the mellow tigger's musings

I've been using NasalCrom for several months, and it's an amazing drug. I've had severe allergies my entire life, and I'm certain they played a part in the 2 sinus surgeries that I've already had, thanks to sinus polyps that my overactive sinuses eventually generate which leads to blocked airways and high fevers due to infection. The allergies and the associated sinus troubles are not a real concern any more, thanks to Nasalcrom.

My thanks to wispywillow for mentioning it last summer. In searching for that post, I see that furr_a_bruin mentioned it back in 2011 too, although apparently I never gave it a proper try back then. That's a shame, because it works wonders.

I still can't figure out how it works. It's not a histamine/anti-histamine kind of drug. It's a mast cell stabilizer drug. I don't know much about MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome), but it's related to that. The best analogy I can find is that NasalCrom orders these cells to "Calm down!", so they don't respond with histamine reactions when your immune system tells them that you are exposed to allergens. So, you're still allergic to stuff, but... nothing happens.

That's my experience too. Taking only NasalCrom and nothing else, I can still develop an itchy nose plus a few sneezes. What changes, though, is that my sinuses fail to explode with mucus production. I also take generic fluticasone propionate (sometimes known as Flonase), which is a steroid to reduce inflammation. It's a drug commonly used to deal with asthma, allergies, and nasal polyps like I have a long history of developing. Together, I can even leave my window open at night if I want to, and I don't have to regret it in the morning. At most, I can sometimes tell that my sinuses might be ever-so-slightly swollen or sensitive, like they're on alert because they know allergens are present, but there are no debilitating symptoms that go with it. NasalCrom does the heavy lifting, while the fluticasone softens the few remaining issues.

Together, I'm hopeful that I won't have to deal with polyps blocking my sinuses due to overactive tissues reacting to airborne allergens. If I have no more polyps, then I have no recurring sinus blockage and raging high temperatures, and with no dangerous high temps over 39.5C/103.1F, then I'll have no need for a 3rd sinus surgery. It's a wonder drug, targeted specifically at my sinus tissue. I'm certain it's better for my body than eating pills that affect my whole body, just so I can survive another few hours with strong symptoms.

It's only 8:40am local time, but I already feel unreasonably happy today.

The guy from Wolf Pest Control showed up promptly at 8am this morning. He sprayed the hornet nests, using his ladder to climb on top of my front porch to reach the 2nd one. The 1st one is easy to reach, near the ground. He had a bulky full-body suit like a firefighter that he wore for the work. He said to give it at least a week before trying to seal them up. He recommends people just wait through the winter too. I'll try clearing up the brush next week, at least, so the painters have clear access to my house later. I shouldn't be bothered by hornets by then. It was definitely worth the $240 for 30 minutes of work this morning.

He was surprisingly nice to talk to, while I wrote out a check afterward on the front porch step. He said he doesn't exterminate bumblebees, which are more regulated than hornets, even if they're the infestation, "because pollinators are good". Maybe he liked my pollinator-friendly yard? Appropriate to the business name, he definitely had the "wolf" look with a full beard, from the bear terminology. I have no idea if he's family, but I'll hope that he is.

The mood in Minneapolis is gearing down for winter. I didn't get everything done that needs to be done for the house, but I got the first floor painted, with plans for the second floor this year. I got the 4 worst windows replaced, with only 1 more to go. I bought the latest new smart phone generation, replacing the broken one I had for years. Thanks to a generous gift from my parents, my bank account didn't even suffer from all this spending. It's still growing into what for me is a large nest egg, so I could easily withstand another year or two of unemployed job hunting, if it came to that.

I'm going to encourage this good mood today and avoid the news.

Great news!

We're getting a grocery store in north Minneapolis, entering the same space used by the former Aldi's. I don't know anything about Colonial Market and Restaurant, but judging from the pictures I see at this page, they'll have the things I want that I can't get at the asian grocery. I saw news stories today from MPR and BringMeTheNews.

Bonuses:

1. They're based in Minnesota, so the money will stay "local".
2. The owner (pictured here) describes himself as "Afro-Mexican", so the money will help a minority-owned business.
3. It would be great if I don't have to walk 1.5 miles through the warzone each way, take bus rides, or pay for delivery, thereby making food that much cheaper for me.

All of this news makes me happy.