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Updated: Oct 21, 2021 239 Comments · by

Frugal Friday’s Workwear Report: Puff-Sleeve Mixed Media Top

The Personal Shopper (TPS) |

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Our daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.

A dramatic sleeve can elevate a tee from a low-key weekend piece to a perfect business casual staple. I love the color of this emerald green top from CeCe, and the textured, slightly-puffed sleeves add a little something special.

For a casual Friday, I would wear this tucked into a pair of ankle pants and accessorized with a long pendant necklace. It would also be great with a pencil skirt and a sweater blazer for a slightly more formal look.

The top is $49 at Nordstrom and comes in sizes XXS–XXL. Besides the pictured color, it also comes in black, “fire ball,” and “geranium.”

CeCe has a similar top in sizes 1X–3X that's $69 at Nordstrom.

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Sales of note for 9.30.24

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About Elizabeth

Elizabeth is a 30-something lawyer living on the East Coast. She spent seven years as a Biglaw associate in NYC, three years as a partner at a medium-sized firm, and is now in-house counsel for a large company. She loves Diet Coke, '90s sitcoms, and dresses with pockets.

Comments

  1. Anonymous

    I posted earlier this week with some late in the day husband-growing-a-beard drama and got a huge spectrum of responses. After sitting with my (admitedly unreasonable at first glace) feelings for a while, we finally had a long talk the other day and well into the morning. It was, of course, about way more than facial hair.

    Happy to report back the following updates:

    1) I wasn’t crazy, and while he wasn’t “growing a beard *at* me,” the way everything happened really was a big indicator that something wasn’t right between us
    2) before we even had a conversation, he started trimming it to look more like a 40 year old hipster and less like a wandering homeless dude
    3) we had a really productive talk about our overall intimacy and communication
    4) it wasn’t all that big a deal to make out with him with the facial hair
    5) the facial hair is gone! I checked to make sure, and it wasn’t because of me (directly). It had gotten itchy and was apparently not fun to get in the way of making out. I had already come to terms with it (because it was never really about that to begin with) but I guess it’s a side bonus.

    So overall, thanks for being a sounding board–and for all of the opinions ;)

  2. Uniqlo Sizing

    I’m interested in getting a few Uniqlo heat tech turtlenecks but am not familiar with their sizing. If I normally wear a size medium in Gap, what Uniqlo size do you suggest I get for a slim but not tight fit? Thanks!

    • Diana Barry

      IME they fit small. I wear a M in most things and I have a M for the heattech turtlenecks but they are tight-fitting. Also they run a bit short in the arms and torso so I would size up if that would be an issue.

      • Anonymous

        +1, in my experience Uniqlo is short in arms and torso. I usually go up one size from American mall-brand for Uniqlo tops.

    • CHL

      If you’re wearing them as under garments, I think medium is great. You could probably also size up but it might be a little looser and not as smooth under things. If you want to wear it as a regular shirt, I would get a large.

      • Anonymous

        I agree with this. M if you want them as a base layer, but size up if you want to be able to wear them alone.

        • Anonymous

          OP here. Thanks all, this is very helpful! I have long arms so will go with a large.

    • Alanna of Trebond

      I don’t agree with these other comments. I find that Uniqlo often fits big and I have to go a size smaller in Uniqlo than I do in other brands. It could depend on the line. For example, I am usually a size 6/8 and I usually buy a medium, but at Uniqlo I would get a small or even an extra-small.

  3. Anon

    Looking for ways to add adventure/adrenaline to my day to day life. Most of my hobbies are pretty active (though mostly seasonal), I enjoy hiking, trying to surf, biking, kayaking, tennis, running, etc. This winter, I’m hoping to get more into indoor rock climbing and hopefully try skiing.

    I’m decent (but would like to be better!) about getting out into nature and being active on weekends, but I’m also looking for ways to make my weeknights more exciting/active. I live downtown in a big city, but have a small car and recently got a parking spot (so I can use my car whenever and not worry about not finding parking!). I’m single and child free and finish work between 430-530 most nights so I have plenty of time to go do things – just looking for suggestions of what to do and tips on how to do it. I’m looking for active ways to incorporate adventure – a lot of the articles I saw when looking into this included things like “take a different way home” or “try a new recipe” and that’s not what I’m looking for.

    It’s so easy to fall into the rut of happy hours every night, followed by watching TV – but I refuse to let that be my routine. I’d be much happier doing 1-2 happy hours a week and 1-2 active nights a week. I usually workout in the morning, so my nights truly are free for whatever I want to do with them (though I am on a state govt employee budget!).

      • Anon

        I’m very intrigued by local skiing! The closest place to ski is about an hour away. I might have to try it a few times!

        It’s more of a hill than a mountain, but I don’t think that’d bother me since it’s been years since I’ve skied.

    • Anon

      If I had that static a schedule, I might consider adopting a dog. Will keep you outside in the winter a lot more. OTOH, it is just hard to be outside in the winter when it is dark at 4 even if you are OK with the cold (cold + rain or dampness or sleet is awful though).

      • Anon

        Well, sadly, this is only my schedule about 70% of the time. The other weeks I work 12-14 hour days and couldn’t care for a dog (I don’t try to fit in new hobbies on those weeks either!), and I do tend to go out of town on weekends pretty frequently. I would love a dog, but don’t have all that dog-friendly of a schedule.

        Also, my landlord does not allow pets.

        • anon

          It sounds like you would be a good fit for volunteering at an animal shelter, or with a pet rescue organization. It could help you meet a different group of people than you might otherwise run into with happy hours, etc.

    • Anonymous

      Check out the blog The Happy Talent. She has tons of ideas for this kind of thing. One of her biggest tips is to become a regular at something, like club basketball, so you have a standing thing on your calendar and also a standing social obligation that doesn’t require planning and effort.

      • Anonymous

        Also, check out Alistair Humphreys and the concept of “microadventures” and “5-9 adventures.”

    • Anon

      Axe throwing.
      A place in our town has a league where people throw axes competitively, like bowling but with axe throwing.

    • Anon

      My city is regarded as lame by visitors but has roller derby and also curling (which seems to be like bowling where there is beer involved).

    • Anon

      I would go to the rock gym after work a night or two a week – I bet you can find a group fo people to climb with there.

      • Anonymous

        That would be my suggestion. If you already have a membership to the climbing gym, this will be very cost-effective.

    • Anon

      Boxing. It’s so fun, a super intense workout, and an extreme mental challenge.

