[Pythia]

Veena, so you loosen and tighten the screws on all your xjoints with the pole UP and in place once a week?  That is an interesting idea!  I would have been worried to try it, but if YOU are doing it!!!!  🙂    I'm guessing you just do one xjoint at a time and do the alternating back and forth between the screws thing?

I've just been tightening them about once a week.  I guess it was too much tightening because last time I tried to take it down, one of the screws was stuck and then the hole to put the hex wrench in became rounded out from all the trying to loosen it.  Never got it to loosen at all, so I just put it back together and I'm using it that way.  But I wonder if your method would keep that from happening again.   Eventually I'll have to replace that piece of the pole and xjoint I suppose.

[Pythia]

https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cry.gif You poor thing! Sounds like you’ve already gotten some good advice, but I just thought I’d chime in and let you know that I had the same horrible painful experience in my early 20’s and ended up having to have surgery. I’m SO THANKFUL I did it! I only wish I had done it sooner and avoided those uncomfortable, painful years! My surgeon said that you can’t do this surgery under local anesthesia because it distorts the tissues and makes it so they aren’t sure if they are getting it all (these cysts tend to have fingers/tentacles…. nice, huh? yuck!). So he required general anesthesia. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif But I agree with earlier post. Find a doc that will listen to you and that you feel comfortable with.

On the body acne…. I recommend Neutrogena Acne Stress Control body wash in the shower and the Acne Stress Control 3-in-1 Hydrating Acne Treatment once or twice a day. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

Best of luck to you!