Health and Wellness Chit-Chat: Your Primary Care Topic

[shapeshifter]

1 hour ago, GHScorpiosRule said:

I know this is a weird and maybe a “why would you even mark this “ type of milestone, but it did set and complete the path for me being in remission:

10 years ago I began the chemo that would last for the next five months, every three weeks. I will forever be peeved at m employer at the time for making me coordinate our office move-KNOWING I had just had first dose two days before-as his own mother was a cancer survivor. I was nauseous all day- and the copious cans of ginger ale didn’t help. But I had an amazing oncology team and the nurse immediately changed my meds and the new one helped, because the food tasted like sawdust, I forced myself to eat and by the time appetite returned, it was time for the next fusion. I had to wait a month and a half for my mom to come from India (she and my dad had just returned to India after my mastectomy-they stayed for one and half months) and she forced me to eat the meals she made. 

I am grateful that I have my health, but shallowly, I hate I had to to take this route as a make sure to get all the cancer due to the location of the lump, because my hair never grew back the way it was. I’m still constantly self conscious because the top and crown still look like someone took a weed whacker to it. And who would have thought I would miss the 30-45 minutes it took to blow dry my hair? Now it takes 15, and the thickness is gone. But I keep reminding myself I have my health. And I am. 10 years remission!🥂🙌🏽🥂🙌🏽

 

I'm 8 years now. What should we bring to our virtual tea party? 
(I'm having a cup of tea right now.) 

Here's our entertainment for our party:

 

Edited December 1 by shapeshifter

[roseha]

On 11/26/2024 at 10:40 AM, Dimity said:

Has anyone ever gotten, what I think are hives, for no apparent reason?  I am thinking possibly stress related as my diet hasn't changed in anyway.  Whatever the reason thank god for benadryl!

@Dimity I just saw your post, sorry.  I hope you have had the skin issue checked out because It sounds like what happened to me when I first got vasculitis,  I had red marks all over my legs all of a sudden.  I went to Urgent Care and a doctor there took a photo of it with his phone and went online to check that it was vasculitis.

So I hope that's not the case but I'd suggest seeing a doctor so as to at least hopefully rule it out.

[Mindthinkr]

On 11/26/2024 at 10:40 AM, Dimity said:

Has anyone ever gotten, what I think are hives, for no apparent reason?  I am thinking possibly stress related as my diet hasn't changed in anyway.  Whatever the reason thank god for benadryl!

Yes. I had been on a Beta blocker since my daughter was born. No problem. Fast forward 25 years and I suddenly had hives all over me, especially my torso. At one point I felt like my lungs were filling with fluid. It took about 10 days for my Dr to figure out that I was allergic to the beta blocker or more likely the filler that was used to compound the drug. I have, however, heard of people who get a stress reaction where they get body hives as well. I hope this has cleared up for you. 

[Yeah No]

1 hour ago, Mindthinkr said:

Yes. I had been on a Beta blocker since my daughter was born. No problem. Fast forward 25 years and I suddenly had hives all over me, especially my torso. At one point I felt like my lungs were filling with fluid. It took about 10 days for my Dr to figure out that I was allergic to the beta blocker or more likely the filler that was used to compound the drug. I have, however, heard of people who get a stress reaction where they get body hives as well. I hope this has cleared up for you. 

Yes, hives can be a sign of an allergic reaction. The usual suspects are medications and food although extreme stress and even wool or latex allergies can cause it. If that happened to me I'd stop and list everything I ate and any medications I took plus all activities I engaged in and even clothes I wore in a day or so. The culprit might be something that's never been a problem before. I found that out when a water pill I was taking for over a decade suddenly started making me dizzy. I didn't consider it because I never thought something I'd taken for so long would ever bother me. It wasn't until my gastro. suggested that it might be dehydrating me and causing dizziness that I stopped taking it and the symptoms disappeared overnight. He also suspected that the episode of vertigo I had in 2023 was caused by that.

