Does flonase work as a decongestant
Antiwork: Unemployment for all, not just the rich!
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2024.05.14 16:30 MsNeedAdvice Husband's Progress
So about a month ago - my husband suffered a severe nose block (this happened not too far after he got a pretty bad sinus infection) it lasted only a day and visiting an ENT - no damage and no clear indication as to why it was blocked.
At this point my hubs was addicted to afrin for years. But after this whole debacle he was determined to get off it. Taking advice from here we opted to do two things 1. Get flonase (or whatever knockoff of flonase - we've tried both and both work fine for him) 2. Do one nostril at a time
This has worked like a charm! Flonase alone was a life changer. Take it once a day - he opted to do it at night for better sleep and not so much congestion in the morning. Helped significantly with decreasing the amount of afrin. Also - try to drink more water. This is trickier for him as it's a "out of sight out of mind" thing and he'll need to form a better habit in choosing water but when he does drink he overall feels better generally and less dry - which helps with nose things. And the one nostril at a time was also a game changer! One of his nostrils has gone over a week without afrin and with no serious dependent side effects!
We're doing a slow weening on the other side now as he's a little nervous to get off completely but we're seeing a light at the end of the tunnel!
submitted by MsNeedAdvice to QuitAfrin [link] [comments]
At this point my hubs was addicted to afrin for years. But after this whole debacle he was determined to get off it. Taking advice from here we opted to do two things 1. Get flonase (or whatever knockoff of flonase - we've tried both and both work fine for him) 2. Do one nostril at a time
This has worked like a charm! Flonase alone was a life changer. Take it once a day - he opted to do it at night for better sleep and not so much congestion in the morning. Helped significantly with decreasing the amount of afrin. Also - try to drink more water. This is trickier for him as it's a "out of sight out of mind" thing and he'll need to form a better habit in choosing water but when he does drink he overall feels better generally and less dry - which helps with nose things. And the one nostril at a time was also a game changer! One of his nostrils has gone over a week without afrin and with no serious dependent side effects!
We're doing a slow weening on the other side now as he's a little nervous to get off completely but we're seeing a light at the end of the tunnel!
2024.05.10 19:52 ChalIengers Qudelix-5K DAC/AMP. Very affordable and most innovative DAC/AMP w/ built in EQ APP
 | https://preview.redd.it/y4zxagwnwmzc1.png?width=960&format=png&auto=webp&s=8baf99719e5a3ad102336a2bf0c1e1d20162360c submitted by ChalIengers to gamingiems [link] [comments] The Qudelix-5K is by far my favorite portable DAC/AMP. Amazing sound, good build quility, very affordable, and probably the most innovative DAC/AMP w/ built in EQ that can be extensively adjusted using the APP. SOUND: Thanks to the ability to connect to multiple sources at once (Bluetooth and USB DAC), it is easy to switch quickly between them, just by pausing one and resuming the other. In this way it is very easy to make comparisons between the two connections. The fundamental conclusion is that there are hardly any differences between the two sources. With medium or low range headphones and MP3 files at 320 Kbps, I would dare to say that the differences are almost indistinguishable. If I were to carry out blind tests, playing the same files, I don't think I would be able to distinguish either the differences or the origin of the source. This is something that has really surprised me. With the Qudelix-5K it is no longer necessary to have a DAP, if our Smartphone has LDAC and a sampling rate of 660kbps, or more, it is totally sufficient. And it doesn't matter if it has been tested for the 3.5mm or the 2.5mm output. To find some differences you would have to go to great files, very well recorded music and use the best headphones you have. But even so, the results are very similar, bearing in mind the limitation that, by USB, you can only play files of up to 96kHz (a value which, on the other hand, is quite high). My feeling is that, via USB, there is a greater sense of dynamics and that the recreation of the scene is more rounded, with greater depth and three-dimensional effect. But the extraction of detail and the presentation of the sound are really on a par. Speaking purely of sound, the profile of the Qudelix-5K is quite neutral, I don't find it to be an amplifier, either warm, dark or overly bright. Its balance is perfect for respecting the signature of the connected headphones. In this sense, you can notice that the DACs used are SABRE, where the quality of the details and the resolution capacity are quite exposed. On the other hand, I think that the 5K is not completely analytical, but it is true that it has quite an inclination towards that profile, more than another declared soft. In my case, this type of sound is very much in line with my preferences, which is why, from the very first moment, the device has taken over most of the time, as an audio player, on my desk. The reproduction of the lower area is perceived as extremely clean, very well shaped, with a good resolution drawing, but without too much roughness, showing that more analytical and defined presentation. The depth is good and the separation of planes is on a par. But, really, it is not an amplifier that enhances the bass or gives it a higher weight than other bands. The balance it has is very noticeable, as well as the respect for executing the area with greater resolution, allowing its background to be quite clean and airy, achieving a fairly decongested and luminous sound. These qualities benefit greatly from the needs of the mid-range. I do not understand that the 5K is a mid-center amplifier, but its characteristics are capable of enhancing the details and nuances of both the voices and the instruments. Its dark background, above all because it is balanced, gives great dynamics to the sound, as well as definition, transparency and quite high resolution capacity. Thus, the voices appear very natural and very well defined, accompanied by the perfect distance, between the accompanying instruments. I find that one of the best qualities of the 5K is the respect it has for the sound of the connected headphones. It is very capable of extracting many of the virtues of each one of them, but in a very natural way, without the sound feeling forced or artificial. Its high resolution capacity offers a calm listening. Its level of definition does not overwhelm at all. And a good reason for this is the treatment it offers to the treble, drawing them very well exposed, thin, sharp, brilliant, but docile, with a definition at the height of the neutrality offered, accompanied by a large dose of air and separation. From this, we obtain that declared analytic character and its level of separation, which, in sum, is capable of generating a scene of appreciable width, remarkable depth and adequate height. The level of three-dimensionality is not very high, since the stage is observed from the front. But, in this way, the scene persists naturally, escaping any forced unreality. CONNECTIVITY: They are also a technical partner of Sony LDAC™. They have developed the LDAC solution for the Qualcomm QCC512X platform, which is one of the best chips for audio playback via Bluetooth. This platform, besides offering the best quality codec for Bluetooth audio, has an ultra low power consumption. On the other hand, it has a powerful DSP, capable of maintaining a high bitrate during transmission, in a safer way and for longer. As a result of this effort, Qudelix provides such LDAC codec solution to other brands and/or headphone manufacturers. All this technical capacity has resulted in one of the most interesting devices on the portable Hi-End market, which combines the best Bluetooth option, with an excellent Dual DAC/AMP by SABRE (ES9218P) and a high output power. This is the Qudelix-5K: a small Bluetooth receiver of very high quality and a DAC/AMP. It can be used as a sound card, connected to a PC or laptop. It can also be connected, via Bluetooth, to a Smartphone or DAP, to be used as a Bluetooth receiver and headphone amplifier. Finally, it can also be connected, via USB-C, to a Smartphone or DAP, to be used as an amplifier. It even has a high-sensitivity microphone as a Bluetooth communication solution. The 5K has a 10-band equalizer. Thanks to the use of the QCC5124, which is the neurological centre of the device, it is possible to use such advanced audio processing. Inside is a 32-bit dual-core KALIMBA DSP, which runs at 120MHz. The use of the equalizer is independent of the source used, whether Bluetooth or USB. The equalizer can be used parametrically (PEQ) or graphically (GEQ). Its equalisation processing is 64bits, with double precision. It has a large number of pre-set presets and up to 10 individual presets can be saved. All of them are stored in the device's flash memory. It should be noted that the current status of the device is also stored in the internal memory and when it is switched on again, the system remembers this status. EQ APP: As I have already insisted, the use of the Qudelix-5K is extremely simple. And the maturity of the APP makes it very easy to have absolute control of the device, and also provides a lot of information: help, links to manuals, to the forum, technical support, warranty management... It also allows the firmware to be updated, through OTA.The version of the APP used during the writing of this review.The APP works very smoothly and I have not detected any hang ups or abnormal functioningI |
2024.05.10 17:04 aychsea TIL Inflammation from allergies was causing my PT
I wanted to share my experience in case it helps anyone who also found this reddit after experiencing PT for the first time and hasn't begun the treatment process. Reading about it on the internet is scary. I kind of doubt that this is worth a read for many folks who have suffered with PT for a long time and are already working with their doctors to find relief -- my heart goes out to you.
TLDR: I got a very generic diagnosis of "Right Eustachian Tube Dysfunction" from a Dr and was "prescribed" antihistamines (Zyrtec), a steroidal nasal spray (Flonase), as well as decongestants (pseudoephedrine) and ibuprofen -- all over the counter medications in the US. I started with just Zyrtec and Flonase and my PT is gone.
The longer version: I was having quiet PT in my right ear for a week. A few weeks prior I noticed that I was having watery eyes and nose for the first time since moving to the Seattle area 8 years ago, so I took some Alavert for a couple of days to help. Some time passed after I stopped taking the allergy meds, and I noticed I had the wooshing sound whenever it was quiet in my home. Took a flight for a work trip, did some high stress things, came home and all the while I could hear the PT if ambient noise was low.
After getting home from the trip, my right ear also started to feel the tiniest bit of pressure. No pain at all, but like there was _something_ in there. I found the wooshing to my heart beat unsettling and checked my blood pressure, determining it was normal. I finally decided I would go to Urgent Care on Tuesday of this week (my PCP had no openings) to make sure I didn't have an ear infection.
Dr talked to me for literally 2 minutes after checking my ears and verifying I did not have an ear infection. TBH his response felt pretty flippant for how many serious conditions PT can be a symptom for.... I was also kind of spooked by the amount of OTC medications he suggested as "conservative care." They also gave me a referral to an ENT in case things did not improve, which I appreciated!
I've been PT free for 2 days after starting lightly with Flonase and Zyrtec, which I can only determine means that allergies and inflammation were the cause.
submitted by aychsea to PulsatileTinnitus [link] [comments]
TLDR: I got a very generic diagnosis of "Right Eustachian Tube Dysfunction" from a Dr and was "prescribed" antihistamines (Zyrtec), a steroidal nasal spray (Flonase), as well as decongestants (pseudoephedrine) and ibuprofen -- all over the counter medications in the US. I started with just Zyrtec and Flonase and my PT is gone.
The longer version: I was having quiet PT in my right ear for a week. A few weeks prior I noticed that I was having watery eyes and nose for the first time since moving to the Seattle area 8 years ago, so I took some Alavert for a couple of days to help. Some time passed after I stopped taking the allergy meds, and I noticed I had the wooshing sound whenever it was quiet in my home. Took a flight for a work trip, did some high stress things, came home and all the while I could hear the PT if ambient noise was low.
After getting home from the trip, my right ear also started to feel the tiniest bit of pressure. No pain at all, but like there was _something_ in there. I found the wooshing to my heart beat unsettling and checked my blood pressure, determining it was normal. I finally decided I would go to Urgent Care on Tuesday of this week (my PCP had no openings) to make sure I didn't have an ear infection.
Dr talked to me for literally 2 minutes after checking my ears and verifying I did not have an ear infection. TBH his response felt pretty flippant for how many serious conditions PT can be a symptom for.... I was also kind of spooked by the amount of OTC medications he suggested as "conservative care." They also gave me a referral to an ENT in case things did not improve, which I appreciated!
I've been PT free for 2 days after starting lightly with Flonase and Zyrtec, which I can only determine means that allergies and inflammation were the cause.
2024.05.02 19:40 mattdavis9 Chronic Sinus Inflammation
Hi Everyone,
I have been suffering from chronic nasal inflammation for as long as I can remember. I am 24 years old, and have NEVER been able to breathe in or out of both of my nostrils clearly without help from medications such as Afrin.
I have never seen the doctor for this specifically, but when I would always get yearly physical check ups as a kid, they always stuck that thing up my nose and checked it out, but never said anything about it. I had allergy prick tests done as a kid, and was allergic to just about everything they tested me for, which was mostly different types of pollen I think.
One side of my nostrils is always inflamed. If I lay my head down on a pillow, and have lets say my right side of my face on it, the inflammation will shift from my left nostril to my right, and vice versa. I have had one, maybe two sinus infections in my life, so I thankfully don't struggle with that, literally only inflammation within my nasal cavity. I often have to breathe through my mouth when eating because of this, which is obviously an extreme nuisance and causes me to hold my breath while eating so I don't inhale any food.
I take Allegra every day for my seasonal allergies, but all that helps with is the sneezing, and itchy eyes. I have taken Flonase and that didn't do much for the inflammation either. The only thing that works for reducing it is the Afrin, but I don't take it often since you're not supposed to.
Does anyone have any recommendations for what I can do to alleviate/eliminate this chronic inflammation?
Thank you
submitted by mattdavis9 to Sinusitis [link] [comments]
I have been suffering from chronic nasal inflammation for as long as I can remember. I am 24 years old, and have NEVER been able to breathe in or out of both of my nostrils clearly without help from medications such as Afrin.
I have never seen the doctor for this specifically, but when I would always get yearly physical check ups as a kid, they always stuck that thing up my nose and checked it out, but never said anything about it. I had allergy prick tests done as a kid, and was allergic to just about everything they tested me for, which was mostly different types of pollen I think.
One side of my nostrils is always inflamed. If I lay my head down on a pillow, and have lets say my right side of my face on it, the inflammation will shift from my left nostril to my right, and vice versa. I have had one, maybe two sinus infections in my life, so I thankfully don't struggle with that, literally only inflammation within my nasal cavity. I often have to breathe through my mouth when eating because of this, which is obviously an extreme nuisance and causes me to hold my breath while eating so I don't inhale any food.
I take Allegra every day for my seasonal allergies, but all that helps with is the sneezing, and itchy eyes. I have taken Flonase and that didn't do much for the inflammation either. The only thing that works for reducing it is the Afrin, but I don't take it often since you're not supposed to.
Does anyone have any recommendations for what I can do to alleviate/eliminate this chronic inflammation?
Thank you
2024.04.30 23:22 NP_NP_ PPI has nearly cured LPR - but is causing traditional acid reflux on the daily? SO worried this has evolved into GERD. A rant a cry for help!!!!!!
I (34/f) suspected I had LPR or asthma a little over a year ago - my ENT handed me a pamphlet and showed me the door. Symptoms did not persist, so I forgot about it. Come Janurary, my boyfriend caught neurovirus and I have literally never been the same since. That week, I started burping very frequently - after everything I ate/drank. The GI doc I saw chalked it up to "You're young and healthy I think you just have anxiety. Here is an rx for famotidine". I'm a new RN working in oncology, so I was VERY anxious when I first stated my job around that time. The script did NOTHING for me and I discontinued use after 3-4 weeks.
In February, my left ear seems to have become permanently full feeling. Fast forward to the end of March, and I'm having all kinds of bizarre symptoms that I feel are a mix of anxiety and what I described as allergies/asthma. I see an allergist, he immediately does all his tests (skin test, pulmonary function test, etc) - and he is VERY confident I have LPR. He put me on prilosec OTC and flonase, told me to work on my diet, and me to see him again in 6 weeks.
I immediately bought a wedge pillow, cases of alkaline water, and REALLY cleaned up my diet (it's not perfect, but it's a work in progress - I'm loosely following the acid watcher diet but I have my slip ups). I work overnights, so the timing of the prilosec changes depending on when I wake up - but I've been diligent in taking it every day and trying to eat within 30-60 mins of taking it.
I'm starting my 5th week of the meds and my LPR symptoms/esophageal spasms/throat issues are 95% better (even my ear feels way less full) - however, now I'm getting frequent heartburn. The traditional upper-abdomen burning kind. That and I'm still burping, but not nearly as frequently/not after everything I touch anymore. Those are my big symptoms.
I've lost a few pounds, my skin, hair, and nails look better than ever, my poops are great, my energy is good, I'm no longer anxious like I used to be... BUT THIS HEART BURN IS FREAKING ME OUT!!!!!!! WHY DID IT EVOLVE?????
At first it was like "oh weird I have heartburn", then oatmeal gave me heart burn, then I started getting it at the end of the day/at night on an empty stomach - maybe 1-2x a week. And now, for the past 3 or 4 days, I think I've had heartburn intermittently. If nothing during the day, then it's at night or in the morning on an empty stomach if I don't eat quickly enough. Now I'm wondering if it's emotional because I feel it starting to brew as I write this.
I'm seeing a new GI doc in about 2 weeks and I see my allergist in a little under 3 weeks. His plan was to ween me off of the PPI because he doesn't want to see me on it long term. I am also in the process of starting to work with this holistic registered dietician who is also a RN who helps people manage chronic illness through diet.
I am absolutely desperate.
I don't know what to DO or to FEEL!!!!!
submitted by NP_NP_ to GERD [link] [comments]
In February, my left ear seems to have become permanently full feeling. Fast forward to the end of March, and I'm having all kinds of bizarre symptoms that I feel are a mix of anxiety and what I described as allergies/asthma. I see an allergist, he immediately does all his tests (skin test, pulmonary function test, etc) - and he is VERY confident I have LPR. He put me on prilosec OTC and flonase, told me to work on my diet, and me to see him again in 6 weeks.
I immediately bought a wedge pillow, cases of alkaline water, and REALLY cleaned up my diet (it's not perfect, but it's a work in progress - I'm loosely following the acid watcher diet but I have my slip ups). I work overnights, so the timing of the prilosec changes depending on when I wake up - but I've been diligent in taking it every day and trying to eat within 30-60 mins of taking it.
I'm starting my 5th week of the meds and my LPR symptoms/esophageal spasms/throat issues are 95% better (even my ear feels way less full) - however, now I'm getting frequent heartburn. The traditional upper-abdomen burning kind. That and I'm still burping, but not nearly as frequently/not after everything I touch anymore. Those are my big symptoms.
I've lost a few pounds, my skin, hair, and nails look better than ever, my poops are great, my energy is good, I'm no longer anxious like I used to be... BUT THIS HEART BURN IS FREAKING ME OUT!!!!!!! WHY DID IT EVOLVE?????
At first it was like "oh weird I have heartburn", then oatmeal gave me heart burn, then I started getting it at the end of the day/at night on an empty stomach - maybe 1-2x a week. And now, for the past 3 or 4 days, I think I've had heartburn intermittently. If nothing during the day, then it's at night or in the morning on an empty stomach if I don't eat quickly enough. Now I'm wondering if it's emotional because I feel it starting to brew as I write this.
I'm seeing a new GI doc in about 2 weeks and I see my allergist in a little under 3 weeks. His plan was to ween me off of the PPI because he doesn't want to see me on it long term. I am also in the process of starting to work with this holistic registered dietician who is also a RN who helps people manage chronic illness through diet.
I am absolutely desperate.
I don't know what to DO or to FEEL!!!!!
2024.04.27 22:20 RadiantStarCloud How do myself(44F) and my husband (47M) deal with my father in law (69M) who is heavily dependent on us for all his needs and who fat, body and age shames me on a regular basis?
I want to know how YOU would handle the following situation...
