I feel like a zombie 24/7; what do you think is wrong?
May 26, 2018 2:05 PM Subscribe
Hello Metafilter--I need the hive mind again to help me out. I'm 24 and a girl, student, that is about to fail out because I can't function normally. Been trying to fix my medical issues, like weakness and asthma, but have found no relief. I don't even know what's wrong with me and I can't afford to both go in for pulmonary testing or a sleep study (essential because the dentist wants me to do it before correcting my painful crossbite). What could be wrong? Is there anything new I can try? I need new perspectives so I can get to the bottom of this.
Hi again Metafilter...
I'm at a loss. Trying to be pragmatic here and take care of my issues instead of crying about being ugly (which has gotten worse), but I'm still attempting to be more pragmatic...and for the past two months I've been in a frenzy trying to take care of things. I...just haven't made much progress. I feel like I'm cornered. And I don't know what to do.
Actual diagnoses: really nothing. Just migraine all the time, vitamin D deficiency, and asthma - diagnosed last month - that isn't helped at all by inhalers...lungs, at 60% capacity. I'm always short of breath in other words. Likely allergies but nothing as bad as I thought. https://imgur.com/a/2WSt6Vw, performed days ago, as well as an unusually high anion gap - 18 - but tbh is that even enough to be acidosis?
Tests: mostly everything tbh. Thyroid included.
Issues: this sickly fatigue scrambling in my head. My eyes feel like they're...congested and ill and pressured 24/7, and the eye shape itself has changed immensely due to ptosis/drooping in the past year. Chest pain/tightness, shortness of breath--the sense that I can't get enough oxygen, facial tension, jaw pain, arm and leg weakness/numbness (very on/off--tends to associate with how short of breath I get). I genuinely look hollowed out and gaunt when I feel the sickest; people comment on it. Have been probably constipated most of my life, I'm very unregular regarding digestion+get acid reflux/heartburn often (I've properly tried to fix this issue but still nothing). Light-headed and dizzy pretty often, too. Usually most of these issues worsen together, but not always.
Just...every day I wake up and feel like I was hit by a train. I never recover from that feeling.
Meds: Olopatadine (antihistamine eye drops, tho they don't appear to help), Singulair, Flovent+albuterol, zyrtec at night, Flonase. Supplements also, including vitamin D.
Exercise makes my chest burn and makes my head pound. Walks make me feel heaver. Eating healthy hasn't made me feel any better. I've experimented with a lot of foods and balances. Sugar has been cut, as well as junk food. I've experimented with anti-anxiety and depression drugs, driven by a psychiatrist, nothing.
TIMELINE:
Always been a very low energy sorta girl. Just has gotten real bad once I went to university.
See the doctor a few times, get ahold of inhaler, etc., referred to a million people. Recently allergist. Test posted above.
In limbo: possible sleep study months ago. Problem is, dentist referred me for some orthodontic work to correct my crossbite but even HE said that I 100% had to do the sleep study first...this was two days ago. It costs 500$...I literally CAN'T afford it along with the other things. Pulmonary testing, financially difficult too. Endocrinologist (which they probably won't let me see cuz my TSH score is normal; went to .64 to .52 then 1.42).
Now, I've had a few experiences that made me realize that maybe I'm not supposed to feel this way. I'm going to post them here just in case you guys can make any sense of them.
SCENARIO .5:
Three years ago. I went camping for a school trip in a howling canyon, desert climate...two HOURS of sleep, yet I felt...I felt the best I have in my entire life. This was really something cuz back then, I was a pretty happy girl.
SCENARIO 1:
Three months ago.
Eat bowl 10AM at the morning...sweet potato hash+biscuit+egg.
5PM before class, take sups--fish oil, NAC, along with greens powder (isn't that gimmicky; just has veggies/fruits)
...then I popped a Benadyrl AND something unusual that my roommate offered me; a nootropic, aniracetam.
6PM during class I start feeling the pain and tension slipping away, the severe pressure and shortness of breath gone. Friend on comp even notes "You sound so whimsical!" I was also very...on, as I found out later. Anyway. I felt things for once, instead of feeling trapped. Clear-headed, no fogginess or heaviness. I felt bright-eyed. My body was faster. Was this a high? Do I need a high to feel human? I tried the aniracetam (including the Ben sometimes) at later times but got nothing.
