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burninglights · 8 months

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seeing some of you getting snotty about people not having first aid kits & first aid training without advising people on what they should have/what they should know is doing my nut in. without further ado:

First Aid Kits (what should be in yours)

If you’re going to uni/moving out of home, you really ought to have a first aid kit. Small first aid kits are fairly inexpensive and come with basic first aid supplies.

Included in my first aid kit is:

1 card of paracetamol tablets

1 card of ibuprofen tablets

A length of gauze bandage

1 tube of topical antiseptic (I use Savlon or Germolene)

1 tube arnica/bruise cream

30x plasters, assorted sizes

5x long strip plasters

10x antiseptic wipes

3x individually sealed small sterile gauze pads (7cm x 7.5cm)

4 sterile small adhesive dressings (7cm x 5.3cm)

it’s a good idea to also have an emergency card in your first aid kit, with the contact details for your next of kin and any health conditions written on it. They usually come as part of first aid kits anyway, and have a little clear plastic pocket to keep them in.

Also, remember to replenish whatever you use from your kit, and to keep an eye on expiration dates of medications/ointments.

Medication management

If you’re on medication long term (antipsychotics, antidepressants, statins, anticonvulsants, immunosuppressants, insulin etc.) you should have a two week overlap period; where possible, you should order a refill of your medication two weeks before your current supply runs out, so that if there are supply issues, you’re not going to be left hanging.

I’m aware this might not be possible for Americans owing to insurance and reassessment (I’m UK based, and just have to refill by filling out a form available in my GP’s office) and for those on controlled medications (opiates, methadone treatment for addiction, ADHD meds etc).

If you have medication that only requires use in emergent circumstances (ie. an EpiPen or an asthma inhaler), keep track of the expiration dates, and order a refill of your medication ahead of time. Better to have an extra inhaler knocking about for a couple of weeks than to really need one and not have it.

First Aid for Dummies & How to Get First Aid Training

Aif you’re ‘fresh out the womb’ new to first aid, or live somewhere where medical care is inaccessible, I highly recommend Where There Is No Doctor by David Werner and Carol Thuman, which gives step by step guides from scratches, scrapes and rashes up to emergent wound care. It’s not an exaggeration to say that that book kept me and my siblings alive for the first few years of our existencewhen we lived on the edge of the Kalahari 120 miles from the nearest hospital.

few bits and pieces of first aid I’ve picked up, both from training and being the world’s clumsiest son of a bitch:

Z-wrapping for wrists and ankles, especially if you’re prone to sprains. I don’t know how to explain this in a coherent way, so I’ve linked a video of how to do it.

For deep cuts or wounds that bleed a lot, you need to apply pressure and elevate the injury above the heart. It takes a nearly comically small amount of blood loss to become life threatening (blood loss equivalent to half a coke can is considered life threatening in adults) - if the blood is bright red, spurting/gushing, and the blood loss is uncontrolled, or if you have a clotting condition like haemophilia, you need to get to an urgent care centre yesterday. Call 999/911, maintain hard pressure over the wound, and keep the person calm and talking.

If someone has been stabbed an the knife is still in situ, for the love of God do not pull out the knife, or let them pull out the knife. It’s impossible to know what’s been hit without imaging, the knife acts as a seal in the wound; haemorrhage or massive internal injury are not situations you want to be dealing with outside of an acute trauma care setting. Call 999/911 immediately, and keep the injured person calm.

Learn how to recognise the signs of overdose. I went to a Midlands uni that had a reputation as a party uni, and hearing through the grapevine about ODs on nights out wasn’t uncommon. Narcan/Naloxone is a controlled substance in the UK so can’t be bought OTC, but I know it’s available to buy OTC in some parts of America and Canada. If you can, please consider carrying naloxone. If you witness an OD, call 999/911 immediately, and try to keep the person alert. If you have it, administer Narcan.

Don’t fuck with sepsis or meningitis. These diseases move fast, and can turn you into a past participle in as little as 12 hours. Get your MenACWY vaccine, know the symptoms, and call 999/911 immediately if you have the symptoms, especially if there’s been an outbreak in your area or you’ve had close contact with someone who is infected.

If you get bitten by a wild animal, (fox, bat, dog, raccoon…whatever) flushing the wound with water and then getting to A&E needs to become your number one priority. Tetanus, rabies and capnocytophaga infection are no joke: you need boosters/antibodies and antibiotics as a matter of urgency.

Finally, don’t be a hero. You are not John Wick. If someone is injured in an actively dangerous location or situation, the only thing you ought to do is call 999.

You really and truly don’t need to be able to pull a Hawkeye Pierce; the whole point of first aid is that it’s the first line of aid, and gets you to A&E or Minor Injuries so that you can receive professional medical attention.

That said, having a first aid training is incredibly valuable, both because you never know when some fuck shit is about to happen, and because by law most workplaces are supposed to have at least one first aider on staff, so it gives your CV an edge.

In the UK, the St. John Ambulance Trust offers workplace first aid certification, annual refreshers, sports first aid training, AED use & CPR certification and mental health first aid training.

You can also get personal first aid training for adults, children and babies with the British Red Cross for the cost of £37.50, as well as certified workplace first aid certification from £165.

The British Heart Foundation offer CPR training for free via their RevivR program; it takes 15 minutes, and can be used for workplace certification.

#em.txt #first aid #life skills #the fact some of you man were shouting at people for not having *tournequets* at home is a madness.#I’m begging you to pattern up and teach people the basics before you get on ur high horse and bust out the fucking Whiskey #68Whiskey ‘first aid in a war zone’ shit #remember most people don’t get taught this in schools. have some compassion abeg.#usual disclaimer of ‘lab based medicine training; not squishy actively bleeding people medical training’ applies #adventures in biomed #em’s unfortunate childhood comes in clutch yet again lmfao #medicine #street medicine #survival #resources

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marxism-leninism-meowism · 2 years

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Binding Resources (2022)

So, I think we’ve all noticed by now: GC2B’s loss of quality has led to many people desperate for better and safer options for chest binding. In the past few years, their quality has dipped significantly, sizing is unreliable, binders are cheap and low quality so they start to fall apart rather quickly. Not great for daily use, right?

