Coffee Break: Cooling Microfiber Tights

88 Comments

1. has anyone had bunion surgery? what was recovery like? i feel increasingly like i’m just off balance a lot of times because my feet are so weird.

   1. A relative did. She couldn’t work for a month or so afterward, and one of her feet still hurts from it two years later.

   2. My grandmother had it. The recovery was rough, but she was also in her late 70s or early 80s at the time.

   3. My mom did. She’s in her 60s and wishes she hadn’t waited so long. She’s a teacher and did it at the start of her summer vacation. It was bad enough that she needed a pin inserted to keep her toe from overlapping with her big toe. Even with that the recovery went well. The first couple of weeks were the hardest and then she was in a boot and was able to walk around more. Do your research and find a doctor who specializes in foot surgery.

   4. I know four people who have and they’re all happy they did. Recovery took a while, but they said it was worth it.

   5. I had bunionette surgery in my late 20s (it’s the outside of the foot instead of the inside) as well as hammer toe surgery at the same time. So not exactly the same but similar. This was 20 years ago, so I’m sure things have improved since then. But I remember being in a walking boot for more than a month and the initial week being in some pain (but not excruciating or anything–the foot felt numb directly after surgery and my physician kept me pretty medicated after. I honestly was more worried about it than needed to be. My only regret was not having had it done sooner. I can’t tell you how many great nights I had with friends where I had to cut the evening short because my feet hurt in heels (at the time, flats weren’t in fashion like now). Seriously felt SO MUCH better after. My advice would be to get all your errands done ahead of time so you can minimize how much you need to go anywhere and focus on meals that don’t require standing and cooking. I also found it handy to keep spare toiletries in my bedroom so that I didn’t have to go far if I wanted, say, chapstick or a hairbrush. I tried to limit hobbling to bathroom to only using the bathroom, showering, etc. My foot was wrapped and I couldn’t get it wet, so I actually found it easier to use a tub versus shower for bathing but you’ll sort out what works best. I would not get both feet done at the same time (I only needed one foot done–but I can’t imagine trying to maneuver without a “good” foot to use to balance your weight on when you get to a walking boot. Bunions get worse over time and your body heals best when you’re younger, so I wouldn’t put it off too long.

      1. My other comment is pending. They make rubbery booties with a suction pump to keep your bandage dry while showering. If you get surgery in the winter there are shower cap-like covers to protect your walking boot from slush.

   6. I had bunion surgeries on both feet 4 years ago, about 7 months apart. Recovery wasn’t easy, but it’s been so worth it. My feet were, to put it kindly, janky AF before the surgeries, and now they look like normal human feet. The right foot was hard because I couldn’t drive for almost 10 weeks. I was religious about taking pain meds for the first ~5 days – I kept a schedule and woke up in the middle of the night to take them. It’s SO IMPORTANT to stay ahead of the pain. I also kept my foot elevated pretty much 24/7 for two weeks each time, except for going to the bathroom and showering, which helped significantly with pain management as well. Get yourself a wedge pillow and elevate both feet – your back and hips will thank you. I’ve since had some of the screws removed from my left foot, mostly because I apparently grow excessive scar tissue and my toes were having trouble bending, so they cleaned out the scar tissue and removed hardware while they were in there. I’ll be honest – I don’t have full range of motion in my toes and I probably never will, but I can walk and run just fine. They don’t fully bend down (like I can’t pick up a towel with my toes), but as one of my physical therapists said, “you aren’t a bird trying to perch on a tree branch”. Happy to answer more questions.

   7. I had a bunionectomy on one foot during my 20s. I thought the recovery was no big deal. I was in a walking boot for six weeks after surgery. I was vigilant about ice, elevation (serious elevation, not just propping my foot on an ottoman), and taking my pain meds on schedule even if it meant setting an alarm for 3am. I only felt discomfort when it swelled after showering or if I didn’t have my foot elevated for a few hours. Compared to the nonstop pain I dealt with pre-surgery the recovery was a breeze.