If the hives only happened once and didn't come back I would sort-of doubt that it could be related to any medications taken on a daily basis but I'd think about anything I did that one day that I haven't done again. Food might be more likely in that category but any OTC meds, makeup, skin creams or being in a room with animal dander might be the cause. I'd see a doctor about it at any rate.

[shapeshifter]

2 hours ago, Hamnaaa said:

Chronic pain can be so challenging to manage. Alongside medical treatments, staying hydrated and supporting overall health with antioxidant-rich hydrogen water might help. Hoping you find relief soon

2 hours ago, Hamnaaa said:

Congratulations on reaching 10 years of remission—that's an incredible milestone! Along with celebrating your health, small steps like staying hydrated and supporting your body with antioxidant-rich options, like hydrogen water, might help with overall wellness. Wishing you continued health and happiness

@Hamnaaa, as a "New Member," perhaps you didn't realize this forum is not a place to link to sites selling your wares?

Sometimes we do mention a product on Amazon or wherever, so perhaps you misunderstood?
 

 

[shapeshifter]

I'm obsessed with Wordle comments on the NYT site.
Someone posted this today, which seems worthy of sharing particularly here in this thread, and perhaps elsewhere, because the person typing this comment is recovering from a surprise infection of the pericardium:

• “…I have long ago acquiesced to the reality that we are all pure energy in rented bodies. Some or all of us able to navigate space/time with little effort (once you realize you can do it) such that the collective well wishes/prayers/good vibes (call it what you will) has an incredibly powerful effect when focused on a person, idea, or problem. Gratitude to each of you who have commented or clicked “recommend” since being aware of my scare.”

 

Edited December 8 by shapeshifter

[Dimity]

Thank you to everyone who took the time to weigh in on my hives concern.  Have seen the doctor (well the nurse practitioner who is awesome) and she is sure it is eczema likely brought on by stress.  But she has referred me to a dermatologist just to confirm.  And wonder of wonders I have an appointment with him next week!

What me stressed?

Edited December 11 by Dimity

[Gramto6]

On 12/1/2024 at 11:02 AM, shapeshifter said:

Great! 
Just in case you want to return it, my 2nd set of 2 were delivered Nov. 26, and it says I could return them until Jan 31, 2025, so, a little over 2 months.

Currently I'm sleeping with 2 of the inserts inside 2 pillow cases so I can bunch it up to go around my CPAP sleep mask + hose while sleeping on my side. It's perfect that way.
I have another with all 3 inserts in the outer pillow that I use to lean against if I want to watch TV for a bit while sitting up. It's comfy enough that if I fall asleep like that I don't have any aches or pains. 

OMG. I sound like one of those late night TV sales pitch people.
And I'm doing it for a MY PILLOW!!! 🤣

Okay. I'm the Good Pillow Pitchwoman.
The other one is the Bizarro Pillow Pitchman.
You know. Like Bizarro Superman:

 

I tried sleeping with two inserts (M & L) the first night and thought it was great. The next night I added the small one in also and slept with all three for about 10 days. It wasn't quite as good as just the two but I kept trying. Finally I went back to the first configuration (M & L) a couple of days ago and it is definitely the best for me as a side sleeper.  I have one pillow with all three on the bed too, for the same reason as you do, when I am sitting up reading. It is fine if I fall asleep on it, but only once in a while.

Thanks for the great recommendation!! 

[Bastet]

I'm intrigued by this "choose your own pillow" option, as someone who will never again have anything other than a Sleep Number mattress following the last decade where I've been able to have any mattress I want at any given time. 

But there I just have to push a button to adjust the firmness.  Here I'd have to physically add/remove internal layers.  I'm not doing that in the middle of the night.  Since I start out on my back (watching TV), fall asleep, and then spend the night rotating between my sides (both) and sometimes my back again and occasionally my stomach -- I am not a [X]-sleeper, I am a move around between positions sleeper who goes through at least three in a sleep cycle.

I like a fairly thick pillow and sleep on two of them, whatever my position.  I wonder if getting a pair of these adjustable pillows, keeping each of them at different levels (with one full thickness and the other something less than that) and discarding the second one other than when I'm on my back would be an improvement, or just an annoyance.

