(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best personal care products

As the person with the Eroscillator that is not Epiphora's, I have to say that if I bought one once I have returned the one that I have on loan, I would shell out the extra cash for the Top Deluxe. Or I might not even buy one.

To be honest, I mean... I like the Eroscillator okay, and I orgasm well enough with it, but I think it was overhyped. And it pains me to say that. As someone who lusted after the Eroscillator since 2011 (think about your reaction when you read that review four hours ago - that was me until the summer of 2013) it is a bitter pill to swallow: the idea that maybe the Eroscillator isn't for me. The only reason I would bother reviewing it is to tell everyone that it isn't one-size-fits-all.

It's good enough. The orgasms feel pretty good, I can come pretty quickly. I have read Epiphora's comparison post, but have not used the Top Deluxe so I don't know how much better it feels in practice. Are those orgasms really worth $200? I don't know. I've dropped $100 on sex toys before, but that extra $100 makes a big difference to my wallet. So, if $200 is chump change to you, you should definitely try an Eroscillator. You will probably like it and if you've got that money to spare you might not feel bad if the Eroscillator doesn't blow your mind.

If you can't shell out for an Eroscillator but can afford something in the $100 range, I offer another option: The Iroha vibes!

I tried all of the first three Tenga Iroha releases - the Midori, Sakura, and Yuki. My favorite is Midori. I would pay $100 for it again. It is quiet, rechargeable, the packaging and product design are both really lovely. The material feels amazing and doesn't attract dust or hair, which is great in my old, dusty house with two cats. It charges in a high-quality, clear-lidded plastic case on a black base, and it gets me off very well. I like Midori the best because I find that the shape nestles between my labia well, so it hits just the right spot. I can provide some other input about the Sakura and Yuki too, if you'd like.

My most recent acquisitions for reviewing were from OhMiBod's new LoveLife line... the Adventure is a triple-stimulator that has a buttload of horsepower under the hood. Seriously, I was SO surprised. Unfortunately, the part that's supposed to reach my clit doesn't, so that's disappointing. I don't know how it would work for your anatomy. I just used another toy for that while I used the Adventure for insertion, but it's pretty good on the clitoris as well.

The LoveLife Dream isn't a rabbit, but it is an insertable vibrator and I actually use it more often than the Adventure or the Smile (the Smile is tiny and buzzy and external only. It's not the worst toy in my extensive collection but it's not something I'd drop $60.00 on if I had to pay for it, because on a regular basis I prefer something with more vroom). The Dream has a decent amount of power so I use it externally more often than internally, but that's a preference thing. If you use it internally then shape-wise it's nothing to write home about.

I also like the Hitachi Magic Wand, and that's in the $50 range. It's being sold as the "The Original Magic Wand" now. It's not great if you need direct pinpoint stimulation. If you need that and your labia are in the way of your clitoris, then you probably won't like the Hitachi.
But the Hitachi also has cool attachments that provide other stimulation - there are a multitude of them, at least three meant to provide G-spot stimulation (I haven't tried any of the ones by Vixen but I hear that the Gee Whiz attachments are great). I have the Wand Essentials Flutter Attachment, which was initially my preferred way to use the Hitachi. Then I've got the curved insertion attachment, which I... really just never use. I mean, seriously, I've had it over a year and a half, and haven't used it once. I have a metric fuckton of dildos and if I'm using my vibrator... it's to vibrate.

And then there's the Wahl... my first really good vibrator and one I still use on the regular even though it was only like $15 on Amazon. It's pretty awesome - two speeds, "Uunnggghhh" buzzy (but not overly so) and "HOLY FUCK" rumbly. It's not pretty, but neither is the Eroscillator, and for $15 I don't care much about how it looks.

With those recommendations in place, while some of them can do pinpoint stimulation, none of them are SUPER pinpointed... the Leaf Life and LELO Mia 2 are good for pinpoint stimulation, but that's not really what gets me off, and the Life is kind of buzzy for me.

As far as where you shouldn't spend your money, I wouldn't bother with anything Picobong, LELO's "economy" line. I tried the Kiki and it was a fucking joke. Also, they said "c-spot" instead of clitoris. Marketing decisions like that legitimately irk me. It's not cute. My vulva? Not a dalmatian. Call the clitoris what it is and don't be coy, Picobong.

I hope some of this helps. :) Let me know if you want some insertable recommendations. I have... opinions.

Here are mine:

• Secure Beginnings Crib Mattress - a totally breathable crib mattress. You can take the "sleep surface" off and throw it in the washing machine when needed. I surprisingly don't do it that often. The mesh fabric and space under it helps in temperature regulation and air exchange. Basically, helped me as a new mom not worry about suffocation. I ended up going wild and getting two sleep surfaces per mattress. I got one set in the regular size and a mini crib for our room.
  
• LED Touch Light - these suckers are rechargeable and hold their charge a long time. They're super portable. What I like best is that you can turn them suuuuper dim, which is great for middle of the night wake ups and diaper changes. We have one hanging from our headboard and one hanging above the changing table. And then another around the house. There are tons of sellers of this type of product and they're quite inexpensive.
  
• Wet Bag - a reusable and washable bag to stash wet/dirty stuff. An essential for cloth diaperers, but also great for pooped on clothes, bathing suits, etc.
  
• Fischer-Price Ultra-Lite Day and Night Play Yard - this is a smaller and less expensive version of a traditional pack and play. We kept it in the living room and baby spent a lot of time there as a newborn.
  
• Gripe Water Lots of gripe water. Good for gas, sometimes hiccups, and gentle relief for stomach upset. Also helps some newborns poop.
  
• Grovia Magic Stick Diaper Balm - made for cloth diapers, but would work for sposies. A barrier "cream" on a stick, so you don't have to get your fingers gross. Smells amazing - I literally sniff the stick every time we use it.
  
• Freemies - great for hands-free pumping, especially in the car or at work. Fits inside the shirt. Can be hit or miss on if it works for individuals, but it works GREAT for my boobs. Regular flanges hurt me and didn't yield good output, but Freemies agreed with my body wonderfully.
  
• Spectra Pump I have nothing but good things to say about the Spectra pump. I have the S1 (battery operated), S2 (plugs in), and the S9 (battery operated, but not as fancy as S1). I haven't had any issues with my pumps, but others have had great customer service experiences. It's a "closed" system, which means it's impossible for milk to get into the pump on accident. This is a good thing.
  
• Kiinde Storage Bags - these breastmilk storage bags are more expensive, but highly durable. I love the twist top - much easier to use then a zipper top. We used the whole bottle system from 0-6 months. At six months, he realized he could take the nipple off the bottle and we switched to Como Tomo bottles. But for those months, it was SO NICE to just send the bags to daycare and wash only the nipples (the shells stayed at daycare).
  
• Lillebaby Complete Airflow Baby Carrier - while baby carrier preferences will vary widely by body type and personal preferences, I love my Lillebaby most. It doesn't require any special insert for newborns and the lumbar support was awesome. The airflow version was great, as I live in a very hot state.
  
• Lectrofan Sound Machine - you may be wondering why this is $45 and other sound machines are $20. Because it is amazing, that is why. Seriously 100% amazing.
  
  Hope this helps somebody!
  
  Edit: added a few more after the Spectra.

I work with little guys (13 months) so I can still get away with a fair amount of podcasts or audiobooks in the background to keep me from going crazy. We also listen to a lot of music thanks to Alexa. :)

I make a point of taking at least 15 minutes or so (usually more, but some days it's all I can manage) where I just take care of myself when the little ones are napping. I do use some of that time to either pick up the mess we've already made or start making some of our next meal/snack, prep an activity or whatever, but I always make sure to set aside some time for me to catch my breath, even if it means that bottles go unwashed for a bit or whatever.

Outside of work, I do get regular massages (at least once a month, usually more, though I should be more careful with $$ on that front), try to go out and see movies or go to concerts and stuff that make me feel like a real, functioning adult. For my body (my arms, shoulders, back etc have taken a real beating in 20 years of infants and todds) I use a foam roller, heating pad and also this. I'm actually ordering a second one to keep at work! TOTALLY worth it. It took me a little bit to get the hang of it, but now it's a god sent. I don't think I could make it without it. I have some chronic pain stuff, so I also use a TENS unit and some pain creams and whatnot. On a good day, I'm usually at a 2-3 (scale of 1-10) in aches and pains in my joints and muscles. On a bad day, that can reach 7 or so and I'll still go to work, so these aids help me get through the day without having to take too much medication.

I know this isn't something a lot of us can control sometimes, but I would say that one of the bigger steps toward "self-care" for me was when I realized I deserve to have a good working situation. Kicking a family out of the share that wasn't treating me (or the rest of the share for that matter) with respect was a big part of that. I'm so lucky because I really like the families I work for, but I also invest a little bit of time in cultivating a good relationship with them. We all get together about once a month or so these days and hang out for a few hours. It's been different each time. Once I taught CPR/first aid, and that turned into another hour of hanging out and getting to know everyone better. Another time we all hung out after a birthday party for one of the parents and sat outside with wine (and, um, other legal intoxicants in my state) and talked until 1 am. Tomorrow night we're just having happy hour/dinner and doing a little catching up/planning for what we want to focus on with the boys for the next couple of months. I don't get paid for this time, but I really don't mind. It's been so transformative for me to truly feel like I'm part of a team that's working together for these kiddos. That makes it just a completely different ballgame. It makes going to work easier. It makes asking for what I need easier. The planning and communication has been really good for the kids bc we're all on the same page. We're working on the same signs for the boys, and we all have the same ideas about nutrition and technology and outside time and what kind of toys we want the boys to have. It's like our own little village, and it's so great.

Eventually these two will have to go off to college and I'll need a new job (lol) but now I really know what I'm looking for "next" time. I've always been an advocate for open communication and whatnot, but I really like being a part of a team. I like the consistency in care, the respect the families show me, and the bond I have with my littles. It just makes my job a joy.

I have tried many things over the years, not even sure which ones were the best ! Looks like you are already doing the basics right, so something else is off. There is no one right answer for any person. Here are some other things you can and should try that helped me:

1. Order a cooling pillow pad that you can put on top of the pillow. I use it and it helps me fall asleep much faster. I ordered one from amazon. the brain needs to experience 2-3 degrees lower temperature than the rest of the body to doze off.
   
   
2. How is your state of mind even when awake ? Do you find it hard to be relaxed or calm ?
   Try meditating daily using www.calm.com. Try the 10 minute session. can you do it easily ? If not, that's an important signal right there - your mind is too anxious or has a hard time slowing down. Try learning to slow down at will with this website once or twice daily and this will greatly train your inner system to relax and go deeper at will. It's all about practice when you are awake.
   
   
3. Try calming or white noise generation machines - they play the sound of waterfalls, ocean waves, white noise and so on. They are really cheap but help engage the mind to slow it down and avoid it from getting side tracked.
   
   
4. What's your sleeping ritual ? Do you just try to sleep and get stuck in your thoughts ? Browse the phone ? Read a book ? All of these have dramatically different sleep induction effects. Reading a non-fiction book on kindle works amazingly well for me. If I take the phone with me, it keeps me awake for a couple of hours.
   
   
5. I know someone who had a high concentration of heavy metals in his body - that completely messed up his sleep. He had to go through a prolonged process to get those out in some hospital but it eventually helped. Not sure how you would get tested for that and its a less common thing. but trying some detox treatments anyway to get any junk can only help. Try wheatgrass pills or other detox stuff on amazon.
   
   
6. Have you gotten blood work done recently ? How are your vitamins/minerals ? If you are very short on D for example, that can totally interfere with melatonin production. another biggie is magnesium. Taking magnesium mixed with water promotes calmness - I have had great success with this, in feeling relaxed and sleeping in general. Specifically I have: http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Vitality-Magnesium-Calm/dp/B000GJOZWE. Sometimes treating simple imbalances like these can change things dramatically.
   
   
7. Yoga is another very versatile solution to issues like these. It promotes healthy hormonal activity and exercises the lymph system - very critical for getting rid of your inner cellular junk. It requires more effort than stuff I've described above, but its positive effects on your mind, body and inner organs are well known.
   
   
8. Try using sunlight therapy: Not sure how much sun you get so this really depends on that. Getting sunlight in morning regulates your melatonin cycle. This simulates that and just using it for 15-20 minutes everyday has a very strong effect.
   For example:
   http://www.amazon.com/Lightphoria-000LUX-Energy-Light-Lamp/dp/B004JF3G08/ref=sr_1_3?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1412132233&sr=1-3&keywords=sunlight+lamp
   
   
   That's a bunch of stuff I know from first hand and others' experience. Most of these may be experimental for you and will work to varying degrees. But my philosophy is if it doesn't hurt, no harm giving anything a fair shot !
   
   

Just gonna drop this off here..I hope you figure it out! Makeup can be tricky due to skin tones, face shapes, and such. I hope this helps!

Waterline eyeliner - I think you are talking about the waterline? I understand your pain as well but I tend to just have watery eyes. Anyhow it's not to difficult it mostly depends on how well the waterproofing is the eyeliner itself! Here is one tutorial that I just tried a few moments ago. It's rather simple and I checked a few other waterline vids and they see to have the same idea. Remember practice makes perfect! I would recommend you have one day where you don't have any plans on going out to test it so in case you get raccoon eyes, no one will ever know ;D Test different eyeliners, I recommend pencils but that is just my preference, to see which on is best. Wear it for an hour and check to see how it is then go on to the next one!

Everyday looks - One, two, three, and four! So here is a few tutorials that are good for everyday looks/going out but not to a club looks, I am a fan of the forth. Anyhow remember you don't need the exact product as some that they use are just to expensive and I bet could be replaced with something cheaper.

Hair - I personally have no clue with hair stuff but there are a few tutorials that look pretty nice I think. One, two, vintage style, and lastly.

Extras - One thing I noticed is that this product has become frequent it seems in makeup videos of different types. While it is ten or so dollars, this can be used for foundations and the tip can be used for under the eyes. It's basically a fancy dancy sponge for your face :3

Eyeshadow primer is a must for some people. I use it because without it my lids sweat off eye shadow or something o_o Ruby Kisses Primer has a lot of good reviews and it's under $7. Also I don't know if it's thanks to primer or just my eyeliner, doing winged looks tend to stay if I make sure to put the primer where the wing would be.

I'm not a huge fan of using primers for the face, but some people do and that's cool I guess. I heard Monistate Chaffing stuff is a good one to use for the face. I've tried it and yeah I guess it works but I am lazy and I use BB creams most of the time and that doesn't really require it. I guess if you are doing a fancy night now sure? Maybe then it could be useful.

Hair stuff accessories that are cute and stuff Hairband, hair band 2, head band 3, hair tie.

Since Halloween is almost here, here's some cool makeup vids! Pop Art Makeup, Sugar Skull, and Shattered Doll.

Every case is different man. Im C5/6 quad 20 years post. I was injured as a kid so I wasn't really wasn't presented with the issues of sexual function until years after my injury. Once I started trying to see if I could get an erection and orgasm it took me 5 years of learning how my body reacts differently. It can be difficult if your living with family or have caregivers but if you can find some time to spend alone and just explore see what feels good or what causes a certain reaction and just go with it. Try not to just focus on having an orgasm but just focus on any good sensations. Depending on your situation cock rings might really help if you can get any kind of reflex erection. Penis Pumps can sometimes do the trick to. Also TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR! If you have a physiatrist that specializes in SCI make an appointment and ask them about it. They understand your need and can help you possibly get other medication or devices that might help. You can also ask them about the medication your taking. baclofen can make reflex erections impossible also other meds especially anything that affects your mood. Orgasm or ejaculation By any means necessary can possibly achieved through many different ways. Most popular of theses being Vibratory Stimulation. I recommend giving this a go first as its the cheapest and most likely to work I think. With this method the Vibrators amplitude is most important. I recommend this one https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006NXRD44/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1/181-2041662-5613662?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_r=1ZC5VK5E8AS1BEWVMP1N&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=1944687602&pf_rd_i=B000EQS33G It did the trick for me after about 2 or 3 minutes. Other methods include electro stimulation directly to your penis or prostate stimulation. Ive heard success stories from both methods but haven't tried either myself. You can find more info about the last two methods here http://sci.rutgers.edu Be careful (even if you've never had it) because often with orgasm it can cause autonomic dysreflexia (be aware of the symptoms). If you start to feel it stop what your doing for a little while and let you BP level out. In the event that this occurs your doctor can prescribe nitropaste that can be used to keep it from happening during sexual activity. I think the most important thing is to realize that its not gonna ever be like it was before but that doesn't mean it still can't be awesome. Things are gonna take time attempting to finish from regular masturbation. Every time I jerk off it takes 30-60 minutes minimum before I orgasm. Lastly I don't want to advocate illegal drug use or anything but Marijuana can help facilitate/enhance the experience. I don't think any specific studies done on this topic but from some other forums Ive heard some success stories about it helping enhance sensations and make orgasm easier to achieve. Also if you feel like you've gotten close you probably have so keep at it! I had similar experiences like you cathing and seeing retrograde ejaculation before I has able to achieve a more normal orgasm. Sorry to make such a long winded post man but I feel for your situation and hope this info helps. Feel free to PM to if you want.