   8. I had bunion surgery on one foot in my early 40’s, because I couldn’t walk more than three or four blocks without pain. I am not sure if feeling off-balance indicates the drastic step of major bone surgery, so consult with an excellent orthopedic foot surgeon if that is your only symptom, without excessive pain. I was the last surgery of the day, and I suspect a junior doctor stitched me up — too tight! I was in some agony after the surgical anesthetic wore off until I could go in early to get the stitches cut, even with good pain meds. The surgeon and his staff didn’t communicate to me the need to line up physical therapy nor anything about “ice pops” (frozen water in a small paper cup) for rubbing around the surgical site, so I feel I developed an excess of scar tissue that could have been avoided. The surgery is notorious for a high percentage of unsuccessful outcomes, so make sure your surgeon has done a lot of this type of surgery. I was on crutches (and a boot? can’t quite remember) for about five weeks, unable to drive.

2. Has anyone traveled alone on crutches? I’m having surgery soon and will be on crutches/in a walking boot, but just found out I have to be in DC for 3 days shortly after. I’m not above asking for a wheelchair at the airport, but how am I supposed to be on crutches and also wheel luggage (like up to the counter at the airport, down the sidewalk, through the hotel)? Surely people get around this and I’m not thinking of something.

   1. I think you postpone the trip? I travel a lot for work and I also have had surgery that left me similarly laid up, crutches and walking boot. I’d postpone but for the absolutely most time sensitive/critically important of matters.

   2. I’ll add that a backpack won’t be enough. That will be on my back anyway as my work bag.

   3. Unless it was a make or break my career kind of trip, I wouldn’t hassle it so close to surgery. While a lot is better in person, we’re also at a technology point where zooming in can be almost as good. I’d take the meeting remotely and point to recovering from surgery. I’d never shade anyone for that.

   4. I did when I had to travel for work. I called the airport saying I needed a wheelchair as I’m on crutches and in a boot for a broken ankle. I went to the airport with a friend early, and we went to the check in counter where she got a pass to accompany me (looked like a boarding pass) that let her go through security with me and go all the way to the gate. I forget the name of the pass. I sat in the wheelchair and carried my crutches. The airport provides someone to push the wheelchair. My friend took my backpack and carry on, no checked luggage.

      We went through security. She had to put her purse through, basically like she’s a passenger. After I got wheeled through security, they asked me to remove my boot, which I wasn’t expecting. I did so, and they put the boot through the x ray machine and wiped down my foot with whatever they wipe with. They let me keep on my giant sock that I wear under the boot.

      Finally, we were cleared. The wheelchair person pushed me to the gate, and my friend waited until it was time to board. I pre-boarded. She couldn’t bring the suitcase on, but they had another staff member who took my backpack and carry on physically onto the plane.

      When I landed, there was another wheelchair waiting for me. I did have to hobble on / off the plane down the aisle. The wheelchair pusher got another staff to bring my carry on. They took me to the taxi stand. At the hotel, the taxi driver took out my luggage and got a hotel valet person to bring the suitcase inside and to my room.

      Then I reversed it to return home. Not going to lie…it was exhausting. Build in lots of extra time to navigate, well, everything, and don’t feel embarrassed (I definitely did at first). I had to take Ubers at the conference, which was “only” a half mile from the hotel. My coworkers often wanted to go to dinner together, which again meant another Uber to “only” go a few blocks. But everyone was very sympathetic. Wishing you the best!

      1. Thank you for detailing all of this!

         1. You’re welcome. I googled, and the pass my friend got is called a non-passenger escort (NPE). When I had initially called to request a wheelchair, they asked if someone would be accompanying me. All she had to do was show her license for ID to get it at check in. Such a huge help!

      2. When I broke my knee and had a brace, TSA made me remove it, get out of the wheelchair and hobble through the detectors without my crutches even though I could barely walk and was in horrible pain. It was awful. I would definitely try to avoid ever travelling in that state ever again.

         1. I’m so sorry! You absolutely did not need to get out. They asked me if I could, and I said “no”. They didn’t ask any more questions. I wasn’t supposed to put any weight on my ankle.

            https://www.tsa.gov/travel/tsa-cares/disabilities-and-medical-conditions

      3. You also need to be prepared that wheelchairs may not show up, employees may not be available, you may get separated from your stuff, a wheelchair might get broken in transport, your plane may start with a jet way plan, but then it changes gates and you need steps to board…. That kind of stuff is why a lot of people with disabilities end up not traveling. We can be prepared for plan A, but we can’t cover all of our bases for Plan B C or D.

