a procedure; if that would be something you might consider because some people are fine with squicky things if they aren’t awake. Lots aren’t though, so it’s OK if that’s still no good for you. The last method to consider would unfortunately be the most drastic; I’ve known women who opt for a hysterectomy to control their heavy periods. Usually, they will have been investigated for the causes (for example, fibroids or endometriosis etc) before they get to this option, and it can be difficult to get clinicians to agree to carry out major lifechanging surgery like this if you are young or have no children. It’s by no means an easy option, but I mention it because it is right for some people.

I wish you all the best; please feel free to add to the discussion whenever you want :)

[lichtsucherin]

I agree so much! I’ve been fairly upfront with my gynecologist about how I suffer from painful periods but don’t want to use hormones - as I do not need contraception and probably never will due to not being attracted to men. Basically I heard about herbal medicine that for me helps at least partially in regulating my period and making it less painful. My gynecologist was on board with me taking that, but she didn’t actually suggest it to me - there are non-hormonal options though!

[generalistherbalist]

I popped on to remind folks I’m relocated but while I’m here, managing menses with herbs is my JAM. 

1. option one: Seed cycling.  Sounds simple, somewhat hard to be compliant with, very few contraindications.  From bleeding to ovulation, 1 tablespoon fresh ground flax & pumpkin seeds.  From ovulation to bleeding, 1 tablespoon fresh ground sesame & sunflower seeds. No predictable cycle? Go from new moon to full moon, then full to new moon.  How does it work? Nutrition is magic. more explanation from a colleague I went to school with: http://dramyneuzil.com/seed-cycling-for-hormone-balance-gentle-ways-to-restore-normal/ I sometimes do this cyclical thing with herbs too, though that’s generally custom blends. I will note as a side thing that herbal abortions are a thing, but many of the protocols involve being extraordinarily aware of cycle and using an emmenogogue herbal towards the end of the cycle normally, by way of nearly building a physiologic conditioning that x herb equals menstruation time. Generally if my cycle is running a bit late I’ll do vitex and cimicifuga.  side side note, I know the binomial for cimicifuga changed but actea is not as pretty of a word and you can pry cimicifuga from my cold dead hands. I fucking love black cohosh. It’s a hella antispasmodic too. 

2. Hard stop emergency use: Cinnamon erigeron- only if you’re trying to bleed to death. This one has lots of contraindications so def work with a provider. I had someone in the office once that was bleeding so hard they looked like they were heading into shock, dosed them with this on the way to taking them to the ED, and they were totally stable by the time we got there. https://www.herb-pharm.com/product/erigeron-cinnamon/ 3. Tinkering:  is it a muscle issue?         Maybe we need to add magnesium or physical therapy.  is it endometriosis or PCOS?         Diet super matters. Consider looking into something like whole 30, paleo, or mediterranean style diet. Even in cases where diet does not fix things, I have used it to stabilize folks before hysterectomy.  is there past trauma?         Guess what, your brain lives in your body and bodies totally have feelings about trauma. Consider checking in with a decent acupuncturist or trauma informed counselor. If you’re feeling witchy about it, read Wild Feminine by Tami Kent.  are you allergic to your menstrual products?            Lots of people find flow decreases when they switch from conventional products to sustainable products like menstrual cups and panties. Anyone who’s been here for the long haul knows I am a die hard menstrual cup supporter, but recently I tried out those thinx panties and you know what? I liked them better than the cup. Both options are better for the environment and I generally see a decrease in cramping and flow after people switch.  There’s a million ways to tinker with things to decrease bleeding to death from menses, but conventional options can be great too. I went to a hysterectomy in feb for a patient and at a recent follow up she told me “uterus evictions are great! Its really awesome to not be in pain all the time any more!”

[generalistherbalist]

Hey just fyi I’m still cleaning up so I can print for posterity, but I’m all moved to a different url, email, etc. So if all of a sudden someone’s acting like they’ve known you for 10 years out of the gate and you don’t know who the fuck it is, it might be me!  I’m taking a page out of @ladyofthehouse‘s methods, and am snap-blogging. posting and then moving to private? whatever that’s called. Less digital traces this time. 