My father in law body, age and fat shames me regularly while depending on my husband and I for all his needs... I need advice.
He and I usually cut up pretty well and we agree on a lot of things, but he doesn't have a filter, he's grabby, he's rude, he's ornery and overall just runs his mouth more than he should. It's gotten so bad that people are storming away from him angry in stores and he's getting treated differently than the other patients at his doctor appts. (i.e. not allowing him to be in the waiting area where he can talk to the other patients, keeping him contained to a room by himself, keeping the candy jar hidden from him and not allowing conversation to wander at all etc).
His hygiene has gotten very poor. He hasn't showered in at least 2 months and maybe 3 times total in the last year. He's filthy and he stinks BAD. He suffers major allergy issues due to the way he chooses to live and has some health issues also.
I have given him an air purifier, taken apart and cleaned his entire kitchen with bleach and a drill with a rotating brush to get layers of roach and mice turds off every surface. Installed and bait mouse and rat traps all around his house because he won't empty or bait them himself. I organized and paid for exterminators to keep the vermin to a lower population because the way he chooses to live, they will never be gone. He lives in a dilapidated house that his ex dead wife's family owns (my husband's uncle and aunt technically own this home) and they allow my FIL to live there because he pays the taxes and keeps people from stealing their grandma's few sparse posessions. If the city were to step foot on the property they would condemn it. It's got mold, roaches, mice, broken windows all around, roof caving in, the yard looks like a junkyard with numerous broken down vehicles and junk everywhere, mildew and layers upon layers of dust and spiders both inside and outside the house. Looks like it was decorated this way for Halloween, I shit you not.
He has 2 dogs who have never bathed their entire lives. He leaves the front door open no matter what the weather is like and the mice and birds are very comfortable just coming inside and eating his food right off his plate next to him on the couch. I've seen roaches crawling all over his drink and watched him drink it anyway.
He can't cook for himself. I have to cook meals at my home and either have him for dinner and then take him back home or take him food in containers. He can eat snacks and microwave simple things.
He can't do dishes; he is both physically incapable plus the drains are clogged full of roach eggs and flies. He used to claim his water heater being broken was the reason but once his other son replaced it for him nothing changed.
He changes clothes once a month or less and he can't do laundry. We bag up his laundry and wash it for him... forcing me to clean the washer and dryer afterwards... and we fold and put them away... he still wears dirty clothes.
He abuses nose spray and albuterol inhalers and he literally will go through a bottle of nose spray or his albuterol inhaler in 2 days or less. He has learned how to manipulate the emergency room to send the inhalers to a different pharmacy so he can get more of them every month. He also has his other son's in another state send him their albuterol inhalers as well as several boxes of nose spray by mail.
My husband and I spend ALL of our spare time driving 30 mile round trips every single day to ensure his father's needs are met so his dad can continue living this way. I have 2 special needs kids in the home, aged 13 and 21 who have their own sets of doctor, therpy, dentist, PT, school as well as my own and my husbands healthcare and rides to worry about. I cannot tell you the amount of time, money and cleaning spent so my FIL can sleep on a couch in a rotting house and live in a way that actually makes him sick. My husband is enabling him because he's the only parent he has left and I'm going to need advice on how to deal with that too.
Now that I've painted the picture of who I'm talking about here and how much time, energy and money is spent by me to keep him happy... would you believe this man actually has the nerve to routinely fat, age and body shame me to my face and behind my back?
I'm 5'11" and I weigh 185. I have IBS, diverticular disease and ulcerative pancolitis. At age 35 I had emergency surgery that took half of my intestines out of my body as well as my left uterine tube and ovary. So sometimes my belly gets swollen and I look fatter than I really am. Most people call me statuesque and beautiful. I'm shapely, dark hair, dark eyes, olive skin. In addition to being tall, I'm an exotic mix (white, black, chinese, native american). So I'm "attractive" by most standards. My doctor tells me my weight is healthy for my height. I am 44 and I still cycle normally despite it all and would like another child if possible. I'm also growing out my gray hair which my father in law cannot stand.
He routinely makes comments about how fat I am or that my hair is greasy or I have bags under my eyes and will call me disgusting. He will actually rip the gray hairs from the nape of my neck and he talks about me so much that my husband's ex wife and her cohorts hear about it from his other son's, who dislike my husband due to the exaggerations and made up stories my FIL tells them. So the ex wife hears all this stuff and she has her daughter and sister fb calling and messaging all my family and friends screenshots of the gossip.
As you can imagine, this is grotesquely embarrassing for me. Some measures I've taken to counter this behavior include using big stretchy headbands that I can pull and stretch down around the nape of my neck and over my ears to keep him from sticking his wet freshly licked fingers in my ears and yanking the gray hairs out of my head and neck. I also have been making sure all my bags and random junk sit in the seat behind mine in the car so when we are taking him places, he sits behind my husband instead of me. This reduces his ability to touch and fuck with me the way that he does.
There have been other instances where he's grabbed my ass or tits too. He's found hairs on my shirt and picked them off and grabbed my tit hard while doing it. He's also many times grabbed and squeezed my ass. He never does it in my husband's presence however. While I will speak up when he does it and tell him to stop, I don't harbor an attitude or act like a bitch. I let a lot slide and tell my husband not to say anything (he asks me often if I want him to say something to his dad) but I don't want to add to the drama. His father already exaggerates things and makes up stories and tells everyone things that simply are not true anyway.
A good example I like to use was a choking incident he had. My FIL has no teeth and no dentures. He still eats normal for the most part unless its nuts or something like that. We were all eating a burrito together and he started choking. My husband and I both lept from our seats to help him and he cleared his own throat before we got to him. Then he told everyone in the family and all the neighbors that we sat there laughing at him while he was choking to death and that he almost died and he contends we did NOTHING to try and help him. To him this is all very funny. Just a big joke. So you can see, he's a problem parent. Big time.
The other day, he really pissed me off. One of my brothers in law is having another kid and his dad told us they found out they were having a girl. My husband mentioned always wanting a daughter of his own to raise. He has always wanted a little girl of his own, ALWAYS. While he raised 2 stepdaughters with his ex wife, having a daughter of his own is just a wish of his I hope one day to fulfill. Even in our 40's, we would welcome that.
His dad blustered at me incredulous and angry in front of my husband:
"Are you fucking kidding me! You don't need another kid! Look how fat you are! My god!! You're too old!"
I interrupted him and I said
"I guess its a good thing it's not up to you then, my doctor says my hormone levels match a 27 year olds".
So he boasts
"YOU'VE ACTUALLY SEEN A DOCTOR!!!"
That is when my husband got him to change the subject and shut him up. If he hadn't I was about to lose my shit. Thats a sensitive subject for me for a lot of reasons. Getting pregnant isn't as easy for me as it is for most women and yes we are seeing a fertility specialist. My ex husband abused me and was terrible to me during my pregnancies. Having a pregnancy with a loving husband is something I absolutely would invite into my life now that I have a loving husband. I've also had two miscarriages trying to get pregnant in this last year. We really have been trying very hard to have another child, but his father doesn't know that. We can't say anything because we know what we would get in return.
My father in law also is very controlling and has to do everything his way. He gets jealous of the amount of time his son spends with me and creates situations to interfere in our lives much like an annoying mother in law would do.
If he's feeling like he's not priority he will make my husband drive the 30 mile trip to his house to take him to the emergency room and sit with him and hold his hand while they tell him nothing is wrong with him. He gets lonely, calls and says he can't breathe and demands to be taken. He refuses to call 911 like a normal person with actual breathing issues would do. We have to waste our gas and take him ourselves. Mostly to work the doctors and pharmacy into giving him another albuterol inhaler or flonase nose spray, both he abuses.
I had surgery on my arm a couple weeks ago (carpal and cubital tunnel release) and this surgery was planned for many months in advance. I already outlined above the level of attention and care we give to this man. The week of my surgery, we kept trying to get him to do his usual stuff. Get his groceries, pay his bills, get his scripts, go to his appts etc etc etc. He refused. Every single day he wasn't feeling well. Sinuses too stuffy. Bla bla bla. First time ever he refuses to go all over hell and creation on our dime and interfere in our daily lives.
Then the day of my surgery he insists on us taking him to get his allergy shot first thing that morning. He gets these allergy shots every Friday but if he doesn't go on Fridays he has the option to go the following Monday. So instead of sleeping in and focusing on myself until my surgery time at 1pm since I hadn't eaten or drank anything since midnight the night before... I got to take him to his doctor and sit with him trying to keep him in line and try to prevent him from being abusive to the staff before my procedure. So I do that, babysit him and then rush to go have my surgery.
About 3pm they are done, I'm in recovery. 4 pm I'm back in town where we live and we get the call that we have to take him shopping. So the day of my fucking surgery not only was I inconvenienced BEFORE my proceduce when he could have waited until monday for that shot... But now I'm sitting in my car, half awake, in pain, crying and trying to recover from surgery while my husband does all the bullshit he wants to do because NOW is the time he finally wants to do it. I dropped a few comments then about how it would been nice if he had let us handle this stuff at any point during the week before today. But he didn't say anything. Instead he started bitching about the weeds we killed with weed killer before my surgery and he made my husband get out there and weed wack the dead brown weeds that were basically dust at this stage. All it did is made a dust cloud in his yard. Now he's insisting we start chopping down a tree when I'm still recovering and have my own shit I need to do over here. But I digress..
Then the next day he calls saying he needs my husband to take him to the ER, that he can't breathe. Refuses to call 911, let his neighbor or anyone else take him. So basically he can't stand the idea of my husband caring for me... he should be over there caring for him. It's ridiculous!
He pulled something similar last summer when I had emergency gallbladder removal surgery. I asked him to call his grandson to take him to Walmart to get his Allegra D from the pharmacy. He goes through that too fast also and they won't let him get it more than once every two weeks so either myself or my husband would use our ID and get it for him. I was too sick still after surgery to drive him and my husband needed to care for me. He got legitimately angry and cussed me out because I made him find another way. He hasn't asked us to get it in over 2 months because he told my husband's brother we refuse to help him anymore and the brother is getting it and mailing it from out of town.
Yesterday was my final straw day.
There I am in my car working (self employed can work basically anywhere with my phone) and now 2 weeks out of surgery. I decided to sit and work while my husband took his father shopping and to get his scripts and the usual his allergy shot etc. Normally I go in with them but this time work was busy and to be totally honest I'm tired of his shit. I chose to stay and work to avoid the situation with him all together; Yes, I'm admitting I'm doing that. So yesterday at the store when they were finished shopping and finished loading up the back of the truck, my father in law gets back in the truck while my husband is returning his motorized cart for him... and thats when he starts in...
"He's going slow today! Says he hurt his back! He was complaining about his back to everyone in line! I told the guy next to me, his wife, she's at least 250 pounds and he says '250 POUNDS MY GOD!!!!' I told him you won't get off him in the morning! You can't leave him alone, just climbing up on top and riding him until his doinker falls off and look now you've gone and broken his back! You can't just get up there on top like that when you're a great big fat person. You're destroying his back! And you want to have a kid! JESUS!! You're already fat, do you know what you would look like pregnant? You know how a buffalo looks with the hump???"
I see my husband approaching and hearing some of this so I just took this opportunity to speak up. By speak up, I mean say something in a normal tone of voice very calmly and nicely. But still standing up for myself. That is how I handle myself.. Years of abuse have left me sometimes afraid to use my voice. It's just my way and how I handle things.
I said to him,
"You know, I could be spending my money lots of other ways than running you everywhere you want to go when you want to go but I choose to do this out of the kindness of my heart. It wouldn't hurt you to show me the same kindness and stop tearing me down all the time about my weight. It hurts my feelings and I don't like it. It makes me feel bad about myself. I don't bring up how bad you smell or the fact that you've totally given up on taking a shower do I? I don't tell you that you belong in assisted living because we have to do all this shit for you that you can't do for yourself, do I?"
This man was shell shocked that I stood up to him like that. His eyes got REAL big and I could tell he was really embarrassed.
Thats when my husband now in his seat asks "what the hell is going on here?" and his dad says "IDK I guess I need to watch what I say she's being overly sensitive." So my husband spoke up and said to his dad "She is never going to be ok with anyone talking about her weight dad". I mean like yes, hello... I don't know any woman that would be ok with this treatment honestly. Even back in his day this was not acceptable. He is 69 years old, not 169 years old.
His father tried to backtrack and acted like the buffalo comment had nothing to do with the weight comment and totally deleted the pregnancy comment all together as if he never said it. I made one more comment in my husband's presence.
I said
"When you make comments about my body and my weight, it really hurts my feelings."
My FIL then gave me the silent treatement and after I helped unload and put away his groceries (he can't do that himself either) he refused to give me a hug when we left like usual.
After we left my husband commented that he never says this stuff in his presence. I said to him
"Well papa said in the store you were right there talking about your back hurting to the guy next to him in line, and that is when he started telling him it was because I won't leave you alone in the morning and that whole thing leading into the buffalo thing".
My husband said he was getting mad now because he wasn't there at all and didn't hear him saying anything like that. I don't know what the truth is, IDC that much. Even if he heard him and didn't speak up I'm not going to get mad at him because I know what a scene his dad would make if he had. I let that slide too.
Let me be clear, my husband is willing to speak up and do whatever I would ask in this situation. He is the kind that will fight for you however you desire. His ex wife abused that love in him and would make him fight her battles and I just do not operate that way. If anything, I've already gotten him to go easier on his dad as well as other people in his family when they incite drama. They used to get in fights and not talk for a month at a time and I just don't think that is healthy either. My husband has gotten a lot better at how to deal with people in general because of me... and that includes the way he handles his dad and now his dad is angry with me. That can potentially bring a whole new set of problems into my life.
In my last marriage, my inlaws opted out entirely because I was catholic and not pentecostal evangelist like they were. So being rejected by inlaws isn't new to me and knowing how much that rejection can create problems and resentment in a relationship has me worried. This is his last living parent and the only relative he has that actually wants anything to do with my husband. His two grown boys are not in the picture because their mother expects them to hate us on her behalf and have nothing to do with their dad... and they aren't strong enough yet as young adults to tell her where to shove it. So he's got no contact with his boys right now. His brothers are all distant and with the lies his dad tells about us, they don't care for us all that much either.
I really need some advice on how to transition this man from his current situation to one that will be better for him as well as us. Yes I am talking about putting him in assisted living. I have offered to build an addition, a tiny home, get an RV or fifth wheel and put on my property for him to live in. It would for sure save us a ton of money taking him places as well as give him a clean and vermin free place to live. He refuses. He also needs more care lets face it, I think we all are on the same page by now with that. But how do I have this conversation with my husband? Or do I not have that conversation with him? He's already told me "My dad is going to die in that house, thats what he wants, thats his choice". But his dad's choice is costing us so much money, time and also is creating a ton of drama. His dad's needs also interfere in our ability to focus on any of our own projects or chores. We have to make my adult son who is special needs, take insurance funded transportation to some of his doctor appointments because my father in law refuses to switch to the right insurance plan for his age group so he can get transportation himself. He wouldn't use it if it was available to him anyway. He has a neighbor across the street willing to give him rides but it has to be my husband and only my husband. We legitimately rearrange our entire lives around caring for this man.
Let me be clear, I do not mind caring for this man. I just want it to be reasonable and it has long run past the boundary of reason. Nobody understands older people better than I do. I grew up in Florida and I spent a lot of time with all my older neighbors and friends. Lots of retirees with different problems wither its senile dementia setting in or just lonliness because their families have all moved on. I speak old people, okay. My FIL just is creating way too much stress for me and I really do not know how to remedy this situation. It's spiraled so far out of control now and the way he creates drama between my husband and his siblings prevents anyone from having any real talks about what to do with him.
To conclude... I need advice on what to do with my FIL. Do I force the assisted living conversation on my husband? Do I call adult protective services and report this anonymously? Do I turn the house in to the city or county? Do I try and reach out to the brothers who hate us due to the lies this man spins? That situation got so hostile one brother has us blocked and called the cops on us and we still aren't sure why. All because of the B.S. stories this man likes to tell. All he does is get on the phone and complain with made up stories to anyone who listens. Do I continue letting him run my life? All while being body shamed?
Being continuously fat, age and body shamed is a huge trigger not only for me but for my 13 year old daughter. We both at different times in our lives have struggled with eating disorders and have both fought very hard to start accepting ourselves and our bodies for how they are. We both struggle with anxiety as well and the way this man behaves is comparable to trying to make someone with a fear of dogs sit in a room full of pit bulls.
Please be kind. I won't respond to negative comments. I'm open to all ideas on how you would handle the situation. Thank you.
submitted by RadiantStarCloud to relationship_advice [link] [comments]
My father in law body, age and fat shames me regularly while depending on my husband and I for all his needs... I need advice.
He and I usually cut up pretty well and we agree on a lot of things, but he doesn't have a filter, he's grabby, he's rude, he's ornery and overall just runs his mouth more than he should. It's gotten so bad that people are storming away from him angry in stores and he's getting treated differently than the other patients at his doctor appts. (i.e. not allowing him to be in the waiting area where he can talk to the other patients, keeping him contained to a room by himself, keeping the candy jar hidden from him and not allowing conversation to wander at all etc).
His hygiene has gotten very poor. He hasn't showered in at least 2 months and maybe 3 times total in the last year. He's filthy and he stinks BAD. He suffers major allergy issues due to the way he chooses to live and has some health issues also.
I have given him an air purifier, taken apart and cleaned his entire kitchen with bleach and a drill with a rotating brush to get layers of roach and mice turds off every surface. Installed and bait mouse and rat traps all around his house because he won't empty or bait them himself. I organized and paid for exterminators to keep the vermin to a lower population because the way he chooses to live, they will never be gone. He lives in a dilapidated house that his ex dead wife's family owns (my husband's uncle and aunt technically own this home) and they allow my FIL to live there because he pays the taxes and keeps people from stealing their grandma's few sparse posessions. If the city were to step foot on the property they would condemn it. It's got mold, roaches, mice, broken windows all around, roof caving in, the yard looks like a junkyard with numerous broken down vehicles and junk everywhere, mildew and layers upon layers of dust and spiders both inside and outside the house. Looks like it was decorated this way for Halloween, I shit you not.
He has 2 dogs who have never bathed their entire lives. He leaves the front door open no matter what the weather is like and the mice and birds are very comfortable just coming inside and eating his food right off his plate next to him on the couch. I've seen roaches crawling all over his drink and watched him drink it anyway.
He can't cook for himself. I have to cook meals at my home and either have him for dinner and then take him back home or take him food in containers. He can eat snacks and microwave simple things.
He can't do dishes; he is both physically incapable plus the drains are clogged full of roach eggs and flies. He used to claim his water heater being broken was the reason but once his other son replaced it for him nothing changed.
He changes clothes once a month or less and he can't do laundry. We bag up his laundry and wash it for him... forcing me to clean the washer and dryer afterwards... and we fold and put them away... he still wears dirty clothes.
