u/hotheadnchickn

Hi all, while I've made tremendous progress with healing my CPTSD in many ways, sleep remains a tricky area for me.

I've had trouble with sleep since I was a teenager, specifically with waking up in the middle of the night and not getting back to sleep. I've been aware of sleep hygiene rules since them and mostly follow them, with some modifications based on what does or doesn't work for me personally. I do not get upset or stressed when I have a bad night of sleep, my goal at night is "rest" not specifically sleep, so there's no stress if it's a night where resting is just quietly meditating or listening to an audiobook or coming in and out of lightly dozing instead of sleep. So, I don't feel CBT-i really has anything to offer me.

Still, my migraine doc is bugging me to improve my sleep quality. I would like to but not sure how. Things I do to help besides sleep hygiene: I use a small dose of marijuana before bed, black out curtains and an eye mask, color shift my devices at 7 PM (and generally keep blue light low during the day), keep my lights low in the evening, stop eating 3-4 hours before bed, do diaphragmatic breathing before bed.

My main problem is not, I think, actually the waking up, but the trouble with getting back to sleep when I wake up There are two drivers:

1. I have chronic injuries and chronic pain so finding comfortable sleeping positions takes a little work. I think discomfort is one of the things that wakes me up as I can't be in the same position all night. But changing positions means rearranging all my pillows -- I need a pillow under my lumbar spine or side, and pillows to position and support my arms whether on my side or back. So having to attend to that pulls me further out of sleep. I am not sure if there is a way to reduce this -- I've looked at body pillows but it seems like what I actually need would have to be custom made or something which stresses me re money but maybe is possible.
2. When my brain isn't occupied, it returns to things that feel unsolved. This could be a problem from the day before (I manage this as much as possible with dumping stuff in task manager software and staying highly organized, but I can't fully get rid of it) or trauma memories. I have done tons of talk therapy, plus ACT, MBCT, DBT, none of which have helped with intrusive memories related to trauma. I wonder if narrative therapy would help, though none of the many therapists I've seen has done it. I am more interested in EMDR or similar bilateral therapy for helping my brain feel like this memories are solved/resolved, but have not pursued it because I just don't have the support or bandwidth to tolerate it potentially being triggering and things getting worse before they get better. Maybe possible down the road, but right now my focus is on dealing with some physical health issues.

Is there something I'm missing? Of course I'd prefer better sleep but have accepted where I am; I am thinking about this more since my migraine doc is pushing for me to see a sleep doc. I have no risk factors for or symptoms of apnea, did a sleep study in the past, so I am skeptical about what this doc could have to offer.

Horrified to learn I have been wearing too little SPF my whole life!

Also horrified to learn the only way to get enough is to apply two layers, and getting it really off is harder and ends up stripping moisture off my face. My face hates this because my skin is very sensitive and I have rosacea.

Typically I use mineral (chemical US sunscreens always hurt my eyes) but I bought some K beauty products from Korea with different filters to try when they land (ones without alcohol since that kills my skin). But for now... yikes.

I am thinking of NOT doing the double layer for most days when I am inside, not in direct sun, typically taking walks in the evening, and just not getting much direct sun. Maybe upping my daily SPF to 50 from 30 so that even if I'm not applying enough, we're starting with a higher level.

And then doing the proper double layer application for walks outside during the day, hikes, or other prolonged sun exposure (typically one or two weekend days).

How do you all balance sunscreen texture/feel (worse with more!), ease of removal, actually using enough, and what feels ok enough to be sustainable?

Hi all,

I started seeing a new neurologist who is "tier 2" for my PPO, which means I pay 30% of the cost after my $500 deductible. Soooo I am looking at these bills more closely than providers who are tier 1/with better coverage!

Our first appointment was a video visit that last maybe 40 mins to an hour, taking a detailed history, hearing my current treatment plan, and writing some prescriptions to continue the plan (stuff like Botox for chronic migraine).

Looking at the details of the bill online, it lists:

>Ov Est Pt Lev 5 - 99215 (CPT®)
$545.00

>Prolng Off/OP E/M Ea 15 Min - 99417 (CPT®)
$420.00

My understanding is that the first code is for an establishing patient, which I was not at the time. I'm wondering if I should call billing and dispute using that code... But I am concerned that if it's recoded, they would essentially use the second code x4 which would cost me more. What do you all think? I don't have experience with this!

I also really like this new provider and I don't want to damage our relationship by having a billing dispute. However, it's a large health network (Sutter) and I would be dealing with the billing department, not her office, and I don't know how much would get back to her. So that is also a concern for me.

Thanks in advance for your help! <3

My disability has changed what clothes are comfortable for me and my body shape is chubbier now so I’ve honestly just been living in joggers for the past five years. I miss feeling cute and confident in my clothes and projecting my specific vibe into the world. Curious to hear how you all have refound fashion or recreated your style to work for your body now.

