Sinus headache chills

Hi guys and girls how is everyone? I'm doing okay except I have a headache and it could be a Sinus headache and I'm not here for that, but I'm here to tell you guys about the game.
If any of you having trouble chatting (A image will be shown soon) it's because you guys and girls need to reset your password because Webkinz has a Data Breach means a Hacker and I got the email by the Webkinz, So yeah Reset your password

I don't have many days remaining and figured if I rest up for a whole day I could achieve the Rainbow Mountain trek. I'm dealing with the flu symptoms like sinus and headaches
I learned it's 3 hours hike and not very challenging except for the high elevation. Now I have already been in Cusco for about a week so acclimated I suppose. On the same day after returning from Rainbow Mountain I plan to fly to Lima to spend one extra day before flying back to where I came from. What do folks think about this idea, insane??

I wake up with headache or pressure in my head every single day since 3 years. It gets better after getting up.
Literally woke up with it one day and it hasn't gone away since. I was originally diagnosed with NDPH (New Daily Persistent Headache), but I'm not buying it.
In addition to the headache, I suffer from:

• Bruxism
• Stuffed nose
• Dry throat in morning
• Brain fog, harder to find words
• Feeling like crying despite feeling ok
• Light flu-like symptoms like 'tingly' ears
• Not feeling like the sleep was restorative
• Tired, sensitive, wrinkly & blood-shot eyes
• Periods of unquenchable thirst and dry lips

Main symptoms (pressure in head) are ALWAYS worse in the morning and during the night, and seem to alleviate temporarily when I eat.
I have a history of jaw surgery for my overbite, which is still somewhat there.
I am suspecting a possible sinus condition as well as most, if not all of my symptoms are in or around my head.
Could I have TMJD? Ainyone here who is in the same boat?

On May first I had drawing sinuses, back of mouth raw. Thought it was a cold or allergies. For the last few days I had been around only two people. Sure enough it was Covid and wrote to the two people and one was positive. Felt crappy for four days, chills in evening, sinus pressure, headache…and the mucous. I did start Paxlovid day 4. Felt better when I was off that five day dose, still some congestion and a dry cough. Tested negative on day 10. Got to feeling pretty good there for a week. Probably did too much. Saturday night, day 18: developed a cold sore. Sunday I was just tired. Nap didn’t help. Couldn’t get it going. Yesterday and today I have a dryish cough, sinus things seem to be simmering. Blood pressure is higher than normal and this is concerning. Just don’t feel good again.
Does this sound familiar to anyone else? Trying to get into doctor, but they are booked. If anything, thanks for listening.

That’s basically where I’m at. I’ve had on & off tension headaches for the past 3 days, mainly around the sinus area but when it gets to its most intense it just feels like my whole head is imploding. I’m having trouble distinguishing whether I had a simple headache from stress / lack of water etc and my anxiety has worsened the situation or am I genuinely having a health issue, it seems to get worse when I stand up and bend down, or if I’m faced with a stressful situation like my kid acting up or being in a busy place, just earlier I was on an escalator crammed with people and my head felt like it had a tightening rubber band around it. I’ve also been waking with a stiff neck that seems to loosen up as the day goes on.
I want to add that the headaches go away with paracetamol but seem to return gradually as they wear off.

Heyos, Im curious to know what was the tipping point for you guys to start seeking medical treatment? I've had migraines and headaches for as long as I can remember, every time Ive talked to doctors about it I didn't feel like they understood or even care, so I've been pretty reluctant and avoident to ask for their help.
But yeah these few weeks have been sooooo devastating emotionally and physically man, right now my bf is on its way to the pharmacy cuz I already took all the painkillers I had (even tho they never did much in the first place, I end up finding a good one but then some time later it just kinda stops working??) I've been waking up so frequently with this tension or sinus headache that just turns into an 7 or 8/10 migraine on one side, nothing helps, my eye keeps crying by itself, I cannot go outside or do anything, I just keep switching from sofa to bed and honestly I feel a bit desperate and so fucking tired of this condition it feels like my body is fighting against me and I cannot understand what to do with myself, I don't know how to help myself
So yeah, I feel like I'm reaching a point that I need to ask for help...I've been having a migraine for 10h now but the pain has come down a little bit enough for me to to write this, and yeah when I feel better again I would like to read your experiences or tips and when it was that you guys stated to seek medical help
(Also I am a bit lost on where to start looking?? If anybody is from Portugal and knows where maybe I should start, maybe this is a stupid question but I do feel very confused and my brain is not Abel to think properly )
Other alternative medicine that helped you is also welcome btw

Hi all! I think I may be having my first true outbreak… this past weekend I had a headache and body chills and just generally feeling under the weather, then today I woke up and found a spot on my butt cheek that’s very itchy (i am a cis female and it’s close enough to my vulva that Im assuming its an OB) the spot looks kind of like a pimple, I’d post a pic but not sure how to do that safely on here lol also wondering because it could be chafing from my underwear? I’ve also had some weird discharge in the past day or so. I know I won’t know for sure unless I go to the doctor but wanted to get y’all’s opinion before spending $300 on an urgent care appointment 😅
*edited to add, a few months back I tested very low positive for HSV2, and everyone including my doctor was convinced it was a false positive. My boyfriend at the time said he definitely didn’t give it to me but then never went to get tested… hoping he didn’t lie about knowing

I was sick about two weeks ago with some kind of virus, and I recovered in about a week, about 5 days later, I randomly felt my sore throat come back and assumed it was just a reoccurrence or something. The next morning I woke up with an extremely sore throat, bad congestion, extreme headache/head pressure, and extreme fatigue. I thought maybe I got the new strain of Covid and just started resting it out, until I randomly started having ear pain and ear fullness as well. Went to urgent care and got diagnosed with sinus infection and an ear infection. This is honestly one of the most painful, disorientating illness I’ve ever had. The fatigue, head pressure, and brain fog have been more than a nuisance to deal with. My heart goes out to all of you who’ve dealt with this before, but especially those with Chronic Sinusitis. You guys are so strong.

