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Originally posted by 6IXSTRINGJACK:
Oh yeah... you want to catch Strep right away. Hope it's not too bad for ya'all. :(



We made it through the storms here. This time for us, much ado about nothing, really. We had some huge lightning and some thunder and a bit of wind, but the rain was a lot less than they said it would be. Looks like the heavy stuff went north of us this time and missed us by at least 50 miles.



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Growing up in a Republic was nice... Shame we couldn't keep it.

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Originally posted by SIGNYM:
Are you eating? And are you eating enough protein?

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I'm eating. Should be enough protien by quite a bit since I haven't been super active, at least not every day.

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Do you have any digestion issues that would prevent you from absorbing your food?

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Possibly. It's not all the time, but I can have some really bad bouts of (undiagnosed) IBS. That had always been the case though really... even dating back to when I was a kid.

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How much weight did you lose unintentionally? If it's over 15 lbs, that's a lot.
How much weight have you lost since trying to reverse the trend?

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Depends on what time frame we're talking about. I can't say for sure, but I know I was over 170lbs back in November. It could have been pushing 180. That was after I started gaining weight after it got cold but I didn't lower my caloric intake.

About a month ago would have been when I realized I was down to 153, because that's when I was giving my aunt the other scale. The week before was when I had 3 people tell me I was looking skinny, but until I stepped on the scale I figured they were just seeing me in a tshirt without the bulky hoodie because I hadn't noticed it.

About 2 weeks after seeing 153, I stepped on it again and I was 146.5.

I've since gone back to eating my brown rice with 12oz of vegetables and 2 burger patties at night, and also adding 2 bananas, cereal, milk and some peanut butter during the day. I'm never hungry anymore because I'm eating twice a day instead of once (like I'd been doing for around the last 4 to 5 years), but I don't have any problems forcing it all down.

Since then I've fluctuated between 146 and 151 (trying NOT to weigh myself every day and obsessing over it), but yesterday I was down to 144.4.


I also started drinking a LOT of water at night. Enough to keep me waking up every night to pee and then grabbing another tall glass of it. I can't seem to get enough of it. This probably has something to do with it, because last night before I finished eating I was 151 but when I woke up before passing any bowel movement I was back down to 148lbs... and then 146 afterward.

I've only hit 144 once, but it has me worried that I could even possibly continue to lose weight when I'm eating so much as I am.

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If it's more than 5 lbs, that's significant.

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Yeah. A lot more than 5 lbs... Under any metric. It's a chore right now just trying not to lose anymore, and it's not good for my wallet either.

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Seeing your g'ma die recently of lung cancer, and being a smoker might weigh on your mind, but even among heavy smokers the chance of developing lung cancer at your age is almost nil. So while I would maybe take a lesson from the weight loss, cancer wouldn't be at the top of my list of worries

I'd see a doctor, and one of the things you might want to check for is parasites. I wonder if that water main break introduced something besides a bacterial bug.

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Yeah. That's what everybody is telling me to do. Shit.

*****

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I hope we get to hear about that monster project, SIX!

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Hopefully soon.


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"It may be dangerous to be America's enemy, but to be America's friend is fatal." - Henry Kissinger

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Originally posted by SIGNYM:
Well, weight loss + thirst = (possibly) diabetes

You don't have any risk factors - you're not overweight and you're more than averagely active but you could have developed diabetes from some unknown factor.

Testing for diabetes is easy, you can buy urine test strips (I think they're called ketodiastix) in the store and check your urine for sugar (there shouldn't be any) and ketones (there shouldn't be any). More accurately-but more expensively- you can test your blood sugar with fingerstick drop of blood using a meter (They're pretty cheap, $25-$35) special test strips (that's where the expense comes in at about $1/strip) and a finger-sticker.

But treating diabetes isn't a do-it-yourself possibility.
Test your urine, but sorry to say you really should see a doctor.