I use these right now. They're surely not the best, but they're the right balance of function and price for me.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001EPQ86A/

I just keep a pack in my backpack at all times. I can usually get 2 or 3 uses out of a pair before they get gross, and... I'm telling you, dude, dudette, whatever, when that noise dulls it's like heaven. It's a bit hard to hear the teacher, sure, but you will still rejoice, and you will hopefully perform better. If you need to, explain to the teacher in private (I have done this and it has always gone well enough), and if there's ever an issue your school's disability services (suck it up) will help you.

The earplug thing is easy to play off as "just helps me concentrate" or something similar when people ask (and yes, they ask sometimes). I have told some people at school about having trouble with classrooms and noise, but I am in a very small department. I don't recommend telling people unless you truly trust them. When they ask, you could tell them the truth as I have with, again, a select few: "I'm not able to ignore sniffling and other bodily noises, so I have to wear these earplugs because you are all gross." If you couldn't say that with a smile to the person, I wouldn't recommend saying much of anything.

Best of luck.

As adjuvants to treatment I would recommend the following:

Light Therapy/Sunlight - It seems to be helpful with no adverse side effects. You can get a cheapish one from here(it's $60). I think Costco sells one too for like $60, but it's only 4000LUX rather than 10,000LUX

Taurine which many have found to be beneficial for skin conditions (most sulfur containing amino acids have). Can be found here ($12 for a full year's supply if you take 3g/day)

Daily consumption of (low mercury) Fish/Fish Oil which can be found over here ($24 if you take 3/day for a year, $48 if you take 6/day for a year). People have found that their skin health improves after they start getting adequate amounts of Omega 3 in their diet, it's also beneficial for a bunch of other stuff. You can also use the coupon code KSF812 for 5% off your order at Trueprotein. Very Important: If you purchase anything from Trueprotein, make sure you pay through some sort of credit card proxy because there have been reports of people's credit cards being stolen recently. Use Paypal/a virtual credit card; and you should be at no risk though.

Vitamin D might also actually help as it's been found to be important for hair/skin. 4K/day seems like a good amount to take.

Biotin supplementation has been found to be helpful for hail/nail/skin strength as well, actually.

I'd really recommend you start eating low mercury fish though (as long as you're not allergic) like salmon (look for wild/sockeye salmon), herring, sardines, or mackerel (look for atlantic/pacific, not king/spanish) everyday. It's got a ton of other health benefits too, and the improvement you notice in your skin will just be a small thing in comparison to all the other healthy stuff.

This wahl massager is my favorite now. I had a hitachi for the past 3-4 years but it exploded. Got the wahl as a replacement and I like it just as much. Its nearly silent thats the best part about it, now that I'm living with my sister and her family.

I love to use it with one of my many glass toys or njoys.

Haven't tried it for a while but this is my favorite glass dildo, perfect curve and sized bulb for my gspot. I don't use the vibe it comes with, it doesn't vibrate the glass like I thought it would and the loop kind of gets in the way wish I could cut it off.

For anal my favorite plug is this jeweled plug Had sex with it in for the first time last weekend it was pretty intense.

I just got this glass plug I'm afraid to try it its a lot bigger then I thought it would be.

Ok I should stop I have so many toys the list could go on forever.

Any questions feel free to ask :)

Rabbit vibrators are, in my opinion, not a great place to start when it comes to getting your first toys, as they are very easily hit or miss based solely on whether it fits with your anatomy. Depending on things as simple as your height, weight, or just general proportions (like how far apart your clit and vaginal opening are) a rabbit or similar dual-stim toy could very easily not work for you at all because it just won't line up right. They very much are not "one-size-fits-all," so relying on one as your first toy may not be the safest move.

I feel that you'd be a lot better off trying to find two toys that do one thing really well instead of one toy that does multiple things kind of meh. Or in this case, two things that do something kind of "meh," because while that egg might do the job well enough, I feel like the fact that it's so cheap, is not waterproof at all, and runs on batteries will mean that it won't last very long at all, or will just be kind of frustrating to use after a while, especially if you get another much higher quality toy to compare it to at the same time. I could be wrong, and the egg could be the most perfect toy ever, but being so far on the "low-end" of toys I feel could be a disappointment. I made the same mistake when I bought the Vibratex Water Dancer at the same time as my Wahl, because even though the Water Dancer is a fine enough toy on it's own, the Wahl just so completely overshadowed it that I never am inclined to use the Water Dancer at all.

So with that being said, it would be useful to have a better idea of what specifically you are wanting in a toy and what you want it to do. Are you hoping for a really powerful vibrator for clitoral stimulation? Or is having something insertable more important to you? Do you know how important g-spot stimulation is to you, or have you never experienced it before at all? Do you prefer a softer or harder material, either for internal or external stimulation (for instance, I prefer something softer on my clit, but my favorite internal material is glass)? In order to make some recommendations specific to you and your preferences, it would be helpful to know what kind of stimulation you are looking for or interested in. And, since you say you don't want to drop "a lot" of money on these toys, it would be helpful to know what your price range is. The two you posted would amount to about $90, which is a decent price range to work with, but knowing whether you'd be willing to go up to say $100 or $130 would be really helpful, in case we determine the Lelo Mona 2 would just be perfect for you.

TLDR; I don't recommend a rabbit/dual-stim vibrator to start with, so can you give some more specific information about what kind of stimulation you would like (ie, g-spot, strong clitoral vibrations, textured penetration, etc).

I live in a small apartment and can relate. Baby's room is our closet.

Diapers I choose cloth because it saves over 1,000 dollars a year. They have cloth diaper services that clean and drop off, you can buy used or just do disposible.

Toy library allows you to rent toys versus storing them and honestly my kid could care a less about toys till she was 5/6months

Library for books they just outgrow them and you can trade out frequently.

Bouncer is usefull for soothing and sitting upright for 20 mins after feedings which helps with spitup.

Muchkins bath was a lifesaver went through 3 before i found it. It can hang on the back of a door.https://www.walmart.com/ip/Munchkin-Sit-and-Soak-Baby-Bath-Tub-0-12-Months-White/936568083

Pack and play with a diaper changer station and some even have built in drawers which makes life easy.

Doona carseat expensive but stroller and carseat in one. Is amazing for airport, road trips. And grocery trips. Doona Infant Car Seat & Latch Base - Night (Black) - US Version https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UJ7EPC8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_UQJlDbHFHAAVH

This sitting saucer and also a carseat and turns into a booster seat https://www.walmart.com/ip/Summer-Infant-4-in-1-Super-Seat-Teal/366486333?selected=true

Jumper the graco one with the bumpers is the best packs up for travel. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Graco-Bumper-Baby-Jumper-Little-Jungle/7976545

Pacifiers and bottles as every kid has a diffrent prefrence dont go ham until you see if you kid likes it. I had massive success for dr.brown bottles and pacifiers. Only had gas 3 times.

Bibs 2 silicone for when on real food (just wash with soap and water in sink). I recomment cloth bibs for formula or milk and drool as it adsorbs better. Get one with buttons all velcroa die within 2 or 3 washes.

I use ikea diah drying rack for all diahes no need to buy a bottle specific one.

I reccomend a rack for bottles mine is an under the counter and holds bottles, bibs and paper towel.

Swaddles 1 halo and 1 swaddle me one with the arms. Every baby is diffrent and some wake up if they get the arms out of the halo. Once you find on just get 2 so if spit up gets on it you have a back up.

Clothes. Skip pjs no need for them when they are in a swaddle.

Portable noise machine: White Noise Sound Machine | Portable Sleep Therapy for Home, Office, Baby & Travel | 6 Relaxing & Soothing Nature Sounds, Battery or Adapter Charging Options, Auto-Off Timer | HoMedics Sound Spa https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A2JBMRE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_hXJlDbN7YRVCP

Oh and baby meds and a humidifer i reccomend the babyfrida one it is easy to clean and helps a ton when she had a cold.

Baby swing will save your sanity for those hard nights. i reccomend the fisher price it swings both left/right and front to back.

Eddie bauer diaper bag. It holds everything.

If you have a very needy baby the infantio baby carrier is amazing and when they get big you use it as a backpack carrier for them.

Skip everything else they grow out of it or just dont use it.

You might want to look into CBD: it's the more "medicinal" part of marijuana that is used to treat pain, but it's non-psychoactive and legal in many more places than something containing THC (THC primarily being the psychoactive part. In other words, it puts the fun in weed ;) .) It's also a lot easier to order CBD-containing products without worrying about them getting confiscated in the mail (and if they did, at most you'd probably just get a letter from the carrier explaining that they're confiscating your package. Something like that is too small for them to bother prosecuting, but I doubt it'd even be confiscated in the first place.)

You might also take a hard look at your sleeping arrangement to see if your bed isn't screwing with your posture while you sleep. Beds kinda wear out after about ten years, so you may not be getting great back support which can definitely leads to some really annoying back pain issues. I know mattresses are expensive, but there are also things like memory-foam mattress toppers and that sort of thing, and they're much more reasonably priced. It may not be a total solution, but it might help.

Not being a doctor I'm a little hesitant to offer too many other suggestions, but the "burning" sounds like it might be chafing. A dry lubricant like Gold Bond powder might help, and they also make chafing ointments for cyclists that would probably work really well. In fact I just remembered that Monistat of all people make a chafing (here's an Amazon link, but I'd imagine it's available at a lot of regular grocery/drug stores too.) They also make chafing ointment "sticks" that look just like a stick of deodorant, which could be handy for travel or keeping in your work locker or something. At any rate, most of the anti-chafing stuff works well and it's cheap (in the $10-$12 range), so I think it's worth a shot. You'll probably have to get a little creative when it comes to figuring out how to apply it back there though ;) .

The numbness and tingling is often nerve-related and you'd be better off asking an actual doctor (ie, not me) about it. That's the part I'd be most concerned about, although I'm sure there are ways to minimize or get rid of it completely. If you have a Planned Parenthood in the general area (that provides LGBT services), that would be my first suggestion: they're very helpful and absolutely non-judgemental and they have actual doctors with medical degrees that know a hell of a lot more about anatomy than a therapist will. That's not to knock therapists, there are a lot of great ones out there...but they're not medical doctors (as far as anatomy goes), so I'd talk to an MD instead. If you go to PP's website you can type in your ZIP code or state (here's Illinois for you :) ) and it'll pull up all the clinics nearby, as well as the services they offer. Even if the closest clinic doesn't offer LGBT services per say, give them a call anyway because I suspect they'd be more than willing to help out.

Every case is different man and the shitty answer is that its probably going to take some time. Im C5/6 quad 19 years post. I was injured as a kid so I wasn't really wasn't presented with the issues of sexual function until years after my injury. Once I started trying to see if I could get an erection and orgasm it took me two years of learning how my body reacts differently. It can be difficult if your living with family or have caregivers but if you can find some time to spend alone and just explore see what feels good or what causes a certain reaction and just go with it. Try not to just focus on having an orgasm but just focus on any good sensations.

Depending on your situation cock rings might really help if you can get any kind of reflex erection. Penis Pumps can sometimes do the trick to. Also TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR! If you have a physiatrist that specializes in SCI make an appointment and ask them about it. If your over 18 most will bring it up but as embarrassing as it may be they understand your need and can help you possibly get other medication or devices that might help. You can also ask them about the medication your taking. baclofen can make reflex erections impossible also other meds especially anything that affects your mood.

Orgasm By any means necessary can possibly achieved through many different ways. Most popular of theses being Vibratory Stimulation. I recommend giving this a go first as its the cheapest and most likely to work I think. With this method the Vibrators amplitude is most important. I recommend this one Whal It did the trick for me after about 2 or 3 minutes. Other methods include electro stimulation directly to your penis or prostate stimulation. Ive heard success stories from both methods but haven't tried either myself. You can find more info about the last two methods here SCI Forum

A word of warning though often with orgasm it can cause autonomic dysreflexia. If you start to feel it stop what your doing for a little while and let you BP level out. In the event that this occurs your doctor can prescribe nitropaste that can be used to keep it from happening during sexual activity.

I think the most important thing is to realize that its not gonna ever be like it was before but that doesn't mean it still can't be awesome. Things are gonna take time attempting to finish from regular masturbation. Every time I jerk off it takes 30-60 minutes minimum before I orgasm.

Lastly I don't want to advocate illegal drug use or anything but Marijuana can help enhance the experience. I don't think any specific studies done on this topic but from some other forums Ive heard some success stories about it helping enhance sensations and make orgasm easier to achieve. Sorry to make such a long winded post man but I feel for your situation and hope this info helps. Feel free to PM to if you want.

There is nothing to be embarrassed about. Lots of women squirt and guys love it! My wife is a squirter. The orgasms she has when she squirts are also usually the most intense ones. I can usually make her orgasm and squirt very easily just with g-spot stimulation, but she also squirts from PIV and even just from giving me blowjobs by stimulating her vagus nerve (really amazing!).

Just get a few of these to throw down under you for easy cleanup https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001IN46NU/ref=oh_o06_s00_i01_details?th=1

Enjoy the pleasure you get from your orgasms! Us guys love it! Be proud of the amazing things your body can do.

> Generic /r/sex[1] advice, tell him how his actions made you feel. Find out if it is specifically sleeping in the aftermath that bugs him or if it's something else all together. Maybe he just feels unclean afterwards and wants to go get a wash but thinks telling you that may hurt your feelings? I find squirting hot but if I'm on the bottom I get soaked and after the fact, it gets all cold and not a great all round feeling. It may bother him more than it bothers me.

I think this advice started in the right direction, but quickly turned into a question of problem-solving. She came here because her husband hurt her feelings, and that needs to be addressed before worrying about why he doesn't like sleeping on a wet bed.

I think OP's husband reacted insensitively to the situation. I think she feels blamed for something that happened involuntarily out of what was supposed to be an act of love and intimacy.

Of course, Husband has needs too, but it appears that both partners are having difficulty communicating their respective needs (or recognizing each other's), and that is getting in the way of their intimacy. She can't anticipate his or pull them out of him, but she can share hers first and then ask for his in return.

OP, here is what I recommend you do: speak to your husband objectively about what happened and how it made you feel (i.e., even though I think his actions were insensitive, please try your best to keep such judgments out of the initial discussion). Be sure to consider that sometimes, it's what he didn't do that hurt your feelings.

> When you went to sleep in the other room last night, I felt hurt and embarrassed - especially because you didn't invite me to come sleep with you.

Then, express a good faith desire to resolve the issue together and strengthen your bond

> Physical intimacy with you is important to me. I want to feel good about it, and I want you to feel good about it, too.

This is when I think it makes most sense to ask what he's feeling.

> Can you tell me what you were feeling when I squirted the other night? I know you might be worried that your response could hurt my feelings, but I'll do my best to listen, accept, and understand the truth.

And then you can work on a solution!

From a practical perspective, there's a handy solution to this that's been posted before.

(Long story short, OP from that thread really loves these pads.)

I earned my tinnitus by going to a lot of shows over the years, sitting in on practices, and having jam sessions.

How do I feel about it? Well... it's never going away, so I've accepted it. I wish I would have listened to my elders way back when I was your age, and wore some damn ear plugs to the shows. I definitely don't head to a show these days without a pair.

How do I deal with it? - Like a lot of others, I sleep with a fan on. At the office, I listen to music pretty much all day, but I use a fairly expensive rig on my desk, because shitty, tinny sounding "computer speakers" irritate the shit out of my tinnitus. (edit: you can get much better "monitors" than these for less money. I got mine refurb'd)

So the logical question is, "What kind of ear plugs do you recommend". My answer to that depends on how much money you want to spend. I'm a big fan of Vater and Hearo's hi-fi. I like the Vaters a little better, because they come with that little sealed tube, which you can put some rubbing alcohol in, and they're always clean. However, I do think the Hearo's hi-fi ones sound a little better. At the end of the day, they're both good choices, cuz they just turn down the volume without messing with the frequencies very much.