Because of this, more people have been seeking out alternative options. I’ve tried to gather up all the best options (based on word of mouth, as is tradition in our community) into one post. I’ve only tried a few methods personally, but for reference, I am very much plus size and my chest is currently DD cup, historically C cup (when I tried some options).

If anyone has any resources, advice, or personal experience with any of the companies/brands I’ve already included to add, I definitely encourage you to reblog with additions.

Keep reading below the cut for more info!

Tape Binding

TransTape

Price: Recurring Purchase. $20-$25 for starter kit (incl. 1 roll, nip patches, small removal oil, small salve), $13-$17 for single rolls, ~$90 for ultimate kit (incl. 3 rolls, nip patches, large removal oil, large salve). Subscriptions available.

Wearability: Very good, especially for those with existing health conditions such as asthma that limit the use of traditional binding methods.

Binding: Best for D-cup and lower. Success with larger chests vary from person to person.

Purchase Options: US Based. 3″, 4″, 5″ widths. Four skin tones available, plus four colors and one “inked” design.

Risks: Adhesive reactions, cutting off circulation in chest if done improperly, removal can cause irritation and skin tearing.

I've seen a lot of hype around TransTape. First off, the positives: TransTape is amazing at binding without causing breathing issues or back pain. You can wear it constantly, and it’s super helpful on hot days because you can go shirtless and not worry about your chest. It’s waterproof, as well, so it can last through showers and swimming just fine. BUT you need to know the possible downsides before investing in this method. TransTape is rather expensive, so keep the cost compared to how much you’ll be using each time you bind in mind—you’ll have to keep buying it, as well, so it’s not a long-term investment like binders are. This will take trial and error to know how much you’ll use and how long it lasts, because those things are different for everyone—this is not a low budget option.

This option does not come without it’s major issues, though. TransTape can be very harsh on your skin, even if you do the removal process correctly. This isn’t a universal problem, but even if you’ve never had issues with adhesives, test a strip on the thinnest skin on your chest, NOT your arm or somewhere else with thicker skin, specifically your chest. Leave it on for a few days before removing. TransTape has really good adhesives but even for me (someone who has never had negative reactions to adhesives) the TransTape ripped off a whole layer of skin and caused a lot of red rash-like irritation and some bleeding no matter how carefully I removed it. The adhesive also sticks to your skin for a bit, which is a horrible feeling. I know many people that haven't had all these issues with skin irritation but you need to test it before putting it all over your chest.

KT Tape / kinesiology tape

Price: Recurring purchase. $5+ depending on where and how much you purchase. Generic available.

Wearability: Very good, especially for those with existing health conditions such as asthma that limit the use of traditional binding methods.

Binding: Best for B-cup and lower. Success with larger chests vary from person to person.

Purchase Options: Worldwide. Available in multiple skin tones and non-skin tone colors. Many more brands and purchase options available for kinesiology tape than TransTape, so I can’t get more specific, but there’s plenty of options available.

Risks: Adhesive reactions, cutting off circulation in chest if done improperly, removal can cause irritation and skin tearing.

Using KT Tape for binding has roughly the same benefits and downsides as TransTape. Binding with tape does not restrict breathing or cause back pain, which is a huge improvement from standard binding, especially for people with preexisting health issues. KT Tape, however, has a few differences from TransTape. It’s cheaper, which could be a major plus, but it’s kind of taken away by the fact that KT Tape is typically narrower than TransTape, which means the chest size it can effectively bind is going to be lower unless you’re using a lot more of it and being very clever about placement. The only people I personally know that have success with KT Tape have very small chests.

It’s possible to have similar issues with the adhesive as TransTape, so I highly recommend doing the same strip test on the thinnest skin of your chest, same as you’d do with TransTape. I don’t know the specific adhesives used by each company, but I recommend doing a strip test even if you’ve already done it with TransTape, or if you’re buying a new brand of kinesiology tape. I know people who have had skin irritation with TransTape but none with KT Tape, and vice versa. It’s always best to be sure before causing rashes and skin tearing over your entire chest.

Traditional Binders

Underworks

Price: $32.99 (tri-top)

Wearability: Very good, fairly comfortable

Binding: Very good compression, seen recommended up to H cup.

Purchase Options: US based. White, black, and pale beige skin color. Size XS-3X available. (XS: 28-30″, 3X: 49-52″)

Risks: All the risks of traditional binding—back pain, breathing constriction, pain from wearing the wrong size.

I, of course, remember the old days when people warned against Underworks and touted GC2B as the best binder on the market. Those days are long past, however—and Underworks binders have become one of the most recommended brands. The company and its binders are primarily geared toward cis men with gynecomastia, but include trans folks in their descriptions. (In my opinion, the cis male models of their binders do a bit to boost gender euphoria, but that might just be me). Underworks binders are comfortable and tend to be good at compression, depending on the one you get (tri-top seems to be the best at compression, but others are looser and more comfortable.) Underworks binders also have a lower neckline than some other binders, so if you often wear shirts with lower necklines that��s definitely a plus. The main downsides are that their binders only come in three colors, their only skin tone being a pale beige, and they do not carry sizes over 3X. The company is also not queer-run.

**This review is mostly about the Tri-top Chest Binder, as that seems to be the option that binds the best, but the website has other options, including full-length binders and tank binders.

Spectrum Outfitters

Price: $45 / £38.00 GBP / €43.33

Wearability: Very good, very comfortable

Binding: Very good compression, even for large chests (have not heard specific cup sizes for this one, just recommendations from other plus size trans folks)

Purchase Options: UK based. Offered in four skin tones and a large assortment of colors. XXS-7X sizes available. (XXS: 25-27″, 7X: 47.5-49″)

Risks: All the risks of traditional binding—back pain, breathing constriction, pain from wearing the wrong size.

Spectrum is a UK-based company with incredibly comfortable binders that bind well. I’ve only heard good things about this company’s binders, especially in terms of comfortability. The most common sentiment is that they’re more comfortable or equally comfortable than pre-quality dip GC2B, and bind similarly. Their diversity in skin tone is a definite plus, and their non-skin tone colors are all very pleasing to the eye.