I quit two jobs in 8 years, the owners kept old papers piled up and in file cabinets that were opened regularly. My last employer used my office to store all documents from the early 80's. Same symptoms severe headache pressure fatigue light sensitivity for months. Luckily unemployment granted my claim, I took pics and documented Dr. visits .
I get the exact same symptoms hiking out doors in dry fine dust and some of the hiking trails here have ground up cement type products on them, instantly I feel my sinuses close and next several days I suffer severely.
Two days ago I grabbed something I stored under the bed and yesterday was hell with headache severe pressure and I can often taste the dust in my face. So weird. I have 3 air purifiers 2 in my bedroom and wash our sheets on hot every Sunday. Dust and vacuum often etc.
I honestly don't think I'm allergic to dust mites specifically it feels like anything airborne small enough to breathe in. Is that possible that the actual dust is what is making me sick? Dust mites aren't in outside dirt are they?
Sorry if it's a stupid question but is anyone else the same as me? People I used to hike with suggested I was making it up. (A holes) i had to stop hiking in those conditions, when I wore dust masks on hikes they made fun of me, pre-pandemic many were in Medicine too.
I have never met anyone with a similar problem.

I was diagnosed in 2022 and struggling with cpap. My AHI was 71 and I absolutely believe it came out of nowhere. The severity did. I'm 39 now and I have severe endometriosis and adenomyosis and had ovarian surgery in 2022. After that surgery I started having these bouts of gasping for air and my partner told me back then I was breathing funny. I was 37 then. I went to a sleep clinic, had a study done (only slept 1 hour and 45 mins, with a benzo) and was diagnosed with severe sleep hypopnea and a few centrals that they didn't worry about. I had drops of oxigen as low as 88%
I absolutely believe my ovarian surgery has something to do with it. I prob had sleep apnea all along but I never snored. And after surgery I all of a sudden started getting severe insomnia, anxiety, depression and severe headaches and tmjd got so much worse.
Not much is known about women's sleep apnea, and I wonder if I can find someone on here who has it.
I'm not overweight, don't drink or smoke. And sleeping on my back made it so much worse according to the sleep study. I do have large breasts so this might be why. I feel I have a small jaw so saw a dentist and gnatologist and even an orofacial surgeon. They said my jaw is fine. So to me the only reason can be the hormonal changes after the ovarian surgery. I do have a slight deviated septum but according to clinic this can't be the cause of my severe sleep apnea.
Has a brain scan in 2022 cause of my severe tmjd facial pains, and also a sinus CT in 2022. Nothing was seen, only the slight deviated septum and a ear drum perforation.
I'd love to get in touch with women my age. Cause it scares me that this is what I have all of a sudden. I just can't wrap my head around it.
My main symptoms aren't fatigue, even tho I am exhausted. But that shows as having adrenaline and energy rushes, like ADHD episodes. Other symptoms are: - Sudden panic attacks - anxiety - gasping for air during the day - fast heartbeat - heart palpitations - heart pounding in throat - tmjd - facial pain - severe headaches, mostly above the eye - dizzyness (was told its cervical vertigo coming from neck or tmj) - high cholesterol while I eat healthy - neck tightness - mouth breathing - getting sick easily like flu, covid (not colds. Hardly get a cold)
Can anyone relate? 😢

Hello.
Has anyone had experience with Creatine supplementation contributing to a breakthrough seizure in situations where their seizures were relatively under control with medication?
I am a 53 year old female and I have had only a few incidences of seizures in the last 8 years.
The source of my seizure activity was from an OPERABLE cavernous malformation. They removed it successfully but some extra activity remains present due to previous seizures and the surgery itself.
My first ever seizure (pre-surgery) I woke up from a nap and was trying to get ready to leave the house for my nieces kindergarten graduation. To my horror, I realized I was unable to speak. I was with my mother and in the car and trying to say anything and she realized something was wrong. She brought me to the ER and as soon as we walked in, I had my first tonic clonic seizure. That’s when they found out about the cavernoma.
Since the first seizure episode I take Keppra and things have been pretty good although I have experienced two more definite episodes of tonic clonic seizures since the first one.
Every time I have had a seizure it has been in the presence of my mom. My poor mom!
The first breakthrough seizure occurred about a year after surgery when I STUPIDLY thought I could try to wean off of the Keppra. That was a bad idea. Without warning, I seized. Obviously I should not have tried to stop the medication.
The second breakthrough seizure was a couple of years later and occurred at the end of a very hot day. I had been commuting by bicycle and had another tonic clonic. This one was proceeded by a very bad mood in the early evening. I was extremely irritated for no reason and later that evening seized.
Every time I have had a seizure it has been tonic clonic and I have woken up in the hospital.
I live alone most of the year and am a bit of a hermit which is totally fine most of the time as I am relatively seizure free… HOWEVER…
In the last couple of months I have started weight lifting to build muscle and with that, I also started taking Creatine (5g) per day. Everything was going well until last week.
I was at the gym doing very high intensity sprint work on a spin bike. It was a hot day. I left the gym and drove to the grocery store (one minute from gym). Upon checking out, I kept entering my debit code incorrectly I felt confused and a bit embarrassed. I paid in cash and went to the next grocery (where I live there are two groceries and you need to go to both to find everything). I had same problem with debit card at second grocery and this time, no ability to figure out how to pay in cash so I left. When I got back to my car I was met with more confusion. All I can remember is not being able to get into my car. My car has an alarm and a fob. Even once I was in my car I had trouble figuring out how to turn it on. I then woke up in my car (HOT CAR!) and was able to turn it on and drive to the post office. Even though I was feeling horrible and confused it did not occur to me that I could be near having a seizure. After checking my P.O. Box I made it home, out of my car into the gate and even managed to mumble something about the heat to my neighbor in passing.
I made it inside and the next thing I know I am on the floor. I had hit my nose, had a scrape on my cheek, forehead, nose, right knuckle and left toe. Also slightly bitten tongue. I had a horrible headache and nausea. I just got in bed and went to sleep.
When I woke up, my left hand felt paralyzed (clenched shut). My mind felt scrambled. My vision on the right felt very distorted. I was extremely hungry and thirsty and even though I had all of these challenges I opted for a snack that was not the easiest to make nor was it the tastiest.
For some reason I ate the snack with my paralyzed hand and went back to sleep. I woke up absolutely drenched in sweat. I took a shower and hydrated and took my evening dose of Keppra. My mind was starting to return to normal.
I was thinking nonstop about how to get in my car. I went up to see if I could open it and it was fine. I tried playing some of the word games that I play and felt scrambled at first but was able to get back to normal. I practiced talking. Words were jumbled at first and then I was able to speak normally.
I looked up a recipe for homemade electrolyte drink, made some and chugged it down.
I took it very easy for a few days and lucky I work from home… I have been able to just chill and obsess over whether I had a breakthrough seizure or whether I may have just had heat exhaustion. A week later and I am feeling myself again though I have been very tired in the morning and allowing myself extra sleep.
I am away from home for a couple of weeks. I do have my yearly check up with my neurologist coming up. I really don’t want to tell her about this.
If this was a seizure, this is the first time I have been alone. I hope it was not a seizure. If it was, I am not sure. Also, if it was, my episodes are years apart and they seem to be triggered by extreme heat and exercise. My only thing that is making me feel better mentally is that if I did have a seizure alone, I survived.
I also just joined Bumble because think it might be worth having a mate because of things like this. And not just because of this. I do feel lonely sometimes.
But back to my big question…
Has anyone had experience with Creatine contributing to breakthrough seizures?
Thank-you for any input and please try to refrain from saying anything that might freak me out as I am already quite unnerved.
Xoxo