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"It may be dangerous to be America's enemy, but to be America's friend is fatal." - Henry Kissinger

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Originally posted by 6IXSTRINGJACK:
I think I'm dying.

I'm 143.8 lbs now. I haven't done shit today but sleep. Not one single activity that should be burning off any calories.

I guess I'll call the doctor on Monday so I can see what is going to kill me and how long I've got. Best get my affairs in order and make sure it all goes to my brother.

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Originally posted by 6IXSTRINGJACK:
https://www.the-numbers.com/news/253940830-Weekend-predictions-Mario-s
et-to-cart-off-200-million-on-opening-weekend

Looks like the Mario movie could make $200 Million domestic by Sunday night and already put it in the 3rd highest domestic grossing movie so far in 2023 after only 5 days in the theaters.

Disney's Lightyear made $118 Million domestic in total.

Disney's Strange World made $38 Million domestic in total.

It's amazing how much money you can make on an animated feature when you're not pushing an agenda to the parents and brainwashing the children with it.

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Originally posted by SIGNYM:
I hate to do online diagnosis, but IMHO you sound too cogent to be in diabetic ketoacidosis. If you feel unusually fatigued it could be caffeine withdrawal,

Early symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis are
Being very thirsty
Urinating often
Feeling a need to throw up and throwing up
Having stomach pain
Being weak or tired
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetic-ketoacidosis/s
ymptoms-causes/syc-20371551

Emergency symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis include fast breathing (Blowing off CO2) flushed cheeks and confusion. Unfortunatelu, by the time you're confused you're prolly too far gone to call 911. So, out of abundance of caution, do something TOMORROW. Don't wait for Monday.

Either go to your nearest pharmacy and get those pee stix and test yourself. What you do after that depends on what you find, but may warrant a call to 911. Or go to your nearest urgent care. Or if you're in deep shit call 911. They have the capacity to respnd to diabetic crises (sugar too high or too low) right away, like. on the scene. It's one of the easiest things to treat.

If it turns out not to be diabetes that will require more sleuthing.

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Originally posted by SIGNYM:
Good to see you posting so coherently, SIX. At this point you seem to have an urgent problem, but not one that requires 911. Since it's not an emergency I hope you get to see your doctor in the next few days.
Keep posting, m'kay?

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"It may be dangerous to be America's enemy, but to be America's friend is fatal." - Henry Kissinger

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Hyperthyroidism sometimes looks like other health problems. That can make it hard to diagnose. It can cause many symptoms, including:
** Losing weight without trying.**
Fast heartbeat, a condition called tachycardia.
Irregular heartbeat, also called arrhythmia.
Pounding of the heart, sometimes called heart palpitations.
Increased hunger.
Nervousness, anxiety and irritability.
Tremor, usually a small trembling in the hands and fingers.
Sweating.
Increased sensitivity to heat.
Changes in bowel patterns, especially more-frequent bowel movements.
Enlarged thyroid gland, sometimes called a goiter, which may appear as a swelling at the base of the neck.
Tiredness.
Muscle weakness.
Sleep problems.
Warm, moist skin.
Thinning skin.
Fine, brittle hair.

Older adults are more likely to have symptoms that are hard to notice. These symptoms may include an irregular heartbeat, weight loss, depression, and feeling weak or tired during ordinary activities.

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Originally posted by Brenda:
Back in from the rain.

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Originally posted by SIGNYM:

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Originally posted by Brenda:
Back in from the rain.

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Sounds like a wet spring. It could be worse: sus texted me that she had to scrape frost off the windshield this AM.

OY VEY!

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"It may be dangerous to be America's enemy, but to be America's friend is fatal." - Henry Kissinger

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Originally posted by SIGNYM:
If you were losing weight that fast and it was cancer, it seems to me that you'd have other symptoms. By that stage in my experience ANY cancer, even the ones that start out asymptomatically (ovarian, pancreatic, liver, lung) show SOME sort of symprom- pain, low oxygenation, loss of appetite/nausea etc.