[juneelite]

When New Yorkers hear a violin 🤣🤣🕺🏾🔥

[generalistherbalist]

Omg I do have to move again

1) we found a place to live, so that’s good

2) there was once a moving masterpost with how to pack and what to bring first. Someone send it to me?

[apolapets-blog]

-HELP SAVE THE HUMMINGBIRDS-

“Many people are unaware of the harmful effects that the red dye in the store bought nectar has on these tiny birds. It leads to kidney failure and eventual death. We are taking donations to continually help in educating people all over the world to stop using the premade nectars and to simply make your own by using 1 cup of granulated sugar in 4 cups of water that has been boiled. Please help fund this important campaign. Every amount will help in a huge way.

I have created a GoFundMe page for donations to help our bird rehabber who works 24-7, 365 days a year using their own money to help save these lives. This money will be sent to her to use to continue to provide resources for the birds. Rehabbers who also help others in other countries such as Mexico who have limited resources to save these lives. We can all help. If we reach our goal and go past that goal, there is a chance we could have an autopsy done on one of the hummingbirds to prove the deadly effects of the red dye on them. 100% of the funds donated will go towards helping the hummingbirds. We are their voice! Thank you everyone! PLEASE SHARE!

Lisa Meyers Swanson”

https://www.gofundme.com/savehummingbirds

_________________

Please reblog, share on Facebook, on twitter, share anywhere you can.

If you can’t donate it’s ok, just spread the world so more people know about it.

People, please do not use red dye néctar on hummingbird feeders.

[witchyfishyfun]

Time to throw away that bottle I’ve been saving for spring damn thank you for this

[todaysbird]

the GoFundMe campaign is over, but this is important to remember. if you can’t find or make your own hummingbird nectar free of dye, plant native plants for backyard hummingbirds instead.

[kittyofinsanity]

PLEASE USE PURE CANE SUGAR From a FB page (Help Save Our Hummingbirds HSOH): “It seems there are many that think they’re helping hummingbirds by using everything but the recommended ratio of water and pure cane sugar which is the closest constituent to flower nectar. 4 parts water 1 part sugar The birds cannot metabolize the items listed below therefore it causes kidney damage/failure and a slow painful death! So please …. DO NOT USE:DYES ORGANIC /RAW SUGAR ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS HONEY KOOLAID JUICES SPORTS DRINKS BROWN SUGAR MAPLE SYRUP ANY TYPE OF SYRUP STORE BOUGHT NECTAR ETC.Raw, organic, turbinado and brown sugar are harmful to hummingbirds. You should only make your hummingbird nectar with granulated white sugar. Cane sugar is preferable, but beet sugar is also acceptable. Don’t use confectioner’s sugar either, as it contains an anti-caking agent. Raw, turbinado and organic sugar is made by taking sugar cane and squeezing out the juice. The juice is then evaporated and spun in a turbine (hence the name “turbinado”) to produce the sugar crystals. These crystals are a golden color and are rich in vitamins and minerals. This is great for humans, but NOT for the hummingbirds. One of the minerals these sugars contain is iron, and hummingbirds have very little tolerance for it. Brown sugar is white sugar that has had molasses added to it. Molasses is rich in iron. Agave nectar also contains iron. Not good for the hummingbirds at all!!Hummingbirds, being very tiny birds with fast metabolisms, must eat a lot of food to survive. Since they are so small, they are susceptible to excess dietary iron buildup in their system. The oversupply of iron is stored in the liver and is toxic to liver cells.If you use ^^^ and claim to see the same birds every year, I’m calling bs because unless your birds are banded, you’ve no idea if the same birds are coming back year after year.If you love watching hummingbirds like you say you do, then please only feed them pure cane sugar and water.NO, you do NOT have to boil the water either. If you do, boil unmeasured water first then measure out your 4 parts water, then add your measured 1 part of the sugar. The water evaporates down abit making the nectar abit sweeter than it needs to be and will not give your feeder extra hang time. The sugar water gets contaminated as soon as the bird’s beak touches the nectar. Change out nectar and clean feeders every 1 to 3 days. DO NOT USE soaps or detergents of any kind to clean the feeders. Only hot water and vinegar. The bird’s can taste the residue from soap left behind and may possibly make them sick or worse.“