He abuses nose spray and albuterol inhalers and he literally will go through a bottle of nose spray or his albuterol inhaler in 2 days or less. He has learned how to manipulate the emergency room to send the inhalers to a different pharmacy so he can get more of them every month. He also has his other son's in another state send him their albuterol inhalers as well as several boxes of nose spray by mail.
My husband and I spend ALL of our spare time driving 30 mile round trips every single day to ensure his father's needs are met so his dad can continue living this way. I have 2 special needs kids in the home, aged 13 and 21 who have their own sets of doctor, therpy, dentist, PT, school as well as my own and my husbands healthcare and rides to worry about. I cannot tell you the amount of time, money and cleaning spent so my FIL can sleep on a couch in a rotting house and live in a way that actually makes him sick. My husband is enabling him because he's the only parent he has left and I'm going to need advice on how to deal with that too.
Now that I've painted the picture of who I'm talking about here and how much time, energy and money is spent by me to keep him happy... would you believe this man actually has the nerve to routinely fat, age and body shame me to my face and behind my back?
I'm 5'11" and I weigh 185. I have IBS, diverticular disease and ulcerative pancolitis. At age 35 I had emergency surgery that took half of my intestines out of my body as well as my left uterine tube and ovary. So sometimes my belly gets swollen and I look fatter than I really am. Most people call me statuesque and beautiful. I'm shapely, dark hair, dark eyes, olive skin. In addition to being tall, I'm an exotic mix (white, black, chinese, native american). So I'm "attractive" by most standards. My doctor tells me my weight is healthy for my height. I am 44 and I still cycle normally despite it all and would like another child if possible. I'm also growing out my gray hair which my father in law cannot stand.
He routinely makes comments about how fat I am or that my hair is greasy or I have bags under my eyes and will call me disgusting. He will actually rip the gray hairs from the nape of my neck and he talks about me so much that my husband's ex wife and her cohorts hear about it from his other son's, who dislike my husband due to the exaggerations and made up stories my FIL tells them. So the ex wife hears all this stuff and she has her daughter and sister fb calling and messaging all my family and friends screenshots of the gossip.
As you can imagine, this is grotesquely embarrassing for me. Some measures I've taken to counter this behavior include using big stretchy headbands that I can pull and stretch down around the nape of my neck and over my ears to keep him from sticking his wet freshly licked fingers in my ears and yanking the gray hairs out of my head and neck. I also have been making sure all my bags and random junk sit in the seat behind mine in the car so when we are taking him places, he sits behind my husband instead of me. This reduces his ability to touch and fuck with me the way that he does.
There have been other instances where he's grabbed my ass or tits too. He's found hairs on my shirt and picked them off and grabbed my tit hard while doing it. He's also many times grabbed and squeezed my ass. He never does it in my husband's presence however. While I will speak up when he does it and tell him to stop, I don't harbor an attitude or act like a bitch. I let a lot slide and tell my husband not to say anything (he asks me often if I want him to say something to his dad) but I don't want to add to the drama. His father already exaggerates things and makes up stories and tells everyone things that simply are not true anyway.
A good example I like to use was a choking incident he had. My FIL has no teeth and no dentures. He still eats normal for the most part unless its nuts or something like that. We were all eating a burrito together and he started choking. My husband and I both lept from our seats to help him and he cleared his own throat before we got to him. Then he told everyone in the family and all the neighbors that we sat there laughing at him while he was choking to death and that he almost died and he contends we did NOTHING to try and help him. To him this is all very funny. Just a big joke. So you can see, he's a problem parent. Big time.
The other day, he really pissed me off. One of my brothers in law is having another kid and his dad told us they found out they were having a girl. My husband mentioned always wanting a daughter of his own to raise. He has always wanted a little girl of his own, ALWAYS. While he raised 2 stepdaughters with his ex wife, having a daughter of his own is just a wish of his I hope one day to fulfill. Even in our 40's, we would welcome that.
His dad blustered at me incredulous and angry in front of my husband:
"Are you fucking kidding me! You don't need another kid! Look how fat you are! My god!! You're too old!"
I interrupted him and I said
"I guess its a good thing it's not up to you then, my doctor says my hormone levels match a 27 year olds".
So he boasts
"YOU'VE ACTUALLY SEEN A DOCTOR!!!"
That is when my husband got him to change the subject and shut him up. If he hadn't I was about to lose my shit. Thats a sensitive subject for me for a lot of reasons. Getting pregnant isn't as easy for me as it is for most women and yes we are seeing a fertility specialist. My ex husband abused me and was terrible to me during my pregnancies. Having a pregnancy with a loving husband is something I absolutely would invite into my life now that I have a loving husband. I've also had two miscarriages trying to get pregnant in this last year. We really have been trying very hard to have another child, but his father doesn't know that. We can't say anything because we know what we would get in return.
My father in law also is very controlling and has to do everything his way. He gets jealous of the amount of time his son spends with me and creates situations to interfere in our lives much like an annoying mother in law would do.
If he's feeling like he's not priority he will make my husband drive the 30 mile trip to his house to take him to the emergency room and sit with him and hold his hand while they tell him nothing is wrong with him. He gets lonely, calls and says he can't breathe and demands to be taken. He refuses to call 911 like a normal person with actual breathing issues would do. We have to waste our gas and take him ourselves. Mostly to work the doctors and pharmacy into giving him another albuterol inhaler or flonase nose spray, both he abuses.
I had surgery on my arm a couple weeks ago (carpal and cubital tunnel release) and this surgery was planned for many months in advance. I already outlined above the level of attention and care we give to this man. The week of my surgery, we kept trying to get him to do his usual stuff. Get his groceries, pay his bills, get his scripts, go to his appts etc etc etc. He refused. Every single day he wasn't feeling well. Sinuses too stuffy. Bla bla bla. First time ever he refuses to go all over hell and creation on our dime and interfere in our daily lives.
Then the day of my surgery he insists on us taking him to get his allergy shot first thing that morning. He gets these allergy shots every Friday but if he doesn't go on Fridays he has the option to go the following Monday. So instead of sleeping in and focusing on myself until my surgery time at 1pm since I hadn't eaten or drank anything since midnight the night before... I got to take him to his doctor and sit with him trying to keep him in line and try to prevent him from being abusive to the staff before my procedure. So I do that, babysit him and then rush to go have my surgery.
About 3pm they are done, I'm in recovery. 4 pm I'm back in town where we live and we get the call that we have to take him shopping. So the day of my fucking surgery not only was I inconvenienced BEFORE my proceduce when he could have waited until monday for that shot... But now I'm sitting in my car, half awake, in pain, crying and trying to recover from surgery while my husband does all the bullshit he wants to do because NOW is the time he finally wants to do it. I dropped a few comments then about how it would been nice if he had let us handle this stuff at any point during the week before today. But he didn't say anything. Instead he started bitching about the weeds we killed with weed killer before my surgery and he made my husband get out there and weed wack the dead brown weeds that were basically dust at this stage. All it did is made a dust cloud in his yard. Now he's insisting we start chopping down a tree when I'm still recovering and have my own shit I need to do over here. But I digress..
Then the next day he calls saying he needs my husband to take him to the ER, that he can't breathe. Refuses to call 911, let his neighbor or anyone else take him. So basically he can't stand the idea of my husband caring for me... he should be over there caring for him. It's ridiculous!
He pulled something similar last summer when I had emergency gallbladder removal surgery. I asked him to call his grandson to take him to Walmart to get his Allegra D from the pharmacy. He goes through that too fast also and they won't let him get it more than once every two weeks so either myself or my husband would use our ID and get it for him. I was too sick still after surgery to drive him and my husband needed to care for me. He got legitimately angry and cussed me out because I made him find another way. He hasn't asked us to get it in over 2 months because he told my husband's brother we refuse to help him anymore and the brother is getting it and mailing it from out of town.
Yesterday was my final straw day.
There I am in my car working (self employed can work basically anywhere with my phone) and now 2 weeks out of surgery. I decided to sit and work while my husband took his father shopping and to get his scripts and the usual his allergy shot etc. Normally I go in with them but this time work was busy and to be totally honest I'm tired of his shit. I chose to stay and work to avoid the situation with him all together; Yes, I'm admitting I'm doing that. So yesterday at the store when they were finished shopping and finished loading up the back of the truck, my father in law gets back in the truck while my husband is returning his motorized cart for him... and thats when he starts in...
"He's going slow today! Says he hurt his back! He was complaining about his back to everyone in line! I told the guy next to me, his wife, she's at least 250 pounds and he says '250 POUNDS MY GOD!!!!' I told him you won't get off him in the morning! You can't leave him alone, just climbing up on top and riding him until his doinker falls off and look now you've gone and broken his back! You can't just get up there on top like that when you're a great big fat person. You're destroying his back! And you want to have a kid! JESUS!! You're already fat, do you know what you would look like pregnant? You know how a buffalo looks with the hump???"
I see my husband approaching and hearing some of this so I just took this opportunity to speak up. By speak up, I mean say something in a normal tone of voice very calmly and nicely. But still standing up for myself. That is how I handle myself.. Years of abuse have left me sometimes afraid to use my voice. It's just my way and how I handle things.
I said to him,
"You know, I could be spending my money lots of other ways than running you everywhere you want to go when you want to go but I choose to do this out of the kindness of my heart. It wouldn't hurt you to show me the same kindness and stop tearing me down all the time about my weight. It hurts my feelings and I don't like it. It makes me feel bad about myself. I don't bring up how bad you smell or the fact that you've totally given up on taking a shower do I? I don't tell you that you belong in assisted living because we have to do all this shit for you that you can't do for yourself, do I?"
This man was shell shocked that I stood up to him like that. His eyes got REAL big and I could tell he was really embarrassed.
Thats when my husband now in his seat asks "what the hell is going on here?" and his dad says "IDK I guess I need to watch what I say she's being overly sensitive." So my husband spoke up and said to his dad "She is never going to be ok with anyone talking about her weight dad". I mean like yes, hello... I don't know any woman that would be ok with this treatment honestly. Even back in his day this was not acceptable. He is 69 years old, not 169 years old.
His father tried to backtrack and acted like the buffalo comment had nothing to do with the weight comment and totally deleted the pregnancy comment all together as if he never said it. I made one more comment in my husband's presence.
I said
"When you make comments about my body and my weight, it really hurts my feelings."
My FIL then gave me the silent treatement and after I helped unload and put away his groceries (he can't do that himself either) he refused to give me a hug when we left like usual.
After we left my husband commented that he never says this stuff in his presence. I said to him
"Well papa said in the store you were right there talking about your back hurting to the guy next to him in line, and that is when he started telling him it was because I won't leave you alone in the morning and that whole thing leading into the buffalo thing".
My husband said he was getting mad now because he wasn't there at all and didn't hear him saying anything like that. I don't know what the truth is, IDC that much. Even if he heard him and didn't speak up I'm not going to get mad at him because I know what a scene his dad would make if he had. I let that slide too.
Let me be clear, my husband is willing to speak up and do whatever I would ask in this situation. He is the kind that will fight for you however you desire. His ex wife abused that love in him and would make him fight her battles and I just do not operate that way. If anything, I've already gotten him to go easier on his dad as well as other people in his family when they incite drama. They used to get in fights and not talk for a month at a time and I just don't think that is healthy either. My husband has gotten a lot better at how to deal with people in general because of me... and that includes the way he handles his dad and now his dad is angry with me. That can potentially bring a whole new set of problems into my life.
In my last marriage, my inlaws opted out entirely because I was catholic and not pentecostal evangelist like they were. So being rejected by inlaws isn't new to me and knowing how much that rejection can create problems and resentment in a relationship has me worried. This is his last living parent and the only relative he has that actually wants anything to do with my husband. His two grown boys are not in the picture because their mother expects them to hate us on her behalf and have nothing to do with their dad... and they aren't strong enough yet as young adults to tell her where to shove it. So he's got no contact with his boys right now. His brothers are all distant and with the lies his dad tells about us, they don't care for us all that much either.
I really need some advice on how to transition this man from his current situation to one that will be better for him as well as us. Yes I am talking about putting him in assisted living. I have offered to build an addition, a tiny home, get an RV or fifth wheel and put on my property for him to live in. It would for sure save us a ton of money taking him places as well as give him a clean and vermin free place to live. He refuses. He also needs more care lets face it, I think we all are on the same page by now with that. But how do I have this conversation with my husband? Or do I not have that conversation with him? He's already told me "My dad is going to die in that house, thats what he wants, thats his choice". But his dad's choice is costing us so much money, time and also is creating a ton of drama. His dad's needs also interfere in our ability to focus on any of our own projects or chores. We have to make my adult son who is special needs, take insurance funded transportation to some of his doctor appointments because my father in law refuses to switch to the right insurance plan for his age group so he can get transportation himself. He wouldn't use it if it was available to him anyway. He has a neighbor across the street willing to give him rides but it has to be my husband and only my husband. We legitimately rearrange our entire lives around caring for this man.
Let me be clear, I do not mind caring for this man. I just want it to be reasonable and it has long run past the boundary of reason. Nobody understands older people better than I do. I grew up in Florida and I spent a lot of time with all my older neighbors and friends. Lots of retirees with different problems wither its senile dementia setting in or just lonliness because their families have all moved on. I speak old people, okay. My FIL just is creating way too much stress for me and I really do not know how to remedy this situation. It's spiraled so far out of control now and the way he creates drama between my husband and his siblings prevents anyone from having any real talks about what to do with him.
To conclude... I need advice on what to do with my FIL. Do I force the assisted living conversation on my husband? Do I call adult protective services and report this anonymously? Do I turn the house in to the city or county? Do I try and reach out to the brothers who hate us due to the lies this man spins? That situation got so hostile one brother has us blocked and called the cops on us and we still aren't sure why. All because of the B.S. stories this man likes to tell. All he does is get on the phone and complain with made up stories to anyone who listens. Do I continue letting him run my life? All while being body shamed?
Being continuously fat, age and body shamed is a huge trigger not only for me but for my 13 year old daughter. We both at different times in our lives have struggled with eating disorders and have both fought very hard to start accepting ourselves and our bodies for how they are. We both struggle with anxiety as well and the way this man behaves is comparable to trying to make someone with a fear of dogs sit in a room full of pit bulls.
Please be kind. I won't respond to negative comments. I'm open to all ideas on how you would handle the situation. Thank you.
2024.04.26 08:09 Ismashmen Sleep Apnea, CPAP and Quitting
I have ALWAYS been severely congested, my entire life. Chronic mouth breather lol. I also have severe sleep apnea and recently got a CPAP for it. My diagnosis is that I wake up, due to oxygen deprivation, 72 times/hour in my sleep. Recently, I got sick and started using some random nasal spray I got from a Grocery Outlet. It's oxymetazoline HCL. I didn't realize it at first because I was just spraying the stuff any time I got stuffy but after a week I realized any time I didn't have it, I was even more congested than usual. Read about rebound and now here I am. I don't want to be on this stuff forever but nothing helps.
Because I HAVE to use my CPAP, which blows air through the nose, if I don't have the nasal decongestant, I basically can't sleep at all. I don't know what to do. I have a DRs app in about a week and I'm hoping to address it then.
I've already tried Flonase. I've tried steam. A lot of different things that used to work. Nothing hits the same as that Oxymetazoline stuff.
submitted by Ismashmen to QuitAfrin [link] [comments]
Because I HAVE to use my CPAP, which blows air through the nose, if I don't have the nasal decongestant, I basically can't sleep at all. I don't know what to do. I have a DRs app in about a week and I'm hoping to address it then.
I've already tried Flonase. I've tried steam. A lot of different things that used to work. Nothing hits the same as that Oxymetazoline stuff.
2024.04.24 22:43 Material-Session8386 I don’t understand what is going on with my nose and I am having extremely depressive thoughts
So about 4 months ago I got hit in the nose because a barbell fell while on my last rep. I didn’t bleed nor was it extremely bad of an injury, all I remember was there was clear fluid coming out and it being swollen. It was inflamed for a while and that really affected my sleep because my turbinates would swell whenever I would lie down. Sometime in early January I bought nasal decongestant and without knowing it can be bad for your nose I used the proper dosage as said in the label like once or twice. After a few days something felt odd about my nose as both nostrils felt more open than before. My nasal resistance when breathing changed and it gave me so much anxiety. I was afraid I got ENS and I wanted to end my life. The symptoms then got worse and one day my sensation of air completely went away in my left nostril. After a few days the sensation of air went away in my right nostril. The long wait till my ENT appointment was absolute hell. The uncertainty and sense of dread that my nose will permanently be like this took over. When I went to the ENT she said that my front turbinates are still intact and that my nose is in fact “not empty”. She gave me a Flonase and an azelastine hydrochloride nasal spray that allowed me to sleep much better but I still maintain the lack of air sensation and resistance to this day. I don’t know if my nerves are damaged or if I really do have something like atrophic rhinitis but according to research atrophic rhinitis causes frequent nose bleeds and green crusts which I did not have at all yet. If it’s nerve damage then it would give me hope that it will get better someday and I am still praying that my nose situation will get better. Only thing that works in my nose right now is my short weakened sense of smell and mucus. It just feels like the inside of both my nostrils is an abyss that has nothing working inside. I’ve been to the same ENT twice now and she keeps saying the issue is congestion yet my nose feels more open than congested with little sense of airflow. My reason for writing this is that I don’t know the right steps moving forward from this situation as I feel completely hopeless and was wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation as me and has recovered from it. As weeks go by the thought of recovery starts to fade more and more because I see little to no improvement from my symptoms.
submitted by Material-Session8386 to Sinusitis [link] [comments]
2024.04.22 20:33 ZyrtecAllergy You’ve got allergy questions, we’ve got allergy answers. Not to sound braggy, but – we’re ZYRTEC®. We know what we’re talking about.
