800mg on the street

I enlisted in the Navy straight out of high school in 2017. I planned on making a career out of it, and before health issues started I loved serving. I was extremely active and motivated. I had a minor injury in boot camp, I fell and bashed my knee. Was just prescribed high strength Ibuprofen, which solved the issue in the short term.
A few months later I was out of boot camp in my follow on training, I noticed that I was having issues with eating. ANY time I would eat anything I would get extremely nauseous and would up chuck my meal fairly often. It was the Ibuprofen, medical had me stop the meds, because you know 800mg 3x a day is not recommended lol. The next morning, I couldn't walk down the stairs to leave the building without extreme pain.
This spawned a 4 year battle. It was eventually found that the minor injury I had, since it was not allowed to heal ended up getting worse. ALOT worse. I have had 3 surgeries at this point, one of which was a cartilage graft into the problem knee.
As most everyone has heard, nothing is slower than government work. Had the system worked I would have been out of the military before any of the following bad shit happened. Because of the military medicals slow incompetence I not only was in for my whole 4 year enlistment when I should have been out before the end of year 1, I was held SIX MONTHS past my end of service date.
That combination led to it being easy to assume I wasn't actually messed up and just malingering. I had so many of my superiors that I had looked up to when I checked into the command insulting everything about me simply because I was on profile. It got to the point where there was even UCMJ action attempted, reasons being. Malingering, not being qualified to work my job, which I couldn't get qualified without doing my job... which the profile prohibited me from doing.
I was extremely depressed at the time. Which was taken once more as me simply using excuses to get out of work. The military does take mental health seriously... if they like you. Instead of getting help I was met with routine counseling from assholes that would talk about nothing other than the fact that I would fall on my face without the military, how I was a complete failure, it even went to the extent of them saying that I should be embarrassed because I was a disappointment and that I should apologize to my parents for it. I fell off the wagon and back into an eating disorder I had beaten from my childhood, food made me happy, and because of it and the fact I was unable to do the exercise I needed I started packing on weight. I haven't really improved either, I've just plateaued and have maintained my weight, I was 6ft 2, 196 lbs when I got out of boot camp. I am currently 350lbs.
Finally though, through all of that. It was finally time for what I hoped would be the 3rd and final surgery. I was going to be laid up for an entire month, and not able to go back to what was "normal" for me for about 3 months. I was 21, living alone in the barracks. My command completely left me to fend for myself. I had no help with groceries, getting to post op appointments, or even simply getting food from the galley that was a half mile away. I was told to just drive myself, and walk or crutch to the galley. Well... its my right knee, which means I could not drive. My leg was also completely immobile for the majority of that time. Did I mention I was completely non weight bearing as well? Or the fact that I was also on narcotics for the pain? If I had drove, I wouldn't have just been breaking my profile, I would have been breaking SEVERAL laws, military and civilian. Knowing that, I called my doc. (This was after EXTENSIVE attempts to deal with my command, which I still have all of the receipts of those conversations) I told the doc what was up and he was understandably ABSOLUTELY PISSED. He called my command to make sure I was getting what I needed. My command used this to try and once again take UCMJ action against me for "jumping the chain of command" even though I did EXACTLY what I was supposed to. I was never given the help I needed, when I returned to work I was punished, they originally tried having me do physical labor, which being completely done with them I (respectfully) told them I could not perform the assigned tasks. They wanted me to sweep the entire parking lot to get all the loose gravel out of it, as well as pull all of the weeds on command property. (My profile restricted me from stairs, ladders, lifting, prolonged standing, squatting etc.) Instead of that they put me to work digitize all the aircraft inspection records, they went back to the early 90s, with ALOT of inspections creating multiple thick binders worth of material. We didn't need to even keep 95% of those records, however since it was punishment I wasn't allowed to do it correctly, EVERYTHING was to be digitized regardless of regulation stating we only needed to keep certain records for 3 years, others for 5, some for as long as 15... not 30 years.
While all of this was going on, and it happened with increasing frequency to the point it was after EVERY appointment, I had to report to my superior and explain where I had been, what I had been doing, and sit through 10 mins of them telling me that they didn't know why I was so ready to get out of the military because wasn't going to be able to hold down a job. That I wouldn't feel better mentally or physically, that I would fail... They were right.
I have not been able to keep a job. I decided to go back to school, which I am doing terribly at. I am still learning just how much what I went though fucked me up. I used to be extroverted, now I am embarrassed to even be seen. I don't trust anyone. I struggle to feel anything I should. I have had news that should have devastated me do absolutely nothing. My relationships with family have suffered, I live 200 yards away from my mother, step father and sister and I go over there maybe once or twice a month. My poor grandma... she lives in the next town and I've really only seen her at family functions instead of visiting her. Which should make me feel horrible, I used to be over there nearly every day, I would stop in if I was even remotely close... Its not like I don't have the time.
I have become exactly what they said I was. The only reason I am not living on the streets is because I have 90% disability through the VA, which should be all of the proof I need that those assholes were just that... assholes. I am 24 and it feels like my life is over. My knee is still completely fucked they don't want to do a replacement even though my quality of life has suffered drastically with the current problems.
Everyone I have talked to only give the "bootstraps" advice. "Just go workout" "Just go for a run"... I've tried all the low impact cardio I can, nothing that I can actually do will get my heartrate up enough to be worthwhile. Before I never had to hit the gym. I was always hiking, doing yard work, kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing, marching band. I wasn't in perfect shape but I definitely wasn't out of shape.
"Its going to get better" only works for so long. To be blunt, I am not suicidal, I am apathetic. If something were to happen I would almost welcome it. Suicide would hurt too many people, and while I don't care about myself and generally struggle to care in general about anything anymore I will not hurt those closest to me. I just don't know how to get better, therapy hasn't done anything, being discharged away from those problems didn't do anything.
Especially with veterans day recently, my time in the military has been on my mind almost constantly. I wish I had great things to say. I should have great things to say. Bootcamp wasn't hard, I loved my tech schools. After that, I don't really have anything positive. I never experienced the "family" "brotherhood" that is always touted as one of the big pros of the military. I can't help but look at it as if my life ended with the military.
Sorry if this seemed all over the place. If I had included everything I wanted to this would be more of a novel than it already is. I rarely talk about it, and only some of my online friends and closest family know how bad it really was. Even then... they don't know how it still fucks me up to this day. Regardless. Thank you all for reading and commenting if you do. Its felt pretty good to finally say all this.
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All symptoms go away after 600-800mg of Favipiravir.
I feel stop of burning, hotness, anxiety. I even breathe better. It's almost nootropic and heavenly good feeling. I was shocked that I needed to suffer 2 years without existing medicine when much people have wide access to it. It's not available in my country, but it is in many.
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200mg is too low dose to really feel difference, but it enhances antihistamines for sure: it's good/best day for some time, then - but that's all.
400-600 mg is working on ear pain. after 800mg : it's gone. Effect last more than day - after few days it's lower significantly and starts evening, and is a lot lower. I feel amazing. More is not noticeable more.
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I stop to feel sick after 2-3h but feel first effect after 1h. I don't feel 100% normal when symptoms subside: illness lasted 2 years. I don't feel any oof these symptom listed and that's ABSOLUTE RELIEF FOR ME.
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I tried a lot of things for that COVID infection. Some of them worked a little added to antihistamine - vit. d3, or some butyrate, or some.. it almost doesn't worrked TBH.
There were no sense to add more: it never helped more. I feel always something, some part of sickness.
I'm taking constantly fexofenadine, sporadically also cetizizine - before Favipiravir I taken nasal steroids when things got worse. I can stop immediately taking antihistamine after 400-600mg of Favipiravir taken daily.
I feel my LC is in 10-20% of people with better shape from both Reddit channels. I have Internet friends with long covid, and I feel I'm rather in better shape. They have also skin problems, serious POTS, dysautonomia, and antihistamines don't work for them as good as for me (I sometimes feel the same). I started antihistamines ~13 week mark after COVID infection. I've taken some garlic and aspirin before and it helped a little. Serious sickness, 13 weeks of max. walk 1000m.
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I also tried: Aciclovir, Molnupiravir, Niclosamide (otc). I'll describe all on the end.
Syndroms not diagnosed at all in my country in parentheses.
I GOT COVID (ICD code: with "unclassified", no positive test) AND SYMPTOMS ARE STILL THE SAME. I feel sickness. It resembles feeling I felt when I got "cold" in the mountains, at the autumn but then it always went away after 2h. It's known feeling.
I suspect it's viral persistence: place: head/sinuses. My bloodwork, heart echo/ekg are normal. xMaybe latent viral reactivation, maybe autoimmunity.
Ah, that was my third "Covid sickness". 3 weeks covid, 11 weeks covid , then:
2 years - "13 weeks worse", then antihistamines and lasting 2 years then, in current, terrible shape.
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My main symptoms:
- hotness in the face and head, and around the ear, it spreads to the arms and chest; worse after hot bath/sport: I can ride bike 2-3h: then I have "PEM" - exhaustion, shaking legs, hands. Day after - feel worse. I feel fever without fever. It's a hell for me. There is feeling of sweeling near sinuses, face, ear. Burning. IgE general 600, 660, 700, three checks after ~ half a year.
For “heat”, burning helps Fexofenadine - in 50-70%, not more. If I take too much of it - instead of heat there is such… burning? It's quite funky to dose: it's 45mg + additional 45mg if I feel that I really need it, and I feel that I prefer not to dose too much: it's more burning than relief then.I NEED TO TAKE IT, If I don't I feel worse and worse, it starts to resemble first 3 months quite fast.
This heat can pass - but it is rare, only in summer, after riding bike. It resembles histamine flush after 1.5h of exercise which i had when I was child after 2h of physical activity at school. Always after such a stronger training I had slight rashes, heavy breathing for 20-30 min and such a feeling of dryness, heat. It always passed after 15-30 min, maybe 60min. It's for sure histamine related. My DAO is below range, my IgE is 7x too much.
I’m struggling and have an exacerbation after about 2 hours of moderate activity like cycling - before the illness, I had such activity for DAYS, non-stop. I was skiing every day from 8 am to 5 pm for 1.5 week i.e. I was hiking in the mountains for a week without a break, etc.
- ear pain: starting in middle of day. Then hyperacusis start: small sound is giving pain. Cars riding ~200m far away are too loud when I open window. When motorcycle ride on the street and I'm near it, I'm just running away closing my ear. It's enough to close that hurting. Doctors tried to help here - no success, nsaids, nimesulide, lidocaine, steroids intranasal/oral (bad side effects). Etc - nothing works! IT STILL HURTS! There is also a feeling of ear plugging with a change in music, there is also swelling and pain when plugging the ear with a finger. There are stings in the ear and as if sensitivity inside. I don’t have this symptom in my left ear.Got also tinnitus, but "it's noise exposure" probably. 4-5/10 - now not bothering at all.
- heart palpitations: "POTS" but not 30, but 10-15 bpm. Whe worse I feel (what’s above) - the more my heart flutters after exercise.
- when bending over - headache, feeling of pressure, feeling of swelling in the face;
-tingling: there is tingling. It’s probably not neurological: rather from histamine/degranulation. It gets noticeably worse after a hot bath, and after normal longer walking - then my legs tingle maximally. It disappears after Favipiravir. There are different types of tingling: some I thing are rather cardiological (i.e. numb leg, tingling) - some are i.e. after bath (but worse that should be, also I feel worse-
- slight delay/strange brain fog - with head movement just feel it: feeling of illness that slows me down slows down reactions; this is probably not a neurological symptom - this is literally rather a layer of disease feeling it; the same feeling is with 3-day flu.
Work takes away 80% of my energy through illness. After work I am already very tired. Everything takes much more energy than it should: I literally have to plan it.
- throat pain: let’s say they are daily in cold months In summer can not have them e.g., 2 months then it all returns is than not sometimes just short
- excessive sleepiness: first 3 months, and later, feww months after for few days: absolute sleepiness, I've slept 6-7 times a day.
- muscle pains - this is similar, better in the summer
- headaches: never had a headache here for 3 months hurts me every other day Actually hurts me together with ear so almost every day something but all-day headaches are first time in life
- stomach bloating: there were for some time, used more antihistamine/supplements for gases etc. It was periodic.
- bladder infection: first it was some blood AFAIR, then I started to use serrapeptase for it (I know it and use for such things), helps immediately, no pain in 30min
OTHER DRUGS/supplements
Cetirizine: It works for me but I need to take it at night: then I feel like stronger sleep helped, or something - it lowers cytokines, so probably that's it.lysine - works a little
Rupatadine: works better for hotness, but gives me apathy, depression, it's too strange feeling and I cannot adapt
Monolaurin: helped me a year for ear pain. It's also lowering sickness a little and swelling a little. Nothing other helped. I avoid ibuprofen and aspirin due to tinnitus. I used ketonal once for toothache after dental visit.
Serrapeptase: bladdeurinary tract problem
LDN - not effective so much
NMN imho works quite ok and I left it as "natural/endogenous coldrex". I don't plan to take it daily: it don't heal cause probably and is not antiviral: then we wouldn't have viruses at all.
Molnupiravir: 200mg : IMHO that's not good drug. I feel VERY dizzy (taken at the evening), and WAY WORSE day after. I don't know it's "hexrheimer-jarisch like reaction" or anything else - I would say I'm really afraid to try more. It's must somewhat make body more tired, more susceptible to ilness for me.
Aciclovir: it works a little, but after 3 days I had reinfection. It probably block cytokines, and half a dose of cetirizine at night works better for me without reinfection. It's not enough imho but I can add it for a short time to antiviral regime if prescribed by doctor. 200-400mg, it's not effective for me.
Niclosamide: OTC. Works similar to cetirizine after night: I feel less inflamed. Stopped because there is no bigger benefit. Tested for COVID, etc.
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Famotidine: never felt it TBH: fexofenadine worked for my bloating much better.

I have been in great pain since I was 12 due to hEDS and Fibromyalgia.
I'm attempting to get prescribed a heavier medication..
Opiates work for me. They are non-impairing in my experience. And so long as I get a script from a pharmacy every month, they're not gonna cause serious issues like street supplies would.
I am on 50mg of pregabalin twice daily, and 800mg of gabapentin thrice daily.
I don't understand their hesitation. The past 3 appointments, they've basically said "yeah I mean I can prescribe an antidepressant or you can just take the gabapentinoids".
I don't even know where to begin for looking for a new doctor. My doctor has been my primary physician for my whole life.

I go to cancun alone every year since 2000 and take a couples trip every fall. When i go alone I usually stay at a smaller AI resort and typically don't leave as I'm just there for the beach and to relax. I rate flamingo a 2/5 sadly. I understand you get what you pay for, however everything is ridiculously overpriced and this is all I could find since it was booked last minute. 1. I arrived around 2p and waited in line an hour to check in. Once I "checked" in, I was told to come back at 330p for my room key. They would not let me check in early, even after waiting in line that long. 2. I went to eat and the buffet was awful. Food was very limited and was dry. No chicken or pasta, only seafood, and steak they were grilling. Steak it is, along with plain cold white rice. Drink glasses might hold 4oz do I had to grab 2. 3. No waitstaff came to greet me. No butter put out with bread/rolls. You had to ask for it. By the time I got it, I was done eating. 4. Went back to check in, now it's 330. I wait in line ANOTHER HOUR. I'm pissed, hot, and tired. There were 2 long lines, one for guests checking in and 1 for those already checked in who needed assistance. There were guests trying to check in in both lines. There were no signs up indicating what line was for who and there were 2 ppl managing those lines. Guests were waiting 30-45 min and once they got to the desk they were told they were in the wrong line. Staff put 2 couples in front of me. 3rd time they tried I told them I've been waiting like everyone else and it's not my fault they had poor communication with their guests. They eventually took incoming guests in both lines only after a few of us made a stink about it. 5. Finally check in. There's only 1 elevator on the property and of course my room is no where near it. Had a room facing lagoon. Room had king sized bed, glass shower, no balcony. 6. Went to the beach after settling in. Wasnt expecting to find an empty chair but I found several, all broken. Beach had minimal seaweed. 7. Went to the pool, no chairs. Ended up turning in early and didn't have dinner. 8. They have a "snack bar" which consisted of 6 tables and a waiter who would either bring you a hamburger, hot dog, or nachos from the kitchen. You had to stay sitting in that area to eat and that's all they offered. 9. I was not given any type of tour or guidance on the property. Day 4 I find the adult pool, other bar, and pizza they serve during the day. Adult pool has plenty of wooden chaise lounge chairs but several missing cushions. 10. Pizza was ok. Sitting area has 5 tables and you had to stay there to eat. You could not bring it 15ft away to your lounge chair. 11. Moved my room to oceanfront for the last 2 nights, $35 extra each night. King size bed, balcony with 2 wooden chairs, old fashioned tub with bath mat. Room was just above rooms with their own swimming pools. This is where I found another restaurant that I didn't know existed. I think it may have been all seafood? Not sure. 12. Drinks were very watered down at the 2 bars. 13. Buffet was equally disappointing for breakfast and again, had to wait for butter that never came and no coffee bc I didn't have any waitstaff. 14. Sunrise and sunsets were amazing as they always are in Mexico 15. Pharmacy directly across the street. Grabbed 800mg ibuprofen for a toothache and was tempted to get some Xanax with the way the vacation was going, but I didn't. Grabbed a candy bar as well since hotel had no snacks. 16. Check out took 30min or so. Pick up time was 1130, the arrived at 1145. ( Don't ever pay for a private shuttle to your hotel, you will never get one and they will give you some different excuse every time. You will get private returning).
That might be it. Any questions, feel free to ask.