However, please keep an eye on the size chart—I’m not making a fuss about the XXS-7X sizing for a reason. The size 7X is equivalent to Underworks’ 3X, so it’s a bit of faux size inclusivity there. I generally fit into 2X/3X clothing, and based on my measurements, a 7X Spectrum binder would very likely be slightly too small for me, which is pretty disappointing.

Shapeshifters

Price: $85 minimum. Additional $22 for zipper in location of choice, $25-32 for a hood, and $1 for a taper-in at the waist. $115 minimum for custom print binders with ANY design—create your own fabric via Spoonflower or pick one another user already created.

Wearability: Very good due to being made to your measurements. Their optional additions, such as the zippers and relaxed fit, make these binders very accessible for folks with disabilities and/or preexisting health conditions.

Binding: Very good compression. Again, I have no recommended cup size, but due to being custom made they tend to be good at binding large chests.

Purchase Options: US based. Custom-made for your measurements with eight free fine-tuning options. Tons of options to customize since they’re made to order.

Risks: All the risks of traditional binding—back pain, breathing constriction, etc.

Shapeshifters is definitely one of the companies I’ve heard recommended most. Aside from being custom tailored to your measurements, they also use relatively comfortable fabrics, and you can even get mesh binders for breathability, or lace binders for the aesthetic. Since they offer a relaxed fit option, as well, I’d recommend Shapeshifters as one of the best traditional binders for those with asthma or other conditions that might prevent other traditional binders. Their zipper add-ons are also very good if you have limited range of motion.

The main downsides are both due to the nature of custom tailored garments: price point and timeframe. The price point is definitely out of range for a lot of low-budget trans folks, but if you have the ability to splurge for a custom-fit binder, it’s definitely a great option. I don’t believe the price point is unreasonably high, because it’s a small queer-run business, but it just isn’t in budget for many. As for the timeframe, you have to keep in mind that these binders are made to order so they will not be getting to you as fast as a pre-made binder from another company.

GenderBender

Price: $61 for half binder, $69 (cue funny number giggles) for full length

Wearability: Good, especially for plus size folks or those with large chests

Binding: Very good, especially for large chests

Purchase Options: US based. White, black, light skin tone, dark skin tone. XXS-6X sizes available. (XXS: 26-29″, 6X: 59-64″)

Risks: All the risks of traditional binding—back pain, breathing constriction, pain from wearing the wrong size.

Now, GenderBender is a new recommendation to me, so I don’t have much to say about them out of a lack of personal experience and lack of specific recommendations from other trans folks. I do want to point out that their sizing is actually size inclusive, unlike Spectrum—GB’s 6X is ten inches bigger than Spectrum’s 7X. GenderBender also offers zipper binders for a very small upcharge (to clear up possible confusion: unlike the regular binders, the zipper binders are split into two listings on their site—plus sizes are under the “zip plus” listing.) Definitely consider getting one of the zipper binders if getting in and out of binders is an issue for you!

They only have two skin tone options and no fun colors for their regular binders, so that’s a bit of a downside. They do, however, offer swim binders in additional colors, and zipper swim binders, which are worth checking out as well.

If anyone has any more information on GenderBender’s quality and fit, feel free to reblog with your experience!

ForThem

Price: $48

Wearability: Comfortable

Binding: Not great—fits like a high impact sports bra.

Purchase Options: US Based. No skin tones, about ten colors. Seem to offer sizes for up to 60″ chests and be custom designed.

Risks: All the risks of traditional binding—back pain, breathing constriction, pain from wearing the wrong size.

ForThem’s The Binder has been all over social media ads lately, so of course I had to include a section on it. From what I’ve heard, The Binder is comfortable, but does not bind well—rather, it fits like a high impact/compression sports bra, which is not going to give the compression and flattening most trans folks are looking for.

The website is also hellish to navigate. It took me forever to figure out how their sizing works, due to the “aesthetic” names they’ve given sizes and the way the site is almost impossible to navigate. They also require your phone number to even see the size you need. I could not find out if they offer upcharges for sizes or if they even offer add-ons, either.

I don’t personally recommend this brand, even without having tried it myself—judging by the experiences of others who have tried it, it’s just not worth it. Also: flash/strobe and eyestrain warning for the website, if you plan on checking it out.

Special Mentions

Paxsies - I know very little about this brand, so any personal experience with them is welcome. Only offer up to size 2X.

TomboyX - Offers compression tops, but I don’t believe they are proper binders. Potentially a good option for those that can’t handle traditional binders due to breathing problems. There’s also the issue with TomboyX’s branding being a potential dysphoria point for some.

Binding Info

Now that you’ve got a good picture of all the binding options available, I’m going to take this time to note all the risks and tips I’m personally aware of. These may all be a given for those experienced with binding, but if you’re new to it, please make sure to keep these things in mind!

First, no matter what binder you choose to get, you MUST make sure you buy the right size. Do not downsize with binders—there are so many dangers, from breathing restriction all the way to breaking ribs (yes, that last one has happened). You may, however, size up with little detriment to the binding capability of the binder, and sometimes it makes a world of a difference for comfort. Do not layer binders, as well: that’s a recipe for disaster.

Remember that your comfort comes first, and you do not have to sacrifice comfort for a good bind. Pain does not mean the binder is making you flatter. In fact, it could be just the opposite, depending on the binder.

Give yourself frequent breaks, and do not bind for more than eight hours. If you can, carry a sports bra with you if you plan on leaving home with your binder, so you can quickly change if the binder begins to cause breathing problems, begins to cause pain, or you’re required to run/exercise for any reason.

For large chested folks: I highly recommend zipper binders. Your binder size does not typically change based on cup size, but it WILL be more difficult to get in and out of the binder—a problem that is typically solved with zipper binders.