If you've got a bit of extra scratch to spend, then you can go to the audiologist, and get custom moulded ear plugs. They'll perform the best, but they're also the most expensive. My friend had this done, and I think he paid $120-150 for the set, and lost them within like 6 months, and went back to the Hearo's.

Mmmmk... so I've been awake for like 23 hours at this point but I'm going to work a 12 hour shift tomorrow so I'm going to try to answer now without sounding loopy.

Okay so, it's kinda shitty that the doctor threw so many prescriptions at you. I mean, I'm not a doctor, so obviously their word always trumps a tech. I just really don't like when doctors hand out prescriptions to try to fix problems that might be solved without them. I want my husband to try nuvigil because he DOES have OSA, and he's getting treatment, and still super tired.

Anyway, so I mentioned delayed sleep/wake phase disorder earlier. The name of this disorder is kinda misleading because it makes it sound like there is something wrong with you, but in reality it's a set of behaviors that got you there. It would be super nice if your body just did exactly what you told it to do, and you could sleep exactly when you wanted right when it was convenient, but unfortunately it doesn't always work that way. So, you mentioned having issues where you'll be tired through most of the day but then you get a boost at like 11pm. This is, for the most part, normalish. Your circadian rhythm is kind of like a rolling tide all day and all night. For the average person there is a specific time of day you're most awake (10am) and going to get groggy (4pm) and it happens when you're asleep too! IIRC 4am, while you're sleeping, is when you're the most "awake" during sleep. So with delayed sleep phase disorder, you've basically conditioned your body to do this normal circadian rhythm process but not at the right hours. This actually is super super common for teenagers to do, and I actually do it myself. I have very serious problems being on a 1st shift schedule and when I was on first shift I would find myself drifting towards staying up till 4am on the weekends and then I would be fucked trying to sleep Sunday night. So this is what I think has happened to you. The "best" way they say to fix this is to set your sleep time later every day in increments of like 30 minutes until you've made it around the clock and land at a more normal people time to sleep. That is completely and totally insane though and I have no idea who would be able to do that, you'd have to have no job or school or obligations at all. The easiest way to do it is on a weekend stay up all night long until you're fucking exhausted and then go to bed at a normal people time, like 10pm. After that, you have to force yourself to commit to it. You will definitely find yourself drifting again if you allow it, but you have to be firm about your bed time, and eventually it'll stick. So that's my first set of advice.

My second advice is to buy a light box. Most of them are really expensive but I bought this one which is pretty reasonably priced and unobtrusive. Use that fucker every. single. morning. Make it part of your getting ready process. Alarm goes off, you turn on your light, and then sit in front of it for like 20 minutes while you go through your phone, eat breakfast, whatever. This should help you a ton, like you have no idea. Your body needs this light to tell it to wake the fuck up, and it should help with grogginess a lot. It won't happen overnight but in a few weeks if you stick with it there should be improvement.

My other general tips that I'm sure you've heard before: take melatonin like an hour before bed every night. I actually do this and it really helps the quality of your sleep. Doing this goes hand in hand with the light therapy in telling your suprachiasmatic nucleus when it should and should not be signaling sleep. Also if you're determined to look at your phone leading up to bed (I'm guilty of this) then install an app to filter out your blue light. I have one and it's on a timer so I don't even have to remember to turn it on. But if you really can be disciplined, read a book before bed. And don't get in bed until you're ready to sleep. If you still can't sleep, don't just lay in bed tossing and turning. Get out of bed for like 20 minutes and read a book and then try sleeping again. Sleepytime tea also can be helpful if it has valerian root in it, which is proven to make you drowsy. And of course, never ever ever ever EVER drink caffeine after lunch. This is my firm rule here, this will fuck with you in ways you don't even realize. Once you've tapered down your caffeine, if you try drinking it again you'll notice how fucking wired it makes you.

That's all I've got, hopefully it was helpful. Let me know if you have any more questions, I don't mind answering at all!

As others said liberator makes a blanket but honestly this is what I'd recommend: The northshore champion washable underpad from Amazon!!! https://www.amazon.com/NorthShore-Champion-Washable-Underpad-X-Large/dp/B001IN46NU its a machine washable big like mat that's fairly soft on one side (not fluffy like a blanket but it's soft) and if you put it under you (you can get a big one, mine is like the width of half the bed) it holds an incredible amount of liquid and most of the reviews show that people are using it for squirting. There's even a now-famous Reddit post about it: /r/sex/comments/nvdnu/my_perfect_solution_for_squirters_and_the_mess_we/

It's inexpensive, totally reusable and easy to pop in the washing machine and you can buy a couple to have on hand. And waaaaay easier than washing the sheets!!

I have a pair of those for playing music. I'm a drummer in a rock band and I'd like to not have tinnitus when I'm 30 so I wear proper ear plugs. The kind Shamen talks about are great, I use that model right now and it turns down the volume of all sounds. It clips the brightest sounds like the overtones of cymbals (15kHz+) but otherwise it's pretty flat across the band. Guitar stores in your area should have similar products.

there exists a better version of these, where you get a molded plug that fits your ear perfectly, and I've heard that the filter in these plugs is amazing, it turns down the sound perfectly. They cost $150+ though.

important detail though: buy the Etymotic brand plugs if you decide to try them, not the rip-off grey plastic ones, they aren't anywhere near as good. I think these are the ones you're after.

1. Doesn't matter. It matters how loud you play it. I personally use Audio Technica ATH M40xs for mixing.
   
2. They are not the best, but they work enough for me. Use the black or red inserts for harder techno. They block out more frequency.. I personally won't go to an event unless I have those earplugs.
   
   I'll just leave my review for the product but this will probably apply to most earplugs of the same design:
   
   >"I DJ at home as a hobby and occasionally go out to see live DJs at various clubs. I started noticing some minor tinnitus so thought it was time I do something about it. These are VERY good for both those purposes. I dont use them too much when I DJ because I'm not in a loud setting, but I have practiced with them before and you can hear everything very well, just turned a little bit in volume.
   
   >Last week I took them out to a club for the first time and I was a bit nervous they would dilute the sound.. but WOW. I didn't think the other reviewers were truthful when they said music sounds better live with these. There was no distortion, no muffled sound, and it was the perfect volume. I took them out for a few minutes to compare and the music was waay too loud and unbearable. You won't believe me when I say this either, but when they were out of my ears, the sound was a lot more muddy than when they were in. I'm sure it had to do with them canceling out a tiny bit of bass, but I did not feel like I was missing out on the lows whatsoever. In fact, you can get closer to the speakers and "feel" the bass without having to worry about your ears as much.
   
   >I found one downside to these but it's not the fault of the manufacture and its probably common among most of these earplugs. I dont do anything nefarious at these clubs and electronic events, but I do really like meeting new people and socializing. When I would go to the smoking area I would usually take them out. One time, however, I forgot I had them in there (very comfortable) and I walked up to an individual I met earlier in the night to socialize. I was facing him head on and after about a minute I turned my face and I saw him look into my ears. He sort of kept looking "into" them for about 5 or 10 seconds with a puzzled look and he patted me on the shoulder and out of nowhere said he had to get going. I realized a few minutes later he 100% thought I was an undercover and left. Just something to think about. Take them out if you're not on the dance floor I guess.
   
   >Other than that.. if you're into Techno.. these will NOT ruin the sound quality of all the interesting, pristine sounds we love to enjoy. In fact, you will enjoy live events far more. My only regret is I did not get them sooner. I recommend them Jeff Mills/10."
   
   The undercover thing is different in Europe since earplugs are more common. The best earplugs will be custom made for your ear.
   
   
3. 60-85 decibels. Anything higher you will start getting permanent damage after 15 minutes. Above 100 decibels you will have less than 15 minutes.
   
4. Your ears will hurt, sound muffled when you leave the area, ringing, etc.
   
5. Earplugs Earplugs Earplugs!!!!!
   
   For anyone reading this, do yourself a favor and protect your ears. Talk to anyone with bad tinnitus and they will tell you how hellish it can be. Falling asleep is sometimes impossible, anxiety through the roof, not being able to hear is frustrating as hell... Just please.. Protect yourself. Look up videos or go on tinnitus forums of testimonies. I personally started getting tinnitus about 6 months ago and went to see a doctor. Got my ears cleaned, stopped using q tips, got some earplugs, and it miraculously went away. I got lucky. Anymore events without them and I would be looking at a lifetime of tinnitus. It's not fun.
   
   Also yea, stop using q tips. When you chew food your jaw naturally pushes earwax to the end of your ear. It will fall out by itself. If not, use the water method to get it out. Trust me on this.
   
   Additionally, if you live in the UK, pretty sure you get a subsidy on custom earplugs if you are a musician.. though I'm not sure what the process is. I read it on here once but didn't look further into it.

My husband and I usually only have sex a couple times a month (when not TTC), so I definitely understand. Fortunately, we've both been super on board, but last month he was too "tired" (er, hungover) to try the day after my ovulation stick was a BFP, and, of course, it didn't work, so, I totally get that the lack of motivation to have sex can be frustrating.

Anyway, I'm terrible with the psychology stuff, but I do have a few practical/logistics ideas that might help...

Temping is a LOT of effort. Don't pressure her into doing that if she's not really into it. Almost as good is the pee sticks: https://www.amazon.com/ClinicalGuard®-Ovulation-Test-Strips-Individually-Sealed/dp/B009G497KK
The only problem is that you can actually ovulate 24-48 hours after a positive LH, but you don't know exactly when. Also, the results can be a little trickier to interpret in the first month (is that a dark positive line, or only a kind of dark negative line?), but as long as you're having sex within that window, and slightly before, you're fine. Save the ovulation sticks from the month before as a reference guide. People's pee and LH levels are different, and you really have to interpret the shade of the line based on experience here. Of course, that can be true with temping as well.

Something that sounds absolutely bonkers at first, but might actually be right for you, is ejaculating into a soft cup and having her insert it: https://www.amazon.com/Instead-Softcups-Feminine-Protection-Count/dp/B000X29GY6 No actual sex involved, most of the pressure is on you, and the odds of conception might actually be higher than doing it in the old fashioned way ;) They're a little on the expensive side (I mean... just over a dollar... not that expensive compared to a baby!) but (and I'm not supposed to say this, but...) they are reusable if you clean them well!

Also, it's obvious that lube can make a world of difference when a lady's not particularly in the mood. Make sure you're using a sperm safe lubricant, like Pre-Seed https://www.amazon.com/Pre-Seed-Personal-Lubricant-1-4-Oz/dp/B004382GWK

I know, I sound like a shill for Amazon right now, but I buy all my stuff from them :)

Good luck!

>Hey guys! I realized today that a lot of women are not aware of sea sponge tampons. I used to pretty much "opt out" of sex during my period, because it was too messy and too much of a hassle, even when I felt really horny.
>
>Sea sponges rest against the cervix, so they absorb everything before it reaches the vaginal canal (which is where a cotton tampon would be inserted.)
>
>Because they are spongey and absorbent, you can have sex with the sponge in, and your partner will not feel any difference! I prefer these to Softcups because the cups are made of plastic, and while they do a good job of holding back the flow, they can be felt by your partner. Some women even use sea sponges for contraception, by pairing them with spermicide (your mileage may vary!)
>
>This is only a good option if you feel comfortable with your ladyparts, as you do need to push it in and pull it out. I use mine now instead of regular tampons, and I rinse them out every few hours as needed. I always rinse them out before sex to avoid any possible leaking. After each cycle, I soak the sponge in warm water and 5-10 drops of tea tree oil, rinse, and let dry for the next cycle! While on my period, I keep a spare cotton tampon and a plastic baggie to store the sponge in my purse, just in case I find myself in a situation where rinsing the sponge every 3-4 hours is difficult, or if my flow is very heavy.
>
>If you take proper care of your sponges, each one should last you about six months.
>
>Also, the link I provided was for a brand name of sea sponge tampons-- these are nice because they are already the right size, and they come with a carrying bag, but you can always buy a large sea sponge and cut it up yourself to save money! Just make sure it is a natural sea sponge.
>
>I hope this information is useful to some of you out there!
>
>EDIT: Here is a cheaper option for the frugal-minded! I haven't used these ones personally, but some of the reviews indicate that they work well as tampons. I liked having the Jade & Pearl set for my first time, because it comes with instructions/tips and a carry bag, but if you don't care about that, save yourself some money!

Not so much for white noise, but I bought these for concerts and motorcycle riding and loved them:


https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000V9PKZA/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1


My partner then upgraded me to these, and I love them as well, but TBH I don't see how they are better than the $10 ones I bought myself first:


https://smile.amazon.com/Eargasm-Musicians-Motorcycles-Sensitivity-Conditions/dp/B019M576XW/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=eargasm&qid=1554298633&s=musical-instruments&sr=1-1-catcorr


I've since given her my Hearos to use at concerts. If I were you I think the Hearos would do you just fine; I haven't looked at the specs of either, like I said, they both appear to work pretty much the same.


Hope this helps.

I just go either early in the day like on a weekday when there's nobody there, preferably a few weeks after the movie came out.

So I'm probably never going to use earplugs, but I=if you're going to keep using earplugs, check out Hearos like these, I found them back when I was playing in bands because they are super easy to remove and insert, since they don't have to expand like foam ones, and they don't cut out high end frequencies like foam ones either (or "muffle" the sound, so to speak). They're pretty cheap and I used them a lot since they basically just lower the volume instead of lowering AND muffling, I'd recommend those as my favorite if you're trying to find nicer earplugs. If you do get em, let me know how they work for you

So you probably won't read this as you've got a ton of replies, but I'll throw my own into the mix.

My current SO and I use this particular absorbent pad. It's ridiculous how much fluid it can hold. I have no clue how other people answering here are able to just use towels (especially beach towels lol). My SO manages to soak through 4 layers of towels and I don't want to constantly wash towels lol.

To be completely honest, I casually saw another squirter a while back and I wasn't a huge fan of it. It was exciting/fun at first, but then it kinda became annoying. That was for a casual relationship though. With that said, I love my current SO very much and really enjoy making her squirt. Originally she was pretty self-conscious and apparently embarrassed about it. I reassured her that I enjoy it and want to make her feel good. She still gets a little grossed out by herself, but we laugh about it.

My advice to you is to be upfront to partners about this before you get too intimate like, "just so you know, I tend to get very very wet when I get too excited." I'd hope they get the hint. If things transpire and they are childish about it or even make you feel bad, remember there are many other people out there that won't.

These are so much fun.

1. Something that makes you sweaty.
   
2. Something that helps you cool down.
   
3. No picnic would be complete without these sunglasses to keep the sun out of your eyes and keep you looking awesome.
   
4. If you could vacation anywhere in the world... Disneyland!! This isn't technically a souvenir since they sell method soap everywhere, but it's still Minnie ears. :)
   
5. Something that makes you nostalgic.
   
6. Something that would make camping better. The one and only time I went camping, I saw a bear, a frog stalked me, and I tripped and cut my arm and we didn't have any band aids. So these would make it better because I'm clumsy and would probably trip again and these are so much cooler than plain band aids.
   
   
7. Something bear related. because sasquatch kind of looks like a bear.
   
   
8. Road trip song! I love listening to pretty much any song by them and singing obnoxiously when I'm driving, but this one is my favorite at the moment. *not on my WL
   
   
9. Shouldn't have thrown this in your carry-on.
   
   
10. Favorite thing at the state fair.
    
    Bonus - July? *not on my WL
    
    Some of the best memories are made in flip flops.

Whoops. I didn't see your question about petroleum. I assume you mean petroleum jelly like Vaseline or Aquaphor? I haven't heard concerns about contamination with crude oil (from any reputable medical or scientific sources). Again this is a separation based on the length of the carbon chain, an easy separation. Mineral oil and Petroleum jelly are both non-comedogenic, which means they won't clog your pores. However, that doesn't mean that it is guaranteed not to give you acne. Everyone's skin is different, and responds accordingly. YYMV (Your Mileage May Vary).

There are 3 types of moisturizers: Humectants, Emollients, and Occlusives. Petroleum jelly is an occlusive. Which means it sits on top of the skin and forms a barrier that keeps moisture from escaping (just like mineral oil).

Some people like to use it as a makeup remover as well.

If you mean to use it as a moisturizer, here's how to maximize your efforts.

1. Use the mineral oil (or whatever) to remove your makeup.
   
2. Now cleanse your face (OCM or facial cleanser, I like Vanicream's).
   
   I only do Steps 1 &2 in the PM. In the AM, I simply splash my face with water.
   