I’m 20 years old and been with my boyfriend for a few months and we were pretty reckless on how we went about our sexual relationship since the beginning and surprise surprise i tested positive in October. According to my last period i’d be around 11 weeks, I’ve made an appointment before to get a clinical abortion but my mom got in the way of it (she didn’t let me go out that day) and i had to cancel. My parents are extremely religious, they’ve told me themselves that having an abortion would mean i’d go to hell and included their lovely opinion that me getting raped wouldn’t be an excuse for an abortion either because god has a reason for everything… that being said i’m going in for an abortion tomorrow. I’m not nervous about my decision I know i’m doing the right thing i would be a terrible person to bring a child into this world that wouldn’t have the proper care it deserved but i’m worried because my mother is crazy and she has my location on and checks it frequently and her finding out would mean me being homeless and motherless so i made a plan with my boyfriend that he won’t come with me to Planned Parenthood instead he’ll go down the street to the movie theater and take my phone with him so it says we’re at the movies and she won’t think to call. My appointment is at 1 i know they usually say to plan to be there for 3-4 hours so i’m hoping the ultrasound will show less than 10 weeks and i get the pill and i’m able to get out in 2 hours. If i am 11 weeks then surgical it is and ill have to make some shit up that my phone died to account for the last hour i shouldn’t be at the movies for (said we’re watching Black Panther which is around 3 hours long). I don’t think i need advice unless anyone has another great excuse to what i can say if she gets suspicious? & turning off my location isn’t an option she’s insane and would lock me in my room and never let me out again lol. And my boyfriend planned to have me out all day to be away from my house (my mom has already been suspicious of me being pregnant so he didn’t want me to have like a blood attack while she was home and instead of her assuming it’s my period she knows what i did). This was more of a mommy issues rant but you can see why me carrying on with this baby would not work out for me, if i’m being completely honest knowing me and my issues it would break me so far i wouldn’t be here.
Also for anyone who is on the fence about getting an abortion the regretfulparents page really helped me validate my reasonings for doing this like I love my boyfriend and would love to have his kid but he works a regular coffee shop job and i work two jobs both with shit pay and i’m trying to find a better job for me not a baby so it just wouldn’t be right i can’t provide the child with a good future im sure id be a horrible mother too considering i don’t have the best example, it would be selfish of me to keep it.
UPDATE!!!: I had my abortion this afternoon. The wait time killed me i was in planned parenthood for about 5 hours the actual procedure was done in 10 minutes and i decided to not get any sedative because i know it would mean i would have to stay longer and i really just wanted to get out of there. They gave me 800mg of Ibuprofen which did nothing for me the numbing injection into my cervix helped though it sort of made my legs go numb but i could still feel it. The pain wasn’t as bad as i thought but definitely a pain i hadn’t felt before i gave it like a 5/10 it’s just very uncomfortable in the moment. Staff was insanely nice and caring made me feel comfortable to the best of their abilities, one of the nurses held my hands the whole time and she was wearing a batman clip on her credentials so i asked her if she liked superheroes and she said yes which i do as well so we talked about that (talking the whole time helped me not think about it) they were done before i knew it. I will say for me personally the suction was probably the most “traumatizing” part i only say that because after the appointment i started to get flash backs of what the suction sounded like and felt like so that kind of sucked. I definitely felt relieved after it was over but now i’m home and in bed alone and i feel my thoughts coming and going making me wonder…i did the right thing and i don’t regret it but i still can’t help but wonder what could’ve been. If i don’t think about it im okay and fine but if i let the thoughts in it makes me a little sad. I was able to get a copy of the ultrasound photo per my request because i wanted to show my boyfriend. All in all it was fine im fine it just sucks that things like this have to happen. But i promise anyone going through this we did the right thing and it’s going to be okay and even when you feel like you could have done something different you chose you and hopefully now we can look forward to thinking about kids in the future when we’re prepared not when you’re scared and young or just not ready❤️

Hi All,
I did some research a few months ago and identified a potential connection between intestinal parasites and Herpes. I will share my findings in this post, as well as my personal success story eliminating daily HSV-2 outbreaks after 4 years of terrible suffering.
Firstly I'd like to mention that I'm not a scientist and I understand some of the following sources are a mix of actual studies and news sites. However, if anyone is interested, perhaps you can take a closer look at the underlying studies to verify the information.
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Il4ra-independent vaginal eosinophil accumulation following helminth infection exacerbates epithelial ulcerative pathology of HSV-2 infection
Here, we show that an acute helminth infection (Nippostrongylus brasiliensis [Nb]) induced a type 2 immune profile in the female genital tract (FGT). This leads to heightened epithelial ulceration and pathology in subsequent herpes simplex virus (HSV)-2 infection
https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/fulltext/S1931-3128(21)00083-4?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS1931312821000834%3Fshowall%3Dtrue00083-4?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS1931312821000834%3Fshowall%3Dtrue)
Chronic infections with viruses or parasites: breaking bad to make good
Indeed, there are now examples of complex interactions between these microbes and hosts that seem to confer an advantage to the host at a particular time, suggesting that the relationship has progressed along an axis from parasitic to commensal to one of a mutualistic symbiosis. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5343343/
When the immune system targets certain parasites, such as tapeworms and roundworms, it cannot continue to suppress the herpes virus (HSV-1 or HSV-2), which then reactivates. Dr. Herbert W. Virgin IV, MD, PhD wrote that, “the fact that the (herpes) virus can ‘sense’ the immune reaction to a worm and respond by reactivating is a remarkable example of co-evolution.” (1)
https://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/08/prweb12125169.htm
Intestinal worm infection can cause severe sexually transmitted viral diseases
This is shown by a study led by the Universities of Cape Town and Bonn. According to the study, helminth-infected mice developed significantly more severe symptoms after infection with a genital herpes viruses (Herpes Simplex Virus). The researchers suspect that these results can also be transferred to humans. The results have now appeared in the journal Cell Host & Microbe.https://www.news-medical.net/news/20210416/Intestinal-worm-infection-can-cause-severe-sexually-transmitted-viral-diseases.aspx
Fighting parasitic infection inadvertently unleashes dormant virus
Signals from the immune system that help repel a common parasite inadvertently can cause a dormant viral infection to become active again, a new study shows.
The researchers speculated that the virus might be taking advantage of the host response to the worm infection, multiplying and spreading when the immune system’s attention is fixed on fighting the worms.https://source.wustl.edu/2014/06/fighting-parasitic-infection-inadvertently-unleashes-dormant-virus/

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My personal success story
I have posted several times on this sub about my condition. Long story short, I caught HSV-2 in 2014 and had somewhat typical outbreaks, usually around once every 1-2 months. In 2018, something changed and suddenly my outbreaks started appearing daily. This continued for 4 years with constant blisters, lethargy and terrible feeling. You can read my full story on /Herpes here.
Around December last year, I caught Covid and was quite severely sick with it. A friend recommended Ivermectin and I dwelwed into researching about this controversial drug. Many studies were showing that it works against Covid, while most mainstream websites including FDA advised against it. A theory I read on Reddit caught my eye: it was pointed out that most of the successful studies using Ivermectin against Covid came from developing countries. His theory was that most of these people simply have parasites due to poor hygiene, and by eliminating them, they will experience a boost in their immune systems.
Bingo! I quickly remembered that I do in fact live in a 3rd world country and eat cheap street food quite often. I recalled reading about people de-worming themselves at least once a year here, which is something I've never done. I also read about how parasites can stay asymptomatic, and apparently people can have them for years without noticing.
So I though what the heck, might as well give it a try. I dosed Ivermectin according to the controversial I-MASK+ Prevention & Early Outpatient Treatment Protocol for COVID-19. It took me over 10 days to recover from Covid, so I'm unsure whether Ivermecting helped with that at all.
However, after recovering from Covid, I realised my daily outbreaks had somehow disappeared. I couldn't believe it. It's now been over 3 months since I had Covid and I've only had one tiny outbreak that only lasted 3 days since. Unlike usual, I was able to get rid of it easily with a cycle of Acyclovir.
Since my outbreaks disappeared, I have dropped my Acyclovir suppressive dosage from 1600mg/day to 800mg/day. I have done lots of things that normally would have triggered a massive outbreak, such as having sex over 4 times in a day, doing extreme endurance sports, sleeping poorly and doing drugs & alcohol. My energy levels are back up and I've started being more active, doing more sports and being more productive at work. I'm amazed.
I look forward to hearing your feedback. This isn't something that I've confirmed by any means, but I can't find any other logical explanation to the disappearance of my outbreaks. My stomach seems to be also working slightly better than before. I'm very excited to try various things again I previously had no luck with, such as SADBE, and see if my pre-2018 outbreak frequency returns or gets even better.

