allergies

in 2020 the world shut down. allong with that my body shut down, and im only now finding answers. ive always had flexible joints and a weak immune system, along with other random stuff. in may or june 2020 i was in the hospital with almost anaphylactic allergies, which have since then been labled as idiopathic anaphylaxis. i started getting joint pain, that were labled as growing pains due to my age. i had such bad stomach issues i couldnt eat and was labled as anorexic, i started passing out and they were labeled as anxiety attacks. i also started getting migraines where i couldnt see out of one eye and was in intense pain, in 2023 i went to see a neurologist, got put on meds for my migraines, and got referred to reumotology and endocrinology. i went to rumatology a few months ago, got referred to physical therapy, and only yesterday i went to PT and got a tentative EDS diagnosis and told i need to go see my primary care for a full diagnosis.
im frustrated that im only being taken seriously now. i might need knee surgery due to how damaged one of my knees are, im having to relearn how to stand and walk correctly. my health went downhill intensely in 2020 and got labled as mentally ill as a kid, now that i have a voice im learning how much me not being taken seriously has caused my body.
Im pissed and wish i could just be healthy.

Understanding Kosher Certification: A Comprehensive Guide

Kosher certification is a meticulous process that ensures food products comply with the dietary laws of Judaism, known as kashrut. This certification is granted by a qualified agency that conducts thorough inspections of the ingredients, production processes, and facilities to ensure they meet the stringent kosher standards. For many consumers, especially those who adhere to Jewish dietary laws, kosher certification is not just a label but a mark of trust, quality, and religious observance.

The term "kosher" originates from the Hebrew word "kashér," meaning fit or proper. To be considered kosher, food products must adhere to specific guidelines outlined in the Torah, including the types of animals that can be consumed, the prohibition of mixing meat and dairy, and the method of slaughtering animals. Kosher certification agency employ rabbis and trained inspectors who oversee the entire process, from ingredient sourcing to final production, ensuring that every aspect complies with kosher laws.

The Growing Demand for Kosher Products: Trends and Insights

The demand for kosher products has been steadily increasing over the years, driven by a diverse range of consumers. This growth is not limited to Jewish consumers but extends to a broader audience that values the quality, safety, and ethical considerations associated with kosher certification. Many people perceive kosher products as healthier and more rigorously inspected, leading to a wider acceptance and preference for these products.

Several factors contribute to the growing demand for kosher products. Health-conscious consumers often choose kosher products because they believe these products undergo more stringent inspection processes. Additionally, individuals with dietary restrictions, such as lactose intolerance or certain allergies, find kosher products appealing due to the clear labeling and separation of ingredients. The rise of ethical consumerism also plays a role, as kosher certification often aligns with consumers' values regarding animal welfare and food safety.

Expanding Your Customer Base with Kosher Certification: Strategies for Success

Obtaining kosher certification can significantly expand your customer base by catering to the needs of kosher-observant consumers and appealing to a broader audience that prioritizes quality and safety. By incorporating kosher certification into your business strategy, you open your business to a market that is always on the lookout for certified products. This can lead to increased sales, brand loyalty, and a more diverse customer base.

To successfully expand your customer base with kosher certification, consider the following strategies:

1.Conduct market research to understand the preferences and needs of kosher consumers in your target market.

2.Ensure your products meet the highest standards of quality and safety, as this will appeal to both kosher-observant and non-kosher consumers.

3.Highlight your kosher certification prominently on product packaging, marketing materials, and your website to attract attention and build trust.

4. Engage with kosher certification agencies to gain insights and guidance on maintaining kosher standards and navigating the certification process.

Enhancing Brand Trust and Loyalty through Kosher Certification

Kosher certification can enhance your brand's trust and loyalty by demonstrating your commitment to meeting high standards of quality and adherence to strict guidelines. Consumers who rely on kosher certification for their dietary needs view it as a guarantee of quality and religious observance. By obtaining this certification, you show that you prioritize the needs and values of your customers, which can foster greater trust and loyalty.

Building brand trust and loyalty involves more than just obtaining kosher certification. It requires consistent communication and transparency with your customers. Share information about your certification process, the standards you uphold, and the steps you take to ensure product quality. Engage with your customers through social media, newsletters, and other channels to keep them informed and involved in your brand's journey.

Entering New Markets with Kosher Certification: Opportunities and Challenges

Kosher certification can serve as a gateway to entering new markets, both domestically and internationally. Many regions and countries have significant Jewish populations that seek out kosher-certified products. By obtaining this certification, you can tap into these markets and expand your business's geographic reach. Additionally, kosher certification can be a valuable asset when entering markets where food quality and safety are paramount concerns for consumers.