    • anon

      You could consider some type of circus art – aerial silks, hoop/lyra, flying or static trapeze, fitness/athletic pole, etc. I do aerial silks 3 nights a week as my primary form of fitness and love it – very very athletic, artistic, and just enough feeling of “danger/butterflies” to keep it fun. It’s a pretty steep learning curve though, unless you start with a VERY substantial fitness and/or flexibility background.

    • anon

      Replying again – curling can also be fun, although I’m not sure I’d consider it “adventurous.” I find it sort of meditative in fact, as there is a real rhythm to the game, where you stand when, keeping it moving fast, not a ton of talking while on the sheet, etc. And then there is beer and socializing afterwards with people who are *really* different from my usual cohort of friends.

    • NeglectedHeels

      A friend of mine is doing an adult gymnastics class and regularly posts videos of backhand springs on the trampoline and such. It looks amazing and I’m so jealous I don’t have a schedule that could accommodate something similar.

  4. Anonymous

    My period is here and I am sluggish/crampy/ just want to go to bed. Of course, today’s the morning with four client emergencies already, and the senior partner and associate on these files are both out. (Im the junior partner)

    I know I need to push through at least to get all clients to the next step stage – any tips for making today a little better? I have NSAIDs and hot tea.

    • Anon

      Hot tea is a delicate little flower and that won’t cut it. What you need is Mountain Dew (I like diet, YMMV) over crushed ice, minimum big gulp size.

      My basic advil dose is 3 pills.

      • anne-on

        +1. Full sugar coke, max dose of whatever pain med works best for you (for me it’s aleve for cramps, excedrine migraine for headaches) and bribe yourself with chocolate. If you’re feeling brain foggy tuna (or fish oil pills) help, if you’re nauseated my go to is mcdonalds fries – the potassium helps and they always settle my stomach, lays potato chips will do in a pinch.

        • pugsnbourbon

          That’s so funny – any time I have a bout of nausea/stomach flu, the first thing I want when I feel better is a plain McDonald’s cheeseburger and fries. I never thought it was potassium.

    • Anon

      Caffeine plus pain killers, but not the pre-mixed pills. Either an energy drink or an espresso, something high octane.

      • Anon

        I have had cramps my whole menstruating life. Surviving them has been heroic. A constant advil + caffeine drip is required. I would have thought that a baby would have shot out of me with propulsion like that (sadly, no).

    • anon

      OMG, this is very helpful. I thought I was insane for wanting to chug large amounts of Pepsi and Advil for cramping. That’s pretty much the only time I drink pop (and tea and coffee do NOT do the trick).

      • anne-on

        Full sugar coke was my mom’s solution to both cramps and period migraines and to this day it’s about the only time I drink it.

      • Anon

        What part of the Midwest are you from?

        (Pop, my husband originally from Michigan says that too)

    • Anon

      I wonder if you tried meds targeting cramps rather than pain, if cramping is your major concern. My friends are using No Spa (drotaverine), which is antispasmodic.
      I had cramps and pain, but mine were triggered by ovarian cyst, which was removed this year and since then, I have no PMS, pain, nor cramps.

    • eertmeert

      One of those single use stick on heating pads, applied to my underwear or long tank top so it is positioned over the cramps. And all the caffeine.

  5. Betsy

    Curious how people feel about working with recruiters. There have been a couple of posts this week about how to let recruiters down gently. I’ve only worked with a recruiter once in the past and I sort of considered him one small step above a telemarketer and swore I would never do it again. Then again, as I’m thinking about my next move, I do see a lot of jobs posted by recruiters. I just found the whole process off-putting; it was a lot of unnecessary phone calls, the “prep” for interviews just felt like they were gossiping about the employer and then a weird combination of building me up and tearing me down (“you’re a perfect candidate, but let me tell you every small concern the employer had about you…”), and ultimately every time I talked to the recruiter I felt worse about the job even though I liked the people I spoke with at the employer. Was this just a bad recruiter, or is it pretty typical of the experience?

    • Anon

      I’m not a big fan. My medium sized city is dominated by two recruiters. They think in house counsel just direct work, and law firm lawyers are the only ones with substantive knowledge. They practiced law 20+ years ago and have very antiquated ideas about law. I’m a GC, and they have consistently approached me with mid level positions that pay half of what I make now. It’s like they can’t get it through their head that I am at a senior level. Meanwhile they push the best jobs to every mediocre white male senior associate in the city. Blech.

      Outside of my city, I had a really bad taste in my mouth because in the summer 2020 after the tragedy of George Floyd’s murder, I was approached by several recruiters to interview for jobs where I clearly wasn’t a good fit. They just want to shove a POC on their interview panel to show their support for diversity, and I really resented it.

      I’m biased and know that my experience is not indicative of all recruiters. I’m sure some are excellent.

    • Anon

      There are two types of recruiters: those hired by a reputable company to find a person for the role, and those who basically drum up candidates and throw them before the employer, hoping to get a cut. Most everyone in the first group is good to work with; you found a bad one.

      • Anon

        And that is the group you don’t want to burn bridges with. It’s hard to diligence who is who. Also, a recruiter who takes from one place isn’t likely to also place someone there.

      • anon

        +1 to this. I only work with recruiters who have been specifically hired by an organization to conduct a search. I don’t work with the throw spaghetti at a wall and see what sticks ones.

      • Anon

        Yes, this. I use a recruiting firm in my town and they know literally everyone in the legal market here and are always coming up with jobs that aren’t posted. On the other hand, the first recruiter I attempted to use literally could not remember a single thing about me and would always ask me what kind of work I did, even though we had discussed it repeatedly. It was weird and I gave up on her and switched to this other group.

      • Anon

        I have worked with some spectacularly bad recruiters before. One of them kept me waiting for 15 minutes for an initial interview, then proceeded to accuse me multiple times of lying on my resume and toed the line of accusing me of borderline criminal activity. When I did a search on him, it turns out he used to be in a highly-regulated industry that requires certifications, and now… is not. OTOH, I have my current job because of a very good and very thorough recruiter. Cut out the nastiness; the OP doesn’t deserve it.

    • CHL

      They really are a mixed bag and sometimes the ones I love have surprised me. Unfortunately there are also bad ones, but you never know who they are connected to, so I try to be cautious but unfailingly polite.