This will be a VERY LONG post of all my medical history, some of it will be shocking and triggering for those with medical trauma. A lot of my problems started right before COVID and doctors here are super slow until people stopped going to the doctors entirely.
I’m sharing what’s worked for me in the hope it may help others out who don’t have the resources for treatment, that’s the reason I’m posting everything. Some things may not work like Carnitine for instance, if you don’t have low energy or mito dysfunction. I try to be as detailed as possible for this reason.
Brief intro: I’m 33 year old Black (half Black mixed w/European, Native) woman with one 11 year old daughter. I had very mild bouts of autoimmune problems until I had my daughter in my early twenties, during pregnancy my immune system calmed down and I didn’t have any significant health problems until 7-8 years later. I work in tech and live in Los Angeles with my daughter and LT boyfriend/partner. My income in tech is high, therefore I’m able to afford medical treatments and uncommon procedures.
Throughout the last three years I’ve done extensive reading about MCAS, POTS, hEDS, CF/ME and a little about MS. All because these particular areas are relatively connected. I stay up to date on the research for the first three.
2018 - In Spring of 2018 I started having stomach pain under my last right rib on my right side. - I developed a UTI, which wasn’t uncommon for me, previously I’d had many. I went to my PCP and she gave me a round of antibiotics. I saw her once or fewer times a year. - After about 6 months of consistent stomach pain and bloating, I started avoiding triggering foods. I went back to the PCP and she couldn’t find an explanation, she took blood and checked for H. Pylori. The tests were clear. - The pain continued, I went back and she gave me another round of antibiotics, yes two rounds of antibiotics within a several months. She gave me a referral to a GI, I took it. I later requested my medical records from her and she had diagnosed me with “anorexia”, eye roll. - In fall of 2018 the pain grew tremendously, I was working full time, and I started to miss meetings and started having gas and diarrhea, and random bouts of constipation. I vividly remember taking a trip out to Joshua Tree and having a quesadilla one night at a restaurant that puts on shows, and having to leave and go back to my hotel and holding my stomach and moaning in pain. I avoided dairy after that. - Late in 2018 I stopped drinking alcohol and coffee. Coffee was much easier than alcohol. I knew I had an addiction to both. I started drinking in my teens, and a lot more during college and after my pregnancy. Breaking my addiction to alcohol wasn’t easy, but it came easier than the next 2 years. 2020 - In January of 2020 I took a 11-day trip to NY, it was the first time I’d ever been to NY. I bought wool sweaters for the trip, because we don’t have cold weather in LA. On this trip I started getting rashes, throat tightness, congestion and fatigue. I suddenly went from barely allergic to anything, to allergic to everything. I was undoubtedly allergic to wool, and that made sense because my mom was highly allergic too, I changed my clothes and still had reactions. I started eating chicken, and dried mango and small amounts of sea weed. My throat would tighten but not close with tomatoe soup. I started avoiding most foods and tried to eat chicken at restaurants or avoided meals all together. I saw an urgent care doctor who evaluated me and looked at my throat and thought I was a “viral infection”, my tonsils were very swollen. I also had purple fingertips at one point during the trip (Raynauds), which I didn’t think much of. - Within two days of getting back to LA my parents came over and dropped off my puppy they’d been dog sitting, within several hours I realized I was also allergic to her. Not just allergic, highly allergic. I had trouble breathing and called my mom with gasping, asked her if an asthma attack feels like your chest is closing and couldn’t speak easily. She said yes, I got off the phone with her and took 40mg of Benadryl and used my inhaler, I’d only ever had mild asthma and never an asthma attack. I had my bf drive my puppy back home to my parents, I cried. - A few days later I saw the first immunologist I could find with availability, an ENM doctor. At this point I was mildly reacting to everything. He went into my sinuses with a camera and said “You are VERY congested”, so congested the camera had a hard time getting through my nasal canal with the level of congestion I had. He recommended allergy shots, and antihistamines. - To deal with the emotional side of what was happening I started seeing therapist in Pasadena, who was very nice and believed me, he started mindfulness practices. He later told me his ex wife had mold in her house and had the the same symptoms for a long time until she moved out, but it had effected her immune system for so long she continued having problems for years later. - I started allergy shots and routinely taking antihistamines (20mg/d). The immunotherapy - allergy shots made me dizzy and reactive, I told the administrating nurse and she said it was “anxiety” and that I should look myself in the mirror and tell myself that “Nothing would hurt me”. I told her it wasn’t anxiety, and that I only had anxiety from my health problems, and it wasn’t anxiety that was creating my health problems. The next visit I had with the ENM doctor I told him and his eyes got big and gave me a referral to a neurologist. He had a student with him who asked whether I had an allergy diagnosis, the doctor made a point of saying “No, she’s got something else”, and left it at that. - I started suspecting MCAS with the build up of symptoms, and the amount of papers I read and YouTube videos I consumed. There was no other explanation. I was down to chicken, rice and lettuce. I had brain fog and dizziness on and off. - I started tracking my diet, sleep, periods around this time. I ordered an HEPA filter, stopped with all hair, and skin products. I started cleaning with only vinegar, my puppy was still with my parents. I only went to work and came home, while at work I started isolation myself. - I never saw the Neuro the ENM dr recommended, and I discontinued allergy shots. Stopped seeing him all together, although I think he knew what was going on and couldn’t treat me. I saw the next available Immunologist around March who had great reviews and was in Beverly Hills. I suggested MCAS to him and he said “Well that’s easy we just have to test for Tryptase”, he also tested me for many other immune conditions and some for rheumatological conditions. All negative, tryptase was normal, go figure. He was good, but obviously not up to date on MCAS. - I researched the best GI doctors, thinking maybe it was my gallbladder, multiple people in my family had gallbladder problems although it’s not considered genetic. I remembered my PCP gave me a referral and decided to use that. - By this time I had lost about 20 pounds. I met the doctor my PCP referred me to, and he ordered an upper Endoscopy. I did an upper Endo, and the twilight anesthesia, and it didn’t take. I was very conscious and coughed erratically for the entire 2 - 3 min procedure, it was traumatic and a little painful. The nurses pretended they didn’t notice, even though I told them afterwards. They also told me not to talk on the phone immediately after, because they thought I was still “under”, I wasn’t. - My next appointment with the GI came back and he said “GERD”, I told him I’d had GERD since I was 11 (true story) and this wasn’t due to that. He basically said everything that could be done from an upper GI perspective had been done. He was nice, but a man of few words, never saw him again. - I was eating eggs, rice, and chicken at this point. Starting to be ok with a limited diet. - One day on a drive back from work my throat started closing after I had a flavored chewing gum. Chewing gum, fml. I had a mild reaction to something else at work earlier that day. I drove to the ER. LA traffic is terrible it took close to two hours. I happened to keep antihistamines with me and took two, my throat returned to normal by the time I had gotten to the ER a nurse gave me a large dose of Benadryl, I waited 6 hours to be seen by a doctor. During this time they gave me a butterfly in my arm for an IV. I saw a doctor in respiratory and he evaluated me,by then it was the middle of the night. I told him everything, how I believed I had MCAS and my episodes were getting more severe and no one could help me. He said “You’re probably allergic to a new lotion or shampoo or something”, and laughed at this point I was beyond frustrated. I told him “If someone doesn’t listen to me I’m going to end up dead.”, he said “I don’t believe you, the condition you’re suggesting is really rare.” I looked at him dead in the eyes and said “You have no idea what I’ve gone through, what is your name?” He sharpened up real quick and told me his full name and then started to evaluate me and said there wasn’t anything he could do for me. He told me to wait there, I tore the butterfly out of my arm and left the hospital furious. I yelled at him and told him this is why I hated the medical industry. I cried all the way home. I stayed in bed the following day and cried the entire next day as well. - I looked for top doctors in Los Angeles for MCAS, I found one was at USC, I called and they said her waitlist was 4 months, I got on it. - I did a paid for some random GI mapping service, and sent my sample in, it said my gut bacteria was out of whack, I can’t remember specifics. The results were vague. - Then COVID started hitting… - My daughter and I got sick with a virus the first week of lockdown in March, she was ok. I had a fever and heavy congestion, I slept seated up out of fear. No C tests were available to me as I hadn’t come in contact with someone known to have C or had been out of the country recently. Never got a C diagnosis. We stayed home for 2 weeks and my daughters school went online. My work decided to make us remote. - After catching a virus in March, my fatigue grew tremendously, as did my brain fog. I sought out another therapist, as mine was having difficulty going online and I wanted someone who specially who was familiar with chronic illness. - I found a chronic illness therapist, who became my confidant. When no one else seemed to care she helped me with depression and navigating the terrible medical system, which had very few answers. It became apparent that my appearance (a Black woman) did me no favors in the medical system. I told her how I was good at advocating for myself and always found ways of working around things. I remember the day she started thinking about me differently, it was when I told her I had terrible brain fog and she asked how I worked around it, I told her I wrote things on post-its, reminders everywhere. She said she was going to suggest that and she had a good friend who did the same when she had bad brain fog. - Found a good GI at USC Keck. She evaluated me, could feel the bloating but was also at a loss otherwise. I suggested testing for SIBO, she okay’d it. I told her about the gut mapping results and she said “We just don’t know what a healthy gut looks like”. I was surprised, and shocked with all the research on healthy gut and a doctor at well known research hospital couldn’t give me any more than that. - By this time I had stomach pain, gas, diarrhea, pins and needles sensations, my skin flushed regularly, I had dizziness in hot showers. My skin became more sensitive, and I could write on it. I started having tremors and couldn’t sleep well at night. I now had having sun sensitivity, I couldn’t be in the sunlight for 2 min without flushing and feeling like my skin was burning. I was exhausted from merely existing. It became clear I had MCAS but was something in my stomach triggering it? My brain fog increased, to the point where it was difficult for me to function most hours of the day. I couldn’t retain information, no one at work really noticed because everything stopped due to COVID, including my line of work which was based in real world activities. - Having that appointment go okay. I decided to also see a Rhuematologst at USC. I met a very smart and quirky Rhuemy, who took a hour with me went over all of my tests, she ordered many labs. My boyfriend was with me at this appointment and he helped recall my fingers turning purple while in NY, Raynauds. She looked at my hands, for a long time, she noted “dermatagraphia” in her file. - I did the SIBO test from the USC GI doctor, turns out I had both types of SIBO. That would explain the on-going gas, bloating, constipation and diarrhea. USC GI prescribed me 2 antibiotics, which my insurance didn’t cover, it was something insane like $2000. The nurse forgot to request an insurance override for it being “medically necessary” for several months, even though I reminded her 3 times. - In the time I had been working with the new therapist, she grown to understand me as a human and saw that I had depression and anxiety due to my health conditions. We did many deeper mindfulness practices, tapping, various forms of meditation etc. I told her I had SIBO and she was shocked, she had also had SIBO years prior and she had horrible brain fog as well. Her experience with SIBO and being in school was the reason why she decided to become a therapist and work with people with chronic illness. She had gone through many doctors who did nothing for her until she found one who would do a SIBO test which was uncommon at the time. This came as no shock to me, but SIBO was “curable”. I wasn’t certain MCAS could be. - My labs came back from Rheumatology, for the first time in my life I had a positive ANA, a high positive at that, Speckled. It wasn’t enough symptoms to meet Lupus criteria but enough to be diagnosed with Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease, which basically means I have enough symptoms from multiple autoimmune disease, but none of them had developed severely into a well defined autoimmune diseases. My doctor said she thought it was Lupus even though I don’t meet the criteria yet. She put me on 200mg of Hydroxychloroquine, something that worked for me according to my medical records from 7-8 years prior. - I was laid off mid year at work by a major tech company, I looked for a job for a few weeks and found another which was a great fit. I know I’m lucky to work in tech and at another top tech company, a well paying remote one at that. I grew up in an underdeveloped area, and my boyfriend has a “low level” job (whatever that means), I know how lucky I am. - I spent the rest of the year focusing on work, tweaking my diet, environment, exercise and supporting my gut health. 2020 - Into erly in 2020 my brain fog persisted, I began waking up early so I could get over the morning brain fog I had before I started work. Meaning I would wake up about 5am and around 10 - 11 my brain fog would resolve as long as I hadn’t eaten anything. I would take my meetings in the morning during this time and have a little brain fog later in the day. I kept my meals as small as possible. The fog was so bad that I left the stove on more than once, burning pans and filling my entire home with smoke, at another point I turned down a one-way street (the wrong way) I had gone down this street the right way hundreds of times before. It was embarrassing, my therapist reminded me I had a health condition. - I knew I had to start working on my gut health and taking quercetin, and a high amount of Vitamin D - 2000mg/d. I weaned myself off of eggs and incorporated more low histamine vegetables. - In summer of 2020 I finally had appointment for the USC immunologist. She is very smart, super nice and soft spoken, and yet an excellent communicator. I told her about my allergic reactions, asthma attacks, questionable anaphylaxis. How I had tracked my diet and couldn’t trace triggers to a specific food groups other than lactose, my upper endo tests, and the rest of my symptoms. My symptoms always worsened around my period. She asked me if I had ever heard of MCAS, and showed me an illustration and explained how the mast cells become overactive and can cause many of symptoms. I told her I had read about it, and I thought I had it. She wanted to try me on antihistamines twice a day first. She tested my trytase and histamine. Histamine was high - 18 in my normal state, not in a flare. Tryptase was normal again. - At some point Trump said Hydroxichloroiquin would help COVID symptoms so my prescription became completely became unavailable. People without autoimmune diseases or malaria were suddenly found without the medication they needed. I started developing symptoms I never experienced when I ran out of it. - I was still reactive to many things for several months, the immunologist at USC put me on Cromolyn sodium the oral form. I started to feel better my forth dose in. My brain fog started to fade with the Cromolyn. I was to titrate up to 1200mg, in the next months. I was amaze. - I got up to 800mg/d of Cromolyn, and couldn’t go above that due to the way the insurance issued my prescription, I had my doctor change my prescription for up to 1200mg/d. Around this time the soft spoken immunologist switched me to her NP, who was great, and saw me regularly for several months. - I was feeling better and decided to go on vacation with my family to a camp site near the ocean, my parents urged me to leave the house. Something I hadn’t thought would bother me, since I’d been to the same location for every year since I was born. It took me several hours to pack for myself and daughter, and then a few hours to drive. I was very excited and then within 2 hours of being there I went into a severe asthma attack and anaphylaxis. I couldn’t breath, I got into my car to isolate myself from the campsite and I took Benadryl but it was too late. I had a heart rate monitor with me, my mother and I watched the blood pressure go up above 150 and drop to 80 within a few mins. By the time my heart blood pressure dropped a struggled to reach for my epi-pen, my thinking was slowed, I started feeling extremely nauseated and started heaving. I started crying, and couldn’t breath. Everything was in slow motion and I felt like I was running out of time, I had very little control over my body. I used the epi-pen, it took several min for it to fully work, I left 15 or so min after taking it and went home instead of the ER. My teeth chattered from the adrenaline. My dad followed me in his car half way and my boyfriend (who came from home) drove out and followed me the rest of the way home. My daughter witnessed some of it, and decided to stay with my parents. - It wasn’t until that moment did my mom believe me about my symptoms being anything other than normal allergies. She previously insisted that “no one could have so many symptoms”, even though I sent her plenty of info on MCAS. My dad on the other hand has was worried as all of the women in his family have severe health problems. My parents will never forget that event. - After the camping incident, I went through a major flare where I could no longer take liquid/oral Cromolyn, I was reacting to it and had to switch to compounded. I called dozens of compounded pharmacies before I found one that could compound my prescription, I drove two hours to pick it up when it became available. I was so sick from the flare. I had to take time off of work. Compounded wasn’t covered by insurance so I was paying over $100/m alone for Cromolyn. 2021 - By the time 2021 rolled around I was doing better, my immunologist upped my dosage of Cromolyn. I was taking the maximum of 2000mg/d, no longer having severe stomach pain and brain fog but the other symptoms persisted. I could eat sweet potatoes, rice, chicken, lettuce, zucchini, cucumber, blue berries, black berries, pear and apple. I occasionally had slip ups with my diet which I slowly grew out of. - I felt better, I even got a promotion at work to a level I thought I’d get to. I started wondering if I could take the vaccine. I waited on the vaccine and just tried to focus on being healthy. I was still working from home, and paranoid about getting C. I only ever left the house occasionally for necessities (DMV, or prescription pickup if I forgot to send it to my house) - I upped my exercise, some days I could only walk 15min and I started to react my hands and feet would become red, and burn (erythromelalgia). I was still sun and heat sensitive, and the pins and needles persisted. I wasn’t miserable but I had to be very careful of everything in my environment. My boyfriend only occasionally went out with friends, I only visited my family a few times outdoors. - Please stop reading now if you are sensitive to medical trauma. - I had waited on the vaccine and for most of you to say how you did before I decided to talk to my Immunologist about it. I hadn’t seen her for a really long time, since the beginning of the pandemic as I was seeing her NP. The immunologist said most of her MCAS patients didn’t have life threatening reactions and to take start Ketotifen a week before and take Benadryl the day of. At this point it was may, and I was diagnosed with MCAS. I had also developed redness and burning in my hands and feet (erythromelalgia), which stayed about the same and has never been officially diagnosed. My POTS symptoms were on and off. Some days I couldn’t sweat, it was the worst feeling. It was clear I had developed dysautonomia, as I had trouble regulating different body functions. - I started Ketotifen (.5) for about 5 days before getting my vaccine. I had my vaccine at 10:45, around 11:20 I was released. I sat in the waiting room with Epi in hand. Nothing happened, I was relieved and felt stupid for a few min thinking something would happen. I hot into the car with my boyfriend and started having a mild reaction, I asked him to pull over and we waited for 10 min to see if it would get worse. The reaction stayed mild and I was on so much antihistamines and mast cell stabilizers that I decided to go home because I was extremely tired from the combo of drugs and the reaction. My boyfriend, (who coincidentally got his second vaccine 2 days prior) and I went to sleep immediately after we went home. We woke up briefly for dinner and slept through until the next morning. - I woke up and felt fine. We decide to get breakfast, I went to take my medication and dropped my medication. I tried to pick them up while my boyfriend was having a conversation with me, and I dropped my meds again. Things got cloudy and I just wanted to take my Cromolyn. He yelled at me and told me I was having some type of neurological episode. He was extremely freaked out and took a tone with me I hadn’t heard before. He convinced me to get into the car. Out of sheer panic he asked where the nearest ER was and I told him and pointed. When I was in the car I asked him what he thought was going on, he said he didn’t know that I was slurring and drooling and he told me to look at myself. I looked at myself in the mirror I had a pill in my mouth, it was dissolving and the residue was running down the side of my chin. I texted my parents incoherently, but got the words out “(boyfriends name says I (jumbled) neurological episode. ER”. We got to the ER about 5 min later (he sped there) and I got out of the car immediately without him. I went over my medical history and my boyfriend was still in a panic and had left the car out front of the ER and he in a panic tried to get them to admit me. They took me in, I told them about the vaccine the day before and how I had MCAS which is an immunological condition, I remembered a few other things I had a diagnosis of, but not everything. They sent me back immediately, the first doctor screened me for a stroke, and asked me if I felt weakness or numbness in my limbs, I hadn’t noticed by my left hand was numb. I had pins and needles previously, but not numbness or reduced sensation, like this. They got me into a CT immediately, probably 15 from the time I got there. I saw an ER doctor who called the on-call Neurologist who saw me remotely, they brought in a huge screen with the a camera pointed at me, she was virtual and the Neuro gave me a visual test for strokes and said I was negative, she told me she didn’t think I had a stroke. Sometime later another on-call Neurologist came in person and evaluated me physically, I had a hard time with coordination with touching eyes to nose, some weakness. I confused his name with another doctor I had scheduled an appointment with in the following week. My CT came back and no one said a thing, I was asked if I felt bad enough to stay the night by a nurse. Like wtf? Um I just had a major neurological event and that person is going to ask me that question? - I stayed the night, this hospital happened to be the leading hospital in CA. They did multiple scans, a heart scan, blood work etc. in the middle of the night I was woken up and told to take medication (blood thinner) for which I knew nothing about, and no one told me why. PT, OT, and the nurses rotated every hour, evaluating me. A stroke specialist came in and evaluated me, and explained the difference between strokes and TIAs, and said she didn’t have my results. The nurse told me I would be released that day, before I was released the in-patient doctor asked if the neurologist I saw had talked to me, I said no. He said he would call same day and 15 min before I was released the Neurologist called and said I had a “small stroke”, I asked what size and what part of the brain, and what that part of the brain is responsible for. He said 3mm, and it’s responsible for “not much but coordination”. I later called him back to clarify whether I had a TIA or stroke, he confirmed stroke as it was captured on multiple scans. I later reviewed my records and one of the scans it was noted, likely two strokes but the scan wasn’t entirely clear. - I took a week off of work and followed up with the NP in immunology, rheumatology and then neurology. I sent them my medical records from the other hospital, they all took notes rigorously. Rheumatology was a bit panicked because Lupus can can strokes that can reoccur within a short amount of time. - I had a stroke and no one knew why, I eventually saw hematology, and cardiology and did an extensive heart work up called a bubble study which looked at the back side of my heart and learned I had a hole in my heart, which can allow a blood clot through. According to hematology, rheumatology, and several other doctors I saw I had no reason for clotting. All of my doctors with the exception of my newer NP, immunology and rheumatology ALL swept questions about the vaccine under the rug. No one wanted to speculate other than my Rheumatologist who insisted it be reported. - My newer PCP reported the stroke to VAERS, no one ever called or asked for my medical records. I’ve always found this strange. - By this time, I was understandably stressed out and had gone from severe, to mild, to back to severe. My doctors started upping my dosages of vitamins (B,C,D) and start doing PT since I just had a stroke and PT can help for some POTS symptoms. I upped my salt and water intake. - I started PT and started out ok, the more exercise I did the more reactive I became. After having the stroke I started having memory problems and neck pain, the fatigue now becoming so severe I struggled to function most of the day. PT undoubtedly worsened my symptoms. I started thinking I was developing CFS/ME. - After going from very little exercise to about a mile and a half a day and being incredibly fatigued I stopped PT, as the more my exercise increased the higher my fatigue levels were. My fatigue didn’t come on immediately after, it came on hours later. As a side note, in HS I played multiple sports, not just played sports and was voted “Most athletic” my senior year in a 2000 person HS. I regularly took part of competitions and tournaments outside of school, and during that time I’d only experienced similar amounts of fatigue after long weekend competitions. I discontinued sports after HS because of the autoimmune problems I developed but regardless, this lack of energy I experienced wasn’t being out of shape, this felt more akin to what I felt after a full weekend of competitions and my muscles were completed depleted. - Over time it took less and less exercise to feel more depleted. The blood pooling, burning in my hands and feet, and sensitivity sensitive to temperature became more frequent, I relayed the info to my immunologist. I also continued having memory problems, neck pain, and ringing in my ears. My immunologist started suggesting a Mitochondrial disease or “Mito” for short, and a channelopathy. Mito diseases are extremely rare and difficult to test for. She could test using a blood panel for “Carnitine”, and that would say if it was genetic, and genetic testing was the diagnostic way of testing for Mito, which has changed in the last decade. Most people who have mitochondrial dysfunction get diagnosed with Mito as children, many of whom end up dying from their severe diseases, however there are over 200 types and some only arise when the cells are under a lot of stress and not everyone becomes super severe. Meaning, you can be very normal until you’re not. Many Mitochondrial diseases tend to make people very fatigued and have too many diseases to count. - The rest of the year was full of tests and follow ups with OT and PT, which ended up not being helpful. OT suggested many things I had already tried or knew didn’t work for me and PT made me worsen. - I did have one anaphylaxis. It’s sort of a funny story, my boyfriend came home with a gag gift from his friend who is getting married and asked my bf to be in his wedding party, the gift was ball wash. On the particular day he decided to try it, I had frequent reactions and decided to turn in early for the evening to avoid a major reaction. He took a shower with said ball wash and our bedroom got steamy with ball wash smell and by the time he joined me in bed I had started having an asthma attack. Epi and to the ER I went. I was fine and met a doctor who gave me a steroid and I didn’t go into a major flare due to the steroid I’m assuming. I now carry baby Benadryl with me, it’s liquid and gets into the system faster. 2022 - I talked more to my immunologist about Mito, it’s rarely diagnosed because there isn’t a good way of checking for mitochondrial dysfunction. She did however, have Carnitine taken so she could see if a mitochondria wasn’t working well and as it turns out I had low Carnitine. The official diagnostic criteria for Mito is by genetics though. You can still have mitochondrial dysfunction without it being genetic, and there are different causes for Mitochondrial dysfunction and it can be genetic or can be caused by another disease. Channelopathies can be caused by Mito as well. I sent my labs in for genetic testing for Mito and I’m currently waiting on the lab to send the results to the genetic doctor so I can meet and go over the results. - Cardiology had done a bubble study the previous year, the bubble study I had looks at the backside of the heart for holes, it turns out 25% of people have a hole and a small portion of them can allow blood clots up and through the heart and into the brain. No one knows exactly how common it is to have a stroke with this condition, but less than a few percent of people have strokes. It’s possible I had a very small clot build up and get into my brain causing the stroke. Regardless there really wasn’t any evidence the vaccine caused the stroke, but I had been confirmed not to have a blood clotting disease. It’s very frustrating because I do believe it was the vaccine as I had a mild reaction. - I saw a cardiologist who specializes in POTS at the renowned hospital, they took blood work for a specific type of POTS that I can’t remember the name of (damn stroke). He also gave me a poor man’s tilt table, I got a little dizzy but the difference between my laying down vs standing blood pressure wasn’t greater than like 30? And I think that’s the criteria. He labeled me as very mild, I told him I had gotten a lot better. - I had the hole closed in my heart, I wasn’t a major procedure but it was a significant one and luckily I did find, didn’t develop any problems afterwards. - My hormones changed, I lost my period for several months and couldn’t determine why other than I had an abnormal prolactin. During this time my immune system calmed, similar to when it did when I was pregnant with my daughter (at the very top of this post I mention this) - For the first time in the last 3 years my health has stabilized (with a lot of meds and lifestyle adjustments) and I’m feeling better for longer than 4 months. I still have mild symptoms, but they’re manageable. - I took a new job at a startup and have the highest title I can receive which is a “Head of (my occupation)”, and I’m feeling really proud of myself at the moment. It’s been a really tough 3 years and I will never treat anyone suspected with MCAS, dysautonomia, or CFS/ME like they can’t have it. I’ve also learned that some doctors need to be corrected, and others will never believe me due to my appearance or lack of credentials. I have enough energy where I might buy a bicycle but I’m reluctant because I feel like I could return to the same state at any moment. Life is fleeting though.
Whats worked - from most to least important High doses of Vitamins B (Thiamine), C, and D Cromolyn Sodium (for MCAS, 2000mg) Hydroxychloroquine (for autoimmune disease, 200mg) A low histamine, low oxalates diet. Especially one high in antioxidants, this may help with Mito dysfunction. FODMAP is a helpful diet as well. I combined FODMAP with low histamine for over a year Regularly cleaning, keeping a HEPA filter in home Tracking my cycle - severity increases around my period L-Carnitine (for energy, 2000mg) only one brand I didn’t react to Meditation/Deep breathing/tapping (nervous system regulation) Addressing trauma in therapy Leaving high stress, low control work environments High salt intake for “POTS like symptoms” Mineral water- I can’t tell you why this works but assume due to salt and minerals + hydration Consistent low amounts of exercise (1/2 mile to a mile) Hot springs/mineral springs- idk why Red light therapy - I don’t know the science behind it Acupuncture - helped short term Moving away from high smog/bad air quality areas
What’s not worked Immunotherapy Processed and chemically treated foods Hyperbaric oxygen chamber (only tried once) Float tank/salt spa (only tried once) Rigorous exercise (thanks PT) Behavior therapy for insomnia Co-Q-10- reacted to it
I’m not sure Carnivore diet for SIBO Massages (discontinued during COVID)