Hello.
Has anyone had experience with Creatine supplementation contributing to a breakthrough seizure in situations where their seizures were relatively under control with medication?
I am a 53 year old female and I have had only a few incidences of seizures in the last 8 years.
The source of my seizure activity was from an OPERABLE cavernous malformation. They removed it successfully but some extra activity remains present due to previous seizures and the surgery itself.
My first ever seizure (pre-surgery) I woke up from a nap and was trying to get ready to leave the house for my nieces kindergarten graduation. To my horror, I realized I was unable to speak. I was with my mother and in the car and trying to say anything and she realized something was wrong. She brought me to the ER and as soon as we walked in, I had my first tonic clonic seizure. That’s when they found out about the cavernoma.
Since the first seizure episode I take Keppra and things have been pretty good although I have experienced two more definite episodes of tonic clonic seizures since the first one.
Every time I have had a seizure it has been in the presence of my mom. My poor mom!
The first breakthrough seizure occurred about a year after surgery when I STUPIDLY thought I could try to wean off of the Keppra. That was a bad idea. Without warning, I seized. Obviously I should not have tried to stop the medication.
The second breakthrough seizure was a couple of years later and occurred at the end of a very hot day. I had been commuting by bicycle and had another tonic clonic. This one was proceeded by a very bad mood in the early evening. I was extremely irritated for no reason and later that evening seized.
Every time I have had a seizure it has been tonic clonic and I have woken up in the hospital.
I live alone most of the year and am a bit of a hermit which is totally fine most of the time as I am relatively seizure free… HOWEVER…
In the last couple of months I have started weight lifting to build muscle and with that, I also started taking Creatine (5g) per day. Everything was going well until last week.
I was at the gym doing very high intensity sprint work on a spin bike. It was a hot day. I left the gym and drove to the grocery store (one minute from gym). Upon checking out, I kept entering my debit code incorrectly I felt confused and a bit embarrassed. I paid in cash and went to the next grocery (where I live there are two groceries and you need to go to both to find everything). I had same problem with debit card at second grocery and this time, no ability to figure out how to pay in cash so I left. When I got back to my car I was met with more confusion. All I can remember is not being able to get into my car. My car has an alarm and a fob. Even once I was in my car I had trouble figuring out how to turn it on. I then woke up in my car (HOT CAR!) and was able to turn it on and drive to the post office. Even though I was feeling horrible and confused it did not occur to me that I could be near having a seizure. After checking my P.O. Box I made it home, out of my car into the gate and even managed to mumble something about the heat to my neighbor in passing.
I made it inside and the next thing I know I am on the floor. I had hit my nose, had a scrape on my cheek, forehead, nose, right knuckle and left toe. Also slightly bitten tongue. I had a horrible headache and nausea. I just got in bed and went to sleep.
When I woke up, my left hand felt paralyzed (clenched shut). My mind felt scrambled. My vision on the right felt very distorted. I was extremely hungry and thirsty and even though I had all of these challenges I opted for a snack that was not the easiest to make nor was it the tastiest.
For some reason I ate the snack with my paralyzed hand and went back to sleep. I woke up absolutely drenched in sweat. I took a shower and hydrated and took my evening dose of Keppra. My mind was starting to return to normal.
I was thinking nonstop about how to get in my car. I went up to see if I could open it and it was fine. I tried playing some of the word games that I play and felt scrambled at first but was able to get back to normal. I practiced talking. Words were jumbled at first and then I was able to speak normally.
I looked up a recipe for homemade electrolyte drink, made some and chugged it down.
I took it very easy for a few days and lucky I work from home… I have been able to just chill and obsess over whether I had a breakthrough seizure or whether I may have just had heat exhaustion. A week later and I am feeling myself again though I have been very tired in the morning and allowing myself extra sleep.
I am away from home for a couple of weeks. I do have my yearly check up with my neurologist coming up. I really don’t want to tell her about this.
If this was a seizure, this is the first time I have been alone. I hope it was not a seizure. If it was, I am not sure. Also, if it was, my episodes are years apart and they seem to be triggered by extreme heat and exercise. My only thing that is making me feel better mentally is that if I did have a seizure alone, I survived.
I also just joined Bumble because think it might be worth having a mate because of things like this. And not just because of this. I do feel lonely sometimes.
But back to my big question…
Has anyone had experience with Creatine contributing to breakthrough seizures?
Thank-you for any input and please try to refrain from saying anything that might freak me out as I am already quite unnerved.
Xoxo