    • Anon

      My husband’s worked with several (he’s a software developer and gets headhunted a lot) and his opinion is pretty close to yours. He’s had much better experiences when he’s interviewed with companies without recruiters being in the middle of the situation. He’s had recruiters who recommended him for jobs his skills really weren’t appropriate for, and then get mad when he’d say he wasn’t interested in pursuing the opportunity after the first interview, when it became clear what he’s good at and what the company wanted were two very different things. He’s also had the experience you describe of having a recruiter tell him every single negative thing an interviewer said about him, under the auspices of “constructive feedback.” Most of which was not helpful, or not things he could change. As an example, at this point in his career he can’t make up for the fact that he doesn’t have 10+ years of experience with a programming language he’s never had to use; the 15+ years of experience he has with the programming language he’s an expert in should be enough, or the job’s not a right fit. He’s gotten to the point where he is ignoring third-party recruiter contacts via email or LinkedIn and will only respond to inquiries if it’s a recruiter working directly for a company. That’s how he got his current job and he feels like it’s the only way he gets interviews that are actually worth his time, and aren’t about someone trying to “close a sale” and put him into a position he’s not right for.

    • Anon

      (Caveat: I’m in tech, so this may not apply to your industry.) I’ve had one absolutely awful experience, one incredible experience, and the rest were just a mildly annoying waste of time.

      The problem with recruiters (besides the obvious) is that they jump around as much as salesmen do. So the great guy I worked with is already at a new company, and his practice group is no longer remotely related to my skillset. Recommending him to my peers, or using him again myself, isn’t viable.

    • anon

      My experience is that a recruiter at a highly regarded search firm or a highly regarded independent recruiter can be helpful, especially if your resume is good, but not necessarily traditional for the role.

      One thing to note is that sometimes employers are willing to pay recruiters because it’s tough to fill a niche or market conditions are tough. Other times it’s because there’s something awful about the job (like a partner folks try to stay away from).

    • RR

      I got my current job through a recruiter (although I also knew a ton of people here). She caught me on a good (bad?) day, and I was interested in the firm. But, she’s my firm’s “favorite” recruiter, and there were already people who knew me very well. So I think it can work because she alerted me to a job possibility that I wasn’t even thinking about. I wouldn’t have made the move (or at least not with that timing) without her. But, there were other factors making it a particularly good situation for all of us. So, you want your recruiter to have a relationship with the place he or she is trying to recruit you to.

    • Anonymous

      I recently had a recruiter talk up a role and schedule me for an interview without telling me the company. When I found out the name and researched the company, it turns out the company is being sued for all sorts of harassment and I would be working directly with the harasser. I have worked with a few good recruiters, but for the most part I have found much better success with applying on my own and networking—I am busy and for some reason recruiters want to have so many phone calls that I just don’t have time for and don’t find useful at all.

    • Anon

      My entire profession uses recruiters (I’m an actuary) so I have worked with them for the entirety of my career.

      First, don’t worry about letting them down. It’s part of their job. They want to retain a good relationship with you for the next opportunity so do not even worry about it. Their world is more misses than hits so this is just routine for them.

      I do suggest building some rapport with the better recruiters in your industry. A couple of the recruiters I speak to regularly I regard as friends. I’ve used them both on the job seeking side and the hiring side and couldn’t have done either without them.

      They’re just people doing a job. Keep that in mind.

    • Betsy

      Love all these perspectives! Thank you all for sharing. Sounds like maybe I shouldn’t close the door so firmly, but should treat it with caution.

  6. eBikes

    Does anybody have an eBike? and if so, do you have recommendations? I’m looking for eBikes for me and two kids – a tall 9 year old and an average sized 7 year old. I know that you aren’t supposed to get kids eBikes, but I think pedal assist would allow us to do so much more together. We live in a town with extensive bike trails and would like to use them more. Any general advice or thoughts are welcome. Happy Friday!

    • Anon

      My neighbor has one and I think it goes too d*mn fast. It’s the dad’s, but I’ve seen the middle schooler flying around the neighborhood unaware that at dusk, it is hard for a driver to see you or around parked cars and it just seemed like a recipe for disaster. Higher speed crashes are much worse than lower speed crashes on trails. I’d do a lot of practicing in a parking lot if you go this route (but I wouldn’t go this route; it’s OK to struggle and get off the bike and push).

      • pugsnbourbon

        +1 my wife and I were just talking about this! Plus as Cat mentions below they are really heavy. I think your best bet is to get them the highest-quality regular bikes you can afford and have them get really comfortable/confident. I don’t have kids myself but I imagine there’d be a decent resell market for kids’ bikes.

    • Cat

      What’s the issue with the bike trails – are they super hilly? I don’t have an ebike but have used them a few times.

      On flat ground, ebikes are so heavy that you basically need the pedal-assist just to go the speed you WOULD have been going under your own power… and they are harder to control. Like, if your kid is inching out into the road, the pedal assist WILL kick in and shoot them out fast.

      (Also, not your question, but I have fond memories of how our 20-minute after-dinner family bike rides used to feel SO far… don’t discount how big of an experience your current rides feel like for your kids!)

    • Anon

      Following as I am interested in getting an e-bike for myself. We live close to a network of great hilly trails, but I haven’t been able to get myself conditioned to the point where riding the uphills is fun instead of torturous. A friend told me e-bikes are a great solution for this; she got one and is having a great time riding it.

        • Cat

          ha! So true. Cycling has become my Pandemic Hobby and I’m now riding up hills that I used to have to walk the bike or stop for water & catch my breath halfway up. But it’s still not as fun as cruising back down :)

      • Senior Attorney

        I agree with your friend: My husband and his friend are hardcore cyclists who left me in the dust and riding with them was always an exercise in humiliation and exhaustion. I got an ebike and now for the first time I can keep up and it’s great!! I have this one and have been really happy with it. Only downside is it’s quite heavy but I think that’s par for the course with any of them: https://www.momentum-biking.com/us/lafree-eplus

        • Anon

          I normally agree with the things you say, but that sort of testosterone-fueled bike-bro jerk behavior is NOT cool (but also frightfully common). I’m glad an ebike works for you, but I’d find people who don’t ride like jerks before I bought a whole new bike.

          • Anon

            Couple things:
            – You don’t get to decide for someone else what they should be offended by.
            – SA has posted about this before and her husband is not demonstrating “bike-bro jerk behavior,” you made an extreme leap to judgement while lacking a lot of background and context about the situation. Not a good look.
            – This seems to me like a real reach attempt to find something to get outraged about. Not everyone views their life and the world around them as a constant opportunity to find things that provoke anger and offense. I’m sure you’re able to understand that what you want, will tolerate, and enjoy in life may not be what everyone else in the universe wants, tolerates, and enjoys in life. And, for example, if someone lives their entire life trying to find opportunities for conflict and discord, it’s very possible other people may not want to live their lives that way. Food for thought, maybe.