I like having a minimal wardrobe but mine is 100% blah. Ideally I’d like to built some kind of capsule wardrobe that is just… cooler. I don’t care that much about looking hot etc but man I used to be very cool and I miss it!

Hi all, horrified to learn that you’re supposed to use a pretty high volume of spf to get the listed coverage. I have been measuring mine, aiming for 1/8 teaspoon for my face alone since I am petite and AFAB and use a different product around my eyes as well.

Man it is bad. I can apply two layers of Australian gold vanishing tint to get the right amount and it actually looks fine! but it took an hour to dry down and it still feels heavy a few hours later.

I typically use mineral since chemical ones tend to hurt my eyes but curious about any you can apply in high enough volume! Is it time to start ordering from France or Korea…? I’m in the US so limited filter options.

Hi all, I’ve been dealing with sit bone pain (medial, so on the upper inner part of the sit bone, very up close and personal area) that is ruining my life since 2021, triggered by doing yoga in a serious way for many years. Now I’ve lost yoga and, more importantly, the ability to sit in a normal way for more than about 3 minutes without pain. Exercise and even too much walking can be a trigger, stretching my hamstring is a trigger, even tight clothes or lying on my back without a pillow under my knees can be a problem.

Until now I was diagnosed with high hamstring tendonopathy and treated it as such with PT, cortisol, dry needling, PRP… originally the pain was bilateral and PT helped but then I experienced a reinjury (from sitting) and the right side has never recovered.

I’ve seen two ortho docs, 4 PTs, pain management (to his credit, this guy asked me about anal and genital pain), a physiatrist, a massage therapist. Yesterday I saw a new ortho doc recommended to me by the head of ortho at a top ten US health system (traveled out of state by train 33 hrs so I could lay flat because flying was not accessible re sitting) and the new doc thinks the issue is actually my pudendal nerve.

Just wondering if anyone else has a symptom pattern like mine. Not to brag but I have no anal or genital pain, “just” the sit bone area pain right next to the anal/genital area.

Next step seems to be ultrasound-guided injection of a nerve numbing agent for diagnostic purposes so looking for someone who can do that. I am so tired.

Hi all, not selling anything, just have seen so many posts in this sub about very painful periods -- which can be an endo symptom and is not a PMOS symptom! endo is so common and understudied and underdiagnosed. It cannot be ruled out by imaging alone and typically requires exploratory surgery to confirm a diagnosis.

I just read this AM that there are newish, commercially available, noninvasive tests that use blood (in the US, EndomTest, in the US and China, HerResolve) or saliva (in 20+ EU and Middle East counties and the US so far, Ziwig Endotest) that diagnose endo based on specific microRNAs that are present in folks with endometriosis. In the UK, Canada, and the US so far, there is also a non-invasive test that diagnoses based on electrical signals from the gut (EndoSure).

If you suspect you might have endo, please advocate for yourself to get testing! Diagnosis delay is typically 4+ years in the US and even longer globally. You deserve to not be in pain or have period pain or cyclical GI/abdominal pain that messes with your life! <3

Hi all, endo is so common and understudied and underdiagnosed. It cannot be ruled out by imaging alone and typically requires exploratory surgery to confirm a diagnosis.

I just read that there are newish, commercially available, noninvasive tests that use blood (in the US, EndomTest, in the US and China, HerResolve) or saliva (in 20+ EU and Middle East counties and the US so far, Ziwig Endotest) that diagnose based on specific microRNAs that are present in folks with endometriosis. In the UK, Canada, and the US so far, there is also a non-invasive test that diagnoses based on electrical signals from the gut (EndoSure).

If you suspect you might have endo, please advocate for yourself to get testing! Diagnosis delay is typically 4+ years in the US and even longer globally. You deserve to not be in pain or have period pain or cyclical GI/abdominal pain that messes with your life!

*I meant fave not face but they both work

OMG I love this product!

I’m 41 and my skin has started to change and get dryer in the past several months. My makeup doesn’t work well anymore — especially pigment creasing around my under eyes and crows feet — and i am in the process of revamping all my skin care for perimenopause. I also have super sensitive skin + mild rosacea, and sensitive and dry eyes.

Finding eye cream options has been tricky. I’ve used some non-Asian beauty products without success >!(keihl’s super multicorrector had niacinamide and peptides but hurts my eyes, Cerave renewing eye creams (with or without vitamin C) hurt my eyes, LRP Dermallegro is very gentle but only mildly hydrating and not anti-aging)!<. I am not using retinols or bakuchiol near my eyes because of my dry eye issue, same with the preservative phenoxyethanol.

Enter CosRx Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream! It has 70+% mucin which I was intrigued about, plus 2% niacinamide (about the limit my skin can handle), plus copper peptide, matrixyl, matrixyl-3000, and argireline.