This will be a VERY LONG post of all my medical history, some of it will be shocking and triggering for those with medical trauma. A lot of my problems started right before COVID and doctors here are super slow until people stopped going to the doctors entirely.
I’m sharing what’s worked for me in the hope it may help others out who don’t have the resources for treatment, that’s the reason I’m posting everything. Some things may not work like Carnitine for instance, if you don’t have low energy or mito dysfunction. I try to be as detailed as possible for this reason.
Brief intro: I’m 33 year old Black (half Black mixed w/European, Native) woman with one 11 year old daughter. I had very mild bouts of autoimmune problems until I had my daughter in my early twenties, during pregnancy my immune system calmed down and I didn’t have any significant health problems until 7-8 years later. I work in tech and live in Los Angeles with my daughter and LT boyfriend/partner. My income in tech is high, therefore I’m able to afford medical treatments and uncommon procedures.
Throughout the last three years I’ve done extensive reading about MCAS, POTS, hEDS, CF/ME and a little about MS. All because these particular areas are relatively connected. I stay up to date on the research for the first three.
2018 - In Spring of 2018 I started having stomach pain under my last right rib on my right side. - I developed a UTI, which wasn’t uncommon for me, previously I’d had many. I went to my PCP and she gave me a round of antibiotics. I saw her once or fewer times a year. - After about 6 months of consistent stomach pain and bloating, I started avoiding triggering foods. I went back to the PCP and she couldn’t find an explanation, she took blood and checked for H. Pylori. The tests were clear. - The pain continued, I went back and she gave me another round of antibiotics, yes two rounds of antibiotics within a several months. She gave me a referral to a GI, I took it. I later requested my medical records from her and she had diagnosed me with “anorexia”, eye roll. - In fall of 2018 the pain grew tremendously, I was working full time, and I started to miss meetings and started having gas and diarrhea, and random bouts of constipation. I vividly remember taking a trip out to Joshua Tree and having a quesadilla one night at a restaurant that puts on shows, and having to leave and go back to my hotel and holding my stomach and moaning in pain. I avoided dairy after that. - Late in 2018 I stopped drinking alcohol and coffee. Coffee was much easier than alcohol. I knew I had an addiction to both. I started drinking in my teens, and a lot more during college and after my pregnancy. Breaking my addiction to alcohol wasn’t easy, but it came easier than the next 2 years. 2019 - In January of 2019 I took a 11-day trip to NY, it was the first time I’d ever been to NY. I bought wool sweaters for the trip, because we don’t have cold weather in LA. On this trip I started getting rashes, throat tightness, congestion and fatigue. I suddenly went from barely allergic to anything, to allergic to everything. I was undoubtedly allergic to wool, and that made sense because my mom was highly allergic too, I changed my clothes and still had reactions. I started eating chicken, and dried mango and small amounts of sea weed. My throat would tighten but not close with tomatoe soup. I started avoiding most foods and tried to eat chicken at restaurants or avoided meals all together. I saw an urgent care doctor who evaluated me and looked at my throat and thought I was a “viral infection”, my tonsils were very swollen. I also had purple fingertips at one point during the trip (Raynauds), which I didn’t think much of. - Within two days of getting back to LA my parents came over and dropped off my puppy they’d been dog sitting, within several hours I realized I was also allergic to her. Not just allergic, highly allergic. I had trouble breathing and called my mom with gasping, asked her if an asthma attack feels like your chest is closing and couldn’t speak easily. She said yes, I got off the phone with her and took 40mg of Benadryl and used my inhaler, I’d only ever had mild asthma and never an asthma attack. I had my bf drive my puppy back home to my parents, I cried. - A few days later I saw the first immunologist I could find with availability, an ENM doctor. At this point I was mildly reacting to everything. He went into my sinuses with a camera and said “You are VERY congested”, so congested the camera had a hard time getting through my nasal canal with the level of congestion I had. He recommended allergy shots, and antihistamines. - To deal with the emotional side of what was happening I started seeing therapist in Pasadena, who was very nice and believed me, he started mindfulness practices. He later told me his ex wife had mold in her house and had the the same symptoms for a long time until she moved out, but it had effected her immune system for so long she continued having problems for years later. - I started allergy shots and routinely taking antihistamines (20mg/d). The immunotherapy - allergy shots made me dizzy and reactive, I told the administrating nurse and she said it was “anxiety” and that I should look myself in the mirror and tell myself that “Nothing would hurt me”. I told her it wasn’t anxiety, and that I only had anxiety from my health problems, and it wasn’t anxiety that was creating my health problems. The next visit I had with the ENM doctor I told him and his eyes got big and gave me a referral to a neurologist. He had a student with him who asked whether I had an allergy diagnosis, the doctor made a point of saying “No, she’s got something else”, and left it at that. - I started suspecting MCAS with the build up of symptoms, and the amount of papers I read and YouTube videos I consumed. There was no other explanation. I was down to chicken, rice and lettuce. I had brain fog and dizziness on and off. - I started tracking my diet, sleep, periods around this time. I ordered an HEPA filter, stopped with all hair, and skin products. I started cleaning with only vinegar, my puppy was still with my parents. I only went to work and came home, while at work I started isolation myself. - I never saw the Neuro the ENM dr recommended, and I discontinued allergy shots. Stopped seeing him all together, although I think he knew what was going on and couldn’t treat me. I saw the next available Immunologist around March who had great reviews and was in Beverly Hills. I suggested MCAS to him and he said “Well that’s easy we just have to test for Tryptase”, he also tested me for many other immune conditions and some for rheumatological conditions. All negative, tryptase was normal, go figure. He was good, but obviously not up to date on MCAS. - I researched the best GI doctors, thinking maybe it was my gallbladder, multiple people in my family had gallbladder problems although it’s not considered genetic. I remembered my PCP gave me a referral and decided to use that. - By this time I had lost about 20 pounds. I met the doctor my PCP referred me to, and he ordered an upper Endoscopy. I did an upper Endo, and the twilight anesthesia, and it didn’t take. I was very conscious and coughed erratically for the entire 2 - 3 min procedure, it was traumatic and a little painful. The nurses pretended they didn’t notice, even though I told them afterwards. They also told me not to talk on the phone immediately after, because they thought I was still “under”, I wasn’t. - My next appointment with the GI came back and he said “GERD”, I told him I’d had GERD since I was 11 (true story) and this wasn’t due to that. He basically said everything that could be done from an upper GI perspective had been done. He was nice, but a man of few words, never saw him again. - I was eating eggs, rice, and chicken at this point. Starting to be ok with a limited diet. - One day on a drive back from work my throat started closing after I had a flavored chewing gum. Chewing gum, fml. I had a mild reaction to something else at work earlier that day. I drove to the ER. LA traffic is terrible it took close to two hours. I happened to keep antihistamines with me and took two, my throat returned to normal by the time I had gotten to the ER a nurse gave me a large dose of Benadryl, I waited 6 hours to be seen by a doctor. During this time they gave me a butterfly in my arm for an IV. I saw a doctor in respiratory and he evaluated me,by then it was the middle of the night. I told him everything, how I believed I had MCAS and my episodes were getting more severe and no one could help me. He said “You’re probably allergic to a new lotion or shampoo or something”, and laughed at this point I was beyond frustrated. I told him “If someone doesn’t listen to me I’m going to end up dead.”, he said “I don’t believe you, the condition you’re suggesting is really rare.” I looked at him dead in the eyes and said “You have no idea what I’ve gone through, what is your name?” He sharpened up real quick and told me his full name and then started to evaluate me and said there wasn’t anything he could do for me. He told me to wait there, I tore the butterfly out of my arm and left the hospital furious. I yelled at him and told him this is why I hated the medical industry. I cried all the way home. I stayed in bed the following day and cried the entire next day as well. - I looked for top doctors in Los Angeles for MCAS, I found one was at USC, I called and they said her waitlist was 4 months, I got on it. - I did a paid for some random GI mapping service, and sent my sample in, it said my gut bacteria was out of whack, I can’t remember specifics. The results were vague. - Then COVID started hitting… - My daughter and I got sick with a virus the first week of lockdown in March, she was ok. I had a fever and heavy congestion, I slept seated up out of fear. No C tests were available to me as I hadn’t come in contact with someone known to have C or had been out of the country recently. Never got a C diagnosis. We stayed home for 2 weeks and my daughters school went online. My work decided to make us remote. - After catching a virus in March, my fatigue grew tremendously, as did my brain fog. I sought out another therapist, as mine was having difficulty going online and I wanted someone who specially who was familiar with chronic illness. - I found a chronic illness therapist, who became my confidant. When no one else seemed to care she helped me with depression and navigating the terrible medical system, which had very few answers. It became apparent that my appearance (a Black woman) did me no favors in the medical system. I told her how I was good at advocating for myself and always found ways of working around things. I remember the day she started thinking about me differently, it was when I told her I had terrible brain fog and she asked how I worked around it, I told her I wrote things on post-its, reminders everywhere. She said she was going to suggest that and she had a good friend who did the same when she had bad brain fog. - Found a good GI at USC Keck. She evaluated me, could feel the bloating but was also at a loss otherwise. I suggested testing for SIBO, she okay’d it. I told her about the gut mapping results and she said “We just don’t know what a healthy gut looks like”. I was surprised, and shocked with all the research on healthy gut and a doctor at well known research hospital couldn’t give me any more than that. - By this time I had stomach pain, gas, diarrhea, pins and needles sensations, my skin flushed regularly, I had dizziness in hot showers. My skin became more sensitive, and I could write on it. I started having tremors and couldn’t sleep well at night. I now had having sun sensitivity, I couldn’t be in the sunlight for 2 min without flushing and feeling like my skin was burning. I was exhausted from merely existing. It became clear I had MCAS but was something in my stomach triggering it? My brain fog increased, to the point where it was difficult for me to function most hours of the day. I couldn’t retain information, no one at work really noticed because everything stopped due to COVID, including my line of work which was based in real world activities. - Having that appointment go okay. I decided to also see a Rhuematologst at USC. I met a very smart and quirky Rhuemy, who took a hour with me went over all of my tests, she ordered many labs. My boyfriend was with me at this appointment and he helped recall my fingers turning purple while in NY, Raynauds. She looked at my hands, for a long time, she noted “dermatagraphia” in her file. - I did the SIBO test from the USC GI doctor, turns out I had both types of SIBO. That would explain the on-going gas, bloating, constipation and diarrhea. USC GI prescribed me 2 antibiotics, which my insurance didn’t cover, it was something insane like $2000. The nurse forgot to request an insurance override for it being “medically necessary” for several months, even though I reminded her 3 times. - In the time I had been working with the new therapist, she grown to understand me as a human and saw that I had depression and anxiety due to my health conditions. We did many deeper mindfulness practices, tapping, various forms of meditation etc. I told her I had SIBO and she was shocked, she had also had SIBO years prior and she had horrible brain fog as well. Her experience with SIBO and being in school was the reason why she decided to become a therapist and work with people with chronic illness. She had gone through many doctors who did nothing for her until she found one who would do a SIBO test which was uncommon at the time. This came as no shock to me, but SIBO was “curable”. I wasn’t certain MCAS could be. - My labs came back from Rheumatology, for the first time in my life I had a positive ANA, a high positive at that, Speckled. It wasn’t enough symptoms to meet Lupus criteria but enough to be diagnosed with Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease, which basically means I have enough symptoms from multiple autoimmune disease, but none of them had developed severely into a well defined autoimmune diseases. My doctor said she thought it was Lupus even though I don’t meet the criteria yet. She put me on 200mg of Hydroxychloroquine, something that worked for me according to my medical records from 7-8 years prior. - I was laid off mid year at work by a major tech company, I looked for a job for a few weeks and found another which was a great fit. I know I’m lucky to work in tech and at another top tech company, a well paying remote one at that. I grew up in an underdeveloped area, and my boyfriend has a “low level” job (whatever that means), I know how lucky I am. - I spent the rest of the year focusing on work, tweaking my diet, environment, exercise and supporting my gut health. 2020 - Into erly in 2020 my brain fog persisted, I began waking up early so I could get over the morning brain fog I had before I started work. Meaning I would wake up about 5am and around 10 - 11 my brain fog would resolve as long as I hadn’t eaten anything. I would take my meetings in the morning during this time and have a little brain fog later in the day. I kept my meals as small as possible. The fog was so bad that I left the stove on more than once, burning pans and filling my entire home with smoke, at another point I turned down a one-way street (the wrong way) I had gone down this street the right way hundreds of times before. It was embarrassing, my therapist reminded me I had a health condition. - I knew I had to start working on my gut health and taking quercetin, and a high amount of Vitamin D - 2000mg/d. I weaned myself off of eggs and incorporated more low histamine vegetables. - In summer of 2020 I finally had appointment for the USC immunologist. She is very smart, super nice and soft spoken, and yet an excellent communicator. I told her about my allergic reactions, asthma attacks, questionable anaphylaxis. How I had tracked my diet and couldn’t trace triggers to a specific food groups other than lactose, my upper endo tests, and the rest of my symptoms. My symptoms always worsened around my period. She asked me if I had ever heard of MCAS, and showed me an illustration and explained how the mast cells become overactive and can cause many of symptoms. I told her I had read about it, and I thought I had it. She wanted to try me on antihistamines twice a day first. She tested my trytase and histamine. Histamine was high - 18 in my normal state, not in a flare. Tryptase was normal again. - At some point Trump said Hydroxichloroiquin would help COVID symptoms so my prescription became completely became unavailable. People without autoimmune diseases or malaria were suddenly found without the medication they needed. I started developing symptoms I never experienced when I ran out of it. - I was still reactive to many things for several months, the immunologist at USC put me on Cromolyn sodium the oral form. I started to feel better my forth dose in. My brain fog started to fade with the Cromolyn. I was to titrate up to 1200mg, in the next months. I was amaze. - I got up to 800mg/d of Cromolyn, and couldn’t go above that due to the way the insurance issued my prescription, I had my doctor change my prescription for up to 1200mg/d. Around this time the soft spoken immunologist switched me to her NP, who was great, and saw me regularly for several months. - I was feeling better and decided to go on vacation with my family to a camp site near the ocean, my parents urged me to leave the house. Something I hadn’t thought would bother me, since I’d been to the same location for every year since I was born. It took me several hours to pack for myself and daughter, and then a few hours to drive. I was very excited and then within 2 hours of being there I went into a severe asthma attack and anaphylaxis. I couldn’t breath, I got into my car to isolate myself from the campsite and I took Benadryl but it was too late. I had a heart rate monitor with me, my mother and I watched the blood pressure go up above 150 and drop to 80 within a few mins. By the time my heart blood pressure dropped a struggled to reach for my epi-pen, my thinking was slowed, I started feeling extremely nauseated and started heaving. I started crying, and couldn’t breath. Everything was in slow motion and I felt like I was running out of time, I had very little control over my body. I used the epi-pen, it took several min for it to fully work, I left 15 or so min after taking it and went home instead of the ER. My teeth chattered from the adrenaline. My dad followed me in his car half way and my boyfriend (who came from home) drove out and followed me the rest of the way home. My daughter witnessed some of it, and decided to stay with my parents. - It wasn’t until that moment did my mom believe me about my symptoms being anything other than normal allergies. She previously insisted that “no one could have so many symptoms”, even though I sent her plenty of info on MCAS. My dad on the other hand has was worried as all of the women in his family have severe health problems. My parents will never forget that event. - After the camping incident, I went through a major flare where I could no longer take liquid/oral Cromolyn, I was reacting to it and had to switch to compounded. I called dozens of compounded pharmacies before I found one that could compound my prescription, I drove two hours to pick it up when it became available. I was so sick from the flare. I had to take time off of work. Compounded wasn’t covered by insurance so I was paying over $100/m alone for Cromolyn. 2021 - By the time 2021 rolled around I was doing better, my immunologist upped my dosage of Cromolyn. I was taking the maximum of 2000mg/d, no longer having severe stomach pain and brain fog but the other symptoms persisted. I could eat sweet potatoes, rice, chicken, lettuce, zucchini, cucumber, blue berries, black berries, pear and apple. I occasionally had slip ups with my diet which I slowly grew out of. - I felt better, I even got a promotion at work to a level I thought I’d get to. I started wondering if I could take the vaccine. I waited on the vaccine and just tried to focus on being healthy. I was still working from home, and paranoid about getting C. I only ever left the house occasionally for necessities (DMV, or prescription pickup if I forgot to send it to my house) - I upped my exercise, some days I could only walk 15min and I started to react my hands and feet would become red, and burn (erythromelalgia). I was still sun and heat sensitive, and the pins and needles persisted. I wasn’t miserable but I had to be very careful of everything in my environment. My boyfriend only occasionally went out with friends, I only visited my family a few times outdoors. - Please stop reading now if you are sensitive to medical trauma. - I had waited on the vaccine and for most of you to say how you did before I decided to talk to my Immunologist about it. I hadn’t seen her for a really long time, since the beginning of the pandemic as I was seeing her NP. The immunologist said most of her MCAS patients didn’t have life threatening reactions and to take start Ketotifen a week before and take Benadryl the day of. At this point it was may, and I was diagnosed with MCAS. I had also developed redness and burning in my hands and feet (erythromelalgia), which stayed about the same and has never been officially diagnosed. My POTS symptoms were on and off. Some days I couldn’t sweat, it was the worst feeling. It was clear I had developed dysautonomia, as I had trouble regulating different body functions. - I started Ketotifen (.5) for about 5 days before getting my vaccine. I had my vaccine at 10:45, around 11:20 I was released. I sat in the waiting room with Epi in hand. Nothing happened, I was relieved and felt stupid for a few min thinking something would happen. I hot into the car with my boyfriend and started having a mild reaction, I asked him to pull over and we waited for 10 min to see if it would get worse. The reaction stayed mild and I was on so much antihistamines and mast cell stabilizers that I decided to go home because I was extremely tired from the combo of drugs and the reaction. My boyfriend, (who coincidentally got his second vaccine 2 days prior) and I went to sleep immediately after we went home. We woke up briefly for dinner and slept through until the next morning. - I woke up and felt fine. We decide to get breakfast, I went to take my medication and dropped my medication. I tried to pick them up while my boyfriend was having a conversation with me, and I dropped my meds again. Things got cloudy and I just wanted to take my Cromolyn. He yelled at me and told me I was having some type of neurological episode. He was extremely freaked out and took a tone with me I hadn’t heard before. He convinced me to get into the car. Out of sheer panic he asked where the nearest ER was and I told him and pointed. When I was in the car I asked him what he thought was going on, he said he didn’t know that I was slurring and drooling and he told me to look at myself. I looked at myself in the mirror I had a pill in my mouth, it was dissolving and the residue was running down the side of my chin. I texted my parents incoherently, but got the words out “(boyfriends name says I (jumbled) neurological episode. ER”. We got to the ER about 5 min later (he sped there) and I got out of the car immediately without him. I went over my medical history and my boyfriend was still in a panic and had left the car out front of the ER and he in a panic tried to get them to admit me. They took me in, I told them about the vaccine the day before and how I had MCAS which is an immunological condition, I remembered a few other things I had a diagnosis of, but not everything. They sent me back immediately, the first doctor screened me for a stroke, and asked me if I felt weakness or numbness in my limbs, I hadn’t noticed by my left hand was numb. I had pins and needles previously, but not numbness or reduced sensation, like this. They got me into a CT immediately, probably 15 from the time I got there. I saw an ER doctor who called the on-call Neurologist who saw me remotely, they brought in a huge screen with the a camera pointed at me, she was virtual and the Neuro gave me a visual test for strokes and said I was negative, she told me she didn’t think I had a stroke. Sometime later another on-call Neurologist came in person and evaluated me physically, I had a hard time with coordination with touching eyes to nose, some weakness. I confused his name with another doctor I had scheduled an appointment with in the following week. My CT came back and no one said a thing, I was asked if I felt bad enough to stay the night by a nurse. Like wtf? Um I just had a major neurological event and that person is going to ask me that question? - I stayed the night, this hospital happened to be the leading hospital in CA. They did multiple scans, a heart scan, blood work etc. in the middle of the night I was woken up and told to take medication (blood thinner) for which I knew nothing about, and no one told me why. PT, OT, and the nurses rotated every hour, evaluating me. A stroke specialist came in and evaluated me, and explained the difference between strokes and TIAs, and said she didn’t have my results. The nurse told me I would be released that day, before I was released the in-patient doctor asked if the neurologist I saw had talked to me, I said no. He said he would call same day and 15 min before I was released the Neurologist called and said I had a “small stroke”, I asked what size and what part of the brain, and what that part of the brain is responsible for. He said 3mm, and it’s responsible for “not much but coordination”. I later called him back to clarify whether I had a TIA or stroke, he confirmed stroke as it was captured on multiple scans. I later reviewed my records and one of the scans it was noted, likely two strokes but the scan wasn’t entirely clear. - I took a week off of work and followed up with the NP in immunology, rheumatology and then neurology. I sent them my medical records from the other hospital, they all took notes rigorously. Rheumatology was a bit panicked because Lupus can can strokes that can reoccur within a short amount of time. - I had a stroke and no one knew why, I eventually saw hematology, and cardiology and did an extensive heart work up called a bubble study which looked at the back side of my heart and learned I had a hole in my heart, which can allow a blood clot through. According to hematology, rheumatology, and several other doctors I saw I had no reason for clotting. All of my doctors with the exception of my newer NP, immunology and rheumatology ALL swept questions about the vaccine under the rug. No one wanted to speculate other than my Rheumatologist who insisted it be reported. - My newer PCP reported the stroke to VAERS, no one ever called or asked for my medical records. I’ve always found this strange. - By this time, I was understandably stressed out and had gone from severe, to mild, to back to severe. My doctors started upping my dosages of vitamins (B,C,D) and start doing PT since I just had a stroke and PT can help for some POTS symptoms. I upped my salt and water intake. - I started PT and started out ok, the more exercise I did the more reactive I became. After having the stroke I started having memory problems and neck pain, the fatigue now becoming so severe I struggled to function most of the day. PT undoubtedly worsened my symptoms. I started thinking I was developing CFS/ME. - After going from very little exercise to about a mile and a half a day and being incredibly fatigued I stopped PT, as the more my exercise increased the higher my fatigue levels were. My fatigue didn’t come on immediately after, it came on hours later. As a side note, in HS I played multiple sports, not just played sports and was voted “Most athletic” my senior year in a 2000 person HS. I regularly took part of competitions and tournaments outside of school, and during that time I’d only experienced similar amounts of fatigue after long weekend competitions. I discontinued sports after HS because of the autoimmune problems I developed but regardless, this lack of energy I experienced wasn’t being out of shape, this felt more akin to what I felt after a full weekend of competitions and my muscles were completed depleted. - Over time it took less and less exercise to feel more depleted. The blood pooling, burning in my hands and feet, and sensitivity sensitive to temperature became more frequent, I relayed the info to my immunologist. I also continued having memory problems, neck pain, and ringing in my ears. My immunologist started suggesting a Mitochondrial disease or “Mito” for short, and a channelopathy. Mito diseases are extremely rare and difficult to test for. She could test using a blood panel for “Carnitine”, and that would say if it was genetic, and genetic testing was the diagnostic way of testing for Mito, which has changed in the last decade. Most people who have mitochondrial dysfunction get diagnosed with Mito as children, many of whom end up dying from their severe diseases, however there are over 200 types and some only arise when the cells are under a lot of stress and not everyone becomes super severe. Meaning, you can be very normal until you’re not. Many Mitochondrial diseases tend to make people very fatigued and have too many diseases to count. - The rest of the year was full of tests and follow ups with OT and PT, which ended up not being helpful. OT suggested many things I had already tried or knew didn’t work for me and PT made me worsen. - I did have one anaphylaxis. It’s sort of a funny story, my boyfriend came home with a gag gift from his friend who is getting married and asked my bf to be in his wedding party, the gift was ball wash. On the particular day he decided to try it, I had frequent reactions and decided to turn in early for the evening to avoid a major reaction. He took a shower with said ball wash and our bedroom got steamy with ball wash smell and by the time he joined me in bed I had started having an asthma attack. Epi and to the ER I went. I was fine and met a doctor who gave me a steroid and I didn’t go into a major flare due to the steroid I’m assuming. I now carry baby Benadryl with me, it’s liquid and gets into the system faster. 2022 - I talked more to my immunologist about Mito, it’s rarely diagnosed because there isn’t a good way of checking for mitochondrial dysfunction. She did however, have Carnitine taken so she could see if a mitochondria wasn’t working well and as it turns out I had low Carnitine. The official diagnostic criteria for Mito is by genetics though. You can still have mitochondrial dysfunction without it being genetic, and there are different causes for Mitochondrial dysfunction and it can be genetic or can be caused by another disease. Channelopathies can be caused by Mito as well. I sent my labs in for genetic testing for Mito and I’m currently waiting on the lab to send the results to the genetic doctor so I can meet and go over the results. - Cardiology had done a bubble study the previous year, the bubble study I had looks at the backside of the heart for holes, it turns out 25% of people have a hole and a small portion of them can allow blood clots up and through the heart and into the brain. No one knows exactly how common it is to have a stroke with this condition, but less than a few percent of people have strokes. It’s possible I had a very small clot build up and get into my brain causing the stroke. Regardless there really wasn’t any evidence the vaccine caused the stroke, but I had been confirmed not to have a blood clotting disease. It’s very frustrating because I do believe it was the vaccine as I had a mild reaction. - I saw a cardiologist who specializes in POTS at the renowned hospital, they took blood work for a specific type of POTS that I can’t remember the name of (damn stroke). He also gave me a poor man’s tilt table, I got a little dizzy but the difference between my laying down vs standing blood pressure wasn’t greater than like 30? And I think that’s the criteria. He labeled me as very mild, I told him I had gotten a lot better. - I had the hole closed in my heart, I wasn’t a major procedure but it was a significant one and luckily I did find, didn’t develop any problems afterwards. - My hormones changed, I lost my period for several months and couldn’t determine why other than I had an abnormal prolactin. During this time my immune system calmed, similar to when it did when I was pregnant with my daughter (at the very top of this post I mention this) - For the first time in the last 3 years my health has stabilized (with a lot of meds and lifestyle adjustments) and I’m feeling better for longer than 4 months. I still have mild symptoms, but they’re manageable. - I took a new job at a startup and have the highest title I can receive which is a “Head of (my occupation)”, and I’m feeling really proud of myself at the moment. It’s been a really tough 3 years and I will never treat anyone suspected with MCAS, dysautonomia, or CFS/ME like they can’t have it. I’ve also learned that some doctors need to be corrected, and others will never believe me due to my appearance or lack of credentials. I have enough energy where I might buy a bicycle but I’m reluctant because I feel like I could return to the same state at any moment. Life is fleeting though.
Whats worked - from most to least important High doses of Vitamins B (Thiamine), C, and D Cromolyn Sodium (for MCAS, 2000mg) Hydroxychloroquine (for autoimmune disease, 200mg) A low histamine, low oxalates diet. Especially one high in antioxidants, this may help with Mito dysfunction. FODMAP is a helpful diet as well. I combined FODMAP with low histamine for over a year Regularly cleaning, keeping a HEPA filter in home Tracking my cycle - severity increases around my period L-Carnitine (for energy, 2000mg) only one brand I didn’t react to Meditation/Deep breathing/tapping (nervous system regulation) Addressing trauma in therapy Leaving high stress, low control work environments High salt intake for “POTS like symptoms” Mineral water- I can’t tell you why this works but assume due to salt and minerals + hydration Consistent low amounts of exercise (1/2 mile to a mile) Hot springs/mineral springs- idk why Red light therapy - I don’t know the science behind it Acupuncture - helped short term Moving away from high smog/bad air quality areas
What’s not worked Immunotherapy Processed and chemically treated foods Hyperbaric oxygen chamber (only tried once) Float tank/salt spa (only tried once) Rigorous exercise (thanks PT) Behavior therapy for insomnia Co-Q-10- reacted to it
I’m not sure Carnivore diet for SIBO Massages (discontinued during COVID)