          • Anon

            It’s really not. If riding with them is “an exercise in humiliation and exhaustion”, that’s not cool. It’s really not. There are lots of people who don’t ride that way, and even hard group rides, if it’s a good group, will communicate about what the plan is (ie, it’s a drop ride, but we regoup at point A, B and C) so everyone knows what to expect.
            If a social/fun ride is the plan, you ride to the level of the weakest rider.

          • Anon

            Anon @2:19 is correct. If Senior Attorney was “left in the dust” without being warned that may happen, the people she is riding with are at best selfish.

      • Winter

        Not sure if they have a kids line, but for the poster who was considering one for herself: My husband and I each have the “Townie Go” entry-level e bike by Trek. We love them. I was worried about the power being too much (didn’t want to unexpectedly shoot into traffic, etc.), but that is not how it works. It doesn’t “go” unless you are pedaling. It truly is just a boost to your existing efforts. I am not fit, but I feel like this has allowed me to get out more and work towards fitness. Cannot recommend highly enough.

    • eBikes

      Hi – I just want to clarify so the comments don’t go off the rails. I am planning on getting eBikes. I would like advice about that. I don’t want/need advice about whether I should get them.

      • Anonymous

        Sorry, but this isn’t a concierge service where people give you only the advice you want to hear. This is dangerous for your kids and for others.

      • Cat

        So… you did say “any general advice or thoughts are welcome” and you’re getting almost unanimous replies that you should reconsider the plan… why are you determined to purchase ebikes?

      • No Face

        This reminds me when, around late February / early March 2020, a woman asked for advice about cruises and was bothered when people told her to definitely not go on a cruise. Maybe the mom’s version of this place? I still wonder whether she actually went on that cruise!

      • FP

        I do not know about appropriate ages for kids bikes, but Woom Bikes are really well made. We have the regular bikes for my kids, but I know they just released a line of kids e-bikes. Fantastic customer service and I’ve been really happy with their bikes. They are designed for kids sizes.

    • Anon

      Ebikes are great if you need to commute and can’t change clothes when you get to work. They’re great if you’re grocery shopping and hauling back a bunch of stuff in a hilly city. They can be a good solution for replacing your car.
      Do NOT get your kids ebikes, when most likely they’re not yet proficient at handling a regular bike (controlling their speed, navigating hazards, riding in a straight line, etc).
      Get decent quality regular bikes for your family and increase how often/fast/far you ride gradually. Spend the bit of extra money and shop your local bike shop vs online, and get them fitted properly. Buy helmets for everyone, and wear them.

      • Anon

        I think of an e-Bike as as Vespa you could pedal, but it should be for a person who could use a Vespa for a Vespa-type situation (city commuting or touring on paved trails). Our city has many paved trails shared with regular bikes, walkers, runners, and dog-walkers. Adding e-bikes to that mix has not always gone well in that environment.

    • Anonymous

      You can get kids e-bikes IF they have excellent bike handling skills. You know your kids best as to whether they are ready for that. E-bikes can be a very valuable tool for kids to learn to love mountain biking since they can get up the hills with so much less suffering. I think this site is the wrong place to ask, tbh – why not try the MTBR forum or see if Outside Magazine (and its cycling affiliates) have any recommendations?

    • Anonymous

      Do they even make ebikes that small?

      What about one of those ride-behind trailers that is like a tandem bike?

    • anon

      Even if the trails are somewhat hilly and it’s hard for the kids to pedal on them, I think it’s a great lesson to have to figure it out with a traditional bike. The kids get to accomplish something challenging (finishing something challenging brings me SO MUCH more joy than something easy/enjoyable), plus they will get stronger over time and it will be easier (which is also great – they’ll be able to see their progress! )

      • eBike

        Ok never mind. You guys can’t help youselves. Off the eBike forums I go. Have a nice weekend

        • Aunt Jamesina

          In an awful coincidence, my husband was run off a bike trail by a teen on an ebike last week and ended up with a fractured wrist!

        • Anon

          I get that you asked for advice on finding an eBike (answer: Kent Torpedo); however, a lot of kids put themselves in danger on regular bikes and pedal-assist makes it worse. Everyone is expressing concern that your kids will get pancaked by an oncoming car.

          I know of at least five grown adults who have wound up in the ER, and one who died, as a result of bicycling. This stuff is all fun and everyone here is being a hater, right up until someone has a head injury.

          • Anon

            Closed head injury with person vs car is what has pushed me off of roads and only on trails for biking. Cars are wider and everyone is busy multitasking. My kids are less visible than I am and have a lot less experience and judgment. Nope, nope, nope. And I love biking. People have made it not safe.

          • Anonymous

            Ugh, it’s always so depressing when people come here with the most negative anecdata. Bicycling is a wonderful lifelong sport that billions of people around the world enjoy. I, for one, appreciate that OP isn’t wrapping her kids in bubble wrap due to the VERY small risk of a fatal cycling accident on trails.

            OP, I’ve heard good things about the new Woom ebikes for kids.

          • Senior Attorney

            Yeah, cycling is horrifically dangerous. My husband had a skull fracture and brain bleed two years ago after falling on his head. A friend broke her arm in two places not two feet in front of me on vacation the year before that. Another friend was hit by a car and broke his femur so bad the x-ray looked like the proverbial bundle of sticks. I could go on.

            They say there are two kinds of cyclists: Those who have had a bad accident and those who are going to have a bad accident. I’ve largely give it up for that reason.

          • Anonymous

            Senior Attorney, cycling is not “horrifically dangerous.” Does it have some danger? Yes. Every activity worth doing does. Accidents can happen and it’s PART OF LIFE, not a reason to shy away from anything that ever hurt you. If I retreated indoors every time I hurt myself in the outdoors, I’d never leave the house. Accidents help you learn and grow and develop your skills. I’ve fallen off horses at high speed, crashed skiing at high speed, flipped off my bike too many times to count, fallen down the stairs while running, and so much more. Absolutely none of it is making me think “I should’ve just stayed home.” I take regular precautions and develop my skills gradually and push myself to get a little bit better and stronger.

          • Anonymous

            As a very careful driver, I disagree that the problem is drivers. It’s the roads themselves. Bikes do not belong on the roads where I live, period. They are narrow and curvy with high speed limits and no bike lanes or shoulders. Bikes are a hazard to drivers as well as the people riding them because they are so slow and difficult to spot. I am extremely cautious and slow down around curves to avoid being surprised, but the bikes still appear out of nowhere especially when the riders are not using flashing lights. If there isn’t a bike lane, you shouldn’t be riding your bike on a main road. Or running or walking either–there is at least one jogger killed every year on these roads in our county.

          • Anon

            People on e-bikes also put pedestrians in danger on mixed use trails. It’s bad enough when they’re just distracted adults, but kids?