Keep in mind that if you have a large chest (as in, larger than C or D cup, typically) you will most likely not achieve a perfectly flat chest. Binders can’t make the tissue disappear—they just redistribute it to appear much flatter. Do not downsize if you can’t achieve a flat chest. It will not help, it will just cause you pain and potentially injury. If it helps, look up cis men without shirts—they are rarely flat, whether it be a product of exercise creating buff pectorals, or plus size men having extra chest tissue due to their weight.

Final Notes

These are ONLY the companies I’ve heard frequent mentions of and know enough about to include. Again, if anyone has any more recommendations or additions, PLEASE reblog with your experience—I highly value all input from other trans folks. Even if your experience is contradictory to what I’ve written here, your experience is valuable to give everyone the most information possible to make an informed decision.

Thank you for taking the time to read through this! I hope this post can help at least a few of you with your binding journeys. You all deserve all the love and respect in the world, so know that you are loved, appreciated, and affirmed, even if the people currently in your life don’t.

-bjorn

#trans #trans men #transmasc #binding #chest binding #binding resources #binder #transgender #transmasculine #trans boy #lgbtq #lgbtq resources #resources #nonbinary #afab #plus size

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evolutionsvoid · 10 months

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It should be no surprise that when someone thinks about the dangers of the wild, most tend to focus on the animals. How could you not? With razor claws, huge fangs and a hunger for flesh, it's just like in all those horror stories or pulp novels! Though I argue that not every place is filled to bursting with bloodthirsty beasts, it is important to understand what species live in the environment you are visiting and which of them may be aggressive or territorial. But it isn't just animals that may pose a problem when delving into wild forests, jungles and other such biomes, as plants and fungi can be just as dangerous or even more! Stinging leaves, sharp thorns, infectious spores and so much more! Part of their danger is the fact that most people don't pay them any mind, and don't realize the threat until they step right in it. It's just a flower, what could it possibly do? Well, it depends on what species you are dealing with, ranging from "itchy skin rash" to "looks like we will have to amputate." Sound extreme? Believe me, I am not exaggerating here. There are tons of dangerous plants and fungi, and I don't just mean ones that are bad to eat. At least those ones you can avoid by not being an idiot and not shoving unknown specimens in your mouth. Just get a plant ID book and don't eat stuff you can't identify exactly. But back to my original point! What I was saying is that there are indeed flora and fungi that can ruin your trip to the woods and your life on this planet. The Manus Bloom is a very good example, as most people think it just some pretty flower or funky plant until they decide to admire it up close.

The Manus Bloom is an active plant that spends a good portion of its life unrooted. Their stalk is incredibly flexible and lets this plant move and coil like a snake. They do have roots at their very end, as they do grow from the ground as a seed. When they reach maturity, however, they uproot themselves and take on a more mobile life. The full grown ones can still bury their roots in the earth from time to time to absorb soil nutrients, or parasitically latch themselves to a much larger plant. At the other end is a impressive display of leaves, splayed wide in a hand-like arrangement. Their pink coloration causes people to think they are petals and that the whole structure is a flower, but the real bloom is not so obvious. When it is the season for flowering and pollination, a thin stalk emerges from the center of the leaves, tipped in a tiny flower. Here is where the pollen is produced, formed in sticky packets. Manus Blooms do have pollinators, typical bees and wasps, which is why the flower is positioned so far from the main body. It turns out, those leaves aren't just there to be pretty.

If you were crazy enough to get a closer look at these leaves, you would notice a vast amount of pores dotting their pink surface. The faint shine of liquid would reveal to you a glue-like substance that leaks from these openings. The hand-like arrangement of leaves are absolutely soaked with this adhesive, which is useful for catching food. Manus Blooms are carnivorous, using their colors and sticky fluid to trap insects and other small critters. It is why their flower is kept far away from their leaves, so that their pollinators don't fall for this trap. Other creatures will see it as just another plant, or be lured in by the sweet smell they give off. Some folk suggest that even the shine of the fluid may fool some prey into thinking there is water trapped in its open leaves. However they are lured in, they will soon find their doom if they make contact with the leaves. The fluid is a potent glue, and it gets prey stuck real fast. Most attempts to escape from its grip only causes them to get further coated in this mucilage, ensuring there is no escape.

To help speed up the process or snare prey that is too wary, the Manus Bloom will manipulate its own leaves like fingers, grabbing nearby prey or squeezing them in folded leaves to further coat them. The serpentine stalk lets them coil up and launch themselves at quick speeds, perfect for nabbing victims that refuse to get close. Once prey is caught, the secondary effect of the mucilage will reveal itself. The fluid isn't just a glue, but a digestive enzyme, and a potent one at that. It will begin to eat through prey like acid, melting them down so that their nutrients can be absorbed by the leaves. Hopefully prey suffocate themselves on the glue before this kicks in, because I imagine it is a pretty painful way to go. When prey is reduced to a fully digested goop, it will wipe its leaves off on a nearby tree or the ground to dislodge the bits it can't absorb.

Manus Blooms are ambush hunters, though they don't do much to actually hide. They tend to latch themselves to trees and other tall vegetation, so that they are exposed to passing prey and are easier to see. When positioned, they remain perfectly still, acting like any other rooted plant. This way, their small prey can spot them and move in for a closer look. However, it turns out that the Manus Bloom doesn't just eat bugs and tree mice, as they are more than happy to grab hold of a meatier meal. When positioned at the right height in the forest, their sticky hands can grab hold of passing beasts. Larger animals may not notice them as they travel, and may accidentally bump into one as they navigate the sea of vegetation. The mucilage lets them to stick to hair and hide, and the Manus Bloom lets go of its perch to hitch a ride. It will secrete even more glue to cement itself to the flesh and it will begin to digest.

At some point, the beast must notice the burning sensation in their side, and realize this thing is literally eating a hole into them. Some may try to shake them loose, but the glue makes their grip unbreakable. Their only hope is to violently rub the parasitic Manus Bloom against a nearby tree or rock, as that can damage the plant enough that it bails. They can take a surprising amount of punishment, but eventually they will call it quits if they are beat around enough. They will break their hold and drop off the animal, but this tends to remove a hefty layer of skin and digested flesh with it. Even with the plant dislodged, the left behind glue will continue to burn away for a good while after. If you ever see a beast in the woods with a horrible burned hole in their side, know that they had a run in with a Manus Bloom.