As someone who thought of themself as a subject matter expert on supplementation, I have been pleasantly surprised by the qualty of useful feedback and information I have found in these "review my stack" threads... some quality stuff here which is a testament to this community!
So with that I would like to submit my own - large - supplement stack for review and critique :)
Super Long Post - But hopefully informative and helpful for all (myself included!)
So I take 60-66 total supplements 3-5 days a week and the photo cannot possibly show them all so I listed them and the dosages below.
I do believe I may be overdoing it and just wasting (peeing) money away but after literally hundreds of hours of research it seems that all these supplements have positive benefits for my health and longevity so I have no idea what to cut back on. I also know that how they interact with eachother is a whole other topic and they may do no good or even be harmful.
I was hoping others here could provide some (IMNAD) guidance/experience with these supplements/dosages so I can cut back and stop spending upwards of $300 month on those that are no longer needed or are worthless :)
First, some background on me so you know my goals (or skip down to my list).
My story begins as a 49 year old man standing 6'1" and 325lbs in the summer of 2020 and my only daily supplement was coffee and some terrible for you amount of sugary/carby food! This was followed by a doctor visit where i was diagnosed as diabetic (HBA1C over 11!!!).
Yes 2020 was a dumpster fire year for the ages!
However the silver lining here is that something clicked in my primate brain that day and suddenly doing WHATEVER was necessary to reverse course became very easy. Needless to say I did not take any of this lightly and immediately got started on my journey to become as healthy as possible with an enduring goal of increasing longevity and trying to reverse a decade plus of bad diets (non smoker and non drinker though thankfully).
Flash forward to today, a little over 19 months after this health crisis and I have lost a total of 130 pounds (195lbs) and my latest HBA1C was 4.9. I am off all meds (save Metformin which I take as a longevity drug not for diabetes any longer) avoid sugafructose (HFCS) like it were poison (because it is) and most carbs (boderline Keto) along with a half dozen stretches of water only fasting (six separate 3 day fasts and one 7 day).
I generally follow the OMAD (one meal a day) model most days and weight train 3-5x a week and... after that long preamble, take a total of 66 supplements each day during the week.
My anecdotal evidence says they were all POSSIBLY important to get me down 125lbs with great labs and bloodwork but now I am focused on keeping healthy by continually trying to heal my body (liver, pancreas, heart) after that decade of a bad diet and perhaps tapping into this longevity hype that is everywhere nowadays.
So I submit to you my supplement regimen. I would love to gather feedback on your experiences with any of these and answer any questions you might have as I generally look to cut back where it makes sense.
Conversely, if you have questions about a supplement, I am happy to share my own research so I truly hope this is help is a two way street.
Ironically - I have found 2 other supplements I want to add to my stack (Cordyceps and Reishi mushroom) but am subtracting before i add more :)
Just to note before someone states: I do know that some of these supplements are fat soluable and I take them properly with food/fat as required (usually morning coffee with some heavy cream or MCTs).
All Daily (M-F) unless noted
Vit C - (2) 500mg
Vit D3 - (1) 5000IU (3x a week)
Vit E - (1) 1000IU (2x a week)
Vit K(MK7) - (2) 120mcg
Alpha Lipoic Acid (r) - (2) 100mcg
B-100 Complex - (1) 800mcg
Benfotamine - (1) 300mg
Niacin B3 - (1) 500mg
Tru Niagen NR - (1) 300mg
P-5-P -(1) 50mg
Quercetin - (2) 500mg
Omega 3 - (3) 1200mg EPA / 900mg DHA
CoQ10 - (1) 100mg
DHEA - (1) 50mg
Alpha Ketoglutari Acid - (2) 1000mg
Chromium Picolinate - (1) 1000mcg
Ptersostilbene - (1) 200mg (rotate every other day with resveratrol)
Grapeseed / Resveratrol - (2) 800mg (rotate every other day with pterostilbene)
Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate - (2) 100mg
Fisetin - (1) 250mg
Biotin - (1) 10k mcg
Turmeric Curcumin - (3) 1500mg
Chelated Magnesium - (2) 200mg
Diindolylmethane (DIM) - (1) 300mg (only on workout days)
Boron Complex - (2) 6mg (only on workout days)
Fadogia Arestis - (2) 600mg (only on workout days)
Tongkat Ali - (2) 1600mg (only on workout days)
Ashwagandha KSM-66 - (1) 500mg (only on workout days)
D-Aspartic Acid - (4) 2660mg (only on workout days)
Vitex (Chastleberry) - (1) 205mg (only on workout days)
Astragalus - (2) 1000mg
Creatine Monohydrate - (3) 2700mg
Astaxanthin - (1) 10mg
N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) - (1) 600mg
Fucodian Extract - (1) 500mg
Kyolic Aged Garlic - (1) 1000mg
Berberine - (2) 1000mg
Ginger Root - (1) 550mg
Nattokinase/Serrapeptase - (1) 2000FU/40kFU (rotate)
Trimethylglycine (TMG) - (1) 750mg
Lutein - (1) 20mg
L-Lysine - (1) 500mg
L-Argine/Citrulline - (1) 500mg
Zinc - (1) 50mg
Choline Insitol - (1) 500mg
​
Thanks for taking a look!

I (25f) don't know where else to put this, because endo is the only thing I can come to when I think over my symptoms. That being said, they're odd in comparison to other stories I've read here. My insurance finally kicked in and I'm about to schedule an appointment, but I thought I'd list my symptoms here to see if anyone else has a similar situation.
The problems started when I was 16. Before that point, my periods were forgettable and mild. I got a burst of energy and decided to go on a run. I made it around the block but when I reached the top of the street, the most sever pain overcame me. I only remember bits and pieces of the walk home, then falling on the carpet and yelling for my sister to help me.
After that incident, every so often I would experience that kind of pain during my period. Winter always seems to be worse.
As the years have passed, the periods have worsened. But there are a couple weird things I've noticed.

1. My periods are generally between 25 and 28 days and I only bleed about four days. I track it religiously. As long as I start taking ibuprofen the day before it is scheduled to start, as well as down several liters of water a day three or four days leading up to it, the pain is considerably lessened.
   
2. The pain, on the worst cycles, is usually on the first day. It comes suddenly, without much warning, and escalates within a couple minutes to where I'm curled over on the toilet and passing out. I get nauseous, a bit, but in a way where I know my body is just trying to do SOMETHING to make it stop. It's not the ebb and flow of pain like normal period cramps, but just the peak of the worst part of a cramp for hours.
   
3. The pain doesn't last all day. I think at most, the worst of the worst pain lessens after about two hours. Generally either my ibuprofen kicks in, or, a couple times, I've gone to the ER and they hook me up with fluids and a stronger pain killer if I'm lucky enough for them to believe me.
   
4. These cramps would probably happen every month if I didn't work it out to a science. I have learned I have to take 800mg of ibuprofen every four hours to suppress the pain for the first two days.
   

I went on a diet for a few months that cut out gluten, dairy, red meat, and alcohol and that helped a lot. I fell off it because I got a new job and this past period has reminded me I need to go on it again.
Edibles help, but only with plenty of water. Otherwise I've noticed the pain can be worse, but it does help me dissociate from it mentally. CBD is my friend.
It's weird because the symptoms are so specific, I guess? And not as severe as some I've been reading about? It makes me feel like I don't have it, but then I find myself passing out with pain, wishing to die, and thinking "this can't be normal".
My husband and I have also been trying to conceive for years now, with no success. I can't help but feel it's my fault. I have generalized anxiety disorder, which doesn't help. My blood pressure also runs very low, and plummets when I'm under stress. I had my first pap smear a while back and the instrument the Dr used started making my uterus cramp and I full on passed out right there for some reason, which is when I learned it was my body reacting to the sudden stress and fear.
Is this similar to anyone else? If so, I'd love to get some advice with what worked for you and some tips with what to say when I get looked at.