[uppityamy]

Oh thank god my broke ass always has used sugar water instead of that red shit

[sushinfood]

i s2g if humanity kills off the hummingbird, the purest bird other than a chickadee, i will give up

[eisenvulcanstein]

The red dye in nectar KILLS hummingbirds. Just use one part pure cane sugar to four parts water. Nothing else.

[generalistherbalist]

They’re also crazy susceptible to mold! So you have to clean your feeders. Sound like a lot of work? Native flowers are good, tend to grow like weeds, and also pull in the hummingbirds. Plus, they help butterflies. Hummingbirds and butterflies like many of the same plants.

[idezwitch]

and i oop-

[rohie-deactivated20191102]

we’re in hell and it’s only going to get worse.

[s-leary]

The bill also requires ectopic pregnancies to be re-implanted in the uterus—a medical procedure that doesn’t exist.

[image source]

[e-v-roslyn]

Jesus Christ

[biokitty]

So:

This bill effectively bans all forms of birth control except condoms, other barrier methods, and the rhythm method/pull out method. No more pills, IUDs, emergency contraceptives, nothing. No tubal ligations, so women won’t even be able to sterilize themselves anymore in order to prevent unwanted pregnancies. 

It also forces women to undergo an invasive, unnecessary procedure in order to symbolically make pro-lifers….feel better? I guess. Removing an ectopic pregnancy and then placing it in the uterus so she can then expel it is completely illogical. Dislodgment of this NONVIABLE pregnancy destroys the placental connections that have formed, effectively removing the blood supply from the embryo entirely. So even if you wanted to believe it was remotely possible for a removed ectopic pregnancy to be reimplanted into the uterus (which it isn’t), you’re effectively going to be implanting an embryo that is guaranteed to have an anoxic brain injury, at the very least, and this will most likely be occurring at the most critical time in neuro development (the first trimester) for that embryo so what exactly are we expecting to be the outcome should this pro-life fantasy even be possible? Severely brain damaged, congenitally malformed, most likely nonviable babies that the mom then has to watch die after giving birth to. Nice.

You’d literally be cutting someone open to remove dying tissue and then invasively insert that dead tissue somewhere else increasing the chance of infection and other complications.

You can treat ectopic pregnancies that have not ruptured MEDICALLY, with MEDICINE. Avoiding invasive surgery is the standard of care across this entire country. Requiring that doctors perform an invasive and unnecessary procedure instead of giving one to two pills to perform another invasive procedure that has no realistic purpose other than to make men feel better is completely unethical and puts doctors in an impossible position? Sacrifice patient safety and care or lose the license you spent at least 11 years working for, go to jail, and have no way to pay back your 6 figure loan debt?

And, finally, how would doctors reimplant this fetus (assuming it’s possible, which it isn’t)? Would they cut open the uterus and put it in there so she can miscarry “naturally”? Doing so would put her at an increased risk of placenta accreta/percreta, uterine rupture with future pregnancies, and pretty much require any future deliveries to take place via c-section which is major abdominal surgery and carries all of the risks that a surgery like that entails. Cutting the uterus open in the first trimester would require a “classical” c-section cut which puts a woman at all of the risks I stated above.

Would they insert it through the cervix? Doing so would require dilation of the cervix with laminaria and put her at risk of ectopic pregnancy on the cervix in the future.