SCENARIO 2:
Last month.
Weird, weird one. 10-3AM literally chilling in a gravity chair outside talking to a friend on phone. They sung to me a bit, including Happy Birthday. Talked some more inside for 4 hours.
Before bed I used my inhaler and took some Ben. 7AM, I snoozed...4PM I woke and immediately I felt IT. The sense that I had just woken up from a...6 year nightmare. For the first time since I can remember I jumped out of bed and I didn't feel sick or heavy, the severe eye pressure/pain and droopiness, gone. I felt so rested for once and could speak freely. I felt like that till I slept at 12.
SCENARIO 3:
Also, me taking some Ben before bed at 11PM and waking up at 4AM, feelin amazing. Just, why? >.>
Anyway. There's that. I hope that's enough background info because I don't want to go on and on and have this post axed. I might be able to comment once for additional information but again, the mods will disapprove, likely.
Note: I know I should 100% do the testing but again...I can't really afford it. I have no one.
Hi again Metafilter...
I'm at a loss. Trying to be pragmatic here and take care of my issues instead of crying about being ugly (which has gotten worse), but I'm still attempting to be more pragmatic...and for the past two months I've been in a frenzy trying to take care of things. I...just haven't made much progress. I feel like I'm cornered. And I don't know what to do.
Actual diagnoses: really nothing. Just migraine all the time, vitamin D deficiency, and asthma - diagnosed last month - that isn't helped at all by inhalers...lungs, at 60% capacity. I'm always short of breath in other words. Likely allergies but nothing as bad as I thought. https://imgur.com/a/2WSt6Vw, performed days ago, as well as an unusually high anion gap - 18 - but tbh is that even enough to be acidosis?
Tests: mostly everything tbh. Thyroid included.
Issues: this sickly fatigue scrambling in my head. My eyes feel like they're...congested and ill and pressured 24/7, and the eye shape itself has changed immensely due to ptosis/drooping in the past year. Chest pain/tightness, shortness of breath--the sense that I can't get enough oxygen, facial tension, jaw pain, arm and leg weakness/numbness (very on/off--tends to associate with how short of breath I get). I genuinely look hollowed out and gaunt when I feel the sickest; people comment on it. Have been probably constipated most of my life, I'm very unregular regarding digestion+get acid reflux/heartburn often (I've properly tried to fix this issue but still nothing). Light-headed and dizzy pretty often, too. Usually most of these issues worsen together, but not always.
Just...every day I wake up and feel like I was hit by a train. I never recover from that feeling.
Meds: Olopatadine (antihistamine eye drops, tho they don't appear to help), Singulair, Flovent+albuterol, zyrtec at night, Flonase. Supplements also, including vitamin D.
Exercise makes my chest burn and makes my head pound. Walks make me feel heaver. Eating healthy hasn't made me feel any better. I've experimented with a lot of foods and balances. Sugar has been cut, as well as junk food. I've experimented with anti-anxiety and depression drugs, driven by a psychiatrist, nothing.
TIMELINE:
Always been a very low energy sorta girl. Just has gotten real bad once I went to university.
See the doctor a few times, get ahold of inhaler, etc., referred to a million people. Recently allergist. Test posted above.
In limbo: possible sleep study months ago. Problem is, dentist referred me for some orthodontic work to correct my crossbite but even HE said that I 100% had to do the sleep study first...this was two days ago. It costs 500$...I literally CAN'T afford it along with the other things. Pulmonary testing, financially difficult too. Endocrinologist (which they probably won't let me see cuz my TSH score is normal; went to .64 to .52 then 1.42).
Now, I've had a few experiences that made me realize that maybe I'm not supposed to feel this way. I'm going to post them here just in case you guys can make any sense of them.
SCENARIO .5:
Three years ago. I went camping for a school trip in a howling canyon, desert climate...two HOURS of sleep, yet I felt...I felt the best I have in my entire life. This was really something cuz back then, I was a pretty happy girl.
SCENARIO 1:
Three months ago.
Eat bowl 10AM at the morning...sweet potato hash+biscuit+egg.
