Specific examples or ideas would be great, if anyone is up for it. I am really clueless right now (on tons of meds which make my brain fire slowly).

I am a horrible dress shopper, and have been putting this off. Wedding coming up soon. DD and I both need dresses. It’s at an old, beautiful inn, we will spend the weekend. Wedding is at 4, reception is cocktail attire. I am 5 feet tall on a good day. I am a bit worried about my feet — can’t wear heels, so will need flats or very low heels. DD will be barely 13, but tends to look much older. She wants something that doesn’t make her look 17, if that makes sense. Any ideas or favorite online stores?

Thank you! I feel completely out of it on this much Zyrtec. I will ask about trying Allegra instead.

I wish we could test to see if we’ve had Covid. Other than the round in early 2020 when there was no testing, I’ve tested serially whenever sick and have always come up negative. But asymptomatic is an option. No one in our family has had it either, that we know of. But yes, I have a big, ugly viral history. Doc actually mentioned a Lyme test, too, though we settled on viruses being more likely. I feel pretty rough right now.

Thanks. I will discuss with the allergy NP today when I see her for the shot. Yes to high inflammation. And my regular doc (an LLMD, functional med doc) suspects viruses have popped back up. Also sending off some tests.

I can’t manage even close to my pre-event normal level of activity. And exercising is just out of the question, other than a slow walk.

I’ve made it another month without anaphylaxis! Second round of Xolair is today. I have been really struggling with staying awake, and in the afternoons I absolutely *must* nap — a long one, sometimes followed by an after dinner nap. It’s ridiculous. I was convinced it was something to discuss with my regular doc, and we went over some things, but ultimately — she thinks it’s the massive doses of antihistamines. I’m on a big dose of morning and evening Zyrtec. Anyone with experience have this happen? Any suggestions for a different option?

I would go get it tomorrow, and take it while on the antibiotics and for a few weeks after finishing. The Florastor is a beneficial yeast, s. Boulardii, and you can take it at the same time as your abx. Take another type of probiotic as well, spaced two hours away from the abx. Culturelle is widely available, and pretty good. Yogurt is good, too!

Florastor. Take it every time you’re on abx. I hope he feels better soon!

I am on a high salt diet, per doc’s orders. I have had POTS for 15 years, and Addison’s for most of that time. When I’m flaring up, my doc recommends a water with salt and a squirt of lime first thing in the am. She specifically recommends against hydration drinks because of the ingredients. When our son had POTS issues, he was put on the same. And if I get POTSy or it looks like I’m going into an adrenal crisis, DH brings me the same. Have you talked to your doc about this?

I don’t get it either. Some young adults here are very into smoking cigars as well.

Thanks, all! I think we are going to go with SQ. DH is leaning toward the TR7 because it has a delay feature, and we use that frequently.

Last time DH and I needed a new washer was the year that Speed Queen changed their product and got terrible reviews. So we went with the best rated machine at the time — Electrolux. That was 2018 or 2019, I think? Here we are again. I hate the Electrolux with a blinding passion at the moment. It is so, so hard to keep that machine clean. I do All The Things and last night still found mold inside after running a cleaning cycle. Yuck. We are looking at Speed Queen again. TR5 or TR7s are both in stock nearby. They seem to have fixed whatever problem they had a few years ago. Pros and cons? Which model do you have, if you have SQ? Do clothes come out clean? Do you find it’s too rough on your clothes? Have you ever had issues with it? Please tell me there’s never been mold growing anywhere, eeewwwwww. One person online said these need to go on solid floor — not an upstairs laundry room. Others said it’s fine. Any thoughts? Our other choice is Miele. But I kind of want the SQ!

Wegman’s is great for anyone with allergies. They carry a lot of allergy friendly and celiac friendly products. They label their store brand well, too, and list “may contains.” We shop at Wegman’s most of the time. It’s generally our first stop, but there are a few items we get elsewhere. They have special events which can be nice, too. Ours has Hatch chile roasting in the parking lot when in season, and we always get three cases to process, freeze and eat through the year.

Talk to your people in advance, and find out what they want. I personally would want you to ask questions and get all the info! I think of my support people as extra brains when I might not be on my toes — you are there to help me remember to ask the questions and help recall the info later. DH and I have been doing a lot of this lately, so we’ve actually had these conversations recently.

Thinking of you all today, and sending support.

Oh no. You are all in my heart.

For this, I’d follow the doc’s instructions, and I wouldn’t try to add anything to it. I’d do the fast when not having a scheduled medical procedure with whatever type of anesthesia/sedative. I have a 5 day prep for mine, anyway, and it’s never a great experience — certainly it seems easier for some people. But even if it was an easy experience, I’d want my body as strong as possible for the procedure and any surprises that might happen.

We have a 32 yr old, a 20, and a 12. So our smallest age gap is more than 6 years! Everyone has been happy and well adjusted, and I don’t think anyone would say they are lonely. Our kids are all really close and get along great. If you want another baby — go for it. But your kids don’t *need* another baby.

Ok, in a weird twist, our Instacart order was just misdelivered to their house, so now I have an Instacart delivery pic of our order on their porch, right in front of the sign. Gotta laugh!

Our neighbor. 🙄 And her (many?) roommates have a new, huge sign on their front door where a wreath would go. “Welcome to the S***Show, we hope you brought alcohol.” It could be a funny meme, or sign inside the house — for them. But ugh, with all the little kids running around our neighborhood, that sign just feels off. She’s got four that are K and under, too, and presumably learning to read right now — so I guess it’s no biggie to her. I just wouldn’t have made that choice. I hate feeling judgy. I’m feeling judgy. Ugh. It’s probably all the meds I’m on, I’m usually just aiming to be supportive of her.

Are you a non-coffee drinker? (Gasp!) My SIL only goes to SB if she’s meeting someone there, and does not order coffee if she must go. I think she gets a tea drink. If you are a coffee drinker, and have never had SB — I want to congratulate you! SB prices are too high for coffee that is just okay. It leans acidic, and a bit burned. I like beans roasted a bit less, and prefer their blonde roasts over their usual dark, dark roasts. We generally default to any other coffee place, but I will definitely grab a cappuccino there if all else fails. But I would totally take a free drink! Dawn scored! In the 90s, I studied at SB, and always had free drinks — lots of barista friends. For years I’d walk into SB and have a mini panic attack that I needed to study for something.

Thanks for checking on me. I’m a lot better. Dragging, and not feeling 100%, but haven’t had more scary episodes. Have been seeing the specialist every two weeks, and am figuring out what I can/can’t eat. It’s been quite an experience!

Has SIL considered moving out of the family compound and into her own place, so she can offer nephew a safe landing if he needs it? That seems simpler than hanging onto a trailer just in case it’s needed later. I hope he will get some addiction help.

We use Air Tags. They connect to nearby WiFi so we can see them wherever there is WiFi. I can see DH’s stuff when he’s halfway around the world. Last summer we tossed one in our extra kid’s bag while we all went on vacation (with her knowledge and consent) and we didn’t worry about losing each other in various crowded places. They are great for lost bags and stolen items (though I would not confront a thief! That’s for the police to do). ETA: this thread has just inspired me to put one on our deaf dog’s collar, in hopes that there’s enough WiFi in our neighborhood that he’d be visible, if he got out. Thanks!