Look. Even if I supported this law, these are legitimate questions and they should be addressed before legislation like this even makes it to the floor. Physicians and other providers MUST be consulted when crafting legislation that affects medical care. This law is telling doctors it is now illegal for them to offer the gold standard for care for treating ectopic pregnancies or providing the most reliable options for birth control available and is REQUIRING them to endanger patients so a bunch of old white guys who hate women and don’t understand biology can feel more powerful by reducing women back to brood mares.

Physicians should not and cannot be used to enforce state-sanctioned or federal laws like this. These laws are not medically ethical and they are not morally ethical and they violate human rights on multiple fronts.

[generalistherbalist]

Guess what, y’all. If you support this bill, you support murdering me, specifically, 8 years ago, to save a person who died then and would have died if removed and moved to the uterus. Anything prosecuting my doctor for saving my life, any delay at all, would have killed me. I was nearly out of blood. I couldn’t stand. I don’t remember the drive to the hospital, though I remember the clouds against the blue just before we went inside. The hospital had a priest come down to pray with my family in the preop room.

I was raised in the most jesusest southern baptist home you can imagine and I would give an abortion in a heartbeat because people who are already alive matter. Women’s choices matter. Restricting access does not make us safer. It makes us more dead. Docs, it’s on us to refuse this bill. You cannot let legislators murder people. We took an oath to do no harm.

[generalistherbalist]

I’m a real adult.

[generalistherbalist]

Typical treatment plans for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) utilize nonpharmacological (behavioral/psychosocial) and/or pharmacological interventions. Limited accessibility to behavioral therapies and concerns over adverse effects of pharmacological ...

I’m having a helluva time finding an acetyl L carnitine that kids can take that tastes good and has consistent certificate of analysis. 

also I’m feeling extremely salty about several of the “diet doesn’t matter” second opinions folks have sought this week. I don’t know what is so hard about “your body is made out of the things that you put inside of your body. If you do not put things to build what you need inside of your body, it will not work right”. Like jfc. I’m pretty sure everyone had to take physiology. Is it so weird that the krebs cycle continues to fucking matter?

[fangirlinginleatherboots]

if you’re an adult that works with kids of any age do me two quick favors:

learn the symptoms of adhd and autism and their presentation in all genders. you dont have to be an expert, just know a bit about it beyond popular knowledge.

learn to recognize signs a kid is being abused in any way. beyond bruises and black eyes. learn to recognize the fearful apologies and hesitation. do some research.

do me these two favors and save tens of lives.

that’s no exageration either. after teaching my mom basics about mental disorders, she started spotting neurodivergent kids in her classrooms and helped them get help. almost every child she’s helped has been diagnosed with the disorder she predicted and none of them would have been diagnosed at a young age without her help. knowing this stuff matters.

learn. save lives. don’t make kids grow up in fear of their symptoms and family.

[turing-tested]

there’s nothing purer or better than how much kids enjoy being picked up and then hurled at soft surfaces

[turing-tested]

anyone who’s ever been around kids for ay meaningful amount of time should know exactly how much kids long to be hefted up and then just fuckin tossed! it’s so good! they’re so excited to get fucking tossed around like a sack of potatoes it’s so pure

[abigboysblog]

Why do kids love it so much? Like I remember when I was a kid at diving practice during the summer, the best part was when one if the coaches would toss you into the deep end. And in gymnastics coaches would toss us into the foam pit. Do kids just have a evolutionary urge to die?

[deanwinchesterisadorable]

https://themilitarywifeandmom.com/why-kids-wont-listen/

“Vestibular sense provides information about where the body is in relation to its surroundings. This is the sense that helps you understand balance, and it connects with all the other senses.

When the vestibular system does not develop properly all other senses will struggle to function properly. Without a strong vestibular sense, kids will have no choice but to fidget, get frustrated, experience more falls and aggression, get too close to people when talking, and struggle with focusing and listening. Because they literally cannot help it.”

“Here are a few ways to support your child’s vestibular sense:

Spinning in circles.

Using a Merry-Go-Round.

Rolling down a hill.

Spinning on a swing.

Going upside down.

Climbing trees.