          • Anon

            I am a cyclist – recreationally and for transportation. I love riding bikes. Buying your kid an e-bike before they have the practice and motor skills to handle a regular bike is a terrible idea, for them and for anyone sharing the trail. Get them regular bikes. Teach them how to handle them well.

          • Anonymous

            And over 3 million older adults fall each year. We don’t tell them not to walk so they can stay safe. We work with them to develop the strength they need to avoid falls and to use tools, such as walkers, that can alleviate specific issues. Being active carries risk – and being inactive does too.

          • Anon

            Pray tell, how are eBikes in the hands of elementary school children going to reduce accidents?

          • Anon

            HOLY GOD do not buy an ebike, for children, from Walmart! The quality control of their regular bikes is horrific! This is a certain disaster.

          • Anonymous

            I disagree. There’s a certain group of posters here would like to act like stepping foot on a bicycle is a death sentence, but that’s a fear-driven mindset that isn’t applicable to 99% of cyclists. OP knows her own kids and whether they can handle e-bikes safely.

          • Aunt Jamesina

            Not one single person here said not to allow kids on bikes, just a near-universal caution against ebikes for young children and a few posters who said they ride on trails, not the road. Bicycling IS wonderful, but it’s also prudent to take precautions (and unfortunately, a lot of the US isn’t set up well for doing it safely).

          • anon

            Anon at 11:00 Am here – I cycle probably 6 days a week – both on city streets (commuting to work) and on trails (1-2 hour trail rides every weekend)

            I bike all the time, I’ve had a few close calls and minor crashes but have never been seriously hurt. I do not think at all that biking is a death sentence, nor do I believe at wrapping kids in bubble wrap. I’m sure there’s a safety concern with ebikes and kids (I have never ridden an ebike, nor do I have kids, so I can’t comment on that).

            I just have trouble wrapping my head around the logic of “biking is hard for my kids, so I’ll get them ebikes” rather than “biking is hard for my kids, and the challenge will be good for them”.

          • Anonymous

            anon at 12:26, there’s a growing camp of mountain biking parents who have found that e-bikes are the magic tool for getting their kids to love the trails. Mountain biking is really hard and I have tough memories of suffering up hills that were too much for me, even though the downhills and views and destinations were so fun. What’s wrong with an e-bike (which still requires work/pedaling) if it helps kids have positive associations with the activity? It can transform things from a sufferfest to a regular challenge and enable kids to keep up with their parents. I’m all for it and I’m also a big proponent of e-bikes for anyone with mobility challenges.

          • Anon

            With so many adults and kids seriously overweight I don’t know why you’d want to take the exercise out of cycling. You’re not going to get any better at it with a motor. [I will carve out space for Senior Attorney, but not for kids. Get off my lawn and start pedaling!]

          • eBike

            “I just have trouble wrapping my head around the logic of “biking is hard for my kids, so I’ll get them ebikes” rather than “biking is hard for my kids, and the challenge will be good for them”.”

            I think you’re misreading what I am saying. They bike a lot. But I think they would bike a lot more, and on different trails, if they had a little help. (Note the “little”) The reality is that all people, adults and kids, do an activity more when they enjoy it. They’re plenty hardy. I don’t need to teach them a lesson about toughness in this regard.

            There’s a long list of factors that lead me to think ebikes would be a good fit. I don’t want to get into them here because it will devolve into an argument. But I will just say they don’t like riding super fast as they are pretty careful riders and we encounter almost no cars at all when we ride.

          • Senior Attorney

            With the caveat that I couldn’t agree more on “no ebikes for kids,” I get a lot more exercise on my ebike than on my couch. ;) Used properly, it’s much more like having extra gears on a bicycle than having a motor scooter.

      • Anon

        Wiping out and having to rinse dirt and gravel out of your scrape is good for stories. Knocking out an adult tooth . . . Biking injuries are serious injuries and it is also a terribly fun sport. The two things can be true.

        • Senior Attorney

          Exactly. I always say if my husband gets killed on his bike, everybody at the funeral will say “well, at least he died doing something he really really loved.” And if I get killed on my bike, they will all say, “Wow, that’s a shame. She didn’t even like it that much and she was scared half to death the whole time.” Hence, me cutting way way back and him still out there every week.

      • Anonymous

        That is not even remotely similar to putting a 7-year-old on a e-bike on a road or a mixed use trail.

  7. Anon

    Low stakes question for NYC people: I recently moved to the city and don’t know any of my neighbors but a lot of them have kids. Do people do inter-building trick-or-treating? If so, is there a way I can signal that I’m home and ready to give candy?

    • Anonymous

      This probably varies by neighborhood. I’m in a Brooklyn neighborhood with a mix of apartment buildings and 1-3 family homes, and as far as I can tell people only trick or treat at the houses. There’s a block near me that goes nuts with decorations and has big block party. But if you are in an area where there are mostly only apartment buildings it is probably different. Or if your building is more sociable than mine. I would just ask someone.

    • anon

      I guess it depends on the building, when we lived in the city, the building handed out pumpkin-shaped cards that you could put on your door if you welcomed trick-or-treaters. Or you could make a sign of your own.

      • anne-on

        This – our apartment building in the city would post notices on the bulletin board and if you wanted to participate you would put a (sticker? magnet? I don’t recall) pumpkin on your door. Is there a doorman you can ask, or notices in the lobby/laundry area?

    • Anonymous

      Yes many buildings do! Ask your doorman if you have one or a neighbor. In my building the front desk takes down your apartment number if you are available for trick or treaters and then gives kids the list

    • Cat

      When we lived in a condo building in Philly, kids did not trick or treat within the building; families walked a few blocks to the fancy rowhouse area instead, and participated in nearby businesses’ trick-or-treat (like restaurants would have a basket of candy at the hostess station). But I think this is building-specific and you should ask someone who lives or works there!

    • AIMS

      It varies by neighborhood. In larger/more “managed” buildings you usually get a notice to say what the plan is for Halloween, and kids can go door to door and people either leave candy out or put some kind of building-provided sign (e.g., pumpkin sticker, etc.) to indicate that they want trick or treaters.

      Our building this year isn’t allowing door to door trick or treating, but they are giving out candy to kids in the lobby.

      If you’re not in a building that has any kind of official policy on that, you may still get trick or treaters and the best way to indicate you have candy to give out is just by putting some kind of Halloween decoration on your door (this is what I looked for as a kid in NYC).

    • Allie

      Many buildings have a sign up sheet but if yours doesn’t, and it seems to have a friendly vibe, you can just put a small note in the lobby letting people know.