         1. You don’t keep the same wheelchair during the trip, and at my airport, there’s always like a dozen people standing around with wheelchairs. You get taken by a wheelchair pusher in city 1, then another in city 2, etc. Very true that the ideal isn’t often how something pans out!

   5. Not what you asked, but have you checked with your doctor to see how they feel about you flying so close to surgery? Blood clot risks after surgery increase from flying, so I would start by making sure that your doctor is 1000% on board with this trip before worrying about anything else. You will have your job as long as it is mutually convenient, but you are stuck with this leg for the rest of your life so do everything you can to make sure you heal as well as possible.

   6. the airport wheelchairs have a spot for a suitcase under them usually. you should be able to get dropped off curbside and ask for someone outside to bring you a wheelchair, or a friend goes in to ask them to bring the chair out. wheelchair though the airport is a hassle, but it sounds better than crutches all the way through

      1. I’ve never seen an airport wheelchair with a spot for a suitcase under them, I’m a wheelchair user myself.

      2. Co-signing that airport wheelchairs frequently have a spot for luggage. When they don’t, the attendant often offers to wheel the suitcase and push the wheelchair. Worst case, the luggage might go on the lap. (My husband uses an airport wheelchair when we fly.)

   7. A knee scooter may be a lot easier to manage than crutches

   8. My great aunt was in a similar position coming back from a family wedding. She was supposed to be flying alone but we happened to be on the same flight. We helped her a lot, but if we hadn’t been there the wheelchair person would have carried her bags through the airport. However he wasn’t able to go from the baggage claim to the Uber, so really not sure what she would have done for that.

   9. You can use bell services and porter services at the airport. It will cost you some tips but worth it. Obviously, you’re going to have to check your bag.

   10. I mean, they get around it by not doing it or having somebody with them.

   11. I STRONGLY recommend you skip the travel. I had arthroscopic knee surgery (so, ostensibly, minimally invasive) and ten days later went on an overnight business trip. The cab driver started to drop me off at the entrance to the departure airport, and then we both realized that the beginning of the wheelchair service I had requested was at the check-in counter. He grudgingly carried my roll-aboard and backpack to the counter, and I tipped him well. Flying was not comfortable in economy class, as I could not easily elevate my knee. During the trip, I ordered room service without guilt. My knee started to swell alarmingly on the second day, so I stopped off at a medical facility to have it looked at. The conclusion was that there was a lot of healing going on, so the swelling was to be expected, and I did not hava deep vein thrombosis (an obstructive blood clot), but that was definitely a risk. Getting sufficient ice and changing out the icepack was a chore at the hotel. If I were to do it again, I would have cancelled.

3. I am confused–the purpose of tights is warmth, not cooling.

   1. I’m actually intrigued by these because there are times where its too cool for bare legs but I overheat in tights – so maybe this is the solution.

   2. No, sometimes you just want to cover your skin for whatever reason.

   3. There’s not just one purpose to tights. If warmth was the entire proposition, everyone would be wearing long Johns with skirts and dresses.

   4. And you can only ever wear knit fabrics for warmth, too. God forbid if you ever want a short-sleeved sweater. They are verboten!

   5. I’m plus size and love these tights. They run true to size for me as a 2X tall woman. I have several pairs of the fleece lined. I also purchased these “cooling” tights for the fall, when it’s 40s in the morning and 60s in the afternoon. I don’t think they’re any different than normal, thin tights. I don’t feel any cooling effect, but they’re more sheer than the fleecy ones.

      1. I just bought a pair of this brand, not cooling, a whole size larger than my regular clothes size—way, way, way too tight! Nice silky quality though.

4. Question about the hearing today in Trump’s classified documents case. CNN is reporting that Trump and his lawyers will meet with the judge for several hours in a closed-door hearing without prosecutors. And then prosecutors will do the same without Trump and his lawyers. I understand why the proceedings are closed because they’re about classified documents, but I’ve never heard of legitimate ex parte hearings as CNN is describing. Do any lawyers know why things are happening this way? Link to follow.