Rocking.

Jumping rope.

Summersaults or cartwheels.

Using monkey bars.

Skating.

Going backwards.

Swimming.

Dancing.

Wheel-barrel walks.”

Yeeting kids, spinning them, flipping them upside down, tossing them in the air, and otherwise disrupting their balance temporarily, is Important For Their Development, specifically for their vestibular sense.

Kids love this because they NEED it.

[severalowls]

In other words: Don’t forget to calibrate your child’s GPS!

[roseyturtles]

YEET THE CHILD FOR THEIR HEALTH

[hjartaohamast-svohljott]

Hi! Paediatric Occupational Therapist here who yeets children into pillows for a living. It’s actually more than the vestibular system! It’s also giving them proprioception, which is the feeling of your joints and muscles / where your body is in space! 

We all seek proprioceptive input, leaning against walls, pushing against the steering wheel when driving, giving your body a squeeze to wake yourself up, the list goes on! When we ‘crash’ kids into soft things like pillows or beds, we’re waking their bodies up AND calming their bodies down! In other words, getting them into this super nice zone of “just right” regulation. 

When I see a child who is bouncing off the walls and can’t seem to stand still for more than a few seconds? I start wrestling with them, crashing them into pillows, giving their body the right amount of input they need to feel good and organised. And suddenly, this kid is able to sit and play attentively or do their handwriting practice. It’s amazing! If you want to know more about why the vestibular and proprioceptive systems are awesome at making your body feel good, google those two words (and sensory processing) and read through some occupational therapy websites! 

Side note: As adults, does your body ever feel jittering/jiggly/wiggly/like it needs to move or calm down but you just can’t figure out why? That’s your sensory system saying Hey! I need to feel differently in order to function better! Here’s what you can do:

Jump up and down (vestibular and proprioception)

Give yourself big squeezes (proprioception)

Place your hands on a wall and do push ups (proprioception)

Do cartwheels (vestibular and proprioception)

Get someone to give you the biggest bear hug for at least 10 seconds (proprioception and social connection, also proven to help regulate your sensory system into just right zone!)

Get a drink of water and drink it through a straw OR blow bubbles into the water (way more fun!) (oral motor input and respiration)

Have a shower or a bath (tactile)

Stretch and do exercise (vestibular and proprioception)

Eat something crunchy or chewy (like chips or gum) (oral motor input)

Listen to some music that suits your mood (auditory)

etc etc etc! I’m sure you already have a strategy that your body has figured out works for you. I personally like to chew gum when I feel like i need to eat something but I’m not actually hungry and just need that chewing sensation in my jaw. 

Long story short, everyone has a sensory system and we all use regulation strategies like the ones listed above to help make our body feel better. So if you ever see someone (especially kids!) fidgeting and having a hard time focusing, maybe suggest something from the list above!

[roseyturtles]

So what you’re saying is: Yeet OURSELVES for our health.

[generalistherbalist]

“Should be charting, read a book instead” is going to be my obituary

[just-shower-thoughts]

“Fake it till you make it” is not an appropriate advice for aspiring physician.

[modernathenamd]

Except it’s how I survive

[doctorspork]

Hahahahaha the entirety of intern year has been faking it til I make it.

[borborygmus21]

Verified technique for success

[generalistherbalist]

#teamactlikeyouknowwhatthehellyouredoing

[systlin]

How do you make dandelion tea? I’ve tried googling it and the brewing time varies so much but I trust your opinion on tea

Depends on what part you’re making it from If from the flowers or leaves, as you would any herbal tea. Not QUITE boiling, steep for 2-4 minutes. 

If you’re using the roots, that you’ll need to do as a decoction. 

[kyidyl]

Emmymadeinjapan just put up a how to on making a drink from dandelion roots like. A couple days ago; and her vids are great. :)

[generalistherbalist]

Dandelion root is better roasted first, then decocted. P much if there’s a root you should assume 5-10 minutes. Think of it like coffee. Dandelion root tea, when it’s good, should be dark and a little nutty and bitter.

