u/Actual-Muffin-3585

Thank you to everyone who answered my last question about biolgics! I think I am ready to take the leap! But I have one more question. I am an elementary school substitute teacher and I was wondering how this school year is going to go if I am on an immuno-suppressant. Seems like I already catch everything and it takes me a full month, if not a bit longer, to recover if it was a respiratory illness. What has been your experience? Thanks!

Or am I just going to bounce around trialing different meds forever feeling like shit full side effects?

That I don't want to go down, but here I am. I have a 15 year old with heds and pots, and MTHFR mutation. I think she has hyper pots. We are going to the children's cardiologist at Cleveland Clinic today and I will ask him. I really hope they are willing to treat her pots. The children's hospital in my town an hour away was only willing to give Fludrocortisone and it made her so sick. She was even hospitalized. That was years ago. Since then, we have just been floating along treating the symptoms with salt tabs, hydration, compression socks, zoloft, and avoiding summer. But lately she has been feeling worse, hence the appointment today. I have read that SSRIs can make hyperpots worse, which is another rabbit hole! It really seemed to help her though, she had crippling agoraphobia at around 11 and now does mostly fine but she avoids some things because she is afraid of throwing up (due to her pots).

But the reason I am here is because I do not know much about MCAS. But I was wondering if she might have it due to her "adrenal dumps", which could be the hyper pots instead? What are some signs and symptoms that you first noticed with your MCAS? She does not seem "allergic" to anything and doesn't really react to anything, other than heat and stress. How do you even get diagnosed or how do they evaluate you for this? Do you see an allergist?

I have largely avoided this rabbit hole because I am already overwhelmed with her health, her sister's and mine. But I feel like I should know more in case she needs treatment.

By the way, how do people say MCAS. Is it M-CAS or do you say every letter MCAS or just mast cell? Haha thanks!

Thank you so much!!

Hello! My daughter takes her Zoloft at night. She's been on it for about 4 years, she's 15. She recently had some breakthrough anxiety, honestly it was kind of situational but we decided to increase her dose to 75 because they probably was a bit of room for improvement in her anxiety anyway. It's been about a week at the higher dose, she takes it at night before bed. And in the morning she is nauseous. She's been taking half a zofran in the morning, but I don't want to give it to her everyday. How long do you think this will last? Thanks!

I didn't know where else to post this but I figured a lot of us deal with this here so I'm hoping at least some people have insight. I'm 44 and my parents are in their upper 70s. They are such negative nellies and do nothing but complain. My mom complains about my dad mostly but she will find anything to complain about, she is never happy. The grass is ALWAYS greener on the other side. Every time I'm with her, she does nothing but complain. The same old thing over and over, it's so stressful. I'm a people pleaser, and I mostly just let her vent and feel heard, but it's starting to take its toll. How do you deal with your parents if they're like this?

I'm not looking to get buff or anything but I would like to be less weak. What are some good tips or the best way to get started? I prefer the machines to the free weights, but I'll do whatever is the best method. Thanks!

My 16yo has been on Cymbalta for about 6 months. She has been on 20mg twice a day for 3 months. It really helped her depression (not so much her anxiety) and she has become more functional. But lately I think she is getting brain zaps. She kept saying she has been getting brief dizzy spells in her head when she's just sitting around (not when she stands like with her pots). And it made me realize, she may be experiencing brain zaps. I described them to her and she says she thinks that is it.

Could Cymbalta cause brain zaps even though nothing has changed and she has been on it with no side effects for a bit?

Thank you!

Hi! I hope someone has some good advice! I have an almost 16yo daughter who is chronically ill. Most of the time she does ok but she often has crashes that would make working outside the home difficult. We were wondering what she should learn in college (or certificates after high school) that would have the highest chance of remote work. She is tech savvy. Any thoughts? She is open to all ideas to see what interests her. Thanks!

I wanted to add estrogen to my Slynd but my doctor told me this was not an appropriate way to do things and would be weird. I should just go on progesterone and off the pill, since I don't use it for birth control (just period management). I am 44 and still get periods, although I haven't since January bc I take the pill continuously. She took 2 fsh levels and told me I was menopausal bc of slightly elevated levels and acted like she would be surprised if I get my period again??? I don't believe that! She said she would prescribe whatever I ask for but she had me believing Slynd+ estrogen was not correct however I have read many people in here do that.

If if I don't need it for birth control, should I just switch to progesterone? I am kinda scared of stomach upset and other side effects but the pill never bothered me so maybe it won't either? Also don't want a period!

I want to start a business helping seniors with various needs such as light house keeping, med reminders, mela prep, shopping, etc. I would charge an hourly rate, with a two hour minimum. My major hold up is I do not know how to bill for this. Do you make the payer (could be an adult child or the senior themselves) pay ahead of time? Do you keep a credit card on file to bill after service? How do you keep track of time so that they are not taking advantage of you? Any help you could provide would be great, thank you!

Do you ever feel like you're not a real adult? Or other people about your age are more adult than you? Or that you're an adult "lite"?

I am 44 and I realized I always feel like I can't portray myself as an adult. I just come off in my head as an adolescent (even though I'm actually very mature, it's not about that).

If the situation calls for humor, and I can be funny, that's when I feel like I fit in, I guess.

Sorry for rambling but does anyone else feel like this?

My 16yo has a diagnosis of autism but not adhd (I will ask about it at next appointment), but she does have terrible executive functioning. She is behind in her online schooling (but gifted and a perfectionist). She is struggling with keeping a schedule of any sort, showering, getting dressed, eating at relatively normal meal times, etc. Also lots of anxiety when leaving the house. Has started refusing doctor appointments (she has never had a bad experience), except the orthodontist. I just want her to feel successful and have good self esteem.

I will take any advice! Thank you!

I started going to this gynecologist last year. I didn't realize until I went to make my appointment this year, to renew my birth control prescription (used for period management) that they require yearly pap smears. I said, oh I thought the recommendation changed to every 5 years for my age group? And the receptionist said, well not here! I think that's ridiculous. I like this place because they will easily prescribe hormones, and not give you the runaround about that at least. However I'm not going to subject myself to yearly pap smears when even the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology says that's outdated. Looking for any tips on how to go about this. Thanks!

The bottom of my rib cage in the front is always on fire. Kinda feels like I've done 500 crunches but it's definitely rib pain, not muscular. My whole rib cage often hurts but not like this. Does anyone else get pain here?