This is a long one, so buckle up, y'all. TLDR at the end.
So, I (28M) am white. Like really, really white with a red leprechaun beard and all. My girlfriend (23F) is also really white (no red beard, fortunately). Last week on Tuesday we decided to get away for a bit and drove to a neighboring town to stay in a quaint little AirBnB to spend a few days meeting up with an old friend or two that live in the area, go kayaking or do something nice outside, and then go to a nice restaurant.
We get to the AirBnB Tuesday night, sleep-in the next morning, and meet up with one of her guy friends who wants to check me out and make sure I'm good enough for her (we've been together 6 months, already live together, and things are going swell). We have brunch, have great conversation, and go to a comic book store across the street to check out some comic books and board games. We have a nice time talking about nerdy stuff, I pass the guy friend test, and we part our ways for the day.
There's all kinds of water in the area (springs, lakes, rivers), so we're looking to do fun water stuff. We got a recommendation from a friend to do a short 1 mile hike to a little spring area that's well reviewed but not crowded, so we go and swim around, have a really nice time, and it's cloudy and shaded, so no big deal for us pasty whites (I know. UV rays go through clouds, so we still need sunscreen. Keep your pants on.). After we hike back to the car, we drive back to our little AirBnB, clean up and decide to plan out our next day. We wanted to go jetskiing and/or kayaking, but jetskiing was all booked up. I used to be a river rafting guide and sea kayaking guide, years ago. I really miss it and was getting pumped up for a chance to get out on the water. So, selfishly, instead of booking the 2-3 hour (6ish miles) river trip meant for families and young, easy-going couples like us, I book the full day 14 mile trip...for my girlfriend that doesn't even really know how to paddle... But I used to do this professionally and train people how to do it, so no big deal, right?...right?
We get a cooler, fill it with ice, beer and water (priorities in order here folks), a few sandwiches and some candy and granola bars. Everything you need for a great day on the river. I throw our phones and valuables in my trusty dry-bag from my years of guiding that I never get to use anymore, and load everything up into the car. We get to the river company half an hour early before the owner is even there, and I realize I left the sunscreen in a backpack back at the AirBnB, so we rush the half mile back to the house. I grab the backpack, throw it in the trunk, and we get back to the river company with 20 minutes to spare. The owner shows up, we load up in the van, and he starts to drive us to the put-in, 14ish miles up-river.
The owner and I talk about the river business and how the pandemic has impacted it all in general. I tell him about my previous guiding experience around the states, so he says he's confident in our ability to paddle this easy Class 1 river. Once we reach the put-in, I help him get the kayaks in the water, I clip the dry-bag and cooler to the back of my kayak, and we say, "see ya down river!" My girlfriend and I push out, and we're off! Here we go for a perfect day on the river. Just me, my wonderful girlfriend, and nature...
A few minutes after the owner drove off and we're a good way down-river from the put-in, my girlfriend asks, "Hey babe, can you grab me the sunscreen?" The sunscreen... Right... I put that in...where did I put it... It's in the backpack... The backpack...that's in THE FUCKING TRUNK OF THE CAR, FOURTEEN MILES AWAY. My idiot ass didn't think to switch the sunscreen from the backpack in the trunk to the dry-bag I was bringing with us on the river. I was so pumped and ready to go that it didn't cross my australopithecine, mandarin orange sized brain to switch that little bottle of white lotion from one bag to the other. I'm trying not to panic because we are past the point of no return. Rivers are typically a one way street unless you have a motor-powered propellor. Our ride is gone, and there's no place for us to stop and meet up with him to pick up the crucial piece of protection that our delicate skin desperately needs from an unforgiving star so bright and powerful that humans across the globe worshipped it for millennia as a fucking god. We are both white as fuck, burn easily, and are mother nature's top candidates for skin cancer. The sun-god frowns upon our existence and reminds us that however socially privileged we are, we are feeble, too undeserving to bask in its radiance, and should retreat to the dark and cold climates from which our genetics evolved to inhabit (I'm talking about air-conditioned buildings here).
I proceed to profusely apologize to my girlfriend and say what an imbecile I am and an asshole for being so selfish by getting us into this whole debacle. My girlfriend is one of the sweetest, most patient, most forgiving people on this planet. She tries not to panic herself, so we both take the stoic approach and deal with the reality at hand. We can enjoy what we have of the day and accept the situation, or we can scream and fight and still have to paddle 14 miles pissed at each other. We decide to do the former. I teach her some basic paddling strokes, proper technique so she doesn't overexert herself or strain a muscle, and I try to take it slow so she can keep up. Once we get going, I start paddling a normal pace for myself, getting into a steady, meditative rhythm, and a minute later she's 40 yards behind me. So I stop, call out a little helpful instruction, and wait for her to catch up. She catches up and I start paddling again. Same thing happens, again and again, for hours. Now, my self-centered ass is getting a little frustrated because I wanted a nice day of meditative paddling like I used to do, but I've got to sit in place for most of it and just wait on my girlfriend to catch up every 5 minutes because she can't get the hang of it and keep up. I try to be as helpful and patient as I can in showing her how to paddle efficiently, but nothing was sticking. I'm also getting a little worried because they close up shop at 5, and I'll get charged extra for every half hour we're on the water past closing time. I didn't think we were going to make it.
Within the first 3 hours, she gets swept out of her kayak; once by a tree, another not long after by a quickly bending current. She panics, heroic expert paddler boyfriend swoops in and saves the day, twice. Look at me, I'm a badass. We resume the former pattern. About hour 2 is when I started to feel a burning sensation on the tops of my legs. In my head, I know this is going to SUCK. I've had my share of bad sunburns before. Not my first rodeo. But I had NO idea what was to come. It is 95 degrees, not a cloud in the sky, and we are on the water for SIX HOURS. Suffice it to say, my girlfriend is visibly upset and not happy with me nor our situation. She didn't really know what she was signing up for when I said 14 miles. When we finally make it to the take-out, I carry the kayaks back to the little shed by the owner who briefly looks at my face, then immediately down at my legs. "Wow... that's a pretty bad burn," says this evenly bronzed water-man. I replied, "Thanks for a great trip. Can't wait to come back," and got the fuck out of there as fast as I could. I was so embarrassed after all the talk of my badass experiences in the deserts of west Texas, Utah, and the lush green forests and glacial blue waters of the Pacific Northwest.
My girlfriend and I drag ourselves to the car, ease our now lobster red, crusted skin onto the black fabric seats that have soaked up the sun, and gun it back to the AirBnB for cold showers. After we're all rinsed off, we gently dab dry whatever water that hadn't immediately evaporated off of our feverish skin. I lie down on the bed and immediately start presenting symptoms of sun-poisoning. I'm nauseous and uncontrollably shaking. My legs, face, and neck are blazing while my covered torso was freezing. A complete imbalance of thermoregulation. My own Superwoman makes a run to the grocery store to get us some aloe and whatever burn lotion she can find while her little bitch of a boyfriend writhes around on sheets rougher than he's spoiled to back home. She gets back, we lather up with aloe, and spend the whole night nauseous, burning, and shivering. There's no way we could dress up now and go out to that nice restaurant, built on a cliffside overlooking a beautiful lake. Everything burns and hurts to the touch, and we feel like shit. So, we sleep through the shakes, clean the place up in the morning, and hit the road. The burning and stinging just gets worse by the minute, and I can't stop apologizing. My girlfriend holds this boundless vat of forgiveness, despite her pain and frustration. She strokes my hair, kisses me, and says it was just a mistake and it's not my fault. She gently holds my hand as I drive us back home, and she drifts off to sleep.
One day later (Friday) we are so badly burned that we can hardly walk. Any kind of movement is difficult and painful because burnt skin just dries and tightens up. Add swelling to that and it's even worse. We both work nightshift in direct patient healthcare on the weekends, so we call in to our bosses because there is no way in hell that we can work like this, or even wear clothes besides underwear. We start taking 800mg of ibuprofen (the max prescribed dose) to help with swelling and pain which does absolutely nothing. I text my mother because I know she has a whole pharmacy of controlled substances in her bathroom cabinet from previous surgeries and lower back issues that she has saved for a rainy day (sunny in our case). Vicodin for the win! She sends my dad over with a bottle full of that shit, and we start a proper pain relief regimen every 4-6 hours per the instructions on the bottle.
So, I decide to just push through the pain. Come this past Sunday, we are in agonizing pain and decide that maybe it's time to go to the urgent care clinic. (I had to cancel a promising second interview because I couldn't wear pants or walk without limping.) The doctor takes us both in the same room, briefly and quickly looks us over and says "yeah that's a severe burn". She prescribes my girlfriend tramadol for pain and zofran for her nausea. For me... I get ibuprofen. The same shit I've been taking at the same dose, just in single pill form. She sends in a nurse to give us a shot of toradol (same family as ibuprofen) to tie us over for the day. When the MA comes to give us our work excuses and prescription papers, I ask her why the doctor didn't prescribe me the same thing as my girlfriend or any kind of actually effective pain relievers. She goes to check with the doc, comes back and says "she won't explain why. Sorry." If I press for an answer, I'll come across as "drug-seeking" and not only won't get the pain meds but will probably put a red flag on my medical chart for future reference. So we take our papers, limp and shuffle to the pharmacy, pick up our meds, and drive home. I stop taking the Vicodin because I have that promising interview I rescheduled coming up. If I get the job, I need to pass the drug test, and opiates will pop up for which I don't have a prescription as an excuse.
Over the next few days, despite taking my mom's "repurposed" hydrocodone, the pain gets worse and worse, to the point where our bones are aching. We get random "stings", without warning, anywhere on the burn sites where it feels like a wasp is digging its ass into your subcutaneous tissue (I'm getting one now. FUCK.). These stings then turn into what feels like someone hammering a nail straight into your bone and then tapping it repeatedly just to screw with you (get it? Nail? Screw? Nevermind.). For some reason, I got a worse case of it than my girlfriend. My ankles and feet swell up so much that I can't really flex my feet anymore or properly extend my legs, and I'm getting puffy skin with rolls (I'm a tall skinny guy with usually visible veins and tendons).
Yesterday (Wednesday), I couldnt stand for more than a couple of minutes without severe pain. The burn is so deep that it has affected all the tissues beneath the epidermis. It feels like someone is whacking my shins with a sledgehammer the moment I put my feet on the ground, so we decide to go back to the urgent care clinic, where they inform us it will be at least a 4 hour wait. I'm grunting/moaning and keeling over in pain, scrambling for any surface I can hold onto to take the weight off of my legs. We're in a crowded place with a bunch of other sick people and crying children, and the receptionists behind the desk drop what they're doing and are running to get me a wheelchair. I looked and sounded that bad. I'm prideful, so I grit my teeth and decline the wheelchair. I'm 28 and relatively fit, not 75 and circling the drain. They see that I'm in so much pain that they quickly and quietly refer me to a sister clinic on the other side of town that opens up in a couple of hours with no wait once it opens. I'll get seen much faster. My girlfriend is driving all this time and is basically carrying me around, just bearing all the pain she's in herself. She's the fuckin GOAT.
We kill some time with Chipotle and Starbucks drive-thru, haul across town, and wait for this place to open. Once we're in, the receptionists take one look at me and immediately offer water and an ice pack that covers 1/16th of my total burn surface area. A nice gesture, but a laughable one. They get us in the back, and a middle aged, disgruntled, retired military LVN checks my vitals, and puts me in a room. A recently graduated PA walks in the room and actually does an adequate assessment of my burns and covers a thorough medical history (I eat a handful of pharmaceutical Skittles twice a day for unrelated chronic issues). Apparently PAs can't prescribe hydrocodone, so she puts me on codeine/Tylenol for pain, a diuretic to reduce the edema in my legs and feet, and an antibiotic in case I get an infection because apparently "that burn is not healing at all." We go home, and I hobble back to the apartment and out of the sun as fast as I can. So here I am, sitting on my couch, unable to sleep because of the pain, writing this long story that probably won't be read in full, and my legs are still being hammered with half-molten nails. Apparently the only thing that actually helps with this type and level of pain is hydrocodone. Even that doesn't kill it all.
Suffice it to say, I have learned my lesson. I am an arrogant, egotistical, self-centered dunce who is arguably the luckiest guy around to have a girlfriend that loves him despite his negligence, causing her severe damage to her skin and unimaginable pain, and is willing to do whatever she can to help her boyfriend get back to a healthy and pain-free state. Never forget the sunscreen, people. Have it around at all times and protect your skin, no matter your complexion or the amount of melanin with which you are endowed. Your skin is the largest and most exposed organ in your body that protects all the others and is easily and irreversibly damaged. It's not worth the pain in the short or long term and the potential of skin cancer in the future. Don't be a dumbass like me, and don't be fooled. The sun may shine it's glorious light upon you, but it will hurt like hell if you are really white and stay in it longer than 15 minutes without proper protection or covering.
TLDR; Took my gf on an all day river trip. Forgot the sunscreen. Got absolutely fried and are in an insane amount of pain a full week later despite 2 doctor visits, prescribed pain meds, and multiple bottles of aloe and lidocaine. I done fucked up.

For the last few days I’ve been taking 2000mg+ gabapentin and a couple of the phrenze gas station pills (phenibuit) both alone can get me a nice buzz but when combined I’ve managed to get scarily high. Last night I took a probably deadly amount of the gas station pills and 6 800mg gabapentin pills. After about 45 minutes I completely stopped caring about something that had me almost in tears upset and then after an hour and a half I was dizzy and then once two hours hit I got super disoriented saw a white flash, thought I was overdosing and woke up the highest I’ve ever been in my life. And I’ve abused pretty much every popular street drug except for meth.. I’ve overdosed on Xanax before by taking 6 green bars, had an extremely bad problem with synthetic marijuana causing me to blow ten thousand dollars in 2 months and crash my car, I’ve done 10 gel tabs, first and only time doing heroin It was white China.. you get the point, I have a problem lol... anyways I come here to say this is a very serious combination and it’s pretty fucking nice so nice I advise extreme caution to anyone about to try it because I’m definitely addicted after just a few days of experimenting. I apologize for how badly this was typed I’m barely able to hold my phone right now lol

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Hello lovely folks! This sub-reddit really helped me through my second abortion just as it did with the first. I’m sharing my story because reading others experiences before having my procedure calmed me greatly!
I have had an abortion via the pill around a year and a half ago, and even though that went fine, I’ve been having some health issues and just wanted something 100% sure this time around because it is possible for the pill to fail so I chose to have a partially sedated D&E at 8 weeks.
I went to a women’s clinic that wasn’t Planned Parenthood, because this clinic was able to get me an appointment faster and do the procedure all in one day! They were up front with their pricing, which for partial sedation D&E was a flat 435 for everything included in the appointment!
Prior to the appointment, they called me twice to go over all the information. They were so kind and casual, did not feel like speaking with someone overly strict/clinical- they were very detailed but they made me feel supported and like I could ask them any question without problem! They informed me I would need to bring a driver that has a license to drive me home after the appointment, to eat something prior to coming in, to drink a lot of water to be hydrated since I was having an IV, to bring maxi pads, and that the earlier I showed up for my appointment, the sooner they would see me since they have multiple abortion check ins scheduled for the same time.
On the day of, I ate three scrambled eggs (In hindsight, I would recommend something more porous and hearty, like bread-based) and made sure to be drinking water! I arrived at 7:15ish before my appointment at 7:30. There were protestors, who made very pointed remarks at me going inside with a megaphone, but the confidence in the wonderful staff at the clinic and my decision made me unphased. They did also inform me while the procedure would be quick, the waiting and check-in processes would be long. The waiting room had super comfy couches! I had to fill out some consent forms while waiting after initial check in and they sent my driver (my boyfriend) to wait in the car after check in! The protestors called him a coward, he texted me, but he blasted some music from his car to drown them out and they left shortly after he started doing so!
The initial wait was maybe an hour, but I got lucky with the women in the waiting room with me. Everyone was friendly, we talked and laughed with each other. I was eventually called to the back to provide more detailed medical history information, and sign more consent forms with details about the procedure. At this stage, they took my phone to keep safely as no phones were allowed past the point of the waiting area! Then I went immediately to an ultrasound where they found how far along I was (no need for the initial pregnancy test because I had told them I had an emergency ultrasound and figured out I was pregnant already) and they got my accurate week for the pregnancy! Then I went to get blood pressure and a finger prick to determine if I was positive/negative. I asked a lot of questions just in this part alone, but the staff was so nice and answered anything and everything!
After this, I was sent back in to the waiting room for awhile! I brought a book so that really helped passed the time as I couldn’t use my cell phone still! I was called to the back again, and I paid for the procedure and had my driver come in to give the staff his license to keep until the procedure was over! He went back to the car again after giving his license and I waited a bit longer until I was called to received the initial medicine before the IV! They asked me to put a maxi pad in before they administered the medication because it was possible for light bleeding/discharge to happen! The meds consisted of misoprostal and 800mg Tylenol for initial pain management and to make my cervix softer for dilation since I had not had children yet. I was able to talk to the nurse about the procedure more, and admitted that I was nervous about the numbing shot to the cervix portion, but she assured me that most patients did not feel it after having the IV and she would be there to hold my hand if needed and talk me through it!
I was sent back to the waiting room to give some time for the medication to start doing it’s thing and this time I curled up on one of the couches and closed my eyes for a little bit considering I got up so early, I was a little tired by this point. I was called back again and they asked me to go to the bathroom to make sure my bladder was emptied. Then I went into the procedure room where a very kind doctor and three other nurses were present! They talked me through what would happen, and how the IV medication would feel. The inserted the IV (quick, very painless) and they were all asking me questions, talking me through everything and I felt so calm and reassured. I felt a little spacey when the IV meds were inserted, way more relaxed physically. No vision spotting and nothing too loopy at all! They used a speculum and then inserted the numbing needle, the speculum I felt but the numbing I did not! They were talking to me throughout it all, was so helpful in distracting and it only felt like the smallest bit of discomfort, like you could feel something moving, but it wasn’t painful whatsoever. Then they started suction, and the machine was much more quiet than I expected and before I even knew it, it was over! No pain, just a very small discomfort but nothing that even made me twitch. The doctor and nurses assured me that I did very well, and it all went as expected! I didn’t feel “out of it” from the IV, (noted I do take klonapin very infrequently, and I partake in marijuana sometimes so this could have helped, not sure). They exited the room to let me get dressed, maxi pad still in my underwear!
When I was ready, I exited the room and was escorted to the recovery room with some very comfy chairs! They had me recline while they gave me water and jolly ranchers (YUM!!) and took my blood pressure. There was a woman I was talking to in the waiting room there, and we giggled over the blue jolly ranchers. I was given my phone to let my driver know they could come into the waiting area! They had me rest for a little longer. I got nauseous a little so they gave me a medical barf bag in case. I didn’t throw up, but they recommended I take it with me in the car! Another nurse escorted me to the waiting room and I went to the car with my boyfriend.
This is where I did end up throwing up, right when I sat down in the car so thank goodness for that bag, and eating those jolly ranchers prior because those eggs didn’t taste that bad coming back up. (This is why I recommended something more porous and hearty, something that will better soak up stomach acid!) But I kept drinking water and we stopped to get some food for later. The ride home is bumpy (city streets) and I did end up throwing up again into the bag. Did not feel super sickly at all, just nauseous from the moving car and I felt better afterwards honestly! My lower abdomen just felt a bit heavy is all. I live with my boyfriend so thankfully I had him and two dogs to take care of me when I got home. I curled up on the couch with one of the dogs and fell asleep for a few hours! Now I’m awake, I’ve been bleeding VERY lightly with much less cramping than I expected. I finally am able to eat something after two weeks of barely eating anything due to the nausea and cramping and I am so happy!
The staff was incredible, and being surrounded by women who were open and all supportive in the waiting room was awesome. I cannot sing the praises of women’s clinics enough. They way they talk to you is so different from a typical medical office, much more caring and relatable in my perspective. They also had financial aid available, which most women in the waiting room said took $75 off their total! I am so happy with how everything went, despite the whole experience taking about 4-5 hours. I went in at 7:15 and got around 12pm! Thank you to everyone on this thread for sharing their experience and always being so supportive! My advice for afterwards: find your favorite blanket and eat slowly once you feel like you’re able to!
For any first timers on abortion or posting here: if you get any troll messages, you’ll know from the first sentence of their message: DELETE. Just delete, not worth your time. Talk to people here instead. They won’t insist you HAVE to have an abortion, they will just answer any questions and help you through it in such caring manners. Secondly, the clinic will never be as scary as you think it might be. It’s full of trained professionals who are caring and knowledgeable. If there are protestors, they cannot come on the actual property, they are limited to the street in front of the clinic. They cannot block you from entering.
Again thank you to the posters, commenters, and mods of this subreddit. For people who might not have a support system, this is one for you. Wishing wellness and happiness to everyone here!