   
3. Now apply toner, if desired (I love alcohol-free witch hazel.)
   
4. Next apply any treatments you need (AHAs, BHAs, retinols, etc.).
   
5. Now apply your primary facial moisturizer (CeraVe, Cetaphil, Neurtogena, whatever you like).
   
6. Here is where you 'cap' or 'seal in' the moisture with the Vaseline. (Many people prefer to do this only in the PM. I personally don't mind it under my makeup.)
   
7. Optional: I like to use dimethicone here to keep my face from being slick/sticky. Many makeup primers have dimethicone as the main ingredient. I buy one by Monostat because of the price. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012ZNSWE/ref=twister_B013RDL0R8?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
   
   If it's the PM, you're done! Stop here. If it's the AM, continue.
   
   
8. If you apply sunblock, do it now.
   
9. Now apply your makeup.
   
   Congrats, you're ready for the day!
   
   As for using mineral oil as a natural, one-step body mosturizer, it's easy! Simply apply after bathing when your skin is still a bit wet (not dripping). You don't need much.
   
   I hope that was helpful!

I've used foam plugs, silicone plugs and now I've got custom ear protection. Not all for sleeping though.

• Foam - Best I used Moldex ones on a cord (someone else mentioned). I used these at manufacturing facilities for work as well. Block noise very well and are super cheap. Ok comfort. My right ear would always fall out for some reason but never my left.
  
• Silicone - Best I used were EarPeace. I use them for clubbing so noise blocking isn't that deep. Quite comfortable and about £15. Probably not good for sleeping
  
• Custom - I took the leap and bought ACS Custom ear plugs. They're ubiquitous with DJs, they are moulds with a little filter in. They're amazing for gigs or clubs. The difference in comfort is incredible compared to the other two types, I wear mine for several hours and you hardly notice they're in. Cost is about £125 and a few quid for complete noise blocking. I think they do a cheaper pure sleeping version as well.
  
  All in all, custom ear protection is completely worth it. Comfiest by a country mile and even better if you go to gigs or clubs, then you can buy the musician's version, swap the filters out with the complete blocks when you sleep.
  
  You can't price on your hearing, you won't get it back when it's gone!

From personal experience, it can be strange to take control of our own sexuality. Women are often raised with the message that we are here to please men first, and to put our own pleasure second. It’s not a conscious decision, it’s a compulsion we have to work out of ourselves. That’s what she’s doing when she refers to you. But owning our own pleasure and bringing our own desire to our partner makes it better for everyone. She’s lucky to have a partner who’s willing to help her instead of taking advantage of her inexperience.

Bonus round. If you’re open to using toys look into getting an external vibrator like this. There are other kinds that are less expensive, I have this one but I put a towel between me and it because it’s not waterproof. You want something that will give her intense clitoral stimulation. Some guys falsely think that using a toy is cheating or that the toy is a substitute, but it’s not. If you are using it on her, it’s you who are giving her the orgasm. It can help her become more used to cuming and losing control in that way in front of you. You can finger her while using it on her too (highly recommend). Anything that helps her express her sexuality is a good thing. And you can do it together which is awesome

Have fun

I have bipolar 2 and am on meds, but use supplements to support me.

This website has comprehensive information about lifestyle and supplements that make a difference. I highly recommend that you explore it completely. (It looks clunky/unsophisticated, however I have researched the MD who created it and he is respected in the field...although considered a bit of cowboy.)

Fundamentals you may have already addressed: Exercise, bipolar specific cognitive behavioral therapy, establishing a consistent daily routine (an ongoing process for me).

Most effective for depression is light therapy; it can actually trigger mania, so be careful. It has rarely failed me. I use a dawn stimulator and morning lightbox. The combination of light and dark therapy I think is ideal but I haven't added dark therapy (I'm on reddit at night and can't break the habit).

Re: your stack:

• Make sure you are taking a EPA /DHA combo of at least 60%. And the DHA is important. Don't just take EPA.
  
• Assume you're on methylfolate 15mg?
  
• Probiotic: I'm not familiar with Symprove. However you need to choose the probiotic strains (name and number) that have research backed evidence of helping with depression. I used the resources of r/HumanMicrobiome and this spreadsheet to choose these strains to take: Lactobacillus casei DN-114001 - mood (NOW probiotic-10). Bifido. Longum/Infantis 35624 - Immune modulation incl. TNF, IL-6, CRP, depression (Align Digestive Support) because there was crossover with my other problem, rheumatoid arthritis. With some work, you can find something specific for you.
  
  Personally, I would stop all supplements except methyfolate, NAC, fish oil (EPA/DHA >60%) and maybe theanine if it helps you sleep. Add a light box in AM. Make sure you are taking melatonin 300 mcg (not more than that) every night (add a low dose time release melatonin if you still wake at night.) Give it one month of consistent use then re-evaluate.
  
  Good luck and feel free to DM me!

The two things that have improved my sleep issues the most are giving up caffeine and using a light box.

Caffeine never kept me up at night, so I resisted giving it up for years. But when I finally gave it up for a month as an experiment I found I needed less sleep, and it was so much easier to wake up in the mornings.

The light box is a new addition, but it's been amazing. The trick for me is to use it as soon as I wake up for about thirty minutes. It helps me wake up in the morning, but most importantly I find it so much easier to fall asleep at a reasonable time. I didn't expect that, so it was a pleasant discovery.

Good luck!

I attend somewhere between 15-30 concerts a year, photograph dozens more and I'm wearing earplugs every time. I still hear the music fine, and I have the added bonus of not losing my hearing.

Every time your ears ring after loud exposure, that's permanent damage. Just think of putting in earplugs like you would sunscreen. I wish more people took their hearing health more seriously.

There's several different brands that are designed for concert use that will level everything out and just bring them to a more comfortable level:

HEAROS High Fidelity Series Ear Plugs for Comfortable Long Term Use with Free Case, 1 Pair https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0037KM8QY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_BWL3xbQERR6CH

Etymotic Research ER20 ETYPlug Hearing Protection Earplugs, Standard Clear Stem with Blue Tip (Clear) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0044DEESS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_4XL3xb418NM17

ETY-Plugs High Fidelity Earplugs, Standard Fit, Frost Tip https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015WJQ7A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_NYL3xb6GG1783




If you search music earplugs, any pair you get should do. If you're feeling really committed for future usage, you could drop a pretty penny on some custom-made earplugs. They feel perfect.

Give this list a try for Cattle Decapitation.

Some other points:

• Metal Archives is your friend. They keep a log of nearly every metal band that's ever existed (although they're finicky with metal-adjacent stuff so you won't find much nü or -core on there), so whenever you find a new band make sure to look them up. They keep a log of everything you could ever want to know; band members, discography, subgenre information, location, years active, and even similar artists.
  
• If you want to branch out to the wider world of metal music, make sure to give the Subgenre Essentials over at r/metal a look. It's a splendid list of albums that spans the foundations of metal and will give you the context to appreciate most of the scenes and styles of the genre, historical and current.
  
• Don't worry so much about subgenres at first. People are going to throw the terminology at you, but it's probably best not to think too much about it until you've gotten to know more of the genre foundations. I've seen a lot of people get very confused, especially around the edges of certain styles, and it's just not worth the headache. That said, don't write them off as a meaningless formality either, as there is value in being able to classify stuff.
  
• Wear ear protection at concerts/shows. Just do it. Even if it's a small venue. Listening to metal is fun and chances are you'll want to keep doing it in the future. These ones are what I usually see recommended to people although I have these ones and I'm happy with them.

Here's some good PT type stuff to help with posture if you feel you tend to have rounded shoulders and a hunch back posture: https://youtu.be/LT_dFRnmdGs

Face pulls might be helpful https://youtu.be/HSoHeSjvIdY

Just to give you an idea of scapular stabilization work https://youtu.be/59uydMNbBeA

Also, check this out, a lot of info https://www.t-nation.com/training/neanderthal-no-more-1


Lastly http://www.amazon.com/Body-Back-Companys-Trigger-Self-Massage/dp/B0006VJ6TO
I own one and it's great for relieving trigger points in my upper traps


Just some suggestions that have helped me as I've had a similar issue. I definitely recommend seeing a doctor to make sure it's nothing structural or injury related. Me personally, I had dominant upper traps that were tight all the time and weak lower traps and rhomboids. I really worked to correct my posture and it helped. You need to make sure your scapula is stable before most exercises...even bench, OHP, etc. Also, stretching my neck really helped. Using the computer and cell phones causes most of us to hunch forward. For me it was mostly my right because I drive with my right hand, use the computer mouse, hold my phone, etc with it. Are you a lefty by any chance?

Anyway, hope some of this stuff helps

A light for seasonal affective disorder has been a life saver for me!

When it’s gloomy out, and we have less exposure to the sun’s rays, our bodies produce less serotonin. I think we HSPs are often especially affected by this, I know I get super blue when it’s dark all day. I get really tired, too.

Light therapy has really worked for me and I’m glad I found it! I highly recommend getting a lamp for light therapy. There are a bunch on amazon. Here’s their best seller’s description:

Our brain’s chemistry and body clock are affected by light, and light stimulates hormones and neurotransmitters that greatly influence our overall feelings of well-being. Bright light exposure early in the day stimulates our body's production of serotonin (which improves mood and happiness) and regulates melatonin in the evening (which promotes sleep). Adding a HappyLight to your daily routine allows you to stimulate the production of these important hormones naturally, to keep your body running like clockwork.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00K08ZDBI/ref=mp_s_a_1_5_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1537920371&sr=8-5&keywords=seasonal+affective+disorder+lamps&dpPl=1&dpID=31iP0Zu-OpL&ref=plSrch

I use one that’s also an alarm clock. It gradually wakes me up with a “sunrise” and sounds of birds chirping, so nice :)

I hope you give it a try and feel a boost in your mood and energy! <3

It's hands-down my favorite tool for soft tissue work (photo in this link shows how it's used): http://amzn.com/B0006VJ6TO

It's definitely the best for back work (also great for hamstrings,) which is otherwise fairly difficult to do in a targeted way. Lacrosse/tennis balls can work, but they're not quite as precise or effective most of the time. They also let you work out your knots while you're watching tv, which is much harder to do with a roller/balls. It's pretty fantastic, some of the best $35 bucks I've ever spent.

Lot of factors here but I’ll try to give the best insight I can.

1. To answer your question, most people I’ve worked with usually can see a shift in their CR after 4-6 weeks of consistent sleep scheduling. Now, most often, this is 3rd shifters who are trying to move from a regular diurnal pattern (e.g. 10pm-6am) to something that would fit a graveyard shift (e.g. sleep from 11am-7pm). This is a massive shift, and the one you’re describing isn’t, so wouldn’t take as long to move it 2 hours earlier bedtime/rise time.
   
   
2. I’m concerned that if you’ve been getting 10 hours of sleep consistently and not feeling rested upon waking. Have you had a sleep study? This doesn’t sound like insomnia, but could be an organic sleep disorder (OSA, circadian rhythm disorder, restless leg). You’ll see this a lot on this sub (for good reason) but you should consider a sleep study.
   
   
3. Lastly, if your circadian isn’t sending you enough “alerting” signal in the morning, you can jump start it through what we know regulates it: light. Making sure you have enough light coming into your room in the AM will get it jump started. If that doesn’t work, you can look into a light box.
   
   Hope that’s helpful! Best of luck to you.

> As they're soft I tend to tear each plug in half so they're a better fit and if I'm in a situation where I want to block out a lot of noise but still be able to hear a little or converse with friends I'll squish them in but leave a tiny gap so some sounds are still audible.

For situations like that, hi fi ear plugs are amazing. They're technically meant for blocking out stuff like live music - where you still want to be able to hear the music, you just want it quieter. Normal foam plugs make everything sound muddy. But the hi fi ones have a brilliant side effect - you can actually still hear people talking pretty well, but you don't hear as many background noises.

We did our first trip when my son was 8 months old. Full disclosure: it was super stressful. I vented online that I was on vacation but it did not feel like a vacation at all. It took an older mom friend to tell me “That’s because you are on a family trip, not a vacation.” That stuck with me a lot and helped shift my perspective. In hindsight, he probably did really well given the circumstances, but it was much harder for me (more night wake-ups, I’d nurse him to get him to go back to sleep, which meant another night feeding I had to work to eliminate once we got home. However, right now we’re on a trip with our now 20-month-old and it’s going amazingly.

Tips: we bought a portable sound machine this one I think, and some travel blackout curtains, these ones. That’s helped mimic the sleeping conditions he has at home, which has helped a ton. For us, that also means bringing a sheet from home and books and keeping the bedtime routine as close to home as possible. We’ve been pretty rigid with our routines at home for so long that I honestly think that’s why this trip is going well and it’s allowed us some flexibility in a weird way.

Make a couple stops on the drive. Aside from sitting in the backseat, there is not much you can do to keep him from falling asleep. Maybe plan the stops for when his normal “wake” times would be and hopefully that can help have the sleep be during his normal “nap” times. I know they aren’t always recommended, but I like having a backseat mirror to have a rough idea of awake/sleep time. You can also bring some small, soft toys to introduce and periodic points during the drive (with the disclaimer that, like the mirror and anything else loose in your car, there is the risk of them being projectiles in the event of a crash).

To be fair, I agree to the general context of your sateement, it'd be better if /u/lolApexseals dropped a supporting link so you, and everyone else can see why he has that conclusion.

To be fair, I have a point, when you counter with "No way!" to someone saying "Way!" all you are doing is continuing to dilute the discussion. The fact that the opening didn't have a supporting reference link by a trusted third party source does not make you saying "I think... blah blah {no supporting third party source of your counter}" a great contribution to the discussion.

Honestly, had you given any substantive reply with some "Here's an example of why I think this is all dreck and automation isn't as scary as everyone here claims [LINK]" you would have roasted the point and been far more credible, as nobody else contributed.

Now then, to make my point and take a stance, automation is taking jobs away. There's no question of that. The key question, as I frame this discussion, is are new jobs coming in? Especially as automation begins to deepen the cut it's making into white collar jobs.

Here's a PDF from the Brookings Institute, Published in 2015, that makes my case

...and now a quote from that PDF, on the top of page 7... that states the position well:

> In a number of fields, technology is substituting for labor, and this has dramatic consequences for middle class jobs
and incomes. Cornell University engineer Hod Lipson argues that “for a long time the common understanding was that technology was destroying jobs but also creating new and better ones. Now the evidence is that technology is destroying jobs and indeed creating new and better ones but also fewer ones.”

Now, this is just some guy who wrote something for the Brookings Institute, and you might still disagree and say "But it's not a FACT!"

Slight clue, there are no hard facts. There is compelling research, study, and trends analysis. A significant portion of it indicates that automation is indeed rendering jobs obsolete at an increasing pace. It also suggests that there's a real need for concern as it isn't creating new jobs at a matching pace, and evidence suggests that it won't.

Agree, disagree, whatever - just try to drop supporting knowledge when you do. Saying "I don't like this, I don't agree." isn't helping you any more than someone saying "I like it but can't show you any data as to why you should care."

You shouldn't. Nor should we. Absent useful data. Like the link to that PDF you won't read in full. Research suggests that there's a huge bias for people to ignore data that differs with their world view.

If you go that route I strongly suggest these earplugs.

L-theanine, magnesium, D3/K2, therapy lamp each morning. Omega-3's.

I think NAC is something many should try, (I take 1000mg 2x a day) it's been the #2 thing that's helped my anxiety/OCD/irritability issues other than CBD.

L-tyrosine is the other thing that I take in the morning and I have much more energy and motivation, it's been better than coffee. Amino acids are amazing. I also like red panax ginseng for mood/energy/relaxation.

Gut health is important. I take a probiotic 2x a day and also 5g of psyllium husk for fiber (you won't ever need more than 1 square of toilet paper again). Apple cider vinegar is great for heartburn, I take a tablespoon or so in some water each morning. Many people have gut health issues, and they aren't properly absorbing vitamins/minerals even if they are eating a healthy diet.

Ashwaganda works for many, it didn't for me.

Hemp flower has been great, a backup when I need a bit more than the regular CBD oil. NAC and L-tyrosine I couldn't live without though, they have helped a lot.

These are the pair of 3M's I have, with 31dB NRR. They are huge and ugly, but they fit well and they definitely protect more than the Howard Leights. You may not be able to get a good cheek weld with these if you're shooting rifle, but I primarily shoot pistol indoors and rifle outdoors, so it works for me.