So these plants are capable of latching onto larger creatures and burning away their flesh with acidic glue. Sound horrifying? Well, we aren't done yet, as the Manus Bloom isn't always a patient hunter. With their snake-like movements and coils, they can actually choose to attack nearby creatures, launching themselves at food that is just close enough. So even if you don't physically touch one, they may decide to close the gap. This is why I said getting a closer look at one is a bad idea, as even being near them means a chance they may spring forward like a viper and grab hold. Some may dangle from branches and drop down on prey, or they may use their hand-like leaves to take a swing! Another, less elegant, name for the Manus Bloom is "Slapper," as they can whip their bodies around and slap that sticky hand onto anything within reach. And once they are on, it is almost impossible to avoid getting burned. Don't even bother trying to pull them off, it won't work. Even if you had the strength of troll, you would just rip the plant to pieces and still have them glued to your body. Instead, you need to find a knife or properly sharp object and start carving it off, doing your best to slip the blade between the plant and your skin. I will warn you, it isn't easy! Slicing it up and peeling it off is your best bet, but accept the fact that you are going to lose skin doing it. Minor burns and cuts are acceptable, when compared to having an entire chunk of your limb or body being melted off. Waiting for it to finish and drop off on its own isn't an option, unless you want to lose some weight real fast and real messily.

I hope I painted a nasty enough picture when describing these things, because Manus Blooms are real bad customers for those who travel the wilds. People who are forging a path and not paying attention will bump into one and have it latch on, resulting in a frantic struggle to get it off. I have heard of folk who have lost arms and legs to these plants, having it eat enough flesh off that an infection later sets in and the limb has to be amputated. There are even some tales of those who decided to admire it or perhaps leaned in to smell some of that sweet aroma. Having one of those latch on to your face? Yeesh, I don't even want to imagine that. Maybe the best option there is to find the fastest and most painless way to die before you get the sensation of that glue eating through your face and eyes.

Obviously, locals despise these plants and destroy them whenever they find them. Even dryads aren't a fan, as they will happily latch onto anything that moves. Even if the glue doesn't fully eat our flesh like it would meat, it does cause a burning itchy sensation and the glue is capable of smothering us. The existence of the Manus Bloom makes it extremely important to wear protective gear when traveling into the unknown. Layers of clothing that covers you from head to toe helps a whole lot. If the Slapper gets a hold of your clothing instead of your flesh, then you can rip that sleeve off and cast away the horrid plant before it can cause any actual damage. Dryads have also been able to create a thinning fluid to help counteract the glue and acid, making it easier to scrub it free from your body and also lessening the burn of the enzyme. Even then, any encounter with a Manus Bloom is a panicked one, and I am glad to have never gotten one on me. Let this entry be a reminder that stopping to smell the roses should only be done when you are absolutely sure those are only roses....

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

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"Manus Bloom AKA The Slapper"

Another entry to help represent the other kinds of carnivorous plants of the world! Pitcher plants and flytraps stand aside! Now is the time of the butterwort! FEAR THE SLAPPER!

#plant monster #butterwort #carnivorous plant #monster #creature #art #drawing

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oneshortdamnfuse · 10 months

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I have intestinal malrotation, which basically means that I was born with my intestines arranged incorrectly inside me. I have abdominal scars and abdominal adhesions from a car accident, as well as from a cholecystectomy - or rather, I had my gallbladder removed. So, I can’t digest fats. I am diagnosed with IBS, but what that really means is that they don’t know what’s wrong with me. I can’t eat wheat, dairy, alliums, legumes, and many cruciferous vegetables without pain. I can’t eat acidic foods without pain either, because I also have GERD / silent reflux. My flare ups cause stomach acid to travel all the way up my throat to my nose and ears.

I have sinus pressure, pain, and congestion just about every day. There is always pressure in my ears, and a low ringing noise. Occasionally, the tinnitus is louder. I can hear, but I can’t process sound very easily. I have positional vertigo, and I feel dizzy frequently. I also have allergies, asthma, and eczema. I have contact dermatitis, so certain materials against my skin will give me a rash. My chest feels tight most days. I am intolerant to heat, and I can get dangerously overheated very easily. My heart beats very fast from various triggers including caffeine, sugar, heat, stress, dehydration, and any kind of exercise. I also get palpitations just laying on my left side.

I have paresthesia in my limbs - the “pins and needles” sensation you get when a limb “falls asleep,” but mine do that every day multiple times a day regardless if I am sitting, standing, or walking. I have sprained my fingers and my toes multiple times. I have sprained both ankles multiple times. I was wearing knee and ankle braces and finger and wrist braces on and off throughout my life. I broke the transverse process in my lumbar spine from a car accident, and I still have pain from it. I also struggle with restless legs, insomnia, and daytime fatigue. I am obsessive compulsive, and I’ve had tics. I have anxiety and panic attacks, and likely (C)PTSD, too.

Yet.

All of this, and I still wouldn’t necessarily qualify for disability especially since these conditions individually aren’t necessarily considered “serious.” Tell me why I or anyone who has to live like this shouldn’t consider ourselves disabled, especially when we exist in the hell that is the You’re Undiagnosable, so Drink More Water and Stop Being Anxious “diagnosis” that prevents us from getting answers. When I say I can’t do things, people assume I am being lazy or I don’t care. The reality is that I spend most of my days pushing my body to the limit as I work with all these invisible conditions, and then spend all my free time recovering.

At some point, there’s power in being able to self determine disability.

#rant /#text post

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kenobihater · 2 months

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protips for anyone going on nicotine replacement therapy with OTC treatments (this is mostly abt patches):

- sleeping with a patch on can fuck up your sleep. i already have insomnia as it is, so i recommend taking yours off before bed if you're also an insomniac

- supposedly you can shower or bathe with them on, but considering mine will peel off if i sweat even a little bit, i wouldn't recommend it. the adhesive is stronger than a medical sensor patch, but it isn't as strong as say a long term heart monitor patch, so don't expect it to hold up to much movement and try and avoid placing it near the bend in your elbow or near your pits bc Sweat

- i have yet to make it through a full day without my patch peeling off, despite washing both the application site and my hands with soap and applying according to directions. i've heard you can tape them down with medical tape, so i'm gonna try that today

- it takes a while to kick in. for me it's usually abt 3 or 4 hours, and apparently it takes about 8 to level out.