 | [TL;DR] Why are you sneezing? Why are your kids sneezing? Is it allergies? Is it a cold? What even are allergies? Get ready to learn, ELI5-style. submitted by ZyrtecAllergy to u/ZyrtecAllergy [link] [comments] https://i.redd.it/bpnd02qon2wc1.gif Allergies are not something you are born with, but rather your body develops an allergic response to a particular substance when you come into contact with it. Allergy symptoms are caused by your immune system wrongly responding to a substance it deems dangerous, such as pollen, pet dander, dust, or mold. When you have an allergic reaction, your immune system produces high quantities of chemicals known as histamines. In a typical immune response, your body will produce histamine to help fight infection, but in an allergic response this process is triggered by something harmless that your body mistakes for a threat and can cause typical allergy symptoms such as sneezing, runny noses, itchy throats and/or watery eyes. Allergies can be seasonal or perennial (year-round): ● Seasonal allergies (or hay fever) cause symptoms at specific times of the year if you have an allergy to certain pollen spores in the air. While many people think of allergy season as spring or fall, allergy season can mean different things to different people depending on where you live and what type of pollen triggers your allergies. ● Perennial allergies cause symptoms that occur year-round and can be caused by allergens that are present year-round such as dust. Learn more about common allergy symptoms and check out our ZyrTalk™ video on juggling allergies https://i.redd.it/9txmiipwn2wc1.gif Outdoor allergies can be triggered by many things. At different times of year, different culprits are more likely the cause for your allergy symptoms: ● Spring: Tree pollen is the biggest spring allergy trigger. In some places, trees can start releasing their pollen as early as January, with the spread lasting until June. Even if you live in a city without many trees, you can experience tree pollen allergy symptoms as trees produce light, dry pollen that can be carried by the wind for miles. https://preview.redd.it/fzlcds44o2wc1.png?width=498&format=png&auto=webp&s=22a99b62adc232b069ba84a68808636d6fd4576a ● Summer: Grass pollen is the biggest summer allergy trigger. There are more than 1,000 types of grass in North America, but only a few produce highly allergenic pollen. The most common types of grass pollen allergies include: Bermuda grass, Johnson grass, Kentucky bluegrass, Orchard grass, Sweet vernal grass, and Timothy grass. https://preview.redd.it/bcnit8o5o2wc1.png?width=508&format=png&auto=webp&s=76d80a1b792bdf955c6600980241da104081da0b ● Fall: Ragweed is an especially common trigger of fall allergies, as one ragweed plant can produce around a million pollen grains per day. Ragweed starts pollinating in late summer and can continue through September or October depending on how warm it is. https://preview.redd.it/wbyx1019o2wc1.png?width=531&format=png&auto=webp&s=eeab68e9aa81d4116fa10d85d5559bda8207fd0a ● Winter: Outdoor allergies are less common in the colder months, but that doesn’t mean allergy season is over. In some areas of the country, allergy season can continue in winter months. For example, in Texas and Oklahoma, “Cedar Fever” is common from December through February. Cedar Fever refers to an allergic reaction to pollen from mountain cedar trees which causes common allergy symptoms like a runny nose or sneezing and picks up in winter months when these trees are pollinating. Learn more about outdoor allergies and check out our ZyrTalk™ video about outdoor allergies https://i.redd.it/pk9d0uvbp2wc1.gif Indoor allergies can occur year round, with a few common offenders triggering symptoms: ● Pets: We all love our pets, but unfortunately for some of us we don’t love the allergies that can come with them. Animal allergies can stem from proteins contained in an animal’s dander or dead skin cells, both of which can flake off regularly. Pet dander can cause an allergic reaction at any time of year – especially during the winter months when people spend more time indoors. ● Dogs: Most people with a dog allergy aren’t typically allergic to dog fur itself. Instead, they’re allergic to the dander, urine and saliva that builds up on that hair over time. Because dander and saliva are easily transferred and can stick to the fibers in clothing, it’s possible to have an allergic reaction to dogs even if there isn’t one present, as triggers could be lingering on the clothing of someone nearby. Poodles, Portuguese water dogs and many other breeds might be known as hypoallergenic dog breeds, but no dog breeds are 100% allergy-free for all people, as each person’s allergy symptoms can respond differently to specific dog breeds. https://preview.redd.it/tpb91u7jo2wc1.png?width=476&format=png&auto=webp&s=ba891fd5e162220b1772e37ce0939705d3ba6842 ● Cats: Cat dander and saliva – rather than fur – are behind most allergies to cats. Cats are known for their meticulous self-grooming – they lick themselves a lot – and their saliva contains a protein called Fel d 1 that causes cat allergies. This protein transfers on to their skin and coat when they groom themselves. Then, over time, the saliva and proteins build up on the cat’s skin and hair, before flaking off with the cat dander. https://preview.redd.it/e8s3i4clo2wc1.png?width=488&format=png&auto=webp&s=df2050e5b50afbaf8cd3bf1a3fe28cade9273943 ● Dust: Dust mites are tiny, white, insect-like creatures that measure one quarter to one third of a millimeter. You can only see them under a microscope. Dust mites thrive inside houses and prefer temperatures ranging from 68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity levels between 70 and 80 percent. They hydrate by taking moisture from the air, so places with less humidity such as deserts usually have fewer dust mites. Allergies to dust mites are often worst at night and in the morning due to time spent near mattresses, bedding, and pillows where mites often live and can occur year-round. https://preview.redd.it/3enoexrno2wc1.png?width=478&format=png&auto=webp&s=892e4d112f27c5095382990962ee8c06576b7beb ● Mold: Mold and mildew are forms of fungi that multiply using airborne spores and are known to grow in damp areas. They can grow both inside and outside your home if it’s damp. Inside the home, they can be found in the basement or even under the cabinet under your sink. Outside the home, they can be found on logs and leaves. Most outdoor molds are inactive during the winter, and are more active during the spring and fall as they thrive in moist environments and commonly grow on plants that the winter cold kills. But indoor molds can develop at any time of year in damp bathrooms, kitchens or basements. If you have an allergy to mold, you may experience an allergic reaction to these mold spores in the air. https://preview.redd.it/kev2g7kuo2wc1.png?width=501&format=png&auto=webp&s=168ba13325bf808788dfc982cf88494a52b3fbdc Learn more about pet, dust, and mold allergies – and check out our ZyrTalk™ video about indoor allergies https://i.redd.it/xn2snpaep2wc1.gif Colds and allergies share some similar symptoms, such as a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, and a sore throat. But there are also some key things that can help you tell the difference: Some of the biggest differences to note are: ● Cold symptoms develop slowly and are milder at first before progressing, while allergy symptoms can develop right after exposure to the allergen. ● Cold symptoms typically last 7-10 days, while allergy symptoms can last longer periods of time and recur when in contact with the allergen that triggers your symptoms. ● Colds can cause a fever, while allergies do not typically cause a fever. While the time of year can help with diagnosing whether you have a cold or allergies, it is not definitive. Colds are more common in the winter, cold viruses spread faster in cold weather and immune systems may be weaker at these times. However, you can catch a cold at any time of the year. And while seasonal allergies often strike in the spring, it depends what you are allergic to as allergy symptoms can be year-round. Learn more about cold and allergy differences and check out our ZyrTalk™ video about colds vs. allergies https://i.redd.it/tpnlet9gp2wc1.gif Allergy symptoms can vary depending on the allergen and each individual child, but common allergy symptoms often seen in kids and toddlers include: runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, itchy & watery eyes, and/or itchy nose or throat. While some of these are similar to cold symptoms, there are some differences to look for (see previous section). Kids can develop allergies at different ages starting as young as 2, so continue to look out for these symptoms. Children between the ages of 12 to 17 actually experience seasonal allergies at a higher rate than children under the age of 12. Tracking the timing of you child’s allergy symptoms can help you identify whether the cause is likely to be indoor (if symptoms are year-round) or outdoor (if symptoms are seasonal at one time of year) which can help with what steps to take to manage symptoms based on the topics discussed earlier. The tendency to develop allergies can be hereditary, which means it can be passed down from parent to child. A child has a 30-50% chance of developing allergies if one parent has allergies, and a 60-80% chance if both parents have allergies. This is because certain genes that are associated with allergies can be passed down from parents to children. Learn more about allergies in children and check out our ZyrTalk™ video about children's allergies https://i.redd.it/11txk08np2wc1.gif In addition to the common symptoms discussed above, allergies can also irritate your nasal passages, causing them to swell and fill with fluid. This can lead to nasal congestion, the feeling of stuffiness or swelling in your nasal passages that causes discomfort and makes it feel as though it's difficult to breathe in or out of your nostrils freely. Congestion can leave your head and face feeling tight and heavy and in more severe cases, the build-up of pressure from congestion can cause significant pain. Your exact congestion symptoms will depend on the affected area and how your body reacts. Though allergies can be a cause of congestion, there are many other potential sources such as the common cold, flu, or acute sinusitis. While common antihistamines used to treat allergies do not typically treat congestion, products with an antihistamine and a decongestant can also treat nasal congestion. Decongestants work on the lining of your nose to reduce swelling and relieve congestion. https://preview.redd.it/7fvnrrmtp2wc1.png?width=496&format=png&auto=webp&s=c46b0594fd8fa53f39bd56d682d9be8597e252a2 Check out our ZyrTalk™ video about congestion relief ZYRTEC® is the #1 doctor recommended brand among over the counter oral antihistamines with a history rooted in science and a trusted formula that provides a full 24 hours of relief from indoor and outdoor allergy symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, itchy throat and itchy, watery eyes. ZYRTEC® contains the active ingredient cetirizine, an antihistamine that gets absorbed in your gastrointestinal tract but does not need to be metabolized to become active. Once it is absorbed, cetirizine blocks histamine from binding to the H-1 receptors that trigger allergy symptoms. ZYRTEC® provides relief from symptoms that may be caused by over 200 different allergens, so whether you’re sneezing from pet dander from your dog or cat, dust from your spring cleaning, or tree or grass pollen when you’re out at the park, ZYRTEC® has your back. ZYRTEC® offers a variety of allergy-relief products: ● For Adults (& Children 6+): forms include tablets, liquid gels, orally dissolving tablets, and chewables for allergy relief that starts working at hour 1. ● For Children: forms include chewables (ages 2+), liquids (ages 2+), and orally dissolving tablets (ages 6+) for allergy relief in kid-friendly flavors (grape, bubble gum, citrus). Additionally, the ZYRTEC-D® product includes an antihistamine (cetirizine) and a nasal decongestant (pseudoephedrine) to provide dual action allergy relief that starts to target sinus pressure and congestion in 30 minutes (for ages 12+). ZYRTEC-D® is available behind the counter with no prescription needed. ZYRTEC® also provides tools to help you manage your allergy symptoms! Check out more of our ZyrTalk content for fun, educational videos about allergies and our AllergyCast app for local pollen levels and forecasts. At ZYRTEC®, we believe that superior allergy care empowers you to live a more connected everyday life, unburdened by allergies so you can Zeize the Day™. |
2024.04.22 13:46 Successful_Season_35 Sensory processing different 3 year old. We are struggling.
Ever since my daughter was born, I knew she was different. She had her eyes wide open all the time as a newborn. She has always struggled with sleep. We sleep trained her several times as an infant and toddler until the age of 2 and it would work for a few months then not. At 2, cry it out was no longer an option because she would cry for 6 hours. We’ve tried so many things - the hatch green light, the excuse me method and introducing an incentive chart. Incentives do not work on her - presents, candy nothing. She has been waking at 4am for over a year and even when she was 1.5 she had a few weeks of early wakings on top of waking up multiple times in the night. We’ve seen pulmonary sleep specialists and had her in hydroxyzine for a month, iron and Flonase but none of it helps. I didn’t want to do hydroxyzine long term so we only did it for a month. She demands to get up right when she wakes up at 4-5am and screams. She screams herself to sleep a few nights a week and almost all naps on weekends but seems to nap fine at school. We are struggling because our 10 month old daughter is woken up by her and she also has medical needs. This is just sleep.
Behavior wise, she has always been hyperactive and strong willed. Always moving, darting off and can’t sit still to the point she falls off her chair. Can’t sit for more than 5 minutes of a movie. She is always very clumsy and often sits in a W position which her OT has mentioned can be common in kiddos with sensory processing differences. Our daughter does OT weekly and has been for a few weeks now. We haven’t seen much improvement but it’s been helpful for me to learn about regulation methods. She is definitely sensory seeking.
I guess this rant is just to get things off my chest and also seek community in other parents who have similar kiddos and if there are things that worked for you/if they outgrow this. I’m really struggling and feel like it’s impacting my relationship with my daughter. I love her so much and just want her to thrive. The sleep is the toughest part.
submitted by Successful_Season_35 to SPD [link] [comments]
Behavior wise, she has always been hyperactive and strong willed. Always moving, darting off and can’t sit still to the point she falls off her chair. Can’t sit for more than 5 minutes of a movie. She is always very clumsy and often sits in a W position which her OT has mentioned can be common in kiddos with sensory processing differences. Our daughter does OT weekly and has been for a few weeks now. We haven’t seen much improvement but it’s been helpful for me to learn about regulation methods. She is definitely sensory seeking.
I guess this rant is just to get things off my chest and also seek community in other parents who have similar kiddos and if there are things that worked for you/if they outgrow this. I’m really struggling and feel like it’s impacting my relationship with my daughter. I love her so much and just want her to thrive. The sleep is the toughest part.
2024.04.21 14:52 Nomad_Girl92 Sinus Infection - Misdiagnosed Pneumonia - Allergies (?) - WBC all over the place - Opinions Appreciated!
31F, Caucasian, 128 lbs, 5’1, United States, Never Smoker, Issues going on for almost a month
Graves Disease - 2.5 mg methimazole/day - women’s broad spectrum probiotic - ativan 5 mg prn - currently on doxycycline 2x/day (14 days total), augmentin 2x/day (10 days), tesselon perles 3x/day, dextromethorphan (3x/day), albuterol prn, received decadron iv yesterday, starting 5 day prednisone monday
Hi all! So I would love some potential help interpreting some of my blood tests but just wanted to go over a timeline. On 3/23, I flew on a plane with mild seasonal allergies and by 3/24 I had a really bad cold/swollen face/typical sinus infection. I used OTC meds, Neti-Pot, Decongestents, etc. I had terrible sinus pressure but all of this seemed to dry me out. Flew home on 3/28. First leg of the travel was good, second plane depressurized poorly and I lost hearing for a good 48 hours/congestion returned. Remained congested until 4/2. Had somewhat of a productive cough.
Felt healthy until around 1 AM on 4/6 where I started sneezing incessantly again. Swollen face, sinus infection, etc. Made appt with ENT but they couldn’t get me in until 5/1. On 4/10, did telehealth with PCP and was prescribed Presnisone for 5 days and Doxy for 7 days.
Remained congested but sinus pressure alleviated. On 4/16, started coughing/wheezing. Very productive cough with string like mucus. Went to urgent care. Doc listened to chest and diagnosed with Pneumonia (Chest X-Ray was clear but she said sometimes it can take a while for imaging to catch up to the illness…?) Rales heard in lower left lobe. Rx’d Augmentin & another round of Doxy.
Only thing that’s really helped cough has been suppressants. Incredibly painful cough. Still having nasal symptoms. Yesterday morning (4/20) I woke up with severe stomach pain. My back/ribs have been sore all week from cough. The sputum that’s being produced as I said is stringy or chunky. It ranges from very light brown to yellow. It’s been so taxing on my chest/throat. Additionally, I felt wheezy/crackly with breathing again. Ended up going to ER.
Did chest CT which was clear. Doc said I don’t have Pneumonia at ER, but this is all allergies. She told me to get my HVAC serviced, but that was really all she could tell me. I use Flonase daily and I’ve never experienced a months worth of spring allergies. Generally my seasonal allergies are in the fall. Additionally, my dog dc’d my Methimazole for a week on 4/18 in case this has been impacting my bodies immune system/responsiveness to meds. My heart rate has been elevated all week (resting ranging from 102-119). Even with the steroid shot last night and some Cough Syrup around 3 am today, I am still having a terrible productive cough. It’s 730 am for context on 4/21.
Currently finishing up second round of Doxy/Initial round of Augmentin.
I feel like my blood work points to allergies AND an infection.
I’d love some advice/feedback.
submitted by Nomad_Girl92 to DiagnoseMe [link] [comments]
Graves Disease - 2.5 mg methimazole/day - women’s broad spectrum probiotic - ativan 5 mg prn - currently on doxycycline 2x/day (14 days total), augmentin 2x/day (10 days), tesselon perles 3x/day, dextromethorphan (3x/day), albuterol prn, received decadron iv yesterday, starting 5 day prednisone monday
Hi all! So I would love some potential help interpreting some of my blood tests but just wanted to go over a timeline. On 3/23, I flew on a plane with mild seasonal allergies and by 3/24 I had a really bad cold/swollen face/typical sinus infection. I used OTC meds, Neti-Pot, Decongestents, etc. I had terrible sinus pressure but all of this seemed to dry me out. Flew home on 3/28. First leg of the travel was good, second plane depressurized poorly and I lost hearing for a good 48 hours/congestion returned. Remained congested until 4/2. Had somewhat of a productive cough.
Felt healthy until around 1 AM on 4/6 where I started sneezing incessantly again. Swollen face, sinus infection, etc. Made appt with ENT but they couldn’t get me in until 5/1. On 4/10, did telehealth with PCP and was prescribed Presnisone for 5 days and Doxy for 7 days.
Remained congested but sinus pressure alleviated. On 4/16, started coughing/wheezing. Very productive cough with string like mucus. Went to urgent care. Doc listened to chest and diagnosed with Pneumonia (Chest X-Ray was clear but she said sometimes it can take a while for imaging to catch up to the illness…?) Rales heard in lower left lobe. Rx’d Augmentin & another round of Doxy.
Only thing that’s really helped cough has been suppressants. Incredibly painful cough. Still having nasal symptoms. Yesterday morning (4/20) I woke up with severe stomach pain. My back/ribs have been sore all week from cough. The sputum that’s being produced as I said is stringy or chunky. It ranges from very light brown to yellow. It’s been so taxing on my chest/throat. Additionally, I felt wheezy/crackly with breathing again. Ended up going to ER.
Did chest CT which was clear. Doc said I don’t have Pneumonia at ER, but this is all allergies. She told me to get my HVAC serviced, but that was really all she could tell me. I use Flonase daily and I’ve never experienced a months worth of spring allergies. Generally my seasonal allergies are in the fall. Additionally, my dog dc’d my Methimazole for a week on 4/18 in case this has been impacting my bodies immune system/responsiveness to meds. My heart rate has been elevated all week (resting ranging from 102-119). Even with the steroid shot last night and some Cough Syrup around 3 am today, I am still having a terrible productive cough. It’s 730 am for context on 4/21.
Currently finishing up second round of Doxy/Initial round of Augmentin.
I feel like my blood work points to allergies AND an infection.
I’d love some advice/feedback.
- 20 eosinophils
- 2 basophils
- 3.2 lymphocytes absolute
- 2.1 eosinophils absolute
- 0.2 basophils absolute
- 4 monocytes
2024.04.21 14:00 GasLitSpectre Acute sinusitis advice
Male. 31. 190cm. 100kg. Richmond Virginia USA. Zenzedi 20mg x3 daily. Gaufacine 1mg x3 daily. Sunosi 150mg 1x daily. Xyzal 1x daily (discontinued for zertec). Zertec 1x daily. Glucocorticoid 4x daily ( started 4/20 ).
All symptoms started on morning of the 19th, as a "film" on the back of my throat . I arrived in Richmond on the 18th at 11:45pm local time.
Current symptoms are , lightheaded, ear pain, throat pain, nasal pain , nasal drip/drainage , frequent sneezing, and since last night coughing up mucus.
I have taken an Antigen Rapid test, yesterday, and tested negative for covid.
Currently visiting a friend , but I have light headedness, pressure on all my sinus cavities , ear pain, throat pain, coughing up mucus, the whole 9 yards,, and I have only been here 3 days ( for the planned 7 day visit. )
I was thinking to try using a neti pot and taking a hot shower every other hour until I left , but the light headedness, ear pain, and mucus has me afraid it may be too late for that.