5PM before class, take sups--fish oil, NAC, along with greens powder (isn't that gimmicky; just has veggies/fruits)
...then I popped a Benadyrl AND something unusual that my roommate offered me; a nootropic, aniracetam.
6PM during class I start feeling the pain and tension slipping away, the severe pressure and shortness of breath gone. Friend on comp even notes "You sound so whimsical!" I was also very...on, as I found out later. Anyway. I felt things for once, instead of feeling trapped. Clear-headed, no fogginess or heaviness. I felt bright-eyed. My body was faster. Was this a high? Do I need a high to feel human? I tried the aniracetam (including the Ben sometimes) at later times but got nothing.
SCENARIO 2:
Last month.
Weird, weird one. 10-3AM literally chilling in a gravity chair outside talking to a friend on phone. They sung to me a bit, including Happy Birthday. Talked some more inside for 4 hours.
Before bed I used my inhaler and took some Ben. 7AM, I snoozed...4PM I woke and immediately I felt IT. The sense that I had just woken up from a...6 year nightmare. For the first time since I can remember I jumped out of bed and I didn't feel sick or heavy, the severe eye pressure/pain and droopiness, gone. I felt so rested for once and could speak freely. I felt like that till I slept at 12.
SCENARIO 3:
Also, me taking some Ben before bed at 11PM and waking up at 4AM, feelin amazing. Just, why? >.>
Anyway. There's that. I hope that's enough background info because I don't want to go on and on and have this post axed. I might be able to comment once for additional information but again, the mods will disapprove, likely.
Note: I know I should 100% do the testing but again...I can't really afford it. I have no one.
Response by poster: Hm, I really didn't want to comment so early, but I wanted to note that I'm aware of the allergy weirdness; that's why I've been taking Zyrtec consistently at night for 3 weeks, as you already suggested--the doctor told me to do it that way. I noted it under my meds. Oh. And Flonase. Hasn't panned out at all. You can imagine I'm at a loss, considering how Ben seemed to help sometime. Makes me wonder if there's some other properties that are also the key.
And my allergies don't seem *that* crazy, based off the test. Friend, who suffered from actual severe dust mite allergies, noted that most of mine is a very weak positive. Just makes me "hmmmm" a lot. Especially when that night I was outside theoretically would have exposed me more to my actual bad allergy.
I can take Ben experimentally right now to see if it helps with the sickly head feeling.
posted by Wildernessy at 2:53 PM on May 26, 2018
And my allergies don't seem *that* crazy, based off the test. Friend, who suffered from actual severe dust mite allergies, noted that most of mine is a very weak positive. Just makes me "hmmmm" a lot. Especially when that night I was outside theoretically would have exposed me more to my actual bad allergy.
I can take Ben experimentally right now to see if it helps with the sickly head feeling.
posted by Wildernessy at 2:53 PM on May 26, 2018
I have many of the same physical issues. These are things that have helped me. I hope they they help you, but of course your mileage may vary:
I will amplify un petit cadeau's recommendations by saying that I have similar allergy symptoms, and for me, a daily histamine blocker with a day-long decongestant (for me, Claritin D) has been a life changer. For starters, I can breathe through my nose most of the day. You have to fill out paperwork every time you buy this stuff, because it is what they use to make meth, but for me it is worth the effort to have clear eyes, a non-stuffy head, and able to breathe again. It also reduces the amount of sleep I need by about an hour per night-- i.e. on Claritin D I will only need seven hours of sleep, without it I need at least eight. One way around the paperwork, (if you are in the USA) is to have a doctor prescribe it for you, in which case a pharmacy will also fill a full 90 days, instead of having to purchase over-the-counter every two weeks. My experience so far is that is found most cheaply at the Costco pharmacy-- this has been true in both Virginia and Washington state, so pretty sure it holds up nationwide.