   1. https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/12/politics/trump-smith-mar-a-lago-documents-case/index.html

   2. Not an answer to your question (which I don’t know), but is anyone concerned that the special counsel’s report in Biden’s case might create a path to having Trump’s classified document case dismissed? IANAL, but the report suggest that Biden repeatedly violated the law on a large scale over many years, and his only saving grace (not politically but legally) was that his mental condition would make proving his state of mind difficult. Although they present differently, I’d say 45 (in addition to being a similar age) clearly has diminished mental capacity that exceeds Biden’s!

      1. One of the things that came our in the investigation after the Trump situation came to light is that a lot of former politicians took documents home (or to their new offices). The difference with Trump is (1) he knew he had them; (2) he knew they were classified; (3) he repeatedly refused to turn them over when asked; and (4) he lied about having turned over everything he had.

         He is not being prosecuted because some classified documents made into the boxes he took home. If that was the standard, a lot of people would be in trouble. He is being prosecuted for the lying/cover up.

         1. (6) he kept classified material in his pool house, (7) had his valet move materials to prevent discovery and (8) asked the it guy to delete video of his valet moving boxes.

            Ps and to answer your question- there is no reason why trump and his lawyer should be meeting with the judge under cipa- the prosecution and the judge decide ex parte what material to substitute for summaries etc and what material can be read into the record. Judge cannon is … problematic for this and for her appointment of a special master on this case earlier on.

5. I just learned via Twitter that Bob Edwards died and I’m legit sad about that. I actually didn’t start listening to him until he started his show on SiriusXM but I was a devoted listener and I learned so much listening to his interviews.
   https://www.npr.org/2024/02/12/165681524/bob-edwards-dead-npr-host

   1. I listened to him every day on NPR and I really missed him when he retired. I miss when Morning Edition and All Things Considered hosts didn’t all sound like they’re hosting podcasts.

      1. I have stopped listening to NPR because I cannot stand the podcast style.

   2. Oh, his voice is so comforting. Sad. Thanks for sharing.

6. I started researching airport wheelchairs after the post above and apparently you’re supposed to tip your wheelchair pusher at the airport? Can anyone confirm if this is true?

   1. Have tipped the wheelchair person when used that service traveling with a child that had a broken leg. They were super helpful.

   2. Yes I think you’re supposed to tip about $5-10.

   3. I posted above about my own wheelchair experience, and I didn’t. I had no idea it was a thing, and now I feel bad, but the wheelchair pushers in Boston and DC definitely didn’t indicate they expected a tip.

   4. I don’t tip lots of places, but we do always tip our wheelchair pusher. Amount varies based on distance and helpfulness. I don’t think it’s ever been refused in the US.

   5. That feels gross, like a tax on having a disability. I mean, certainly not any grosser than durable medical goods falling outside of your regular health insurance deductible, but sometimes it’s those little things that feel especially unnecessary.

      1. Yeah, I hate the idea of putting people who can least afford to tip at a disadvantage. I have heard how people talk about which kinds of customer are likely to be bad tippers and hate the idea that anyone would form those attitudes about which kind of traveler would be a bad wheelchair accommodation tipper!

         1. Why do you think wheelchair users are “people who can least afford to tip”? Disabled or elderly does not equate to poor.

            I think everyone understands that some people can’t afford to tip, but this board skews very affluent and for those who can afford to do it, it’s a nice thing.

            1. Because many people who are in wheelchairs are, in fact, living on disability checks.

            2. A lot of the wheelchair users I see in airports are just elderly and can’t walk very fast. They get wheelchairs so they have no worries about making a tight connection. I’ve seen people in business class have wheelchairs waiting for them.
               Wheelchair user in airport != wheelchair user in daily life.

      2. Yeah, I tend to agree. This should be a non-tipped service IMO.

   6. The Washington Post had a story on this a few months ago. The wheelchair pushers are generally paid around minimum wage, so very much appreciate tips. However, they aren’t permitted to ask for tips and understand that not everyone can afford to tip.

   7. As with many things, this is a situation where if you can afford to tip, it is good to do as it can make such a difference to the person assisting and the one being assisted.

      It is true that most disabled persons live close to or below the poverty line. So if you can afford to tip, to so for those who can’t.

      I have a family member seriously disabled and we always give at least $5.
      If you are posting on this site, and use this service…. you should be tipping here.