I used it under my eye and in my crows feet area the last two nights and just instant improvement in texture - more full and bouncy, less crepe, and my makeup is barely creasing at all 😍

And most importantly, my eyes aren’t pissed off. I dunno if I’ll venture to move it closer to my upper eyelid since that has the most risk of skin irritation but I am SO pleased with this result. I know it’s all hydration and argireline rn and I like the formulation re evidence-backed peptides for collagen support.

Now I’m looking into a collagen serum for my face. I actually don’t see a CosEx equivalent to this for the face; it’s peptides OR snail and I want both! Looking at a few from other brands (Jumiso mucin + peptide is intriguing) but would love suggests as well. Or maybe just using the Seoul 88 mucin + rice as a day time moisturizer and a separate peptide product at night 🤔

Hi all, I’ve recently started using a THDA form vitamin c serum and getting curious about other antioxidants. What are you favorite actives and/or products?

Right now I have Vanicream vitamin c serum with is 5% THDA and I am letting my very sensitive skin adjust and hoping I can move to a higher dose down the line. Also just got a mist with ECGC (from green tea). Would love to find an antioxidant mist that actually mists, mine is more just a spray 💦 🔫

Hi all, I have some UPF hoodies from Coolibar on the advice of someone in this sub. I popped over to their site to get some UPF driving gloves and saw it is 50% with a code. Not an ad, don't work for them, I think the hats are super ugly even though probably very good protection, just sharing a deal.

Hi all, I tried using the Real Techniques Cruelty Free Powder brush for a loose powder foundation and ouch! I also tried it just for setting powder and still ouch! Is there something softer that won’t totally break the bank? Are velour puffs a better alternative?

Hi all, I have found some beauty products that don’t bug my eyes but I don’t know how to remove makeup without getting my eye makeup IN my eyes. Help??

Hi all, I’m 41 and in the past six months, zinc from mineral sunblock or pigment from tinted sunblock seems to accumulate in the deepest part of my laugh line, my baby crow’s feet, and the skin under my eye which looks smooth/unlined at rest but moves with smiling.

I really love Saie slip tint for moisturizing SPF but I don’t know how to make it not do this. I have some maybelline Baby skin silicone primer but it seems like everything just slips around on top of it. I got L’Oréal infallible setting powder but it doesn’t seem to help - def possible I’m using it wrong.

Would love advice/tips!

I'm 41 and assumed the recent dry eye and new skin dryness and eczema was probably perimenopause type stuff but my neurologist suggested I get checked for Sjogrens. Reading more, maybe relevant that I have had gum inflammation unrelated to hygiene for the past several months. I can't tell if I have a double chin from maybe loose skin with aging (BMI is 23, it shouldn't really be from fat and I have not had this in the past) or if it's swollen salivary glands. I made an appointment with a dry eye and sjogrens clinic but I can't get in for a few months and my mind is just going in circles.

I have a history of some lupus-type stuff (episodes of joint pain and fatigue, sometimes with face rash -- altho the last one was in 2022) but rheums disagreed on whether or not it is actually lupus. I also have mild skin rosacea which makes the face rash harder to parse re true malar rash or just rosacea flare.

I know you all can't diagnose me but I'm just trying to wrap my head around thinking of this and how to parse it. I don't have any other peri symptoms that I'm aware of and my bloodwork in December didn't look like peri but I assume it is a slow process so that doesn't feel definitive to me.

Anyone using an app they like to track if products are working/how skin is changing over time?

Hi all, on eye exams, drs have noted some dry eye for a long time but I didn’t really feel bothered by it (altho I noticed excessive eye watering). One dr told me my eyes look like I have an autoimmune disease :/ I do have mild rosacea and mild autoimmune stuff on and off (maybe lupus, maybe not, depends which doctor you ask) so I do wonder if that’s a factor.

Anyway I’ve been using eye drops once a day (optase intense dry eye preservative free) and that’s it for a long time bc the eye care routine I was given was use a heated eye mask and then squeeze the lid little by little til you visibly see oil. That is pretty painful and irritating so I didn’t keep up with it.

Anyway, now I’m 41 and seems like my skin changed suddenly. I am needing to find new products but now many products bothers my eyes, eg irritated/itchy and/or foreign body sensation… I assume this is related to dry eye potentially worsening with hormonal shifts?

I got a USB heated mask from ComfyLids and am using that daily (after washing lids with tea tree eye wash) plus gentle blink exercises instead of squeezing, got a margin scrubber and tea tree oil product from We Love Eyes and am using that 1-2x a week. Have backed off of skin care products for now but hoping to re introduce maybe LRP dermallegro eye cream of Kiehl’s multi correct (no phenoxyethanol, no retinols/adapalene/bakuchiol etc). Also doing my face skin care a couple hours before bed with products that are not likely to migrate (non emollient, non occlusive, also no retinols or phenoxyethanol etc).

Just curious if anyone else has this experience with hormones shifting and dry eye, what helped you, any critiques of my routine or suggestion! I am also hoping to get in with a dry eye clinic for a proper exam.