I had chronic sinusitis for 2 years after a complication from wisdom teeth removal. symptoms were always pretty mild but CT scans showed my entire right sinus was full of goo. the doc did FESS on my right maxillary sinus to drain the infection and trimmed down some tissue to help with future drainage. a pretty limited procedure compared to many, but here’s my first week of recovery for anyone going through something similar!
day of surgery
• I made sure I went with an ENT/hospital I liked/trusted. originally had my procedure scheduled somewhere else but decided to switch last minute— very glad I did
• they had me show up 2hrs before the procedure and took me to my pre-op room. I got into a gown, socks, and hair net. they took some urine, got me on the IV, took vitals. my BP was a little high (probably from anxiety) but didn’t cause alarm. closer to the surgery time I asked them to put some drugs in my IV to help with that
• before surgery, I got to speak with a nurse, the anesthesiologist, and my ENT/surgeon. they asked me some questions and answered any questions I had. anesthesiologist looked into my throat to make sure he had a clear path for the breathing tube. (this was my first time having one of those so I was a lil nervous. all good— in and out while I was asleep)
• when it was time for surgery nurses came and wheeled my bed into the op room. they got me laid out flat. I was still conscious at this time so I had small talk with my doc and the team for a little. somewhere in the middle of that I was out— no breathing mask, no countdown, the IV took me out before i noticed.
• suddenly regained consciousness in what I think was the same room. it felt like coming back from a nap so naturally I kept my eyes closed at first. then someone asked me if I was ready to go and I said yeah, so they wheeled me to my post-op room. that’s where they brought my mom back to meet me (she had been with me in the pre-op room). they gave me a Sprite and some crackers to check for nausea.
• another nurse came in to give me a pain pill (hydrocodone) and my post-op packet. he took my IV out and told me I could get dressed. after I was dressed they sent a wheelchair for me and another nurse wheeled me out to my mom’s car.
• had some moderate pain for the first couple hours, but I took 800mg ibuprofen when I got home and I basically had no pain after that. a steady little nosebleed until I went to bed. some slight rasp/throat clearing from the breathing tube but overall not much soreness.
• took a hydro before bed and also 4hrs later when I woke up in the middle of the night. slept with my head elevated just as a precaution— I didn’t have that much pressure. had pretty broken sleep, inside of my nose became dry/painful from all the dried blood and being advised not to stick anything in there. nothing unbearable tho. put a hot compress on my nose for a few minutes and that helped enough to get me back to sleep
day 1
• no real pain or pressure in the AM. some mild discomfort from the dried blood at first. nosebleed wasn’t as constant and came out clearer. took 800mg ibuprofen when I woke up
• back to eating regular food. I only ate soup, crackers, and pudding post-op the previous day just to re-acclimate my stomach, but had no real food restrictions. just nothing spicy and whatever I felt comfortable eating
• started post-op treatment 24hrs after the procedure. used my steam inhaler as needed and started sinus rinses 2x a day (used Brita water for the inhaler and distilled water for the rinses). doc told me I was allowed to lightly blow my nose after 24hrs. only blew during my sinus rinse
• more congestion on this day, mild headache after sinus rinse. alternated between ibuprofen and Tylenol every 3-4 hrs. hydro before bed
day 2
• woke up with a little more pressure in my face this day. slept through the previous night without much issue
• no more nosebleeds but some blood and mucus while doing sinus rinses. during the rinses I had some yellow mucus and couple blood clots but mostly clear
• more tired on this day, took an afternoon nap. think my body was trying to get back into regular REM cycles
day 3-6
• same routine— pain pills as needed, steam inhale when I felt like it, and sinus rinse a couple times a day
• had some slight congestion and cheek pressure, but nothing all that different than pre-surgery
• sinus rinses were uncomfortable at first but got easier over time. some water would get stuck in my sinuses and come out sometimes hours later
day 7
• had my first post-op appointment/debridement. can’t even lie it was mad uncomfortable but on an actual pain scale probably like a 7/10. lasted only about 3-5 mins total. the camera was sharp, the area was still sensitive, and the suctioning was crazy to hear and feel. I also think the numbing spray gun malfunctioned so it certainly would’ve been easier if I’d been numb, but I did take two Tylenol before the appointment
• I’m doing the rinses for another week and then going for another post-op in 3 weeks
if you read all the way here I hope this helps!

Brief history. A year ago I had a staph infection in my sinuses. CT scan confirmed all sinus cavities were full, everything was swollen, I was a hot mess. Suffering from daily headaches, stuffy nose, etc. Prescribed strong antibiotics and it cleared. She had suggested surgery because of the anatomy of my sinuses but I didn’t do it at the time. I rarely have sinus issues so I didn’t think it was necessary.
Since that time I’ve had zero headaches, no sinus pressure, can breathe 💯 though my nose. Only issue is sometimes I can “smell” my sinuses if that makes sense. Also have some post nasal drip but not significant.
Went to the ENT a few weeks ago because I suspected a CSF leak (clear fluid leaking from one side of my nose when I bent over, no other symptoms). She ordered another CT scan and this time my Maxillary sinuses (both) are 💯 obstructed. I suspect they’ve been that way for a while, even though I don’t have any traditional symptoms.
Doctor is again suggesting surgery to correct a deviated septum with bone spur, and open up my sinuses so they can drain. I’m hesitant to move forward with surgery since I don’t really have a quality of life issue associated with the filled sinuses.
Has anyone else experienced something like this? Would you move forward with the surgery despite not really having issues?

