Quote from: Lisa89125 on January 04, 2019, 10:00:00 PM
I could tear any engine down and rebuild it providing I have the right tools to do the job. I'm partial to the older big and small block V8 American muscle. The GM Quad 4 was not a bad engine either.

Lisa

I budget built my first motor, Ford 302, in my living room floor with a bunch of old tools not correct for the job.  It ran like a bat out hell on one pass, then like crap on the next.  I didn't use a piston ring spreader and fractured the iron compression rings on several cylinders.  When the gaps lined up with the one in the oil ring, I lost compression.  I finally over torqued the oil pump shaft that is spun by the OEM phenolic resin cam sprocket.  It seized up in my driveway.  Was going to build a stroked Boss motor out of it, but never had the money and it all went to the junk yard.

If I could have anything it would be my first wife. I would have been honest from the start. I would still be transgender, and she probably would still have objected but I would not have spent 40 years not knowing why.

Quote from: Lisa89125 on January 04, 2019, 10:00:00 PM
I could tear any engine down and rebuild it providing I have the right tools to do the job. I'm partial to the older big and small block V8 American muscle. The GM Quad 4 was not a bad engine either.

Lisa

The first engine I tinkered with was the B6ZE(RS) on my Miata. It was my high school dream car. We (mainly my best friend) built the block with forged rods from Eagle and pistons from Wiseco and ran a small turbo on it. I was able manage building the top end and helped getting it back together. We put it on coilovers, widened the body, big brakes and it became my track toy. Still wish I never sold that little car. But mommy life beckoned for four doors and a back seat for a car seat.

Quote from: Rachel_Christina on January 05, 2019, 03:04:54 AM
Ah that we machine is badass, I can't weld atall. Hopefully in the new year I will start to learn and buy myself a MIG welder.
It's a skill I need with my older cars who need some welding done.

I love her though, you can check her out on my Instagram : Rachel_Christina_2JZ

Thanks Rachel! There really wasn't a lot of welding involved. Just had to build the frame to make sure it rode super low and was able to support my sons weight. It's all built out of 1/8 inch steel. It probably weighs in at 50-60lbs so it's definitely a sturdy ride for him lol. Had to follow you on IG. Your Supra is beautiful!


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My life as my authentic self from childhood to now. I wish I could have lived as me starting a long time ago. So happy I can be me now.

Quote from: Beverly Anne on January 05, 2019, 10:14:03 PM
My life as my authentic self from childhood to now. I wish I could have lived as me starting a long time ago. So happy I can be me now.

You know I think that the waiting so long makes us appreciate it so much more

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Quote from: Arianna Valentine on January 05, 2019, 10:24:05 PM
You know I think that the waiting so long makes us appreciate it so much more

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EXACTLY !!

Quote from: BritneyX on January 05, 2019, 02:02:46 PM
I have a TENS but it is hard to apply the pads to my lower cervix spine where all my issues derive from.  I can consistently point to where it hurts but the Docs all scratch their heads.

You mean your pain stems from the L1, L2 vertebra area?  If yes, welcome to the club, because the lowest 5 vertebra had me so incapacitated that I was sitting in a wheelchair for some time!  I went to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, and they turned me inside out and upside down to finally find that my spine was growing shut to the inside.  They did a rather new surgery on me, had to fuse L3 and L4  while removing the backs of the other vertebra to open the spinal canal more.  The entire surgery took 10 hours, but now, abut 6 years later, I can walk 5 or more miles a day without any pain, and can do almost any activity, as long as I do not overload my spine.  I have to take Gabapentin daily, because I have quite a bit of nerve damage and chronic nerve inflammation.  I have absolutely no feeling in the front section of my left leg.  Those nerves received permanent damage.  But I am mostly pain free, and can live an active life!

I hope they find what is wrong with you, you might have to bite the bullet and leave the VA and go to the Mayo, or a similar capable medical institution!

Healthy cigarettes and healthy chocolate. Then I would be very satisfied.

Quote from: Swedishgirl96 on January 06, 2019, 02:58:10 PM
Healthy cigarettes and healthy chocolate. Then I would be very satisfied.