Entering new markets with kosher certification presents both opportunities and challenges. On one hand, you can reach a new customer base that values kosher products, leading to increased sales and brand recognition. On the other hand, navigating the regulatory and cultural differences in new markets can be complex. Conduct thorough market research, understand the local regulations, and build partnerships with local distributors and retailers to successfully enter and thrive in new markets.

Meeting Diverse Consumer Needs with Kosher Certification

In today's diverse marketplace, meeting the needs of various consumer groups is essential for business growth. Kosher certification allows you to cater to the dietary requirements of kosher-observant consumers while also appealing to those who value quality, safety, and ethical considerations. This inclusivity can help you build a more diverse and loyal customer base.

To effectively meet diverse consumer needs, consider offering a range of kosher-certified products that cater to different tastes and preferences. Collaborate with your certification agency to ensure your products meet the highest standards and are suitable for various consumer groups. Additionally, engage with your customers to understand their needs and preferences, and use this feedback to continuously improve and expand your product offerings.

Gaining a Competitive Advantage through Kosher Certification

Obtaining kosher certification can provide your business with a competitive advantage in a crowded market. In a competitive landscape, having a kosher certification can set your products apart from competitors. This certification signals to consumers that your products meet high standards of quality, safety, and ethical considerations, making them more likely to choose your brand over others.

To leverage kosher certification as a competitive advantage, highlight your certification in your marketing and branding efforts. Use it as a key selling point in your advertising campaigns, product descriptions, and customer communications. Additionally, stay ahead of industry trends and continuously innovate to maintain your competitive edge. By consistently delivering high-quality, kosher-certified products, you can build a strong reputation and attract a loyal customer base.

Marketing and Promoting Kosher Certification: Best Practices

Effectively marketing and promoting your kosher certification is crucial for maximizing its benefits. Highlighting your certification on product packaging, advertising materials, and your website can attract the attention of kosher-observant consumers and those who prioritize quality. Additionally, participating in kosher food fairs, events, and trade shows can help you reach a targeted audience and build brand awareness.

This will be long, sorry about that.

In 2020, I filed for Disability with a law firm in Colorado, and it turned out to be a nightmare. They ignored my calls and emails for years, and when my court date finally came, they didn’t have the necessary documents prepared, despite my repeated attempts to check in. For months before the hearing, I reached out, made sure they knew what was needed, and was reassured everything was ready. But when the time came, I was the only one on the call to explain my case. My girlfriend took time off work to be there, but she wasn’t allowed to join. I lost the case. That was almost a year ago. They filed an appeal, but I haven’t heard a single word from them since. At this point, it’s clear I need new representation, someone that actually cares. They admitted to managing 10,000 cases with only two attorneys, which tells me they prioritize easy wins for a quick payout and leave people like me behind.

In 2017, I was thriving—managing multi-million-dollar IT projects in Colorado. Like many people, I thought buying a house was the next step in life. That’s when things started falling apart. A few months after moving in, I began experiencing inexplicable neurological symptoms. For over a year, I saw multiple doctors and specialists, but they found nothing conclusive. Eventually, one doctor told me my symptoms were all in my head. I even asked if it could be mold in the house, but he said there was no reliable way to test for it and that mold wouldn't explain what I was going through. My condition deteriorated to the point that I attempted suicide—luckily, I survived. This, and the fact that my girlfriend’s dog died after living in the house for just a few months, sparked my determination to find an answer.

Eventually, I found a holistic doctor who specialized in mold toxicity. When we met, without knowing my story, she began describing the exact experiences I had been living through. It was uncanny and validating. For the first time, I felt like someone understood what was happening to me. She explained that testing could measure certain markers for mold toxicity and environmental sensitivities, and I began an intensive detox process that was supposed to take two years. I had to sell or get rid of everything I owned and moved into a new apartment in January 2020 to escape any possible mold exposure.

Two years into treatment, I wasn’t improving as much as expected. After testing my new apartment, my doctor said the mold exposure was “borderline.” But I was still feeling small improvements, so I kept going, believing I was on the right track, even if slower than anticipated.

Sometime later, my girlfriend got a major promotion, and we moved to Minnesota. By this point, I was starting to feel around 70-80% better. I was still not 100% as I still had this thick brain fog, but I optimistic about the future enough to start scouting placed I’d like to apply for work. I did have this persistent headache, but I was told it was likely just allergies to the new environment. However, after a few months, my original symptoms were back in full force—severe brain fog, insomnia, aphasia, anxiety, depression, and even uncontrollable rage that led to self-harm. I later learned there was a leak in the building that extended from the 4th floor down into the underground garage—I could hear the water dripping in the walls. So, we moved again, this time to a newly built apartment, hoping to start fresh in a clean environment. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to sell everything this time, but at least I thought the new place would be clean.