Secondly, I would look at changing your diet. It sounds like you may have some inflammatory issues, so something like the Wahls Protocol diet variations might be a good place to start-- helpfully give you a way to immediately identify if something is bad, like nightshades or legumes that are triggering flare-ups for you. I feel for your pain, but these are health issues that can be made better. You are still young, and your body is surprisingly resilient. I would have a lot more concern if you were 60 years old. There is time to fix this. Just keep trying!
posted by seasparrow at 3:02 PM on May 26, 2018
I will amplify un petit cadeau's recommendations by saying that I have similar allergy symptoms, and for me, a daily histamine blocker with a day-long decongestant (for me, Claritin D) has been a life changer. For starters, I can breathe through my nose most of the day. You have to fill out paperwork every time you buy this stuff, because it is what they use to make meth, but for me it is worth the effort to have clear eyes, a non-stuffy head, and able to breathe again. It also reduces the amount of sleep I need by about an hour per night-- i.e. on Claritin D I will only need seven hours of sleep, without it I need at least eight. One way around the paperwork, (if you are in the USA) is to have a doctor prescribe it for you, in which case a pharmacy will also fill a full 90 days, instead of having to purchase over-the-counter every two weeks. My experience so far is that is found most cheaply at the Costco pharmacy-- this has been true in both Virginia and Washington state, so pretty sure it holds up nationwide.
Secondly, I would look at changing your diet. It sounds like you may have some inflammatory issues, so something like the Wahls Protocol diet variations might be a good place to start-- helpfully give you a way to immediately identify if something is bad, like nightshades or legumes that are triggering flare-ups for you. I feel for your pain, but these are health issues that can be made better. You are still young, and your body is surprisingly resilient. I would have a lot more concern if you were 60 years old. There is time to fix this. Just keep trying!
posted by seasparrow at 3:02 PM on May 26, 2018
OP notes that she takes zyrtec every night.
I agree that benadryl being involved in each of these is probably significant. YMMV, but when my kid was having a lot of intractable allergy symptoms, we were told to get Claritin-D. It's non-prescription in the US, but it is held behind the counter and you will probably have to show ID. It might hit more of the same symptoms that benadryl does without the sleepiness of benadryl.
It's not clear to me why your orthodontist wants a sleep study, but a lot of the symptoms you describe could be due to chronic lack of sleep. Benadryl will knock me the eff out, and I do feel pretty rested the next day.
You also mentioned migraines, but no indication that you're medicating for those specifically. If you're truly having migraines all the time, try to get a prescription specifically for that - imitrex or maxalt or similar. The way I look and feel in the midst of a migraine is way different than normal, and my migraines are on the mild to moderate side.
Finally, I'm not sure why you think you need everything re-tested, but I doubt that would help. You're doing a great job at trying to track this stuff down, and you are absolutely right that it is frustrating and taxing when there's no obvious answer.
posted by jeoc at 3:06 PM on May 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
I agree that benadryl being involved in each of these is probably significant. YMMV, but when my kid was having a lot of intractable allergy symptoms, we were told to get Claritin-D. It's non-prescription in the US, but it is held behind the counter and you will probably have to show ID. It might hit more of the same symptoms that benadryl does without the sleepiness of benadryl.
It's not clear to me why your orthodontist wants a sleep study, but a lot of the symptoms you describe could be due to chronic lack of sleep. Benadryl will knock me the eff out, and I do feel pretty rested the next day.
You also mentioned migraines, but no indication that you're medicating for those specifically. If you're truly having migraines all the time, try to get a prescription specifically for that - imitrex or maxalt or similar. The way I look and feel in the midst of a migraine is way different than normal, and my migraines are on the mild to moderate side.
Finally, I'm not sure why you think you need everything re-tested, but I doubt that would help. You're doing a great job at trying to track this stuff down, and you are absolutely right that it is frustrating and taxing when there's no obvious answer.
posted by jeoc at 3:06 PM on May 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
I just took myself off of Singulair because it was making me anxious, completely unmotivated, depressed, and like I was barely functioning. Those side effects are no joke. I'm also a student and it made my spring semester hellish. And once the singulair left my system(30 and a half hours later) it was like night and day in terms of everything. Just something to consider and look into the side effects of your other meds as well.
posted by poppunkcat at 3:20 PM on May 26, 2018
posted by poppunkcat at 3:20 PM on May 26, 2018
I'm allergic to dust mites, and for most of my adult life have been really prone to sinus infections and chronic congestion. Regular Zyrtec/Claritin/Allegra never did much for me. But for the last few months I've been taking Benadryl every night before bed, and the cumulative effect has been much less congestion overall, and zero sinus infections. I am really enjoying being able to breathe through my nose! There's probably some downside to taking so much Benadryl, but I did ask my doctor, who said it's fine.