I don't have any income and bills make me very suicidal and I am already suffering from depression, so I have a lot of anxiety about visiting an ER.
I previously worked as an unloader, and didn't have a mask once and was scoffed at for requesting a mask to just get a pallet off of a truck, so I did it anyways, and then went to an urgent clinic after work, where I was told "acute sinus infections" don't exist.
I was not treated and recommended basically every thing you can read on web MD, I went back the next day, and got an apology and the doctor said "In all my years I have never seen anything like this" as a defence.
I was given an allergy shot and a zpac, and usually every year I get at least 2 allergy shots , this year just had been good to me and I had not gotten an allergy shot.
Now in a different state with new allergies, I am struggling. I am afraid my Medicaid based insurance will decline my emergency room claim the grounds that "acute sinusitis" does not exist.
And since I have only had the symptoms for 3 days, despite the severity, that it doesn't warrant an emergency room visit , and leave me with a life threatening bill.
I don't know what to do, I have tried zertec, xyzal, Flonase , boiling watesteam, and am taking multiple ( 5 yesterday ) hot showers a day , and wearing a mask out.
Is there anyway to insure coverage, or any treatment outside of hourly/every other hour use of neti pots.
The only downside to neti pots is I already get nose bleeds and typically neither pots make this worse, I been to an ENT once , but only saw the nurse practitioner, who told me that I should stop taking Adderall and use Neti Pots more regularly and that would fix my nosebleeds, ill be honest, I have done both, but not because she told me to, and I still have pretty regular nosebleeds.
So yeah, should I try adding multiple nasal irrigations into my daily routine or is their some other combination of over the counter medicine I can use to temporarily dry everything up until I can get back into my state on Wednesday.
I came to visit a friend struggling with depression, so I am trying to not be a burden, which just makes everything worse.
submitted by GasLitSpectre to AskDocs [link] [comments]
All symptoms started on morning of the 19th, as a "film" on the back of my throat . I arrived in Richmond on the 18th at 11:45pm local time.
Current symptoms are , lightheaded, ear pain, throat pain, nasal pain , nasal drip/drainage , frequent sneezing, and since last night coughing up mucus.
I have taken an Antigen Rapid test, yesterday, and tested negative for covid.
Currently visiting a friend , but I have light headedness, pressure on all my sinus cavities , ear pain, throat pain, coughing up mucus, the whole 9 yards,, and I have only been here 3 days ( for the planned 7 day visit. )
I was thinking to try using a neti pot and taking a hot shower every other hour until I left , but the light headedness, ear pain, and mucus has me afraid it may be too late for that.
I don't have any income and bills make me very suicidal and I am already suffering from depression, so I have a lot of anxiety about visiting an ER.
I previously worked as an unloader, and didn't have a mask once and was scoffed at for requesting a mask to just get a pallet off of a truck, so I did it anyways, and then went to an urgent clinic after work, where I was told "acute sinus infections" don't exist.
I was not treated and recommended basically every thing you can read on web MD, I went back the next day, and got an apology and the doctor said "In all my years I have never seen anything like this" as a defence.
I was given an allergy shot and a zpac, and usually every year I get at least 2 allergy shots , this year just had been good to me and I had not gotten an allergy shot.
Now in a different state with new allergies, I am struggling. I am afraid my Medicaid based insurance will decline my emergency room claim the grounds that "acute sinusitis" does not exist.
And since I have only had the symptoms for 3 days, despite the severity, that it doesn't warrant an emergency room visit , and leave me with a life threatening bill.
I don't know what to do, I have tried zertec, xyzal, Flonase , boiling watesteam, and am taking multiple ( 5 yesterday ) hot showers a day , and wearing a mask out.
Is there anyway to insure coverage, or any treatment outside of hourly/every other hour use of neti pots.
The only downside to neti pots is I already get nose bleeds and typically neither pots make this worse, I been to an ENT once , but only saw the nurse practitioner, who told me that I should stop taking Adderall and use Neti Pots more regularly and that would fix my nosebleeds, ill be honest, I have done both, but not because she told me to, and I still have pretty regular nosebleeds.
So yeah, should I try adding multiple nasal irrigations into my daily routine or is their some other combination of over the counter medicine I can use to temporarily dry everything up until I can get back into my state on Wednesday.
I came to visit a friend struggling with depression, so I am trying to not be a burden, which just makes everything worse.
2024.04.21 13:13 Nomad_Girl92 Sinus Infection - Misdiagnosed Pneumonia - What Now?
31, F, Caucasian, 128 lbs, Never Smoker, Graves Disease - 2.5 mg methimazole/day - women’s broad spectrum probiotic - ativan 5 mg prn - currently on doxycycline 2x/day (14 days total), augmentin 2x/day (10 days), tesselon perles 3x/day, dextromethorphan (3x/day), albuterol prn, received decadron iv yesterday, starting 5 day prednisone monday
Hi all! So I would love some potential help interpreting some of my blood tests but just wanted to go over a timeline. On 3/23, I flew on a plane with mild seasonal allergies and by 3/24 I had a really bad cold/swollen face/typical sinus infection. I used OTC meds, Neti-Pot, Decongestents, etc. I had terrible sinus pressure but all of this seemed to dry me out. Flew home on 3/28. First leg of the travel was good, second plane depressurized poorly and I lost hearing for a good 48 hours/congestion returned. Remained congested until 4/2. Had somewhat of a productive cough.
Felt healthy until around 1 AM on 4/6 where I started sneezing incessantly again. Swollen face, sinus infection, etc. Made appt with ENT but they couldn’t get me in until 5/1. On 4/10, did telehealth with PCP and was prescribed Presnisone for 5 days and Doxy for 7 days.
Remained congested but sinus pressure alleviated. On 4/16, started coughing/wheezing. Very productive cough with string like mucus. Went to urgent care. Doc listened to chest and diagnosed with Pneumonia (Chest X-Ray was clear but she said sometimes it can take a while for imaging to catch up to the illness…?) Rales heard in lower left lobe. Rx’d Augmentin & another round of Doxy.
Only thing that’s really helped cough has been suppressants. Incredibly painful cough. Still having nasal symptoms. Yesterday morning (4/20) I woke up with severe stomach pain. My back/ribs have been sore all week from cough. The sputum that’s being produced as I said is stringy or chunky. It ranges from very light brown to yellow. It’s been so taxing on my chest/throat. Additionally, I felt wheezy/crackly with breathing again. Ended up going to ER.
Did chest CT which was clear. Doc said I don’t have Pneumonia at ER, but this is all allergies. She told me to get my HVAC serviced, but that was really all she could tell me. I use Flonase daily and I’ve never experienced a months worth of spring allergies. Generally my seasonal allergies are in the fall. Additionally, my dog dc’d my Methimazole for a week on 4/18 in case this has been impacting my bodies immune system/responsiveness to meds. My heart rate has been elevated all week (resting ranging from 102-119). Even with the steroid shot last night and some Cough Syrup around 3 am today, I am still having a terrible productive cough. It’s 730 am for context on 4/21.
Currently finishing up second round of Doxy/Initial round of Augmentin.
I feel like my blood work points to allergies AND an infection.
I’d love some advice/feedback.
submitted by Nomad_Girl92 to AskDocs [link] [comments]
Hi all! So I would love some potential help interpreting some of my blood tests but just wanted to go over a timeline. On 3/23, I flew on a plane with mild seasonal allergies and by 3/24 I had a really bad cold/swollen face/typical sinus infection. I used OTC meds, Neti-Pot, Decongestents, etc. I had terrible sinus pressure but all of this seemed to dry me out. Flew home on 3/28. First leg of the travel was good, second plane depressurized poorly and I lost hearing for a good 48 hours/congestion returned. Remained congested until 4/2. Had somewhat of a productive cough.
Felt healthy until around 1 AM on 4/6 where I started sneezing incessantly again. Swollen face, sinus infection, etc. Made appt with ENT but they couldn’t get me in until 5/1. On 4/10, did telehealth with PCP and was prescribed Presnisone for 5 days and Doxy for 7 days.
Remained congested but sinus pressure alleviated. On 4/16, started coughing/wheezing. Very productive cough with string like mucus. Went to urgent care. Doc listened to chest and diagnosed with Pneumonia (Chest X-Ray was clear but she said sometimes it can take a while for imaging to catch up to the illness…?) Rales heard in lower left lobe. Rx’d Augmentin & another round of Doxy.
Only thing that’s really helped cough has been suppressants. Incredibly painful cough. Still having nasal symptoms. Yesterday morning (4/20) I woke up with severe stomach pain. My back/ribs have been sore all week from cough. The sputum that’s being produced as I said is stringy or chunky. It ranges from very light brown to yellow. It’s been so taxing on my chest/throat. Additionally, I felt wheezy/crackly with breathing again. Ended up going to ER.
Did chest CT which was clear. Doc said I don’t have Pneumonia at ER, but this is all allergies. She told me to get my HVAC serviced, but that was really all she could tell me. I use Flonase daily and I’ve never experienced a months worth of spring allergies. Generally my seasonal allergies are in the fall. Additionally, my dog dc’d my Methimazole for a week on 4/18 in case this has been impacting my bodies immune system/responsiveness to meds. My heart rate has been elevated all week (resting ranging from 102-119). Even with the steroid shot last night and some Cough Syrup around 3 am today, I am still having a terrible productive cough. It’s 730 am for context on 4/21.
Currently finishing up second round of Doxy/Initial round of Augmentin.
I feel like my blood work points to allergies AND an infection.
I’d love some advice/feedback.
- 20 eosinophils
- 2 basophils
- 3.2 lymphocytes absolute
- 2.1 eosinophils absolute
- 0.2 basophils absolute
- 4 monocytes
2024.04.19 21:28 attentionreadfirst 7 weeks since I knew there was a problem
Jan. 2nd, had a tooth extraction, I'd noticed a ringing at night time, thought it was weird, didn't bother me, never contacted anyone as I didn't see any relation between the two things
Feb. 25th purchased a Ford Mustang 5.0, exhaust dumped at rear axle, I've definitely been in louder vehicles (ent believe this to be the cause of my tinnitus)
Feb. 28th ringing in ears got serious to where I thought to myself, something is seriously wrong, stopped driving the mustang after taking it 5 minutes to and from work for 2 days, figured the car must be causing the ringing
Mar. 4th went to the doctor to be checked out, doctor said I had fluid behind my ear drums and to use flonase to get rid of it. I'd been taking diphenhydramine 50mg for sleep for years (doctor had said it was OK) doctor said to discontinue because that could also cause the tinnitus.
Mar. 7th left ear was a causing light pain so I went back to the doctor and they'd said the fluid was gone and give it a couple weeks and the ringing should stop
Mar. 10th discontinued nicotine(had been on lozenges for a year, well past when i should've but quiting smoking was hard and it definitely helped quit. , cannabis was discontinued as well, no caffeine, no alcohol (haven't drank in years anyways) and started a low sodium diet
Mar. 12th was first day I thought maybe it's going away, it wasn't very bad and I was able to focus on other things
Mar. 14th CT scan came back good, was the first day that I realized that when I yawned the ringing got really high pitched
Mar. 26th had an acupuncture visit and there was zero relief
Mar. 30th had a bit of a cheat from my low sodium diet, ate pizza and about 10 minutes later there was a crazy pressure buildup in my left ear and the ringing went through the roof for about 5 minutes
Apr. 2nd had really bad back pain and took ibuprofen to help it and it was the worst ringing I'd experienced since the onset of it. Started to notice occasional hyperacusis that was not very fun.
Apr. 4th went to my ENT appointment, audiologist found no hearing loss, ENT thinks the mustang noise exposure caused the tinnitus, told me to take lipo flavonoid plus (have been) and to start taking a 1 ounce shot of lemon juice daily
Apr. 17th had a massage at the chiropractor and when the massage therapist would go up and down my neck it was like when you go up and down a piano keyboard the notes of the tinnitus changed so much, felt good but little to no relief
Tests that I've had performed Vitamin B - good Vitamin D - low Ct scan - good Many others as well, nothing abnormal
I'm a male, 30 years old, and I live in indiana.
I've found it helps to think about other things however sometimes it's very difficult to, my tinnitus does not seem to go away it's been fairly constant ever since the onset, the times where I think it may be going away are usually followed up by some of the worst spikes, I cannot take any NSAID's(I dont regularly take them but they make tinnitus scream), cannot eat red meat, and have to keep my sodium levels low to have any relief.
Occasionally in the past month I've had eczema behind my ears not in them
I do not consume any liquids besides water and for my morning meal I put oatmilk or almondmilk in the blender with one banana and one scoop of pbfit protein powder.
My question is, has anyone been in a similar situation and it went away? I've mentally prepared myself for this to take some time, I'm really looking for success stories as one of my friends has tinnitus from drag racing 7 year ago and my father in law has tinnitus from antibiotics he took 20 years ago. Having two people I know with tinnitus that's had it for years and still have it isn't very relieving, my Doctor and ent saying it'll go away just isn't very reassuring to me
submitted by attentionreadfirst to tinnitus [link] [comments]
Feb. 25th purchased a Ford Mustang 5.0, exhaust dumped at rear axle, I've definitely been in louder vehicles (ent believe this to be the cause of my tinnitus)
Feb. 28th ringing in ears got serious to where I thought to myself, something is seriously wrong, stopped driving the mustang after taking it 5 minutes to and from work for 2 days, figured the car must be causing the ringing
Mar. 4th went to the doctor to be checked out, doctor said I had fluid behind my ear drums and to use flonase to get rid of it. I'd been taking diphenhydramine 50mg for sleep for years (doctor had said it was OK) doctor said to discontinue because that could also cause the tinnitus.
Mar. 7th left ear was a causing light pain so I went back to the doctor and they'd said the fluid was gone and give it a couple weeks and the ringing should stop
Mar. 10th discontinued nicotine(had been on lozenges for a year, well past when i should've but quiting smoking was hard and it definitely helped quit. , cannabis was discontinued as well, no caffeine, no alcohol (haven't drank in years anyways) and started a low sodium diet
Mar. 12th was first day I thought maybe it's going away, it wasn't very bad and I was able to focus on other things
Mar. 14th CT scan came back good, was the first day that I realized that when I yawned the ringing got really high pitched
Mar. 26th had an acupuncture visit and there was zero relief
Mar. 30th had a bit of a cheat from my low sodium diet, ate pizza and about 10 minutes later there was a crazy pressure buildup in my left ear and the ringing went through the roof for about 5 minutes
Apr. 2nd had really bad back pain and took ibuprofen to help it and it was the worst ringing I'd experienced since the onset of it. Started to notice occasional hyperacusis that was not very fun.
Apr. 4th went to my ENT appointment, audiologist found no hearing loss, ENT thinks the mustang noise exposure caused the tinnitus, told me to take lipo flavonoid plus (have been) and to start taking a 1 ounce shot of lemon juice daily
Apr. 17th had a massage at the chiropractor and when the massage therapist would go up and down my neck it was like when you go up and down a piano keyboard the notes of the tinnitus changed so much, felt good but little to no relief
Tests that I've had performed Vitamin B - good Vitamin D - low Ct scan - good Many others as well, nothing abnormal
I'm a male, 30 years old, and I live in indiana.
I've found it helps to think about other things however sometimes it's very difficult to, my tinnitus does not seem to go away it's been fairly constant ever since the onset, the times where I think it may be going away are usually followed up by some of the worst spikes, I cannot take any NSAID's(I dont regularly take them but they make tinnitus scream), cannot eat red meat, and have to keep my sodium levels low to have any relief.
Occasionally in the past month I've had eczema behind my ears not in them
I do not consume any liquids besides water and for my morning meal I put oatmilk or almondmilk in the blender with one banana and one scoop of pbfit protein powder.