I use these 3M disposable ear plugs as well, believe they are 29dB NRR. I promise I'm not a 3M shill.


Make sure you put in the plugs properly - roll them up, pull back your earlobe with opposite hand and then insert. I shoot indoors often 2x a month, so protecting my hearing is really important to me.

edit: I should note that I have the basic pair of the Howard Leights, not the impact Pro model.

I have 2 poodle mixes, and I also work from home, and these guys also bark at every freakin' noise in the apartment hallway. After years of trial and error, here is what works best for me; hopefully it'll work for you too.

• white noise machine. They are super small and super cheap on amazon and it helps drown out both noise in the hallway and noise of them barking. plus the noise reduction on most phones/microphones take out the noise of the machine
  
  
• desensitization - I've done a ton of this with them. Hell I even recorded the sound of the elevator door opening, and played that back to them non stop to desensitize them to the sound.
  
  
• frozen raw bones - they love it. they'll chew that thing for at least 40mins with no sound, and it's good for their teeth
  
  
• walks don't do anything.. i go to the off leash park and have them run around lots. bonus points if they wet, because their energy goes into keeping themselves warm, and they have less energy later for barking
  
  
• I routinely put them in a room somewhere and shut the door, then I go into my room and shut the door. Between the noise machine (which I put by the entrance) and another door in the way, they can't hear much
  
  
• I'm also super, super ashamed to say it, and it goes against all the best dog training knowledge and philosophy.. they they have vibrating collars that vibrate when they bark. Alone this doesn't work, but this little extra bit of positive punishment along with a ton of positive reinforcement (like the video above) seems to do the trick
  
  
• I use a headset for when I'm on the phone, with a very accessible mute button on the cord. I'm on mute pretty much anytime I'm not talking.

Oh Joy Sex Toy says the Doxy is even better than the Hitachi. It's pricey but has 7 variable speeds rather than 2 like the Magic Wand. Make sure you buy one that will work for American outlets since it was originally created to replace the Hitachi for folks in the UK.

The [Wahl massager](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006NXRD44/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_X8B-ub1X1YRDX
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006NXRD44/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_X8B-ub1X1YRDX) is another frequently recommended alternative to the Hitachi.

Btw, are you buying the Hitachi from Amazon or a non-reputable site? Supposedly they sell a lot of fake Hitachi's and other toys, which seems to be a big reason why they seem to burn out more these days. Here is a good post explaining how it's pretty much impossible to tell whether a seller will sell you a fake or not, since many sellers "share" their inventory in one big box in an Amazon warehouse.

Let us know what you end up and good luck!

2 words : soft. cups.
I swear by these things for normal periods use, but they're advertised to be usable during sex. I always give mine a rinse before sexy time just to make sure there's nothing that will leak.
Some positions are more prone to getting the cup ring in the way, but I've had really great results with them.

If you don't go this route, we've done the towel thing & they've stayed mostly stain free. Avoiding heavy flow days is the best for messes, but not totally necessary.

Medically speaking, nothing works for everyone, especially those with EDS. That said, chiropractic care can benefit a large portion of the population, and I believe it is worth a shot to determine if it works for you.

Research, research, research!
Having EDS means that chiropractors (abbreviation DC, for Doctor of Chiropractic) do need to understand how our bodies function. This means calling local clinics, major health groups, and asking for others' opinions. I work in a large city with many, many chiropractors, but I would only trust a handful of them to treat myself or other EDS patients.

A good amount of my discomfort is due to too much of my musculature tensing too often, compensating for my loose ligaments. This muscular support worsens when those muscles holding us together begin to pull us apart. For example, tension across my upper back and shoulders (common area for anyone to hold tension) frequently pulls several of my ribs out of place. In order to alleviate this weird, foreign, and aggravating sensation (personally my dislocated ribs feel more weird than painful), I must first loosen the musculature with a massage or using a BackBuddy. I can skip this and go straight to an adjustment, but I tend to move easier with somewhat reduced tension. The chiropractor then helps me reset these ribs. It is important to strengthen those muscles and safely stretch them as well, in order to reduce the chronic, involuntary tension (I practice PT exercises and light yoga)

Adjusting my ribs is only one of the many fantastic adjustments my chiropractor makes, and I highly recommend at least giving it a shot. Even just scheduling a consultation with a doctor can give you some insight on whether or not the practitioner might understand EDS.

If you feel unsafe or uncomfortable thinking about a chiropractic adjustment, it may not be the route for you.

Missed it myself as we were over there for a show already, but we have no problem hearing a lot of their events all the way in South Walkerville. I'm glad you have such a great attitude about noise pollution though, I guess. Hah

Anyway, if you ever want a white noise machine instead of having to run actual fans, this is the best one I know of

It's kind of pricey for what it is, but the best part is it can get LOUD, so it really masks noise. Maybe not fireworks so much, but the vast majority of other stuff depending on how close you sleep to it. It has one setting that basically sounds like a regular box fan.

So I've seen my favorite band live 6 times. The number one thing is earplugs(!), and it helps to invest in a good-quality pair like these.

The hard part is definitely deciding what you can carry. If there isn't seating, bags and even jackets are a massive pain, and the best you can do is deep, strategic pockets and maybe a money clip rather than your whole wallet.

I've also had some sunglasses that were supposed to be an accessory for the concert outfit but ended up being potentially useful for strobes 😂. Aside from all that, drink enough water, don't try to take pictures (you'll end up focused on that instead of just taking things in and really enjoying em...believe me; I ruined my last two this way), and be cautious if you can and want to go close to the stage, because there is NO respect for personal space there.

Most importantly, don't worry too much, and focus on the music!

Like /u/Falling_Glass I usually just use Gold Bond Body Powder, but there are some other options depending on what exactly you are looking for. Bodyglide comes in a stick like deodorant, and it seems to have good reviews. Elitefts just started selling Dr. Greenfield's Chafe Shield, but I don't know much about it. Anti Monkey Butt Powder is another product I have heard about people using. There is also a Chafing Relief Powder Gel that works well, but is pretty expensive (and is marketed to women if that is an issue). Maybe one of these will fit what you are looking for.

I started to take my ears' health more seriously last year after starting to really get uncomfortable at certain shows. I've only tried two types, and have my preference so far, but everyone's ears are different, and different brands are more comfortable than others for certain people. I suggest trying them out when you first get them and wear them a few times and see if they are comfortable. Exercise or jump around and see if they fit right and won't fall out. If they do, return them and try a different brand.


Personally, I really preferred EarPeace over High Fidelity The HF ones came with a spare, but I've lost two of the three in one weekend, without much dancing or headbanging. They came out of MY ears ton, every time someone put their arm around me, or I got bumped. My girlfriend on the otherhand, has liked them, and hasn't had the same level of issues. For me the EarPeace were great. I had them in, and they didn't fall out once in a whole night. I actually had them in for an hour after the show without realizing it, because they were so comfy and unobtrusive.

> Thank you so much! And yeah, my fiancé says I don't know how to do anything in moderation 😂

Yeah, my husband is the same way. He has only one setting: Eleven! 😹

> I will definitely report back after all is said and done!

Please do!

> Ooooh, sounds like I should really look into one!

Definitely do! I have this one.

> But I want to give a shout out to Big Business. I've been enjoying their songs, but they were even more impressive live. Just tons of energy and talent. They played a headliner quality set. That said, it's tough to open for Sleep. It's hard to resist comparing the openers to the headliners, but that would be really unfair in this case.

I loooooove Big Business and I saw them on their solo tour before they joined Sleep (I wish they got to open for Sleep here) and I'm really loving the new album. It's a grower like all their albums but it's weird how it's so accessible.

Get some Hearos plugs btw. I can't find the exact ones I have but I'm ordering these. I only use foam plugs under duress (like when I dropped my Hearos plugs at the Sleep show).

I had in 7 in high school from soccer, so can confirm that they are a bitch lol.

For some advice: Consider getting on something like adderall/vyvanse for the focus issues (don't abuse it, just take the recommended dosage). Also for the depression, be wary of going on any medication. I went on cymbalta for a long while and it completely changed me as a person. When I started noticing how boring I became I decided to get off it... but the withdrawals were fucking horrible. Legit took me months to get back to my normal self. Some things that have worked: therapy (a good therapist goes a long way), sunlight or a light box in the winter times, a good social circle around you, working out, and limit your drug/alcohol use. You'll likely still have your moments where life is depressing as hell, but you just have to know you'll eventually be fine again.

I'd also recommend researching more about concussions and trying to understand everything you can about them... as it can help you cope when something pops up. Concussions can cause you to become a sex addict, more likely to abuse drugs, have anxiety, etc. there's just a lot that can happen when your brain is damaged and it can be nice to know what some of those things are so you can better address them.

Last thing: consider a good neurologist if you still get headaches. I used to get hella migraines (and still get them occasionally), but there are some great drugs out there that can help and the science gets better every day. It took me awhile to find something that worked for me, but eventually I found something that made them manageable. Either way I hope everything works out for you/anyone else who may read this who is struggling with some of these issues.

Mentioned this in a different thread but can't find a way to embed:

I've had those Etymotic plus and I'm personally not a fan mostly due to lack of comfort and it not fitting my ears well and falling out. My go to is Earpeace. They have free shipping on amazon and on their website. Super comfortable with a great carrying case and they come with 3 earplugs because no doubt you'll lose 1 at some point. They have a great replacement earplug program where you can replenish as often as you need for just $9. Can't recommend them enough - plus the founder/director personally responds to all emails.

Consult with your doctor first, but i would focus more on caring for your scars for the long term than hiding them in the short term. Take care of the scars so they heal more thoroughly. Things like scar away work pretty dang well (but are expensive because of the size of top surgery scars.

Scar Away on Amazon

Eh, not really for weed. Anywhere else is likely to crush the joint. I put all in my joints into a bag and that into another bag. When I got in, I threw out the nasty bag and kept the clean one. It wasn't too bad.

Wear shorts and tank/t-shirt/whatever is comfortable. Accessories aside from what I listed are gum if you plan on taking MDMA (gum is a good ice breaker either way), something to make sure your valuables are kept safe (pockets, bags, etc. that you can seal) and maybe some kandi and glow toys, if you're into that.

I would highly recommend a pair of good earplugs. I was recommended these, which allow you to hear people talking within your vicinity. They were ~$15 shipped to Ontario (clear, large size).

They sell DD merchandise inside and other vendors have booths set up if you want to blow cash on novelties.

Lemme know if you have any other questions.

These things are the best! My husband and I use them and have hadn’t had to change our sheets. All of our fluids stay in the pad. I’m a squirter, so this is an awesome buy for us. It doesn’t feel like a towel or a pee pad. It’s comfortable to lay on. I honestly forget it’s there in the midst of things.


NorthShore Champion, 35 x 47, 31 oz, Washable Underpad, X-Large, Each https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001IN46NU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_bEtRBbZDQA1KG

You can read a little about the science of snail mucin here. The article she links on burns mentions open wound management, so my instinct is that it would help heal fresh burns by providing additional moisture, but I don't think it would have a significant effect on older ones. Some people have reported success with ScarAway silicone sheets, but again, it might just work for newer burns. If it's a mature scar, I think the best bet is probably a fractional laser, or if it's pretty deep, a plastic surgeon. Nothing will really "cure" a burn scar and I wouldn't expect the snail mucin to have a noticeable difference. But hey, I don't think it would hurt?

Vacuum bags are great acceptable for when you're leaving home, but it's pretty rare to have a vacuum on deployment when you're trying to pack to come home. Regardless, space bags aren't that great. Even the ones with a one-way vent are trash; they'll quickly fill back up with air. These compression sacks have been priceless for me and the one-way vent truly works, while keeping out moisture. They're more expensive, but you get what you pay for.

Other items: Ear plugs, anything you like to use that can't be shipped overseas due to safety restrictions (for me, I like a quality alcohol-based aftershave, which can't be shipped), baby wipes, your own pillow/linen if you can fit them in your bags, and a padlock/combination lock (for any time you're in transit for a little bit in Kuwait or some other hub and you have to store your bags in cages outside).

You can get a dampening kind rather than a straight up muffler plug...look for those. You still get some great sound instead of everything turning into a muffle. Here's what I'm talking about.. You can of course get cheaper products but these are a multiple use product (hence the carrying case) and they work great considering they're only $10.

Also, be friendly, expect some jabs and you'll have a lot of fun if you can give some back!

I know you asked for tampon brand suggestions, but I'd also like to suggest getting a menstrual cup once you get used to tampons. They can be reused indefinitely (meaning you save thousands of dollars over a lifetime), they hold more fluid than tampons, there's no environmental waste, and they're healthier for your body. Of course, there's a learning curve, so you might need to wait until you're able to take the time to learn to use a brand like the DivaCup. However, there are also Instead Softcups, which seem similar to tampons in some ways.

I will probably get downvoted by some people for talking about cups in a post about tampons, but I just want to make sure you know all your options to help you out in the future. I'm certainly glad I found out about cups!

I've only used two.

[This is the pair I currently use and live by] (https://www.amazon.com/Etymotic-ETY-Plugs-Fidelity-Earplugs-Standard/dp/B0015WJQ7A/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=etymotic+ear+plugs&qid=1573085930&s=electronics&sr=1-4). They are super comfortable and they rarely ever slide out of my ears; they stay in place well.

[First pair I used were these] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076VVP6CX/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?pd_rd_i=B076VVP6CX&pd_rd_w=qWzEq&pf_rd_p=c83c55b0-5d97-454a-a592-a891098a9709&pd_rd_wg=1Ar5B&pf_rd_r=Z1KYNK4VHNHZAJ3Z1XP0&pd_rd_r=d7e26c24-7da6-49eb-a5e2-baac6ad8b5b4&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzUklCSkdPNFFNN0NPJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMTQwODEyMUhHNVFLQ0U3SEVGQiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMjM4Mzk2MUxTMFc4TE9IU1o3USZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2RldGFpbF90aGVtYXRpYyZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU&th=1). These ones always slide out of my ears, but when they did manage to stay, they did the job and worked perfectly; just a mild comfort issue for me personally. But I suppose these plugs are better for slightly larger ears as mine quite small-medium so they just kept sliding out.

Ok, so first off, stop digging at your feet with an exact-o knife. That's like using a chainsaw to cut drywall.

If you need to physically remove calluses and dead skin, get the right tool for the job: a pumice stone and/or callus rasp/callus shaver. Use these carefully, especially around areas where you've got cuts.

To help the dry parts of your feet heal, moisturize! Silicone/gel socks feel weird (it's like walking on rubber duckies) and make my feet sweaty, but they've done more to soften gnarly calluses than anything else I've ever tried, especially when used regularly and for several hours at a time. (If you aren't afraid of girly colors, there are plenty of other/cheaper options for these on Amazon.) When you aren't wearing the socks, use a lotion or cream like Working Feet or Cerave Foot Cream. Also, ALWAYS wear socks (just like normal cotton socks) when you aren't wearing the silicon socks.

You can also do a foot soak, either with just water, or water plus some bath salts or foot soak stuff. Silicon scar sheets or hydrocolloid bandages might also help with some of the deeper/open cuts you have.

Combine those for several weeks, probably in the order of foot soak, callus shave, moisturize + socks, then more moisturizer after removing, and I'd think you'd see a lot of improvement.

The babyfoot thing is also a good idea for you, but I wouldn't recommend using that until all of your cuts/open wounds have healed. I think the peels are basically acid, and that's probably very painful if you use it on open cuts.

If all of that fails, go see a doctor or podiatrist. Your feet are super important, and if the above interventions aren't helping, I think that's a strong sign your feet need some professional help to get them healed up.

Been using a few over the last few years:

Etymotics: good for shorter shows but after a while they start to bug me, YMMV

Eargasm: a little more comfortable than the Etymotics over longer stretches of time

EarPeace: the three different filter options are nice and easy to swap out, plus they include a third plug which definitely would've prevented that time I accidentally dropped an Etymotic onto the piss-covered floor of an Oakland bathroom and then spent most of the next band's set walking to the nearest Rite-Aid to get a pair of the shitty ones that make everything sound like you wrapped a blanket of mud around your head

Sure, these are softcups. I generally buy them at Wegmans or CVS, as unlike the reusable hardcups you need a new one every period. (I think the box says a new one daily, but I just clean it daily through each period.) Still far cheaper than tampons or pads though. I hope they work for you if you try them :) Feel free to PM any questions.