Is this peritonsillar abscess?
So last night I went to the GP because I just had about enough of this pain in my left tonsils that’s been going on for 5-4 days (I’ve been doing every single remedy I could find even getting the betadine gargle). The right tonsil is swelling, I had chills, headache, swallowing felt impossible for most cases, and I was mumbling in words to the point where I was typing my stuff up when communicating with people. The GP had a Quick Look and without no hesitation concluded that I had tonsillitis.
Though I’m concerned that this might not be the case as those same symptoms occurred when I had peritonsillar abscess last year on my right tonsil which I had to get drained out in the ER.
Funnily enough I had told him by typing it on my phone that I had a history on peritonsillar, yet he chose to disregard that and instead gave me antibiotics and painkillers to help with this.
Here’s the photos:
https://i.imgur.com/XAfoz1Z.jpeg
https://imgur.com/Bxh1Len
https://i.imgur.com/fH5Qy44.jpeg

Hey,
Iam 30 and my Wisdom Teeth started coming in. 2 are coming in 1 full erupted (completely crooked) 1 still unter gums. Iam suffering from Bad Breath, Headache, Tension in Neck, Temples, Backpain, Pain behind Eye, Light Sensitivity and (increased notice?) Eye Floaters and Visual Snow since 2 Months. Before it all started I also had a sinus infection on the left side (upperright in the picture) and my left ear was clogged for a few days. My upperleft Wisdoom Teeth is also infected and decaying. The doc said all 4 need to be pulled. Surgery is in 2 weeks. I already went to the ophthalmologist and had an ophthalmoscopy - everything is ok.
https://preview.redd.it/c9aex3gbqs1d1.jpg?width=1600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cd7f9cd588324d65e4d72a80e1effb68369e0c78
Are there similiar experiences ?

There's been a pretty big burning/hot stiff in my neck along with waking up drenched in sweat, nausea, feeling weak in the arms and legs, chills and headaches. No cough or sore throat. I've been experiencing these symptoms for about 4-5 days. Are these just normal flu symptoms that'll just go away on its own?

I know this is an often-discussed topic here but I would love to hear any advice or experiences from my fellow GD mamas - this sub has been really helpful for me and I’m hearing different opinions from different doctors in my practice.
For starters, I love my OB practice, but they do follow the practice of rotating you through the different doctors within the practice for every appointment throughout pregnancy so you’re familiar with each before going into labor. Due to this, I’ve gotten different opinions from the different doctors. I was diagnosed with GD at 28 weeks and have been diet controlled the entire time (I’m 38+4 today). I would say my numbers have been 97% within range, with very few spikes. However, in the last three days I’ve had one spike per day (supposed to be under 120 after 2 hours, all have been below 130 but still a slight spike).
I have been told different things since my dx — 1) since I’m well diet-controlled, I could conceivably go up to 41 weeks and spontaneously go into labor without issue, 2) even though I AM diet controlled, if I don’t go into labor by my due date they will schedule an induction, 3) I can opt for an elective induction after the 39-week mark if I want, basically if I’m just tired of being pregnant. No one has actually discussed induction at length with me (I do plan to ask at my checkup today) and I have no idea what to expect if this is something they’re willing to put on a schedule.
I do not want to go past my due date, but I don’t know the risks of an elective induction. I so far have no signs of labor. Baby is head down. I was in a lot of pain when I got my first cervix check at 36 weeks & would very much like to not agree to another one. I have not had weekly NSTs, only two, that I requested due to decreased/changed fetal activity. I had a BPP for the first time last week (again, at my request due to feeling like he was in a malposition) which baby passed with flying colors.
Overall my doctors just seem very chill and blasé and approaching me overall as a low-risk, normal pregnancy. Which I’m definitely happy about, but the closer I get I’m so conflicted as to what the right thing to do is. I read the Evidence-Based Birth article about the benefits of induction with GD, but I’ve also seen people mention horror stories with GD & induction here - placental abruption, etc etc. so I just don’t know how I should be feeling at this point. I’m having a lot of anxiety over the last couple of days, I’m literally stressing myself sick over every little thing (sinus headaches, minor changes in baby movement, minor sugar spikes) and just ready to get this show on the f*cking road, to be honest. I wish that my doctors had been more clear with me about all of my options. I feel so lost and confused and just want to have this baby already.

So I'm not sure where to post this exactly because my flu test was negative-- but I had whatever other virus from hell is going around the US right now a couple of weeks ago. It started with body aches and chills and a horrible headache-- that lasted a few days, and then congestion joined the party. After a while the body aches and headache went away but the congestion stayed and last week I noticed my tonsils were swollen and covered in white patches and I had a sore throat and swollen lymph nodes. I have been to the doctor and they prescribed me antibiotics to see if that did anything for the tonsils. I haven't had a fever this entire time, but I have had night sweats and I still have them. Has anyone else experienced anything similar? I'm so sick of this