[flyonthewallmedstudent]

The PR exam...

My fingers are tiny. I’m a petite/tiny woman.  When I need to do a PR on a huge guy…  I ended up grabbing the male intern, went up to him and went, “show me your fingers.”. Darn. your fingers are too small like mine.  intern, I feel inadequate for some reason.  Trust me, you don’t want to feel adequate for a PR exam. 

[dxmedstudent]

I wish I had long elegant fingers. It’s not that I don’t like my hands; I do. But as a petite lady I wear a 6 or 6.5 surgical glove size, max.

Long fingers look a bit prettier on men and women, AND they are useful for feeling the prostate. It’s like a win-win.

[monk3ydizziness]

On the subject of hands,

I pity the people who wear size 5.5 gloves. They pretty much don’t exist.

BUT if you’re hands are 8.5, you better not go into GYN. Just saying.

Although, 7 and 7.5 are the first to be out of stock so you’re pretty much hosed no matter what.

[dxmedstudent]

OOH, I’ve always wanted to make a medblr horoscope based on glove size: 5.5 - You are a tiny, rage-filled pixie,possibly moonlighting in making shoes for impoverished  shoemakers on your nights off. You might never feel a prostate in your life, but you could probably be pretty good at escaping out of handcuffs. People are a little afraid of your hands because they seem a little too small, but that only fuels your power.

6 - The kind of person others should fear. Any other glove size than ‘small’ is basically like strapping a bin liner to your hands, but that probably only evens the scale given your manual dexterity. Your hands can do strange things that seem inexplicable given their limited size.

6.5 - Fortuantely, you have the finer details of fiddly procedures, down pat. Which is just as well, because most surgical tools were made for brawny peeps with much larger hands so you’ll feel like a kid borrowing their dad’s tools. There’s always an inexplicable shortage of ‘small’ gloves on the wards, because most nurses and junior doctors are women and therefore slightly more petite, so you’re probably still a little angry from having to dig out new packs of small gloves because nobody took that into account.

7 - You live a charmed existence; small gloves are probably bearable, and large ones probably aren’t the end of the world. You can use most tools and kits without struggling to adapt to their size, though you’re slighty below average in technicality. You can just about feel a prostate gland without having to try too hard, and yet you can examine gynaecologically without horrifying patients with your alien-looking digits; isn’t that all you want out of a pair of hands? You could consider being a hand model if medicine doesn’t work our for you.

7.5 -  The good thing is that your size comes standard with most ready made kits; you’re statistically average for a male doctor, which means most things will be designed with hands just like yours in mind. Out of everyone, you might struggle the least with the manual aspects procedures and surgery for that reason. I’m not calling you basic, but well; I am.

8 - You get to make the most of the reach that your hand span gives you, without struggling too much to find gloves, which makes you relatively chill. This is probably the best size for most tools, but you might struggle with finer, fiddlier details in your procedures because sometimes less is more. On the plus side, you can probably reach the top shelves at work. People might remark that you have big hands, but they aren’t really freaked out by them.

8.5 +  - OK, so people keep telling you that you might have Marfan’s, or at the very least, you’d probably make a good musician with those hands of yours. Unfortunately, you’ll never find gloves that fit you, and patients will probably be a little afraid if you suggest inserting those entrancing, eerily long fingers into any of their orifices. You’re a gentle soul who just wants to be able to do their procedures in peace without having to hunt down ‘large’ gloves, and you’re probably intimately familiar with the feeling of wearing gloves that are too tight to be comfortable.

[pharmdup]

6 but I still gotta concentrate on compounding because I don’t do it as often as a tech. At least I’ve never stabbed myself like my co-resi did! So maybe that counts as good at fiddly things.

Also when I put on a size 6 glove for the first time I felt like Cinderella with the slipper. I had no idea gloves could fit like that.

[generalistherbalist]

7. I do live that charmed life and guitar chords can be a stretch for sure.