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 4:01 PM on May 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 4:01 PM on May 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
Just...every day I wake up and feel like I was hit by a train. I never recover from that feeling.
It me!
I have psoriatic arthritis and fibromyalgia. Both flare up worse when exposed to allergens. My understanding is my immune system is activated by the allergens and then gets so excited that it starts eating my joints.
My advice is to do everything possible to reduce environmental allergens while you sleep. Get dust mite covers for your pillows and mattress and any stuffed duvets or comforters. Get a HEPA filter for your bedroom. Wash your bedding frequently in a scent-free detergent. Shower before bed to wash any pollen, dust, etc off your hair and face.
Be careful with loading up on too many allergy meds. I was in a fog this spring until I stopped taking everything except montelukast. The tradeoff is now I have a constant sinus headache but my brain works again and I'm no longer sleeping through 10 alarms.
posted by Jacqueline at 6:32 PM on May 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
It me!
I have psoriatic arthritis and fibromyalgia. Both flare up worse when exposed to allergens. My understanding is my immune system is activated by the allergens and then gets so excited that it starts eating my joints.
My advice is to do everything possible to reduce environmental allergens while you sleep. Get dust mite covers for your pillows and mattress and any stuffed duvets or comforters. Get a HEPA filter for your bedroom. Wash your bedding frequently in a scent-free detergent. Shower before bed to wash any pollen, dust, etc off your hair and face.
Be careful with loading up on too many allergy meds. I was in a fog this spring until I stopped taking everything except montelukast. The tradeoff is now I have a constant sinus headache but my brain works again and I'm no longer sleeping through 10 alarms.
posted by Jacqueline at 6:32 PM on May 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
Singulair gives me eye and stomach pain, and Zyrtec makes me depressed.
posted by metasarah at 7:13 PM on May 26, 2018
posted by metasarah at 7:13 PM on May 26, 2018
So, I remember your previous question and the emotional pain and suffering you are experiencing. My heart really goes out to you.
I just wanted to note that there is a direct connection between mental health and physical health, so I hope that while you try to unravel the causes of the physical issues you are in kind seeking assistance for the mental health aspect. It's possible that the one is exacerbating the other which is exacerbating the other which is exacerb... well, you get the picture. It's possibly all tied up together.
posted by bologna on wry at 7:30 PM on May 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
I just wanted to note that there is a direct connection between mental health and physical health, so I hope that while you try to unravel the causes of the physical issues you are in kind seeking assistance for the mental health aspect. It's possible that the one is exacerbating the other which is exacerbating the other which is exacerb... well, you get the picture. It's possibly all tied up together.
posted by bologna on wry at 7:30 PM on May 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
Zyrtec made me irritable to the point where friends were really concerned about me. Claritin doesn’t. Your mileage will vary, but it’s worth looking into other drugs to try to eliminate what may be a drug side effect.
posted by advicepig at 7:37 PM on May 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by advicepig at 7:37 PM on May 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
Your scenarios happened at some really irregular times of day. It may not solve everything, but if you're able to maintain a regular sleeping pattern with good quality sleep hygeine it may make your other issues more bearable.
posted by chiquitita at 8:46 PM on May 26, 2018
posted by chiquitita at 8:46 PM on May 26, 2018
Hello, me from 15 years ago, how are you?
This is very similar to what I would have written in 2003. In my case it was a combination of allergies and a food sensitivity, and my body was overwhelmed and unable to cope with the combination of issues. The reflux/heartburn eventually became so bad that I vomited after every meal. My version of your camping trip was going to Australia in 2004, where the thing I'm allergic to is not commonly used in food.
Once I identified the problem food it took enough burden off my body that it could cope with the rest, and I went from 11 medications to 2 that were only taken in times of need. I worked with a nutritionist who gave me an elimination diet. To be honest the nutritionist was crap - she proclaimed before I did the diet that my issues were clearly coffee (which I didn't drink), orange juice and gluten and the test proved that she was 100% wrong. However, by militantly sticking to the elimination diet I did find what I was allergic to and it changed my life. All my friends are complaining about how age is affecting them, but I feel SO MUCH better than I did 15 years ago I can't complain at all.