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I mean, I've had all sorts of weird stuff happening over the last 6 months. I've had a few episodes where I lose my balance, once or twice while I was on the stairs. I always catch myself before a fall happens, but that's weird. I'll also drop tools while I'm using them sometimes too. My mom has MS, so I always thought about that when these things would happen.

I don't know about low oxygenation. I think I'd need a test for that. I don't have problems breathing, but for the last 5 or so weeks if I'm doing anything overhead that's more strenuous than painting than I feel like I've been lifting weights. That could be from a complete lack of potassium from all the coffee drinking though. I've been eating at least one if not two bananas a day for a week now.

No pain though, except for that one day 6 to 8 weeks ago where it felt like I was passing a rock through my intestines and I ended up on the pot for 45 minutes with diarrhea. I was literally expecting a rock to come out, but the pain just went away and I was fine after that. I could count on 2 hands the amount of times I've had diarrhea in the last 20 years. (well.. maybe not. I probably had it while I was drinking).

No nausea at all. Appetite is fine. I think I'm having acid reflux more now than I usually do though. It's always been really bad when I get it since my early 20's, but its rather infrequent. I'm probably getting it on average once per week right now, which seems really high to me.

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Do you have enough canola oil in your diet? You need 2-3T a day to make hormones.

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2-3 Table spoons? I'll start putting it back in my dinner when I eat. Could I just take 2-3 table spoons if I'm not going all out cooking?

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Another thing to consider is hyperthyroidism:

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Yeah... That was on my radar too. Doesn't happen often to white males from what I've read, but I just found out my Uncle who is a cancer survivor had his thyroid removed. I didn't know that until 2 days ago. There is a hereditary element to thyroid problems from what I've read.

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Hyperthyroidism sometimes looks like other health problems. That can make it hard to diagnose. It can cause many symptoms, including:

YES ** Losing weight without trying.**
YES, on occasion - Fast heartbeat, a condition called tachycardia.
INCONCLUSIVE - Irregular heartbeat, also called arrhythmia.
I DON'T THINK SO - Pounding of the heart, sometimes called heart palpitations.
NO (in fact, I'm eating so much these days just to not lose weight that I don't ever feel hungry and I'm forcing stuff down - Increased hunger.
THAT'S EVERY DAY FOR ME SINCE FOREVER - Nervousness, anxiety and irritability.
YES, but I drank 2 pots of coffee a day until 3 days ago - Tremor, usually a small trembling in the hands and fingers.
NO - Sweating.
WE'LL SEE, Been living pretty cold for a long time - Increased sensitivity to heat.
NO - Changes in bowel patterns, especially more-frequent bowel movements.
NO - Enlarged thyroid gland, sometimes called a goiter, which may appear as a swelling at the base of the neck.
YES, but I cut almost all the coffee out and I've lost a lot of weight - Tiredness.
YES - Muscle weakness.
YES, but that's from getting up to pee every 90 minutes to 120 minutes - Sleep problems.
NO - Warm, moist skin.
POSSIBLY, it seems that my skin is pretty dry and gets cut easily these days - Thinning skin.
NO - Fine, brittle hair.

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Thirst is controlled by the hypothalamus, so one thing that throws the hypothalamus out of whack is the thyroid. Also, your basal metabolic rate is controlled by the thyroid

If I were your doctor I do a physical (BP, O2, respiration rate and heart rate, listen to heart and lungs etc) and order a BMP (basic metabolic panel https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/basic-metabolic-panel-bmp/) which will reveal/rule out any serious metabolic issues (including diabetes), and a test for thyroid hormones. After that, I haven't a clue. But given that your symptoms don't seem to indicate cancer I think I'd start with something simple.

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We'll see what happens on Monday. Until then I'm just going to keep overeating to try not to lose any more weight. I'll also do the Canola Oil thing. Let me know if I can just take that directly from a spoon.

Thanks!




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Growing up in a Republic was nice... Shame we couldn't keep it.