Now you started another dilemma, because we have to define what is healthy?

Quote from: Dietlind on January 06, 2019, 03:12:56 PM
Now you started another dilemma, because we have to define what is healthy?

I'm thinking of healthy as something that is not damaging the body rather something that helps and improve the body.

I tend to prioritize mental health more than physical health actually but I'm still in a very good physical shape. But then I'm still young.

Quote from: Swedishgirl96 on January 06, 2019, 03:20:35 PM
I'm thinking of healthy as something that is not damaging the body rather something that helps and improve the body.

I tend to prioritize mental health more than physical health actually but I'm still in a very good physical shape. But then I'm still young.

I think both have to go hand in hand!  The physical health is important if you want to get old. and life in later years can be a lot of fun, too!

Quote from: Dietlind on January 06, 2019, 03:25:35 PM
I think both have to go hand in hand!  The physical health is important if you want to get old. and life in later years can be a lot of fun, too!

It can? I used to think life stopped after 20, now I believe it stops after 30.

Really. Like life would be so boring and stiff after that.

Quote from: Swedishgirl96 on January 06, 2019, 03:27:52 PM
It can? I used to think life stopped after 20, now I believe it stops after 30.

Really. Like life would be so boring and stiff after that.

With a little luck you will find out pretty soon that 50 is the new 30!  I am getting used to be eyeing 150!

Quote from: Dietlind on January 06, 2019, 04:21:05 PM
With a little luck you will find out pretty soon that 50 is the new 30!  I am getting used to be eyeing 150!

I am being a bit more realistic now with my disability.  I have scaled back the 500 years to about 250-300 years.   

Quote from: Dietlind on January 06, 2019, 02:51:17 PM
You mean your pain stems from the L1, L2 vertebra area?  If yes, welcome to the club, because the lowest 5 vertebra had me so incapacitated that I was sitting in a wheelchair for some time!  I went to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, and they turned me inside out and upside down to finally find that my spine was growing shut to the inside.  They did a rather new surgery on me, had to fuse L3 and L4  while removing the backs of the other vertebra to open the spinal canal more.  The entire surgery took 10 hours, but now, abut 6 years later, I can walk 5 or more miles a day without any pain, and can do almost any activity, as long as I do not overload my spine.  I have to take Gabapentin daily, because I have quite a bit of nerve damage and chronic nerve inflammation.  I have absolutely no feeling in the front section of my left leg.  Those nerves received permanent damage.  But I am mostly pain free, and can live an active life!

I hope they find what is wrong with you, you might have to bite the bullet and leave the VA and go to the Mayo, or a similar capable medical institution!

Yes, the VA is scared stiff of that sort of care like the Mayo.  I am trying to be seen by a sports medicines groups that has all the required medial acumen all under one roof.  I was just had my first procedure when the Navy pulled chocks (yank the Tricare consulate) cause, then President Obama, was cutting funding all over the place. So I got the lovely joy of having the only group that could help, pulled away right before my eyes.  The VA has refused to allow this sort of outside care.  However, President Trump singed an EO that Vets can get outside care when the VA is unable or unwilling to provide it.  That didn't work out so well with MH.  They were backed up for over 3 months so they sent me to a person on the outside.  She turned out to be a dang ambulance ->-bleeped-<-, asking me if I was looking for Disability and how much!  That was actually a God Send as I rolled up my sleeves and looked into the VA Transgender Care MH group.  Instead of hinting that I am a Transgender, I just gave them a heartfelt verbatim that I am. 