My hooded eyes look awful with eyeliner applied above upper lashes/below lower lashes as is conventional, so I always/only use eyeliner on my waterline. To prevent raccoon eyes later in they day, here's the tips and tricks I've cultivated over the years:

1. Aim for the part closest to the lashes/avoiding the inner part closest to the eye, because the moisture from your eye can make it run. I use a pencil or pencil-like liner, but cone-shaped kohl kajal sticks are tailor made for this; you just have to stick it between your closed lids and rub back and forth, perfect if you're a little eye-squeamish.
   
2. Using a small firm brush (I use a $1 elf concealer brush, works great), set in place using a similarly-colored eyeshadow or, even better, brow powder. I use dark brown eyeliner instead of black, so I use the one from my brow kit (Milani Brow Fix, can even double as a contour/highlight palette; a true triple-threat). I've found that brow powder has much less fall-out, I suppose from the matte-ness and staying power.
   
3. Stamp loose (face) powder right up under the lower lash line. I've found this is the best defense against late-in-day smearing/smudging/tranfer! I also brush it on my brow bone, because my hooded eyes/curly lashes will paint little mascara lines on my brow bone without it. I don't wear often eyeshadow, so I'm not 100% sure if it's compatible with that; might mattify shiny/shimmery ones.
   
   Not eyeliner-related: Using chafing gel for primer. Cheap and effective

I think it's very brave of you for wanting to address this.

I don't have any advice that hasn't already been given, but there are products that can help fade your scars. There is also laser therapy if you have a greater budget.

Definitely look into the tattoo policy at your workplace and see if it would be allowed. If you're comfortable covering the tattoo, and it means so much to you, I don't see any reason not to get it. Just remember to see a tattooist who has worked around scar tissue before.

Why not just buy an extra top sheet or a super soft towel. Satin or soft cotton pillow case would probably work too. If you are willing to spend some money, you can look at the liberator/fascinator throe or something cheaper but less sexy like this. We have a the throe because my wife squirts on occasion which makes much more of a mess than what you are describing so that may not be necessary. That said, it's almost a part of foreplay when we lay that out.

Best of luck.

So sorry I don't have a DIY suggestion for you, but I have a cheap alternative that you might like.

I use Monistat Chafing Relief Powder Gel as my primer. It can be had for under $10 and works really well, just as well as an expensive primer.

I had received a sample of Smashbox primer and decided to compare the two. The Smashbox was a teeny bit thicker, but other than that, no difference except for you get loads more product with Monistat.

Check out the reviews on Makeup Alley: http://www.makeupalley.com/product/x_showreview.asp?itemid=98437

I got mine at Wal-Mart for about $5. I've also seen it at Target. It's on drugstore.com for $6:
http://www.drugstore.com/monistat-soothing-care-powder-gel/qxp139254?tab=1#TblTabStrip

It's more expensive, but you can find it on amazon for about $10:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0012ZNSWE/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1411792724&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40

I hope this helps!

Buy a sun lamp! You can find them on amazon for ~$70. It changed my life when I got it. The first time I used it for 45 minutes at work, and for the rest of the day I just couldn't stop laughing at stuff. It was extremely odd because I was just smiling and feeling good. My friend bought one before I did, and told me about how absolutely amazing it was. He had always been dealing with depression and ever since he got one he said he's been so much better. He wakes up in the morning (around 5:45 for work) and uses it for 30-45 minutes while he brushes his teeth and gets ready.

It also warns how you shouldn't use it within 3 hours of going to bed because it'll mess with your sleep schedule.

It's also super great for the real busy/lazy. I use it for 45 minutes a day while I'm gaming or at work.

edit: this is the link to the one I have.

I second and third all the previous comments that suggest contacting your community board, city councilman and other elected officials.

Since you're the parent of a newborn, you need immediate help to improve the situation. So I suggest getting a white noise sound machine to help you and the kids sleep. Here's one I found on [Amazon]
(https://www.amazon.com/Adaptive-Sound-Technologies-LectroFan-Non-Looping/product-reviews/B00E6D6LQY) but there seem to be many good options. Good luck!

if white noise helps and you want a sound machine in the future--this one's affordable and great. I esp like it bc according to precious little sleep you need to keep the sleep environment consistent so you'd need the white noise on all night. HoMedics SS-2000G/F-AMZ Sound Spa Relaxation Machine with 6 Nature Sounds, Silver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A2JBMRE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_.yirybCGGXK92

>I went to a dermatologist and he told me to just wait, even though i’ve waited for 3 yrs.

Wow, what a helpful and informative professional who doesn’t waste his patient’s time /s

A picture could be helpful, but does it look like post inflammatory erethmya to you? When you apply pressure to the area does the redness temporarily dissapear?

First daily sunscreen can prevent any more damage to the area while you try to treat it. PIE occurs when damage is done to the capillaries. Youtube Video by a dermatologist who works hands on to cure his patients redness If you don’t want to do anything that major the acne.org website has a really nice page talking about what at home treatment options tend to help their members. One of the treatments mentioned on the page are silicone sheets and I must say they seem like a popular choice I have seen quite a bit of anecdotal evidece else where online that these are very helpful. Example

I have not personally tried it but my dad and some of my friends from my running group swear by something called the Back Buddy. It looks like a good option those hard to reach sore spots.

I hope you can find some relief soon!

if you buy enough of these you could make a dress like lady gaga wore!

this because bacon. And clothes. Clothes are awesome. We all need clothes with non-ucky pits!

THIS! because we both love pandas, its not on your list, and only 5$ from one seller. :) And it's on my wishlist.. so.. add it! hehehehe

>The PT is expensive and not covered, so I cant really afford it.

>The massage therapist said the fascia was really tight. The woman was the fucking bomb and I felt great for a few hours, but it was not permanent.

I've used a lots of gadgets and massage tools. These two were the most helpful for my upper back.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007UOXVU0/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006VJ6TO/

I had massage for a couple of years. Nice, but temporary.

Last year, I had rolfing for a few months, and the benefits were cumulative and longlasting. I've since cancelled my massage membership and no longer need my gadgets. Good luck!

A thick, washable pad like this one works very well. Also great for squirters. I find it easier to enjoy things when I'm not worried about the mess afterwards. I don't own enough towels to properly protect my bed, haha.

THIS is my god send! Even when I was smaller I would get the chub rub. I love this stuff, it works wonders. You can find it at pretty much every CVS-style drug store for about $7. It conditions your skin nicely too.

Edit: It is also GREAT for razor burn and avoiding ingrown hairs in "delicate" areas.

I got one of these things (we lovingly call it, "Steve") to help me really dig into that muscle that kind of tucks behind the shoulder blade...it gets a knot so bad that even an hour long massage with a licensed massage therapist can't get it out. Steve helps a lot. Side to side, slow neck stretches help as well (bend all the way to the side - ear to shoulder - and hold for 30 seconds....repeat on other side...5 sets 5 times). Those things are keeping me sane while I wait to hear if I'm covered. I've been going through this cycle for 10 years, and am finally deciding to do something about it. Don't stop fighting! You will still want this when you're 40!

Being able to hear when you're 50 is pretty punk. I always bring along a pair of earplugs to a show unless I'm absolutely sure it's going to be low volume (like an acoustic coffee shop performance).

I like these earplugs from Etymotic. They reduce a huge level of volume but retain most of the sound quality except for a little high end rolloff. It's a trade I'm more than willing to make. I first wore these to a John Mayer concert in an arena and it still sounded fantastic. They even come with a little rubber carrying case and a kevlar cord to keep them together.

If you don't feel like shelling out $25 for earplugs, at least get a bulk pack of foam earplugs and stick them in your glovebox. You can usually seat them just right in your ear so that they reduce volume but you can still hear the show pretty well.

Before I got custom earplugs, I swore by these for “not TOO bad” concert levels. But I also used them for day-to-day life:
HEAROS High Fidelity Series Ear Plugs for Comfortable Long Term Use with Free Case, 1 Pair https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0037KM8QY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_45z0Db89E759A

And these for more brutal levels:
Hearos Earplugs Rock 'n Roll Series with Free Case, 1-Pair Foam https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001EPQ842/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_q7z0Db3THKGKX

I’m sorry these will be visible, but the first ones I linked to will be less so. I have long hair which covers my ears, so I’ve been lucky in that aspect. Good luck!

here's a few things your friend might like

one - two - three - four - five - six - seven

all of these items are off of my various wishlists, and if i win you can surprise me :) but i do believe your friend might like some of these items!

Agreed. I've never been in a data center long enough to require them but if you want something better than those throwaway orange foam plugs something like this is like $20 and should do you just fine. I got these for some concerts this summer and it's pretty similar to wearing earbuds

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B015IQ6HI4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You can indeed by them in the UK but I've already broken two. :/ I wouldn't recommend them here. (I'm American but I live in the UK.)

To be honest the Wahl Massager is probably the best plug in vibrator I've ever had. The hitachi is good, but it's broad base doesn't give you pinpoint accuracy. It just pushes on and vibrates the hell out of you.

Get this, and use the pinpoint massager. You'll need an adaptor but you can get those anywhere. You won't regret it, honest: http://www.amazon.co.uk/WAHL-4120-600-Corded-Hand-Held-Massager/dp/B006NXRD44/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382124752&sr=8-1&keywords=wahl+massager

Edit: It's a bit loud, but as soon as you press it against your body the sound goes away. You can youtube some reviews as well. A friend recommended it for me and I love it.

Hey! These work great for me and my girlfriend! No noise, soft enough to just toss over the sheets and enjoy yourselves, and super affordable. They're machine washable and can hold SO MUCH liquid. On mobile, so here's the link [NorthShore Champion, 35 x 47, 50 oz., Washable Underpad, X-Large, Each https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001IN46NU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_BAhTzbXWZ5594]

I've been going to concerts for about 10-12 years now. Festivals for the last 7. I'm 29. I and especially my wife has already noticed that my hearing is starting to get worse. I've tried cheap disposable foam ear plugs but they fall out or are so uncomfortable I remove them myself. I got a $20 pair off amazon before Backwoods a few weekends ago. I was very surprised at how good the music still sounded. Also they stayed in my ear and I was not constantly having to readjust. I wish I would have bought something like this sooner, but from now on I am wearing these to every show.

https://www.amazon.com/EarPeace-Ear-Plugs-Protection-Professionals/dp/B076VVP6CX/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1525404072&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=ear+peace&psc=1

Amazon link for the ones I purchased. There are a lot of choices when you look on amazon or google. $20 is a tiny investment to start protecting your hearing that everyone should be doing if you go to a lot of concerts.

Also... no more loud music in the car or loud volumes on headphones/earbuds.

Yeah. I have this issue. I do some kegels and squats/lunges and then it wiggles into place so I don't feel the little tip hurting. I think it's because vaginas vary in depth as well, so we might just not be able to put ours in deep enough. Once it settles, it's not noticeable anymore and seems to shimmy up slightly. But feeling the tip makes me cringe. It would be cool if they could come up with a reusable applicator for the diva cup, like soft rubber tongs or something. If it's a huge problem, I've had awesome luck with SoftCups. I keep both the DivaCup and SoftCup on hand since I can have sex with the SoftCup in. It's not bell shaped like the DivaCup, so no pokey end. You can keep it in for up to 12 hours. It's not reusable, though.

1. My family is BIG into cakes and pies. If you don't know how to make a good cake or a sweet pie, you're useless at family get-togethers.
   
   
2. As a family, we mostly play two card games. Spades or Tonk. ALL THE TIME. It's all we do.
   
   
3. Like any family, we get on each other's nerves incessantly. Sometimes, silence is golden.
   
   
4. BEETLE JUICE, BEETLE JUICE, BEETLE JUICE!!
   
   
5. My mom would always clean the house every morning and LOVED pine sol. She used it for cleaning literally every surface in the house.
   
   You don't have to give birth to someone to have a family
   
   You and your family...make...This!
   Sandra Bullock

This looks like a silly, pointless gimmick, but it's great. The Body Back Buddy is amazing for un-knotting your muscles. I got one for xmahannukah, and we can't stop using it.

Ha ha, I LOVE this!! I used to do these exchanges when I worked in the office and always brought hilarious gifts!!

I have a few ideas:

Santa Toilet Seat Cover and Rug

Bacon Bandages

Public Toilet Survival Kit

Did Body Glide change their formula? I posted about how much I love Monistat Anti-Chafe Gel a while back and bought some Body Glide at the recommendation of others. It went on kind of sticky on me and didn't do shit for chafing. I did some googling after that happened and it sounded like a bunch of hikers said it used to be awesome but stopped working very well in the last year or two, so they thought maybe they had?

I also have two pairs of belevation and love them until my tummy starts to sweat.

if you're on the floor, anywhere below row 10, you're gonna want to use protection (heh) - ive been using EarPeace for years at various venues and absolutely love them. They bring the music down to a reasonable decibel, without losing fidelity.

Plus, the added bonus of not getting tinnitus for days after is great. You'll also be able to hear what those around you are saying to you!

I don't notice a thing! If it's properly placed, you shouldn't feel it at all. I go jogging/hiking with it inside and wouldn't even know it was there if I hadn't put it in myself!

It might be a little weird to insert and remove at first (it was for me) and it takes some practice to do it seamlessly, but IMO it's definitely worth it. It's SO convenient and you only need to take it out to empty it every 12 hours (or more maybe if you have a very heavy flow) - for me that's once when I wake up and once a few hours before I go to bed.

I feel you on the cost. I was nervous about that too - you can do what I did and try out some disposable Softcups first. There's a locator on the website that'll tell you if a drugstore near you sells them, but they're also on Amazon. I paid $5 for a six pack at my local drugstore. Same deal, change them every 12 hours, but you can't wash and reuse these ones. I actually found them much easier to insert/remove than the Diva Cup, so if you're on the fence, I highly recommend you give these a try first! :)

For my big kids, we only did it for naps when they were younger - we actually started it at night for them when #3 came along (I didn't want them waking up to her crying).

...somewhere along the line WE got addicted to the white noise, now we all have white noise machines in use for nighttime and naps. I love them, I know I sleep much better with it.

(We have two of these (It's almost identical to the one posted by /u/smittypants below, just slightly different sounds). We will eventually get a 3rd. When the big kids were little, and now for the baby, we have a super old 13" TV that plays static which works well enough.

There are some really great earplugs like these that are cheap, comfortable, not visibly noticeable and most importantly cut frequencies ~evenly so everything still sounds the same, just quieter. I wear mine at shows, bars and even when playing music. Can’t recommend them enough.

I use a basic Homedics white noise machine ($20 on Amazon), and it works great. I grew up on white noise machines, and they definitely help me sleep more rested. My wife feels the same way, and she never used one before meeting me.

If you want to try it for a night or two, check out the app White Noise Free. The brown noise setting is the closest thing to my white noise machine, and the app is great to bring on trips.

I use the Hearos high fidelity ear plugs. They're like the Etymotic ones, but I found that they fit my ear a little better and are more comfortable. Whichever way you go though, you're going to want high fidelity plugs.

Edit:
Hearos High Fidelity on Amazon

I'm going to play devil's advocate and say to buy some earplugs. I use them all the time and they are actually pretty effective and not uncomfortable if worn for relatively short periods of time (<12 hours). Check out something like these and see if they work for you. Also, be sure to watch this youtube video for maximum effectiveness and comfort. What do you have to lose?

I've used HEAROS the last few years and am quite happy with them. They fit comfortably and drop the volume a bit (thus protecting your hearing) without negatively effecting the music. I believe these are the ones I use, or are at least very similar. The carrying case is very handy and I've yet to lose a pair.

Whatever you choose I'm sure will be comfortable enough. Just check the dB-blocking ratings and see if they fit your needs. And recommend them to your friends too! Hearing loss sucks so it's best to get after it early in life.

It may not help you now but this stuff helps SO much if you have chafed, it will help soothe it. It does also help prevent chafing, although I've never used it on a run only in regular everyday life with dresses and such.

Madam Curie who, when crime is afoot, becomes... The Radiation Sensation! She stalks criminals with Glass Dropper Pipettes filled with a slime that turns you into a radiation detector for an hour, and Bacon Aids to help recover those who were hurt (because seriously... who doesn't love bacon?).

Her hours in the labs have given her a near precognative ability to know when something bad is about to happen and so she stays one step ahead of crime. She has amazing Judo skills honed during her down time between being awesome and winning Nobel Prizes (yes, plural!). And even when she isn;t out crime fighting she's being awesome by discovering new elements and making an apperance on Bridget's First Contest!