My question is, has anyone been in a similar situation and it went away? I've mentally prepared myself for this to take some time, I'm really looking for success stories as one of my friends has tinnitus from drag racing 7 year ago and my father in law has tinnitus from antibiotics he took 20 years ago. Having two people I know with tinnitus that's had it for years and still have it isn't very relieving, my Doctor and ent saying it'll go away just isn't very reassuring to me
2024.04.17 13:51 vevericiak ENERGY REPORT April 2024 - ACTIVATION THE PATHWAYS OF THE HEART MEMORY
 | ENERGY REPORT April 2024 - ACTIVATION THE PATHWAYS OF THE HEART. MEMORY submitted by vevericiak to prosperitybirthcode [link] [comments] https://preview.redd.it/uf3l918o11vc1.jpg?width=819&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8bc6ac246c9a752b451e60922b5f025f75894408 In some parts of the text, for obvious reasons, I do not write directly. To better illustrate some phenomena, I use the description of dual reality and the earthly calculation of time, although everything is happening non-dual in the now. Some phenomena are described in the simplest possible way so that they are understandable. I mainly focus on ascending lines. Those who have to understand the text will understand it easily. The text is worth reading with the heart. (1) To begin with, a synthetic summary of March (and the end of February). March was the first month with completely new energies. Energetically it started another layer of processes in Space. Synthetically it was like this: 22.02 - 25.02 - one of the stronger energy recharges in recent times and as many as three (22.02) powerful solar flares (two M-class and one very strong X6.37-class). The purpose of these energies was to create another leap in the collective energy field to higher frequencies. On an individual level, the sensations depended on the degree to which the internal processes were transformed. Therefore, on the ascending line it could be a feeling of great lightness and such a pleasant tickling from within caused by a strong flow of energy (mainly the solar plexus was charged) combined with a sensation of heat from within. On the other hand, on the midline, people could still experience temporary discomfort in the body (restlessness, irritability, a feeling of being broken down). From 24.02 onwards, one could feel strong pressure on the chest and an increased need to cough (releasing old programmes). 26.02 - 27.02 - this powerful wave of energy from 22.02 caused strong disturbances in both the planetary and individual fields. On that day it was possible to experience a high failure rate of technological equipment, disruptions in GPS, telephone connections, instability of the Internet, remote devices, etc. On a perceptual level, many people could experience fear, anxiety, general disruption, chaos, etc. 27/28.02 - I have observed very strong disturbances in the collective space, however, created by the people themselves (on 26.02-27.02). This is the reason that when energies which destabilise the Space appear (but which are directed towards its transformation towards the new), the aware creation of reality is so important (I wrote about creation in the Report for August 2023). At the same time there was an actual energy shift (initiated by the 22.02 flares) and acceleration of the creation process. The Schumann resonance showed black indications almost all day. 29.02 - 08.03 - a period of stabilisation of this new energy level in the planetary field, the collective field of people as well as in the individual fields, began. In detail the process was as follows: 29.02 – 01.03 – a lot of people could feel very high pressure in the sinuses area, on the sides of the head and in the back of the neck. In addition to this, there was a strong pressure on the crown chakra (this was due to the entry of larger energies into the individual field). The purpose of these energies was to activate the process of forgetting (with the mind) in order to ultimately move towards the recognition of reality with the Heart (in real time). I will write more about this process - which will be one of the main themes of April - later in this report. 02.03-03.03 – The Space was charged with high energies that brought an increase in vitality and an improvement in overall wellbeing. 04.03 – the activation in the planetary and collective field, beautiful growth energies for the next three years (2024 - 2026). These are the energies that will be the background of all the processes taking place over the next thirty-six months. They have brought a foretaste of the vibrations and possibilities that are already available to people. At the level of the individual fields, the purpose of these energies was to strengthen the personal motivation to move forward. Towards life. Although in the evening (Central Time) I observed an attempt to artificially lower this vibration. This could also be observed as punctuated decreases (to zero) in solar activity. Some people at this time could therefore feel a decrease in vital energy. However, this was a short-lived incident, with no more pronounced effects in the following days. 05.03 - 06.03 there was a correction from Space and a charging of very strong energies, which in many people could cause pressure on the crown chakra and solar plexus, nausea, heaviness, fatigue, drowsiness, dizziness, a feeling of unnatural heat and burning eyes. Some people during this period may have experienced extrasensory perception of reality (seeing/feeling beyond physical reality). For some beings, these were pioneering experiences in this area that favoured their awakening.. 07.03 -08.03 beautiful crystalline energies arrived in the space. They brought much less sensations of energy overload (in relation to the period 05.03-06.03), although they could cause blurriness in vision. For this they gave clarity of thought and increased speed of information processing (better focus, concentration, flawlessness of action). The culminating event was the 08.03 energies, thanks to which we could experience the feeling of being fully anchored in 5D vibrations. 09.03 - 12.03 it was a time where it was really possible to enjoy the 5D vibration (full being in the now combined with access to practically instantaneous creation). At the level of sensations from the body - for some people - skin ailments were possible (burning skin, hot skin, especially of the arms and legs). At the physical level, the skin could give extreme symptoms: for some, a state of excessive dryness (especially the inner part of the hands, hair, face) or, conversely, greasiness (face, hair). This was related to the passage of increased doses of energy through the body. On 10.03 there was a strong flare of M7.4, which further intensified the energy sensations in the body. It was especially strong to experience these crystalline frequencies on 12.03 (I will remind you that these frequencies are quite sharp, strong, clear, a bit like a beautiful sunny but very cold day). Many people on this day could feel a strong vibration of the temples, a pressure on the top of the head, strongly felt back of the head and upper back, including a pain in these areas of the body. In addition to this, there were also pinpoint stabbing sensations in the upper chest going down even to the spine and audible - despite the silence outside - sounds in the ears). 13.03 - 15.03 the clearing of emotional energies (specifically the release of them from cellular memory) began - on a collective level. Many people at this time (if this area required transformation in them) could literally experience an outpouring of extreme emotions in various situations, on top of that very vivid dreams with people from the past (where these emotions had been blocked up to that point). All of this was compounded by a feeling of general brokenness and difficulty in expressing oneself accurately. In contrast, for people who had completed these processes earlier, 13.03 in particular brought a strong recharge of the third eye chakra. Here the high energies of pure mind were hosted. From 14.03 onwards, one could quite strongly feel heaviness and prickling in the lower body (from the hips downwards, especially "heavy and hot legs"). And on 15.03 the heart could be heard strongly (stabbing sensations resulting from the release c.d. of emotions and memories), to which the nervous system (dizziness, heavy head) and the digestive system (connected to the nervous system) were felt again. 16.03 In the afternoon (Central European Time) a rather strong flare M3.4 took place. Its purpose was to further transform emotional energies - this time from the collective field (after they had been released from the individual fields in the previous days). There was also an activation of the process of going after oneself (I will write about this process later in the report). At the level of individual perception, a sensation of heat throughout the body could be observed, combined with pressure on the crown chakra and the third eye chakra, up to and including the sinuses, including the sensation of a blocked nose. And also the heart and solar plexus). Many people felt a sudden need to sleep in the predawn hours. 17.03 – 19.03 – the descent of strong energies, with the M6.7 flare (18.03) which are about to set in motion the processes I am writing about in the present report for April. (2) April is the month in which the personal Heart Paths (see also the psycho-energetic profile and the Personal Power Profile) will be activated very intensively in quite a number of people (who are already ready for this in their personal processes). The Heart Path has two dimensions. From the spiritual level it is related to the realisation of the Soul's Plan for a given incarnation. And from the earthly level it refers to the fulfilment here of one's destiny in actions in material reality (including actions in the career field). The Path of the Heart is also a key factor for the formation of the human collective. It is what makes it possible to unite so many people with individual and different life paths in actions towards the common good. I have already written about the process of humanity's transition from the herd level to the collective level (and the shift within collective destiny paths) several years ago (see archive reports from 2019 and beyond). Now I will only mention that the herd level (actions from the level of the first and second chakras) is a state based on fear and lack of personal freedom (victim pattern, authority figures), top-down management (systems and beings planning for people), distorted masculine energy (violence, hierarchy) and equating to one set standard (suppression of the manifestation of individualism). At the herd level, survival at the expense of others is crucial. In contrast, the collective level is a state based on personal freedom and responsibility (a pattern of taking full responsibility for oneself), cooperation between people based on an open heart (closeness and Truth in relationships, the Heart Path), guidance through feminine energy that honours masculine energy (intuition that chooses directions, supported by the mind that helps implement those directions) and full manifestation of individualism (everyone follows their own Heart Path and does not "pull" others on their energy). The priority here is to act for the common good, but with one's own energy sovereignty. The collective level therefore first requires highly individualised beings, who interact with each other when they are united by a common goal (from the level of higher values). At the same time, individuals do not give away their energy by feeding others who are unwilling/unable to stand up to their own power. In short: the time of feeding one's own energy to those who, for some reason, are not able to use their own energy source (they act outside their own energy strategy) is over. In order to reconcile so many beings, with so many different paths, without the use of violence, top-down actions and the associated loss of energy, it is the personal Paths of the Heart that are needed. They allow those whose goals are in the same direction (at any given time) to join together in cooperation. And all in a gentle and harmonious way. The Heart Path reflects the pure Energy Matrix in matter. And because this Matrix is in perfect harmony and balance, therefore the Heart Path effortlessly allows a part of it (through the Individual Matrix) to manifest into material space. The activation of the Heart Paths in April (as a result of the processes I described in the March 2024 report) will also identify another group of people supporting others in their transformations. These "leaders" of change will this time appear no longer in the space of spiritual development (as has been the case so far), but in other areas of social life (self-government, health, finance, environment, technology, education, science, etc.). So if one feels one's own vocation in these directions, now is the best time to step up to the task in matter. This is because Space supports all those who wish to act from the heart for the common good. (3) The second significant process that starts with full power in April (a foretaste of which was already evident in March) is the process of clearing mental memory. At the moment, it is taking place at the individual level. But in the future it will also manifest on a collective level. The separation of timelines has already caused several phenomena so far: 1. The displacement from the human space of all those people who are on a different timeline. This is most clearly visible between the ascending line and the descending line. 2. The events that were previously connected (before the separation of the lines) have also been separated. This means that some of the events are not currently accessible to the people of a particular timeline (the vibration of a person is a determinant of the vibration of the events that happen to them). 3. Past events (whose energetic anchors are on other timelines) have also become untangled. Because of this, people may have blurred memories that are not in line with their timeline. The greatest manifestations of the above phenomena can be seen on the extreme lines (rising and falling). On the middle line, the course of these phenomena is relatively the most gentle at this point, but with time (as one's personal vibration rises), even here these phenomena will become more pronounced (though still dependent on the vibration level of the individual). NOTE: To describe the above phenomena - in order to understand them better - I use the concept of time as a linear sequence of events that the mind records. In reality, however, everything is happening in the now. All of this - combined with the transformation of the nervous system that is taking place in the present - causes one to observe gaps and memory lapses in oneself. This can manifest itself in many ways. Some people may feel that certain events, and the other people involved in them, do not directly concern them (it is like watching a film in which you are not a participant, but an observer). Some people may observe in themselves a complete disappearance of certain memories or knowledge originally acquired with the mind (this usually starts with forgetting names, places, etc.). The process of clearing one's mental memory can also manifest itself in speech difficulties (the disappearance of the words needed to express a specific past event). For this reason, some people may find it difficult to express themselves or to relate an articulate statement to a specific situation (even from the not so distant past), if they have participated in something from an adjacent timeline (I remind you that it is still possible for some people to jump between timelines). Sometimes it can even literally feel like a 'hole in the head'. Ultimately, this process leads to the clearing of the entire collective memory of events that are incompatible with the vibration of a particular line. In practice this means that in some time the individual lineages will have a completely different memory of events, including historical events. Firstly because different events will be created on different lines, secondly because the perception of earlier collective (historical) events will change, and thirdly because the process of disclosure will take place to a different degree on different lines. The process of clearing mental memory has another - much more important - purpose. It is about completely shifting to being exclusively in the now and fully connecting with the Heart, through which it is possible to connect with the energy-information field (NOTE: the third eye is responsible for correctly understanding what arrives). This means that in the event that a given piece of information is needed, instead of searching for it externally with the mind or looking for it in one's mental memory (as previously acquired information), it is now sufficient to connect with the Heart to recall such information in real time. This is the difference between the knowledge acquired from outside and the wisdom flowing from within a person. The former is limited and defined, while the latter is boundless and alive (in the sense that it changes in real time as the consciousness of the entire collective field evolves). (4) The activation of the Heart Path will also result in more and more people starting to trust their inner feelings (coming from the body) from April onwards. This is the fundamental difference between following and deciding with the mind (which is a manifestation of the typical action outside one's own energy strategy) and the Heart Path (see psych-energetic profile). The ascending line is already very stable in this respect, while the greatest fluctuations (between heart and mind) are currently occurring on the middle line. The falling line, on the other hand, consistently follows the path of the ego-mind (acting outside of one's own energy strategy). PRACTICAL TIP: As the middle line currently still exhibits the greatest degree of jumping between lines (following the Heart versus following the ego-mind), it is worth noting situations in which two ambivalent states are experienced simultaneously. On the one hand, the body gives off certain sensations ("I feel that..."), while the mind begins to question what is coming from the body ("or maybe what I feel is not true?"). In this case, ALWAYS the correct information is given by the body and is worth following. This is a time to trust yourself. And trusting your own feelings allows you to stabilise yourself on your own Heart Path. (5) After March, April is the second month focused on action in the matter. While March was such a "start-up" time, and not everyone had yet entered into real action in matter, April no longer gives space for passivity. Anyway, spring 2024 (March-May) has a key influence on how the second half of this year will be felt and experienced. So the greater the readiness to change now, the more lightness, synchronicity and a sense of freedom in the second half of the year. On an individual level, this relates to the need for change in areas that have been 'postponed' until now. For some it may be a job, for others the physical body and health, and for others relationships or where to live. It may also be smaller issues 'to do', but put off until 'later'. Everything that needs to be changed, but has been postponed so far, in April, will become very distressing. It is important to recognise this and direct your energy there. This energy may often have been trapped until now in the form of repressed or overt anger (following the pattern that: "something is not the way I want it to be and I am not doing anything about it, even though I have influence over it"). I would add that anger, according to the Hawkins scale of levels of consciousness, admittedly vibrates below the threshold of Courage, which is the first vibrational level in Truth and has 200 units (anger has 150 units), but if it is directed towards constructive action, it causes one to come out of fear and to be motivated to leave one's comfort zone. It is also often the first step to saying 'NO' and setting boundaries. So, as a consequence, it can have the right effect. What is important, however, is that it is action-oriented, according to the inner feeling, and not aggressively towards other people. PRACTICAL TIP: It is worth asking yourself "What do I need to change in my life?", "Where do I need to direct my attention and energy?", "What needs to be seen and I have the power to do it?". A good litmus test here is the body, as it accumulates everything that has not been worked through so far. So, in the case of various ailments, it is useful to see what patterns are trapped in the body behind it. And what needs attention and has so far been overlooked. (6) The people's mass awakening, the destabilisation of areas that need change and leaving their own comfort zones, combined with the huge processes that our Planet is also currently undergoing, will cause quite a lot of external chaos in April and the following months. NOTE: Chaos is not a state of disorder. It is a state of rearrangement between two static states in order to establish a new order. It is worth being aware that increasing chaos externally will be reinforced by the mainstream, whose aim is to lower the collective vibration. In addition to this, there are also processes of intense cleansing and healing of our Planet, which in turn will result in increased seismic activity and major weather anomalies in the near future. Therefore, it is all the more important to consciously direct one's own attention to the positive creation of reality. Here the key is to direct the energy to one's own inner self, to the Heart. This is the only place where you can find peace and tranquillity. And to create constructively. So the key is to stabilise the vibrations and anchor - through your own conscious creation - new qualities in Space. For this reason, it is very important what one's own attention is directed towards (how the process of creation takes place - it is worth looking at the August 2023 Report). (7) I mentioned the subject of the body in a previous report, but in April the physical area has even more importance. And not only because the body shows what still - at the level of patterns - needs to be looked at and released. But because during a period of transformation, human bodies become very sensitive. For this reason, it is therefore worth taking special care of them in the following months. Some people who are in so-called "self-development" may feel that - on the one hand - they are "in high vibration" - and, on the other hand, this does not quite translate into the state of the physical body. Specifically, that there are days when the physical body manifests a sense of well-being and vital state, and in a moment it gives symptoms of pain and decreases in energy/performance. These fluctuations are due to several reasons. Firstly, from a major process of transformation of the physical bodies, a process that affects every human being on the planet (although appropriate to their level of consciousness and timeline). This process is designed to decongest the physical structures in order to be able to connect with other, higher energy frequencies activating the full Power of the human being. Until this Power is activated, however, human bodies can be very sensitive and susceptible to the slightest disturbance (from the collective field or from other people). In this case, it is a temporary state. Secondly, ill-being can be due to the fact that there is too much imbalance between the personal vibration and the vibration of the collective field (especially on days when there are disturbances in the collective field that lower the vibration). Thirdly, a bad feeling from the body is often an indication of what is still untransformed. And what is blocking the free flow of energy. It resembles such a hook that holds and does not allow to move energetically further. This cause is quite common in people who have gone into a one-sided spiritual "development" (task-oriented - through various practices - to "raise the vibrations", but forgetting to work through their own Shadow and to balance spiritual practices with life also in matter). And fourthly and finally, a bad feeling can also be an indication that we are still feeding our energy into something external (often from a fallen lineage). So it is worth checking who and what we are pulling on our "shoulders". Particularly in the case of people who have appeared here to help with the awakening process, it is worth considering how strong and burdening the sense of "mission to save people and the world" is. This is the low-vibrational agenda of the Rescuer, which is worth releasing from your field. (8) April is also a prelude to a major process that will manifest at the end of June 2024 and will be related to expanded access to one's own abilities (including memory of who one is, galactic consciousness, experiences of contact with other dimensions, extrasensory perception, conscious dreaming, etc.). This process will culminate in the energies of May. I will write more about this in the report for June, I am just mentioning it now. Anyway, these themes will be relevant in the next 10-15 years related to the total reconstruction of the world as we know it. The process of restoring self-memory is the result of (1) activating one's Heart Path, (2) blurring the ego-mind memory, (3) entering the process of creating collective consciousness (the Civilisation of People). This is the time when Awakening to one's own path is slowly beginning to be the social norm. So there are beautiful processes ahead and I will be writing about them in advance. (9) SUMMARY OF THE REPORT AND COLLECTIVE ACTIONS FOR APRIL: Goals for Individual People: (1) activation of one's own Heart Path, (2) purification of individual memory, (3) trust in the sensations coming from the body and one's own intuition. Goals for the Human Collective: (1) formation of the human collective (Human Civilisation) based on the Pathways of the Heart, (2) collective energy stabilisation and conscious creation in times of chaos. With love - Anna Architektura I also encourage you to familiarize yourself with the previous series of energy reports available at https://architekturaosobowosci.com |
2024.04.17 04:21 letsgouda Mild/Moderate Long Haul recovery- 85-90% - sorry for the NOVEL I wrote here
I thought I would make a post here as it's a great resource for motivation and optimism as well as ideas for things to try to help. I really freaked myself out when long covid hit me and my symptoms were at their worst on my reddit/internet deep dives.
I got sick in July '23 (my first time ever testing positive and I had let my vaccination lapse because I guess I thought I might be immune lol). I took paxlovid and started testing negative after about 6 days and I had a trip planned so I went.... for a day of tubing and drinking. I ended up basically getting sick again for another week.
I tried to get back into my activities and workout routine but couldn't get even close and was feeling really worn down. I had a lot of stuff going on and some stressful work events and I kind of crashed for a few days. Got back out there, then crashed again after an hour bike ride and cleaning my bathroom and a stressful family event. I was in the push crash cycle for August/SeptembeOctober. Also daily headache, increased migraines, some autonomic stuff like high heart rate and blood pooling, dizziness. Doing less each time and triggering worse PEM. Also a TON of grief and anxiety and frustration.
In mid October I gave up on all activity except work and taking care of myself. I gave myself permission to REST aggressively/radically. I was very lucky to have a supportive boyfriend who helped me with things like changing sheets, doing dishes, bringing me some meal prepped food. I didn't clean my apartment for 3 months, I started doing grocery pickup. I also sprained my neck doing a stretch which was a whole additional layer- after a basic blood work and being told by my doc there was nothing they could really do except wait and see, I focused further medical efforts on dealing with my neck injury/coathanger pain/constant headaches. I was also diagnosed with occipital neuralgia.
I have been on an upward trajectory SO SLOWLY since December. I thought I'd list out all the things I did that I feel helped. I have a general theory that our bodies/nervous systems are both physically inflamed and also in fight/flight/freeze from the physical and mental stress. Anything you can do to support the body and mind's natural healthy processes to heal/detox/relax is going to help, even if it only moves the needle .0000001%. Then it's up to time and of course your own unique health situation.
I'm able to walk for like half an hour right now, more if I can take breaks/go slow. I'm doing PT/light body weight exercises a couple times a week, hitting the pool sometimes and swimming about 12 minutes right now. I can easily grocery shop most of the time, I can socialize and drink (though hangovers are worse haha). It feels like huge relief to be back in the world and not SCARED of what will happen. I may have new limits or needs moving forward and that feels ok to me- I've always had anxiety, ADHD, fatigue, burnout issues. I'm optimistic that I'll continue to improve and that life is a journey. There will be low time and high times forever. My challenge now is continuing to stay motivated to support myself so I don't start picking up bad patterns again!
#1 MOVEMENT/PACING- After letting myself rest hard for about 6 weeks (still working hybrid model but did have some vacation and sick time) I started by just walking down the block and back. After a week, add another block. Get up to 5 min, then 10 min, then 2x 10 min. I found that frequent rests are key. As someone with ADHD I always want to finish a task completely because I believe I will get distracted if I stop. But you can wash half the dishes and sit down. If you can't walk 12 min at once, maybe you can walk 6 in the morning and 6 in the evening. And you really have to understand your body's cues- it's ok for example to make your symptoms 2 points worse on a 10 point scale but any further and you need to stop immediately. This is not graded exercise therapy. And 2 points worked for me it might be 1 or 3 for you. You don't want to trigger a massive crash but if you're tired, or need to lie down, that's ok. Expanding capacity happens so slowly.