I spend a lot of time researching how our nervous system works and what may contribute to the development of Visual Snow and other symptoms. Remember that there is a lot of vital information that I do not know, and may greatly benefit our understanding of this condition. Visual snow is described as an "epileptic" firing in the visual system in the brain. (Tinnitus behaves very similarly but it is occurring in the auditory nerves) NMDA glutamate receptors, which are overexpressed after excitotoxic injury may well be the trigger of an increased spontaneous firing in the nerves. In turn, the brain would decode this increased firing as "visual snow" The idea is that remaining nerve endings have been damaged enough to overexpress NMDA Glutamate receptors, thus increasing their spontaneous firing.There are various factors that contribute to the development of this condition. Everybody first had an initial trigger, and this varies from person to person. Common causes include stress, trauma, recreational and prescription drugs, Lyme, mold, heavy metals, and other toxic exposures. But what they all result in is brain injury and neuronal damage. The severity varies from person to person. The consequences of such injury doesn't just cause break in communication between healthy neurons, but a cascade of events that can lead to further neuronal degeneration and cell death. That is where visual snow comes in. Think of a broken radio or a TV where it isn't able to receive and process incoming signals so the outcome is a lot of visual/auditory noise. Our brains behave in a similar manner when there is an interference with proper neuron function and communication.Another good example is a type of neuropathic pain called paresthesia where you experience tingling and pricking sensations in various parts of your body. When nerves are damaged, they can't communicate properly and that miscommunication causes symptoms such as pain, tingling or numbness.Medical researchers searching for new medications for visual snow often look to the connection between the nerve cells in the brain and the various agents that act as neurotransmitters, such as the central nervous system's primary excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate. Visual snow can be caused when damaged brain cells emit an excess of glutamate. Many treatments use ingredients that work as glutamate antagonists, or inhibitors. Communication between nerve cells in the brain is accomplished through the use of neurotransmitters. There are many compounds that act as neurotransmitters including acetylcholine, serotonin, GABA, glutamate, aspartate, epinephrine, norpinephrine and dopamine. These chemicals attach to nerve cells at specific receptors that allow for only one type of neurotransmitter to attach.Some of the neurotransmitters are excitatory; leading to increased electrical transmission between nerve cells. Others are inhibitory and reduce electrical activity. The most common excitatory neurotransmitters are glutamate and aspartate while the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter is GABA. It is necessary for excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters to be in balance for proper brain function to occur.Communication over synapses between neurons are controlled by glutamate. When brain cells are damaged, excessive glutamate is released. Glutamate is well known to have neurotoxic properties when excessively released or incompletely recycled. This is known as excitotoxicity and leads to neuronal death.Excess glutamate opens the sodium channel in the neuron and causes it to fire. Sodium continues to flow into the neuron causing it to continue firing. This continuous firing of the neuron results in a rapid buildup of free radicals and inflammatory compounds. These compounds attack the mitochondria, the energy producing elements in the core of the neuron cell. The mitochondria become depleted and the neuron withers and dies.Excitotoxicity has been involved in a number of acute and/or degenerative forms of neuropathology such as epilepsy, autism, ALS, Parkinson’s, schizophrenia, migraines, restless leg syndrome, tourettes, pandas, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, Huntington's, seizures, insomnia, hyperactivity, OCD, bipolar disorder and anxiety disorders.(Doctors use two basic ways to correct this imbalance. The first is to activate GABA receptors that will inhibit the continuous firing caused by glutamate. The second way to correct the imbalance is use antogonists to glutamate and its receptor N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA). These are termed glutamate or NMDA antagonists. By binding with these receptors, the antagonist medication reduces glutamate-induced continuous firing of the neuron. This explains why some drugs like clonazepam and lamictal are able to help relieve symptoms in some patients. They help reduce excitatory action in the brain temporarily)Anxiety, depression, brain fog, depersonalization, visual disturbances (including visual snow, palinopsia, blue field entoptic phenomenon, photophobia, photopsia) headaches, tinnitus, are all common symptoms associated with increased excitatory activity in the brain. Excessive glutamate is the primary villain in visual snow.I strongly believe there are some genetic components that play a huge role in the development of Visual Snow and makes some individuals more susceptible to developing it. Normally, glutamate concentration is tightly controlled in the brain by various mechanisms at the synapse. There are at least 30 proteins that are membrane-bound receptor or transporter proteins at, or near, the glutamate synapse that control or modulate neuronal excitability. But in Visual Snow sufferers, my hypothesis is that we carry a faulty gene that results in dysregulation of the proteins that control and regulate glutamate excitability. They are unknown as more research will be needed.We live in a society where we are stressed emotionally, financially, physically and exposed to a range of toxins in our environment. Combining underlying genetic susceptibility with these other factors creates all the ingredients for a perfect storm.Stress + Infectious Agents (if any) + Toxins + Genetic Susceptibility = Health ConditionIncluded below is a list of things that can lead to excitotoxicity. The list includes trauma, drugs, environmental, chemicals and miscellaneous causes of brain cell damage. (Keep in mind everybody's bodies behave and react differently to various substances)-Severe Stress (Most people that are stressed out don’t realize that once the fight-or-flight response gets activated it can release things like cortisol and epinephrine into the body. Although these boost alertness, in major concentrations, the elevated levels of cortisol over an extended period of time can damage brain functioning and kill brain cells)-Free Radicals – Free radicals are highly-reactive forms of oxygen that can kill brain cells and cause brain damage. If the free radicals in your brain run rampant, your neurons will be damaged at a quicker rate than they can be repaired. This leads to brain cell death as well as cognitive decline if not corrected. (Common causes are unhealthy diet, lifestyle and toxic exposure)-Head Trauma (like concussion or contusion) MRI can detect damaged brain tissue BUT not damaged neurons. -Dehydration (severe)-Cerebal Hypoxia-Lyme disease-Narcolepsy-Sleep Apnea-Stroke-Drugs (recreational or prescription) -Amphetamine abuse-Methamphetamines-Antipsychotics-Benzodiazepine abuse-Cocaine-Esctasy -LSD-Cannabis-Tobacco-Inhalants-Nitrous Oxide-PCP-Steroids-Air Pollution-Carbon Monoxide-Heavy Metal Exposure (such as lead, copper and mercury)-Mold Exposure-Welding fumes-Formaldehyde-Solvents-Pesticides-Anesthesia-Aspartame-MSG (Monosodium Glutamate is found in most processed foods and is hidden under many various names)-Solvents-Chemotherapy-Radiation-Other toxic exposuresInside the Glutamate StormBy: Vivian Teichberg, and Luba Vikhanski"The amino acid glutamate is the major signaling chemical in nature. All invertebrates (worms, insects, and the like) use glutamate for conveying messages from nerve to muscle. In mammals, glutamate is mainly present in the central nervous system, brain, and spinal cord, where it plays the role of a neuronal messenger, or neurotransmitter. In fact, almost all brain cells use glutamate to exchange messages. Moreover, glutamate can serve as a source of energy for the brain cells when their regular energy supplier, glucose, is lacking. However, when its levels rise too high in the spaces between cells—known as extracellular spaces—glutamate turns its coat to become a toxin that kills neurons.As befits a potentially hazardous substance, glutamate is kept safely sealed within the brain cells. A healthy neuron releases glutamate only when it needs to convey a message, then immediately sucks the messenger back inside. Glutamate concentration inside the cells is 10,000 times greater than outside them. If we follow the dam analogy, that would be equivalent to holding 10,000 cubic feet of glutamate behind the dam and letting only a trickle of one cubic foot flow freely outside. A clever pumping mechanism makes sure this trickle never gets out of hand: When a neuron senses the presence of too much glutamate in the vicinity—the extracellular space—it switches on special pumps on its membrane and siphons the maverick glutamate back in.This protective pumping process works beautifully as long as glutamate levels stay within the