P So I would love the gift card! I'm moving to Taiwan to pursue my masters in Industrial Engineering (first one in the family to even have a BACHELORS!) and I really want to buy a Ipod so I can listen to music to past the 2 day flight time (3 hours to Miami, 4 to LA, and then 13 to Taiwan, with a total of 11 hours in Layovers :)

also here's my amazon wishlist - http://www.amazon.com/registry/wishlist/3D5SKJ1JNHRDF/ref=cm_wl_act_vv?_encoding=UTF8&reveal=&visitor-view=1

https://www.amazon.com/Etymotic-Research-ETYPlug-Protection-Earplugs/dp/B0044DEETC

These work best for me, super easy to put in. Amazing sound quality, able to hear everything , and no ringing ears afterwards.

So, I just heard this white noise machine in an office waiting room and honestly it was amazing.

If you want one that helps for sleep, you actually probably want Brown Noise. It has lower frequencies than white noise, and I think there are studies that those lower frequencies genuinely help with sleep.

The link I posted has a great, deep, brown noise setting that makes you feel like you're on a private jet over a tropical ocean and have just taken your first Valium.

Important: do no confuse with the brown note.

Well, I use one of these but trigger point release only helps for a day or so. Heat is nice, also if I can get a massage from my husband and his strong thumbs. Stretching and exercise seems to make things more stiff, though.

OK there aren't really many choices in that price range unfortunately. So you pretty much don't have enough for custom ones or active ones which means passive. So you should probably go with the best passive out there. Here is an article: http://djtechtools.com/2015/11/09/best-dj-earplugs-for-the-club/

Personally I suggest the $25 ER20xs I linked above or the $20 V-Moda VIP

I like to listen to white noise or soothing sounds when I relax, which is why I have a white noise machine on my wishlist. It has ocean noises! Without the sea gulls! So niiiicceeee.

P.S. I like talking. =)

Have you looked into these? I only wear them when I’m in loud places, but they are a godsend when I need them. It’s awesome they are on a keychain.

Whoa, glad you are doing better. Those are no joke.

Removal... I don't know, they're fairly large and involved. Since they're newish, you could try keeping everything heavily moisturized with some quality cocoa butter, or try silicon sheeting. There's been some studies pointing to scar improvement with silicon, but I have no personal experience with them.

In time, the deep purple will fade, and they will become less noticeable.

A tattoo might help, but I would splurge on a good artist. I don't think scar tissue holds ink as well as normal skin.

Dating? They wouldn't bother me.

If you can seal the room air tight--including doors, windows, and vents--that may help. Also close the doors to other rooms in-between the drum kit and your neighbors.

Honestly, though, it may make more sense to buy your neighbors a box of ear plugs, and apologize in advance. Give them your number and ask them to reach out when the noise is inappropriate. Or play when they're gone.

These are the best earplugs I've found: https://www.amazon.com/Hearos-Plugs-Xtreme-Protection-pairs/dp/B001EPQ86A

There are really effective things you can purchase at any Walmart or major pharmacy like Walgreens. There is a product called "scar away". Its basically like a reusable bandaid. The adhesive is gentle on your skin. Basically you place the middle of the tap over the opening tip of your foreskin with the two halves of the tape adhering to your skin. This will keep the skin from rolling back behind your glans, potentially even during an erection. Its usually around 15$ for a box of like 20 strips, but they are re useable if you wash them in warm water so that's enough for over a year. Here is what the box looks like on amazon, but you can buy it at any Walmart. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AJ4L1E?aaxitk=l7eRQzCWBi4tY285cEYgEQ&pd_rd_i=B001AJ4L1E&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=3507616222&pd_rd_wg=9N2dj&pf_rd_r=RFP8GRPH3AFQ3NVWPQ0J&pf_rd_s=desktop-sx-top-slot&pf_rd_t=301&pd_rd_w=pkzWJ&pf_rd_i=scar%2Baway&pd_rd_r=b1216953-4e3f-4684-a761-211ce56e9618&hsa_cr_id=3435781320701&th=1

I too am "blessed" with large pore genetics.

My advice, in addition to the excellent tip to add in BHA to your routine, is to find a good foundation primer. If you can tolerate 'cones, I think that dimethicone-based primers are much better at masking large pores than non-'cone based primers. Monistat Anti-Chafing Gel is an exact dupe for Smashbox Photo Finish Primer! You can get it at most grocery stores/pharmacies. I get it at Target for about $5 in the feminine care section. If you can't do 'cone-based primers, I like KORRES Pomegranate Mattifying Primer.

I think compression shorts are the best, maybe with some baby powder underneath if you're going to get hot and sweaty. Also, when I was 200+ I couldn't wear dresses/skirts without getting a rash from my thighs rubbing together. I used to buy this product and it worked wonders. The downside is that it's kind of pricey and it's made by Monistat but it really did work well for me: http://www.amazon.com/Monistat-Soothing-Chafing-Powder-Gel-1-5-Ounce/dp/B0012ZNSWE/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Great job starting up the exercise. Keep going with diet and exercise and after a while you won't need to worry about this anymore. :)

You definitely want a dedicated sound machine if you plan on using it all night. I would go separate, because where you want the nightlight is not necessarily where you want the sound machine. Our daughter does not use a nightlight yet, but we use the LectroFan white noise machine, although right now they are running a buy one, get one free special on their combined white noise/nightlight that you control with your smartphone on their website, so you could decide if you want light, white noise, or both from each of them.

yep. I'd never used a primer before and was watching a makeup tutorial before I started using reddit or had heard about makeup sr's. It's this. It has the same active ingredients as MAC's primer, I believe it was. It works brilliantly and is so much less expensive. I'm on a pretty serious budget ;)

I highly recommend wearing earplugs. My favorite are Etymotic Research plugs. They still sound great when listening to music and don't just dampen all incoming audio. They're also pretty cheap, non-obtrusive, and hard for others to see.

I mentioned a LOT of cups without providing links. I usually do, but there were so many ... Anyway, rather than go back and edit my posts, here is a list in case you want to check them out:

​

Cups with valves

Bassrose Cup (tried)

Aiwo Cup (tried and failed)

Old Victoria's Love

New Victoria's Love

Tulip Cup

Chinese Valve Cup

Chinese Valve Cup

Chinese Valve Cup with Stopper

Chinese Valve Cup With Stopper

​

Cups with anti-spill rims

Femmycycle (use)

Formoonsa (examined)

Lily Cup (examined)

Imari Rose Cup (use - my goldilocks)

Jieze Cup Blue (examined)

Jieze Cup Colored

​

Collapsible Cups

Lily Cup Compact (use, plan to switch to Lily Cup One)

Lily Cup One (examined, plan to use)

Formoonsa Cone Shape (examined)

Chinese Collapsibel Cup

Chinese Collapsibel Cup

Chinese Collapsibel Cup

Chinese Collapsibel Cup

Chinese Collapsible Cup

​

Cups with applicators

Amy Cup Original

Enna Cup

New Victoria's Love

​

Cups designed to easily break seal

Leona Air Flow

Flex Cup (just got one) - formerly Keela Cup

Lumma Easy Cup (not 100% sure those indentations are supposed to actually break the seal)

​

Cups designed to monitor your health

Loon Cup

​

Cups with round shapes

Femmycycle (use)

Formoonsa (examined)

Merula

Tieut Cup

Chinese Round Cup

​

Cups with vaginal shapes

Lily Cup (examined)

Fun Cup

AEIOU Cup

​

Discs

Softcup (tried)

Softcup Reusable

Softdisc

Flexdisc

Prudence Softcup

Ziggy Cup (tried)

Lumma Unique (use)

Nixit (examined)

​

The one run-of-the-mill cup I mentione

Peachlife (use)

​

I have also used or tried at one time or another (I'm sure I'm forgetting something)

Diva Cup

Lunette

OI Cup (The cup that I learned I don't like TPE.)

I used these on some scars on my neck and they worked pretty well. You basically put them over your scars like band-aids and the silicone on them fades and heals them. I only wore them for about a month, twelve hours a day and skipping some, but they made a pretty good difference on my scars.

This one doesn’t have a remote but it’s worked great for us it’s cheap too!

ETA they advertise it to look like it’s timer-based but you can leave it on all the time as well.

It looks big but the sides are very flexible and I found it very easy to insert it and no pain at all. Much easier than those damn silicone period cups, actually lol.

This is the one I used:

SOFTDISC - Menstrual Discs - Non-Reusable, Disposable Softcups - Enjoy up to 12 Hours of Protection - Fewer Period Cramps, Tampon and Menstrual Cup Alternative for Active Women 14 Disc Per Box https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000X29GY6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_XulxDbTBH2JHV

I actually have used melatonin in many forms and doses. There was some sort of research about the effective dose of melatonin being far lass than what is normally sold..

I take this Sundown Melatonin 300 mcg, 120 Tablets (Packaging May Vary) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GG2I9O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_k1i3DbF5Q60V9

Not sure other people’s experiences but this has worked just as good if not more than any quick dissolve, gummy, liquid melatonin fat higher doses


I also have used unisom that works awesome as wlel

In truth, nothing is happening to the sound waves. Sound waves, even loud ones, are so low in pressure compared to ambient that they follow the rule of superposition. That is, the sound field generated by two sources together is equal to the sound field from the first source plus the sound field from the second. The only exception is shockwaves, which wouldn't apply here (unless you both went deaf from the experience and the sound coming off the speaker sounded like a series of intense explosions).

The real issue is masking: your ability as a listener to distinguish one sound from another. Because the sound you are trying to hear (your friend's speech) is at a lower level than the noise (the music from the speaker), you have a poor signal to noise ratio. This makes it much more difficult to resolve the signal and hear your friend's speech. The fact that the speaker is between the two of you also makes this worse, because having two ears normally lets you spatially separate sources (improving the effective Signal-to-Noise ratio). However, because the sound is coming from the same angle, your brain can't get that extra boost from listening in only one direction.

In other news, if the sound was really so loud that you couldn't hear your friend, you were definitely suffering permanent hearing damage. I highly recommend wearing hearing protection in the future. These Etymotic earplugs have a flat frequency response, so they'll reduce the noise level without hurting the sound quality. In fact, because the hearing system goes non-linear at such high levels, it will actually make the music sound better because it won't be distorted (think of an overworked subwoofer "bottoming out"...you're doing that to your ears). As a side benefit, in my experience it's also easier to distinguish sounds in a noisy environment with the earplugs in, so you might have been able to hear your friend with them.

I have not been gifted yet, probably because I'm still new. Random fact about me? I probably like butter more than Paula Deen. Yup. That much. Omg it's so good. lol Would love to have these! because... who doesn't want to stick bacon on their cuts? lol Thanks for the contest!

Sure thing! One thing that may help you as well is getting a daylight lamp, something like this is small and reasonably priced. Use it before you start a lecture and your circadian rhythym will think it's morning and help keep you awake. Just be careful not to use it very close to bedtime or it could cause insomnia.

Hey man, just a word of advice if you start doing this regularly, it's important to protect your ears with something like this. It doesn't actually plug your ears, you can still hear everything crystal clear, but it takes the harshness of the amps/drums out. I played in small studios for only a couple years and got tinnitis symptoms, so good to start taking care of that early.

Some Bacon Band-Aids or Bacon Duct Tape for your husband!!! Bacon is Meat Candy and if I win, go ahead and surprise me!!! P.S. Bacon is delicious.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00A2JBMRE/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?qid=1420563417&sr=8-6&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70

This is the one I use. Comes with the original white noise, but also has others such as ocean, rain, thunderstorm, brook, and night time (crickets and such sounds).

It works really well if you live with roomates/family for sleep too. My mom got me hooked. Not only do i seem to sleep better, it blocks out noises from other parts of the house such as roomates cooking/listening to music/talking. Definitely worth the 20 bucks

Turtlenecks and higher necklines are a super pretty fashion statement, and you can keep the scar covered with a scar reducing bandage (https://www.amazon.com/ScarAway-Professional-Silicone-Treatment-Packaging/dp/B001AJ4L1E) at the same time to prevent it from catching.

Look for sleeveless turtlenecks too - tops and even dresses (https://m.venus.com/viewproduct.aspx?BRANCH=7~72~&clearance=1&ProductDisplayID=42861&clr=KH&sc=XWEBGPF18FS&cm_mmc=PLA-_-Google-_-UN-_-BKT_M&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhaOCj9ja2QIVCIN-Ch2PeQ5ZEAQYAiABEgLfuPD_BwE)

Any of these search results:

https://www.google.com/search?q=victoria%27s+secret+turtleneck+tee&client=safari&hl=en-us&prmd=sivn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjlvdCo19rZAhUO0WMKHdYMAdgQ_AUIEigC&biw=375&bih=597


https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&hl=en-us&biw=375&bih=553&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=NhugWpT6O5KmjwPx_ZvoCg&q=turtleneck+ladies+spring&oq=turtleneck+ladies+spring&gs_l=mobile-gws-img.3...17452.17735..18982...0....87.154.2..........1..mobile-gws-wiz-img.X9ffwGoXTYw%3D

Oh monistat makes this AMAZING lotion for it. http://www.amazon.com/Monistat-Complete-Chafing-Relief-Powder/dp/B000FKLKXQ

You also are probably gonna be best off getting a pair of leggings for the gym, they help immensely. TJMaxx has excellent high quality ones for cheap if you don't mind ridiculous colors

You might look in to finding a rolfer. It's a great structural technique for balancing the body, with a strong focus on standing/sitting straight. They'll measure your imbalances, then work on them, re-measure, work on them again, give you tips on maintaining the balance, etc.

A back buddy could also help with the trigger points in your back.

U.S.A. link

I got a box of these as a gift once, the 'Free Prize' is a tiny plastic pig, like 1/4" tall.

These are the ones I bought. They're fantastic, incredibly comfortable, and such amazing sound quality

This isn't an answer to your question, but is a possible solution. Also, I'm definitely not saying that your it's ok for your neighbors to have a rooster. I'm also not saying that you shouldn't report your neighbor (IE It's totally fine to report your neighbor).


But, for the time being, wear earplugs when you go to bed on friday / saturday nights....


https://www.amazon.com/3M-1100-Foam-Plugs-200-Pair/dp/B008MVYL7C

Reusable cups and I didn't work together, but I love Instead Softcups--they're a ring with thin plastic so they sit inside differently and are easier (imo) to remove (no mega-suction) and are disposable (which is an ecological minus, but a public restroom plus).

https://www.amazon.com/Softcup-14-Disposable-Menstrual-Discs/dp/B000X29GY6/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1526310494&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=instead%2Bsoftcup&th=1

omg LADIES WHO WEAR SHORTS, I can vouch for that Monistat stuff at the end of the article, 100%. Matter of fact, this article may have been where I first found out about it many moons ago. Anyways, PICK SOME UP next trip to Walmart (around the vadge stuff, you know). A tube will last you quite a while -- probably longer than I think because I tend to overapply out of paranoia that I'm missing the worst spot of them all, surely. I live in an awful, hot, humid place with theme parks, so I have run that stuff through the ringer and it is the best. Has never stained clothes, feels 1,000,000,000% comfortable and natural, lasts for hours ....okay fine I live in Florida. All Floridians with normal, touching thighs, have this on hand. Ugg I should copy and paste this to them so they'll send me some for free. God bless that purple tube. Don't look back.

This was her link to it

I’ve always used EarPeace. I’ve to many festivals and concerts and always found them to be the best. They’re very comfortable and these also only drop the DB.

EarPeace HD Concert Ear Plugs - High Fidelity Hearing Protection for Music Festivals, DJs & Musicians (Standard, Black Case) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076VVP6CX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_JsAZCbX59BY1C

It is not the best situation, but if you get them a sun-lamp (sold as "SAD lights" on amazon) or "full spectrum light bulbs", that will help a LOT. If you get the sun lamp, be sure to protect the cord so they can't chew it. Also, you can get multi-vitamins from oxbow and those will help too.

You can also get a portable play pen to set up outside for a few hours every day so they can have sunlight. Make sure to get one with a top AND bottom so that they don't escape or get attacked by animals.

This one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004JF3G08/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

is my favorite. I've used several different kinds, and this one is powerful and compact.

Occasionally you can find happy lights on sale at Costco, but that is super variable to location and time of year.

toomuchnoiseabove, I so feel your pain, very similar situation here. Noisy families are a socially sanctioned source of noise (a sanction which the childfree movement is only in its early stages of overturning) so there's probably little you can do directly about it other than moving.