- it can itch for anywhere from 15 mins to an hour, and mine gets a little hot for a while and even a bit red around the edges, but i haven't broken out in a rash and the mark fades after a day of removal (if yours doesn't fade within 24 hrs, stop using), so i think this is just due to my incredibly thin and sensitive skin

- because it takes a while to kick in, i supplement with nicotine gum in the morning and after my stupid patch inevitably falls off. you're supposed to reapply another if one falls off, but 7 days of step 1 is nearly 30 bucks and i'm not paying for that shit lmao

- don't wait until you're completely out to go buy more in case you either fuck up the application or your patch comes off early in the morning on your last day. i've not made it past my first week yet, but i'm planning on buying more on day 6 bc withdrawals are a bitch

- rotate application sites! don't place it in the same spot sooner than once a week to avoid irritation

- read the instructions and keep them on hand. mine came with a schedule as well, so use that for reference

- both nicotine patches AND gum can be very dangerous to kids and pets. save your patch wrappers in the box and place your used and folded patches back inside and then keep the box away from Creatures. throw the box away in a secure trashcan after you run out to lessen the likelihood of a little guy getting ahold of it. make sure you wrap your gum up in a tissue and throw it away in a secure trashcan as well

- related to above, for the love of GOD don't let a kid get ahold of your gum. they're way less likely to mess with a patch, but kids love gum, and so be super careful abt that!

- for anyone with stomach problems or sensitive stomachs: in my experience, chewing the gum even as directed (aka very slowly, PLEASE check instructions) can upset your stomach. to avoid this, don't swallow your saliva and instead spit into a cup. that sounds gross and frankly IS gross, but it's better than getting terrible acid reflux, nausea, or hiccups. just think about it like dip i guess

- the gum acts way faster than the patch. like, within 3-5 mins. so it's good for a quick hit if the patch isn't cutting it

- try and taper off gum usage over time

- this should be obvious, but throw out your cigarettes and/or vape and get rid of your ashtray

#len speaks #just some friendly tips from a guy who has a myriad of health problems and needs to quit even though he Doesn't Want To #idk how many of y'all even smoke but like. this was shit i had to find out through trial and error so i wanted to spread the word #feel free to rb i guess? idc if you do but i'll probs rb this periodically in the hopes it'll help someone

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trishmishtree · 9 months

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ugh

idk if I blogged about this before, but a little over 1 month ago, I was getting ready for work one morning when I swiveled out of my desk chair, and my knee happened to get caught on the sharp edge of the metal drawer handle on my desk. I didn’t think anything of it at the time, since I’d already scraped myself on that same handle like 2 other times and they were no big deal. But then I went to the bathroom to clean my knee, maybe put a bandaid over it...and that was when I noticed it wasn’t a scrape, it was an actual open gash...and there was blood on the floor.

Now, as a PCP, I am admittedly a Bad Patient. I haven’t seen my PCP since before I graduated med school, and the last time I went and got seen for anything acute was when my cat bit me in 2020 (bc you don’t fool around with puncture wounds from cat bites, get that shit on antibiotics ASAP). So I was prepared to clean the cut and then slap a bandaid on it and go to work. I had a full morning of office patients to see, didn’t want to be late to work, etc etc. But the cut on my knee was a little longer than a bandaid could cover properly, and it happened to be on the extensor surface of the knee, which meant that the skin would be under tension every time I bent my knee (which is a lot of times, because walking and stuff), which would result in the wound reopening with every step I take. All of which was to say I diagnosed myself with Laceration That Needs Stitches. So I had no choice but to call off work, wrap my knee in gauze to stop the bleeding, and hobble to my car and drive to urgent care, where they promptly agreed I needed stitches.

That should have been the end of the story, except that for the first few days I didn’t want to bend my knee because, again, that puts tension on the affected area of skin, and I didn’t want the wound to re-open or the stitches to tear out. So to keep my knee straight, I wrapped it in Coban, which is a latex-containing self-adhering bandage that doesn’t actually contain any actual adhesive but just sticks to itself. You know, this stuff:

Funny enough, the Coban the urgent care gave me to go home with was actually a near-perfect match for my skin tone, so when I went back to work later that morning, most people wouldn’t have guessed anything had happened if they didn’t see me limping around. The Coban helped keep my knee straight, but I was still able to bend it a little bit. This becomes a problem. Not for the front of my knee where the laceration and sutures were, but for the back of the knee where the Coban would bunch up and dig into my skin whenever I bent my knee.

As the days went by, I noticed that the back of my knee (the part that was bunched against the Coban dressing) was starting to get itchier and itchier. I thought it was just from the pressure of the bandage partially cutting off circulation to the skin in that area, so I loosened the Coban when I redressed the area. But the itching persisted, so I switched to a cotton gauze wrapping, with an Ace wrap over that. But by then, I had already developed a contact dermatitis rash on the back of my knee. So then I had to get hydrocortisone to put on the back of my knee to treat the contact dermatitis, in addition to the Bactroban I was putting on the laceration to keep it from getting infected. Apparently I must have developed a latex allergy at some point during my medical career, so that’s no more Coban for me.

Anyway, that was a month ago, and the laceration has mostly healed (it’s a bright red, slightly hypertrophied scar now) but I STILL HAVE A RASH ON THE BACK OF THE KNEE. Most of the initial rash has resolved, but there were a couple spots that kept itching. I didn’t want to keep applying the hydrocortisone for longer than 2 weeks (because side effects with prolonged use), so I stopped after the first 2 weeks. But the itching persisted. So I put a (latex-free) bandaid over the itchy spots to stop myself from scratching them open.