1b. Lymphatic drainage via movement- I did several lymphatic drainage techniques from youtube including Perrin technique and all triggered PEM/crash. I think getting your lymph moving is key but doing it yourself is risky and your body is in a weak sensitive state. This is where the importance of movement comes in again- to get your lymph/fascia/blood/digestion all moving. Yin or gentle yoga, physical therapy, "floor time" as I called it just to get out of the laying down position. Going on a walk, doing a little self massage. A gentle scrub in the shower with a washcloth (I'm sorry if you can't shower- my daily shower is the main thing keeping me going lol).
#2 Zoloft- Yes another one on the antidepressants. Initially it was because I was struggling with my mental health in the face of all these issues, but it does help with anxiety and may be good for inflammation too.
#3 ELECTROLYTES (and to an extent, minerals generally)- I do not crave plain water but even a pinch of sea salt will make it gulpable for me. I used to think they were too expensive to use regularly- but health is wealth. I drink electrolyte mixes daily and it does wonders for my energy and well being. I like Redmond Relyte the best and it's cheap if you go per serving. Also love gatorlyte, nuun is good. Lots of magnesium!!!
#4 Mindset/Relaxation- Tried some meditations, some yoga nidras, really allowing myself to acknowledge and feel rather than avoid or suppress. I used exercise for this previously so I really had to carve out quiet brain time deliberately. Honorable mention here to reducing screens, circadian rhythm, sunlight, good sleep hygiene type stuff. My partner helped me a lot with realizing that my worth is not tied to my productivity or what I can do for others. It was a real breakthrough that allowed me to rest and take care of myself and be NICER to myself. Also, I kept any entertainment I consumed light and familiar, and felt very supported by listening to all the Harry Potters and rereading all the Anne of Green Gables books. Young adult content is great for fighting the good fight, dealing with grief and loss, finding your identity, and learning right/wrong. There are so many options for brain retraining/support- I just did whatever I felt called to.
#5 Other vitamins- Fish oil, b complex (this is helping nerve damage from 3 years ago so I think I must have been really lacking), D, lysine (taking for cold sores but also antiviral effects and it's cheap), Vit C, probiotics, occasional melatonin. Nothing too groundbreaking here. Just added a multi, and I don't take all these every day. I still have quercetin and monolaurin on the shelf untried- I've taken a very slow pace to trying new supplements.
#6 Diet/Whole Foods- Focus on eating a shit ton of protein and eat until full. I was eating a lot of diet foods and tracking calories and I dropped all that- not worth it. Why stress your body further. I increased my veggies, full fat dairy, whole grains, legumes, spices, teas. As much color and variety as possible. Food is medicine- big shout out to coconut oil. cooking with coconut oil always makes me feel better (antiviral/antimicrobial) but I had stopped due to high cholesterol. Also bought myself a juicer so I can get big doses on things I don't eat as much (beets, ginger, citrus, pineapple, fruits in general). Plus fermented food (booch, yogurt, kraut)
#7 Physical therapy and Blair Technique Chiro - PT is usually great but I was not improving on my neck issues after a month so they recommended adding Blair Chiro- specifically a neck focused "no crack" technique. Those adjustments made a HUGE difference in my headaches/neck pain healing progression. I legit could not hold my own head up all day starting out. I include these because I think neck/spine/body dysfunction can be part of the package, and my PT also does a lot of training on breathing properly- another big issue people have these days. And they got me moving too!
Honorable mentions to compression socks, my neck heating pad, my theracane and foam roller, hot showers with lavender essential oil, decaf green tea, advil, aleve, biofreeze, dr bronners magic balm, hugs, grocery pickup, sex (eyoooh), and countless other little things that improve general quality of life and probably actually target whatever is going on with long covid.
Some things that didn't do much or were bad-
Vestibular PT - had a work up and they couldn't diagnose me with much other than general vertigo. Not BPPD or neuritis or anything. I have a sneaky suspicion a number of things were contributing to my dizziness that are all wearing off- neuroinflammation, neck dysfunction, anxiety, cold/hats triggering my occipital neuralgia (winter is over!) and possibly CBD
CBD- I love CBD and I started taking it more during all this. Recently stopped as I've been doing better and I feel my dizziness has improved a lot so maybe there's a connection there. Still think it's helpful though!
Antihistamines- I went on zyrtec (normally was just taking the occasional claritin) and turns out it gave me INSANE sinus pain after awhile which also triggered migraines (and a lot of tears). Took me a month or so to figure that out.
Flonase- doctor told me to take this for my extreme sinus pain and it roided me out. I barely slept for like 2 nights after taking one double dose. I felt great like a week later, so much extra energy. But not worth it and not what it's for anyway. I switched to a hypertonic saline solution spray and it works great.
Ubiquinol gave me heart palpitations so bad.
Olly stress gummies- these worked so good but I'm so nervous about messing with GABA
FL-41 glasses - I think the tint helps a lot with light sensitivity/migraine but maybe the frames I got sucked because these make me so much worse if I wear them for more than an hour.
Red light therapy- I got this off amazon it's the one that's like a flashlight for cold sores but I used it on my neck/head/sinuses. No idea if it helped long term but it felt nice in the moment. Maybe a panel would be better.
Accupressure mat. IDK I prefer a foam rolleexercises or just relaxing. It didn't really do anything for me except if I'm having a migraine it can be nice to distract from the pain and boost pain fighting endorphins.
I would really like to try somatic exercises, massage therapy, craniosacral therapy, sound baths, infrared sauna, see a functional medicine doctor (but am mistrustful of "trends" here). I'm curious about grounding mats and some other kind of wackadoodle stuff too so feel free to send me feedback on this kind of stuff.
TLDR- pacing, time, healthy habits and mindset. Nothing new under the sun. I deeply apologize for going on for so long.
submitted by letsgouda to LongHaulersRecovery [link] [comments]
I got sick in July '23 (my first time ever testing positive and I had let my vaccination lapse because I guess I thought I might be immune lol). I took paxlovid and started testing negative after about 6 days and I had a trip planned so I went.... for a day of tubing and drinking. I ended up basically getting sick again for another week.
I tried to get back into my activities and workout routine but couldn't get even close and was feeling really worn down. I had a lot of stuff going on and some stressful work events and I kind of crashed for a few days. Got back out there, then crashed again after an hour bike ride and cleaning my bathroom and a stressful family event. I was in the push crash cycle for August/SeptembeOctober. Also daily headache, increased migraines, some autonomic stuff like high heart rate and blood pooling, dizziness. Doing less each time and triggering worse PEM. Also a TON of grief and anxiety and frustration.
In mid October I gave up on all activity except work and taking care of myself. I gave myself permission to REST aggressively/radically. I was very lucky to have a supportive boyfriend who helped me with things like changing sheets, doing dishes, bringing me some meal prepped food. I didn't clean my apartment for 3 months, I started doing grocery pickup. I also sprained my neck doing a stretch which was a whole additional layer- after a basic blood work and being told by my doc there was nothing they could really do except wait and see, I focused further medical efforts on dealing with my neck injury/coathanger pain/constant headaches. I was also diagnosed with occipital neuralgia.
I have been on an upward trajectory SO SLOWLY since December. I thought I'd list out all the things I did that I feel helped. I have a general theory that our bodies/nervous systems are both physically inflamed and also in fight/flight/freeze from the physical and mental stress. Anything you can do to support the body and mind's natural healthy processes to heal/detox/relax is going to help, even if it only moves the needle .0000001%. Then it's up to time and of course your own unique health situation.
I'm able to walk for like half an hour right now, more if I can take breaks/go slow. I'm doing PT/light body weight exercises a couple times a week, hitting the pool sometimes and swimming about 12 minutes right now. I can easily grocery shop most of the time, I can socialize and drink (though hangovers are worse haha). It feels like huge relief to be back in the world and not SCARED of what will happen. I may have new limits or needs moving forward and that feels ok to me- I've always had anxiety, ADHD, fatigue, burnout issues. I'm optimistic that I'll continue to improve and that life is a journey. There will be low time and high times forever. My challenge now is continuing to stay motivated to support myself so I don't start picking up bad patterns again!
#1 MOVEMENT/PACING- After letting myself rest hard for about 6 weeks (still working hybrid model but did have some vacation and sick time) I started by just walking down the block and back. After a week, add another block. Get up to 5 min, then 10 min, then 2x 10 min. I found that frequent rests are key. As someone with ADHD I always want to finish a task completely because I believe I will get distracted if I stop. But you can wash half the dishes and sit down. If you can't walk 12 min at once, maybe you can walk 6 in the morning and 6 in the evening. And you really have to understand your body's cues- it's ok for example to make your symptoms 2 points worse on a 10 point scale but any further and you need to stop immediately. This is not graded exercise therapy. And 2 points worked for me it might be 1 or 3 for you. You don't want to trigger a massive crash but if you're tired, or need to lie down, that's ok. Expanding capacity happens so slowly.
1b. Lymphatic drainage via movement- I did several lymphatic drainage techniques from youtube including Perrin technique and all triggered PEM/crash. I think getting your lymph moving is key but doing it yourself is risky and your body is in a weak sensitive state. This is where the importance of movement comes in again- to get your lymph/fascia/blood/digestion all moving. Yin or gentle yoga, physical therapy, "floor time" as I called it just to get out of the laying down position. Going on a walk, doing a little self massage. A gentle scrub in the shower with a washcloth (I'm sorry if you can't shower- my daily shower is the main thing keeping me going lol).
#2 Zoloft- Yes another one on the antidepressants. Initially it was because I was struggling with my mental health in the face of all these issues, but it does help with anxiety and may be good for inflammation too.
#3 ELECTROLYTES (and to an extent, minerals generally)- I do not crave plain water but even a pinch of sea salt will make it gulpable for me. I used to think they were too expensive to use regularly- but health is wealth. I drink electrolyte mixes daily and it does wonders for my energy and well being. I like Redmond Relyte the best and it's cheap if you go per serving. Also love gatorlyte, nuun is good. Lots of magnesium!!!
#4 Mindset/Relaxation- Tried some meditations, some yoga nidras, really allowing myself to acknowledge and feel rather than avoid or suppress. I used exercise for this previously so I really had to carve out quiet brain time deliberately. Honorable mention here to reducing screens, circadian rhythm, sunlight, good sleep hygiene type stuff. My partner helped me a lot with realizing that my worth is not tied to my productivity or what I can do for others. It was a real breakthrough that allowed me to rest and take care of myself and be NICER to myself. Also, I kept any entertainment I consumed light and familiar, and felt very supported by listening to all the Harry Potters and rereading all the Anne of Green Gables books. Young adult content is great for fighting the good fight, dealing with grief and loss, finding your identity, and learning right/wrong. There are so many options for brain retraining/support- I just did whatever I felt called to.
#5 Other vitamins- Fish oil, b complex (this is helping nerve damage from 3 years ago so I think I must have been really lacking), D, lysine (taking for cold sores but also antiviral effects and it's cheap), Vit C, probiotics, occasional melatonin. Nothing too groundbreaking here. Just added a multi, and I don't take all these every day. I still have quercetin and monolaurin on the shelf untried- I've taken a very slow pace to trying new supplements.
#6 Diet/Whole Foods- Focus on eating a shit ton of protein and eat until full. I was eating a lot of diet foods and tracking calories and I dropped all that- not worth it. Why stress your body further. I increased my veggies, full fat dairy, whole grains, legumes, spices, teas. As much color and variety as possible. Food is medicine- big shout out to coconut oil. cooking with coconut oil always makes me feel better (antiviral/antimicrobial) but I had stopped due to high cholesterol. Also bought myself a juicer so I can get big doses on things I don't eat as much (beets, ginger, citrus, pineapple, fruits in general). Plus fermented food (booch, yogurt, kraut)
#7 Physical therapy and Blair Technique Chiro - PT is usually great but I was not improving on my neck issues after a month so they recommended adding Blair Chiro- specifically a neck focused "no crack" technique. Those adjustments made a HUGE difference in my headaches/neck pain healing progression. I legit could not hold my own head up all day starting out. I include these because I think neck/spine/body dysfunction can be part of the package, and my PT also does a lot of training on breathing properly- another big issue people have these days. And they got me moving too!
Honorable mentions to compression socks, my neck heating pad, my theracane and foam roller, hot showers with lavender essential oil, decaf green tea, advil, aleve, biofreeze, dr bronners magic balm, hugs, grocery pickup, sex (eyoooh), and countless other little things that improve general quality of life and probably actually target whatever is going on with long covid.
Some things that didn't do much or were bad-
Vestibular PT - had a work up and they couldn't diagnose me with much other than general vertigo. Not BPPD or neuritis or anything. I have a sneaky suspicion a number of things were contributing to my dizziness that are all wearing off- neuroinflammation, neck dysfunction, anxiety, cold/hats triggering my occipital neuralgia (winter is over!) and possibly CBD
CBD- I love CBD and I started taking it more during all this. Recently stopped as I've been doing better and I feel my dizziness has improved a lot so maybe there's a connection there. Still think it's helpful though!
Antihistamines- I went on zyrtec (normally was just taking the occasional claritin) and turns out it gave me INSANE sinus pain after awhile which also triggered migraines (and a lot of tears). Took me a month or so to figure that out.
Flonase- doctor told me to take this for my extreme sinus pain and it roided me out. I barely slept for like 2 nights after taking one double dose. I felt great like a week later, so much extra energy. But not worth it and not what it's for anyway. I switched to a hypertonic saline solution spray and it works great.
Ubiquinol gave me heart palpitations so bad.
Olly stress gummies- these worked so good but I'm so nervous about messing with GABA
FL-41 glasses - I think the tint helps a lot with light sensitivity/migraine but maybe the frames I got sucked because these make me so much worse if I wear them for more than an hour.
Red light therapy- I got this off amazon it's the one that's like a flashlight for cold sores but I used it on my neck/head/sinuses. No idea if it helped long term but it felt nice in the moment. Maybe a panel would be better.
Accupressure mat. IDK I prefer a foam rolleexercises or just relaxing. It didn't really do anything for me except if I'm having a migraine it can be nice to distract from the pain and boost pain fighting endorphins.
I would really like to try somatic exercises, massage therapy, craniosacral therapy, sound baths, infrared sauna, see a functional medicine doctor (but am mistrustful of "trends" here). I'm curious about grounding mats and some other kind of wackadoodle stuff too so feel free to send me feedback on this kind of stuff.
TLDR- pacing, time, healthy habits and mindset. Nothing new under the sun. I deeply apologize for going on for so long.
2024.04.17 03:03 AutumnBreeze22 Maybe Menieres, Maybe not
Hi, all. About 5 years ago, my daughter started experiencing dizziness. She described it as feeling like a box was over her head. Going into stores were the worst and always seemed to trigger dizziness. She also had ringing in her ears. Those symptoms subsided over a year or two period. The ENT, at the time, felt her symptoms were due to vestibular migraines.
For the last 6 months, she has been experiencing ringing, popping, and fullness in her ears every day to some degree. She says it feels like she's walking around in a daze. She waited forever to tell me in hopes the symptoms would go away. Per doctor's orders, we tried a week's worth of antihistamines with saline nasal spray that helped somewhat for a few days. Next, we tried a decongestant and Flonase for a week. That didn't seem to help much, either. Lately, she's mentioned feeling somewhat sweaty & dizzy. I'm really concerned she may have Meniere's. We have a second opinion appointment tomorrow. The ENT we saw a few weeks ago rushed us through the appointment and acted disinterested, maybe because her hearing test & tympanogram came back normal. I didn't feel welcome to ask questions. It was a horrible experience. He briefly mentioned something about TMJ as we were leaving. She does have 4 wisdom teeth coming in. I asked an oral surgeon if wisdom teeth could cause ringing & clogged ears. He said those are generally not symptoms of wisdom teeth coming in. Her dentist said her bite is great, but maybe talking to a TMJ specialist might be worthwhile. Any insight or advice would be appreciated. Any particular questions I should ask tomorrow? Can you have normal hearing tests & still have Meniere's?
submitted by AutumnBreeze22 to Menieres [link] [comments]
For the last 6 months, she has been experiencing ringing, popping, and fullness in her ears every day to some degree. She says it feels like she's walking around in a daze. She waited forever to tell me in hopes the symptoms would go away. Per doctor's orders, we tried a week's worth of antihistamines with saline nasal spray that helped somewhat for a few days. Next, we tried a decongestant and Flonase for a week. That didn't seem to help much, either. Lately, she's mentioned feeling somewhat sweaty & dizzy. I'm really concerned she may have Meniere's. We have a second opinion appointment tomorrow. The ENT we saw a few weeks ago rushed us through the appointment and acted disinterested, maybe because her hearing test & tympanogram came back normal. I didn't feel welcome to ask questions. It was a horrible experience. He briefly mentioned something about TMJ as we were leaving. She does have 4 wisdom teeth coming in. I asked an oral surgeon if wisdom teeth could cause ringing & clogged ears. He said those are generally not symptoms of wisdom teeth coming in. Her dentist said her bite is great, but maybe talking to a TMJ specialist might be worthwhile. Any insight or advice would be appreciated. Any particular questions I should ask tomorrow? Can you have normal hearing tests & still have Meniere's?
2024.04.13 03:10 manghanz Sinus pressure/headache
I’ve been dealing with sinus issues for about three weeks now. Just this week, the throbbing pain and pressure around my forehead and behind my eyes began to intensify.
The only medication that has really helped me pull through and get rid of the pressure is taking 1 pill of Ibuprofen (Advil) 200mg a day. I’ve taken it for about five days straight now and I’m trying my hardest to not rely on it but the pain is so unbearable that I have to. If not, I feel super lightheaded and dizzy from the headache that even just standing up and walking is difficult. I’ve tried using a warm compress and steam as well but it’s temporary and the pain settles in again right after.
I noticed this headache tends to occur after I do a saline spray and Flonase in the morning? I was recommended by my doctor to take 2 sprays of Flonase in each nostril daily, one in the morning and one at night to help with post nasal drip. I’m wondering if the sinus headache could be a side effect from it.
My allergy appointment isn’t until May 16th and I’m also waiting for a referral to an ENT doctor. This has been affecting me in my daily life and with work and school.
Does anyone have any natural methods that’s helped relieve your sinus headaches?
submitted by manghanz to Sinusitis [link] [comments]
The only medication that has really helped me pull through and get rid of the pressure is taking 1 pill of Ibuprofen (Advil) 200mg a day. I’ve taken it for about five days straight now and I’m trying my hardest to not rely on it but the pain is so unbearable that I have to. If not, I feel super lightheaded and dizzy from the headache that even just standing up and walking is difficult. I’ve tried using a warm compress and steam as well but it’s temporary and the pain settles in again right after.
I noticed this headache tends to occur after I do a saline spray and Flonase in the morning? I was recommended by my doctor to take 2 sprays of Flonase in each nostril daily, one in the morning and one at night to help with post nasal drip. I’m wondering if the sinus headache could be a side effect from it.