What has worked for me is indirect measures: tech, a minor architectural change (closing the window out to the common area with soundproofing), and mental training. The tech has been some really kick ass headphones (a great investment anyway just for the awesome music quality), putting HD white noise videos like this fountain on my TV, this sound conditioner (it's an adjustable white noise like that of an electric fan that gives you something to focus on and ignore the rest), and finally good quality ear plugs as a last resort (I've only used them once or twice, but just knowing that I have them available eases me).

Anyway, you don't have to feel powerless, you can tweak your environment and gear up! Feeling yourself in control is half the battle. The other half is about making mental peace with noise you just can't control, letting yourself get naturally used to it, distracting yourself when it comes, letting go of anger, calming yourself with putting things in perspective... I know, it's difficult and you may not want to hear this when what you want to do is vent and act, but it has been the other half of the answer for me :) Good luck!

I like the comfort of them in general. But find I sometimes pull them out of my ears when sleeping (Not on a plane)

Why wouldn't u go with standard earplugs for sleeping like these: Etymotic High Fidelity Earplugs, ER20XS Universal Fit Hearing Protection https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015IQ6HI4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_HETMDbW0DQVGM

I have these also. The pull out tab is removable so you can sleep on the side easily.

I really like my Hearos. They do a pretty good job of keeping a natural sound.

This look exactly like my nose! So I'll tell you what I've been doing recently. I read about the Oil Cleansing Method (OCM) here on r/SCA, but my hands got tired of massaging my face before I made much progress. But I had this laying around and decided to use this attachment that came with it to massage the mineral oil into my face. I've been doing it every other day for about 3-5 minutes before I shower for about 3 weeks now. My skin's not perfect but I have begun to notice some improvement lately. I hope this helps if you decide to try it.

https://www.amazon.com/Etymotic-Research-ETYPlug-Protection-Earplugs/dp/B0044DEETC

...I'm no expert, but these have worked perfectly fine. (if you decide to go with them, make sure to pick the right size)

Body glide is decent, but it kind of stinks after it mixes with sweat and stuff. And it's pretty greasy. I've tried every anti-chafe product known to man or woman and This stuff (Monistat Soothing Care Chafing Relief) is unfucking believable. There's simply no other way to describe it. I just wish they'd put it in a neutral package and market it to dudes as well. Boys have chub-rub issues too and I'd rather not have to include the feminine hygiene aisle in my shopping trips...

If you can, get these earplugs, I got them for the 2010 Canadian GP and they are awesome. Comfortable and they don't change the sound of things, just make it quieter.

http://www.amazon.com/Etymotic-Research-ETYPlug-Protection-Earplugs/dp/B0044DEETC/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1334074690&sr=1-1-catcorr

Comes with a nice little case that I attached to my lanyard I had my tickets in.

For some weird reason they don't make very many that are actual alarm clock ones like this that you can set to turn on at a specific time, so they're a little harder to find. This is the one I have, but it looks like it's unavailable now, sorry. :/ You might be able to find another one though, or just google the brand and maybe it's somewhere besides Amazon?

You can find tons of light alarm clocks like this one that I also have (except it wasn't such a ridiculous price when I bought it—wtf?), which are helpful and nice, but they're just regular lamps and not the super strong blue light, so they won't have quite the same effect. If you just need a little help though, it could be good. Just make sure you know what you're getting—if it doesn't explicitly say 10,000 lux somewhere, you're getting just a regular lamp alarm clock like this one.

This is the one I use at my desk, but you have to turn it on manually. So you could have your alarm go off, then turn it on, then lay there for a while, but that's not quite as helpful as having it light up gradually while you're sleeping.

If you're struggling to get 8 hours a night, you can focus on deepening the sleep you do get instead of sleeping longer.

• Black out your room at night. This is the biggest one for me. I have cheap blackout shades and I use electrical tape to cover internet routers, smoke alarms - anything that flashes. Get your room dark enough that you can't see your hand in front of your face. Even a little light will fuck with your melatonin production and compromise your sleep quality.
  
  
  
• If you use electronics at night, download f.lux. It's a free program that removes blue light from your monitor after the sun sets. Your phone should have night mode under settings; turn that on as well. Light in the blue spectrum is the biggest melatonin disruptor.
  
  
  
• Take 400 mg of magnesium citrate or magnesium glycinate before bed. It eases stress and causes a dramatic increase in sleep quality. Plus, a good percentage of the population is deficient in magnesium, so you could probably use a little extra anyway. If you go for magnesium citrate, start at 200 mg and move up to 400 mg over the course of a couple days. Too much at once will make you shit your pants. Glycinate doesn't have that issue, but isn't quite as bioavailable.
  
  
  
• Take 300 mcg of melatonin right before bed. Melatonin is a hormone your body uses to encourage deep sleep, and taking it in pill form will knock you right out. It's prescription in the UK, over-the-counter in the US. Most doses are far too high (2-10 mg), and can impair your natural melatonin production if you take them regularly without a break. Stick with 300mcg (linked above); it's the minimum effective dose and won't mess with your hormones long-term.
  
  
• I also drink kava tea on nights when I really can't sleep. It's more for stress relief/anxiety than for sleep, but if you find you have trouble winding down at night it can be a big help. Don't drink alcohol alongside kava; the active compounds, kavalactones, bind to the same brain receptors that alcohol does, meaning the effects of the two stack.
  
  
• Don't take sleeping pills if you can avoid them. I'm not a doctor, and I'm not saying you should ignore your doctor, but sleeping pills don't actually put you into stage 3 and stage 4 sleep (the deep, restorative sleep your brain needs). They can also cause a lot of neurological side effects.
  
  Source: neuroscientist who focused on psychopharmacology and sleep when I was getting my degree.

I have the same problem and recently bought the Monistat primer and Skindivia Setting Spray(which sadly I got for 19 dollars a week ago without Prime so I'm really sad it's on sale now :( ). The monistat didn't do much to control the shine but the Setting Spray did completely. I lasted a good 6 hours without blotting and no shine! Soooo happy I bought this... Try it out while it's still on sale :)

Right now I'm just using the Simply Noise app on either my phone or iPad, set to pink noise (supposedly better for sleep) and fairly loud (80-90% of full volume on the iPad). I have charging cords near both the bassinet and in the nursery so it works well in either space and didn't cost me anything. We will likely get an actual white noise machine down the line; Moms On Call recommends this one (and it's also the model my therapist uses in the waiting area): http://www.amazon.com/HoMedics-SS-2000G-Relaxation-Machine-Nature/dp/B00A2JBMRE/

I like that it can be powered by battery or adapter, so if we travel we could easily take it with us.

I have them in the same spots, although not as stubborn as yours. You may already have tried this, but having one of these on hand at home has helped a lot for mine: https://www.amazon.com/Body-Back-Original-Trigger-Therapy/dp/B0006VJ6TO/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_121_bs_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=DCCZWWST6X2P8FM4Z4TG&th=1

I know you've tried a lot of more invasive things, but it may be helpful to have a massage tool that you can use on your own on a more regular basis than you would be able to get injections, dry needling, or massages.

My only other thought is maybe TENS? Not sure how well it works for trigger points, but might be worth a try?

Very nice!

BTW, these work wonders for keeping the bed dry and are much easier to wash:


NorthShore Champion Washable Underpad Extra-Large 35 x 47 Each https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001IN46NU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_eOQ4xbZW853Q7

This link gives a great breakdown on what to look for in the light box. This lamp on amazon is similar to the one my mom has. It's perfect for on a desk at work or while reading. Fair warning these lamps can get very pricey!

the vibratex mini magic wand is $35 and it's fairly strong. it wasn't strong enough for me but i need a lotttt of power. i have a review of it here.

the wahl massager is also a great choice. it's corded which can be annoying sometimes but it's only $15 and really strong!

HAHA, I have also self diagnosed myself with this. Good old Google. A constant resource for the hypochondriacs!

I use a therapy light in the mornings to mid afternoon to help combat this (especially in the winter when I'm totally thrown off schedule) - these are the two I recommend:

http://www.amazon.com/NatureBright-SunTouch-Plus-Light-Therapy/dp/B000W8Y7FY

http://www.amazon.com/Lightphoria-000LUX-Energy-Light-Lamp/dp/B004JF3G08

Both well worth the money in my opinion. I use the little one at work and when I travel, and I use the larger one at home.

I’m a sleep consultant and always have my clients use real white noise for their baby’s to help them stay asleep.

It’s also a positive sleep cue. This is the one I use.

HoMedics, White Noise Machine, Sleep Sound Machine with 6 Nature Sounds and Timer, Spa Relaxation, Sleep Therapy for Home, Office and Travel, SS-2000G/F-AMZ Silver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A2JBMRE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_PlD5Ab5TRDGVT

This: https://www.amazon.com/Sphere-Gadget-Technologies-Lightphoria-Energy/dp/B004JF3G08/ref=sr_1_6_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1506432050&sr=8-6&keywords=sun+lamps+for+depression is the sun lamp I have. It's small, so can easily be transported back and forth to your job.

Just doing what you do, for a half hour in the morning, with it on the highest intensity, really helps with energy levels.

This is the new and improved model. I got the original one 15 years ago for a (requested) birthday present. I was traveling a lot for my job, and I could throw it in my suitcase and use it in the hotel room before I had to go spend the day teaching home healthcare nurses how to do charting on a laptop.

What kind of job do you have? You don't have to reveal too much, I'm just wondering if it's office work, if you work with people or by yourself, or what sorts of things you're allowed to do. When you see your doctor, make sure to bring this up. My pdoc prescribed me modafinil, it doesn't exactly deal with depression but it gives me more energy and helps counteract the fogginess. I don't know where you live, but if it's a relatively high latitude like I do, you might have some Seasonal Affective Disorder going on as well. Every fall/winter after I was diagnosed sucked really bad, until last winter when I got a light box. This is the one I have https://smile.amazon.com/Sphere-Gadget-Technologies-Lightphoria-Energy/dp/B004JF3G08/ref=sr_1_9_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1474310365&sr=1-9&keywords=light+box
and it really helps me. It's small but it's bright and it would fit on a desk.

EarPeace HD Concert Ear Plugs... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076VVP6CX?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

I'm sure there are better ones out there but these get the job done and they come in a keychain container which is awesome. you will have these with you at all times and won't ever forget them.

1. Get Health Insurance. You don't want to deal with the flu without antibiotics. You don't want to deal with a car accident without health insurance. Get Health Insurance, the more the better.
   
2. Learn how to cook for yourself. Invest in a rice cooker. Subscribe to America's Test Kitchen or buy the book
   
   1. https://www.americastestkitchen.com/
      
   2. https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Americas-Test-Kitchen-Cookbook/dp/1945256540/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1NHG2X4PBOT9&keywords=americas+test+kitchen+cookbook&qid=1563239201&s=gateway&sprefix=americas+test+kit%2Caps%2C193&sr=8-1
      
3. "Buy" most or all your furniture from Facebook Marketplace.
   
4. When you can afford something new check this site first, to know what to buy
   
   1. https://thewirecutter.com/
      
5. Shop at the SuperMarket Publix and sign up for membership/club discount card
   
6. If you have trouble sleeping because of noise buy disposable earplugs
   
   1. https://www.amazon.com/3M-1100-Foam-Plugs-200-Pair/dp/B008MVYL7C/ref=sr_1_18?keywords=earplugs&qid=1563239457&s=gateway&sr=8-18
      
7. Do not get a dog or a cat. Buy a Peace Lily Plant. NASA tested them and they are the best indoor plant for air cleaning
   
8. Take your shoes off at the door like the Japanese and you'll have clean floors.
   
9. Save your money.
   
10. Get a side hustle like a YouTube Channel and or Podcast. You have a unique position in a small but growing field. Be an expert of that scene.
    
11. Always wear a condom.
    
    ​
    
    If you think this advice helped, write **helped** in your reply.

monistat chafing relief powder gel is amazing and it definitely won't get in your lady parts unless you actually put it there

>Glad you realize how real tinnitus is.

Like I said, it's all because of a Reddit thread I saw a few months ago. I didn't even know what tinnitus was before that, so I'm very glad I stumbled across that thread.

Thanks for the link. I'm using these and they do a pretty decent job of blocking frequencies in a balanced fashion but they're not perfect. Still much better than foam but I think I'll try the ones you linked as well.

>Wear earplugs. If you shoot concerts a lot and want to enjoy the music, you can get fancy specially-attenuated plugs that make everything sound exactly the same, just quieter.

They're honestly not too bad. Like $20-$30 for a great reusable pair.

I've got the Etymotic ER20XS, and wouldn't go to a concert without them.

High doses reccomendations were based on flawed research on people who weren't producing enough natural melatonin. That dosage will just blow out your natural production of the hormone.

An effective dose is measured in the Micrograms and is best taken about 5 hours before you want to go to sleep instead of right before bed. Scott even wrote a good summary of the state of research on it. Here's the dosage I use

You could try some hi-fidelity invisible ear-plugs. You can still hear people talk, but it turns down the volume significantly. I sometimes use them in restaurants to cut out the noises of the people at the other tables. It works pretty well for quieter noises that are usually quite bothersome like breathing or the more polite mouth noises. I own these ones. There are probably earplugs which block out more noise, but I find these ones to be a good balance between hearing people talk to me and blocking out some lighter triggering noises.

It's not perfect, but it helps.

When I can afford to completely drown everything out, I wear some wireless earbuds and listen to some white noise or instrumental music.

Hope you find something that helps.


Edit: I found these which are specifically targeted at audio processing disorders. They might be good too.

Not meat-head but I've had the same results. I take 100 mg of Magnesium chelated and 300 mcg (0.3 mg) of melatonin each night and it makes a big difference. This is what I use:

• https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GG2I9O/
  
• https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BD0RT0/
  
  I also add a scoop of powdered Mangesium Citrate to my breakfast shakes which also seems to make a big difference.
  
  Magensium is a very important enzyme cofactor in more than 300 biochemical processes. Most people don't get nearly enough. I supplement since magnesium rich foods don't seem to have nearly enough for me of an effect for me.
  
  You can read more about magnesium deficiency and human health here: http://openheart.bmj.com/content/5/1/e000668
  

I have this one HoMedics SS-2000G/F-AMZ Sound Spa Relaxation Machine with 6 Nature Sounds, Silver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A2JBMRE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_32Y4wbGVCC9PY and really like it. Really hope it works out for you.

Try these. I don't have periods anymore, but when I did, I used and liked these. It might be worth it to try it before deciding if you'd like to try the cup.

> http://mynoise.net

I'm a big supporter of that site. Really nice guy runs it.

Also, I just got this a few weeks ago. Great for sleeping and/or tinnitus.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E6D6LQY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

I had given up on cups until I found the disposable ones. I tried a few types like moon cups and similar ad could never get them in comfortably. I found soft disc and like those. They are lighter/thinner and I find easier to get in place. You use one for one period then chuck it. So one box is almost a years worth. I still don't use it for the beginning heavier days but that is just me being wimpy about trying it. I discovered them through a thread where women were singing their praises and using them to have sex while on their period. Once in place it catches the blood but you have normal lubrication so cleaner period sex is a possibility.

​

https://www.amazon.com/Softcup-14-Disposable-Menstrual-Discs/dp/B000X29GY6/ref=sr_1_3?crid=C4GEXX6KOUPQ&keywords=disposable+menstrual+cups&qid=1563303962&s=gateway&sprefix=disposable+me%2Caps%2C175&sr=8-3

We've used these and they were great. They just turned the volume down a bit but you could still hear everything great.

Ear Peace earplugs. They're small, clear, and significantly reduce the decibels of sound without muffling it, and have replaceable filters to adjust the sound dampening. Plus they come with a carrying case you can clip onto a keychain.

I've been using them for a couple years now and am very satisfied.

https://www.amazon.com/EarPeace-Concert-Ear-Plugs-Protection/dp/B076VVP6CX/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=ear%2Bpeace&qid=1554614529&s=gateway&sr=8-3&th=1

Sounds like ur circadian rhythm is off. Use a special lamp in the mornings. Turn on 30 minutes before getting out of bed and lie down facing the lamp on your bedside table.

Lightphoria 10,000LUX Energy Light Lamp https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004JF3G08/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_k9i.ub04XX0EQ
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004JF3G08/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_k9i.ub04XX0EQ

You could also try a low carb diet, a lot of people say it really helps with energy. It definitely helped me. Whenever i eat a lot of carbs, i want to sleep for 12 hours and i feel exhausted. I eat a ketogenic diet. One doesn't have to eat low carb just for weight loss, there are a lot of other benefits.