#thestuffofmybrain

[thebibliosphere]

Hi, I'm very confused by the ko-fi gold discount. Your post says 10% off, $6 instead of $9, but isn't that 1/3 off? I'm really sorry if I've missed something, I'm exhausted yet unable to sleep so nothing's making a lot of sense.

You know what, I quoted that off their website and I’ve been gently head tilting at it ever since. I think there’s a deal going on on top of that too, cause I didn’t get the discount by clicking on someone else.

[ukftm]

So, I've been on the Exeter waiting list for about 15 months, but it's going to be a very long time until I can start T though them. I am about 90% decided that I'm going to try with Dr Webberley, but there is concerning stuff about her monitoring (or lack of), so I'm going to try to talk to my GP. What should I be asking for?

It would be a good idea to start by making sure that your GP would be willing to do regular blood tests and also see if they would be willing to have a look over them to make sure that there’s nothing concerning there.  You might need to ask them to do blood tests a little more regularly than Dr Webberley suggests if she doesn’t request them very frequently (at least 6 monthly in the beginning would be a good idea).

~ Alex

[ukftm]

For about a week and a half, I've had really bad pain in the left side of my back whenever I sit down, and also sometimes when I'm standing up. I haven't been doing anything differently to normal, so my only guess is it's from binding? I bind all day every day, apart from when I'm in the shower and have done for a bit over a year. Is it possible this is the reason after so long?

It could be related to binding, especially if you’ve been binding so much for an extended period of time.  Even if you’re usually fine binding that long each day you really should be giving yourself a break to allow your body to recover, and it could be that your body has finally “had enough” of being compressed for so long.

If you can, try not to bind for a while to allow your body to heal, or at the very least make sure to give yourself adequate breaks.  You don’t mention whether you wear your binder to bed or not, but this is something that you really shouldn’t do as your breathing naturally tends to become more shallow while you’re sleeping.

If the pain continues then it may be best to get yourself checked over by a medical professional to see if there’s anything amiss.

~ Alex

[autism-asks]

Urgent (I'm going away tomorrow): My friend recently went to a science festival for 16-18 year olds, in London. The theme was something along the lines of "improving lives". There was a lecture on autism which she went to, and wrote about it in a blog. She wrote that they were told about "treatment options for children suffering with autism", and "treatments to try and minimise symptoms", which I find very hard to read, as I'm autistic. My guess is that she didn't know much (if anything) 1/2

before the lecture, so didn’t question what she was being told. I’m seeing her this weekend, and am going to talk to her about it, as an autistic person, to try and show her that most of us don’t view ourselves as “suffering”, and we don’t want our “symptoms” (that make NT people uncomfortable) treated or minimised. Do you have any tips on how to get my point across well, or anything specific that I should mention? Thank you so much 2/2

Addition to my ask about my friend and the science festival: they then performed a DANCE to show the “struggles that people with autism face”, which is a whole new level of WHAT

I’m sorry we didn’t get to this in time.

Honestly, I’d just print out or save the blog post to my phone and systematically go through the entire thing with her, explaining your and the majority of the community’s view on these things.

It’s probably a good idea to preface this by saying that you’re not mad at her or trying to attack her, but this is an important subject to you. (I don’t know if you’re aut to her or not so your wording may change depending on if you are.)

-Wren

[autism-asks]

Hi. I sent an (anon) ask about EHCPs last week (I think, my time perception is quite bad though so sorry if I have got that wrong), but you are answering so many questions I'm struggling to sift through and see if you've answered it yet. Is there any chance you could @ me in a comment if you've already answered it, otherwise could you @ me when you do answer it? Thanks

This is best answered by someone in the UK. Idk if any of you have been diagnosed whilst still in school, or know about EHCPs? I’m really struggling to do most things at the moment, want to get back to school, but I need an EHCP to be able to (believe me, I’ve tried without and schools just don’t care). My mum thinks my issues are more around anxiety (although actually most of its caused by autism things), so thinks CBT will help, and I don’t need an EHCP. How do I show her that’s not how it is?

Unfortunately, our UK mod is currently on hiatus, so I don’t think we’re able to answer this for you. 

-Sabrina

Followers, is anyone able to assist?

[ukftm]

You think we're going to get natesto in the UK? Chase Ross made a video about it last month and it looks a lot easier than normal gel or injections

This answer might help!

~ James