So, based on my own experience, I'd suggest trying an elimination diet. It will be the most boring culinary 6 weeks of your life, but in the end you will very likely learn something. PM me if you want yo know more.
Item 2: Zyrtec has a potential side effect of depression as well as some pronounced physical effects. It's an offshoot of hydroxyzine, which is often used as an anti anxiety medication because of its sedating effects. The sickly fatigue you're describing? I get that after 2 days in a row of Zyrtec and it gets worse the longer I'm on it. Much worse. While it won't solve all your issues I would see about switching to Claritin or Allegra. (Not Xysal - that's another hydroxyzine relative. I've been on every member of the hydroxyzine family at one time or another. They're really the only thing that is effective against certain skin allergic reactions.)
As someone who has suffered crazy bad allergies in the past, including the "breakthrough" kind that required a cocktail of meds including steroids, many of the symptoms you are describing sound like things I've experienced. You keep mentioning that you took Benadryl and felt better; this could be because you finally had enough meds in your system to overcome your allergies. One thing you did not mention in your medication catalogue was Sudafed. You have to get the one where you talk to the pharmacist - Sudafed PE is both ineffective and has toxic side effects and should not be on the market. Sudafed can resolve some of the allergy symptoms like issues breathing, which lets the other meds do their jobs better.
posted by rednikki at 4:50 AM on May 27, 2018
This is very similar to what I would have written in 2003. In my case it was a combination of allergies and a food sensitivity, and my body was overwhelmed and unable to cope with the combination of issues. The reflux/heartburn eventually became so bad that I vomited after every meal. My version of your camping trip was going to Australia in 2004, where the thing I'm allergic to is not commonly used in food.
Once I identified the problem food it took enough burden off my body that it could cope with the rest, and I went from 11 medications to 2 that were only taken in times of need. I worked with a nutritionist who gave me an elimination diet. To be honest the nutritionist was crap - she proclaimed before I did the diet that my issues were clearly coffee (which I didn't drink), orange juice and gluten and the test proved that she was 100% wrong. However, by militantly sticking to the elimination diet I did find what I was allergic to and it changed my life. All my friends are complaining about how age is affecting them, but I feel SO MUCH better than I did 15 years ago I can't complain at all.
So, based on my own experience, I'd suggest trying an elimination diet. It will be the most boring culinary 6 weeks of your life, but in the end you will very likely learn something. PM me if you want yo know more.
Item 2: Zyrtec has a potential side effect of depression as well as some pronounced physical effects. It's an offshoot of hydroxyzine, which is often used as an anti anxiety medication because of its sedating effects. The sickly fatigue you're describing? I get that after 2 days in a row of Zyrtec and it gets worse the longer I'm on it. Much worse. While it won't solve all your issues I would see about switching to Claritin or Allegra. (Not Xysal - that's another hydroxyzine relative. I've been on every member of the hydroxyzine family at one time or another. They're really the only thing that is effective against certain skin allergic reactions.)
As someone who has suffered crazy bad allergies in the past, including the "breakthrough" kind that required a cocktail of meds including steroids, many of the symptoms you are describing sound like things I've experienced. You keep mentioning that you took Benadryl and felt better; this could be because you finally had enough meds in your system to overcome your allergies. One thing you did not mention in your medication catalogue was Sudafed. You have to get the one where you talk to the pharmacist - Sudafed PE is both ineffective and has toxic side effects and should not be on the market. Sudafed can resolve some of the allergy symptoms like issues breathing, which lets the other meds do their jobs better.
posted by rednikki at 4:50 AM on May 27, 2018
1. Nearly all of the non-sedating anti-histimines trigger migraines for me. Good old reliable Benedryl is fine though. I discovered by forgetting to take my Claritin, and having a 30 day migraine suddenly lift. Every time I try to go back to it, or any other non-sedating anti-histimine - I get a migraine. So dropping out the Zyrtec for a day or two might be a thing you want to try, just to see if that helps your migraine.
2. I don't know if this is financially possible, but if you can go to a headache specialist, you might get some real help with migraines.