But now I have a new contact dermatitis rash over the parts of the back of my knee where the sticky parts of the bandaid had been. So apparently now I’m allergic to adhesive too? But only on that knee? Since I’ve put bandaids on elsewhere since the drawer handle incident, and haven’t had an issues anywhere else??? What the fuck.

#i just want my knee to go back to normal is that too much to ask?#life updates #medblr

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2n2n · 1 year

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x tsukasakxn

Can you do a theory about this :'(

Oh I wish. I wish I had anything approaching a theory about what is going on with this stage of Amane beyond some thoughts about the ropes. I’ve talked a bit overall about the nature of whatever was going on between them, here, in my perspective. Mostly it debunks a few common theories I see about them.

Speaking honestly, I don’t actually... think anything was overtly suggestive. I’m losing a battle of will as a fujoshi when I think about suckbruise. Aida is my tormentor for putting a small bruise-like neck wound on Amane. I-- don’t think he’s actually got... hickeys. Tsukasa strikes me as very ignorant of sensuality and relationships (his idea of them is so childish....) and, I don’t see him really inventing a concept as bizarre and impromptu and incredibly specific as a hickey. MUCH LESS pairing that with.... WHATEVER the Yugi are doing. I... can’t convince myself it was so luxurious or.... exciting. most of the time

.... however, he has an oral fixation and likes to put things in his mouth in general, so even without any ‘intention’ or decisive purpose, he could... do something that is weird, even if it wasn’t the intended purpose? This is me losing the battle of will.

.... the shape and appearance of Amane’s wounds look like dragging scrapes and blunt impact wounds, to me (and rope burns, obvs). He looks like he’s been thrown around a room, skidded across a floor or dragged around, with a lot of shallow scrapes collected around specific areas with a center wound that has just broken skin. The head wounds make me think he’s being smashed into the floor, wall, etc.

they don’t look like clean, decisive cuts made with any tool. They look more incidental, a result of rough treatment. A sort of road rash... maybe being dragged against wooden floors or asphalt, concrete.

.... which makes logical sense for what one could visualize easily as Tsukasa’s physical preference. So hands-on.

The head and arm wounds make a kind of sense to me, I can imagine the physical behavior that would result in those sorts of marks. Especially if Amane’s arms are bound behind his back or something... being kicked/smashed/dragged around, he wouldn’t be able to defend his face, his forehead/cheek might scrape the floor, his arms would be scraping, rolling around harshly. Really, I like how the rope burns and head/face scrapes paint the picture of someone who can’t raise their arms to shield their face. It rewardingly comes together as a set of wounds.

... but the neck wound is so specific.... if you were just being thrown around a room, how... would you.... acquire a small, insular little neck wound? Why is it flanked by tinier marks? MmMmMaybe its just adhesive remnants rubbing his skin from previous bandaging. It’s not as dramatic nor shaped in any way like a knifewound or a throatslash, why is it on the SIDE of his neck? Even if you’re bound up around the wrists, you could tilt your head protectively, wouldn’t you have to crane your head to the side or be moved to do so, in order to access such a shallow, small, intimate area? His tiny tiny neck, you’d have to want to get there. Right? Why is it the opposite side to his cheek booboo... You’d have to really crane something in under his JAW and SHOULDER! If I threw you against the floor, you’d get a scuffed or bruised cheek, shoulder, head, but your neck would not strike anything to bruise. And who is... like, doing a tiny punch or smack to the side of someone’s neck? And so small, what, Tsukasa is karate chopping Amane’s neck? Sometimes a stupid hickey becomes Occam’s Razor 😭

in conclusion Aida is my enemy

anyway this post comes with a reminder that for as intense as all of this is, we don’t know why it was happening, or whos idea it was. The only thing we know is that Amane allowed it to transpire and rejected help.

#avvy's JSHK #I'm sooo rational. ♥ unless I'm not yes I am. No♥

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augustdementhe · 1 year

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Looking at the NOT RECLUSE criteria and my behavior I really can determine that this is what happened to make my tit crater.

Watching some part of your body actually, literally begin to dissolve is a serious trip.

I got the dry skin with two teeny pale pinpricks at the center, and then within a couple weeks, I had the outer skin fall off, then the inner skin bleed nonstop, and then flesh soup.

I did okay in only washing it (pre soup) with saline and rubbing in some Texas Hemp and Honey CBD pain rub (nonsponsored plug, just a great recommendation) not ON but around, to help pain.

Where I messed up most was putting on sticky bandages and showering as usual. The spot bandages came off in showers, and then the burn bandages WERE great stickers and waterproof, and did keep any secondary infections and irritation out, but the strong adhesive wasn't conducive to healing having to be yanked off, even if it wasn't the directly affected area.

The right way to go was sanitary gauze and paper tape instead.

I also fucked up by squeezing the wound, both purposely to check the depth, and incidentally as I INSISTED on rolling onto my bad side out of habit because it wasn't that bad at the time and squishing it.

Because I'm black, the 'red' one can expect was a darker than usual brown by the time I noticed the dry skin. If it were ever red, I missed it, but considering the bereavement I was under at the time I'm not surprised.

However I DID develop a red, itchy rash on my opposite shoulder at the same time, which I attributed to the stress of travel. I have marks from it still, but they don't photograph well. Should have gotten them while they were still bright red. It's also very likely that the dizziness I THOUGHT was from getting off another, unrelated medicine was either entirely due to the bite OR compounded by it.

I'm guessing that I got bitten because I had to dig for a suitcase for traveling to my grandmother's funeral and the spider either got me then, or hitched a ride and got me after I changed into a shirt it hid in, poor thing.

But now this DOES mean I need to sweep through the house fully clothed, get EXTRA serious about getting rid of all the excess cardboard boxes, and let my neighbors know what to be aware of.

Not sure if the building will need to be fumigated, but honestly considering how many boxes I've had stored in a garage and then in my home...it's probably pretty isolated and I can just fog my own house.

I'm also worried that now the spider is hanging out in the hotel we had, and whether my cousins and future guests might be at risk. It's still winter, and although these spiders aren't aggressive, this whole deal has SUCKED (though not as much as it could have).