What Exactly Is Whole Keto Xtreme?
Whole Keto Xtreme is actually a fat burning nutritional supplement that makes certain a slender and appeared soon after curvy process approach by means of marketing and advertising rapid and steady fat burning.
Within this express the body can burn the existing entire body fats as opposed to carbohydrates therefore lowering the general measurements of stored excess fat content, making a ripped off body,. That is the thought. Additionally, it allegedly reduces in the user’s longing for fattening foods by suppressing wish for meals and raising the user’s strength.
Who Might Be The Producer Of Whole Keto Xtreme?
The organization appropriate powering Whole Keto Xtreme is named FitClub, that was also proper powering the PureFit diet plan supplements. Although the business has been around health and fitness provided that 2009, little specifics of it can be reachable on the web.
Visit The Official Website Here For The Best Discounted Price
Basically, we are able to swiftly say they merely reachable while using digital strategy, receiving the organization breaks down to provide a accurate street address for your spots of work. However, they tone good that the products are safe and effective and noise.
So, how Does Whole Keto Xtreme Perform?
According to the manufacturer, Whole Keto Xtreme works in a simple and natural way. It offers exogenous ketones that trigger a process approach referred to as ketosis. Ketosis is definitely a metabolic dilemma that our body gets its electricity from set fatty acids as an alternative to common all sorts of sugar.
Generally, the whole whole body depends upon carb offer like methods to receive energy as they are very simple to break down and may even be seen in increased quantities.
Through ketosis fatty foods are split additionally into ketones which frequently try to improve the body’s price of metabolic process also lowering yearnings, even so. This plays a portion in decreased usage of meals as a result an absolute lowering of process-weight.
Whole Keto Xtreme Components - Could They Be Risk-Cost-free And Efficient?
Whole Keto Xtreme is generally a danger-cost-free selection for making it possible to control fat loss through ketosis, and similarly, it truly is thought to be protect. It employs 1 purportedly protected element, nevertheless:
Beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) - Also called 3- hydroxybutyric level of acidity, can be quite a naturally sourced normal and-normal product synthesized from the liver organ body organ physique body organ from the failing of unhealthy fats. According to a review article in the journal Cell Metabolism, its concentration in the body increases during ketosis and is claimed to boost energy levels in users seeking to lose weight.
That Are The Advantages Related To Whole Keto Xtreme?
Considered to stimulate slimming downward by aiding burn away from excessive extra fat.
The item means that you can boost the intellectual health and function from the purchaser by elevating the functioning together with the nerve program.
Rush You Bottle (Hurry Up Limited Stock Available)
It could properly help men and women to have a clip curvy figure by reduction in our body unwanted fat in needless areas just like thearms and abdomen, and body muscle tissue.
The capsules make use of a wonderful taste for that reason you simply will not likely probably knowledge issues eating them.
Exactly What Are Negatives Of Whole Keto Xtreme?
The items might cause unwelcome benefits for example cramping, diarrhea and nausea and poor jaws smell.
The piece is really offered for get on the net throughout the company’s web site.
Should not be used along with other prescription drugs as his or her components could possibly impede the act of the medical health supplement.
The dietary supplement is contraindicated in people listed below 18 years old at the same time all of those experiencing constant health conditions which include high blood pressure levels sums as it could generate vertigo and impact hypertension stage.
Whole Keto Xtreme - Completed Verdict
Taking into consideration all aspects, Whole Keto Xtreme appear to be a possible fat burner with a bit of other positive elements. It meets works and wells generally keto-diet and programs methods and tends to make a number of speedy transformation approach to ketosis, consequently increased excess weight lessening.
Furthermore, it can help enhance the vitality amounts of the patient, minus the side effects of caffeine intake and various other stimulant medications. Due to the fact fatty foods create virtually 3 x more electricity when split up instead of carb supply.
However, other than its website, the company does not seem to use any other digital platform to market its product, indicating either lack of confidence in its product or it is unsure about the effectiveness of the supplement.
Does It Really Work and Is It Worth Buying? Find Out More Here
The data furnished on its web site concerning the part is scanty. Appears to be to in no way fully thorough on its agreement for that much better understanding inside the private.
This pegs the issue of no matter if there may possibly be one thing becoming undetectable with regards to the product. Because of this to in no way create the ideal effects in step with the disgruntled critiques of clients on-line. Perfectly, maintain and, the health-related dietary supplement is unquestionably okay.
There are additional weight loss regimens already in the market accessible also that are worth taking into consideration right before figuring out but.
Q: How If You Happen To Get Whole Keto Xtreme?
A: Every pot of Whole Keto Xtreme contains 60 pc tablets every comprising of 800mg in the energetic element. Basically, you need to consume two medications everyday. Provide you with a great deal of rest and drink considerable amounts of h2o to actually discover youself to be in and sustain ketosis.
For optimum closing outcomes, assist the health supplements with each other that has a keto-pleasant eating plan, which requires raising the quantity of healthier fatty acids you eat while lessening the amount of a myriad of sugar.
Q: The Amount Of Does Whole Keto Xtreme Set You Back?
A: Users call in to ask, although Whole Keto Xtreme’s website does not indicate the actual cost for this product.
Q: Exactly What The Besides Is Whole Keto Xtreme Refund Policy?
A: Coming from the reachable facts about their state web page it is not actually constantly specific the road they delivered back solutions and products.
Q: Does Whole Keto Xtreme Provide You With A Test Supply?
A: The product offers a free bottle for a free trial for its customers, before one can commit.

What Exactly Is Wild Lean Keto?
Wild Lean Keto is actually a fat burning nutritional supplement that makes certain a slender and appeared soon after curvy process approach by means of marketing and advertising rapid and steady fat burning.
Within this express the body can burn the existing entire body fats as opposed to carbohydrates therefore lowering the general measurements of stored excess fat content, making a ripped off body,. That is the thought. Additionally, it allegedly reduces in the user’s longing for fattening foods by suppressing wish for meals and raising the user’s strength.
Who Might Be The Producer Of Wild Lean Keto?
The organization appropriate powering Wild Lean Keto is named FitClub, that was also proper powering the PureFit diet plan supplements. Although the business has been around health and fitness provided that 2009, little specifics of it can be reachable on the web.
Basically, we are able to swiftly say they merely reachable while using digital strategy, receiving the organization breaks down to provide a accurate street address for your spots of work. However, they tone good that the products are safe and effective and noise.
So, how Does Wild Lean Keto Perform?
According to the manufacturer, Wild Lean Keto works in a simple and natural way. It offers exogenous ketones that trigger a process approach referred to as ketosis. Ketosis is definitely a metabolic dilemma that our body gets its electricity from set fatty acids as an alternative to common all sorts of sugar.
Generally, the whole whole body depends upon carb offer like methods to receive energy as they are very simple to break down and may even be seen in increased quantities.
Visit The Official Website Here For The Best Discounted Price
Through ketosis fatty foods are split additionally into ketones which frequently try to improve the body’s price of metabolic process also lowering yearnings, even so. This plays a portion in decreased usage of meals as a result an absolute lowering of process-weight.
Wild Lean Keto Components - Could They Be Risk-Cost-free And Efficient?
Wild Lean Keto is generally a danger-cost-free selection for making it possible to control fat loss through ketosis, and similarly, it truly is thought to be protect. It employs 1 purportedly protected element, nevertheless:
Beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) - Also called 3- hydroxybutyric level of acidity, can be quite a naturally sourced normal and-normal product synthesized from the liver organ body organ physique body organ from the failing of unhealthy fats. According to a review article in the journal Cell Metabolism, its concentration in the body increases during ketosis and is claimed to boost energy levels in users seeking to lose weight.
That Are The Advantages Related To Wild Lean Keto?
Considered to stimulate slimming downward by aiding burn away from excessive extra fat.
The item means that you can boost the intellectual health and function from the purchaser by elevating the functioning together with the nerve program.
Rush You Bottle (Hurry Up Limited Stock Available)
It could properly help men and women to have a clip curvy figure by reduction in our body unwanted fat in needless areas just like thearms and abdomen, and body muscle tissue.
The capsules make use of a wonderful taste for that reason you simply will not likely probably knowledge issues eating them.
Exactly What Are Negatives Of Wild Lean Keto?
The items might cause unwelcome benefits for example cramping, diarrhea and nausea and poor jaws smell.
The piece is really offered for get on the net throughout the company’s web site.
Should not be used along with other prescription drugs as his or her components could possibly impede the act of the medical health supplement.
The dietary supplement is contraindicated in people listed below 18 years old at the same time all of those experiencing constant health conditions which include high blood pressure levels sums as it could generate vertigo and impact hypertension stage.
Wild Lean Keto - Completed Verdict
Taking into consideration all aspects, Wild Lean Keto appear to be a possible fat burner with a bit of other positive elements. It meets works and wells generally keto-diet and programs methods and tends to make a number of speedy transformation approach to ketosis, consequently increased excess weight lessening.
Furthermore, it can help enhance the vitality amounts of the patient, minus the side effects of caffeine intake and various other stimulant medications. Due to the fact fatty foods create virtually 3 x more electricity when split up instead of carb supply.
Does It Really Work and Is It Worth Buying? Find Out More Here
However, other than its website, the company does not seem to use any other digital platform to market its product, indicating either lack of confidence in its product or it is unsure about the effectiveness of the supplement.
The data furnished on its web site concerning the part is scanty. Appears to be to in no way fully thorough on its agreement for that much better understanding inside the private.
This pegs the issue of no matter if there may possibly be one thing becoming undetectable with regards to the product. Because of this to in no way create the ideal effects in step with the disgruntled critiques of clients on-line. Perfectly, maintain and, the health-related dietary supplement is unquestionably okay.
There are additional weight loss regimens already in the market accessible also that are worth taking into consideration right before figuring out but.
Q: How If You Happen To Get Wild Lean Keto?
A: Every pot of Wild Lean Keto contains 60 pc tablets every comprising of 800mg in the energetic element. Basically, you need to consume two medications everyday. Provide you with a great deal of rest and drink considerable amounts of h2o to actually discover youself to be in and sustain ketosis.
For optimum closing outcomes, assist the health supplements with each other that has a keto-pleasant eating plan, which requires raising the quantity of healthier fatty acids you eat while lessening the amount of a myriad of sugar.
Q: The Amount Of Does Wild Lean Keto Set You Back?
A: Users call in to ask, although Wild Lean Keto’s website does not indicate the actual cost for this product.
Q: Exactly What The Besides Is Wild Lean Keto Refund Policy?
A: Coming from the reachable facts about their state web page it is not actually constantly specific the road they delivered back solutions and products.
Q: Does Wild Lean Keto Provide You With A Test Supply?
A: The product offers a free bottle for a free trial for its customers, before one can commit.

I had my bilateral salpingectomy (tube removal) performed today! I honestly cannot believe this is real! This is my life! I am FREE, finally FREE!
Long post, updates at the bottom!
I arrived at the hospital at 11:30AM. Almost immediately I was brought back. They continuously asked for my consent to share information with my ride or anyone else. My ride was set up to have text alerts as I went through the process, so he was able to leave the hospital if he needed.
I was weighed before being brought back to a room. I set my coat and everything down, was asked some basic questions like when I last ate/drank anything, current medications, etc. Then I was walked to a restroom where they collected a urine sample to test for pregnancy (it was negative). I was lead back to the room where we went over everything again. I stripped down, had to cleanse my entire body with anti bacterial wipes, and then I just laid in the bed. Eventually my nurse came back to set me up with an IV. She tried twice, let me have a break, and brought someone else in t o try again. IV took the third time. I have some minor bruising from the failed attempts.
The surgeon and anesthesiologist both stopped in to go over everything with me. I was given Tylenol and Gabapentin. It was a lot of wait time. I was in the pre-op room for two and a half hours before a nurse wheeled me to the operating room. I don't remember much, just being moved to the table, having compressions placed on my legs, stickers to monitor my heart, and blood pressure cuff. They were just making small talk, and then nothing.
I woke up in a big recovery room with lots of nurses at about 3PM, an hour after I was brought to the OR. My vision was really blurry, and I was having trouble talking because my throat hurt from the breathing tube. She asked me about pain, and at that time it was about a 5/10. It felt like a really bad period cramp. She dosed me with some Fentanyl through my IV which took the edge off within seconds. Once I was pretty conscious and communicating well they wheeled me back up to one of the pre-op rooms. It was about 4PM.
A nurse checked on me right away, she got me some water and a couple pieces of toast. Honestly the best toast I'd ever eaten as I had not eaten anything for 24 hours at that time. After about 45 minutes the nurse came back to check in on me and asked if I needed to use the bathroom yet. During that time a pharmacist stopped by with my meds (Hydrocodone, only 6 tablets which is a fourth of what I was given for my wisdom teeth removal. 800mg Ibuprofen for minor pain once I finish the Hydrocodone). After another half hour the nurse came back to help me get up and walking around. I wasn't really in any pain, but I was getting pretty bad headrush having to stand and walk. I was taken to the bathroom to try pee. I managed to, but it was the longest slowest pee ever. I had no bleeding or "vaginal leakage" as they called it.
Once I was able to urinate on my own they let me know they found my ride, and he was told to pull up to the door. I was left to get dressed, and once I was ready to go we went over aftercare. I was wheeled up to the door and loaded into my ride's vehicle.
I was at the hospital for a total of about six hours. I did the stairs up to my third floor apartment without issue. My ride stayed with me for about an hour to ensure I was stable before leaving. They're pretty insistent on having someone with you for the first 24 hours, I just do not have someone able to do so.
I've been home for about two and a half hours. Pain is really minimal and mostly in my shoulders (from the gas). I've had no issues getting up and moving around, no issues using the bathroom on my own. I have eaten some dinner, and I've not yet taken any medication. I've had some very very minor bleeding, spotting when I wipe and passing of some dried blood. My period is also expected soon.
Update1 3/2/21 @ 2AM: I managed only a few hours of sleep semi-upright in my recliner. It’s just about 2AM here. My vision has been blurring in and out since before I fell asleep. The pain is about 3-4/10 right now, but I’m trying to push through to later in the morning before taking any of my pain meds since they only gave me enough for three days plus I’m supposed to take them with food.
Update2 3/2/21 @ 9:30AM: I could not for the life of me fall back asleep until 6AM. I managed to get into bed. I tried laying flat to fall asleep, but it was not happening. I carefully rolled to my right side as I don’t have an incision there (only left side and two in the center). My vision has been super blurry. Still minimal bleeding. Had some idiots when I used the bathroom, some bloody discharge, but otherwise no bleeding yet.
I’ve also yet to take any pain meds. Pain is worse after sleeping, but still ultimately not bad at all considering. Maybe 2/10 when I’m sitting still, and up to a 4/10 when getting up or sitting down. I’m going to make some breakfast and I will take one of my pain pills with that.
Update3 3/2/21 @ 9:45PM: I took one of the pain meds with my breakfast at around 10:30 this morning. Pain stayed at about a 2/10 for the day. I'm not really having more pain this evening, just more of a discomfort due to the gas, bloating, and swelling. I only managed a small nap in the afternoon. Sleeping has been difficult. I stayed seated in my recliner most of the day, but I walked down to get my mail and that wasn't at all bad. I was moving pretty slow though. I was thinking about maybe getting out to just walk down the street and back, but decided against it until tomorrow or Thursday. Honestly hoping I can talk someone into taking me even just for a car ride tomorrow as I am really itching to leave my apartment already.
I've also been struggling with blurry vision for the past 24+ hours, hence why I've waited so long to update again! I'm not sure if this is normal, but if it persists for a couple more days I'll give a call to the day unit, the surgeon's office, or the nurses line I was given.
Oh! And I forgot to add that I’ve still had almost no bleeding. My period was supposed to start any day now, but nothing had happened. I haven’t had any “vaginal leakage” as they called it either.
Update4 3/3/21 @ 10AM: Goodmorning! I finally managed to sleep a total of about seven hours, only waking up once during to use the bathroom. My period finally started sometime before I laid down for bed. It was fairly light, and I had no bleeding while I was asleep (normal for me). Light, clotted bleeding has continued as I’ve been awake, but oddly enough I’ve had no cramping. First day or two of my periods I usually suffer with pretty debilitating cramps.
I was instructed not to insert anything or have penetrative sex until my post-op appointment on the 31st. The biggest issue I’m having is I’ve used a menstrual cup for over two years now, I hate not being able to, but I am able to be home and comfortable in some period underwear. I might order some other period underwear for going back to work to keep up with any lingering spotting I have due to the procedure.
My vision is a lot better today! I’d say it’s about 90% back to normal.
I’ve not been able to have a bowel movement since Monday morning. I will probably start on some Miralax tonight, and take a single dose per day until I’m able to have a BM. Usually it only takes me one dose, otherwise it can take up to three.
I’m having a bad headache (not quite a migraine), unlikely it’s related to the procedure or the meds or even my period. I decided to take this time off as an opportunity to quit caffeine since I’d be home for the most part. I last had any caffeine Saturday 2/27, so I’m on day four without any. I had a bad migraine (w/ fever, chills, extreme nausea, and vomiting) on Sunday, but by Monday morning it was pretty dull.
I still haven’t attempted to shower. I washed myself best I could with a washcloth at the sink before bed, but I am honestly still terrified of showering. Maybe in another day or two.
And finally update on pain! Aside from getting in and out of my bed or my recliner I’m not having much pain at all, mostly just discomfort still from the gas. I’m still shocked at how little the pain has been at the site of the procedure!
Update5 3/3/21 @ 7:30PM: I managed to have a solid BM without using softeners or laxatives this morning shortly after my previous update. I also had one instance of diarrhea sometime after due to some extreme nausea I was having (likely related to headache). I could barely manage any food earlier today, and I am making dinner now.
Pain has continued to be very minimal, and my vision has been normal all day.
I napped from 3-6PM. I was going to try get out of the apartment today, but after getting my mail I decided I was feeling too weak. Maybe tomorrow.
Update6 3/4/21 @ 11AM: I am feeling really good today! Pain has remained minimal, and I’ve been able to have BMs without softeners or laxatives.
I decided to attempt my first post-op shower today as I haven’t showered since Sunday. I was told I could shower 24 hours post-op, but I’ve been terrified to do so. I thought about using waterproof bandages over the incisions, but I didn’t want to cause any issues by adhering something to the glue. I might look for some larger ones where only the pad part will touch the incision and glue. I managed to wash my hair before I got really worried about it. I normally only shower every 3-5 days (wash with a cloth at the sink between), so it’s not a big deal. Getting really clean just sounds really nice about now.
I’m going to get out of the house today. I need to drop some things off at the post office, and I might go to a store to get some toilet paper. I probably won’t push it beyond those two things though.
If you have any questions feel free to ask!