      We do the same thing when we get wheelchair assistance in a hospital/clinic.

      1. Health workers are not allowed to accept tips.

         1. Wheelchair pushers are menial/manual laborers, NOT “health” workers. (You don’t need medical training to push soeone in a wheelchair.)

         2. Aren’t they just normal airport employees? I don’t think they have any special healthcare training.

7. Recommendations for what to put in a small Galentine basket when the receiver doesn’t really like candy and you have to mail it (so no flowers)? So far I have some Barefoot Dreams socks. I want to spend about another $20.

   1. Assuming you don’t want to do a gift card, how about a pound of coffee or fancy crackers?

   2. Sheet masks? Big stickers, the type for waterbottles or laptops? A printed out photo of the both of you?

   3. Starbucks card? Fancy lotion? Lip mask? Fancy lip balm?

   4. Non-candy snacks.

   5. A book. Candle. Tea or coffee, depending on preference. Handwritten note about how awesome they are. Stationary. Fun pens.

   6. Hair accessories? Fridge magnets?

8. Has anyone had their macbook battery serviced at the apple store? My computer is saying that my battery health is poor and I should take it to the apple store, but I’m wondering if the effort is worth it; e.g. did you see a noticeable change in battery life?

   1. I haven’t serviced mine, but it sounds like you need a new battery. They have a limited number of charges. I would assume the service needed is a new battery, which should fix the problem entirely.

   2. My daughter had to replace her macbook when it could no longer be recharged. It was pretty old. I would definitely see if the apple store can assist.

   3. Replacing an old battery will make a big difference in battery life, but whether that matters to you depends on how much you use the battery. If you’re always near a charger and don’t need it to last long, then it may not be worth it, especially if you’ll be replacing the computer soonish anyway. But if battery life is a problem and the computer is otherwise in good shape, then it makes sense.

   4. I replaced the battery in the one I’m typing on right this second. I bought the replacement battery on ebay and popped it in myself. It was a fraction of the cost of an Apple battery, so it was worth a shot. The battery came with the little tiny screwdriver you need to remove the 47 tiny screws on the back cover.

   5. I have done it with my daughter’s Mac and it got us two more years, but mine is so old they no longer service it. The Apple Store will be able to tell you whether they still have parts for your model.

   6. I got a new battery in a 2018 laptop for about $200. It now runs almost like new.

   7. I got the same notification and hung onto the laptop – with poorly-functioning speakers, and holding less and less of a charge — for about three more years, before recently purchasing a brand-new Apple Mac laptop. I had to take photos of some of my content because by the time I bought the new oaptop, my old one wasn’t charging at all, so I only had whatever power was left to move content over to the new laptop. (It was about seven years old at that point.). Like people who drive cars into the ground and make them last 20 years, I make my computers last until they are not limping along, but army crawling to a well-deserved death. (P.S., I love my new computer, runs great, runs fast!)

9. Usher looked so fine

   1. Right?!

   2. And I love his music!

   3. He did. I enjoyed the extended love letter to ATL as a resident, but it seemed strange given there was no connection to the game.

      1. It was a fun and easty theme. I recall Bruce Springsteen, the famous New Jerseyite, played the half time show in a Super Bowl pitting the Pittsburgh Steelers agains the Arizona Cardinals — so no connection to thre game there, eitehr. Must be a Super Bowl thing, to just put on a great show and entertain the spectators.

10. Does anyone know why the Sephoras in NJ stopped doing makeup applications?

    1. It may be everywhere? Mine used to but don’t know. SEUS.

11. How long should I wait to follow up after a screening interview? The recruiter said they would be in touch wihtin a week of the call and it has now been 2 weeks. Should I assume that these things typically take longer than expected and give them another week before I follow up? It’s been a long time since I have job hunted, so appreciate any advice here.

    1. Two weeks isn’t that long in recruiting terms but for a screener, I’d assume you’ve probably been screened out. Probably wouldn’t hurt to check in but I wouldn’t be optimistic.

    2. yeah, screener -> real contact tends to be pretty quick in my experience. possible you’ll hear from them in the future, but I’d move on mentally.

    3. Yeah, unfortunately +1 that you probably didn’t make the screening cut.

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