My allergy appointment isn’t until May 16th and I’m also waiting for a referral to an ENT doctor. This has been affecting me in my daily life and with work and school.
Does anyone have any natural methods that’s helped relieve your sinus headaches?
2024.04.12 23:07 vhannagmailcom Green Chalky Post Nasal Discharge
About 10 months back I had a brutal sinus infection, pain on left side of face, bright yellow discharge, foul odor. We treated with Amoxicillin which didn't work, then Augmentum, which did, but did not totally clear things up. Things have persisted.
I started using the Rx Flonase with Citarizine Hydrocloride tabs, which helps, but I have to take it every day to get some relief. NSAIDs and occassional sinus rinses.
As it stands now, I have good days and bad days, but almost all days I have a post nasal drip with green discharge. I have to keep a cup nearby and generally spit into it about every 10 minutes. It's not a pleasant quality of life.
The ENT surgeon saw I had inflamation in my MRI months back when I had my Tinnitus scanned and concluded that I have entered the realm of chronic sinusitis.
I'm a bit worried how long my body can take having an infection in my face and green discharge. I have a CT scan coming up in a week to see what the deal is.
Does anyone have this perpetual discharge, chalky tasting mucous that never stops during the day. Oddly it doesnt seem a problem while I am sleeping.
submitted by vhannagmailcom to Sinusitis [link] [comments]
I started using the Rx Flonase with Citarizine Hydrocloride tabs, which helps, but I have to take it every day to get some relief. NSAIDs and occassional sinus rinses.
As it stands now, I have good days and bad days, but almost all days I have a post nasal drip with green discharge. I have to keep a cup nearby and generally spit into it about every 10 minutes. It's not a pleasant quality of life.
The ENT surgeon saw I had inflamation in my MRI months back when I had my Tinnitus scanned and concluded that I have entered the realm of chronic sinusitis.
I'm a bit worried how long my body can take having an infection in my face and green discharge. I have a CT scan coming up in a week to see what the deal is.
Does anyone have this perpetual discharge, chalky tasting mucous that never stops during the day. Oddly it doesnt seem a problem while I am sleeping.
2024.04.07 04:59 FaithlessnessFull207 ENT Question or ESD Sufferers
((((POSTED THIS IN ASKDOCS::: )))
Quick Background: 27f Had chronic ear infections and bad pollen allergies as a child that got better with age, tonsillectomy, and ear tube surgery. Tubes fell out—all good through my teen years. After having COVID in 2020 I had vertigo for the first time—bad. Took about a month to go away and 2 adjustments.
Had 3-4 more occurrences sporadically over the next 2 years. ALWAYS on the right side. 2 had to be corrected with self-Epley and the others were very quick 2-3 second occurances. Never came back thank god, but I was anxious every single day for the longest that it would.
Since COVID also, I am extremely prone to ear infections. The second I get stuffy, my right ear completely blocks. I can always count on having an ear infection the next day. Amoxicillin no longer works, only high dose Clindomycin can get rid of it. (3-6x a year).
I recently saw an ENT who gave me a CT scan, showing a deviated septum, a collapsed sinus, and dark areas by his explanation showed that I have extremely minimal drainage system in my face. He prescribed DAILY flonase and azelastine. Fine.
Then, on my flight home from a recent trip my right ear never popped. Now I have another f*ing ear infection. Another round of antibiotics.
To put it plainly, I do not want to be on nasal spray every day for the rest of my life to function. I do not want to continuously be extremely anxious anytime I shower, or swim in the ocean. And I don’t want to keep putting crap in my body.
So basically:
a) I will continue to see this ENT, but is there anything I should be pushing for as far as solutions?
b) If surgery/procedures are an option, what are the success rates and would it affect my singing voice?
c) Will there be a day where I can breathe/function normally without fear of things like Vertigo (I’m literally terrified every time I get an ear infection)
d) ANY other advice/words of affirmation are deeply appreciated.
Thank you for your input and time ✨🙌 —————————————————
^ Posted in different forum, came here to ask sufferers like myself if they’ve had similar issues and what’s helped! I’ve heard of balloon sinoplasty, as well as eustachian balloon procedures. Anyone who’s successfully solved their issues without being reliant on nose spray, decongestants or “The Valsalva Method”(never worked for me :( ) please share <3 Thank you!
submitted by FaithlessnessFull207 to EustachianTubeClick [link] [comments]
Quick Background: 27f Had chronic ear infections and bad pollen allergies as a child that got better with age, tonsillectomy, and ear tube surgery. Tubes fell out—all good through my teen years. After having COVID in 2020 I had vertigo for the first time—bad. Took about a month to go away and 2 adjustments.
Had 3-4 more occurrences sporadically over the next 2 years. ALWAYS on the right side. 2 had to be corrected with self-Epley and the others were very quick 2-3 second occurances. Never came back thank god, but I was anxious every single day for the longest that it would.
Since COVID also, I am extremely prone to ear infections. The second I get stuffy, my right ear completely blocks. I can always count on having an ear infection the next day. Amoxicillin no longer works, only high dose Clindomycin can get rid of it. (3-6x a year).
I recently saw an ENT who gave me a CT scan, showing a deviated septum, a collapsed sinus, and dark areas by his explanation showed that I have extremely minimal drainage system in my face. He prescribed DAILY flonase and azelastine. Fine.
Then, on my flight home from a recent trip my right ear never popped. Now I have another f*ing ear infection. Another round of antibiotics.
To put it plainly, I do not want to be on nasal spray every day for the rest of my life to function. I do not want to continuously be extremely anxious anytime I shower, or swim in the ocean. And I don’t want to keep putting crap in my body.
So basically:
a) I will continue to see this ENT, but is there anything I should be pushing for as far as solutions?
b) If surgery/procedures are an option, what are the success rates and would it affect my singing voice?
c) Will there be a day where I can breathe/function normally without fear of things like Vertigo (I’m literally terrified every time I get an ear infection)
d) ANY other advice/words of affirmation are deeply appreciated.
Thank you for your input and time ✨🙌 —————————————————
^ Posted in different forum, came here to ask sufferers like myself if they’ve had similar issues and what’s helped! I’ve heard of balloon sinoplasty, as well as eustachian balloon procedures. Anyone who’s successfully solved their issues without being reliant on nose spray, decongestants or “The Valsalva Method”(never worked for me :( ) please share <3 Thank you!
2024.04.06 07:34 Ok-Bison1904 [M34] Multi-Month Long Sinus Infection
I travel a lot but I am finally tired of snoring and having shitty sleep so I went to an ENT about potential sleep apnea and he looked in my nose and said "well you have enlarged turbinates and a slight deviated septum so we can look at taking care of that first and then do a sleep study.
However, I was traveling within 3 weeks of that consultation and I thought I would just wait until I was somewhere a little more long term. I went to the next ENT and they did an xray and looked in my nose and said that I had a nasal polyp and sinus infection plus where my adenoids used to be was big and infected which was probably why I wasn't able to breathe. They wouldn't be able to tell if I had any other issues because the infected tissue made everything look swollen and it would be hard to tell.
I went to another ENT a few days ago (about 2 months after previous, 5 months since the first) and they showed me photos inside my nose and my adenoid nubbin (mine were removed as a kid) was still swollen and what looked like puss sacks on it covering up about 50% of that nasal canal (and that was while I was breathing "fine" during the day). This one says he doesn't see any amount of deviation nor does he believe there are turbinates just that it's all the infection.
I've been doing the nasal rinse, the steroids, the antibiotics, the decongestants, and the other miscellaneous medicine that I've been prescribed (it makes me feel good about the medication choices that this doctor had the same basic prescription as the previous one although this one included a mouth wash). I have been dealing with severe sinus issues for 5 months now and know that I have at least had this sinus infection thing for 2 months of antibiotics (I did only take the antibiotics until they ran out so like 3 weeks? but continued doing nasal rinses every night before bed.
My insurance is good, I work from home and don't care about recovery, I don't want to be the guy who jumps to surgery as the first option but can I just ask them to go in and cut the infected tissue out, cut the polyp out, straighten my nose if they can, and honestly feel free to just bore out a giant hole into my throat if that will mean I stop having breathing issues?
If I have to wait for this infection to go away how much longer should it take? Sometimes I make a soft snore sound while I am awake. I think it's in my nose, not my throat, based on the feeling and sound I hear in my head (for whatever that's worth) and because all these medical issues are centred around my nose.
<3 Please help me breathe normally again (or for the first time). Thanks!
EDIT: I forgot to mention, Doctor 2 didn't want to do a surgical option because she believed that there is too high of a chance for men to have ED issues after having nasal surgery which I thought was bonkers until I Googled it... it seems like it IS a thing but the last study on it was published in the 70s or something and it still wasn't that big of a risk. If anyone has information about this, I would love to know because I would rather not have ED... though I would take breathing over anything.
submitted by Ok-Bison1904 to AskDocs [link] [comments]
However, I was traveling within 3 weeks of that consultation and I thought I would just wait until I was somewhere a little more long term. I went to the next ENT and they did an xray and looked in my nose and said that I had a nasal polyp and sinus infection plus where my adenoids used to be was big and infected which was probably why I wasn't able to breathe. They wouldn't be able to tell if I had any other issues because the infected tissue made everything look swollen and it would be hard to tell.
I went to another ENT a few days ago (about 2 months after previous, 5 months since the first) and they showed me photos inside my nose and my adenoid nubbin (mine were removed as a kid) was still swollen and what looked like puss sacks on it covering up about 50% of that nasal canal (and that was while I was breathing "fine" during the day). This one says he doesn't see any amount of deviation nor does he believe there are turbinates just that it's all the infection.
I've been doing the nasal rinse, the steroids, the antibiotics, the decongestants, and the other miscellaneous medicine that I've been prescribed (it makes me feel good about the medication choices that this doctor had the same basic prescription as the previous one although this one included a mouth wash). I have been dealing with severe sinus issues for 5 months now and know that I have at least had this sinus infection thing for 2 months of antibiotics (I did only take the antibiotics until they ran out so like 3 weeks? but continued doing nasal rinses every night before bed.
My insurance is good, I work from home and don't care about recovery, I don't want to be the guy who jumps to surgery as the first option but can I just ask them to go in and cut the infected tissue out, cut the polyp out, straighten my nose if they can, and honestly feel free to just bore out a giant hole into my throat if that will mean I stop having breathing issues?
If I have to wait for this infection to go away how much longer should it take? Sometimes I make a soft snore sound while I am awake. I think it's in my nose, not my throat, based on the feeling and sound I hear in my head (for whatever that's worth) and because all these medical issues are centred around my nose.
<3 Please help me breathe normally again (or for the first time). Thanks!
EDIT: I forgot to mention, Doctor 2 didn't want to do a surgical option because she believed that there is too high of a chance for men to have ED issues after having nasal surgery which I thought was bonkers until I Googled it... it seems like it IS a thing but the last study on it was published in the 70s or something and it still wasn't that big of a risk. If anyone has information about this, I would love to know because I would rather not have ED... though I would take breathing over anything.
2024.04.05 18:05 recycle37216 Friendly Pharmacist Insight 👩🏽⚕️
Since I discussed H2RAs, I thought I’d delve into its sibling medication, H1RAs, which are generally referred to as antihistamines. These are the meds that you take when you have an allergy resulting in a histamine release that might cause runny nose, congestion, coughing, sneezing, itchy/watery eyes, hives, etc. (Of course, if you have difficulty breathing and throat swelling, use an Epi pen/go to the ER.)They are divided into the first and second generation namely based on their FDA approval dates, but they also tend to have some different aspects associated with each grouping.
The OGs (1st Gen) cross the blood-brain barrier, so they have the most noticeable drowsiness effects but also potentially stronger effects on blocking histamine in multiple areas of the body (GI tract, blood vessels, respiratory tract). They are also less specific to bind only to histamine receptors so they can also have more anticholinergic (dec digestion, urination, and saliva) effects. Some oral options include diphenhydramine (Benadryl-OTC/Rx), doxylamine (Unisom-OTC/Rx), cyproheptadine (Rx), brompheniramine (Dimetapp-OTC/Rx), chlorpheniramine (Chlorine-Tabs-OTC/Rx), meclizine (Travel Ease-OTC/Rx), dimenhydrinate (Dramamine-OTC/Rx), hydroxyzine (Rx), promethazine (Phenergan-Rx), etc. These meds are meant to be used on an as needed basis unless under medical supervision. Caution should always be taken when driving due to drowsiness potentials.
Second gens are generally considered safer from less risk of drowsiness and drug interactions. Many are also longer lasting, so many can be dosed once every 24 hours continuously. Some oral options include loratidine (Claritin-OTC/Rx), cetirizine (Zyrtec-OTC/Rx), fexofenadine (Allegra-OTC/Rx), desloratidine (Clarinex-OTC/Rx), levocetirizine (Xyzal-OTC/Rx). These are all generally considered to be equally effective, so one is not necessarily recommended over the other. As with any drug, always tell your medical providers if you take any OTC meds because these can still have drug or disease state interactions.
Some antihistamines available in nasal spray and ophthalmic dosage forms include azelaztine (Astelin, Astepro-OTC/Rx, Optivar-Rx), olopatadine (Patanase-Rx, Pataday-OTC/Rx), ketotifen (Zaditor-OTC/Rx). These have less systemic side effects, while still exerting direct action against symptoms.
Other allergy medications include nasal decongestants taken orally like pseudoephedrine (Sudafed-OTC/Rx), and phenylephrine (Sudafed PE-OTC/Rx), or intranasally like phenylephrine (Neo-Synepherine-OTC/Rx), oxymetolazine (Afrin-OTC/Rx) and tetrahydrolozine (Tyzine-Rx). Oral nasal decongestants can increase blood pressure because they work to constrict blood vessels and should not be used long term. They can also cause CNS excitability and heighten anxiety. Nasal spray decongestants should be limited to only 3 days of consecutive use because they can cause symptoms to worsen with continuous prolonged use.
Corticosteroid nasal sprays may also be used to alleviate allergy symptoms from stuffy or runny nose like fluticasone (Flonase-OTC/Rx), mometasone (Nasonex-OTC/Rx), budesonide (Rhinocort-OTC/Rx), beclomethasone (Beconase-Rx), triamcinolone (Nasocort-OTC/Rx), and flunisolide (Rhinalar-Rx). These are listed in order of their general potency. They also have less systemic side effects, while still exerting direct action against symptoms, though it may take several weeks of regular use before their full effects can be felt. While there are some prescription steroid eye drops also available, these are generally reserved for more persistent, severe eye allergy symptoms.
Finally, there are also mast cell stabilizers like cromolyn (Gastrocro-PO-Rx, Nasalcrom-NS-OTC/Rx, and Ophth-Rx) and lukotriene receptor antagonists like montelukast (Singulair). Mast cell stabilizers work to prevent histamines from being released, and lukotriene blockers prevent their inflammatory action involved in allergic reactions and asthma.
There is no evidence that adding medications from the same drug type is beneficial (ex: 2 oral antihistamines), yet a combination of those from different types are often used (ex: oral, nasal, and/or eye drop antihistamines, decongestants, and steroids. As always folks, let your medical providers know if you are using these OTC.
I thought this link had some great info if you want to read more! Allergy medications: Know your options
submitted by recycle37216 to PharmacyTips [link] [comments]
The OGs (1st Gen) cross the blood-brain barrier, so they have the most noticeable drowsiness effects but also potentially stronger effects on blocking histamine in multiple areas of the body (GI tract, blood vessels, respiratory tract). They are also less specific to bind only to histamine receptors so they can also have more anticholinergic (dec digestion, urination, and saliva) effects. Some oral options include diphenhydramine (Benadryl-OTC/Rx), doxylamine (Unisom-OTC/Rx), cyproheptadine (Rx), brompheniramine (Dimetapp-OTC/Rx), chlorpheniramine (Chlorine-Tabs-OTC/Rx), meclizine (Travel Ease-OTC/Rx), dimenhydrinate (Dramamine-OTC/Rx), hydroxyzine (Rx), promethazine (Phenergan-Rx), etc. These meds are meant to be used on an as needed basis unless under medical supervision. Caution should always be taken when driving due to drowsiness potentials.
Second gens are generally considered safer from less risk of drowsiness and drug interactions. Many are also longer lasting, so many can be dosed once every 24 hours continuously. Some oral options include loratidine (Claritin-OTC/Rx), cetirizine (Zyrtec-OTC/Rx), fexofenadine (Allegra-OTC/Rx), desloratidine (Clarinex-OTC/Rx), levocetirizine (Xyzal-OTC/Rx). These are all generally considered to be equally effective, so one is not necessarily recommended over the other. As with any drug, always tell your medical providers if you take any OTC meds because these can still have drug or disease state interactions.
Some antihistamines available in nasal spray and ophthalmic dosage forms include azelaztine (Astelin, Astepro-OTC/Rx, Optivar-Rx), olopatadine (Patanase-Rx, Pataday-OTC/Rx), ketotifen (Zaditor-OTC/Rx). These have less systemic side effects, while still exerting direct action against symptoms.
Other allergy medications include nasal decongestants taken orally like pseudoephedrine (Sudafed-OTC/Rx), and phenylephrine (Sudafed PE-OTC/Rx), or intranasally like phenylephrine (Neo-Synepherine-OTC/Rx), oxymetolazine (Afrin-OTC/Rx) and tetrahydrolozine (Tyzine-Rx). Oral nasal decongestants can increase blood pressure because they work to constrict blood vessels and should not be used long term. They can also cause CNS excitability and heighten anxiety. Nasal spray decongestants should be limited to only 3 days of consecutive use because they can cause symptoms to worsen with continuous prolonged use.
Corticosteroid nasal sprays may also be used to alleviate allergy symptoms from stuffy or runny nose like fluticasone (Flonase-OTC/Rx), mometasone (Nasonex-OTC/Rx), budesonide (Rhinocort-OTC/Rx), beclomethasone (Beconase-Rx), triamcinolone (Nasocort-OTC/Rx), and flunisolide (Rhinalar-Rx). These are listed in order of their general potency. They also have less systemic side effects, while still exerting direct action against symptoms, though it may take several weeks of regular use before their full effects can be felt. While there are some prescription steroid eye drops also available, these are generally reserved for more persistent, severe eye allergy symptoms.
Finally, there are also mast cell stabilizers like cromolyn (Gastrocro-PO-Rx, Nasalcrom-NS-OTC/Rx, and Ophth-Rx) and lukotriene receptor antagonists like montelukast (Singulair). Mast cell stabilizers work to prevent histamines from being released, and lukotriene blockers prevent their inflammatory action involved in allergic reactions and asthma.
There is no evidence that adding medications from the same drug type is beneficial (ex: 2 oral antihistamines), yet a combination of those from different types are often used (ex: oral, nasal, and/or eye drop antihistamines, decongestants, and steroids. As always folks, let your medical providers know if you are using these OTC.
I thought this link had some great info if you want to read more! Allergy medications: Know your options