normal range. But the levels can rise sharply if a damaged cell spills out its glutamate. In such a case, the pumps on the cellular membranes can no longer cope with the situation, and glutamate reveals its destructive powers. It doesn’t kill the neuron directly. Rather, it overly excites the cell, causing it to open its pores excessively and let in large quantities of substances that are normally allowed to enter only in limited amounts.One of these substances is sodium, which leads to cell swelling because its entry is accompanied by an inrush of water, needed to dilute the surplus sodium. The swelling squeezes the neighboring blood vessels, preventing normal blood flow and interrupting the supply of oxygen and glucose, which ultimately leads to cell death. Cell swelling, however, is reversible; the cells will shrink back once glutamate is removed from brain fluids. More dangerous than sodium is calcium, which is harmless under normal conditions but not when it rushes inside through excessively opened pores. An overload of calcium destroys the neuron’s vital structures and eventually kills it.Regardless of what killed it, the dead cell spills out its glutamate, all the vast quantities of it that were supposed to be held back by the dam. The spill overly excites more cells, and these die in turn, spilling yet more glutamate. The destructive process repeats itself over and over, engulfing brain areas until the protective pumping mechanism finally manages to stop the spread of glutamate."Recent research has confirmed that hypermetabolism has been primarily found in the right lingual gyrus and left cerebellar anterior lobe of the brain in individuals suffering from visual snow. The definition of hypermetabolism is described as "the physiological state of increased rate of metabolic activity and is characterized by an abnormal increase in metabolic rate." Hypermetabolism typically occurs after significant injury to the body. It serves as one of the body's strongest defence against illness and injury. This means that the brain is trying to compensate for the injured areas in the brain by increasing metabolism to meet it's high energy demands. It is trying to function to the best of it's ability under the circumstances. Normally the body can heal itself and regenerate under the right circumstances. But it is extremely difficult for the central nervous system - which includes the spinal cord and brain to be able to do so, due to it's inhibitory environment which prevents new neurons from forming. That is where stem cells come in. Stem cells are an exciting new discovery, because they can become literally any cell in the body including neurons. This is an amazing scientific breakthrough and has the potential to treat a whole host of conditions. Scientists are currently doing research and conducting trials.Excitotoxicity can trigger your "fight or flight" response, as this is the body's primary response to illness, injury or infection. If the brain and the body remain in the sympathetic fight or flight state for too long and too often, it is degenerative; it breaks us down. If this cycle continues, then eventually the system burns out. It is this cycle that results in autonomic nervous system dysfunction. The results are disastrous, digestion is shut down, metabolism, immune function and the detoxification system is impaired, blood pressure and heart rate are increased, circulation is impaired, sleep is disrupted, memory and cognitive function may be impaired, neurotransmitters are drained, our sense of smell, taste and sound are amplified, high levels of norepinephrine are released in the brain and the adrenal glands release a variety of hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.I believe in order to find a treatment or cure for VS and it's accompanying symptoms, we need to address the underlying cause, reduce the excess excitatory activity in the brain, repair the damaged neurons, regain proper communication between neurons, rebalance the autonomic nervous system and prevent further cellular damage. We also need to figure out what genes, if any come into play. There is still a lot we don't know about the brain because it is such an remarkably complex organ.FAQsWon't lowering the levels of glutamate solve the problem? Well, not necessarily. That is just one piece of the puzzle. You have to remember that Visual Snow is a multifactorial and complex condition in which it stems from a number of different causes and influences. Based on my knowledge and the information I have gathered, I can conclude that the overstimulation of glutamate plays a huge role in VS and some other symptoms we experience. But there is still so much we don't know. That's why more research will be needed.Why is my condition worsening over time?That is a very good question. It is because the physiology, biology and chemistry of your brain and nervous system has been altered and has become dysfunctional since the initial trigger set off a domino of effects that leads to further degradation in the body. This puts a huge strain on your body and is constantly activating your stress response system. This will wreak havoc on your entire body. The stress response system was designed to deal with brief emergencies that threaten survival. It isn't supposed to last very long because the body cannot sustain itself for very long in this state. When you remain in "fight or flight" sympathetic state for too long, it becomes degenerative and breaks our bodies down. This affects every system in the body. When you are constantly under stress, the stress response system never turns off resulting in an ongoing destructive cycle. Stress can also exacerbate all your symptoms and makes you susceptible to developing other chronic health conditions. How is the gut related to VS?Having increased intestinal permeability is very common in this modern world because we are constantly being bombarded by toxins and stress. Our bodies weren't designed to handle such a huge burden. So we end up getting sick and become susceptible to kinds of diseases. Common causes include:-Poor diet (from excessive consumption of foods such as grains, legumes, sugars, alcohol)-Chronic stress-Toxin overload-Gut dysbiosis (It means you have a lack of beneficial bacteria in your gastrointestinal (GI) tract. They are overpowered and outnumbered by pathogens such as pathogenic bacteria, yeast, viruses, parasites)-Overuse of antibiotics When you have increased intestinal permeability, the epithelium on the villi of the small intestine becomes inflamed and irritated, which allows metabolic, microbial and environmental toxins and undigested food particles to flood into the blood stream. This event compromises the liver, the lymphatic system, and the immune response including the endocrine system. It is often the primary cause of the following common conditions: asthma, food allergies, chronic sinusitis, eczema, urticaria, migraine, irritable bowel, fungal disorders, fibromyalgia, and inflammatory joint disorders including rheumatoid arthritis are just a few of the diseases that can originate from having poor gut health.This sets the stage for chronic systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired detoxification, gastrointestinal dysfunction and immune system dysregulation.Some toxins have the ability to damage and destroy neurons, myelin sheaths, synapses and even DNA. An overload of toxins that the immune system is not able to get rid of disrupts normal brain function. This eventually initiates an autoimmune response where the immune system attacks the brain and nerve cells as it tries it’s best to eliminate the toxins.The mitochondria are the energy producing section of your cells. When they are damaged by the toxic overload in the brain cells and are not able to produce energy to fuel the cell, the cell dies.In order to stop this vicious cycle, the underlying biological mechanisms of VS needs to be understood. That is the first step that needs to be taken. Any other stressors also needs to be addressed in order to reduce the overall stress load.It is important to know that VS is just a symptom of underlying physiological stress in the brain. Symptoms are your body's way of communicating with you, letting you know something is wrong in the body.I've come across some research indicating that microglial activation and elevated nitric oxide is involved in some neurological conditions. Basically the microglial cells are our brain's immune cells and when something triggers an inflammatory response, they activate and release harmful neurotoxic compounds (such as nitric oxide and pro-inflammatory cytokines) which results in neuronal injury/death. Microglial activation can also result in a loss of synaptic connections in different regions of the brain. It's basically an autoimmune response in the brain. The neuroinflammatory process appears to be an ongoing and chronic cycle of central nervous system dysfunction. This can deplete glutathione levels in the body. Glutathione is the body’s most important antioxidant which is capable of preventing oxidative damage caused by reactive oxygen species such as free radicals, peroxides, lipid peroxides, and heavy metals. This only further exaggerates the problem, which only leads to a cascade of increased inflammation.Nitric oxide plays a vital role in this process. Elevated nitric oxide levels reduces and impair natural killer cells which leads to a vulnerable immune system that is susceptible to a variety of systemic infections. -Phobe Zhang