So far I've been given a couple of antibiotics, one of which was probably prescribed just in case it was a staph infection. I'll be finishing them dutifully no matter what.

My pain does seem to be lessening--it only hurt when poked but the pain got more severe with accidental brushing, or the weight of my breast moving if I rolled onto my side. Now any given flop is less bad, but I'm doing the hand bra thing and babying it as much as possible. There's still a very 2 level pain low under the same underarm, but the itching radiating out to the nipple is leaving me. Whether this is due to the bite or the bite combined with hormone stuff that leaves me with expected breast pain leading up to my menses is still up for debate.

This has been an eye opening experience, and as always I recognize my privilege in getting to a nearby medical facility staffed with supportive black doctors.

I expect a full recovery very soon, but I'm interested in seeing what my scar will look like.

#Mint's Dear Diary #Sore Story #Brown Recluse

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aldiazjr · 1 year

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Good morning to all my Facebook friends. First, thank you for your prayers. I have to share with you about what this new product do for me in less than 24 hours. I’m allergic to adhesive tape and I get skin a very bad rash. When I got home last night at 9:00pm 3/25/23 I notice my left arm where the IV was place, the nurses used adhesive tape and my skin had a really bad burning red rash. I took out my new product and applied to the area. This morning at 10:30am 3/26/23, the rash was almost gone. Still had some redness but wasn’t burning like last night. Going to apply it again today and will follow up with another update. You may be asking yourself what is in this new product! DM for more details. #xanthomyst #aldiazjr1 #businessmen #dontletanyonestealyourdream #whatsyourdream #God #dreambig #jesuschrist https://www.instagram.com/p/CqROI9YJX-K/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#xanthomyst #aldiazjr1 #businessmen #dontletanyonestealyourdream #whatsyourdream #god #dreambig #jesuschrist

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cyberneticlagomorph · 2 years

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The cuffs are off now, but the strips of spell-tape around your wrists remain so you couldn't cast a spell or shapeshift even if you wanted.

The adhesive is giving you a rash.

"OK but," your voice is strangled, nasal as you shove wads of fast food place napkins up your nostrils to staunch the bleeding. "What does this have to do with me?"

Everything smells like fries.

The new girl-Agent, Beth, points at the computer screen again.

A single tab is opened to a conspiracy theorist forum called "redstring.board".

A thread about a game called "Ursumbra" and questions about publicity stunts, linked to videos showcasing more creatures like the one you were mistaken for.

Not all of them are rabbits.

"We're giving you a chance to prove your innocence." Says Beth.

"No, you're forcing me to do your dirty work." You reply, leaning forward to keep the blood in your nose from sliding down the back of your throat.

You're gonna throw up a huge clot later, you can FEEL it.

"Same difference." Grumbles the previous Agent, who's being about as useful as the P in pterodactyl.

His name is unimportant, or would be if he'd actually given it to you… so you're just gonna call him Beef (in your head) for now.

"I don't see why I should care, you guys seemed perfectly happy to kick my shit in and pin everything on me five minutes ago." You gesture to your ruined face.

Beef scowls but doesn't speak, Beth offers you a smile that is probably meant to be sympathetic or apologetic or some other -etic you don't know about but just comes off as patronizing.

"Well, you did maim an officer." She says, as if biting off a finger is anywhere near the same ballpark as what you just went through.

The officer in question had it coming, but that's a different story entirely.

Beth leans forward, hands on the table, until you're both eye to eye.

"Even if this specific charge doesn't stick, your file is practically a phone book… I'm sure we could find something to pin on you, no matter how small." Her head tilts, pastel green hair tumbling to one side, "It would be in your best interest to cooperate with us."

Your eyes narrow and you open your mouth to say something intensely vulgar but your jaw goes slack and your body numb.

Beth smiles again, all perfect white teeth and eyes the color of mint chip ice cream.

Complete with little brown flecks.

She's so pretty

And so close.

Too close.

You feel cornered.

Somehow Even More than you did when you were fully restrained.

Something behind this woman's eyes makes you feel sick and scared, and oh so very Very small.

Mesmer.

She's a fucking MESMER.

You can feel the fingers of her magic pluck at your heartstrings and apprehension, quite literally playing you like a fiddle.

Your heartbeats thunder in your ears as you seem to fall headlong into those deep green pools.

Human Mesmers are dangerous in ways that Fae and vampire Mesmers aren't.

They don't have the same kind of restrictions or restraint, they find loopholes that were never meant to be used.

"My partner and I are gonna step outside for a bit and give you time to rethink our offer, ok?" Beth's voice sounds so far away but it feels like she's unscrewed your skull and poured every bit of herself into you.

It hurts.

Your brain feels like it's trembling.

Boiling alive in its own juices.

You can feel yourself nodding and smiling against your will, your body nothing but her puppet now.

And then she blinks, and you're free.

The breath you weren't aware you were holding comes rushing back into you and you go as limp as a rag doll as the two Tower agents leave the room.

Exhaustion pulls you under.

You rest your cheek on the table, and feel the coolness of the metal seep into your aching bones.

Your breathing slows, your eyelids finally slip closed, and by the time the overhead lights start to flicker and dim you're already crying.

You just want to go home.

They leave you there for what feels like hours.

The silence soaks up your thoughts and spits them back at you.

Until there's nothing but a loop of your own fears feeding back into themselves over and over again.

Until you panic.

By the time the Agents come back, you're wild eyed and wrapped around their fingers.

It's not the threats that get you, it's the confinement.

The silence.

The solitude.

You can handle all the physical pain in the world, but the second you're alone with yourself you start to fucking unravel like a cheap sweater.

If they found something else to pin on you, then every day would be like this.

The silence, the solitude.

Just give in.

Swallow your pride and just

Give

Beth sits at the table, loudly eating an order of fries.

Your stomach doesn't growl so much as it convulses as if it's trying to eat itself.

You haven't had anything to eat or drink since they brought you in and you can't even remember when that was.

"So," Beth begins, speaking with her mouth full just to taunt you. She can see the madness in your eyes and it DELIGHTS her, "It's a deal then?"

#ic #action post #police brutality #mind control #injury #ask to tag

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