3. You might see if your doctors would put you on a round of steroids, which calms asthma and other allergies. My mother has Mast Cell Disease, which is where her immune system just attacks herself (it's hell!) and she has to go on 30 day steroid cycles every few months. She always feels so much better after about a week. You probably (hopefully!) don't have MCD, but even a short 7-10 day round to relieve your asthma symptoms would probably help with some of the other systemic symptoms you have.
4. Nthing elimination diet. I discovered recently that I am allergic to wheat, which is a HUGE pain to cut out, but about half of my asthma symptoms went away.
posted by happyturtle at 9:29 AM on May 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
2. I don't know if this is financially possible, but if you can go to a headache specialist, you might get some real help with migraines.
3. You might see if your doctors would put you on a round of steroids, which calms asthma and other allergies. My mother has Mast Cell Disease, which is where her immune system just attacks herself (it's hell!) and she has to go on 30 day steroid cycles every few months. She always feels so much better after about a week. You probably (hopefully!) don't have MCD, but even a short 7-10 day round to relieve your asthma symptoms would probably help with some of the other systemic symptoms you have.
4. Nthing elimination diet. I discovered recently that I am allergic to wheat, which is a HUGE pain to cut out, but about half of my asthma symptoms went away.
posted by happyturtle at 9:29 AM on May 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Is it 100% allergies, though? I already noted that my allergies are fairly lowkey.
Just cleaned my all bedding and removed my plushies yesterday, but today I felt even worse...there's this humongous pressure and pain in my head and I feel so weak. Sinuses are burning for some reason. In fact, the area around my eyes has gotten much darker. This is getting ridiculous.
I will try getting Claritin D+sudafed and see how it rolls...and being careful about how I use meds. Took Ben and napped for 5 hours after getting 8 hours of sleep and only feel about 10% more rested aside from a bit less eye pain.
posted by Wildernessy at 11:55 AM on May 27, 2018
Just cleaned my all bedding and removed my plushies yesterday, but today I felt even worse...there's this humongous pressure and pain in my head and I feel so weak. Sinuses are burning for some reason. In fact, the area around my eyes has gotten much darker. This is getting ridiculous.
I will try getting Claritin D+sudafed and see how it rolls...and being careful about how I use meds. Took Ben and napped for 5 hours after getting 8 hours of sleep and only feel about 10% more rested aside from a bit less eye pain.
posted by Wildernessy at 11:55 AM on May 27, 2018
Just cleaned my all bedding and removed my plushies yesterday, but today I felt even worse...there's this humongous pressure and pain in my head and I feel so weak.
It's really REALLY likely that the process of removing the bedding and plushies and cleaning everything stirred up a veritable shitton of allergens.
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 4:08 AM on May 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
It's really REALLY likely that the process of removing the bedding and plushies and cleaning everything stirred up a veritable shitton of allergens.
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 4:08 AM on May 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
If you haven't already been tested to see if you are suffering from an autoimmune issue, it might be worth the blood tests. If you have an elevated sed rate and other markers like a positive ANA titer, C-Reactive Protein, Epstein-Barr Virus, you might benefit from medical treatment. Autoimmune issues can be responsive to steroids or other immune suppressants.
posted by *s at 12:39 PM on May 29, 2018
posted by *s at 12:39 PM on May 29, 2018
Response by poster: The stuff about the allergies was pretty helpful, but when I took the Benadyrl there were also a lot of other unusual factors in play.
I've been very dizzy and light-headed these past two days. Doctor was of no help...it's very frustrating and I don't know what to do...I can barely think.
Anyways, thanks for what help you guys gave me.
posted by Wildernessy at 9:05 PM on May 30, 2018
I've been very dizzy and light-headed these past two days. Doctor was of no help...it's very frustrating and I don't know what to do...I can barely think.
Anyways, thanks for what help you guys gave me.
posted by Wildernessy at 9:05 PM on May 30, 2018
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If I were you, I’d try taking a daily dose of a nonsedating antihistamine for a couple of weeks. See if that improves your symptoms any, but I have a feeling that it’ll be a big help. Zyrtec or Claritin are good choices; check Costco or Amazon – you can get a year’s supply of the generic version of either for about $15 from each place.
After you get some relief, you should be in a better headspace to start tackling any environmental triggers in your living space – including dust mites and possibly mold.
Good luck!
posted by un petit cadeau at 2:22 PM on May 26, 2018 [4 favorites]