As for where my booboo is, I took a nasty flight off a lateral press weight machine, when on my 2nd rep with max weight, the cable snapped.  That sent me flying, as I later discovered, flying back about 6 feet, crashing hard into the terracotta tile floor with my head, neck and right shoulder.  It happened so quickly that all I remember was pulling against the weight and the brief feeling of being punched in the face (that was the T-bar (handle) hitting me in the face).  I don't know how long I was blacked out, as no one was in the room.  The Navy actually thought I made it up, hence, the psychotherapy drugs that ruined my short term memory.  The area of impact on my neck if the C5 thru C7 on the c-spine.  This is where the huge bulge was a few days after the accident for several years.  It has since dissipated.  The fuzzy MRI corroborates this.  Also, the nerve conduction test clearly connects the original extended pain in the left hand/certain fingers to the C5 thru C7 nerve root bundles.  From how I feel, the extent of, from what is known about by injury and what I have learned, it is my non-expert medical opinion that I have a bone spur on the transverse process of one of all 3 of the vertebrae in question.  This, in turn, is pressing upon the brachial plexus.   It is possible that I stretched the nerves, as mention in the following article and the impact ares was between the neck, head and shoulder.  http://www.assh.org/handcare/hand-arm-injuries/Brachial-Plexus-Injury

The nerve conduction test showed that my motor nerves where not severed or damaged too severely.  Mine is mostly sensory nerves with sporadic motor nerve problems based on the amount of swelling.  The only thing that is for certain is I am fully mobile and fully in pain. 


Should I have just started off with C5 thru C7?   

Have you tried and see what expansion therapy will do to you? (when they try to pull your head of your shoulders)?  If this does anything for you, the could prescribe a home unit for you (works with air bellows), and you can apply this several times per day.  It might keep you pretty pain free, and without pumping any chemicals into your body.  I know that Medicare pays for those devices, the VA ,may also pay for them.

Quote from: Dietlind on January 06, 2019, 09:56:44 PM
Have you tried and see what expansion therapy will do to you? (when they try to pull your head of your shoulders)?  If this does anything for you, the could prescribe a home unit for you (works with air bellows), and you can apply this several times per day.  It might keep you pretty pain free, and without pumping any chemicals into your body.  I know that Medicare pays for those devices, the VA ,may also pay for them.

I did think about getting Dr. Ho's decompression back belt and just use it around my neck. 

I had neck traction in one of my physical therapy sessions.  They really didn't want to do it, but I insisted.  While it did feel good, they were too gingerly about it and would never increase the amount of pull or tension on the machine.  You should see them when I keep telling them to crank up their hospital grade TENS unit.  They start to freak out, but you have to crank it up real high just to get it to work on me.  I have an extremely high galvanic skin response.  I can grab a hold of 220VAC like it was nothing.   Like with most everything else, it felt good cause it was a new sensation.  Acupuncture felt good for the first 3-4 sessions and quickly stopped being useful.  If could get my new Doc to write a script for neck traction, but the stiff necks at the VA Physical Therapy unit has to actually approve and write Orders.   I will try again.

Quote from: BritneyX on January 06, 2019, 10:43:47 PM
I did think about getting Dr. Ho's decompression back belt and just use it around my neck. 

I had neck traction in one of my physical therapy sessions.  They really didn't want to do it, but I insisted.  While it did feel good, they were too gingerly about it and would never increase the amount of pull or tension on the machine.  You should see them when I keep telling them to crank up their hospital grade TENS unit.  They start to freak out, but you have to crank it up real high just to get it to work on me.  I have an extremely high galvanic skin response.  I can grab a hold of 220VAC like it was nothing.   Like with most everything else, it felt good cause it was a new sensation.  Acupuncture felt good for the first 3-4 sessions and quickly stopped being useful.  If could get my new Doc to write a script for neck traction, but the stiff necks at the VA Physical Therapy unit has to actually approve and write Orders.   I will try again.

The unit I have is called Hometrac Saunders, and the price in 2016 was $700.  The insurance was almost excited to pay for this, instead of having me run to phys therapy twice a week for an unknown time duration!

Quote from: Dietlind on January 06, 2019, 11:14:16 PM
The unit I have is called Hometrac Saunders, and the price in 2016 was $700.  The insurance was almost excited to pay for this, instead of having me run to phys therapy twice a week for an unknown time duration!

That looks like it will do the trick.  I will have them check it out.  Many thanks.

What I want the most is for people to be more uplifting and to stop tearing people down.  And to truly love myself.  No more feeling inadequate.