We’ve now been in this apartment for about a year, and for a time, I was feeling much better. Friends and family even commented on how much I’d improved when they saw me. But after returning from a trip away, the headaches and sleeping issues started creeping back. When I asked the property manager, I learned there had been recent water damage from a roof leak in the apartment next to ours—right above my bed on our shared wall. And now, just like before, my symptoms are creeping back, and I’m losing hope.

I’m trapped. I can’t go live with my parents or any friends. I still have some medications, but Medicaid doesn’t cover any of what I need, and I haven’t been able to work since 2019. This illness is not who I am. I used to be active and helpful, but this has broken me.

If I could win my disability case, I could afford a clean place to live, get the medications I need, and begin working again. But if nothing changes, I don’t know where I’ll end up—maybe living in a tent just to breathe clean air.

I need help. My therapist, who saw me improve over time, has since left his practice, and now I’m back to square one trying to find someone who can advocate for me. This isn’t psychological—it’s physical—and I’m determined to recover and get back to work.

I consider myself lucky. Before this illness, I had a prestigious career and a stable life. Many people who suffer from mold toxicity don’t have that background, and it’s even easier for them to be dismissed as crazy. I know that with my history and my determination to work again, I can be proof that this illness is real and affects countless people. I’m certain many who have been written off as mentally ill, who have committed suicide, or who have lost everything, were suffering from mold toxicity and never got the help they needed.

There’s real research supporting the neurological impact of mold and environmental toxins. This study shows how exposure to these toxins can cause brain fog, cognitive impairment, and fatigue, validating my symptoms.

https://pmc.

I'm breaking this link because I don't want it shown as a thumbnail but just take this out

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7231651

Mold toxicity is still relatively new in the medical field, much like fibromyalgia was once dismissed. Doctors don’t fully understand the neurological impact yet, but research is starting to reveal the connection. I believe that in the coming years, this will be as widely recognized as fibromyalgia is today.

What I need now is someone who understands or wants to learn this illness and is willing to help me. If there’s anyone studying this who can take me under their wing that can provide a clean place to live, I can be observed as I recover. I’m sure that my recovery will not only change my life but can be used as a way to help countless others. I know I could turn my experience into something positive and advocate for those who are suffering in silence.

I’ve been lucky to survive this far, but I need help to keep going. I’m so close and the longer I stay here, the longer it’ll take me to recover.

Thanks for reading, even if it’s just informational.

me again! hows everyone doing? so im in the worst bout of insomnia ive ever had despite having it all my adult life. Really struggled last week but somehow have managed some positivity today. Forced myself out to a little market, got some lovely falafel (which i will pay the price for tonight with my insane allergies but sometimes you just need a god dam bloody treat!!!!), and a brilliant vintage furry coat thats a bit battered but will continue to be battered by me. Saw some lovely seaweed print art which im hoping will eventually lead to me drawing some of my own botanicals. Also got to feed the pigeons and seagulls as the market was 40km away and i have no pigeons or seagulls where i live. so i loved that, made me so happy watching them run around with their hilarious little bodies. My little dog has a big cyst on her tail and is going into irregular heat again despite not having a womb. She suffers just like i do. but i got her vet appointment sorted and got her some special treats and forced myself out on an extra walk to distract her. so despite the horribly scary insomnia, there has been things to hold onto. please share your struggles and hopes :)

Hi, my name is CongenialSparrowhawk. I'm here because I’m looking for diagnosis for chronic pruritis starting at age 67. No allergies.

#MightyTogether #Anxiety #Depression

About 7 hours ago I went outside and must have been bitten on my chin. It's inflamed red and puss has been coming out of it since. Then a red pin prick rash came up on my arms then a blotchy red rash on whole body. Then one of my breasts got a blotchy purple rash and my nipple on that breast became enlarged and hard. My whole body is itching. I've taken antihistamine but to no improvement. Ive never had anything like this before and can't find anything online that mixes such a combination of symptoms. I'm now shivering and have a headache. All of the symptoms are still persisting. Anyone any idea? And should I go to hospital? Thanks #Allergies

My mom has been very sick with COPD, diabetes, allergies causing severe rash and itch, legs swelling, etc. She is 89. Any thoughts and prayers for her recovery would be very helpful and appreciated. Thank you! #MentalHealth #Diabetes #Anxiety

1. Introduction

Permanent makeup, also known as micropigmentation, is a cosmetic procedure that involves implanting pigments into the skin to enhance features such as eyebrows, eyeliner, and lips. While the benefits of permanent makeup include saving time and achieving a polished look without daily application, the success of the procedure heavily relies on proper preparation. This guide will walk you through the essential steps to prepare for your permanent makeup appointment to ensure a smooth and satisfying experience.