    • NYNY

      I always have a little candy around, just in case, but most trick or treating in my neighborhood happens at stores. If your building does it, there should be a sign or signup sheet posted somewhere. Also, maybe ask a friendly-looking neighbor about it. Even if you come up empty, you’ve broken the ice with someone.

    • AnonMPH

      I grew up in NYC in a coop building on the UWS and everyone trick or treated in the building. I think you could usually just tell from who had a bunch of Halloween decorations on their door, whose door was shut but not fully/locked. There were always some doors that were clearly going all in, some people who just had a bowl of candy outside (take candy, don’t ring the bell) and some doors with no decorations which my parents told me to leave them alone and not bother them. But I agree with the others, just ask someone in your building who has kids, even if you don’t know them. If Or a doorman if you have one. It may also depend on the size of the building. Our building had enough floors/units that your in-building trick or treating could be your whole activity. If it’s only a few units people may go elsewhere.

      • NYNY

        This brought back memories of when, fresh from college and subletting a co-op with two friends, on of the roommates signed us up for building-wide trick or treating but a) didn’t tell the rest of us, and b) went out on Halloween. We had nothing but beer and leftover Chinese food in the kitchen, and I had to put a note on the door apologizing to the disappointed kids once I figured out what was happening!

  8. Anon

    My husband is getting snipped next week! Hurrah!! For anyone that has been through this, what can I expect? He does fairly well with pain but hates hospitals. Also, any fun or funny ideas on how to celebrate?

      • Anonymous

        DH has it done about two years ago. We planned for two days and it ended up being more like two weeks. Two days of acute discomfort; 2-3 weeks until he could go back to his usual boxer briefs. He had to wear much more supportive underwear and/or a jock strap for a couple weeks and took painkillers daily for a while.

        Throwing this out there because for most men it is quick but some do take a while longer so don’t be surprised if the discomfort lingers.

      • Anon

        My OB’s husband is a urologist who does this and she said all the guys schedule for March Madness and then just sit on the couch with a bag of frozen peas for a week.

        • anne-on

          Omg that was seriously our timing too. My husband got it done on a Friday, chilled out with his ice pack and snacks and watched games all weekend and was back to work on Monday.

          • AugNon

            Similar for my husband. Back to work on Monday though he did say that he felt like he’d been kicked in the g r o i n for a week or two.

    • Annony

      Congrats! My husband had a “terrible” experience, for which I had zero sympathy because I had just, you know, birthed a human. Other, less delicate men I know just took it easy for a few days. To celebrate, I find homemade cookies are always appropriate.

    • buffybot

      This is just my obligatory comment that I know someone who had a post-vasectomy baby because they didn’t follow the “wait X months and get tested before commencing activities” guidance to the letter (wild birthday or something), so….consider yourself warned!

      • Anon

        It unusual but some people never “clear.” That was my husband and rather than put up with another 2-3 weeks of his misery I got a tubal ligation.

        Whichever method works for you, not worrying about birth control is great!!!

    • InHouse Anon

      A day or two of discomfort like a prior poster said, although my husband has a very high pain/discomfort threshold (no “man colds” at our house). The worst part for him having the procedure done at a teaching hospital, where he consented to be observed by two female (as it turned out) med students while his parts were being handled.

        • InHouse Anon

          Yes, and my point was that if having two med students watch the procedure being performed, then it was not bad at all.
          Also, surely it’s okay to have preferences? No one bats an eye when women prefer seeing female gyns.

          • InHouse Anon

            *watch the procedure being performed was the worst part, then it was not bad at all.

          • Anonymous

            Some activists have a problem with that, actually, and say that women’s preferences to be seen by providers of the same sex is discrimination. I strongly disagree.

        • InHouse Anon

          See above. My point was that if the slight discomfort of being watched by two female med students was the worst part of the procedure, then the procedure was not bad at all. I’m not sure how this comment was construed as saying something was wrong with women being doctors? A forty year old man is allowed to feel slightly uncomfortable when two 23 year old women see his gen i t a ls, same as I would feel if two 23 year old male students observed my pelvic exam. Good grief.

      • Anonymous

        Better story: A dude I know was a med student and the patient was asked if he could watch a pelvic exam. She consented and he went to sit down, missed the stool and fell to the ground. She promptly changed her mind and asked that he leave.

    • Anon

      Expect a good two weeks of your husband saying “ow my balls” every time he even slightly moves off the couch or shifts his bag of frozen peas.

      Or was that just my husband?

    • Anonymous

      My husband got a rare post-op infection. It was painful and he had a fever, but nothing antibiotics didn’t quickly remedy. He didn’t complain too much, which is surprising for him and his low pain threshold, but I think that was mostly out of acknowledgment that three months earlier I had pushed a whole human through my bits.

  9. Anon

    Any recommendations of items to include in a DC/Virginia themed gift basket? I feel like other states have so many more identifiable signatures – blueberries for Maine, maple syrup for NH/VT, etc, etc. I don’t know what to do for NoVA other than DC tourist tchotchkes. A tin of Old Bay, I suppose, though that’s more Maryland. A tin of peanuts, though I don’t know if the recipients have allergies, so that seems like a bad idea. Needs to travel well. Thoughts?

      • Anon

        HAHA – my first thought was the Rum Ham from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Don’t buy someone a ham…

      • Anonymous

        Virginia ham is not widely appealing, though. It is extremely salty. I would say peanuts are a safer bet.

    • PolyD

      Mumbo sauce? Does Ben’s Chili Bowl sell any gift-type things? Something cherry blossom-themed?

      They’re also more MD/Baltimore-centric, but Berger’s cookies – cake-like cookies frosted in about a foot of fudge – have been well received by people who like sweets.

    • anon

      I love a theme! Some ideas:
      – Mumbo sauce
      – DC go go music cd
      – Cherry Blossom tea: https://capitalteas.com/cherry-blossom-rose-sachets/
      – Any of the local beers like DC Brau, Capitol Cider
      – White House xmas ornament (if they celebrate xmas)
      – Cookies and pies from Whisked
      – Washington Post
      – Anything panda related
      -also, shop made in dc puts together a really cite themed basket

    • The Lone Ranger

      Cardinal chocolates, peanuts, ham, Virginia wines, Virginia Gentleman BBQ sauce, grits from Byrd Mill (I think they have some bread/biscuit mixes as well). Route 11 potato chips.

    • Shelle

      Depending on where you are, there are several lovely towns/cities like Old Town Alexandria, Occoquan, Williamsburg, where you could pick up something locally crafted. Or Shenandoah themed gifts.

      • Shelle

        Depending on the person, they might be interested in swag from the FBI Academy in Quantico or the Pentagon.