[Gramto6]

5 minutes ago, Bastet said:

I wonder if getting a pair of these adjustable pillows, keeping each of them at different levels (with one full thickness and the other something less than that) and discarding the second one other than when I'm on my back would be an improvement, or just an annoyance.

They come in a set of 2!  II have one  with 2 inserts and the other with all 3 so it is basically "harder" than the other one.  That should solve your problem.

[Yeah No]

I just read on the CDC site that people over the age of 65 should have TWO doses of the latest Covid vaccine preferably 6 months apart in order to be considered up to date with their shots. That's news to me. If I didn't stumble upon that I'd never have known. So now I have to wait a few more months and get another dose of the 24/25 update.

https://www.cdc.gov/covid/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html?utm_campaign=20241211_vac_prv_gal_v1&utm_content=english&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Quote

People ages 65 years and older

You are up to date when you have received:

2 doses of any 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine 6 months apart.

While it is the recommended to get 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine doses 6 months apart, the minimum time is 2 months apart, which allows flexibility to get the second dose prior to typical COVID-19 surges, travel, life events, and healthcare visits

 

[shapeshifter]

 

7 hours ago, Bastet said:

I like a fairly thick pillow and sleep on two of them, whatever my position.  I wonder if getting a pair of these adjustable pillows, keeping each of them at different levels (with one full thickness and the other something less than that) and discarding the second one other than when I'm on my back would be an improvement, or just an annoyance.

Maybe?
My initial attraction to these pillows was because my current pillows were old and all the pillows I found in stores were too thick because I am primarily a side sleeper with petite bone structure, especially narrow shoulders.
Also, I live in Rochester NY, where most people are taller and generally larger than I am, so maybe if I still lived in a major metropolitan area, the 3-4 aisles of bed pillows wouldn’t all be the identical too-thick thickness in a plethora of brands and style-names?
But more likely — based in part on online reviews — maybe it’s just a general manufacturing shift since I last bought bed pillows, to save costs by making one fabric-pattern in slightly different firmnesses depending upon the fill materials?

Edited December 12 by shapeshifter

[Absolom]

18 hours ago, Yeah No said:

I just read on the CDC site that people over the age of 65 should have TWO doses of the latest Covid vaccine preferably 6 months apart in order to be considered up to date with their shots.

They've been recommending two doses a year for over 65 since we went to "annual" vaccinations.  I didn't do the second last spring and sure enough caught covid during the August peak. November got back on the bandwagon. 

Edited December 12 by Absolom

[Ancaster]

On 11/26/2024 at 7:40 AM, Dimity said:

Has anyone ever gotten, what I think are hives, for no apparent reason?  I am thinking possibly stress related as my diet hasn't changed in anyway.  Whatever the reason thank god for benadryl!

I got them once and had no idea why.  I called my nurse practitioner friend and she asked whether I'd had x and y, which I had, but which seemed totally unrelated and weird.  She suggested benadryl, which worked like a charm.  I usually avoid drugs (in any form!), but in this case I was happy to take them.

Sorry I can't remember what x and y were, but they were not two contra-indicated medications.

Edited December 13 by Ancaster

[Ancaster]

On 12/6/2024 at 9:28 AM, shapeshifter said:

I'm obsessed with Wordle comments on the NYT site.
Someone posted this today, which seems worthy of sharing particularly here in this thread, and perhaps elsewhere, because the person typing this comment is recovering from a surprise infection of the pericardium:

• “…I have long ago acquiesced to the reality that we are all pure energy in rented bodies. Some or all of us able to navigate space/time with little effort (once you realize you can do it) such that the collective well wishes/prayers/good vibes (call it what you will) has an incredibly powerful effect when focused on a person, idea, or problem. Gratitude to each of you who have commented or clicked “recommend” since being aware of my scare.”

 

I like Wordle too, but why is the quoted comment relevant to Wordle?  There's a place and a time, and in my humble opinion the "Wordle" comments section is not it in this case.  (Not that it isn't on this thread.)