I should probably mention I am a straight male and have at most had a finger up my bum with lubricant.
Skip to paragraph 13 or so if you just want to get straight to the point...
Around 4/5 years ago I was working as a bartender, as I had done for years and still do. I was 19 at the time, and big into MDMA because I was unfortunately introduced to it at a very young age (14y/o, cocaine too...) by my parents. Not as a club drug, we maybe used it once or twice a week and shared music, played instruments, and communicated as best friends, not step mother, father, and son.
But that's a story for another time, just for a bit of context.
Literally the day I turned 18 I got a job working FOH in a busy city centre bar, and within a couple of months I ended up taking MCAT (mephedrone) practically every shift. 8 months later, new bar job, MDMA every shift.
And then after trialing out a few other bars in the city I find one that I fit right into. Was genuinely excited for every shift I had. Great customers, colleagues with good craic and lovely to hang out with after work, and over 150 beers from around the world with almost 20 keg beers and 14 cask ales. I fell in love with the place.
And then I fell in love with cocaine. Ended up an every shift deal again, got to the point where I had figured out the blind spots so I could take money from the till and because I was the stock manager, there wasn't ever any discrepancies.
Like most bartenders, the customers are what can make the job the most enjoyable. Please bare in mind that this is simply just a craft beer pub that closes at 11pm every night. So when it was quiet, I'd have long, deep conversations with my patrons (the cocaine certainly helped with that). Made many great acquaintances in the first year I worked there.
Then one evening, these two dudes come in and sit at the bar. Maybe late 30's to mid 40's. A typical "bear" and an Asian fella; they were obviously on a date. They stayed for about 4-5 hours, they were getting pissed and doing lines in the bathrooms themselves. No issue for me. We talked for ages about music, politics, life, mental well-being, and of course; drug use.
Clock hit 11pm and it was time to lock up, and these two "gents" had invited me back to the big guys flat for some more booze, drugs, music, and chats. Being 19 and already pretty high I thought why the fuck not, they seem like decent enough dudes and have lots of interesting stories.
Went to the flat around midnight after picking up some more cocaine. They gave me a very friendly welcome - put me in charge of the music and allowed me to use his crazy booze collection to make some very experimental but tasty cocktails. Racked up some lines of coke, re-dosed every 25 minutes or so until we had ran out. Then we moved over to their** MDMA...
I went to the bathroom to attempt a piss which didn't work due to all the vasoconstrictors I had consumed. By the time I returned, there was 3 HUGE lines of MDMA racked up on a vinyl sleeve. I'm very experienced with ecstasy so I knew that a ⅙ (literally a sixth of one of those lines would've been about 150mg) would be more than enough for me. But they insisted it was bashed (cut) gypsie MDMA so purity would be around 10%. I was fucked so I took their word for it and railed the top line, 800mg-ish - possibly the biggest mistake anyone using drugs can do. 800mg is basically a guaranteed overdose/bad time with any recreational substance.
I didn't pick up on this right away as I was panicking about snorting a shit load of something that tasted nothing like MDMA. It was super salty and bitter. But once I'd convinced myself its just shitty drugs that's when I noticed that the other two fellas hadn't taken their dosages. I saw them take two blue pills instead; asked why I couldn't have just had one of those rather than sniffing nearly a full gram line of God knows what... They said they only had two left. Well, soon enough I started to realise what I might've been given.
I had never done ketamine and had no intention to either. I'd seen people on it and it just looked boring and so antisocial. But I knew enough about the effects to quickly catch on that I had just consumed a pretty much guaranteed k-hole dose of ket... The ground turned into a bouncy castle, it felt like gravity was operating at 20%, and it felt like I was beginning to see my entire life, everything that had happened and ever will happen, take place in a shoebox where I could see it all from a VIP seat like you'd find in a grand theatre.
I'm becoming disassociated now, and I remember the big guy telling me he'd fucked up and gave me some "rhino ket", whatever the fuck that is...? Probably some strong RC. He tells me I can rest in the bed until I feel better and escorts me to the bedroom where I lie down. The room is spinning like I've drank 25 pints and smoked a huge bong but I'm still fully aware of everything that's going on despite being completely incapacitated.
Next thing I know is I'm getting the big dudes cock getting literally rammed down my throught whilst the Asian guy is pulling my trousers down and forcing 3 fingers up my ass. They decided to swap. Big guy with the big dick rams it into my ass with no lubricant or delicacy, just with as much force as he possibly could and he started fucking me like I was just a corpse or something. None stop drilling. I felt every bit of pain and there was nothing I could do. The Asian dude luckily had a much much smaller dick so having that in my mouth wasn't that bad, but all my focus was on my ass getting torn to shreds by this guy dry pounding my bum hole.
They then tie my ankles together.
After perhaps 40 minutes of swapping round they then tried to both stick their penis's in me at the same time. Unfortunately it worked since I'd been getting stretched out for what felt like hours. I had basically accepted my fate at this point. I thought I was going to die and I was ready for that, I would've welcomed it. Then big guy does one final full body weight lush into my bum and then pulls out and crams it down my throat and fills my esophagus with loads of cum I can't breathe any more. Asian dude pulls out and pisses all over me and they both spit on my body and begin some awful name calling, I won't bother with listing that though; exactly what you would expect from a rapist and abuser.
I'm finally starting to regain control of my limbs, very slowly but I can feel it. I hide it from them though. I continue to "play possum" as they call it in America I think. I hear camera shutter going off and them discussing how they need to delete the metadata from all the photos and videos before posting them online.
Once I believed they're busy sorting out all the photos etc on their PC and I feel like I could make a run for it - I quietly untie my ankles, find some random pants (underwear) and a t-shirt and absolutely leg it as fast as I can out of there, adrenaline obviously helping with the pain, I manage to grab both of their mobile phones before I jumped down the stairs and ran into the street.
I thought I'd best them in a way since I got their phones, both brand new iPhone 7+ or whatever the fuck they're called. Massive phones. But within 5 minutes they had both been remotely bricked. So there I was, standing in the middle of the road on a Sunday morning, someone else's pants and t-shirt, blood dripping down my legs, no money, no phone, no decency whatsoever. Thankfully a hackney carriage saw the state I was in and offered me a ride home. It was quite obvious what had happened...
This is the first time I've told the full story. I tried to tell my girlfriend the full thing earlier but it's easier to write this and then explain it rather than trying to remember the hell and pain it caused you.
I thought I had gotten over it but just over a year or two ago, still working the same bar, this big fella comes in and asks me "do you know me?" I said "sorry mate I see many faces every day I can't remember them all I'm afraid", and his response was "well I remember you and I know you". I had to go hide in the basement as soon as that interaction took place.
This has kept me up all night tonight and it does quite often. It's 2 people against 1, especially since I stole their phones hoping to find out who they really were. They had it so planned I'm worried they're still out there doing it to other boys like me.
TL;DR got drugged by some ketamine analogue by some strangers I'd only recently become acquainted with, however I trusted them because of their mannerisms and our deep chats over the bar. Ended up getting terribly ass raped and abused in other ways. Need advice on how to cope with it 5 years later. I have a very severe benzodiazapine addiction, hell, I may as well be addicted to anything that is psychoactive.

To cut the long story short, I started losing my hair very young at age of 18, and you can imagine how it affected my self esteem, and my self awarness regarding my looks. This is something I dont wish anyone to experience, especially at so young age as I did. so, then I started researching and I wanted to do a hair transplant, but that was all then in some beggining stage here where I live and no one did it, but we could hear that someone in some countries is doing something like that. So I started contacting doctors and they all refused to do hair transplant because I was too young (bear in mind I was arround 22 years of age at the time)...my dad lost his hair at top and crown when he was 24 but he was never bothered with it, so I guess it is just genetics (my late grandfather was also bald).
And then I did what all of us do best: started wearing a hat... omg it is so painful even tho hat really looks good on me... wherever I went, whetever I was doing, working, going on a dates, clubbing, even swimming I wore a hat...basically I almost slept with it...people tried to convice me i look good "bald", but I really havent shared their opinion. I never had problems dating or having relationships, but it certainly really held me back, and whenever I needed to go somewhere without my har like job interviews, sports, social events my confidence dropped below point zero.. Then, I discovered a hair fibers, was making good job of hiding my baldness with TOPPIK (really looked great for pictures) but live i presume people could tell but didnt want to tell me the truth... and imagine what happened when i went to the dates and girl wanted to sleep wotj me, it was a pure nightmare explaining why I use it and that she cant touch it...I really fell that I hit rock bottom, even though most of them were kind to me and said 'not to worry' but you feel that it bothered them too to have such a guy arround them...

so, I made a worst mistake in my life so far, went to a tatoo artist to do a "smp" , I have even researched everything about needles, colours, process and pointed it out all to him but he made my head look like a I have almost painted my scalp...he even made lines so obvious in the back that it is so much bothering me that i cant believe what he has done to me, even after all instructions I gave him regarding the process...and to make things worse, I let him tattoo my face to fill my patchy beard (yeah you read right, I tattoed my beard)...I went into huge depression after that, I was always hiding my face, putting on a make up (felt like a woman at times), and really I couldnt enjoy normal life anymore ( I ride motorcycles and was a race car driver, person who loves long walks with his dog, travel)...I lost interest in everything...so I even went to see a psychiatrist, started taking anti depressants, felt really ill this year....
and in whole this s*it with COVID 19, I have decided that it is a time to start looking into hair transplant again. I found few clinics in Istanbul (over middle mans - in my case a women on instagram) and decided to go to one clinic - well at least it looked like one, it wqs very clean (I wont mention names until I see results), got a transfer from airport to hotel, had a day off to see city and bought some cheap replica sneakers and motorcyle gear, and city it self is really great and cheap...even for my low standards of wages in my country... second day, I went to clinic, they took my blood sample (to test me on covid, hiv and I dont know what else because I never got results in hand just "everything is fine"), so after standard questions regarding my health (I told them I take blood pressure pills as well as 2 mg of clonazepam for anxiety disorder) and am I allergic to something, procedure started....I was given so many injections in my head and face, I think over 25 stabs at least, but after 4th I didnt feel anything....after they extracted my follicles, it was lunch time, everything was going fine just i felt alot numbness...they measured my blood pressure few times and all the time I was attached onto pain killers and some medications what I suppose it was against infecfions...the whole OPERATION lasted arround 10 hrs, I knew my parents were worried and I just prayed everything will be over soon so I can call them and because my back started to hurt a lot...anyway, for 2 days I was walking the streets of Istanbul (playing lost in Istanbul lol) because i couldnt sleep at all, maybe just a little bit because I havent used to be sleeping in upright position...2nd day after procedure, I had my first wash of head and beard, I got all the medications which I drank until now, and shampoo and foam, as well as some spray and some tablets that I need to start using 1 month after procedure.
Funny enough, all the scabs from beard fallen within 7 days period but I still experoence beard as well as hair shedding (hair scabs went away completely arround 14 day mark).
When I was at the airport, I had my head and my forehead swollen so much I looked like a mangled up heavy weight boxer. that went away, but I also had a lot of other side effects from pain, numbness, scar in donor area, skin rash...

Now, I decided to post this story and to post photos and I will be posting them regulary.

atm, I am on the 6th week from my procedure and still experiencing shedding, finding small pieces of hair (mostly like drum sticks) all over the place...

and yeah, I forgot to mention, they told me they could extract only 3750 grafts, and they only did my hairline up to the half of my head...and injected PRP...I wonder, if my hair really grows in a few months time, how would I look with half head of hair and half without...I may start some new trend in hairstyles...anyway, I really feel like I am cursed, and that whatever I do I cant get my hair back....and the funniest thing was that people actually stopped me in hotel and street to ask about my transplant and how it "looks great", that I have that "black men hairline" but they dont know that underneath is a poor try of smp and a real tattoo that made my life miserable...

anyway, here are the photos, some of them are 3 days post op while I was at Istanbul and at the airport, one is 10 days post op, then the pictures of the rash (mind you later I developed small pimples at the area and it even looked worse until I took some antibiotics) and the last ones are from tonight....
so by no means this was a procedure, this was an OPERATION that lasted arround 10 hours, which was very painful (mind you when I say painful I mean it because I am type of person who tolerates the pain reasonably well), plus all possible side effects from pain, skin rash, swollen gland behid right ear (exactly one month after procedure - doctors even in the Emergency even in this tough COVID times did and ultrasound of my neck and saw a lot of swollen glands on both sides but only one on right side was painful, and blamed the transplant as the probable cause and reaction to it), performed by one lady and one girl that were members of the staff probably, not the actual doctor, who just came in on 3rd day (first wash) and said 'everything looks ok'...
...if you have some comments or suggestions, please do not hesitate to post them...
and yes, I did some research and atm I am on 5000mcg of Biotin (strongest one I could find in my country and only one place sells it, its one from brand NOW NUTRITIONS), multivitamins and minerals, 800mg of MSM and 500MG of vitamin C.
I was wondering have any of you guys heard that panthenol spray or foam speeds up the growth since one girl reccomeded it to me (she works in pharmacy btw) ?
And does anyone know if blood pressure pills (yeah I take them at 32 years of age 🤦) and anxiety meds like clonazepam 2mg before sleep can affect growth? btw, I am non smoker and dont drink alchochol and coffee at all, just my main sin is a lot of coca cola....

thanx, and God bless you all.
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This summer I went through the process of getting an ovarian dermoid cyst identified and surgically removed. I just wanted to document everything in case anyone goes through something similar. I know I was combing Reddit for anything and everything throughout all of this!
June 2020
-Went to the doctor. Said I was concerned I had PCOS due to having most of the symptoms, so I had my blood drawn. I ended up having high DHEA Sulfate, which prompted my doctor to schedule me for an ultrasound and CT scan.
July 2020
-Ultrasound: Had both an abdominal ultrasound and transvaginal ultrasound. Transvaginal was definitely uncomfortable at times. It was difficult to locate my left ovary and I remember it hurt the most when they were probing around on that side (sorry!)
-CT Scans: Ended up having to go in on two separate days for two CT scans due to a mixup (should have gotten both done at once). My first CT scan w/ contrast was of my adrenal glands due to the high DHEA Sulfate. My second CT scan w/ contrast was of my pelvic area. The pelvic area scan was added on because my doctor saw a mass on my left ovary. CT scans themselves were fine. I was most nervous for the IVs (I hate needles!) and the contrast dye they run through makes you feel like you peed your pants. Afterwards, you just have to drink a bunch of water.
-Surgery consultation: After the CT scans, the mass was confirmed to be a 10 cm dermoid cyst on my left ovary. I met with my gynecologist who recommended surgery ASAP due to the size. He said it was possible I would also lose my ovary.
Prior to surgery I did the following things: arranged for my friend to take me to & from the hospital and let me stay with her for a few days. I stocked up on food, did chores, and bought some activated charcoal pills.
Day of Surgery
Got to the hospital at 5:30am for surgery at 7:30. The first hour was spent changing into a hospital gown along with mesh underwater and a pad (I was on my period, but they would have put one on anyway afterwards), talking to the nurses about the procedure, and getting an IV put in. By this point, it was my 3rd IV in less than a month and they had gotten way easier! The nurses walked through ALL of the details of the surgery to the point where I wanted to say “I don’t care, I’ll wake up when it’s over.” and also asked for consent by asking me to state exactly why I was there. Then, my gynecologist came in and went over the surgery with me and said he didn’t expect to save the ovary. It was definitely a blow to hear that. I took 4 different pain pills, and then they started injecting me with “drowsy” stuff to make me relaxed. I barely remember being wheeled into the hallway and into the operating room. The operating room had a bunch of people there. Someone put a mask over my face and I instantly fell asleep - don’t remember it happening. I woke up about 2 hours later in the recovery room, a little disoriented but otherwise fine from anesthesia. The nurse told me they did in fact remove my ovary and fallopian tube, along with the cyst. I ate some crackers and then went home. I was definitely in pain and groggy right away. I slept the entire day except for waking up in 4 hour increments to take hydrocodone and eventually Ibuprofen. I had three incision areas on my lower abdomen: the largest one on my left side, a smaller one on my right side, and then a few tiny ones on and around my belly button. The first day there was a lot of initial pain in my abdomen and I was very, very fatigued. Sleeping was the best thing to do. I could only sleep on my back - NOT my side or stomach.
Recovery Day 2
This was the worst day for me, pain wise. Getting out of bed hurt like nothing else - I had to roll over to one side, brace my arm, and push myself up. This is also when the gas that they inflated me with during surgery started to cause pain. My chest hurt from it as well as my shoulder. I spent most of today in bed as well, taking hydrocodone and Ibuprofen every 4 hours.
Recovery Day 3
I stopped taking hydrocodone and switched to simply 800mg Ibuprofen and activated charcoal pills. This helped me stay awake and be able to sit up and walk easier. I had found that the pain was worse when I laid down for too long. So, I forced myself to start walking a bit up & down the hallway and sit up in a chair instead of lie down during the day. I joined a couple Zoom calls for work. I also drove home this afternoon from my friend’s house (20 min drive). Pain was still moderate.
Recovery Day 4
I attempted to take a walk outside this day. I walked (hobbled) for probably 8 minutes before I had to stop and turn around. Did this two more times on this day and I genuinely accredit this to helping my recovery speed up. This was the first day where I felt like I could move without being in searing pain.
Recovery Day 5
Continued with walking. I did 1 longer walk on this day - 45 min. I attempted to drink 2 beers this night - thought I would be fine since I was no longer taking hydrocodone, but I definitely felt very loopy from it. Would not recommend - though for what it's worth, the nurse only said to not drink for the first 24 hours post surgery. 1 beer is probably fine, as long as you haven’t had any serious pain killers.
Recovery Day 6
Pain is getting less and less by this point to the point where it feels more like discomfort instead of pain. I went to the grocery store today. I also was able to go on my walk and be fastemore comfortable throughout - finished it in 40 min. Fatigue is still pretty high. One perk - I have slept very well throughout this week!
Recovery Day 7
Today I went back to work (I’m a teacher so this was an inservice day before the school year started). I was definitely exhausted by the end of the day, but the pain is subsiding still each day.
Recovery Day 8
School started today and I was in little to no pain throughout the day! Still taking Ibuprofen 3x a day, but no other medication.
After this point, the pain was very off/on throughout the next couple weeks. Teaching requires me to be on my feet all day, so I learned VERY quickly that I NEEDED to make time to sit down and give myself a break. I stopped taking Ibuprofen after day 10. The surgical glue on my incisions all peeled off by this point as well. Some nights, I would still use a heating pad and mild Ibuprofen before going to bed.
Some takeaways: First 3 days were BY FAR the worst. It’s ok to get zonked up on pain pills the first 2 days and sleep, but then at a certain point you NEED to get up and walk. In just a 3 day span I saw so much improvement in my walking ability. Activated charcoal pills - don’t mix with any pain pills, but I think this helped with the gas. Heating pads are a MUST!!! And rely on your family/friends - let people cook for you, bring you food, etc. You’re not going to want to cook any meals for a while! Mentally, I had some struggles the first week - especially on day 4. I am normally pretty active and run, lift weights, etc. because it's the best thing for my mental health, so being barely able to even walk down the street was a hard pill for me to swallow. I also struggled with the fact that I lost an ovary. I’m not super young (27) and have no immediate plans to get pregnant, so I worry about my fertility chances even though I still have one healthy ovary remaining.
My Status Today: It's been 3.5 weeks, and I'm gradually easing myself back into physical activity. Light jogs, lifting light weights, etc. Pain is almost non-existent unless I'm lying or sitting in a certain way, but there is fluid buildup underneath my main incision that according to Google is normal. I still have to take it easy with certain things, but most aspects of my life are back to normal.
Whew! This was a doozy of a post. It’s been a doozy of a summer. Good luck to anyone else out there going through this. I’m glad to have it over with.

Hey, I have a chronic nerv damage in my lower back(lumbago) I've done 5 CT's & 3 MRI and they haven't shown up anything, nerv damage is extremely hard to see on scans so that's why. I was in a car accident 2,5 years ago. I've taken enourmously amounts of medications. Example: Gabapentin, Lyrica,Saroten,Efexor,Zoloft. Oxycodone, Norspan, Fentanyl patches, Clonazepam, Xanax, Valium, Rohypnol. Oxycontin has worked the best without side-effects. I've been on max 35mg morning 35mg evening problem is it's too low dosage. Even from the beginning I had very high tolerance. I need around 80-100mg x 2 to be painfree. Now the doctors decided to take away ALL types of medicines that are classed as narcotics so right now I'm down from 70mg oxy/day to 25mg/day. I am going crazy. I did two suicide attempts in 1 day. 1 intoxication where I swallowed around 150 narcotic pills but nothing happend, went into the hospital and the anesthesiologist was like "wtf nothing happend to you, didnt need to stomach pump or anything" so I just fucked up and left. a few hours later I cut both my wrist with a bread knife hoping to bleed to death but again didnt work so went in for emergency operation. Now I don't know what to do the pain is so excrutiation, I'm in panic mode all the time, I can't sleep, can barely walk or anything. Wondering if anyone know any types of medicine perticular for nerv damage that aren't classed as narcotics cuz that I ain't getting anymore. I am no addict but honestly I am leaning towards going to try buy from the streets if it wasn't Corona and Sweden has no drugs on the market.
I'm 193cm tall, weigh about 95kg.
Right now I take:
OxyContin 15mg x 2 (I take away 5mg every 14:e days)
Xanax 2mg x 3 (Will be taken away once Oxy is gone)
Efexor 150mg x 1
Brufen Retard 800mg x 3
Zolpidem 20mg x1
Clonazepam 2mg x 1