How Minnesota's Weather and Aging Roofs Impact Home Insurance
Hey fellow Minnesotans, if you've ever found yourself scratching your head while navigating the home insurance process, you're not alone. Especially here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, where our weather can be as unpredictable as a coin flip. Let’s break down why getting home insurance can feel more challenging than a snowy day in April, focusing on two key issues: our wild weather and those aging roofs.
Minnesota’s Extreme Weather: A Home Insurance Game Changer
Minnesota is notorious for its harsh weather conditions. From bone-chilling winters to stormy summers, our homes are always on the frontline. Winter brings heavy snowfall and ice dams that can damage roofs and gutters. Come spring, the quick thaw can lead to flooding. And don't forget about the summer when severe thunderstorms, hail, and even tornadoes are on the menu. This constant barrage of extreme weather increases the risk of damage to our homes, which in turn makes us a bit of a headache for insurance companies.
Insurance providers are all about assessing risks. More severe weather means a higher chance they’ll have to pay out for damages. To mitigate this risk, insurers might increase premiums, limit coverage on policies, or even decline to insure homes in the most vulnerable areas. So, if your home insurance rates have been creeping up, our notorious weather could be a contributing factor.
The Age of Your Roof Plays a Crucial Role
Now, let's talk about roofs — your home’s first line of defense against Mother Nature. In Minnesota, the age and condition of your roof can significantly impact your ability to get reasonable home insurance. Why? Well, an older roof is more likely to suffer damage in severe weather. Think about it: the shingles are worn, the flashing might be compromised, and it might not be able to handle a heavy snow load or resist hail as well as it once did.
Insurance companies are wary of insuring older roofs without higher premiums or specific stipulations. Some insurers require an inspection and might ask you to replace the roof before offering coverage. Others might offer a policy but exclude roof-related damages. This is why it’s crucial to maintain your roof well and consider its age when purchasing or renewing your home insurance.
What Can You Do?
First, understand your home’s vulnerabilities and address them. Regular maintenance and timely repairs can extend your roof's life and potentially lower your insurance costs. If you’re buying a home, factor in the age of the roof into your decision-making process. And always shop around for insurance options to find a provider that understands our local challenges and offers fair coverage.
Navigating home insurance in Minnesota doesn’t have to be as daunting as facing our winter storms. Being informed and prepared can help you secure coverage that protects your home and peace of mind, no matter what the weather throws at us. Stay warm and stay insured, Minnesota!