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Originally posted by SIGNYM:
If you can stomach drinking a couple of tablespoons of canola oil (urp!) straight from a spoon, by all means. Personally, I like to use it in cooking, especially when I sautee vegetables (add rice and soy sauce and a little sugar and viola! "Fried rice"!) It'll probably go down better if you mix it in with your food, tho.

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Potential causes of unexplained weight loss include
Cancer - other symptoms based on the site of the cancer. I know a lot of ppl with cancer!
Dementia - you don't sound demented to me!
Dental problems - you're able to chew your food, so doubtful
Depression (major depressive disorder) or other mood disorders - that discourages people from eating, but you ARE eating
* Diabetes - possible
Hypercalcemia (high blood calcium level) - accompanied by severe aches and pains and disorientation and lowered alertness. My mom had this
* Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) - some of the other symptoms are subtle, needs testing
*** Hyponatremia (low blood sodium level)- I didn't realize that this causes weight loss, but unless you've been making an effort to get salt IN your diet this could be the issue
Medications - nah
Parkinson's disease- causes difficulty moving, event leading to total paralysis. My dad and a friend's mom had this. As far as I can tell, you dont.
Previous stroke or neurological disorders - nah

Less common conditions that may include weight loss as one of the symptoms are:
Addison's disease (adrenal insufficiency)- a co- worker had this. Symptoms include profound fatigue, nausea and vomiting. Unlikely
Alcohol use disorder - nah
Amyloidosis (buildup of abnormal proteins in your organs) - this us a sneaky one, I don't know how to evaluate but it's really rare
Celiac disease - sensitivity to wheat. Causes weight loss by diarrhea
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) — the blanket term for a group of diseases that block airflow from the lungs including emphysema.- you seem to be breathing ok
Crohn's disease - another diarrheal disease
Drug addiction (substance use disorder)- does coffee count??
Heart failure- by the time you were losing weight from heart failure you'd have many other symptoms. My MIL had this
HIV/AIDS - nah
Peptic ulcer - stomach pains, burpiness
Prescription drug abuse - nah
Tuberculosis - nah
Ulcerative colitis (a type of inflammatory bowel disease)- yet another diarrheal disease

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Originally posted by SIGNYM:
For most oeople- me included- it's the other way around. That IS an atonishing weight loss, and I'm glad you're going to see a doctor.

I did find this... Please note, the list is in alphabetical order, NOT likelihood. Most of these conditions have so many other symptoms they can be almost certainly ruled out. I've added comments to them based on what I know

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Potential causes of unexplained weight loss include
Cancer - other symptoms based on the site of the cancer. I know a lot of ppl with cancer!
Dementia - you don't sound demented to me!
Dental problems - you're able to chew your food, so doubtful
Depression (major depressive disorder) or other mood disorders - that discourages people from eating, but you ARE eating
* Diabetes - possible
Hypercalcemia (high blood calcium level) - accompanied by severe aches and pains and disorientation and lowered alertness. My mom had this
* Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) - some of the other symptoms are subtle, needs testing
*** Hyponatremia (low blood sodium level)- I didn't realize that this causes weight loss, but unless you've been making an effort to get salt IN your diet this could be the issue
Medications - nah
Parkinson's disease- causes difficulty moving, event leading to total paralysis. My dad and a friend's mom had this. As far as I can tell, you dont.
Previous stroke or neurological disorders - nah

Less common conditions that may include weight loss as one of the symptoms are:
Addison's disease (adrenal insufficiency)- a co- worker had this. Symptoms include profound fatigue, nausea and vomiting. Unlikely
Alcohol use disorder - nah
Amyloidosis (buildup of abnormal proteins in your organs) - this us a sneaky one, I don't know how to evaluate but it's really rare
Celiac disease - sensitivity to wheat. Causes weight loss by diarrhea
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) — the blanket term for a group of diseases that block airflow from the lungs including emphysema.- you seem to be breathing ok
Crohn's disease - another diarrheal disease
Drug addiction (substance use disorder)- does coffee count??
Heart failure- by the time you were losing weight from heart failure you'd have many other symptoms. My MIL had this
HIV/AIDS - nah
Peptic ulcer - stomach pains, burpiness
Prescription drug abuse - nah
Tuberculosis - nah
Ulcerative colitis (a type of inflammatory bowel disease)- yet another diarrheal disease

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https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/unexplained-weight-loss/basics/cau
ses/sym-20050700

They forgot parasites, HA!