  10. Anon

    I’ve just been invited to speak for the second year on my local bar association section’s “what’s ahead for [our field] in 2022” panel. Thing is, I go out on adoption leave on November 1 and will just be getting back in January a couple days before the panel’s scheduled. I don’t want to turn down the exposure, but I wasn’t planning on staying intimately abreast of policy and legal developments while I’m out. Thoughts? Should I do it or skip?

    • No Face

      Do it! You only need an hour or so of prep just before the presentation, especially for a panel.

    • Anon

      Do it and keep up, I’m not really getting why you’d just tune out for that time period. You’re not working, why not peruse the latest newsletters and updates? You don’t have to write them.

    • Anon

      Do it! I just got invited to sit on a panel next month about a fairly complex issue in my field, and it’s going to take some research/study on the issue to make sure I can sound like I know what I’m talking about, but I don’t want to pass up the exposure opportunity. Congratulations on your adoption BTW!

    • Anonymous

      Do it, you’ll be fine! No one expects you to have a blow by blow of the last few months. Check the news the week before you present, though.

    • Anon

      Excited for you and your new arrival. The waiting time is stressful, so be gentle on yourself and please post when the big day arrives.

    • AugNon

      I found it was kind of nice to talk to people occasionally about work in a no pressure environment during maternity leave – I think my events were mostly networking or occasional calls. if the presentation doesn’t require a ton of prework and you can kind of casually check developments in the month or two before it on your own schedule, it doesn’t seem like a bad idea. Caveat that if your new kid (yay and congratulations!) is not a newborn your schedule experience may not translate to a new parent’s who has nap time etc. to use (or watch law and order marathons during).

  11. pants!

    pants! after having a baby and changing sizes (plus WFH, etc), I really need new pants. I hate having cold ankles and I’m tired of skinny pants… does anyone have any recs for full length pants in any leg shape besides skinny? I have a fairly casual job (in higher ed), so anything besides fully lounge pants is probably fine, or regular old business casual. A lot of my old standby retailers are letting me down so I’d love suggestions!

    • pants!

      (long or tall sizes would be ideal, but at this point, I’ll take any recommendations! thank you!)

      • Anon

        For long or tall, I’ve always had great luck with Talbots wool or suiting pants.

      • pants!

        ooh I have looked at Gap and BR but forgot Old Navy, thanks! do they tend to stretch out a lot during the day?

        • MagicUnicorn

          I haven’t tried the specific ones linked above, but every pair of non-knit ON pants and jeans I have ever owned would stretch out enough that they had to be belted by the end of the day, and I definitely couldn’t wear them more than once without washing them to get them back to shape. Which meant they got washed a lot, faded and wore out quickly, and were rather expensive per wear compared to pricier pants made with higher quality fabric. I do love their casual knit shorts and joggers, though.

    • Anon

      I still like my Betabrand dress yoga pants. They have different leg silhouettes and come in lengths.

      • pants!

        interesting… do you find the straight styles actually don’t look skinny? I’m also a little worried they might look bootylicious, but definitely willing to try! thanks!

      • Anon

        I’m only 5’9″ but I find that Uniqlo runs extremely short, like I couldn’t even pull up the pants I tried on all the way because the calves tapered in so soon. I once bought a pair of tights in the largest size they had and they only came up to my knees. I had to double-check that I didn’t accidentally buy in the kid’s section.

        • AIMS

          I guess it depends? As I said, I’m 5’4 and these pants are basically just regular non-long pants on (so basic straight leg).

        • Anon

          “Only” 5’9” is 5 inches above the average for US women. I would say that is quite tall, just as I would say that a woman who is 5 inches shorter than the average is quite short at 4’11”.

          • Anon

            In most stores, tall sizes are 5’10” and above while petite sizes are 5’4″ and under. So it might seem that 5’4″ is average but it’s on the short end of how clothing is sized.

        • pants!

          ah good to know… I am 5’6 but with 5’9″ legs (and a very short torso, ha), so these might not work. but will poke around Uniqlo’s page!

    • warren

      I am 5’9″. I love the Duluth Flexpedition pants. They have unobtrusive side pockets, wear like iron, are comfortable, presentable for work (also higher ed!), and they come in a 33″ inseam. The waistband does not stretch during the day (unlike the similar but poorer-quality ones I used to get from Eddie Bauer, which are of much thinner fabric). They come in boot cut and straight leg and I think there is a new skinny version.

    • Anon

      Why are there SO many ankle length pants on the market, to the point that it can be hard to find full-length pants? Ankle length pants make me look shorter and heavier, and they’re cold and look silly in winter. Waiting for the trend to die . . . .

  12. anon

    Reposting without links
    I love a theme! Some ideas:
    – Mumbo sauce
    – DC go go music cd
    – Cherry Blossom tea: capitalteas
    – Any of the local beers like DC Brau, Capitol Cider
    – White House xmas ornament (if they celebrate xmas)
    – Cookies and pies from Whisked
    – Washington Post
    – Anything panda related
    -also, shop made in dc puts together a really cite themed basket

  13. anon for this

    Reposting since I posted late on the afternoon thread yesterday (thanks to the 2 commenters who replied):

    Anyone here work in communications and can offer career advice? DH is ready for a new job and he’s always been a sort of jack-of-all-trades utility player: writer, editor, strategist, mid-level manager. He also tends to stay in jobs way too long (10 years at the current one, 10 years at the one before that). He’s now ready for something new and the jobs all seem to want too much specialized or senior-manager experience when he’s really a generalist and mid-level (and is fine with that, he’s capable but not a gunner). Is this where a resume writer could help? Or a career coach? He’s asked for help from me and others, but my field is really different and I’m not sure how to advise. DC area.

    • Anon

      I work in comms and have done 5+ years each in DC and NYC. I have had a lot of career success by pairing networking (local PRSA chapter or even a comms group specific to his preferred industry) with targeted job applying (find a role, stalk a connection on LinkedIn and send a nice cover note with resume to hiring manager). Networking helps him get the lay of the land and decide what aspects he wants in a new role. A resume writer from his field would be a good move given that he hasn’t moved around much and could use fresh eyes on his resume

    • Anonymous

      In NGOs the directors of comms are often jack-of-all trades types and have a small team of similar folks. Salaries aren’t great though, usually max out at about 100k.

    • Lizbet

      20+ years in comms here, though not in DC. Most “senior manager” roles at big companies are actually mid-level roles. He should look at the job description before giving up based on the title.

  14. Anon

    I didn’t know until recently that my housemate never got fully vaxxed (he had COVID and has had one shot). He was intending to get the second, but still hasn’t. I’m fully vaxxed.