2. Understanding Permanent Makeup

What to Expect During Your Appointment

A typical permanent makeup appointment involves several stages:

Consultation: Discuss your desired look, color preferences, and any concerns with the artist.

Design and Mapping: The artist will outline the area to be treated and make adjustments based on your feedback.

Procedure: Pigments are applied using a specialized machine or hand tool.

Aftercare Instructions: You’ll receive guidance on how to care for the area to ensure optimal healing.

Common Permanent Makeup Procedures

Eyebrow Tattoos: Creating fuller or more defined eyebrows.

Eyeliner Tattoos: Applying pigment along the lash line to enhance the eyes.

Lip Tinting: Adding color and definition to the lips for a fuller appearance.

3. Pre-Appointment Preparations

Research and Consultation

Before your appointment, it is crucial to do thorough research:

Select a Qualified Artist: Ensure the artist is certified and experienced in the procedure you are interested in.

Consultation: Schedule a consultation to discuss your goals, ask questions, and review the artist’s portfolio. This step helps set realistic expectations and clarifies any doubts you may have.

Health and Skin Considerations

Your overall health and skin condition can impact the results of your permanent makeup:

Medical History: Inform your artist of any medical conditions or allergies. Certain conditions may affect the healing process or the procedure’s outcome.

Skin Sensitivity: If you have sensitive skin or are prone to reactions, let your artist know. They might recommend a patch test to check for any adverse reactions.

Avoiding Certain Products and Treatments

To ensure the best results, avoid the following before your appointment:

Blood Thinners: Avoid aspirin, ibuprofen, and other blood thinners as they can increase bleeding and affect pigment absorption.

Retinoids and Exfoliants: Steer clear of products containing retinoids, alpha hydroxy acids, or other exfoliants as they can make your skin more sensitive.

Sun Exposure: Avoid tanning or prolonged sun exposure as it can affect your skin’s response to the procedure.

4. Day Before the Appointment

Dietary and Lifestyle Adjustments

Hydration: Drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated and healthy.

Avoid Alcohol: Refrain from consuming alcohol, as it can increase bleeding and affect the healing process.

Eat a Balanced Meal: Have a nutritious meal to maintain your energy levels during the procedure.

Preparing Your Skin

Cleanse Your Skin: Gently cleanse the area to be treated, removing any makeup or debris.

Moisturize: Apply a gentle moisturizer to ensure your skin is in good condition. Avoid heavy or greasy products.

5. Day of the Appointment

What to Wear

Comfortable Clothing: Wear loose, comfortable clothing. Avoid tight-fitting or restrictive garments that might cause discomfort during the procedure.

Minimal Makeup: If possible, come with minimal or no makeup, especially on the areas to be treated. This allows the artist to work more effectively.

What to Bring

Identification: Bring any necessary identification or forms required by the studio.

Comfort Items: Consider bringing a pair of headphones or something to help you relax during the procedure.

Personal Items: Carry any items your artist has instructed you to bring, such as a list of medications or medical history documents.

Arriving Early

Arrive at the studio a few minutes early to complete any necessary paperwork and to get settled. This will also give you a chance to discuss any last-minute details with your artist.

6. During the Appointment

Communication with Your Artist

Discuss Your Preferences: Clearly communicate your expectations and preferences regarding the shape, color, and style of the permanent makeup.

Ask Questions: If you have any concerns or questions during the procedure, don’t hesitate to ask your artist. They are there to ensure your comfort and satisfaction.

Pain Management

Anesthesia: Most permanent makeup procedures use topical numbing creams to minimize discomfort. Discuss pain management options with your artist beforehand.

Comfort Measures: Let your artist know if you experience any discomfort. They can adjust their technique or provide additional numbing if needed.

7. Post-Appointment Care

Immediate Aftercare Instructions

Avoid Touching: Refrain from touching or scratching the treated area to prevent infection and ensure proper healing.

Follow Hygiene Practices: Keep the area clean and follow the specific aftercare instructions provided by your artist.

Avoid Makeup: Do not apply makeup or other skincare products to the treated area until it has fully healed.

Long-Term Maintenance

Sun Protection: Protect the treated area from direct sunlight using sunscreen or a hat to prevent fading.

Regular Touch-Ups: Schedule touch-up appointments as recommended by your artist to maintain the appearance of your permanent makeup.

Healthy Skin Care: Continue to follow a good skincare routine to support the longevity and appearance of your permanent makeup.

8. Conclusion

Proper preparation is key to a successful permanent makeup experience. By researching and selecting a qualified artist, considering your health and skin, and following pre- and post-appointment instructions, you can ensure a smoother procedure and more satisfying results. Remember, permanent makeup is an investment in your appearance, and taking the time to prepare will help you achieve the best possible outcome. Enjoy your new look and the convenience it brings to your daily routine!