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"It may be dangerous to be America's enemy, but to be America's friend is fatal." - Henry Kissinger

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Originally posted by SIGNYM:
I'm glad to hear your doctor is hopping on it, SIX! He seems to be pretty responsive, is this a private practice doctor, or what?

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Originally posted by SIGNYM:
Oil doesn't spoil from bacteria or mold bc there's no water in it, but long-term exposure to oxygen can partially oxidize the double bonds in the oil and make it go "rancid". (That's why food manufacturers like to use bad for you, saturated fat: no double bonds to react! Otherwise they have to add antioxidants to their products.)

Anyway, rancid fat has a noticeable bitter flavor and sour/bitter smell. You should be able to taste whether your oil is still good or not.

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Originally posted by 6IXSTRINGJACK:

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Originally posted by SIGNYM:
Oil doesn't spoil from bacteria or mold bc there's no water in it, but long-term exposure to oxygen can partially oxidize the double bonds in the oil and make it go "rancid". (That's why food manufacturers like to use bad for you, saturated fat: no double bonds to react! Otherwise they have to add antioxidants to their products.)

Anyway, rancid fat has a noticeable bitter flavor and sour/bitter smell. You should be able to taste whether your oil is still good or not.

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Okay cool. Thanks. It smells and tastes fine. I would have been throwing a LOT away if it was bad.


What do you think about the probiotics and the idea that the allergic reaction to the amox might have wrecked my good bacteria in the gut biome?

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Growing up in a Republic was nice... Shame we couldn't keep it.

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Originally posted by SIGNYM:
As I recall, you didn't complete a full course of antibiotics, so even tho an antibiotic can cause body wide allergic reactions, it's unlikely to do more harm to your gut biome than it would have without an allergic reaction.

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No. I finished it last time. It was on the night of the 10th day, after I finished off the prescription that the hives presented themselves.

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Probiotics do help restore gut bacteria after antibiotics, but unless you have a SERIOUS diarrhea problem (more than one abnormal bowel movement a day. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2020/0415/p472.html There's a scale on how to judge your stool: The Bristol scale ... with pictures! https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/bristol-stool-scale#stool-ty
pes) gut biome or gut issues are unlikely to be the culprit.

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Nah. Diarrhea is extremely rare. Mine is generally "4", but it has changed a bit toward "3" since I changed my diet up. Usually almost every morning. For a few years there it was every morning at the same time, but things are a bit out of whack right now so maybe 5 times a week.

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AFA probiotics, having looked rather deeply into this to help resolve someone's IBS, What I gather from the verios studies that I've read once you stop taking probiotics your gut biome reverts back to its "normal"... whatever is normal for you. It's probably more influenced by the food, fibers, and frequency that you eat than the bacteria that you're innoculated with. So by all means take a broad-spectrum probiotic (eight or more strains) but don't take it for more than a month bc it's not worth it.

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Good to know...

IBS is a problem though.

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I AM NOT A DOCTOR. THIS IS MY OWN PERSONAL OPINION AND NOT MEDICAL ADVICE. PLEASE RELY ON YOUR DOCTOR FOR MEDICAL CARE.

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Sure... Whenever I actually get to see him.

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Growing up in a Republic was nice... Shame we couldn't keep it.

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Originally posted by Brenda:
Back from the dentist and all went well. Had to have a bit of extra freezing and so there was some pain but nothing serious. Still frozen right now. Another good thing the rain held off.

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