    He has a new GF and is going to visit her family this weekend (including her grandmother). He’s not evil with horns, but is it really bad form now to go visit old people in their house if you’re not fully vaxxed? At least you need to tell them and let them decide? He’s going home early for Thanksgiving (so I will have a cooling-off period before going home to see my people next month; my family is aware and I can test before hand). I can’t move out and obvs can’t jab him in the arm, but he is acting like a total vector and I know he’s pretty well protected per the science. But it is really rubbing me the wrong way. IDK what to do before the lease ends, which is not until well into 2022. I guess I go for a booster myself as soon as my 6 months are up?

    • Anon

      I’m VERY pro vaccine but if he’s had Covid and one dose he has better protection than you. Eric Topol is a respected physician scientist who has talked about this a lot. We require two shots to be fully vaccinated because it’s hard to prove who’s had Covid and the second shot isn’t harmful even if you’ve had the virus, but some countries actually consider prior Covid + 1 dose to be complete vaccination, and lots of studies suggest hybrid immunity from both infection and the vaccine is better than either alone.

      But yes get your booster when you’re eligible!

      • Anon

        Is that generally true?

        I have a friend who was horribly sick early on and when he recoverred, had so many antibodies he was regularly giving plasma and volunteering for studies. I know others who were barely sick with COVID, so they are not so sure that they’d be this well protected (also, no one has studied them and it could be that they tested positive but were really sick with something else). They just don’t know and I haven’t read anything; we all got our shots together when they opened up to adults generally in late spring.

        • AugNon

          I’ve heard the same thing as Anon 11:46 (natural infection followed by one shot = protection as good or better than two shots) but the recommendation is still to get a full vaccination course. How much immune protection you get from natural infections and how soon it wanes varies heavily from person to person, so I’d be hesitant to rely on it and skip second shot in a two-shot regimen (and the CDC doesn’t approve of this pathway.) Better to be sure and get a full shot regimen, but the OP’s roommate is likely not significantly riskier to grandma than a fully vaxxed person and OP should get her own booster when it’s her time.

          • Anonymous

            Yale came out with a study recently that covid infection only gives you 15 months protection so someone who caught it early on is out of luck by now.

          • Anon

            I know that the shot researchers have studied tons of people getting lots of shots and keeping good records. I would love to see the “COVID + 1 shot” data is because I truly believe the data set is smaller and not as well-vetted as the shot-only data. And are all cases really the same for producing antibodies? Even the very mild ones or the ones where the people didn’t know (vs the ones where people were on a ventillator)? Honestly curious; I got the shots and had my kid get them also. School and unvaxxed spread where we live is pretty high and I’d feel better that those people really are as good as vaxxed, at least for a while.

          • Anon

            The consensus is that antibodies from infection wane faster than antibodies from vaccination (at least in many people), but that infection gives better B and T cell immunity. A person who has both kinds of immunity has more well-rounded protection.

            Also keep in mind that (especially ~6 months after vaccination in the Delta era) one dose of Pfizer or Moderna is quite a bit more effective than one dose of J&J but the latter group is considered “fully vaccinated” and the former group isn’t, so on some level it’s just semantics. I’m not opposed to vaccine mandates and I would comply with them even if I’d had prior Covid because there’s no downside, but personally having prior Covid + 1 dose of Pfizer or Moderna would give me far greater peace of mind than just having one dose of J&J.

          • AIMS

            Anon at 12:08: Whatever that Yale study says (even assuming it is 100 percent reliable) wouldn’t apply to one shot + natural antibodies.

            Anon at 12:20: I don’t think there is any correlation between severity of disease and antibodies. And anecdotally (which is just that) this has not been born out in my immediate circle.

      • anon

        +1 OP, separate your annoyance at his conduct from your assessment of the danger. Acquired immunity + one shot is, so far as we currently know, the highest level of protection.

      • AIMS

        +1. In fact, some countries (with more limited supply) actually don’t encourage vaccinations for people who have had it and have antibodies.

        • Anon

          Is there a way you can get tested for antibodies without being in a study? Our blood bank used to test for it until shots became widely available.

          • Senior Attorney

            My husband got his antibodies tested at the doctor’s office as part of his physical.

          • Anon

            You can get a finger prick test at CVS. I tested my daughter because her daycare BFF had Covid a couple months ago, and even though we weren’t officially exposed I thought there was a decent chance she’d had an asymptomatic case, which would have given me a lot of peace of mind with her not being able to get vaccinated. Unfortunately she didn’t have antibodies.

          • Anonymous

            Experts are strongly discouraging testing for antibodies right now. All the companies that test are doing it differently and the results aren’t reliable. Things may change in the future.

    • Anonymous

      I work for a hospital system with a vaccine mandate in place, and a positive PCR test + one shot (Pfizer/Moderna) fulfills the requirement.

  15. anon

    Yesterday I scheduled a mammogram for early November and was specifically asked if I’d gotten the Covid booster yet. I have not. The scheduler told me to hold off on the booster until AFTER the mammo but didn’t have a specific explanation why. Can someone enlighten me? It’s fine, I wasn’t going to get the booster quite yet anyway, but I thought it was an odd guideline! What would the booster have to do with imaging?

    • Anon

      I imagine it’s because your immune response can make the glands in your armpits (near breast tissue) swell.

    • Cat

      bc your lymph nodes may be enlarged for a week or two after the vaccine, creating a risk of false positive or need for follow-up.

    • AIMS

      Covid shots can cause your lymph nodes to swell so they can produce false positives on mammograms (after scaring a bunch of women at the outset, clinics now ask about this). I assume booster has same effect as first or second dose.

    • anon

      my lymph nodes were swollen for about 3 months after my shot, and then about 5 months after they started randomly swelling again.

    • Anon

      When I went in for my mammogram last spring, they were asking patients if they had received the vaccine recently.
      They only wanted to do the test 2 + weeks after receiving the vaccine.

      My understanding was that lymph nodes swelling in your armpit (on the arm where you get the shot) is a common/expected reaction to the vaccine — and if those show up in a mammogram, it could cause an unnecessary requirement for extra screening.

    • Anon

      Two friends have been called back for enlarged lymph nodes showing up on the mammo after the vax. It’s a normal side effect of the vax and nothing to worry about – in fact, it’s a sign your immune system is responding to the vax – but they have to be super careful when they’re doing mammos.

      To avoid that back and forth they now recommend a waiting period after your last vax. I got asked the same when I scheduled my latest mammo.

    • Anon

      Yeah your lymph nodes can swell up after the vaccine which can interfere with the mammogram reading. It happened to me.

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