Edited December 13 by Ancaster

[shapeshifter]

15 minutes ago, Ancaster said:

why is the quoted comment relevant to Wordle?

He is a "regular" Wordle commenter who was gone for a while because he almost died. When he was able to play Wordle again and comment, he mentioned why he'd been gone. Other commenters expressed care and concern. This was his response. Like if a regular poster on a PrimeTmer TV show board was gone for a while.

[Ancaster]

13 minutes ago, shapeshifter said:

He is a "regular" Wordle commenter who was gone for a while because he almost died. When he was able to play Wordle again and comment, he mentioned why he'd been gone. Other commenters expressed care and concern. This was his response. Like if a regular poster on a PrimeTmer TV show board was gone for a while.

Thank you, I do appreciate the explanation.

[shapeshifter]

50 minutes ago, Ancaster said:

Thank you, I do appreciate the explanation.

You're welcome. 
But now I realize I shouldn't have even mentioned that it was a comment from the Wordle forum. You're probably not the only one confused. 
Usually I just start typing in a stream-of-consciousness sort of way and then edit out the parts that aren't necessary — sometimes several paragraphs, LOL.
I think I was in a hurry when I posted that here.

I just tried to edit it, but it's no longer possible.
So it will live on as an example of something that should have been edited, LOL.

Edited December 13 by shapeshifter

[chitowngirl]

I have what I’m calling a Yankee Clipper of a cold. It seems to have hit, but is moving out quickly. The problem? I have blisters on the sides of my tongue. They’ve happened before, years ago. Maybe the strain of cold? But it makes eating very difficult. I had a dentist appointment on Monday, so it would have been helpful if they would have erupted then, but they came a day or two later. I have some lidocaine from the last time, but it’s from a few years ago. I’ve been salt water gargling and using anbesol to numb it a bit. It just…hurts. ☹️

[shapeshifter]

1 hour ago, chitowngirl said:

I have what I’m calling a Yankee Clipper of a cold. It seems to have hit, but is moving out quickly. The problem? I have blisters on the sides of my tongue. They’ve happened before, years ago. Maybe the strain of cold? But it makes eating very difficult. I had a dentist appointment on Monday, so it would have been helpful if they would have erupted then, but they came a day or two later. I have some lidocaine from the last time, but it’s from a few years ago. I’ve been salt water gargling and using anbesol to numb it a bit. It just…hurts. ☹️

Not something like shingles of the tongue, I hope? Salt water gargling sounds excellent, regardless, but maybe call your health insurance company's nurse line to see what they recommend regarding being seen and, if so, how soon? There are anti-viral meds that need to be administered sooner rather than later to have a positive effect. 
But this is second-hand info on my part; I've never had shingles, but my sister and her family have.

One of my daughters and I get something like what you've described from walnuts.

[chitowngirl]

1 minute ago, shapeshifter said:

Not something like shingles of the tongue, I hope? Salt water gargling sounds excellent, regardless, but maybe call your health insurance company's nurse line to see what they recommend regarding being seen and, if so, how soon? There are anti-viral meds that need to be administered sooner rather than later to have a positive effect. 
But this is second-hand info on my part; I've never had shingles, but my sister and her family have.

One of my daughters and I get something like what you've described from walnuts.

Hmmm… got the shingles vaccine and I don’t think I had anything with walnuts 🤔

[shapeshifter]

Just now, chitowngirl said:

Hmmm… got the shingles vaccine and I don’t think I had anything with walnuts 🤔

Ooo. How about a lot of citrus-y drinks and fruits? If I have a cold and load up on those, sometimes I get an irritated tongue.

[chitowngirl]

Just now, shapeshifter said:

Ooo. How about a lot of citrus-y drinks and fruits? If I have a cold and load up on those, sometimes I get an irritated tongue.

I had some strawberry punch drink at our office breakfast Wednesday. Wonder how much strawberry would be in that? I don’t eat strawberries, but have had strawberry flavored things. Curiouser and curiouser.